Terror Twins, Inc.

35/35

Bree kept brushing at her hair with her fingers as she waited nervously on Alex’s doorstep. When he opened the front door, she smiled at him.

“Hi. I was wondering…could I come in?”

He nodded. “Sure.”

Bree walked inside, trying to restrain her impulse to clean up part of the clutter. It wasn’t as difficult as it used to be – it seemed Alex was helping her to relax. He offered her a chair in the living room and she sat down on it.

“I know I said I needed two days and that it’s only been one day…but I don’t need to think about it anymore.”

“Okay.”

She smiled at him. “I love you. And I know that I should be hurt that you lied to me, and in a way I am, but that doesn’t change the way I feel about you. I know that we need to talk about a lot of things…but I just wanted you to know how I felt.”

“I love you too,” Alex replied. “And I didn’t want to lie to you. I wanted to tell you the truth so many times and…”

“It’s okay,” she assured him. “I understand why you had to do it. I’m also afraid that when the rest of your colleagues pick up and leave, you’re going to go along with them.” Bree sighed. “And I can’t go with you.”

“Then I’ll have to stay here.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “You’d give up your life in Las Vegas, your career and friends, to stay here?”

“They’ve got a local police force, Bree. And I don’t want to leave you.” He took her hands in his. “I love you.”

She smiled broadly at him. No one had ever been willing to give up something important for her. “I love you too.”

–

Brass slammed the phone shut after another particularly grueling discussion with Ecklie. Sofia, who had been looking through the forensics reports, looked up at him, startled.

“I take it Ecklie wasn’t being charming?”

“Stupid ass. He’s more interested in his image and his money rather than seeing a murderer get caught. He says if it’s one of the housewives then we have to call him before we make the arrest so he can organize press.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Charming.”

Brass watched as her attention turned back to the report. He sat down opposite her, and just stared at her. It wasn’t until a few moments later that she finally lifted her eyes to meet his.

“Something on your mind, Jim?” A teasing smile appeared on her face.

“What do you think of this place?” He gestured to their surroundings.

“The people here are batshit crazy. Apart from that, it seems okay.”

“We live together in Vegas, right?”

“Ah yes, last time I checked. At least, your dirty socks were still kicked under our bed and I could smell your aftershave in the bathroom.” Her smile brightened. “I like your aftershave.”

“I’m glad,” came his reply. “So, we live together.”

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Jim, I love you, and I’d be more than happy to stick to the subject if I knew what the subject was.”

“Dammit woman, I’m trying to propose to you and you keep interrupting!”

Sofia’s eyes widened. “You…what?”

Jim rubbed his face in frustration. “I meant to ease into that part.” He sighed and took her hand. “I’ve been thinking about it. For a while. And then after seeing what happened to Gil, and then being here with you…I want to. I want something permanent that says you’re mine. I love you, and yes, I want to marry you.”

Her mouth opened and shut again. Finally, she spoke. “I thought…I thought after what happened with your ex-wife you didn’t want to get married again.”

“I didn’t,” Jim replied. “And then I met you and I changed my mind.”

Sofia smiled softly at him. “I love you, Jim.”

“Is that a yes?”

She leant over and kissed him. “That’s a yes.”

–

Catherine put down the phone. “Lindsey sounds happy.”

“She made me promise never to get shot again,” Gil murmured, from where he was making breakfast.

“Good. I forbid you to get shot again.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “You forbid me?”

“Just think of it as the first rule of our marriage. Thou shalt not get shot.”

Gil smirked, putting some pancakes onto a plate for her. “Any other rules?”

“How about ‘thou shalt give wife lots of sex’?”

“I like that one.”

Catherine chuckled as she poured maple syrup on her pancakes. “I thought you might.”

“What about… ‘thou shalt adore my wife’?”

“These are pretty easy rules, aren’t they?”

“Well, we’re pretty good with each other.” Gil sat down beside her. “Aren’t we?”

Catherine smiled broadly at him. “Yeah, we are.”

Gil kissed her hand. “Eat up. You and the baby need your food.”

“You’re going to turn me into a house, Gil.”

“I read the book. You need your sustenance and the right foods.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Pancakes drenched in maple syrup are the right foods?”

He grinned and handed over a glass of milk. “No, but they’re a good bribing tool.”

Catherine looked at the glass. “You’re sick.”

“No, my dear. You’re pregnant. And milk is good for you and the baby.”

“Gil, it’s milk. And it’s plain. I’m not two.”

He sighed. “Will you drink it if I put chocolate in it?”

Catherine’s face lit up. “I love you.”

“This kid is going to be a sugar addict.” Gil picked up the glass of milk. “Finish your pancakes.”

She grinned. “Yes, sir.”

–

Greg grumbled and kicked a rock. The CSIs were out searching again. Lisa and Greg’s girlfriend had come along, declaring they might be able to help somehow. Sara watched the rock scuttle across the ground.

“Greg?

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing?”

“Kicking a rock.”

Greg’s girlfriend smirked at his response. “Greg. Don’t be a pain.”

