Fic: Now That It's Done - Part Two [ER]
Title: Now That It's Done - Part Two [ER]
Rating: PG 13
Ship: Kerry Weaver/Kim Legaspi
Disclaimer: Not mine; never were! No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Ten years later - Kerry spots Kim in Miami (part one); and Kim discovers how small the world can be when she runs into Kerry.
Author's Note: Ack! I'm so glad people still remember/miss/like Kim and Kerry! :)
~
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Carla asked, glancing at the blonde in the seat next to her.
"Carla - I've got sun, I've got a convertible, and I've got a weekend free from that conference - trust me, I don't mind running a last minute errand - especially in your car!" Kim sighed in pleasure, letting her fair skin soak up the sun as it shone down on both women in the convertible. San Francisco, while nice in its consistent, tepid weather grew boring day after day, year after year. Almost every day began with fog rolling out across the Sunset and being blocked by Twin Peaks; it would then be dazzling in the Mission and Castro, but dark Downtown in the shadows of the buildings and North Beach...well sadly, she wasn't 23 anymore. "Where are we off to anyways?"
"I promised Pete I'd drop off some files. After that, the day is yours milady!"
"Perfect! I expect a lot of sun and a lot pretty ladies! I deserve it after all!"
"Yes you do, after all that hard work you did at the seminar. How long was your speech, 45 minutes? You're a brave little soldier!" Carla laughed as she pulled her car into the visitor's parking lot behind a long, sprawl of a building.
"You looking forward to dinner tonight?"
"YES!" Kim exclaimed, following her friend into a lobby. "I can't wait to see everybody! Not to mention the civiche! Oh my god - if it's not fish, it's not going into my mouth tonight! Shut up." She smirked, preemptively cutting off Carla's smart-ass comment.
"I didn't say anything! You need your I.D."
"You were thinking it." Kim responded, digging through the chaotic contents of her purse until she fished out her California Driver's license and handed it to the guard who was checking them in. They stood in the lobby of a television studio she guessed, with call letters and large, glossy photos of various newscasters and television personalities decorating the bright area. They took the I.D. badges handed to them and were directed to the back elevators.
"I can't believe you bribed the DMV to retake your photo 7 times Kim!" Carla laughed, snatching the card from Kim's hand and examining it as they waited for elevator.
"Well, I couldn't be sure which shirt would look better, so I brought a few. Always be prepared has always been my motto!"
"Since when?"
"Since ... now?" The blonde laughed and grabbed the card back and tossed it into her purse.
"It's a miracle you find anything down there!"
"Carla," Kim began, looking at the lanky brunette who made her look short, "How long have you known me? Since college? When have I ever lost anything of mine?"
"Lost?" Carla thought it over as she stepped onto the waiting elevator, joined by two cameramen, talking to themselves. "Never. Misplaced permanently, now that's another story. There was my mid-term, my textbook, my car keys the day were were about to start our road trip, my favorite..."
"I can't believe that Weaver did it - I mean, they always talk about it, but damn - if it wasn't so cold, it'd be amazing!" The elevator stopped and the two got off, continuing their conversation as the doors slid shut. Kim felt the blood rush to her head. Weaver? They couldn't mean WEAVER Weaver, could they? She wasn't even sure it was her at the back of-
"Come to think of it," Carla continued, finally exhausting her list of things lost by Legaspi, and snapping her out of her thoughts, "Most of the things you've lost have been mine!" She began to lead them down the hall, with Kim trailing behind her.
"Hey Car - who've we come to see?"
"Just dropping off some files right...here!" She stopped short at the last office, a nondescript door with a simple engraved nameplate: K. Weaver.
"You know, I think I'll just wait for you down at-"
"Don't worry -" Carla quickly rapped upon the door and threw Kim a smile. "We'll just be a second! Besides, I think you'll like her."
"Yeah, it's just -" Kim could feel her breakfast rising up to her throat. 10 years and the thought of running into Kerry Weaver still made her nauseous. She quickly ran her hands through her hair and skimmed her teeth with her tongue, hoping nothing was stuck. Apparently the possibility of seeing Kerry again also made her rethink every decision regarding her appearance today. In all likelihood, Kerry was somewhere in Chicago, freezing as she waited for the El, or being puked on or bled on by some patient, not here in a television studio in Miami, she told herself, the thoughts allowing herself to relax.
