"No, it wouldn't have." Remembering that day when Kate had needed her comfort.

"Maybe not." Kate concurred, remembering as well. "We run together everyday, Serena. We talk. There must have been some time you could have shared this?

"I didn't want you feeling sorry for me. That's not what I wanted at all."

Kate decided to let that part of it rest. "So you were ten? It must have been horrible. How did you cope?"

"A lot of therapy. Child psychologists. Family therapists. I've been through a long line of doctors, none of whom have the insight to answer my only two questions."

"Which are?"

"Why did my parents die and I live? Why is my brother a vegetable and I walk and talk?"

Serena swung her leg over and dropped beside Kate in bed. "Serena," as Kate turned to face her, she said the only thing she could think of, "those things happen. There is no explanation."

"That's what they tell me."

"What happened after they died? Where did you go?"

"You want my life story?"

"Uh-huh." Kate smiled at her as she shifted onto her side.

"There was no blood relative to take me. My dad's best friend took me in. He and his wife lived down the street from us, so I just moved in and grew up there. He was a lawyer, so he got a good settlement for me from the accident and I lived with them until I went off to school."

"Thank God there was someone. I guess they're like parents to you now, huh?"

"They were. They had kids, too. Their son, Elliot was in my class and he felt so sad for me. A very sensitive boy. By the time I was sixteen, we were dating and living in the same house. It was kind of funny. His mother reminding me to be a good girl and his father winking at him all the time."

"You lost your virginity in their house?"

"Yeah, the night of his seventeenth birthday. It was my birthday present to him."

"You are so cheap!"

"Hey, I wasn't cheap, just easy." Serena laughed. "Anyway, we applied to the same colleges and decided to go to Northwestern together. I really needed him. He was my security blanket, someone I trusted."

"But you came to Kenya and he broke up with you?"

"No, we broke up long before I met you. Years earlier."

"But the pictures in your hotel room?" Kate was slightly confused.

Serena sucked her lips into her mouth for a moment, then whispered, "I have a hard time letting go."

Kate reached out and stroked Serena's face. She ran her fingers through her hair. Serena looked at her, then reached and pulled the blanket over her body. "Do you wanna hear this story? If so, stop distracting me."

"Sorry." Kate tightened the blanket around her and grinned broadly.

"We were beginning our junior year and Elliott asked me to marry him. I put him off for months. Finally, he gave me an ultimatum. I loved him, but as a brother, not a lover. We broke up. I thought I should find another guy and go out; that my lack of physical desire for Elliott was because he and I grew up together, but as I looked around campus, my eyes kept turning to my roommate, Heather, the girl in the pictures. Heather and I had joked around about having a hot little affair behind our boyfriends' backs, but I realized, I wasn't joking."

"Ooh, the straight girl goes gay."

"I wasn't straight. I knew it, but wouldn't admit it. Finally, Heather caught on and we praised our good fortune for being able to live together as roommates and have each other in a number of creative ways every night."

"Serena, I never would have suspected."

Touching Kate's cheek she said, "I'm full of surprises." She continued. "For the rest of my junior year and all of our senior year, we were lovers. It was great. We read the Kama Sutra and hung out at the women's bookstore memorizing sections from 'The Joy of Lesbian Sex,' giggling about the things we'd try back at our apartment. I don't think I opened a textbook during that time. I don't know how we graduated."

"And what's become of the love of your life?"

"She wasn't the love of my life, but I did love her. The thing is, I liked Elliott a lot. He was there for me at my worst times, through nightmares and depression. I mean some really, really bad times. I wanted to stay his friend, so we tried. The three of us would go on ski trips together and stuff like that. About three weeks before graduation, Heather called it quits with me. She had fallen for Elliott. Just like that, she said, 'I can't live this kind of life. It's not right for me. Elliott's so sweet. Do you mind if we get together?' What could I say?"

"Damn straight I mind." Kate suggested.

"No, I couldn't. They went off to Madrid that summer. In September they married. That December I called to see if they might want to meet up for the holidays, she told me that he didn't want me in their lives, particularly her life anymore. Period. End of story. I haven't seen Elliott and Heather since. Elliott's parents, as much as they loved me and treated me like a daughter, were still his parents and when I hurt their son, there was no place for me in their home. My last family Christmas was eight years ago. I've been alone since."

Kate pulled Serena to her. "God, I'm sorry."

"It's no big deal."

"You're wrong. It's a huge deal. I'm so sorry." Kate held onto her, stroking her, cuddling her.

At first, Serena lay stiff in her arms, but finally surrendered to her touch. Her body began to shake as she cried. "Why does everyone keep leaving me? I've been alone ever since. I've been alone," she whispered.

"Ssh. It's okay." Kate said, but she thought to herself, "Not anymore. Not anymore."

* * * * *

They missed dinner. They had held onto each other all night. Both waking at different times to console the other. Serena kissed Kate's cheek and assured her that Lisa Calltreaux would get what's coming to her. She noticed that for the first time since she'd been sharing living space with Kate, that Kate had slept peacefully, without nightmares. She had slept through the night without calling out for help and pleading with invisible captors.

At seven the next morning, Serena awakened to see a fully clothed, Kate opening the door. She directed the young Kenyan dressed in a white caftan to the table beside the window. Kate glanced over at Serena and smiled warmly, then turned back to the man. "Thank you."

"Ugh. How long have you been up? Good morning."

"You are spoiled in just one day." Kate walked the waiter to the door and closed it behind him. "Usually you're already up and finishing your run." She said making her way to the bed, holding a glass of cranberry juice and toast.

"For me?"

"Nope. Your food's over there. Get up and get it." Kate sat beside her and drank some of the juice and bit into the toast.

"You're really not going to give me any?"

Kate's eyebrow raised at the innuendo and she laughed. "I don't know what you're asking for, but if you mean my toast and my juice, then the answer is no."

Serena looked dejected. The old Kate was back so quickly. The night had been so tender and now, she was cold. "Okay."

"I'm joking, baby. Here, wanna bite?" Kate offered the toast to her and Serena bit down, chewed, then smiled up at this woman she adored.

"Thanks."

"Serena. . ." Kate hesitated before continuing.

"I love it when you say my name. Yes?"

"I want to go home." Kate mumbled.

There was no guessing what this meant. Kate didn't want to go back to the States or back to California. Home was her camp ninety miles northwest of Nairobi. "Okay. We'll leave as soon as we get in touch with the guys."

"I've called them. Everyone will come back Sunday night." Kate had been self-conscious about stating her wishes. They had only just arrived and she knew that Serena needed a break from the dirt and grime of living in the field, but she was out of sorts here. She belonged back at the camp. There, she felt grounded.

"So what you're saying is we'll have the camp to ourselves all day and night today and most of tomorrow?" Serena sat up and broke off another piece of toast and popped it into her mouth.

"Uh-huh."

"Whatever shall we do?" Serena wondered aloud.

"The LA Dodgers game on satellite or those loser Cubs?"

"Hey, don't talk about my Cubbies. This is their year, I tell ya!"

Kate laughed. "Let's go home."

* * * * *

Serena had wanted to cook something special for Kate on their return. Perhaps, she would have made the dish she had requested months ago, but she didn't have an opportunity to buy a turkey or gather the right vegetables at the market.

She realized that more than cooking for Kate, she just wanted to be near her, share her space, hear her breathe, hold her.

When they arrived at the camp, Kate set about lighting mosquito coils, a product very much like incense that produced a fragrance that repelled the insects. She lit them around the picnic table, near the tents, and inside her own. She reminded Serena to do the same in her tent. This way, they could wear casual summerwear and not hide behind netting all day. Serena retreated to her tent and unpacked the few things she had taken and the even fewer items she had purchased. Kate did the same. And waited for Serena while Serena waited for her.

Two hours passed before Serena finally stepped out of her tent and strode across to Kate's. Her heart was pounding. She was too nervous to do anything, so she drifted to the place she knew best, the kitchen.

"Kate, I'm going to make some lunch. A sandwich," she called out. "Do you want anything?"

Kate peered out of the tent and answered. "Whatever you're having?"

"I'd like to have you." Serena muttered to herself.

"What?" Kate inquired, only hearing her voice, but not picking up on what words had been spoken.

"Never mind."

Taking some leftover grilled chicken out of the mini-fridge, Serena began to slice it into thin layers. She didn't hear Kate moving behind her, toward her.

"Uuuh." Serena said in surprise. Kate was behind her pressing against her body, arms wrapping around her waist.

"You're so sexy in the kitchen." There was to be no more teasing. Kate's hands slid up Serena's apron, inside the sleeves of her oversized t-shirt and rested on her breasts.

"Oh. Umm." The knife remained poised in her hand in mid-slice. Her head fell back and her chest pushed out allowing Kate to gather more of her full breasts in her hands. Serena felt herself melting.

Hot, airy breath spoke to her. "You know, I've noticed that you don't wear a bra. It drives me crazy. Your breasts are so firm. They feel so good." She massaged them, rubbing her palms against the hardening nipples, squeezing the flesh.

"Uu-uh. Oh." Serena moaned, but she wanted to scream out. She dropped the knife on the counter. "Oh, Jesus Kate. You always do the unexpected." She said haltingly, in between long exhales and short inhales.

"No, I'm predictable."

"Umm. Oh, yes." Serena responded to Kate pinching her nipples. "No, you're not. Not in the least."

"It's more comfortable for you not to wear a bra, isn't it? That's why you don't?" she whispered in her ear.

"Yeah."

"But you had to know that it gets me all worked up. Seeing you in these t-shirts, seeing these bounce underneath." She whispered. "Sometimes seeing your nipples hard through your shirt. You knew that, too, right?" She asked while continuing her sweet assault. The lower half of her body now pressing into Serena, then slightly moving away, then back into her.

