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Kerry stood anxiously outside Kim's front door,
hoping that the younger doctor would let her in, given the
cooler reception Kerry'd given her earlier in the day when Dr.
Corday walked past them. Kerry was tired, exhausted and weary
from her day at work. She also felt guilty for what happened,
thinking that if only things had gone differently, no one would
have died from that sweatshop. She'd driven home from the
hospital out of habit after a long arduous day but she couldn't
go in and dwell on it on her own. She started walking, uncertain
of where she stood in her relationship with Kim Legaspi, and
uncertain of her faith in maintaining the rules and regulations.
Gradually after a ride on the El, she walked to Kim's townhouse,
where she awaited Kim's presence.
Kerry looked up in the window as Kim's face appeared. The
younger woman was a little surprised to see her but smiled, glad
that she had come. Kerry didn't know if the psychiatrist had
heard of the events that occurred in the ER that day, but once
Kim had opened the door, the younger doctor could plainly see
that Kerry was upset. She guided Kerry into the house, one arm
around Kerry's waist as she closed the door behind them with her
other.
"Kerry, can I take your coat from you?" Kim asked her quietly.
After a nod from Kerry, Kim gently removed the coat and hung it
up in the foyer. Kim then guided Kerry into her living room and
sat her on a couch that faced the front window. The slight
melodic alto voice of Diana Krall came from the stereo speaker
over in a corner of the room. Papers were scattered over the
coffee table evidenced that Kim had been working on some cases
from work. Her large mug of half-emptied coffee lay next to the
pile of paperwork. After getting Kerry settled on the couch, she
moved the Kerry's crutch slightly off to the side but well
within reach for the ER Chief. From any experience that Kim had
with the Kerry, the ER Chief was very independent, and rarely
relied on anyone for assistance. So it was disturbing to Kim
that Kerry wasn't even putting up any resistance to being led so
completely. Kim looked up at the older woman and wordlessly
asked if Kerry wanted Kim to remove her shoes. Another nod.
"What's wrong, Kerry?" Kim couldn't take the silence, it was
becoming unbearable. She was really concerned.
"I...It's my fault." Kerry was almost on the verge of crying,
but she still kept up her barriers though they be crumbling
against a tirade of emotion. "They died because of me."
"Whoa, Kerry, love. Tell me what's going on." Kim knelt on the
floor next to Kerry and placed a hand over hers.
As upset as Kerry was, she knew this would take some time to
relay, so she asked Kim to sit with her.
"It all started this morning. A young Guatemalan man had been
brought in with an occupational injury. It was Luca's case. Luca
had asked me to get some of the radiology films, but in talking
with the injured man, I found the man was terrified and didn't
want anyone to know about the accident. It's my responsibility
to report occupational injuries, so I contacted OSHA. I later
found out that OSHA had contacted Immigration Services about
several complaints about illegal sweatshops in the area where
the accident occurred. In an attempt to flea INS capture, a fire
was accidentally started from a kerosene lamp falling over, and
most of the workers were caught in the fire. Many didn't get
out, and those that did were badly burned or injured, including
a five year old child." Kerry stopped, tears now freely flowed
down her cheeks. Kim moved closer and put her arms around Kerry,
trying to comfort her. "The child had a simple tibia fracture,
but her mother had been electrocuted on a high voltage wire. We
worked on her, but she arrested, and we were unable to revive
her."
"Kerry, love, it's not your fault."
"It is. If I hadn't..."
"No, Kerry. OSHA was already involved, as you said. Something
would have happened regardless of anything you may or may not
have done. Maybe today, maybe three months from now. We don't
know for sure. We have a legal responsibility to report
incidences of occupational hazards. You know that. I know that."
"But, I could have made sure that INS wasn't involved." Kerry
wanted to protest - surely she could have done something to
prevent what had happened.
"How, Kerry? That's not within your scope of practice. As much
as I know you want to be able to ensure that everything works
out for the best, you did what was necessary."
Kerry knew she should argue the point that Kim herself has
flaunted protocol before, but she was too tired and didn't feel
like arguing. Kim stood up and climbed behind Kerry on the
couch, then enveloped the other doctor in her arms, leaning back
against the armrest pulling Kerry back with her. Kim hoped she
wasn't pressing Kerry. But then again, it had been Kerry who
instigated their intimacy and love-making the night before
sending both of the women into an exhaustive sleep. After quite
a long time had passed and she could feel that Kerry had fallen
asleep, Kim extracted herself from beneath Kerry and gently lay
her back against some pillows. Kerry barely whimpered at the
loss of contact.
"Kerry, I'm just going to put on the kettle to make some lemon
tea. I'll be back in a few moments," Kim whispered into her ear.
"I don't need any tea. What I do need, is you. Please stay with
me."
"Ker, this couch really isn't meant for two of us to lie on. If
you want that, we should go into the bedroom. When do you have
to work next?"
"Tomorrow evening. Kovac is covering days."
"Okay. I have a light day tomorrow, nothing pressing until a
meeting with a patient at 2:30. I did a lot of work this evening
before you got here. We can take it easy and relax."
With a slight smile, Kerry responded, "Are you trying to seduce
me, Dr. Legaspi?"
"Is it working?" Kim responded with a smile.
"I'll let you know." Kerry grabbed her crutch and pushed herself
up into a standing position.
Kim moved to turn off the stereo, then shut off the lights
around the house, with the exception of the bedroom and
bathroom. They brushed their teeth and took care of personal
necessities. Kim went to her drawers and pulled out a couple of
shirts and boxer shorts. She tossed a set of both to Kerry. "I
apologise in advance, but these likely going to be too big on
you."
"Thanks. That's all right. I'm kinda used to things being too
big for me. But that doesn't mean that I don't like them," Kerry
smiled seductively at Kim as she emerged from the bathroom
wearing her shirt & boxers. Kerry pursed her lips together and
looked at Kim. "Kim, do you think it would be okay if you just
held me tonight? I don't think I - "
"Of course, Kerry. Look we'll take it slow. I don't want to
force you into anything."
"It's not that I don't want to. I'd love to make love to you.
What we had last night was lovely and beautiful. You are
incredibly beautiful. What I'm saying is that I'm really
exhausted. But I do want to be with you."
"Oh God, Kerry, I'm sorry. I misunderstood. Here's one admission
for you, doctor: when I start a new relationship with someone I
admire and respect, someone that I'm really attracted to, I can
be really insecure."
"Really? I wouldn't have guessed." Kerry smiled at her, moving
towards Kim and pulling the younger doctor into a hug. "You know
what? I'm think I'm falling in love with you. It's surprised me.
But I really like it." Kerry closed the distance and kissed Kim
in a loving, passionate kiss.
Kim led Kerry to the bed and they climbed in. Kerry curled up on
her side with Kim spooning behind her and wrapping her arm over
Kerry's chest. "That's good, Kerry. Because I love you, too."
Kim had kind of expected Kerry to tense up, and being really
happy that she hadn't. The smile on Kim's face was radiant. And
if one had to look at Kerry's, they would have seen a matching
smile, along with a tear rolling down from one of her eyes.
Before long both women were sound asleep. At some point through
the night they'd ended up with Kim on her back, Kerry half on
her side with an arm resting on Kim's abdomen under her shirt,
and a leg draped over one of Kim's. The full brightness of the
moon shone through the blinds casting shadows over the women in
peaceful slumber.
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