DISCLAIMERS:

Violent Content Warning: This story contains scenes of a violent nature.

Alternative Warning: This story contains scenes of a loving nature between two women. This story is not for those under the age of eighteen.

Uber Warning: This story is an uber. The two characters are based off of the leading ladies of XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS.

Author’s Notes: This is the second and final installment to ‘Higher Learning.’ All POSITIVE comments are welcome. Negatives I will simply ignore. Send your thoughts to startrek@ellijay.com .

Higher Learning

By: Teagen2

Her eyes said, ‘What are we going to do?’. Kay’s mouth said nothing. "Take your seat." I said softly. She looked up at me in disbelief. She folded the paper and put it in her back pocket. I was jumpy enough without Kay’s help but, she continued to stare and glare all over the room. I knew what she was doing. She was scanning the class for the mystery writer, hoping their nervousness would give them away. With fifteen minutes left of class, she sat up straight in her desk and put her eyes forward, with an evil grin on her face. She found them apparently. When I dismissed class, she was the first out of her seat and out the door. This was not good. I followed my class out of the building.

As I neared the glass doors, I could see Kay standing outside. One of the boys from the class approached her. Dropping her bag, Kay threw a right hook, connecting with his chin. He stumbled violently, but did not fall. "Stop it!" I screamed and tried to push my way towards the door. I realized that some of the boys in front of the doors had stopped, blocking the crowd, deliberately I guess.

"Hit ‘em K.J." I heard a girl scream as Kay began punching him repeatedly. Above the screams and yells, I couldn’t hear what the fighters were saying. Their mouths moved as they exchanged words. I managed to push past the students and get outside just as two campus policemen broke up the fight.

"Move along." I said. "Show’s over. Get to your classes." I turned to see them pulling the two toward their cars. "Oh Kay." I sighed to myself. She was in serious trouble.

I nearly chewed my nails off waiting for news about Kay. When I did not receive any, I began to worry. Just as I was about to grab my coat and head for home, my office phone rang. It was the Dean and he was angry. I know this will cost me my job. Haven’t been a teacher one month and I’ve already screwed up. I entered his office. To my relief, it was only Kay and the Dean inside. I sat in his other visitor’s chair. "You know why you’re here?"

"Yes, I believe I do." I said calmly.

"Katherine has refused to tell me the nature of this fight, except that a vulgar note was placed on your desk." He handed me a piece of paper. "Is that the note you received?"

"Yes, it is."

"Ms. Watkins said that you showed her the note and you were clearly upset. One of the young men in your class passed a note to Ms. Watkins claiming to have written it."

"I was not aware of that."

"So she said. The young man Katherine was fighting just happened to be him." I looked over at Kay, who kept her face down. "Katherine is the student he is referring to, isn’t she?"

"Yes." I said.

"Is the note true?"

"True?"

"Did you engage in sexual relations with this student?" I couldn’t form words or even shake my head. I was speechless. "I’ll ask you Katherine. Did Ms. Wadell take advantage of you in any way?"

"No." Kay said quickly. I smiled inwardly.

"Did you engage in sexual relations with Ms. Wadell?" Kay did not say anything. "Well. I believe your silence speaks for itself. "Katherine, if you loved your teacher, you wouldn’t have done this to her." Kay’s eyes shot up from the floor.

"Wait a minute....." I interrupted.

"I’m not finished........Katherine, Ms. Wadell has just lost her job." Kay opened her mouth to speak, but closed it. "Her entire teaching career is over as of right now. You think about that long and hard before you make a habit of this."

"Now wait just a damn minute here." I couldn’t listen to anymore. "Katherine wasn’t the only one involved in this relationship and I will not sit here and let her take all of the blame. I love Kay and she loves me." I reach for her hand and she slips hers into it. "Who are you to tell us its wrong."

"I’m not, but the school you work for does. Your terminated and your teaching license is revoked."

"But....."

"And Katherine.......You are suspended for one week. You keep up with your studies in the dorm or at home if you choose. One more incident in discipline and you will be expelled."

"Don’t bother. I quit."

"No Kay. You can’t quit college."

"Listen to her, Kay."

"I quit." she repeated.

"Okay. Your life, but I strongly urge you to reconsider." Kay stood and I followed.

She would not say a word to me as we headed for the dorm. "I wanna get packed before the story gets out." she says as she enters her room.

"What?"

"There are a lot religious groups and faggot haters on this campus that are gonna be gunning for me." She begins to throw clothes into her two suitcases.

