Partners, Friends and Lovers
Chapter 11, a brief interlude.
By Katherine Lehman

No real plot here, just something that I felt like writing. It's short, and sweet.

I love lazy Sunday afternoons. There is just something so soothing about being able to spend a few hours doing absolutely nothing for no better reason than because I feel like it. It happens so rarely in my life. Seems like Sunday often becomes just another day to work out, or to work on busting bad guys, or simply keep moving at the same break neck pace. It's nice to have the time to just be once in awhile. No demands, no expectations, nothing more important on the agenda than reading a good book or watching TV.

Sundays are even better when it's raining. Not entirely sure why. The lack of sunlight seems to encourage me to just hang out in bed. And I think the rain really makes it easy to justify staying inside and doing nothing. If the sun is out, you just sort of feel obligated to be doing something, anything, to make use of a beautiful day.

My newfound appreciation for the rain could have something to do with the fact that it was on a rainy day, a year ago, when Levon and I got together. It's a nice, positive association I have with rain now. Very positive. If it hadn't been for that hurricane, and getting more or less stranded at the ranch, I would still be enjoying this day, but not nearly as much. No, not even close to as much.

I like the rain now, almost as much as I do lazy Sundays. When the two come together, well, then it's as close to perfect as I'm likely to come. I'll take what I can get and not complain about it.

I settle myself more deeply into the bed, putting aside my book, careful not to disturb Levon. The TV is on with the volume turned down, but I haven't been watching the game, and couldn't even tell who's playing to be honest. It's just been providing a comfortable background noise as far as I'm concerned. Levon was the one who wanted to watch it. And he fell asleep about half time.

I shake my head slightly, a bit bemused by it. Given his passion for the game, I never thought he'd be the one to prefer napping to watching it. Usually I'm the one who falls asleep when we sit down to watch a game together. I have yet to stay awake to see the end of a single football game. I can't help but smile when I look at him sleeping deeply next to me.

He's curled up, all but holding me in place with his right leg over mine, his right arm across my chest and his head on my shoulder. I'm a cuddler by nature, so it doesn't bother me to have him all over me. It feels good to have him use me as a body pillow. If he weren't wrapped around me, I'd be wrapped around him, so I'm good either way.

I raise a hand to run my fingers through his blond curls, delighting in the way they wrap themselves around my fingers, caressing my fingers even as I caress him. Levon sighs softly, and makes a light humming noise. I know he loves having his hair played with. He hums again, and shifts even closer to me, settling more of his weight against me.

He got a hair cut yesterday. With the added length and weight taken off, his hair curls even more than it had before. I was worried he'd come out with a buzz cut. Not that it wouldn't be a good look for him. I know I'm biased, and hell, I think he'd look good no matter what, but I just would miss being able to do what I'm doing right now...play with his curls. He left enough length for the curls to almost touch his collar, which is more than enough for me to run my fingers through, and still leave it short enough not to bother him.

The color is darker now. I hadn't noticed before. With all the sun-bleached ends removed, his hair is an even dark honey blond now. It feels like silk running through my fingers, so soft and warm to the touch. I tilt my head enough to place a kiss in those incredibly silky strands.

The rain, which up to now, had been coming down in a slow, steady pace suddenly increases to a downpour, thumping loudly against the roof. Levon shivered slightly in response to it, almost as if he could feel the weather change, and I hug him to me. He winced in his sleep, pulling his arm away from me in an abortive move, shifting slightly so he ended up putting some space between us.

I silently cursed, easing up on my grip, letting Levon settle into a comfortable position, hoping I hadn't just woke him. I'd forgotten his ribs weren't up to 100% yet. I relaxed when he settled in next to me, in almost the same position he'd been in, but with more distance between us. I didn't like that, but it was my own damn fault, so I don't push it.

