A/N Okay, something strange is going on with ff.net, and I can't seem to
get the spacing correct between the chapter title and the story, and
between the sections of this chapter. Sorry if it looks strange.
Chapter 37
Roger rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. He traced his finger down Cass' arm. "Are you okay Babe"
"Yes, actually I am." She pushed him down on the bed and laid across his chest. "What about you?" She whispered.
"Yeah, I am." He started running his finger through her hair. He felt her shiver and pulled the blanket up around them. "You want anything Babe?"
"Just this. And you." She light ran her fingers down his chest. "And to take my contacts out. Too much smoke at the club I think."
"As long as your content Baby." He laughed as he squeezed her.
"I need to get up. Let me go."
"Never."
"Only for a few minutes. I'll be back. I promise."
"You promise? Only a few minutes?" He pouted.
She nodded and he reluctantly let her go. She groped on the floor and found one of his tee shirts. Roger watched her go and then reached for the cigarettes and ashtray along with his boxers. He sat back against the wall and waited for her. He heard the bathroom door open as he lit his cigarette.
Cass walked back into the room. "See, I'm back." She climbed into the bed next to him.
"About time. I've been lonely." He whined as he scooted her closer to him and handed her the cigarette.
"Ow, poor baby." She smiled as she dragged on the cigarette before handing it back to him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "You better now?"
"Much better." He crushed out the cigarette before dragging them down into the bed and brushed her hair out of her face.
"Good." She kissed his chest as he ran his fingers up and down her back. They laid there silently for the next few minutes. Cass heard Roger yawn and felt his hand on her back slowing and getting heavier. "Roger." She whispered.
"Uh huh." He replied sleepily.
"Roger," the whisper even softer this time. "I do love you."
"I know Baby. I love you too."
**********
Cass heard the beeping and nudged Roger. She felt him move and the beeping stopped. He mumbled something and moved Cass closer to him. She was still half-asleep but she heard him mumbling. He moved over and buried his face in her hair.
She started to fall asleep again when she felt him move again. She had just started to smile when she realized it wasn't Roger moving, but something else. In that spilt second she was wide-awake.
"Roger! Roger wake up!" She yelled as she covered her face with her hands.
"What! What's the matter?" He jumped up in the bed.
"A rat! There's a rat on the bed!"
"What?" Roger looked around and started laughing.
"What's the matter? What's wrong?" Mark about fell through the door.
"Come here." Roger said still laughing and snapping his fingers. "It's okay Cass, it's not a rat."
"A rat? What are you, hey! How did you get in here?" Mark asked.
"It's not a rat?" Cass opened one eye.
"No," Roger laughed. "It's not a rat. I think it belongs to a rat though." He said as he gave Mark a look.
Cass opened her other eye just as Georgio walked up and licked her face.
"So Marky?" Roger asked.
"Um, yeah, well, um." Mark babbled.
"Well said Mark." Roger told him. "And you," he tickled Cass. "not afraid of rats huh?"
"That's beside the point." She ruffled the fluffy fur around the dog's face. "The question is where did you come from cutie?"
"Scarsdale, New York, but you already knew that. Now about the dog?" Roger said trying to keep a straight face.
"Trust me, she was talking about the dog." Mark told him dryly.
"But where did it come from?" Cass asked, laughing as he licked her face.
"I'm guessing it's Benny's. Or more accurately Alison's. This the big favor Mark?"
"See I told you it was a little favor. He only weights about ten pounds!" Mark gave a please don't kill me smile.
"Funny. What's going on? And why didn't you just tell me yesterday? At least that it was Alison who needed the favor instead of him? And what was she talking about last night?"
Mark's head shot up from the dog. "You saw them last night? What happened? Where?"
"Relax. Nothing happened. Alison had him on his leash."
"They both behaved Mark. It was okay. We ran into them on the steps when they were on their way out."
"Oh, okay." Mark relaxed some. "Well apparently Alison's grandmother is dying so they're on their way to Connecticut and she wouldn't put him in a kennel. You know how she is, a little over protective about her dogs."
