Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 13 – What Matters Most

A/N: So I see the reviews dropped for the last chapter :( so I'm going to speed things up a bit. To those still reading/reviewing thank you…it's what keeps us going! Hope you enjoy. Thanks!

"Can…I come in?"

"Jake…it's late and no…no you can't come in," Erin said with a hint of annoyance in her tone as she held her ground in the entrance to her apartment. "We said all we have to say in the hospital."

"Come on Erin…we had…we were interrupted," he paused to add an extra note of sarcasm silently directed toward Kelly, "and we deserved more time."

"For what? I don't want to marry you. I nearly lost my life Jake and it put a lot of things into perspective, like do I really want to spend the rest of my life with someone…I don't love. Jake…I was honest with you."

"Kelly tell you to say that?" Jake gently sneered.

"Yes because I cannot think for myself. You wanna go there?" Erin growled in disdain as Jake's brows arched. "I think it's time you…"

"Erin…" Jake started as he took a step forward.

But years of police training automatically took over and she instantly bent backward, grabbed the gun from her holster that hung on the rack and within seconds it was pointed at him.

"Hey! Whoa!" Jake put both hands up and stepped back with a panicked expression plastered on his face.

"I uh…sorry…reflex," Erin said as she quickly lowered her weapon and looked at him with a small frown.

"I'll take my leave but…but please tell me you know I'd never hurt you."

"I …I know I'm just…I'm tired and I know you always found it hard to take no for an answer."

"Yeah not exactly a good way to win someone back huh."

"Nope."

"Right," Jake nodded as he pulled back further into the hallway. "Okay so…goodnight."

Erin's weary frame sagged against the door as she watched her ex slowly turn and shuffle toward the elevator, pause but then get in and face her as the doors slowly hissed shut and closed him from view. She turned and walked inside, locked the door but remained in place a few seconds longer.

However, just as she went to pull away, a knock was heard at the door and she could only utter a curse as she slightly stomped toward it, gun still in hand and yanked it open with an angry growl. "Listen here Jake! I said…! Oh…Kelly?"

"Erin?"

"Oh sorry I uh…lemme put this away," Erin stammered as she quickly shoved the gun into its holster and then turned back to him with a flushed expression.

"Was he here? Did he…threaten you?" Kelly asked, his anger instantly flared.

"No he uh…no," Erin insisted in a firm tone. "It was a reflex and I still had it in my hand and he…he just left. You probably passed him on the way up in the other elevator. It was nothing…did you want to come in?"

"Erin…"

"Jake doesn't like to take no for an answer the first time. It's his MO. Course…never pulled a gun on him," she smiled. "Do you want to come in?"

"Actually I came to see if you had dinner yet?"

"No I…" she paused and then looked up at him with a small frown. "Don't really feel like dressing up tonight. Sorry. We could order in?"

"No I already have supper ready, I just came to pick you up," he said in a soft tone.

"Oh I…really? Already ready?"

"Yeah. I mean you can say no…not going to force you but…its ready," he concluded with a small frown; a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

She was tired and just wanted to crash on the couch and watch TV and do nothing but when she saw the look of sad disappointment in his eyes, her heart sunk and she knew she couldn't say no. In reality…she didn't want to; being apart from him was misery. Unlike Jake, who she couldn't wait to get rid of, she wanted Kelly to stay or to be with him…just to be near. Their week together had forced them to draw closer, faster than normal but it also helped them see each other at their worst…now the best would be something cherished.

"I'd love to. You cooking?"

"Uh no…but trust me you'll love the food."

"Ohhh mystery. Hope you hid the cartons," Erin winked.

"Okay so…I didn't cook or order in. It's…well it's my sister Katie. The cook. You know I told you about her. She…she insisted."

"Really?"

"Yeah so if you don't want to…"

"I'd love to meet her and I'd love to try her food. You've been raving about it for a week."

"You sure?"

"I am. Lemme just…"

"Erin you look great," he told her in truth as she eyed her jeans and sweater. "It's going to be casual."

"Let me get my coat."

"I'll cook next time," he chuckled.

"You can really cook? Thought I knew everything about you."

"Think I might have a few surprises left," Kelly smiled as she grabbed her coat, locked up and the two of them slowly headed back toward the elevator. "So Jake…"

"He tried to ask for another chance and I said no…before the gun came out."

"Woulda loved to have seen the look on his face," Kelly snickered as they exited the building. As soon as they exited, Kelly looked up and noticed Jake stop before he got to his car and lock eyes with him. Kelly's jaw set and he offered an 'I dare you to come at us,' look and Jake remained in place. Erin didn't mention it, but she saw Jake and felt Kelly's hand instantly move from her shoulder to the small of her back as he gently nudged her toward his waiting car and instantly reveled in his protective gesture.

"Kelly…."

"Think he got the point," Kelly simply replied as they pulled into traffic. She just offered him a grateful smile and then leaned her head back on the seat rest.

XXXXXXXX

Erin's nervousness flared up instantly as they entered Kelly's apartment at the thought of meeting his sister, someone he spoke highly of but someone he said had suffered a personal tragedy but said nothing more and she would respect that.

"Smells good," Erin complimented as they entered Kelly's apartment. She watched as a young smiling brunette hurried toward her and felt her anxiety ease.

