(First Class)

By Trynia Merin and Jade

07/15/01

Disclaimer: KISS, Gene Simmons, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin are real persons, and the portrayal here is purely fictitious, with no harm intended to the individuals. Calen McGregor and associated characters of Luck of the Irish are property of Jade, © The Black Rose collection. Terri Mason is property of Trynia Merin, © Trynia's Journies. Please do not use without permission from either author.

Chapter 11

Gene and Terri pulled up the curve to Calen's driveway, colorful garden in a southern style greeting them cheerfully. Gene got out first, then opened the door for Terri as he had many times before. Terri always loved the wooded property with its garden in back, pool, and dark brick A frame home. It made her feel at home, as much as Gene's home did.

"We beat them home?" Gene wondered. Just then they saw the limousine pulling up the circular drive. It coasted to a stop, and Steve got out first, followed by Sheri. They unfolded the wheelchair, and Steve reached into the limo to help Calen out.

"Just a little more and you'll be home, baby," he told her. Beverly and Sheri brought her suitcases and belongings with them. Hazel eyes glanced up to Steve and she said nothing. A small sad smile came to her lips in response instead.

"Hey, what took you so long?" Gene called out to them as he and Terri moved over to the small group.

"Hi yourself, Gene," Steve said.

"Nice to see you here Gene," Calen perked up, giving Gene a warm smile. It was amazing how quickly the sad smile had vanished when she noticed Gene was in her presence. It felt sobering to Terri, and she felt that awkwardness settling in yet again. In lieu of the front steps, they decided to forgo the wheelchair, and Gene moved up Steve, making a chair with their hands to convey Calen indoors. Beverly got the door, and Sheri and Terri lugged the wheelchair and suitcases in after them into the large foyer. Whenever Terri had visited Calen she felt right at home, especially with the swimming pool off the main entrance to the right. One could literally throw their clothes off and jump right into the pool after walking in the front door and moving a few steps off the foyer.

Opposite to the left was the spacious living room, with Calen's unique taste of furniture. The room where Calen had convinced Terri to force Gene to admit his insecurities and move to a new stage of trust in their relationship. Up the grand stairs Terri knew there were four bedrooms, and a downstairs bedroom beyond. Plenty of room for friends, but not so much someone felt lost.

Steve set Calen into the wheelchair again, and they stood awkwardly for a moment. "Where's the best place for you love, upstairs?" he asked.

"The room off the kitchen," Calen answered automatically. "So you don't have to worry about bringing me downstairs."

"You don't want to be in your own room?" Gene asked.

"It's not really practical. Just throw my stuff downstairs, I'll manage," Calen said bravely as she seized the wheels of her chair and pushed herself in the direction of the kitchen. That answered everyone's protests, and asserted what independence she tried to gain.

"Uh Calen, you want us to stick around?" Gene asked suddenly.

"If you want, that would be nice," she said, smiling at Gene and Terri.

"I think we can manage okay on our own," Beverly interjected. "I know you have a busy schedule Gene, there's no sense in inconveniencing you…"

"Oh?" Gene asked.

"I hired a private nurse to help take care of Calen," Beverly explained. "Someone will be with her during the day…"

"Still I would feel better if I was here," Gene said slowly. "Just for piece of mind. That is if you want me to stay Calen…"

"I think that would be great," Steve agreed. "I've gotta go back to the WWF tomorrow… and I would feel better if Gene stayed here… to look out for her…"

"But…" Beverly said.

"It's no trouble," Gene insisted.

"It would be nice," Calen reiterated, firmly.

"I would be staying too," Terri added. "To help out…"

"Good," Calen smiled at her. "Then you can show me how well Gene's taught you to beat his butt at pool lately…"

"I guess it's settled then," Steve nodded. "So you'll have Gene and Terri here to keep you out of trouble babe…"

"Wouldn't have it any other way," she smiled back, and pressed a kiss to his lips as they vanished into the guestroom off the kitchen. Beverly exchanged a glance with Sheri.

"What?" Gene asked.

"Nothing. It's just I hope that she'll be able to keep up with the therapy. I had suggested she go into a rehab center, but Calen insisted on coming home," Beverly sighed.

