Fixes
9
A/N: Kinda explicit in some parts… you're welcome ;-) Guys, this is the last chapter I have pre-written. I'm taking some vacation time over Thanksgiving so I probably won't update for at least two weeks. At least I didn't leave it on a cliffhanger!
Beca was different, withdrawn. Chloe was worried about her. They were sitting in the living room, open pizza box sitting on their laps as they ate quietly... or as Chloe ate really. The musician hadn't eaten much at all in the few days following the news from Detective Swanson and especially not since her session with Elise the previous day.
Chloe desperately wanted to ask what she was thinking, feeling, what she'd talked about with her therapist, what Elise had said... but Beca was searching internally, and the vet realized that there wasn't really anything she could do except to be there as her partner's rock of support IF she wanted to talk.
"Beca," she said softly. "Please try to eat a little more? For me?"
The musician sighed but she picked up a slice and nibbled on it. "I just don't have a lot of appetite right now," she replied.
"I know but..." The redhead trailed off and looked down, biting her bottom lip anxiously. She didn't want to push but...
"I know you're worried about me, Chloe, but... I don't think anyone can really understand what I'm going through right now... you know?" Beca turned a little to make solid eye contact. "You're not doing anything wrong, Baby. I promise. My..." She swallowed. "My sleeping in the other room is nothing to do with you. I just... I feel so..." Sudden tears trailed down her face, and she shook her head.
"Hey," Chloe said softly, reaching out to caress the wet tracks away. "I miss you, Becs, but I get it. I get that you need some space and it's ok."
Their eyes met and held for a long moment. "But it's not ok," the brunette whispered. "It's not, Chloe. I know it hurts you." Light blue eyes lowered but Beca eased her lover's chin up to make eye contact again. "I know it hurts you and I'm sorry." Chloe's throat bobbed in a deep swallow, but she didn't deny her girlfriend's words. "Chloe... can we have sex? Please?"
The blue eyes widened a little. "Beca... you don't have to..."
But the brunette covered the older woman's lips with her fingertips. "Please?" she asked. "Just... please... make love to me, Chlo. I want to try to get past this before the memories of him swallow me whole again. I need to feel something other than fear of him. I need to feel the love of my life inside me."
"Oh Becs," Chloe whispered as she caressed the younger woman's face. "I love you so much." She drew Beca to her and they kissed deeply for timeless moments as her lover clung to her, pressed into her, told her without words how much she needed her. Chloe's hands went to the hem of Beca's t-shirt to lift it off and toss it aside, then explored her soft skin until they found bare breasts. The brunette moaned as her lover's thumbs stroked softly over her nipples, teasing them to hardness and the vet smiled against her lips. "Want to take this to the bedroom?" she asked in a breathy whisper. "The bed might be more comfortable."
Beca nodded and started to move but her lover just grinned and stood to scoop her up into her arms. The brunette squeaked but then laughed softly as Chloe carried her to the bedroom and laid her gently down.
"That was hot, Babe," Beca said, tugging the redhead down on top of her and then rolling them over so she could swing a knee over Chloe's hips and straddle them. "You're SO fucking hot." There was a predatory look to her eyes that made sudden heat shoot to Chloe's core. She reached up to caress her lover's face and grinned as Beca playfully snapped her teeth at her fingers. But then the musician lowered herself and pushed the neck of the vet's t-shirt aside to bite down on her shoulder.
Hard.
The sting of pain shocked Chloe a little and her hips bucked in response as unexpected arousal coursed through her. "Fuck, Becs…"
But Beca didn't pause. She did it again and this time Chloe gasped and then moaned, her nails raking down the younger woman's back hard enough to leave red trails.
"I don't want to be afraid, Chloe," Beca said after a moment.
Light blue eyes opened, and the vet frowned a little. "Of me?" she asked.
"Of sex," the brunette clarified. "I trust you more than anyone else in the world, Chloe. You know that, right?"
