"Yes."

"Get your shirt off then. I need to get the instruments out of the sterilizer."

When she returned Reese was trying hard to sit up straight, but she was obviously in pain. An eight inch gash just below her ribs leaked a steady ribbon of blood down her left side. Tory had never seen her without clothes before, and she noted with clinical detachment the prominent pectoral muscles and etched abdominals of a superbly developed body. Despite her tone and muscle mass, Reese's breasts retained a soft fullness. She embodied the image of a female warrior. Unfortunately, at the moment, she was a wounded warrior.

"Lie down, Reese," Tory murmured as she set up the instrument tray and pulled on sterile gloves. At a glance she could tell the bullet track was tangential to the abdominal cavity, and she automatically relaxed. Although the wound was deep, Reese was not in any serious danger as long as the wound was treated properly and she didnt get infected.

"How did the bullet get through that vest?" Tory questioned as she began to inject the area around the wound with lidocaine.

"I wasnt wearing it," Reese replied, breathing deeply as the burning pain began to subside.

"You took it off?" Tory asked, trying to keep the anger from her voice.

"It was slowing me down."

"And the bullet didnt?" Tory responded acerbically.

"It was a judgement call," Reese answered calmly.

"I see," Tory said, not wanting to admit to herself just how frightened she was by Reeses willingness to risk her life. She irrigated the wound with Betadiene and saline, cleansing it of clots and debris from Reeses shirt. The tissues had been separated down into the muscles of her flank, but thankfully there was no deeper penetration. She began to approximate the subcutaneous layers and fascia with absorbable sutures. She concentrated on her work to keep the terrible knowledge of how close Reese had come to death from her mind. If she let that realization sink in, it would incapacitate her.

"Are you angry?" Reese asked quietly into the expressionless green eyes that stared down at her.

"I cant talk about that now, Reese. Just let me do this."

"Tory-" Reese began, disturbed by Torys distant manner. The last time they were together she had held Tory breathless in her arms. Now Tory wouldnt even meet her eyes. Reese was afraid for the first time that evening.

Silently, ignoring the urgency in Reeses voice, Tory started on the skin sutures, placing them far enough apart so that the inevitable swelling would not tear them through.

"Please tell me why youre angry," Reese asked again.

Tory gently taped a compression bandage in place and stripped off her gloves. She threw them at the wastebasket, not caring that she missed. She spun back toward Reese so quickly that Reese jumped. Leaning down, Tory grasped Reeses shoulders, just managing not to shake her. Her eyes burned into Reeses, inches away.

"I am angry because you nearly got yourself killed, and willingly at that! Im angry because it doesnt seem to occur to you that that would have ruined my life. Im angry, Reese, because -because-" Her fury evaporated as she saw the confusion in Reeses face. She was so damn beautiful! "Oh, hell," Tory muttered, doing what she had been wanting to do forever. She kissed her, hard, not caring what it meant, because she had to. Because she wanted to more than anything else in the world.

Reese stiffened in shock, then she was lost. She yielded to the pressure against her mouth, closing her eyes, surrendering to the waves of heat that coursed through her. She felt no pain, except an ache that tore at her more than any bullet ever could. She tried to pull Tory closer, knowing that only her touch could satisfy the longing.

"Ah, Jesus -" she gasped as Tory wrenched away. "Tory, please dont stop. I need you to- "

Tory pressed trembling fingers to Reeses lips, drawing a tremulous breath. "This is insane! God, I want you so much!" She took a step back, groping for Reeses shirt. "Put this on before I totally lose my mind!"

Reese groaned in frustration. "This is killing me! Id rather be shot!"

Tory laughed grimly. "Dont tempt me, Conlon! I swear to God Im not responsible for my actions! Now get dressed. Were going to my place. You need to rest."

Reese slowly rose to a sitting position, fixing Tory with an icy glare. "What I need, Doctor King, is for you not to run from me every time we kiss!"

Tory slumped against the wall, struggling for words as she watched Reese fumble into her bloody shirt. "I dont want to. Its just - Ive never felt quite like this! And now is certainly not the time for sex! You may not think anything of it, but youve just been shot!"

Reese grinned despite herself. "Actually I think quite a lot about it. It hurts like hell. But just now, when you kissed me, all I felt was you." She tried standing, then crossed the distance between them, resting her hands lightly on Torys waist. "Ive missed you. You havent been to the dojo all week. I wanted to call, but I didnt know if you wanted me to. When you touch me - I- it rips holes in my soul."

Tory couldnt look at her any longer. There was too much wanting in Reese's face. She sidestepped out of her grasp, catching her hand as she did. "Come on. Let me get you out of here. Youre going to crash any minute."

