Matumaini Mema
5
A/N: Mild violence and lady love in this one.
"KIONGOZI!"
Cat laughed as, once again, Kara was ambushed by a bunch of little kids as they entered the village. The guide was exhausted, mostly from the fact that neither she nor Cat had ended up getting much sleep the night before, but she still tried to play with them and answer their questions. In fact, after a few minutes, she just set her rucksack down and sat on the ground with them.
The older woman grabbed the bag and Kara's rifle, and carried them to Delilah, where she deposited them and her own bag in the back. Then she strolled back to the excitedly chatting kids and their captive. Kara looked at her apologetically, but Cat just smiled and took a seat next to her, lifting one of the kids into her lap as the little girl rubbed her pale hair between her fingers.
"Ulikuwa wapi?" the little girl asked, touching Cat's face. The journalist suspected that she may have been only the second white person these kids had ever seen.
"She wants to know where we were. Tulichukua kutembea kwa muda mrefu," Kara replied. "Long, long walk."
"Do you normally bring your clients here?" Cat asked suddenly and Kara looked down a little sheepishly.
"No… no, I have a different route I normally take."
"Then why…?" Cat stopped as Kara's face gentled and a clue knocked her upside the head. "You wanted to show me this?"
"It's important to me," the younger woman said. "And I knew from talking to you that first night, that you'd appreciate it."
"I do… very much," Cat said as she let their eyes meet and hold. "Would it cause a scandal if I kissed you right now, Kara Danvers?"
The guide chuckled. "A scandal, no, but the kids will tease me mercilessly."
"You can handle it," the journalist said with a smile as she leaned in and captured Kara's lips for an almost chaste kiss.
The kids were giggling and oooooohing, and Kara laughed as she began tickling anyone she could reach. "Kusubiri hadi nyote kukua na kuanguka kwa upendo!" she exclaimed. "You'll fall in love soon enough, mark my words!"
"Kiongozi has a girlfriend," one of the older kids sing-songed. "She's in loooooove!"
Cat chuckled softly. It was a beautiful moment, except for her impending departure from Kenya that was never far from her thoughts, and she caressed the guide's back until she finally freed herself from her captors and stood up. "I have to go see the chief. Want to come?"
"Think I could get some photos?" Cat asked.
"Maybe," Kara shrugged. "We can ask."
The journalist followed her guide to a hut at the other end of the village. There was a woman outside, hanging washing on a line, and Kara greeted her with a kiss to both cheeks. "Akinyi, how are you?"
"I'm well, Kara. And you?"
"Very well, thank you. Akinyi, this is Cat Grant. She's a journalist from America who's doing a story on the poaching going on in the park." Cat greeted the woman with a handshake. "We ran into trouble, and I need to speak to Afaafa urgently. There may be someone following us."
Akinyi chuckled softly. "Kiongozi, you know that if anyone was following you, we'd see them before they'd see us."
Cat blinked as she suddenly realized the woman had a hint of an American accent. Then she figured that Kara must have taught her English too.
"I know," Kara replied. "But still, I'd rather you were prepared. I hate that we might have brought danger to the village."
"What's this I hear of danger?" Another woman stepped out of the hut and wagged a finger at the younger blonde. "Getting yourself into trouble again, Kara Danvers?" she said. "My wife is correct. We have plenty of eyes on the forest since the last raid. There is nothing to fear." The chief looked at Cat then. "And you are Kara's special one?" she asked.
Cat looked down for a moment, but then she nodded. "Yes," she replied simply, ignoring the goggle-eyed expression on her lover's face.
"Uh…" Kara began.
"And she's mine," Cat continued, eyes lifted proudly.
Afaafa chuckled and clapped her friend on the back. "You have a good one there, Kara. Now come, you must be hungry."
Kara nodded dumbly and just followed Cat when she took her hand and tugged gently.
Xx
Kara hadn't intended to stay overnight at the village, but Cat had had such a good time with the chief and her wife, and it had grown so late, that they decided to accept their invitation to use the small guest hut normally reserved for important people from other villages.
Cat stripped off her clothes, as Kara lit the fire in the small hearth, and then knelt next to her on the thick animal skin rug. "Sorry if I freaked you out earlier."
"Hmmm?" the guide frowned. "When?"
"When Afaafa asked about your special someone."
Kara shrugged. "It just… surprised me a little, I guess."
