Daylight

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mucho thanx goes out to Kacey, Editor Extraordinary, for editing, revising and making sure that John didn't turn into Luka (yes, it was scary there for a moment.)And also for making my poor little fanfic more than it could possibly be if I edited it. (you doubt!? take a look at the first 12 chapters of Understanding!!)

The song is "Crazy" by Britney Spears (this issue does deal with adult subjects)



PREVIOUSLY:

"Kerry would you like to go somewhere and get something to eat?" John asked suddenly. He wasn't sure why he asked. He wondered why he was asking her, maybe it was because his ex landlady just seemed so lonely to him.

Kerry paused as she touched the door; she turned around and searched his face, wondering why he had asked her. It wasn't like he was interested in her. He must be lonely she thought. But the thought of a getting something to eat sounded nice. Somewhere away from the hospital, away from the smells of disinfectants, away from the suffering and the general aura of hurt that surrounded the place. She shouldn't do it, she thought, she should go somewhere else. Anywhere else!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Baby,

I'm so into you
You've got that something
What can I do?

Baby,

You spin me around
The earth is moving but I can't feel the ground.

* * * * * * * * *

"Yes, I think I'd like that!" She found herself replying. Kerry self-consciously wondered what to say next, she had never felt so tongue-tied in her life. This had never happened in John's presence before, for Goodness sake he had lived with her for how long. She couldn't for the life of her ever remember feeling this gauche and unsure of herself before. She silently stared up at John's handsome features. 'Now what do we do?' Kerry thought to herself.

"Did you bring your car?" He asked her suddenly. "I have my jeep if you don't, or I could just bring you back afterwards," John wondered why he was suddenly talking so fast, it's not like I've never had dinner with Kerry before he thought. When he had lived at her house he had eaten there plenty of times, they had even made a few meals together, why was now such a big deal?

"No, I took the El this morning." Kerry replied.

"What are you in the mood for?"

Kerry thought about that, good question. She inwardly laughed at her fancy. The words to an old song popped into her head. 'I'm in the mood for love.' She ruthlessly erased the thought from her mind. She shrugged her shoulders slightly at his question.

John watched, as the evenings rays of sun, seemed to catch glints off of her short red hair. "I'm open to suggestions, how about you?"

"I need to check into the hotel first," Kerry stated, still for some odd reason trying to back out. "If you're really hungry then I would understand if you wanted to go by yourself." Now why in hell did she say that she thought angrily? Here a perfectly handsome man was asking her out. Well it was John, and she knew he didn't think of her in well, in that way, but still he was asking her to dinner, she thought and here she was chickening out.

Kerry must be tired John thought, he wondered if it was him? Mabey she was still uncomfortable around him. Ever since he had gotten back from rehab, things had been different. He found himself watching his co-workers watch him, as if afraid that at any moment he would make a lunge for the nearest drug cabinet.

His face took on a slightly crestfallen expression. "No, it's ok, I understand."

Kerry felt guilty: here he was asking her as a friend, mabey the stress of memorial day was to much and he just needed someone to talk to. She knew that stuff like that happened to addicts sometimes, that stress filled days could be the worst for them. For tonight, for him, she would put her personal feelings aside. Who was she fooling she told herself, she just wanted to spend time with him, dinner was optional, she sighed inwardly. Hell, if he asked her to dance barefoot on tacks right now she probably would. It would be so much easier to refuse she thought, if he just looked like King Kong instead of Keannu Reeves!

"I think the hotel where I'm staying tonight has a restaurant." She heard herself telling him. "Well, why don't we go there then?" John asked her briskly.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chez Hotel
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Every time you look at me
My Heart is jumping, its easy to see
Loving you means so much more,
More than anything I ever felt before

* * * * * * * * *

They had decided to stop off and put her stuff in her room first before they got their bite to eat. John stood back and watched impressively as Kerry harangued the desk clerk.

"IF I've made reservations for tonight which *I* have, and *If* I'VE paid for it in advance with my credit card . AND *If* have a confirmation number, then do YOU want to explain just exactly why it is that you are suddenly overbooked? " Kerry's voice started out quiet, from there it rose impressively till the poor desk clerk actually winced and cowered behind his desk.

