Sorry it's taken so long to update. I try to write everyday but it's been a busy couple of weeks.
Thank you so much for the reviews and comments. They are some of the best and most encouraging that I've ever gotten. I know I can't make everyone happy but I try not to go too against the grain. Not in this story anyway :)
It was almost 5 am by the time they finished procedure and paperwork and interviews. Brenda hated being on the other side for once. But she was grateful it was all over and she could get back to LA and to her life…or what was left of it.
The entire events of the night played out over and over in her head. How easily it could have all gone wrong. Still cloaked in Sharon's coat, her body was still in shock. She'd come so close…too close.
Someone was talking to her in front of G. R. Hawthorne's house but she didn't know what they were saying or who it was. That same someone was gently guiding her to the backseat of a black four-door car, and encouraging her to sit down. She did so without hesitation. It was then she realized how tired she was and within seconds her head fell back against the seat and she was sound asleep.
Sharon got Brenda into the car to wait while she talked with her friend, London Police Superintendent Lila Browning and Henry. Lila assured her everything was under control and they didn't need anything further from her or Chief Johnson. Sharon thanked her profusely and went to find Henry.
He was standing next to a police truck as she approached him. His large shoulders squared and strong but Sharon could tell he wanted to wither. Putting her hand lightly on his bulging bicep she dipped her head before pulling her mouth into a tight smile.
"Henry, I…I don't know how to thank you enough." Her voice cracked. It took a lot to crack Captain Sharon Raydor's voice. She turned her head quickly towards the car that Brenda Leigh was sitting in then back to Henry. "She…"
"Don't thank me, ma'am. I ignored a bad situation for too long." He hung his head in shame.
"But in the end everything came out okay." She thanked him again and slowly walked back to the car and Brenda. The heels of her shoes clacked along the cobblestone street. She peered into the backseat and was thankful Brenda was asleep. Coupled with the stress and the drama, her body was certainly in turmoil.
Superintendent Browning was leaning against the front fender with her arms folded across her chest. She could see that angst in her friend's face. "You did all that you could, Sharon."
"Did I?" She whispered past the lump in her throat. "Can we make a quick stop before you take us back to the hotel?"
Lila gave a curt nod and climbed into the vehicle. Not far away Sharon made her stop in front of Brenda's building. Hurrying quietly to not wake Brenda, although she figured it would take a lot to wake her at this point, Sharon made her way into Brenda's flat and gathered as much as she could.
The sun was already starting to peep through the curtains as Sharon guided a very groggy, very depressed Brenda to her hotel room bed. Leaving Brenda in her flat was not even an option. She'd been under way too much stress and knowing the cameras were still there would not turn into a good situation.
The turquoise dress was now wrinkled and had dried blood splatter across the front. Any other time Sharon would have blanched at the intimacy of unzipping the delicate material from the even more delicate body. But not now.
As the soft dress fell to reveal creamy white skin beneath, Sharon wrapped a plush white robe around Brenda's body until she was able to adjust the water temperature to just the right warmth in the shower.
"Brenda." Sharon said quietly. "Brenda, you have to take a shower." She slowly pulled the robe off of her from behind and gently pushed her under the spray. "I'll wait right here."
Sharon sat down on the wooden vanity bench and crossed her arms over her chest. She was forcing her body to fight its own exhaustion and catching glimpses of Brenda's curves behind the thin glass wall of the shower was a good distraction. As much as she tried not to look…her eyes kept taking quick peeks until finally she was staring. Watching her silhouette appear and disappear between the waves of steam, Sharon couldn't help but get that feeling in the pit of her stomach.
The water being shut off snapped her out of her pseudo-fantasy. But Sharon's mouth went completely dry as Brenda stepped around the glass partition in all her nakedness. Quickly she grabbed the towel and handed it to her. She knew they both had unsolved feelings for each other. Whether they were romantic, sexual or just truly friendly feelings she wasn't sure. But now was not the time to solve that mystery.
"Finish up in here and get in bed. I'll order you some soup." Sharon started to walk out of the steamy bathroom.
"It's 6am."
"You need something to eat."
"Eggs?"
Sharon smiled and shook her head back and forth. She quickly went into the other room to put in a room service order.
Yes, this is Sharon Raydor in room 1315. I need to place a room service order…yes, two orders. Eggs…scrambled…toast…"
"Bacon!" Brenda yelled from the bathroom. Sharon smiled, glad she hadn't lost her appetite in all the tragedy.
…and bacon. No coffee or tea. Just juice. Can you rush this order, please? You can bill me double. Thank you.
Sharon waited in the living area of the hotel room for the food to be brought up. Surprisingly, they actually did rush it and it was there in about ten minutes. Brenda Leigh hadn't come out of the bedroom and Sharon hoped she was in bed resting.
She accepted the food cart and tipped the young man generously. Wheeling the cart into the bedroom she stopped in her tracks when she saw Brenda sitting cross-legged in the bed silently weeping into her hands. She emitted no sound but her shoulders shook violently.
"Everything is okay now." Sharon reassured her slowly from the doorway. She watched Brenda shake her head. Pushing the cart to the side of the bed, Sharon sat next to Brenda and nervously put a comforting hand on the middle of her back. "Here. Eat. You'll feel better and then you can rest."