Cat looked down and shook her head. "Kara," she said. "You ARE special to me, and I wish..."
The younger blonde closed her eyes and shook her head. "Don't…" she whispered. "Please, Cat… just be in the present with me, ok? I can't think about the future right now."
The journalist understood. She wrapped her arms around Kara and held her close, then kissed her, pouring her feelings into the passionate exchange of lips and tongue and teeth as they slowly finished undressing each other. The fire lit the hut with a hazy, amber glow and, as Kara slipped inside her, the play of shadows and light on Cat's beautiful face made tears well in her eyes. Then, as Cat came around her fingers, she buried her face in the crook of her neck and held her, already mourning her loss. It had been easier to fall in love with this incredible, fearless woman than she'd ever fathomed. And the thing was… in the end, she hadn't even had a choice. She hadn't LET herself fall. She just… had.
"Hey," Cat said softly, wiping tears Kara didn't even realize she was crying, from her cheeks. "I'm here." She caressed and kissed the younger woman's body, then coaxed her intimately until Kara's back arched off the rug and she had to bite her knuckles to stifle her cry of pleasure.
"Cat…" she whimpered softly as she trembled under her lover. "I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye."
And Cat just kissed her again.
Xx
Morning brought another hot and sunny day. Kara leaned against Delilah with her arms folded, smiling as she watched Cat saying goodbye to the kids. They were all talking at her at the same time, so the guide didn't even bother trying to translate for her, and eventually, the journalist just waved and blew them kisses before joining her lover at the truck.
"They're so adorable," she said.
"They're good kids," Kara agreed as she opened the door and hopped in.
Cat rounded the vehicle and slid in next to her. "I'll miss them."
The whole way back to the resort, even when Kara stopped to point out animals and birds, she didn't let go of Cat's hand and that was just fine with the journalist. She just kept up a steady stroking of her thumb against the younger woman's skin, hoping it would soothe her.
Cat herself was struggling to maintain her composure. She didn't for one second regret their decision to be together for just 4 days, but she understood what Kara was feeling because she was feeling it herself. She'd known for a long time that Clay hadn't been the love of her life, but he'd been safe, so she'd stayed with him. But now, she wondered if Kara was that person. Her PERSON. But no, she'd only known the younger woman a few days. She wasn't in love with her. It was just lust… need… want… with a healthy dose of affection thrown into the mix. She would never forget Kara, but she'd move on with her life and have these few days as a secret kept only for herself. What was it her mother always said?
Kitty… find yourself a tall, rich, kind, generous, loving… MAN. Right. Cat rolled her eyes and sighed. Keep lying to yourself, Grant. Maybe it'll stop your heart from completely shredding when you have to get on that plane.
"You look very put out," Kara chuckled. "What are you thinking about?"
"My annoying, homophobic mother," the journalist sighed.
"Ninety-nine percent of homophobes are horribly closeted gay people," Kara deadpanned.
The journalist laughed. "I think you might be padding that number a little, Sweetheart."
A shrug and a squeeze of her hand was the guide's reply to that. "We're only fifteen minutes from the resort," Kara said then. "Um… I'll drop you off and head home to clean up. Then I'll come back, ok?"
Cat leaned across the seat to kiss the younger woman on the cheek. "Stay with me tonight?"
Kara nodded, lips upturning into a little grin. "Yeah, definitely. And stay with me at my house tomorrow night? The plane will be leaving at about three on Sunday, so plenty of time to have breakfast before…" She trailed off and her face sobered a little.
"Stay in the moment, Sweetheart," Cat reminded her, but she was swallowing against a lump in her throat that made it hard to speak. "We still have two more nights together."
Xx
The shower felt like heaven. It took a while, but when she finally felt clean again, Cat stepped out of the cubicle and wrapped herself up in a fluffy towel. Then she looked at her watch on her dressing table and took her phone out of the drawer to call her son. He would just be waking up in National City and, when he answered in a groggy, sleepy voice, it was like music to her ears.
"Hi, Baby, it's me."
"Hi, Mom, I miss you," the ten-year-old replied. "Everything going ok?"
"Yes, I got everything I needed. My flight is leaving here on Sunday at three, so I'll see you Monday. How is everything going there? Any disasters?"
"Nope," Carter replied. "Everything went like clockwork, just like always."
"Good boy," the journalist praised. "I'm proud of you and I can't wait to show you all the photos of wildlife I took."