Levon had gotten the cast off his arm on Thursday. Without that visible, ugly green reminder, it was easy to forget that he'd been hit by a car three weeks ago. The doctor had mentioned, in passing, almost as an after thought, that Levon's ribs would never be as strong as they had been. He said Levon could expect them to cause him some discomfort from time to time. I could have cheerfully slapped the man silly for relaying that bit of news like it was not big deal.

I know full well when the prick said discomfort he meant a hell of a lot of pain. They always do. Some day I'm going to have a long talk with a medical professional about what discomfort really means. But Levon just nodded. Evidently he's heard that before because he didn't seem at all surprised. I suppose he might have been expecting it since he'd broken his ribs more than once, and no broken bone ever heals as strong as it once was. Hell, he might have already been experiencing some 'discomfort' from earlier breaks.

I purse my lips, wondering if his ribs had let him know a storm was coming, the same way his shoulder does. I hadn't noticed he was in pain, but with him it's hard to tell. Damn cowboy hides that well. I vow to pay more attention from now on.

Levon lifts his head slightly, his eyes only half open. He blinks, brown eyes moving slowly about the room, more asleep than awake. "Joe?"

"Right here." I answer softly. I should have expected he'd look for whatever disturbed him earlier. He's a sound sleeper but not so sound as to ignore being caused pain by his idiotic partner.

He nods sleepily, and lays his head on my shoulder again, moving to close the distance between us. "Good." He murmured just loud enough for me to hear. "Who's wininn'?"

I glance at the TV. "Green Bay."

He nods again, rubbing his cheek against my shoulder, but I'm not really sure he heard me. "What's... the... score?"

"Twenty-one to eighteen."

I get another nod for my trouble. I chuckle softly, knowing full well he didn't hear me. If he had, I'm sure there would have been more of a reaction to what I said.

I feel him shiver and frown. It isn't cold in here, at least not to me, but I've got more body mass than he does. Can't figure out how he can eat so much and never put on any weight. I don't think he's gained a pound in all the four, almost five years, I've known him.

I know he has trouble staying warm when he's in pain or overly tired. He's wearing a light t-shirt and sweats, normally more than enough to keep him warm, but with the rain, the outside temperature has been a bit lower than normal. Usually, it's more the air conditioner that has to work hard than the furnace.

"You cold, Cowboy?" I ask him softly, when he shivers again.

His only response is to shift closer to me. I stretch out my toes to catch the quilt that is lying at the foot of the bed. I pull it up to where I can reach it without disturbing Levon. I manage to unfold it one handed, and cover him, tucking it in around his shoulders.

He sighs and snuggles into the quilt with a murmur that might have been thanks. It's too indistinct for me to know for sure, but he seems more comfortable. I smile softly; wishing all of life's ills could be solved so easily.

I rub a hand down his back, delighting in the feel of the soft fabric beneath my hand, knowing its softness is just one of the reasons Levon likes this blanket. The quilt is the one Aunt Rosa sent to us after she got back to Chicago. I know she was okay with Levon and me when she left. And I've had no doubts on that score, but the quilt was tangible proof of her acceptance of our relationship.

When each of my siblings or cousins announced their engagements, she made a quilt for them. She gave them as wedding presents. The note she'd sent with this one said she had been saving it for me, hoping I'd find someone special to share my life with. And while she was aware that we couldn't have a genuine, traditional wedding, it didn't make Levon and I any less married in her opinion, so she was sending her traditional gift. It being a symbol of her acceptance was another reason why Levon liked it.

The pattern was just one more reason. It was a white background highlighting the bright, colorful eight-point star that dominated the center, its points radiating out to the corners and middle. The colors that made up the star shifted from red at the center, running through the order of the rainbow to end with violet tips, creating a rainbow like starburst.

When Levon had learned the pattern was called Lone Star, he'd laughed out loud. "She said she had this made already?" Levon had asked, his eyes bright with amusement. "Makes ya wonder if Rosa didn't know somethin' we didn't a long time ago."

