Chapter 23
Roger opened the door to Mark's room. Mark and Cass were asleep in the air- conditioned room. He was trying to be quite as he climbed onto the twin bed wedged between the wall and the double bed they were sleeping on.
"Hey." Cass whispered to him as she rolled over. "What time is it?"
"It's almost four." He whispered back. "Go back to sleep."
"Did you just get home?" She asked him sleepily.
"A little bit ago. I stunk like beer and smoke. I had to take a shower." He climbed onto the twin bed and laid down. "You okay today? By yourself?"
"What, for the whole twenty minutes I was by myself? You mean before my babysitter got here?"
"Babysitter? Oh, Jason wasn't, I mean we didn't, we just didn't want to leave you all alone. I'm sorry." He whispered to her as he pushed a chunk of hair off her face.
"Just don't do it again. Unless you ask me first. Okay?"
"Sorry. Are you okay?" He asked her after watching her shiver the second time.
"Yes, I'm just cold."
"Yeah, Mark's got that thing turned up real high. What's up with that?" He was trying hard to be quiet.
"Because Mark was hot, that's why. And because it's Mark's room. And because Mark has to get up in a few hours. Now shut up and go to sleep!" Mark told them as he pulled a pillow over his head.
"Don't mind him." Roger whispered. "He's always a grump when you wake him up in the middle of the night."
"Which means he's obviously woken me up in the middle of the night many times before. Now shut up and go to sleep." Mark said from under the pillow. "Please."
"Roger laughed as he watched a sleepy grin come over Cass' face followed by another shiver. "Come'er." He whispered as he put an arm around her and pulled her close to him. "Now go back to sleep."
"Kay." She was almost already there.
******
"Beep beep."
"Beep beep." "Beep beep."
"Beep beep."
Roger heard the beeping far, far away, but as he pulled the pillow over his head it kept getting closer and louder. He reached over and pushed the alarm button on his watch. He had been sleeping hard. Probably the best he's slept in a long time. He rolled over and in his still half-asleep state, he realized something was wrong. Maybe not wrong, but missing. Yeah, that was it, missing. Something had been next to him. No, not something, someone had been next to him. Cass.
He opened his eyes. Cass. She had been there last night. That was the difference. Last night she had been right next to him. Right next to him.
He could hear the music coming from the lining room. Roger got up and opened the door. She was standing in the kitchen. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing Mark's boxers rolled down low on her hips and an old tee shirt that she had cut off at mid-drift length. Even from this far away, he could tell she wasn't wearing a bra. She was kinda dancing around in the kitchen, cooking something. And singing to the radio.
God she was gorgeous was all he could think at that moment. Roger just stood in the doorway to the bedroom watching her. She turned around from the stove and was looking at the newspaper on the counter. He watched her lean forward on the counter to read the paper. Okay Davis this is bad. Stop trying to look down her shirt. Think of something else. Anything else. Neither one of you is ready for this. Most likely. No definitely. Not a good plan. But Mark did say, no wait, it doesn't matter what Mark said. You're not ready for this. She's probably not ready for this. You're not ready, she's not, not, not wearing a bra. God she's hot. This is really not good. Whoever could have thought Mark's underwear could look that hot on anyone. She's so hot, she's smoking. Smoking. Oh, smoke.
"Hey." She smiled at him. "Good you're up."
Oh god, you're so right about that. Wait. Stop your brain. Move on Davis. "Hey." He said back from the doorway. "Um, yeah. You're burning something." He gave a small laughed as he pointed to the stove and went to sit at the bar.
"Oh shit!" She flipped around to the stove and saw the pan had smoke coming out from under the lid. She grabbed at the cast iron frying pan to move it off the burner. As soon as she picked it up with her left hand she let it go. "Ow!" She yelled as the pan hit the top of the stove and flipped onto the floor. When it hit the floor the bacon grease splattered up and hit her in the anlke and leg. "Ouch! God damn it!" She hopped up off her foot.
"Are you okay?" Roger jumped up from the barstool and ran around to the other side of the counter and into the kitchen. "Here let me see." He said as he turned off the burner and pulled her towards him, around the eggs, bacon and grease that had puddled on the floor in front of the stove.
Roger turned her hand over to see the burn running across her left palm and all four of her fingers. "Here, put it under the cold water." He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the counter and then turned on the cold water and pulled her hand under it.
"Shit! That really hurt."
"Now let me see your foot." He said as he grabbed some of the dirty coffee cups and glasses out of the sink and put her foot into it under the water. "That might hurt for awhile."
"No shit, you think?" She said looking at him like that was the stupidest thing anyone had ever said.
"I meant it's a grease burn. Maybe we ought to take you back to the doctor's. That looks kinda bad."
"I don't want to go to the doctor's. I'm fine."
"But Cass, your hand looks pretty bad. What if we go to the ER?" He said as he held her hand under the water.
"No! It will be fine! I don't need to go to the doctor's it's fine!" She jerked her hand away from his. "It's fine. See?" She started to make a fist, but stopped about halfway into it and made a gasping noise.
Roger saw the look of pain on her face as she tried to close her hand.
"See. I'm fine." She told him through semi clenched teeth.
"Liar. Okay. No doctor's. Right now. But when we go back week after next to get your cast cut down, she looks at it then. Deal?" She nodded. "Okay, for now we'll get some burn stuff for it." Roger was trying hard not to laugh at her now. Oh well, he thought, at lest he got his mind off where it was before. That thought didn't help though. He started laughing. He couldn't help it.
"What's so funny?"
"Well," he laughed, "where do you want me to start? I mean lets face it, you're sitting here on the counter, in Mark's underwear, surrounded by dirty dishes with your foot in the sink."
"As long as you're amused." She grinned at him. "If you can pull yourself together, can you hand me my coffee? And grab my cigarettes from the couch."
"Sorry." He smirked as he handed her the coffee. "Does it feel any better?" Roger lit two cigarettes and handed one to her.
"Yes. No. I don't know. God look at me. Black eye, broken arm, and now I've messed up my other hand and burnt my foot."
Roger couldn't help smirking at her. "Not to mention, sitting on my counter, in Mark's underwear with your foot in my sink. And eggs all over the floor. But you're still kinda cute."
