Stormbound - pt 16 - by Gun Brooke

Tiffany woke up, feeling like someone had stuffed her head with cotton. The fuzzy feeling didn't go away and the entire tent seemed to sway as she sat up. Rubbing her forehead, she tried to remember where she was. Suddenly the overwhelming sense of loss hit her out of nowhere, and she drew a trembling breath. Memories of yesterday, of the horrible evening when Izzy had stared at her accusingly as she delivered the news that Tiffany’s father hadn’t died of natural causes, flooded her. Murdered! Tiffany sobbed, a dry, aching sound that hurt her throat. Who could’ve killed him? Probably the same people that were trying to get their hands on her. But how? Edgar Ozland had suffered through several heart attacks and was also sick from a condition that the doctors interpreted as some sort of blood disorder.

Wiping her eyes, Tiffany felt the grief she’d buried deep inside her while she was running for her life, surface tenfold. It was one thing to mourn for a father who she’d thought passed away because of illness; a completely different matter to ache for him when she knew his life was stolen from him…and from her. Anger and hurt struggled just beneath the surface and Tiffany tried not to cry, for fear of not being able to stop.

“How are you feeling?” Izzy's voice, sounding careful and muted, came from behind.

Tiffany turned her head and looked at her, frowning at the sight of the dark circles under Izzy's eyes. She swallowed hard. ”I’m okay.” Tiffany thought she saw a look of defeat in Izzy's eyes. “You?”

“Me? I’m okay…” Clearly guarded, Izzy kept her hands tightly laced in front of her. “You look pale, though.”

“Feel a bit numb.” Tiffany rolled her stiff, aching shoulders. “Ow.”

“What's wrong?” Izzy scooted closer, but hesitated with a hand half extended between them.

The idea that Izzy would hesitate to touch her, for whatever reason, tore at Tiffany. “Just a bit sore. I don’t think I’ve moved at all last night.”

“No, you haven't.”

“I—” Tiffany broke off, staring at Izzy. ”You've been awake all night?”

“Yes. More or less. I had to make sure you were all right.”

“Oh, Izzy.” Tiffany sighed. Her heart was still bruised that Izzy had even nudged the idea that she might have something to do with her father's death. That didn't mean she wanted to see Izzy suffer. But I did, last night. I was so angry and hurt, I wanted her to feel it, to hurt right with me.

“I'm sorry, Tiffany. I know there's nothing I can say, really, to make up for last night. Threw news that your father had been murdered threw me."

"It threw me too? As far as I knew he had died of natural causes and now I'm not sure to think.

" I just want you to know how sorry I am. ”

“I do.” Tiffany took Izzy's hand. “I do understand that you're sorry.”

“You do?” Izzy didn't look convinced.

“And I think I understand why you'd be so suspicious about me. You really don't know me.” Tiffany shook her head sorrowfully. “That’s so sad, though. I thought you'd know my heart by now. I mean, instinctively.”

“I do. I just stopped listening to my own heart for a while.” Izzy pressed her lips together. “I'm so damn paranoid.”

“And I'm way too trusting.” Tiffany hugged herself. “I should be more careful, I guess. I should be more...what did you say? More paranoid.”

“No!”

Tiffany flinched at Izzy's raised voice. “Why?”

“Because you...you're perfect the way you are. You're sweet, kind, and yes, trusting, and it was makes you so special. Please, don't change. Don't harden yourself and become like me. Like...this.” Izzy's face contorted with contempt as she gestured at herself.

“I'm in this situation, and you too, because I was too trusting.”

“You're in this situation because someone killed your father and is now after you.” Izzy lowered her voice. “Nothing of this is your fault, Tiff.”

“I feel like it is. Like I'm the kiss of death, or something.”

Izzy moved fast, wrapping Tiffany up in her arms. “I know you hate me now, I don't blame you, but please, don't beat up on yourself. You've shown me so much affection and trust. Please, Tiff, don't push me a way again. Please?”

Sitting still, nearly holding her breath, Tiffany listen to Izzy's pleading voice. It hurt her to hear this proud woman grovel. She couldn't take it anymore. Burying her face into Izzy's neck, Tiffany inhaled that special scent she'd come to associate with her. “Don't,” she whispered.

“God. Okay, Tiffany. Okay, I won't.” Izzy voice cracked and she began to move away from Tiffany.

“No, that's not what I meant. Don't act like it's all your fault, like you expect me to hit you over the head at any moment...or that you deserve being hit. It hurts me.”

“But you must hate me.” Izzy gently cleared her throat. “I hurt you.”

“That’s not what I said, but yes, you did. I thought you'd begun to trust me, but obviously I was wrong.”

“I don't know what to say.” Sadness colored Izzy's voice.

“Look at me, Izzy.” Tiffany found herself staring into nearly black eyes. Only faint glimpses of green were visible as Izzy's stormy emotions struggled for dominance.

