Always Been You

His long legs were stretched out before him, his hair a rumpled dark mop as his chin rested on his chest.

Katherine lay quietly looking at Jensen. His beard was thick and black now. Long, silky lashes swept shadows across his weary face. He was wearing the same clothes as that morning. Or was it morning now? She frowned, the motion tightening the tape on her forehead.

Her arm ached as she touched the heavy white bandage on her head. Her palms burned slightly. Again she felt the splinters shooting into them, the fiery pain as they speared into her skin.

Jensen shifted in the chair. He straightened and whispered huskily. “Ah, sleeping beauty awakes” he said. He leaned over her, sleep still shrouding his dark eyes. In the muted light, a haggard, disheveled man looked at her with love. To Katherine. He was beautiful.

His hard mouth lifted wryly. “You really did it this time, Kitty Kat” he rumbled gently

His thumb caressed her cheek, then winnowed through the dark hair splayed across the white pillow.

Her pain faded as she swirled into the depths of his soft gaze. Jensen’s lashes were suspiciously damp when he kissed her cheek.

“If anything happened to you… I” a tremor ran through his voice, wrapped around Katherine’s heart.

She watched a single tear trail down his cheek to the black beard. “Jensen” My love. My own, she thought

“Oh, honey” He shuddered and buried his face beside hers on the pillow. His breath was ragged as it swept across her skin. “I’d better call the nurse,” he said gruffly.

Her tongue stroked dry lips. “Jensen, wait. Talk to me” He looked as if he needed to lie down.

“Have you been here since morning?” she asked.

“You woke up two days ago, Kat, ” he replied. “Today is Monday. But, yes, I have been so damned worried, sweetheart” he snapped. Pain crossed the rugged features. “I’m sorry, baby, ” he added gently.

“When Jonathan called me and told me what happened to you, I felt as though my heart had stopped,” he said. “He didn’t want to call your mom because he didn’t want to bother her. She has been through a lot already. So we decided to tell her when we were sure that you were going to be okay. We simply told her you had to go on an emergency business trip. Tim is with her. Jonathan had to leave because he didn’t want your mom to get too suspicious and start asking what’s up”. He inhaled deeply. “When they brought you into the emergency room, you looked like a bloodied doll. Your hands were so cut up”

A hand jerked through his dark hair.

Katherine lifted a bandaged hand and touched his chest. As strong as she knew Jensen was, he looked as though he needed her assurance. She knew he was scared of losing her. She knew her accident was reminding him of his parents. She would feel the same way if she was in his shoes.

“Stay with me Jensen” she whispered. “I need you. I love you”

He tensed. A shudder ripped through his tall frame. The black eyes closed against their brilliant fire. “God. Thank you” he said. The ebony eyes blazed down at her. “I never thought I’d hear those words again. I saw the most beautiful, intriguing woman I have ever known lying on a damn hospital bed and I felt so damned helpless” His broad shoulders straightened. “I was so afraid I had lost you sweetheart”.

“You won’t lose me, Jensen,” Katherine said. “You are stuck with me, you know. You should know that by now”

His indrawn breath was long and unsteady as he straightened. “I have to call that nurse, Katherine. I don’t know who needs her ministrations more right now, you or me. I feel like pieces of me are being alternately torn off and glued back together again.”

He pressed the buzzer attached to her headboard. “I never thought I’d go through anything like this again, Kat. After my parents died, the pain was horrible and you were there. No one has ever reached inside me like you did.” The damp, spiked lashes closed and his mouth clamped shut.

Katherine pressed a shrouded hand against his shoulder.” Hey, “she said.” Where is Mr Macho boss man?”. She attempted a smile.”I admit that I wasn’t looking where I was driving. It’s my fault. It won’t happen again”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“You bring a man up quick, honey” he stated and rested his chin lightly on the lump that was her hand. “Thought this nightmare I realized just how much I care for you”

Katherine traced the rugged angles of his face. She loved each one. “I care about you too, honey” she said.

He rubbed his beard. “I can shave this off by the time you are ready to kiss me, lady. Or shall I let it grow?” he asked and smiled at her. “I need to cover all the wrinkles I got in the past two days”

Katherine smiled.

Moments later the nurse entered, stuck a thermometer into Katherine’s mouth and ordered Jensen to leave for a few minutes. Looking mutinous, he glared at the nurse, who swished around Katherine’s bed to straighten the covers and take her pulse.

“I’m not going anywhere” he stated, hands on hips. “Kat might need me”

The nurse calmly threatened to have him barred from the hospital. Jensen protested in a smothered curse, then quietly shut the door behind him.

As the nurse helped Katherine to the bathroom and back to bed, she chirped. “Men are such little boys. Especially the really masculine ones. They throw tantrums when they can’t get their way”

Katherine smiled. Knowing it was true.

Jensen didn’t have a chance against this woman.

When he returned, Katherine whispered, “Jensen, come here”

He approached the bed slowly, looking more like a big, soft, rumpled bear than the shrewd businessman he was.

“She says you have been awful. Have you?” Katherine asked him. She liked this shy, uncertain side of him, and loved the caring man she knew he was.

“Hell,” Jensen said. Again he ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up. “I guess I have. ” he admitted. ” I couldn’t help it, Kat”

His hand trembled as it rested on her cheek, his thumb stroking the fine hair at her temple.