DISCLAIMERS: in Part 1

Caution: Under Construction, Part 36

©2002 -Vertigo-

It was early Thursday morning and Sheridan awoke in the same position that she had for the last few mornings. Keefer was snuggled up to the front of her and Fifi sprawled out behind her, the dog's head sharing her pillow. She sighed contentedly and kissed Keefer on the head. The brunette stirred and made a squeaky sound, her arm came out of the blanket and reached behind her to rest on Sheridan's hip.

The blonde scooted even closer to her lover, pressing their bodies together and draping her leg over Keefer's. "Morning," she whispered.

The sound of Fifi's tail thumping against the mattress made them both smile.

"Morning to you, too," Sheridan said to the dog. "Move Feefs, I gotta get up." She nudged the dog with her elbow.

Keefer groaned in protest, pulling Sheridan's leg tighter around her.

"Baby, I gotta go. The kids," the blonde explained, not really wanting to leave the warmth of Keefer's skin.

Keefer let go of Sheridan's leg and grunted her disapproval. "Mm... okay. I'll miss you," she grumbled.

Sheridan furrowed her brows as she climbed over Fifi who wasn't being compliant either. The two of them, both the dog and human, made it very hard for Sheridan to leave in the morning. She stood by the door and gave a final glance to the bed. Keefer had the covers over her head and she swore that Fifi raised her eyebrow at her, just to make her jealous, as she stretched and got comfortable again.

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

Work was nearly completed and the day was easy for the construction worker. They were basically finished with their end of the job and all that was left was clean up in preparation for the carpenters and decorators. Usually, Sheridan was eager to leave job sites at this point, ready to take on a new project, walk into an empty shell and create. This building was different -- it held memories. She'd met Keefer for the first time in this very room. A smile formed on her face as she thought of the first moment she ever laid eyes on the inspector and laughed quietly. She shoulda slapped me silly with the way I behaved.

"Hey, Patch, what are the plans for Saturday?" Phil asked, suddenly standing behind Sheridan.

The blonde popped from her daydream and turned around to face her friend. "Oh, yeah," she paused, trying to concentrate on the conversation. "You'll need to truck the plasterboard, [but other than that, I got everything covered."

"You gotta give me the address," Phil said while looking around at the finished room.

"You'll meet me at Pop's house, I need to pick up some stuff and Steven first. How's about nine?"

"Cool. I'll be there."

The two of them stood in silence with Phil smiling somewhat idiotically at the blonde. Sheridan gave him a quizzical look, not really wanting to hear what he had to say, but knowing he'd say it anyway.

"Sooo," he threw an arm around Sheridan's shoulders, "how's things in the romance department?"

The blonde winced then gave up with a sigh. He wasn't going to let it drop and she knew it. "Can you cook, Philly?"

"ME?" he laughed loudly. "No," he shook his head rapidly as he laughed.

"Fuck," Sheridan growled.

"Cooking, Patch?" Bobby asked, as he entered the room.

"Yeah. I was going to cook... or something," she admitted in embarrassment.

"Ask your pop, he's a fucking great cook!"

"Oh, yeah. Right. Hey Pop, help me be romantic for my girlfriend," she said sarcastically.

"Well... I think he'd be happy to help," Bobby said.

Sheridan frowned. "Aw, shit. You're right," she admitted. She stood quietly in thought for long moments before taking a deep breath and blowing it out loudly. "Well, guys, I'm outta here." She walked over to Phil and held out her hand, "Job well done, buddy." They shook hands with big smiles on their faces.

Bobby held out his arms and Sheridan narrowed her eyes. "You just wanna cop a feel, you pig," she accused playfully.

"Damned right!"

She chuckled evilly as she leapt at Bobby. The startled man had no choice but to support her by her ass cheeks as she wrapped herself around him.

"Cop as many as you can, you fucking perv."

Phil laughed so hard that Tony came running into the room. His eyebrows rose at the display before him as Sheridan started moaning and writhing and he began to laugh himself silly.

Bobby let go of Sheridan's ass like his hands had been burned, but the blonde clung to him like a leech. He took a few steps forward before snickering too. "Of all the dreams I've had like this, you laughing morons never once appeared."