And then the door flew open and the floor fell out from beneath Kim. On the other side of the door was indeed Kerry Weaver. She had a phone wedged between her head and her shoulder and was murmuring frequent sounds in the affirmative as she reviewed and signed off on a clipboard in her hand. She didn't even look up at them, simply opened the door and stepped back inside. Carla strolled in and motioned for Kim to do the same. With hesitation, Kim followed and watched as Kerry handed the clipboard to a waiting P.A. who rushed out of the office. "You would NOT believe how scared they all are of her here!" Carla whispered to Kim. "And apparently she says she's a LOT calmer now than she was before she got here! Get a bottle of Merlot into her and she's a pussycat!" Kim smiled in spite of herself at the foggy thoughts of cold Chicago nights spent staying warm with a bottle of red and the redhead before her.
Kim began to look around the office, anything to keep from looking at the woman behind the desk - who looked younger now than she ever did when they were together. The office was painted a tastefully neutral beige. It held a brown leather couch and a brown leather chair behind massive modern metal desk. An interesting design choice, but not incongruous. Large windows let in light and the wall against which she and Carla stood against was lined with countless shelves of books, DVD's and a giant television muted but showing a live feed of the studio, presumably downstairs. She didn't know what to think, Kim turned around and began to inspect the shelves in an attempt to try to glean some more information about who this woman was, now. Also - she just really didn't want to see her. Maybe, Kim thought to herself, she could get through this without Kerry recognizing her, she could...hide behind her hair? Spend the entire interaction with her back to the other woman? She picked up a small framed photo of a little boy, around 5 or 6 (but then again, she was awful at these things, much to disappointment of her parents, her siblings and her numerous nieces and nephews all eager for another addition). The boy, with his dark curls and brown eyes looked nothing like Kerry, save for a quiet and contained energy, a sparkle in his eyes. "Isn't he cute?" Carla asked, "He's the sweetest kid I've met! If I could guarantee progeny like Henry, I'd be barefoot and in my kitchen already!"
"That's what I like to hear! Ladies barefoot and pregnant and in the kitchen!" Kerry teased, her voice ringing out and startling the blonde, who thankfully avoided knocking the photo over. "Sorry Carla, he wouldn't get off the phone! How are you?" Kerry apologized, her voice growing closer and closer. Kim stood awkwardly, her back to the women who she was sure had embraced behind her. She could feel Kerry's eyes on her. How on earth did she manage to do that? 1200 miles away and still, she managed to make others feel like delinquent children.
"No worries - this seems calm for you today! Kerry, this is a friend of mine, Kim Legaspi. Kim," She finally had to turn around, forced by Carla's introduction, "This is Kerry Weaver. She works with Pete and has been trying to get together a human interest piece to drum up some attention for the shelter." Kim couldn't think. She couldn't move. She couldn't do anything except stare at the woman before her. For all she knew, Carla may have introduced Kerry as the second coming and it would've gone over her head as she took in every detail of Kerry Weaver. She had fantasized about this moment more often than she'd care to admit: on the treadmill, on muni, stuck in an exceptionally long line at Whole Foods - she'd be on a date with Christina Hendrick's identical lesbian twin and catch a glimpse of a faded Kerry staring at her longingly. While not healthy, it wasn't out of the ordinary to have reunion fantasies - and now it seems, was completely inaccurate. The woman before her looked anything but faded - her hair was a darker red then when she'd last seen Kerry by the river in Chicago, her blue-green eyes definitely leaning towards the blue end of the spectrum, she seemed lighter, different in her slim jeans and silk blouse yet the same air of sensibility and strength. And her effect over Kim hadn't changed much either - fight as she may, she could feel the same stupid grin spread across her face the way it did when she spotted the other woman in the halls of County. A sharp nudge in the form of Carla's elbow in her ribs shook her out of haze of reflection. "Owww." Kim yelped, rubbing her side and shooting Carla a nasty look. "What was that for?"
