Fandom Town Police Department, Evening

[katielockley.livejournal.com]

The officer at the front desk--who is called Tim--is busy monitoring the recording equipment and muttering about being the only member of the front desk personnel. He is, however, open to answering general questions and directing people to their desired area. It's not as if he has a choice.

Kate sits at her desk, neatly tying up all of the loose ends. On the edge sits a vase of purple irises, and she lets her eyes drift to the flowers when she's done, smiling softly. After a few moments, she pushes her chair back and stands, walking through the station with steps flowing and quick, nodding to some fellow officers as she passes. When she reaches the entrance she stops, toying with her necklace as she waits.

Shane brings one foot off of her skateboard and gives herself another slight push along the sidewalk so that she rolls along slowly as Tara walks alongside her. Glancing over at Tara, Shane winks as she reaches over and takes her hand, lacing their fingers together. It's been a while since she's ridden and she needs to brush up... and, besides that, she just missed it.

Tara looks down at their joined hands, rubbing her thumb softly against the back of Shane's own. "Do we... I'm not sure how this works. Can we touch in front of Kate? I don't want her to be jealous," Tara murmurs.

Only moments until the police station comes into view, and Shane chooses now to take her hand? Is she making a statement? Is this a quick touch for reassurance before a long night of aching skin, ghostly rememberances of Shane's touch?

Shane looks down at their hands as well and then back up at Tara, seeing the thoughtful look on her face, and sets one foot on the pavement to stop her board. After a moment, she lets go of Tara's hand with a great deal of reluctance, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her hoodie.

"I don't know," she says evenly after a moment, lowering her eyes to stare at her board.

"Okay," Tara replies, managing to keep the edge of pain from her voice. "We'll let Kate set the pace, okay? And you and her... that's normal. It's not news to me. Nothing changes there. Alright?"

Shane takes a deep breath and nods but then steps off of her skateboard entirely as she moves to stand with Tara, taking both of her hands. "But this is normal for me, too, now," she says. "With you. You know?"

Tara moves forward to nuzzle Shane's cheek. "I know. But it's not normal for Kate, yet. Let's just... let's just let her decide what she's comfortable with." She squeezes Shane's hands, and then lets them go, her own floating uselessly down by her sides.

"I know," Shane murmurs, nodding. "I... I just wanted to explain... I... I just... like... touching you. It's not that I wanna hurt Kate, it's just... both of you are normal to me and... I don't know..."

Placing her foot on her board, she pushes off and stands tall on the deck, board rolling slowly along as she digs in to her pockets for her cigarettes. Something to keep her hands occupied.

Tara's hand covers Shane's, stilling her for a moment. Softly she brushes her lips against Shane's, a tender kiss. "I like touching you too. We'll be okay."

Lifting her hand, she steps backwards, the front of her chest cold now that Shane's warmth is gone. She nods at the cigarettes. "Go ahead."

Looking down at her cigarettes for a moment, Shane looks back up at Tara and then stuffs them into her pocket as she hops off of her board again. "Not yet," she murmurs, one hand slipping up to cup the back of Tara's neck as she leans in and catches Tara's lips up in a deep, purposeful kiss.

Groaning, Tara slides her hands through Shane's hair, the shorter cut seeming to beg her hands to grip, gently pull, stroke fingertips over Shane's scalp as she tilts her own head, licking at Shane's bottom lip.

Shane lets her tongue brush against Tara's for just a moment before catching it and drawing it into her own mouth to suckle on, a low, pleased rumble working its way from her throat. Tara's fingers in her hair sends hot tingles trickling down her spine and spreading through her entire body, filling it with warmth.

Clinging to the kiss for a moment, Tara licks the taste of Shane into her own mouth, storing it for the night ahead. Reluctantly she pulls away, hands sliding out of Shane's hair to cup her cheeks fondly.

"She's waiting, love. We have to go." Rubbing Shane's nose softly with hers, Tara steps back, looking up the street to the police station.
Reaching up, Shane brushes the tips of her fingers over Tara's cheek for just a moment, eyes gleaming with that same warmth as she nods and taps the back end of her board, catching the nose in her hand. Tucking the board under her arm she starts walking towards the PD.

