Chapter 13 - Housewarming

"Thank you for stopping by Kori," Karen said to her coworker.

"You are welcome Karen. I am happy to help."

Karen had asked Kori to come by on Sunday afternoon at 1 PM to help set up for her first housewarming party. Her fiance Dr Vic Stone had found the home and fell in love with it. Karen wasn't officially living there yet and they had just become engaged, but they had decided to go ahead and throw a party to have their friends over.

Unfortunately for Kori, she had been scheduled to work 3-11 pm as so many people wanted off for the party. 'What are agency nurses for?' was her response to a very sad Gar Logan when he learned of her scheduling conflict.

Realizing it was another missed opportunity for Dick and Kori, Vic had conspired with Karen and had also invited Dick over before the party.

Karen and Kori were finishing up with rearranging some of the furniture and doing some minor decorating when Dick and Vic pulled up in Dick's Escalade.

Karen grabbed Kori's hand and ran outside "Let's help unload."

Not knowing what had gotten into Karen, Kori was about to say something when she realized she was about to run right into Dick.

"Hi Kori," he said with a warm smile.

"Hi Dick" she locked on his eyes, still covered with sunglasses.

"Ahem, hi, Kori," Vic said with a chuckle when he saw how Dick and Kori reacted to each other.

Kori was still lost in the moment, and Lord knows how long she would have been if Dick had had his sunglasses off. When Vic's words sunk in, she blushed and turned to the party's host, "Hi, Vic, how are you?"

"Good, but there is a lot here to unload."

Bags of groceries and cases of beer and boxes of wine and liquor filled the back of the SUV.

Karen gawked, "Did you get enough?"

"Can't chance running out" Vic said to his fiance with a wink.

Kori reached into the back without hesitation and grabbed three cases of beer at once.

Seeing her, Dick laughed, "and you're like the strongest girl ever?"

"you do not mind?"

"Mind? No, in fact I think..."

"Kori, you're going to get a hernia!" Karen exclaimed seeing what Kori was carrying, interrupting Dick.

"This is nothing, I assure you. I used to regularly wield half-kegs out of the trunk of my Volvo"

"When was that?" Dick asked, amused and a little surprised.

"I had fun in my youth too guys, I've thrown a keg party or two in my day," she said, feigning hurt.

"You? Fun?! I need proof!" Dick teased.

"Really, I am sure I can come up with proof. Really, I am fun." Kori said continuing toward the kitchen.

"I have no doubt about that," Dick said following her.

Once the cases were deposited in the kitchen, she looked up to see Dick smiling at her. She looked so cute and he just wanted to attack her with kisses. He took off his sunglasses. Kori began to blush.

"Come on you two, we have to finish unloading", Vic called to them from outside. Another moment lost.

A little later, Kori and Karen had been concentrating on the the preparations outside when Kori went inside to wash her hands. From the hallway she overheard Dick say, "Yes Vic, there is an incredible connection between Kori and I and I am not denying it."

Her eavesdropping was cut short when she heard a crash outside. No huge emergency it turned out, Karen had just knocked over some folding chairs. Kori checked her watch and gasped at the time. She was going to be late for work if she didn't get going. She said goodbye to Karen and then went inside to find Dick and Victor.

"Hi guys, I am sorry for having to leave but I better get to work. Enjoy the party – I will do my best to stop by later."

Dick smiled but looked disappointed, "Let me walk you outside."

They walked toward Kori's car, stopping before they got too close.

Dick asked hopefully, "I'll see you later? Or should I call?"

"I would love for you to call," she started, a little confused at what Dick was getting at, "I always want to talk to a friend. But I was going to stop by after work. You will be here, will you not?"

"I'll be here" Dick promised.

"Then I will see you later." With that Kori jogged toward her car and Dick headed inside.

Dick reeled, thinking about that last exchange. Did that mean that she was only interested in being a friend? Was she coming back for the party or for him?

Kori had confounded Dick the day before. At the end of the overnight shift, she had seemed very sad and a bit upset after dealing with Jody the young accident victim. All he had wanted to do was hug her and he walked her to the parking lot. Dick gave her a very light hug, more of just an arm around her. She definitely hugged back but had turned down the normal Saturday morning trip to Denny's. She even turned down Dick's alternative offer to skip Denny's and do something on there own.

Kori on the other hand was very comforted by Dick's kindness that morning, and it helped her deal with the memories brought on by the difficult overnight in the ER. She loved his hug and had wanted to hold on to him and not let go. But she had turned down his invitations because she thought she was going to be bad company and did not want to burden Dick with her quiet mood.

While Kori was reluctantly at work and the masses poured into Vic's house, spilling out to the yard. Work was made even more unpleasant by the presence of Kitten who she had successfully avoided the past week but unfortunately had to deal with that evening.

When Kori's shift was over, she was held over for a bit, it just couldn't be helped. Kitten of all people told everyone who would listen that they had a late admission and Kori was probably staying over late. And when Kori got to the party it was very late and Dick had given up on Kori getting there. That gave Kitten the opportunity to pounce.

Kori only saw part of it, the part that hurt the most. Kori finally finished up changed and headed over to the party. She had to park far down the road and arrived at almost 1 AM. The party was still in full swing and when she finally spotted him, Dick was sitting with Kitten next to him and her hand in his lap!

Kori let out a gasp and turned and ran back toward her car. A number of people saw what had happened, and everyone turned on Dick. When he tried to explain it, he mumbled something about "well Kitten put her hand on my, in my lap and I reacted – its not what you think! You understand, don't you?"

The most memorable response was Gar's, "Dude, what are you, like 16?"

Dick let out a growl and tried to catch up with Kori to apologize, but unfortunately she was too quick and was gone.

TtTtTtTtTt

Oh the terrible stuff I put these two through!

I will update again soon, I promise, the next 2 chapters are basically written.

Please review!!!