581/Good Morning, Sunshine

Good Morning, Sunshine
Date of Scene:	24 May 2017
Location:	Harry's apartment
Synopsis:	Harry and Karrin have another awkward morning as they fight about their relationship, or lack of one.
Cast of Characters:	Harry Dresden, Karrin Murphy

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Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry lets out a yawn and stretches his arm lowering it back down and across Karrin. Something's different. That is the first thing that pops into Harry's mind in the first few nanoseconds as his unconscious mind slowly becomes conscious and aware of his surroundings. There is one heartbeat, then two...on on the third Harry opens his eyes and blinks.

He blinks again.

And then a third time. Nope...it's not a dream. He is spooning Murphy once again. The question is how in the hell did she get here, she wasn't here last night when he went to sleep. "Hell's bells..." he mutters quietly as he slowly start to remove his arm from around her, trying not to wake her.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Of course, it was Murphy who couldn't sleep last night. Murphy who spent hours staring at her ceiling, to the point she'd come over to crash out on his couch, not in her lonely little house fighting the demons in the back of her brain. Not that she planned to end up in his bed, even if his little monster of a dog had other plans. Now that she's there, though, she's quite enjoying it. Probably the best night of sleep she's had in ages, truth be told. So, she's still caught up quite deeply in that much needed rest.

When he mutters and starts to move his arm away, a little sound of protest escapes her lips and she just nestles a bit closer, one hand reaching up to grab his arm and pull it back around her like one would a blanket on a cold morning. Apparently, she can be bossy even in her sleep, and her sleepy frame didn't intend for him to go anywhere. Once that is done, she settles back down into still sleep again, breath slow and deep. She's also still in nothing but that overly long teeshirt and booty shorts, so her toned legs are completely bared against him.

Harry Dresden has posed:
As his arm is pulled back down to cover the sleeping woman, Harry lets out a little sigh and doesn't fight her. Just the opposite in fact. When his arm once again curls around her and she moves to snuggle in, he pulls her closer to him.

The lack of clothing covering Karrin's small frame doesn't go unnoticed by the wizard, and his own semi-dressed state of a pair of boxers doesn't leave much unexposed either. At least he isn't in as an embarrassing state as he was the last time he found himself in this position.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
It's comfortable. He felt like home. Karrin could probably stay this way forever if her subconscious mind had anything to say about it. But she's still a cop, she's still got those instincts that say someone else is awake in a room where she is not. Even if it's ever so comfy. She does manage about five more minutes, but he might have noticed the slight quickening of her breath only moments after he tucked back around her. She was waking up, like it or not.

She keeps her eyes shut, assessing everything, drowsily remembering just how she got here and the dog's far too self-satisfied snuffle when she finally ended up in his room. She hates to admit a dog many years her younger might be smarter than them both, but this did feel nice. Idly, her fingertips trail up and down against the back of his wrist. She doesn't swat him away, she doesn't even open her eyes, but she is awake. Her shoulders sink against his chest a little bit deeper as she exhales a slow, belly deep breath. "...your dog made me do it." She finally mutters, almost out of nowhere.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Well," says Harry, "That explains everything."

He lets out a soft little chuckle, the light puffs of air blowing stray strands of hair across her neck. "I mean, when I went to bed Mouse was laying where you are...but he must have gotten up, drove over to your place, brought you back here and tucked you in. It all makes total sense."

His words are teasing, but hold no malice in them at all. "Remind me to give him some bacon as a reward."

The trailing fingers over his wrist cause him to move his hand, turning it so his palm faces hers, and he splays his fingers open to capture hers in his. "I may just give him a whole pound."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A slight shiver cuts through Karrin at the chuckle and his breath on her neck. That was nice in ways that weren't about sleep at all. She just lets her eyes close again, even as he completely mocks her explanation as to how she ended up in his bed, in his arms, far more comfortable than they've been any other awkward morning they spent together. She gives him a little grunt, half smirking. "Careful there, Dresden. There are pointy parts of me very close to tender parts of you." There's too much of a chuckle behind her words to really be a threat, though.

Lazily, she allows her palm to be caught in his, no longer tracing those idle circles on his skin, but definite contact being made. Contact she cannot ignore or pretend is subconscious. She doesn't pull away. She just lets out a slow breath, head rolling back so her nose brushes the edge of his jaw as she drowsily speaks, "Couldn't sleep... at all. Got tired of staring at my ceiling so came over about 3 am. Planned on passing out on your couch. It... it's actually pretty comfortable after all this time. Except your damn dog wouldn't let me go to sleep. Kept wuffing and snuffling. I didn't want him to wake you up. He wouldn't shut up until I came in here, so... It's your dog's fault."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Another chuckle emits from Harry, "I think my tender parts are willing to take that risk, Murph. They knew the job was dangerous when they took it."

