A/N: This fic contains potentially triggering subject matter including but not limited to: suicidal references, gun violence, sexual trauma, homelessness, drug abuse, depression, homophobia, and cancer. It may contain inaccuracies. No copyright infringement intended. Thanks for reading!

BOOK TWO - PART TWO - CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Cat knocked on her bedroom door. "Hey, cover up. I'm coming in." She waited several seconds, then pushed the door open and walked inside.

Robbie and Bryson were on the bed, making out, both of them shirtless and straining their jeans. They sprung apart when Cat walked in, and started complaining—this wasn't the first time she'd been a cockblock to them. It was a pretty regular occurrence. They sat up and pulled pillows over their laps.

"What are you doing up here? Why aren't you with Sam?" Robbie asked in annoyance.

"I need to shower," was all Cat offered in response as she made her way to the bathroom.

Robbie immediately noticed something was off. "Hey. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Cat quietly replied, then started to shut the door.

"Wait. What's wrong?" Robbie asked in concern. He cared about Cat immensely, even when he was in this state of mind.

"It's nothing," Cat lied.

"Tell us," Bryson told her, eager to deal with the problem so they could get back to business.

Cat sighed. "It's just…" She blushed and met their eyes. "I, um, tried something different with Sam and she told me it was gross and a turn-off. So… I'm just kind of embarrassed; that's all."

"Ouch. What the hell did you do?" Bryson chuckled.

Cat hesitated, so Robbie said, "It was the armpit thing, wasn't it?"

When she didn't immediately reply, Bryson repeated, "Armpit thing?" He looked amused.

"I just… licked all the sweatiness off her armpit," Cat mumbled before he could get the idea that it was anything more obscene. "I really didn't think it was too crazy—like, I did her gravy thing. I thought she'd try to fake it for me, you know? Or at least not call it gross."

"Damn. Sorry, Cat; that is pretty embarrassing," Robbie admitted. "But I'm sure she didn't mean it in a bad way. It probably just wasn't her thing."

"Yeah, I don't know. I just feel… stupid. It's no big deal," Cat muttered. "I'm gonna shower." She closed herself inside the bathroom and locked the door. A short while later, she knocked on the door from the inside. "Hey, you guys? Can I come out?"

Robbie groaned. "You're killing me, Cat." There was a pause. "Okay, we're covered. Hurry up."

Cat opened the door and rushed out with her hand blocking her vision of the bed. "Sorry. I won't come back up here tonight," she told them. "Have fun, you guys." Then she let herself out of the room, headed down the hallway, and descended the stairs. She had to pass through the kitchen on the way to Sam's room, and Sikowitz was there, holding a banana that had been peeled from the bottom. She tried to avoid eye contact, passing by him, but he called out before she could make it far.

"Cat?"

Cat stopped in her tracks. She was feeling impatient and frustrated, and she exhaled slowly before turning around and putting on a fake smile. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to let you know—I'm leaving tomorrow," Sikowitz replied. "It's uncomfortable for both of us now that your… partner is living here. So, I'm gonna stay in my brother's garage from now on. I've already packed all my things."

"Oh." Cat felt a little bad. "I'm sorry. You really don't have to do that."

"No, I do." Sikowitz smiled. "It's okay. I'm happy for you."

Cat bit her lip. "You're not leaving 'til morning?"

"I've got earplugs," Sikowitz assured her. "It's okay. Go on. Be safe."

Cat smiled for real this time. "Thanks, Sikowitz." She turned and continued on to Sam's bedroom. She walked in without knocking to find Sam standing with her back to her, naked except for the strap-on, which was wrapped snugly around her hips and thighs.

"Uh, just a sec," Sam blurted nervously, covering herself and keeping her back turned.

"Does it fit?" Cat asked eagerly. She tried to see around to Sam's front, but couldn't. She didn't mind; Sam had a really cute butt.

"Yeah, can you…" Sam hesitated. "Can you turn around for a minute?"

"Can I see it?" Cat asked, ignoring her request and coming closer.

Sam shifted so that her back was to her again. "Cat, seriously," she warned. "I haven't worn one of these in a long time. I need a minute to get used to it. Please, just…"

"Fine." Cat turned around to face the other way. "But I'm gonna have to see it, eventually."

"I know," Sam answered. She went over and climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her. Cat wasn't sure what she was doing, but she could hear her moving around over there for several seconds. Finally, she said, "Okay, you can come here."

Cat went to the bed and climbed on. The blankets were tented outwards from Sam's crotch, and it took serious willpower for her not to immediately reach out and grab what was underneath. "Can I see?" she asked again.

"Take your clothes off first," Sam told her, covering it with her hand.

Cat quickly scrambled to strip herself down. She somehow managed to trap herself in her inside-out shirt, and Sam had to help free her from it. Getting her skirt off was easier. Her socks, bra, and panties came last, tossed away from the bed blindly. Once she was entirely naked, she laid on top of the covers and reached down to touch herself, spreading her legs, grabbing her breast with her other hand and arching her back. She was showing off, but it was working.

Sam moaned, and her hand went down to wrap around the dildo through the blanket. "Oh, my God, Cat; it should not be possible for a woman to be this sexy."

Cat smirked. She turned over and crawled on top of Sam. She leaned down next to her ear, kissed her neck and whispered, "Sam?"

Sam was breathing shakily. "Yeah?"

"I want your cock." Cat ground down on her, straddling Sam's hips.

"Fuck," Sam exhaled deeply—Cat never failed to surprise her. "Are you gonna ride me?"

"Is that okay?" Cat asked, nipping at her earlobe.

"Are you wet enough? Maybe we should get the lube," Sam suggested. The dildo was significantly bigger than fingers, which meant it was going to be a tight fit.

Cat daringly whispered, "Touch me."

Sam raised her eyebrows. She took the challenge and slipped her hand down between Cat's legs. She was dripping, even with very little workup—she had clearly been waiting all day for this. Sam circled her clit with her fingertips a couple of times.

Cat gasped and her hips bucked against her fingers. "Oh, my God—Sam, I need you inside me. Please. Please." She grabbed the edge of the blankets. "Can I uncover you?"

Sam cupped Cat's jaw and pulled her in for a kiss. Then she broke away, looked into her eyes and gave her a small nod of consent.