Chapter 13
Two Dates
Rating: R
The Crossing Jordan characters aren't mine! They're just using my head for their personal playground!
Kaidlyn and her mother, Laura, are my own creations and therefore they're mine!
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Kaidlyn and Eddie…After dinner, Eddie looked at Kaid. He reached across the table and took her small hands in his. "So, what would you like to do next?"
"Hmmm…" she thought. "I don't know… I know it's chilly, but is there somewhere we could go for a walk?"
Eddie thought for a minute. "Yeah, I think I know somewhere. Come on." He stood and guided her out of the restaurant and to his car. He drove to the Esplanade. "I think it's a little late for a concert, but there's still a nice path down by the river we could walk along, if that's ok."
"Sure," Kaid agreed. As they walked along, Eddie put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to the side of his body. Even though Kaid was in unfamiliar territory with someone she hardly knew, she felt strangely safe. Not that safe, but safe all the same.
It was chillier than she'd thought, and within about five minutes, Kaid was shivering. Eddie looked down at her and laughed gently. "Here," he said, taking off his jacket and putting it around her shoulders. "Let's head back to the car. I don't want to be responsible for you catching pneumonia."
"Thanks," Kaid smiled sheepishly. At that moment she looked so adorable, Eddie couldn't resist it any longer. He bent down and kissed her, a gentle kiss but deep and probing. Kaid felt herself respond and she relaxed into his arms, losing herself in his kiss.
"Come on," Eddie said as he pulled himself away from her. "Let's go somewhere you can warm up." He led the way back to the car, not knowing quite where to go. It seemed awfully forward and pressuring to take her to his place, she seemed comfortable with him, but there was part of her he sensed was holding back. And yet in spite of that, he really didn't want to share this evening with other people at a bar or a club, no matter how cool the place was.
"I think Uncle Max had to be at the Pogue tonight…" Kaid offered. She sensed he was trying to figure out what to do, and she felt like she'd be safe in Max's house given all the history between Eddie and her uncle.
"Ok…" It did sound like a plan, but he remembered the stories about the cops who tried to go out with Jordan… Still, if being there would help her feel safe and help her relax… "Why don't we just drive around the Pogue and make sure he's there…"
"What, are you scared of him?" Kaid teased. Off his look, she said, "You're probably right…"
A quick drive-by confirmed that Max was indeed at the Pogue. Kaid decided they'd go on the assumption that he was closing it down. Better than calling and arousing his suspicions…
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up in front of Max's and walked up to the lighted porch. Eddie paused as Kaid unlocked and opened the door. "You sure you want me to come in?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." Kaid knew her boundaries and she knew how to defend herself now. Plus, Eddie had gotten a taste of some of those moves when they were sparring the other day. She felt safe with him. She walked into the den and turned on the stereo, putting Norah Jones' CD on. "You want something to drink?"
"Sure," Eddie said. Kaid went out to the kitchen and came back with two beers.
"Here you go."
"Thanks." He motioned for her to sit down, and she snuggled up beside him, his hand trailing up and down her arm.
After a few minutes of just sitting there together, Kaid looked up at Eddie's profile. He sensed her glance and looked over at her, smiling and not believing she was actually there beside him. After a beat of looking in each other's eyes, Kaid reached up and kissed him, gently, cautiously, but deeply and passionately. Eddie responded and kissed her back, gently massaging her back and stroking her hair. He broke away and held her face in his hands, looking into her eyes. "You are so beautiful…"
Kaid nodded shyly and reached up to kiss him again, her hands beginning to massage his back as well. Both were tentative, not knowing how far to push, and yet… As Eddie's hands wandered below Kaid's waist, she involuntarily tensed up and pulled away.
"No," she shook her head, sliding to the far side of the couch. "I…I can't."
"Ok," Eddie said. "It's ok, baby. We can stop wherever you want." Damn, what had he done? Something was obviously scaring her and yet…
"I'm sorry, Eddie. I just…" she took a deep breath. Was this the right time to bring it up? She saw the confusion in his eyes and felt like he deserved an explanation, even though he seemed willing to take things at her pace, but still…
"What, baby?" Eddie could tell she was trying to decide something. "It's ok, you don't owe me any explanation. No means no…"
At those words, Kaid broke down in tears. She hadn't meant to, she really hadn't, but… If only everybody understood that.
