DISCLAIMERS: in Part 1

Caution: Under Construction, Part 29

©2002 -Vertigo-

Keefer took a slow walk to Sheridan's apartment; she had been very curious to see the inside of the place for a while now. She climbed up the last flight of stairs loudly, making sure to announce her presence long before she got to the door. She was startled as the dogs started throwing themselves against the door when she put the key in the lock.

"It's not mommy, guys. It's me. You recognize my voice, don't you?"

The dogs began whimpering and whining, one was scratching at the door and Keefer started to laugh. Is this what she comes home to every day? "Okay, okay, but you'll have to back up if you want me to open it!" she said, still laughing. Finally wedging herself through the door and inside the apartment, Keefer giggled and screamed as the two dogs jumped her, licking her all over her face and pulling at her clothes. The ache behind her eyes from her previous night's overindulgence took a back seat to the attention lavished upon her by the dogs. Zeus had her pinned to the back of the door, slobbering all over her neck and Pharaoh was popping up and down like a spring, barking excitedly. It took her a long time before she was able to get the leashes on them, but no time at all to get down the three flights of stairs, as they dragged her all the way.

"God! Is this how you treat the guests?" she asked them as they ran out of the front door of the building. She allowed them to lead her, not knowing where they liked to walk and chuckled as they headed for the park. "Oh, I see," she said. "I'll indulge you for a little while, but then I have to get home and see to your mommy."

******************

Sheridan groaned as the shower water hit her on the head. "I am so incredibly stupid," she complained while soaping up her body. "Keefer's so mad at me that she can't even look at me, and yet she's walking my beasts so I can rest in her house."

The blonde reached behind her and attempted to wash her lower back and she winced. "Ouch! What the hell?" She twisted and turned but couldn't see what she was looking for. "I hurt my ass?" she wondered, washing said area carefully. "Gotta ask the girls," she thought out loud and prepared herself to wash her hair, which just so happened to be growing out of her throbbing head.

After her shower, the construction worker wanted to put on her own clothes, but didn't have the strength to and just put Keefer's shirt on again. She smelled it and was disappointed to smell only fabric softener. She glanced at the bedroom, wanting so badly to take Keefer up on the offer of crawling into the big, comfortable bed and sleeping, but she didn't feel worthy of such a thing as Keefer's bed. She ended up in the den, curled up on the futon with Fifi, wondering what Keefer was doing with the dogs. She smiled, knowing the stubborn woman had walked them both at the same time and that they probably dragged her to the park. The thought of the tall inspector cavorting with her babies gave her a good feeling in her stomach and she welcomed it after such a bad morning. She patted her empty belly and sighed. "Don't get used to the feeling, she's probably going to read you the riot act and never want to see your sorry ass again," she told herself.

After lying around for some time, Sheridan's stomach had the audacity to growl, despite being so hung over. Fifi's ears perked up and she sniffed Sheridan's middle. "The nerve," the blonde said to her belly, knowing it would be a bad thing if she ate. She shifted on the couch and grimaced as her tailbone hit the cushion at a painful angle. "What the hell did I do?" she wondered again and got up to inspect. Standing in Keefer's bedroom, Sheridan inspected first her eye and then her jaw. "Danni sure got me good, huh Feef?" She was sure to have a raging shiner and a bruise on her jaw. "What the hell am I going to tell the guys?" With her back to the mirror, she lifted up the shirt to find another big bruise. "Holy shit! Look at that!" she said to the dog. "How the fuck did I do that?" she asked her own reflection. She wondered what other surprises her body had in store for her and began to inspect, gasping at the huge hickey on her neck. "Oh, man," she whined. "Keefer had to see that!" She felt sick with herself and trudged sadly back into the den.

