I kissed her gently on the lips, then pulled away, my hands going to her tee, slowly lifting it from the bottom. She obediently lifted her arms, and I pulled the shirt over her head, and tossed it to the floor. I could see her nipples were erect through the material of her bra. I took a step closer to her, wrapping my arms around her, my fingers working with the hooks of it.

As I worked at it, Haley lowered her head, and caught my lips, her hands moving to my tank, sliding up underneath to caress my back. The kiss was slow, neither of us in a hurry as we tasted, felt, explored.

The bra came loose, and I brought my hands up to her shoulder, fingers touching the strap of it, gently pushing them down off her shoulder, and down her arms. She closed her eyes as her breasts were exposed to me.

I brought my hands up, touching them, just above the curve, taking in a breath at the softness of them. I had waited so long for this. I wanted her to go away knowing that I did care, I do care.

Bending my head down, I nuzzled the erect nipple with my lips, smiling at the sharp intake of breath. I felt Haley’s hands in my hair, running her fingers through it. I slid my tongue out, just the tip, and swiped it across the rigid peak of one of the breasts, then took the entire nipple into my mouth, gently sucking it in.

"Oh, god," Haley moaned. "Baby, I want to feel you. Please."

With one last lick, I looked at her, seeing the fire that burned in her eyes, causing fresh sparks to boil my blood.

Feeling suddenly very urgent, I grabbed her shorts, tugging them down her legs, as she kicked them off, and I tugged at my own, desperate to get them off, feeling as if they were constraining me.

We met again, our naked bodies coming together, causing Haley to moan, our kiss fiery and desperate, hands everywhere, Haley thrusting herself into me. I turned and pushed her onto the mattress, the urgency taking over as I spread her legs, fitting myself between them, pressing a hand to her, feeling how ready for me she was. God, she was so wet.

Pressing against her, taking her, letting her know she belonged to me, no matter what happened, I didn’t want her to ever forget this, or me.

She screamed out as she came, clutching me with claw-like fingers, but I didn’t care. Our mouths came together, her tongue forcing its way into mine, rolling us over so she was laying on top of me. She brought her mouth to my breast, slowly, unsure of what she was doing, she took my painfully hard nipple into her mouth, the warmth of it adding even more anguish to my aching body, and sucking on it as I had done hers.

My eyes closed, my hips bucking off the bed. I had nearly come when she had, and was certainly on the verge now. I reached down, taking her hand, and shoving it between my legs. Getting the hint, Haley used her fingers, at first feeling around.

"My god. You’re so wet, so hot," She looked at me with awe and wonder. "All because of me?" I nodded.

"Oh, yeah,"

She turned her attention back to my breast, getting bolder with every thrust of my body as her fingers played, paying careful attention to what made me jump or moan the most, and then sticking with it, stroking me until she left my breast, and watched her hand at work, fascinated by what she was capable of doing with just two fingers.

I clutched the sheets in my hands, my head arching back, eyes closed as I exploded. In moments I felt Haley on top of me, a hot tongue on my neck, licking and sucking its way up to my ear, then sucking on the lobe, my legs wrapping themselves around her waist, pulling her body into mine.

Haley’s mouth found my own as she began to press against me, the pressure on her pubic bone from mine, making her move a little. I could feel wetness gathering again, but had no idea if it was mine, or if it was hers. I knew I was ready again, so figured it was both.

Haley pushed herself to her elbows, moving her hips against me, my legs unwrapping themselves from around her, but spreading wider so more of me was exposed to her. She groaned, thrusting harder against me, my hands trailing down her back, what nails I did have finding purchase in the skin. Her mouth found mine again, our breathing heavy, nearly stopping our kissing all together as we fought to breathe.

I could feel the building sensations again, and knew I was really close, and from the momentum that Haley was getting, I knew she was, too. She slammed into me, our bellies slapping together as she thrust, harder and harder until she squeezed her eyes tightly shut, mouth open as she exploded, me not far behind.

I pulled Haley to me, her body completely collapsing onto mine. I wrapped myself around her, needing to feel her close, her naked skin, everything about her. I could smell our combined scents in the air; this only added to my libido, but right now all I wanted to do was hold her.

