THE BRASS RING
PART SEVENTEEN
By Mavis Applewater

For Disclaimers see part one.

Thanks to my beta reader Joanne.

As always this is for Heather.

CHAPTER TWENTY

CC shifted nervously as she stood in Jamie's living room. "So," She said as she sucked on her teeth, trying to appear calm, "what would you like to do?"

"I feel like we've been sent off on a play date." Jamie chuckled as she tugged nervously on her T-shirt.

"I know," CC admitted as she finally lifted her gaze to meet Jamie's. "So, you want to make out?" CC teased, hoping to break the tension.

Thankfully Jamie laughed in response. "Would you totally freak out if I said yes?" the blonde questioned her as she continued to laugh.

"Yes," CC answered honestly as she released a breath of relief. "How did we end up here?" Jamie stared at her with a curious expression. "I mean, we had a good thing and then everything was over. Now I just don't know how to act around you. Somehow it was easier when you hated me."

"Not for me," Jamie said with sincerity. "I had all this anger. I had a fear of commitment. Now, I realize that I've wasted a lot of time. I shut people out. All of it was based on a misunderstanding. I don't know what I should be thinking or feeling. The only thing I know for certain is that I'm still attracted to you." CC felt her heart skip a beat at Jamie's admission. There was a but or a however coming though - she could feel it. "But I'm not certain if what I'm feeling is because of the you in the here and now or because of what we had and lost."

"I feel the same," CC admitted. "I still find you very attractive. Why wouldn't I? You're a beautiful woman." Jamie blushed shyly and the sight tugged at CC's heartstrings. "But I don't know if it's you or the past that's calling to me."

"Well, why don't we just start over?" Jamie suggested with a shy smile. "Forget about the pressure of the past and just let things happen. I would like to be friends with you again. I could live without the speeding ticket this time though," Jamie added playfully.

"I don't know about that," CC hedged. "So neighbor, now that I've been banished from my home, what should we do today? Since we haven't really hung out together since we were dating."

"I have an idea," Jamie said with a mischievous grin. "I just need to get changed."

"Should I be nervous?" CC called after her as she yawned.

She settled down on the sofa and fought back the need for sleep. She glanced around Jamie's home. It was simple. CC could see that the doctor had yet to fully unpack. It lacked something. If she hadn't known that Jamie lived there she would never have guessed that this was the outgoing blonde's home. She thought about what Jamie had said about mistrusting people and fearing commitment. CC felt a chill run through her, knowing that she had inadvertently been the cause of that. She also realized that she'd been doing the same with her life.

"Ready?" Jamie said from behind her. "You'll need a jacket," Jamie added as CC grimaced. When she returned to her home to retrieve her jacket, she promised Stevie that she wasn't staying. She wondered as she climbed into Jamie's car if she was really ready for this. And just what did this confusing mess mean? Jamie started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. CC was still lost in her thoughts. "Jamie said she wanted to become friends again. Is that all? Should that be all? Was it possible that they were meant to be more? Or was it just her hormones that were driving her insane?"

"What are you thinking about?" Jamie inquired as she maneuvered her car.

"I'm just wondering where in the hell you are taking me," CC lied.

"Patience," Jamie chided her.

"Right." CC snorted as she allowed her eyes to flutter shut.

CC's eyes fluttered open as a wave of confusion washed over her. Slowly she began to recall where she was. She sat up and looked over at Jamie. She felt a slight wave of disappointment that the blonde doctor was wearing sunglasses. She really loved Jamie's eyes. "Sorry," she apologized as she looked out the window with curiosity. "Was I asleep long?" she asked as she stretched out her arms. She grimaced in annoyance when her hands hit the roof of the car.

"Not long," Jamie informed her. "Are you working tonight?"

"No." CC yawned.

"Me either," Jamie informed her. "Good thing since I think we both need to catch up on our sleep."

"Hmm," CC sighed in agreement. "Why are we on Route One?" she inquired, taking in the tacky stretch of highway littered with every type of restaurant imaginable.

"You'll see," Jamie taunted her as she pulled into the right hand lane.

