Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 16 – A New Start? Or a Fair Warning?

A/N: Hey sorry for the delay in updating everyone but last week found out some devastating news about a couple of deaths in the California Wildfires that affected our family personally so it was tough to update. I hope this week's update is good and you're all still with me!

"That was…perfect," Erin whispered as she lay in her husband's arms later that night, a set of now warmed satin sheets atop their naked bodies while the rest of the city was blanketed with darkness outside their hotel.

"You're perfect."

"How you managed to avoid the cast was…perfect," she giggled as his fingers tucked a strand of honey brown hair behind her ear and kissed her flushed cheek. She looked down at the band of gold on her hand and let herself sigh contentedly.

"I had an idea for a better ring," he mentioned softly as his fingers intertwined with hers and brought them to his flushed lips. "Something not so…spontaneous."

"I don't know," she carefully pondered. "That kinda defines us."

"Okay so we'll go ring shopping and I'll buy the first one I can afford," he smiled as his finger gently stroked her flushed cheek.

"Sounds good to me. Teams really came through tonight."

"We are both very lucky that way," he agreed as lay back and she positioned herself to move with him; her body now spooned up beside him as his bare arms held her close. "Keeping thinking about Sam. I hate that he died but…but if he hadn't and he simply denied us I wonder if we would have ended up even on the same bus or something going the same way."

"You probably would have went back to be with your sister and I would have called Olivia and just…or yeah taken the bus back home. Alone. Depressing thought."

"Like this one much better."

"Me too," she agreed with a contented smile. "I forgot to complement you on the romantic décor. I was too busy to appreciate it earlier but it was romantic without being overly…sappy."

"I take full credit," he joked.

"Really?"

"No," he answered in haste. "Katie again. If it was up to me I would have just put a bottle of Jack's on the table beside a set of handcuffs and said welcome home."

"Mmm keep that thought in mind," she grinned as she planted a warm kiss on his lips as he lightly chuckled. She twisted herself and ended up on his chest and looked down at his warm sapphire gaze with an adoring glance. "Tired?"

"For you? Hardly," he told her in truth as his strong hands wrapped around her bare back and held her close as his lips started to devour hers and a second round of official lovemaking was about to commence.

"Now…I'm tired," Erin whispered as she flopped onto her back and looked up at Kelly who had propped himself up on his elbow and looked down with a contented expression.

"Well…I'm sure we'll find a way to use up the energy we regained overnight," he snickered as he kissed her once more and then pulled her close as he turned off the light.

"Good plan," she whispered as she planted a soft kiss on his bare chest and then closed her eyes. It wasn't too long before she was whisked into the dark realm of sleep while Kelly remained awake a little while longer. He found comfort in her rhythmic breathing and within seconds his heart beats fell into step with hers so they were soon beating as one.

A few little doubts started to creep into his mind about them rushing into something as serious as marriage but he wanted to get married; he just wanted to make sure it was the right person and he knew it was Erin. Of course when he first saw her, it was her looks, her smile her tenacity that captivated him. But spending a whole week with her, every second of the day, he got to know her – the real her, things about her past, her present and what she wanted from the future.

Now it would be just a matter of surviving the rigors of everyday life but as he drifted off into sleep along with his new bride, he told himself if he could survive a plane crash, he could survive anything.

XXXXXXXX

In the frenzy of the activity the day before Kelly forgot to turn off his daily alarm and could only curse and send down an irate fist that nearly broke the small box in two.

"Ah….sorry," he groaned as he rolled over and looked at her with a sleepy gaze.

"What time…is it?"

"6."

"Too early," she groaned in reply and then offered him a sleepy smile as she rolled a bit closer and rested her head on his bare chest, letting her hair spill all around.

"Mmm like the feel of this," Kelly uttered with a contented sigh as his arm draped around her shoulders and his eyes closed once more. The two of them lay intertwined in each other's arms for another few hours before the sun started to peak through the curtains and the crisp winter day offered promise.

"I can help you pack up today if you want…I only have a few files to get done but that's it. I'd offer to help with a cold case but uh…I probably couldn't do much but offer to drive around or bust down a door…you know with my good leg," he snickered as she propped herself up on one elbow as messy gold locks spilled around her bare skin.

"Might take you up on that…I don't have much stuff to move in."

"Really?"

"Personal stuff mostly. The furniture is…well we can just donate it or sell it."

"Like the donate idea," Kelly muttered as she looked up with a smile. His warm hand rested on her cheek and then started to slowly trail downward; snaked under the sheet and started to caress her warm, bare skin.

"Mmmm feels good," she whispered as her eyes closed in delight and her body instantly responded to his touch. "Kelly…"

"You want me to stop?" He asked in surprise as his hand hovered just above her warm groin area.

"No…hurry up," she giggled as his grin widened. "You're not the only one with some energy to burn."

"Well when you put it that way…" he playfully growled as he moved in swiftly.