"There's no stopping her once she's made up her mind," Sheri told her. "Besides given the choice I'd wanna come home. And Terri and Gene are here if she needs 'em… and that private nurse shows up tomorrow after Steve leaves…"

"Well she's coming over tonight to meet Calen and the rest of us," Beverly told them. "She should be here soon…"

There came a knock at the door, and Beverly answered it. Gene and Terri glanced at the middle-aged woman behind it, carrying her belongings. They each wondered if this would work out, especially when they heard the dialogue that ensued.

"I don't cook breakfast, and I don't wash dishes," the nurse said.

"Well we didn't hire you as a maid," Beverly clarified. "Just to help Calen out…"

"Some of my previous clients seemed to think I should be wearing a French maid's outfit. I'm only here to help the patient with her daily needs, and that doesn’t include three course meals. I assumed Miss McGregor had a housekeeper…"

"Calen does most of her cooking herself," Sheri said. She shot Beverly a 'you gotta be kidding me' look.

"How… nice. But I wasn't prepared for such a task…"

"One of us will be here during the day for that," Sheri stepped in. "We don't want you to 'inconvenience yourself'…"

"Well I come here each morning sharply at seven. Physical therapy starts at eight after I have completed an examination…"

"Isn't that a little early…"

"The patient requires a good solid routine, for her recovery," the nurse said. "And I expect total cooperation… after all, I take my job seriously. We can't have the patient injuring herself again…"

"Of course not," Beverly answered. "But why the concern about total cooperation?"

"Some of my patients can be rather… touchy after their injuries. They aren't always thrilled about a stranger helping them with their daily needs. But I just want to know if Miss McGregor can be… difficult or cooperative. Just so I can tell what I'm getting into…"

"Ms. McGregor is as cooperative as she can be, as long as you don't coddle her," Sheri put in.

"I don't coddle, trust me. I assist," the nurse said. "I just want to avoid any unforeseen difficulties…"

"Well you were hired to help Calen, not parent her," Beverly said. "So as long as you keep that straight this will work fine."

"Very well," the nurse said crisply. "Who else is staying here?"

"We are," Gene said, stepping out with Terri.

"Relatives?" she asked.

"Close personal friends," Gene answered. "We're gonna be staying around her to help out with her at first…"

"She requires no additional help, trust me Mr.… Mr.…"

"Gene Simmons and Terri Mason, happy to meet you," Gene said, extending a hand to her. However the nurse seemed unimpressed at the mention of his name, and gave his hand a small tentative shake.

"I'm Angela Thomson. The hospital sent me. But I just want to make it clear I am here to help Ms. McGregor… Calen through her difficulties. And I have a certain way of doing things that I expect total cooperation from friends and relatives."

"We'll endeavor to accommodate you," Gene said, getting a bad taste in his mouth already.

"Sometimes family members and friends tend to assume the patient knows everything she or he needs. But it's my job to conduct physical therapy, administer medicine, and that includes anticipation and prevention of any unforeseen complications…"

"There shouldn't be any," Gene said crisply.

"Honestly the fewer people underfoot, the better," the nurse told him. "I really work better without so much… help…"

"I invited them," Calen said crisply, wheeling up. "They're houseguests and friends…"

"Oh… forgive me. They informed me they were staying to 'help out'…"

"You really don't have to, you know," Calen turned her chair to Gene.

"I insist," Gene said. "After all you do need moral support?"

"Yeah, moral support," Terri added.

"I'll be back at seven tomorrow, sharply," the nurse said. She left them all exchanging looks of varying disagreement.

"Where did you find her?" Calen asked Beverly, wincing. "Eastwick or the land of the West Winkies in Oz?"

"She was one of the more reliable workers. Just give it a chance, please…" Beverly asked her.

"Do it for me baby," Steve urged her, pressing a kiss to her ear. "Since I can't be here, and after all Gene and Terri will be staying here tonight with us…"

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

Terri was having morning coffee after a particularly difficult night. Calen had needed help repeatedly with frequent bathroom trips, and inability to sleep. They had each done their part to make sure she slept through the night, but for some reason she kept waking up, and they would hear a clatter or thump as she tried to get into her wheelchair and move. Gene finally convinced her to relax and lay quietly, but that constant restlessness drove them both crazy. They knew she was getting sick of lying in bed, but they couldn't have her risk falling at night.

Gene wandered out from downstairs into the kitchen, like a bear coming out of hibernation. Terri handed him a cup of coffee and he grumbled a good morning to her that was mostly unintelligible.

