by Gerri Hill
“Just two,” Sam whispered and felt tears gather again.
Tori nodded again. “I’m so sorry, Sam.”
“It’s not your fault. It was just… the job,” she said. “I have to look at it that way, Tori. Like when you got shot. It was the job.”
“Have they set you up with a psychologist?”
“Yes. I spoke briefly with Doctor MacIntyre. I’m going to see her in a couple of days.”
“Good.”
“Go have someone take a look at you, Tori. And send Robert in, okay? I might as well get it over with.”
“Yeah. I’ll be waiting out there whenever you’re ready to leave.” Sam took a deep breath, then released Tori’s hand. “Thank you for staying.”
“It’s the only way I’m assured of getting my clothes back,” Tori teased. At the door, she paused, looking back. Sam met her eyes for a long moment. Then Tori nodded and opened the door. Robert was waiting. “She’ll talk to you now,” Tori said.
“Thank you, Detective, but I can handle it from here. I know you must be tired.”
“Whatever you say. I’ll just be…” Robert closed the door on her reply, moving instead to Samantha’s side. “Samantha, God, look at you,” he said. He clasped her hands, bringing them to his lips. “You could have been hurt.”
“Hurt? I am hurt, Robert,” she said quietly. “You know what I mean, Samantha. They could have killed you.”
“Yeah, that was the plan. Thank God Tori found me in time.”
“I want you to transfer out of Homicide. After this, I doubt anyone would object. You can go back to Assault,” he said. “Are you listening to what you’re saying, Robert?”
“Samantha, you could have been hurt,” he said again. “Now, when can you leave? I’m taking you home with me.”
“No, Robert. I’m not going with you.”
“Of course you are, Samantha. You can’t go to your apartment alone. I’ll call Amy and see if she can stay with you tomorrow.”
“Will you stop? You don’t… control me, Robert. I am going to my apartment but I won’t be alone. Tori is going with me.”
“Tori? After what she did to you, you want her to be with you?”
“What she did to me? She saved my life, Robert. CIU wasn’t around, just Tori. She found me.” Sam softened her words by taking his hand. “Robert, I thought we’d talked about us. I thought you understood.”
“I love you, Samantha. I want to be with you,” he said sadly.
209 “I’m sorry, Robert. I’m not going to lie to you. I care about you, I really do. But I’m not… in love with you,” she whispered. “We can’t go on like we were, pretending that we have a future together. That’s not fair to you, Robert.”
“Samantha, we can work through this. We’re good together, you know we are.”
“No, Robert. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not giving up on us, Samantha. You’re everything I want in a woman, I won’t give this up.”
“I’m not everything you want, Robert. You want me to transfer out of here because this isn’t what you want. Don’t you see? This is what I want.”
He stood, pulling away. “Why, Samantha? Why would you want this? Look what it’s done to us.”
“Yes. It’s made me realize that we don’t belong together. I need a partner that will support me, Robert. Not want me to change.”
They were interrupted by a quick knock on the door and the nurse entered. She smiled, holding up a chart. “I’ve got your release, Detective Kennedy. Whenever you’re ready to go,” she said.
“Thank you.”
Sam swung her legs off the bed, grimacing at the pain. “Is Detective Hunter outside?”
“No. She’s getting a few stitches. That one is a big baby,” the nurse said with a laugh.
Sam smiled. No doubt. She could take a blow to the head but ran scared when it came to doctors.
“Samantha, please, let me take you home,” Robert said again.
“No, Robert. But thank you for coming up here. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how I’m doing.”
He finally nodded, then walked to her and kissed her cheek. She tried not to flinch, but she did.
“I’m sorry. I guess…”
“It’s okay, Robert. I’ll call you.”
The nurse watched him leave, then shook her head. “Men, they don’t understand,” she said quietly. “He’s your fiancé?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so.”
Sam frowned. “What do you mean?”
The nurse shrugged. “You seemed much more pleased to see your partner out there than him.”