Sheridan barked out a laugh and slid off Bobby to her feet. "Was it good for you?" she wiggled her eyebrows and wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead.

"You're such an asshole, Patch," Bobby chuckled.

The blonde grinned then looked around again. "Really, guys, we did a great job... we should be proud. I hope I get to work with you fuckers again soon," Sheridan said, suddenly serious.

"Same here. It's not as much fun without you," Tony added.

Sheridan smiled at the compliment then pointed at Phil, "I'll wake your ass up Saturday morning."

Phil nodded, "I'll be up, don't worry."

Sheridan took one final look around the room that held such memories and left.

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

Keefer walked Fifi around the block distractedly. She was a little uptight that Sheridan hadn't called her when she got in from work; it was like some sort of ritual was broken between them and it was disturbing to the brunette. It wasn't that she was angry with Sheridan for not calling her, she had come to expect it and when it didn't come, she was disappointed. She brought Fifi into the house and checked the answering machine. Nothing. The inspector sat down on the couch, releasing a heavy sigh. She wanted to call Sheridan, but she didn't want it to seem like she was checking up on the blonde -- like Danni had constantly done to her. It drove her crazy and she didn't want to do that to Sheridan. Then again, maybe I should. Maybe something happened... oh, my god... what if she got hurt at work? Keefer began to panic. No, wait, she told me there was no work left... unless... you never know what can happen at a construction site!

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

Sheridan was standing side by side with her pop, in front of the stove, watching carefully as he added spices to his sauce.

Steven was sitting at the kitchen table snickering at his sister's back "I can't believe you're wearing an apron, Sher."

"Bite Me."

"Hey."

"Sorry, Pop... wait! How much of that did you throw in there?" she asked in frustration.

The older man snickered, "Honey, why don't you just take her to a romantic restaurant?"

Sheridan huffed. "I can cook," she insisted.

Mr. Landers shook his head with a knowing grin. Stubborn as ever. "Then why don't you cook something you already know how to do?"

"I don't think Keefer would appreciate Spaghetti-O's and toast."

"Cool! I like that," Steven said from behind his sister.

"Stop hovering, your breath smells." She stuck her ass out and butted her brother in the legs.

"Does not," he said, purposely breathy.

"Quit it or you're not helping me Saturday."

Steven retreated to the chair and folded his hands.

"I thought so," Sheridan said, proud of herself.

"Stop teasing him, Sher. Why is it you two become a couple of children when you're together too long?"

Sheridan shrugged, "He's easy." She turned to meet her pop's disapproving glare, then to face her suddenly angelic brother. "You know I love you, don't ya, Stevie-boy?"

His face lit up. "But, of course. You can't help it, I'm too cute," he said innocently.

Sheridan narrowed her eyes, biting back a snappy reply. Instead, she turned back around to face the stove. "You know, Pop... maybe you could cook and I'll bring it over."

The older man smiled, knowing she was going to ask sooner or later. "That's cheating, honey."

"Yeah, but..."

"Yeah, but -- nothing. Look, cook her something easy, like a steak. She eats meat, right? Everyone knows how to slap a steak on a grill or a broiler."

Sheridan suddenly perked up. "Yeah! You're right!" she said excitedly. "I know how to make steak, I even know how to make mashed potatoes, that's easy!"

"Throw a few ears of corn in a pot of water and you've got a meal."

"Thanks, Pop!" Sheridan couldn't get the apron off fast enough, and then she kissed her pop on the cheek. Her phone rang and she instantly realized that she had forgotten to call Keefer earlier. "Shit," she hissed to herself when she saw the incoming call was indeed Keefer. She suddenly felt awful. She must have thought the worst after what Danni put her through, fuck, and especially after what I did at the club that night. She grimaced as she hit the talk button. "Hi, baby," she said guiltily.

Keefer was so relieved to hear her lover's voice that she blew out a breath into the receiver.

"Ooo, is this a dirty phone call?" Sheridan joked, leaving the kitchen to find privacy.

"I was worried when you didn't call."

