Chapter 18

Steven had survived hell week. Well, sort of, he didn’t know how to spell his own name but he’d get a week of peace before the parents of the children that hadn’t gotten the virus before school started, got it from the kids whose parents sent them to school sick. But that was fine, he had two days off and planned on sleeping at least one, maybe one and a half of them.

He’d just leaned back on his bed sighing with the sheer pleasure of it when the phone rang. “The doctor is unavailable to take your call, go away.” It kept ringing. He grabbed it. “Yeah.”

“Oh! We’re grumpy.” Rachel laughed.

“Hi. Sorry.”

“That’s okay, you know I’m not afraid of your bite.”

He grinned. “I’ll file that for future use.”

“So, you survived?”

Steven opened one eye. “I’m not sure yet.”

She laughed again. “Well, when you didn’t answer the message, I thought I’d better phone.”

He opened both eyes. “Message?”

“On your cell phone.”

He squinted. “I don’t even know where it is presently.”

“I figured as much, so we’ll see you in the morning.”

“For?” He rubbed his eyes, trying to keep them open.

“Brunch. It is Saturday night, Steven.”

“Really? It was only Thursday a few minutes ago.” She was at home calling him on a Saturday night.

“Oh, you poor baby, you’re fried.”

He groaned. “Maybe. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Good.”

He blinked trying to focus. “Sooo, what are your plans for this evening?”

“It’s actually moved onto night now. But I’m sitting here reading.”

“Fuck the time is flying by! Sooo, you wanna come read me a bedtime story?”

Rachel snorted. “You are going to be sleeping before the phone hit the cradle.”

“I’d fight it if I knew you were coming over, Rachel.”

“Go to bed, you crazy man.”

He yawned. “I’m there.”

“Can you open your eyes?”

“Hmm, almost.”

“Bedtime story is postponed until such a time you can.”

He pouted. “Fine.”

“Get some rest, Doc.”

“Kay. Love you, angel. Bye, bye.” He flung his arm out twice until the phone hit the cradle.

Sleep. He sighed and dropped his hands over his eyes. Moving his arms, he flopped his hands onto the bed and then slowly opened his eyes again.

No. Did he just tell her he loved her? No. He sat up and shook his head, dropping back again he groaned. Sleep now, deal with life later. Grunting, he flipped onto his side and closed his eyes.

Steven walked in and was quite pleased he was only a half hour late. Owen grinned at him. “What time did you wake up?”

Steven looked at his watch and sat down. “I’ll let you know when I’m there.”

Chris handed him a cup of coffee. “Rachel just reminded us this was your week of penance for all those past-life sins.”

He took a sip and grinned. “And I was a bad, bad boy in the past few, must have had a hell of a good time.”

Dade laughed. “Just stay off the floor, your ass is heavy.”

Steven grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.” He looked at Cora. “Let’s get the catch up done, how’s the side?”

Cora smiled. “Perfect.”

He looked a Leena and winked. “How’s mom feeling?”

Leena grinned. “Great.”

Next, he turned to Dade. “Any new injuries at work?”

Dade shook his head. “Nope.”

Steven waved a hand at Owen. “And you heal yourself….”

He tilted his head and looked at Kasey. “Any complaints, Kase?”

Kasey looked at Rachel. “Yeah, crazy woman ran over my foot with her forklift.”

Rachel held up two fingers showing the distance. “I missed your foot by at least that much.”

Kasey’s mouth dropped open. “I have the marks on my boots to prove it.”

Rachel threw up her hands. “Serves you right for walking where I’m driving...”

Steven held up a hand. “Shhh, don’t wake the doctor.” They both grinned at him. “Thank you. Can you still run through the house Kasey?”

She nodded and grinned.

“You’re cured,” he stated loudly.

He winked at Rachel. “And other than running down pedestrians, how are you?”

Rachel laughed. “I’m good.”

“Excellent!” Steven turned to Chris last. “And you, councilor, ready for that Viagra yet?”

Everyone started laughing so loud Chris dropped his head and waited for it to calm down. He glared at Steven. “Bastard! You remembered.”

Steven nodded. “Hey, it took me the whole drive here to come up with some sort of set up.” He grinned. “So, are you?”

Chris shrugged. “Perhaps you should ask my finance if I need it.”