Cass could feel her cheeks starting to burn. She knew she was starting to blush. "Well, so much for breakfast." She shrugged. "Here," she reached behind her and opened the drawer. "Take your pills. Sorry there is no breakfast to go with those, that was kind of the plan."
"You were making me breakfast?" Roger asked, somewhat surprised.
"Well I certainly wasn't making fried pig flesh for me." She laughed. Actually it was more like attempting to make breakfast. In case you haven't noticed, I really don't know how to cook."
"Not at all?" He grinned at her as he took his pills.
"Like completely not at all. I mean, I know how to microwave things to reheat them." She shrugged again. "I just never needed to really cook anything."
"How did you get this old," he laughed, "and not live with Mark, and still not know how to cook anything?" He turned off the water and lifted her foot out of the sink. "Besides I thought you were some kind of book genius or something. You do know they make this thing called a cook book right?"
"Ha ha, very funny. I just never needed to cook."
"Uh huh." He looked at her hand some more. "If you were Mark, where would you put first aid stuff that you would definitely have somewhere, because of course, you're Mark, so you've definitely got stuff like that. Somewhere."
"Leave him alone. You shouldn't pick on him like that." She grinned. "But the answer is under the kitchen sink or bathroom sink."
"Right." He opened up the cupboard under the sink and pulled out a box with a first aid kit inside. He picked it up and grinned at her. "Okay, so how did you just never need to cook?" He pulled out the tape, gauze and burn cream and started putting it on her ankle.
"Well, there was just always stuff to eat." She shrugged. She didn't want to get into it. Especially after her conversation with Mark yesterday. But Cass had a feeling she wouldn't get away with just that for an answer.
"Let me see your hand. So how do you just always have stuff to eat? If you're not living with Mark that is." He started smearing the burn cream on her palm and fingers.
"Well," she dropped her eyes. "There was just always food okay? There were people at my house that cooked okay? They cooked dinner. Or we ate out. Or ordered in. Or I was on location somewhere and there was somebody there that cooked. Okay? I just never had to do it okay?" Roger could tell she was getting upset as he wrapped up her hand. "And don't give me that poor little rich girl thing again!"
"It's okay Cass. It's no big deal." He hugged her. "I don't care if you can't cook. I can't cook either." He pulled back from her. "That's why we have Mark, remember?" He smiled. "But after you've eaten some of his cooking, you'll realize that doesn't always mean all that much."
He watched her smile at that statement but then he got a more serious look on his own face. "But listen, about the money thing, we keep joking with you about paying or dinner and stuff and we shouldn't do that. And I'm sorry. Just know that if it's up to us, Mark and me, then we probably won't have enough cash around to eat out. Or always three times a day, you know?" He grinned that infamous Roger grin. "I just wanted you to know that we want you to stay if you want. But not because of that. You know? I want you to stay," he said softly, "but not because of that. Okay?"
"Even if I can't cook?" She smiled at him as he helped her off the counter.
"Even if you can't cook." He grinned at her. "Go get dressed. I'll take you to breakfast. I did really well at the bar last night. Plus, we were going to get you glasses today. You still up for that?" Roger paused and lowered his voice as he took her hand. "And for tonight? To see Elizabeth?"
Cass' eyes went to the egg mess on the floor. "I suppose." She said quietly. "As long as you're still going with me."
"Would I ever send you there alone? Now go get dressed and I'll clean up this mess. Mark'll have a fit if he comes home and finds this and not us. And you know he'll blame me." He grinned at her.
"Okay. I can handle that I guess. Sorry about breakfast."
"That's okay. It was still cool you were trying to make it."
"Well, at least nothing caught on fire this time." She shrugged.
Roger's head shot up. "This time? What's that mean Cass? Something did catch fire before? Cass?"
She was walking across the living room, pulling the ponytail band as she walked. She shook out her hair and looked at him over her shoulder and smiled. "I'll tell you all about it sometime. All three times." She grinned and walked into Mark's room.
"Three times? Three? Maybe we better just let you order in. Cass?" Roger laughed. Oh who the hell cares if the whole place burns down.
*****
"You guys want another pitcher of beer?" The waitress asked.
"Yeah, we may need it." Maureen told her. "So you don't know where they are?"
"No I don't." Mark told her as he poured himself another beer. They could all hear the familiar Mark worry tone in his voice. "When I ran home the first time, I just ran in, they were gone. I left again to drop my film off to be developed. When I got back home after that I could tell they had been back, but they were gone again." He sighed as he picked up his beer. "And of course in true Roger style, no note or anything."
"Did they know we were meeting for dinner?" Maureen asked.
"Yes. Of course. I think. I don't know." Mark was flustered. "No they knew. He knew. I know he knew." Damn you Roger why do you do this to me.
"Well, when I talked to Cass this morning I said I'd see her tonight. It sure sounded like she knew we were having dinner." Joanne told them, sipping her beer.
"She called you? This morning? At work?" Mark was confused.
"What did she call you about?"
"She just needed to ask a few questions."
"Yeah but, like what? Lawyer stuff? What's up?"
"Jennifer." Jason scolded her. "Stop being so damn nosey. Besides the fact that Joanne would never tell you in the first place if it was lawyer stuff, she wouldn't be able to tell you. Now butt out!"
"He's right. Lawyer client privilege. Sorry Jen." Joanne laughed.
"Oh. So she is a client now though?"
"Jennifer! I'm telling you to drop it. Now. It's none of your business."
"Okay, okay. I was just trying to help. Geeze!"
"Well, you're not." Jason was getting annoyed. God how he hated it when she acted like this.
"Mark do you think they'll pull a no-show for tonight?" Collins asked with a worry in his voice.
"I don't know. Maybe. No, I don't think so. I mean I guess there's a good chance she'll try and get out of it, but I really don't think Roger will let her. I hope. I know he wants her to go see Elizabeth. I know that much."
"True." Joanne added. "But unfortunately Elizabeth isn't exactly located at Roger's favorite place."
"Exactly." Mark sighed. "But I still think he'll go. He said Cass promised him she'd go. He'll show. I know he'll show." I think. I hope. Please Roger, show.
"Well they have to eat right? And it's not like Roger knows any other restaurants or would ever bother to think to cook for that matter." Maureen looked around. "Hey Joellen?" She called to the waitress, who turned and came over to the table. "Have you seen our friend Roger? Has he been in at all today?"
