Ocean: Team Schmoop
Title: I'll Be Your Dream
Author: ALF
Pairing/Characters: Don/Karen Fisher
Rating/Category: R, more for language than sex
Word Count: 1438
Spoilers: Manhunt
Summary: Don helps Karen celebrate and let go.
Notes/Warnings: Post-Manhunt, but not a tag to that episode really. Title comes from "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden
Link to the voting poll Poll
Don had decided that they should mark the successful end of McDowd's second trial in a special way. He'd had no doubts the verdict would be guilty, the only question was what sentence the judge would impose. Thankfully, Judge Trelane handed down a death sentence, which Don could tell relieved Karen. She was aware there would likely be a string of appeals before McDowd got the lethal injection, but this time there would be no likelihood of him getting out.
After accepting congratulations and thanks from the AUSA and calling both Charlie and Coop with the news, Don had turned off his cell phone. Karen had looked surprised by that.
"What about work?" she asked as Don guided her to his SUV.
Don opened the door for her and smiled, eyes crinkling and face lighting up as he did so. "I told them I was taking the day," he explained. "Shocked the hell out of David, but I told him he could have the day off as well and he had no complaints."
Karen smiled back as she closed her door and reached for her seatbelt. Once Don was in her seat, she asked, "So what are you going to do with the rest of the day?"
"Well, I was kinda hoping my doctor was free," Don said with a grin, as he started the car and headed out of the garage.
Intrigued, Karen nodded at him. "It appears I have the rest of the day free too," she admitted with her own grin.
"Good." Don didn't say any more, just concentrated on his driving. Karen rested her head back on her seat and just watched him. They'd had lunch and dinner a few times during the run up to the trial, even managing not to be interrupted by work sometimes as well. It had been good, but had yet to go any further, although Karen would be quite happy for it to do so. Don was in his suit today, for court, but Karen remembered vividly how he'd looked that day he'd come to the safe house, in his tight jeans and tactical gear. The memory was enough to cause a warmth between her legs and a fluttering in her stomach. Not that he looked bad in a suit, either, she mused, as she watched Don's hands grip the wheel, imagining them touching her.
She must have made a noise, because Don turned to glance at her, eyebrows raised. She smiled at him and he smiled back, before turning back to watch the road.
"So where are we going?" she asked, in an effort to distract herself from her thoughts.
They pulled up to a red light, so Don turned to give her a longer look. "It's a surprise," he announced.
"Oh?" Karen felt herself get intrigued all over again. There was just something about Don that fascinated her.
Don smiled and they set off again into traffic. Before long, they were heading out of town and Don sped up a bit, as though he was eager to get to their destination. Karen turned her attention to the scenery going by, thoughts drifting to her patients and the fact that she could finally get back to her life, free of the threat from McDowd.
She was surprised when they turned into a drive, following it up a hill and around the back of a house.
"We're here," Don announced needlessly, turning off the engine.
Karen looked around. "Where is here?" she asked, taking in the large white house and the gardens.
"This belongs to a friend, who happens to be out of town on business," Don explained. "C'mon, everything's ready inside."
She followed Don from the car to the house, where a picnic basket waited on the kitchen table.
"Give me a minute?" Don asked her and she nodded. He disappeared further into the house and she looked around the luxurious surroundings, wondering who his friend could be.
A few minutes later, Don returned, dressed now in jeans and T-shirt. "That's much better," he said, stretching a little, before coming over to where she was looking inside the picnic basket. "We just need to fill this up, and then we're good to go," Don explained.
Karen nodded, still somewhat bemused, watching Don go to the large fridge and start extracting containers. He finished up with a couple of bottles, and then quickly and efficiently packed everything into the basket.
Picking up the basket, Don smiled at her. “Ready?” he asked.
“I guess so,” Karen agreed, unable to resist his smile.
Don led the way back out of the house, then through the garden to a path, which led directly to the beach. Karen followed carefully behind him, admiring the view, but also taking care of the footing on the steep path. Don moved easily and confidently, but not too fast, obviously familiar with the route and Karen wondered again about whose house they were using.
Turning to her at the bottom of the path, Don set down the picnic basket, then gestured widely. “Private beach, so no interruptions,” he explained.
“Oh,” Karen said, even more stunned, as she took in the view of the ocean and the expanse of white sand. It was perfect.
Don walked forward and took her hand. “I thought you deserved the best,” he said softly, then leaned forward and kissed her, slowly, tenderly, but thoroughly. Karen clung to him, breath knocked out of her by the strength of the kiss and the feelings that swept through her.
