Casey looked at her girlfriend. Annie was trying to hide her discomfort, but Casey could tell that, as the flight time neared, she was scared.
"You should go home," Annie said. "I know you've got stuff to do, and you've got work tomorrow."
Casey smiled. "An hour won't make any difference. And I'm not going to leave you alone until I have to."
"I'm fine," Annie lied.
"Hold out your hand," Casey demanded.
Annie obeyed, and was dismayed at the shaking that she couldn't stop. "Too much caffeine," she tried to bullshit.
"Yeah. Caffeine. Right," Casey smiled at her. "It's okay to be scared, Annie."
Annie looked startled. She hadn't told Casey about her terror of flying. The she realized. "Alex told you."
Casey smiled and nodded. "Let's go to the bar. Find a quiet booth. I think you would benefit from a whiskey."
a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&
"You don't have to do this, Liv," Alex groaned as Olivia's fingers worked their magic on her aching back. Somehow Olivia knew just what made her feel better. She sat, facing the wrong way, on a kitchen chair, her head resting on her arms on the back of the chair as Olivia massaged her.
"Shh," Olivia said. "Just let me help you, sweetheart." Olivia loved being able to ease Alex's discomfort, even in a small way. She admired Alex so much for going through with the pregnancy. And now, even though she was going to have the baby girl child adopted, Alex was careful not to do anything that could possibly cause her harm. So she wouldn't take any painkillers, even mild ones, despite the constant ache in her back.
Alex moaned softly as Olivia's fingers worked at just the right spot.
a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&
"Next weekend," Annie promised as she held Casey in her arms. She kissed her, softly, deeply, her tongue caressing her with passion and tenderness. "I swear."
Casey blinked back unexpected tears. "I'm gonna hold you to that professor," she said, when they eventually broke apart. "Call me when you get there?"
Annie nodded.
"And Annie? It'll be fine. I've checked the weather report, there shouldn't be any turbulence. Couple of hours from now, it will all be over."
Annie nodded again. "You just promise me you won't be entertaining any hot women before I see you on Friday."
Casey grinned. "Okay. I suppose I can cancel that threesome I had planned. But you'd better make it worth my while."
"You just wait, counselor. I have plans for you."
"I'll hold you to that," Casey said.
Annie turned, and was about to walk away when Casey caught her hand and pulled her back.
Casey drew her into a deep, passionate kiss.
They parted, reluctantly, neither of them speaking.
Casey watched Annie shoulder her back and head toward the security gate. Christ, she was sexy. And cocky, that swagger made Casey's nipples tingle. Nobody else would be able to tell that Annie was nervous as hell. Annie went through the door, giving a final quick wave.
Casey made her way to the car, shocked to find that she was close to tears again. She never cried. And certainly not when saying goodbye to somebody she would be seeing again in less than a week. But it was more than that. Casey Novak realized that she had fallen, hard, for the sexy professor. She didn't want her to go. She also didn't want her to fly, because it was something that frightened Annie, and she couldn't imagine anything frightening her. Casey wanted to protect her from her fears. She wanted to make sure she was safe and happy all of the time. And she knew that wasn't possible, and that made her sad. For the first time in a very long time, Casey realized that she cared less about her own feelings than she did about someone else's. Annie had snuck into her heart. She pulled out her phone and texted:
Text me when you get home, stud. I need to know you haven't gone off with a sexy air hostess.
Annie felt her phone vibrate, and pulled it out of her pocket. She was sitting at the gate, expecting to board the plane soon. She smiled. She knew Casey was trying to distract her from her fears. She texted back:
You have nothing to worry about. I like to have something in common with my women. Too much make-up and a love of flying? I prefer feisty attorneys with alabaster skin.
Casey grinned.
a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&
Monday morning
Olivia tried not to listen, but it was hard to give Alex privacy without leaving the room, and she didn't want to be too obvious.
Alex was pale as she closed the phone, and replaced it in its cradle. She placed both hands on the counter, and took a deep, shaky breath.
"Lex?" Olivia spoke gently.
"I'm okay," Alex said.
Olivia ran a soft hand down her back, relieved when Alex turned and buried her face in her front. Things only got bad when they stopped communicating, and Alex had been doing her very best to share everything with her.
Olivia held her for a few minutes, waiting as she felt Alex start to relax in her arms.
"Trial's postponed. Until November," Alex said, her voice muffled by Olivia's chest.
Olivia had gathered that much from what she had heard. But she had heard snatches of other things too, and knew that Alex was upset by more than just the delay.
"Shall we sit?" Olivia suggested softly.
Alex nodded, and let Olivia lead her to the couch. They sat, side by side, and Alex turned into Olivia, relishing the warmth and the safety that she felt when Olivia held her.
"Another victim just had a baby. DNA proves it's his. It's hard to understand that he was so arrogant he didn't even bother with protection. He never thought he would be caught, Liv. And he wasn't caught, not for years. Partly because his wife was helping him. His wife!"
"Some men think they are untouchable," Olivia ran her hand up and down her back. "But he's not Alexandra. They're not. They've both been caught. And they won't get out for a very long time, if at all in his case."