"Just a little." Roger said sarcastically as he rolled the dog on it's back and rubbed it's belly.
"Yeah well, cut her some slack on that. From what Benny said it sounds like she's trying to have a kid and it's not going too well."
"Oh." Roger reached for the cigarettes and lighter. He felt bad for Alison for that. She really was a nich person. He couldn't understand why she ever hooked up with Benny. "Well, what she said last night makes a lot more sense now at least. How long do we have him?"
"Probably till next weekend. You're not mad?"
"Naw," he handed the cigarette to Cass. "I don't care. You should have just told me."
"I know, I'm sorry. I mean I knew you wouldn't mind, once he got here and all, but I was afraid if you found out ahead of time you'd just freak out first."
"What am I eight? You think I'm gonna throw a tantrum or something?"
Mark and Cass just looked at each other and tried not to laugh. "So what's his name?" Cass asked, changing the subject.
"Georgio."
"Well Georgio, are you hungry? You want some breakfast? I need some food. Come on." She stared to stand up from the bed in Roger's tee shirt and boxers. "I'll cook breakfast."
Mark was about to comment on her cooking when he saw her sway and grab the edge of the dresser. "You okay Cass?"
Roger looked up from the dog when he heard the concern in Mark's voice.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just got up to fast. Too many cigarettes not enough food." She gave them a small reassuring smile. "So? Frosted flakes or Captin Crunch?"
"Captin Crunch." Roger answered as he watched her walk out.
"Roger take your pills." She called from the living room as the dog ran after her. "Marky what do you want?"
"Oh, um, nothing. I ate. And the electrician is here. He's in the basement."
"With the rats?" Roger joked loud enough for her to hear as he finished his cigarette and reached for his pills on the floor.
"So how was last night?" Mark asked in a low voice.
"Cool. We had a good time. We went to a club on the west side."
"Uh huh." Mark noticed Cass' clothes thrown in random heaps on the floor. "That all you did? Just go clubbing?"
Roger could tell Mark knew so there was no point in even ignoring it. "No." He told Mark with a small smirk on his face. "That wasn't all we did."
"Uh huh." Mark nodded at him before getting serious again. "She okay?" He whispered.
"Yeah, she's okay I think." He smiled slightly. "Everybody's okay I think."
Mark knew what he meant and was glad. Still worried, but somewhat less now. He started picking up Roger's boots and Cass' shoes off of the floor.
Roger stood up and stretched. He grabbed a tee shirt out of a drawer and put it on. "What are you doing?" He asked Mark as he watched him dump the shoes on top of the dresser. "Because if you're suddenly inspired to clean my room, you're doing a crappy job."
They walked out into the living room. "Oh, ah safety precaution." Mark saw the look both Cass and Roger gave him and he picked up Georgio's chew toy, which at one time had probably been one of Benny's shoes.
"Probably something to remember." Roger laughed as he sat down at he counter and poured milk on his cereal. Cass handed him a cup of coffee as she sat down next to him. "Where's your breakfast? I thought you were hungry?"
"So did I, but I guess not. I just want some toast and coffee."
Roger just watched her for a few minutes. Something was up. She had been picking at food for a couple of days now.
"So what did the electrician say?" Cass asked him, finishing her coffee and getting up to make herself another cup.
"Not much. He got here around nine and has been in the basement since." Mark started to drink his coffee but set it down al of a sudden. "Crap. Roger you gonna be here right? This afternoon? I forgot about the electrician and I sorta made plans."
"Yeah, we're gonna be here." Roger realized Mark was starting to turn pink and fidget. That intrigued him. "What kind of plans Mark? Work stuff?" He gave a look to Cass.
"Um, no, not work, more like lunch."
"You meeting Mo for lunch again?" He had a pretty good idea it wasn't Maureen, but he didn't know who.
"No I'm not meeting Maureen." Mark wanted to drop it, and usually at this early hour of the morning for Roger at least, he could usually get away with that. He could tell today that wouldn't work. With either of them, because now, Cass was interested as well. "I'm having lunch with Joellen, before she goes to work at Life Café."
