Radclyffe - Safe Harbor

"Did you get her truck for her?"

"No, Marge did," Reese replied as she walked into the kitchen. She had her badge pinned to the pocket of her denim workshirt, and wore a pair of blue jeans. She was easing into the shoulder strap of her holster as she spoke. She smiled softly at Tory in welcome. "Hi."

Tory ignored the greeting, too angry to acknowledge how much she had missed Reese during the day. "Are you seeing a physician I dont know about?"

"Of course not!" Reese responded in surprise.

"Then who cleared you to work?"

"Im not working. Im just going to drive around the dunes for a few hours, unofficially."

"With a gun, in the middle of the night?" Torys hands were clenched, and she fought down the urge to throw things. Reese just stared at her, clearly astounded by her reaction.

"Did Nelson approve this?" Tory asked harshly.

"No, Im doing it on my time."

"The hell you are," Tory responded curtly, walking toward the phone. "If you wont follow my orders as your physician, Ill have Nelson suspend you. You can see another doctor tomorrow."

"Tory," Reese said gently, halting her with a hand on her arm. "Just hear me out, and then if you dont want me to, I wont go out."

Tory turned from the phone reluctantly, her jaw clenched. She nodded her head sharply for Reese to go ahead.

"Someone is after kids, Tory - our kids. Bri told me there have been other incidents of gay boys and lesbians being verbally hassled on their way to or from the dunes. Caroline has seen a black pick-up cruising out there, and she thinks once or twice its followed her home after shes been with Bri. The kids are in danger, Tory. I just want to be seen out there, and let whoevers doing this know that I know. Maybe that will be enough to put an end to this before someone gets hurt."

"It doesnt have to be you, Reese," Tory argued, "not now, not when youre not even healed. Call Nelson. Tell him whats going on. He can have someone else patrol the dunes."

"I cant, not for a few more days. Bri promised me she would tell Nelson about her and Caroline. I told her Id give her a week. Even if Nelson knows, without me and Smith, he doesnt have enough personnel to cover the town and step up patrol in the dunes. Since we dont even have an official complaint, theres no way hes going to pull someone off the streets now. Neither would I. Theres no one else to do it. Ill only be out a few hours." It was so clear to Reese what needed to be done. Surely Tory would see that.

"Damn it, Reese," Tory cried, "youre not fit for duty. If youre out there, anything could happen!" She turned away abruptly, not wanting Reese to see the fear in her face. Wordlessly, she walked out onto the deck, leaving Reese staring after her.

Catherine spoke quietly from the corner of the room. "My sister isnt used to talking about her fears. Shes gotten used to dealing with her terror and her pain alone. First she lost her Olympic career, and she nearly lost her leg. Then she lost the woman she had believed she would spend her life with. She cant take any more loss in her life, Reese. She was watching you through the night glasses the other night. She saw you get shot, she thought you had been killed. Shes terrified. Shes terrified of loving you, and shes terrified of losing you."

"I dont want to hurt her - she doesnt just matter to me, she means more to me than I thought possible." Reese swallowed, forcing herself to say the next words. "Ill leave her alone if you think I should." Catherine could never know what anguish those words cost her.

Catherine shook her head, laughing softly. "You dont know much about women, do you, Reese?

"I dont know anything about any of this," Reese responded quite seriously. "I only know what I feel for her. And its everything that I have."

"I can see how much you care. She needs you, Reese. Just go to her. Follow your instincts. Theyve been right so far."

Reese smiled her thanks, turning toward the woman highlighted in moonlight on the deck. "Tory," she said, slipping her arms around the still figure from behind, cradling Torys body gently against her. "Im sorry I didnt talk to you first. I need a little practice at this. Forgive me?"

Tory grasped the hands that circled her waist, stroking the tender flesh of Reeses palms. "This is so damn typical of you. I know you believe you have to do this. I keep trying to tell myself youre right -"

"But?" Reese questioned, pressing her cheek to Torys hair, sliding a kiss against the soft skin at her temple.

Tory shivered at the touch. "But my heart keeps saying it doesnt have to be you. Let someone else do it. Let someone elses lover be the one in danger. Let someone else get hurt." Her voice trailed off in a nearly inaudible sob.

Reese tightened her hold until there was nothing between them but the night. "It has to be me because thats what I do - thats who I am," she whispered with absolute certainty.

Tory nodded imperceptibly, not wanting to disturb their union. "I know that - its one of the reasons I -" She stopped before she gave voice to feelings whose consequences she wasnt ready to accept. "I dont think Im strong enough for this, Reese," she finished miserably, starting to move away. Reese tightened her hold.

"I cant promise you I wont get hurt, Tory," Reese continued, unwilling to let Tory withdraw from her. "But I can promise you that I will never put myself in a situation Im not trained for, and I can promise you that every day of my life, Ill be here for you, if you let me."

Tory turned in Reeses arms, reaching behind her to clasp her close. She pressed her forehead into Reeses hard chest, clamping down on the desire that flooded her as she felt Reese along the length of her.

"God, I could get used to that idea," she admitted reluctantly.

"Good," Reese said, lifting Torys face to kiss her.

**********

"Cant sleep?" Cath asked when she joined Tory on the deck. It was two in the morning.

"Not while shes out there," Tory responded, tipping the glass to finish her drink.

"Youll have to learn to, you know," Cath said, lighting a cigarette, offering the pack to Tory.

Tory accepted wordlessly, smoking in silence as the stars revolved overhead. "I know Im overreacting," she said at length.

"Probably," Cath agreed. "But its been a hellacious few days, and youve been through as much as she has, maybe more. Give yourself some time."

"Im not used to being so emotional," Tory confided. "Im not proud of myself."

"Oh, god, Tor!" Cath exclaimed. "If it were me, thered be more screaming than you can imagine. Sometimes I think I might scream for you! Ive never met anyone quite like her - shes so goddamned logical, and right , that its hard to argue with her. If I didnt know her I wouldnt believe it. But she loves you, Tor - I can see it when she looks at you."

"God, I hope so," Tory whispered fervently. "Because shes inside of me now."

Reese found them both dozing in deck chairs when she returned a little after three a.m. She bent to kiss Tory softly on the cheek, murmuring her name. Tory reached for her sleepily, circling her arms around Reeses neck.

"Anything?" Tory asked.

"No," Reese replied, lifting Tory up into an embrace. She kissed her again, more thoroughly, until she had her gasping, then held her wordlessly, simply enjoying the feel of her. Tory rested against her, relishing the slow swell of desire.

"I think Ill just toddle off to bed," Cath remarked, casting a glance at the two figures outlined in the dim light of the stars. She brushed her hand fondly across her sisters back as she passed.

"Shes a good woman," Reese remarked.

"Yes," Tory agreed dreamily. "Are you ready to take me to bed?"

Reese laughed. "More than ready, although I had something in mind other than sleep."