Robbie sighed as James turned the corner and finally pulled up outside the house he had missed for days. It had been a long week; five days and four nights halfway across the country at a joint conference and training seminar. Almost a year after reforming their partnership, and Innocent had told them they couldn't avoid it any longer; it was their turn, they were going, and that was that. And so they had, and while the exercise was not totally without merit and learning for the pair of them, neither had been pleased to be away from home for an entire week.

"Thanks James," sighed Robbie as he opened the door, rolling out his stiff shoulders and plucking his bag from the backseat.

"You're welcome sir. Good night." Robbie pushed the door to with a nod and watched James drive away as he stifled a yawn. They should have been home a long time ago, but a massive pile up on the M1 had ground traffic to a standstill and left them stranded between junctions on the far side of Sheffield with nowhere to go and nothing to do but wait. For hours.

Turning, he walked up the dark path, listening to the quiet of a cold October night and pulled his keys from his pocket. He saw no lights on upstairs and hoped Laura was asleep, despite his desire to sweep her into his embrace and kiss her for an eternity. They had spoken several times in the last few days and he knew she was exhausted; three nights in a row she had been roused from their bed to attend suspicious deaths, all of which he was certain would have case files awaiting him and Hathaway come Monday morning.

Too tired to bother with it, he left his bag by the door after turning the key and headed for the stairs. He changed direction when the soft glow of a small lamp burning behind the barely ajar living room door caught his eye. Pushing it wider he stopped at the threshold and felt his heart flutter as a soft smile crept over his lips. He stood for a long moment, taking in the exquisite sight before him. She was curled up on her side on the sofa, a blanket wrapped tightly around her as she slept. Her favourite tea mug sat on the coffee table, still three quarters full, and a book lay open by her head, its pages obscured by Monty who had chosen to nap atop the words. Snuggled against her chest was Pixie, the tiny kitten they had adopted months ago to keep Monty company, and who, with her tufty ears, fluffy tortoiseshell coat and seeming refusal to grow, had chosen instead to attach herself to Laura.

Sensing his presence, Pixie opened one eyed and surveyed him for a moment, before returning to her slumber. Monty flicked his tail a couple of times, but otherwise refused to stir from his nap. Fickle animals, thought Robbie with a smirk. As if on cue, a cold nose poked his hand and he looked down, suppressing a laugh. The serious brown eyes of Darwin looked up at him and he reached down, giving the dog a pat. The dog turned and walked to the door, looking back at him and he sighed, wandering through to the kitchen and opening the back door, wincing at the blast of cold air.

Scarcely a week after they had both retired, James had turned up asking if he fancied a walk with him and his new companion. When he had introduced Robbie to the sable and white smooth collie, the recently retired DI had choked with laughter at his former sergeant and friend having a dog with that particular name. James had shrugged and muttered something about not being able to change it when the dog was nearly two, and then proceeded to regale Robbie with Charles Darwin's professed lifelong belief in God, but struggles with religion. Robbie had smirked, and found an errant tennis ball for the dog to play with.

Once Darwin was back inside and tucked in his basket, Robbie locked up and headed back to the living room where Laura hadn't so much as twitched. She was so tiny, he mused as he ran his fingertips softly through her hair, murmuring her name. Laura sighed, but didn't open her eyes, a testament to her level of exhaustion. Not wanting to wake her, he gently extracted Pixie, setting the cat down with Monty, and then carefully peeled away the blanket, tossing it across the cushions out of the way. Laura shivered in her sleep, and curled herself tighter. He whispered quietly into her hair as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her upstairs to the bedroom.

Perching on the edge of the bed with her in his lap, he managed to get her out of the stretchy cotton trousers and cosy fleece sweater she liked to relax in during the evenings and then tuck her carefully into bed. By the time he returned from the bathroom she had rolled over and vanished below the quilt. He crawled in beside her and reached out an arm to wrap around her waist, snuggling her to him. His last thought before succumbing to slumber himself was how glad he was to finally be home, with her, where he belonged.

…

The morning dawned cold and clear, a crisp frost blanketing the ground. Spurred by the long week, late night and drawn out car ride home, Robbie slept on well past nine o'clock before emerging, slowly and serenely, from the hazy world of dreams and peaceful tranquillity. He felt the warmth of her body against his chest, and the soft tickle of her hair against this cheek and smiled long before opening his eyes and yawning contentedly.

