Pillow Talk: Chapter 12 - The Morning Hours
By Cokie
A/N: At the end of Season 4, our dreams of Pillow Talk drove off into the Afghan sunset. I have a weird gene or something where I have to write in the context of the show. And with Cath not being there, I just couldn't write anything dealing with Steve and Cath.
But, thanks to the powers-that-be in Hawaii, she showed up a year later for Kono's wedding. Now you can't tell me that she didn't miss that man that rose up out of the sea in front of her. Or that same man a day later who looked so dazzling in his tux walking away from a chopper after he had "saved the world". Kono's wedding wasn't the ONLY reason she returned!
So here is my take on Steve and Cath's "Pillow Talk". Cokie
H50
The sun's first rays had not made their presence known when Steve was pulled from sleep. He wasn't sure what had woken him, but he lay there, not moving, enjoying the quiet of early morning. The window was open and nature was just beginning to awaken as well, giving him a feeling of contentment.
He smiled and opened his eyes. And he knew it was going to be a good day.
He didn't want to move; didn't want to even change his breathing pattern for fear of waking her. Cath had been back almost a week and while it felt right to have her back in his bed, it still felt new, and also oddly strange… but most of all, he had to admit, it felt exciting. He loved watching her and listening to her breathe. Sometimes she made soft noises in her sleep and even they excited him.
Her touch could send him into overdrive. Not that he would ever admit that to another living soul. Right now, he wanted to wrap her in his arms and hold so tight that she couldn't ever leave again.
Instead, he watched her sleep. Well, all he could see was the top of her head and an ear. Her head was tucked into the side of his shoulder where she had curled up last night… make that earlier this morning… when they finally decided they needed some sleep. After all, they had to make up for lost time. And make up they did. That thought brought another smile to his face.
Her fingers were resting lightly on his wrist and as much as he wanted to snare her fingers in his, he remained relaxed, cherishing these rare moments when he could watch her just a few minutes longer.
Steve had to admit, he was a lost cause. He didn't want her to be gone again. Ever. They were treading lightly around each other; wanting so badly to feel "normal". But a year had gone by and during that time normal had become something new; something uncomfortable. Something he didn't want at all.
Waking up next to Catherine had to be the best feeling in the world.
H50
Catherine's internal clock let her know that the sun was just coming up. Her instincts and clock had had to do some readjusting when she returned from the Middle East, but finally she felt like her body was back in sync with the time zone. She had always loved early mornings, and mornings in Hawaii were special. Most every day brought a glorious sunrise and she felt that today would be the same.
She lay there, not moving, enjoying the sound of Steve's breathing. A slight smile came to her lips as she listened to him breathe. The man should be exhausted after they had finally decided to call it a night… in the early morning hours.
But she could tell without a single doubt that he was awake and probably watching her. She could always tell when he was awake although he did his best at pretending to be asleep. His breathing pattern might fool others, but she had woken up next to him enough times to know when he was awake and when he was asleep.
Catherine opened her eyes to mere slits and saw her fingers resting on Steve's wrist. She was comfortable and really didn't want to move from her warm spot curled next to his arm. But on the other hand, she really wanted to feel more of him than just his shoulder and arm.
She ran her fingers from his wrist to his hand and slid her fingers between his. "It's not nice to watch people while they sleep," she whispered.
"Who said I was watching?" he asked in an equally low voice.
Cath raised her head and laid it on his shoulder. "I can feel you looking at me," she admitted. "And you know what? … I kind of like it."
"You do?" he asked, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "Know what I like?"
"What would that be?" she asked, looking at him.
He angled his head to reach her lips and gave her a soft, lazy kiss. "That. First thing in the morning."
"Mmm, yeah, it is nice," she agreed, turning onto her side to face him.
Steve rolled toward her, noses touching, each of them smiling at their new-found happiness.
And Catherine knew that waking up next to Steve was the absolute best feeling in the world.