A small smile plays on his face as she starts to explain the events of the night before, shaking his head ever so slightly in amusement when she finishes the tale, "So, two pounds of bacon it is." he mutters as he looks down to where Mouse is, peering over the bottom of the bed with his forepaws holding him up. "You keep doing things like this, I may even buy you a steak...when I can afford it."

His eyes look back to Karrin, no fear of meeting hers anymore, as his hand gives hers a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "You know you are always welcome here, Karrin...and not on the couch. I may not have a big bed, but i'm always willing to share it." There is a slight pause, and a little smirk forms on his face, "It's not even that awkward anymore, so I am not sure what that says."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You're JUST going to encourage him. He's going to be spoiled rotten before he's halfway grown." Karrin chides, teasing and gentle, but still a chide. She gives a little mock glare down at the happy pup, shaking her head quietly to the fluff ball. "Incorrigable. You are a bad influence on him." She teases, but she really can't put any actual anger in her voice. She's not angry. Even if it's a bit uncomfortable, calling up more questions to which she has no answers, she's not unhappy. In truth, she's just scared.

She finishes looking at the pup and settles her head back against Harry, the bridge of her nose and forehead tucking into his neck, against that morning scruff. She's trying to fight the voices in her head which say this would be SO NICE every morning. It's hard pressed against him like this. "...no. It's not awkward. It's... nice. But that's how it always starts. Nice. Then things get... shitty. And the fights start. Hell, the last person it was nice with... he's half burnt to a crisp and going crazy in Arkham."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden sighs, pulling her in a bit closer to his body. "Like that had anything at all to do with you, Karrin. You didn't cause it to happen. Hell's bells, you sound like you orchestrated the deed and did it with your own two hands."

He shakes his head gently, "You didn't. I'll be the first one to agree with you that life sucks. Nothing goes as planned. The old saying that life is what happens when you are busy making plans is not just a saying, it is hard fact."

He pauses, "Which is why it is more important for people like us to grab onto the little joys that life does give us, to remind us /why/ we deal with the shit we wade through day in and day out. We see and do things that normal people, even normal cops, don't have to deal with. Don't we deserve to have a fleeting moment of joy, even if it is just waking up in the arms of a friend? I think so."

He inclines his head to place his lips gently on the drown of her head, "I think we both need to stop trying to find excuses to be martyrs. I'm just as guilty after what happened with Susan."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A small protesting sound escapes from her throat at his comment about being martyrs. He was right, it didn't mean that Karrin had to LIKE it. But her eyes close again, savoring that kiss against her blonde hair. "...you're right. I hate it, but... you are. I guess I can give you one on *occasion*. If you agree to put that martyr chip down about Susan too. You are no more to blame than I am with Harvey." She mutters huskily against his chin, her voice still a bit thick with sleep, but happy as well.

"...Friends. Can we do this as... friends? I mean, this is nice. Really nice. But... I generally was half way to being married to a guy before we started doing this. Is... this something friends do?" There, she calls it straight out, though there is a weird hope in her voice that maybe it is. Maybe they can manage to not press further and risk their friendship on something romantic. She can't entirely hide that line of fear behind her tone, too many relationships crashed and burned before. She squeezes his hand tenderly. "...because I don't think I can give up your friendship, Harry. I need this. Need *you*."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"It happens once in a while." Harry says with a little snort, "Sometimes the stars align just right and my brain kicks in with some insight."

There is a pause.

"Usually it is when I lay half broken on the floor of some basement, naked, and fighting for my life...but I am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth if it happens now. We will both bury our chips, I promise."

"We are friends, we are doing it." is the reply that first comes to Harry's lips. "Not the first time, either, so I would say it is certainly possible."

There is another pause as he takes in a deep breath, exhaling it through his nose. "I don't want to loose you either, Karrin." It's there, the unspoken 'but' flashing in bright neon red. It only manifests as a swallow, forcing the remaining words back down his throat where he thinks they belong.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
They are friends and they were doing this. Maybe that was enough. Karrin's eyes slide shut once more, not saying anything for several long heartbeats as they remain curled together in a position that is far too intimate for just friends. She's not acknowleding that right now, though. Her thumb lazily brushes up and down the side of his thumb, fingers still laced together, breath mingling drowsily in the morning stolen moments.