"I'm soo sorry; I didn't think."

"No, it's okay, as long as you're alright. You are alright, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just forgot. I'm really sorry, but don't ask me why I forgot... it's a secret."

Keefer's already alerted hackles rose, even though she didn't want them to. "A secret, huh?" she said calmly.

"Yeah," Sheridan replied with a nervous chuckle.

Keefer closed her eyes and pursed her lips in concentration, she heard voices in the background and when she recognized Steven, she felt like a weight had been lifted off of her chest. I gotta stop that. This isn't Danni. "I'll be patient. You know I like surprises," she said and then grinned shyly, her voice dropping an octave as she added, "especially your kind of surprises."

"Oh, baby," Sheridan groaned. Keefer's voice sounded so sexy that her knees went weak.

"So, will I see you tonight?" Keefer asked hopefully.

"Certainly. The boys, and I, are all fed and walked, and I can't imagine being anywhere else tonight."

Keefer's belly tingled. "I'll be waiting for you."

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

Sheridan pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. Keefer's front door was open and the smiling brunette was leaning on the doorframe, Fifi waiting patiently by her feet. "Why, if it isn't my two favorite girls," she said as she approached the house. Once she got to the door, she stood on her toes to reach Keefer's lips. Sheridan raised her eyebrow at the expression she spied on her lover's face before their lips met. Pulling back, she studied Keefer's face. "What are you grinning like that about?"

Keefer walked into the house and beckoned Sheridan to follow. The blonde pursed her lips. She's hiding something, she thought as she stood in front of her tall lover. "Why do you look like that?" she asked as all sorts of things ran across her mind.

"I have something for you," Keefer said shyly and held out her closed fist.

"Well," Sheridan indicated Keefer's fist, "it's smaller than a breadbox."

Keefer nodded and ducked her head in embarrassment.

Sheridan was intrigued, she peeled open her lover's hand and found a set of keys. Her eyebrows furrowed for a second before it dawned on her. "The keys?" she asked. "To this house?"

Keefer nodded and smiled. "You know, you leave so early in the morning and sometimes, when you go out to the club, maybe you want to come here afterwards..." Keefer explained, slightly flustered.

"Keef, this is so cool," Sheridan beamed, holding the keys in a tight grip. Keefer trusted her -- despite her reputation, despite the way she acted the other night, despite Danni... Keefer trusted her.

Keefer shrugged, "The other night when you came over, I was in the den. I was so comfortable that I didn't want to move, but I had to get up to let you in. It sucked."

"Thank you," Sheridan said with a happy grin, plopping herself on the couch with her arms open wide. "Now come here and let's get a proper kiss."

Keefer giggled and straddled Sheridan's lap. She hummed when their lips met and once again when their tongues touched.

When the kiss ended, Keefer rested her head on Sheridan's shoulder and played with the hair at the back of her lover's neck. At first, she was hesitant to give Sheridan the keys; she was afraid that] she would panic from the blatant symbol of the next step in their relationship. Instead, Sheridan looked genuinely excited and Keefer was thrilled with her response.

"Hey," Sheridan whispered into Keefer's hair, "I have no work tomorrow. I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn."

"Who the hell is Dawn?" Keefer joked, earning a chuckle from her lover. "No more? It's finished?" Keefer raised her head to look at Sheridan's face.

"Yep. Until the next job, but most days I'll be hanging around Pop at the office, driving him nuts."

"Do you feel sad?" the tall woman asked, tracing Sheridan's jaw line with one finger.

"A little, that building was special." Sheridan reached up and tucked some stray hairs behind Keefer's ear.

Keefer smiled and placed a loving kiss on Sheridan's lips. "I know. Every time I pass it, I'll smile."

"Me too," Sheridan agreed.

The brunette suddenly grinned, "You mean I get to cuddle with you for that extra hour in the morning?"

Sheridan grinned back, "Oh, yeah, among other things"

Keefer fought a blush successfully. "Nice," she purred. "Very nice."

Sheridan cocked her head in surprise at her lover's response. "Well, someone forgot to blush."

Keefer wiggled her eyebrows. "I think I have that under control now."