Brenda didn't say anything but accepted the domed plate of food. She didn't realize she was that hungry until she put the first bite in her mouth and proceeded to practically inhale the rest of it. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Sharon take small, delicate bites of egg. But, truth be told, it was her untouched bacon that she was eyeing.
With an exaggerated sigh, Sharon picked up her two pieces of crispy bacon and laid them on Brenda's nearly empty plate.
"Thank you." Sharon did a double take and smiled at hearing the familiar drawl.
They finished their breakfast in silence. And as Brenda was getting more comfortable and tucking herself under the white duvet and sheet, her belly full and her eye lids fading fast, she watched Sharon push the cart to the door way.
"Sharon?"
Sharon turned back and looked at Brenda in the bed. She looked so frail and innocent cloaked in the white linens. Immediately, she saw the harsh reality in the dark, hollow circles under her eyes, the fire that once danced in those chocolate browns eyes was extinguished. This job and more specifically, the aftermath, took a toll on Brenda Leigh Johnson.
Brenda ran her thumb across her bottom lip and paused just a second before whispering, "Stay with me?"
Sharon Raydor didn't move a muscle. She didn't blink. She didn't shift her weight. She didn't inhale or exhale. She didn't purse her lips. She stood there replaying those three words in her head over and over again. Stay with me?
Finally, after what seemed like hours, she pushed the cart into the living room. Brenda watched the door with her heart beating in her throat. She didn't want to be alone. Not after last night. And the only person she wanted next to her was right there.
It wasn't Fritz or Will Pope or even the CIA who had rescued her. It was Sharon Raydor. And in the grand scheme of things that meant almost more than she could fathom.
She'd taken a chance. Before last night she wouldn't have dare venture as far but she couldn't let what she wanted pass her by anymore. As the cliché says, Life is too short.
In only a few seconds, Sharon stepped back into the bedroom, closed the door behind her and walked to the windows. With a quick swipe she closed the heavy curtains blocking out the day…the world. Only the soft glow of the bathroom light leaked in.
Brenda watched her every move.
Sharon stopped in front of the bathroom door. The light cascading around her. Placing her hands on her hips like she always did she said, "I'm…" she took in a sharp quick breath, "I'm going to take a shower. Then…then I'll be back." She turned on her heels and fully entered the small bath alcove not waiting for a response.
Swiftly, she stepped out of her clothes. Bending over quickly at the waist, Sharon wrapped her hair in a clean bath towel and stepped into the shower. The cold tile under her bare feet didn't diminish the fire burning inside of her. Stay with me?
She showered as fast as she could and after drying off she slipped into the extra white robe hanging on the warming bar. Pulling the door nearly shut behind her, the only light escaped through an inch opening.
The blue walls darkened to black with the absence of light but the white linened bed glowed. She could see Brenda folded underneath the covers and her dark hair stark against the light pillow. She couldn't tell if she was asleep but as she neared the light sounds coming from the bed told her Brenda had finally succumbed to her exhaustion.
Still, Sharon climbed into the empty side of the large bed. As much as she fought it off, her own body was starting to become delirious from lack of sleep. Inch by inch she stretched out on her side of the bed—her back turned towards the middle. But her body…her mind…was still aware of the body next to her. Not just any body…her body.
With a heavy sigh, her body relaxed and drifted off to sleep.
At some point—she wasn't sure when—Sharon woke to the feel of a close, warm touch at her back. Blinking her eyes open she quickly realized Brenda was right up against her back. And to her surprise, she remembered it was the closest comforting she'd had in a bed in a long time.
But she stayed still in case Brenda was asleep.
Brenda woke up finding the other half of her bed filled with a very warm body. Shaking her head, she realized she must have fallen asleep before Sharon got out of the shower. She remembered asking her to stay. She meant it. She wanted Sharon Raydor to stay with her.
Gently edging her body ever closer, she could feel the body heat before her breasts and stomach pressed against Sharon's back.
Sharon leaned back just a bit trying to get closer. It was then that a shiver went up her spine as Brenda's hand caressed so tenderly down her side and came to a rest on her hip. The robe she was wearing was still covering her body. And she ached to feel Brenda's touch on her bare skin but she wouldn't push it.
"You should be asleep." Sharon whispered deeply.
"Probably." Brenda breathed against the back of her neck sending a spark of lightning straight thru Sharon's body. "I'm glad you're here." Sharon's smile was hidden by the darkness of the room. "You…you saved my life."
Sharon turned over and faced her. She missed the slight pressure where her hand had been on her hip. Now they were only inches apart. But in the dark they could barely see the outline of each other's bodies.
"I was just doing my job…chief."
Sharon heard Brenda sniff and wondered if she was crying again. She never knew Brenda to cry so much but after the ordeal she'd been through she couldn't blame her. Her emotions and nerves were in such turmoil she imagined.
"Turn over." Sharon ordered slowly and Brenda did as she was told.
This time Sharon eased her body against Brenda's. They were touching from legs to chest. Sharon didn't hesitate when she draped an arm over Brenda's side and held her close. Sharon closed her eyes as she inhaled Brenda's scent. "Just sleep." She whispered and they fell sound asleep again.