Pillow Talk

"SEALs Don't Pout"

By Cokie

Chapter 3... does anyone want to read slight whump?

I decided to post this tonight after a very traumatic day. Sam and I are tag-team writing a story and this afternoon, just as I was ready to save it and send to her... my computer screen went black and everything froze. I finally managed to get it back up and the auto-recovery screen was on. I clicked the file to save it... and lost everything again. I cursed, I cried, I begged for it to work. After an hour and a half I gave up. I am NOT a happy camper tonight. That was 10 pages I have to recreate... and as any writer knows, it is impossible to get back what you wrote the first time. So, barring any further disasters, I pray this sends... :)

Catherine walked out of the bathroom in sleep shorts and a tank top, drying her damp hair with a white towel. She glanced up and caught the expression on Steve's face and had to grin.

"How long ago did you perfect that look?" she asked.

Steve propped himself up on his elbows and glared at her. "Huh? What look?"

"The one you're using right now… the 'I-can't-believe-this-really-happened' pout."

He flopped back down on his pillows and grimaced from the sudden movement. "Not pouting. SEALs don't pout."

Cath sat down on the side of the bed. "Really? I beg to differ. That is a definite pout." She touched his lower lip with her finger and then leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Come on, it won't be so bad."

"Ya think? I have to show up at a meeting with the governor tomorrow wearing this… this thing." He glared at the clean, white brace surrounding his left leg from mid-thigh to mid-calf. "It's embarrassing as hell."

"OK, Steve, it isn't that bad. The governor will not think less of you because you got injured," Cath told him and smoothed his hair back, happy that it finally was getting a little longer.

"But he will ask how it happened," Steve complained.

"Well, yeah, probably. I mean he is your boss. It would be good if he showed a little concern."

"Do I have to tell him the truth?" he asked in a low voice.

"Come again? You want to lie about how it happened? Steve, come on," she said, not able to keep the grin from her face. "It was an accident. And since several people know about it, I sincerely doubt you can get away with a lie. What would you tell him anyway?"

"That I tackled a suspect."

"Steve. Really?"

He covered his eyes with his arm. "Better than the damn truth," he mumbled.

Catherine got up and took the towel back to the bathroom before sliding into bed beside him. "You know, accidents do happen all the time."

"Not like this," Steve muttered, still covering his face. "At least not to me."

"Well, now it did. And you're going to have to deal with it."

He dropped his arm onto the pillow behind his head. "I should've been more aware. Should have seen it coming."

"Steve, you were watching Grace and me on roller blades. You don't have eyes in the back of your head. Now stop being so sensitive."

He turned his head to glare at her. "Sensitive? You think I'm sensitive because I don't like being injured and not be able to do my job?"

"No, I think you're being sensitive because you are embarrassed that a seven year old kid ran you over with a bicycle." Catherine's patience only went so far.

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it?"

"Yeah." The pout was back. "I'm just mad because the doctor said desk duty for two weeks and then you and Danny said you would make sure I followed orders. I mean, I'm not a kid and I can make my own decisions."

He followed the statement up with crossing both arms across his chest, the lower lip in pout mode.

Cath hid her smile. "I see. Well, you have torn ligaments in your knee from the high velocity blunt force of the bike's wheel. When the doctor said you needed to stay off of it for two weeks, you complained. When he said the other alternative was to be admitted and have surgery in the next day or so, you complained. You complained when he put the brace on. And you loudly complained when he showed you the crutches. Steve, the choice is either stay off the leg or have surgery… which will sideline you for more than a couple of weeks. Bottom line, suck it up, Sailor."

"You think I'm a baby."

She couldn't help it. Catherine laughed. "Oh, my goodness, I do not think you're a baby. Come on, you're hurt, you're in pain and you won't take any medication. I don't think you're a baby… just stubborn. And you know what?" she added, scooting closer and circling her arm around his chest.

"What?"

"I think we need to sleep. Are you sure you don't want one of the pills we got?"

"Don't need it."

"Right." She glanced down at his leg which was propped on pillows beneath his knee and ankle. "Do the pillows feel OK? Not too high?"

"They're fine."

"OK, good." Catherine reached over and turned off the light and then laid her head on Steve's shoulder, kissing his cheek. "Good night. I'm right here if you need anything, so don't hesitate to wake me if I go to sleep."

Steve sighed and wiggled until his arm was beneath her head. "I'm good. Just go to sleep and maybe this will be better in the morning."

"Positive thinking; I like that." She raised up and they kissed and she situated the sheet across his waist and chest, leaving his leg out. She kept her hand on his stomach and settled back down.

And she waited. She could feel the tension in his body and knew he wasn't going to get to sleep any time soon. She also knew he was hurting by the way he would grip the pillow at random intervals. And she stood it for as long as she could.

"Steve, you need a pain pill."

"No, I'm fine. Was almost asleep."

"Liar. Would you please take one?"

"Cath, come on, you know they make my head feel all mushy. I've got to meet with the governor tomorrow."

"The meeting isn't until 1300. You'll be fine by then."

"No, can't take the chance."

"That's over twelve hours from now. I think a pill will have worn off."

"Don't need it, but thanks."

Catherine sighed but shut up and laid still. After another hour, she could take no more. She sat up and stared at him in the moonlight coming in from the window.

"OK, we both know this isn't working."

"Huh?" Steve grunted.

"Don't pretend to be asleep. I can tell you're wide awake."

Steve sighed. "What gave it away?"

"Oh, maybe the way you have your pillow in a death grip. Or the fact that I can see the ridge in your jaw line because your teeth are clenched so tightly. Will you please take a pain pill? Look, here's the water and here's the pills."

"Don't be mad."

"Oh, Steve… I am not mad. I just want you to feel better and this isn't the way. Come on. Please?"

"What time is it?" he asked.

"It's 0230. Plenty of time for a couple of pills before your meeting tomorrow."

"I'll try one… just one."

"Thank goodness," she whispered beneath her breath.

"Huh?"

"I said, 'that's good to know'," she said, reaching for the pill bottle. "Hopefully this will kick the pain pretty quickly."

Steve raised up on one elbow and took the pill from her fingers before taking the water bottle and swallowing it down. "There, you happy?"

She sat on the edge of the bed. "Ecstatic," she replied, wrapping her arms around him, one hand playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. She leaned down, their foreheads touching. "I just want you to feel better."

"I know. I don't mean to be a grump."

She gave him little nibbling kisses. "I know you hate this and I understand. But when you are hurt, I can't relax until you feel better."

"OK, now come back to bed."

"Be right there. I'm going to the bathroom. Do you need anything else?"

"Nope."

She was gone maybe three minutes. At the most. But when she returned, he was sprawled on the bed, his body already relaxed. She smiled and carefully got in beside him.

"Cath?"

"Who were you expecting?" she asked, a smile in her voice.

"Jus' you. C'mere." He turned his head to kiss her, hitting her in the nose. "Oops, sorry. That stuff works kinda fast. But my leg don't hurt no more."

She smiled at the slur in his voice. "That's really good to hear. Now, why don't you just go to sleep?"

"Wanna play around?"

She laughed. "Not right now."

"You sure?"

She had to smile at his whine. "Positive. We both need to sleep."

"M'kay. Maybe later." His eyes were already closed and he burrowed his face next to her shoulder.

She listened until his breathing evened out, then kissed his forehead. "Later, Commander."