6?
30th April 1987
If it's loving you like,
then I'll kiss ya and give you the shivering fits.
'Cause I'm a woman.
W-O-M-A-N.
Say it again.
I got a twenty dollar gold piece
says there ain't nothin' I can't do.
I can make a dress out of a feedbag.
I can make a man out of you.
Clad in slim-fitting blue jeans and a green shirt, Catherine Flynn walked confidently out to the car that was waiting for her.
"Can I give the lady a ride?"
She threw her head back and laughed. "Gil! I never would have thought something like that would ever come out of your mouth!"
The man in question grinned at her. "It's good to see you again, Cath."
Catherine slid into the seat next to him. "It's good to see you too, Gil." She cupped his face with her hands and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. "And thank you. For everything."
Gil froze for a moment, his lips still tingling from the kiss. "I…" He paused. "You're welcome." His mind still reran the kiss over and over. She was with Eddie. This was a friendly, thank you kiss.
Then why had it felt so good?
"And I really appreciated the letters. They made everything a whole lot easier."
Gil smiled. "I thought it might be nice to have something of home with you. Since you weren't allowed much contact with the outside world, I thought I might just let you know what was going on."
"Tell me you didn't seriously try and learn to rollerskate!"
"What? I thought it would be an interesting way to exercise."
Catherine rolled her eyes. "As long as you didn't use my skates."
"I almost broke a leg."
"That's because you're just a little uncoordinated, Gil."
Gil thought it was time to change the subject and ask about the difficult things. "How did it go in there, Catherine?"
She glanced at him quickly and then looked back at the passing scenery. "Fine. I'm off the coke. For good."
Gil reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. "You know I'm proud of you, right?"
Catherine smiled softly at him. "I know."
"Good. Because what you did wasn't easy, Cath. But you did it. And you saw it through."
"I had your support."
Gil noticed that she didn't mention Eddie, but he nodded. "Of course. You always have my support."
"Gil, have you seen Eddie?"
He felt something inside him die. "No, I haven't. Didn't he call you?"
Catherine shrugged. "No, but he did have a few gigs coming up when I went in." She stared outside again. "What about…the case?"
Gil knew it must hurt her to talk about Stephanie as a case. "He's in jail, Cath. Due for trial soon."
"Have they finished with the apartment?"
Gil nodded. "Is that where you want me to take you now?"
Catherine shook her head. "No. I'm giving it up. I can't stay there."
His hand squeezed hers again. "You could stay with me for awhile, if you like."
She didn't want to be dependent on him, but she didn't want to be alone. And she didn't want to be with Eddie. She wanted to be with someone who understood what she was going through, who would be there when she woke up with nightmares at 3am, and someone who would hold her when she cried.
"I'd like that. Thanks."
He was getting used to hearing her scream in the middle of the night. Every time he heard it, it chilled him to the bone.
He always remembered how he saw her after Stephanie's death – huddled in a corner, crying – and how he had taken care of her.
Now he slowly pads into his bedroom. He's been sleeping on his pull out sofa bed, because he's always been a gentleman.
Slowly he slipped in beside her, taking her shivering body into his arms. "Shh, Cath, it's alright. It's just a dream. I'm here."
"It's not a dream," came the reply, "she's dead. She's not coming back. I saw her. I know what she looked like. What he did to her."
Gil closed his eyes, wishing once again that Jimmy Tadero hadn't let Catherine see the body. "I know and I'm so sorry."
He held her until she fell asleep, and he always slept beside her. Just in case.
The next morning, as he watched her get ready for the day, he grinned at her.
"What?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.
"It's the new you."
"Excuse me?"
"The new Catherine." He looked her over and nodded. "I like her."
She chuckled. "Just so you know, some of the old Catherine is still lurking about."
"I'm glad to hear it. There are some parts of the old Catherine that I'd like to keep around."
A broad smile crossed her face and she patted his arm as she passed. "Don't worry, Gil. I'll always be around."
TBC
Song Used: "I'm a Woman" - Bette Midler
