LOVE ON THIN ICE (Update 12)

By Stoley

CHAPTER 40

Kit entered the house, closed the door behind her and banged her head back against it. She couldn't believe that she had just kissed Jesse. She wondered if she had gone too far too fast with her new friend. Worried that she had, Kit didn't notice the approach of a figure from the darkness of the living room. Kit bit her lip in consternation over her thoughts and wished she had shown more restraint. Suddenly a cold, wetness touched her hand and she jumped, squealing in surprise. Sam whined and stepped back, upset at Kit's rebuff.

"Oh, Sam come here, I'm sorry," Kit dropped to her knees to welcome the eager dog into her embrace. "You scared me girl." Kit ruffled the dog's ears and looked into the light blue eyes. "Hmm a little darker Sam and you'd have Jesse's eyes."

The Border Collie lifted her head and looked excitedly over Kit's shoulder at the door. The woman chuckled, "No Sam. She's not out there." She ruffled the dog's fur one more time before standing up and softly saying out loud, "but I wish she were, too."

***********************

Jesse's confusion was a contradiction in terms. On one hand she was surprised, and, couldn't deny, interested in Kit but, on the other hand, she felt a sense of numbness, existing in a dream world, detached from everything that was real. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to totally feel whole again, and couldn't help wondering if that would be fair to Kit or anyone else. When Susan left her life, a big part of Jesse died too, or at least buried itself deeply behind walls that might never be breached again, or, so she had thought. Now, she just wasn't sure what she was feeling, or should be feeling. All she knew is that her senses were awakening and the feeling was familiar, yet remotely strange.

Jesse turned into her driveway; her sense of excitement dimmed by the thoughts that were running through her mind. She slowly walked up the steps to her front door. Looking up she noted the porch light was still on and then looked hard into the darkened corners of the porch. Satisfied that AC wasn't lurking about, she unlocked the front door and entered her silent, empty house. Closing and locking the door behind her, she leaned against it and called out, "Honey, I'm home!"

Hearing her own voice echo through the rooms, she pushed off the door with a sigh and walked slowly back toward her bedroom. Suddenly, she was feeling very old and very tired.

CHAPTER 41

Jesse entered the rink and as she walked toward the locker room, she heard a familiar voice that instantly raised the hair on the back of her neck. Hesitating, she turned and noticed AC sitting down on their bench talking with Crystal. Crystal looked up and saw Jesse and said something to AC. The blonde turned to look directly at Jesse and smiled and waved. Jesse ignored her and turned to continue on to the locker room.

'What the hell is she doing here?' Jesse stormed into the locker room almost mowing down the Coach.

"Whoa, where's the fire?" The Coach asked, stopping short as her star player came crashing into the locker room, like a runaway freight train.

"Sorry, Coach," Jesse skidded to a halt and looked apologetically at the shorter woman.

"Everything okay?" Lynn could tell that something was wrong and Jesse was not at all, a happy camper.

"Did you know that AC was out there making herself comfortable on our bench? Is she back on the team?" Jesse asked, trying not to let the anger she felt reflect in her questions.

"No, to the first question and definitely no to the second! I have no intention of ever inviting her back on this team, or any other that I coach." The coach hesitated before continuing, "Why, has she been bothering you?"

"Nothing I can't handle," Jesse replied sullenly. She hesitated telling the Coach about AC's little visit to her house the other night. 'The woman had enough to worry about just keeping the team in line,' Jesse thought to herself. 'And, AC wasn't the kindest to the coach, playing her warped little games.'

"Listen Jesse, I know AC caused you trouble when she was on the team, and if she is still harassing you. I can help, but you have to talk to me," The coach said laying a hand on Jesse's arm to bring her back from her serious contemplation.

The look on the Coach's face brought a smirk to Jesse's face. She knew that the woman just wanted to help and replied, "Don't worry Coach, I can handle anything AC has in mind."

The coach grinned and shook her head, "Well, I'm here if you need me. She gives you any trouble whatsoever, just let me know."