As the first tears came, Eddie's heart stopped for a minute. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but the tears coming immediately after those words he'd spoken… "Kaid?" When she looked over at him, he gently said, "If you want to talk about it, I'll listen. If you don't, that's fine too…"
Kaid looked at him and sensed that he would understand. Besides, she really liked him and it would be better to know if he was going to bolt because of what happened to her before she let herself fall any harder… "No, you need to know…"
As much as he wanted to hold her, Eddie sensed from her body language that touch would just make it harder for her to tell the story. He was there if she needed him to hold her, but otherwise he was not going to push. Kaid grabbed a pillow from the end of the couch and clutched it to herself, playing with the fringed edge. Somehow it did seem a little easier to tell each time… Finally she took a deep breath and started to speak…
"It was just after I graduated from college. I was supposed to have about six months off before leaving for the Peace Corps, but after…they made me take a little more time to make sure I was ok. Mama and I lived at the beach ~ Ocean Isle, North Carolina. We did turtle patrol ~ we'd take shifts during nesting season sitting out on the beach at night and watching for the female turtles to come in and lay their clutch of eggs. Then we'd mark it and keep and eye on the nests to protect them from poachers. I had an overnight shift one time, along with several other people. It was really peaceful, usually. But that night I had a weird feeling the whole time…
"Our shift ended at sunrise, and I decided to walk on the beach. My mind was whirling and I was hoping to see the dolphins again. I never heard this guy come up behind me. I'd gone out with him once or twice during my sophomore year of high school, so I vaguely knew who he was. I don't remember what he said… I just remember him grabbing me and pushing me down on the sand. I screamed, but it was before the tourists started arriving, and everyone on turtle patrol had gone home. He picked the perfect spot ~ all the beachfront homes in that vicinity were rentals and no one was in them yet…
"I kicked. I scratched. I hit. I yelled. I said no over and over again. But it didn't help. He…" she swallowed hard, looking over at Eddie who simply nodded, wanting her to finish what she was saying but not pressuring her. "He ripped my shorts off and crammed his hand between my legs. I was fighting him the whole time, trying to find some way to get away, praying that someone would come by on a morning jog. He tried to kiss me, but I wouldn't let him. This was so far from an act of love… That was it. He held me down with one hand and most of his body while he undid the fly on his shorts. And then…" she shuddered, if she thought about it hard enough, she could still feel the ripping and the pain…
"I had never… I thought I was being ripped in two when he rammed into me. I don't know how long it took. I kept saying no, but mentally I made myself go somewhere else. He might rape my body, but he wasn't going to get to my spirit. When it was over, he just got up and left. No words, no explanation, nothing… I lay there for a minute, then got up and pulled my shorts on to go home. I got sick after a couple of yards ~ from stress, crying, yelling, I don't know. I managed to get up and get to my house.
"Even if I hadn't planned to tell Mama, there's no way that I could have kept it from her. She was pacing in the living room on the cordless phone with someone at the police station. She knew that even if I went for a walk, I would have been back. She looked at me and screamed… I can still hear that scream. She dropped the phone and came over and grabbed me and hugged me. In a couple of minutes, Micah, one of the police officers and a friend of ours, pulled up at the house. He came in and immediately scooped me up and told Mama to follow him. He put me into the front seat of the patrol car and Mama sat in the back, then he turned on the siren and drove us to the hospital at Shallotte where they did the rape kit and got me fixed up and ready to go home ~ after talking with a counselor and another police officer Micah had called in. Then he and Mama took me home…
"Because I could identify the guy, it didn't take long for them to find him. He wasn't the brightest bulb in the bunch. There wasn't a trial. He got a plea bargain, but he's still doing hard time for rape. His public defender took one look at the medical report and knew there was no way he could make the case that any part of what happened had been consensual. I think they knocked off the attempted murder part ~ he'd tried to choke me at one point and I had bruises around my neck. But he's safely away for at least 10 years." Kaid stopped and looked over at Eddie, trying to read his thoughts.