"...you... sounded like there was more to that statement. Maybe I'm wrong. We... just do this as friends. And if anyone thinks it's weird, well, it's none of their fucking business. But... what were you going to say?" Karrin finally turns her head enough that she has to pull away a bit to fully look at him. Up into his eyes. Giving him every chance to take that leap for both of them because she won't. She's still scared and content enough to do this strange dance under the guise of friendship.

Harry Dresden has posed:
She turns and looks at him fully, he eyes finding his. They have already soul gazed, both seeing each other for who they really are, and yet somehow this is even more intimate. The gentle caresses of her thumb on his hand sending little electric shocks of sensation across the nerves of his hand. Her blond hair, smelling faintly feminine of some sweet fruit or flowers.

His resolve breaks.

He leans forward slowly, his lips seeking hers without another word spoken. An act he attempted once before that failed due to drunken slumber, and something he thought he would not attempt again.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
And there he is. A proper kiss, nothing like what she's idly imagined before and yet, somehow, infinitely better. Karrin stiffens for just a moment, that fear screaming at the back of her head, telling her to run before she messes this one up too. She quashes it back. She can face off with dinosaurs, werewolves, vampires -- she can surely kiss her best friend and not run away screaming. So, Karrin leans up, into that kiss for a few moments, exploring his mouth in a way that is not friendship at all.

Her body somehow melts against him a bit closer, frame shifting over, rolling enough that she's fully facing him and one leg shifts over his hips instead of twisting from that spooning position. It's completely tempting and things low in her tighten. Definitely more than friends.

Harry Dresden has posed:
It's a long, exploratory kiss. One that has likely been built up in his head for far, far to long for him to rush it. His own body reacting to the implications of it, and the maneuvering of her form against his. Desire fills him, his body warming as his skin flushes.

The duration of the kiss seems like an eternity to him, but finally he pulls back just enough for his lips to break contact, muttering. "I forgot what I was going to say. I think I managed to get my point across though."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
By the time the kiss is over, Karrin's cheeks are flushed in a way that, weirdly, matches the same sort of excited flush she gets when they end up in a fight. But this wasn't about fighting at all. She looks back up to him, the taste of him still on her lips, though those confessed words are enough to draw a husky laugh out of her. Her head sinks forward a bit, forehead resting against his, nose to nose. Not pulling away. Not running.

"I... think I can fill in the blanks. Shit, Harry... I want this so much. I want to just dive in and... I'm so tired of being scared. But I'm bad at this. Really bad at it." She whispers, so faintly, her mouth still almost brushing his with each word. "You mean too much to me to fuck this up." Karrin finally mutters. And then she's gently pulling away. All of Mouse's encouragement, that kiss, everything screaming at her not to be a coward. But she's got that look in her eyes, the look that says she's convinced herself she's doing the right thing, even if it's the hardest thing in the world.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden is quiet as she moves to get up, watching her as she slowly starts to pull away. "Karrin..." he says softly, voice barely above a whisper as he refuses to let her hand go from his. "Please. Don't go."

His voice is pained, cracking in places like a young man going through puberty. He swallows in an attempt to regain his composure. "If this is really your choice I won't have any choice to accept it. It's not like I can force you to stay, nor would I even if I could. But I.."

He stops talking again, his eyes closing as he takes another deep breath, "I never told Susan I loved her until it was far too late for us. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes...not with you. Hell's bells, why is this so hard to do."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
While she's no longer twined around his body, sharing breath in that way which only lover's can, Karrin hasn't quite left the bed yet. His hand in her's, that mix of fingertips which caught her moments after waking, it's the line which draws her back. The touch she doesn't WANT to leave, even if all the fear and scars of the past are cheering her on to run away.

She stops, sinking back down onto the edge of the bed, not taking her hand back but not reaching for him closer either. Moisture glimmers in her eyes, in the dim morning light from that single basement window. It's still enough to show just how much her heart is betraying her body. She swallows back tightly, studying his handsome face even as he closes his eyes and utterly bares his heart to her. How did she push that away? How did she insist he was wrong when, in truth, she knew he wasn't?

"...Harry." She finally starts, but her words die off a moment later. She doesn't know how to make this jump, pulse racing now, for reasons which are not about that kiss any longer. She blinks against the tears in her eyes, trying to push them back. "You are the one... rock in my life. I know no matter how bad it is, if we... we have this, we get through. We always do. I... don't know what I'd do if I messed this up. That might be the one thing I could never forgive myself for doing." And, while it goes unsaid this time, she's said time and again before that all she does is mess relationships up. She has the paperwork to prove it.