"The blonde hottie? Guitar player?"
Maureen nodded.
"Yeah he was here. End of the lunch rush. He had some chick with him, with a broken arm."
"Did they say anything? Anything about coming back here tonight? Anything about dinner?"
"Sorry Mo. It wasn't my station. They were over in the other corner. I only saw them as they were leaving. Sorry."
"That's okay. Thanks Joellen." Maureen told her. "Well, we know they were here at least. Maybe they went shopping or something."
"Yeah, maybe." Mark said. "I know they were going to get her glasses today. I don't know. Did she say anything to you yesterday?" He asked Jason.
"No I mean she did say she was going tonight." Jason paused and looked around the group. "But I didn't tell you, she did get kinda freaked out when I walked into the loft yesterday. Her not expecting me and not knowing I had a key and all. We maybe shouldn't do anything like that again. But she did say she was going."
"Um, maybe it's love." Jen said with a huge smirk on her face.
"Be helpful or shut up Jen." Jason told her.
"No seriously!" She laughed. "Look!" Jen, who was sitting with her back to the inside wall, could see out both the front and side windows that ran the length of each side of the café. Jason and Collins turned in the direction she pointed, out the window they had their backs to.
Everyone looked up as Roger and Cass, who had walked past the front door by now were about to walk right pass all of them sitting inside the Life Café. They couldn't hear them through the glass, but Roger was talking and Cass was laughing.
Jason knocked hard on the glass and Cass looked up and saw them. "See, told you." Jen said with a smug look on her face.
"Shut up Jennifer." Jason whispered to her as Cass and Roger walked through the door. Roger was carrying a bunch of shopping bags.
"Nice eye Roger. Beat up by a girl again huh?" Maureen laughed at him.
"Yea well." Roger grinned at Cass a he touched his black eye that was starting to fade. "Lucky shot, which I leaned into by the way."
"It was an accident." Cass said softly.
"Well Cass yours looks much better." Joanne told them. "I mean from when I saw you last weekend. Your eye's almost healed up."
"Thanks."
"What are you guys doing here?" Roger asked.
"Eating dinner." Mark answered. Even if Roger didn't hear how annoyed he was, everyone else did. "The same thing you were supposed to be doing with us almost an hour ago. Remember?"
"Oh yeah, we forgot." Roger was grinning as he let Cass sit down next to Collins as he dropped the bags on the floor between them. He sat down next to Mark at the end of the table. "Sorry." He shrugged.
"See?" Jen grinned. Jason shot her an evil look. "I mean you can see now huh Cass. Nice glasses."
"Oh thanks. I finally got them today. It's nice to finally be able to see again." She reached up to adjust her glasses with her left hand and Mark saw the bandage wrapped around it.
"He almost knocked over his chair as he jumped up. "Oh my God Cass, what happened to you now?" He asked wide-eyed, reaching for her left hand.
"Oh, um, I burned myself."
"What the hell did you let her do to herself?" Mark yelled at Roger.
"Me?" Roger said, somewhat surprised. "I didn't let her do anything. She was cooking eggs and burnt her hand. It was an accident. How is that my fault?"
"You let her cook? And with a broken arm? Are you nuts? She could have really got hurt. Not to mention burnt the whole place down. Jesus Roger! What's wrong with you?" Mark was over reacting and he knew it, but how could Roger be so stupid.
"Hey!" Cass yelled at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry Cass. I should have asked if you were okay."
"Yeah, you should have." Roger told him gruffly.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just can't type with either hand now though." She shrugged as she held up both hands. One casted from elbow down to her three fingers and one wrapped up in gauze around her palm and all four fingers.
"Well is it bad? Did she need to go to the ER?" Mark asked Roger.
"Probably she should have, but she won't. I put a bunch of the burn cream on it and wrapped it up. We got more cream today. She said she'd let the doctor look at it in a week and a half when she cuts the cast off her fingers."
Everyone just sort of watched this conversation, which edged on an argument. Especially Cass, who was getting annoyed at the two of them.
"Well what happened?" Mark demanded from him.
"Don't yell at me! She was cooking and when the pan started smoking, she grabbed it and burnt her hand. Then she let go of it and it hit the stove an flipped on to the floor which splattered bacon grease and burnt her ankle."
"I can't believe you let her cook!" Mark had a note of almost panic in his voice.
"Uh, hello!" Cass was pissed and everyone could hear it. "In case the two of you didn't notice I'm sitting right here. An he didn't let me do anything Mark!"
"Sorry Cass." Roger told her.
"Sorry Cass." Mark said. Neither of them looked at her. "So um, you cooked bacon huh? With bacon grease?"
She just glared at him for a second before Maureen jumped in. "Usually bacon has bacon grease Mark." She joked.
"Um, Cass," Mark said, ignoring Maureen, "the kitchen's okay thought right? No, um, problems?" With huge worried eyes Mark looked from Cass to Roger and back to Cass.
Roger started laughing at Mark. Everyone else was just looking back and forth between the three of them.
"Yes Mark, the kitchen and everything in it is fine." She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm going to order another pitcher. Do you want any food?" She asked Roger. "I'm not hungry."
"No. I'm fine." Roger grinned as Cass went to the bar. Everyone was still looking at him. "What? We just ate." He laughed.
When Cass was out of earshot, Mark turned to Roger. "What are you nuts? How could you let her cook? Especially by herself? And with a broken arm! Remember the cardboard box option!"
Argument over, Roger laughed at him again. "Like I was supposed to know better." Roger tried not to laugh, but the look on Mark's face just made him laugh harder.
All of this just peaked Jen's curiosity even more. "Mark what are you going on about?"
"Let's just say Cass has cooking issues."
"He means I can't cook. Cass said as she set down two empty beer mugs. "She's bringing more beer. As for cooking, I had an incident or two."
"Yeah," Roger laughed as he poured Cass and himself beers, "like setting kitchens on fire."
"There were only actual flames three times." She grinned at him. "And it only required the fire department once."
Everyone started to laugh except Mark, who had gotten that worried look on his face again and was holding his head in his hands. "Yeah, only once."
"Relax Mark." Roger said as he lit two cigarettes and handed one to Cass. "The kitchen's fine and she won't cook anything highly flammable." He grinned at him.
