February 15th, 2001

Kerry stared up at Kim's ceiling, so many thoughts going through her head and then none at all. She heard footsteps and turned to watch Kim enter the bedroom from the bathroom. Kim smiled, "Hi. Did I wake you?"

Kim was wearing her pink kimono. She looked like an angel came down to Earth. Kerry couldn't find words so she just shook her head with a negative mumble.

Kim approached the bed, "I was trying to let you sleep," and sat down on the edge of it.

Their hands found each others as Kerry spoke, "I should probably get home anyway."

Kim traced circles on the back of Kerry's hand. "You should bring a few things over..." She paused, "Or we could try your place..." A gentle smile came to Kim's face, "Unless you have a husband hiding there or something." Kim must have seen something flash through Kerry's eyes because Kim pulled her hand away, "God, you do."

Kerry recaptured Kim's hand and brought it to her lips, laying the faintest of kisses on the pale skin. "No, I don't." And let their hands drop to the bed.

Kim stared down at their entangled hands, then back up to Kerry's smile, "I need to dry my hair."

Kerry started to untangle their hands, but Kim prevented her. Bringing one of the hands that had saved so many lives up and kissing its palm. Kerry closed her eyes as sensations she'd never felt before, with Mlungisi, Ellis, Robert or almost anyone course through her body, just because of a kiss on the hand.

Kim stood, "Are you gonna watch me again?" There was a twinkle in her eyes. On that told Kerry that Kim thought the whole watching her dry her hair was weird. Kerry didn't care. She watched.

The hair dryer turned on.

"Doctor Weaver?"

Kerry was in Doc Magoos, mostly staring at a piece of pie. "Randi?"

Randi pointed at the empty side of the booth, "Mind if I sit?" She had a plate of eggs etc. and a cup of coffee.

Kerry nodded, "Of course. Are you on today?"

Randi chuckled, "I'm on nearly every day Doctor Weaver, and my boss likes it if I'm not late and well... it's snowing. Heard you told Dave he wasn't a total idiot."

Kerry frowned at Randi, "Not... exactly. Randi, may I ask..."

Randi swallowed and answered Kerry's half asked question, "Why doesn't the whole hospital know about Thing One and Thing Two?"

Kerry raised her eyebrows, "Thing One and Thing Two?"

Randi glanced up at Kerry, "Would you rather I use their names? What can I say, I've been reading to much Doctor Seuss."

Kerry sighed, "Point to Fronczak."

Randi ate, silent for a few moments, "Why do you put up with me Doctor Weaver? We all put up with you 'cause, well, you could fire us. Why do you put up with me?"

Kerry pushed at her pie, "Would you like the truth or what I'd tell everyone else?"

Randi took a sip of her coffee, considering Kerry's question, "Both."

"Alright. You're good at your job. Better than Frank, better than Jerry ever was. I don't have to worry about the admit desk running smoothly when you're on. Sure, you don't dress the way I'd like you to..."

"'cept on Halloween."

Kerry raised an eyebrow, "Yes. Except on Halloween. But the patients have never complained, and it's only clothes."

"And the truth?"

Kerry put down her fork, "You piss off Robert."

A snorted laugh came from Randi and she covered her mouth, "Sorry. I was raised in a barn, at least according to my grandmother. And, seriously?" Kerry nodded, "I knew there was a reason I liked you. So. Thing One and Thing Two, do they know about each other?"

Kerry shook her head, "I, uh, I don't think so."

Randi wiggled her eyebrows, "Now, that sounds wayy too much like me. Playin' the field. Go girl."

"No, no... I... Honestly, I don't know what to do. With Kim, it's like. Wow, were we friends, lovers, whatever in another life. We understand each other. And with Sandy it's..." Kerry shook her head, "It's indescribable, and amazing too, and she's just infectious..." Randi looked a bit confused at that, "I... uh, not, I mean her mood, or her energy, her." Kerry sighed. "And I'm talking to you about this. I've totally gone 'round the bend. I should. I should have just stayed an alpha bitch nun, oh so much easier than this damn crap."

