Disclaimer: I wish they were, but they're not… sigh
A/N: It's my turn! YAY! This was fun to write. I dunno where the idea came from, but come it did, and you know me… I just had to run with it-Dana
Enjoy, and please, review!
Thanks!
Coveted Cotton
"Presumptions"
Chapter 2
I've knocked a total of twelve times.
It's possible that she just doesn't want to see me.
Of course, it's also possible that she is sleeping…
Or that she just hasn't heard me…
I pull my keys out of my pocket and find the spare key to her apartment. I slip the key into the lock, unlock the door, and walk in.
I close the door behind me and look around.
It's obvious that she walked in and started stripping… her uniform on the floor, her heels stepped out of, her cover tossed onto her couch…
I stop and stand completely still.
The thought that crosses my mind makes me feel sick: she's not alone.
What if she wasn't the only one stripping?
What will I do if I walk in on her and… who? Who's here with her? Webb? Someone else?
I should call out, but I can't speak, I can't even take a step…
I frantically search for signs of her not being alone… a tie… shoes… pants… anything..
I scan the room and find nothing that suggests that she has company…
What if he waited until they were in the bedroom?
What if he wasn't getting undressed because he was busy undressing her?
Son of a bitch…
I feel like kicking her bedroom door open, pulling whoever's on top of her off of her, and beating him senseless…
I feel like screaming, crying even…
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
I need to know…
"Mac? Hey, it's me… where are you?" I call out, dreading her response.
It's going to kill me if she rushes out, wearing nothing but a robe, her hair all a mess… she'll give me some excuse as she pushes me towards the door… I can just hear it now… 'Right now's not a good time, Harm… I'm too busy fucking someone else… but you can come back later… tomorrow maybe?'
I stand here waiting, my stomach hurting, my heart breaking…
"Harm?" She calls out.
I can't tell if she's in her bedroom… or her bathroom…
Please, let her be doing anything but someone else… let her be making her bed, changing clothes… let her be taking a shit for all I care…
"Yeah… it's me. Where are you?" I ask, afraid of the truth.
"Uh, give me a second… I'll be right there." She says, her tone one of panic.
God, if she's with someone else…
When she steps into the living room, her hair is wet and is a mess… she's wearing a robe, she is barefooted, and she has a towel in her hand.
"Welcome back." She says, smiling.
I can't bring myself to smile.
"If I'm interrupting something… I can come back later." I tell her, feeling my anger and pain intensify.
For someone who was just getting fucked, she sure seems calm about me being here.
"Interrupting something? What would you be interrupting?" She asks, beginning to towel-dry her hair.
"You tell me." I say, the sound of my voice surprising me. I am instantly filled with regret. What I've just said and how I've just said it sounded harsh and cut-to-the-bone.
I sound angry, accusatory…
If she notices my tone, she doesn't let it show…
"Oh, Harm… it was amazing. I've been needing that for about two or three weeks.." She says, draping the towel over her shoulders.
At this point I have heard enough…
"I don't want to hear about whatever it is that you've been up to… maybe I'll call before I stop by next time. I'll, ah… see you later." I say, turning to leave.
"Whoa, wait a minute… what have you got against a long, hot bubble bath? And aren't you going to fill me in on what happened with Sturgis?" She asks, confused.
I stop and turn around.
"Bubble bath? I interrupted your bubble bath?" I ask, pleasantly surprised and a little more than relieved.
She smiles and nods. "Yeah… I was in there about an hour… had myself a long, hot soak, and a long, hard cry. It was great… therapeutic." She says, pulling her robe together a little more. "I'll be back. I'm going to put some clothes on. Make yourself at home…" She adds, disappearing into her bedroom.
Once she is out of earshot, I start laughing.
I can't believe I allowed my mind to…
And I acted like such an ass…
She was taking a bubble bath… and crying?
Why was she crying?
Should I ask her about it?
Or… should I wait until she brings it up?
I walk over to her couch, sit down, and wait…