Look, a smut-free chapter!

#22 Because it's the drawer... it's his drawer

Rick unlocked the door to Kate's apartment and stepped inside, closing and locking the door behind him. It was late, but he knew Kate wouldn't be back for a while. He'd been at a meeting with Black Pawn nearly all day-not to mention the day before, and they had decided that he would just have to sit this case out, since he'd missed nearly everything.

He dropped his wallet and keys onto the table by the door and made his way into her bedroom, stripping off his pants and shirt as he went. He dropped them into the hamper when he got to her room before he turned and walked to the dresser. He pulled open his drawer and grabbed a new pair of boxers before going into the bathroom to get ready for bed. When he was done, Rick walked over to the bed and climbed into what had become his side.

He grabbed his phone and sent a text to Kate to let her know that he was sleeping over at her place, just in case she had a freak out when she walked in. Then he set his alarm for a time when he hoped Kate would still be there in the morning. He knew she was busy, and that he wouldn't likely see her without the alarm, but the possibility of sleeping in the same bed as her, even if he completely missed her in the morning, was enough to make him leave the loft for the night. Besides, Alexis was still at college, and Martha had gone to the Hamptons, so he would have been alone either way. But now, he'd be able to sleep somewhere that had more Kate than him.

When he was done with his phone, he plugged it in and turned off the light before rolling over to face Kate's side of the bed. After a moment's hesitation, Rick reached out and grabbed her pillow. He wrapped his arms around it and buried his nose in the fabric, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. It wasn't the real thing, but it was enough to send him off to sleep.

When Kate walked into her apartment, she froze. Something was off, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She pulled her gun out and walked silently to her bedroom, where she found a lump in her bed. As she approached, her hip bumped into something, and after a brief flash of pain, Kate smiled.

Rick had never closed his drawer.

Kate softly slid it shut and turned to the box on top of the dresser, where she deposited her father's watch and her mother's ring. Then she turned to the lock box and placed her gun inside, and closed and locked the lid. She turned to her own drawers and pulled out a tank top and a pair of boy shorts before walking into the bathroom to change.

When she pulled her phone out of her pocket, Kate saw that she had a text from Rick, letting her know that he was sleeping at her place that night. She chuckled to herself for being worried, and she switched the volume back on, unsure of how it got put on silent in the first place.

She quickly changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth and hair, and washed the makeup off her face. When she was done, she opened the door just enough for her to slip out, without letting too much light into the room. She was about to flick the light off, when she caught sight of how Rick was sleeping in her bed.

He was facing her side of the bed, and therefore the bathroom as well, and his body was curled around her pillow. Kate shook her head and smiled to herself before turning the light off and carefully making her way to the bed, where she shifted the covers and climbed in. It took a bit of effort, but she was finally able to pry the pillow from Rick's grip, and she replaced it with her own body, smiling when Rick unconsciously pulled her closer.

"Kate?" He murmured sleepily while he pressed his lips to her head.

"Shh." Kate said as she kissed his neck.

Rick made a sound of agreement and pulled Kate more firmly into his body. Kate snuggled more fully into him, and a moment later, she was asleep.

Hope you guys are ok with the lack of smut, but it's a little difficult to write smut for every chapter.

If you have any ideas for this story, please let me know. I already have some of them planned, but there are others that I'm not sure about, and I love audience participation. So send me your thoughts, and if I don't have anything planned, I'll do my best to write what you want.

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