Randi finished her breakfast sopping up the last of the egg with the last of her bread, "Do what your heart tells you. Maybe Tall Thing's the one for you, forever and ever 'cause she makes ya zing and you can talk about Neuroleptic Therapies. Or maybe Short Thing's your soulmate 'cause she makes you laugh when you should be crying and keeps you going when you should stop. You'll figure it out. Just make sure it's your heart that does the decidin', not your brain." Randi narrowed her eyes, "You bein' safe with them Doctor Weaver?"

Kerry's face turned a deep, deep red, "Miranda Fronczak."

"What, just 'cause they're not guys doesn't mean you're one hundred percent sa..."

Kerry cut Randi off, "I am... with both, safe, yes... aghhh..."

Randi smiled, "Oh,..." Randi stood, "Ah, and you might wanna tell 'em about each other sorta soon, or it could get, uh, ugly."

Randi started to leave, but Kerry stopped her with a sentence. "Don't screw it up with Dave Randi."

Randi glanced back, "I'm your best clerk and you don't wanna break in a new Resident?"

Kerry shrugged, "Sure, we'll go with that."

Randi gave a faux salute, "Aye, aye, ma'am Doc."

Kerry rolled her eyes as Randi left Doc Magoos.

Kim hid behind the wall and winced as Elizabeth verbally bit into Kerry and wouldn't let go. The elevator meeting, forcing Kerry into a dinner with Christy and Kate was a stupid idea. The second she saw Kerry's face when she pointed out that the red head was wrong about her own schedule, she'd known she'd gone too far, but she couldn't stop her mouth from moving and making noise.

But, she could only move forward in time. So she waited until Elizabeth was gone and came around the corner. "What was that about?"

Kerry sighed, "Some days I really hate this job."

"You me," Kim smiled, "and everyone else around here. Are you ready?" There was no comprehension in Kerry's eyes so Kim prompted, "Dinner?"

"Right. Yes. I just have to drop this off, get my stuff in the lounge. I'll meet you outside." Kerry didn't look happy, but it didn't seem as bad as earlier in the day. "Carter, you've still got that leg lac waiting in sutures. Get that by Easter would you please?"

Kim winced as Carter got the chart stuffed in his chest. Or perhaps Kerry was still pissed and dinner was going to be a long ordeal. Kim jogged to keep with Kerry. The red head was short, but boy was she fast.

Sandy's head bobbed to the music as she made herself dinner. She'd paged Kerry to see if she was off and wanted to get together. She hadn't heard back, she hoped she hadn't heard back yet.

She had just put her fork in the chicken when the phone rang. She sighed, but reached over and answered on the second ring, "Lopez."

"Weaver."

Sandy smiled, "Hey Red. You got my page."

Sandy could have sworn she heard a sigh on the other end of the line. "I did."

Sandy frowned, "You sound tired. I was going to see if you wanted to come over after your shift, but if..."

Kerry cut Sandy off, "Not sure I can. And it may be late if I do."

When Kerry didn't continue Sandy spoke again, "Jake and Angelique are all excited for our next game. I think Angie just wants someone else there who doesn't know anything about hockey and can comment on the cute guys' butts."

"I... I need to go."

Sandy frowned down at her chicken. "Kerry. Are you okay?"

Kerry seemed to try to insert more life into her voice, "I'll try to stop by. Bye Sandy."

"Good. Love you."

A later there was a click and Sandy scrunched her face. Belatedly realizing what had just popped out of her mouth, "Ah, Damnit, damnit. Stupid, stupid idiot Lopez, stupid."

Kerry slid back into her seat at the table. The one from the hospital, Christy something, was speaking. "Nikki is dating guys now and Carol's getting married to one."

"Oh..." Kim gestured to the two women seated across the table. "Both of these women have marched in every gay pride parade for the last fifteen years."

The other woman, a tall blonde with straight hair, spoke, "I don't get it."

And Christy went at it again. Her voice seemed to carry and carry, the lawyer in her, Kerry guessed. "I do. You get society's blessing, your family's..."

Kim chimed in, "Survivor benefits, tax breaks."