"No, I didn't think that." Serena closed her eyes. "Jesus. Umm."

"I know you did. You're a tease."

"I didn't mean to, honestly." She bit her lip and pushed back to meet Kate's gentle thrusts.

"I guess it's possible." She slowly slipped her hands out of the t-shirt and turned her around. "Maybe you were unaware." She smiled down at her and took note of how Serena's eyes were barely opened and how her hue had changed to a soft pink. "But you had to know when you kissed me at your hotel room when we first met how that would effect me?"

"You kissed me."

"Nah-ah, you did the kissing."

"You're wrong. I reacted to your kiss."

"Maybe." Kate leaned forward and pulled Serena to her kissing her passionately. A few moments later, she stepped back. "But lately, you've been flirting with me. The kissing when we were out in the grasslands. . .that was all you."

"Again, you started it, but yeah, mostly me. I'll agree," she replied.

"Yeah." Kate lifted the apron over Serena's head. "So you've been doing this flirting and kissing and walking around with these breasts. Just what are you after?"

"Well, these are the only two I have. What am I suppose to walk around with?"

"Hmm. You've got a point." Kate moved backward, pulling Serena forward by the hands. Serena checked out Kate's long tan legs and was glad that the filmmaker tended to wear long pants. If Kate found Serena's breasts distracting, Serena found Kate's legs more so. She had weekly visions of numerous kitchen mishaps resulting in a lopped off finger while staring at those legs, imagining them wrapped around her.

Kate walked a few feet until she bumped into one of the picnic tables. She rested against it, pulling Serena just a tad closer, then lowered her head to Serena's chest. Her hands caressed Serena's breasts through the t-shirt just as her mouth opened and she began to suck on one of them as well. Quickly, the t-shirt became wet with Kate's saliva and when she pulled away, she could see Serena's dark areola and nipple through the shirt. "Umm. I like this." She announced as she made her way back to suck some more.

She liked the feel of her breasts being fondled and loved *through* her shirt. It was exciting to not reveal much, but in a sense to be so exposed. "Oh. Oh. Kate." Serena's fingers swept through Kate's hair. Kate continued sucking one breast while her hand pinched and tweaked the other nipple. "Oh."

Kate's face moved away, tilting up to stare at Serena who slammed her body into the filmmaker's. Standing between Kate's opened legs, her shorts-covered mound pushed against Kate's center. Kate returned her face to Serena's chest and bit her nipple through the shirt. "Um, um." She sucked and massaged and sucked some more. Serena began to shake. While Kate's one hand moved across her breast, pinching, squeezing, and rubbing, the other arm held Serena close around the waist. Slowly, that hand moved down to knead her ass, then without warning, found it's way to the hem of her baggy shorts and slid upward. With deft fingers, she lifted Serena's underwear away from her skin and moved inside them. Her hand felt the furry mound, only spending scant seconds moving her fingers through the hair. Kate pushed down and in, opening Serena's lips and resting her fingers against her inner lips and clitoris.

"Oh." Serena loved the touch.

Momentarily, she withdrew her mouth from Serena's nipple and looked up at her. "You're soaked. You're so wet. Oh, God."

Serena squeezed her eyes closed and gritted her teeth. Inhaling and hissing, Serena was sure her body was about to soar off the ground or that she'd melt into it. "Umm. Oh. Oh, please yes. Yes, Kate. Touch me. I need it. I need you."

Kate's fingers slid up and down those soft, swollen lips. Serena's hips moved forward and back trying to create the action she so desperately needed. "I can't believe how wet you are." Kate repeated.

"Please." Serena lowered her head, then threw it back. "Please do something. I'm. . ."

She was almost at the point of panicking. Serena wanted Kate's fingers either inside of her or rubbing her clitoris so badly that she feared she'd collapse, die, or dissolve into a fleshy mess without the touch.

"You feel so good to me. Serena, I wanted to do this to you last night. When you were giving me that massage, I wanted to turn over and do just this to you."

"Umm."

"And when you were on top of me and I could feel how excited you were, I wanted to."

"I was very excited." She said as she lurched forward, still trying to get those fingers to do her bidding.

"And I could smell how ready you were for me and I wanted to."

"Why. . .didn't. . .you?" Serena bit her lower lip.

"It wasn't. . ." Kate slid her finger across Serena's clit.

"Aaaah." Serena squeezed her legs together and then opened them again.

". . .the right time."

"Tell me this is the right time. Please tell me it is." She began to rock against her hand.

"It is." Kate slid the finger across her clitoris again, then began moving her finger up and down against her.

Serena's upper body fell forward as her lower body moved rhythmically against Kate's finger. Serena's mouth was close to Kate's ear and she sucked the lobe briefly before whispering, "then fuck me. Please fuck me."

Kate loved the sound of that request whispered in her ear by Serena. When she heard it, she felt her own clit contract and harden. Her finger moved faster against Serena's clitoris. She pulled Serena down to her, so that their faces met and kissed her, thrusting her tongue into her mouth repeatedly, moving that tongue all around the inside of her mouth as a preface to what her fingers would do inside of her later.

Kate moved with fluidity, slipping out of Serena's grasp, removing her hand momentarily, provoking a pout and whimper from Serena, turning her around, changing positions. Now, Serena was leaning against the table, Kate standing over her. Kate continued her long strokes and listened to Serena pant, breathe and moan. Her own breasts felt heavy and ached against her tank top. Kate knew her shorts were getting damper and damper. Serena was pushing so hard against her, still trying to get Kate's fingers inside of her, but there was no hurry. Kate wanted to tantalize her, build up the tension, hear Serena beg for her.

"I'm holding you. Can you get your top off?" Kate asked huskily.

Serena licked her lips and pulled the top over her head while Kate supported her. When her breasts were revealed, Kate smiled, then sighed. "God, they're beautiful." She leaned in, puckered her lips and gently kissed one nipple then the other. Then she sucked the nipple into her mouth, raking her teeth over it, flicking her tongue across it; all of these actions purposeful and meant to induce rapid insanity. Serena groaned and sighed in desire.

So far, Kate had scooted away from Serena's every attempt to caress her. Kate wanted to make love to her. She had waited a long time, held back the passion that she had felt from the very beginning. But Serena had waited, too and her need to touch, hold and make love to Kate was just as strong. Stealthily, Serena reached up and managed to lock her hand on one of Kate's breast, then she pinched the nipple quite hard. Kate let out a yelp and then a deep moan as her eyes closed. Serena continued caressing and pinching, caressing and pinching until Kate finally pulled herself away from Serena's grasp. And in one motion, she grabbed the waistband of Serena's shorts and pulled them down along with her underwear. The baggy shorts fell to the ground and Serena lifted one foot then the other and relieved herself of them entirely. Kate kicked them out of the way. She pushed Serena higher onto the table and spread her legs, standing between them and slipped two fingers deep inside her.

"Aaaaah." The back of Serena's head banged onto the table. "Uh." She inhaled between gritted teeth over and over. "Umm. Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh, God, yes." She whispered this mantra.

Kate pushed deeper into her and began to thrust hard against and in her. Serena lifted her legs and wrapped them around Kate's waist. Her sandals pressed against Kate's back.

"You are so hot. You're so hot inside. My fingers are soaked and you're like a fire." Kate moaned as she continued sliding in and slipping out. "I've been thinking about this for months. "Fucking you. Fucking you, fucking you, fucking you." With each pronouncement, Kate pounded deeper and immediately withdrew from Serena. As she plunged into her, Kate's body moved forward and back in need.

"Slower. Slow down. I want this to last."

"I want you to come all over my fingers. I want to feel that."

"Shit." Serena moaned, her head moving from side to side, her fingers wrapping into fists and pounding the table.

"Your clit is so hard. It's just so hard against my finger. I love it."

"Aaah."

"Here. Have some of this?" Kate's other hand which had been caressing Serena's breasts disappeared. Serena felt that hand between her legs, too, then suddenly, that hand was near her lips and she was being offered three glistening fingers to kiss and lick. When Serena's lips closed around those long fingers and began to suck greedily, Kate's eyes closed in surrender and she sighed. She could feel Serena tighten around her fingers, one hand being sucked by her mouth, the other sucked in and held by the tunnel between her legs.

Serena's hips gyrated. Soon Kate's fingers slipped out of her mouth. Serena bit her lower lip trying to hold back what was about to be unleashed completely. Her lower body lifted and fell on the table as Kate continued to drive deeper into her and Kate's thumb slid back and forth over her engorged clitoris.

"Your fingers are so. . ." Serena pumped those fingers. "I'm gonna come. I'm coming. I can't hold it anymore," she whispered and stared up at Kate. "I'm coming." She whispered again with trembling anticipation. She squeezed Kate's fingers with powerful muscles and held her deep inside of her as her body contracted and pumped. "Uuuh. Oh." Her shoulders lifted off the table, then slammed back into it. Serena's body jerked, her neck arched and became stiff as she held her breath and gave herself fully to Kate.

Kate was sweating over her. She couldn't believe how responsive Serena had been and how she had used words that she had never expected from her. She had never heard Serena say 'shit' or 'fuck' nor had she thought she would announce her approaching orgasm. Serena could be demonstrative, but Kate hadn't pegged her as sexually expressive. The truth, Serena had been guarded with her because Kate had forced her to be.

She leaned forward and kissed her, then rested her head on Serena's chest. "That was great," Kate said. She could hear Serena's rapid heartbeat. Slowly, she started to remove her fingers from the place they had remained.

"Kate?" Serena whispered, while holding onto her wrist, keeping her fingers lodged inside of her.

"Yeah?" Kate looked up.