Harry Dresden has posed:
There is a long and slow intake of breath which is expelled slowly through his nose, and then another. On the third, he finally opens his eyes and looks to Karrin, "What good is it if I am your rock, but you refuse to build your foundation there? If you keep building your houses on the sand, they are just going to keep toppling over when the sand shifts out from under you."

Reluctantly, he lets her hand go and moves to get out of the bed himself, grabbing a blanket from off the bed to wrap around his waist in an attempt to give himself some semblance of modesty from the after effects of that kiss. "I may not agree, but I respect your choice. I'm going to go take a shower...clear my head."

He moves to the bathroom, shutting the door quietly behind him and the sound of the water being turned on follows shortly after.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"Harry..." Karrin breathes out, though something breaks in her to hear that. As much as she's been fighting it, one of those tears finally slips free. She begins to lean just a bit closer...

And he lets go of her hand. He moves away. Always the awful dance they are doing. She sinks to the side, her hip fully resting on the bed again, instead of just her knees, and she watches him go. Her lips remain parted, trying to find other words, trying to fix this. But she can't. She never can. She said she sucks at relationships and, well, this is all the more proof. She watches him go without being able to find the words to stop him. The sound of the bathroom door shutting quietly is enough to bring another tear.

For a few moments, she just sinks back to the bed, letting those tears run free as she stares at HIS ceiling instead of her grandmother's. One hand comes up, running across her eyes, "...fuck, Karrin. You really are shit at this. Fucking it up again... all over again." She mutters to herself. Then she blinks, feeling a big, sloppy tongue lapping at the tears against her cheek. She sighs, one hand coming over to bury in Mouse's scruff. "...you tried, Mouse. I know you did. This is my... damn fault." She mutters to the dog, as if he'd understand.

When Harry is finally out of the shower, Karrin is gone. There's still a trace of damp tears in the middle of his comforter and Mouse is probably slightly whining at the door, but she's taken her leave with what tiny bits of her ego and heart remain in tact.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry comes out of the bathroom a short time later, hair wet and towel wrapped around his waist. He looks to the bed, "Karrin?"

She isn't there. So he checks the other room. Gone.

He looks to the door, he wasn't in the shower that long. She can't be to far gone. "Mouse. Stay."

He opens the front door and makes his way up the stairs that lead to his basement, taking them two at a time, the towel flapping enough to almost make him indecent.

"Karrin?!" he yells, hoping she is within earshot.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Saved by the wizard. Or, well, the fact that the wizard has, multiple times, been in her little Mazda... The engine really doesn't like rolling over MUCH these days. It always takes a few tries and sounds like it's coughing. She needs to get it into the shop but, being on strike, the pay checks really weren't coming in for a while. So, she's fighting with her engine halfway down the block.

It means he's still going to have to run down the block in nothing but a towel, bare feet, and the wind is enough to probably flash his glory to the world at least once or twice. But if he runs, he might be able to catch her. The sound of her engine FINALLY turning over can be heard.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Dignity be damned. Harry runs to try and catch her, holding the towel to keep his modesty as much as possible...but hey if she has to arrest him for indecent exposure, it still means she has to stick around.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The woman has been too wrapped up in fighting with her car and trying to stop those totally unnecessary tears to see the mad man in nothing but a towel running down the street. Of course, that alone speaks to just how messy Karrin's mind is about this, considering she's normally on guard at all points in time. When his hand taps her window and, unsurprisingly, her engine dies again, she lets out a loud enough curse that it echoes through the shut doors of the car.

Then she turns her head to see who is bothering her and blinks. That is not what she expected. Thank god her windows are roll downs, as all the electric is now dead, too much power mingled with too many emotions having just run up to her car. She curses softer and leans over, rolling down the passenger window and staring over at him with still bloodshot, puffy eyes.

"...What." It's sort of a question. Mostly a demand. And entirely her trying to look tough and put together.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Just where do you think you're going?" Harry asks, his eyes narrowed slightly. "I thought we agreed to take ourselves down off the cross. Fuck, Karrin. Just because I...might have feelings for you doesn't mean you get to run away the moment my back is turned. Jesus Christ, I thought we would have at least gotten past /this/."

There is a heat to his voice, anger...but not. "Come back inside, let me make you some coffee and breakfast." It isn't a request, his voice is stern and unwavering...and just in case she has other ideas, he focuses his will slightly and points his finger at her engine. "Hexus."