All heads swung to Kasey, who blushed so deeply she put her hands over her face and said ‘no’ through them.

Steven chuckled quietly.

Dade held up his hand. “No sex talk at the brunch table.”

Cora grinned. “He’s just grumpy because he wouldn’t have anything to add to the conversation.”

Everyone laughed again while Dade’s mouth dropped open and stared at her.

“Wow.” Rachel clucked her tongue. “You made him speechless, Cora. That takes talent.” She turned to see Steven looking at her. He winked at her and she smiled and turned her eyes back to Dade who was still recovering.

Kasey leaned forward. “We’re going to have a birthday dinner for Chris and Leena next Saturday.”

Leena groaned. “Please isn’t it bad enough I’ll be all fat at my own hand fast, let’s not start discussing my age.”

Owen caressed her hand. “You won’t be fat, baby. You’ll only be what, four months and doesn’t matter you’ll still be the most beautiful woman ever.”

“Aww.” Kasey sighed. “You are so sweet, Owen.” She looked down at Chris and smiled.

Chris sighed. “At least I outdid his proposal.”

Steven leaned back and sighed, “it’s good to be home.”

Cora smiled. “He only said that because we haven’t locked them out of any rooms yet today.”

Dade looked at her. “And that’s not on the agenda, right?”

Cora giggled. “Right.”

Dade leaned back giving her a suspicious look. “New rule. Only one woman at a time can be out of the room.” A grape, a croissant and two crackers came flying at him.

Owen cleared his throat. “Pretty sure that rule was just voted out.”

Dade shrugged. “I tried.”

Chris looked around the room. “Do we have anything important to talk about today, or are we just relaxing for a change?”

“Relaxing has my vote,” Steven sighed.

After several nods, Chris grinned. “Okay, relax it is.”

Steven grabbed another roll. “So, Rach I actually have a whole day off tomorrow, touch wood, is there anything going on at the community center?”

Rachel looked down at her lap. “I dunno haven’t been there in a bit.”

“Well, let me know if you hear of anything.”

Dade watched Steven and set his cup down. “How’s that cute kid doing? Marie wasn’t that her name? She’s pretty sweet.”

Rachel grinned. “Yeah, she’s pretty good. She’s okay I talked to her the other night.” She lifted her head. “Oh, which reminds me.” She looked at Cora. “Connie is finally pregnant.” She glanced at Steven. “I told her to get in touch with you.”

He nodded. “No problem.”

Cora smiled. “That’s wonderful they’ve been trying for years haven’t they.”

Rachel nodded. “Yeah, it’s one of the reasons they take in so many kids, they adore them all.” She looked down.

Cora smiled. “That’s so nice, when did you find out?”

“Last week. Connie’s husband Kyle met me at the hospital. To get…when I picked up some stuff for them and he told me then. He’s walking on cloud nine, it’s really great for them.”

Dade met Steven’s eyes to make sure he had heard all of that. And judging by the eyes he had. Well good. Problem solved.

“Tell Connie to set up something soon. If they’ve been trying for a long time, I’ll want to keep a close eye on things at the beginning.” He smirked at Leena. “Unlike women who don’t even have to try.”

Leena blushed and pointed to Owen. “He’s to blame.”

“Damn right I am.” Owen grunted.

“Okay new topic, all this baby talk just makes me want to drag Chris upstairs right now.” Kasey blushed as she said it.

Chris’s head spun to Kasey. “Really?” He looked around the table. “Go home. Now.”

Kasey’s jaw dropped. “Christopher, behave.”

Chris threw up his hands. “Make up your mind a second ago you wanted to drag me upstairs.”

Steven leaned closer. “She’s thinking baby, you’re thinking sex, you should just sit there until both of you are thinking the same thing.”

Owen smirked. “They kind of are. Sex is how you get the baby.” Leena swatted him.

Rachel dropped her face into her hands and whined. “Stop talking about sex!”

Dade raised his cup. “Here! Here!”

Steven smirked over his cup and stared until Rachel lowered her hands and met his eyes. Someone was missing someone else judging by the look she gave him. Good to know, he thought and grinned at her again before taking a drink.

Rachel rolled her eyes and looked away.

“Have you heard from Patrick?”

Chris turned to look at Steven. “Yes, all is well there, but as far as any new leads, no.”

Steven shook his head. “So, Mabon is what, a little over three weeks away, what then?”

