Breaking Protocol, page 6
Oh my gaaawd she is too cute. Oh my gaaaawd she’s wearing my clothes. Too sexy.
“Coffee?” Alex asked.
“Oh!” Kara exclaimed and then squinted at Alex. “I didn’t realize you were in here. What time is it?”
“Almost seven… Coffee?” Alex asked again.
“Oh yeah. Ooooof…” Kara said, touching her cheek. “That left a mark.” She sat up and like a blind man, looked around the coffee table with her hands. Not finding what she wanted, she looked up at Alex and scratched her head, “Umm… you have me at a slight disadvantage… I put my glasses down somewhere last night, buuuuut now I can’t find them.”
“Oh… let me see here…” Alex shuffled over to the sofa and grabbed the pair of glasses that were peeking out of the pen cup on the sofa side table. They were an interesting green color. “Viola!”
“Thanks.” Kara said slightly embarrassed. She put the glasses on and stared up at Alex… “Oh my, you are looking a bit worse for the wear.”
“Geee thaaaaaanks.”
Kara laughed and asked, “How are you feeling? How are your ribs? Does your head hurt?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa… I haven’t had coffee yet, so you’re only allowed one question at a time.”
Kara smiled, “Sorry, I’m a morning person.”
“Me too… after coffee.”
Kara gave a short nod, and then got up. She was wearing a pair of Alex’s gym shorts and a dark, form-fitting tank top.
HOT! Don’t be rude… don’t leer. Or leer... She’s definitely worth staring at.
Kara walked past Alex into the kitchen, “Coffee?” Kara asked as she started searching the cupboards for mugs.
“Yes.”
She found the glasses and mugs and said, “Do you take cream?”
“I actually poured some in my thermos already. I was going to drive to your place and see if you were okay. I didn’t know you stayed.”
“You asked me to, so I did.” Alex smiled at that and watched Kara prepare her coffee and a cup for herself. “Sugar?”
“Just a little.”
Kara found the spoons, plopped a small spoonful of sugar in each mug and stirred. She carried both mugs back into the living room and indicated with her head that Alex should follow.
Alex sat on the sofa where Kara’s warm body had been just minutes before. She could smell her earthy perfume on the blanket that had enveloped her body all night long.
Am I jealous of a blanket now? Seriously… pull your shit together!
Kara curled up on the sofa, feet tucked under her. She placed one of the mugs in Alex’s hand and stared at her expectantly. Alex tested the coffee, “Mmmmmmm…. Perfect.” Kara smiled at that and sampled hers as well.
They sat in silence until the coffee was gone. Kara curled and cozy on one side, Alex stiff and quiet on the other. Alex took this quiet time to look at Kara. Her hair, though just rising from sleep, was perfect. Her face wasn’t fat from sleep, her eyes were very clear, and those glasses just made her look that much more perfect.
A sexy, sexy nerd.
The moment Alex put her empty mug on the coffee table Kara asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got jumped by three men.”
“Yeah… Your ribs? Your head? Do you mind if I have another look?”
“Sure, you can play doctor again,” Alex deadpanned.
“Mhmmm.... We’ll see how much doctor we get to play,” Kara said with eyebrows raised.
Kara moved closer to Alex and started poking at her head. “Well, this cut closed up really nicely. It probably won’t even scar. The one on the back of your head is pretty impressive. I imagine that you have a pretty decent headache.”
“I am currently listening to the drum solo in Wipeout.”
“At least they didn’t break your funny bone,” Alex rolled her eyes at that one. “Gimme a break, I’m just not that funny in the morning. Let me see those ribs.”
Alex pulled up her shirt and Kara sucked in a breath. “Wow… I see… Two women, drinking coffee, with, would you look at that, a cat!” Kara said, pointing at the various shades of bruise.
“Anything else? Are you sure the women aren’t intertwined on a sofa?” Alex teased.
“Mmmm… Nope. But I think they’re both considering it,” Kara teased back. Alex sucked in a breath when Kara checked her back. “This was definitely a kidney strike – have you, uhh, noticed any blood when you, yanno – urinate?”
