Chapter 13

" Is she asleep? "

" Yes. She almost fell asleep in the shower. I could barely catch her and put her in bed. " Mason sank down on a chair, sighing very deeply. Even his hands looked tired, while they rubbed his face." I am quite exhausted too. "

" Brock's going to be here any minute, we go over whatever he wants, and then we can all get some sleep. " Drake sighed. " I'll sleep on the couch, if that's okay with you. "

" We have three sergeants around the house, and Paul is sleeping here. Will you be staying anyway? " Perry addressed Ken. " I mean, you don't have to. "

" I know, Perry. But Amy is already asleep, and I just don't want to leave here knowing Jennifer Parker is still out there somewhere. She is insane. We don't know what she is capable of. "

" I second that, Perry. I mean, she can't have come very far with that knee, but … " Drake shook his head, and sighed deeply again.

" Yeah, until we find out where she is, I better stay here too. " Ken added.

" I appreciate that. " Mason put a large hand on Malansky's shoulder. " I really do. Thank you. " He limped towards the kitchen. " Coffee anyone? " he yawned extensively, and shook his head over his own tiredness.

Adrenaline subsiding now, the tiredness washed over all occupants of the room. Amy had already fallen asleep on the couch earlier, before Ken had picked her up to carry her to one of the spare bedrooms.

Ed Brock's arrival was a welcome wake-up call. Though he also looked very tired, his smiling attitude gave them enough energy for the moment to joke and shake hands.

" Well Mason, how is your Miss? " Brock held out his hand for Mason to shake it. When the big man didn't take his hand, Brock gave him a quizzical look.

Perry's grin was dimple deep. " I'm sorry, Ed. I can't seem to ehm … shake hands ... Well, not with my right hand anyway. " He playfully cleared his throat.

" Ah. Yes. I forgot. You also hit a door this morning, right? " Brock's huge grin reached his ears easily, while he scratched his neck. " Well, don't mind 'bout the door, Mason. It'll be fine. It won't press charges, I'm quite sure. "

Perry chuckled before starting to talk, but Brock cut him off by raising his hand. " So, now let's get back to business, gentlemen. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can all get some sleep. I really want to head home after this. My own Mrs. might not even know what I look like anymore. " He grinned, sat down and thumbed through his little notebook. " First, Mason, you'd be happy to know that the bank has been succesful in tracing and retrieving almost all of your money. You and your Miss have to be at the bank to do some paperwork, this Thursday, around three p.m. if that suits you. "

" I'll check that later on with 'my Miss', thank you. "

" Second, we haven't been able to locate your Miss' rings, I'm afraid. I'm very sorry 'bout that. But, you can replace them I suppose, though I don't know about the emotional value of the ones she had. "

Mason smiled. " It's a very nice opportunity to get her new rings, and we'll add the emotional value along the way, Brock, like we did before. Don't worry. She doesn't anyway. "

" And last, most important, gentlemen, Jennifer Parker. Now, we did manage to find the ambulance that was supposed to take her to the hospital, but no Jennifer Parker. Couple of guys saw her limping out of the ambulance and getting into a taxi. My men are checking that story as we speak ... "

" I wondered, Perry … " Drake hesitated to ask.

" What, Paul? "

" How come Della didn't recognize her? I mean, I had only seen her once during the Robertson's case, and I remembered her. "

Ken snorted. " Yeah, well, you're male, Paul. And she is a beautiful girl. "

" Don't forget, Paul, during the Robertson's case, her hair was reddish, and she looked like a young schoolgirl. When she was around Della this time, she had dyed her hair black, and she wore a lot of make up. " Perry said. " So, it was actually a miracle you recognized her. "

" It probably saved my sorry soul I recognized her. " Drake remembered his encounter with her, and the way she had reacted when he had said her name.

" Her role in this is an awkward one, Brock … " Perry mused.