She made her request softly. "I want to feel you inside me some more. If you can. . .?"

Kate smiled as she raised her body. "That wasn't enough?"

"I'm greedy."

"So am I." Kate pushed the two fingers deeper, then slid them out and added a third.

"Umm. That's it exactly." Serena slid out of her sandals, then raised her legs and placed her ankles on top of Kate's strong shoulders. This position helped to grip Kate's fingers and Kate barely moved them as she began to give Serena what she had asked for. Her three fingers moved inside of her, hinting at a retreat, but never leaving her body; promising power and delivering.

Serena's body rocked. The feeling was tremendous. She hadn't had any fingers other than her own inside of her in eight years. And what she recalled of that previous time was nothing like this. Kate wasn't just making love to her with her fingers, but with her whole body. It was as if Kate's soul, her personality, all of her person was moving inside her. Serena's back was damp and sticking to the table. She could feel her juices dripping down the crack of her ass. She felt Kate's fingers wiggling inside her. Those long, beautiful fingers she had noticed the day they met were driving her over the top again. Already, she could feel her second climax approaching.

"You're so good. You've got incredible fingers. Umm. Kate, yes."

Kate's hips undulating in a dance that only fanned her desire.

Soon, Serena was in a sexual trance, exhaling and inhaling deeply through her nostrils. Her pelvis thrust forward, taking all that she could. Kate's fingers filled her completely and as improbable as it was, to Serena, it felt as if they were expanding, taking more and more of her, driving her to the brink, then stopping, waiting. Kate's thrusts were skilled and she slid across the patch that was slightly rougher and most sensitive inside of Serena. That was all it took. Her liquid poured onto Kate's fingers and she tightened then released them with her strong muscle. She sighed and licked her lips. Moments passed and Serena's legs slid down Kate's body, going limp and dangling from the table. "Oh, God," she finally mustered.

Kate slowly removed her fingers and just before her hand completely left that area, she brushed against Serena's clitoris causing Serena to buck. She leaned forward and pulled Serena up and into her arms.

'Oh, Serena." Kate whispered into Serena's neck.

"That was so unexpected and wonderful."

"I want to take you to my tent. We can get comfortable."

"I want to take you in your tent, too." Serena laughed.

Kate bent to pick up Serena' s shorts and sandals and Serena took that opportunity to reach out and caress Kate's ass.

"Hey."

"Sorry. Too inviting." She was still breathing hard as she watched Kate gather her things.

Securely held within Kate's embrace, Serena struggled alongside her toward and into the tent. Her legs were still shaky and even travelling the fifteen or so feet was an exertion.

Inside, Kate turned up the flame on her lantern and pushed play on her portable CD player. The music blasted from the speakers and Serena noted that it was the same CD that Kate had been playing for several weeks. It had a heavy, primal almost erotic drum beat with rich woodwinds in the background and beautiful harmonies from a group of African women.

"It's kind of loud." Kate said, while turning the volume down and then looked at Serena who stood at the opening of the tent. "Aren't you coming in?" Kate smiled at her, loving the way her naked body glowed in the lantern light.

"Yeah, I was just checking out your place. I'm seldom allowed in the inner sanctum. The one and only time I was, I was out of it most of the night."

"Yeah."

"Your bed's huge. How do you rate?"

"All this is are three foam mattresses and two sleeping bags piled on top of each other. But it's comfortable. Come feel."

Serena lowered herself onto the bed. It took up the majority of the floor of the large tent and it smelled of Kate. Through the scent of the mosquito coils, she could still smell the Cool Water, the sweat, and the womanliness of the filmmaker.

Kate sat down next to her and stroked her naked thigh. "Why can't I keep my hands off of you?" Her hand moved up and down her leg and then on the next upward stroke, she kept going. Around her hip, onto her waist, to her abdomen, up to her ribcage, Serena's underbreast, her breast, her nipple. Moving up again, she traveled to her neck, her lips, her cheeks and into her hair. Kate's other hand came around and followed a similar path on the other side, except it never continued on its course passed her breast. She rubbed Serena's nipple between her finger and thumb and Serena slowly reclined onto the bed, her legs spreading again.

Kate followed Serena and lay on top of her with her long hair gently tickling Serena's chest.

"Kate, take off your clothes. I want to feel your breasts against mine." With one hand, Kate reached behind her head and pulled the tank top off. Her breasts like the rest of her body were a beautiful bronze with tan areola and nipples. Still in her shorts, she moved up Serena's body and dropped down onto her, letting her nipples come in contact with Serena's, then pushing down so that their breasts rubbed against each other's. Kate lifted again and her hard nipples danced across Serena's breasts.

Both women moaned at the contact. Serena reached out and grabbed two handfuls of Kate. Squeezing a breast in each hand, circling the nipple with her fingers, using her palms to caress them into a harder state. Kate moaned deeply. "Oh, that feels good."

Serena really wanted those shorts off. She wanted to see all of Kate. She was ready for the whole picture. Kate continued to moan and Serena was amazed at how hard her nipples had become. They were like small fingers. She needed to suck them. With some effort, she pulled the six foot tall woman up her body and opened her mouth to accept the gifts.

"Mngu. God." Kate couldn't remember her nipples being so erect. "Yes." They ached, but not half as much as the ongoing ache between her legs. She needed to either slow down or go faster, but this pace was killing her. She pulled away from Serena.

"Hey. Why'd you do that? I was enjoying myself."

Kate laughed. I can't take it anymore." Kate sat up, crossed her leg and untied her boot. She kicked if off, slipped off her sock and then did the same with the other shoe and sock. Serena raised herself onto her elbows and watched her as Kate stood and slid off her shorts and underwear, kicking them away. Serena gasped when she saw Kate's full nakedness. She was exquisite. Long, brown, muscular legs, a beautifully sculpted triangle of dark hair with a thick strand of glistening juice gathered at it's lower point.

"Umm. You look delicious." Serena reached for her and pulled her back into bed. Her hands immediately shot between Kate's legs, caressing her inner thighs, relishing the softness of that area. Serena's stomach flipped over when she felt the wetness and knew that she had caused it. Kate was on top of her again, spreading Serena's legs with her thigh, rubbing her body against her, causing another budding of desire from Serena.

Kate moaned in Serena's ear as she rubbed her mons against Serena's.

Serena's hand slipped from between them and she reached for the CD player. "Can I turn this off?"

Kate looked up startled. "Uh, sure. I'm just used to having it up loud when I'm.. ." She stopped when she realized what she was about to say.

"When you're what?" Serena hit stop while at the same time pushing her hips forward and into Kate.

Kate groaned, then said, "Nothing."

"When you're what?" Serena continued to press her body into her.

Kate complemented Serena's push with one of her own. The sensation of mound against mound was powerful. Already she was getting prickly. Her body was reacting to the pressure at the point of contact, at the very tips of her nipples, on the top of her head and the soles of her feet. She could hardly speak, but she managed. "I just like to have it on."

"I know. You play it at a billion decibels almost every time you come in here unless you're sleeping."

"That is your fault." Kate was getting into the banter while increasing her arousal, following Serena's rhythm of pressing and retreating, pressing and retreating.

"My fault?"

"Yeah, I told you. These breasts." She bent to kiss them. "They drive me crazy. I'll tell you the truth. Practically since you've been here. . . Oh, yes. God. This feels good." She stopped speaking briefly and let her body take charge. She was getting closer and closer. Kate's arms shook as she held herself up, while pressing down and rubbing herself against Serena. Grinding, grinding. Serena was really rocking against her and even though she couldn't see it, Kate knew that her clitoris was peeking out from between her lips. She could feel her hardness against Serena, her clit being tickled and aroused by Serena's hair. "Oh, yes." She exhaled and quickened her pace, just as Serena slowed.

"Since I've been here?" Serena whispered and then moaned.

"I've wanted you. I'm in here getting myself off five times a day, thinking about you."

"Oh, God." Serena resumed her hypnotic rhythm, surprisingly turned on even more. "You were in here playing with yourself?"

"Umm. Umm. Umm." Kate sighed repeatedly. She was going to fall soon. She was ready. "I. . .couldn't help it." Kate's lifted her face to the fabric ceiling of the tent, her eyes closed, and she screamed out, "I want you." The lower half of her body became spastic as she rubbed herself furiously against Serena while Serena pushed herself as hard as she could into her, giving Kate the friction she needed. Kate tensed and burst. Her body shaking, her arms finally giving out and causing her to drop onto Serena.

"Jesus Fucking Christ." Kate groaned. "Oh, baby."

Serena held her in her arms. Even though there was a huge difference in height, about six and a half inches, she seemed to fit nicely into her curves.

Kate lowered herself beside her. "I don't wanna suffocate you." She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. "God."

Serena's eyes were hidden behind very heavy lids. Her voice was husky and seductive. "Oh, I loved that. That was something."

Kate inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She reached down to touch her triangle, to feel her still throbbing clitoris. Serena propped her head up on her hand and watched her.

"Is that what you do in here? Touch yourself like that?" Her voice was low and so deep that she barely recognized herself.

"Yeah."

"Can you show me what you do? Please?" She asked softly.

She was craving more and Serena didn't have to ask a second time. She spread her lips with her index and middle finger and presented herself to Serena. Serena sat up and followed Kate's hands wherever they went. Kate moved her hand away from her triangle and slid up her body to massage her breasts. Almost immediately she was moaning. Having Serena watch her made her want to put on a show. She stared at Serena, looking at her soft skin, admiring her breasts as she breathed, how they went up and down, so full, heavy and creamy. Her hand went back to where it had begun. She spread her lips slightly, making room for her finger and stroked her clit. "Umm. Oh." Her hips started moving. Serena leaned in closer and stared at the wetness, the deep pink of her clit, the coarse black hairs that were abundant.