"Nice to see you too," she joked.

"Sorry," he sighed. "Just trying to get used to getting up this early is a bitch and a half…"

"You didn't have to wake up with the sun, I had breakfast out…" Terri told him. "I know you aren't a morning person, no more then I am…"

"I let you sleep, sweetheart. Tonight it's your turn," he muttered, resting his coffee cup between both hands.

"I woke up as many times as you did," Terri told him.

"You didn't have to get up alone…"

"Well if I knew you could make a breakfast that didn't involve Tabasco sauce I would insist you get up first," she teased him.

"It's bagels tomorrow, trust me," he muttered.

"Just don't leave the jelly knife in the cream cheese," she laughed, and gave him a playful thump on the back as she got up.

"Well if Miss 'I don't do meals' did meals, you and I could get a little more quality time together, between the sheets," Gene muttered.

"It was your idea, remember," Terri told him, and set the stack of pancakes in front of him, together with genuine maple syrup she had found in Calen's closet.

Gene grumbled a response, and chugged a sizable swig of coffee. The nurse had made it quite clear she wasn't the sort who would cook meals and clean. Just then they heard bickering coming from the bathroom, and Terri wandered off to find out what was wrong. She opened the door to find Calen's face flushed with anger, and the nurse standing over her with her hands on her hips.

"I can wash myself, thank you very much! All you have to do is get me from the wheelchair to the tub…"

"What if you strain your back. Without your brace you'll risk injury," the nurse scolded her.

"I'll be fine… I'm not some elderly woman of ninety who's gonna break her hip on a wet floor!" Calen growled back. "Now let me do this…"

"Is there a problem here?" Terri asked.

"Well, could you convince Miss McGregor that she requires my assistance with her bath?" the nurse asked, turning to Terri who peered through the door.

"Seems she has things under control from here…" Terri said.

"What does she have to do with this?" Calen asked the nurse, appalled she would try and get someone uninvolved into the fray. "Roping Terri into this isn't going to make me change my mind!"

The nurse threw up her hands and walked out of the door muttering under her breath. "You okay?" Terri asked.

"I'm fine,' Calen said.

"Okay…" Terri said, and wandered out after the nurse.

"What's her deal?" Gene muttered as the nurse walked past in a huff.

"She's driving me crazy," Angela shook her head. "Crazy…"

"Well sounds like she's not the only one," Gene muttered.

"You're her friends… I need cooperation, remember?"

"We're not her parents," Gene shot back, stabbing a pancake with his fork as he cut himself another piece from the stack.

"Look, you have to remember Calen's very independent… Angela…" Terri said as the nurse plunked down into a chair and folded her arms across her chest in an angered huff. "She's not used to being waited on hand and foot. You gotta ask her what she wants help with.."

"Miss Mason, just let me do my job, please?" Angela snorted. "I know what I'm doing…"

"Do you?" Gene grumbled.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll be on my break now," the nurse snapped, and flounced out of the room. Very soon they saw the smoke curling from a cigarette through the porch windows out front.

"Where the hell is her broom," Gene asked Terri with a frown.

"I don't know, but I don't like it either," Terri shook her head. "She didn’t need to bite my head off…"
 
 

Chapter 12

Next day, they were surprised to see someone other then Angela knocking at the door.

"You're new around here," Gene said to the new nurse standing on the front step. Her eyes took in the sight of him in his bathrobe and little else, holding a cup of coffee.

"I'm Millie. Angela needed a day off, and I'm here to fill in for her. For Calen McGregor."

"Sure… come right in," Gene offered, a smile breaking out over his face. This was promising, he thought.

Later Gene saw Calen roll by in her wheelchair, and take a cup of coffee from Terri with a soft thank you.

"Want some coffee?"

"Sure, love some," she smiled. Terri turned to pour her a cup, and Calen rolled up to the table at sight of the bagels Gene had just set out.

"Save me one," Calen told them. "I like the cinnamon raisin ones…"

"Remember your therapy resumes in a half hour, okay?" the nurse reminded her, wiping sweat from her forhead.

"I'll be there," Calen muttered, wheeling herself back to her bedroom. Once she was gone, the new nurse wiped a hand over her face, and took her coffee into her hand. Gene slathered nearly a quarter inch of cream cheese on an onion bagel, followed by copious amounts of jam. He had devoured half of it before Terri moved in and sat near him.