"She wants to meet. Some time in the next few weeks," Alex sounded glum, referring to Sandy Metzler, the ADA from Chicago. "I told her she would have to wait. Until we're done with …," she waved her hands expressively over her belly. "It's under three weeks."
"You did right, Lex. Especially now the trial has been postponed."
"I won't let her introduce the baby. This baby," Alex teared up, angrily. "We all know she has plenty to convict him. And if I let her reveal that this baby is the product of rape, then there's a chance that one day... some time in the future … when this one looks up who her birth mother is. She might find out she was conceived in rape. I can't do that to her, Olivia. Whenever I think of how your mother … I just can't do it. I know I'm giving her up for adoption, but I want her to have the best chance she can at life. I need for her to have the best chance." Alex was angry now, like a tigress protecting her cubs.
"Metzler doesn't need this baby. And now you won't be pregnant at the trial. Nobody need ever know. Nobody," Olivia soothed.
Alex turned fully into Olivia, and let her lover hold her. After a while, Olivia realized that she had fallen asleep, and she was glad for it. Sleep had been an elusive commodity for Alex in the past few weeks, while she coped with pain, heartburn and stress. Any sleep she could get was a bonus, Olivia knew. She grabbed her own leather jacket from where it lay over the back of the couch, and wrapped it around Alex. It wasn't ideal, but it was the best she could manage without getting up and disturbing her.
In her sleep, Alex dimly registered the soft jacket that smelt of leather and Olivia. Of home. Of safety. She slept on.
a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&
Wednesday afternoon
Casey smiled when she saw the name on her cell. She was due to leave for court in a half hour, and she was nervous, as she always was. Talking to Annie was just the boost she needed.
"Hey Red," Annie drawled. "So what are you wearing?"
"You are so predictable," Casey laughed.
"You didn't answer me."
"And I'm not going to. We know where that led last time, and I'm not going into court all hot and bothered because you've gotten me all worked up."
"I thought you enjoyed it last night," Annie's voice was low and sexy.
"You know I did. It's not that I object to the turn that our phone call took. I most certainly do not object. It's just … you gotta improve your timing if you call during the work day."
"I'll work on that," Annie laughed. "So what time are you working until on Friday? Are you having another late night?" she was coming to realize just how hard Casey worked.
"It depends," Casey said. "I could get home by 6pm, but then I'd have to bring some paperwork to do over the weekend."
"So I'll pick you up at 6.30pm?"
"You'll be there by then?" Casey was excited. She hadn't imagined that Annie would be able to get to New York until at least 9pm.
"Grover's taking my last lecture. He owes me one. My flight lands at 5.45pm," Annie couldn't hide the excitement she felt at the prospect of seeing Casey again. It was barely 72 hours since she had been with her, and it seemed like forever.
"I'll meet you at the airport," Casey told her.
"There's no need. I can get a cab. I'll...," Annie began.
"I'll meet you at the airport," Casey repeated, more firmly. "You don't want to argue with me professor. I argue for a living."
Annie laughed. "You win, counselor." She suddenly felt shy. "I've missed you," she admitted softly. She had never told anyone she missed them. Not since Sophie, her first girlfriend.
Casey swallowed. She bit back a smart remark. This was sweet. She wasn't used to sweet. Annie was a bewitching mix of characteristics. She was funny. She was super-smart. She was strong – physically and mentally. And she was unbelievably sexy. Casey had never before found tattoos so arousing, but just the memory of the beautiful etchings on that luscious body left her with a dry mouth. "I've missed you too, Annie," she said. She looked at her watch. "I gotta go," she said, reluctantly. "I daren't be late for Petrovsky."
"The demon judge?" Annie remembered back to a conversation they had had.
"The very same. Call me tonight?"
"Try and stop me Red," Annie said.
a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&
6am Friday morning
Olivia made her way into the kitchen, still trying to wake up. Alex was leaning forward against the counter, her arms out in front of her as she tried to reduce the pressure on her back.
"Hey baby," Olivia spoke softly. She rubbed her back with one hand, and felt Alex push gratefully against her. "Let me help. Sit," she guided Alex to her back-to-front position on the chair. "You sit there, I'll do what I can."
Alex moaned involuntarily at Olivia's touch. For almost forty minutes, Olivia kneaded gently. Alex's shoulder muscles in particular were as tight as Olivia could ever remember. As the muscles slowly relaxed, Alex did too. As Olivia came to the end of the massage, Alex reached behind her for one of her hands. She pulled it gently to her own breast.
Olivia tried not to react. She knew how conflicted Alex was when it came to sex. They hadn't even tried to make love since Alex's return, but Alex had been making more overtures recently, and Olivia was pleased and relieved. Some of Alex's nightmares were still vivid and frightening, but their frequency and the intensity of some of them had lessened. And she never flinched now at Olivia's touch. She seemed to enjoy particularly the comfort of Olivia's hand cupping her breast.