Kate catches sight of them through the large windows of the doors. Stepping forward, she turns the handle and pushes open the right door with a single, swift movement and, after one last nod at those still in the building, slips outside.

"Katie... hey," Shane says warmly as she heads up the steps to meet her.

She looks a little tired but nothing that you wouldn't see after a regular day at work, and since Kate has seen her last, her hair has gone from almost shoulder-length to barely covering her ears. Her eyes light up happily as she notices Kate wearing the necklace she'd sent her. "You got it," she says softly, smiling as she lightly touches the pendant where it's settled on Kate's chest.

"I did," Kate says quietly, her other hand coming to rest on Shane's as the door swings shut behind her. "Thank you." The soft words stand for so much more, but it's too much to say, so she just leans forward and presses a soft, grateful kiss to Shane's lips, before pulling back. Her eyes widen slightly as she says, "You cut your hair." Before she answers, Kate gives a quick, soft smile to Tara in greeting, concern hidden in her eyes.

Shane looks almost as surprised as Kate does for a moment at the mention of her hair and she reaches up, fingers toying with the ends as she lets out a chuckle. "Yeah, I... I did it," she murmurs, stepping to one side so that Tara can join them. "What do you think?"

Kate steps back, making a show of studying Shane's hair as if she doesn't know what the answer's going to be. After a moment, her smile widens and she's close again, reaching out her hand to run her fingers through her cropped hair. "I like it," she says, her voice as soft and certain as the familiar gesture.

Offering her a bashful smile, Shane leans in to the touch and presses a soft kiss to Kate's lips.

Tara stands back, letting the two have a private moment. It doesn't hurt as much as she was afraid it would, do see them together. There was no scorn in Kate's look towards her, no feeling that this is being done territorially. It's just... normal. The way it's supposed to be.

Kate's hand slides down Shane's cheek to cup her chin as she closes her eyes for a brief moment, just feeling Shane's lips against hers and relishing the feeling before they open again so she can look into her eyes.

"I love you," Shane whispers, eyes gazing steadily into Kate's as she smiles, reaching up to gently smooth the backs of her fingers over Kate's cheek. "And it looks beautiful on you," she adds, nodding to the pendant.

Kate's fingers trace the design--like a snowflake, her very first--as her eyes light up. "I love you too, Shane...and thank you." Both painfully sincere, heavy with meaning, light with happiness.

Smiling brightly, Shane tips her head up and presses a soft kiss to Kate's forehead. "Ready to go?" She asks, hands gently rubbing her arms.

Kate nods, her nose brushing against Shane's. "Where are we going?" she asks quietly, lips quirking into a slight, soft smirk.

"Home," Shane says softly as she grins as she rubs the end of her nose lightly against Kate's. "Tara's cooking us dinner."

Tara nods, a little shy, and moves to greet Kate, with the obvious intention of giving her a hug.

Kate draws back from Shane and turns to Tara, and there's something almost like shyness in her eyes. She's still, but her posture is welcoming.

Tara slips one arm around Kate, hugging her softly, her other hand automatically floating out to touch Shane, reassuring herself with that contact.
Kate's hand falls from her pendant and wraps her own arm around Tara, somewhat awkwardly. It doesn't feel as strange as she thought it would, and...it's good. "It's nice to see you, Tara," she whispers, and finds that she means it.

"You too, Kate," Tara replies. "She... she misses you." Is that the right thing to say? No need to say who 'she' is, there's only one 'she' in their lives,
but Tara needs Kate to know she hasn't been replaced, even though the look on Shane's face after they kissed has said it all already.
Thank you. "I miss her too," Kate says softly. "I'm...glad you're there." Is it the truth? She thinks so. Kate lets her arm fall and she takes a step back, smiling at her...friend? Or something else?

"So, um... dinner," Tara says, unsure of how to respond to Kate. She's glad I'm there? Really? Because if she means it... this may all work out okay. "What can I tempt you with? Any requests?"

Kate's smirk resurfaces, faint and wry. "I can eat anything." Sometimes you can't be picky. She looks over at Shane, her eyes inquisitive.