"I know," the redhead nodded, tears welling in her eyes. Trust was the greatest gift Beca could give, and she knew it. "And that feels so amazing, Becs." She sat up and wrapped her arms around the younger woman's waist as she ducked her head to kiss along her collar bones. Beca's breathing hitched and her fingertips stroked the back of the vet's neck in encouragement. Chloe sighed against her skin and then nipped her shoulder. "Give yourself to me," she said. "Unconditionally."
Beca drew back a little. "What?"
"You said you don't want to be afraid. Make the decision to give yourself to me."
"Chloe…"
The vet's hand roughly slid between the brunette's parted thighs and cupped her. "I won't hurt you…" Chloe grinned a little. "Unless you want me to."
Beca's lips flattened into a little smirk. "So, if I said I… um… wanted it a little rough…?"
"I want what you want, Becs," the redhead replied seriously. "Do you want me to be a little rough with you?"
The musician nodded. "But don't restrain me."
Then the breath whooshed out of her as Chloe suddenly flipped her over and then pounced on her, growling playfully. She quickly pulled her own shirt off and then slid lower to bite her way down the centerline of Beca's abs. The brunette's hips lifted, and she groaned softly as her girlfriend eased her onto her front and pulled her shorts and underwear off. "Get on your hands and knees," Chloe said huskily, then got off the bed and went to her side of the closet.
Beca watched her with half-lidded eyes but then swallowed hard as Chloe opened a box on the top shelf and pulled out a dildo and harness the younger woman hadn't seen before. She brought them to the bed and set them in front of her lover as she sat down next to her. "I've been fantasizing about using this with you," Chloe said softly. "But Beca I want to be sure that it's ok. I know penetration might be…"
But Beca reached out a hand to cup her cheek. "Just not from behind," she replied just as softly. "I need to see that it's you."
But Chloe just smiled. "I wasn't going to," she stated. "I just wanted to see how sexy you looked naked on your hands and knees like that."
Beca laughed and swatted at her girlfriend's shoulder. "Beeeotch."
The redhead's smile widened, and she stripped out of the rest of her clothes to settle the harness around her hips and set the toy into it. She slid one end of it inside herself, then tightened everything and climbed onto the bed. Chloe sucked in a breath as Beca touched the toy almost curiously. The musician's dark blue eyes lifted then. "Don't be gentle."
But Chloe scooted back to lean against the headboard. "You're in control," she said.
"I am," Beca replied. "I want you, Chloe."
The redhead swallowed but then nodded and pulled her lover to her for a rough kiss. She nipped her lips and tongue and then deepened the contact as she eased the brunette onto her back and settled between her thighs. The toy pressed down into the mattress, moving inside Chloe and she moaned softly as Beca's hands roamed over her. They were all over each other, driving each other's arousal higher until Beca's breathy voice broke the quiet of their groans and whimpers of pleasure.
"Please, Chloe."
The vet nodded and as she kissed her lover again, she moved onto her knees and slid her hand between their bodies to caress her fingertips through Beca's folds. The younger woman was soaking, so she slowly eased the head of the toy into position. "Are you sure?" she asked, one last time.
The brunette nodded, biting her bottom lip as her lover's hand caressed over her breast. "Please," she said again. Then her eyes slammed shut as Chloe slowly rocked her hips forward to ease the toy inside her. "Oh… God…" she choked out, gripping her lover's shoulders and pulling her closer.
"Becs…" Chloe whimpered as a bolt of pleasure shot through her and she rested her chin on the younger woman's shoulder, holding still for a moment to let them both acclimate. Then she pulled her hips back, paused a moment and pushed back in, a little harder this time.
Beca gasped and her hand curled around the back of the redhead's neck as she shifted a little to wrap her legs around her waist, locking her ankles at the small of her back. "Yes, Chloe!"
Chloe's breathing deepened as she pulled her hips back and speared forward again. The musician cried out and closed her teeth on Chloe's shoulder and she just stayed there, eyes tightly shut as the redhead picked up a rhythm, whimpering as Beca began moving to meet her and take her deeper.