"Really? She's cute." Cass said hoping up on the counter.
"How'd you manage that? Where did you see her?"
"Here, last night. She came over hoping Andrew might be coming here for his drums. Her keys got thrown in the trash at work and she had to find her sister."
"So, during that five minute conversation you just spontaneously asked her to lunch last night?" Roger asked sarcastically.
"Well, no, not exactly."
"No kidding." Roger laughed at Cass, who grinned at that comment.
"Well, she started playing with the dog and we were talking and stuff. And we ended up deciding we'd go to lunch before she goes to work today."
"So did she ever find her sister? And get her keys?"
"Oh yeah, I guess. I mean when I dropped her off at Andrew's her sister was on her way over."
"You walked her all the way to Andrew's?" Roger asked.
"Well the dog needed to be walked and all."
"I'm sure." Roger smirked.
"Whatever Davis." Mark walked over to the bathroom.
"Why do you pick on him like that?" Cass asked from the counter.
"Because it's fun." Roger laughed.
"So what are we going to do today?"
Just as he was about to answer her there was a knock on the door. Cass was still sitting on the counter, a few feet from the door. Roger watched her to see what she'd do. He knew she heard it but she didn't move, and neither did he. When the knock came a second time she hopped off the counter. Roger thought she was actually going to answer the door.
"I'm going to go get dressed." She told him as she scratched below her neck. "Get the door baby." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked into their room.
Roger sighed as he got up to get the door. He better tell Elizabeth about that, she's definitely not answering the door. "Yeah?" He asked as he opened the door.
"Hey how you doing? I need to get into the fuse box in her for a few minutes. I'm gonna have to turn the power off for a few hours in a little bit too."
"Okay, come on in. Can you give us a little bit before you turn it off?"
"Oh yeah, I need at least 45 more minutes downstairs anyway. I just wanted to give you a heads up."
"Yeah no problem. Anything for real power I guess." Roger let him in and went to tell Mark and Cass about the power.
Chapter 37
Roger rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. He traced his finger down Cass' arm. "Are you okay Babe"
"Yes, actually I am." She pushed him down on the bed and laid across his chest. "What about you?" She whispered.
"Yeah, I am." He started running his finger through her hair. He felt her shiver and pulled the blanket up around them. "You want anything Babe?"
"Just this. And you." She light ran her fingers down his chest. "And to take my contacts out. Too much smoke at the club I think."
"As long as your content Baby." He laughed as he squeezed her.
"I need to get up. Let me go."
"Never."
"Only for a few minutes. I'll be back. I promise."
"You promise? Only a few minutes?" He pouted.
She nodded and he reluctantly let her go. She groped on the floor and found one of his tee shirts. Roger watched her go and then reached for the cigarettes and ashtray along with his boxers. He sat back against the wall and waited for her. He heard the bathroom door open as he lit his cigarette.
Cass walked back into the room. "See, I'm back." She climbed into the bed next to him.
"About time. I've been lonely." He whined as he scooted her closer to him and handed her the cigarette.
"Ow, poor baby." She smiled as she dragged on the cigarette before handing it back to him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "You better now?"
"Much better." He crushed out the cigarette before dragging them down into the bed and brushed her hair out of her face.
"Good." She kissed his chest as he ran his fingers up and down her back. They laid there silently for the next few minutes. Cass heard Roger yawn and felt his hand on her back slowing and getting heavier. "Roger." She whispered.
"Uh huh." He replied sleepily.
"Roger," the whisper even softer this time. "I do love you."
"I know Baby. I love you too."
**********
Cass heard the beeping and nudged Roger. She felt him move and the beeping stopped. He mumbled something and moved Cass closer to him. She was still half-asleep but she heard him mumbling. He moved over and buried his face in her hair.
She started to fall asleep again when she felt him move again. She had just started to smile when she realized it wasn't Roger moving, but something else. In that spilt second she was wide-awake.
