oom, doc's room upstairs, for kate

[scurlock]

Even after ten years, not much has really changed about Doc's room. In the month since he's been back, he's moved a few things here and there, changed the sheets and blankets - no need for winter cover when it's a warm summer season, and so on - and added a good deal more books.

As Doc opens the room, he steps aside to let Kate in ahead of him. She's spent several nights here as well, over the last month. It's familiar territory.

Safe.

There's a few more shreds of that silk scarf on the bed, along with several other various cat toys that have been dragged out of the ridiculously enormous basket near the couch and strewn over the cushion.

The desk is covered with a ledger and the pages full of his handwriting, neat and precise. A book of Shakespeare is on the bed, closed with a book marking a particular chapter he left off on.

He moves to open the windows, to let the cool summer night's air in, after he's shut and locked the door.

Comments

[ikissdhimbck]

Ignoring the kittens for a moment (which is more difficult than one might think), she cautiously pulls out one of the stacks, eyes widening when she sees just how much money is there.

She turns her head over her shoulder to look at him, her expression reading 'you'd better explain.'

"Where'd y'git all this?"

[scurlock]

Doc steps over to the dresser, to see just what she's looking at.

He glances down, before setting down the whiskey glass.

"I did some doctorin' for a patron here, years back..."

He swallows down a bitter taste of guilt.

You needed the money.



"...Ramon."

[ikissdhimbck]

She freezes.









"Ramon Salazar?"

[scurlock]

"Yes."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her mouth feels cottony.

"Oh."

She drops her focus away from his face, back to the money in her hand, and then back to the dresser (where the kittens seem very interested in what's happening).

Nodding slightly, she hands him the stack of money.

"Y'might wanna move these someplace more safe, or keep your drawers closed, 'fore your boys tear up your small fortune," she murmurs, keeping her eyes downcast the entire time.

She picks up the glass of whiskey, and move past him, forgetting about the pajamas.

[scurlock]

"Might as well just burn it," he mutters, tossing the stack back into the drawer, before he removes the kittens and places them on the floor.

He slides the drawer closed, but keeps his hands on the dresser, head bowed.

He doesn't speak, for a few minutes. He doesn't move, just breathes.



"I needed the money."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Y'ain't gonna burn good money," she tells him, voice quiet.

[scurlock]

"I ain't, but that don't mean I shouldn't."

Doc shakes his head (and for a moment all he can see is the scene Bill relayed to him, Kate with her gun against Ramon's guts, pinned to the wall and fighting for air) then glances at her.

There's something in his eyes - not disgust or hatred or anger, just something.

Something that shouldn't be there, especially since it's directed inward - it was business, not pleasure.


You still got your hands dirty.



"He ain't layin' a hand on you, or on Bill. Even if it's the last thing I do. He ain't."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Don't talk your nonsense," she hisses, turning her head halfway over her shoulder.

She doesn't quite make it far enough to look at him before she turns back.

"It's jus' money; lord knows he don't need it."

It's just money.

'I needed the money.'

He's a doctor. It was just a job.

Still, her stomach is twisted in knots.

[scurlock]

It ain't nonsense.

Doc swallows down the comment and moves into the bathroom, leaving the door open as he flicks the tap on and begins to wash his hands.

He feels dirty, as he rubs a soapy lather across his palms, trying to rid himself of non-existent bloodstains.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate doesn't move for a long while, standing near the foot of his bed sipping at her glass of whiskey.

Her glass is quite nearly empty when she notices he's taking longer than he should. She first turns to look into the bathroom, and then turns, setting her glass down on the dresser as she passes.

(The kittens have moved on to a new mouse toy in the meantime.)

She slowly steps up behind him, lightly placing her hands on his biceps as he patiently scrubs away at his skin. She ghosts her touch down his arms, slowly sliding her hands down, down, until her palms are covering his knuckles. His arms are longer than hers, which puts her body into a tight embrace with his.

She closes her eyes and leaves a slow, lingering kiss between his shoulder blades.

[scurlock]

He bows his head as he runs his hands under the water - their hands - rinsing them clean.




Slowly, he turns the taps off, and shifts to pull their hands up to his chin, ignoring the water droplets that skate down his chest.