Yeah, he's likely going to pay for that later.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
His words land home, but she wasn't really expecting anger. Or, not anger for those reasons. Karrin stares up at him, her own temper flaring. Fighting? That she can understand. That was a part of a relationship she was really good at. So, her blue eyes flare for a moment and she stares up at him hard, "I'm not on any fucking cross, you just... Fuck!" Karrin hisses, especially as she hears her engine dying. That just tosses some gas on the fire of her temper and she fully turns to scream at him.

But it's *Harry*. For all her wanting to scream, something catches her. She knows it's not totally him. He also looks utterly ridiculous holding that towel up like some slip and trying to be stern. Cheeks high with flush of anger and splotchy tears, her knuckles white around the steering wheel, Karrin's breath finally stops and she breaks into a hiccuping little laugh. "... you... look ridiculous." And she probably sounds insane, going from screaming to laughing in less than a minute. "...and you so owe me for that engine." She grumbles.

Then her head sinks back against the headrest, bloodshot eyes staring up at the ceiling of her car, "Fuck... Harry, I don't know how to do this." But it apparently involves letting him stand buck naked in the street for a few moments longer, has she's not yet gotten out of the car.

Harry Dresden has posed:
The heat in his voice was gone pretty much as soon as he hexed the car, taking out his frustrations on the inanimate object.

He glances down at himself as she starts the weak little laugh, and shrugs as he looks back to her with a little half smile on his face, "Well, it's not like you gave me a chance to get dressed. Stars and stones, Karrin. At least this time I don't have soap in my eyes and I am not fighting a toad demon...and so far I haven't lost the towel." The remembrance of that night pulls a more genuine smile onto his face, "And at least your not on a love potion. Hell, i'd rank this as one of my better first dates."

Holding onto the towel he moves around to the other side of the car, opening the door for her with his free hand, "It isn't like I have a ton of practice either, so neither do I. So why don't we try and figure it out together?" He offers his hand to her, "And I will take care of the car. I've heard of a new mechanic that I have been meaning to give a shot."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The commentary about that toad demon and soap in his eyes gets another tear crackled laugh from her, "Hey, that was a fun night..." She mutters off handedly. It had been a good fight, if embarrassing for him. That was half the fun. Karrin then looks over to him, head lulling to the side as her eyes follow him around the car. She sighs deeply, some of her courage and amusement leaving as he opens the door and actually gets back to more meaningful words. Joking around was fun and easy. Being angry was easy and familiar.

Being intimate? Vunerable? That was a whole other ballgame. She stares up at him a heartbeat or two before sighing and swinging out of the car, still just in her booty shorts and oversized shirt. She didn't bring any other clothes. "...Fine. Let's get you inside before I need to arrest you for public indecency..." Karrin mutters quietly. In the daylight, she definitely looks like she's been crying, even if she's trying to hide it. "And good. You so owe me a good mechanic..." She breathes out. No more words as she follows him back towards the apartment. Mister jogs up to them, weaving through legs on the way, apparently having come home for the morning food.

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Speak for yourself. I called lightning down and channeled it through my body. In the rain. Naked. If it wasn't for you, I would have ended up in the pokey. Also, the one and only time I will ever let Bob talk me into making a love potion." Harry says with a hint of amusement in his voice. After all, he survived to be able to laugh about it.

He doesn't mention the crying, after all he is in as just as vulnerable, if not more so, than she is. "Arrest me? Always the cop, Murph. Let's face it, you just want me in your handcuffs again...though I am not sure where you are hiding the handcuffs at the moment." It might be too soon to joke, but it is his coping mechanism. Always has been, and even more so at the worst of times.

Once back inside, he closes the door and starts to head towards the bedroom, pausing at the door. "If I walk in there, are you till going to be here when I get back out?"

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The handcuff thing earns him a good swat to bare stomach, but she doesn't dignify it with words. Back inside, Mister trailing them the whole way and Mouse trotting up proudly. See? He still did good. Karrin just shakes her head at the little pup and sighs to Harry, "Yeah, yeah...I'll feed Mister before he decides that the other furrball might make a good breakfast." She leans down to tenderly scritch the feline between the ears because he was still the first and, yes, Karrin quite loves him. "Come on, beachball. Can't dare let you lose that weight." She gruffly mutters to the cat, happy to pretend none of that ever happened.

Then she's heading into the kitchen. First ot pour out the cat chow, then some dog chow. Freshen up their water. Then it's to put on coffee. Karrin knows her ways around his kitchen just as well as her own house these day. It's like she practically lives here as well. When all of that is done, she leans over the sink and splashes off her face, trying to get rid of the evidence of those tears.