Eddie was torn between wanting to go and rip the little s.o.b. limb from limb for doing that to anyone, least of all Kaidlyn and wanting to cradle Kaid in his arms and tell her everything was going to be alright. Rape always made him angry, but especially when it involved either a child or when they knew it took someone's virginity. But knowing this guy was in prison and would be for a while made it easier for Eddie to concentrate on Kaidlyn and what she needed.
"Oh God, baby…" He wanted to reach out and hold her, but at the same time… Kaid solved his dilemma for him when she crawled across the couch and threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry. Kaidie, I'm so sorry that had to happen to you…" he knew his words meant little, but… He heard her mumbling something. "What?"
She pulled back and looked at him. "I said, so if you don't want to go out with me anymore, it's ok…I'll understand."
"I wouldn't," he said, shocked. Had men actually turned her down after hearing her story? Or had they even bothered to find out anything about her? Taking her chin in his hands he gently tipped her face up to look in her eyes. "Baby, I would never not want to be with you because of something like that. What happened was NOT your fault."
He leaned in to kiss her gently, but was surprised when he felt her respond passionately, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. When they heard the clock striking eleven, they broke apart and she looked at him. "I guess since we both have to work tomorrow…"
"Yeah, I should probably be getting home," Eddie said reluctantly. "But I don't want to just leave you here…"
"I'll be fine…" but it sounded weak and flimsy even to her own ears. "I really don't want to be alone either," she finally confessed. "But…"
"Well…" as much as Eddie would have been happy to stay, he knew that's not what she needed right now. "I could take you to Jordan's…"
"Uh uh. She had a date tonight." Kaid shook her head.
"The Pogue?" It wasn't the greatest solution since she'd be up later than normal, but at least she wouldn't be alone.
Kaid thought for a minute and nodded. "Yeah, that'll be fine."
"Ok," Eddie stood, pulling her to her feet and into a tight hug. "Kaid? Look at me…" when she did, he continued, "What you told me in no way affects the feelings I have for you…other than making me admire you more." He paused. "I love you, baby."
Kaid looked at him, her eyes wide. It was so early, but…she couldn't deny what she was feeling… "I love you too…I think…"
Eddie kissed her gently as he chuckled. "That'll do." Then walked her back out to his car, holding her close…willing some of his strength into her, not that she really needed any.
He parked out in front of the Pogue and walked her in. Max looked up as they entered the bar and motioned them down. Kaid climbed onto a stool and propped her chin in her hands.
Eddie shook Max's hand and just explained briefly that Kaid hadn't wanted to be alone. Max nodded and ruffled Kaid's hair, eliciting a small smile.
Eddie rubbed her back gently. "So I'll see you at the precinct tomorrow?"
"Yeah," she smiled. Then impulsively she hopped off the barstool, not really caring if Max saw them or not, and threw her arms around Eddie's shoulders. "Thanks for…everything," she whispered and kissed him quickly. "And don't worry…I know how to keep boundaries in the workplace," she added.
"Good," Eddie brushed her lips gently. "Have a good night, baby."
"You too," she smiled and waved as he walked out the door. She hopped back onto her barstool and flashed a smile at Max who just shook his head.
"Everything really ok?"
"Yeah. It is…" she paused. "He knows, and it's fine. And Uncle Max?"
"Yeah?"
"Yes, I'm really happy."
"Good," he smiled. "I'm glad." And he really was, he thought to himself as he went down to the other end of the bar. Kaid had quickly become like a daughter to him, and he was glad that she was happy. She and Jordan both, he thought, thinking about the look on Jordan's face an hour earlier…
Jordan and Woody…Dinner was good ~ they finally got those damn chimichangas they'd been dancing around for a year and a half. Afterwards, Jordan suggested they go to the Pogue and Woody agreed. It seemed the best option.
They walked in and waved at Max. Woody went and found a table for them while Jordan went to the bar to get their beers. When she got back to the table, Woody had an enigmatic smile on his face.
"What?" she asked.
"What? I didn't say anything," he said as she put his beer on the table and sat down.
"No, but you've got a Cheshire cat grin on your face…"
"Oh. That. I was just trying to figure out what happened that made you call me and ask me out…"
Jordan laughed. "I'm really not sure… Other than my cousin…"
"Kaidlyn? Is that want you said her name is?"
