Leech pt 2 "Hey, Lou. Lou!"
"Hmm?" Louise pulled out of her lovely introspection, grinning sheepishly at her workmate. "Sorry, Di, miles away."
"Thinking about Mr Wonderful again?" Di's angled green eyes twinkled merrily.
"How'd you guess?"
"You're positively oozing happiness, not to mention sexual satisfaction."
"Well..." Louise giggled, blushing slightly. "That's the problem with working with empaths " she mock-frowned at her friend, " no bloody secrets!"
"Well if you could at least try and keep your emotions under control," Di answered with an evil grin, "then I wouldn't be forced to pick up on them, eh?"
"Sorry! Can't help it!" Louise piped in a sing-song voice, shrugging expressively.
"So?" Di leant forwards with a leer, touching the tip of her tongue to her lips, "Is he really that good? And does he have a brother?"
Louise laughed.
"I don't know if he's got a brother but, yes, he really is that good!" She hugged herself tightly, unthinkingly pressing her thighs together, accentuating the slow, hot throb in her groin.
"Whoa! Steady on, girl!" Di's eyes were wide and bright with Louise's projected lust. "Maybe you should nip off to the loo for a wank!"
The junior purchasing clerk blushed crimson and frantically tried to get herself under control.
"Sorry, I'm sorry," Louise giggled, "he's just so..."
"Yes, I know," Di said ruefully, not a little envious of her friend's happiness.
"He is wonderful, though," Louise had got a modicum of self-control back and her emotions easily glided from lust to a dreamy contentment. "Terry's intelligent, and funny, and good-looking, and he listens, and "
"- he's good in bed." Di chuckled evilly.
"Oh shut up, Di!" Louise squirmed in her chair as her desire peaked again, laughing helplessly. "You're not making this any easier!"
"Sorry," Di looked anything but repentant. "He's wonderful, but...?"
"But?" Lou echoed uneasily.
"There's a 'but' there, it's not entirely swamped by your rampant hormones."
Louise bit her lip and leaned close to her friend, dropping her voice to a whisper.
"Yes, Terry is amazing, but sometimes " she took a breath, " sometimes I get the feeling it's all show. It's probably nothing," Louise added hastily with shake of her head, "probably just me projecting my own insecurities on him."
"Maybe," Di frowned thoughtfully, "the last couple of guys you dated were complete pricks. But Terry sounds all right."
"Yes," Louise said decisively, "yes I think he is. I'm very lucky."Detective Constable Charles Lowhall sighed irritably and rubbed his burningly tired eyes. Another late night after another fruitless day. Dammit, there had to be a lead somewhere in this strangler case! Four weeks since Karen Thorne had been murdered and there'd been no break-throughs, no fresh evidence, no hints, no clues - nothing! Luckily this sodding case wasn't the only thing on his plate or he would've gone nuts long before now with the frustration. But they had to get a break soon, Charles' 'copper's instinct' was jangling with the knowledge they were running out of time, it wouldn't be long before another victim turned up.
D.I. Maher was agitating to get this case off the Met's books. He reasoned in a most unreasonable tone of voice - that if the murderer was a talent then it was the Agency's problem. Lowhall reluctantly admitted Maher had a point. If and it was still a big if their target was a psi then the Agency people were the only ones properly trained to handle it. Charles was really hoping the Met would keep its nose in though; he was enjoying working with Lenore again.
It was pathetic he knew, but Charles had had a thing for the petite blonde since they'd met during their police training a decade ago. Lenore had never shown any inclination that she thought of him than anything other than a friend so he'd kept his feelings quiet, stupidly perhaps, but Charles valued Lenore's friendship too highly to toss it all on the chance she might think otherwise. Every time she broke up with one of her loser boyfriends Charles battled with himself about stepping forward but, inevitably, by the time he'd screwed up his courage to ask her out on a proper date Lenore had found someone else. And she kept picking such deadbeats! It was beyond Charles' comprehension how someone as intelligent as Lenore could keep on hooking up with the blokes she did. Take this what was his name? Nate? she was seeing at the moment. An unemployed musician for god's sake! And the last one, Darcy, an IT programmer with a gambling problem, and before him, Eddy, an apparently successful television producer whose background check had turned up Triad connections. Charles always did a discreet, completely unofficial check on Lenore's boyfriends, simply as a precaution. He didn't feel overly guilty about it, the Agency routinely screened all it's people's non-Agency contacts anyway, Charles considered his checks to be just an added layer of security."... we need to talk..."
Lenore hated that phrase, it always spelled doom for a relationship. The agent scowled at the snarl of traffic ahead of her, resisting the urge to give vent to her irritation by repeatedly slamming her fist down on the car's horn. The London traffic was frustratingly heavy this evening; it seemed to be taking an age longer than normal to get to Nate's place. Lenore consciously slowed her respiration, attempting one of the mediative techniques that usually worked when she was... over-emotional.
