Steve pulled up in his car parking space and turned the engine off. He looked to his left. There in the passenger seat was a plastic bag containing yet another take away dinner and bottle of wine. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help himself which only made him more angry or was it more disappointed in himself?
He sighed a deep sigh. He was miserable. His life was stuck in a rut and he had no idea how to improve it. His private life was non existent, always spending time alone at home getting drunk. For the first time in his life he hated being at AC-12. Forever destined to be a detective sergeant with no prospect of promotion unless Hastings had a personality transplant. His new partner was competent which was good, but the main problem was that she wasn't Kate.
He missed her so much. He had never thought she would carry out her threat of transferring out, but he should have known because she was a woman of her word. He'd finally realised she was actually leaving at her leaving do and he had sat at a table drinking beer by himself, wondering exactly how it had got to that point.
Kate was leaving him. Like every other woman in his life, apart from his mother of course, and he felt like a complete failure. It was the longest relationship he'd had with an unrelated member of the opposite sex and he'd always thought it would endure. He wanted like anything to tell her how he really felt about her and beg her to stay. The problem was she was leaving AC-12 for Josh. She wanted to be the mum he deserved and that meant giving up her search for corrupt police officers and all the extra hours that required, in exchange for quality time with him instead. He knew he could never ask Kate to choose between him and Josh and so he had done the hardest thing ever and let her go.
He remembered how badly he had reacted at her suggestion that he didn't want to be at her leaving do and how angry he had been at her as he walked home from the pub. Her shouting after him that he was leaving her without a proper good bye! She was completely wrong about that he reminded himself as he took a swig of beer from a bottle he'd opened as soon as he had got home. She was doing the leaving.
Deciding she needed reminding of that little fact he finished another two bottles of beer before walking over to Kate's. She was always making out that he was wrong about things- time for some payback.
He'd got to her apartment and started knocking and ringing the bell, before finally resorting to shouting through the letterbox. That had done the trick and he heard her approach the door.
"Do you mind?" She had said to him, quiye annoyed with him.. "I'm trying to sleep, as are my neighbours,".
Steve had gone to Kate's all pumped up with indignation at being accused of leaving her, but he remembered how the wind had completely been taken out of sails when he noticed how little she was wearing and how it moulded to her body and left nothing to his imagination. Her shorts barely covering her arse and the top which didn't hide the fact her nipples were currently pointed peaks. She'd caught him staring and crossed her arms in front of her hoping it would provide some coverage. But it didn't. It had only served to give her breasts a bit of an uplift, like a Wonderbra which hadn't done anything for his lustful thoughts.
They'd soon launched into another argument and then she had slapped him. It would take a while to forget how painful it had been but he had deserved it after he'd hurled a horrible comment in her direction. As he held his smarting cheek she looked very shocked at what she had just done. She looked beautiful all angry at him- her cheeks flushed, dilated pupils and breathing heavily. He didn't know what possessed him to do what he did.
Her lips were full and soft as he forcefully kissed her, just as he had imagined they would be. He half prepared himself for another slap or even a punch for invading her personal space in the way he did, but instead he found her responding to his kiss. She allowed his tongue entry to her mouth whilst she sought out his with her own.
hey made their way down the hallway still wrapped around one other whilst trying to divest the other of their clothing, until they had fallen quite literally into Kate's bed. Rolling her under him, he had sunk into her warm depths immediately, groaning as he felt how tight she was around him. Kate must have enjoyed it as much as he did judging from the sounds she made and the way she clung to him, keeping him deep within her. He was proud to have made her climax twice before he joined her in the most intense orgasm of his life.
They had fallen asleep in each others arms not long after and she was still there when he awoke in the middle of the night. He'd been alarmed to have a heavy weight on his chest at first, but had quickly realised it was Kate sleeping peacefully, using his chest as a pillow.
He'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought about having sex with Kate before then. He pictured himself taking his time and being gentle. This had been anything but. He'd launched himself on to her and almost attacked her. Feeling very ashamed, he realised he hadn't really checked she was ok with them having sex before he had penetrated her.
After Lindsey Denton, Steve had vowed never to get in to trouble regarding sex again, but he had failed at his first attempt. He was mortified. He could only Imagine how difficult it was going to be in the morning when Kate woke up. He didn't want to see the disappointment and hurt in her eyes. He had to go. Gently removing Kate from his body, he quietly found his clothing and got dressed before slipping out the house. Unsurprisingly he hadn't heard from her since. He couldn't blame her after what he had done.
Sighing again, Steve grabbed his food and drink before heading up to his apartment. He headed straight to the kitchen and switched the light on, only to stop dead in his tracks.
Someone had been in his flat. He instantly went on alert. Maybe the intruder was still there? He listened, but couldn't hear any sign of anyone else being in the place.