The brunette reveled in the scent of her lover, Chloe's shampoo, perfume… and the heady smell of sex… invaded her senses. "Oh…" she whimpered as a sudden bolt of pleasure hit her.
"Bec? Are you ok?" the vet gasped.
"Yeah, I'm ok… fuck… don't stop, Chloe." Her fingers tangled into the older woman's hair, and she gasped again as each thrust hit her in just the right spot. "I'm… clo… close… God…"
Chloe was breathing hard, a combination of the exertion and the arousal that was pushing her close to her own orgasm. "Me… too…" she panted, then grunted as she felt Beca's legs tighten around her. It changed the angle a tad and she groaned loudly as her climax hit her unexpectedly, making her shudder and her hips jerk irregularly. "Beca…" she moaned. "Oh my God…" But she didn't stop and a few thrusts later, the musician followed her over the edge, grasping hard at her shoulders and crying out her pleasure into her ear.
They slowed down then, just slowly rocking together as they held each other tightly, sweat dampened skin tingling and sensitive.
"I love you," Chloe mumbled tiredly into Beca's neck, nuzzling gently.
Beca was smiling but then she chuckled as she teased gently. "Good thing you're all about the cardio, Chlo."
The redhead grinned in reply as she eased back and unbuckled the harness to drop it on the floor by the bed and was about to move away a little when Beca just pulled her closer.
"Wait…" the brunette urged. "Just… stay like this a while? I don't want to let you go yet."
Light blue eyes sparkled gently. "I'm NEVER letting you go, Beca," Chloe replied. "I want…" She blinked and then smiled. "Yeah…" she grinned widely, tears welling in her eyes. "Beca, will you marry me?"
The brunette was momentarily stunned. Then she scowled. "No! I mean… Yes!... I mean… fuck, Chloe!" She laughed helplessly and shook her head.
Chloe blinked. "Um… was there an actual answer in there?"
Beca smiled and her face gentled. "Yes, the answer is yes."
The vet grinned wildly and was about to seal the deal with a kiss when Beca put a fingertip against her lips. "But your timing is a little… unexpected, Chlo."
"Oh?"
The brunette slid out from under her girlfriend and went to her underwear drawer to pull something out, then hopped back into bed as the vet rolled over onto her back. Beca flopped onto her and Chloe's arms closed around her again as they wiggled to get comfortable. "I was waiting for the right time to propose to you."
Light blue eyes widened. "Oh no… did I… I totes stole your thunder, didn't I?"
The musician laughed a little. "Well, I actually… I was gonna do the whole one knee thing…" She produced the ring box and opened it. "I even got one of these."
The redhead gasped and her hand moved to her mouth as her eyes welled all over again. "Becs," she whispered.
"Chloe Beale, will you marry me… also?"
"Yes!" the vet exclaimed, offering her left hand. "Yes! A hundred thousand times yes!"
Beca laughed. "So eager, Doctor Beale." She eased the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger, then kissed it. Chloe gazed at the diamond and platinum band and shook her head in disbelief.
"It's beautiful, Becs," she whispered, voice stolen. "I love it so much."
"Good," Beca replied, her own eyes filling. "Because I want you to love it as much as I love you. And I love YOU so much."
They kissed deeply, and as their hands began to roam again, Beca felt like herself for the first time in days.
Chloe had, as always, banished her demon for one more night.
Xx
Jesse Swanson wasn't a particularly imposing cop, but he was kind and he listened without interrupting. Beca remembered that from the first time she'd met him, when he was new to the job of detective, and she hoped he hadn't changed in the two and a half years that had passed since. She also suspected that he still liked her. Even though he'd been nothing but professional, he looked at her in THAT way as he held his hand out.
"Beca, thanks for coming in. It's good to see you again."
"You too, Detective," Beca replied. "I think you'll remember my dad, John Mitchell… and this is my fiancée, Chloe Beale."
"Ah," Swanson said with a tight smile. "Fiancée… congratulations to you both."
"Thanks," Chloe replied with a somewhat tight smile of her own.