Breaking the kiss gently, Don pulled back and looked into her eyes. His were shining with emotion and already darkened by passion. She gasped and he pressed forward, kissing her again. Karen responded eagerly, hands going around his back, feeling the heat and hardness of his body pressed to hers, his erection against her thigh. She gasped again and he pulled back.
“Okay?” he asked, smoothing hair back behind her ear.
She nodded, a little shaky from the intensity of the kisses and the feelings that Don roused in her. She hadn’t felt this way about anyone for a while, too wrapped up in work to notice men.
Don smiled gently, then led her to where he’d left the picnic basket. He pulled out a blanket, spreading it on the sand with a flourish and she grinned at the gesture as he gallantly offered her a seat.
Settling beside her, Don began to take out the containers of food, passing them to her to inspect as he did so. Karen was impressed by the range of food there and suddenly, her stomach rumbled, surprising and embarrassing her. Luckily, Don just grinned at her, before handing her a couple of glasses.
“I thought a toast first,” he suggested and she nodded. He expertly opened a bottle of champagne, cork barely popping, then filled the glasses. She handed one back to him once he set the bottle carefully aside.
Karen spoke before he could. “Here’s to you,” she said, “And your partner, of course, for catching that bastard McDowd again.”
He smiled at that and they clinked glasses, then sipped champagne.
“Here’s to you,” Don said, “For having the courage to stand up against that bastard McDowd for a second time and making sure he gets what he deserves.”
Karen had a lump in her throat at that, remembering the Escort Marshal’s widow, who had come to speak to her in the court, to thank her for helping to put McDowd back behind bars, where he belonged.
“Hey,” Don’s voice startled her, and he wiped a thumb across her cheek, catching a tear she hadn’t realized was there.
Karen blinked furiously. “Sorry,” she said thickly. “This is silly.”
“No, it’s not,” Don contradicted softly, taking her glass and putting it aside. He drew her into his arms and she clung there, crying, all the fear and pressure suddenly draining out of her.
When she was done, they were lying on the blanket, Don’s arms around her, holding and comforting her. She just lay there, not sure what to say, but Don seemed content to enjoy the silence and their surroundings, so she left her head on his shoulder and drifted, worn out by the emotional catharsis.
Then her stomach rumbled again and Don laughed a little, helping her sit up. “I think we should feed that monster,” he suggested, reaching for a box. She smiled at him and agreed, happy to be there with him and willing to see what would happen next. They were in no rush after all; they had the rest of the day.
Author: ALF
Pairing/Characters: Don/Karen Fisher
Rating/Category: R, more for language than sex
Word Count: 1438
Spoilers: Manhunt
Summary: Don helps Karen celebrate and let go.
Notes/Warnings: Post-Manhunt, but not a tag to that episode really. Title comes from "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden
Link to the voting poll Poll
Don had decided that they should mark the successful end of McDowd's second trial in a special way. He'd had no doubts the verdict would be guilty, the only question was what sentence the judge would impose. Thankfully, Judge Trelane handed down a death sentence, which Don could tell relieved Karen. She was aware there would likely be a string of appeals before McDowd got the lethal injection, but this time there would be no likelihood of him getting out.
After accepting congratulations and thanks from the AUSA and calling both Charlie and Coop with the news, Don had turned off his cell phone. Karen had looked surprised by that.
"What about work?" she asked as Don guided her to his SUV.
Don opened the door for her and smiled, eyes crinkling and face lighting up as he did so. "I told them I was taking the day," he explained. "Shocked the hell out of David, but I told him he could have the day off as well and he had no complaints."
Karen smiled back as she closed her door and reached for her seatbelt. Once Don was in her seat, she asked, "So what are you going to do with the rest of the day?"
"Well, I was kinda hoping my doctor was free," Don said with a grin, as he started the car and headed out of the garage.
Intrigued, Karen nodded at him. "It appears I have the rest of the day free too," she admitted with her own grin.
"Good." Don didn't say any more, just concentrated on his driving. Karen rested her head back on her seat and just watched him. They'd had lunch and dinner a few times during the run up to the trial, even managing not to be interrupted by work sometimes as well. It had been good, but had yet to go any further, although Karen would be quite happy for it to do so. Don was in his suit today, for court, but Karen remembered vividly how he'd looked that day he'd come to the safe house, in his tight jeans and tactical gear. The memory was enough to cause a warmth between her legs and a fluttering in her stomach. Not that he looked bad in a suit, either, she mused, as she watched Don's hands grip the wheel, imagining them touching her.
She must have made a noise, because Don turned to glance at her, eyebrows raised. She smiled at him and he smiled back, before turning back to watch the road.
"So where are we going?" she asked, in an effort to distract herself from her thoughts.