" I agree, couns'lor, and it appears things are even more complicated here. You see, Jennifer Parker's real name … "

" … is Jennifer Michaels. We already found out about that. D.A. Reston told us. " Drake added.

" Nooo, Mr. Drake. That's where you're wrong, that's where all of us went wrong. "

" What do you mean? "

" Her real, real name is Jennifer Robertson. "

" What? " Ken sat up straight.

" You're not telling us she is actually related to Glenn Robertson, now are you? " Paul frowned at the suggestion.

" Yep. She is. As a matter of fact … she is his daughter. " Brock raised both his hands as he saw the three men simultaneously opened their mouth to comment on what he had said. " But … she doesn't know. " He inhaled. " And, Mr. Robertson liked to keep it that way, so when our dr. Michaels found out about it, he had the perfect way to blackmail Robertson to help him fetch your Della Street last Friday. "

Ken was the first to get his head around it. " But why did Michaels want Della, lieutenant? "

" Well, he said and I quote 'I wanted to have the perfect mother for my daughter'. "

" But she's not his daughter, you just told us. "

" Apparently, but we're still investigating on that, Mr. Robertson gave the girl away so to speak, to dr. Michaels' wife when Jennifer was a couple of years old. "

Silence filled the room, before Drake let out the question that was in his mind. " Is she Laura's daughter ? "

" No. " Perry answered too quickly.

" Mrs. Laura Robertson was not able to conceive." Brock added.

Perry just nodded silently.

" So she can't be Laura Robertson's daughter, but she very definetely is Glenn Robertson's. "

" Pfiiieuw. " Drake just whistled. He thought about the song he had hummed jokingly this morning, about Mrs. Robertson.

A soft strangled sound reached the ears of Perry Mason. He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes.

" What's that? Della? " Drake queried.

" Yes. It's Della … " Perry had left their bedroomdoor ajar, so he could hear her if she needed anything. He stood up. " I'll go and check on her. "

She was still asleep, but slept restlessly, tossed and turned. He sat down next to her on the bed and gently shook her shoulder. " … Della … "

" Perry … "

" I'm here, baby … "

" I just … " she sighed and fell asleep again, holding his hand. The temptation to lay down next to her, was strong enough to give in to. Silently moving his broad form against the pillows, he pulled her up into his arms. She moved to mold her body against his automatically, and put one leg over his thigh, her hand on his chest and her head on his shoulder.

He planted a few soft, slow kisses in her hair. " I'm here and I love you. "

Softly stroking her back with one hand he pulled up the blankets to cover them both, and drifted off to sleep with her, while he heard the voices outside the bedroom finish their meeting.

" So guys, that's it. I take it your Mr. Mason fell asleep? He never came back from checking on his Miss. " He turned around at the frontdoor. " Are they …. Is she …. I mean, they've been together forever. I keep saying 'Miss Street'. Isn't she 'Mrs. Mason'? "

" Of course. " Drake said.

" Though they never married. " Ken added.

Brock shook his head, and chuckled.

" You know, Brock. I've never met people who made up so many excuses for not getting married. " Drake started. " Like, they say they were never able to fully agree and decide who to invite to the wedding. "

Ken remembered some of his conversations with his employer from the last three days, involving this aspect of his life. " And, they always thought that probably someone will be killed at the wedding, because that's what always happens if they are somewhere. "

" And, eh … Della believes he'll get lazy when they are married, and he won't date her anymore like he does now. She still wants him to court her. And then he says they are in court all the time. And then she says: that's why. " Drake chuckled.

Ken continued. " Another one is that they still can't decide whether to be either Mr. and Mrs. Street, or Mr. and Mrs. Mason. What was the other reason, Paul? I know they had made up another one. "

" Yeah, Della once said Perry just liked the idea of having an unmarried woman in his bed. " Drake laughed out loud now. " And after two glasses of red wine, he admitted it ... "

The priceless grin on Brock's face grew wider and wider. It was about as priceless and wide as Mason's, who overheard the conversation and squeezed the unmarried woman even closer to his chest.