"You got it!" Jesse nodded. She had come to respect the woman after all the trouble with AC, Crystal and the others. She had worked hard to get the team to play as a unit. She stepped aside to let the coach continue on out of the locker room. Jesse thought for a moment before calling out. "Hey Coach?"

Lynn stopped and turned back toward Jesse, "yes?"

"What are you doing tonight after practice? I mean, Kit and I are going out for dinner, would you like to join us?" Jesse was surprised at what she had done, but waited patiently for the coach to answer.

"Well, sure, thanks. I'd love to join you two."

"Great," Jesse replied hesitantly, before turning to head back toward her locker. She stopped when she reached her locker and sat down thinking about why she had just invited the coach on her date with Kit. 'Why did I just do that? I'm supposed to be going out on a date with Kit. Am I that nervous about dating again? What the hell am I going to tell her?'

"Shit!" Jesse blew out the breath and opened her locker. She proceeded to get ready for practice as she thought about the situation.

Jesse was pissed with herself, her confusion and lack of control in handling herself. She roughly pushed open the door and headed toward the ice, running smack into AC again. She had almost forgotten the woman was there, but was in no mood for her games either. She ignored the blonde for the most part, but she would have to pass her to get onto the ice, as AC stood next to the entrance door.

"Hey Jesse, you're looking good," AC called out and stood blocking the door to the ice.

"Thanks," Jesse replied and moved to go around AC. AC had her hand on the rink door and began to close it, in front of Jesse.

"Excuse me," Jesse stated sharply and motioned toward the door and waited impatiently as AC didn't budge.

AC totally ignored Jesse's gesture and continued, "So, when are we going to get together again?"

"When hell freezes over, now move your ass out of my way!" Jesse demanded.

"Jeez, what is your problem?" AC still didn't move, but looked at the taller woman through narrowed eyes.

"You are!" Jesse replied and grabbed the edge of the rink door, and yanked it open, effectively pushing AC off balance and away from the entrance. Jesse went through the entrance and went to the far side of the rink to get away from the woman.

******************

Kit entered the arena, late as usual, and waved off the heckling of her teammates as she ran toward the locker room. Dragging her equipment bag behind her, she began stripping as she pushed through the door and didn't stop until she reached her locker. "Damn, I need to get here on time at least once or I'm never going to hear the end of it." Tossing her bag down on the bench, she proceeded to pull out her uniform and pads. She ran as fast as she could on her skates toward the ice, still buckling up her pads as she entered the rink. Gliding toward her goal, she tossed her gloves and stick on top of the netting and adjusted the straps on her leg guards.

"You ever think about getting a watch?" Her teammate, Julie asked jokingly.

Without missing a beat or looking up Kit replied, "I have one, just never learned to tell time."

Kit heard the Forward burst out laughing along with a deep chuckle that caused her to look up into blue eyes. Kit grinned at Jesse's amusement.

"Need some help?" Jesse asked, as Julie skated away toward the bench.

"I think I have it," Kit answered trying to reach around her to catch the back strap on her right leg.

"Here, let me," Jesse took off her gloves and placed them and her stick on the netting with Kit's. Reaching around she grasped the buckle and held Kit by the left hip to steady herself as she attempted to snap and tighten the strap.

Kit took a breath and let it out raggedly. She was out of breath as it was, but having Jesse at this close proximity wasn't helping her to recover it. Finished, Jesse looked up at Kit and was taken aback by the look in the woman's eyes. Jesse felt a flash of fear and fire course through her.

"Better?" She croaked and stood up to disguise her emotions. Suddenly, she felt very warm and very closed in and moved toward retrieving her gear from the goal net. She didn't wait for Kit's response or say anything more and began putting on her gloves. Looking up once at Kit, she noted the young woman was also donning her gloves.

"Okay, lets get this practice rolling," Jesse replied and skated over toward the bench where everyone was congregating around the coach.

Kit watched Jesse skate away; she had heard the hesitation in Jesse's voice and felt her quickly distance herself. She remained silent and continued putting on her gear until Jesse had skated away. Kit couldn't help wondering if Jesse actually knew what she wanted or not, because Kit certainly knew what she wanted.