"You practically inhaled that," Terri pointed out.

"I was hungry…" he protested, through mouthfuls.

"Watching you eat sometimes is a grandstand event, I don't know whether to be amazed or disgusted… don't do that!" she groaned when he reached into the cream cheese with a jelly smeared knife from the first half.

"Just seeing if you're watching, sweetheart…" he winked at her.

"You see what I have to put up with," Terri joked.

"At least I'm already housebroken," Gene laughed, then pulled Terri toward him by the front of her robe. He pressed a cream cheese and jelly loaded kiss to her lips messily.

"Watch it our I'll get the newspaper!"

"I wish that was the least of my problems," the nurse sighed deeply, her hand shaking the coffee cup.

"Hey, are you ok?" Gene asked, putting his half of the bagel down.

"I… well… I'm just a replacement for today. Angela's taking a day off…" she said.

"What's wrong? Something wrong with Calen?" Gene asked.

"Well I don't know… I jumped at the chance to spend time on this assignment… you see I'm a huge fan… I've seen her on Voyager and the Practice… but I didn't think… didn't think…"

"What's wrong?" Terri demanded. "Take a deep breath…"

"I didn't wanna make a huge deal outta it, but Angela had warned me that she could be difficult. I didn't want to believe it… and I half wanted to tell Calen that Angela had been bitching about her behind her back…"

"With Angela that's no surprise," Gene muttered, before Terri held up a hand to shush him.

"Angela had written all over her notes something that really pissed me off. She had written some stuff about Calen that is totally not true…"

"What stuff?" Gene asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She wrote that Calen was difficult, hard to work with, had a poor work ethic, and that was hindering her progress."

"Really?" Terri asked. Gene's gaze darkened perceptibly.

"Anything else?" Gene asked, voice eerily quiet.

"She wrote something about Calen's progress being hindered because of too many 'outside influences' including difficult friends who were coddling Calen. And since you and Terri are here I assumed that she must have referred to you two..."

"Aww shit, that does it," Gene growled. "Where does she get off saying that crap?"

"Easy Gene…Did anything else happen?"

"Calen had asked if we could skip the leg exercises."

"Really? Why?" Gene asked. "Did she say why?"

"She said she was never going to walk again anyway, so why should she even bother… and I told her some mobility might be regained with a lot of hard work. She tried very hard, but she couldn't feel a thing in her legs… that makes me concerned. Why Angela was bitching bout Calen, and how Calen was so sweet and nice to work with and Angela missed this!"

"I dunno, what was it you said that Angela said?" Terri suddenly asked.

"She said she was having problems because Calen was being difficult…. She claimed that calen refused flat out to do the leg flexes. She just has it in her head because she has no sensation in her legs that she'll never get it back. So why should she bother with even trying to get any mobility back… and Angela said she was a bitchy prima donna that didn't want to do shit to work. But Calen really doesn't have any sensation in her legs…"

"Well it's only been a week since her accident," Terri said.

"That's what concerns me… I mean I have seen this before. Accidents don’t' just cause physical harm, they cause psychological as well…"

"I know," Gene said.

"Look, she may look and act like the Calen you know, but she's suffered a lot of trauma. Loosing hope that she could walk again, that’s just starters. I've seen it happen where a person who has every chance of recovering if they work hard… won't because of their own issues… and they need to be in a place where thy can be helped in every way they can…"

"Calen's at home with her friends…"

"Sometimes that's not the best place," Millie said, hesitating. "You might want to consider a full time rehabilitation center… they'll provide an environment where Calen can be around people with similar problems... and they can help out with her if she needs any counseling…"

"I don't know if that's a good idea right now…" Gene said slowly.

"It makes logical sense, Gene," Terri said.

"I don't know…" Gene shook his head.

"It's only a suggestion, I don't want to seem like I'm crying wolf… but I admire Calen a lot and I hate seeing her like this…" Millie said with a look of worry on her face that she had crossed some line she shouldn't.

"WE appreciate the concern, really, Millie," Gene said, patting her hand reassuringly. "And we'll be sure to keep an eye on her if she starts to wig out. But Calen will be okay…"

"I hope so…" Millie said. "Now I've gotta try again…"

Gene exchanged a look with Terri, who was shaking her head at him in disbelief. "What?" he asked. "What's that look for?"