"Morning love," he murmured and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She groaned something incomprehensible and he pulled back concerned, resting the back of his hand where his lips had been just a moment before. She was hot, and clammy under his touch.

"Laura," he called gently, sitting up on one elbow and running a hand down the side of her face, his thumb tracing her eyebrow with care. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, her expression glassy and slow to focus. "Are you alright?" he asked, worry creasing his brow. She took a deep, wheezing breath and sighed.

"Common cold I think," she rasped, reaching a hand up to stroke his face. "I'm so glad you're home." He kissed her forehead again and lay back down, holding her close.

"I'm glad to be back," he replied warmly, his hand tracing soothingly up and down her back as she snuggled deeply into his chest. Tucking her head into his shoulder she relaxed, so happy he was home. It had been a hard week without him to talk to and laugh with. What little sleep she had managed to accrue around call outs had been uneasy and restless without his warm presence beside her. She had mused more than once at what a difference the past eighteen months had made to her life.

"How long have you been feeling bad?" asked Robbie quietly, as his hand closed over hers and he laced their fingers together. Feeling utterly drained, Laura sank further into his chest and shut her eyes.

"A few days," she muttered tiredly. "I can't remember."

"Can I do anything?" he asked, his fingers stroking her hair soothingly.

"Just hold me," she mumbled, shivering. "Please. I missed you so much." Keeping his hand tangled with one of hers, he let the other return to wandering up and down her back, lulling her gently back to sleep as his fingers soothed her aching muscles. She was asleep within minutes, but he lay there for a long time, holding her and luxuriating in the loving intimacy of the moment.

Eighteen months ago, he mused, he had been on the verge of all this; not quite sure what to do with his feelings for Laura, stuck in his bachelor ways and perpetually lonely. Now, as he idly kissed her hair and listened to her raspy breathing, he wished he had made that decision so much earlier. He loved Laura, and he made a point of telling her regularly. It shamed him to admit it, but he had been grumpy over the last few days away from her, causing James to laugh on more than one occasion as he guessed the direction of his senior partner's thoughts. He felt like a school boy all over again; wildly, stupidly, madly in love with her.

They fit together so well. Years of close friendship had merged seamlessly into loving partnership and their life together. He wouldn't trade that feeling for the world. In his arms, she coughed and then groaned in pain, her eyes fluttering as she started to wake again.

"Sshh," he murmured in her ear, "I've got you love, you're safe. Go back to sleep."

"Robbie?" she mumbled, already half gone again.

"I'm here." His lips found her temple, lingering as she slipped away into a deep sleep. He would have been content to stay there all day, but he could hear Darwin downstairs. With a sigh, he pried himself out of bed, wrapped her in an extra blanket and headed for the shower to start the day.

…

Returning freshly laundered towels to the airing cupboard as he pondered what he might manage to get her to eat for lunch, Robbie looked up when Laura staggered into the bathroom, her hand trailing along the wall for balance.

"Steady pet," he cautioned as she wavered on her feet.

"The floor is moving," she remarked vaguely, her eyes far away and seeing a different reality.

"Is it now?" he asked, an eyebrow raising. "I think it's time we check your temperature isn't too high."

"I'm not high," she assured him confidently, confused that he would think that of her. "The dragon won't let me fly above the trees."

"Ok," he agreed amiably, opening the cabinet to find the thermometer. "But we're still going to check."

She took a step towards him, letting go of the wall and without its solid presence anchoring her, the room began to spin. She staggered heavily as her vision narrowed into nothingness. She didn't see or feel the floor rushing up to her; she was out before she tumbled to the carpet in a heap, her head smacking into the side of the bath as she landed.

Robbie glanced up at her just in time to see her eyes roll back and her muscles go slack. He lunged to catch her, but he was too far away and felt the breath leave his chest as her head cracked against the porcelain. Abandoning his search, he knelt beside her in seconds, reaching for a pulse. It was there, but it seemed odd. He ran his hands gently over her skull and bit his lip when his fingers came away smeared with blood.

"Laura," he cajoled, squeezing her fingers with one hand. "Come on love, wake up for me." When he got no response he scrabbled in his pocket for his phone and dialled 999.

...

...

Hmm... My first Lewis foray. This is what happens when October is so, so far away, and a tiny little one shot suddenly takes on a life of its own. I hope you enjoy. Reviews are always nice. Cheers, Got Tea?