“The command part of my brain knows that I’d make the same decision again about the execution of the operation.” Reese rested her forehead against Tory’s wearily. “But I don’t mind telling you, I was scared there for a minute.”

“Me too. But she’s going to be okay,” Tory lifted an arm to check her watch. “I should go relieve KT. In another couple of hours, if Bri is still stable, we can take her home.”

Reese kissed Tory, gently but firmly, running her hands up and down Tory’s back possessively. “I love you. Thank you for taking care of Bri. Thank you…for Reggie and…” Her voice failing, Reese turned her face to Tory’s neck to hide the tears that blindsided her.

Shocked, Tory stroked the back of Reese’s neck, her lips pressed to Reese’s temple. “Darling, what is it?”

“When I saw her down…the blood everywhere, I thought we were going to lose her. I couldn’t let her die I couldn’t even fathom it.” She lifted her head, her blue eyes black with stunned awareness. “Because I don’t know what I would’ve done. All my training, all my life, I’ve been prepared to lose people. But you and Regina…and Bri…I couldn’t handle it” Embarrassed as well as tired and stressed, Reese put her head down on Tory’s shoulder again.

“It’s all right, darling.” Tory held her tightly. “It’s all right.”

Finally, Reese straightened, smiling faintly. “Why don’t you get some rest? I can watch Bri as long as you tell me what to look for. Then KT and Pia can go home too.”

“I’m fine for a few more hours. I got a little sleep last night.” Tory stood, bringing Reese up with her. She kissed her lover and stroked her cheek. “But you can sit with us if you don’t think you can sleep.”

Reese took her hand. “I don’t want to be away from you right now.”

Tory linked her fingers with Reese’s. “Good. Then let’s go take care of Bri.”

It was very nearly dawn as KT and Pia walked down the path to Pia’s cottage. When they reached the porch, KT stopped and took Pia’s hand.

“I don’t quite know how to tell you what it meant to me that you were there tonight.” Struggling to put words to emotions so foreign to her, KT kissed Pia gently. “I felt you, your faith in me and your certainty inside. I…needed that.”

“I’m glad I was there, too,” Pia replied, moving closer and wrapping her arms around KT’s waist. She settled her head on KT’s shoulder. “You would’ve been fine no matter what, but if I helped, I’m glad. You were wonderful.”

KT laughed and kissed the top of Pia’s head. “For a one-handed surgeon, I guess I did okay.”

Pia lifted her head and tapped KT’s chin with a ringer for emphasis. “You won’t be one-handed forever.”

“Somehow, I think we’ve had this conversation before.” KT kissed Pia again, a longer, more probing kiss, before she drew away. “I know you’re probably tired, but I don’t want to say goodbye right now.”

“No,” Pia said softly, “neither do I.”

Holding one another securely, they made their way inside.

“Nelson,” Tory murmured, shaking the sheriff gently.

“Huh?” Nelson’s eyes opened, and he shot upright, instantly looking toward his daughter, who slept a few feet away. “What?”

“She’s fine. You need to go home and get some sleep.” Tory tilted her chin toward the other officer curled up on a portable stretcher nearby. “And Allie needs the day off, at least. I’ll take her home with me. She’s only going to be hanging around the house asking after Bri anyhow.”

“Yeah,” Nelson said, his voice rough with sleep and worry. “The two of them are going to wear me out.”

Tory laughed quietly. “I won’t disagree with you.”

As they talked, Reese leaned over the patient and whispered, “Hey, Bri.”

After a moment, Bri opened her eyes and frowned, struggling to focus on Reese’s face. “Hi.” Her voice was weak, but her eyes were clear. “He didn’t…get away…did he?”

“Not a chance.” Reese squeezed Bri’s shoulder. “He never moved after you put him down. They’ve got him up at Wellfleet while we sort out all the details. How are you feeling?”

Bri appeared to give that serious thought. The sheet covering her twitched as she moved her arms and legs, “I’m okay, I think. What happened?”

“You got dinged up, but Tory and KT took care of things. It’s not bad.”

“I feel…sort of weak.” To demonstrate, she tried to sit up and failed.

“Hey,” Reese cautioned. “You’re not ready to move around yet. We’re going to take you to our place so you can recuperate for a while.”

“Nobody told Carre about this, did they?” Bri said anxiously. “I don’t want her to be scared.”

“It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.” Reese bent down close to Bri’s ear, one hand smoothing back her damp hair. “I’ll take care of talking to Caroline. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”

“Thanks. Okay…thanks.” Bri closed her eyes and, a moment later, drifted off.

Pia and KT faced one another across the bed, the room aglow in the dawn light, the air alive with the fresh scent of the sea. The town still slept.