"Hey," Katie greeted as she offered Erin a warm hug and then looked at Kelly with a smile. "This…was my idea. Big brother said not to push but I'm flying out tomorrow so I just had to meet you."

"Why so soon?"

"Got a business to run now," Katie huffed as Kelly offered his sister a proud smile. "I just had to make sure he was okay and…meet you. Hope that's okay."

"Yeah it's fine," Erin smiled. "He's said nothing but good things and…about the amazing food you make so…I'm hungry."

"That's what I like to hear!"

Katie led the way into the small kitchen as Erin looked up at Kelly with a warm smile and he felt his heart settle into a level of comfort he hadn't experienced with any other woman. The same was true for Erin, she felt at home in Kelly's home and the discomfort she felt when they neared Kelly's building and then entered his apartment had all but dissipated before the first course was served. The evening would be more of a success than even he imagined.

XXXXXXXX

"I needed this," Erin confessed as they slowly walked toward his car a few hours later. The evening was a delight for all of them. Erin and Katie had bonded faster than, in reality, all of them had expected, especially Kelly but he was beyond delighted as Katie was a permanent fixture in his life and he hoped that Erin would soon be also.

"A real home cooked meal?" He gently teased in return as her expression lit up. She slid her hand into his as they slowly made their way toward the passenger side and then stopped.

"This just to be part of something special."

"Erin…"

"No it's true. I love my team but they all have their own personal lives tonight I felt like I had one too. One that mattered."

She leaned against the side of his car and looked up at him with an adoring smile as his fingers rested under her chin and lifted her lips to meet his and then planted a warm kiss on them before he pulled back with a smile.

"You do matter to me," Kelly said in truth as his expression turned a bit more serious. "I know that we are back to reality but…I don't think you'll stop mattering to me."

Her eyes slightly welled as he held her gaze and she felt warmth start to grow between them. "Never wanted to matter to anyone as much as I want to matter to you. But…"

"I know…a few days, I get it," Kelly offered in haste. "No pressure but I just wanted you to know the truth. Our being together kind of forced us to really get to know each other and…and I can't just walk away from that."

"I can't either," she whispered as she kissed him once more also; her hand lingering on his warm cheek. I….lo…her mind tried to get her to say the words as her heart started to race at top speed at the thought of them coming out. But if they did, was he ready to reciprocate in full? What if he wasn't at that stage yet and this freaked him out and he backed off? Or what if he was slowly on the love track but wasn't at the same point as her? Keep it yourself for now… her brain resigned as she tried to shift to a more comfortable position.

"It's getting late and you need to rest your leg," he told her as he held the door open for her to get inside.

"Think I'll drop by to see Buddy tomorrow. Will that be okay?"

"Yeah, he'd love it," Kelly said with an enthusiastic smile. "Always welcome at the house."

"Your place is pretty great."

"Thank Katie. She rearranged everything while we were away," he chuckled. However, to her, his use of we so casually and so naturally made her heart swell even more. "Came back to a brand new place. Course…can't argue. She made it more friendly and welcoming."

"Can I borrow her?" Erin retorted with a laugh.

Come live with me…he almost offered but then didn't know how she'd react. 'No regrets son. You've done your time. You're not a kid. You know what you want. Go take it and don't look back. No regrets.'

"Kelly?"

"She'd probably like that," he added in haste as they neared her apartment and he brought his car to a stop. "See you tomorrow," he offered as he leaned over and gave her one last lingering kiss. But just as she was about to pull away, his hand reached out and gently grabbed hers and she remained in place. "Erin…"

She looked at the storm of uncertainty start to brew in his sapphire pools and knew something was very serious was bothering him. "What is it?"

You don't know if she wants to take this serious a step…she just broke up with Jake…why do you think she'd want to get married so soon! And that was the truth and his heart sunk.

"I'll be in at 11 after I drop her at the airport…" he resigned as her brow furrowed.

"Kelly, tell me. What's going on?"

"No it's uh…it's late. I'll see you tomorrow."

She knew there was no point to argue and so resigned herself to the fact that she would take him at his word this time but if it happened again she'd push for the truth. "Goodnight," she whispered as she kissed him once more and then got out of the car before he could offer and headed toward the entrance of her building not looking back.

"Coward," he growled at himself as she finally turned, gave him a wave and then slipped inside as he pulled away and headed for home. The evening was a success but now he would enter his home with a new cloud of anxiety – one that only he could dispel.

XXXXXXXX

That night he lay awake all night as his mind pondered what he might say to her the next day. He was up early with Katie to take her to the airport with the promise to return to New York to have another amazing meal at her restaurant.

"Bring Erin next time you come," Katie told Kelly before she hugged him one last time and hurried toward her gate. Kelly gave her one last wave and then headed for Firehouse 51 earlier than he told Erin he'd be there.

"Hey Buddy!" Kelly greeted as the loveable Golden Retriever got up from his plush bed and bounded toward him. He couldn't help but offer the adorable canine some loving before he went in search of some romantic advice.

"Hey…" he knocked on Matt's door.

"Hey…what's up?"

"Got a sec? I just need…a sounding board."

"Sure, what's going on?"

"I'm thinking of asking Erin to marry me."

A/N: Wanted Erin and Katie to meet b/c I felt that was important and hope you all liked it also. And hmm will Kelly actually get the chance and if so will Erin say yes? please do review before you go and thanks so much!