OOM: Kate's room again.

[the_gene_genie]

It's been a few weeks since he last saw her. The first one, he spent making up for not being able to drink the week before. The few after that - well. He's well aware that their last conversation didn't go too well. It seemed sensible to steer clear, and he wasn't all that happy with her either, was he?

But the awkwardness of the thing with Guppy has ebbed away a bit now, and he's been wondering what she's up to. Even if their last conversation was a bit crap, that's no reason not to see where they're at. So, in typical Gene Hunt style, he decides to take the bull by the horns. He still wants to go to Texas, and he still wants to see her. If that means another awkward conversation - well, so be it.

After checking she's not in the bar, and not in the stables, he heads up to her room. His knock is as bold as ever, no sign of nerves.

'You in there?'

Comments

[the_gene_genie]

'We'll see if you're sayin' that when the time comes, sweetheart.'

Which he really, really hopes is now. His leg presses into her, and he brings a hand up so he can brush the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone; her hesitation doesn't go unnoticed, but neither does the way she's relaxing. So he keeps kissing her, soft and hungry, hoping that this time nothing's going to get in the way.

[ikissdhimbck]

The way he kisses her leaves her breathless. There isn't even time for fear or reservation to pull her back; there's only his mouth, and hers, the way his breath tickles her skin, and the touch of his tongue.

The next time he presses into her she shudders; her hips shift against him, ever so gently.

"Gene."

She reaches up to cup his face, pulling back just far enough to catch her breath.

[the_gene_genie]

He's grinning - a touch smugly - when she pulls away. He didn't miss that movement of her hips.

He doesn't pull away. He stays right where he is, and edging in for more.

'Gonna let me stay, then?'

[ikissdhimbck]

She tips her face just enough to keep him from kissing her again. She feels lightheaded and warm, and that smugness doesn't go unnoticed. He's not out of the doghouse, yet. They still have a lot to figure out. And her mind is too foggy to make a proper decision right now.

But he's ... he's warm, and solid, and surprisingly tender; all she can think about are the bad dreams she's been having. The conversation with her daddy. And she doesn't really want to be alone.

Her hand slides up under his jacket, following the path of his spine before stopping between his shoulder blades.

"Maybe."

She brushes her lips over the hollow in his throat, dragging her thumb along his jaw.


"Not sure it's a good idea."

[the_gene_genie]

'You wouldn' be sayin' that later.'

His hand runs up her ribs, coming to rest at the side of her breast, while the other inches her dress a touch higher at her backside.

Hey, she didn't say no.

[ikissdhimbck]

"You're awful sure of yourself."

She tries to keep her breathing even, so he'll be sure to hear the full measure of disdain in her voice. Those creeping fingers haven't gone unnoticed, however.

She returns her gaze to his face, eyeing him through heavy lashes.

"Did — did y'ever see someone? About — ?"

[the_gene_genie]

He grins, at least until she says that. It makes him pull back, frowning a bit.



'...yeah. Guppy gave me the all-clear, that las' night I saw you.'

[ikissdhimbck]

Her hand falls from his back when he moves.



"... Guppy?"

Suddenly, her lust-heavy eyes are as bright as firecrackers.

"Y'mean you saw someone here? Y'saw Guppy?"

[the_gene_genie]

'...yeah?'

She never said he shouldn't.

'It'd be a bit tricky doin' it at home.'

[ikissdhimbck]

"It would?"

It dawns on her then that he forgets the bar when he leaves. She'd plumb forgot.

"Oh. Oh, god."

She touches her face and takes a step back.

"I didn't ... Didja tell him why? That it was because I — ?"

[the_gene_genie]

He wasn't thinking of that. More that his wife has the same GP, and he's always hated the idea of those special clinics.



'...I didn' tell him anythin'. I didn' need to. He might look stupid, but he's really not.'

[ikissdhimbck]

"What's that mean?"

She's clinging on to one last desperate hope that this isn't as bad as she thinks it is.

But she's already bracing herself for the worst.

Goddamn, nobody else was supposed to know.

[the_gene_genie]

He looks at her like, really, she should know better than to ask that question.


'It means that when a bloke an' a bird hang around together like we've been, then the reason why gets obvious. Even t'people like him.'



'I don' get it. What's the matter?'

[ikissdhimbck]

She groans, turning her back to him for a moment. Perhaps she deserved that.

"I didn't think we were bein' all that obvious. I thought we were bein' discreet."

She's struggling to wrap her head around everything without hurting his feelings.

"I wasn't plannin' on anyone else knowin'."

[the_gene_genie]

Hurt feelings are not something he thinks would ever happen.

Dented pride, maybe.

'...why not?'

[ikissdhimbck]

"Because I — "

She turns, and stops. She's guessing by the look on his face he won't take kindly to an admission of shame.


"Because we — "

It's more than just vanity. He knows he's married without having to be reminded by her, and as far as Kate's concerned there's still a part of her, so deeply in love with Josiah Scurlock, that doesn't want this to ever get back around to him. She figures Gene wouldn't take too kindly to that, either.

Her gaze falls somewhere closer to his tie.



"I thought you'd feel the same way."

[the_gene_genie]

His eyes shift left, then right.

Is he supposed to feel the same way?


'You didn' answer the question,' he says, easily enough, and pulls a fag out of his pocket.

[ikissdhimbck]

That's because she doesn't know how.

She looks uncomfortable, working her jaw silently. She sucks in a breath, and squares her shoulders.

"Because I didn't want anyone else t'know."

[the_gene_genie]

He squares his too, and looks down at her from under half-closed lids.

'Why?'

[ikissdhimbck]

"Because you're married, for one. I reckon y'haven't forgot."

[the_gene_genie]

He takes a long pull on his smoke.

No, he hasn't forgotten.

'So you're embarrassed t'be runnin' around with a married bloke?'

[ikissdhimbck]

"Gene."

She shakes her head. Goddamn does she ever not want another fight.

"D'you really think we need t'rehash this? I thought we both said more'n our share the last time it came up."

[the_gene_genie]

Nor does he. But he doesn't understand.

He stubs his fag out, and steps in close to her again.

'It is what it is. People are goin' t'notice.'

And leans it, tilts his head to try and peck her on the lips.

[ikissdhimbck]

A line forms between her brows. She leans back, on instinct more than anything.

Of all the people she knows, it's Guppy knowing about her and Gene that bothers her the most. She holds him in such high esteem.

It is what it is. Her reputation isn't worth a cent anymore, and she knows it. And she knows he's right, too. People are bound to notice sometime. She just wasn't ready for it to be this soon.

(She wasn't ready for it, period.)

[the_gene_genie]

He can hardly miss the leaning back, and he sighs a bit as he straightens up.

'Right.'

He doesn't know what he can say, or do, about it. Still not sure he fully understands her problem, but he gets the basics, he thinks.

He looks away a moment, and then back to her.

'You want me t'go?'