"I'm so sorry ma'am," the hapless desk clerk was so scared he started stuttering. "If.. if .. there was any.. any room at all available in this hotel… I… I … would definitely find it for you, you can be assured however that your V.. V… Visa.. has already been credited back and you definitely won't be ch.. ch.. charged for the inconvenience."

Kerry glared at him a moment longer "Of course sleeping in my car isn't an inconvenience to you, YOU already have a place to stay." She glared at him once more before stomping away, her impatience and irritation almost causing her to run into John. Several guests who had been watching the whole scene unfold before them, scurried to get out of her path.

John had been waiting patiently for her to finish filleting the desk clerk. He managed to smile and look embarrassed at the same time when he heard his stomach start to rumble loudly. "Sorry." Kerry glared at him but her face softened when she noticed how hungry he looked.

"Not your fault." She sighed loudly, she decided to put her irritation on the back burner, not a dam thing she could do about it now. "Didn't you eat lunch?" she asked him, concern for him coming to the forefront as she tried to ignore the fact that she would definitely be sleeping in the car later on that night,

"Are you going to try another hotel, I can wait a bit longer." John said to her.

"No, this was about the only one I could find, I spent all morning trying," she glared at the desk clerk. "What with the holiday and all" She shrugged her shoulders, she was truly not looking forward to tonight!

"Do you need a place to stay tonight." John asked her suddenly.

Kerry looked guilty for a second or two, and completely managed not to meet his eyes. "No, I have some friends I can impose on." Her tone told him not to worry about her. "Failing that I can try a few more hotels."

"You could stay at my place," he asked her suggested suddenly. "I'll even drive you to work tomorrow, and you wouldn't have to cab it! Besides, this way I can watch you get frustrated at my stereo choices for a change." He laughed at his vague reference to her comments when he had lived at her place so long ago.

Kerry smiled slightly, wondering what to do. It's true she did have some friends she could impose on, but her closest friend had 4 children with 2 under the age of 3 so she knew that really wasn't an option. Not that her friend would mind, but she knew from experience how tired Beth was at the end of the day. She truly didn't want anyone to have to go through any hassles for her.

"Well I suppose, if you have an extra bed?" she asked him, her mind suddenly conjured up some pretty wicked thoughts, which she immediately stamped ruthlessly on!

"Don't worry, I can always let you sleep on the floor." He smiled mischievously at her. "I'm just kidding." he told her hastily upon seeing her glare. "Don't worry I have an extra bed you won't have to use the sleeping bag!"

Kerry was relieved for a moment; she had just started to worry for a moment or two. She glanced over at him, "Well then, since that's taken care of. Where should we eat?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John's new house
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

You drive me crazy, I just can't sleep
I'm so excited, I'm in too deep.

* * * * * * * * *

John had bought a house that had been abandoned for a while. The front lawn was slightly overgrown, but the overall appearance was pleasing. It appeared to be a small house on the outside, but it was much larger on the inside. John ushered Kerry inside. She glanced around looked closely at John then at the living room again.

"So, you don't believe in furniture much?" She asked him. John just laughed at her. "Hey I have a couch, what more could you want." Kerry just smiled at him. She briefly looked around at his place. He was in desperate need of some more furniture.

"Well if nothing else it gives your living room the appearance of .. er.. extreme.. spaciousness," she paused to put down her purse and small overnight bag. "Do I get the grand tour?"

"I don't know do you?" John smiled teasingly. "This way." He did a half bow, complete with a hand flourish, as he gestured for her to go first.

The tour was brief. John showed her the backyard first. It was a large backyard, complete with a garden with overgrown weeds, that Kerry hands just itched to start pulling. The house also boasted a laundry room (with shelves that made Kerry instantly envious), a large master bedroom, complete with a jacuzzi tub, in a mammoth bathroom, inside his room was a very large double bed. She decided after a brief glance it was better not to even linger in that room. Already her head was a whirl with images she surely didn't need tonight!

"Seems nice, though, I thought you had two bedrooms." She glanced at the only door in the house they hadn't entered yet.

John knew that the moment of truth had arrived. "That rooms not quite ready yet." He smiled and tried to hurry her past it. She pushed the door to look curiously inside the room.