"Relax, right, no problem." He said with his head still in his hands. "I'm gonna have an ulcer by the time I'm thirty living with the two of you. And will you put those out! Neither one of you smokes anymore!" He yanked Roger's cigarette out of his hand and crushed it out. Mark moved for Cass' but the look she gave him stopped him.
"Oh Mark! You've been saying that since I lived there!" Maureen laughed. "So other than giving Mark an ulcer, almost burning down Benny's building," many of them grinned at that statement, "and attempting to blow us all off for dinner, what did you guys do today?"
"Well I got my glasses, so now I can see, so we went to a movie,"
"And we went shopping." Roger said in the most unenthusiastic voice possible.
"Oh shut up." Cass laughed at him. "You had fun and you know it. Besides now Mark can call and check up on both of us whenever he wants." She started digging through the bags and pulled out a tan cell phone and slid it across the table to Mark. "Instead of hiring babysitters." She rolled her eyes toward Jason.
"What's that?" Mark just looked at it as if it might bite him.
"It's a phone Mark. People use them to communicate."
"But what's it for?"
"For you. I had to get a new one. I don't need a satellite phone now that I'm here. And I felt like I was missing something not having my phone with me. So we went phone shopping. I got a deal on three of them. You get 800 minutes a month to start including free long distance, plus vice mail, call waiting and caller ID."
"Cass maybe you shouldn't do this. You know?"
"Already had this conversation with her buddy. You might as well forget it now, you're gonna lose." Roger told him as he held up a blue cell phone.
"Yeah but Cass, this can get expensive and I don't' want you spending money on us like that."
"Mark don't worry about it. You need a phone. So people can get you. It's not like either of you have a desk with voice mail sitting on it in some office somewhere. However I do, and I really should check that one of these days."
"But Cass--"
"Look at it this way, if I need you, I can call you. And don't sit there and even try to tell me you weren't all freaked out cause we didn't show up for dinner and you didn't know where we were."
There were stifled laughs and giggles from all around the table. "But Cass." he started.
"Give it up Mark. She'll make you keep it and threaten to give the phone number to your mother." Roger laughed as he shook his head. "Amazing how well threats like that can work."
"I guess. I still don't know Cass. Are you sure?"
"Relax Marky, it's a business expense. That reminds me," she opened up her wallet and started writing a check. "I'm starting my own side company. Mainly investment oriented with some research on the side. When I feel like it. It will make life easier for somethings business wise." She ripped out the check and handed it to Joanne who folded it up and put it into her purse.
"Pookie was that a ten thousand dollar check?" Maureen almost yelled.
"Will you please keep your voice down Maureen." Joanne answered her.
"It's a retainer." Cass explained. "I fired my lawyer yesterday morning. Actually I fired my financial consultant too. Anyway, Joanne's firm is now representing me."
"I'll drop this off tomorrow." Joanne told Cass.
"Whenever. Once the papers are ready, let me know. I'll come by and sign everything."
"Cool! Pookie's got a new client and I can reach Marky 24-7 now if I want!" Maureen smiled and poured more beer.
"Great. Ulcers, a new need for fire insurance and now both my mother and Maureen can call me anytime, anywhere. Thanks Cass."
"No problem sweetie!"
"Do you guys want anything else?" The waitress asked.
"We're set." Joanne said. "We have to take off soon if we want to make that move. Jen are you still coming with us?"
"I'm in. Marky? It's an independent thing." Jen said, trying to tempt him.
"Um, maybe, we'll see." Mark shot a look at Collins before both of them checked out Roger who was staring at his beer and Cass who was playing with her glass.
"Yeah, I think we're done Joellen." Collins said. "Why don't you bring the check, we've got to go soon too."
"Okay. You two need anything else or are you going too?" She asked Roger and Cass.
"We've got time for one more drink right? I'll have a vodka and cranberry. Want one?" She asked Roger. "Make it two." Cass told her without waiting or him to answer.
"Yeah." Roger said without looking up. "We got time for one more drink." He pulled the shopping bags together and handed them to Mark. "Here, drop those off at the loft on your way to the movies. And the guy already programmed your phone some. I'll call you later."
"Um, okay." Mark stood up, taking the bags and Roger's not so subtle hint. "You guys ready?"
Jen, Maureen and Joanne, also getting the hint, stood up and tossed some money on the table. "Okay," Jen said glancing at Roger and Cass before looking to Jason. "We're out of here. I'll call you tonight bro." She kissed Jason on the cheek and they all said goodbye.
Mark and the girls left and Joellen brought over the two drinks. Roger dropped some money on top of the check and handed it to Joellen. "You guys go ahead over." Roger told Collins and Jason without taking his eyes off his drink. "We'll meet you over there. Soon."
Collins and Jason left and Cass and Roger just sat there a few more minutes. Not talking, just sitting, staring at their drinks. Finally Roger leaned in and pulled her towards him. She never took her eyes off her glass. "Cass." He said softly. "Cass we got to go now. Okay? We've got to go."
She didn't say anything or look up from her glass. Roger stood up, pulled her up and led her out the door. It had cooled down and was actually a beautiful night out. They walked the few blocks in silence. Roger had his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. As they reached the block Life Support was on, Roger lit two cigarettes and gave one to Cass.
When they reached the front steps of the Life Support building, Roger dropped his cigarette and stepped on it and then did the same to Cass' when she dropped it. He pulled her in close and hugged her out on the sidewalk. Roger could smell her shampoo in her hair. He ran his finger up and down her back slowly. "It's okay Cass. It's gonna be okay. I promise. It's gonna get better, I promise that too. And this is gonna help. Really. Okay? But we gotta go in."
She shook her head. He could feel her whole body tense up as they climbed the steps. Once through the door Roger saw Collins talking to Elizabeth outside her office. As they walked towards them, Jason joined them.
"Hey." Roger said to them.
"Hey Roger. It's good to see you again." Elizabeth said.
"Elizabeth this is Cass." Collins introduced them. "Cass, this is Elizabeth."
"Hi Cass. It's nice to meet you."
"Hi." She said in a very soft voice.
"Well, why don't you come on into my office. We'll talk." She smiled. "Roger you're not going anywhere right? He'll be right out here. Okay?"
Cass nodded and followed her slowly through the door.
