"Good" Delia said. "I have missed you all. All of you. So I mean what I said before, when you are feeling better, I'm inviting all of you to dinner at the house.
Jensen, Delia and Jonathan talked in hushed voices while Katherine pulled Tim closer and they talked about his school. All the while Jensen's hand rested lightly on her shoulder, his thumb caressing her collarbone beneath the pink satin.
When the discussion touched on Katherine's health, Jensen stated. "I have arranged for that nurse to stay with Katherine for a few days after she goes home. The doctor said she will be fit to travel in about a week, and I have a business trip to San Francisco. I want her to come with me" His expression was guarded as he looked down at her. "Will you come with me, Katherine?" he added softly.
Katherine stared at Jensen's intense face. He was asking for a commitment from her. He wanted her to acknowledge his possession in front of her family.
It was enough for Katherine that he wanted her to be with him."I will go with you, Jensen," she said softly.
"I have arranged for you to come with me. Think of it as a vacation" Jensen said. A tentative note still threaded his tone. "Maybe next time we decide to take a trip like this, we will take Tim with us"
"Yes yes" Tim yelled and Katherine laughed.
"Will you be okay with grandma while I'm gone, Tim?" Katherine asked.
"Yeah," Tim said. "I'm a big boy. Just don't be gone for too long"
Katherine smiled. She stared at her mom and Jon.
"Are you waiting for my permission?" Delia asked, smiling. "Come on. Go. Have fun. You need it actually"
"All bases covered then, Jensen" Katherine said. "Then I'm ready to go right now"
Jonathan laughed. "We should go then," he said. "Come on, let's go mom. Let's give these two some time alone"
After her family left the room, Jensen leaned over her. But before he could say anything, she interrupted.
"There's something I want to ask you but other things just keep coming up" she said.
"Go ahead," Jensen said.
"The person I crashed my car into.... Is the person...."
"Okay" Jensen completed for her. "Thankfully he is. He admitted he wasn't watching the road either. And he's fine. Your injuries were much worse than his".
Katherine smiled with relief. "Thank God" she said. "It has kind of been on my mind. I would also like to see him before we leave the hospital. To apologize. I know it's not a lot but I have to.
"Alright. But when you're feeling better" Jensen said.
"Okay" Katherine agreed. "So, What were you saying?"
"Yeah" Jensen said. "You know you can't change your mind about coming with me right? I consider this a binding contract"
Katherine smiled. "I feel the same way, darling," she said.
He stroked the sensitive skin of her neck. "You may not like San Francisco, Kat," he said. "Especially the business part"
"Your San Francisco may not like me "Katherine said." But I'm game. As long as I am with you. Lean down here, handsome. I promised you a kiss"
-------------------------
A week and a half later, Jensen sat beside Katherine in the first class section of the plane. A clear blue sky streaked past the windows. They were on their way to San Francisco. Jensen was dressed in jeans and a cotton plaid shirt turned back at the cuffs, his long body settled comfortably in the seat.
Katherine yawned and relaxed in her seat next to him. He turned to look at her and he smiled slow and easily. His unhurried gaze drifted over her mint green blouse and matching slacks.
"Are you feeling alright, sleepy head?" he asked her.
His hand lay on her knee, thumb circling on a gentle pattern. Katherine's still tender palm, tickled by the hair sprinkling the back of his, rested on it. Her other hand bore a gauze bandage.
"Mmmm" she said. "I ate too much for lunch. I hope you don't spoil me with food in San Francisco as you have in the past week at my house. Without any exercise, I have put on pounds, I know"
His raised eyebrows prefaced a hot stare over her curves. "If you have, they have landed in some pretty delicious places" he said.
Katherine laughed. "I had a lot of chocolate cake too from the store. You know it's funny how you like food so much but you don't cook" she said.
"Elaine makes fun of me all the time because of it. I can grill though" he said. "but maybe when you are feeling better, you can teach me one or two things in the kitchen"
Katherine stared at him, and from the look in his eyes she wasn't entirely sure he was talking about cooking.
"Thank you for everything," she said. "everything you have done for me. For Tim too. I think a part of him is so happy that I'm going to be with you. He adores you. Listens to you. I get jealous sometimes"
Jensen smiled at her. "I think one of the reasons he was so okay with us taking this trip was because I left Rufus stay with him and Delia"
Katherine laughed. "Yeah that too" she said. "He has wanted that for a long time"
"He reminds me of myself when I was growing, '' Jensen said. "I remember how we used to be so close, Kat. You have always been in my life. Every moment. You are my soul mate Kitty Kat. I'm so lucky because I got to share almost all of my life with my you....I love you"
"I love you too, Jensen," Katherine said.
His ebony eyes glittered down at her. "I'm glad you are with me," he said. His gaze heated her up. Filled with promise and desire. It locked around Katherine's heart.
During her week's recovery, Jensen had stayed with her at her home. Taken his business calls there, refusing to leave her side. She loved him too.. Dearly.
"Ah-hum" he said, pulling her out of daydreaming. The corner of his mouth eased upward. "This may be unnecessary of me, but a kiss right there would be partial payment for my gentlemanly behavior since your accident. He pointed to his lips.