Sheridan's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that," she dared, startling Keefer by standing up and carrying her to the bedroom.

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

Even though she didn't have to get up, Sheridan's eyes popped open early the next morning. Keefer's back wasn't facing her as it usually was; instead, the tall woman was sprawled out on top of her, her face buried in Sheridan's neck. The blonde closed her eyes again and draped her arm loosely across Keefer's back, concentrating on the places where her sleeping lover's naked, warm skin met her own. A smile spread across Sheridan's lips and she sighed happily, moving her fingers slightly back and forth across Keefer's back.

"Mmm. Don't stop," Keefer mumbled into Sheridan's neck.

"I like this, Keef," the construction worker said, her fingers moving across a wider expanse of skin. Lying there in the morning with Keefer on top of her was her new favorite feeling.

"Me too," the brunette said sleepily. "I'm getting goosebumps."

Sheridan lifted her head up slightly to investigate. "Yeah, I can see them." Her head fell back down and Keefer snuggled her face back into her neck.

"Why are you up?" the inspector asked with a frown, although Sheridan couldn't see it.

"I dunno," she shrugged. "Maybe I woke up so I could do this," she suggested, her fingers now running the length of Keefer's back.

"Good reason." The brunette shivered a bit when her lover's rough fingertips traveled across her ass.

"I better stop," Sheridan said, resting her hand on Keefer's butt cheek. "You have to get ready for work."

Keefer whined and turned over onto her back to stretch, then settled down with her arms folded behind her head. "What are you going to do all day?" she asked, her eyes still closed.

"First and foremost, I'm going to spoil the dogs rotten. I'm gonna take them to the park for hours and then, once they're filthy and tired, I'm gonna get 'em groomed." The blonde sat up and looked down at her lover's face. "Are you coming straight home tonight?"

Keefer's eyes opened and she gave Sheridan an odd look. "Where else would I go?"

"Just asking," Sheridan shrugged.

Keefer spied a slight bit of nervousness in her lover. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to know, is all."

"Will you be here?"

"Oh, you bet," the blonde said with a smirk.

Keefer narrowed her eyes. She's up to something, she thought as she sat up and started to face the day.

Sheridan watched in admiration as Keefer walked out of the room naked. She chuckled cockily. Only a few days ago, she would have taken the blanket with her. Way to go, Sher, she's finally loosened up.

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

True to her word, Sheridan took the dogs to the park. For hours she ran, chased, played, wrestled and tugged with them, only stopping when they wanted. She changed her mind about sending them to the groomer's. After having felt like she neglected them for so long, the last thing she wanted to do to her guilty conscience was to leave them at the groomer's for any length of time. Deciding to instead do it herself, Sheridan loaded the smelly, dirty, sweaty, dogs into her car and took them to her pop's house to wash them in the back yard. She had no idea Steven was going to be home until she got there and the dog washing became full-out water fights between the two siblings, and the dogs had a mighty good time of it, too.

After a calming phone call to Keefer, and finally getting Steven to calm down enough to let her leave, the blonde headed back home with two sparkling-clean dogs. Once home, she paced the floors. It was still too early to begin dinner and she was full of nervous energy. "I could go shopping now," she told Zeus, who was snoring exhaustedly on the couch. "The again, what am I going to do with the food while I wait for five o'clock?" Sheridan turned on the television, but nothing interested her, she was too excited about presenting her girlfriend with her first-ever attempt at a romantic dinner. Her leg shook uncontrollably as she flipped through the channels distractedly. She glanced over to the weight bench and raised her eyebrows. "Now there's an idea."

The blonde worked out hard, efficiently burning off the excess energy and eating up the time so that she had just enough time to get into the shower and go food shopping.

Sheridan didn't go to the supermarket --İinstead, she went to the butcher shop for the first time. After swallowing her pride and asking for help, she was surprised to learn that a good steak was so expensive, and on her way out, she glared at the cashier, warning her that they had better be good. She wandered around until she found the perfect vegetable stand and had the owner pick out the best two ears of corn, the man even threw in a lesson on how to peel away the outside without leaving all the stringy things Sheridan hated. Potatoes were easy and she grabbed two of those all by herself. There was still one more stop on her agenda, and that was the bakery, not just any bakery but Brooklyn's famous Mona Lisa bakery. She cursed under her breath as she forgot how crowded this placeİusually was and reluctantly took a number and waited.