"You just blew her off, Gene. Why?"

"A rehab center?" Gene asked. "I don't know if that's necessary…"

" I'm worried sick when she said Calen didn’t' even want to try to get mobility in her legs back…"

"Yeah," Gene muttered, stroking his goatee. "But can't we just see how it works with her at home…"

"Promise me you'll think again about a rehab center if they don’t?" Terri insisted.

"All right," Gene acquiesced. "But first we deal with Angela…"

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

Angela couldn't figure out why the door was locked the next morning. She had arrived five minutes early, and squaring her shoulders tried to open the door. But it wouldn’t budge.

"Shit," she muttered. Raising her hand she knocked briefly. There came no answer. Drawing in a frustrated sigh, she knocked again, more insistently.

Slowly came a rasp of what sounded like a deadbolt being pulled back, and she hear the click of a chain. The door swung open a crack, and she saw the dark eyes of the man on the other side.

"Uh… the door was locked," Angela began, nervous at the sight of the dark eyes seemed to bore holes in her soul.

"It was for a reason," the answer came.

"Excuse me?" Angela asked, resting a hand on her hip. An impossibly long tongue seemed to flicker out of the man's mouth, wagging from side to side at her. She jumped back in shock a little, and then it registered who the man was.

Gene opened the door a little more, and leaned out. As Angela was about to moved forwards he stopped her with the door and stopped the door with his body. "And where do you think you're going?"

"To work… will you please get out of my way?" she asked.

"Why, am I being a deliberate obstruction? Will I coddle your patient?' Gene taunted, licking his lips.

"What are you talking about…"

A laugh came from inside the house, followed by a stifled chortle. "Mr. Simmons, if you don't mind… I need to treat a patient…"

"Why would you want to work with such a difficult person anyway?" he laughed in her face. "It's obvious she's got a shitty work ethic. Isn't that what is going through your head right now little girl?"

"I beg your pardon," Angela gritted, stiffening. "But you have a lot of nerve…"

"Ohh no little girl. I think you're the one that has some nerve… and if you knew what was good for you you'd turn that pretty little ass of yours around and get back into your little car and drive back to the agency right now…"

"Are you threatening me?"

"No…" Gene said with a slow smirk. "I'm firing you."

"You… are firing me?" Angela snapped, unable to believe what she had just heard. "And what makes you think you can…"

"He can, and he is," someone laughed, stifling. Behind him Calen pulled up in her wheelchair, and fixed Angela in a confident gaze.

"Excuse me… Miss McGregor…"

"You heard the man. You're fired," Calen said as pleasantly as she could.

"You can't do this!" Angela spluttered.

"I can, and I am," Gene responded.

"Do you know the way out, or does one of us have to show you?" Calen asked. Terri moved out from around Calen, and grabbed a shocked Angela by the arm and marched her down the stairs to her car. Protesting, Angela shouted various obscenities but couldn't quite break Terri's firm grip.

Calen couldn't hold back the laughter when she and Gene exchanged amused looks. "That was totally satisfying," Gene commented, brushing his hands together.

"You enjoyed that all right, but so did I!" Calen giggled, whacking the back of his thighs.
 
 

Chapter 13

In the midst of sleep, Gene stirred. He heard a scream, muffled but distinct and sat bold upright in bed. Beside him, Terri jolted out of a sound sleep. Gene leaned over and pressed a kiss to her ear.

"That sounded like…" Terri got out.

"Calen. Here, let me handle this," Gene said. "I'll be back, okay…"

Terri watched as Gene pulled the covers back, and grabbed his bathrobe. Throwing it on, he almost stumbled out of the room. He rushed down the back stairs to the guestroom off the kitchen.

Calen gripped her bedspread, ringing it through her hands as she felt the tears sting her eyes. "No, no, no," she moaned. "Don't…"

"Calen… are you okay, we heard you…" Gene got out as he sat on the side of the bed. "Are you hurt…"

"No… no," Calen sobbed, and clung to Gene's chest as he put his arms around her.

"Wake up, it's only a bad dream, you're safe… you're here…" Gene urged. Her grip on the front of his robe tightened, and he stroked her hair softly as he pressed a kiss to her forhead.

"Gene…" she painted, calming down as her hazel eyes opened and registered them. "Thank God… I…"

"Shh, it' s okay, it's me… you're at home, and you're in your guestroom…Easy baby, what's wrong… that was one hell of a scream you gave us…" Gene asked her, shushing her still.

