Love Is Hell

Chapter Seventeen: The Presently Accepted Premise

Author's Note: This is a very, very short chapter, I understand, but as I'm too tired to write anymore, I wanted to write something before I went to bed, so it's a little tease between Kate and Sheldon. Please, read and review, and I thank those who've been with me since the first story (Damnable Affair). Love you all.

Halo night was a success as Amy and Kate had played Counterfactuals all night, and the guys (while Raj passed out on the floor, for having drunk too many Reds) had played Halo. In spite of everything that was Chance's betrayal and Kate's feeling of deception towards being an ill-placed matchmaker for her friend, the night went off without a hitch. Stuart and Amy retired soon and left a little before eleven o'clock; Leonard bid Kate and Sheldon good night and went across the hall. Howard and Rajesh (still passed out) went half-dragging down the stairs and drove to Raj's place, as he was temporarily out of working order, which left Kate and Sheldon to clean up after the chips and ice cream bowls.

Sheldon vaccumed the living room, Kate did the dishes, and before midnight, the apartment was spotless again. Sheldon sat in his spot once again as Kate dried her hands on a fresh dish towel; apparently, she was in deep thought, for her eyes looked but never really saw the counter.

"Kate," said Sheldon lightly.

"Yes, Sheldon?" she asked, her mind shaking and her eyes popping back into her head from her deep reverie. She looked startled, but mindful.

"I have an inquiry based on today's events," Sheldon told her.

"Which is?"

Sheldon stood and sat on the left stool; Kate leaned on her arms against the table, looking at him as though he was the interrogated and she was the investigator, although her body frame and smile was the opposite of the bad cop routine. Instead, she was merely puzzled.

"Am I to suspect that there will come a time where you will have a confrontation with Chance Briar; while we are up to date on the deception, one must note the fact that she may be under the current delusion that her affairs are submerged," Sheldon said, crossing his forearms on the table in front of him. "To me, that seems very unsettling."

Kate nodded, understanding his premise. Sheldon grinned; he was so happy he never had to explain himself to her, although it wasn't a bad idea. He didn't mind showing what he knew, especially to her. After all, she revered his confidence and his intelligent mind. Kate placed the towel on the rack above the sink thoughtfully. She turned to him.

"Sheldon, suffice to say that if there is a confrontation, most likely it will be towards me...or Leonard and Howard—they did tell on her."

"With your influence," Sheldon reminded.

"Yes, and that's why it will most likely be aimed at me," Kate responded. "After the confrontation, I intend to have no other contact with her."

"And under what conditions do you expect her to obey by your rules?" asked Sheldon.

Kate smiled, but it never reached her eyes. It went unnoticed by Sheldon, who continued to look at her curiously. However, it didn't keep her from speaking her mind.

"Chance is stubborn, yes, but after a while, even she will have to learn that the price of a friendship deserves a wayward effort. Her betrayal towards Rajesh is unforgivable; I've been lenient with her as I can be, and I've given her two chances to make it up to me. The second is gone, and I have no more patience for her Benedict ways."

Sheldon gave Kate a look of admiration, saying, "It's nice to see you've come to your senses, regarding her."

"Regarding her, I have. Regarding you, that's a matter entirely." Kate replied subliminally. She turned on her heel with a slight bounce in her step and started making herbal tea. Sheldon looked at her curiously.

"Regarding me? What condemnation do you have towards me?" Sheldon remarked. He sounded genuinely concerned as he stood.

Kate smirked at him and said, "I may not have Vulcan hearing, honey, but I know when you and the other guys are talking about sex. As sweet as you are for not doing the kiss-and-tell quid pro quo," (she walked towards him in two slow steps) "Your confession of blatant jealousy towards less-than-worthy men looking at me was very...oh, what's the word I'm looking for?" An impish grin appeared to her face as she said finally, "venerated."

"How so?" asked Sheldon.

Kate placed a tea kettle on the stove after pouring hot water inside it and turned the light underneath it. She turned around again and said smoothly, "Sheldon, it's natural for a male to become possessive of his mate when another male begins to infiltrate its territory." She smirked and said, "Other men look at me and that causes you to be instinctively possessive of me. You can't help it; it's biology."

Sheldon sent her a scalding look as though biology was beneath him but she saw through him immediately. However, she hopped onto the table, sitting on the edge.

"Males compete to be the alpha while the betas bow to its dominance. Natural life, no one to blame...females do it too," said Kate.

"I'm aware of that," Sheldon said. "You're telling me nothing I've not already known before."

"Mm," she acknowledged. "I forget that you know absolutely everything." This sounded on the edge of teasing and sarcasm. Sheldon cocked his head slightly to one side, perhaps finding the line to be drawn before she completely stepped over his boundaries set. However, the smile on her face demonstrated playfulness—she was teasing him.

"I perceive that you're attempting to tease me or flaunting a certain feminine taunt." Sheldon stated, crossing his arms.

"Ah, perceptive and knowledgeable," said Kate. She grinned once more, saying, "Is there anything you are not, Sheldon Cooper?"

Sheldon gazed at her formidably. What was this vixen playing at? Did she have a point to this chatter or was she generally talking to him? Sheldon thought for a moment, and after a point of realization finally hitting him, he discovered Kate was flirting...in her own Kate ways.

"Kate, flattery will get you no where with me," Sheldon chastised.

Kate stretched her legs outward, catching the back of his thighs with her ankles and pulled him to her, like a fish to pole. He gasped at the small shock when she did so and he stood between her knees. Kate smirked at him again.

"Sheldon, flattery is not flattery if it's true. Are you not logical, perceptive?" Kate asked.

Sheldon considered her premise and said smoothly, "I suppose you're right."

"I'll go as far as admitting that while I am flattering you, Sheldon, I'm speaking truth. I do consider you logical, perceptive—at least with me—and to pin point my attraction, I like your tall, slender frame, and although your ego is only inflated by my honest compliments, I find your confidence very appealing."

Sheldon gazed at her, his eyes meeting hers.

"Kate, am I to be under the impression you're attempting to seduce me?" Sheldon inquired.

"You're more then welcome to be under the impression, but personally, if you're going to be under anything, I'd rather it be me," Kate purred.

Sheldon smiled at her sheepishly, replying, "So I'm presuming the answer is 'yes'."

Kate returned the smile and said, "When are you ever wrong?"

"Rarely."

"Then I suspect you're correct," Kate returned.

Sheldon looked at her pointedly, saying, "Although I congratulate you on your attempts to seducing me, Kate, I'd rather not be tempted in the situation as the tea stands on the stove and if left too long, the apartment very well may under duress; under those terms, I'd have to flip the flag upside down, and I only do that in emergencies." Almost reluctantly but in his own Sheldon-practical way, he took her ankles from behind his thighs and stepped away from her.

"Hmm, I accept your premise," said Kate. "But it's only good for the present time; later down the line, we may have to re-evaluate it."

Sheldon gave her a mixed expression of confusion and acceptance, as though he understood her point but lacked the time frame of when it'd need to be re-evaluated. However, he said nothing.