Harry Dresden has posed:
The swat to the stomach elicits a little 'Oaf' and then a good laugh.

It doesn't take long for Harry to remerge wearing a pair of sweats, and carrying another pair in his hand. "These may...no, will be a little big on you. As much as I enjoy the sight of you in those booty shorts, after this morning I am going to keep taking showers just to keep myself decent. My libido doesn't have the same rational thinking my brain does."

He walks over and sets the sweats down on the counter near Murphy before slipping into the tiny kitchen area and he starts to pull out the makings for breakfast. Bacon, eggs, cheese and a host of other ingredients for some omelets.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A look towards those sweat pants, then his pants, and a small smirk dances across her lips. "I... will take that as compliment." Murphy finally half grunts out. She reaches over, accepting the sweat pants. Right then and there she bends over, stepping into them and pulling the ridiculously large pants up. "...I'm going to trip and break my neck on these, Dresden..." She grumbles, leaning over to roll up the cuffs a ridiculous amount. But, at least she won't trip and die. It also, probably accidentally, gives him a nice few of other assets down the front of her oversized shirt.

There is no winning, apparently.

It's only a few moments of Karrin bent over, then she's straightening again and she levels a look at him, trying to figure out if she should just settle for teasing, like nothing happened, or if they are going to keep talking about the elephant in the room. The weight behind her side says that, probably, she's going for the second. "...So...you hexed my car and drug me back in here. Happy?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
He tries to avert his gaze as she bends over, and this morning has done nothing but frustrate him in one way or another, but try as he might he just can't help himself as he takes a peek, just a little one, before he tears his eyes away and tries to focus on making them breakfast. "Hey, i'm all for you not wearing them, but it is slightly distracting. More than slightly. You should take it as a complement...you have a great ass."

"Honestly? No..I shouldn't have done that." he says with a sigh as he starts to cut up some mushrooms. "I was upset, and I lashed out...I just didn't want you to go. This morning started off so..." Nice? Perfect? Beautiful? "Well, probably one of the best mornings I have had in a long, long time. I'm sorry, but i'm not sorry."

He cracks the eggs into a bowl and starts to beat them, adding some spices and cheese to the mixture, "I was afraid that if I let you leave like that, sneaking out when my back was turned...I'd never hear from you again. I care for you way to much to let you leave like that."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Coffee brewing, the woman leans against the counter right next to it, almost like a dragon guarding it's brewing horde. It is that important, especially this time of the morning. Now fully dressed, she crosses her arms over her chest and watches him quietly, even as he manages out a bit of an apology there. That wasn't really expected. It helps temper what lingering fingers of anger claw at the back of her head, old habits from old relationships where screaming was more common than talking. There are still the ghosts of those days behind her eyes.

"It...was a nice morning." Karrin admits gruffly, blue eyes flickering from him towards the front of the room. "...and I could never... cut you out entirely. I wouldn't. I just... couldn't sit here wondering if I fucked things up for good or... if I took this chance, when I WOULD fuck things up for good. I let you go, didn't know what to say... STILL don't know what to say... And this is just the beginning. This is how shitty I am with... relationships. Friends? Sure. Training partners? Fine. The moment kissing gets involved I'm a garbage fire of epic proportions."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden sighs, continuing to work on making the omelets, casting his eyes over in slight intervals while he watches to make sure the eggs don't burn. "You didn't fuck anything up, Karrin. I just needed to...calm down a bit. I was, uh...a little over excited and needed to take a cold shower before I completely embarrassed myself...which was only successful to the point I chased after you in a towel, so I might as well not have bothered."

He flips the omelet in the pan, cooking the other side for a moment before slipping it onto a plate and offering it over. "You act like you have the monopoly on bad relationships. I've had them too. Hell's bells I am sure everyone has at least one under their belt. You know how you don't have a fucked up relationship?"

He waits for a moment as if expecting an answer, and starting to make a second omelet for himself before he continues "I don't know either, but I can sure as hell say it isn't by bailing out before you even start. That isn't fucking up, that is just avoidance. I've said my peace, you know how I feel, and I said I would respect your decision. And I will. I just didn't want it to end that way."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A deeper smirk pulls across her small mouth at his comment. "The way you don't have a fucked up relationship is to not have a relationship, Harry. That is... that's how we save this. I'm not bailing out. You're my *best friend*. I'm making sure I don't fuck that up." Karrin admits quietly, still not quite able to meet his eyes as she speaks words that she knows are part cowardice, but also protection. That deep, fierce protectiveness over all the people she considers her family, he at the very top. Even if it's that protectiveness which is keeping them apart right now.