Shane slips her arm around Kate's waist and gives her a careful squeeze as she looks down at her sneakers. For her, being with each of them by themselves is natural, comfortable... but the two of them still have to get to know one another. She wants to hold hands with both of them, kiss ... both of them and so she's not exactly sure what to do with herself as a result. She doesn't want to hurt either of them, but at the same time the awkwardness between them is both understandable and... frustrating all at the same time. Feeling Kate's eyes on her, she looks over at her and smiles. "Tara makes really excellent stir-fry," she says.

As always Kate is comforted by Shane's touch--it seems to ground her when she's surrounded by emotions she's not sure of. "That sounds good to me," she says, the words little more than a formality. She's used to formalities.

Tara ducks her head, blushing a little - and remembering what happened last time she made it. "I cook a lot of ethnic food. Indian, Chinese, Ethiopian... I like the flavours. I've never travelled outside the States, so I guess... I mean, food is one of the ways the world gets connected together. I, um... I travel by mouth."

Kate catches the movement, and finds the thoughts it conjures more complex than she realised. "That makes sense. I've never been outside of California until now." Common ground? It would be nice to have more of it.

Unable to stop herself, Shane reaches out and gently tucks Tara's hair behind her ear. She knows that Tara tends to be bashful around new people but she also knows that Kate is a very warm and accepting person. It's probably easier for her to be warm and accepting, though, if she can see Tara's face.

Tara meets Shane's eyes with a soft smile. She doesn't look at Kate, but she's keenly aware of her, waiting for her reaction to the small gesture of affection.

Kate's hand covers the one Shane has on her waist, but otherwise makes no movement, simply observes the tender moment between the two of them. It doesn't seem right, not quiet, but it doesn't seem wrong either.

Feeling Kate's hand cover hers, Shane lets her other hand settle back down at her side and bites her lip as she looks at Kate.

"I -- sorry," she says quietly, brows wrinkled apologetically as she looks from Kate to Tara and then back again. She stuffs her hand in her pocket, almost glaring at it as though it's an entity unto itself.

She glances at Kate and a slightly rueful smile quirks her lips. "I -- I just... I can't help it," she mumbles, looking down at her sneakers.

"You shouldn't have to," Kate says immediately, squeezing Shane's hand. Her gaze follows Shane's, as if asking it not to leave--or finding its own solace in staring at nothing. "I'm just getting used to this."

"I know, I'm... and I'm just... trying to make sure neither of you gets hurt," Shane says softly, lifting her head up to meet Kate's eyes, as if feeling the silent pull of Kate's gaze.

"We won't get hurt," Tara says softly. "We're with you." And oh, there's a world of meaning in those three words. We. Us. With you.
And that connects her to Kate, perhaps not as intimately as lovers, but more than casual friends. They are, somehow, each other's shadow, their pasts mirrored in unexpected ways, coming together in love for this woman.

Coming. Together. With all those implications, all those memories, Shane's skin and touch and warmth melding them into the same being. Her girlfriend, her lover, her confidante, her friend. How could she resent Kate? She is Kate - at least, part of her is. Inextricably linked with each other.

Transferring her gaze from Kate to Tara, Shane feels the almost overwhelming urge to pull Tara in and kiss her until neither of them can breathe. At the same time, though, she wishes she had even half the faith in herself that Kate and Tara seem to.

Kate, too, looks to Tara, silent agreement in her eyes, and gratefulness for expressing what she wasn't sure how to.

Tentatively, the hint of a smile playing at the corner of her mouth, Tara twines her fingers with Kate's, ready to draw away. "Lead on, Ms. Wheels," she says to Shane. "Take us home."

Kate's lips quirk slightly into a faint, tentative smile as she steps forward and nods to Shane. There may be doubt in her eyes, but it's overshadowed by something lighter, better.

Glancing between the two of them for a moment, Shane smiles as she leans in and presses a kiss to Tara's cheek and then one to Kate's as she heads down the steps. Setting her board on the ground, she places her left foot on it, using her right foot to give herself a solid push up the street.

Kate's smile widens for a moment at the feel of Shane's lips on her skin, watching her go for a few seconds before turning back to Tara.