"Sorry Kerry, little known fact about Kimmy here is that she was raised by wolves. True story." Carla smirked at the tall blonde, "It explains for the lack of manners."
"I'd say it's shock. It's good to see you again Kim." Kerry said, her hand outstretched towards her.
"Yeah, Kerry. You too." She took Kerry's hand and shook it, only then feeling the slight tremor of the other woman's hand. "God, how long has it been?" Kim asked, feigning indifference.
"Ten years." The smaller woman responded, each word weighted. "How've you been?"
"Good. Same old, how 'bout you?"
"Same old." Kerry smiled.
"Last I checked, same old wasn't a television studio in Miami." Kim laughed, shaking her hair off her shoulders. She had fallen back into flirting with the other woman. She hadn't thought about it, it had just happened. Why? She wasn't even that into redheads...anymore.
"Well, it's been a while." Kerry responded, her eyes clouding over momentarily.
"So, I take it you two know each other?" Carla interjected, reminding the two women of her presence.
"We used to work together." Kerry explained, providing the Cliffsnotes version. There was no need to exhume the whole of the relationship for others - a trait that went against the very nature of most of her gay friends who did nothing but unpack, dissect and disseminate every relationship they'd ever had.
"It was in Chicago." Kim completed. "Right before I left."
"I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye before you left." Kerry murmured, lowering her eyes.
"So, you dated? And Kim dumped you for San Francisco?" Carla concluded, a twinkle in her eye at the uncovered truth.
"Has anyone ever commented on your remarkable level of tact?" The redhead remarked as she made her way back to the safety behind her desk.
"Tact is just prettying up the truth!"
"See Kerry, where I got my aversion for tact from?" Kim asked eyeing Kerry. Something seemed different but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "As for who dumped who, I think it was...more complicated than San Francisco." Kim confessed.
"But that was so very long ago - back when Kim was the tender age of -"
"Shut it!" Kim shouted, shooting daggers at her friend. Her age was a sore spot, one best remedied with ice cream whenever the subject came up.
"Speaking of, Kerr - tonight, you free?" Carla asked. Kim felt her stomach churn. She knew that tone in Carla's voice. She'd heard it too many times to think it held the promise of anything good. That tone got her in trouble more times than she could count.
"Tonight, why?"
"Well, we've been talking about meeting up for dinner and we just haven't had the chance? Well, a bunch of us are having dinner before Kimmy leaves - you should join us!"
"I don't think -"
"Don't think! Just show up!" Carla exclaimed, her efforts at playing Match Maker painfully obvious. "Kim, tell her, it's been 10 years, entirely too long." Kim could only stand there, staring at her shoes. She didn't want to see Kerry again. Not for dinner, not for lunch, and most definitely not for breakfast. Except that she did. She didn't want to, but she did. "What Kimberly means, by standing there all shy and modest is that it's been entirely too long and she'd very much like it if you come."
"I'd love to - I really would Carla, but I've got plans. I am sorry Kim."
"Well, just think it over. It's at 8 at Peces if you can make it. We'd love to see you." Carla hooked her arm in Kim's and proceeded to escort her out of the room and back down the hall they walked down 10 minutes ago.
Had it really only been 10 minutes? "Well, that went well. Except for that whole frozen in place thing you did. Who knows, maybe she found it endearing?" The elevator appeared and it's doors slid open.
"Listen, Carla - I'll meet you downstairs in 5, ok?" She turned on her heel and marched her way down the hall, but every step became more and more hesitant until she approached the open door and raised her hand to knock, but instead ducked her head into the door way and watched as Kerry stood behind her desk in the same position behind her desk, rifling her papers aimlessly.
"Ker?" Kim softly announced her presence.
"Kim. Come in."
"I, uh, left Carla by the elevator. I just wanted to say, I know you're probably busy and it is short notice, but if you could make it tonight, I'd really like it." Kim looked up at Kerry, who was wearing an inscrutable look across her face. "I mean, it'd be good to see you again." Kim quickly turned back down the hallway before she had time to think about what she'd just done.
