A/N: I just wanted to take the time to say thank you to everyone. You guys have been nothing short of amazing and this story has really helped me externalize everything that's been going on. I knew writing was therapeutic, but I had no idea how much until this week. So thank you for going along for the ride with me and for all the support and comforting words. They really, really helped.

Also, stay tuned for a sequel of sorts in the next couple weeks. Hope you guys enjoy this last installment.

A Helping Hand

Chapter 4

Kate had thought that when they finally kissed, there would be some sort of fireworks or maybe the center of the Earth would shift on its axis, something incredibly powerful and dramatic. Because, really, the intensity of their feelings for each other was so great and the wait for this moment so long that she thought that something like this would warrant this kind of earth shattering reaction.

But it didn't.

Instead, it felt familiar and comfortable and so incredibly right that it seemed like they had been doing this for years. Of course her heart was thumping wildly in her chest and she could almost hear her blood rushing through her veins in ecstasy, but the world didn't end and their friendship wasn't ruined like she had feared it would happen once they took that huge step. When his lips touched hers, her only reaction was to melt into it, her arms slowly coming around his waist and hugging him close as his mouth worked gently over hers. It was slow and tender and gentle and so full of emotions; nothing like their first kiss over a year ago had been.

She sighed when his tongue gently traced her bottom lip and parted her mouth to welcome him inside, deepening their connection. The feelings bubbling up inside of her were so intense that she was sure that if she severed their contact she would explode. Kissing him like this, finally, was like an outlet for all her pent up love for him and if she stopped now, she doubted she would be able to reign it back in and hold everything inside like she had gotten so used to in the past couple of years.

He pulled away for a moment and she used this break to catch her breath, before he took her lips again. This time, though, he peppered slow, lingering kisses on them, his hands travelling down her body in a gentle exploration before settling on her hips and then meeting on the small of her back, when he promptly pulled her body even closer. She went willingly, leaning against him, taking all he had to offer from his lips. After a few minutes – or hours, she wasn't quite sure – she pulled away, her hand touching his cheek gently, and pressed one last kiss on his bottom lip, sucking on it tenderly. He smiled at her when their eyes met and she returned it in kind. If it hadn't been for the extenuating circumstances, Kate could have easily considered this trip as perfect.

His phone ringing in his pocket broke the spell surrounding them and he sighed, looking at her apologetically before pulling his phone out. He kept an arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her weight against him and she rested her head on his shoulder, placing a chaste kiss to his neck. She could feel his voice vibrating through the skin of his throat as he greeted whoever was calling and closed her eyes, reveling in the intimacy of their contact now.

"Oh, hey, mom. Yeah, I called you earlier." She heard him say and pulled away, intending to give him some privacy, but he kept his hold on her tight and shook his head when she looked at him questioningly. "Stay. Please." He murmured and she sank back into his touch. He kissed her temple and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I was trying to get a hold of you guys because…" His voice caught in his throat and she pressed a kiss to his jaw, encouragingly. "Mom, I'm at Aunt Margaret's. No, no, she's fine. It's Sam, mom." His voice shook and she felt him hold onto her tighter, resting his forehead on her hair.

Kate wrapped her arms around him again.

"I'm right here. You can do this." She whispered in his ear and kissed his cheek when she felt him nod stiffly.

"There was an accident and he… he didn't make it." The last part came out in a harsh whisper as a tear escaped the corner of his eye. Kate caught with her thumb and kept her hand gently on his cheek, trying to somehow give him strength through their touch. She could faintly hear Martha's reaction on the other side of the line and her heart ached for this family as she rested her forehead on his. "Yeah, the funeral was this morning. I didn't call last night because it was late and you guys wouldn't be able to make it back in time, anyway." He explained, his voice still unsteady. "I arrived late last night. No, Kate is with me. Yeah, she did. I know." He sighed and pressed his lips to hers in a lingering kiss. "Okay, let me know when you guys are flying in. I'll pick you up and drive you back here. No, don't worry about it. Yeah. Okay, love you too, mom. Tell Alexis I'll call in a couple of hours, alright? Yeah." He hung up and let out a shaky breath. "I had no idea this was going to be so hard." He confessed and Kate gave him a sympathetic smile.

