Julissa Grant lived in an apartment in Manhattan. Her building was nicely maintained, in stark contrast to the dirty and crumbling buildings around it. The sign above the doorman said, Klasco Apartments.

Lainy Dolton strolled up to the doorman hoping she didn't look too bad. "Hey, I'm here to see Julissa Grant." She said then added "She's expecting me."

"Go on up, she called down and said to tell you..." the very proper looking, suited man cleared his throat, he appeared uncomfortable as he fixed his round cookie tin hat and smoothed his brass buttoned coat. The doorman put on his best , the customer is always right, smile." Ah...make sure you wipe your feet", another throat clearing, "bitch..." his smile faded a bit, then he added,"ma'am". Once more and much more loudly, he cleared his throat, then he looked at her feet and she did what he said and entered.

Jules stood at the door, hands on hips, tapping her foot dramatically, but antithetically, her dark eyes belied concern. "Well did you wipe." Her expression changed suddenly eyes flicked quickly to Lainy's feet. She laughed and stood aside, her bright white smile stood out against her ebony skin. Lainy stepped inside and turned to face Jules.

"Look I can't stay long, I'm in deep shit. Remember my dads friend Nelson?" She didn't wait for the answer she already knew. "He's dead and I found him in my apartment. And this fucking gun." Lainy pulled it out from behind her, jules eyes widened almost imperceptibly. "I just need a shower and a change of clothes and some supplies." She didn't think Jules needed an explanation of that last part.

Jules smile changed back to concern. "Lane, do you need my help?" Lainy knew what she meant, Jules was an investigator like Lainy only in the corporate sector. "I don't want to see you get hurt, sounds like your in deep." Her southern accent endeared lainy as it always had and the concern was genuine.

"You don't know the half of this shit I'm in." Lainy explained the details of the last few hours as she started to strip and headed to the shower. "I don't want you to get involved more then I already have by me coming here, I just didn't know where else to go." She stopped and turned. "I'm gunna take a shower and I'm out, k." Lainy was in only her bra and panties now and she spun back to face the shower and turned the hot water on.

" I'll get you a towel and some clothes." Jules went to leave and Lainy noticed in the mirror that she stopped to watch as Lainy unhooked her bra. Then left as she stepped into the shower.

After the shower she got dressed and was looking in the mirror trying to cover up the bruises that formed around her lip, with Julissa's make-up. Jules came in and wrapped her arms around Lainy's mid section. " You're supplies are in a bag on the couch. Some cash, i-pex phaser, a plasma knife, cause I know how you like them, and some more clothes." Jules said. Lainy turned, Julissa's arms still around her waist and she kissed her.

Lainy stopped long enough to say,"Thanks Jules, I mean it."

They kissed with intense passion, their hands roamed up and down. Lainy felt a familiar heat raising in her blood. She picked up the slightly smaller Julissa and sat her on the bathroom counter without stopping the long, heated kiss. She tangled her fingers in the dark, coarse hair and pulled lightly, tilting jules' chin up. She began kissing her long, slender neck, tasting her dark skin and the slight salty tang of sweat....

All of a sudden there was a frantic and loud banging on the front door. Lainy rolled her eyes,"Fuuuuck." She whispered, stopped, grabbed the gun sitting on the counter next to them and walked breathlessly toward the sound, after one last quick kiss.