“Yes.”
“I can tell these things,” she said. “He doesn’t know, does he?”
“No. Neither does she.” The nurse smiled and patted her hand. “Oh, I think she knows, Detective.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“Are you hungry?” Tori asked when she locked the door.
“No. I’m just… exhausted.” Then Sam turned, still clad in the borrowed sweats and T-shirt. “Are you?”
“No.”
Sam nodded. “I want to take another shower.”
“I understand. Go ahead. I’ll flip through the channels.”
“Tori, will you sleep with me tonight?”
Their eyes met across the room. “If you want me to, of course,” Tori said quietly.
“I don’t… I don’t want to be alone,” she whispered.
Tori walked over, wrapping long arms around her. Sam clung to her and cried.
“It’s okay,” Tori murmured. “Shhh.”
“I was so scared.”
“I know. I was scared, too.”
Sam pulled out of her arms, wiping at her tears. “I’m sorry. I’m just so tired.”
“Go take a shower. Maybe we’ll have a glass of wine? It’ll help you sleep.”
Sam nodded. “There’s another shower, in the small bathroom there,” she said, pointing. “I have some shorts you can borrow.”
“I have some in my bag,” Tori said. “Go on. Don’t worry about me.”
Tori waited until she heard the water running before stripping off her own clothes. She stood under the hot spray, trying to wash away the last ten hours. Sam was being so brave about the whole thing. It hadn’t hit her yet, Tori knew. Tomorrow, probably, in the light of day. She wished she could stay with her, but she knew that was impossible. She had statements to give and she had their own case to think about. She had hardly given it a thought over the weekend. Her only consolation was that their killer had taken the weekend off, too.
She found Sam sitting on the sofa, holding a glass of wine. Another sat on the low table in front of her.
“Feel better?” she asked. Tori stood in her shorts and bare feet, staring at Sam.
“Better. You?”
“Yes.”
Tori joined her on the sofa and they both put their feet up. Sam had nice feet, Tori noted. Then she saw the light bruises around her ankles. Again, she couldn’t imagine what Sam had gone through.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Sam shook her head. “No.”
Tori nodded. She understood. “Was Robert… upset?”
“He seemed to be more upset that I wouldn’t go home with him than he did by this whole ordeal,” Sam said.
“Men, sometimes, don’t know how to handle this,” Tori said diplomatically. “It’s hard for them to… relate, I guess.”
“Yes, I guess. But he, he never really asked how I was, you know? He wanted me to transfer out of Homicide and go someplace safe, like to his apartment.”
“I’m sure he’s just looking out for you, Sam.”
Sam turned her head and met Tori’s eyes. “I think in his own way, yes, he was. I think he saw this as an opportunity to mend our relationship. He’s having a hard time accepting that it’s over.”
“And you’re certain you want it to be?”
Sam nodded. “Yes. I’m not in love with him, Tor
i. He’s not who I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
They sat quietly, both sipping their wine. So many thoughts running through Sam’s mind, she didn’t know where to start. But one thing was certain, she was so very thankful that Tori was the one who looked for her tonight. She was certain CIU would never have found her in time.
“I’m really tired, Tori. Can we go to bed?”
Tori sat up immediately. “Of course.”
Sam put the lamp on beside her bed and Tori stood in the doorway, looking around the room. It was neat, no clutter. It matched Sam. She pulled the covers back, revealing dark blue sheets.
“Come on. I won’t bite,” Sam said.
Smiling slightly, Tori walked into the room. She slipped off her shorts, dutifully leaving her T-shirt on. She pulled the covers over them both, then waited as Sam turned off the lamp. They both lay in silence, then Sam sighed.
“Will you hold me?” she whispered.
Tori turned and drew Sam into her arms, pulling her close against her. Sam snuggled into her warmth, breathing in the scent that she had come to recognize. She couldn’t think of a time in her life that she felt safer than she did right at that moment. Then Tori slowly moved her hand, rubbing lightly on her back.