Alex blanched.
This is not sexy talk.
“Yeah, last night. But nothing this morning.”
“Good. That’s a good sign. You must be a quick healer.”
They were silent for a few moments – then simultaneously – they both noticed that Kara still had her hands on Alex’s naked skin.
Kara murmured, “I really wish you weren’t in so much pain right now.”
Jesus…
“Oh yeah?” Alex said, surprised and amused by how forward she was.
Kara nodded, looked down at Alex’s body, and gently caressed exposed stomach.
“You are a fantastic doctor – I’m feeling better already.” Alex smiled and shifted towards Kara a little.
Kara looked up from her caressing and raised an eyebrow, “Fast healer, what did I tell you?” She pushed herself off the sofa, bent down, and lightly kissed Alex on cheek. “I’m going to go get dressed. Then I think we should plan out our day.”
Alex cursed silently.
And here I thought we were going to enjoy the day on the sofa.
Focus… you need to be able to move first.
With a sigh, she picked herself off the sofa and grabbed another cup of coffee.
Kara poked her head into the kitchen, “So, when you said you grew up in New Hampshire, you didn’t mention that you were an avid fisherman.” She held a framed picture of Alex with a big smile on her face, holding an even bigger trout. Her brother stood next to her holding his tiny perch with a less than satisfied look on his face.
Alex smiled and gestured at the picture. “Yeah, my family owns a camp in New Hampshire. Well, it used to be a camp, now it’s more of a fortress with high tech hunting and fishing paraphernalia. I haven’t been there yet this year, but it’s great. We all go up there, spend a week together… drinking, fishing, drinking, hunting, drinking, and playing scrabble, monopoly… you know, doing the family thing.”
“Mmm. My family and I don’t really do the family thing,” Kara said frowning. She turned the picture back to look at it, “You were really adorable.”
“Thanks.” Alex felt slightly exposed. She hadn’t thought about how long Kara had been up last night, looking at her things. “You and your family aren’t that close?”
“Well, I’m an only child. My father was always working and my mom was always shopping or going to one of her society clubs. Recently, my parents and I haven’t been very close. I had daily interactions with my father at work, and we would see one another occasionally on the weekends. But he found out about a relationship that I had with one of my coworkers a few months ago. She – my ex – accused my father of firing her because we had broken up. It was a huge mess, since he had no idea that I was gay until that moment. Let me tell you – that was a fun week – ended my relationship with my girlfriend and fractured my relationship with my parents.” Kara looked up from the picture, “But we never had this,” she said wistfully.
“I’m sorry… It’s different for everyone.”
“Yeah, well…” Kara shrugged, “When are you going again?”
“To the camp? A few weeks most likely. My brother, who can do no wrong, even though his life is always in ruins, is going to be available. My parents like to set this kind of thing up around his life. The prodigal son and all that. Maybe you could come – see how you like the family thing,” Alex suggested.
Wow…. Where did that come from? You barely know her… then again, I was in a relationship with that nutball Mandi for almost a year and we never even talked about her family… or mine.
Kara looked surprised but pleased. “That would be nice. Do you think we can head over to my place? I need new clothes, a shower, and a new pair of contacts.”
“Sure, are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, let me just get my thermos.”
“That’s three cups of coffee, on an empty stomach,” Kara said pointedly.
“Yeah?”
“Okay, but as your current primary care provider, I’m going to have to insist on breakfast.”
“Deal.”
Alex rubbed Dexter, grabbed her keys, and they headed out the door.
The Walk of Shame
Thirty minutes later, Kara pulled into a parking spot while Alex examined the contents of their Bruegger’s Bagels bag.
“These smell delicious, I usually stop over at Bagelville because it’s closer to the station. But, mmmmm, these smell great.”
Kara shut the car off and turned in her seat to look at Alex, “Do you mean to tell me that you’ve never had a Bruegger’s bagel before?” She asked skeptically.