When Keefer arrived back at Sheridan's apartment, she fed the dogs their breakfast and decided to snoop around for a bit. She started in the kitchen cabinets, being that she was in there already. She was appalled at the lack of real food and the abundance of 'Chef BoyArDee' products. She grew even more disgusted when she peeked in the fridge, and scrunched up her face at the frozen dinners and pizzas in the freezer. "I can't imagine how she can be in such great shape when she eats this garbage!" Thirst suddenly hit her out of nowhere and Keefer reopened the fridge again to find a large bottle of water staring back at her. She looked briefly for a glass then with a small chuckle, lifted the bottle to her lips. The ice-cold water felt like heaven to her dry throat and she closed her eyes, concentrating on the cold trail that it was leaving inside her body. After drinking her fill, she stared at the bottle, a sudden thought popping into her head, Sheridan's lips were probably on this bottle. Keefer clicked her tongue and scolded herself, What are you doing? Sheridan's lips have touched just about every part of your body and you're obsessing about a bottle? She put the water away and resumed her snooping.

She found the living room small and messy, but organized. She touched the workout bench and felt a tingle in her body, knowing that Sheridan sweated and grunted while using it. She tried to lift the leg weights and struggled a bit, surprised at the little blonde's abilities. Walking around the small room, she smirked at the condition of the furniture, knowing that the dogs had a lot to do with the teeth marks in the coffee table.

İ*******************

Sheridan was snuggled in the den, half-asleep when her cell phone rang. Thinking it may be Keefer, she ran to get it. "Yeah?" she asked hurriedly.

"Honey? Where are you? Are you alright?"

"Oh, Pop, hi... Yeah, I'm fine, I guess," she said hesitantly.

"The guys said you didn't show up and you didn't call, either. I got worried, and when you didn't answer your phone..."

"Pop, I'm not home," Sheridan said to her nervous father.

"Are you sick?" he asked with concern. "You could say that," she winced. "I drank too much last night and I'm suffering the consequences. I was pretty stupid."

"You don't get drunk, Sher, and I never knew you to be stupid. What happened?"

"Nuthin," she shrugged. "I got drunk, got my ass kicked and I'm paying for it now."

"Are you hurt? Who hit you?" Mr. Landers was very angry.

"Aw, Pop, calm down, I'm okay," Sheridan said with a heavy sigh.

"I should lay into you about what you did, but you sound pretty miserable already. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, you know what they say, I made my bed..."

"Do you want me to stay home and take care of you? Why don't you come over here and spend the day. I'll make soup."

It sure sounded good to Sheridan. Having her pop pamper her and baby her all day was really tempting. "Well..." she thought about leaving, but then pictured Keefer's look of disappointment from earlier and felt a blow to her gut. Keefer was sure to be even more disappointed if Sheridan ran away from her. "No, that's alright, Pop. I'll be fine. Keefer will take care of me." Lord knows I deserve it.

"Keefer of the long legs?" her father teased.

"Yeah." Sheridan decided not to even try to get out of it -- she didn't have the strength. "She'll make sure I'm okay." Right before she kicks me out on my sorry, bruised ass.

"If you insist," Mr. Landers chuckled. "You take the day off, and when you feel better, I'm going to smack you hard."

"I know. I deserve it."

"Listen, Steven is going to stay home by himself today, he's excited about it. If you feel better later, maybe you'll come by?"

"I just may. If you make that soup, you have a deal."

"You got it, sweetheart."

"Thanks, bye, Pop"

********************

Keefer stood outside the bedroom and hesitated, not sure if she should go in and if she could even control her impulses if she did. She peeked into the room and snorted out a laugh to find both dogs sprawled out, fat and happy on the bed. "I bet mommy lets you do that, too," she said to them, then approached the bed and sat down. She scratched Zeus's exposed belly and his foot moved, she laughed at that and did itİagain until the big dog gave her a look. "Okay, but it's funny, big guy." Keefer ran her hand over Sheridan's pillow, picturing her blonde head lying on it, her face relaxed in sleep. The tall woman sighed, not knowing if she'd ever see the construction worker sleeping again.