“Why are we out here again? We haven’t found anything since the last time we were here.”

“You know, he’s got a point,” Nick muttered.

“We’re here because someone shot Griss and that pisses Catherine off. And if we don’t find out who this is, she’ll have no one but us to turn her wrath on. Plus, she’s pregnant,” Warrick replied. “Hormones.”

“He’s got a better point,” Lisa said.

“You know, you’re both in law enforcement. You could help,” Sara said.

Greg’s girlfriend grinned. “Greg’s butt looks better from this angle.”

“Hey!” Greg turned around. A broad smile appeared on his face. “Thanks, babe.”

“Yeah, what she said,” Lisa added. “But on Warrick.”

Warrick’s back straightened. “What?”

Lisa smirked at him. “Keep working.”

–

Catherine lay in Gil’s lap, her eyes closed as she relaxed. “This is great.”

“I agree. I never thought I’d enjoy not working, but just lying here with you – it’s better than the job.”

Her eyes opened and she looked up at him. “Really?”

“Absolutely. I’ve never enjoyed myself more than this time we’ve spent together.”

“Gil, we’ve been working.”

“Not all of the time.” His hand slid over her belly, briefly touching her center.

Catherine smiled and rested her hand over her abdomen. “That’s certainly true.” Her eyes widened as she felt the flutter. “Oh wow.”

“What is it? Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m really feeling pregnant.”

“I think this is one of those times when I can admit to having no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Gil, put your hand on my stomach again. The baby’s moving.”

Gil’s eyes widened and he placed his hand on her abdomen. He felt the light movement against her skin and he looked down at her. “That’s…that’s our baby?”

She smiled at him. “Yeah. I don’t know what the heck it’s doing in there, but that’s our baby.”

“Does it feel like a girl or a boy?”

Catherine lifted an eyebrow. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“Just checking. I think it’s a girl.”

“Based on…?”

“She’s saying hi to her dad.”

A grin appeared on Catherine’s face. “What if he’s saying hi to his dad?”

“I’m willing to compromise.”

“What? Make it a he/she?”

“You’re hysterical.”

Catherine giggled. She leant up and kissed Gil on the lips. “I love you, you crazy man.”

He smiled, kissing her back. “I love you too. And our baby. Whether it’s a boy, a girl or a he/she.”

–

Greg started making his way down the street, further and further away from the rest of the group. His eyes were concentrated on kicking his rock down the road, wondering how far it could get.

“Greg? Where are you going?” Nick called.

“Following my rock,” Greg replied.

Sara sent a sideways glance to the rest of the group. “Has he finally lost his mind?”

Greg’s girlfriend stood up. “I’ll go see what he’s up to.”

Warrick put his hand on her arm. “You got a piece?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Yeah. Why?”

“So does he. Use them if you have to.”

Nick unconsciously touched his weapon and checked on Sara’s. “What are you going about, War?”

“I just think it’s awful quiet out here and we should be aware.”

Greg’s girlfriend drew her weapon and held it close to her side. “Okay. I’ll go and check on him.”

–

Greg followed the rock into a garden and then fell over something. He looked down at the woman he’d knocked over. “Oh hell! Oh hell!”

Maisy Gibbons tried to knock him off her and started moving her hand around, looking for something. Greg’s eyes widened and he grabbed for his gun, holding it on the woman and trying to untangle himself from her.

“You’re under arrest! Or…uh…Suspect on location! Help!”

Maisy continued trying to trip him so he couldn’t stand up. Then she tried to reach for the gun. They both started wrestling with it and then it went off.

There was silence for a second, until Greg’s girlfriend came on the scene, gun drawn. Warrick, Lisa, Nick and Sara weren’t far behind.

“I’m not dead!” Greg cried, scrabbling around.

“Neither’s she,” Warrick muttered, trying to get in and haul the two apart. “Where the heck is the gun, Greg?”

“Don’t be such a weak-assed man,” Lisa muttered. She put her foot down in a random space, narrowly missing Maisy’s neck and Greg’s balls. “The two of you STOP MOVING or I’ll put one in both your asses!”

The other CSI’s and Greg’s girlfriend stared at her, mouths agape.

Lisa glanced at them. “Well are you all just gonna stand there or are you gonna pull em apart and secure the goddamn gun?”

Spurred to move, Warrick and Nick heaved Maisy Gibbons up, holding her securely. Sara secured the gun, and Greg’s girlfriend helped him to his feet.

Warrick glanced at Maisy. “Boy, are Griss, Cath, Brass and Sofia gonna be pissed that we’re about to interrupt their alone time.”

“She almost stood on my boys!” Greg cried, pointing at Lisa. “Aren’t you gonna lock her up too?”

“Oh quit your whining and call your bosses,” Lisa told him. She holstered her weapon. “Well, that was fun.”

–

Sofia lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling fan going round and round. “I think…I saw…stars.”

Jim smirked, gathering her close to his body. “I aim to please.”

She patted his chest. “I assure you that you do that very well.”

He opened his mouth to speak again, when the phone rang. Flipping it open he growled, “This had better be good.”