Roger opened the door to Mark's room. Mark and Cass were asleep in the air- conditioned room. He was trying to be quite as he climbed onto the twin bed wedged between the wall and the double bed they were sleeping on.
"Hey." Cass whispered to him as she rolled over. "What time is it?"
"It's almost four." He whispered back. "Go back to sleep."
"Did you just get home?" She asked him sleepily.
"A little bit ago. I stunk like beer and smoke. I had to take a shower." He climbed onto the twin bed and laid down. "You okay today? By yourself?"
"What, for the whole twenty minutes I was by myself? You mean before my babysitter got here?"
"Babysitter? Oh, Jason wasn't, I mean we didn't, we just didn't want to leave you all alone. I'm sorry." He whispered to her as he pushed a chunk of hair off her face.
"Just don't do it again. Unless you ask me first. Okay?"
"Sorry. Are you okay?" He asked her after watching her shiver the second time.
"Yes, I'm just cold."
"Yeah, Mark's got that thing turned up real high. What's up with that?" He was trying hard to be quiet.
"Because Mark was hot, that's why. And because it's Mark's room. And because Mark has to get up in a few hours. Now shut up and go to sleep!" Mark told them as he pulled a pillow over his head.
"Don't mind him." Roger whispered. "He's always a grump when you wake him up in the middle of the night."
"Which means he's obviously woken me up in the middle of the night many times before. Now shut up and go to sleep." Mark said from under the pillow. "Please."
"Roger laughed as he watched a sleepy grin come over Cass' face followed by another shiver. "Come'er." He whispered as he put an arm around her and pulled her close to him. "Now go back to sleep."
"Kay." She was almost already there.
******
"Beep beep."
"Beep beep." "Beep beep."
"Beep beep."
Roger heard the beeping far, far away, but as he pulled the pillow over his head it kept getting closer and louder. He reached over and pushed the alarm button on his watch. He had been sleeping hard. Probably the best he's slept in a long time. He rolled over and in his still half-asleep state, he realized something was wrong. Maybe not wrong, but missing. Yeah, that was it, missing. Something had been next to him. No, not something, someone had been next to him. Cass.
He opened his eyes. Cass. She had been there last night. That was the difference. Last night she had been right next to him. Right next to him.
He could hear the music coming from the lining room. Roger got up and opened the door. She was standing in the kitchen. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing Mark's boxers rolled down low on her hips and an old tee shirt that she had cut off at mid-drift length. Even from this far away, he could tell she wasn't wearing a bra. She was kinda dancing around in the kitchen, cooking something. And singing to the radio.
God she was gorgeous was all he could think at that moment. Roger just stood in the doorway to the bedroom watching her. She turned around from the stove and was looking at the newspaper on the counter. He watched her lean forward on the counter to read the paper. Okay Davis this is bad. Stop trying to look down her shirt. Think of something else. Anything else. Neither one of you is ready for this. Most likely. No definitely. Not a good plan. But Mark did say, no wait, it doesn't matter what Mark said. You're not ready for this. She's probably not ready for this. You're not ready, she's not, not, not wearing a bra. God she's hot. This is really not good. Whoever could have thought Mark's underwear could look that hot on anyone. She's so hot, she's smoking. Smoking. Oh, smoke.
"Hey." She smiled at him. "Good you're up."
Oh god, you're so right about that. Wait. Stop your brain. Move on Davis. "Hey." He said back from the doorway. "Um, yeah. You're burning something." He gave a small laughed as he pointed to the stove and went to sit at the bar.
"Oh shit!" She flipped around to the stove and saw the pan had smoke coming out from under the lid. She grabbed at the cast iron frying pan to move it off the burner. As soon as she picked it up with her left hand she let it go. "Ow!" She yelled as the pan hit the top of the stove and flipped onto the floor. When it hit the floor the bacon grease splattered up and hit her in the anlke and leg. "Ouch! God damn it!" She hopped up off her foot.
"Are you okay?" Roger jumped up from the barstool and ran around to the other side of the counter and into the kitchen. "Here let me see." He said as he turned off the burner and pulled her towards him, around the eggs, bacon and grease that had puddled on the floor in front of the stove.
Roger turned her hand over to see the burn running across her left palm and all four of her fingers. "Here, put it under the cold water." He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the counter and then turned on the cold water and pulled her hand under it.
"Shit! That really hurt."
"Now let me see your foot." He said as he grabbed some of the dirty coffee cups and glasses out of the sink and put her foot into it under the water. "That might hurt for awhile."
"No shit, you think?" She said looking at him like that was the stupidest thing anyone had ever said.
"I meant it's a grease burn. Maybe we ought to take you back to the doctor's. That looks kinda bad."
"I don't want to go to the doctor's. I'm fine."
"But Cass, your hand looks pretty bad. What if we go to the ER?" He said as he held her hand under the water.
"No! It will be fine! I don't need to go to the doctor's it's fine!" She jerked her hand away from his. "It's fine. See?" She started to make a fist, but stopped about halfway into it and made a gasping noise.
Roger saw the look of pain on her face as she tried to close her hand.
"See. I'm fine." She told him through semi clenched teeth.
"Liar. Okay. No doctor's. Right now. But when we go back week after next to get your cast cut down, she looks at it then. Deal?" She nodded. "Okay, for now we'll get some burn stuff for it." Roger was trying hard not to laugh at her now. Oh well, he thought, at lest he got his mind off where it was before. That thought didn't help though. He started laughing. He couldn't help it.
"What's so funny?"
"Well," he laughed, "where do you want me to start? I mean lets face it, you're sitting here on the counter, in Mark's underwear, surrounded by dirty dishes with your foot in the sink."
"As long as you're amused." She grinned at him. "If you can pull yourself together, can you hand me my coffee? And grab my cigarettes from the couch."
"Sorry." He smirked as he handed her the coffee. "Does it feel any better?" Roger lit two cigarettes and handed one to her.
"Yes. No. I don't know. God look at me. Black eye, broken arm, and now I've messed up my other hand and burnt my foot."
Roger couldn't help smirking at her. "Not to mention, sitting on my counter, in Mark's underwear with your foot in my sink. And eggs all over the floor. But you're still kinda cute."
