wheelsy_sheriff | [[thursday]]

[And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off]

Bill is sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of Frosted Flakes, idly sifting through puzzle pieces. Only a small part of the puzzle is on the tabletop in front of him and the pieces are in the open box beside his elbow, his bowl on the other side.

After waking up it'd taken him awhile to get his bearings, and he was surprised when he discovered he'd slept right on through the day and night.

Kate was asleep and he'd been extra careful not to wake her when he slipped out of bed.

The phone was on the floor beside the bed along with the notepad with the messages she'd taken and he'd brought both with him to the kitchen; they're sitting on the table now, being ignored.

He's scooping up another spoonful of flakes when someone knocks. Turning his head towards the front door he glances at the hallway leading to the bedroom and gets up.

The knock sounds again and he picks up his step, moving quicker to get the door before whoever is on the other side wakes up Kate. Pulling it open he's ready to run off a reporter and instead finds himself staring at a deputy.

"Rudy?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Her cheeks are pink when she lets her eyes fall to her hand between them.

"You could tuck me in."

Both hands slip under the hem of his T-shirt; fingers and palms map skin and muscle and scar tissue.

"It's still too early to call anyone."

His expression changes and it's clear he was missing something and just caught on, her making it obvious helps.

"I could do that."

His skin burns where her hands fall and his heart picks up a step.

She looks up and catches the surprise shading his smile.

"You could," she says with a nod, "but you don't have to."

Her hands slide down his ribs, stilling at his hips, just above the waistband of his sweats. Her thumbs circle his hip bones while her fingertips ghost over elastic.

"I'd hate to force you into anything."

"I want to," He assures her, reaching a hand up to gently stroke her cheek. "Don't even gotta twist my arm."

She turns into the touch, pressing a kiss to his palm.

"No twisting."

Her heart rate picks up as she gives him a slow grin.

"Just this."

One hand trails lower, gently cupping him through his sweats.

He reacts to her touch; moving closer he kisses her, pressing himself against her palm.

"That, you don't gotta force me into at all."

He murmurs the words against her lips before deepening the kiss.

Her lips curve into a smile that gives way to a muted sound of approval against his mouth.

Her fingers trace the outline of his growing erection, teasing and encouraging, and she's wondering if they'll make it to the bedroom when the phone rings.

She stiffens and swallows hard before her eyes open.

His hand is sliding beneath the hem of her shirt and he's taking a step backwards to lead them towards the counter when the ring erupts.

Jolting he breaks the kiss, eyes wide and head turning sharply.

Looking down at the phone on the table he glances at her and breaks away, moving to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Bill? Did I wake you up?"

It's June; the arrangements for Trooper Hargrove have just been announced on the morning news on the local radio station.

Flushed and anxious, Kate leans one hip against the counter, adjusting her robe and trying to ignore the knot in the pit of her stomach.

"Mom."

He says it for Kate's benefit and swallows, trying to calm his wild pulse.

"No, I'm... just eatin' breakfast."

He turns his back on Kate, face flushed as his mother's voice comes over the line.

"You all right?"

Relieved, Kate's knees turn to Jell-O, and when she hears Bill's next words, she has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

"I'm fine, just listenin' to the mornin' news," June says. "You get some good rest, son?"

"Oh yeah, I uh-- "

He glances back at Kate, catching her expression, then turns around again quickly, clearing his throat into the reciever.

"What? I mean-- yeah, I did. How-- how 'bout you?"

"You sure you were up already?" June asks. "I know when you're lyin', Bill."

Half a beat, and June goes on without waiting for an answer.

"An' I'm fine, don't you worry. Just heard the announcement 'bout that trooper's funeral, and was wonderin' if you knew visitation starts today."

Feeling more than a little guilty for her amusement, Kate steps close behind Bill and wraps her arms around his waist, then presses a kiss between his shoulder blades.

"No, I-- "

He stops talking immediately when she goes on, glad she doesn't give him the chance to dig a whole. He sobers on her next words, nodding slowly.

"Yeah, I heard. Funeral's tomorrow."

His free hand moves down to Kate's, squeezing her fingers, still feeling somewhat awkward even with the subject being discussed.

With another apologetic kiss, she laces her fingers with his and closes her eyes.

Tomorrow, she knows, will be worse than yesterday.

Lost in thought, she's surprised to hear "I will. Love you, too," and the quiet beep of the phone as Bill ends the call a few minutes later.

Her arms tighten around him briefly.

He sets the phone back on the table then turns to look back at her over his shoulder.

Giving her a smile to let her know everything is all right he squeezes her fingers again and leans into her slightly.

Her lips find his shoulder and one hand travels from his stomach to his sternum, then back again, in a smooth up-and-down.

"I love you, you know."

"I know."

He reaches back to lightly cradle her cheek.

"I love you, too."

With a soft murmur, she turns into the touch for a moment before easing away.

"I'm going to bed," she says with a small half-smile, "and you can come, too, if you want.

"But," she adds, ignoring the heat still burning beneath her skin, "you don't have to. Dave's probably awake by now if you'd rather give him a call instead."

When she moves away he turns around to face her.

He's ready to follow her but looks at the phone and thinks about his mom.

"Let me-- I'm gonna call Dave first. Won't take me but a few an' then I'll be in."

The last part is almost a question.

He wants to go with her now but realizes he needs to speak with Dave first in order to get word about last night's caller stopped before it gets to his mom.

"Okay."

She leans close, pressing a kiss to his sleeve before padding into the bedroom. She shrugs out of her robe and slips off her pink plaid pajama pants before sliding into bed.

Down to her camisole and underwear, the sheets are cool against her skin; she shivers and burrows into the covers, relaxing against the mattress with a tired sigh.

She'll only close her eyes for a minute. Or five.

"An' make sure Rudy knows. Try not to let him talk to her if he don't have to. Alright. Bye."

The conversation with Dave takes longer than Bill had hoped but he's up to speed and so is Dave on all the situations going on.

Hanging up the phone he starts heading for the bedroom, stopping in the hallway and going back to check the locks on the doors.

Entering the bedroom he's smiling, mouth opening to speak, then closing when he sees her.

He hesitates, watching her, but it isn't hard to tell that she's asleep.

His smile softens, just the tiniest bit wistful, and he steps back out of the room.

Taking a chair in the kitchen again he pulls the phone and notepad with the messages close. Before he starts dialing some of the puzzle gets laid out again and he works on that as he returns phone calls.

[[thursday]]

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