“Tori?”
“Hmm?”
“You do know, you’re just a teddy bear, don’t you?”
“A teddy bear?”
“Yes. You pretend to be this great big grizzly bear with everyone else, but with me, you’re a teddy bear,” Sam murmured.
“Only with you,” Tori whispered. And she knew it was true.
Her arms tightened and she closed her eyes. She couldn’t remem ber the last time she’d slept with someone. This was nice.
“Tori?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you for finding me.”
Tori smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“Remind me to tell you something in the morning. Something he said to me,” she murmured tiredly.
“Sanchez Gomez?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Now, close your eyes.”
“They are closed.”
Tori chuckled, then bent and lightly kissed Sam’s forehead. “Sleep.”
Sam sighed and burrowed deeper against Tori. She was soft. The arm circling Tori’s waist tightened. As she fell asleep, she was dimly aware that she was using Tori’s breast as a pillow. It was nice.
Chapter Thirty
The banging on the door roused Tori, and she forced her eyes open. Sunlight streamed in from the blinds, and she closed her eyes again. They were in much the same position as when they had fallen asleep, only Sam had thrown one leg over Tori’s and that leg was nestled firmly between her thighs.
Tori groaned, giving her fantasy full rein as she pulled Sam closer against her. The other woman tightened her arms but didn’t wake. But the pounding on the door wouldn’t stop. Tori finally moved away from Sam, smiling as Sam whimpered at the loss of contact. Tori pulled the covers around her again, then padded quietly from the room, her bare feet silent on the carpeted floor.
“Who is it?” she asked at the door.
“Amy.”
Tori nodded, then unlocked the door, holding it open. Amy stared at her, roving over her scantily clad body slowly. She raised her eyebrows.
“Her partner?”
“Yes. Tori Hunter.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yes. She’s still asleep.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s nearly ten. I didn’t know when to come over.”
Tori shrugged. “Let me get dressed.”
Amy watched her walk off… to the bedroom. The bedroom? Good God, this was her partner? She was… stunning. No wonder Sam wouldn’t mind if this woman hit on her. Amy wasn’t sure she would mind, either. Then she shook her head, moving into the kitchen to start coffee.
Tori stood at the edge of the bed, watching Sam. She looked peaceful. Tori hated to wake her. She pulled the covers back and sat down next to her, lightly rubbing Sam’s shoulder until she groaned. Sam finally rolled onto her back, releasing Tori’s pillow that she had been clutching. Sam’s eyes opened slowly, finding hers.
“Hey.”
“Mmm,” Sam sighed as she stretched.
“Amy is here.”
Sam closed her eyes again. For one second, she had forgotten why Tori was here, in her bedroom. But reality suddenly hit. She liked her dreams much better. She reached out and grasped Tori’s hand, pulling it under the covers with her.
“I don’t think I woke up once during the night. Thank you for staying with me.”
Tori nodded and leaned down on her elbow. “I can’t remember the last time I slept this long. Maybe I should be thanking you.”
When their eyes locked, Sam tightened her grip on Tori’s hand. Whatever fantasies she had been having about this woman, she knew at that very moment that she wanted them all to come true. She shivered as her eyes dropped briefly to Tori’s lips. Then she closed her eyes, relaxing back against the pillow.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. I need to go in. They’re going to want a statement. Amy will be here with you.”
Sam nodded, but she still held Tori’s hand captive. She didn’t want her to leave. She finally loosened her grip, feeling Tori’s hand slip away from her own. She watched as Tori stood, pulling shorts over long legs. Then Tori straightened up, watching her.
“You were going to tell me something?”
Sam nodded. Reality. It sucked.
“He’s got two guys on the inside,” Sam said. “Captain Mabry.”
“In Narcotics? Captain Mabry? No wonder the guy just slips through the cracks.”
“He also said he had someone in the Mayor’s office. Jenkins.”
“Holy shit! You’re fucking me.”
Sam smiled. “No.”
“Jenkins?”