Inhale - 2, 3, hold - 2, 3, exhale 2, 3... repeat as necessary...
It helped, a little. Lenore's mood wasn't quite so black when at last she let herself in to her boyfriend's modest flatette."Traffic was bad?" Nate asked sympathetically.
"Worse than usual, if that's possible." Lenore sighed. "Sorry I'm late."
"It's OK, no problem." Nate smiled at her and Lenore's gut clenched with the familiar surge of lust and awkwardness. God, he was gorgeous, tall and spare with gypsyish good looks, how the hell did he end up with her? There must be hundreds of better looking women out there who'd sell their souls to be with him.
"Would you like a drink? Dinner's almost ready "
"Dinner can wait. Tell me what we have to talk about then I'll decide if I want to eat."
"Right," Nate exhaled noisily and shoved a long-fingered hand through his unruly black hair. "The short version is I've been offered a job in Prague."
"... Oh."
"Starts next Wednesday but they need to know tomorrow if I'll take it."
"I see." Lenore eased herself down onto the shabby but comfortable couch. "You're going to say yes?"
"I'd like to," Nate said quietly, "It's good money, working with someone I've always wanted to work with , but "
"But?"
Nate watched Lenore for a moment, carefully studying her expressionless face. He sighed and slid onto the couch beside her.
"I really like you, Lenore," he stroked her cheek with his fingertips, "more than anyone else I've been involved with."
Nate faltered Lenore waited, with the implacable patience that had unnerved confessions out of dozens of suspects.
"If you're not happy with this, I won't accept the job."
Lenore's eyes narrowed.
"That's not fair."
"What?" the musician looked confused, this wasn't the response he'd been expecting.
"No. You are not going to make me choose for you." she growled. "If you want to do this, then fine, do it, I'm happy for you, but don't put the onus on me."
Nate caressed her neck and smiled sadly.
"I'm going to miss you..."Trying to drive while trying not to cry was something Lenore had never got the hang of. The traffic had lessened a fraction though and she managed to get home to her quarters in the Agency building without pranging the car and before she dissolved into tears.
Lenore sprawled over her couch in the dark, miserable and hungry. She hadn't stayed for the food Nate had laboriously prepared, or even a drink and certainly not for the 'goodbye' sex she knew she'd regret missing out on in a day or so.
He'd 'miss her', would he?
Well, she'd miss him too but not that much. Lenore wiped her eyes with the back of her hand; what was that fatuous saying her mother had? Plenty more fish in the sea? Stupid cow, easy for her to say happily married to the same man for thirty-two years, she didn't need to worry about being alone. Lenore scrabbled off the couch and made straight for the drinks cabinet, determinedly hooking out the bottle of scotch she only touched when she wanted to get oblivious. Now was as good a time as any she thought grimly, plonking herself back down on the couch. Lenore quickly downed the first shot of golden liquid, gasping at the unaccustomed fire in her throat. Tonight she'd wallow in self-pity over the pitiful state of her love-life then tomorrow she'd put bloody Nate behind her and move on. Completely. Alone. 'cause that was that, Lenore was swearing off relationships.
The second shot went down smoothly and Lenore relaxed back against the soft cushions, welcoming the warm fuzziness spreading out from her stomach.
Fuck the lot of 'em...Lenore didn't need to be a 'path to know her partner was disgusted with her. Razor was regarding her with all the icy contempt she habitually bestowed on the world in general, and flatscans in particular.
"Why do you do this to yourself?"
Lenore would've scowled, if the thought of moving her face didn't make her feel nauseous. Dammit, all these fabulous advances in medical technology and still no-one had come up with a reliable hang-over cure. The two small, pink tablets Wilma De Winter, their section head, had forced on her this morning had dispersed the rest of the alcohol in her system, and staved off the headache but she was still feeling... fragile.
"You should eat something."
Lenore glowered at Razor.
"Thank you for the advice." she grated.
"I don't understand why you do this." Razor frowned. "You know it doesn't help."
Lenore's glower became baleful. No you don't understand, do you, Razor? Human emotions like despair and grief are completely alien to you. We're a bunch of weak, pathetic excuses for a life-form, letting ourselves be ruled by our emotions and hormones that's what you think, isn't it? Lenore had twigged very early on in their partnering that Razor had little or no comprehension about emotional motivations, and even less desire to understand them. The psi was an enigma; she considered herself apart from the rest of humanity, superior. Lenore had read the agent's file and it was as pretty a piece of fiction she'd ever seen. All of the details of Razor's life had seemed reasonable on the surface, but there was one thing that hadn't rung true for Lenore. It was only a little thing which someone else without her... interests might not have noticed; Razor's birthdate made her, astrologically speaking, a Leo, but there was no way in hell the psi was a Leo, she was a Scorpio if she was anything. That had set Lenore thinking; if that part of the file wasn't accurate, were there other things? Lenore had done some quiet checking of her own using her police contacts and found her suspicions confirmed. There were a number of things in her partner's file that were fabrications, well-disguised but untrue nonetheless. This puzzled the ex-cop because that meant either Razor had lied to the Agency and they hadn't picked it up or the Agency was party to the deception.