"I ain't afraid of gettin' 'em dirty," he explains. "Just gets hard t'live with yourself after so long...when y'ain't got nobody t'tell you that you ain't jus'a sinnah."

Eyes still closed, he brings her knuckles to his lips, kissing each hand softly in turn.

"We ain't just sinnahs. Even if we got dirty hands."

[ikissdhimbck]

"I don't want you goin' near 'im."

There's a quaver in her small voice as she speaks, forehead against his back.

"I know y'can take care'a yourself, without me tellin' y'what t'do, but he's dangerous, Doc. An' he's mad at me. Maybe he likes y'now, but what if he changes 'is mind? Please. Please, just steer clear'a him. You don't need none'a my trouble."

She curls her fingers around his tightly, a tremble in her touch.

[scurlock]

Doc considers this, a moment.

"I can promise you I ain't gonna go lookin' for him, or for any sort'a trouble to do with him."

He can't promise he'll stay out of it if it comes to him, first.

He's an outlaw.

[ikissdhimbck]

She hears the implication in the words he does not say, and she goes quiet.






After some time, she slowly pulls her arms back, placing them on his hips and encouraging him to turn around.

[scurlock]

His trousers are sliding low on his hips, resting against the waistband of his long (actually, short to the knee) underwear.

The skin on his stomach twitches a little, at her touch.

He doesn't speak because he's not sure what to say.

[ikissdhimbck]

He doesn't need to speak.

It isn't a moment for words, anyway.

She keeps her blue eyes on his, her gaze intent and focused and still tinged with smoke. Her hands slowly drift across his midsection, fingertips lingering over scars and blemishes, sinking down to his waistband. Watching him -- watching the way he reacts.

After a quiet moment, she reaches down to the hem of her camisole, and slowly tugs the silk and lace up and over her head, before leaning in and pressing her bare chest against his.


"Jus' promise... you'll always come back t'me."

[scurlock]

"Y'have my word, I'll always git back t'you."

Doc slides his hands up her arms and then lightly cups her face, thumbs tracing over her cheekbones as he leans closer.

"Even if I gotta walk through hellfire t'git there...I ain't scared, not one bit."

His lips brush the corner of her mouth, then he moves to kiss her properly - praying she doesn't turn her head this time.

[ikissdhimbck]

"I don't want'cha t'git as far as hellfire... If things git real bad, you gotta back down, Doc. Y'understand me?"

A chill races down her spine when his lips make contact with the corner of her mouth. It's not an entirely pleasant sensation. Her heart is beating so hard and so loud she feels like she might break.

She watches as he moves toward her, nearly paralyzed with fear. She wants to kiss him, but she knows

'Call it for luck.

'For luck.'

'You kissed the onion picker.'

'Just one little kiss...'

'God will punish you!'

what will happen.

She squeezes her eyes shut and tips her head, letting his lips graze her cheek instead.

Her breathing is coming in ragged.

[scurlock]

So he presses his lips against her cheek instead, holding her tightly in his arms.

Protector.




"I love you, Kate."

I understand.

[ikissdhimbck]

She doesn't feel like she's getting enough oxygen. It's not because of his hold on her.

'I love you, Kate.'

She buries her face in his neck, not speaking or moving for a long time. There are tears bristling in her eyes she has to fight from her voice, first.





Eventually pulling back, avoiding his eyes, she hooks her fingers in his belt loops and starts tugging him towards the bedroom.

"C'mon, now. I believe y'made some promises I got every intention of makin' sure y'keep."

[scurlock]

He takes one step forward.

We ain't just sinners, but she won't even look at you.

And another.



"I suppose we do."

[ikissdhimbck]

She leads him the rest of the way to the bed in silence, mindful of any animals that might be scurrying underfoot.

Letting go of his belt loops, she starts to slip off her britches as she tips her head back and nuzzles the underside of his chin.

[scurlock]

Doc exhales quietly when she nuzzles at his neck, his heart thudding softly in his chest, throat working silently as he swallows down a catch.

"Y'outta git comfortable, if y'want this backrub."

A beat.

"Hopefully we can avoid the boys gettin' in the way."

[ikissdhimbck]

She smirks, before she bends and kicks her pants the rest of the way off. Covering her bare chest with one arm, she backs away from him and moves to settle face down on the bed.

"Suppose y'can always hope," she teases him.