17. Becky

17

BECKY

B ecky stood at the far end of the Emergency Operations Center, the sound of rain hammering against the building nearly drowned out by the relentless chatter of emergency updates and status reports. She was soaked, exhausted, and—most unsettling of all—her mind wasn’t on the crisis unfolding outside. It was on Lucinda.

Becky glanced across the room, her eyes landing on Lucinda’s figure bent over a table, looking over some paperwork. Even in two-day-old clothes, Lucinda looked beautiful. Becky could almost feel Lucinda's skin under her fingertips from a whole room away. She could still feel the warmth of Lucinda’s arms around her from earlier, the way her body had molded perfectly against her own in the quiet moment they had shared. It had been brief, too brief, but it was enough to remind Becky of the one thing she had been denying herself for too long: how deeply she loved Lucinda.

They had agreed to take things slow and rebuild carefully, but in this moment, standing on the precipice of potential disaster, that seemed foolish. What if this was their last night together? The thought chilled her more than the storm ever could. If the dam broke, it wouldn’t just be the city that drowned; everything they had fought so hard for could be lost.

A knot of determination tightened in Becky’s chest. She wasn’t about to let fear win. Not this time.

She crossed the room quickly, weaving through the bustling crowd of first responders and city officials. Her mind raced with the thought of Lucinda—the feel of her skin, the way her eyes softened whenever she smiled. The weight of their shared history, the hurt, the unknown—it all seemed to converge into a singular, undeniable truth. She loved Lucinda, had always loved her, and she wasn’t going to let another moment pass without making it count .

When Becky reached Lucinda, she placed a hand gently on her shoulder, causing Lucinda to look up in surprise. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Lucinda’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded, sensing the urgency in Becky’s tone. She stood up straight, tucking the flyaways away. "What’s going on?"

Becky didn’t answer right away, her heart pounding as she scanned the room. They were surrounded by chaos—people on radios, hurried conversations about evacuation routes and supply shortages. This wasn’t the place. Not for what she needed to say, what she needed to feel.

Without another word, Becky took Lucinda’s hand and led her out of the main room. She could feel Lucinda’s hesitation, the slight pull as if she wasn’t sure where they were going, but she didn’t resist. Not fully.

"Becky," Lucinda whispered as they moved down a hallway, the sound of their boots echoing against the floor. "What are we doing? I need to get back to?—"

"Not yet," Becky cut her off, her voice low but firm. She opened a door to a small storage room used to stash emergency medical supplies and guided Lucinda inside.

The room was dimly lit, the fluorescent lights flickering faintly above them.

Lucinda crossed her arms as she stepped inside, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What’s this about? We don’t have time for?—"

Becky shut the door behind them and pressed Lucinda against it. Her mouth caught Lucinda's hungrily, Becky's tongue slipping into her mouth as her hand wrapped around Lucinda's slight neck. Lucinda seemed to melt in her hands, like she had been holding herself by a taut string.

"Wait, wait." Lucinda pulled away, touching her swollen mouth. "I thought we were taking things slow?"

Becky nipped Lucinda's earlobe. "If this is our last night, I don’t want to spend it pretending. I want to be with you. Really be with you."

Lucinda’s chest rose and fell with quick, shallow breaths. The air between them was charged, thick with the tension that had been building for weeks. The room seemed smaller now, the walls closing in as the storm raged outside. Becky noticed how Lucinda pressed her thighs together .

"I don’t know if I can…" Lucinda started, her voice trembling. But Becky could see it in her eyes—the same longing she felt, the same fear.

"You don’t have to know," Becky said softly, her hand reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair behind Lucinda’s ear. Her touch lingered, her fingertips tracing the soft skin of Lucinda’s cheek. "We’ll figure it out. But right now, I need you."

Lucinda’s gaze flickered down to Becky’s lips for the briefest of moments before meeting her eyes again. There was hesitation, but there was also something else: desire, buried beneath layers of fear and uncertainty.

Becky’s hand slid down from Lucinda’s cheek, resting lightly on her shoulder. She leaned in, her breath warm against Lucinda’s skin as she whispered, "Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll stop."

Lucinda’s silence was answer enough.

The space between them dissolved in an instant. Becky closed the distance, her lips capturing Lucinda’s in a kiss that was anything but slow. It was desperate, full of all the feelings they had been holding back for so long. The kiss was a release—of fear, of longing, of the need to hold on to something real in the midst of the chaos around them .

Lucinda responded immediately, her hands gripping the front of Becky’s soaked uniform, pulling her closer. There was no hesitation now, no carefulness. The floodgates had opened, and there was no going back.

Becky began pushing Lucinda's clothes away, yanking the lab coat off her shoulders without letting her mouth leave her skin. For a moment, the world was only made up of skin, teeth, and needy hands.