Kerry was uncomfortable. Christy either hadn't noticed, or didn't rightly care. "And all you gotta do is lay there a couple times a week."

All three women cracked up. The laughter echoed off the windows and through the rest of the restaurant. Kerry dredged up a half a smile.

Kim realized Kerry was uncomfortable, and put a hand on the red head's arm. "I'm sorry, we're not usually this bad."

Kerry gave a way of her hand. Partially to decrease the tension, also to get Kim's hand off her arm. "It's okay."

And then, somehow, it got worse as Christy opened her mouth again, "Hey. Do you realize that everyone at this table has slept with Kim."

"Oh my God."

Now at least Kim was uncomfortable too. "Cut it out you guys."

Christy went in for the kills, "I bet she brought a U-Haul on your second date, right?"

Kerry's forced smile was back, she didn't like being laughed at and not getting the joke, "I don't understand."

Kim, meanwhile, sat there and could feel the dinner turning, flying out of her control and off a steep, steep cliff. She wondered if it had ever been in her control. "It's a lesbian joke." She shot Christy a look of death, trying to convey to her ex that she should shut the hell up, "A bad one." She turned to Kerry. "Do you want another drink?"

But Kerry was done. "Actually, I've got to go." She stood. "I have an early shift tomorrow."

"Kerry."

"It was really," she put on her jacket, "really nice to meet you both." And then she was out the door, so, so fast that Kim practically got whiplash.

Kim stood and Christy spoke, "Not worth it stretch."

"Shut up gable girl. Kate, tell her why she's an asshole."

Kim bypassed her coat, that would take too long, and hurried out the door after Kerry, "Wait. Are you upset?"

Kerry was sick of people asking that of her. Was she okay, was she upset, was she this, that or the other thing. "No."

"Well, why are you leaving then?"

Kerry turned, "I don't belong here. I don't belong here."

"I dated Christy in college," Kim wanted to touch Kerry, but they were in the middle of the sidewalk and if there was one thing she knew about Kerry Weaver after the months, it was that the red head didn't appreciate PDAs. So she didn't touch, just pleaded. "Kate and I dated for maybe a year..."

"...it's not that. It's... this isn't me, I mean, my experience, the jokes, your friends, I'm, I'm... I care about you Kim, I'm not interested in... I can't do this..."

Kim looked stunned, "Wow, I can't believe you just said that." She smiled.

Kerry stayed still for a moment, then turned, "I'll call you later." She caught a cab and Kim watched as she got in, slammed the door and it took off.

Kerry cared about her. Kerry was leaving her alone in front of a restaurant. This woman was going to be the death of her. She watched until she couldn't see the cab, and after that still didn't move, her arms crossed over her chest.

After a bit she felt an arm around her shoulder. "Come back inside Kimmy. You know that's just Christy's test for the newbies. She always does that."

Kim stared down at the ground, "I thought. She's such an amazing woman Kate. She takes on all comers and, and... I just thought. Christy is nothing compared to... compared to those she usually butts heads with and wins."

Kate was silent for a beat, "Maybe she thought that when you said dinner with friends that she'd get to relax. Not have to be Doctor Weaver, just get to be Kerry."

Kim closed her eyes, "She said she cared about me."

Kate chuckled and started to lead Kim back into the warmth, "Yep, that's our Kimmy, overlook the fact that you're still here and she's not, always the optimist."

Sandy paused her recording and answered the door. "Kerry."

Kerry came in the door and Sandy closed it behind her. "You, Red, look like utter and complete crap."

Kerry smiled a bit and saw the TV on, paused. She frowned, "Is that Anthony Stewart Head?"

"You watch Buffy?"

"Uh, he's the Taster's Choice guy." Kerry slowly turned and faced Sandy, "You watch it? Tell me you don't..."

Sandy winced, "Yep. And you're gonna leave now 'cause I watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer?"

Kerry turned towards the door and laughed when Sandy caught her around the waist and kissed where her neck pulsed with her heartbeat, "Are you going to suck my blood?"

Sandy chuckled into Kerry's neck, "That's Dracula Kerry, not Spike or Angel. And I'm sure I can find much more fun things to suck..."