XXXXXXXX

After a warm shower, Kelly put on some fresh clothes and then slowly headed into the kitchen but then instantly stopped. It wasn't too long ago when he'd wake up to the smell of fresh coffee and a woman in his kitchen, but that was his sister and there was zero sexual attraction – as it should be. But when he rounded the corner and spied Erin in only her housecoat, hair up in a somewhat messy bun, warm skin showing a few hints of desires that he would have to shelve for now, he felt a sense of loving contentment that he hadn't felt ever before. Even with women in the past he never felt what he did for her.

She sensed his presence and looked up with a flushed face and smiled as he neared. "Coffee? That I can make without starting a fire. Didn't want to you know…put your neighbors out," she smiled as he planted a warm kiss on her cheek and let out a chuckle.

"Didn't you notice how many fire extinguishers I have on hand?"

"If I didn't know what you did for a living I'd call you paranoid," she deadpanned as he laughed and poured himself a mug of fresh coffee. "Shower's free."

"Thanks."

She took her leave and had to marvel at how at ease she felt in his presence. As she entered the bathroom that he had just vacated she was instantly struck with the scent of his cologne and closed her eyes in delight. Even Jake never made her feel this contented in such a short time as Kelly had.

"Damn…he smells good," she muttered to herself as she turned on the hot water and then stood under the warm streams and let the water wash away any doubts that might have lingered.

After a shower that wasn't long enough, Erin joined Kelly in the kitchen as he did his best to make her what he considered a gourmet breakfast.

"Don't tell Katie," he snickered as he put some of the scrambled eggs onto her plate. "She'd call it pathetic but adding a few things is my idea of upscale."

"I'm sure she'd congratulate you for doing your best."

"You been talking to her without me knowing?"

"Maybe," Erin teased in return as they sat down to enjoy their simple meal. "But seriously…these are really good."

"You're easy to please."

"When it comes to food? I am…as long as I don't have to cook much we'll both survive," she retorted. "Course…I should probably take some lessons."

"We could take a few night courses together," he suggested with a shrug as she looked up in surprise. "Or…no."

"No…I think it's a great idea."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I think we should. I just wasn't sure you were serious."

"Always wanted to but a single guy showing up for cooking classes kinda smacks of desperation."

"Oh you wouldn't have been alone for very long."

The rest of breakfast was enjoyed over casual conversation before they cleaned up the few dishes and then prepared to take their leave.

"So you have the most pressing case right?"

"It's a cold case," Erin replied as they headed toward her apartment building. "Yours would be more relevant right? Let's do yours first."

"You sure?"

"The apartment can wait. I'll just be packing up stuff and that can wait."

"Okay," Kelly agreed as he turned his car toward their new destination – where his father waited for them. "I know you can't put on the boots but just careful where you step when we get on scene."

"Noted. I can always wait in the car if I get in the way."

"Dad would never let me hear the end of it," Kelly replied in truth as the car came to a stop behind his father's CFD truck.

"Kelly…" Benny greeted them as they both got out of the car and headed toward them. "Hey Erin."

"I'm just…along for the ride, but if I'm in the way…"

"Oh hell no," Benny grinned. "I'd ask him to wait in the car before you," Benny wagged his brows, as Erin laughed and Kelly shook his head. "An extra set of eyes is always welcomed."

The three of them slowly headed for the burnt home and gently stepped inside. Erin hung back and tried not to choke on the mild acidity that hung in the air as Kelly and Benny headed further into the charred structure. She heard them talking about the two family members that didn't escape the flames and couldn't help but imagine the horrors they must have experienced when they knew they were trapped and not getting out alive.

How does he face this so calmly…her mind mused as she looked up at Kelly at the same time he looked over at her and flashed a small smile before he went back to what he was doing. The same way you feel when you have to tell a parent their child was murdered and you couldn't stop it? Her brain countered as she felt herself groan. She slowly made her way toward them and listened to them talk about where the fire could have started and where it spread and how quickly it cut off the escape for the last two family members.

"Hope that wasn't too long," Kelly commented as he neared her by the entrance of the home he had helped his father investigate.

"No. Was actually interesting. Am amazed at how you can just look at a charred wall and decipher where the burn started and how it spread and such. You know smart men are a turn on…"

"Yeah? Wanna show me later how much of a turn on?"

"I can hear you both," Benny deadpanned in a loud voice with his back to them; a smile unseen to them on his face.

"Right…later pop."

"Drop by again!"

"Yeah he loves to do that," Kelly huffed in a quiet tone as they slowly made their way back to his car; within minutes were back on the road and heading toward her apartment.

"I just want to pack up a few things for tonight and then we can be on our way to the precinct."

"I won't have to you know…pass some kind of team hazing or lie detector test?"

"Well…" Erin smiled as he flashed her a mock-panicked expression and she laughed. "No…contrary to what you might hear, they are actually quite normal."

"That's a relief."

"However, I think that…" Erin started and stopped as they rounded the street corner and her eyes instantly widened.

"What the….hell!" Kelly said loudly as he brought his car to a screeching halt; both out of the vehicle within seconds.

"That's my apartment on fire!"

A/N: I was going to end with this chapter but decided to length a bit more and hope that's okay. Please do review before you go b/c right now we need some positive encouragement! Thanks everyone.