To Part 13
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He didn't realize she was awake until she spoke to him drowsily. "What are you looking so serious about so early in the day?"
"Nothing." He smiled at her tenderly and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Hon, what's the matter?"
"I told you: nothing."
She lifted her head from its resting place on his shoulder and regarded him a moment with a look that bespoke the fact she obviously didn't believe him. Propping herself up on one elbow, she brushed her hair to one side of her head, and laid her ear down atop the middle of his chest.
"What're you doing?" he asked curiously, while his arms automatically folded around her.
"Listening to your heart. It talks to me, you know."
"Oh, it does, does it?"
"Mm-hmm. Now be quiet. I'm listening." She frowned in deep concentration.
"So what's it telling you?"
Smiling smugly, she announced, "It says that you love me."
"Oh, big secret there."
She kept her ear to his chest and listened intently once again.
"What's it saying now?"
"Hmm. It says you're sad about something...and that it's hard for you to talk about it."
He stared at her in astonishment. "My heart told you all that?"
"Well, your heart told me some of it. Your eyes told me the rest."
"My eyes?"
"Oh, Peter, the things your eyes tell me!" She shook her head. "Whoever said that 'the eyes are the windows to the soul' had you in mind."
"Is that so?"
"Yup. And right now they are saying..." She sat up and gazed at him intently before continuing, "That you think you should go back to work today, but you're not sure if you should."
"How do you DO that?"
"I'll never tell. Can't give away any trade secrets." She leaned forward to kiss him. "So, you're going in to work today?"
"Not if you don't want me to."
"You've already taken too much time off for me," she said softly. "I know you need to get back to the precinct." She ran her fingers through the hair at his temple. "I didn't exactly make it easy for you to concentrate here at home."
"Now there's the understatement of the century." He put a hand behind her head and pulled her lips to his for a quick kiss. "Are you sure you're OK with the idea of me going in to work?" His eyes were dark with uncertainty. "If you're not ready..."
"Honey, I'm a big girl now. I can stay by myself today. It's time I stopped being such a baby. How about I start breakfast for you while you shower and shave?"
"How about we shower together?"
"Aren't you worried about being late to work?"
"Nah. They aren't even expecting me today. And since YOU don't have to go to work at all, you can't use that excuse on me."
They got up together and headed for the shower, Peter leading Kacie by the hand. She followed him willingly, and as they walked through the door, she reminded him, "Just watch out for my nose."
"I didn't plan on coming anywhere near your nose, Sweetheart."
"Hmm. I think I'm going to like this plan."
"What do my eyes tell you about this?"
"Well, actually, Hon, it's not your eyes that have my attention right now."
Peter's surprise entrance at the 101st brought a
chorus of welcomes. He grinned at Skalany, who asked
him frankly, "You come back here so you could get your
work done, Partner?"
"I got work done at home," he protested as he unpacked the cardboard box he had stuffed with files and the computer.
"Oh yeah? How much?" she challenged.
"Listen, Skalany, I don't have to answer to you. When did you get promoted to captain? I haven't been gone THAT long, have I?"
"Long enough, Detective Caine." Frank walked over to enter into the conversation. "Since I'm your chief, *I* would like to know how many files you got cleared up."
Peter snatched up a stack of files eight inches high and handed it to Strenlich.
"Very nice, Peter, very nice. Now, what about the other files we sent over?" Strenlich peered into the box.
"Umm, still working on them, Chief."
"Well, don't just stand there, Detective. Get busy." Even though his voice was stern, he clapped the young man on the back affectionately. Peter's energetic presence had been sorely missed at the precinct, and they were all happy to have him back.
Peter reacquainted himself with his desk, and then picked up the phone to make a quick call. "Hi, Honey, it's me...Just wanted to check and make sure you were OK...Yeah, I know it's only been a half an hour...You sure you don't want somebody to stay with you today?...Yeah, I know, but I worry about you...OK, I will...I love you, too, Hon...Bye."
As he hung up, he wondered at the strange feeling of uneasiness that swept over him. Shrugging his shoulders, he shook his head and forced himself to concentrate on the work at hand.