-TBC
Rating: PG 13
Ship: Kerry Weaver/Kim Legaspi
Disclaimer: Not mine; never were! No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Ten years later - Kerry spots Kim in Miami (part one); and Kim discovers how small the world can be when she runs into Kerry.
Author's Note: Ack! I'm so glad people still remember/miss/like Kim and Kerry! :)
~
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Carla asked, glancing at the blonde in the seat next to her.
"Carla - I've got sun, I've got a convertible, and I've got a weekend free from that conference - trust me, I don't mind running a last minute errand - especially in your car!" Kim sighed in pleasure, letting her fair skin soak up the sun as it shone down on both women in the convertible. San Francisco, while nice in its consistent, tepid weather grew boring day after day, year after year. Almost every day began with fog rolling out across the Sunset and being blocked by Twin Peaks; it would then be dazzling in the Mission and Castro, but dark Downtown in the shadows of the buildings and North Beach...well sadly, she wasn't 23 anymore. "Where are we off to anyways?"
"I promised Pete I'd drop off some files. After that, the day is yours milady!"
"Perfect! I expect a lot of sun and a lot pretty ladies! I deserve it after all!"
"Yes you do, after all that hard work you did at the seminar. How long was your speech, 45 minutes? You're a brave little soldier!" Carla laughed as she pulled her car into the visitor's parking lot behind a long, sprawl of a building.
"You looking forward to dinner tonight?"
"YES!" Kim exclaimed, following her friend into a lobby. "I can't wait to see everybody! Not to mention the civiche! Oh my god - if it's not fish, it's not going into my mouth tonight! Shut up." She smirked, preemptively cutting off Carla's smart-ass comment.
"I didn't say anything! You need your I.D."
"You were thinking it." Kim responded, digging through the chaotic contents of her purse until she fished out her California Driver's license and handed it to the guard who was checking them in. They stood in the lobby of a television studio she guessed, with call letters and large, glossy photos of various newscasters and television personalities decorating the bright area. They took the I.D. badges handed to them and were directed to the back elevators.
"I can't believe you bribed the DMV to retake your photo 7 times Kim!" Carla laughed, snatching the card from Kim's hand and examining it as they waited for elevator.
"Well, I couldn't be sure which shirt would look better, so I brought a few. Always be prepared has always been my motto!"
"Since when?"
"Since ... now?" The blonde laughed and grabbed the card back and tossed it into her purse.
"It's a miracle you find anything down there!"
"Carla," Kim began, looking at the lanky brunette who made her look short, "How long have you known me? Since college? When have I ever lost anything of mine?"
"Lost?" Carla thought it over as she stepped onto the waiting elevator, joined by two cameramen, talking to themselves. "Never. Misplaced permanently, now that's another story. There was my mid-term, my textbook, my car keys the day were were about to start our road trip, my favorite..."
"I can't believe that Weaver did it - I mean, they always talk about it, but damn - if it wasn't so cold, it'd be amazing!" The elevator stopped and the two got off, continuing their conversation as the doors slid shut. Kim felt the blood rush to her head. Weaver? They couldn't mean WEAVER Weaver, could they? She wasn't even sure it was her at the back of-
"Come to think of it," Carla continued, finally exhausting her list of things lost by Legaspi, and snapping her out of her thoughts, "Most of the things you've lost have been mine!" She began to lead them down the hall, with Kim trailing behind her.
"Hey Car - who've we come to see?"
"Just dropping off some files right...here!" She stopped short at the last office, a nondescript door with a simple engraved nameplate: K. Weaver.
"You know, I think I'll just wait for you down at-"
"Don't worry -" Carla quickly rapped upon the door and threw Kim a smile. "We'll just be a second! Besides, I think you'll like her."
"Yeah, it's just -" Kim could feel her breakfast rising up to her throat. 10 years and the thought of running into Kerry Weaver still made her nauseous. She quickly ran her hands through her hair and skimmed her teeth with her tongue, hoping nothing was stuck. Apparently the possibility of seeing Kerry again also made her rethink every decision regarding her appearance today. In all likelihood, Kerry was somewhere in Chicago, freezing as she waited for the El, or being puked on or bled on by some patient, not here in a television studio in Miami, she told herself, the thoughts allowing herself to relax.