" It's just the game they like to play. " Ken yawned, shaking hands with Brock. " I'm sorry, I'm really tired now. Thanks, Brock. "

" Well, I'm off home now. I might still know the way. "

" Thanks, lieutenant. " Drake greeted.

" You too, fellas. Take care. My sergeants outside here will do that as well. "

Ken closed the frontdoor behind Brock, went to check the Mason's bedroom and then followed Paul into the kitchen.

" Do you want a drink or something? " Paul yawned. " Do you think we should wake the old man up, to go over all of this once more? "

" No, thanks, no drinks for me." Ken declined. " And Perry is fast asleep with Della. I don't want to wake them up. "

" Ha. Wrapped up around eachother, so you can't wake up the one without waking up the other ? "

" Yeah, kind of … How do you know ? " Ken scratched his neck.

" It's just how they sleep. It's how they have been sleeping for as long as I remember. " Drake mused.

" You know them well, don't you? " Ken asked him.

" Yeah. Some people have a second pair of glasses, I have a second pair of parents. " Though Paul tried to make it sound businesslike, it didn't quite come out the way he wanted. He swallowed hard.

Ken mused with him. " That's what happens if you have them around, I suppose. I even have to watch myself saying 'mum' to Della sometimes. You go check on them again, and close their bedroomwindow. I check the outside doors, okay? "

" Sure. "

As Paul Drake jr. opened the door to the bedroom, he pursed his lips at the sight of them. Indeed, he saw exactly what he had expected. Perry's left arm around Della, her head on his upperarm, her face sidewards against his chest. His chin on her head, his right hand holding her left hand in between them. Underneath the covers, hidden from the detective's eyes were a pile of legs, possibly entangled.

He silently closed the window, and looked at the resting couple once more. Touched by the reassuring thought that some things indeed would never change, he pulled up the blankets some more to cover them. He smiled at the sight of his father's best friend. The big attorney was still fully dressed.

" Never thought I 'd be pulling up your covers one day. " He whispered, it was a thought that just broke away.

" Me neither. " Perry didn't open his eyes, just smiled.

" Sleep tight, Perry. "

" Thanks, Paul. For everything. "

" Goodnight. "

####

He was still in the kitchen an hour later, when he heard soft footsteps approaching. He stopped breathing for a few seconds to be able to listen closely. Then he exhaled, because the footsteps were familiair.

" Are you still awake, Paul ? " Della walked into the kitchen.

" I'm off to bed now. Well, off to the couch. I just phoned Linda, to say everything is fine. I told her we've found you. " Trying to hide a sob, he accepted Della's embrace, though he had never thought he would actually hold her while she was wearing her robe. Well, Perry's robe. Yet he did. She was the closest he'd been to a mother for a long time. " She says hello to you by the way. "

" Paul … dear … " Della whispered to him. " Thank you for helping us. For finding me. "

" You're so welcome. " His choking voice touched her. He was the closest she'd ever been to a son.

" You're not teling me everything, are you? " Della queried his face, while he looked away from her.

He chuckled softly. " No one can keep secrets from you, right ? "

" Well, you can't anyway. And your father couldn't. "

" I still need you as a mother, you know that? " he smiled boyishly.

" Yes, I do. " She pecked him on his cheek. " Now, and as your mother, I know you're not telling me everything about Linda and you. " She tilted her head. " Are you? "

He gently put his hands on her shoulders. " How would you like to be a grandmother as well? "

She bit her lowerlip. " Oh, Paul. That's wonderful, that is so wonderful. "

####

She had been sitting next to Paul, talking with him, about his fears and doubts, his happiness, until he had fallen asleep, litterally in the middle of a sentence.

Pulling up the covers of her own bed now, a smile formed on her lips. Though she hadn't noticed before, Perry was still fully dressed.