Skating toward the group at the bench, Kit noticed AC for the first time sitting in the row just behind the bench. 'Shit, what is she doing here?'

CHAPTER 42

The practice had been tiring and stressful with AC watching from the stands. The blonde had watched Jesse's every move, and it was starting to irritate Kit, along with the smirk on the blonde's face whenever she caught Kit's attention. She tried to block the woman out and was happy when the practice was finally over. Kit was looking forward to dinner tonight with Jesse. It might be a good time for Kit to find out exactly what Jesse was feeling. Kit was one of the last off the ice. The coach was standing at the entrance to the locker room talking with AC. Kit passed without commenting to either woman, but overheard the Coach mention having dinner with Jesse and Kit.

Kit's body involuntarily hesitated for a moment, wondering if she had actually heard correctly, but when AC turned to recognize Kit's presence and said, "Well, I don't think Jesse would mind a fourth for dinner, do you?"

'I sure the hell would mind. Suddenly my date with Jesse is turning into a group affair!' Kit thought as she pushed passed the women trying to pretend she hadn't heard the conversation. She made her way through the women in the locker room and headed toward her locker, unbuckling her leg guards.

Turning the corner of the row of lockers, Kit came face to face with Jesse. She looked up at the woman questioningly. Jesse stood in her long underwear with her towel thrown over her shoulder.

"What?" The taller woman asked when Kit blocked her way.

"I don't know which to ask about first, AC being here or what's going on with dinner tonight?" Kit blurted out and tossed her gloves a bit too forcefully onto her gear bag. They bounced off and landed on the floor at Jesse's feet. Jesse looked down and then up at Kit again, she knew her friend was upset.

"I know. I was going to tell you that I invited the Coach to join us. I'm sorry, it just sort of happen," Jesse struggled to explain to Kit without telling her the real motivation behind her actions.

"And, when were you going to tell me this? Is AC going to join us too?" Kit blurted out and moved passed Jesse to pick up her gloves and jam them into her equipment bag.

"WHAT?" Jesse shouted.

"Well, I just passed the coach and AC standing outside the locker room talking, and it sounded like AC was planning on joining us. Listen, I don't need you to find me a date if you want to go out with AC. Just count me out of this couples thing," Kit pulled her jersey over her head angrily and opened her locker to block her view of Jesse.

"Wait a minute here, I never said anything about inviting AC. If I wanted to go out on a date with her, I wouldn't have asked you." Jesse wiped her sweaty face angrily, as she stood looking at Kit.

"Well, you asked the coach, does that mean you wanted to go out with her?" Kit asked. She knew she was being unreasonable, but the mixed signals she was getting from Jesse lately had her going in circles.

Jesse took a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily. Every part of her being said to just walk away and forget about everything, but she knew that running wasn't the answer anymore.

"Kit, listen to me. I'll admit that I was nervous about going out with you and that might have fueled my asking the Coach to join us. But, it had nothing to do with my wanting to go out with anyone else. I felt sorry for the Coach, especially since AC was here, and invited her. I'll admit it...damn it...I'm nervous about dating again. What I'm not nervous about is that it's you I asked out!"

Kit stepped back from the locker and looked around the door at Jesse. The plea in the woman's voice broke through loud and clear. Coupled with the look on Jesse's face, Kit's hurt and anger were quickly put on the back burner, and she definitely had Kit's attention.

"You are scared, but not of me?" Kit's voice echoed uncertainly.

Jesse looked down as she nodded her head quietly, before looking up with glistening eyes. "I'm sorry, I just don't know if I'll ever be any good for anyone again, but, I do know that I like being with you."

Kit thought for a moment and decided that she was willing to take the chance with Jesse. "So, what are you saying?"

Jesse ran a shaky hand through her hair, "I'm saying I want to get to know you. Can we just take this slowly?"

"Yes. We can take this as slow as you want."

CHAPTER 43

"You shouldn't even be here, let alone assume that Jesse wants you anywhere near her," Lynn informed AC.