"Is that why you don’t wanna stay."

"Only part of the reason."

"What’s the other part?"

"I don’t wanna be here without you.......Besides I’m only here because my parents don’t want me at home......I’ll go to my aunt’s in Colorado. She has a ranch. I’m a summer hand, maybe she can give me a full time position." My heart sank and I knew she saw it on my face.

"You aren’t going to live with me?" She moves to me.

"I want to, but aren’t you staying here in your apartment?"

"You heard the Dean. I’m through at the University. I’m go........"

"And its all my fault." Kay crams another article into her suitcase."

"Didn’t you hear a word I said in there? This was my decision too. I can make my own decisions........and I made mine the moment I saw you." I turned her face to look into her eyes.

"Now we’re both paying for it." Kay said quietly.

I sat back onto her bed. "Kay, are you saying we’re over?"

"What would you call it? We have to go our separate ways now."

"I’m going back to my dig in Colorado." Kay’s head shot up in disbelief.

"Your dig’s in Colorado?"

"Yep. I started it about 2 years ago. We found three entire t-rex skeletons." I saw her face light up, as I have seen in class.

"There aren’t that many finds like that in the world......Its almost impossible."

"Well, we did. My colleagues are in process of extracting them......I’m going back to the dig."

"Why aren’t you fighting this? You’re a great teacher, Susan."

"Thank you. Coming from you, that’s a real compliment."

"I’m serious. You can’t let them muscle you out."

"That’s what your doing."

"No, I’m choosing to leave."

"Are you going to think less of me if I leave?"

"No."

"Then, shut up and kiss me."

The next day was a day of change for both of us. Despite my begging and pleading, Kay officially withdrew permanently from school. Her knowledge in my field will be a great asset, but without a degree she will not be taken very seriously. As I loaded up the last of my belongings into my truck, I see Kay. Smiling, she kisses me on the cheek as she tosses the bag on her shoulder into the back of the truck. "So, how long will it take to get to the dig site?"

"It’ll take us about three hours to get to Colorado. About four I guess."

"Well, let’s get moving." She heads for the passenger door.

"Hold it.......Did you call your parents like I asked?"

"Yeah." she sighed heavily. "They weren’t exactly thrilled, but when I told them I wasn’t coming home they were pretty cool about it."

"I’m sorry, Baby."

"Its okay. Besides, I have you to keep me company. My aunt says I can come work for her if you get tired of me." I moved around the back of the truck.

"Never." I reached for her. I needed to hold her.

As we drove towards Colorado, I had my worries about the future. My teaching career is over. I surrendered without a fight. So unlike me, but I didn’t want our story to be another Mary Kay Letourneau. I glance over and see Kay gazing out of her window. Leaving now saves her from a lot of unwanted attention. As it stands now, I am the bad one, the wicked corrupter of students. Many people still see nineteen a tender age, where one can still make mistakes. I am the adult, the controller. Nearly 32, that makes me the responsible one. I don’t care what other people say or think. Though, I know it would have hurt Kay ten times worse if I tried to fight my expulsion from the teaching profession. My true passion is digging, dinosaurs, and dirt. I have plenty to look forward to.

The sunset was a perfect back drop to the camp as we pulled in, immediately surrounded by my colleagues. "Indiana Jane is back." Taylor smiled as she stepped up to us. Kay leaned into me.

"Indiana Jane?"

"Lonnngg story." I whispered. "Explain later."

"Susan." Ellen hugged me softly. "Great to have the best boss in the world back."

"Thanks." I said. "Guys, this is Kay." I smiled as everyone greeted her warmly. "Come on. Let’s get some sleep." She followed me to my old tent. I dropped my gear inside and collapsed on the nearest cot.

"Tired?" Kay smiled.

"Yeah. Can’t wait to dig tomorrow. Ellen says they almost have the second t-rex’s skull out."

"Cool." It was a bit on the sarcastic side, but I knew she was just as excited. Kay dropped her backpack and pushed the other cot against mine. Unrolling her sleeping bag, she tossed it over me, then slid in beside me.

"Comfortable?" I ask, placing my head on her chest. She squirmed slightly.

"Different, but comfortable." I chuckled to myself. She kissed the top of my head.

"I’m glad you came with me, Kay." I yawned.

"Me too. Goodnight, Love."

"Night."