I just rolled my eyes, but didn't argue. One never knew with Aunt Rosa. The woman had an uncanny ability to be right about a lot of things. For all I know, she might well have expected me to find someone special in Texas. But I'm pretty sure she wasn't expecting it to be a man. Although, to be fair, she seems to really like Levon a lot, something I am decidedly grateful for. I have valued her opinion for a long time, and if she hadn't liked Levon, it would have been...well, devastating to say the least.

Having Rosa, Maria and Carlo visit had been enjoyable, but nerve wracking as well. I found myself decidedly glad they were gone, and devastated at the same time. I hate feeling that way. They are my family and I love them. I sigh heavily, trying to ignore the sudden surge of homesickness that hits me whenever I think about my family and being so far away from them.

Levon lifts his head to look at me. More awake this time, but not by much. "You okay?" His voice is husky, and a little rough from sleep.

I smile at him. The man is sometimes so in tune with me it is scary. "Fine." I bend my head to place a soft kiss on his forehead. "Everything is fine."

He frowns slightly, uncertain. "Sure?"

"I'm sure." I rub his shoulder, and move my hand to cup the back of his head, trying to encourage him to lay back down. "Go back to sleep."

Levon lowers his head to my shoulder again, and snuggles in close. Shifts enough to cover me with the quilt as well. Even though I'm not cold, I don't shrug it off.

I may not be with my family, but I am most definitely not alone. I find myself closing my eyes, and focusing on the feel of Levon warm and alive, his solid presence a great comfort to me. It is nice to be here with him, just enjoying the moment. Don't do that nearly enough. I really need to do this more. I make a promise to myself that I will.

The rain keeps falling, but I'm not listening to it any more. I am more focused on the sound of Levon's breathing. It's deep and even. The same sound I hear every night before I drift off. I almost can't sleep without it now.

Funny how life keeps taking me place I never planned to go. There was a time when I was proud of my independence, was confident that I didn't need anyone other than my family in my life, that I could handle solitude since it was my choice to be alone when I wanted to be. I took a perverse pleasure in being able to choose a different bedmate for each night of the week if I wanted to.

Now, I find I'm more than willing to be a part of a couple. To have the parts be greater than the sum of the whole, if I remembered that saying right. Whatever. I know what I mean if I can't seem to think straight at the moment.

It took me years to get it, but I do finally understand the difference between making love, and just having sex. I can finally appreciate what it means to really be with another person, to share and have more because I did so. Life before Levon was like living in the shadows, and floating through it untouched. Life with him feels like stepping into the sunshine, so bright and intense it's almost painful, but there is no doubting it's real, concrete and permanent.

Some of the most profound things are so damn simple. It all comes down to the fact that everything in my life is just plain better when Levon's around. Oh, yeah, I can still function on my own, as an adult. And I do still want occasional bouts of solitude, to have time to myself, most of which I get when I go jogging or work out. But on the whole, I'd rather be with him, even if nothing is all we're doing.

If I listen close, I can hear the steady thump of his heartbeat. I find myself relaxing hearing that constant, unbroken comforting sound. I know his heartbeat nearly as well as I know my own. My hand moves of its own volition to rest lightly on his chest, so I can actually feel the slight vibration of his heartbeat. Nice.

I tilt my head to rub my cheek against his hair, breathing deeply as I do, catching his scent. I've never been able to pin it down exactly, but I love the way he smells. I could pick him out of crowd with my eyes closed just by that heady fragrance.

I reach behind me to get rid of one of the pillows I'd been leaning against. I can sleep in a reclining position, but I'd rather not. I stretch out, and Levon reacts to the change in my position with no more than a quiet sigh.

I really should turn off the TV if were not going to watch it, but I'm not sure if the sudden silence would disturb Levon or not. He fell asleep with it on, and knowing him, he'd wake up if I turn it off. It isn't on very loud, so it isn't going to bother me.

I'd have to move to find the remote anyway. It's around somewhere, but I don't want to look for it. That would mean I'd have to open my eyes again. And I'm feeling really good here. Too good to bother searching for the damn thing. Oh the hell with it. It can just stay the way it is.