"John there's nothing in this room!" she deliberately stared at him for a few more moment longer. "Might I ask where you decided I'm going to sleep tonight?"

John looked sheepish "I figured you could use my bed, and I'll sleep on the couch."

Kerry felt both touched and guilty at the same time. "I can't take your bed." She began softly.

John just smiled at her. "Dr. Weaver, you worry way to much, I have it all figured out, you take my bed, and I'll sleep on the couch."

She watched his face for a few more moments, mentally trying to figure out what to do. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt his feelings, but on the other hand beggars can't be choosers.

"OK, but on one condition!" she said quietly but with a bit of force behind her words. "Yes?" John asked her.

"That when we are outside the E.R. you to back to calling me Kerry!" she told him.

John smiled suddenly. "I think I can do that Kerry."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the wee hours of the night
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh oh oh crazy, but it feels all right
Baby thinking of you keeps me up all night.

Tell me, you're so into me
That I'm the only one you will see

Tell me I'm not in the blue
That I'm not wasting my feelings on you

Loving you means so much more
More than anything I've ever felt before

* * * * * * * * *

Kerry woke up in the middle of the night; she briefly wondered where she was. She fumbled for her crutch and promptly knocked it onto the floor. In her tired and confused state of mind, she decided that it was better off where it was.

She very gingerly stepped onto the carpet, praying she wouldn't step on her crutch. She clutched the wall, as she made her way out of John's bedroom, hopping on her good leg slightly to keep the pressure of her weight off of it.

She kept the lights off, hoping that way she wouldn't disturb John's sleep anymore than she had to. She made her way into the kitchen, she heavily held onto the wall, with her unique way of limping and hopping irritated at herself for dropping her crutch.

She rounded the corner of the kitchen, when the lights suddenly came on. John was standing in the middle of the kitchen. Being in his new house had caused him to become a lighter sleeper than normal. He was still waking up at the odd sounds the house made during the night. When Kerry had made a noise in the bedroom it had woken him up. He knew being in a strange house made many people nervous, so he had reached the kitchen before she did so he could turn the light on for her.

Kerry clutched for the countertop behind her, her first site, after she had cleared her eyes of the sudden blindness that the lights had been brought on was of John. He was wearing a pair of pajama bottoms and no shirt, and the smoothest chest she had ever seen with just the lightest sprinkling of hair. Oh my, she thought to herself. 'Keep your eyes on his face' she kept repeating to herself, 'Keep your eyes on his face!'

"I was," she paused, her eyes inadvertently slipping from his eyes back to his chest, 'Oh my! Oh my, my, my, MY!' Her hands itched to touch his chest to see if it felt the way she knew it would. She hastily swung her eyes upwards and stared at his nose that's better she told herself. 'Please don't let me blush oh lord, please don't let me blush.

"I was, umm looking for a glass of water." She was irritated because she knew her face was becoming redder than she wanted.

John took in her rumbled nightgown, her light robe, her hair that was slightly tousled from her sleep, the way she blurrily looked over at him. He knew she would never understand how absolutely adorable she looked at that moment. She also seemed a bit nervous he thought to himself. He noticed that she wasn't wearing either her glasses or using her crutch.

"Have a seat," he told her. The sound of his voice sent shivers down her back. His voice was so sexy, 'have a little self control Weaver' she ordered herself, as she self consciously clutched her robe tighter. She hadn't planned on wearing this particular nightgown; it revealed more than she liked, but as far as she could tell John hadn't noticed. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to or not. She watched as he reached into a cub hoard, grabbed two glasses, and promptly filled them with water he added a few ice cubes, then added a few more for his. He definitely needed some cold water and fast.

John handed Kerry her water and sat down across the table from her.

'Concentrate on the water' Kerry told herself. 'Drink your damned water'

"I didn't mean to wake you." Kerry told him suddenly. John said quietly. "It's ok," he said softly. "I'm still getting used to the house, it's still has me waking up with all the odd sounds in the middle of the night." He grinned sheepishly.

The silence became slightly uncomfortable.

"Kerry would you mind if I asked you a question?" John asked her quietly.

"Depends on what the question is." Kerry answered lightly. She was still trying not to look at his chest, and she was still failing miserably.

