"I also only have you," he replied.
"You have your sister, your niece, you also have your friends who love you," she replied.
"Yes, but at the end of the day I am alone. I tried, Cath, but I couldn't forget you, I couldn't move on. I'm not asking you about the future, whether or not you'll stay after this is all over, I just want you to be safe at home right now."
Catherine hugged him again and looked into his eyes lovingly. "Let's go home." It was so good for her to be in that embrace, to feel loved at a time in history when she felt totally alone.
Steve held her hand and led her home.
Catherine walked into Steve's house and Eddie came running, he passed by her side and jumped on Steve.
"Hey, buddy!" Steve stroked his head.
"Catherine, this is Edward," Steve told her.
Catherine crouched down and stroked Eddie. "Hi, Edward. Nice to meet you," she smiled as she said it.
"You can call him Eddie," Steve said.
"Okay," she replied and Eddie lay down and stood with his paws up so Catherine could pet his belly.
"You're a smart one, huh?" Steve said to Eddie as Catherine played with the dog.
Catherine smiled. "I think a certain sailor is jealous of you, Eddie. I think he wants some belly rubs, too."
"I do," Steve said and smiled at her.
Catherine stood up and looked at Steve. "So, where am I going to stay?"
"Wherever you want," he replied and moved closer and kissed her.
"I was missing your kiss," she said after a long and tender kiss.
"I was missing everything about you," Steve replied.
Catherine put her arms around Steve's neck and with one hand caressed his head. "I'm going to take care of you. We'll get through this together."
Eddie was sitting looking at them and barked.
"Okay, Eddie. I'll take care of you too," Catherine told the dog.
"Where do I put your bag?" Steve asked.
"Do we still have our room? I was supposed to stay away from you for 14 days, but you kissed me...so..."
"Then we have no reason to stay apart," he replied and went upstairs carrying her suitcase.
While Steve went to his room Catherine went to the kitchen. She got a fright when she opened the cupboard door and several things fell on her. "Wow!" she exclaimed loudly and Steve went downstairs to see what was going on.
"Are you hurt?" he became concerned when he saw her hand on her forehead.
"A can fell on my forehead. The cupboard is crammed, Steve. I just wanted to have a cookie."
"I bought food for several months, Cath. We don't know how long this will last and I thought it best to fill the cupboards with food."
"Okay, you're right," Catherine replied.
"Let me see this here," he removed her hand that was on her forehead so he could get a better look. "It's swollen and red," he said.
Catherine put her hand on his face and stroked it. "I'll be fine, don't worry."
Steve hugged her and stayed like that for a while without saying anything. Catherine wondered how much the fear of the future was affecting him.
An hour and a half later they were sitting on the couch watching a series on TV together when Danny called out to Steve in the front yard of the house.
"Hey, Danny!" Steve greeted him as he opened the door.
"Are you okay? I've been trying to talk to you for hours and you don't answer," Danny kept at least four feet away from Steve.
"I'm sorry, Danny. I didn't hear the phone ring, in fact I haven't used the phone much today. Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine."
"Okay. Are you in need of anything?" Danny asked.
"No, everything's fine," Steve replied to Danny and then looked at Catherine. She looked at him and bowed her head, understanding that Steve didn't want Danny to know that she was there. But Steve surprised her. "I won't be alone during quarantine, Catherine is here with me," he told Danny.
"Come here and say hi to Danny, Cath."
Catherine got up and walked to the door and stood next to Steve. "Hi, Danny. How are you?"
"I'm fine, thanks. You look good too," Danny replied.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Danny, take it easy. Steve and I will take care of each other, and you'll be able to focus your concern on Grace and Charlie and yourself. Be very careful, Danny. Protect yourself as much as possible, please."
"Thank you, Catherine. I never thought I'd say this again but I'm glad you're here. Bring the best version of Steve back so that he keeps his butt on the couch and doesn't expose himself to this disease that has come along and we don't know how to deal with it yet."
"I will do that, Danny. He is my prisoner in this house from now on and he will do whatever I tell him to," Catherine replied.
"Wow!" Steve smiled.
"Well, I don't care about the details. Just take care of yourselves and answer the damn phone," Danny told Steve and headed toward the car.
"Bye, Danny!" Catherine waved to him and walked into the house.
Steve also waved as Danny got into the car and looked at him. He waited for Danny to leave and then joined Catherine on the couch. "So I have to do everything you tell me to, Lieutenant?"
"Yes. Don't be rebellious, sailor, or I'll have to punish you," Catherine replied.
"I'm not thinking of being rebellious, I intend to do whatever my lieutenant tells me to," Steve told her.
"Great!" Catherine smiled and pulled him to her. "Come here, sailor."
PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter. Have a good week!