John cleared his throat. "So, Detective, we're here. What can we do for you?"
"Indeed. Thanks for making the trip so quickly, Beca, Chloe." He offered them seats at his desk and John stood behind them with his hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I wanted to show you some pictures and hopefully, if our suspect is among them, you'll be able to pick him out."
"But I did this last time," Beca said, frowning. "I can't identify anyone." She looked at Swanson. "Wait. The suspect you identified… You actually picked him up?"
"We picked him up as soon as we knew when you'd be able to get here. He's in a holding cell now." Swanson pointed at the screen facing Beca and changed a setting for it to mirror his own. "I'm going to slowly scroll through some photos. I want you to look carefully and tell me if you recognize anyone."
The musician nodded and then smiled as Chloe took her hand to lace their fingers together. "Ok, I'm ready," she said.
One by one, the photos went by. Beca examined each one, shaking her head before the detective moved on the next. But then one man caught her attention and she held up a hand. "Wait. Stop there." She leaned forward in her chair and looked closer at his face. Then she leaned back and closed her eyes. "I was cold," she said struggling to pull back the memories. "The concrete I was lying on, was leaching all the warmth from my body. I remember staring at his chest as he was raping me and wondering how warm his leather jacket was." She laughed a little bitterly and shook her head. "I was kinda out of it." Her breathing hitched then as her eyes filled with tears. "He was wearing a baseball cap too, but it slipped back and I remember a forehead scar that was visible underneath it. I remember it because it was shaped like part of a star… like only three points of it… like this guy's." She pointed at the screen as she opened her eyes. "This is him. This is the guy who r…" Her voice broke as her anxiety spiked and Chloe pulled her into her arms to hold her close.
"Breathe, Becs," the vet said softly. "Just breathe, Baby."
"E-Elise," the musician gasped, and Chloe nodded quickly.
"Detective, I need a private room for Beca to make a call."
The detective was up and indicating an interview room in a split second and Chloe managed to get her fiancée into it before sitting her down and Face Timing Elise. They'd already prepared the therapist for a potential call, and she picked up immediately.
"Beca," she said as the younger woman cried softly. "I'm so proud of you." Chloe tried to make a discreet exit, but Beca grabbed her hand; desperately needed her to stay. "No matter what happens, you're doing the right thing. You're standing up for yourself. You're seeking the justice you deserve. He no longer has any power over you, Beca Mitchell. You are powerful and amazing, and you are, most of all, loved." Elise's eyes went to Chloe. "You people who love you just as you deserve to be loved. That man no longer has any hold over you. Isn't that right, Chloe?"
Chloe nodded and brought Beca's hand to her lips to kiss it. "I love you so much, Beca Mitchell. That man is nothing. He's nothing in the face of YOUR power and OUR love."
"I know," Beca nodded. "He's nothing and you're my everything, Chlo." She looked back at her therapist. "Thank you, Elise."
"I'm here whenever you need me, Beca. Night or day. How are you feeling? Better able to breathe?"
"Yeah," the brunette agreed, feeling a lot more peaceful. "It seems I'm able to navigate the anxiety attacks quicker, if Chloe is with me."
"She's your touch stone," Elise said with a smile. "She grounds you." Then she grinned widely. "Let me see that gorgeous ring again?"
Beca chuckled and showed her hand off while Chloe blushed a little. On her vet's salary, she'd be paying for the engagement ring until she was forty but, the look of joy on Beca's face when Chloe had proposed again, officially with the proper jewelry this time, had been priceless.
"Chloe committed herself to financial servitude for it," she joked.
The vet laughed. "She's only half joking. Totally worth it though."
Elise smiled and nodded happily. "Ok, Ladies. I need to get going but call anytime you need me."
"Thanks again, Elise," Beca replied gratefully. "I know I can do this. I know it, when I have you both to support me."
"You're welcome, Beca. And I mean it, call whenever you need me."