John was silent; he really wanted to know the answer, but it was a question he had never asked her before. He knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't seem to help himself today.

"Was it a car accident?" He asked suddenly. Kerry felt her world swirl. It was like her glass of water had suddenly been thrown in her face. People just didn't ask her about her limp, she knew that most people would rather ignore her limp than ask.

"Yes," She said baldly. A car accident that tumbled my little world. One moment I'm fine, and the next……

John watched her nervously play with her water glass. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories." The sound of his voice played havoc with her ears. She smiled a small bitter smile. "It was a long time ago John, water under the bridge." She struggled to keep her voice unconcerned. She took a hasty swallow out her glass, then deliberately drank the rest of the contents.

"I think it's time I got back to bed." She smiled slightly at him.

"Where is your crutch?" John asked her unexpectedly. Kerry said slightly irritatedly, "I dropped it in the bedroom, and was to aggravated to pick it up."

"Ah, I C" John told her, "Your famous temper got you into trouble this time."

Kerry grinned ruefully at him. "Yes it does have a way of doing that." She arose from her seat and grabbed onto the sink for a moment, trying not to put weight onto her leg.

John rose suddenly and walked towards her. "Here, let me." He placed his arm out with his elbow slightly cocked so she could get a grip. Kerry laughed inwardly to herself, thinking: this is like a bad "Gone with the Wind" movie or something, the only thing missing is my Scarlet O'Hara dress. It never occurred to her that normally she would have refused and tried to leave independently and go on her own. As she leaned heavily on John's arm, she realized she could feel his arm. It was hard and soft at the same time, and his masculine scent, she breathed in deeply. The move also put her just a little bit to close to his chest. 'Man I am in so much trouble she thought to herself.'

John realized his mistake the moment she took his arm, he could feel her presence in a way he hadn't expected. He would definitely need more ice water before he could sleep tonight. When they reached the bedroom, she smiled at him suddenly afraid of him entered his own room. "Thank you, I've got it from here."

"Are you sure?" he very seriously asked her, worried she might hurt herself. For some reason he was more worried about Kerry than he had ever been. Which was silly he thought to himself, she's a big girl she can take care of herself.

"Do you need any more blankets or anything?" He asked the solicitous host. He immediately tried to get rid of the thought of Kerry beneath a blanket with little to nothing on. Down boy, Down! He thought to himself. If he didn't get rid of some of these thoughts soon, he would never be able to face her in the morning. He just knew she would be shocked to find out what was going through his head.

"I'm fine John really." Kerry smiled and pushed him towards the living room. She realized her mistake as soon as the door was shut. The feel of his skin underneath her fingernails. The warmth, the intermingling feeling of softness and hardness at the same time. She sighed as she hobbled towards the bed, it was going to be a very long night.

She breathed in deeply, she could smell his masculine scent all over the room, it was on the covers, the pillowcase, the whole bed seemed permeated with his scent. She definitely knew she hadn't felt like this when he had lived in her place before. She didn't know when her feelings had changed, she just knew that they had. She was still thinking how differently the night turned out to be than she had expected when, with the slightest of smiles on her face she fell asleep.

John waited outside the door for a few moments, till the light went out before going back to the couch. As John lay back down he suddenly thought how pretty her smile was. He lay there bemused wondering why he was suddenly so interested in Kerry's smile. Still trying to get the mental image of her in her low cut nightgown out of his head. Visions of creamy skin, and flesh that looked oh so kissable assaulted his head. He tried in vane to wipe the thoughts out of his head try as he might it wasn't working. Still wondering how or why things had changed so suddenly in his thought towards her, he fell asleep, a gentle smile on his face.

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Crazy, I just can't sleep
I'm so excited, I'm in too deep
Crazy but it feels all right
Everyday and every night

You drive me crazy (you drive me crazy baby)
I'm so excited I'm in to deep
Oh oh oh crazy (you make me feel all right)
Baby thinking of you keep me up all night
You drive me crazy (you drive me crazy baby)
I'm so excited I'm in to deep
Yaaaah
Oh oh oh crazy (you make me feel all right)
Baby thinking of you keeps me up all night

Baby thinking of you keeps me up all night!



Part 3
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