After the Storm 17

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had than that.

MKMKMKMKMKMKMKMKMKMK

Upon hearing her greeting, Matt opened the door and stuck his head in. "I heard tell the hospital is kicking out its most beautiful patient today. Since that would be you, I thought I'd stop by and offer you a ride."

Kitty grinned at the compliment. "I think your eye sight needs to be checked" she told him, as he walked in and sat down on the bed beside her. "With no makeup and this gash on my forehead, I doubt I'd be mistaken by anyone as beautiful."

Matt shook his head with a grin. "There's no mistake Kitty," he said softly, "you are beautiful, makeup and gash or not."

As he spoke, his head inclined towards hers, his lips hovering ever so slightly above hers. But she pulled back. "Um..uh..Matt, could you help me with my shoes?" she said trying to hide her discomfort. "Bending over is a little beyond me at the moment."

Disappointed but understanding, Matt nodded and rose from the bed. "Sure Kitty." Taking her shoes in hand, he knelt before her and swiftly put her shoes on her feet, trying hard to quell the images of the many times he had taken those items off of her, and the lovemaking that had always followed.

Kitty tried hard to still the butterflies in her stomach at his touch, telling herself it meant nothing. But her head was having a difficult time convincing her heart. This was the man that had fathered her child and then tore her heart out of her.

Glancing up at her as he finished, he saw the fear and confusion warring with the love and desire on her face. "Kitty," he reassured her, "you and I have a lot of things we need to talk about, but only when it's the right time and place for you. Okay?"

Kitty nodded, but didn't reply and didn't meet his gaze. She was too unsure of things right then, too unsure of him.

The tenseness in the room was eased by a knock on the door. "Come in" Kitty called, glad for the interruption.

"Mrs. Dillon?" a nurse entered her room. "Dr. Lewis told me you were to go home today."

Kitty nodded. "Yes, in a few minutes as a matter of fact." She could feel Matt's eyes on her, as he moved away and was grateful for the distraction the nurse brought.

"Well I just came by to see if you needed help dressing or anything, but I see your husband here has already done that."

"Yes he has," Kitty answered still avoiding Matt's gaze.

"Good," the nurse smiled "well then if you're ready, I'll walk you two down."

At the mention of walking, Matt looked up sharply and stepped back closer, ready to carry her.

But Kitty did not want that. "That will fine," Kitty said preemptively, finally meeting his eyes with a clear warning in hers.

Slowly and painfully, she brought herself to her feet, her expression giving nothing away. "Let's go Matt." She said.

Matt nodded, following her and the nurse out, ready to carry her at the slightest chance, but she didn't give him that chance.

After collecting Doc on the first floor, they made their way out and into the hired cab that had faithfully returned, as Matt had asked him to.

The trip to the house was cold, silent and fortunately quick. Each of the carriage's occupants sat quietly lost in their own thoughts. The clatter of the cab on the cobblestones and the noise of the surrounding city went unnoticed as they sped along.

When they arrived at the house, Matt alighted first and then turned to see Kitty attempting to follow him, but the pain in her face told the story she would not. Without her consent or refusal, he gently reached for her, pulled her into his arms and carried her swiftly into the house.

Margaret, who had stayed with Benjamin, saw them coming, and held the door as Matt carted Kitty in, and carefully settled her on the couch in the front parlor.

"Thank you Matt," she said almost shyly.

"You're welcome." His voice gentle, loving.

"Oh, Kitty, it is so good to see you home" Margaret enthused as she bustled into the room. "I know a certain little boy, who's missed you a great deal."

At the mention of Benjamin, Kitty's face lit up. "Oh Margaret, is he asleep? Can you bring him to me? I've missed him so much."

"Yes he's asleep." Margaret smiled "but I doubt he'd mind being woken up to see you." Margaret turned towards the bedroom but Matt stopped her.

"I'll get him," he said, glancing at Kitty. He wanted so very much to tell her so many things, but the time wasn't right.

"Well," Margaret said as he disappeared into the bedroom. "I guess I'll leave and let you and your husband have some time together."

Kitty didn't reply. She wasn't sure she wanted that time.

Margaret saw the hesitation in Kitty's expression but ignored it. She could plainly see the love between these people and she was convinced that given time, what ever had transpired in the past, could be worked out. "Doc," she called the physician, as he stood at Kitty's desk looking at some papers. "Would you escort me home?"

Doc, startled, looked up in confusion. "Home? Well, don't you just live next door?"

Taking her cloak from the hall tree, Margaret stepped over and handed it to him, so he could wrap it around her shoulders. "Yes I do Doctor Adams," she said smartly, "so it shouldn't be too difficult for you to see me to my house."

Kitty grinned, as Margaret turned back to her and winked. "Kitty, I'll check on you later. You get some rest okay?"

"Alright, Margaret." She smiled at her friend. "And thank you for everything. I appreciate all you did for me."

Margaret waved her off as she grabbed Doc's unwilling arm, and ushered him towards the door. "Oh, it'll be made up to me," she grinned.

Kitty's smile saddened as she watched them leave, thinking of the man in the other room. Would he make it up to her? Did he want to? Did she want him to? Could he if she did? Questions swirled around in her mind like objects in a whirlwind, each one banging up against another as they circled. Each one demanding answers she didn't yet have.

TBC

Just in case you all were wondering, wheelchairs weren't commonly used in hospitals in those days to transport patients when they were discharged. The first patent for the commercial manufacturing of wheelchairs wasn't until 1894, and it was still a few years later, before they become common place in hospitals.