They pulled up to a red light, so Don turned to give her a longer look. "It's a surprise," he announced.
"Oh?" Karen felt herself get intrigued all over again. There was just something about Don that fascinated her.
Don smiled and they set off again into traffic. Before long, they were heading out of town and Don sped up a bit, as though he was eager to get to their destination. Karen turned her attention to the scenery going by, thoughts drifting to her patients and the fact that she could finally get back to her life, free of the threat from McDowd.
She was surprised when they turned into a drive, following it up a hill and around the back of a house.
"We're here," Don announced needlessly, turning off the engine.
Karen looked around. "Where is here?" she asked, taking in the large white house and the gardens.
"This belongs to a friend, who happens to be out of town on business," Don explained. "C'mon, everything's ready inside."
She followed Don from the car to the house, where a picnic basket waited on the kitchen table.
"Give me a minute?" Don asked her and she nodded. He disappeared further into the house and she looked around the luxurious surroundings, wondering who his friend could be.
A few minutes later, Don returned, dressed now in jeans and T-shirt. "That's much better," he said, stretching a little, before coming over to where she was looking inside the picnic basket. "We just need to fill this up, and then we're good to go," Don explained.
Karen nodded, still somewhat bemused, watching Don go to the large fridge and start extracting containers. He finished up with a couple of bottles, and then quickly and efficiently packed everything into the basket.
Picking up the basket, Don smiled at her. “Ready?” he asked.
“I guess so,” Karen agreed, unable to resist his smile.
Don led the way back out of the house, then through the garden to a path, which led directly to the beach. Karen followed carefully behind him, admiring the view, but also taking care of the footing on the steep path. Don moved easily and confidently, but not too fast, obviously familiar with the route and Karen wondered again about whose house they were using.
Turning to her at the bottom of the path, Don set down the picnic basket, then gestured widely. “Private beach, so no interruptions,” he explained.
“Oh,” Karen said, even more stunned, as she took in the view of the ocean and the expanse of white sand. It was perfect.
Don walked forward and took her hand. “I thought you deserved the best,” he said softly, then leaned forward and kissed her, slowly, tenderly, but thoroughly. Karen clung to him, breath knocked out of her by the strength of the kiss and the feelings that swept through her.
Breaking the kiss gently, Don pulled back and looked into her eyes. His were shining with emotion and already darkened by passion. She gasped and he pressed forward, kissing her again. Karen responded eagerly, hands going around his back, feeling the heat and hardness of his body pressed to hers, his erection against her thigh. She gasped again and he pulled back.
“Okay?” he asked, smoothing hair back behind her ear.
She nodded, a little shaky from the intensity of the kisses and the feelings that Don roused in her. She hadn’t felt this way about anyone for a while, too wrapped up in work to notice men.
Don smiled gently, then led her to where he’d left the picnic basket. He pulled out a blanket, spreading it on the sand with a flourish and she grinned at the gesture as he gallantly offered her a seat.
Settling beside her, Don began to take out the containers of food, passing them to her to inspect as he did so. Karen was impressed by the range of food there and suddenly, her stomach rumbled, surprising and embarrassing her. Luckily, Don just grinned at her, before handing her a couple of glasses.
“I thought a toast first,” he suggested and she nodded. He expertly opened a bottle of champagne, cork barely popping, then filled the glasses. She handed one back to him once he set the bottle carefully aside.
Karen spoke before he could. “Here’s to you,” she said, “And your partner, of course, for catching that bastard McDowd again.”
He smiled at that and they clinked glasses, then sipped champagne.
“Here’s to you,” Don said, “For having the courage to stand up against that bastard McDowd for a second time and making sure he gets what he deserves.”
Karen had a lump in her throat at that, remembering the Escort Marshal’s widow, who had come to speak to her in the court, to thank her for helping to put McDowd back behind bars, where he belonged.
“Hey,” Don’s voice startled her, and he wiped a thumb across her cheek, catching a tear she hadn’t realized was there.
Karen blinked furiously. “Sorry,” she said thickly. “This is silly.”
“No, it’s not,” Don contradicted softly, taking her glass and putting it aside. He drew her into his arms and she clung there, crying, all the fear and pressure suddenly draining out of her.
When she was done, they were lying on the blanket, Don’s arms around her, holding and comforting her. She just lay there, not sure what to say, but Don seemed content to enjoy the silence and their surroundings, so she left her head on his shoulder and drifted, worn out by the emotional catharsis.
Then her stomach rumbled again and Don laughed a little, helping her sit up. “I think we should feed that monster,” he suggested, reaching for a box. She smiled at him and agreed, happy to be there with him and willing to see what would happen next. They were in no rush after all; they had the rest of the day.