"Have another drink, Wesley," I say, "Unless you're worried I'll start looking good to you or something." I feel the warmth starting inside me now...I think I can handle this.

"There's still time to back out, you know. We could come back another day...I didn't realize this was such a trial for you. You seem so fearless."
"Key word, seem. It's easy at work cause I'm not just me...I'm the long arm of the law with a B-cup. Here I'm back to being little Katie Howard, who loses everybody. I really don't like being her, Wesley."

"I understand." And somehow I could tell he did. -more-

"I understand." And somehow I could tell he did.

Mmm, I can see his face as he says it. This is nice.

I make my way to the stage, self-conscious about my walk for the first time in...forever. Carrie used to tell me I walk like a Teamster, and maybe I do. But it's not all bad. Nobody fucks with them, right? But it's not exactly seductive. But my sister? Makes herself small. Tiny steps, tiny bites, tiny men with tiny brains. I told myself I would never do that, and I don't. I take the stage as my usual cowgirl self, and feel like raising my fist in victory to the crowd. But I don't...I stand there for a minute, not saying anything
"Take it off!" some drunk idiot says. Everybody's a comedian, huh?
That, I can cope with.
"I'm afraid that'll take more money than you've got. Ok, sir? But I guess it's good you brought up clothes, since my song is about boots."
I hear Lorne from the audience saying "But of course! Go for it, peaches!" The audience chuckles. When they're quiet, I feel like I took Drunk Dumbass' advice, and I'm standing there, naked, every pucker showing. Oh, God, shoot me now, I think. But then I remember that God and I had that opportunity recently, and I lived. The hell with it, I think, and sing as if I'm in my bedroom again, using my hairbrush as a microphone, except for a brief pause while I think you'd have to be pretty high to think "You keep lying when you oughta be truthin'" is any good. But it's not the same as when I was twelve, huh? I was just barely getting how suggestive that song was...which I think is why I liked it...I felt like I was in on something, huh? But really, "a brand-new box of matches" Jesus. I decide to go for broke and sing as if I wanna go home with every critter in this place. It's been a long time, I'm far from home, and have a lot on my mind. I'll never see most of them again, anyway. But part of me hates for Wes to see me up there making a slut of myself.He thinks I'm forward, anyway.

Deena, believe it or not...that was hard. Because my natural inclination is to say what's on my mind. Duh. And when it comes to what's emotional, that's not theirs. It was hard to hold back.

And I've heard more than I should about Paolo and Vincenzo's salamis, huh?

Goddamnit. Choking on my red beans and rice over here.

And if you're not careful, girly-internet wife-o-mine (and Kat's!), you'll wind up doing a whole series in which Kay leaves the squad, moves to LA, and becomes AI's femme muscle.

shrift, sorry about the frustration. Not being able to respond sucks bigtime.

Could happen...maybe in a while, instead of that Fugitive bullshit. Oh, I can't believe I missed this? Kay's dad's name? Wesley.

Kay's dad's name? Wesley.

DUDESSE! That's it, she has to fight Big Bads with Wes. And she and the Fredlet will circle round each other, until Kay gets that Fredlet is totally brilliant and Fredlet gets that Kay really doesn't have a soft heart under that professional exterior, so she'd best not fuck with her.

Yeah, maybe instead of the cruddy Fugitive assignment, she'll quit. Cause that was frickin' insulting, huh? And one or two of the guys could come see her or something, once in a while. Oh, great, just what I need, more intricate stories to suck my time.

(grinning evilly at erika)

It'll be a while...take the sting out of Howardless Homicide.