“You must be exhausted,” Pia said quietly as she unbuttoned her blouse, her eyes on KT’s face.

“You too.” KT unbuckled her belt, then opened her pants. She hesitated before removing them. “Everything?”

“Yes,” Pia replied with a soft smile.

KT pushed down her trousers and underwear, then stepped free of the crumpled clothes along with her shoes and socks. Deftly, she unbuttoned her shirt but left it hanging open as she watched Pia’s blouse drift down her arms and fall away behind her.

With a hand behind her back, Pia loosed the clasp on her bra and drew it from her breasts. She watched KT’s face, saw her eyes flicker down. When KT’s lips parted with a quiet sigh, a flush of heat kindled in Pia’s belly. Slowly, she lowered her jeans and underwear over her hips. The corner of her mouth lifted in a smile as KT stood frozen in place, her expression one of stunned pleasure. “Your shirt.”

“What?” KT asked, her tone befuddled. Pia was beautiful, just as she knew she would be. But it wasn’t the loveliness of her body or the wondrous smoothness of her skin that made her head spin, but her own amazement that she should be so lucky. So lucky that Pia should allow her, with all her failings and failures, to be the one to touch her first. She sought Pia’s eyes. “Thank you.”

It was Pia’s turn to grow still, her heart hammering wildly as the flutter of pleasure in her depths soared into a thousand wings beating through her blood. “If I feel this way from just your eyes on me, I won’t survive your hands.”

“Before I touch you,” KT whispered, shrugging her shirt from her shoulders to stand exposed, “I need to tell you something.”

“You don’t,” Pia whispered gently. She extended her hand across the bed.

KT took a step closer, her fingertips a breath away from Pia’s. “Pia.”

“Just come to me.”

KT took Pia’s hand, her eyes holding Pia’s, and said, “I love you.”

Naked, Tory slipped into bed with a long sigh. She slid across the cool crisp sheets toward Reese and fit herself to the curve of her lover’s body. She kissed Reese’s shoulder, then settled her cheek against Reese’s chest.

“Are they both asleep?” Reese asked quietly, curling her arm around Tory’s back and resting her hand just beneath Tory’s left breast.

“Yes. Allie’s sacked out on the couch and Bri seems to be resting pretty comfortably. How was Regina?”

Reese smiled. “Hungry. Once she ate, she went right back to sleep. I’m surprised, since Jean said she slept all night.”

“I think she senses that we’re all going to be sleeping late today.”

“Do you think she really can tell if there’s something going on?”

“Babies are intuitive. The house is quiet, our routine is different. She’ll sense that.”

“That’s amazing.” Reese nuzzled her face in Tory’s hair, breathing the fresh scent of her shampoo. “You were great last night with Bri. With everyone.”

“Everyone was great. KT did an incredible job with Bri’s injury, even with only one hand.”

“Do think she’s going to be able to operate again?”

“I think if Pia has anything to do with it, she will.” Now that she had a moment to reflect on the tumultuous evening, Tory realized there had been an unspoken communication between Pia and KT that was obviously strong and unexpectedly tender. “Ah.”

“What?” Reese asked drowsily, smoothing her palm over the arch of Tory’s breast.

“KT and Pia.”

“KT and Pia what?” Reese shifted, sliding one leg between Tory’s and brushing her lips over Tory’s. She was about to deepen the kiss when she made the connection. She pulled back and studied Tory’s face. “You mean KT and Pia as in…together?”

“I think so. KT mentioned something about being interested in Pia, but I didn’t think it would go anywhere.”

“Why not?”

Tory was silent, absently drawing strands of Reese’s hair through her fingers. She thought about the woman she had known so many years ago, before the relentless pace of KT’s singular drive to succeed had come between them. She remembered tenderness and laughter and the warm sense of belonging. KT had had all of those qualities and even moments of uncertainty when she had turned to Tory for encouragement and support. Tory had seen glimpses of that woman tonight. “I was wrong, thinking that KT and Pia wouldn’t be good together.”

Reese settled onto her back and pulled Tory into her arms, cradling her close. “People change.”

“You won’t, will you?” Tory murmured, circling her palm over Reese’s chest.

“My life already changed forever when I met you. And nothing will ever change the way I feel about you.”

“I love you so much.” Tory kissed Reese’s neck and closed her eyes, certain, secure, and forever safe in their love.

Still holding hands, KT and Pia slid beneath the sheets and turned to face one another. KT leaned forward and softly kissed Pia. The only points of contact between them were their lips and their fingertips. Despite the minimal physical connection, KT felt her body roar to life. She pulled back, her breath nearly deserting her.