"Oh, was your guide good?" Carter asked curiously.
Cat swallowed and took a breath. "She was… is… exceptional. I learned so much from her."
There was silence between them for a moment and then Carter cleared his throat. "Ok, good. Well, I'll see you Monday, Mom. Love you."
"Love you too, Carter. Bye."
Cat hung up the phone and then sat on her bed, face buried in her hands. "What the fuck am I doing?" she whispered. "God help me."
When she'd finally forced herself to stop crying, Cat dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and pulled her sneakers out of her bag, packing her boots away since she didn't think she'd be needing them again. Just then, she heard a light tap at the door, and she turned to find Kara leaning against it. She was dressed in jeans too, but they were sinfully tight and hugged her hips and thighs in a way that made Cat's mouth water. Paired with a dark blue silk blouse and cowboy boots, and with her long, blonde hair loose over her shoulders and chest, the outfit made the older woman just want to rip it off her.
And maybe those thoughts were on her face because three strides later, Kara's arms were around her and she was being kissed senseless. "Fuck me, you're so hot," the guide groaned.
"I'm not the one poured into those jeans," Cat replied on a gasp of pleasure.
"Kiongozi! Ninahitaji miguu ya twiga ya yako," a voice called from outside.
Kara whimpered and shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said. "I promised Almasi I'd help her. She's cleaning out some storge units and she can't reach the top shelves." She turned her head. "OK, Almasi, be right there... and I do NOT have giraffe legs, thank you very much!"
Cat chuckled and patted her butt. "Later," she promised.
The younger woman looked at her watch. "What time is later?"
"You'll know when it's time," the journalist promised. Then she sat on the bed to put her sneakers on and follow Kara outside.
Xx
Almasi was keeping an eye on her best friend, and she noticed how Kara's eyes would track to find Cat every now and again as the journalist wandered around taking photographs.
"What's going on with you?" she asked casually. "Did Cat have a good time?"
"We both did," the guide replied with a smile, eyes moving to her lover again. She reached up to grab something off the highest shelf and Almasi sniggered as Cat's eyes landed firmly on her ass.
"You two are so sleeping together," she stated, hands on her hips.
Kara grinned and shrugged. "Yeah, we are actually."
Almasi nodded. "She seems nice."
"Yeah, she's…" The guide let her eyes meet her friend's. "Everything."
The cook shook her head at the sadness she saw in the blue depths. "Oh, Kara, I'm sorry."
Almasi knew as well as Kara that people who came to Matumaini Mema never stayed longer than a week or two.
"We have today and tomorrow together," the blonde replied. "We plan on making the most of it."
"Then what are you doing here?" Almasi exclaimed. "Go! Go spend time with her. The high shelves can wait. Go go!"
The guide grinned and hugged her friend. "Thanks, Al. I'll see you at dinner." Then she headed out to find Cat again.
The older woman was strolling aimlessly, and she jumped a little as warm arms encircled her from behind and gentle lips teased her neck. "Almasi let me off for good behavior," Kara whispered. "Take a walk with me?"
"Of course," Cat replied, taking Kara's hand and lacing their fingers together. It was the afternoon, and the sun was just beginning to dip a little. "What else is there to see around here?"
Kara's eyebrows lifted. "How do you feel about bats?"
"Uuuhhh… better than I do about snakes and spiders," the journalist responded slowly.
The guide grinned widely. "Then I have something cool to show you." She led Cat through a wooded area until they came upon a small hut that looked like it had been abandoned for a long time. "This was the original ranger hut for Matumaini Mema," she said. "But they have their base at the resort now. When we go inside, stay very quiet, ok?"
"Ok," Cat agreed. Then she followed the younger woman as she crept toward the slightly ajar door and pushed it open a little more to slip inside. It was dark but the journalist was acutely aware of the presence all around her. Kara moved to stand behind her and wrap one arm around her waist, then pulled out her pocketknife.
"Look up," she said, a bare whisper into Cat's ear. Green eyes lifted as Kara turned the tiny flashlight built into the knife on, and the journalist sucked in a breath as more eyes than she could count were reflected. There must have been a hundred or more bats and, as Kara moved the light beam, wings fluttered a little. "Babies," the guide whispered then, pausing the light in one corner of the room which seemed to be a nursery.