"If you can't concentrate maybe you should go back to bed."
"No, I'm fine," Lenore sighed, "just need another coffee."
Razor stunned her with her next comment.
"Stay there, I'll get it."
Lenore almost gaped as her partner strode off to the small, but well-stocked kitchenette in the field agents section. This was the most consideration tolerance - the psi had ever shown! Angel was definitely having a softening effect on her.
Razor carefully placed the mug of steaming black coffee on Lenore's desk.
"Thanks." Lenore's grateful smile was tremulous.
"Angel and I would like to invite you to dinner." Razor said without preamble as Lenore took a sip of the hot, delicious elixir of life.
"Uh, sure, thanks." Lenore didn't hide her surprise.
"Tonight? If you're well enough."
"OK."
"Good." Razor displayed no emotion at all. "Let's get on with this paperwork...""Come on, Lou, you've got to concentrate."
Louise grimaced, annoyed with herself.
"Sorry, Wynne, I just can't focus today."
"I know you've got a lot on your plate work, study, training, new man - " The grey-haired woman chuckled at Louise's wide-eyed blush, "It's common knowledge, honey, no secrets here, even if you weren't projecting to all and sundry."
"Oh god," Louise half-groaned, half-laughed as she put her face in her hand, "I'm never going to live this down."
Wynne laughed with her.
"This is why it's important to keep trying, Lou." She patted the girl's shoulder gently, "Now come on, once more."
Louise took a deep breath, closed her eyes and mentally reached out to find that slippery mental connection. It was so frustrating, a whole year she'd been training with Wynne with minimal progress. Able to sense that tantalising glimmer of the older woman's mind but not being able to reach it. Why couldn't she reach it?
"I think we can leave it there today," Wynne broke softly into her concentration.
"I'm sorry," Louis sighed, shoulders slumping, "I can't do it."
"It'll come, honey, don't worry about that." Wynne patted her shoulder again. She grinned mischievously. "Just not today, obviously."Louise's life had changed markedly since the Agency had found her. She had a safe place to stay, a job and friends, education a chance to make something of herself and do some good. Living as she had been on the edges of sanity, prey to any bastard that could pay her 'protector' for a piece of her, Lou hadn't expected to live past eighteen, but here she was, twenty, healthy and whole, with her life ahead of her and a wonderful boyfriend she was crazy about. It didn't matter if she never got a hang of her slight 'pathic talent, she had enough in her life to make her happy already.
Terry lay on his lumpy, slightly damp bed, hands behind his head, legs crossed at the ankles as he stared at the shadowed ceiling. The weeks since he'd started going out with Louise had been an eye-opener. Right from the start he'd known there was something different about her, something... satisfying. She fulfilled him in ways he hadn't realised he'd needed. The hunger that sent him out looking for companionship was finally being assuaged and it was because she was psionic, he was sure of it. In fact the longer he spent with Louise the sharper his... awareness became of the particular something she had. It was almost like a scent, he mused, sharp and tantalising, and very, very rare. He'd only caught faint traces of anything like it on his walks through the city since, but Terry reckoned he'd know a psi now if he met one - he'd already accidentally had a chance to test the theory.
He'd been coming up the stairs to Louise's flat when he'd heard his lover's cheerful voice. She was saying goodbye to someone and a couple of seconds later the someone had started down the stairs. Terry had smelt her before she came into view though, she had a much stronger scent than Louise's that immediately intrigued him, aroused his hunger. She didn't seem to notice him standing on the stairs, even though she passed within inches of him, but that was what he'd wanted, it gave him the opportunity to have a good look at her. A little older than Louise, dark where Lou was fair but the smell of her talent was what captured his attention, so strong he could taste it. On an impulse he'd followed the young woman as far as a taxi rank, watching hungrily as she climbed into the vehicle. The urge to take the next cab in the rank and keep following her was very strong. But that wasn't a good idea, Louise was waiting for him. Terry stood in the shadows nostrils flaring slightly to catch the remains of her delicious scent.
Di that was what Louise had called her Di.Terry sighed, he was damn tempted to ask Di out, he knew she'd be perfect for him but he couldn't go behind Lou's back, he'd have to let her go first and he wasn't ready to do that yet. Terry rolled off the bed, stretching as he stood, a small, happy smile spreading over his face; he was going to see Lou tonight he'd been looking forward to that all day...