His sleeping form gave her full opportunity to take him in silently. Yes, there was a lot of him. He was heavy nowadays. She had told him before that she believed he ate his cases, swallowed the evil and harm to be able to deal with it, and move on. To take it away from the rest of the world. So very Perry Mason. The firm set of his jaws was softened by the sight of his closed eyes, and his deep breathing. She had a lot of him to love. While very gently unbuttoning his shirt, she couldn't help herself and played with the grey chesthair that was exposed by her sensitive fingers.

Too concentrated on her delicate task to undress him without waking him up unless really necessary, she didn't immediately notice his left hand stroking her thigh lightly, travelling upwards. It was his short soft moan that made her aware, at the moment her hands opened his belt, and he squeezed her thigh.

" Perry … " she whispered.

" Shhh … " he hushed her.

" What? "

" I'm asleep. "

" U-uh. Of course. "

" I am, you know. "

" So your hand is just moving by itself … ? "

" Mmm-mmm. Sleepwalking? Sleepmoving? "

She chuckled softly. " Well, whatever it is, stop it. "

" Just for the record, Della … " he pouted. " You are undressing me. "

" So? I thought you would be more comfortable without your clothes on. "

" I'd say. "

" I mean, for sleeping. "

" That might be so ... "

" But? " She leaned forward.

" … I want you back in my arms. "

" I'm working on that. I do want you to hold me, but not if you're fully dressed in bed. " She leaned forward some more. " It's so much nicer to feel your skin to mine. "

He inhaled sleepily. " What time is it anyway? "

" Just two a.m. "

He stole a short kiss, before she worked his pants of his legs, and reached out behind her to fold them neatly over a chair. Her stretched figure gave him full opportunity to carres her waist and belly, upwards to just below her breasts.

Her hands pushed his away from the curves he was fondling so eagerly. " Don't. The men are here, remember? "

" Mmmm? " He brought his hands back to where they were before, and pulled her half on top of him.

" Ken and Paul are here. " She managed to get it out between two of his deep kisses.

" So? They're not in this room and they are asleep. "

" I don't want to scandalize them. "

He snorted. " As if they still can be scandalized … But you'll just have to be silent then, Miss … "

" I don't think I can. "

" You want to find out? " Before she could think of a solid retort, he pushed her to lay on her side, and possessed her mouth as if it had been weeks since he last tasted her. Both hands held her face in a perfect angle to kiss her deeply.

She moaned extensively, bringing her hands over his, pushing herself to him.

"Baby… " his voice was hoarse, " If this is what just a kiss is doing to you, then I agree we'd better stop. "

" Perry, this was not 'just a kiss', and I told you so. "

He smiled at her, and lay on his back, pulling her to him.

" Perry? " she dwelled in his arms.

" Mmm-mmm? "

" Nothing. " But she tensed, clung to him, tried to hide in him.

" Then nothing is definetely bothering you very much. Talk to me. " His soft stroking should feel comforting, maybe even arousing, but apart from tired, she felt cold and some sort of afraid. Yet this was her own bed, and her own Perry Mason holding her in his warm arms. She knew she had to get rid of the frightening images in her mind, the eerie shivers that went up and down her spine, and she knew how to make that happen.

" I need you. " It came out as a choking whisper. " I want Emmett Michaels out of my system. I want the last days out of my system. "

He held her back to watch her eyes in the dim light. " What did he do to you, Della? You keep telling me he didn't touch you, but it seems to me he did, somehow. "

" It was just … " She shivered. " It was awkward, sickening. I don't even have the right words for it. He could have done anything to me, Perry. He was so much stronger than me. He could have … " Her arms tensed around him. He felt her swallowing hard, and just tightly wrapped his arms around her.

" But, he didn't, right? " She shook her head against his chest, and shivered again, this time less intense. Focussing on the light stroking of his hand on her back, she tried to feel safe.