Lucinda's hands struggled to undo Becky's belt, but she didn't mind. Becky was too preoccupied with Lucinda's breasts. She shoved the doctor's shirt off and pulled down Lucinda's bra.

"Fuck," Becky growled at the sight of them.

Round, plump, and perfect. Her mouth closed around Lucinda's nipple. Her fingers hooking themselves into Lucinda's dress pants.

Lucinda's head fell back against the door as Becky's mouth explored her chest. Becky sucked Lucinda's skin until dark bruises adorned her pale chest. Lucinda's hands fumbled down Becky's ruined uniform, undoing any button or latch she could find in her lust blinded haze.

Her fingers finally made their way into Becky's trousers, finding her clit with expert precision .

Becky moaned. She needed Lucinda's legs wrapped around her head in the next?—

"Hey, Harold!" a voice from behind the door called. "Have you seen Chief Thompson? The city manager left a message for her."

Becky stilled, her hands on either side of Lucinda's head pressed to the door. But apparently, Lucinda didn't get the memo. She shoved down Becky's pants and plunged her fingers into Becky's wanting pussy. The groan slipped out before she could stop it.

"I think she might be getting some shut-eye. I'll let her know when I see her,"another voice said. They didn't stop as the two men had a casual conversation outside the supply room door. Becky's lip was probably bruised and battered from the way she had to bite it to keep quiet.

"Any more reports on the dam?"

She could feel her orgasm on the horizon, and she knew she would not succeed in keeping their hiding place a secret. But Lucinda wouldn't let up. If anything, her hand worked faster, eager to finish Becky off.

"No. The last report came an hour ago."

"Fuck." Becky had to bite Lucinda's shoulder to keep quiet .

Lucinda hummed happily, rubbing the heel of her hand against Becky's clit.

Stars burst in Becky's eyes.

Becky caught Lucinda's hand by the wrist and gave her a threatening look. The doctor smiled innocently. Well, as innocent as she could topless and covered with hickies.

When the two men finally left, Becky pulled up her pants and grabbed Lucinda by the waist.

"Becky," Lucinda hissed.

Becky sat Lucinda on a crate and ripped the rest of her clothes off. Lucinda blushed.

"What? You're suddenly shy now?" Becky kneeled in front of Lucinda, pushing her legs apart. "You weren't shy when you were fucking me with two guys only three feet away."

Lucinda's gray eyes were large as she looked down at Becky. "But we were against the door. I knew nobody would come in. Now…"

Becky's tongue traced up Lucinda's slit. "Now, anybody could walk in and see you grinding against my face." She sucked on Lucinda's clit, causing her back to arch. "Well, that's what you get for being rude, Lucinda."

"Ah!" Lucinda covered her mouth.

"Best be quiet, baby," Becky murmured into Lucinda's thighs, before sinking three fingers into her.

Lucinda's moans were barely contained by her palm, but Becky couldn't care less. Let someone walk in on them. Let them find out that Becky wanted to worship this woman until her final days. Which could very well be today. But she didn't want to think about that. The very thought fueled Becky with an endless hunger for Lucinda's taste on her tongue. Becky's hand fucked her until Lucinda's walls constricted around her fingers and she came hard and fast. Lucinda's hands were knotted in Becky's hair as she finally came up for air.

Lucinda's bare chest heaved, her lips were swollen, and her cheeks flushed pink. Becky was stunned. Because in that moment, the words that had been threatening to spill came to mind. She held her tongue; she couldn't risk it.

Instead, she said, "God, you're beautiful." Becky stood, kissing Lucinda lightly on the mouth.

Becky gathered Lucinda's scattered clothes and helped her get dressed. Lucinda's eyelids drooped as Becky finished reassembling her own clothes.

"I want to go home." Lucinda sighed, wiping her eyes .

Was she crying? The thought startled Becky. She had never seen Lucinda crack under pressure before.

"Hey, hey." Becky pulled Lucinda into a hug. "It'll be okay. We just have to hold on a little longer. I'll get you home, I promise."

Lucinda sobbed into Becky's shirt as Becky whispered sweet-nothings in her ear.

"Don't leave me," Lucinda whimpered.

Becky felt tears prick the backs of her eyes. She held Lucinda tightly, her arms wrapped securely around her as Lucinda sobbed. The sound of her quiet crying tugged at Becky’s heart, making it ache in ways she hadn’t expected. She had seen Lucinda under immense pressure before—during intense surgeries, through moments of heartbreak and loss—but this was different. Lucinda wasn’t just tired; she was breaking.

