Hiccups
Part Two
By Scott J. Welles
scottjwelles@yahoo.com

ARCHIVE: Yes, but please write and tell me where.
CATEGORY: f/f Slash
SPOILERS: Takes place just after "Rock, Scissors, Paper"
RATING: NC-17 (where's the fun in G Slash???)
SUMMARY: What might have happened next.
DISCLAIMER: All "ER" characters and institutions are the property of Warner Bros., ConstantC Productions and Amblin Television. This is written strictly for entertainment value, no infringement of copyright or ownership is intended, and nobody is making a profit on this piece. As always, any errors in continuity, characterization, or common sense are entirely my own fault.
SEND ALL COMMENTS (positive or negative) to scottjwelles@yahoo.com

"Make yourself at home," she told Kerry as they entered her small apartment.

"Thanks," Kerry replied. "I like this. It's very homey."

"You're a charming liar," Kim said with a smile. Even now, the apartment seemed sparse and underfurnished. True, she'd only moved in a few months ago, but she knew it would probably look this way in a year's time. Kim could afford something with twice the space, but she preferred to live simply, both in terms of floorspace and possessions. She imagined Kerry's home being much more elaborate, and hoped she'd get to find out sometime soon. "There's some wine in the fridge if you'd like to pour us some. I'm just going to check my messages."

"Sure."

Kim heard glasses clinking behind her as she walked to the living room desk where her phone and answering machine rested. The light blinked four times rapidly, then repeated itself. Pressing the button, she waited for the machine to rewind, then it clicked.

BEEP! "Ms. Legaspi? This is Sarah in Dr. Primmin's office, confirming your appointment on Thursday at 2:00 for a cleaning. Please let us know if..." Dentist. Ooh, she'd forgotten about that; better check her schedule, see if she can make the appointment, or if she needed to reschedule.

BEEP! "Kim? Jen. Call me, lunch, gotta talk. Met someone, great, love 'er, lotsa dish. Call me!" Jen, an old friend. Obviously wanting to brag about her new girlfriend. Kim knew it would be virtually the same conversation as the one they had the last time Jen met someone. And the time before that...

BEEP! No message, just dial tone. Either someone got the wrong number, or they were just too lazy to leave a message. Kim thought, I've got Kerry in my apartment and I'm wasting my time on this...?

BEEP! "It's, um, it's me, Kimmie. Just wanted to say hello, we haven't talked in a while. You know, you can come back and visit anytime. So, uh...anyway, Marsha sends her love, and, um...well, g'bye."

Oh, Christ...

Kerry appeared by her side, holding out a glass of white wine. "Is everything all right?" she asked, concerned.

Kim forced a smile as she took the glass gratefully. "My father," she replied, nodding at the machine. "That's about how comfortable he is talking to me."

"Ohh..."

They turned to Kim's small sofa and coffee table, sitting. "I hear from him two or three times a year, because he feels it's his paternal duty," Kim went on, "but I don't think he really ever wants to talk to me. It's just as well we didn't talk in person; usually, about the only small talk he can think to make with me is, 'you found a man yet?'  There are some things he just can't bring himself to accept." She sipped angrily at her wine.

"I'm sorry," Kerry said. "Is Marsha your sister?"

"Unh-uh. Stepmother. Mom died about fifteen years ago, and Dad met Marsha around '98." She shuddered. "Awful, spiteful woman. She's got Dad wrapped around her little finger, mostly because he's too old and lonely and worn down to stand up to her, and I can tell she hates me."

"Because you're gay, or because you're his daughter?"

"Take your pick. I think she's an equal-opportunity annoyer." Kim finished her wine, then noticed Kerry didn't have a glass. "You didn't want any?"

"Oh, yeah, I was going to pour myself one, but I left the bottle in the kitchen when I brought you yours. It's sometimes awkward with one hand, and I didn't want to spill..."

"Here, let me get it." Kim stood, crossed into the small kitchenette, and poured a second glass. "Sorry, I'm not being the best hostess."

"That's all right..." The voice was directly behind her.

She turned, the glass in her hand, and they were virtually nose-to-nose in the small, tiled space. Their eyes met...and time stopped.

Kim could feel the moment of indecision vibrating in Kerry's body, almost a fight-or-flight instinct. Now that the moment came, how would she react to the physical proximity of another woman?

She leaned forward, well into Kerry's critical distance, as if to kiss her, but didn't make contact. Let her make that choice. Kerry could easily step back if she chose, or she could meet Kim's mouth with her own.

But she did neither. She accepted Kim's presence without acting on it, as though yielding to whatever move Kim made next.

Somehow, this calmed Kim. She settled for kissing the tip of Kerry's nose. "You're trembling," she said. But not retreating. Not putting up walls.

Kerry nodded, smiling. "Just nervous, I guess."

Kim smiled in return and backed off, handing Kerry the wineglass. "You know," she said, "in addition to my many other virtues, I also happen to give great massages. Would you like one?"

Kerry closed her eyes. "That sounds great right about now," she replied.

A small sigh of relief almost escaped from Kim's lips, but she held it in. Part of her was waiting for Kerry's skittish nature to balk at any further closeness. So far, that hadn't happened, but the night was young. "Okay," she said. "If you'd just like a foot massage, I can do that at the couch; otherwise, the bed is about the only comfortable place to lie down." Give her some options, allow her some control over how far things go...

"I think I need the full works tonight, if that's all right," Kerry told her, sipping the wine.

In Kim's view, that was more than all right. Particularly if Kerry's idea of 'the full works' matched her own. Now, now, one step at a time. "Sure. Shall we?" She gestured to the bedroom.

Kerry turned that way, but then stopped as they reached the doorway to the bedroom. "Um...can I say something you probably don't want to hear?" she ventured.

Kim's spirits were immediately dampened. I knew it, she thought. She's going to draw the line. She's going to tell me that it's not going to happen after all. Putting a brave face on things, she said, "As long as you don't tell me you're still married."

"No, no," Kerry said with a laugh, "thank God, NO, I'm not."

"Then you can tell me anything you want."

Kerry let the laugh end, then looked soberly at Kim. "I think you should call your father back."

That took Kim by surprise. "Oh."

"I know, it's probably none of my business, but...he's trying to reach out to you. Maybe he's not the kind of father you'd like, but he's the only one you have. You can still make the effort to connect with him. Not everyone has that chance."

Kim said nothing. She couldn't recall Kerry mentioning her own parents. Were they alive?

"That's all. I'll drop the subject now." Kerry limped into the bedroom, then noticed Kim hadn't followed her. "Are you coming?"

"Um...in a minute, okay? I'm just going to put the wine back in the refrigerator."

"Okay."

Kim returned the bottle to its place in the fridge, after pouring herself another glass, but then detoured to the telephone. She picked up the receiver and stared at its glowing digit keys. Her father wasn't often up this late, but still...

No. Too soon. Maybe tomorrow evening, she told herself.



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