"I had a nightmare," Calen sighed foolishly. Gene rocked Calen in his arms, still stroking her hand and her back to quiet her.

"Wanna tell me what it was about?"

"I can't remember," Calen said slowly. "It just… the sense of fear I had when I woke up… and then I was crying… but I can't remember it. It's just fading away…"

"Shh, it's okay…" Gene shushed her again. "You're here, and you're safe with us…."

"I… am so glad you are here Gene. You and Terri both have been wonderful," Calen told him, hazel eyes moist with tears as she smiled. She rested her head against his chest and steadied her shaking body against him.

"Hey, what are friends for?" Gene asked her. "Are you sure that you can't remember what that nightmare was about… why it upset you so much?"

"No… I can't," Calen said. "I just can't remember… and even if I could I wouldn't want to…"

"Okay…" Gene said, feeling as if she was holding something back. Yet he wasn't sure now was the time to confront her about it.

"You sure are getting a workout because of me," Calen managed to joke. "Waking you up at all hours of the night…"

"Don’t sweat it," Gene said, holding her close. The feel of her warmth through her nightgown gladdened him, and made him shiver. They sat there quietly, not Unnoticed, Terri continued to look at them both through the half-opened door. A lump formed in her throat that choked off any words she could say. Quietly as she could she left them there together.

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

Finally when Calen had gone to sleep, Gene stole back to the bedroom. It was dark, and he found himself thinking about the last few days. He had helped Calen to the bathtub while Terri had assisted her with fetching various herbal soaps and shampoo that night. After a round of physical therapy that had been most grueling, Calen insisted on a hot bath. The past three days had been a combination of pain and agony as she refused to push any harder then she had to. Gene insisted on taking most of the coaching of her physical therapy. Terri assisted when she could, but kept a low profile, saying very little.

Too little. She was cheerful and polite to Calen, but something was on Terri's mind, Gene reflected. And there seemed distance between the two of them lately. Some nights either one was so tired from helping Calen through the rigors of the day that both went right to sleep without making love. Neither one had initiated sex in the last week, and Gene was missing it, badly. It was time for him to take drastic action, and now was as good a time as any.

"Hey, baby… feeling frisky tonight?" Gene asked.

He threw off his robe, and sat down on his side of the bed. Slipping under the covers, he reached for her. Something else was missing too, he realized. He reached beside him to feel the bed empty. Momentarily he panicked, but then felt the sheets mussed where she must have laid down. The bathroom light was off, so he wondered where she was. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and he sat up to see her silhouette eclipsing the door momentarily.

"There you are," he said, rubbing his eyes in the dim light. "I was worried…"

"I was just coming back…"

"I wasn't sure if you'd just gone to the bathroom, or something else," Gene said softly. "Did Calen need something else…"

"No," Terri said. "I just can't seem to sleep…"

"Why don't you come over here and let me see what I can do about that?" Gene cooed, his voice low and seductive. In the dark she saw his hand extending as he pulled the sheets aside, and patted the bed next to him. Terri took his offered hand and settled next to him, and he wrapped the sheets around them both. Into his arms he drew her, seeking her lips in the darkness.

She sighed at the feel of his tongue tracing down the sensitive rim of her ear, and his lips nibbling on her earlobe. For some reason all she could do was lay there as he worked his magic upon her, hands caressing her breasts slowly as he shifted her under his weight. It felt so good, and yet something was preventing her from fully enjoying it as she normally would. Even his deep sweet kiss was met only with a half-hearted return from her, and she felt a stab of guilt at her lack of reaction. But she couldn't help it.

"You not into it tonight?" he asked her again, whispering against her ear.

"I don't know…" Terri answered. "I'm sorry… I just…"

"Don't apologize. Something's wrong, isn't it?"

"Is it that obvious?" Terri replied. How well he knew her, she reflected in some distant dispassionate corner of her mind.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. Why are you holding back? I'm gonna think you don't like me anymore," he teased.

"It's not that Gene, believe me… I just…"

"Please tell me," Gene implored, pulling her close to his body and resting her head on his chest. Fondly he stroked fingers through her hair, pushing it out her face. "You know you can tell me anything, sweetheart."