"Roger! Roger wake up!" She yelled as she covered her face with her hands.
"What! What's the matter?" He jumped up in the bed.
"A rat! There's a rat on the bed!"
"What?" Roger looked around and started laughing.
"What's the matter? What's wrong?" Mark about fell through the door.
"Come here." Roger said still laughing and snapping his fingers. "It's okay Cass, it's not a rat."
"A rat? What are you, hey! How did you get in here?" Mark asked.
"It's not a rat?" Cass opened one eye.
"No," Roger laughed. "It's not a rat. I think it belongs to a rat though." He said as he gave Mark a look.
Cass opened her other eye just as Georgio walked up and licked her face.
"So Marky?" Roger asked.
"Um, yeah, well, um." Mark babbled.
"Well said Mark." Roger told him. "And you," he tickled Cass. "not afraid of rats huh?"
"That's beside the point." She ruffled the fluffy fur around the dog's face. "The question is where did you come from cutie?"
"Scarsdale, New York, but you already knew that. Now about the dog?" Roger said trying to keep a straight face.
"Trust me, she was talking about the dog." Mark told him dryly.
"But where did it come from?" Cass asked, laughing as he licked her face.
"I'm guessing it's Benny's. Or more accurately Alison's. This the big favor Mark?"
"See I told you it was a little favor. He only weights about ten pounds!" Mark gave a please don't kill me smile.
"Funny. What's going on? And why didn't you just tell me yesterday? At least that it was Alison who needed the favor instead of him? And what was she talking about last night?"
Mark's head shot up from the dog. "You saw them last night? What happened? Where?"
"Relax. Nothing happened. Alison had him on his leash."
"They both behaved Mark. It was okay. We ran into them on the steps when they were on their way out."
"Oh, okay." Mark relaxed some. "Well apparently Alison's grandmother is dying so they're on their way to Connecticut and she wouldn't put him in a kennel. You know how she is, a little over protective about her dogs."
"Just a little." Roger said sarcastically as he rolled the dog on it's back and rubbed it's belly.
"Yeah well, cut her some slack on that. From what Benny said it sounds like she's trying to have a kid and it's not going too well."
"Oh." Roger reached for the cigarettes and lighter. He felt bad for Alison for that. She really was a nich person. He couldn't understand why she ever hooked up with Benny. "Well, what she said last night makes a lot more sense now at least. How long do we have him?"
"Probably till next weekend. You're not mad?"
"Naw," he handed the cigarette to Cass. "I don't care. You should have just told me."
"I know, I'm sorry. I mean I knew you wouldn't mind, once he got here and all, but I was afraid if you found out ahead of time you'd just freak out first."
"What am I eight? You think I'm gonna throw a tantrum or something?"
Mark and Cass just looked at each other and tried not to laugh. "So what's his name?" Cass asked, changing the subject.
"Georgio."
"Well Georgio, are you hungry? You want some breakfast? I need some food. Come on." She stared to stand up from the bed in Roger's tee shirt and boxers. "I'll cook breakfast."
Mark was about to comment on her cooking when he saw her sway and grab the edge of the dresser. "You okay Cass?"
Roger looked up from the dog when he heard the concern in Mark's voice.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just got up to fast. Too many cigarettes not enough food." She gave them a small reassuring smile. "So? Frosted flakes or Captin Crunch?"
"Captin Crunch." Roger answered as he watched her walk out.
"Roger take your pills." She called from the living room as the dog ran after her. "Marky what do you want?"
"Oh, um, nothing. I ate. And the electrician is here. He's in the basement."
"With the rats?" Roger joked loud enough for her to hear as he finished his cigarette and reached for his pills on the floor.
"So how was last night?" Mark asked in a low voice.
"Cool. We had a good time. We went to a club on the west side."
"Uh huh." Mark noticed Cass' clothes thrown in random heaps on the floor. "That all you did? Just go clubbing?"
Roger could tell Mark knew so there was no point in even ignoring it. "No." He told Mark with a small smirk on his face. "That wasn't all we did."