"Incredible," Cat breathed. They stayed for another minute or so, then Kara shuffled them slowly out the door and back out into the sunshine.
"Cool, huh?"
"I've never experienced anything like it," the older woman said with a broad smile. "Thank you, Kara." She kissed her lover and hugged her hard. "I love... um... how... you teach me so much."
"And sharing this with you makes me happy," the younger blonde smiled.
Just then, the resort's safari truck pulled up and there was a clamor of noise and complaints as its occupants alighted. "Didn't see a damn thing," Jack said as he approached Cat, shaking his head. "Guide didn't know shit about anything. All he did was stop the truck in various places and turn the goddamn engine off."
Kara blinked. "Were y'all making that noise while you were out there?" she asked. "Cos if I was one of the animals who lived in this safari park, I'd have hidden too."
It took everything Cat had to keep her impassive face in place as she nodded along. She wanted so badly to give Jack a piece of her mind.
"Hey, you're back... Cat, right? Weren't you supposed to be on the day safaris with us?" another woman asked. Cat couldn't remember her name.
"No," she replied. "I have a private guide. This is Kara Danvers."
Kara stuck her hands in her pockets and rocked on her heels. "Take my advice, keep everyone in the truck quiet while you're out there tomorrow and just be patient. You'll see more. Excuse me."
To Cat's surprise, Kara turned and walked away, her shoulders set in an almost painfully angry square.
"What jumped into HER shorts," Jack chuckled. Then he turned and headed for the dining room. "C'mon, Michaela, I'm starving."
The journalist shook her head and went after her lover, finding her behind a hut, pacing with her hands perched on her hips. "I swear, Cat," she said. "If that idiot says one more thing about the guides or..."
"Hey," Cat stepped into her and wrapped her arms around her waist, stopping her angry pacing. "Look at me."
Blue eyes stilled as the younger woman gave her lover her full attention. She was still feeling prickly though. "What?" she demanded.
"People like him don't understand this place like you do, but, Kara, you can educate him."
The guide blinked and then nodded slowly. "Sorry," she said, holding Cat close and swaying them a little. "He just pissed me off." She kissed the older woman's head. "This is why I don't guide big groups."
Cat chuckled. "I hear ya. Ok, why don't we go get some dinner. I'm hungry."
Kara nibbled her ear sensually. "After we eat," she said. "Will it be 'later'?"
The journalist chuckled softly. "Mmmm... I think it definitely could be."
Xx
Almasi, as always, had outdone herself with dinner, and Cat was pleasantly full as she sat on a two-seater couch with Kara, sharing dessert and teasing kisses over glasses of sweet red wine. Her hut was lit only by the fire in the fireplace and by a few candles lit throughout the space, and the flames sputtered fitfully in the night-cooled draft coming in from outside.
"Apparently, we've turned sixteen again," the journalist said, unable to ignore the tingles of arousal her lover was evoking by looking at her with passion-filled eyes. Although Kara's hand caressing slowly over her breast may also have had something to do with it.
"Mmmm... and that's bad because...?" the guide asked, taking the older woman's bottom lip between her teeth and nibbling so softly, it made the journalist moan. Then Kara grinned. "If we're sixteen, can I feel you up and take your shirt off?"
"Is that what you were doing at sixteen?" Cat teased. "Clearly you didn't go to a Catholic all girl's school like I did."
"Nope," the younger woman replied. "Public school all the way. Smallville, Kansas." She slowly unbuttoned Cat's shirt, but her grin widened as the older woman swung a knee over her thighs and settled in her lap, cupping her face between her hands.
"Where have you been all my life?" Cat whispered against her lips. She hadn't meant to say it and she blushed a tad as Kara's eyebrows lifted.
"You're such a romantic," she chuckled softly, letting her hands roam up the older woman's back under her shirt and releasing the clasp of her bra. Kara's hands travelled slowly to Cat's breasts, caressing them gently as she leaned closer to kiss her. "And so beautiful."
The moment was too much... the look in Kara's eyes... the reverence of her touch... the longing in the set of her body... broke something in Cat and a strangled sob ripped from her. "I don't want to leave you," she said, face pressing into Kara's neck.
"And I don't want you to leave," the guide replied, sounding surprisingly calm to her own ears, despite the agony she was feeling. "But your son is waiting for you. He's going to be so glad you're home."
Cat nodded and snuggled closer to her lover, just letting Kara's hands soothe her. "Do you regret this?" she asked after a long moment of silence.
