What she hadn’t expected was the tenderness and understanding in KT’s eyes when they met in the hall.

“Hey, Vic,” KT said softly, closing the chart she was studying and sliding it into a slot on the closed door beside her. “How are you doing?”

Tory shook her head and walked past her into her office. When KT followed, she held out a hand behind her. “Go back to work. I’m all right.”

KT closed the door. “That’s crap.” She carefully took Tory by the shoulders and turned her to face her. Then she skimmed her fingers over Tory’s cheek and into her hair. “You never could lie to me.”

Tory smiled shakily. “You’re such an arrogant bastard.”

KT grinned. “And you always loved that about me.”

“True.” Tory looped her arms loosely around KT’s waist and rested her head against her shoulder. “I don’t know why I’m so scared. There are thousands of men and women over there. Trained to do this job. The casualty rate is very low.”

“Because you and I know that statistics are meaningless.” KT lightly stroked Tory’s hair. “We deal with tragedy every day. Meaningless events that defy rationalization. We know that one in a million is an empty statistic if it happens to you or someone you love. It’s an occupational hazard, Vic. That’s what’s got you so bent out of shape.” She skimmed her hand down Tory’s back and up again, a gentle caress. “That and the fact that you love her like crazy and you’ve never been apart before.”

Tory leaned back, her hands on KT’s hips. “Pia has been very good for you.”

KT pretended to be affronted. “Now that hurts.”

“You’re right, about all of it. But the part about us never being separated before…you wouldn’t have gotten that a year ago. It’s because you understand”…she touched KT’s chest above her heart…“in here, about being in love.”

“Tory,” KT said tenderly, her eyes troubled. “You know I lo…”

“Loved me?” Tory touched KT’s cheek. “Of course I know. I loved you. Still do.” She laughed. “I wouldn’t have been able to say that a year ago. So maybe we both found places inside ourselves these past years that let us love differently.”

“Okay,” KT said, her voice tight. “I can buy that. Differently. Not better.”

Tory smiled. “Speaking of Pia, why don’t you go now and spend the rest of your weekend with her.”

“There’s a hell of a patient list still to go through. I can stay.”

Tory shook her head. “No. It’s good of you, really. I know what your days are like in the trauma center. You need this time to unwind. And you need to be with Pia.” She rested her fingers against KT’s chest again. “And she needs you. Go home.”

“Thanks, Vic.” KT kissed Tory’s cheek and then shrugged out of her lab coat. “When do you expect to hear from Reese?”

“Today, I hope. When she arrives. She said she’d call if she could.”

“If she could? What the hell does that mean?”

“I gathered things are moving quickly, and she’s going to be right in the thick of it as soon as she arrives. She can’t always…”

“Oh, that’s just cra…”

“Why you so angry with her?” Tory asked mildly.

“Because she hurt you, God damn it. This whole war business, it’s just ego and politics.”

“That may be,” Tory said, “but it’s not Reese’s doing or her fault.”

KT scowled. “She should’ve gotten out when the baby was born.”

“Maybe,” Tory conceded. “Neither of us wanted to believe this was really going to happen, and I couldn’t ask her to give up something that was part of her.”

KT made a disbelieving sound.

“I know you don’t understand it, but part of the reason I love her is because she believes in things like duty and responsibility.”

“I get that,” KT said. “Sort of.”

“You should. I fell in love with you for the same reason.”

“Oh, unfair.”

Tory smiled. “Go home, KT. Go home and tell Pia how much you love her.”

“Okay,” KT said grudgingly. “Tell Reese I said hi, and to get her goddamn ass back here soon.”

“Oh,” Tory said softly as KT left. “I surely will.”

Chapter Fourteen

Tory closed her eyes and dropped her head onto the back of her chair. The headache that had been threatening for the last three hours had finally erupted as a staccato burst of light and fury behind her eyes. She groaned softly and tried not to think about the fact that she had three more patients to see and it was almost nine p.m. Somehow the afternoon and evening had gotten away from her, but despite the breakneck pace, she had not been able to keep Reese out of her thoughts. Whenever she stepped away from a patient to jot a note in a file or search for a lab report, she remembered that when she finally went home, Reese would not be there to hold her. She hadn’t realized how much she had come to depend upon Reese’s strength and utter constancy. Without Reese near, she felt frighteningly unsteady.