"Shall we?" Tara asks, a wealth of question in her eyes as she nods towards Shane.

Kate nods and takes a step forward, not quite far enough to pull Tara with her.

Tara begins walking up the street, fingers laced loosely with Kate's, her eyes fixed on Shane's. "She's so graceful," Tara murmurs. "Like she's flying."

Kate adapts to Tara's speed, her eyes quite easily drawn back to the figure in front of them. "She is," she agrees. Her voice is quiet in respect for the hour. "I never knew she could skate." There are a lot of things I still don't know, she adds silently.

Board rolling along smoothly, Shane draws her right foot up onto it, standing tall as she digs into her pockets for her cigarettes. Fitting one between her pursed lips, she ducks her head, hands cupping around her lighter as she sparks it and brings the flame to the end of her cigarette. Glancing back over her shoulder for a moment, she smiles at the both of them and winks before returning her attention to the street, guiding the board effortlessly around bumps and imperfections in the asphalt.

"She surfs, too," Tara offers. "I mean, she told me. If we get a warm enough day, maybe we could all go down to the beach together?"

"That would be wonderful," Kate says softly, a note of wistfulness to her voice. She turns her head to Tara. "Have you been there yet?"

Tara shakes her head. "Not yet. There's still a lot of this town I haven't seen. Other than the school I know the park and the woods, and... that's about it. And I'm going to steer clear of those for a while."

Kate nods her understanding. "I know the town, but...I haven't been around it, much." Her eyes narrow in curiousity. "You don't like the woods?"

"I've..." she shrugs one shoulder, fingers tightening a little between Kate's. "I've seen enough of it for one week, I think."

Shane's first phonecall had hovered at the back of her mind, always ready to be pulled forth, and now it was. Her brow furrows and her own fingers squeeze Tara's slightly,

"Did she..." Tara casts a sidelong glance at Kate. "Did she tell you? What happened? What she did for me?"

Kate meets Tara's eyes. "She told me there was trouble. Nothing else." You can tell me. Or not. The words are evident, if unspoken. After a pause, "With someone named Crowley." Anger is present in her voice, dull and hidden but strong.

"Sort of," Tara replies quietly. "But, um... kind of more with my father. I went a little crazy, and I thought... Well, I lose track of what was real and... what was now. It all got jumbled up.

Mr. Crowley was the trigger, but it wasn't really his fault. I mean, he just brought out the memories, he didn't make them. Shane... she made him help me."
Kate's face remains impassive as she listens, though her eyes show sympathy and caring and the anger that just won't go away. When Tara finished she breaks her gaze to look briefly back at Shane. "She told me he was dangerous...but she confronted him." Her words are soft and awed and proud.

Kate looks back at Tara. "Did it work? Are you all right?" Shane said she was, but she needs to hear it from Tara.

"Yeah," Tara nods, looking back at Shane with an infinitely grateful smile. "I am. Thanks to her."

"I'm glad." Kate says, looking at Tara for a moment before looking down at the road, dark and rough and barren. "Fathers can be hard to deal with."

"Yeah," Tara says again, softly. "Sometimes I think the best part about being female is that I'll never grow up to be my dad."
Kate looks up at Tara, a small, sad smile on her face. The contrast isn't lost on her. "I actually tried to do that." Her voice is wistful, old regret shadowing the words with bitter humour.

"He was a good dad?" Tara asks. "I mean... a good person to be like? Or... or you just wanted him to approve of you?"

No matter how bad they are, you always want their approval. Their love. You can hate them, and still crave a 'good girl, or 'well done'. She knows this.
It is the song that sings in her blood, and the song that drove her to spill it.

"A little of both," Kate replies, her smile fading. "He was...a good person. After my mom died he..." She can't say it. Can't say that he wasn't a good father, not when he died for her. "He closed himself off."

"Your mom died?" Tara asks softly. The similarities are... getting spooky, actually.

"When I was a little girl." Kate's voice is faint, drowning in memories. "I was sleeping...and then my dad shook me awake." She closes her eyes for a moment, shaking her head before looking back at Tara.

Kate recognises something...a kindred pain, but she won't ask.