Cass could feel her cheeks starting to burn. She knew she was starting to blush. "Well, so much for breakfast." She shrugged. "Here," she reached behind her and opened the drawer. "Take your pills. Sorry there is no breakfast to go with those, that was kind of the plan."
"You were making me breakfast?" Roger asked, somewhat surprised.
"Well I certainly wasn't making fried pig flesh for me." She laughed. Actually it was more like attempting to make breakfast. In case you haven't noticed, I really don't know how to cook."
"Not at all?" He grinned at her as he took his pills.
"Like completely not at all. I mean, I know how to microwave things to reheat them." She shrugged again. "I just never needed to really cook anything."
"How did you get this old," he laughed, "and not live with Mark, and still not know how to cook anything?" He turned off the water and lifted her foot out of the sink. "Besides I thought you were some kind of book genius or something. You do know they make this thing called a cook book right?"
"Ha ha, very funny. I just never needed to cook."
"Uh huh." He looked at her hand some more. "If you were Mark, where would you put first aid stuff that you would definitely have somewhere, because of course, you're Mark, so you've definitely got stuff like that. Somewhere."
"Leave him alone. You shouldn't pick on him like that." She grinned. "But the answer is under the kitchen sink or bathroom sink."
"Right." He opened up the cupboard under the sink and pulled out a box with a first aid kit inside. He picked it up and grinned at her. "Okay, so how did you just never need to cook?" He pulled out the tape, gauze and burn cream and started putting it on her ankle.
"Well, there was just always stuff to eat." She shrugged. She didn't want to get into it. Especially after her conversation with Mark yesterday. But Cass had a feeling she wouldn't get away with just that for an answer.
"Let me see your hand. So how do you just always have stuff to eat? If you're not living with Mark that is." He started smearing the burn cream on her palm and fingers.
"Well," she dropped her eyes. "There was just always food okay? There were people at my house that cooked okay? They cooked dinner. Or we ate out. Or ordered in. Or I was on location somewhere and there was somebody there that cooked. Okay? I just never had to do it okay?" Roger could tell she was getting upset as he wrapped up her hand. "And don't give me that poor little rich girl thing again!"
"It's okay Cass. It's no big deal." He hugged her. "I don't care if you can't cook. I can't cook either." He pulled back from her. "That's why we have Mark, remember?" He smiled. "But after you've eaten some of his cooking, you'll realize that doesn't always mean all that much."
He watched her smile at that statement but then he got a more serious look on his own face. "But listen, about the money thing, we keep joking with you about paying or dinner and stuff and we shouldn't do that. And I'm sorry. Just know that if it's up to us, Mark and me, then we probably won't have enough cash around to eat out. Or always three times a day, you know?" He grinned that infamous Roger grin. "I just wanted you to know that we want you to stay if you want. But not because of that. You know? I want you to stay," he said softly, "but not because of that. Okay?"
"Even if I can't cook?" She smiled at him as he helped her off the counter.
"Even if you can't cook." He grinned at her. "Go get dressed. I'll take you to breakfast. I did really well at the bar last night. Plus, we were going to get you glasses today. You still up for that?" Roger paused and lowered his voice as he took her hand. "And for tonight? To see Elizabeth?"
Cass' eyes went to the egg mess on the floor. "I suppose." She said quietly. "As long as you're still going with me."
"Would I ever send you there alone? Now go get dressed and I'll clean up this mess. Mark'll have a fit if he comes home and finds this and not us. And you know he'll blame me." He grinned at her.
"Okay. I can handle that I guess. Sorry about breakfast."
"That's okay. It was still cool you were trying to make it."
"Well, at least nothing caught on fire this time." She shrugged.
Roger's head shot up. "This time? What's that mean Cass? Something did catch fire before? Cass?"
She was walking across the living room, pulling the ponytail band as she walked. She shook out her hair and looked at him over her shoulder and smiled. "I'll tell you all about it sometime. All three times." She grinned and walked into Mark's room.
"Three times? Three? Maybe we better just let you order in. Cass?" Roger laughed. Oh who the hell cares if the whole place burns down.
*****
"You guys want another pitcher of beer?" The waitress asked.
"Yeah, we may need it." Maureen told her. "So you don't know where they are?"
"No I don't." Mark told her as he poured himself another beer. They could all hear the familiar Mark worry tone in his voice. "When I ran home the first time, I just ran in, they were gone. I left again to drop my film off to be developed. When I got back home after that I could tell they had been back, but they were gone again." He sighed as he picked up his beer. "And of course in true Roger style, no note or anything."
"Did they know we were meeting for dinner?" Maureen asked.
"Yes. Of course. I think. I don't know." Mark was flustered. "No they knew. He knew. I know he knew." Damn you Roger why do you do this to me.
"Well, when I talked to Cass this morning I said I'd see her tonight. It sure sounded like she knew we were having dinner." Joanne told them, sipping her beer.
"She called you? This morning? At work?" Mark was confused.
"What did she call you about?"
"She just needed to ask a few questions."
"Yeah but, like what? Lawyer stuff? What's up?"
"Jennifer." Jason scolded her. "Stop being so damn nosey. Besides the fact that Joanne would never tell you in the first place if it was lawyer stuff, she wouldn't be able to tell you. Now butt out!"
"He's right. Lawyer client privilege. Sorry Jen." Joanne laughed.
"Oh. So she is a client now though?"
"Jennifer! I'm telling you to drop it. Now. It's none of your business."
"Okay, okay. I was just trying to help. Geeze!"
"Well, you're not." Jason was getting annoyed. God how he hated it when she acted like this.
"Mark do you think they'll pull a no-show for tonight?" Collins asked with a worry in his voice.
"I don't know. Maybe. No, I don't think so. I mean I guess there's a good chance she'll try and get out of it, but I really don't think Roger will let her. I hope. I know he wants her to go see Elizabeth. I know that much."
"True." Joanne added. "But unfortunately Elizabeth isn't exactly located at Roger's favorite place."
"Exactly." Mark sighed. "But I still think he'll go. He said Cass promised him she'd go. He'll show. I know he'll show." I think. I hope. Please Roger, show.
"Well they have to eat right? And it's not like Roger knows any other restaurants or would ever bother to think to cook for that matter." Maureen looked around. "Hey Joellen?" She called to the waitress, who turned and came over to the table. "Have you seen our friend Roger? Has he been in at all today?"