Becky stroked Lucinda’s hair, pressing her lips to the top of her head. She could feel Lucinda trembling, and it broke her to see the woman who was always so strong, always so composed fall apart in her arms.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Becky whispered softly into Lucinda’s hair. “I’ve got you, Lucinda. I’m right here. ”

Lucinda clung to Becky like she was afraid to let go, her fingers gripping the fabric of Becky’s uniform tightly, almost desperately. For a moment, Becky let herself just hold her, absorbing the weight of Lucinda’s emotions, feeling the rise and fall of her sobs as they began to slow. The room was quiet except for Lucinda’s ragged breathing and Becky’s soft words of reassurance.

It wasn’t often that Becky let herself be this vulnerable, even with Lucinda. She was used to being the rock, the strong one, the person who held everything together. But seeing Lucinda like this—broken, fragile—made her realize how much she needed to let Lucinda see her too. They had been through so much together and weathered so many storms, but this moment felt like something else entirely. It felt like the start of something new, something raw and real that they hadn’t allowed themselves to explore before.

When Lucinda finally pulled back, her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were streaked with tears. She looked up at Becky, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and vulnerability. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They just looked at each other, the weight of everything they had been holding back pressing down on them .

“I’m sorry,” Lucinda whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. “I don’t know why I’m like this. I just…I don’t know if I can keep holding it all together anymore.”

Becky shook her head, brushing a thumb gently across Lucinda’s cheek. “You don’t have to be sorry. You’re allowed to break sometimes. You don’t always have to be the strong one.”

Lucinda’s lips quivered, her eyes brimming with unshed tears again. “But I do. I always have to be the one who holds it together. For my patients, for my team…for you.”

“You don’t,” Becky said softly, her voice steady and reassuring. “Not with me. You don’t have to pretend, Lucinda. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Lucinda exhaled a shaky breath, leaning into Becky’s touch. “I’m so tired, Becky.”

“I know,” Becky murmured, pulling her closer again. “We’ll get through this together. Okay?"

For a while, they just sat there, huddled together on the cold floor of the storage room, the weight of the world outside the door temporarily forgotten. The storm may have passed, but its effects lingered in the air, and the exhaustion of everything they had been through had taken its toll on both of them. But in this moment, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they had each other.

Eventually, Lucinda wiped her face, sniffling as she tried to regain some semblance of composure. “I feel ridiculous,” she admitted, her voice still a little wobbly.

“You’re not ridiculous,” Becky said gently, offering her a small smile. “You’re human.”

Lucinda chuckled weakly, shaking her head. “I don’t feel very human right now.”

“Well,” Becky said, brushing a strand of hair behind Lucinda’s ear, “lucky for you, you’ve got someone who thinks you’re pretty damn incredible, human or not.”

Lucinda looked up at her, her eyes searching Becky’s face for something—reassurance, understanding, maybe even forgiveness for letting herself fall apart. Whatever it was, Becky was determined to give it to her.

“You’re not alone, ” Becky repeated softly. “Not anymore.”

Lucinda nodded slowly, her fingers still gripping Becky’s shirt, though not as tightly as before. “Okay."

Lucinda leaned into her again, her body relaxing slightly as Becky’s words seemed to ease some of the tension in her shoulders. They sat in silence for a while longer, the quiet of the room broken only by the distant hum of the EOC beyond the door. Outside, the city was still recovering from the storm, but inside this small room, Becky felt like they had created a bubble, a safe space where nothing else mattered except the two of them.

Finally, Lucinda pulled back, wiping at her face again. “I should probably get back to work,” she said, though there was reluctance in her voice.

Becky nodded, knowing that they couldn’t stay in this little pocket of peace forever. “Yeah, me too.”

But neither of them made a move to stand just yet. There was something about this moment, about the quiet intimacy they had shared, that neither of them wanted to let go of just yet.

Becky reached out, taking Lucinda’s hand in hers and squeezing it gently. “Promise me something?”

Lucinda looked up at her, her brow furrowed in curiosity. “What?”

“Promise me you'll lean on me,” Becky said, her voice soft but firm. “We’re a team, Lucinda. You don’t have to carry everything on your own. Let me help you with your burdens, and I'll let you help me with mine."

Lucinda’s eyes softened, and she nodded slowly. “I promise.”

Becky smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Lucinda’s forehead. “Good.”

They stood up together, Becky helping Lucinda to her feet before fixing her disheveled hair. Lucinda gave her a tired smile, and for the first time in what felt like days, there was a lightness in her expression, a faint glimmer of hope that things might actually be okay.

Becky watched as Lucinda adjusted her clothes, her heart swelling for the woman in front of her. It wasn’t just the affection she felt—though that was undeniable—it was the admiration, the deep respect for how much Lucinda had endured, how much she gave of herself every single day. And now, seeing her so vulnerable, so raw, made Becky love her even more.