“Tiff...”

“Hush.” Tiffany knew she had to be completely honest. “Listen to me. What I need to know is your completely honest answer to a question. Can you give me that?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in Izzy's response, merely a gloomy, dark tone that didn't bode well.

“Do you believe me capable of killing anyone?”

“No.”

Tiffany's breath gushed out in relief. Izzy's answer had been prompt and without emphasis. Her eyes hadn't flickered once. She didn't even blink.

“Thank you.” Tiffany slowly raised her arms and wrapped them around Izzy's neck. “I have a request.”

“Go on.”

“Kiss me? Please?” Tiffany knew Izzy might refuse and withdraw to her own personal dark hell. She simply couldn't allow Izzy to do that. I love her. She's probably more wounded inside than I understood, but I can help her. I love her so much.

“Tiff...You sure?” Izzy sounded like she hadn't used her voice for months.

“I'm very sure.” Tiffany caressed the back of Izzy's head. “I want to feel your lips on me, your hands on me. I want to find my way back to what we had yesterday before all hell broke loose.”

Izzy lowered her head and their lips met, so soft and slow, Tiffany moaned in frustration mixed with delight. Izzy's kiss tasted faintly of salt, and Tiffany realized Izzy had been crying in secret. She parted her lips and offered her mouth to Izzy. Tiffany wanted to show Izzy that it was possible to forgive and regain trust without having to do cartwheels and walk a tightrope. All you had to do was take a chance emotionally. I'm trying to show you the way, Izzy.

“Tiffany, sweetie-girl. How can you be so wonderful? So forgiving?”

“Are you kidding? I know when I've struck gold, Izzy. You're one of a kind, and I...I care so deeply about you. I know you feel something similar for me. Why wouldn't I go the extra mile for you, for us, when what we've found together is so rare, so precious?”

“You make it sound so easy,” Izzy said, shaking her head.

“Easy? In a sense it's anything but easy. And on the other hand, it's as easy or difficult as we make it.” Tiffany kissed a hot trail along Izzy's neck. “It's about choice. About management. How we deal with each other and other people too. I choose to be with you. I choose to fight for what we've found together, because I know it's special.”

“You're so brave. And I truly believe you are a good person, Tiffany Ashton.” Izzy hugged her close. “I was a fool to allow my suspicious nature, and my pain, to rule my brain and my heart. I promise you, that won't happen again.”

“You mean that? You think you can trust me now, even if the world tells you otherwise?”

“Screw everyone else.” Izzy tugged Tiffany down on the mattresses with her, covering her body with her own. ”You're all that matters. I vowed to keep you safe and I will. From now on, I'll make sure you won't have to be kept safe from me.”

“Just don't go too Ms. Nice on me. I like you a little dangerous too,” Tiffany said, smiling and wrinkling her nose.

Izzy laughed for the first time since their meltdown. “Oh, you little devil.” She kissed Tiffany deeply, exploring her mouth's every nook and cranny. “I'll teach you about danger.” Izzy kept up the kisses, long, tender, but decidedly dangerous for Tiffany's peace of mind.

***

Izzy held the precious young woman in her arms, wrapping even her legs around Tiffany as if that made her safer. She ached to ask Tiffany's forgiveness again, but sensed that Tiffany already had, once and for all regarding this matter. Izzy had to come to terms with her own actions, and...Forgive myself. The profound truth made Izzy rigid and she slowly let go of her own anger and confusion.

“Tiff,” she said slowly, weighing every syllable. “I don't deserve you. Wait.” She held up a hand when it looked like Tiffany was going to object. “I really don't deserve you. That said, I can't let you go. I can't be altruistic when it comes to you, Tiff.”

“Thank goodness.” Tiffany licked her lips. “You feel so good.”

“Mm. So do you.” Izzy knew she should take a moment and count her blessings, but instead she settled for the fact that Tiffany really, truly cared. She wanted to confess to love, to take that final leap, but a small voice inside warned her not to take anything for granted. “Hey, sweetie-girl,” she murmured against the blond curls under her chin. “Last night, I kept thinking about the FBI agents. We really need to figure out a way to approach them.”

“Are you sure?” Tiffany tipped her head back and frowned. “The police haven’t believed me before.”

“That was the local police. This is FBI. They’re obviously on to something, and we have to figure out what.”

“They might be convinced I killed him.”

“I doubt it.” Izzy looked down at Tiffany’s pale face. She reminded Izzy of a fairytale creature, an elfin who had escaped from the deepest woods. “We have to communicate with them, Tiff. It’s the best course of action right now.”

“All right. As long as you’re with me, I’ll be okay.” Tiffany buried her head against Izzy again and sighed deeply. “Just don’t let go.”

“I won’t.” Izzy held Tiffany close. She had been given a second chance to stand by Tiffany's side throughout this mess and she was not going to blow it.

Will be continued in part 17