"I can't believe I'm doing this in front of you."

"Tell me what you're thinking when you're in here doing this." Serena reached out and gently glided her hand over Kate's body and watched as goosebumps rose all over her.

Kate laughed and shook her head.

"Okay, let me guess. You've just come back from watching your Cheetahs. You've driven for miles over bumpy terrain and each hump, every dip, the vibration of the truck feels good. You've been out in the sun with all that good Vitamin D beating down on you and you're feeling so hot." Serena looked up and smiled sweetly. "That's it, Kate, touch yourself."

"Oh. Oh." Kate scooped some of the liquid that was still pouring from her onto her index finger and continued her languid stroking.

"So, you get back here and you see me and think. 'Why is she still here?'" Serena laughed.

"No, I think, why is she wearing that shirt? I can see everything. God, Serena's hair is so shiny and looks so soft. I'd love to feel it on my thighs, between my legs. And I think, I wish she'd follow me in here and take care of this."

"Really?"

"Then I turn the music on." Kate moaned. "And I strip down quickly and I'm ready for you. I imagine you. . ." Kate panted. "Eating me. And I start moaning and I reach over and turn the music up cause I know I'm gonna scream." Kate's finger slid faster and faster over her swollen center and she growled from a place deep in her throat. "And I'm fingering my clit and begging you to eat me, eat me."

Serena pushed Kate's hand away and moved quickly between her legs. "Like this. Serena's mouth pressed against Kate's center and within a moment, her chin, mouth and nose were covered with Kate's wet heat. Serena moved against her like she was an extension of Kate's vagina. Her tongue slid between her outer and inner lips, gnawing, licking and kissing them. She narrowed her tongue and quickly licked around Kate's hole. She heard Kate grunt above her. Serena's short blonde hair moved back and forth over Kate's wiry dark hair. Her lips sucked on Kate's pulsating clitoris. Slowly and gently pulling it into her mouth and licking it as she let go. Kate's legs were up against Serena's shoulders and Serena could feel the sheet being pulled and bunched around her. She knew that Kate had fistfuls of the sheet in her hands. Only for a moment did she stop, stare at Kate's womanhood, then say softly, "Nzuri," before returning to her feast.

"Oooh." Kate cooed her response. "*You* are beautiful." Kate's stomach flipped a number of times. "Eat me. Oh, Serena eat me." Kate still lost in her fantasy spoke to her dream lover and real lover who were now one in the same.

Serena licked and nibbled for a long time, bringing Kate close, but forbidding closure. She had settled in and was in no hurry to stop. "I'm going to come in your mouth. Baby, baby. Uh-uhm. Oh." Kate licked her lips. Her head tossed and turned from side to side. She bit the inside of her lower lip. She grunted. She felt her body rising and Serena rose with her, never letting go, lapping and sucking. Kate dropped back onto the bed, then lifted again. Grabbing Serena's hair she held her in place and pushed her face into her. She grunted again and then she sat up, pushed away from Serena, her body trembling. Kate's head fell forward, long hair hung around her face and lay matted on her forehead. Serena watched as Kate's abdomen contracted. She knelt in front of her, smiling warmly.

After some moments, Kate looked up and returned the smile and pulled Serena to her, opening her mouth to kiss her. She tasted herself on Serena's lips and on her tongue. Slowly, she began to recline and pulled Serena toward her. "Sit on my face. I want to taste you."

Serena crawled up the bed and straddled Kate's head, slowly lowering her center to Kate's waiting mouth. As Kate kneaded her ass, she used her tongue to perform unhurried strokes against Serena's clitoris, sometimes moving from her opening, up against the swollen lips, and back to her core. Though Serena had been a quiet lover opting to whisper her delight, softly command a specific action, delicately moan appreciation, having Kate's mouth between her legs brought out something more primal in her. She screamed out how good it felt; groaned loudly and deeply when Kate's lips surrounded her inflamed clit, ground down hard on Kate's face as she moved faster and faster on top of her.

Serena's eyes closed and she caressed her own breasts, rubbing her hands over them, cupping and squeezing them while Kate drove her closer to ecstasy. Even before this afternoon, Serena had known she was in love with the filmmaker. It had been love at first sight. She had lied to herself and Dafton when she said it wasn't. And equal to the love she felt was the lust for her. Serena began to weep as she slid over Kate's mouth. She had wanted this badly, had longed for it every night since August. Now she wanted to tell her. In the heat of passion she wanted to proclaim it unequivocally, but she dared not. The feelings were strong within her, but she held back emotionally. The only betrayal coming from the tears she couldn't control Physically, she was far past restraint.

Kate's nose was wet with Serena as were her forehead and chin. She followed Serena's lead since she seemed to know just the course to take. Serena's hips moved above her in circular motions. Her liquid fire poured from her and dripped onto Kate who drank of it and wished that it would be never-ending. It was not to be, however. Serena's body shook and she exploded.

"Ah, ah. Oh, Kate." She screamed. Her hands grasped the pillow on either side of Kate's head, she lifted her body away from Kate's still active mouth. She was sobbing as she dropped on top of her and slid down. Kate scooped her limp body into her arms and held her tight.

Serena was a watershed of tears. "I'm sorry. It was just so intense." She hiccuped and continued crying.

"I'm right here." Kate was briefly reminded of the woman who cried after having slept with her years ago. But she knew these were different tears. Serena’s love was just so out there.

Serena was spent. She couldn't move. Tears fell, wetting Kate's breast as she held her close. For several minutes they stayed wrapped in each other's arms, until Serena slowly slid away and fell asleep beside her, her arm wrapped possessively across Kate's chest, her hand holding her shoulder. They slept like this until just past dusk.

* * * * *

"Hi." Serena looked up and caught Kate staring at her.

"It was everything I had dreamed." Kate's voice caught in her throat.

"For me, too."

Again, they lay quietly holding each other.

"I'm hungry."

Serena looked up, raising her eyebrows at Kate, smiling. "I don't think my body. . ."

"No, no. Food. Weren't we going to have lunch?" Kate said, while playing with a few strands of blonde hair on Serena's forehead.

Serena laughed. "Oh, yeah. What happened?"

"You happened. You happened to me."

"Yeah." Serena extricated herself from Kate and sat up. "Let me go out and throw something together. How about chicken sandwiches?"

Kate pulled her back. "Not yet." She hesitated. "I think we need to talk about all this before we. . ."

Serena didn't want to hear it. Kate wanted no emotional attachment. Well, Serena was already emotionally attached and now she had succumbed to Kate physically. She was lost and she knew it. "We can wait a few minutes. I'll be right back.

"No, I want you to know that. . ."

"Let's eat. Okay?" Serena pulled away from Kate and rolled out of bed. "We'll talk later," she said as she slipped on her shorts and tank top, slid into her sandals.

Kate watched her. Serena's body was magnificent. "All right, but as soon as you get back. We need to make sure that we're both. . ."

Serena smiled, turned and stepped out of the tent. She knew Kate was going to remind her about her 'no strings clause.' She didn't want to deal with it yet. She was in love with her and simply had no control over it. So what Kate didn't share those feelings? That didn't mean they'd have to stop this. If Serena could handle it, Kate should be able to. She wasn't going to make any demands on Kate's emotions. She just wanted to be near her, with her, inside of her.

Kate smiled to herself for having been so foolish for so many months. All of those days she could have been making love with Serena. Wasted. Kate placed intertwined fingers behind her head as she thought about the last few hours. She had been with a lot of women over the years, but not one climbed so high with her and never was it like that the first time. Serena was simply remarkable.

She was lost in thought and didn't hear the cowbell at first. She opened her eyes and smiled. "Baby, you don't have to do that. Just come inside," she said seductively as she sat up. The sheet fell to her waist as she waited to greet her.

Lisa Calltreaux barged in pointing a gun. "Don't say a word or I'll shoot you right on the spot."

Kate pulled the sheet up. "What?" She asked in surprise.

"I've seen it all before, remember?"

Kate started to swing her legs over to stand.

"Don't move."

Two men entered, one of whom Kate recognized from the horrible video she had taken almost a year ago. He would be going to trial soon, too.

Lisa looked at the men. "Well?"

"The girl's taken care of. Taped up. She won't be screaming out, not that it matters. We're the only ones here. The camp is deserted. She's tied."

"Good."

"Don't you hurt her!" Kate shouted, the sheet falling into her lap.

Lisa and the men gazed appreciatively at Kate's chest, then Lisa said, "You are in no position to make demands." With the gun still pointing at her, she commanded, "Stand up," then turned to her goons. "Gimme two minutes, then send a flare up letting August know to bring the truck. Go!"

She motioned with the barrel of the gun for Kate to get out of bed. "C'mon. Up and at 'em. We've got things to do."

"I'm not doing anything."

Lisa bent and lifted Kate just above the elbow, bringing her to her feet. "Don't underestimate me, Kate. I," she shook her head, "don't like it. Up, up, up."

Kate stood next to her, but didn't budge. Lisa pressed into her, holding the gun at Kate's temple. "Do I have to dress you?"

Kate held her ground, belligerently crossing her arms. Lisa put her free arm around Kate's shoulders and leaned into her. "Get dressed. Don't make me tell you again." Delicately, Lisa caressed the tendrils of Kate's hair rubbing against her nose. She sniffed. "Umm. Somebody's been naughty. Your hair smells like pussy."

Kate jerked away and Lisa gave her a shove. "Dress! Or I'll go sniff out your precious little friend and give you a hundred reasons to obey."

"All right. My clothes are over there."