And then the door flew open and the floor fell out from beneath Kim. On the other side of the door was indeed Kerry Weaver. She had a phone wedged between her head and her shoulder and was murmuring frequent sounds in the affirmative as she reviewed and signed off on a clipboard in her hand. She didn't even look up at them, simply opened the door and stepped back inside. Carla strolled in and motioned for Kim to do the same. With hesitation, Kim followed and watched as Kerry handed the clipboard to a waiting P.A. who rushed out of the office. "You would NOT believe how scared they all are of her here!" Carla whispered to Kim. "And apparently she says she's a LOT calmer now than she was before she got here! Get a bottle of Merlot into her and she's a pussycat!" Kim smiled in spite of herself at the foggy thoughts of cold Chicago nights spent staying warm with a bottle of red and the redhead before her.
Kim began to look around the office, anything to keep from looking at the woman behind the desk - who looked younger now than she ever did when they were together. The office was painted a tastefully neutral beige. It held a brown leather couch and a brown leather chair behind massive modern metal desk. An interesting design choice, but not incongruous. Large windows let in light and the wall against which she and Carla stood against was lined with countless shelves of books, DVD's and a giant television muted but showing a live feed of the studio, presumably downstairs. She didn't know what to think, Kim turned around and began to inspect the shelves in an attempt to try to glean some more information about who this woman was, now. Also - she just really didn't want to see her. Maybe, Kim thought to herself, she could get through this without Kerry recognizing her, she could...hide behind her hair? Spend the entire interaction with her back to the other woman? She picked up a small framed photo of a little boy, around 5 or 6 (but then again, she was awful at these things, much to disappointment of her parents, her siblings and her numerous nieces and nephews all eager for another addition). The boy, with his dark curls and brown eyes looked nothing like Kerry, save for a quiet and contained energy, a sparkle in his eyes. "Isn't he cute?" Carla asked, "He's the sweetest kid I've met! If I could guarantee progeny like Henry, I'd be barefoot and in my kitchen already!"
"That's what I like to hear! Ladies barefoot and pregnant and in the kitchen!" Kerry teased, her voice ringing out and startling the blonde, who thankfully avoided knocking the photo over. "Sorry Carla, he wouldn't get off the phone! How are you?" Kerry apologized, her voice growing closer and closer. Kim stood awkwardly, her back to the women who she was sure had embraced behind her. She could feel Kerry's eyes on her. How on earth did she manage to do that? 1200 miles away and still, she managed to make others feel like delinquent children.
"No worries - this seems calm for you today! Kerry, this is a friend of mine, Kim Legaspi. Kim," She finally had to turn around, forced by Carla's introduction, "This is Kerry Weaver. She works with Pete and has been trying to get together a human interest piece to drum up some attention for the shelter." Kim couldn't think. She couldn't move. She couldn't do anything except stare at the woman before her. For all she knew, Carla may have introduced Kerry as the second coming and it would've gone over her head as she took in every detail of Kerry Weaver. She had fantasized about this moment more often than she'd care to admit: on the treadmill, on muni, stuck in an exceptionally long line at Whole Foods - she'd be on a date with Christina Hendrick's identical lesbian twin and catch a glimpse of a faded Kerry staring at her longingly. While not healthy, it wasn't out of the ordinary to have reunion fantasies - and now it seems, was completely inaccurate. The woman before her looked anything but faded - her hair was a darker red then when she'd last seen Kerry by the river in Chicago, her blue-green eyes definitely leaning towards the blue end of the spectrum, she seemed lighter, different in her slim jeans and silk blouse yet the same air of sensibility and strength. And her effect over Kim hadn't changed much either - fight as she may, she could feel the same stupid grin spread across her face the way it did when she spotted the other woman in the halls of County. A sharp nudge in the form of Carla's elbow in her ribs shook her out of haze of reflection. "Owww." Kim yelped, rubbing her side and shooting Carla a nasty look. "What was that for?"