She finally turns, doing what she can to keep busy and distracted from this wall of emotions she's barely keeping in check. Pouring herself out some coffee will help, busying with a whole ton of sugar. No cream.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Opening his mouth to say something else, Harry pauses and then shuts his mouth again.

A moment later he just utters a "Fine."

The comment is short, clipped and dripping with held back emotion ranging from rage to utter disappointment. It's that 'fine' you get when you ask your partner what is wrong, knowing that they are seething inside and yell, scream and curse the world.

He takes the omelet off the stove, and places it on a plate, grabbing a Coke from the icebox with his free hand before making his way over to the couch. "I'll make calls later to see about getting your car towed and fixed."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
That 'fine' was absolutely not the way to fix this. Karrin knows that tone. She's given it before and received it just as many times. Especially standing in a kitchen, with a partner. With someone who she's supposed to love. It doesn't make it any easier, or mean that Karrin won't fall back into bad habits. Hell, it's a lure tempting her back there. Hackles immediately raise, blue eyes turning sharply across her shoulder as her jaw sets in his direction.

"...That's the sort of fine that means nothing is fine. But if that's how we're ending this conversation, fine. It's over. You... don't need to tow my car. I'm perfectly capable of making that phone call. Really, maybe I should just make it now. I'm not very hungry." It's better than screaming and throwing things, which was her first instinct, but she's certainly not happy either. She then turns on the ball of her foot and stalks out of the room to the front area, reaching towards Mouse's lead, "Come on, Mouse. Let's get some air. I can make phone calls while you take a piss you've been probably holding WAY too long." Every one of her words have hardened consonants, the anger behind them mostly swallowed back, but coming out around the edges.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Gritting his teeth, Harry looks after her, tossing his plate onto the counter. He sighs exasperatedly, "I"m sorry. I'm just trying to accept and respect your choice like I said I would. It's..just difficult. I want to scream, I want to yell, I want to continue trying to show you the fallacies in your argument, that you are making the WRONG CHOICE...but I promised I would let it go."

He folds his arms over his chest and watches her storm around the room, but remains in the kitchenette. "I won't apologize for loving you, Karrin. I can't change that. If all we are going to be is friends, then I will have to come to grips with it, but it isn't an easy thing. Unrequited feelings are a bitch."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
It's that word which makes her pause, almost stumble, halfway to putting Mouse's lead around his neck, but the little fluff ball is squirming. It seems going out is not as important as Karrin staying in. She glares at the dog for a moment or two, "You are a most unhelpful distraction." She mutters to the little canine, but he's scampering off into the bedroom. Out of sight, out of mind. Karrin really has no excuse to leave the room. She just stands there, exhaling a deep breath, empty lead still in her hands. Her tense shoulders remain turned away from him a few moments as she fights through this odd and awful ache in her chest.

"Don't... don't use that word, Harry. We can't just be friends and... have that word there. It'll just make things worse. I'm already making them worse. God...I'm fucking awful at this." She is doing her damndest to convince herself that she's not going to cry again, but she's not really succeeding. One hand comes up, wiping at something beneath her eye, even as she keeps her back to him. "...it's not unrequited. I just don't know how to handle this in a way that doesn't involve screaming. As evidenced by this morning."

Harry Dresden has posed:
It's quiet for a moment in the apartment. Harry just spends a couple of minutes looking at Karrin's back before taking a tentative step closer. He approaches her like a lion stalking prey. Quiet, one step at a time, mitigating any risk that the prey might flee at the acknowledgment of its presence.

He moves to place a hand gently on her shoulder, finger lightly brushing hair away from her neck as he settles his palm down.

"I'm sorry." he says, gently. Any trace of anger from his voice is gone, replaced with regret. "Obviously I am no good at this either, based on the same evidence. I don't want to fight with you, there are so many other things I would rather be doing with you other than fighting. Any relationship, even ones between friends, are going to have their arguments. How many times have you arrested me, socked me in the jaw and accused me of being the bad guy? We've made it past that, so we can make it past this. I just wish that...well, it doesn't matter what I wish."

He goes to remove his hand from her shoulder, letting out another sigh as he does. "Look, I'll....I'll call you a cab, get you home. Leave the car to me and I will hopefully have it back to you in short order."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The brush of his palm against her shoulder makes her stop entirely for a moment. Karrin doesn't even breathe. She leans back against his fingertips, head tilting to the side, into his touch. Her eyes close and a few inches of tension leave her shoulders. For as angry as she is and scared as she is, his touch is a powerful thing. His touch is something that can cure almost every ill. She just sits there and breathes slowly into his touch. Maybe they could fix this...