"The blonde hottie? Guitar player?"
Maureen nodded.
"Yeah he was here. End of the lunch rush. He had some chick with him, with a broken arm."
"Did they say anything? Anything about coming back here tonight? Anything about dinner?"
"Sorry Mo. It wasn't my station. They were over in the other corner. I only saw them as they were leaving. Sorry."
"That's okay. Thanks Joellen." Maureen told her. "Well, we know they were here at least. Maybe they went shopping or something."
"Yeah, maybe." Mark said. "I know they were going to get her glasses today. I don't know. Did she say anything to you yesterday?" He asked Jason.
"No I mean she did say she was going tonight." Jason paused and looked around the group. "But I didn't tell you, she did get kinda freaked out when I walked into the loft yesterday. Her not expecting me and not knowing I had a key and all. We maybe shouldn't do anything like that again. But she did say she was going."
"Um, maybe it's love." Jen said with a huge smirk on her face.
"Be helpful or shut up Jen." Jason told her.
"No seriously!" She laughed. "Look!" Jen, who was sitting with her back to the inside wall, could see out both the front and side windows that ran the length of each side of the café. Jason and Collins turned in the direction she pointed, out the window they had their backs to.
Everyone looked up as Roger and Cass, who had walked past the front door by now were about to walk right pass all of them sitting inside the Life Café. They couldn't hear them through the glass, but Roger was talking and Cass was laughing.
Jason knocked hard on the glass and Cass looked up and saw them. "See, told you." Jen said with a smug look on her face.
"Shut up Jennifer." Jason whispered to her as Cass and Roger walked through the door. Roger was carrying a bunch of shopping bags.
"Nice eye Roger. Beat up by a girl again huh?" Maureen laughed at him.
"Yea well." Roger grinned at Cass a he touched his black eye that was starting to fade. "Lucky shot, which I leaned into by the way."
"It was an accident." Cass said softly.
"Well Cass yours looks much better." Joanne told them. "I mean from when I saw you last weekend. Your eye's almost healed up."
"Thanks."
"What are you guys doing here?" Roger asked.
"Eating dinner." Mark answered. Even if Roger didn't hear how annoyed he was, everyone else did. "The same thing you were supposed to be doing with us almost an hour ago. Remember?"
"Oh yeah, we forgot." Roger was grinning as he let Cass sit down next to Collins as he dropped the bags on the floor between them. He sat down next to Mark at the end of the table. "Sorry." He shrugged.
"See?" Jen grinned. Jason shot her an evil look. "I mean you can see now huh Cass. Nice glasses."
"Oh thanks. I finally got them today. It's nice to finally be able to see again." She reached up to adjust her glasses with her left hand and Mark saw the bandage wrapped around it.
"He almost knocked over his chair as he jumped up. "Oh my God Cass, what happened to you now?" He asked wide-eyed, reaching for her left hand.
"Oh, um, I burned myself."
"What the hell did you let her do to herself?" Mark yelled at Roger.
"Me?" Roger said, somewhat surprised. "I didn't let her do anything. She was cooking eggs and burnt her hand. It was an accident. How is that my fault?"
"You let her cook? And with a broken arm? Are you nuts? She could have really got hurt. Not to mention burnt the whole place down. Jesus Roger! What's wrong with you?" Mark was over reacting and he knew it, but how could Roger be so stupid.
"Hey!" Cass yelled at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry Cass. I should have asked if you were okay."
"Yeah, you should have." Roger told him gruffly.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just can't type with either hand now though." She shrugged as she held up both hands. One casted from elbow down to her three fingers and one wrapped up in gauze around her palm and all four fingers.
"Well is it bad? Did she need to go to the ER?" Mark asked Roger.
"Probably she should have, but she won't. I put a bunch of the burn cream on it and wrapped it up. We got more cream today. She said she'd let the doctor look at it in a week and a half when she cuts the cast off her fingers."
Everyone just sort of watched this conversation, which edged on an argument. Especially Cass, who was getting annoyed at the two of them.
"Well what happened?" Mark demanded from him.
"Don't yell at me! She was cooking and when the pan started smoking, she grabbed it and burnt her hand. Then she let go of it and it hit the stove an flipped on to the floor which splattered bacon grease and burnt her ankle."
"I can't believe you let her cook!" Mark had a note of almost panic in his voice.
"Uh, hello!" Cass was pissed and everyone could hear it. "In case the two of you didn't notice I'm sitting right here. An he didn't let me do anything Mark!"
"Sorry Cass." Roger told her.
"Sorry Cass." Mark said. Neither of them looked at her. "So um, you cooked bacon huh? With bacon grease?"
She just glared at him for a second before Maureen jumped in. "Usually bacon has bacon grease Mark." She joked.
"Um, Cass," Mark said, ignoring Maureen, "the kitchen's okay thought right? No, um, problems?" With huge worried eyes Mark looked from Cass to Roger and back to Cass.
Roger started laughing at Mark. Everyone else was just looking back and forth between the three of them.
"Yes Mark, the kitchen and everything in it is fine." She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm going to order another pitcher. Do you want any food?" She asked Roger. "I'm not hungry."
"No. I'm fine." Roger grinned as Cass went to the bar. Everyone was still looking at him. "What? We just ate." He laughed.
When Cass was out of earshot, Mark turned to Roger. "What are you nuts? How could you let her cook? Especially by herself? And with a broken arm! Remember the cardboard box option!"
Argument over, Roger laughed at him again. "Like I was supposed to know better." Roger tried not to laugh, but the look on Mark's face just made him laugh harder.
All of this just peaked Jen's curiosity even more. "Mark what are you going on about?"
"Let's just say Cass has cooking issues."
"He means I can't cook. Cass said as she set down two empty beer mugs. "She's bringing more beer. As for cooking, I had an incident or two."
"Yeah," Roger laughed as he poured Cass and himself beers, "like setting kitchens on fire."
"There were only actual flames three times." She grinned at him. "And it only required the fire department once."
Everyone started to laugh except Mark, who had gotten that worried look on his face again and was holding his head in his hands. "Yeah, only once."
"Relax Mark." Roger said as he lit two cigarettes and handed one to Cass. "The kitchen's fine and she won't cook anything highly flammable." He grinned at him.
