There will be regular updates again starting in January - with one exception at the end of January - I'll post something about Kim and Hank every Sunday. Whether it's here or another story . . . and today there's this short update before I will focus entirely on my Christmas story. I'll continue with that today, too.

Chapter 10

Kim had made herself comfortable on his sofa, stretching out her legs.

Hank, meanwhile, had gone into the kitchen to get her a cup of tea.

Kim had been relieved when he had opened the door for her just then. She had been worried - about her Hank. She had seen what he could be like. When he lost his footing. I mean, it was the support she'd given him. At least, that's what she'd believed. And also that a friendship had developed between them. And then he had suddenly pushed her away from him, kept her at a distance. From one moment to the next. Without saying a word. And she still didn't know why. Kim shouldn't ask, though - shouldn't keep looking for an explanation - not today. She was afraid he would send her away again. Without an explanation.

Kim, however, would not allow it. She would fight, wouldn't let him send her away. Hank needed her. And she needed him. Yes, she needed him and these moments between the two of them.

"Here," Hank's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Thank you," Kim replied, taking the teacup from him and sitting up.

Hank looked at her hesitantly. Actually, he had wanted to spend the day on the sofa with a beer, watching the Blackhawks game on TV.

And then Kim had shown up at his door. Kim, he just hadn't been able to send away. Not wanted to send her away. He hadn't been able to. Something inside him had stopped him. A feeling. A kind of inner voice. In fact, it was something he actually hadn't wanted to allow to happen.

"Will you sit with me?" asked Kim, noticing his hesitation.

Hank nodded and joined hers on the sofa.

"There's a game coming up on TV today. Blackhawks," she remarked.

"I was going to . . So, we can watch it together . . . . So after, if you like. And then... . I think cooking is a good idea, if you want. Instead of ordering something, we could cook together. Just see if we're a good team in the kitchen too," Hank then said.

"Sure," Kim smiled. And for a moment Kim allowed herself to imagine how the day would go on. With Hank and her. I mean, sitting here on the sofa. And she liked the idea. Very much so.

And Hank had also indulged in a fantasy today. Just now, as he had stood in the kitchen, waiting for the tea water to get hot, he had tried to imagine what it would be like . . With Kim, that is. In this moment. And he had decided that he couldn't do it after all. He couldn't push Kim away. No, he couldn't. The last time with her . . . It had been simply beautiful. And maybe he could after all allow himself a little more closeness. Just a little more closeness with Kim. Wha-what could happen there? Nothing.

And so he sat here with her on his sofa.

Kim hadn't expected this either - all of this - for a moment Kim hesitated, unsure if she should do it, but then she stretched her legs out again and rested them on Hank's lap. Only a moment later, Kim felt a touch. She felt Hank rest his hand on her ankle, gently stroking it. Deep in thought. She wasn't even sure if Hank was really aware of what he was doing, that he was touching her. Kim, at any rate, was enjoying this touch. Oh, and all of this. It felt so . . . Kim couldn't find the right word, but it felt good. Very good, even. Way too good.

"Hank," Kim's voice eventually broke the silence, which had so far only been interrupted by the sounds of the television.

"Mmh?" he turned his head and looked at Kim.

A moment ago she had thought it was a good idea. To address him about his behavior after all. But now that he was looking at her like that - Kim didn't want to ruin the moment. It was just too good. All of this.

"Do you have another cup of tea for me?" she asked therefore, holding out her cup to him.

A year ago, Kim couldn't have imagined this. Being here. Spending the day with Hank. It would have been unimaginable. But a year ago, everything had been different. Al had been alive. And now, now he was dead and Kim was a friend to Hank.

The afternoon flew by and at one point Kim noticed her stomach growling.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"Come on, I promised we would cook together," he then said and got up from the sofa.

Kim followed Hank into the kitchen. However, she stopped in the doorway for now and watched him open the refrigerator.

" How about steak and salad?" he asked Kim as he turned to face her.

"Sounds good."

With that, Kim joined Hank over at the refrigerator.

"I'll take care of the salad," she said, reaching past Hank for the vegetables.

"'Vinegar and oil' are over there," Hank said, pointing toward the countertop.

Silently, they both busied themselves with making dinner and having a conversation. Talking about everything and nothing. This moment, somehow there was something familiar about it. I mean, exactly like when they had been sitting on the sofa. And still it was different. It was as if something was in the air. Something special. Something that was about to change. And when Kim turned around, Hank was standing right behind her. She hadn't noticed how he had stepped up behind her.

Literally, the next word that Kim might have said got stuck in her throat. They both felt something change at that moment - between the two of them. No, actually it had happened much earlier. But in this moment, it was as if time stood still. All Hank had to do was to take a step towards Kim, or she towards him. Just one step that would erase the line between sergeant and officer. And when he finally took that step, when he leaned in, Kim knew exactly what was going to happen now. Oh, and exactly what she wanted to happen now.

As soon as their mouths met for a kiss, Kim wrapped her arms around his neck. It was a kiss she wanted to let herself fall into completely. The kiss was one that filled her body with a tingling sensation. One that was both tender and passionate. It was a kiss that made Kim wish it would never end. Never. And for a moment, she wondered where Hank had learned to kiss like that.

And then he broke away from her. Ending the kiss abruptly.

"I don't think we should do this. Not a good idea," he murmured, but his action belied his words. One of his hands slid under her top while the other rested possessively on her waist.