"Why did she do that?" she asked the dogs. "She's so... so... oooo," Keefer couldn't find the words. "She's infuriating, is what she is." The tall woman stood up and looked around, her eyes falling on the black duffel bag by her feet. She kicked it with her toe, it was already open and she was curious. She squatted down to look inside and blushed hotly at the contents. "Well... that's an interesting color," she said of the bright purple dildo she spotted inside. She jostled the bag without touching anything and saw what looked like a blood pressure cuff with a hole in it. Her brow knitted in confusion as she tried to imagine what it was. She poked her finger inside and moved it around, wondering about its function and gave up. She stood again and looked at the dogs guiltily. "You didn't see me snoop," she told them and left the room, returning again to the living room. There were magazines on the coffee table and she went to investigate. "I wonder what she reads." The tall woman immediately thought "porno" and was surprised to find out otherwise. "New Yorker?" she said out loud. She nodded at the "Out" magazine and raised an eyebrow at the small catalogue. Leafing through it, she quickly turned red, realizing that it was a toy catalogue, but continued to flip through the pages in interest. She stopped dead at the picture of what she found in the duffle bag and giggled nervously. Thigh harness? she read the little blurb next to the picture and was embarrassed to be imagining Sheridan using it... with her. "Stop that, Keefer," she said with a frown. She felt sad all of a sudden and sighed heavily.

****************

Sheridan was in the kitchen, slowly depleting Keefer's bottled water supply when the tall woman came home. She felt her heart speed up in anticipation. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she was ready to take it, whatever it was. She saw the tall woman head right for the bedroom. "I'm in here," she called out, emerging form the kitchen.

Keefer noticed Sheridan's wet hair and slightly healthier hue. "Have you slept at all?"

"No, I couldn't," Sheridan said sadly.

Keefer looked away. "We have to talk, Sher. Are you up to it?" Keefer said, sitting down on the couch.

The blonde felt like crying when Keefer averted her eyes. "Yeah. Do you want me to come in there?" she asked from the doorway of the kitchen.

"Well, I would like to see you when I talk to you," Keefer replied.

"But you won't look at me, I just figured..."

"Do you have any idea how hard it is for me not to look at you?"

"Why won't you?" Sheridan asked, moving slowly into the living room.

"It hurts you, doesn't it," Keefer just realized at the sad expression on Sheridan's face.

"Yeah, it does," the blonde admitted, sitting on then couch hesitantly.

"I don't want to hurt you, but every time I look at you, it hurts me."

"I'm so sorry, Keefer."

The brunette turned to face the construction worker. Sheridan was miserable and it made her sad. "Are you really?"

Sheridan raised bleary green eyes to meet blue. "Yeah." She smiled a little when Keefer held her gaze.

"I see," the tall woman sighed heavily. All this time she knew that they had to have this talk -- but now, she was at a loss for words. She stood up and walked into the kitchen to gather her thoughts, as well as something to moisten her suddenly dry mouth.

Sheridan sat patiently, albeit uncomfortably, like a child waiting to be punished. Keefer had every right to be furious with her, yet she didn't raise her voice and it made Sheridan feel even worse. The blonde was expecting an explosion, anything other than silence, and she felt a little sick now from the anticipation. When Keefer re-entered the living room, Sheridan was prepared for the worst.

"Why?" Keefer asked, fiddling with a water bottle.

"Why?" Sheridan repeated. When Keefer nodded, Sheridan met her eyes and her stomach dropped a few inches at what she saw in them. "You're disappointed in me, aren't you," the blonde stated sadly.

"I don't know yet. I don't want to be, so answer my question. Why?"

"Why did I get drunk?"

"That's a start," Keefer said before taking a long drink of water.

"I was pissed... at the guys, for telling me not to go out." Sheridan winced, only now realizing how stupid she acted.

"Why did they tell you not to go out?"

"Cuz of you." Green eyes glanced again at blue.

"They saw us at lunch," Sheridan added, looking down at her feet.

"Lunch was wonderful," Keefer smiled faintly at the memory.

"It was," the construction worker agreed.

"Then why did you go out and act like an ass?" The brunette was suddenly angry again.

"I don't know," Sheridan shrugged.