"Sorry Kerry, little known fact about Kimmy here is that she was raised by wolves. True story." Carla smirked at the tall blonde, "It explains for the lack of manners."
"I'd say it's shock. It's good to see you again Kim." Kerry said, her hand outstretched towards her.
"Yeah, Kerry. You too." She took Kerry's hand and shook it, only then feeling the slight tremor of the other woman's hand. "God, how long has it been?" Kim asked, feigning indifference.
"Ten years." The smaller woman responded, each word weighted. "How've you been?"
"Good. Same old, how 'bout you?"
"Same old." Kerry smiled.
"Last I checked, same old wasn't a television studio in Miami." Kim laughed, shaking her hair off her shoulders. She had fallen back into flirting with the other woman. She hadn't thought about it, it had just happened. Why? She wasn't even that into redheads...anymore.
"Well, it's been a while." Kerry responded, her eyes clouding over momentarily.
"So, I take it you two know each other?" Carla interjected, reminding the two women of her presence.
"We used to work together." Kerry explained, providing the Cliffsnotes version. There was no need to exhume the whole of the relationship for others - a trait that went against the very nature of most of her gay friends who did nothing but unpack, dissect and disseminate every relationship they'd ever had.
"It was in Chicago." Kim completed. "Right before I left."
"I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye before you left." Kerry murmured, lowering her eyes.
"So, you dated? And Kim dumped you for San Francisco?" Carla concluded, a twinkle in her eye at the uncovered truth.
"Has anyone ever commented on your remarkable level of tact?" The redhead remarked as she made her way back to the safety behind her desk.
"Tact is just prettying up the truth!"
"See Kerry, where I got my aversion for tact from?" Kim asked eyeing Kerry. Something seemed different but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "As for who dumped who, I think it was...more complicated than San Francisco." Kim confessed.
"But that was so very long ago - back when Kim was the tender age of -"
"Shut it!" Kim shouted, shooting daggers at her friend. Her age was a sore spot, one best remedied with ice cream whenever the subject came up.
"Speaking of, Kerr - tonight, you free?" Carla asked. Kim felt her stomach churn. She knew that tone in Carla's voice. She'd heard it too many times to think it held the promise of anything good. That tone got her in trouble more times than she could count.
"Tonight, why?"
"Well, we've been talking about meeting up for dinner and we just haven't had the chance? Well, a bunch of us are having dinner before Kimmy leaves - you should join us!"
"I don't think -"
"Don't think! Just show up!" Carla exclaimed, her efforts at playing Match Maker painfully obvious. "Kim, tell her, it's been 10 years, entirely too long." Kim could only stand there, staring at her shoes. She didn't want to see Kerry again. Not for dinner, not for lunch, and most definitely not for breakfast. Except that she did. She didn't want to, but she did. "What Kimberly means, by standing there all shy and modest is that it's been entirely too long and she'd very much like it if you come."
"I'd love to - I really would Carla, but I've got plans. I am sorry Kim."
"Well, just think it over. It's at 8 at Peces if you can make it. We'd love to see you." Carla hooked her arm in Kim's and proceeded to escort her out of the room and back down the hall they walked down 10 minutes ago.
Had it really only been 10 minutes? "Well, that went well. Except for that whole frozen in place thing you did. Who knows, maybe she found it endearing?" The elevator appeared and it's doors slid open.
"Listen, Carla - I'll meet you downstairs in 5, ok?" She turned on her heel and marched her way down the hall, but every step became more and more hesitant until she approached the open door and raised her hand to knock, but instead ducked her head into the door way and watched as Kerry stood behind her desk in the same position behind her desk, rifling her papers aimlessly.
"Ker?" Kim softly announced her presence.
"Kim. Come in."
"I, uh, left Carla by the elevator. I just wanted to say, I know you're probably busy and it is short notice, but if you could make it tonight, I'd really like it." Kim looked up at Kerry, who was wearing an inscrutable look across her face. "I mean, it'd be good to see you again." Kim quickly turned back down the hallway before she had time to think about what she'd just done.
-TBC