Lisa waved the gun in that direction and Kate deliberately chose the khaki pants and a long-sleeved safari shirt folded neatly on the chair rather than what she had been wearing. She dressed quickly. She sat and put on her socks and began lacing and tying her hiking boots. Both women turned at the sound of an approaching truck. Lisa walked to the opening and peeked out. Turning back to Kate, she smiled broadly. "Our ride's here."

Kate Chavez stood and confidently walked toward Lisa who immediately pushed her through the opening. Kate stumbled forward, then righted herself just as the two goons from earlier grabbed her.

"Tie her hands," Lisa said, and then to Kate, "and if you don't behave we'll hogtie you."

"I don't know what you have planned, but you're not getting away with it. I won't let you."

One man stood directly in front of Kate, drew back his arm, then propelled his fist forward and punched her in the gut. She doubled over in pain and only rose to her full height when she heard a muffled cry a few yards away.

It was dark, but the lantern light provided enough illumination for Kate to see Serena sitting on the ground, tied to the leg of the picnic table, her mouth covered with duct tape. Their eyes met, but there was nothing either could do to help the other.

Serena watched in horror as Kate's arms were yanked behind her. She heard her scream out in pain as her wrists were bound by heavy rope. She saw them drag her to the truck and throw her into the back just as she heard Kate yell out to her, "I'll get us out of this."

"Ha! Don't count on it." Lisa stared at Serena, jumped into the passengers’ seat, then slammed the door of the SUV. The others got in and the truck sped off into the darkness, leaving Serena struggling in vain to free herself.

* * * * *

Kate had been unceremoniously dumped in the back of the SUV. Her body thrashed against the inside of the vehicle, first one side then the other as the driver sped off the Reserve, taking the southern trail.

On one wild turn, Kate crashed into the side, hitting her arm on a metal notch, some kind of hook. Her shirt ripped and she knew that the hook had taken out a chunk of skin. She was bleeding, but her mind was on the hook itself, not the injury. Rolling slightly she attempted to maneuver her body in front of the hook, then tried lodging the hook between the knots. She missed once, twice, three times. She kept trying. If she could get the hook in between, she might stand a chance at loosening the ties.

She didn't know how much time had passed--a few minutes or half an hour, she had been so concentrated on this one task. Finally, the hook was properly in place, she began to pull, stretching the rope back and forth, creating a larger hole. She felt it starting to give and quickly glanced toward the front at her captors. Kate was confident that she could free herself, but escaping from the truck would be next to impossible with four heavily armed people watching her every move.

"Penny for your thoughts, Kate?" Lisa called to her.

"Fuck you."

"Well, then I'll tell you what I was thinking."

"Spare me your madness." Kate answered while preoccupied with what would hopefully be a Houdini act.

"No, no, no. This concerns you. I was wondering if I should watch you die or just come in after the deed is done to see your bloody corpse."

"You are seriously demented."

"Yes, it will be bloody." Lisa laughed. "That's a promise I intend to keep."

Kate kept working, nudging the rope. Finally she stretched it enough that it gave completely. After that it was easy to manipulate the hook and get herself untied. She sat as still as possible in the truck, not changing position.

"Sweetie, we're almost home. I have a surprise waiting for you."

One of the goons guffawed.

"And it's big and furry."

* * * * *

Serena didn't know how much time had passed. either. Everything had happened so quickly. She had left Kate's tent to make sandwiches. She bent to look in one of the mini-fridges and when she stood, her mouth had been covered with a hand. Instantly, she knew it wasn't Kate. The hand was rough and large and she sensed it knew brutality.

Within a moment, the hand had been replaced by duct tape. Another man joined the first and tied her feet, then dragged her to the picnic table and secured her around one of the legs with thick rope and the heavy gray tape.

As they tied her, she saw Lisa Calltreaux entering Kate's tent. While she struggled, she heard brief snatches of conversation between the two women. She heard Kate's pleas and Lisa's threats. She saw the flare brighten the night sky. She watched Kate and Lisa step into the common area. Kate was beaten, tied, and thrown into a truck. Now there was nothing.

She blacked out from lack of air and she wasn't sure how long she had been under, but suddenly, she heard a truck, voices, the sound of people running toward her, she felt them tugging at the rope, her lips stung as the tape was pulled away. Through the fog of confusion and terror, she recognized a voice.

"Serena? What the hell happened?" Fear laced Dafton's voice.

Jimiyu cut through the rope and tape with a knife and then Dafton brought her arms around to the front, rubbed circulation back into her aching limbs.

"Kate. They've got Kate." She said gasping for breath. She tried to get to her feet, but she was simply too weak. "Help me. We've got to find her."

Her long, thin Kenyan friend swept her up into his arms and ran with her to the rented SUV, stretching her out in the backseat. He climbed in behind her as Jimiyu charged toward the truck with a videocamera, two rifles, a handgun and three boxes of ammunition. He had also grabbed a pair of Serena's hiking boots from her tent. He threw everything beside him in the passenger's seat, then jumped in the seat behind the wheel.

"Serena, okay?"

"I think." Dafton said while alternately rubbing her arms and legs. She sobbed beside him.

"Lisa Calltreaux," Serena said.

"We know."

"How?"

"We were here last night, but Victor called and told us you and Kate were heading back, so we cleared out. We were camping not far from here. Jimiyu saw a flare go up and knew that there was danger."

"When? How long ago? Can we find them? Where they took Kate?" Serena was crying uncontrollably.

"Yes, Serena. We will find her." Jimiyu looked into his rearview mirror at Dafton.

"It's only been about 15 minutes. As soon as we saw the flare, we pulled ourselves together and drove out. We passed Lisa's truck going like a bat out of hell leaving here. Jimiyu raced back."

"Why didn't you follow her? Kate was inside."

"For all we knew, mate, Lisa had shot you and Kate point blank in the head and left you here to die. We only had one truck. We had to make a choice."

Jimiyu was driving as fast as possible as the truck bounced and jumped across the bumpy terrain. Serena finally sat up and looked out, searching for any clue. She looked past the front seat and out of the windshield. She saw tracks, but couldn't tell if they were fresh, if they were coming or going, if it was Lisa's truck. "Are those their tracks?"

"Yes." Jimiyu responded affirmatively, but it was instinct that had taken over. He had no idea about the tire tracks. He could track an animal without questioning his method, but he was just as stumped about this as Serena. He knew he had to keep driving out this way. It was the direction that Lisa had taken and it was the only one out of the Reserve from this side.

"We have to find her."

Dafton stared at Serena. He was panicked and scared, but Serena was far beyond that. Her eyes had a hardness he had never witnessed. Her expressions leapt from fearful to murderous. God, help them all if something dreadful had happened to Kate. He knew Serena would take no prisoners. And he knew that she would never recover.

"Dafton, I need that you check guns. Do you know to load them?" Jimiyu's English was getting sloppy and his eyes bulged from their sockets as he drove on.

"I'll do it." Serena answered adamantly while reaching over to grab a rifle and a box of shells. She leaned back in her seat, placed the shells in the rifle, checked it and snapped the safety in place. Methodically, she did the same to the other rifle, then the handgun, a Glock 9mm. When she had finished the handgun, she stuffed it into the back of her shorts, placing the spare clip in the pocket of her shorts.

* * * * *

They were off the Reserve. The roads were paved, but narrow. Kate couldn't see out, but she felt the difference and heard the sounds. The road was smooth, but branches slapped against the truck on both sides. She had no idea where she was or how long the journey would last. She knew the further she was removed from the familiar, the less chance she had of survival. She had to make a move, but what?

Soon, she was aware that the streets had widened and she heard the sound of other cars. Just as she had decided to create some kind of diversion, the truck came to a sudden stop. She heard doors open, the footsteps of people moving toward the back of the truck. When the door opened, Lisa and her men stood staring at her.

"C'mon sweetie. Let's move out."

Kate didn't move.

Lisa grabbed Kate at the ankles and dragged her across the truck and to the opening. As Kate pretended to struggle to sit up, she kicked the door with her foot as hard as she could. She heard the sound of a skull making contact with metal, then the scream from one of the men who now lay in a fetal position on the ground. Lisa pulled out her gun.

"I'd hate to change my plans, Kate. Don't make me kill you right here. I do have a divine justice planned for you." Lisa looked at the two standing men and said, "Help him up, I'll take her inside.

Quickly Lisa realized that Kate had freed herself from the rope bondage. Kate was fast, but a bullet would be faster and she reminded the filmmaker of this as she marched her in front of a large building. Kate could smell tea and coffee being processed. She was in the factory area of the city where building after building prepared the Kenyan teas and coffees that were the country's leading export.

Inside, the abandoned factory was in poor condition. Windows blown out, dirt and dust on the few pieces of equipment, a musty, dank smell of neglect was thick in the air. One large room and far in the back several smaller rooms, probably old offices. No longer in use, this was the perfect place for a misdeed to be conducted.

"Why are you doing this? You can get out of the country. You wouldn't even be extradited back here. It'll be over."

"As long as you're alive, it won't be over." Lisa said matter-of-factly.

"You think you won't be suspected? They'll come after you for murder."

"I'm not going to kill you. That's not in my plan."

The three men entered the factory. The one who had punched Kate back at the camp now held his sore head. His eyes were glazed over as he leaned on the other guy for support. When he looked up and saw Kate, he straightened and looked dead into her eyes.

"Let me take her out."

"You'll get your chance, but first our sweet Katie has some papers to sign." Lisa maneuvered Kate toward a table and pushed her into the only chair. "No need to read 'em dear. Just sign away."

"In your dreams."

She placed the gun on the opposite side of the table and bent to whisper to Kate. The filmmaker felt Lisa's spittle in her ear as she spoke. "This could save your life, Kate. I don't want to kill you. Not really. I just can't go to jail. If you sign these papers then that'll be the end of it. They say you lied, that you were out to destroy me, that it was all about a misunderstanding."