Keefer lifted the blonde's chin and searched her face. "You've never lied to me before, don't start now."

Sheridan sighed and averted her eyes. "Because I'm stupid."

"Not good enough," Keefer said, fighting every instinct to touch the lips so close to her fingers.

The blonde thought a while, her urge to flee almost overwhelmed her but she looked into expectant blue eyes and knew she owed Keefer at least the truth. "I went out last night and made a complete asshole of myself because I'm scared," she admitted, her heart pounding in her ears.

"What are you so scared of?" Keefer whispered, also scared to hear the answer.

"You."

Keefer's heart broke a little.

Sheridan felt panic the second Keefer's beautiful face dropped. "No, Keefer, I'm afraid of how I feel about you," she reiterated, immediately relieved when Keefer's expression became pensive.

The brunette's heart picked up speed, and she took a deep breath. "Did going out, getting drunk, having women dripping all over you, getting sick and ultimately beat up make you feel better?" she asked in a slightly sarcastic tone.

I guess I deserved that. Sheridan shook her head.

Keefer wanted to give Sheridan hell, she wanted to take her by the shirt and shake her. How could she be so stupid? I love her! "Sheridan, remember when we were eating lunch, and I was sitting on your lap?" The blonde nodded. "Feel that right now, the way it felt to hold each other, kiss each other. Remember how I looked into your eyes?"

The blonde closed her eyes and a small smile played across her lips. "I always wanted someone to look at me like that."

"Open your eyes and look at me now."

"I love you."

Sheridan swallowed hard and tried to look away, but Keefer held her chin tight.

"Why does that frighten you?"

"I don't know!" The blonde became frustrated. What the hell is so wrong with Keefer loving me? Sheridan felt like crying. "Stop looking at me like that," she wrested her chin away and stood up to pace the room.

Keefer watched Sheridan become more and more nervous and she began to regret her confession of love. She stood up and blocked the blonde's path. "How do you feel about me?" she asked.

Sheridan balled her hands into fists and punched her own thighs. "How do I feel? I feel sick! I feel anxious! My eye is throbbing like hell and my head hurts so badly, I feel like my ears are going to pop off!"

"That's all well and good, and I can't say I feel bad either but my question was, how do you feel about me? Do you love me, too?"

Sheridan had no choice but to face the tall brunette as she cornered her against the wall. Her gaze traveled all over the living room as she fidgeted.

"It's not that hard of a question."

"You have no idea."

"Oh? Try me. I know more than you think, Sheridan."

"What do you know," the blonde dared, attempting to change the subject.

"I know..." Keefer took Sheridan's hands and led her to the couch, "that you feel something for me, I saw it in your eyes. I know that you got drunk last night and acted like a fool in heat because you were trying to prove something... to whom, I don't know." Keefer waited for the blonde to finish grimacing before she continued. "I also know what it was that you were trying to prove."

The smaller woman looked up through her lashes guiltily at Keefer, "I was trying to prove that I didn't need you."

"And?"

"I failed miserably," Sheridan's shoulders slumped.

Keefer smiled a little and ran her fingers down the side of the blonde's bruised face. "Not a bad lesson to learn, if you ask me. I like that you need me, cuz I need you, too."

Sheridan smiled back crookedly; a whole smile hurt her eye and jaw. "Ya know, it feels good inside when you say that to me."

"I'll say it forever, if you let me." Keefer couldn't resist placing a light kiss on Sheridan's lips.

The construction worker felt warm all over and was shocked to find herself blushing. "Forever, huh?" she asked nervously and Keefer nodded. "That's a long time, Keef."

"The longest. If you're not ready for it, then you have to tell me now."

Sheridan thought deeply. So many questions ran disorganized through her mind, but one thing stuck out the most. Tomorrow without Keefer would be unbearable. "You really love me? Even though I'm such a shmuck?"

"Surprised the hell outta me," Keefer said seriously, "and that's going to change, Miss Landers. I want to be with you, as your lover, as your partner and I'll take most of your shit, but if you ever pull anything as stupid as you did last night... I'll kick your ass. Now, the real question is, do you want me?"