When he hung up, he turned over to Sofia. “Want to go cuff a bad girl?”

Sofia rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say, Captain.”

–

Nick stood against the doorway to the bedroom, watching Sara methodically pack her things. “So, your place or mine?”

She turned to look at him. “Huh?”

“When we get back to Vegas, I need to know whether to drive us to your place or mine.”

“Us.”

“Yeah, you and me.” He walked over to her. “There’s a you and me, right?”

She smiled at him. “Yeah, there is.”

“Good.”

“You don’t know that I’m not going to be easy to live with, right?”

“Hey, neither am I. But I do know that we both like challenges.”

They shared a soft kiss and Sara smiled at him.

“You know, this trip…was actually sort of fun.”

–

“So. You’re ready to go?”

Warrick looked up and saw Lisa standing in his doorway. “How did you get in?”

“I’m a cop, Warrick. I can get in anywhere.”

“Right.” He tossed some more clothes in the bag. “So…”

“Is this how we end it? Catch the perp, you head back to Vegas?”

“Do we have a choice?”

“There’s always choices.” Lisa smiled at him. “The least you could do is give me your number.”

Warrick grinned back at her. “Yeah, we can manage that.”

–

“Well, at least you managed not to get shot or beaten up this time,” Greg’s girlfriend told him. “And that’s my bra. Why is it in your suitcase?”

Greg shrugged. “Just the way I pack.”

–

Sofia watched Jim as he tossed things from around the room into the suitcases. She tried not to laugh as she asked, “Jim, what are you doing?”

“What’s it look like I’m doing? I’m packing so that we can get the hell out of here.”

“Not that big on suburbia, huh?” She chuckled.

“Here’s what’s going to happen.” He turned around to face her. “We’re going to get out of here, go back to Vegas. Get clean clothes and disappear for awhile.”

“Disappear?” Sofia lifted an eyebrow.

“Just for a while. When we get back you can do any planning or whatever you want with the wedding, but for one week you are completely and totally mine.”

She looked surprised at his commanding voice, but then a slow smirk appeared on her face. “I can do that.” She tossed some more clothes into the suitcases. “Let’s get moving.”

–

“You will come back right?” Gabrielle asked Catherine, who sat with the other housewives on Bree’s porch.

“Of course,” Catherine assured them.

“We’ll have to meet the baby,” Susan told her.

“Hopefully the wedding is going to come first, or my mother is going to have a fit,” Catherine chuckled.

“Pity you have to take Gil back with you,” Edie said.

“Edie!” Susan looked at her in horror.

Catherine smiled sweetly. “What can I say? Gil said there’s nothing he likes enough to keep him here.”

Bree, Lynette, Susan and Gabrielle looked amused. Edie scowled.

“Hey, maybe we can take a trip up to Vegas to visit you sometime,” Lynnette suggested.

“Well you’re all going to be getting invitations to the wedding,” Catherine replied. “Gil and I both really want you all there.”

As the party began to disperse, Catherine hung back to talk to Bree. She hugged each of the other housewives goodbye and when they were alone, she turned to the other redhead.

“I’m going to miss you, Bree.”

Bree smiled back at her. “I’m going to miss you too. I have to admit that I got rather used to having you around.”

“I really want to stay friends.”

“We’ll have to. I have something that belongs to Vegas.”

Catherine chuckled. “True. You do have Vartann.”

Bree watched Catherine’s face change. “Oh no. Don’t cry on me. I’ll cry too and then we’ll be in big trouble.”

“I’m hormonal. I have an excuse!”

“Yes well I’m not, so if I burst into tears there’s no excuse for it,” Bree replied.

Catherine smiled. “Okay. I’m stopping now. I hope everything goes okay with Andrew and Vartann.”

“I think it’s going to be okay,” Bree told her. “I think we’re definitely going to have our ups and downs, but I think it’s all going to be okay.”

“I’m glad.”

Bree hugged Catherine tightly. “And I have a feeling that you, Gil, Lindsey and the new baby are going to be okay, too.”

“I’ll miss you.”

“Hopefully not too much, considering we’ll make sure to see each other as much as we can.” Bree lifted an eyebrow. “Right?”

Catherine’s face brightened. “Right.”

–

Gil loaded the last suitcase into the car and he smiled at Catherine as she walked out of the house. “You know, I’m going to miss this place.”

“I thought you hated suburbia?”

“I do. And I hate Ecklie. But I couldn’t hate what happened here.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “You getting shot?”

Gil put his arm around her waist, pulling her body flush against his. His lips lowered to her ear, licking the lobe gently, before whispering, “How about making love to you for the first time? Making a baby together? Proposing to you?”

Catherine shivered at the warmth of his breath and the tone of his voice. “Those…those were good.”

They shared a tender kiss, and Gil opened the door of the car for her. “I reserved a hotel room for us on our way back.”

Catherine’s eyes darkened with desire, her hand running down his body. “Well, we better get moving then, hadn’t we?”

Gil grins and shuts her door. “Yes, ma’am.”

FINIS