"Relax, right, no problem." He said with his head still in his hands. "I'm gonna have an ulcer by the time I'm thirty living with the two of you. And will you put those out! Neither one of you smokes anymore!" He yanked Roger's cigarette out of his hand and crushed it out. Mark moved for Cass' but the look she gave him stopped him.
"Oh Mark! You've been saying that since I lived there!" Maureen laughed. "So other than giving Mark an ulcer, almost burning down Benny's building," many of them grinned at that statement, "and attempting to blow us all off for dinner, what did you guys do today?"
"Well I got my glasses, so now I can see, so we went to a movie,"
"And we went shopping." Roger said in the most unenthusiastic voice possible.
"Oh shut up." Cass laughed at him. "You had fun and you know it. Besides now Mark can call and check up on both of us whenever he wants." She started digging through the bags and pulled out a tan cell phone and slid it across the table to Mark. "Instead of hiring babysitters." She rolled her eyes toward Jason.
"What's that?" Mark just looked at it as if it might bite him.
"It's a phone Mark. People use them to communicate."
"But what's it for?"
"For you. I had to get a new one. I don't need a satellite phone now that I'm here. And I felt like I was missing something not having my phone with me. So we went phone shopping. I got a deal on three of them. You get 800 minutes a month to start including free long distance, plus vice mail, call waiting and caller ID."
"Cass maybe you shouldn't do this. You know?"
"Already had this conversation with her buddy. You might as well forget it now, you're gonna lose." Roger told him as he held up a blue cell phone.
"Yeah but Cass, this can get expensive and I don't' want you spending money on us like that."
"Mark don't worry about it. You need a phone. So people can get you. It's not like either of you have a desk with voice mail sitting on it in some office somewhere. However I do, and I really should check that one of these days."
"But Cass--"
"Look at it this way, if I need you, I can call you. And don't sit there and even try to tell me you weren't all freaked out cause we didn't show up for dinner and you didn't know where we were."
There were stifled laughs and giggles from all around the table. "But Cass." he started.
"Give it up Mark. She'll make you keep it and threaten to give the phone number to your mother." Roger laughed as he shook his head. "Amazing how well threats like that can work."
"I guess. I still don't know Cass. Are you sure?"
"Relax Marky, it's a business expense. That reminds me," she opened up her wallet and started writing a check. "I'm starting my own side company. Mainly investment oriented with some research on the side. When I feel like it. It will make life easier for somethings business wise." She ripped out the check and handed it to Joanne who folded it up and put it into her purse.
"Pookie was that a ten thousand dollar check?" Maureen almost yelled.
"Will you please keep your voice down Maureen." Joanne answered her.
"It's a retainer." Cass explained. "I fired my lawyer yesterday morning. Actually I fired my financial consultant too. Anyway, Joanne's firm is now representing me."
"I'll drop this off tomorrow." Joanne told Cass.
"Whenever. Once the papers are ready, let me know. I'll come by and sign everything."
"Cool! Pookie's got a new client and I can reach Marky 24-7 now if I want!" Maureen smiled and poured more beer.
"Great. Ulcers, a new need for fire insurance and now both my mother and Maureen can call me anytime, anywhere. Thanks Cass."
"No problem sweetie!"
"Do you guys want anything else?" The waitress asked.
"We're set." Joanne said. "We have to take off soon if we want to make that move. Jen are you still coming with us?"
"I'm in. Marky? It's an independent thing." Jen said, trying to tempt him.
"Um, maybe, we'll see." Mark shot a look at Collins before both of them checked out Roger who was staring at his beer and Cass who was playing with her glass.
"Yeah, I think we're done Joellen." Collins said. "Why don't you bring the check, we've got to go soon too."
"Okay. You two need anything else or are you going too?" She asked Roger and Cass.
"We've got time for one more drink right? I'll have a vodka and cranberry. Want one?" She asked Roger. "Make it two." Cass told her without waiting or him to answer.
"Yeah." Roger said without looking up. "We got time for one more drink." He pulled the shopping bags together and handed them to Mark. "Here, drop those off at the loft on your way to the movies. And the guy already programmed your phone some. I'll call you later."
"Um, okay." Mark stood up, taking the bags and Roger's not so subtle hint. "You guys ready?"
Jen, Maureen and Joanne, also getting the hint, stood up and tossed some money on the table. "Okay," Jen said glancing at Roger and Cass before looking to Jason. "We're out of here. I'll call you tonight bro." She kissed Jason on the cheek and they all said goodbye.
Mark and the girls left and Joellen brought over the two drinks. Roger dropped some money on top of the check and handed it to Joellen. "You guys go ahead over." Roger told Collins and Jason without taking his eyes off his drink. "We'll meet you over there. Soon."
Collins and Jason left and Cass and Roger just sat there a few more minutes. Not talking, just sitting, staring at their drinks. Finally Roger leaned in and pulled her towards him. She never took her eyes off her glass. "Cass." He said softly. "Cass we got to go now. Okay? We've got to go."
She didn't say anything or look up from her glass. Roger stood up, pulled her up and led her out the door. It had cooled down and was actually a beautiful night out. They walked the few blocks in silence. Roger had his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. As they reached the block Life Support was on, Roger lit two cigarettes and gave one to Cass.
When they reached the front steps of the Life Support building, Roger dropped his cigarette and stepped on it and then did the same to Cass' when she dropped it. He pulled her in close and hugged her out on the sidewalk. Roger could smell her shampoo in her hair. He ran his finger up and down her back slowly. "It's okay Cass. It's gonna be okay. I promise. It's gonna get better, I promise that too. And this is gonna help. Really. Okay? But we gotta go in."
She shook her head. He could feel her whole body tense up as they climbed the steps. Once through the door Roger saw Collins talking to Elizabeth outside her office. As they walked towards them, Jason joined them.
"Hey." Roger said to them.
"Hey Roger. It's good to see you again." Elizabeth said.
"Elizabeth this is Cass." Collins introduced them. "Cass, this is Elizabeth."
"Hi Cass. It's nice to meet you."
"Hi." She said in a very soft voice.
"Well, why don't you come on into my office. We'll talk." She smiled. "Roger you're not going anywhere right? He'll be right out here. Okay?"
Cass nodded and followed her slowly through the door.