"Yeah." Jordan paused. She didn't want to air Kaid's stuff to just anyone, particularly someone she might end up working with ~ there were occasionally double teams assigned to particularly big cases. "I won't go into details, but I'll just say I found out some stuff that's happened to her and the fact that she could go out with someone period ~ let alone let herself feel what I can tell she does from the look on her face whenever she talks about him ~ made all my stuff seem silly."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Well, that plus she said something to me this afternoon when I asked her about her date…" Jordan looked over at him. She really shouldn't tell him anything…
"Would she happen to be going out with Winslow tonight?" Woody's curiosity was getting the better of him.
"How did you…?" Jordan's mouth fell open.
"I guessed. I saw him this afternoon at the precinct and he seemed almost human. And since you were saying that she got reassigned…"
"The reassignment really did have nothing to do with that…" Jordan countered. "But yeah, that's who she's out with. Woody, please…"
"Don't worry. I'm not going to say anything. As much as we work together it would be a little hypocritical…"
"True…" Jordan mused. "But anyway… I asked her about her going out with him and she said, among other things, 'if I don't try it, I'll always wonder what could have happened…' And it made me think." She reached across the table and took one of Woody's hands in between her own. "I don't think it's any big secret that I've got feelings for you…"
"Really?" Woody teased.
"Ha ha. Anyway…hearing Kaid say that and knowing what I know about her, it just made me think about us and how I'd feel if I didn't even give us a chance. So…" She looked briefly down towards the bar then turned back to Woody and leaned across the table, surprising him with a kiss on the lips.
"What the…?" Woody felt like he was about to jump out of his skin.
"Come dance with me?" Jordan said, getting up and leading him over to the jukebox where she selected a familiar song.
As the opening notes of "Devil or Angel" sounded, Woody pulled Jordan's body close to his. As they danced, he let her hair rub against his face and slowly moved his mouth towards hers, their lips finally meeting in a deep kiss. Jordan pressed even closer and moved her mouth to his ear. "Come on, let's get out of here…"
"Ok," Woody gasped, not quite believing this was happening. Well, he wasn't sure how far things were going to go, but… He went up to grab their coats while Jordan went to say good-bye to Max. Woody didn't miss his raised eyebrow, but Jordan reached over and hugged him, then waved as they got to the door.
"My place ok?" she asked as they got to her car.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. That's fine." Woody shook his head, willing himself to stop acting like a sixth grader who has just discovered his hormones.
When they got to Jordan's place, she went to the stereo and was selecting a CD when Woody came over. "Let me pick?"
"Sure," Jordan agreed. She went into the kitchen and poured a couple of glasses of wine.
When she got back over to the couch, he had selected a song ~ "Good to You" by Sarah McLachlan. It seemed an odd choice and she cocked her head to the side.
"Just listen to the words, Jordan," Woody said. So she did. As it reached the second chorus, she understood and reached over, pulling Woody into a deep kiss.
He responded, kissing her back, his hands wandering over her back. They spent the rest of the evening kissing, stroking, exploring each other's bodies. Doing everything but… There would be another time for consummating the relationship. They fell asleep in each other's arms, naked but feeling no pressure to have sex…content simply to hold each other…
Max didn't know what happened with Jordan and Woody. But they seemed happy when they left the Pogue. As he closed up and drove home with Kaid, she seemed happier, calmer, and yet more animated than she had in a while. He mentally promised himself to not say anything negative about Winslow anymore ~ as long as he didn't hurt Kaidlyn. If the man could make her this happy, he deserved a chance.
When they got to the house, Kaid hugged Max and went up to get ready for bed. He stayed downstairs for a few minutes, doing some basic straightening. When he went up to go to bed himself, he peeked into Kaid's darkened room and saw her curled up in bed, asleep in spite of the bright moonlight streaming across her face. A smile was on her lips and she looked much different from the girl who'd cried in his living room the night before. Comparing Kaid's look and the look on Jordan's face when she and Woody were leaving, Max came to one conclusion…
Tonight had obviously been about beginning the process of breaking down walls…one brick at a time.
…to be continued…