Beca ended the call and then turned into her fiancée for a hug. "Thank you too, Chlo. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You're welcome, Baby," Chloe replied, taking the brunette's hand to lead her back to the detective's desk. He stood immediately; concern etched across his face.
"Are you ok, Beca?" he asked, rounding the desk to put a hand on her shoulder. "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thanks," she replied with a smile, then eased away from his hand and took a seat next to Chloe. Their hands immediately found each other. "I have everything I need. Where's my dad?"
Swanson took his seat again. "He went to grab some coffee. He'll be right back." He picked up a pen and tapped it on his desk. "So... the good news is, the guy you identified from the photo is the same guy we have in the interrogation room right now."
Beca's chest began to ache again, but she just took a deep breath and nodded. "How did you find him?"
Swanson leaned back in his chair, frowning unhappily. "I wish I could take credit for that," he said quietly. "But the truth is... he made a mistake. He flew under the radar for a while but then couldn't help himself. He raped another girl but this time, he was interrupted and left the condom behind in his haste to escape. We were able to get DNA and match him to a family member... good old-fashioned forensics. Then we were able to link him to you by…" The detective paused, frowning a little.
"Matching it to the saliva they found on my... around the bite marks?" Beca said succinctly, then glanced at Chloe, whose jaw was clenched in anger. The healed teeth marks on Beca's breasts were barely visible but they were still a stark reminder of her assault every time she looked at them in the mirror.
"Right," the detective nodded.
"Who is he?" Chloe asked suddenly. Her blue eyes were cold chips of ice.
"Chloe, I'm not sure I should..." Swanson began, but the vet shook her head, slamming one palm down on the desk and making everyone jump.
"Who the FUCK is he?"
The detective leaned on the arms of his chair, fingers laced together across his belly. "The suspect's name is Michael Myers. He's forty-four and..." Swanson looked down and shook his head. "He's a high school teacher from the greater Atlanta area."
Beca snorted derisively. "Michael Myers... like the fictional serial killer? How apt."
"A teacher..." Chloe whispered. "What if he..." She couldn't go on, upset as she suddenly felt.
"We'll be investigating that too, I promise," the detective replied succinctly. "This is pretty much an open and shut case with the amount of evidence we have, and we can tie him to six assaults thanks to his pathological need to bite his victims. But we're hoping that maybe more victims who didn't initially report their assaults, might come forward."
Beca sat forward in her chair. "What if I made a statement encouraging any other victims to come forward? On television or..."
Swanson smiled. "That would be hugely helpful, Beca."
Chloe squeezed her fiancée's hand in encouragement but didn't say anything.
"Let's do a press conference," the musician said. "I'm not famous but, if the reporters introduce me in a way that sparks people's interest, it might make other women come forward."
"I have a contact I trust who might be able to make that happen," the detective nodded. "Let me make a call and I'll get back to you. Are you staying with your dad?"
"Actually…" Beca said softly. "We were going to but… the memories…" She looked down. "It was a little too much for me, so Chloe got us a hotel downtown."
Swanson smiled. "Good. And I'm glad you're happy together, Beca. Congratulations again." The two women smiled as he got up. "Let me drive you back to the hotel so your dad doesn't have to detour downtown."
As the women got up, John ambled toward them. "Doing ok, Becs?" he asked, ducking his head to look at his petite daughter's eyes.
"As well as can be expected," the brunette replied. "I think I just want to go back to the hotel and take a nap. Detective Swanson's going to drop us off."
"Ok, Honey," her dad nodded. "Call or text me later, ok? Just to let me know you're ok."
Beca's hand found her fiancée's again as she nodded. "Sure will, Dad."
For a long moment, the older man looked at his soon-to-be daughter-in-law and she nodded too. "I've got her, John."
Doctor Mitchell took a deep breath, then released it. "I know you do, Kiddo." He kissed the top of Beca's head, then Chloe's and ambled away again.
Xx
The hotel room was bright and spacious, but Beca hardly noticed as she crawled onto the bed in her underwear and lay down with her arm tucked under her head. Chloe came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her slender frame, and she took a moment to dry off before getting into a long t-shirt and joining her lover.