Louise waited in her flat for Terry to arrive, assailed again by doubts about him and their relationship, doubts that disappeared when he was with her. She'd seriously thought about ending it more than once but then he'd turn up and smile at her and she'd fall head over heels all over again. Louise didn't understand it and to be honest she wasn't comfortable with it. She felt she was being manipulated somehow but when Terry was with her she was the unquestioned centre of his universe and everything was perfect.
A knock on the door lifted Louis out of her introspection and she smiled despite her misgivings: Terry was here...Lenore toyed with the idea of backing out of dinner with her partner and Angel. She really wasn't in the right frame of mind to spend the evening with a happy couple, but then again, Razor had never invited her over for anything so social and Lenore had to admit to a certain curiosity.
Razor let her in, accepting with a nod the two bottles of expensive, delicately fragranced mineral water Lenore had brought. Wine was more traditional, of course, but Angel refused alcohol.
"Thank you for coming, Lenore," Angel, looking soft and pretty in her loose, green silk trousers and shirt, hugged the agent warmly.
"Thanks for inviting me," Lenore smiled at the cat-girl, still chuffed that Angel trusted her enough for this spontaneous, affectionate contact.
"Have a seat, dinner'll be ready in a few minutes."
Lenore parked herself at the small table and looked around curiously. The walls and carpet were still neutral grey but there were colourful cushions on the new, she noticed couch, matching rugs on the floor and several pot-plants positioned around the small space.
"Cloudie gave me the plants," Angel smiled, seeing Lenore gently touch the soft leaves of the African violet that served as the table's centre-piece tonight. Angel laughed, "I think she had a heart attack when she saw how empty it was here! Have you been to her place? It's very colourful."
"That's an understatement," Lenore chuckled, including a silent and not entirely at ease Razor in her look, inviting the 'path to share the joke Razor had had one or two things to say in the past about the TK's decorating style.
"Good grief, is that alive?" Lenore started as a part of one of the cushions moved, revealing itself to be a grey tabby kitten who yawned widely showing a pink mouth and tiny white points for teeth before stretching itself and squeaking enquiringly. Angel laughed and scooped the kitten up, pressing it lovingly to her cheek. Lenore could here the ecstatic purring from six feet away.
"This is Mittens, not the most original name, I admit, but it suits," grinning, Angel gently held up the kittens two front legs with their white paws. "Adelaide gave him to me."
*The psychologist's idea,* Razor 'pathed privately to her partner, *as company for Angel when I'm not here and as a way of introducing her to the idea of a harmless male.*
*Does Angel know that's why you gave her the kitten?*
*No, and the therapeutic value wasn't the only reason.* Amazing, Razor *sounded* a touch defensive. *I wanted to give her a gift.*
*It's obviously been well received!*
Angel was giggling, Mittens had clambered onto her shoulder and was trying to snuggle under her hair.
*Yes,* there was no mistaking the softness in the 'path's *voice*.
"Adelaide, could you " Angel asked entreatingly.
"Serve the food? Yes." Razor half-smirked. "I can see you've got your hands full."Dinner was a surprise for Lenore as well, not that it tasted as good as it looked but that Razor had cooked it.
"Food preparation is a survival skill," the psi was carefully nonchalant, "it helps if the food is palatable."
Palatable? Lenore shook her head ruefully; this meal wasn't just palatable, it was easily the equal of anything the restaurant upstairs could serve.
"Does Raz - Adelaide cook like this often?" Lenore asked Angel, watching her partner's studied indifference out of the corner of her eye.
"Adelaide cooks all the time." Angel smiled warmly at her lover, "She's teaching me to cook as well..."Lenore was glad she'd accepted the couple's invitation; it hadn't been as uncomfortable for her as she'd feared. Angel and Razor weren't an overly demonstrative pair, not in front of any one else anyway, but there was such a lovely easiness about them. As miserable as Lenore felt about her own romantic life, she couldn't envy the happiness the two women had found.
Terry watched Louise while she slept, sprawled almost face-down on her bed, sated from their lovemaking.
So beautiful.
But not enough for him anymore.
Terry had known as soon as she'd opened the door to him that it was the beginning of the end for them. He fought the knowledge all evening but it was no use, Louise wasn't as exciting as she had been. A real shame, Terry liked her a lot but once the spark had gone out of a relationship what was the point?
Louise sighed in her sleep, turning herself over on to her back, one arm curled above her head on the pillow, the other by her side, her fingers just brushing his penis. Terry smiled, lowering his head to lick slowly around a partially erect nipple eliciting a sleepy murmur from Louise as she blinked awake.
"Again?" she giggled, biting her lip when he gently pressed the heel of his hand against her clitoris, his fingers sliding down between her thighs to tease past her labia.
Terry grinned, nipping her breast lightly as her fingers curled around his already hardening cock: the spark may be going from their relationship but that didn't mean the sex had to stop just yet...
© 2003 June 14th Lutra
Darkside