CC could see the large orange dinosaur coming closer. "Oh no," she groaned as she began to realize just what Jamie had in mind. "You have got to be joking." Much to her distress Jamie pulled into the parking lot next to the soft-serve ice cream stand.

"You promised me," Jamie said with a pout.

"Isn't there a statute of limitations on something like that?" CC whimpered.

"No," Jamie refuted as she removed her seatbelt.

"Can't we just go back to your place and watch cable?" CC suggested hopefully.

"No," Jamie said flatly as she stepped out of the car.

"It's too cold," CC protested as she got out of the car.

"Come on, you big baby," Jamie chastised her. "Look at it this way - the course will be empty."

"The course?" CC groaned. "It's not real golf," she added as they approached the booth. "You're serious?" CC continued to groan as Jamie paid the teenager and received two putters and two golf balls.

"I've always wanted to come here," Jamie said brightly as she walked over to the miniature golf course. "And you promised," Jamie added sternly as she waited for the brooding policewoman to catch up with her.

CC had promised her, but that was over a dozen years ago. She had managed to avoid this little activity back then. Now she was doing penance. She was at the Route One Golf and Baseball Park. Better known as the putt putt place with the big ugly orange dinosaur. She had always thought of the big monstrosity as a sure fire way not to miss the exit for Route 99.

"What is it?" Jamie pried. CC thought the blonde seemed far too amused by the situation.

"The truth is that I completely suck at this," CC confessed reluctantly. "I mean I'm not just bad at it; I suck wind."

"Cool, more fun for me." Jamie chuckled as she handed CC a putter. As the brunette felt the walls closing in on her, Jamie swatted her on the backside and nudged her towards the first hole.

"Okay," Jamie said triumphantly as she perused the scorecard. "There's a six stroke limit for any hole. You can move the ball a club head from the boards. No more than four players to a group. Balls leaving the carpet should be placed at the point of departure. There's no penalty."

"I think that one's going to come in handy." CC sighed as she watched Jamie place her ball down in the proper place.

As Jamie stooped over, CC was given a very nice view of the blonde's firm backside. "Then again, this could be fun," she noted in amusement. It took Jamie three strokes to sink her ball. CC marked it down on the scorecard. She crinkled her forehead as she tried to write with the stubby little pencil. She handed Jamie the card and said a silent prayer as she positioned her ball. After six tries Jamie took pity on her and they moved to the next hole.

The next hole was the Ocean Wave. CC felt slightly better when it took each of them four strokes to sink their balls. But the next hole was the Chinese Pagoda. Jamie managed to sink her ball in two strokes and almost caught CC staring at her ass. Once again, CC exhausted all of her shots and they moved on.

The Bowling Alley was very easy, just a straight shot across the oversized pins. It took both of them only two strokes. "You're getting better," Jamie said in an encouraging tone.

"Bite me," CC snarled as she set up her next shot at the Lighthouse. She could feel Jamie's body standing very close to her own as she putted. She did fare better as Jamie took three shots and she took four. It was far less embarrassing than having to pick up her ball without sinking it.

At the Dinosaur's Cave she was having trouble once again. She noticed Jamie putting down her own putter. "Let me help you," Jamie offered as she wrapped her arms around CC's waist. CC's mouth went dry as Jamie's hands covered her own. The feel of Jamie pressed against her body was making her head spin. "Like this," Jamie explained as she guided CC.

"I've got it," CC choked out, needing to distance herself from Jamie's body.

Her body temperature dropped once Jamie stepped away from her. CC's vision was bleary and her palms were sweating. She swung wildly. Her blue eyes focused on the red ball that flew off the course, over the fence, and into the traffic on the highway below. They both cringed as angry motorists honked their horns. CC braced herself for the sounds of cars crashing into one another. Thankfully, the sound never came.

"Way to go, Tiger Woods." Jamie chuckled.

CC spun around and glared at her. Jamie covered her mouth with her hand. CC knew she was fighting back the laughter. CC growled as Jamie's eyes widened fearfully. "I'll get you another ball," Jamie offered quickly before dashing off to seek refuge. "We couldn't have gone to the batting cages or played skeet ball?" CC moaned in embarrassment.