He placed the plastic bag down on the nearest kitchen surface. He was confused. Who would break into his home and tidy up? It wasn't the work of any OCG he had come across before.
Steve decided to check the rest of his apartment. Silently, he found a knife he could use as a weapon just in case, before commencing his search. He made his way to the living room. The room was almost in complete darkness but he could make out the shape of someone on his sofa.
Taking a steadying breath he flicked the lamp switch closest to him on, bathing the room in a soft light instead of the harsh ceiling light. His eyes alighted on Kate who appeared to have fallen asleep on his couch. It solved the mystery of his clean kitchen, but not why or how she was here.
He suddenly remembered the keys they had given each other to use if they ever were in danger and instantly worried for her. She must be on some big case for MIT as she was obviously exhausted and taking a closer look appeared very pale . He felt pleased that she had felt able to use his place for safety after all that had happened. Maybe they could be friends again?
Realising his intruder was of no danger, he put the knife down and quietly crept over to his former partner and crouched down. "Kate?" He said gently as he shook one of her shoulders. Blue eyes met brown as Kate stirred awake and found herself staring into a very familiar, very concerned face. "You ok?" Steve asked. "You used your keys,".
"Sorry," Kate apologised as she began to sit herself up.
"Don't apologise," Steve replied as he took a seat next to her. "You in trouble or something?".
"Something," Kate admitted cryptically.
"OCG?".
Kate looked at her old partner. She was about to turn his world upside down. "Pregnant," she revealed.
Steve raised his eye brows at her answer. That was pretty huge news. "Fuck!".
"Yeah we did," Kate said at the same time that Steve felt he should explain his expletive.
"Sorry. It's just I wasn't expecting that answer…..Wait, what?" he asked once Kate's reply had registered with his already befuddled brain. What point was she making? He wondered who the father was. Surely she should be having this conversation with him? She hadn't mentioned she was seeing anyone when they worked together and at the time they told each other everything. Of course there had been the amazing night that he had spent with her but it wasn't as if he was the father as it had been only the once and they'd used a condom…hang on a minute….. Oh fffffuuuuuucccckkk! He thought to himself when his mind drew a blank on that particular aspect of their one and only night together. He suddenly knew what point she was trying to make. Kate knew when Steve figured out that he was the father when a look of panic descended on his face. "It's mine?" He asked and saw her silently confirm his question with a nod. Shit!" Steve said. "Mate, I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry,".
"I think we're both to blame," Kate replied. "Got a little bit carried away and forgot about using something,".
I've never done that before," Steve admitted truthfully. Protection was usually the first thing on his mind when he knew he was going to sleep with someone to save himself from the very situation he now found himself in. Why on earth had he forgotten about it with Kate?
"Thank you. I'm honoured," Kate teased. They sat in silence for a bit as Kate allowed Steve time to digest her news. So far this conversation was going better than she had imagined.
"When did you find out?" Steve eventually asked.
"Couple of days ago," Kate revealed and noted a look of surprise in Steve's face. "What?" She asked, suddenly annoyed at his reaction.
"We slept together two months ago. You only just realised now?" Steve questioned, surprised it had taken Kate this long to work out she was pregnant.
"I'n case you've fotgotten, Ive just started a new job. Its been a pretty stressful time," Kate defended herself.
"You're sure it's mine?" Steve asked before he could stop himself. He could have kicked himself as he saw the hurt look on Kate's face. He prepared himself for another slap, but it didn't materialise.
"Of course I'm sure," she spat as she got up off the sofa. This was more like how she thought he would take the news of his impending fatherhood. "I'm not like you, Steve. I don't shag everyone I come across,".
"Is that what you think of me?" Steve asked also hurt at her comment. Yes he had been guilty of doing as she accused when he had first joined AC-12, but he had changed his ways a very long time ago. "I'm surprised you're not getting rid of it, if I'm that bad!". He saw Kate's hesitation. "You are getting rid of it," Steve surmised.
"I think it's best," Kate admitted, tearfully. "We can't seem to be civil to one another at the moment. Not the best environment to bring a child into. That and the fact I'm a rubbish mum. I was booked in for a termination this afternoon but I couldn't do it," she revealed. "Something told me I should tell you first, but I can see that that was a huge mistake. I'll rebook myself in," she informed Steve. "Do you want to know or do I just do it?". Steve shrugged his shoulders. "Right. Fine!" Kate replied angrily as she prepared to leave. Trust him to leave all the decisions up to her.
Steve remained rooted to his seat on the sofa. He hadn't handled this situation at all well and if he didn't do something in the next few seconds he was going to lose Kate forever, and he really, really didn't want that. "Kate, wait!" Begged Steve as she was about to walk out the front door. "Let me know," he said. " I can pick you up afterwards if you need,".
"Thanks, but I'll be fine," was her sharp reply before she walked out.