"Uh huh." Mark nodded at him before getting serious again. "She okay?" He whispered.
"Yeah, she's okay I think." He smiled slightly. "Everybody's okay I think."
Mark knew what he meant and was glad. Still worried, but somewhat less now. He started picking up Roger's boots and Cass' shoes off of the floor.
Roger stood up and stretched. He grabbed a tee shirt out of a drawer and put it on. "What are you doing?" He asked Mark as he watched him dump the shoes on top of the dresser. "Because if you're suddenly inspired to clean my room, you're doing a crappy job."
They walked out into the living room. "Oh, ah safety precaution." Mark saw the look both Cass and Roger gave him and he picked up Georgio's chew toy, which at one time had probably been one of Benny's shoes.
"Probably something to remember." Roger laughed as he sat down at he counter and poured milk on his cereal. Cass handed him a cup of coffee as she sat down next to him. "Where's your breakfast? I thought you were hungry?"
"So did I, but I guess not. I just want some toast and coffee."
Roger just watched her for a few minutes. Something was up. She had been picking at food for a couple of days now.
"So what did the electrician say?" Cass asked him, finishing her coffee and getting up to make herself another cup.
"Not much. He got here around nine and has been in the basement since." Mark started to drink his coffee but set it down al of a sudden. "Crap. Roger you gonna be here right? This afternoon? I forgot about the electrician and I sorta made plans."
"Yeah, we're gonna be here." Roger realized Mark was starting to turn pink and fidget. That intrigued him. "What kind of plans Mark? Work stuff?" He gave a look to Cass.
"Um, no, not work, more like lunch."
"You meeting Mo for lunch again?" He had a pretty good idea it wasn't Maureen, but he didn't know who.
"No I'm not meeting Maureen." Mark wanted to drop it, and usually at this early hour of the morning for Roger at least, he could usually get away with that. He could tell today that wouldn't work. With either of them, because now, Cass was interested as well. "I'm having lunch with Joellen, before she goes to work at Life Café."
"Really? She's cute." Cass said hoping up on the counter.
"How'd you manage that? Where did you see her?"
"Here, last night. She came over hoping Andrew might be coming here for his drums. Her keys got thrown in the trash at work and she had to find her sister."
"So, during that five minute conversation you just spontaneously asked her to lunch last night?" Roger asked sarcastically.
"Well, no, not exactly."
"No kidding." Roger laughed at Cass, who grinned at that comment.
"Well, she started playing with the dog and we were talking and stuff. And we ended up deciding we'd go to lunch before she goes to work today."
"So did she ever find her sister? And get her keys?"
"Oh yeah, I guess. I mean when I dropped her off at Andrew's her sister was on her way over."
"You walked her all the way to Andrew's?" Roger asked.
"Well the dog needed to be walked and all."
"I'm sure." Roger smirked.
"Whatever Davis." Mark walked over to the bathroom.
"Why do you pick on him like that?" Cass asked from the counter.
"Because it's fun." Roger laughed.
"So what are we going to do today?"
Just as he was about to answer her there was a knock on the door. Cass was still sitting on the counter, a few feet from the door. Roger watched her to see what she'd do. He knew she heard it but she didn't move, and neither did he. When the knock came a second time she hopped off the counter. Roger thought she was actually going to answer the door.
"I'm going to go get dressed." She told him as she scratched below her neck. "Get the door baby." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked into their room.
Roger sighed as he got up to get the door. He better tell Elizabeth about that, she's definitely not answering the door. "Yeah?" He asked as he opened the door.
"Hey how you doing? I need to get into the fuse box in her for a few minutes. I'm gonna have to turn the power off for a few hours in a little bit too."
"Okay, come on in. Can you give us a little bit before you turn it off?"
"Oh yeah, I need at least 45 more minutes downstairs anyway. I just wanted to give you a heads up."
"Yeah no problem. Anything for real power I guess." Roger let him in and went to tell Mark and Cass about the power.