Kate looked up and whispered back to her in a reasonable and forthright tone. "I can go to a judge and tell 'em that. Why sign?" Kate was in Lisa's head and knew what was coming. She recognized a suicide note when she saw one.

"Because you could tell me you were doing that and then screw me again. I'm not going to spend the next thirty years sitting in an African prison."

"But I could tell them that this was signed under duress. I could still talk. That is. . ." She paused for effect. "If I'm alive. Which I won't be, will I?"

"Goddamn you!"

"Kill me, now. I'm not signing." Kate eyed the gun and wondered if she could get to it before Lisa.

"You goddamn lesbian bitch."

"And you are?"

"One of the last people you'll ever see." Lisa stood tall and stared down at her. Just then, Kate lunged for the gun.

It was in her hand. She kicked the chair out of the way and turned to face her captors. She lowered the gun when she saw three guns aiming at her heart. Lisa laughed hysterically. Kate knew she was defeated.

Even if she died, Serena would live. Serena wouldn't be a part of this. She had been left alive at the camp. She knew how Serena felt about her and if she had been given the chance, Kate would have explained her feelings for the chef. She was glad she hadn't. This would be painful enough.

* * * * *

They had driven off the Reserve and now they sat at a crossroads. There were three possibilities--left, right, or forward. Jimiyu closed his eyes, meditated on the choice. When he opened his eyes again, he was moving forward.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."

Soon they were on the outskirts of Nairobi and now the choices were becoming frequent. Too many streets, too many pathways, that might lead them to Kate or lead them nowhere.

"Jimmy, the building in that video Kate took. The video with the elephants. Do you know where it is?" Serena busily laced up her hiking boots while staring forward.

"That particular building has come down. All of those old factories are set for demolition."

"Is there a certain part of town where the factories are?"

"Yes, it is not far."

"One thing I know about Lisa from Kate is that she's lazy. She'll return to what and where she knows."

Jimiyu agreed and headed toward 'Caffeine Row,' the tea and coffee industry of Nairobi.

Dafton watched her. He had never seen her so single-minded. Everything was done with care and a steadiness he found disconcerting.

Jimiyu was there in minutes. He began driving up and down the streets. It wasn't a large area to cover, but there were alleys, dead ends, and unlit streets to investigate. There was silence in the truck, yet the adrenaline that pumped within the three was thick, almost palpable.

Street after street, nothing. Jimiyu turned into an alley thinking he saw movement, but when he approached, he saw only trash blowing between the buildings. He backed out and moved to the next street.

"We've got to find her."

"I know, I know."

Dafton's eyes were glued to the right, Serena's to the left, Jimiyu's searched in all directions. They each wondered if this was a wild goose chase. Maybe Lisa took her into the city or maybe they never made it out of the Reserve. Maybe Kate was dumped on the road or in some brush that they had already passed.

Serena's heart was pounding. She was finding it difficult to breathe. She had been struggling to stay focused, but as more time passed, she was falling apart. Losing Kate was not a possibility she could live with. She couldn't. Kate was a part of her and she couldn't cope without her. Irrationally, she replayed what had happened less than two hours earlier. Why hadn't she paid attention to her surroundings when she left Kate's tent? Why hadn't she heard the men? She should have lit lanterns immediately. If she had put up more of a struggle, maybe Kate could have been warned. They had to find her. She loved her.

* * * * *

Lisa shoved Kate forward, nudging her on with a gun pointed at her back. "Straight ahead. C'mon." They crossed to the far end of the factory. Lisa pushed a large green button next to one of the office doors and Kate heard the door unlock. Lisa opened it and pushed Kate inside.

The room was just an empty twenty by forty space, a wall with a door, two concrete walls opposite each other and opposite the door, a wall made up of a metal pull up door. The room had probably been part of a loading dock at one time.

Lisa stood in the doorframe, casually holding it open with her foot. "Welcome to your home. Don't think about decorating, you won't be staying long."

"Whatever."

"I guess this is goodbye. Kate, sweet, sweet, Kate. Honorable Kate. Animal-loving Kate. I almost hate to have to do this. You were such a good lay. I never told you this, but you could fuck like nobody's business. I sometimes wonder how good it might have been if I had just. . .I dunno. . .liked you. Ah, but that was not to be. Now, here we are. I won't stay. I just can't bear to watch. It'll be over before you know it. Since you'll be just a memory, I want you to know what everyone else will about you. When this is all over, your life, your reputation, your dreams will all be destroyed. Gone, gone, gone." Lisa nodded her head. "This is my justice. Everything you took from me, I'm taking back."

"I took nothing from you. What ever has happened to you, you brought on yourself."

"Shut up, will you? Will you do me that favor? See ya."

Lisa yelled out the door to the goon who had been itching to pummel Kate. He entered the room as she held the door open. "Nandi, she's all yours. Do what you want, but don't kill her before dinner." Lisa smiled at Kate.

"I'm not hungry." Kate said.

"I wasn't talking about your dinner." Lisa answered sardonically.

"I'll come around in a few minutes. Leave the front opened for me." Nandi advanced toward Kate.

"No problem." Lisa said. She winked at Kate and closed the door.

"You're gonna wish you'd never met me bitch." He stared at Kate.

* * * * *

Dafton shouted, "Wait! Wait. Back up."

Jimiyu put the truck in reverse and drove back to the intersection.

"Is that the truck we saw leaving the Reserve?" Serena scrambled across Dafton's long legs and hung over his lap looking out of the window.

Jimiyu stared down the street. "I think so."

"That's it. I'm sure. That's the truck." Serena shouted.

Jimiyu began to turn down the street.

"No. Jimmy, we'll go on foot. Park over there." Serena was taking charge.

As they leapt out of the SUV, she tossed both men a rifle. Creeping down the street, staying as close to the building as possible, Serena softly gave orders about their approach. "We don't know anything. I think there are four of them, but it could be a lot more. Let's take our time, do it slow, but do it right. First, we have to find her. We don't want to ambush them and still not have her. We've got to find her first. Agreed?"

Jimiyu and Dafton said yes.

"Okay, we'll circle the building to see what we're dealing with. If you see someone, don't shoot unless you have to. We don't want to attract attention. Try to get away from them without being seen. If you can't, shout my name--not help, not run, just my name. I'll do the same Jimmy. If it comes to that, then we storm the building. . ."

"Three of us storming the factory? We don't know what's inside." Dafton was absolutely frightened. He had signed on to cook not to be a mercenary.

"Kate's probably inside. Serena turned to him. "I'm in love with her, Daf. Help me save her."

Dafton gulped, then nodded.

As they reached the front of the factory, Serena gave her last order. "Dafton, come with me. Jimmy, we'll meet back here in three minutes. No more than three minutes."

"Vyema. Okay."

Dafton and Serena moved left, Jimiyu right. Dafton watched as Serena skulked like a panther in the night. There was something that had come alive in her that he had never seen. She was driven, yet elegant in her drive. Her body was sleek and quick.

* * * * *

"Dyke!" Nandi's eyes raged at her.

"Do I scare you? Are you worried about your manhood?"

"No. I'm gonna teach you about men."

"With what?" Kate stared openly at his crotch. "You don't look like you have much to offer in that department."

Nandi stood in front of her and glared. He unbuckled his belt, letting the buckle dangle in front of him. "Bitch, you are mine!"

"That's what you think." Kate reached out and grabbed for the belt, yanking it through the loops and into her hands. She dove at him, knocking him to the floor. They struggled for several minutes, each getting the upper hand at different times. Nandi was straddling her stomach and in an attempt to subdue her, grabbed her shirt collar and pulled Kate forward, then slammed her head into the concrete floor. He did this repeatedly and she screamed out in pain. Wooziness moved front and center and she feared she might blackout, but determination set in. She knew she had to hold on to the belt and that she had to stop his attack. She blinked several times as he continued to bang her head squarely into concrete. With her leg and hip, she managed to throw him off balance. She flipped him over and now she was in control, straddling him. Kate wrapped the belt around his neck and pulled back on it as hard as she could. He gagged, flailing wildly, trying to escape her clutches. Her head ached and she took long deep breaths in order to stay conscious. As she held him with one hand, her other hand had moved to her shirt pocket. Months ago, she had hung this long-sleeved shirt and pants over her chair for just this purpose. She had known the moment Lisa was released from jail that their lives were in jeopardy. She had anticipated an attack from Lisa and tried to prepare as best she could. The shirt's pocket held a small syringe. She unbuttoned the pocket and removed it. With her mouth she popped the orange cap, turned the syringe on him and plunged the needle into his shoulder. "Sleep well, asshole."

Right then, she heard a cranking sound and watched as the large metal door began to lift. She was sitting on top of Nandi, still holding the syringe when she saw first two paws, then the body of a thin cheetah. She shook her head trying to hold back the dark curtain that threatened to fall over her vision. The door stopped when it was about five feet off the ground. A slab of raw meat was thrown into the room and the ravenous cheetah came charging in. Kate stared in disbelief. She stood and dragged Nandi to his feet. The tranquilizer had already started to effect him. He was groggy and moving in slow motion and so was she. Kate knew she had to stay alert, but it was becoming more and more difficult. She held him out as a shield in front of her, while searching his pockets for a gun or key.

"How the hell do we get out of here?" She heard herself speak, her voice slurred and thick.

"It opens automatically in 10 minutes. After dinner." That said, the thug slumped in Kate’s arms, his head lolling around like a bobber on a fishing line.

"Shit."

* * * * *

"Ssh. What's that?" Serena whispered.

"I don't know. It came from down there."