Kara's blue eyes were welling with tears. "I could never regret being with you, Catherine Grant."
And despite the situation... despite the inevitability of loss... Cat felt immeasurable joy. "Me neither." She kissed Kara desperately and, that night, they made love on the floor in front of the fire with an urgency born of needing to show each other the things they just couldn't say.
Xx
"BOZO!"
Kara grinned as her beloved friend landed on her head and shuffled his feet in her hair. "Hey, Buddy. Miss me?"
"Miss me?" Bozo replied solemnly.
Kara reached her hand up for the parrot to jump on to, and then brought him to her lips to kiss his beak. "You know I always miss you," she said.
Cat was charmed and she wrapped her arm around her lover's waist to lean against her. Kara's eyes moved over her property to make sure nothing was out of place, and then she took the journalist's hand and led her to the house. She was carrying her rucksack (which hadn't even made it out of her truck in her haste to get back to Cat the previous day) and she set it down, chuckling when Bozo thoroughly examined it, as she pulled her keys out of her pocket and unlocked the door.
"Make yourself at home," she told Cat as she led her inside and closed the door behind them, leaving the indignant parrot outside. "Want a beer?"
"Sure," the older woman replied. "I can get them, if you want to unpack your gear."
"Thanks," Kara nodded. "It'll just take a minute."
She disappeared into her bedroom and Cat went to the kitchen to look for the beer in the refrigerator, then she brought them to the bedroom door. "Can I come in?" she asked.
"Sure," the guide replied. "Don't mind the mess. I kinda left in a hurry yesterday." She grinned sheepishly as Cat stepped inside and gave her an adoring look. In fairness, the room wasn't very messy at all, and showed the same order that Kara employed while making and breaking camp.
She was standing at the bed, unpacking her stuff and Cat came up behind her to set the beer bottles on the nightstand and wrap her arms around her waist. She rested her cheek between the guide's shoulder blades and sighed. "Sorry," she said. "I just can't seem to stop myself from touching you."
"Please don't stop," the guide replied quietly. Then she turned in Cat's arms and hugged her back. "It feels so good."
"Mmmm..." Cat hummed softly. Then she forced herself to ease back and picked up her beer to take a long swallow. "So, what's on the agenda for today, Tarzan?"
"I dunno, Jane. I was thinking we just hang out here. Maybe go out for a picnic dinner later?" The younger woman went back to unpacking and then carried her dirty clothes to the washing machine to set a load running. When she went back into the bedroom, she found Cat sprawled comfortably on the bed, propped up on the pillows.
"I have a confession to make," the journalist said solemnly.
"Oh yeah?" Kara said as she crawled to her and gathered her into her arms to relax with her.
"My middle name is Jane."
Kara's eyebrows shot up and then she burst into laughter. "No!"
"Yup," Cat grinned. "After my grandmother."
"That's such a coincidence," the guide said. "My middle name is Tarzan!"
The older blonde shook her head and poked her lover in the stomach. "Very funny." She rolled her eyes and then laughed helplessly as Kara winked exaggeratedly. Cat clamped her jaw shut when she realized that the three little words echoing in her mind were about to come out her mouth and then snuggled closer, letting her fingertips tease over the ridges of the guide's abs under her shirt. It was warm, relaxed and cozy... and very soon, they were both snoozing.
Kara woke first, her senses suddenly prodding her into alertness as she thought she heard something outside. She stayed still and silent... and then she heard the distinctive noise of a plant pot breaking. She looked at Cat who was still sleeping and knew she had to wake her. She put her hand over the older woman's mouth and then shook her gently. "Cat... wake up."
Cat stirred and made a little sound of surprise.
"Shhhh... there's someone outside," the guide said and saw the understanding dawn in the widening of the journalist's green eyes as she nodded. They eased off the bed and Kara opened her nightstand to pull out a handgun. She checked its clip and then slid it into the back of her jeans. "Stay here," she said.
"Not a chance," Cat replied firmly, and the guide just nodded and handed the gun to her instead.
"Do you know how to use that?"
"Yeah," the older woman replied.
"My rifle is in the living room. That's our first stop." Cat nodded and followed her lover quietly into the other room, both staying low. The guide grabbed her rifle and then crouched against the wall out of view of the windows to flip off the safety and chamber a round. She and Cat froze as a shadow passed and then a man dressed in camouflage shirt and pants quickly passed by the window. "Where's the memory card?" the younger blonde asked quietly.