It was difficult to get up just before dawn, but I managed. Kay is definitely a morning person, whether she admits it or not. She was up and out with the crew getting the tools together before I even rolled over. I sat on the bench at the mess tent, watching Kay begin her work with Ellen. I smiled at the lovely site. Kay is here, with me, helping me do what I love. What could be better?

"Hey Susan." Kay called. "Come check this out." I moved to them. The jaw was almost clear, revealing the razor sharp teeth.

"Great."

We worked side-by-side for several hours before the question, that I thought she forgot, arose. "So what’s this ‘Indiana Jane’ thing?" she chuckled.

"My grandmother was an archeologist. She was famous for wearing a fedora and a brown leather jacket."

"Really? Next your gonna tell me she carried a whip too." I looked up and grinned. "Your kidding right?"

"Nope. I have her outfit in a chest in my tent. I wore it to our small Halloween party we had here and they gave me that Indiana Jane thing."

"So your grandmother was an archeologist?"

"Yeah, she even went to Egypt and studied some of the pharaoh’s tombs."

"Neat.......Ready to plaster this baby before we move it?"

"Okay. Go grab the plaster mix from Paul."

"Okay."

It took every ounce of man.....and woman power we had to move the embedded boulder. We moved the rock to the examining tent. "Why don’t you take this one, Kay." Ellen said.

"Me? Work on this?.........Ohhh no. I’ll mess it up."

"Kay, you know just as much about this as I do." I said with confidence.

"Yeah, but I haven’t had much field work. That’s why I was taking your course remember?"

"Now’s the time to learn." Paul said, patting Kay on the back.

"Throwing me to the wolves huh?"

"Yep."

"You bet."

"That’s the long and short of it."

"Thanks you guys." Kay sighed, taking a seat.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My hands shook as I picked up my chisel and hammer to begin chipping away to reveal this skull. Working by my side, Susan watched my every move. She taught me as she told me what to do. Soon I was sad again. "What’s wrong?"

"I wish you hadn’t quit."

"I wish you hadn’t quit. What’s your point?"

"Your a great teacher, Susan. I think you should go back."

"Why?"

"Even now your teaching me so much about this as I’m scraping dirt. You have great style. You don’t just tell, you teach. Everything you show me," She taps her temple with her finger. "stays right here."

"What about me?"

"You stay here." She touched her heart, almost making me cry. "I feel like I’m depriving the future of this profession by you not being there to teach the next generation."

"That’s sweet to say, Kay. I didn’t make that decision remember? The dean fired me and what I did is immediate grounds for dismissal."

"Its all my fault."

"No, its not........I chose you."

"And I chose you." I couldn’t think of a perfect time to lean over and kiss her and I did. Susan literally attacked my lips. It was the cat calls that stopped the kiss.

"You guys wanna get back to work."

"Hey.....I’m the boss here." Susan smiled and kissed me again.

The sunset brought a calm over me. I took a seat in the wooden swing, facing the mountains. The sun was starting to set behind the mountains, casting orange hues all over the horizon. Suddenly two hands touched my shoulders, startling me. "Boo." Susan teased.

"Ohhhhh nice." I drawled, pulling her around to sit next to me. Wrapping my arms around her, we both settled into the moment.

"Did I ever tell you that my grandmother had a girlfriend?"

"No.....really? Tell me about her." I said quietly.

"Her name was Mel. She was a very educated woman. She hooked up with my grandmother to help decipher ancient languages and hieroglyphics."

"Cool."

"Yeah, she was.....tall, dark hair, alot like you."

"Did you ever meet her?"

"No......My grandmother married a museum director from Cairo. I’m part Egyptian."

"I didn’t know that."

"Yep. Every time Grandma spoke of Mel, she never told what happened to her. She would get real quiet. My guess is she died in a dig."

"What makes you think that?

"Because the Pappas family has no grave for her, but they know she’s dead and her

journal ends suddenly when Grandma was digging somewhere in Paraguay."

"So, you think that she may have died in a cave-in or something?"

"Makes sense doesn’t it?"

"Yeah, sad really..........but then again, if she settled down with Mel, we wouldn’t be together."

"True." I kissed her softly.

"We’re gonna be okay." Susan stated.

"I know. I just wish things could be........"

"I know." She did know. Even if I couldn’t form it into words, she knew.

"You know, I don’t see this as an end to anything anymore. I see it as a beginning. A beginning of our life together."

"Me too.......I love you, Kay."

"Love you, too." I know we’re going to be okay too.