"You don't have to stay with me," the musician smiled as the vet helped her out of her bra and kissed the light strap marks away. "But that DOES feel good, Chlo."
"Mmmm…" the vet smiled as she spooned against Beca's back and held her close. "I could do with a nap myself. I think the time zone difference is getting to me."
Beca snorted a laugh. "A likely excuse, Doctor Beale. Look, Babe, I know you're worried about me but it's really ok. I'm going to be ok." She smiled a little. "The police will build their case against Myers and it'll all be over then."
Chloe nodded her agreement but, deep inside her, there was a sense of unease she couldn't shake. She thought about it for a while, then chalked it up to her worry that Myers had assaulted school kids and closed her eyes to relax with her lover and try to let it go. Beca was already breathing slowly and deeply, and Chloe realized that she'd dozed off; unsurprising since neither of them had slept well the night before.
Xx
"He did WHAT?" Beca almost yelled.
Swanson perched his hands on his hips and shook his head. "Myers attempted suicide last night, Beca. He's in intensive care and they don't know if he's going to make it."
"You have GOT to be FUCKING KIDDING ME!" the musician did yell this time.
The detective took a seat on a chair next to a small writing desk and crossed his legs. "I think he knew we have him by the balls. He probably also knew that, if he was convicted, he wouldn't survive prison. Rapists rarely fare well."
"How did he do it?" Chloe asked softly, arms wrapped around herself. She seemed very upset and Beca wasn't sure why.
"He used bedsheets to make a rope and…"
The vet lifted her hand to stop him. "Got it." She walked to the window and pressed her forehead against it as she looked out over downtown. "Fuck."
"Even if he does make it," Swanson went on. "He might have brain damage. He can't stand trial if he's not deemed capable."
"This is a fucking nightmare," Beca growled, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But you know what? I still want to do the press conference. I still want to encourage any other victims to come forward."
Chloe nodded silently from where she was, then turned to look at her fiancée. "We should just go home," she said. "After the press conference, there's not a whole lot else we can do here."
"Agreed," Beca replied.
Swanson nodded and got up again. "I'll let you get back to your morning, but I'll call you when the press conference is set up."
"Thanks, Detective," the brunette said as she walked him to the door to see him out. Then she went back to Chloe, wrapping her arms around her and hugging her. "Talk to me."
"About what?"
"Come on, Chlo. I can tell you're very upset. Want to tell me why?"
The redhead rocked them a little as she returned the hug. "I had a friend when I was a kid," she said. "Her name was Taryn and she was my bestie. We did everything together… were pretty much inseparable… and then one day, when we were about thirteen, my parents took our family on an impromptu vacation. When we got back, Taryn and her family were gone. I tried calling and texting and then I finally went over to her house but… everything was gone. The house was empty. My mom told me they'd had to move away suddenly for her dad's job. I was devastated and I couldn't understand why Taryn hadn't told me or tried to call or anything."
Chloe stopped talking and Beca squeezed her gently. "What happened to Taryn, Chloe?"
"I found out a few years later that… she'd been raped by an older guy… a teacher from another school and she'd ended up pregnant with his kid. She…" The vet swallowed hard. "She committed suicide."
"Oh Chloe, I'm so sorry," the brunette whispered. "That's so awful."
"I know it's not rational, but I keep thinking that, in addition to assaulting you, he could have assaulted Taryn… and I want to just…" Chloe clenched her fists, vibrating with anger. "I want to fucking kill him, Beca."
"Hey," Beca said softly. "Babe, I believe in karma. I believe that what is meant to be, will be. Myers is going to hell… be it from his self-inflicted injuries or be it from what's inflicted on him in prison. He'll pay, one way or another."
"You're so strong, Beca," the redhead whispered. "You amaze me."
"I wasn't always like this," the musician chuckled. "We have Elise to thank for that."
"Remind me to send her a fruit basket."
"I think she'd prefer chocolate," Beca mused.
Chloe grinned. "That too."