"Well, Jesse and I have this special friendship," AC replied with a smirk.

"Just leave, AC, before something happens that you will regret," Lynn tried to convince AC that Jesse was not interested in her. She had tried everything she could, but AC was not budging and really expected to be invited to their dinner party. The blonde leaned casually back against the wall, waiting for Jesse.

"You worry too much Lynn, its not an attractive trait," AC's flippant attitude was cut short by the appearance of Jesse and Kit. Jesse held the door open for Kit and even carried her leg pads, as they maneuvered their bulky gear bags through the locker room door.

"Cute," AC smiled sarcastically at Jesse.

Jesse ignored AC's comment and presence and looked at the Coach. "You ready?"

The Coach moved toward Jesse and replied, "Just let me lock up the office and grab my bag. Please, Jesse, just ignore her."

Jesse nodded but did not reply, and the Coach moved quickly toward the locker room, not wanting to leave the three women alone together for too long, for fear of what might happen.

Jesse moved towards Kit and asked, "Should we just take my car and come back for the cars afterward?"

"Works for me," Kit replied smiling up at Jesse.

AC decided she had seen enough interaction between the two women and pushed off the wall to stand next to Jesse. "I told the Coach that you wouldn't mind if I joined your dinner party tonight."

Jesse turned to acknowledge AC and said, "Actually, I do mind." Kit cringed at the tone of Jesse's voice, but secretly was pleased that the woman was finally taking a stand with the woman. Enough of being polite. It was time for Jesse to put a stop to the situation.

"Don't worry, I'm not expecting you to pay for my dinner," AC laughed sharply. "Actually, I'll buy you dinner, how's that?"

Jesse slowly put down her gear bag and laid Kit's pads on top of it and moved closer to face the blonde.

"Why part of this don't you get?" Jesse placed her hands on her hips angrily. She was doing all she could not to slam the blonde into the wall. "I've told you repeatedly that I have no interest in even being your friend, but you insist on forcing yourself into places where you are not welcome."

"You are just saying that for her benefit!" AC spat jerking her head toward Kit, who stood quietly to the side looking back and forth between the two women. He eyes were wide in surprise and anticipation.

"NO! I'm saying this for YOUR benefit. I want you to leave me alone; don't come here; and don't show up at my house. Just stay the hell away from me!" Jesse's demeanor was one of aggression, and it wouldn't take much for her to slam AC against the nearest wall.

Kit hesitated intervening, and decided not to move a muscle and let Jesse handle her own affairs.

"Stop this right now!" The three women turned to face the Coach, unaware that she had returned. Jesse stepped back allowing the Coach to get between herself and AC. The Coach turned towards AC and continued, "I think you had better leave and seriously consider the wisdom of ever returning to this arena."

"You can't stop me from coming here, this is a public building," AC laughed at the audacity of the older woman, 'how dare she talk to me this way'.

Jesse began to step forward and the Coach waved her off briskly and pointed at AC, "Oh, don't even go there, honey. You don't want to find out exactly what I can do."

"Oh please, why don't you go and mind your own business old woman," AC spat angrily and pushed Lynn's finger away from pointing at her. She suddenly found herself rocked backward and Jesse in her face, hissing through clenched teeth, "Don't you touch her!"

Jesse felt a touch on her arm and turned expecting to find the Coach standing there, but found Kit instead. The look in Kit's eyes cooled the rage that she was feeling and she stepped back from AC. Kit looked at AC and calmly said, "I think you should leave, now."

"You think? Who the hell are you?" AC snorted, looking down at Kit as she regained her composure. Kit just smiled, making the woman even angrier before replying, "I'm the woman who is going to keep Jesse from kicking your ass from here to the parking lot!"

"Ah, hell don't stop her...I'll even help!" The Coach stepped forward; the look on her face left no doubt of her sincerity. Jesse smiled wickedly, her eyes shining with anticipation. She had taken about all she was going to from AC, and the trouble she had caused between Kit and her would stop here.

To Be Continued............

ÓStoley, June 2003

ICE 13