Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. They have been borrowed for entertainment purposes only without any commercial gain.

Mine

Chapter 14

"Flawless Imperfections"

The party kept on going for another couple of hours although its tone had mellowed out and the few remaining guests gathered up in a corner of the deck. Luka leaned on the veranda and exhaled deeply. Sipping slowly from his already warm beer he passed the time in a relentless effort to peel off the wet sticker from the bottle.

"It's not the bottle's fault" said Susan folding her arms in front of her chest. "Temperature is dropping…"

Luka turned around and attempted to smile at his colleague, "So…"

"What?" asked Susan with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Aren't you going to say anything…?"

Susan ran her fingers through her hair. "I don't know what to say…that was…something…I mean, what can you say? They're adults; they seem to be happy…what's left to say?"

Luka sighed in disappointment. Somehow he had expected Susan to say something different.

"You look like shit…-said Susan- …I'm sorry…"

Luka's response was a sad smile.

"Will you be okay out here..? I'm going in to check on Cosmo…"

"Actually, I'm going home…enough self pity…" -mumbled the Croatian doctor tossing the bottle into a nearby trash can.

"If it makes you feel any better Luka, I think she's happy…and yes I know, it's Kerry I know…but still, she looks very happy…"

"Yeah…"

The warm air blowing from the outlets was a welcomed sensation for the two women. After the obligatory initial commentaries about Susan's baby, Morris' unexpectedly good rendition of Etta James' "At Last" and Neela's beautiful dress, the couple fell into a comfortable silence. It was a 35 minute ride to Kerry's home. The redhead, exhausted from the shopping and the pain on her hip, closed her eyes and enjoyed the music. Abby –behind the wheel- turned to look at her lover and smiled; she looked beautiful. Reaching over she grabbed Kerry's left hand in hers and gently, rubbed the palm.

"That was beautiful you know…" –whispered Kerry.

Abby knew what Kerry was talking about. Her only response was to bring Kerry's hand to her lips and kiss it.

"But we shouldn't have done it…"

The young brunette nurse kept on kissing Kerry's hand, "Why not..?"

"Because it might cause problems…"

Abby stopped the caress and stopping at a traffic light, turned around to face her boss and lover. "What are you taking about?"

Kerry recognized the hint of anger in Abby's voice and opened her eyes to engage in the conversation she had started.

"All I'm saying is… this might bring some problems…"

"For whom? For you?" –Asked Abigail, visibly bothered by Kerry's words and implications. "I thought being gay and out at work was no longer a problem for you…I mean, what's the problem? These are our friends!"

The change from red to green prone Abby to step on the gas pedal with a bit too much force. She was getting angry by the minute but more than angry, Kerry's attitude was beginning to hurt her.

Kerry breathed heavily and closed her eyes trying to gather her thoughts and words. "Sweetie…"

"What?"-answered an angry Abigail.

"Being gay and out at work is not a problem for me. It was a long time ago yes, but it isn't now… you know that. I am long used to the gossip and the distasteful jokes about me and all that… I'm used to that…"

"So what's the problem..?" –Demanded the young nurse trying very hard to control her feelings.

"That you're not…"

"I'm not what, gay? I'm sleeping with you, aren't I?"

"I don't know if you're gay or not…the fact that you're having sex with me doesn't make you gay… in any case…that's not what we're discussing…"

Abby turned to look at Kerry, silently demanding an explanation.

"You're not used to the jokes, the commentaries, and the gossip. You're not used to being ridiculed, love. I am. You're not. These people are my subordinates, they're not my friends. They never were and they never will. Even when I was a resident and then an attending, I was never their friend… I'm different…I am a woman, I'm handicapped, I'm their boss and on top of all that I'm gay…how many degrees of separation do I need to describe for you so you can understand?"

Abby kept on driving, silently.

"Do you understand what I'm saying? By doing what we did tonight, beautiful and loving as it was for us, we told everyone in no uncertain terms that we're together. You think that'll go unnoticed? You actually think that no one will say anything to you tomorrow? I mean, it's not only the fact that you are with a woman Abby…it's also the fact sweetie, that I am the woman you're with…"

"I don't care what they say…"

Kerry smiled to herself. She knew her young lover would react that way. "Maybe not now but you might at some point and then what? What you're gonna do, uh?"

"I'll kick them in the ass…"

"Really?"

Abby did not answer. They had finally arrived at Kerry's townhouse and got inside the chilly house, silently, one after the other. Kerry went directly to their bedroom while Abby made a detour to the kitchen to get the requisite hot tea for Kerry.

When she finally arrived at Kerry's bedroom, she found the redhead doctor sitting at the bay window, gaze lost somewhere outside.

"Here…I brought your tea…"

Kerry nodded, in silence. Abby went ahead and placed the hot cup of liquid on top of one of the night tables. Taking her jacket off, she walked again towards the window. Kneeling by her lover, Abby placed both of her hands on Kerry's thighs and turned the older woman to face her, "I won't leave you…"

Kerry turned around and cupped Abigail's face in her hands. Abby leaving her was a possibility but it was not her most immediate concern. She leaned over and kissed her lover lightly on the lips.

"I like knowing that love, but…that's not what worries me…" –Added the redhead.

"What is it then?"

"I'm worried about you…I don't want anyone hurting you…"

Abby smiled timidly, got up and tugged at Kerry to follow her to bed. Silently she started unbuttoning Kerry's blouse and slid her hands to unbutton her lover's bra. Shedding both pieces of garment, she cupped Kerry's breast tenderly and kissed them. Raising her eyes she softly said, "Just make love to me, Kerry…"

And together, half dressed and half concerned about their future, they got into bed and pulled the covers. Kerry took her clothes and Abby's and positioning herself on top of her lover's awaiting body, whispered into Abby's ear, "Always my love, always…"

(End of Chapter 14)