“He felt that the bust we did, one of them set him up. He kept calling them a traitor and he wanted to know which one had tipped us off.”
“So he was… trying to get you to talk?”
Sam nodded.
“I’m sorry. If I’d never seen that damn thing going down, none of this would have happened.”
“Tori, it’s our job. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I feel like I’m to blame,” she said, voicing her thoughts for the first time. Robert had implied as much last night.
“You listen to me, I don’t blame you for anything. If it was left up to CIU, I’d probably be dead. I owe you so much, Tori. Don’t you dare blame yourself.”
“They’re probably going to send someone over for a statement. Especially when I tell them this,” Tori warned.
“I’ll be fine. Amy will stay with me today.”
“Okay. I should probably get going.”
“Will you come back?”
“Yes.”
“Will you… will you stay with me again tonight?”
“Of course. If you want me to.”
Sam nodded.
“Okay. I’m going to grab a shower and head out. I’ll call you if I learn anything.”
Sam nodded again. Tori paused at the door then walked back to Sam, sitting beside her again. She pulled Sam into her arms and held her, feeling the other woman cling to her.
“It’ll be okay, Sam. We’ll get through this.”
“Thank you for… everything.” Sam pulled away, but she couldn’t resist smoothing the hair over Tori’s ear. Their eyes locked for a moment and Sam let her hand fall away. Tori leaned forward and lightly brushed her lips across Sam’s cheek, then stood and walked purposefully from the room.
Sam sat staring, her hand going slowly to her cheek, touching where Tori’s lips had rested.
Chapter Thirty-one
Tori strolled into the squad room, not at all surprised to see Detective Travis waiting for her. Sikes and Ramirez both looked up, then Sikes walked over.
“How you doing?” he asked quietly.
&nb
sp; “Better.”
“How’s Sam?”
“She’s going to be okay.” Tori touched his arm briefly. “Listen, thanks for being there last night, John.”
“No problem.”
“Detective Hunter, glad you could grace us with your presence. You’re quite the hero this morning, aren’t you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, in one night, you managed to do what Narcotics has been unable to do in three years-take Sanchez Gomez out,” Travis said.
“Yeah. About that… I need to speak to my Lieutenant.”
“I need a statement, Hunter.”
“Yeah, I know. Hang on a second, would you?”
Lieutenant Malone stood in his doorway, watching. He motioned for Tori. “How is she?” he asked quietly.
“She’ll be fine. She’s got a friend staying with her today.”
“Good. Did you stay last night?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now talk. Travis has been browbeating me all morning to call you. The guy hasn’t even been home yet.”
“Sanchez Gomez had two on the inside,” she said.
“Dirty cops?”
“Captain Mabry in Narcotics and Jenkins in the Mayor’s office.”
Malone sat back, speechless. “You have got to be kidding.”
“Can we trust Travis with this?”
“Yes, of course. I’ve known Travis for years. He’s by the book.”
Tori nodded. “Okay. Then let’s do it.”
“You know they’re going to want to talk to Sam about this.”
“Yeah, I told her. She’ll be okay.”
Malone stared at her for a long moment. “How are you holding up, Tori?”
“I’m fine.”
“I mean, with the shooting.”
“What about it?”
“Five men, Hunter,” he said.
“Are you asking if I feel remorse? Should I?”
“You know the procedure, Tori.”
“I don’t need to talk to a goddamn shrink about this, Lieutenant.”
“Well, you have to. Get it over with and make it good. I don’t need you on desk duty for a week.”
Malone got up and opened his door, motioning for Detective Travis to join them. They all sat, then Malone looked at Tori and nodded.
“Last night, I was really surprised that no one was checking out the warehouse district. Narcotics was in East Dallas and CIU was asking around Little Mexico. But no one bothered to check where the bust had gone down. I mean, obviously they knew the area enough to know which ones were vacant. They had keys to this one. When we went inside, we heard her screaming.” Tori shrugged. “You know the rest.”