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]

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?'

[ikissdhimbck]

She isn't looking at him.

She shakes her head; it's so small a movement he might not see it at all. No, she doesn't want him to go.

"Might be for the best."

He's put a lot on her mind, and any excitement he woke in her has turned cold and solid in her gut, like a lead weight. Her eyes focus in on his crumpled jacket.

[the_gene_genie]

'Yeah.'

Still, he doesn't move.





'Not what I asked you though, is it?'

[ikissdhimbck]

He's never pressed her this hard before. The line between her brows deepens; she wonders if this is some sort of game.

"What do you want me t'say?"

She lifts her chin, focusing her too-blue eyes on his face.

[the_gene_genie]

He never has a problem holding anyone's gaze.

'If you want me to go, I'll go. But thinkin' it's 'for the best' isn' the same thing at all.'

And he knows that, sometimes, you have to do things for the best, even if they're the last thing you actually want to do. So he knows this is probably over for tonight. But it'd be nice if it wasn't.

[ikissdhimbck]

She holds him steady. She doesn't worry about seconds, or minutes; she doesn't worry that he's waiting on an answer.

She watches him.

She needs to think.





Her brow creases, ever so slightly.

"Guppy gave you the 'all clear' the last night y'saw me?" she murmurs, circling back around to that statement. "Is that why y'were distant? Y'didn't want me t'find out?"

[the_gene_genie]

He stiffens slightly, and his hands slide into his pockets.

'Find out what?'

He didn't mean to make it sound like he was treated for something. Just that he'd taken the test, and it was fine.

[ikissdhimbck]

He didn't.

Until now.






"That you'd seen Guppy."

[the_gene_genie]

'Oh.'

Shit.



'Yeah.'

[ikissdhimbck]

Everything clicks into place.


She doesn't even flinch.




Her eyes naturally drift to her last focal point. She eases around him, padding softly to his discarded jacket and picking it up. She carefully folds it over her arm, like she doesn't want to wrinkle it.

Keeping secrets is one thing; putting her in danger is another. She turns back around, and presses his coat against him.



Then she wraps her hand around the back of his neck, and kisses him for the first time tonight. And it isn't just without hesitation, it's no holds barred. It's fierce. It's the kind of kiss that makes sense of phrases like 'kiss your socks off,' or 'kiss the smile right off your face.'

Eventually she has to break for air, sucking lightly on his bottom lip as they part.

"Thank you. For doin' that for me."

He could have lied. He could have refused.

But he didn't.

[the_gene_genie]

...yeah, he'll just be standing there a bit shell-shocked for a minute.

His coat dangles from his hand. He notices it when he looks away from her, and covers his confusion by letting go of her waist, and pulling it on.

He is smiling though. Bit hard not to.

'I'll find somethin' else t'see him about, if that's the payoff.'

Which is to say; she's welcome.


(He will never, ever, understand women.)