"It's going to sound stupid Gene…"

"Try me…"

"Are you in love with Calen?"

"What?" he asked, sitting bold upright. "Why do you ask that?"

"I knew it would sound stupid…" she sighed, turning away from him.

"Terri, help me here. Are you jealous of her or something? You know I love you…"

"I'm not so much jealous. I just want to know what she means to you… do you love her?"

"I love her yeah…" Gene admitted, after a pause. She saw the shadow of his dark hair.

"What is she to you? I just want to know…"

"She's a friend. A very close friend. I've known her and admired her for years…" said Gene, stroking Terri's arm. "But if you're worried about…"

"I just wondered if you had ever wanted to go to bed with her or something," Terri asked him.

"I'd be lying if I said no," Gene admitted.

"She's an incredible woman," Terri answered.

"So are you. And I'm in love with you, not her. I love her, but in a very different way. It's hard to explain. But you don't have to feel threatened by it…"

"I just don't want to lose you Gene," Terri answered plaintively.

"What makes you think you will?" he demanded. "It's worked so far. I mean so far the groupies and the starlets haven't gotten you worked up… anymore… and you know that they don’t mean what you do to me. So why is this any different?"

"I don't know… I know it's awful, but I guess I wish I had what you and she had…"

"And what do you think that is?" Gene asked, turning her over to face him.

"That look on your face when you thought she might have been the victim of fowl play. It looked almost exactly like the look of rage Steve had…"

"Terri, you and I connect in a different way. What you and I have, it wouldn't be the same as what she and I share. We're very close friends, and that's it."

"I'm just not used to this. I feel like I'm getting in the way when I'm around you two lately…" Terri whispered, her chin wobbling as her teeth clenched.

She felt him pin her to the bed with one of his marvelous thighs, stroking it over her shivering legs invitingly. Hands caressed her breasts lovingly, teasing her sensitive nipples and neck. He traced down her cheek with the back of his hand, pressing a soft kiss to her forhead and nose. "Don't think that for a minute, Terri. I love you and I need you now more then ever."

"I know that Gene. I just wish I didn't feel like this… I'm not used to this. I like Calen a lot and I think it's great you and she are so close… I just…"

"Shh…" Gene whispered, putting a finger over her lips. "I want you to do something for me… right now."

"What?" Terri asked.

"Make love to me," he pleaded. Terri melted under his soft insistence, unable to resist the low growl to his voice that drove shivers all over the nether regions of her body. Gene pressed a firm hungry kiss to her lips, easing his tongue into her mouth. She let out a cry of passion at the soft caresses of his hands on her flesh. It was not animalistic passion, but a genuine need for affection that passed between them now.

"Gene… how can I refuse?" she choked, tears in her eyes as he kissed her neck, then moved down to her breasts tenderly. He worked his way to her belly, and she reached up to caress hands through his soft hair. Before he could reach between her legs she stopped him, and pulled him up toward her for a moment. Seizing his face she pressed a kiss to his lips, plunging her tongue into his mouth this time. Her arms wrapped him close and held her to him as she breathed in his ear. Gene's groan of relief was addictive, and he pulled her to lie on top of him. She straddled him, stroking her hair down his belly as she kissed his chest tenderly.

They merged in the dark, his upward thrusts slow and deliberate as she received him. Her release was just as slow and sweet, her whole body tensing on top of his at the moment of her orgasmic peak. She threw back her head and let out a loud cry of release she didn’t dare stifle. Exhausted, she lay atop him panting and kissed him softly.

"I love you baby, don't ever doubt that for a minute," Gene whispered to her.

"I know, I love you too," she whispered back, running her fingers up and down his sweat soaked chest lightly.

"Maybe you should tell Calen how you feel," Gene suggested, stroking her hair. "I'm glad you told me. I don't want you to feel you can't tell me these things, because I want you to be honest. Even if they do sound silly they probably aren't."

"Why?"

"Well then you'll find out how she feels, for you own piece of mind, and not jump to conclusions that make you miserable," Gene said.

"Thank you…" she whispered, and Gene pulled her down to kiss her again. She was about to move off of him so he would be more comfortable but Gene stopped her.

"Stay where you are baby," he urged. "Just relax. I like the way you feel around me, remember?"

"Yes, I do," she chuckled, as Gene pulled her into place again and she lay her head on his chest. Soon they were both fast asleep in each other's arms.