Opening her eyes, Tory reached for the next chart. She had patients who relied upon her, a daughter who needed her, and a lover who trusted her to get through whatever lay ahead for them. And that’s exactly what she intended to do. She opened the chart and withdrew the patient’s most recent EKG. When the phone rang, she reached for it absently, her attention on the report.

“Dr. King.”

“Hi,” Reese said.

Tory dropped the chart and sat up straight. “Reese? Are you at the base?”

“For a few more hours, then I’m shipping out. How are you?”

“Oh God, I miss you.” It hadn’t been what she’d meant to say, but the sound of Reese’s voice made her forget her resolutions.

“Same here. I don’t suppose that’s going to change any time soon.”

“No, I guess not,” Tory said with a small smile. “I’m so glad you called.”

“Still seeing patients?”

“Mmm.”

“Tor,” Reese said, her voice low and husky, “it’s late. You should be home.”

“Almost. Just a few more minutes,” Tory said, feeling a little bit of her world slide back into place with the familiar sound of Reese’s concern. “How about you? Is everything all right?”

“Fine. Just a little hectic.”

“Is your father there?”

“No,” Reese said. “I have a message to call him as soon as I arrive.”

Tory laughed. “Insubordinate already, Colonel?”

“I needed to hear your voice.”

Tory caught her breath. “Oh, sweetheart. Me, too.”

“So,” Reese said after a few seconds of silence, “I guess I can expect Reggie to be spoiled beyond recognition, what with all the time she’ll be spending with Kate and Jean.”

“Undoubtedly.”

Reese laughed. “Small price to pay. I’m glad you have them. That we have them.”

“I’d be lost without their help.”

“I’m sorry, Tor…”

“We’re past that now, sweetheart. We love you. All of us, so much.”

“I love you too, baby.”

Tory closed her eyes, imagining Reese’s face, absorbing the sound of her voice as if it were a touch. “Can you tell me anything? Where you’re going? What you’ll be doing?”

“I’ll be onboard ship for the next week or so until we reach Mosul, and then our unit is headed for Baghdad.”

“Well,” Tory said, clenching the pen she held in her right hand so hard her fingers ached, “I’m not surprised.”

“We’ll mostly be doing cleanup, Tor…transport, escort, and containment. The main resistance is broken.”

“Of course. I know.” Tory didn’t believe her. She watched television. She listened to the news. She knew it wasn’t that simple, but she wasn’t going to argue. Reese was trying to protect her, and she needed to believe that she could. She needed to be secure in the knowledge that Tory was all right. Tory inhaled slowly and forced a note of lightness into her voice. “Still, you’ll probably be busy polishing whatever it is that you Marines polish with such devotion, so I won’t worry if you don’t call every day.”

Reese laughed. “Phone calls might be tricky, but everything is computerized. I’ll e-mail as often as I can. Just don’t worry if you don’t hear from me…”

“I understand,” Tory said quickly, wondering how in God’s name she was going to stand not knowing what was happening to her over there. “I’ve got a message for you from KT.”

“Oh yeah?”

Tory smiled at the faint edge in her lover’s usually calm voice. Although Reese and KT got along well, they were too much alike not to feel the tiniest bit competitive. “She said to tell you to get your ass back…no…your goddamn ass back as soon as possible. I agree.”

“You can tell her from me that’s at the top of my list.” After another pause, Reese said, “I’ve got to go, Tor.”

The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach hit so fast, Tory was nauseous. She dropped her pen and pressed her hand hard against her abdomen, waiting for the sensation to pass before trying to speak. “I love you.”

“That’s just what I need.” Reese cleared her throat. “Kiss Reggie for me.”

“I will.”

“I love you, Tory. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Bye, darling.”

“Bye, baby.”

The line went dead and Tory dropped the receiver onto the desk. She pressed both hands to her eyes and took deep breaths, willing the sick surge of panic to dissipate. She’s going to be fine. She won’t get hurt. She’ll come home soon. Nothing will happen to her.

“Tory?” Randy said tentatively from the doorway. “You okay?”

Tory brushed her palms over her cheeks and sat up. She smiled at her receptionist, who looked worried. “Yes. Just tired.”

“I can reschedule the last three. They’re all regulars.”

With a shake of her head, Tory braced her hands on the desk and pushed herself upright. “No. I’ll see them.”

“Was that Reese?”

“Yes.”

“Is everything okay?” Randy asked softly.

“Just fine.” Wondering when, if ever, she would begin to believe her own lies, Tory lifted a chart from the desk. “Don’t worry. Everything is fine.”