Cat patted the back pocket of her jeans. "In my wallet right here," she said.
"Give it to me please." The journalist nodded and quickly got it out. Kara reached over to her sideboard and lifted a plant pot to hide the tiny device underneath it. "At least if they take us, the data will be safe."
"Yeah," Cat agreed. "What do we do now?"
"Now, I talk to them." Kara straightened and went to the door, taking a deep breath and then opening it.
Cat swallowed as she heard guns being cocked and watched her lover point hers in return. "Fuck," she murmured.
"Guys," Kara said firmly. "This is private property. I have to ask you to leave."
"Kiongozi," a voice replied. "My men and I do not want trouble. We simply want the photos you took."
Cat saw her lover's shoulders tense up. "And who are you?" she asked.
"I'm just a man with... business interests... in the area. I cannot let you ruin that for me."
The older woman scuttled to the window, staying crouched as she let her eyes look over the sill. Outside was the man in the suit, whom she and Kara had seen at the poachers' compound, along with some other men and Kara's former friend, Waruhiu, who looked extremely squirrelly. Her heart was pounding with fear, and she envied how her lover seemed to be remaining perfectly calm and unafraid.
Kara was, in fact, terrified, but she managed to maintain her impassive face, despite it. "And why do you think I could ruin anything for you?" she asked with devastating innocence. "I gave Waruhiu the camera, like he asked."
Waruhiu stepped forward and threw the camera at her. It bounced off her shoulder, but she didn't lower her weapon or make any attempt to catch it. "The camera has no pictures. You took the memory card before giving it to me."
One eyebrow lifted. "I see." Then the guide looked at SuitMan, her gaze level and still. "I can assure you that I didn't take the memory card and I don't have it. If you're looking for someone to blame, I'd start with your guide there. If he'd leave our business behind to make more money off you, why wouldn't he leave you behind to become a snitch for the police and make even more money off them. Frankly, I don't care what you're doing, Dude. I was just making a buck off a reporter."
Cat swallowed as SuitMan slowly turned to look at his guide, both eyebrows raised. "Prove her wrong."
Waruhiu shook his head. "Usimwamini! Anadanganya! Kadi ilikuwa imekwenda wakati nilitoa kamera kwenye begi langu, mara tu baada ya kunipa!"
"I'm not lying," Kara shot back. "The memory card was in the camera. The journalist had just put a fresh one in that morning. How would I have time to take it? You caught us off guard in the tree line, Dude."
Kara sounded so convincing, Cat almost believed her, despite knowing the truth. SuitMan looked torn for a moment. Then he squared his shoulders and lifted his gun to point it right at Kara's head. The guide stood unflinchingly, and Cat held her breath as the standoff continued. Then in a rapid movement, he turned and shot Waruhiu in the head. Kara's entire body jerked in reaction, but she didn't look away. She heard Cat's gasp and hoped that she'd stay where she was as she slowly lowered her gun.
"Kiongozi, I'm only believing you because this man did not know that I knew he was stealing from me. However, if the photographs do get into the wrong hands, I know where you live and will come back for you... along with everyone you love."
"Understood," Kara replied as she watched the other men warily lower their weapons.
Then SuitMan lifted a hand. "Tumemaliza hapa. Rudi kwenye magari!" His team all headed back to their vehicles, taking the body of their deceased guide with them. "Hopefully, we will never see each other again, Kara Danvers."
"Cheers to that," the guide replied in a low, dangerous voice.
The man simply laughed and went back to his truck, and it sped away, leaving behind a large cloud of dust. Kara waited until they were out of view before she went inside the house and closed the door, pressing her forehead against it as Cat straightened.
"Are you ok?" the older woman asked softly.
"I...' Kara shook her head and then went to the couch on shaking legs to sit down. "Yeah... I'm ok."
"Fuck, Kara," Cat breathed.
"I know." The guide rubbed her hands over her face and sniffed as tears welled in her eyes. "I gave my death sentence to Waruhiu." She got up then to run to the bathroom and Cat closed her eyes as she heard her lover throwing up. She grabbed a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator and quietly followed her to hold her hair and stroke her back.
"I'm sorry, Baby," she whispered. "So, so sorry."
And Kara just turned and let her lover hold her.