"Losing someone is never easy, especially when it's family." She said quietly and he nodded, pulling back to look at her. A smile slowly formed on his lips and his eyes lit up when they met hers. She bit her lip and touched his cheek. "Hanging in there?" She asked softly and he nodded, turning his head to kiss her palm.

"Thank God you're here." He murmured and closed his eyes for a moment. "They're coming back first thing in the morning. Mother wants to come up here, stay with Aunt Margaret for a while." He explained and she nodded, resting her head in the crook of his neck.

"That's good. Your aunt could definitely use all the support she can get right now." She whispered against his skin and hugged him again with a sigh.

"Yeah. I'm picking them up at the airport and she wants to come straight here, so I'm probably driving back here tomorrow or Monday." He ran his fingers gently through her hair before asking. "I might not come in for a couple of days. Do you mind?" He said and she pulled back to look at him.

"Why would I mind, Rick? This is your family. You should be with them right now." She said firmly, but he still looked torn. "Hey, this?" She gestured between them. "This is not going to change, okay? Don't even think about that right now, it's not important."

"Of course it's important, Kate." He protested and she sighed, looking down. "But we can talk this out later. That's what you meant, right?" He continued and she nodded, amazed (but not really) at how he could practically read her thoughts.

"You know, don't you?" She said softly, playing with one of the buttons of his shirt. "You know I love you." He didn't respond right away and she summoned up every ounce of courage she possessed to look up at him. He was watching her, a storm of emotions flashing in his eyes, as he opened and closed his mouth a few times, unsuccessfully trying to speak.

"I know now." He managed to spill out a minute later (the longest minute of her life) and she bit her lip, not knowing how to respond. He pulled her back flush against his body and suddenly his lips were assaulting hers in a passion filled kiss. "Say it again." He murmured, showering butterfly kisses on her neck and jaw. "Please."

"I love you." She gasped when he sucked on a particularly sensitive spot on her neck. He grinned against her skin and asked again. "I love you." She said more firmly this time, laughing when he kissed her nose, her eyes, cheeks, and then finally found her lips.

"Yeah?" He pulled back slightly, the joy in his eyes unmistakable. She smiled with a nod and leaned in to kiss him again.

"Yeah." She whispered in his ear and tugged on his earlobe. He burrowed his face in the crook of her neck and they stood there, holding each other for a couple of minutes.

"Kate?" He murmured after a while, not moving from their current position. She hummed an acknowledgement of his question and tightened her hold on him, leaning fully against his body. "I love you." He admitted and she pulled away to look in his eyes, a conflicting myriad of feelings fighting for dominance. She could still see his grief for his cousin's untimely death, but the joy at her confession shone brightly as well. "Like, a lot. So much that I don't know what to do with myself right now." He confessed and she laughed quietly, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips.

"We can start by driving back home." She smiled happily at him and tugged on his hand when she stepped away from his embrace. "I'll even let you drive." She teased and he chuckled, pulling her in suddenly for another searing kiss that made her head spin.

"Will you pay for my burger at that diner too?" He said playfully and she shoved him lightly when she passed him to make her way around the car to the passenger side.

"You're really making the girl pay on the first date?" She asked with a laugh as they put their seatbelts on.

"This is hardly the first date, Kate, and you know it."

"Yeah, I do." She smiled at him and reached out, resting her hand on his thigh. He threw a smile in her direction and pulled the car onto the street. They were silent for a few minutes and Kate watched the sun slowly make its way toward the horizon as he sped down in traffic.

"Hey," He caught her attention, touching her hand and entwining their fingers together. "Thanks for coming with me." He said quietly and the several layers of that statement washed through her before she could respond.

"Partners, remember?" She said and he brought her hand to his lips, before speaking.

"Partners."

A/N: Thoughts?