Sheridan's eyes widened. She needs to know right now? This very second? I haven't had time to think... Wait, stop thinking, and just do. You need her, you want her...

Keefer was startled when Sheridan wrapped her in a bear hug and began kissing her senseless. She wasn't quite sure if this was the blonde's answer or her way of getting out of the question. She pulled away form the onslaught and caught her breath. "Well? I need to hear it, Sher."

"I want you, please deal with me... please."

Keefer pulled Sheridan back into the embrace. "I have no choice, do I?" she joked, overcome with relief.

"I promise, I'll try to be a good girlfriend. I have no experience, but I'm sure you'll tell me when I fuck up, won't you? I mean, I'm not going to actually try to fuck up, but I'm sure I'll do it... often... and..."

Keefer put her hand over Sheridan's mouth. "It'll be okay. I never been in love before either, Sher, I'm scared, too. I'm going to make mistakes also and I'm hoping you won't be too hard on me." She released the blonde's mouth.

"I already forgive you for everything," Sheridan grinned.

"Hold that thought, okay?" the brunette smiled. "Now kiss me, baby."

They kissed softly at first, Keefer trying to be careful of Sheridan's bruises, but the blonde was having none of it. She wanted to pour everything she felt into her kiss. They held on to each other tightly, both afraid to let go as their mouths and tongues told each other everything they needed to know.

Sheridan suddenly pulled back and looked into Keefer's dreamy eyes and it all clicked into place. She never wanted to be without Keefer, she never wanted those baby blues to look at her with anything but adoration and pride, she never wanted to wake up alone again. "I love you," she blurted.

Keefer's mouth opened and nothing came out. She didn't think Sheridan was even aware that she loved her yet; she certainly didn't expect to hear it at that moment.

"I mean it, I love you!" Sheridan said excitedly.

"Oh god... me too, I love you, too!" Keefer finally replied, wrapping her arms tightly around her lover.

"You're choking me, Keef!" Sheridan chuckled.

Keefer let go and took inventory of Sheridan's injuries. "How do you feel?" she asked, concerned with the discoloration of her eye.

"I'm so incredibly wired! Fuck, I feel good!" the construction worker replied, getting up and doing a happy dance.

Keefer laughed, "I meant your eye, you nut job."

"Oh, that? It's okay," Sheridan shrugged.

"You look so cute in that shirt, dancing around the living room."

"I'm not wearing panties." Sheridan wiggled her eyebrows.

Keefer grinned wickedly.

The blonde became serious. "Are we okay? I mean, aren't you going to yell at me for how I acted?"

"Oh, believe me, I was. I was going to rip you apart, but after seeing you last night, and then this morning, I figured you pretty much suffered enough."

"I deserved it, I guess."

"No, you didn't deserve Danni... oh, my god! She's in jail!"

Sheridan snickered and soon Keefer joined her.

"Let her sit there," the brunette said through her giggles.

Sheridan sat down between Keefer's open legs and leaned back on her chest. "Mmm, you feel good behind me."

Keefer glanced down and narrowed her eyes, then smacked Sheridan in the arm, hard.

"Hey! What the hell was that for?" the blonde twisted around to see Keefer's face.

"Don't think I missed this," Keefer poked the hickey repeatedly.

"OW! Quit that!" the blonde swatted at the larger hand.

"No one, and I mean no one is to suck on this neck," Keefer gave a final poke. "This neck and all its wonderful skin, is mine," she let loose one more smack.

Sheridan frowned and rubbed her arm. "Oooo, possessive, huh?"

Another smack and poke.

"Okay! Geez! No one... I got it!"

"Good. You know, I don't mind one bit that you go out, dance and hang out with the girls, but lay off the floozies. You're mine, woman."

Sheridan smiled, "Fuckin' ay. Wanna prove it?"

"How would I do that?" Keefer grinned.

"Write your name all over me... with your tongue."

"Oh yeah, good idea," Keefer purred.

part 30

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