“Strangely, no. I’m kind of a creature of habit. I have a pretty strict routine, and I tend to stick to it.” Alex admitted.
“Well, you are in for a treat. We are going to work on making your routine... less routine.” Kara stated, gave Alex a wink, and grabbed the bag out of Alex’s grasp. “Do you need help getting out of the car?”
“I think I can manage.” Alex retorted.
Three minutes later, they were on the 17th floor of Kara’s luxury apartment building. Everything in the building looked new - carpet, moldings, paint, elevators.
“What exactly is your position at Symbio?” Alex asked.
“Oh, I’m head of research and development.” Kara said.
“Of what?”
“All projects.” Kara stated matter-of-factly.
“I see…. Kind of a big-wig then?”
“Absolutely.”
They made it to a door labeled 1701.
“This is me…” Kara pulled her keys out of her pocket and started to grab the knob with her other hand. The door edged inward about an inch.
Alex lifted her left arm up and pushed Kara behind her and the frame of the door. At the same time, she pulled her off-duty gun out from the small of her back. She turned her head to Kara, pushed her pointer finger against her own lips, and stared at her with wide open eyes. Once she was sure that she had Kara’s full and complete attention, she pointed at Kara and then motioned with her hand to not move. Kara gave a curt nod and motioned that she would stay out in the hall.
Alex started towards the door and then was tugged backwards. She turned, expecting to get an argument from Kara about her entering the apartment, when suddenly Kara’s arms were around her. Alex lowered her head to meet Kara’s lips and they shared a brief, yet sensuous kiss.
Liquid heat...
Kara’s arms moved up Alex’s shoulders to her hair, to her cheeks. Their lips and tongues swirled, Alex inhaled through her nose deeply and pushed Kara into the wall. She pressed into her, chest to chest, stomach to stomach, hip to hip. And then she violently ripped herself away from Kara and quickly, silently, gun raised, disappeared into Kara’s apartment.
The apartment was thrashed. Every cupboard was opened, every item in the cupboard tossed unceremoniously onto the floor. Crackers had been mashed under the intruder’s feet, milk poured onto the floor. Alex crouched down, willed away the pain that came, and slowly made her way into the adjoining living room.
It looks like a tornado came through here…
She checked what she assumed was the guest bedroom. Not much in there, but every painting was torn from the wall and slashed into. The master was next. If anyone was still in here, the only place they could still be was in the master. Alex sucked in a deep breath, and eased open the door. This room looked no better than the others. Clothes everywhere, bed tossed off the box spring, and hanging artwork strewn and destroyed on the floor. The attached bath showed similar signs of abuse.
Bastards. What if Kara had come home last night?
That thought made Alex’s heart skip a beat. She pushed her gun into the small of her back and went to get Kara.
I almost don’t want her to see this…
Kara was a few shades lighter than she normally appeared when Alex went to collect her from the hall. Alex took her hand, and led her into her pillaged apartment.
Home, Shit Home
The two women entered the apartment and stood in the doorway. Kara seemed shell shocked and slightly sad at the sight of her demolished apartment. Alex nudged her gently and they exchanged a look that said, “Daaaaaaaaamn.”
They continued to stand in the doorway and take in the wreckage. “Jesus… Just… Jesus…”
Kara started walking around her apartment taking in all the damage. Every so often, Alex heard another “Jesus” or an “Aww, come on” and one time there was a “you sonsabitches” – that one floated from the direction of the bedroom.
Must’ve seen that they destroyed the mattress…
A few minutes went by, and Kara was back in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge.
“Hungry?” Alex asked and shook the bagel bag attempting to distract Kara from the chaos.
“No…just looking for some cheese,” she replied.
“There’s already cream cheese on the bagels.”
“No, I need to find the goat cheese.” Kara swiped the mess off the nearest counter onto the floor and started emptying the fridge’s contents onto the newly cleaned space.
“You must REALLY like goat cheese,” Alex said, assuming Kara was having a mini meltdown. Alex thrummed both sets of fingers on the counter nervously as Kara continued to frantically search through her fridge.