Serena and Dafton tried melting into the brick wall of the building. There was a commotion further down which probably meant there were people. She had to make a decision, keep going or turn back. She chose the former.

Serena saw the metal door as it was dropping back into place. She crouched and barely made out the cheetah entering the room. She also thought she saw one, possibly two people inside. A large transport truck was blocking her view of the other side. She put up a hand holding Dafton back and slowly crawled toward the ledge of the dock. The cheetah must have come from the truck; probably held captive until released into the room. She crawled under the truck and slid to the other side. Peeking out, she saw a man walking to the front of the truck, she heard the door open, the truck start, the door open again, and the ignition turned off. Just as she was about to slide out, the man's body fell to the ground his eyes opened, staring blankly at her. His neck was twisted in a bizarre fashion and Serena gasped. She heard footsteps again and then arms reaching for the man, pulling him into a sitting position. Someone squatted in front of the man, only two feet from Serena. She held her breath and waited. The person dropped the man onto the ground, moved around the truck to the other side.

"Serena? Serena?" Dafton whispered.

Slowly, she slithered back the way she had come, crawled out and wedged herself between a concrete wall and the back tire of the transport truck. Dafton had called out to her. He was in danger. Perhaps captured. She pulled the gun from the back of her shorts and hunched over, trying to remove the safety quietly. She closed her eyes as she heard the loud click of the safety removed. Serena stood upright, ready to face the enemy.

Jimiyu and Dafton stared at her and the gun pointed directly at them. "Hey, don't shoot. It's us."

"There's a guy over on the other side. He's dead."

"I know. I killed him." Jimiyu said.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine. We must move quickly. I believe Kate is inside this room." He motioned with his head to the metal door.

"I just saw a cheetah in there."

"I believe they want the cheetah to kill her. He wouldn't try to eat her unless he's been starved." The last part of the statement was meant to reassure, but knowing Lisa Calltreaux's modus operandi, the cheetah would be both angry and starving.

Serena's hand went to her mouth as she gasped. "C'mon. Hurry. We've got to get her out."

As they made their way around the building to the front, Serena thought she'd burst in gun blazing, taking out all she could. Then she thought again, she needed to select her targets carefully, not wanting to accidentally shoot the woman she loved. She patted her shorts' pocket where she’d placed the second clip. She was thankful for the training she’d received years ago in the use of firearms and the practice she had continued at shooting ranges. She was going to save Kate, even if it meant shooting to kill.

* * * * *

The cheetah had moved closer. She watched its nostrils flair and once Kate concentrated on the animal, trying to focus through her haze, she recognized it. It was Diego. He had been starved. His ribs were poking out and his face was drawn, almost hollow. He finished the meat quickly, then glowered savagely at her and Nandi. She knew she was in trouble. She knew the power of his jaws.

The cheetah moved closer, continually sniffing into the air, approaching his prey. Her shirt was covered with dried blood from the injury she had sustained in the truck. She let Nandi drop momentarily as she quickly removed her shirt, wiped the blood still on her arm onto the cloth and wrapped it around Nandi.

The man moaned as he sank further into oblivion. She lifted him to her, dragging him in front as she circled the room with the cheetah. The animal reached out and Kate thrust Nandi toward him. The cheetah sniffed again taking in the smell of the blood. It licked its chops and nudged the still man with his nose. Kate barely held onto him, not wanting to get that close to the hungry cheetah. She was becoming weaker. Her strength was quickly leaving her body. The cheetah growled and she jumped back in surprise, dropping Nandi to the floor. Immediately, the cheetah sprang, mouth open, revealing sharp teeth and fangs. His first bite was into Nandi's arm where Kate had draped her bloody shirt. He ripped the shirt, then Nandi's own shirt, until he reached flesh. She cringed when she heard him bite down and the bone crack between his jaw. Nandi screamed out only for a moment.

The cheetah quickly finished off the flesh on the arm, then ripped open his chest, tore at his pants and began eating fabric and flesh as it became available. Kate watched in horror. She edged away, sliding her hand over the wall, trying to keep herself upright and mobile. She moved toward the metal door, hoping to find a way out. The cheetah growled and reached out for the movement he caught in his peripheral vision. He made contact, ripping at her pants, tearing at her flesh, cutting her leg open. Kate fell to the floor, shrieking, but kicked herself away quickly. The cheetah was too busy with Nandi to pay much attention to her. She would be the second course.

Kate turned away when she saw the cheetah clench Nandi's face in his jaw, bite down and rip it apart. Blood was everywhere and she was beginning to slide in it. Her leg bled profusely and the pain was unimaginable. The wound on her arm had opened up again and that bled. Staying focused was more of a challenge. She blinked when she saw a second cheetah magically appear, then a fourth, then eight more. Her vision was shot and her head throbbed. She wiped her arm across her bare chest. Nandi was now bits of flesh and bone and all the blood was draining from him. The metallic blood smell overwhelmed her. Her leg pulsed and she looked down at that wound. It was gaping open, tissue and muscle exposed. She felt nauseous and threw up. When there was nothing other than spittle left, she tossed that, then had dry heaves. Nandi had said the door would open in ten minutes. Surely it had been that long. What if the door didn't open?

* * * * *

Serena had pushed Jimiyu behind her. Her face was red, her eyes dark and menacing. At the front of the factory, she tried the knob and it turned. She squatted as she slowly turned the knob and pushed the door slightly ajar. She stuck her head inside and looked around quickly. One man and Lisa all the way at the back. She couldn't see around the door. There could be guards as close as two feet. She turned and said to her friends, "I think there’s just two of them. I don't know. There should be another guy. Two tied me up and one drove the truck. There's at least a third guy somewhere. Are you ready?" She looked at Dafton who was shaking. "If you can't do this, I understand."

"I can."

"Then take your safety off."

She stood. "Let's do it." She kicked the door and she, Jimiyu and Dafton went running into the building, racing to the other side. Lisa and August looked up in surprise.

Serena held her Glock on Lisa. Her intent was clear. "Where is she? I won’t ask again, and don’t think I won’t use this gun on you!"

Lisa reached for her own gun and Serena shot it out of Lisa’s hand, the fractured metal ripping through her flesh, shattering her bones. Lisa screamed in agony as the gun fragments fell to the ground and she grabbed her bleeding hand.

"Where is she?"

August moved his hand behind his back and Dafton blew him away. He dropped to the ground, a shot to his chest. He gasped, then gurgled, then nothing. Dafton stared down at him in disbelief.

Lisa continued screaming. While Serena ran to her, Jimiyu went to Dafton who stood over August. "C'mon. We do not have time." Jimiyu's eyes panned the room, looking for others, looking for Kate.

"Look what you've done, you little cunt." Lisa was on her knees squeezing her hand.

Serena squatted beside her. "Where's Kate?" Her eyes were steely, almost maddening.

"She's having dinner with the cheetah." Lisa motioned to the door. "She should be finished about now." Lisa laughed.

Serena stood. "Guys, over here. She's in here."

The three met at the door and Serena looked down. "Oh my God." A stream of blood poured from underneath the door. She turned the knob and nothing happened. Frantically she glanced around for a key or switch and saw the green button. Serena pushed it and heard the door unlock. "Be careful."

She pushed the door open, just as she heard the metal loading door begin its ascent. Jimiyu stepped around Serena who was now paralyzed in fear. The room was a sea of red. There was blood everywhere. She couldn't make out much of anything else and she was too afraid to focus on finding the person she hoped was in here and prayed wasn't.

Jimiyu began shooting into the opening of the metal door still in motion thinking another man might be hiding on the other side. He was temporarily unconcerned with the cheetah who lazily rested in the middle of the floor lapping up the remains of a person's leg.

Serena stepped across the threshold and moved into the room. She looked at the cheetah. Jimiyu now had his rifle trained on the lethargic, sated animal. She saw the blood, so much blood. Her hand shook and the handgun fell to the floor. Serena stared at the remains of the body, then her eyes closed, her lips quivered, and she broke down. "Kate," she choked out. "Kate."

The filmmaker looked up and for the first time became aware of her surroundings and the people in the room. "Serena?" Her voice was dull and weak.

Serena opened her eyes to face the bloody remains again. She heard her name, then looked toward the automatic door. She saw her. "Kate? My God. Kate!" The filmmaker was awash in blood. Her face and chest covered in it. Her pants leg was soaked through with blood which still flowed from her. Gingerly, she stepped over and around the blood and vomit and made her way to the woman she loved. Once Serena's arms went around her, Kate slid to the ground, slumping over into unconsciousness.

* * * * *

Four days later.

Kate had had surgery and the doctors informed Kate's team that she would make a full recovery; that the beating to her head had caused what they were sure was minor, non-life threatening swelling and the coma was probably temporary, 'just a method her body had chosen to begin to heal.' But how could Serena believe that? Her brother was in his eighteenth year in a persistent vegetative state at that very moment.

Kate had lost a lot of blood, she was weak, but she was a fighter. "We just have to wait," the doctors said repeatedly. "This isn't unusual," they assured Serena. Even Victor, Jack, Jimiyu and Dafton were upbeat about the prognosis. Only Serena saw the flip side of this coin. She had been through it before. She couldn't believe she was going through it again. This time would be different. She had given up on her brother finally, but no matter, she wouldn't desert Kate.

She found herself going through the same motions she had back then. She prayed constantly and tried bargaining with God. Then in a rage, she screamed out that it was pointless. "Why pray to you? You're not merciful. You took my parents, you took my brother. You left me alone and now this." The hospital administration demanded she leave the hospital.