Reese relented, allowing Tory to lead her to the Jeep. As they drove through the night exhaustion finally claimed her. She was asleep by the time Tory pulled into her drive.

**********

"Is she asleep?"

"Closer to unconscious," Tory sighed as she leaned against the deck rail. "Let me have one of your cigarettes."

Catherine raised an eyebrow but handed the pack to her sister while they both waited for another imminent sunrise.

"Is she going to be alright?"

"Yes," Tory murmured as she blew out a soft stream of smoke.

"Are you?"

Tory laughed shakily. "I dont think so."

She took another deep drag on her cigarette, enjoying the acrid bite of the harsh fumes. It suited her disquieting unrest. "I dont know what Im going to do about her."

"You know, Tor, theres something really spooky about her."

Tory looked at her sister in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Catherine stared out over the harbor, her voice pensive. "I had the strangest experience just now - when I was helping you put her to bed. I have never seen anyone quite so beautiful. I mean, it was like looking at a painting of some ancient goddess-warrior queen or something. I was standing there, staring at this naked woman like an idiot, when she opens her eyes and looks right at me. Thank you" was all she said, and I thought my heart would break. She seemed so innocent. She reminded me of my children. Not their helplessness, but their untarnished goodness. But that cant be, can it? There arent any adults like that! Tell me, Tor, what do you see?"

Tory smiled softly as she reflected on the woman asleep upstairs in her bed. "She is the most infuriatingly noble person I have ever met. She believes in doing the right thing," her voice caught and she brushed impatiently at the tears clinging to her lashes, "even if it kills her."

She stubbed the cigarette out carefully, continuing in a quiet tone, "And that is as near to innocence as you can get."

"It would be hell to be in love with her," Catherine ventured.

"Yes."

"Its hard not to fall in love with her," Catherine laughed.

"Impossible."

"This place cant always be so dangerous, can it? I mean, whats the chance shell ever get shot again?"

Tory shuddered at the thought. "Cath, she is going to ride out on her white charger every day of her life, and if it isnt her body in danger, it will be her heart. She has layers of armor, but one kid in trouble tears her apart."

"Anybody with half a brain would stay away from her," Catherine concluded.

"Yes."

"You know what the real problem is with people like her? The heroes - well, heroines, I guess."

"What?" Tory asked.

"Theyre so single-minded. Everything is either black or white. Like with love - it has to be this grand passion, you know? Nothing halfway. Mate for life, die in the name of it..."

"Dont, Cath," Tory warned.

"Why not, big sister? Are you scared that you might love her?"

"Yes," Tory shouted, the terror and strain of the last six hours finally erupting. "Yes Im scared! Because Ive known her three months, and Ive kissed her exactly twice, and shes claimed some essential place in me. I cannot imagine what life would be like without her. The last four years - even the time with K.T.- seem like pale imitations compared to what she stirs in me! Now tell me I havent lost my mind!!"

Catherine slipped an arm around Torys shoulders, hugging her in the chill morning air. "You have lost your mind. Thats what happens when you fall in love."

"Ive been in love - I loved K.T. with all my heart. But this! This is too much. She is too goddamned much! This isnt my heart were talking about, this is my soul! I could lose myself here, Cath. When I saw her go down tonight, I thought she was dead. I felt something inside of me begin to die, too. That terrifies me, Cath. I cant let this happen."

"Yes, I know," Catherine rejoined softly. "But whats your alternative?"

"I dont know."

As a brilliant sun broke through the cloud cover, the two sisters stood in silence, wearily awaiting the new day.


Chapter Seventeen

Reese lay with her eyes closed, listening to Tory breathe. She took cautious stock of her body. Her side throbbed, but when she carefully stretched, it didnt feel any worse. She continued to ease her long limbs out until she turned onto her side. She opened her eyes, and studied the woman beside her. Tory was wearing a light tee shirt and loose green scrub pants. The tanned flesh of her smooth abdomen was exposed where the shirt had rolled up. One hand rested on her thigh, the other on the bed between them. Her breasts stretched the front of the thin cotton, rising gently with each breath. Her wavy hair was spread out over the pillow, a few wisps clinging to her cheek. Reese caught the loose strands with one finger, lightly brushing Torys cheek as she did. Tory smiled slightly in her sleep. Reese couldnt remember ever being this close to another human being. She laid her hand against the bare skin of Torys abdomen, rewarded by a flicker of muscle and a soft sigh from the sleeping woman. Warmth spread up her arm, and she tightened deep within. Leaning on her uninjured side, she watched Torys face in wonder as she gently stroked the curve of her rib. Torys lips parted as Reese reached the swell of her breast, and when Reeses hand closed around the sensitive mound, Tory gasped. Her delicate lids fluttered, then opened as insistent fingers caught her nipple in a teasing caress.