My hands ran up and down her back, tracing random patterns on her skin when I felt her body shake, wracking against me.

I pulled her to me, understanding without her having to say a word. I began to caress her hair, my fingers getting lost in the dark, tangled strands, then I pushed, turning us over so Haley was laying on the bed. She looked up at me, her eyes an electric blue from the crying. I kissed her gently, her kissing me back, her hands on my skin, running her nails over my arms, shoulders and back.

I placed a leg between hers, and gently, slowly began to move my body. Immediately I felt her moving, too. The rhythm was slow, lazy. The last thought in my mind was to make either of us come. I just wanted to make love to her, show her through my movements, my body, share with her. She seemed to understand that. The sobbing quieted until it stopped, though tears still streamed from her eyes.

Haley’s hand trailed up to the back of my head and neck, her body slowly rocking with mine, her other hand trying to touch as much of my body as possible, as our mouths stayed connected.

The kiss was slow, yet extremely powerful. It was slow movement of lips, tongue, the slight tilt of our heads, the graceful thrust of our hips.

As Haley continued to cry, I broke the kiss, and laid my head against her neck, burying my face in the warm, salty skin, kissing every once in a while. Eventually our bodies slowed, and stopped all together.

"I love you, Andi," she whispered. I kissed the side of her neck.

"I love you, too, Haley."

As Haley lay in my arms asleep, the sun fell peacefully behind the horizon. Our day was over.

I closed my eyes, hugged Haley tighter to me, and fell asleep.


* * *

Being as quiet as I could, I pulled my tank over my head, not even bothering with my bra, and then tugged the shorts up. I glanced over at her. She slept, laying on her stomach, covered only by the sheet, her face facing me. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful.

Pulling on my sneakers, I walked over to the bed, bending over, and placed a single kiss on her lips.

"Goodbye, Haley," I whispered, and hurried out.

It was Monday, and I had called in sick. Never had I, except for the day my child was born, and then Haley walks into my life, and I’m out once a week.

I smiled at the irony of it all.

The truth of the matter was I didn’t want to see Haley. I had said my goodbyes, and anything else would hurt entirely too much.

So, I had spent the day at home, or out with Bunsen, getting some sun, trying to find a way to put my heart back together so I could go on, and start living as soon as possible.

As the day started to come to an end, I headed downstairs. I was still so loaded with emotions and loss, I needed to find some way of release.

Pulling on my tank and a pair of mesh shorts, I taped my hands, and began a hard, tiring workout on my bag that hung from a beam in the basement. I punched and hit and kicked, yelling out with each contact I made, trying to do all but demolish my enemy, my demon that wouldn’t let go.

I stopped, out of breath, and my hair falling in sweaty strands in my eyes. I thought I had heard something. I listened...

Ding dong

My heart fell, and I felt my eyes sting. I knew who it was as Bunsen barked his little head off. I couldn’t answer it.

Ding dong

I held my breath, my racing heart nearly blocking any sound from coming in, but finally I head a door slam, and a car engine start.

Closing my eyes, I plopped down on the mat, my head in my hands.


* * *

I walked into the hospital, my mind already racing to what had happened, and what progress had been made on the research since our new equipment had been installed. With all the nonsense of last week, I hadn’t had much time to play with the new toys.

I pushed the lab door open to see Samantha already at work. She glanced over at me, and smiled.

"Hey, doc. Are you feeling better?"

"I’ll survive." I said, heading for my office. I brought my keys out, and unlocked the door, flipping on the light, and stopping in my tracks.

On the desk sat a Koosh ball, sitting on a piece of paper. Slowly I walked over to it, setting my keys down, and sitting in the chair, my eyes never leaving the Koosh.

Taking a deep breath, all my carefully placed reserve cracking with each ticking of the clock, I grabbed the toy, feeling the familiar spines, knowing the last hand they had touched had been hers.

Placing the Koosh aside, I picked up the folded piece of paper, and read it:

I will always love you. Here’s a small piece of me to carry around with you.

Toward the bottom of the note was carefully printed,