Olivia felt the soft flesh in her hand, and could feel the rock-hard nipple through Alex's nightshirt. She found Alex's pregnant body wonderfully arousing, and loved the feel of her. In normal circumstances, she would have guided Alex to bed and made love to her for hours. But these weren't normal circumstances, as she had to keep reminding herself. Any moves had to come from Alex first. She was just pleased that Alex wanted her touch at all.
"I do want to make love," Alex said very softly. "So much of me wants to. But … ," she swallowed. "Soon, Liv?"
Olivia moved so that she was facing Alex, and she knelt at her level. She touched her face softly, and leant in for a soft, beautiful kiss. Alex's lips were so perfect, and she tasted wonderful. Olivia tried to put all of her love into the kiss. "All I need is to be with you," she whispered. "I don't need anything more from you. I'm so proud of you, Alex. You are so strong."
"I don't always feel strong," Alex said shakily.
"Nobody always feels strong," Olivia said. "I'm here for whenever you need me."
"I always need you."
a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&a&
6.40pm Friday
Casey was starting to worry. It was over half an hour since Annie's plane had landed, and there was still no sign of her. She was just heading over to the desk to enquire, when she saw a familiar tall figure emerge from the arrivals door. Having a girlfriend who was nearly 6ft tall was useful sometimes, she smiled to herself.
Casey ran over to greet Annie, and was shocked by her pale face. Annie smiled widely, but Casey could tell she was shaken. Casey reached out for Annie's back pack, and she knew when Annie handed it over that she was not feeling herself. This flying fear was worse than she had realized. Annie looked like she wanted to be sick. Casey kissed her very softly on the lips and took her hand. She led her to a row of chairs and they both sat down. It wasn't like Annie to be so docile.
Casey held her hand and looked closely into her eyes, seeing shadows. "I didn't know it was this bad," she said.
"M'okay," Annie spoke at last. She tried to smile.
"You want a drink?"
"Water would be good," Annie admitted as her stomach did a small flip. The landing had done for her. Take-offs and landings were the worst.
Casey touched her leg gently, and sprinted off to buy a bottle of water. She was back in under two minutes. She was glad to see that Annie had collected herself a little. Casey removed the lid and passed the water to her.
Annie gave a small smile. "I'm completely aware of how ridiculous I am," she said, her voice regaining a little of its strength.
Casey smiled gently. "Not ridiculous," she soothed.
"I'm 28 years old. I shouldn't be frightened of flying. It's the safest form of transport."
"Fear isn't always rational," Casey reminded her.
"I wanted you to think I'm brave and strong," Annie's spark was coming back.
"Doing something that terrifies you seems pretty damned brave to me," Casey said mildly. She ran her hand up Annie's arm. "And we both know you are strong," her fingers lingered on her tattooed bicep.
Annie smiled and looked up. "You say all the right things, Red," she took a deep breath. "Okay. I'm done with all the Victorian melodrama. Are we going back to your place, or are we going to enjoy that hot tub at my hotel?"
Casey's face fell slightly.
"Cassandra?" Annie saw her expression change. "What is it?"
Casey shook her head. "It's dumb. I just thought you'd be staying with me."
Annie nodded, realizing her faux pas. "I am going to stay with you. Wherever we are. I want you with me. Look, it's a long story," she took a deep breath. "A real long story. My hotel suite is free. It is wherever I go. Well, wherever there's a Wilde hotel."
"How come?" Casey wanted to know.
"My name isn't Annie Bartlett. Well, it is. I'm not some kind of secret agent. Though … that might be a fun career," she tried to lighten the atmosphere. "My full name is Anna-Jane Bartlett Wilde. My family owns the hotel chain."
"So you get free rooms."
Annie nodded. "There's a bit more to it than that. I'll tell you. Whenever you want. But first," she laughed at herself. "I've been too nervous to eat all day. Can we get something to eat?"
"How about room service?" Casey could see the glint in her eye. "And then we could explore that hot tub again."
"That works for me Red," Annie stood and grabbed her back pack from Casey.
11.38pm Friday
"It's not helping, is it?" Olivia held Alex as they stood in the shower, the hot water pounding over both of them.
Alex groaned. "I think …," she didn't want to voice her thoughts. She didn't want this to be happening. She didn't want it to be a reality. She looked up and saw Olivia's concerned face. "I think this is more than backache."
Olivia nodded. She had realized an hour ago that Alex was experiencing labor pains, but she hadn't wanted to force her to discuss it. "That was a contraction, huh?" Olivia placed a soft hand on Alex's belly.
Alex nodded. Her chin wobbled.
"What can I do?" Olivia asked.
"Stay with me," Alex pleaded. "Don't leave me. Not until it's over."
"I'm going to be right here with you. Every step of the way. It'll be okay Alex," Olivia put a finger under Alex's chin and forced her to look into her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere. We'll be okay," she rubbed her belly. "All of us. You trust me, right?"
Alex nodded, her face a mixture of misery and terror.
"Then trust me when I say we're all going to be okay," Olivia held her to her.
Alex grasped a wet breast as she clung to Olivia. If anyone could make this right, Olivia could.