The construction worker smiled happily as she put her own key in the door to Keefer's house. Fifi was very surprised to see Sheridan entering and not her mommy, that she began to carry on, barking excitedly as she hopped on her back legs for attention. "Feefs! My best girl!" she yelled and the dog went crazy, emitting silly noises and dancing around her legs, her tongue licking at the air wildly, hoping to catch a bit of Sheridan somehow.

Sheridan chuckled as she shuffled towards the kitchen, arms laden with bags, afraid she'd trip over the exuberant dog. "I got something in here for you," she said in a voice she only reserved for dogs. "Yes, I do, and if mommy says so, I'll even give you steak, too!" she said, squatting down and picking Fifi up in her arms. The dog gave Sheridan a bath, licking her face and neck excitedly. "Aww, who am I kidding, even if mommy says no, I still have steak for you," she pursed her lips and let Fifi lick them. "I have a big, fat, juicy, new, barbecue-favored rawhide bone in here, guaranteed to keep you busy for at least an hour."

Fifi didn't understand a word of what Sheridan was talking about, but as long as she used that special voice, the dog knew it was exciting and she wiggled and squirmed.

Sheridan put the dog down and went to the bathroom to wash her face. "No offense, honey, but your mother wouldn't appreciate if I let her kiss these lips after you slobbered all over them."

Fifi wasn't offended, in fact, she stood in the doorway, ears on alert, waiting for her favorite human -- besides her mommy -- to come back and play. Instead, Sheridan went to the phone for her afternoon Keefer fix. Once she was done, she headed back into the kitchen.

"You know, Pharaoh wasn't all too pleased to give up his bone, but once I mentioned your name, he gave in. I think he has a little crush on you."

The dog wagged her whole body as Sheridan began to empty her packages. She smelled meat, and that was terribly thrilling to her.

Sheridan started looking through the cabinets under the sink for pots and spotted a small bag of charcoal briquettes. She stopped what she was doing and looked thoughtful. "Hey, Feefs, isn't there a grill out on the porch?" She went to the door and peeked outside, spotting the grill she had been sure was there. "Bingo!" Upon closer inspection, Sheridan frowned deeply. "This hasn't been used in a hundred years. Damn, it needs a good scrubbing!"

The construction worker contemplated it for a whole second and a half before she dragged the parts inside and pulled on the yellow gloves. "Don't tell anyone you saw me wearing these girl, it would kill my rep," she said over her shoulder, steel wool in hand.

By the time Sheridan washed the grill, seasoned the steaks, peeled, salted the ears of corn and scrubbed the potatoes, she was exhausted. She put the steaks on the grill, partially nuked the potatoes and left them and the corn on the side of the grill as she sat down heavily on the stoop. "Damn, I'm wiped! Too much today Feefs," she told the dog, who sat down next to her. Sheridan leaned her head on the stair post and yawned.

When Sheridan next opened her eyes, there were flames coming from the grill. "Holy shit!" she yelled, jumping up and running over to the fire. The lid was too hot to touch and she ran inside to get a towel. Opening the grill, she growled as she saw the two steaks engulfed in flames. She beat the fire down with the towel and stuck the fork in one, running it to the kitchen sink, then did the same with the other.

"Fucking hell!" she screamed as she walked back onto the porch. The potatoes were covered in two battalions of ants and a fly, three bees and a stray cat were sharing one of the ears of corn. Her beloved Fifi, her best friend, was happily gnawing on the other. She narrowed her eyes at the dog and growled angrily, "Now what do I do?" She stomped her foot in frustration, sticking her head back into the house to look at the clock. "Five forty-five!?" she gasped. "Dammit! I gotta clean this shit up before Keefer gets home!" She passed by Fifi and snatched the corn from her mouth, "Gimme that, you traitor."

Part 37

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