Chris looked around at everyone before answering. “Justin and Gwen are determined to have their usual last gathering of the year.” He shrugged. “And later on, I’ll probably regret this, but I say we go and support them and do our damnedest to catch this fucker.”

Dade cleared his throat. “I spoke to one of the elders from the temple. He’s like myself or was before his arms got too old to drum. It’s his opinion that if Cora picks up on anything I should and it’s not one hundred percent, but I should be able to call him out.”

Steven sat up. “So, if she gets her feelings, you can kind of get a reading on him then and bring the bastard right to us?”

Dade shrugged. “In theory, yes.”

Chris grinned. “Well it’s more than we’ve had this far. I’ll let Patrick know, he’s going to want to be there.”

Steven nodded. “Count me in. The moment I see this sick fuck I’m going to wrap his ass so tight in a funnel of wind he won’t be able to move.”

Leena and Rachel both leaned forward and glared at him.

Steven held up his hands. “I’m in control, relax. Geeze, blow off one door and they become mother hens.”

Rachel threw a croissant and bounced it off his head. “I’ll mother hen you all right.”

“Oh, angel, you’re making me dream again.” He winked at her.

Chris rubbed his hand over his face and looked at Steven. “Aside from Steven’s dream, which somehow leans back towards that topic we aren’t discussing around the brunch table, I think we should go sit down and hash out a solid plan before gathering this time so no one gets hurt.”

Kasey nodded. “Good idea. You four men can clean up in here and we’ll go make some more coffee and tea.” The women nodded and stood up.

“Kassandra? Which room will we find you in?” Chris asked quietly.

Kasey giggled. “The kitchen, silly. The temple room comes later.” She blew him a kiss and walked out.

Steven wasn’t sure what the men had planned, but if he knew them there was something.

Chris glanced towards the door and then to the men as they stacked the dishes. “I think keeping them out of this plan would be best.”

Owen straightened up and looked over at Chris hesitantly. “If they find out …”

“We’re toast,” Dade added.

Steven rubbed his forehead. “I…”

“Better be going to say your idea sucks, Chris.”

He spun to see Rachel standing there with her hands on her hips. “Angel…” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I was going to say we needed you ladies to get the bastard.”

She scowled. “Really?”

He nodded.

Chris laughed.

Rachel looked at Chris. “Shall I call Kasey in?”

Chris shook his head and stuck his hands in his pockets. “No, I was mistaken…”

Kasey walked in. “Christopher.”

He raised his hands. “Fine, the eight of us will figure this out.” He squinted at her. “You sneaky witches set me up, didn’t you?”

Kasey shrugged, “we bet you’d be the first to mention it, after Dade.”

“Witches!” Dade grumbled.

“Yep,” Steven said. “Can’t live with them...”

“Can’t live without them,” Chris muttered.

Steven stood in the hall waiting for Rachel to come out of the bathroom. When she did, she looked at him with surprise.

“Were you waiting for me?”

He nodded, as he closely looked her over. She looked wore down. “I’ve missed you.”

“Hmm.”

He feigned a pout. “That’s all I get is hmm?” Pulling her into his arms, he held her against him. He just needed to hold her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “I’ve really missed you,” he whispered. She just stayed there in his arms. He wished they weren’t in a house with six other people. He wanted to take her home. “Come home with me later.”

Rachel leaned back and looked up at him. “Steven, I’d like to, really, but not right now.”

“Why?”

“I just can’t right now.”

He ran his hands down her arm. “Why not, Rachel?”

She sighed. “Things have changed. I’ve changed.”

“What’s changed?” He wanted to kiss her and then carry her out of here, just be alone with her.

“Everything, I just can’t right now.”

He fought down panic and the slight tinge of anger. “Angel, I just want to spend some time with you.” He caressed her cheek. “Don’t shut me out please.”

She held his hand against her cheek. “I’m not, I just need some time.”

Steven stood there looking down at her for a moment more before Dropping his hand and stepping back. “Okay.” She looked up at him with those sleepy eyes and his heart flipped in his chest.

“Thank you.”

Draping his arm around her shoulder, they started walking back into the others. “You really have to stop thanking me all the time, it’s giving me a complex.”

She looked up at him and quietly laughed.

He wanted the other Rachel back, and didn’t know how to accomplish that.