When she returned the next day, calmer, more centered, she began to chat. She talked endlessly about everything all day. She didn't know if Kate heard, but she told her stories about Elliott, Heather, life in London, dancing until 4am at a club with Dafton. She told her dreams and confessed her fears. The next morning, she arrived at the hospital prepared to do the same battle. She talked incessantly about people she had met and celebrities she wished she had. She sat next to Kate and squeezed her hand and whispered that Kate should squeeze back to let her know she could hear her. Kate's hand didn't move. Serena lowered her head and thought back to another time.

On the few days she had been allowed to see her brother alone, she would climb into his bed and press her tiny ten year old body into his, encouraging him to take some life from her, to open his eyes. Now, she did the same with Kate. She stretched out in the bed beside her, damn the world for calling her love wrong, and softly pleaded, "Take enough to come back. Take all of my life if that's what it takes." Still, nothing. Not a flutter of eyelids, not a deepening of breath.

When she showed up at the hospital on the sixth day, she carried dozens of Kate's journals. She pulled the guest chair close to the bed and began to read. She read Kate's stories aloud about life on the Park Reserve, the surreal afternoon she spent with a family of chimpanzees, the night she spent sleeping in the truck, her tires trapped in sludge. She skipped over the journal entries related to Lisa Calltreaux and she skipped the Nigerian journal she had given the filmmaker.

She read from the journals until her throat hurt, then she sat, holding the opened book, watching as the pages wrinkled and puffed from the cascade of tears dropping onto them.

This was where she sat and what she did on that ninth day of Kate's coma.

* * * * *

Kate stirred with a groan and sigh. Filtered light entered the room through blind-covered windows. She blinked several times, allowing her eyes to adjust to the light. Turning her head, she tried to figure out where she was. The room smelled of alcohol and other medicines; the sheets she lay upon white and rough; next to her head, a host of life-preserving machinery. She was in the hospital.

Blinking again, she started to rub the sleep from her eyes and saw the I.V. tube taped to her arm. She shifted and groaned again, then yawned. She closed her eyes, then reopened them in a panic. Frantically, she tried to stretch to feel under the sheet. She had remembered her last conscious thoughts, recalled how badly Lisa, Lisa's men and the cheetah had battered her. It was the memory of the cheetah's violent swipe at her leg that had alarmed her. Her leg had been in bad shape, ripped apart. She had realized almost immediately that if she survived, her leg wouldn't. She'd lose it. Kate stretched again and screamed out in agony. Her hands patted wildly over the sheet trying to feel below her thigh.

"It's not phantom pain. It's real. You've still got everything you came in with." Serena was up and standing next to her. Already she was crying in relief.

"Huh?" Kate looked up at her.

"Good afternoon. Welcome back. You've been missed."

"Whoa. I have a killer headache. How am I?"

"You'll live. They expect a full recovery, though you might feel some aches and pains during the rainy season." Serena grinned and Kate responded in kind.

They were both silent, lost in their individual thoughts for several minutes.

"I saw a man get eaten," she whispered. "I saw his face clawed off and saw him disemboweled and his organs eaten."

"I'm sorry Kate."

"I don't think I'll ever lose that image."

Serena squeezed her hand.

"Serena, I'm sorry you got dragged into all of this." Kate could barely speak having been non-verbal for several days. "This must be very hard on you."

"This is the easy part."

"I'm so tired."

"Go back to sleep. I'll tell the doctors. We'll get you something for your head."

* * * * *

By the time Serena reached the hospital the next day, all of the guys had been there. They hadn't awakened Serena who was sleeping well for the first night in days.

Kate was sitting up. Her bangs had been trimmed and she smiled broadly when Serena walked in. "Finally."

"Hey." Serena pecked her on the cheek and took a seat beside the bed.

"Daf was by with Jimmy and Victor and Jack were here."

"Good, good."

"They told me that the Park police put Diego down. He'd tasted human blood and was now a risk to people's safety on the Reserve."

Serena nodded.

"They also told me a wild story about your daring rescue. I wanna hear your side of it."

Serena pulled her chair closer and began the tale of how she saved her lover's life. Over an hour later, Kate was still riveted to the story. She watched as Serena's eyes lit up and even though Serena down-played her actions, Kate knew the guys had been honest about what had happened. Serena had been a mean, lean, fighting machine.

"You see, I couldn't let you die. I had to get you back. I knew this wouldn't have happened if I had just. . ."

"Ssh. Serena, don't even say that. This didn't have anything to do with what you did or didn't do. Lisa was crazed and this was going to happen whether you were around or not."

"But. . ."

"I don't mean to minimize what you did. I thank you, but if you hadn't succeeded, that wouldn't have been your fault."

"I did nothing when those men came into our camp. I had time to call out to you or at least fight them enough to slow them down."

"They would have killed you. You know, if it had been my time to go, that would have been it. No matter what you could have done, if it was my time, that's the way it is. Here we say, 'When it is a monkey's day to die, all trees are slippery.' Do you understand that?"

Serena nodded.

"I hope so. If you hadn't gotten out of the car to pee that day, your parents still would have died, your brother still injured. I think that's the way life is. When your number comes up, there's no way to avoid it and when you're still in the game, you're still in, no matter what. You need to get over thinking you're the one picking and choosing who lives and who dies. It's too awesome a responsibility."

Serena nodded again. Kate put her thumb under Serena's chin and lifted her face so that she could look into her eyes. "Thanks again for saving my life, though."

"Hey, my pleasure."

"Okay, why are all my journals here?"

"I've been reading them to you. You were in a coma for almost ten days. I thought they might push you back over to this side."

"Ah, I see. That explains all the weird dreams I had and this déjà vu feeling I kept getting." Kate bit the inside of her lip. "Did you read all of them? The one you gave me?"

"Aloud?"

"Not necessarily. Just do you know what's in each one?"

"Yes." Serena blinked nervously.

This time it was Kate who nodded. "Then I guess I should say something. I just don't know what. I'm embarrassed."

"You don't have to say anything."

Kate stared at her hand, finding something utterly fascinating about her fingernails. Finally she took a deep breath and stole a glance at Serena. "I'm so in love with you."

"Don't sound so excited about it." Serena knew already. The Nigerian leather journal she had given Kate shortly after her arrival was dedicated to those feelings. Page after page was written Serena's name, pictures of her that Kate had taken candidly around the camp were taped into the book, hearts were drawn around the pictures. She laughed when she had thumbed through it, that someone like Kate had expressed her feelings in such an oddly juvenile manner. It was adorable.

"It's just that I don't know where that leaves us. You've got this big book to finish. You're planning on leaving the Reserve. I don't wanna be without you, but what choice do I have? Kenya is my home. I won't be happy anywhere else. In spite of all that's happened, I love this place. Where does that leave us?"

Serena shook her head.

Kate shook her head, too. "We were just starting something here. We have the worst timing in history."

Serena couldn't have agreed more. An hour after making love for the first time, she was assaulted, Kate kidnapped and almost killed. "Well, we'll never forget our first time."

"Exactly. We can't get that back, but I want other firsts with you. How do we do that if you're leaving?"

Serena stood up and paced. She returned to the bed and leaned down to kiss Kate's lips. "I love you, too. I'm in love with you, so we have to figure it out. There's got to be a way."

Kate pulled her back down and kissed her passionately.

Serena broke away and exhaled. She grinned and shook her head. "You haven't lost any of your skills."

"Heh-heh."

"Maybe, while you're recuperating, you could travel with me. Just for a while. Kenya would still be our base. I have to go to Brazil next. Have you ever made love in Brazil?"

"No."

"That would be a first."

"What about Beijing? Have you ever walked the streets of China in love?"

"Never."

"Another first."

"The Ukraine? I was wondering if you'd ever held a lover in your arms in the Ukraine."

"I never have done that. "

"Excellent, we're three for three."

"But does that mean we'll be eating Ukrainian food? What do they eat anyway?"

"Goulash? Borscht?"

"And what about Rome, Serena? Has a half-Chicana, half-Greek girl ever told you you're her world in Italy?"

"Nope, but that sounds like something I'd like to hear in Rome."

"And have you ever made love in the grass, overlooking the lights of Los Angeles on a summer night?" Kate asked.

Serena eyes shifted from side to side, then smiled guiltily and embarrassed, "Well, yes I have done that."

"Oh." Kate paused to consider. "Well, have you ever met my father in California?"

Serena laughed and pulled Kate to her, holding her head against her chest. "No, never met him."

"We've got enough firsts to keep us busy for a while."

"Yeah."

* * * * *

Kate had been under doctor's care at the hospital for almost a month. Physical therapy so far had been painful, yet hopeful. Kate ran the gamut from feeling frustrated with her own body to elation with thoughts of Serena and the promise of all the sweet things love could bring racing through her brain.

Tonight would be her last night in the hospital and then she'd be sprung to return to the Reserve. She was counting the minutes.

Serena had met with Kate’s doctors and nurses, spoken for an hour with the physical therapist and had just filled several varieties of medications for Kate. Now, Kate sat up in bed watching as Serena filled the large plastic bowl with warm water. She carried it slowly to the bed and set it on the table.

"Are you ready for your sponge bath, patient Chavez?" Serena smiled.

"Yes, yes I am."

Gently, Serena squeezed water from the sponge onto Kate's bare shoulders, then massaged soap onto them. She rubbed Kate's back, lifted her arm and washed her pit, then the other one. She rubbed more soap onto her body and slid the sponge across her, letting the warm water wash over her.

"You'll get sick of this soon enough."

"I don't think so. I love touching you." Serena returned the sponge to the water to dampen it again. As she moved back to Kate to finish her bath, Kate took her hand, opened it up and the sponge found a home back in the bowl. She brought Serena's hand to her breast and guided her over and around it.

"Oh?" Serena said as she lightly pulled on Kate's nipple, "You're feeling better."

Kate nodded, then let her head loll back as her eyes closed in desire. "Much."

The End

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