A/N: Here is Chapter 21...faster than I thought. I hope you enjoy it....Thanks for everybody who is reading this story and thank you also for the reviews. It makes me happy to know that you like it as I very much love writing it....
Disclaimer: I do not own Cold Case...nope...I don't.
Chapter 21
Lilly and Scotty were entangled together. Scotty's arm stretched protectively over her body, her leg unconsciously wrapped on top of his.
Her blond hair was disheveled on the pillow, their breathing was regular. They were deep in sleep when her alarm clock rang 6am.
Before saying a word, he hugged her bit more tightly, welcoming the warmth of her back against his chest. He kissed her hair, moved them away in a tender gesture and put his lips on her neck. She shivered.
"Morning Linda", he whispered while she grunted out of protest of being forced out of bed. He laughed: "You usually seem to be the type to be right up, the early type you know."
"I am .... once I got my coffee into my system" she replied.
"By the way, maybe you can call me something else than Linda, my first thought is always that you're talking to somebody else." She continued.
He let out a loud laugh.
"Feeling fisty this morning Lil?" He asked.
"hm hm" was the only reply he got out of her.
Their back and forth was interrupted by her cell phone ringing.
"A lover?" Scotty couldn't help but asking. He pretended to be joking. However, he really was afraid that somebody else might be in the race. He knew that she was definitely worth the battle but he was scared that Ray might resurface. If he was truthful with himself, he really was the only one who could lure her away. And he had enough fighting with the low odds of them making something work out, he didn't want extra distractions. He wouldn't say it out loud...A real man did not talk about these things he thought.
She didn't reply to him, simply turned her back on him, signaling that the phone call was an important one. He tried to listen more intensely, failing at recognizing what the conversation was about. It was difficult anyways since Lilly was only responding to the other person on the line by nodding her head. He wanted to tell her that this person couldn't see her but the way her body had stiffened during the past few minutes was his cue to know it was not a really good idea.
"I'll be there" she finally replied and hung up.
"Where?" He asked, when she finally turned back towards him.
"What's going on" he asked, worries taking over his tone of voice when he realized that Lilly's eyes were frozen. They seemed to not see him, to look past him and he wasn't really sure where they were. Thousands of thoughts were crossing his mind. He thought of Christina, of Nick, of Ray...and then he realized somebody else could make Lilly act so concerned but also so wary as the relationship she had with that person was one he didn't fully comprehend.
"Was it boss?" He finally questioned.
"no..." She started answering as she got up but something in her voice told him, he was going in the right direction.
"Care to tell me what's going on or should I just keep guessing?" He started to be angry, he didn't enjoy trying to get answers out of her and he wished they had passed that phase of her retreating into her own world when something was wrong. He thought that they had made progress in that direction, he knew they did when she had let him in the night before or when she had let him hold her when she was feeling so distraught over her mother.
She didn't reply and just hoped in the shower. When he heard the water running, he thought of looking at the cell phone, he didn't want to pry on her or anything but if she was not talking, he knew he could find answers other ways.
However, he couldn't bring himself to do it...there were certain lines he didn't want to cross and he was trying not to treat Lilly as just another suspect he had to get the truth out. His inner debate must have lasted longer than he thought cos' he jumped when he heard Lilly open the bathroom door. She was wrapped in a light blue towel, her hair still leaving drops of water on the floor. She had a small inquisitive smile on her face.
"So, did you?" She asked.
Scotty looked up incredulously, wondering if she maybe had a 6th sense that would explain why she was so good at her job.
"What?" he carefully replied, not wanting to give away too much in case she spoke of something else. The chance was slim, he knew it.
"Check my cell phone, Valens" She replied, seriously.
"No" He answered, honestly.
"It would be easier though if you shared information with me, that way I wouldn't have the sudden urge to go through your phone calls" He continued, anger lingering in his voice.
She seemed a bit destabilized by the tone.
"Fine." She finally murmured unwillingly.
He raised an eyebrow, surprised it had been that easy. She didn't finish to surprise him, after all.
"It was John's daughter. She is worried. She knows something is up with him but he wouldn't say what it is. Apparently, she just got the same information as we do except she knows the hospital where he's at, nothing more. She's not in town so she asked if I could pass by the hospital and try to figure out what's going on." She explained.
"Something I should have done earlier anyways." She added, ridden with guilt. He recognized the feeling since it was one of the many traits they had in common.
"Do you want me to come?" He asked, hopeful but knowing the answer.
"No" She replied and he shrugged.
"Now, that the interrogation is over. Do you mind if we get ready, I still need coffee." Her tone was still serious but he was relieved to see a very small smile on her face.
She grabbed some clothes and went back into the bathroom. Scotty made his way downstairs, patting the cats who seemed to be growing accustomed to his presence in their sanctuary and made the coffee.
When Lilly came down, she eagerly took the fuming cup he was handing her, she took notice of the worry shade his brown eyes had taken. She couldn't' understand how she didn't notice before that all his thoughts could be traced back to the way he was looking at her. "Not very observant detective" She thought.
She didn't really know how to let him more in her life that he already was. She was afraid of the implications their sort of relationship was taking but she also realized she was more scared to let her fears ruin everything.
She put her hand on his shoulder, feeling the chemistry of their body resurface. She fought the urge she suddenly felt to just wrap herself around him again.
"Thanks for coffee, Scotty." She whispered in her ear, hoping he'd knew that she was also thanking him for not pushing her limits, for not trying to make her say more about what she was feeling at the moment.
He turned towards her and felt relieved to see that the ice from her eyes was gone and he smiled, his cocky smile, the one which irritated her but also sent butterflies running through her stomach.
"No problem" He replied and she knew he understood what she had meant.
"I gotta get back to my apartment and take a shower. Can't make those two girls wait too long to see me...but really, Lil' only two women would be jealous?" He joked.
She shook her head in disbelief but laughed.
"You're unbelievable" She exclaimed, forgetting for one moment the worry she felt in her heart for Stillman's situation.
"I've been told it's a good thing...and by more than two women" He winked at her and she blushed slightly, remembering she had told him that once before in a very different situation. She pushed the image away and muttered: "Funny, Valens".
He kissed her on the cheek, not believing he could actually make Lilly Rush blush but quite happy to have this little power.
"I'll see you later, Linda..." He said. She nudged him...
"Uh, I mean Lilly" He continued and left the house.
Lilly looked around, confused for a moment, as she realized that even her kitchen seemed more alive when he was there.
She looked at the time, surprised to see that it was almost 8am. She rushed to get her things ready, called Jeffries to say she was going to be a bit late, not mentioning where she was heading to and as she knew it, Jeffries didn't ask any questions. Sometimes, she wondered if it was because he already had all answers but she didn't have time to ponder too much.
Her heart beat a bit faster as she made it to the hospital...She remembered when she was there, lying herself in a bed, the despair she had felt. It didn't seem that long ago and she shivered. She forced herself to knock on the door the reception indicated as being the one of Stillman.
As there was no answer, she slightly pushed it open...
A/N: So....I hope you enjoyed it. The best way to let me know....is clicking that little review button ...Thanks!