" The doors were unlocked, Perry, I could have walked out of there anytime, but I didn't. I couldn't. "

" Why? "

" He said he would kill himself if I walked out. "

" That's a harsh game he played with you, Della. But just a game. And you know he really would be the only one responsible if he really had killed himself. " He kissed her temple. " And you did walk out when Amy came to fetch you. "

" Yes, I wondered about that. It was probably because she seemed to know the way, and I thought I would be able to send police or paramedics up there in time to stop him from killing himself."

" You know, there weren't even bullets in the pistol. "

" I could have known. " She sighed deeply. " Thank God I'm home. "

She shivered again.

" What is it, Della? "

" I need it out of my system, Perry. I need to get rid of the images. His horid eyes, his smell, his face, his games. The feeling he was controlling me, and I couldn't help myself. "

" So, after all, I guess I should have hit him as well. "

" No, " she stroked his beard, and whispered to him. " I don't want you to hit people, Perry. Not for me anyway. "

He whispered, brushing her hair back from her forehead. " Then what is it you want me to do? " His eyes queried hers. He could guess, but guessing wasn't the right thing to do now. She had to tell him. He wanted her to say it.

" Love me. " Two tired tears left her eyes.

" That is so easy, baby. " Gently, the drops were caressed away from her cheeks.

The strong arms turned her around and gently lay her on the cool sheets, face down. " Just tell me to stop if you want me to stop. " He started at her shoulders, massaging them, leaving soft kisses where his hands had touched her. The carressings caused shivers, but this time, they made her feel warm.

" Perry … " she sighed, relaxing her head onto the pillows. All she could do was concentrate on the flowing pressure of his hands on her skin, and dwell in the warm waves it caused. Her breathing was deep, close to moaning, until his mouth reached the small of her back and went upwards again to plant butterfly kisses between her shoulderblades. That's when she cracked, crying silent tears. He turned her to face him, and took her hands to softly massage her fingers, kissing them before laying her hands on his shoulders.

He kissed her forehead, and trailed his mouth down over her cheeks, carressing the tears away. Not pausing, but taking all the time to love all of her slowly, because that's what she had told him to do. To relax her and replace last days' fear and anxiety with a sensual overload that would empty her mind. To make her able to clean. To make her able to reset.

" Perry … " her senses were indeed overloading. Her hands made circles on his shoulders and back, in the same increasing rhythm of their heavy breathing.

" I'm here, I love you, " whispering feverishly, he trailed down along her throat, towards her breasts. His hands were followed by his eager mouth, kissing, trailing, nipping sensitive skin, causing her breath to come in quick gasps. Then he moved back, upwards over her body, very careful not to crush her, but heavy enough to make her feel him completely. " Della … "

Obviously enjoying his every move, she wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed to his cheek. " … please … "

" Do you want me to stop? " His breath was hot on her neck, before he travelled downwards to worship her breasts once more.

" … no … no … don't stop … " Not the words, but the soft sighs and gasps that cuddled them spurred him on. Her hands grabbed at him, urging him to move inside her.

Time and place were no longer required, and so they vanished. Somewhere, sometime later, she moaned out loud, before shortly halting her breath, and heaved a shuddering sigh, which made him do exactly the same afterwards. Slowly bringing her back to him, he pressed his lips to her forehead, and waited silently, expecting more tears to rain on her beautiful flushed face. Instead, she laughed softly, and raised her eyes up to his.

" I was just thinking, what if I really had married today? I mean to Emmett Michaels. You would have finally had me in bed as a married woman … without marrying me … "

He chuckled along with her, relishing in her sense of everlasting brilliant humour. Utterly relaxed and warm, they lost time and place again, this time to fall asleep after a lazy kiss.

" Wake up, Perry…" But it felt as if he had just slept a few minutes.

" Wake up, Perry … "

" No. " He turned and mumbled. " Not yet. "

" You better do. " Her voice came from his right side, she hadn't been at his right side when they fell asleep. He sensed something was very wrong, but didn't open his eyes, pretending to be annoyed. " No, let me sleep. " He watched through his lashes, to explore the bedroom in the dim light.

It was definetely wrong.