Hmmm… This is bad. She’s definitely freaking all the way out… what the HELL am I gonna do to snap her outta this?
“YES!!” Kara crowed with glee. She held up a log of goat cheese and her eyes flashed wildly. She ripped open the wrapping and crammed her fingers into the soft, gooey cheese.
Yep…. She’s flipped her lid. She’s no longer home. The last straw has been located, and it has broken the camel’s back…
Alex shifted nervously from one foot to another and said, “Kara, look, I know this is rough. You’ve had a week, buuu…” Alex stopped talking midsentence when Kara pulled something out of the goat cheese log – something that definitely wasn’t FDA approved. “What the…?”
“I shoved this drive in here before I went to meet you at the bar,” Kara said as she tore at what appeared to be a fingertip of a medical glove and exposed a USB flash drive.
“You… you are amazingly paranoid… and apparently rightfully so.” Alex said wide-eyed and awestruck. “This drive has the environmental thingy majiggies on it?”
“Environmental Impact Statements. And, yes. It has the companies used, the results, dates, names… everything. I can’t imagine what else they could possibly have been looking for. This is the key, Alex, I can feel it,” She said as she handed Alex the drive.
“Well, we better figure out what the fuck is going on here, because this little drive is wreaking more havoc than Pandora’s Box at this point.” Alex held the drive between her thumb and forefinger like a filthy piece of trash. After a moment of staring at the little thing, she shook her head causing an angry thumping to start playing on her brain, and shoved it into her front pocket. “We’ll check this out later. Let’s clear off some more counter, have a bit to eat, and then work on getting your place more livable.”
Kara looked around her apartment, frowned a little and said, “Yeah, food first – I’m starving.”
They cleared off the eating bar as best they could, and sat down to eat the bagels. Alex took a minute to appreciate the space, regardless of how thrashed the apartment was, “This is really fancy.”
Kara side-eyed Alex and said with a wry grin, “Is that your way of saying that my place is hoity-toity?”
Alex’s mouth fell open, her eyes widened, and she stammered, “No. No, not at all. I just mean that it was nice, clean.” She coughed on a bite of bagel, “I mean, it’s not clean now, but I can see the clean lines. It’s very modern. Between this and your car, I almost feel embarrassed that you spent the night in my shabby apartment and slept on my couch.”
Kara sighed and bit into her bagel, looking around her place like she had never seen it before. “You shouldn’t be so harsh on your place, I like it – it’s very homey. I guess this is pretty modern. Maybe a little sterile – when it’s clean, that is. But I guess it’s home, shit home now!”
Alex laughed and choked a little on her bagel. “Jesus, we’ll get it more back to normal. Of course, until we figure out what the hell is going on, I don’t think you should stay here.”
Kara looked like she was about to object – she had raised an eyebrow and started to hold up a finger in protest when Alex continued, “Nope, they got past the gate, the doorman, clearly didn’t care about security cameras or anything. AND… AND… the police weren’t called. This must’ve been a noisy raid and NONE of your neighbors said anything?”
“Well, I…” Kara started and then sighed in acceptance of the stark reality Alex just pointed out. “My neighbors aren’t here a lot. In fact, the other two families on this floor are out of the country, and I think the apartment below us is vacant.”
Alex raised both of her arms, palms up, “Exactly. Who would know if you were safe? Who would hear you scream if someone came back looking for the drive? I think until this is over, I’m not letting you outta my sight.”
Kara raised her eyebrow again, “Oh? You planning on keeping me under lock ‘n key?”
Alex smiled her wolfiest smile at Kara and said, “Absolutely.”
Fur is Murder
Though her first instinct was to call the incident in, Alex knew that alerting the police to this mess would create an even bigger one for her. She wasn’t supposed to be with Kara (a potential murder suspect at most and at the very least a victim), and she certainly wasn’t supposed to be investigating anything at the moment. Regardless of her initial instinct, and perhaps what she should have done, she suggested they clean the apartment.