Jamie returned, still trying to hide her smile. "Not a word," CC cautioned her sternly. They continued on and CC thankfully fared better. She even managed to score a hole in one at the Rocket Ship. Jamie seemed more than a little miffed by that. After completing the eighteen holes they returned their equipment. CC glared at the teenage boy in the booth who was chuckling at her.

"How about some ice cream?" Jamie suggested.

"It's freezing out and you want ice cream?" CC asked her in bewilderment.

"Yes," Jamie responded brightly. "Loser pays," she added as she dashed down the hill to the ice cream stand.

"Brat!" CC called after the blonde as she chased after her. CC caught Jamie around her waist just before she reached the building. "Gotcha!" she cried triumphantly as she pressed Jamie up against the wall of the ice cream shack.

"You cheated," Jamie protested as she panted heavily.

"Liar," CC grunted as she pressed Jamie's back against the wall. "Admit it," CC demanded as Jamie struggled playfully against her.

"Never." Jamie laughed as she struggled.

CC decided that she was being challenged and pinned Jamie's arms to her side. "Bully," Jamie choked out as she continued to try to free herself. CC could feel the breath escape her as she realized how closely she was pressed against Jamie's body. Jamie's face was flushed from the cold and her green eyes twinkled merrily up at CC. The tall woman could feel Jamie's breath whispering gently across her cheek. Jamie seemed to loosen her grip.

Their eyes locked and CC felt her mouth suddenly go dry. For the second time in the past few hours, CC felt herself being drawn in. She released her hold on Jamie's arms and felt them wrapping around her body. CC blinked for a moment before stepping away. 'It would have been so easy to just kiss her.'

She felt Jamie's hand resting on her stomach. Jamie turned into her body and rested her head on CC's shoulder. The taller woman relaxed into the touch, knowing that her ex-lover was fighting the same battle. CC held her for a moment. Jamie sighed deeply before taking a step away. "Come on, tough stuff. Buy me an ice cream." Jamie jerked her head indicating that they should move.

"Why exactly am I buying the ice cream?" CC groused as they walked around the building.

"Because I said so." Jamie snorted defiantly. "It's closed," Jamie pouted as CC yawned.

"I can't imagine they get much business on a day like this," CC noted with another yawn.

"Still exhausted?" Jamie asked sympathetically as she stroked CC's arm. The taller woman simply nodded in response. "Me too," Jamie concurred. "We should head back. Maybe the contractor's done for the day and you can get some sleep," she added hopefully. "Why have you really been banished?" Jamie inquired as they headed back up to her car.

"I have no idea," CC explained quickly. Jamie just cast a doubtful look in her direction. "Well, they say that I keep interfering," CC explained. "I don't," she concluded firmly.

Jamie laughed as she unlocked the car. "I don't," CC repeated as they got into the car.

"Oh poor baby," Jamie mocked her. "Wrongfully accused. How do you endure such a burden?"

"Laugh it up, blondie," CC growled as her mind wandered back to the playfulness they had shared a few moments ago.

Jamie drove them home. CC's hopes of being able to go home and crawl into bed were dashed the moment they pulled into the parking lot. "The contractors are still here," CC noted grimly.

"Still in exile," Jamie said softly. "Why don't you come in and watch some television with me?" Jamie suggested.

"You don't mind?" CC asked, fearful that she was intruding. "I mean if you had plans for your day off, I understand. Stevie can be a little stubborn, but I'm almost certain she wouldn't let me freeze to death."

"Caitlin, the only thing you're keeping me from doing is my laundry," Jamie explained as they stepped out of the car.

CC cringed slightly at the use of her first name. "Okay," CC agreed, not really wanting to end her time with Jamie. After they entered Jamie's townhouse, they kicked off their shoes and jackets. They relaxed on the sofa and instantly began to fight over the remote control. Eventually they settled on watching a Law and Order rerun on A&E. CC noticed that they had each chosen to sit in a manner that put a little distance between them. As they watched the program, CC fought to keep her weary eyes open. It wasn't long before she lost the battle and drifted off to sleep.

TBC

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