But no. He's giving her her space. He's pulling away before she can find some strange courage in herself to turn around, say what she needs to say and just drag him back to the bed. A shaky breath escapes her lips, Karrin putting herself back together even if there is some crackling behind her breath. A fresh set of tears. "It...does matter what you wish, Harry. You matter. You matter more than anyone SHOULD, to me... that's half the problem." Karrin rasps out quietly, still not quite facing him.

"...I can get a cab. That's not... a problem. I...I'll manage. Should get to work anyway. We're... back on duty, finally." She gives him a ghost of a smile with that, but her head is so no where near work right now.

Harry Dresden has posed:
He sighs, "That's the thing. I wish that wasn't any of the problem, Murph. Hell, this would be so much easier if you had just laughed in my face or punched me in the jaw. If you didn't care then I wouldn't feel like I have to fight for us. Michael had it easy, all he had to do was defeat a dragon."

The mention of her going to work causes a shake of his head. "No. You're are not going to work today. From your own admission you didn't get much sleep last night, and this morning has been way to emotionally draining for both of us." Like that has ever stopped him before. Pot. Kettle. Black.

He reaches out again, returning his hand to her shoulder, "I'm serious, Karrin. I can't see any good coming from you going to work today. If you want to go home, then I will get you home. If you want to stay here. then stay here, have breakfast and we can just relax."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Trying to stop her from working gets a hard look. Karrin stares frankly at him, the gaze in her bloodshot eyes screaming pot and kettle without her actually speaking it out loud. "Harry. How many times have you taken on a case wrecked, half dead, half asleep, or worse? I got the best five hours sleep laying next to you that I've had in months, honestly. I'm able to work and I sure as hell am not taking a day off one day after we get back on the job. I'm going to work. I don't have to be there until noon but... I'm going. I need a shower, a lot more coffee, and... five minutes to think I didn't fuck things up with my best friend." Karrin states flatly, her voice a whole mix of emotions, anger, hurt, love and fear the primary among them.

The hand on her shoulder stills some of that whirlwind of emotions with him, fingertips coming up to wrap over top of his, almost an echo of what happened in the bed when they first woke up, before conscious minds kicked in and emotions got complicated. She squeezes his fingertips gently. "I...won't tell you to stop fighting for us. I just don't know how to do anything but bite back."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Opening his mouth to argue, Harry closes it again. He can't. He knows she is right. He would storm off to face He Who Walks Behind right now if he needed to, even if it meant the death of him. They are too alike in that way. "You're right." he finally says, "Ok, then. One issue at a time. You know where the shower is, and by the time you get out I will have another omelet made for you...and more coffee." There is a pause, and a gentle squeeze of his hand on her shoulder, "As for you and me? I think it would take a hell of a lot more than what transpired this morning to have a chance of fucking us up...a hell of a lot more."

He places a soft smile on his lips, "Well, if that what it takes, Murph...bite away. I have a high pain tolerance." He leans forward to try and place a friendly kiss on her forehead, a friendly gesture unlike the more emotional liplock from earlier.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A few heartbeats and Karrin leans into the kiss on her forehead. All the fight has gone out of her now. She was never angry with him in the first place, really, but now even the old habits have died out. Karrin just closes her eyes and lets her forehead rest against his chin for a moment. "You...are too good to me sometimes, Harry. And you know me too well." She turns her head, returning the kiss to his jaw. The smallest moment of apology, mostly friendly, but also with a tiny hint of something else. Hope for the future. She fits so well there, just under his chin. The perfect height for these little intimacies.

"Shower. Coffee. Omlette. Then work. We both have long days, I'm sure..." She squeezes his hand one last time and then gently pulls herself away, padding barefoot for the shower, motions drowsy with morning and an emotional hangover. Still, this fight was encouraging compared to her other fights and other husbands. This one didn't end with a slammed door or driving off to the highway.

Harry Dresden has posed:
He holds her for as long as she lets herself be held, enjoying the contact between one person to another. It's been a long morning, an emotional rollercoaster that has certainly had its ups and downs. "You deserve it, Karrin. And no shit about not deserving it, I know better. You will never be able to get away with that shit with me."

When she finally pulls free and heads towards the shower, he watches her go. Even after the door closes, his gaze lingers on the door. A little wuff comes from around his feet, and he glances down to the puppy. "I know, Mouse. But there is only so much I can do."

He squats down, ruffling the puppy's ears. "Besides, I still have to take her home. She can't go to work in booty shorts."