Frankie stood happily packing away some of the case notes and files from the Annie Keel case. She knew they were picking up a suspect as she worked, Mel and Spencer leaving not long after Boyd had left. Grace was in her office when she last saw her, getting herself all clued up on the internet and its many uses. She had sent the rest of her team to start packing up the reconstruction of Sam Keels bedroom as she cleared away the stuff in the lab. She needed a bigger lab, a bigger box as Boyd called it, to work in. She has just finished packing away the last of the case files in a cardboard box when there was a knock on the clear perspex glass that shut the lab off from the rest of the office. She looked up and saw Grace, coat on, bag in hand looking at her. The look on Graces said more than words ever could.
"What's happened?" Her throat suddenly feeling dry and tight as she spoke.
"Boyd has been stabbed. He's on his way to the hospital now. Spencer and Mel are still at the scene. It was Reece Dixon, ran at the team as they entered the building waving a knife, he was taken down instantly. We need a team at the house to process the scene." Grace explaining what had happened.
Graces words floated over Frankie as she tried to listen past Boyd being stabbed. She took in parts of it, who was responsible, that he had been shot and killed. Yet her mind kept turning back to Boyd, to him being stabbed.
"How bad?" Words coming out of Frankie's mouth without her really having to think about it.
"He's been stabbed twice, both in the lower right quadrant of his back. I don't know any more than that. Are you ready to go?" Grace glancing around the lab as if looking for something.
"I'll check my case to make sure I have everything and met you at the car. The rest of the team is packing up Sam Keels bedroom to go back in storage. I'll ring down and get them to meet us there." Frankie's body and mind going onto autopilot as she moved around her lab to get her case.
"Frankie, what are you on about? Spencer and Mel are sorting out getting your team to the Dixon house. Get your coat on, we should make it to the hospital before rush hour traffic starts." Grace seeing Frankie come to a stop as she seemed to slowly process what had been said.
Frankie stopped and turned to look at Grace, not saying or doing anything. It was Grace who moved, opening the door to the lab and stepping inside. She stopped in front of Frankie, reaching out and taking Frankie's hands in hers.
"Frankie, get your coat on and we'll go see how he's doing. You know he's going to be as grumpy as hell with all the prodding, poking, and moving him around." Smiling reassuringly as Frankie seemed to finally accept she wasn't going to process the crime scene but see Boyd instead.
Frankie pulled off her lab coat and hung it up, Grace staying beside her as she put her coat on and grabbed her rucksack from the floor. They walked out of the lab and headed out the building, Grace leading them to her car as Frankie just followed blindly behind her. Frankie had no idea how long they were in the car for, her mind focused solely on the last time she had seen Boyd, the last conversation she'd had with him, sitting beside him that morning at the breakfast bar in her kitchen eating toast.
"Frankie, we're here." Graces voice bring her back to the present.
Frankie looked at Grace then up at the big grey building, the hospital entrance to Accident and emergency busy with people and paramedics going in and out. Frankie reached down and undid her seatbelt, picked up her rucksack off the floor by her feet and got out the car. Grace was beside her in seconds, linking her arm as they walked towards the hospital entrance. It was Grace who did the talking at the main reception desk, Frankie listening as the noise and hustle and bustle of A and E seemed to fade away to nothing. She heard the lady giving Grace directions, heard something about surgery and post opp recovery ward. She felt Grace's hand on her arm, a slight tug as she tried to get her to follow her. Frankie put one foot in front of the other, following Grace as they walked through the hospital, took a lift to a different floor and finally reached a ward which had a sign saying post opp recovery along with its ward number.
It was Grace again who took the lead, Frankie to numb to even string a sentence together. They were ushered to a waiting room, told Boyd was still in surgery but they would be informed when he arrived from theatre. Frankie sat down heavily, dropping her bag between her feet as she stared at the door they had just come through. Grace sat beside her, looking at her watch as she placed her handbag on the seat beside her and started to dig around inside it. Frankie closed her eyes, images of Boyd flashing before her eyes. Him sitting on the settee as she lay with her head in his lap while they watched tv. Her head resting on his sweat covered, naked chest, his heart beating hard and fast under her ear after they had finished making love.
"Frankie, here, take these." Frankie looking up from her folded hands to see Grace stood with a plastic cup in one hand and a packet of sandwiches in the other.
"Thanks, Grace." Frankie reaching for the packet and cup as she gave Grace a weak smile.
Grace went back to the vending machines in the corner of the waiting room and got her own food and drink, returning to sit beside Frankie.
"Frankie, you do need to open that packet to eat them. Just drinking coffee doesn't count as eating." Grace opening her own sandwiches as she spoke.
Frankie mumbled something that sounded very much like yes mum before placing the half-empty cup on the table beside her and opening the packet of sandwiches. She ate half-heartedly, chewing and swallowing out of reflex. She didn't even bother looking to see what she was eating, just eating it as she continued to stare at the door. When she was finished she dropped the empty packet onto the table and picked up the coffee cup, finishing the warm coffee in one go. Her eyes never left the door, other than the odd glance at the clock above it she stayed fixed waiting for it to open.
"What's taking them so long?" Frankie suddenly standing up and walking towards the door.
"Frankie, the knife used was very sharp, and he was stabbed twice." Grace replaying in her own mind as she watched helplessly as Boyd was stabbed. "Knowing Boyd he probably fought with being knocked out so they could patch him up. Give them a chance to stick him back together, it's only been just over an hour. They will have to check for internal damage before stitching him up." Keeping her own nervousness under control as she tried her best to reassure Frankie.
Frankie knew Grace was right, but it didn't make her feel any better. This was the first time she had been on this side of the fence, the side where the person who was injured was more than just a colleague. Boyd was stubborn and pig-headed, and he probably did put up one hell of a fight as they tried to take care of his wounds and then sedate him to check him over. He wouldn't be Boyd if he hadn't. She paced back and forwards, walking around the small square room when the back and forwards weren't enough.
"Frankie, will you just sit down, please." Graces voice coming out terser than she meant it to.
Frankie spun around and looked at Grace, Grace sighing as she took a deep breath in.
"I'm sorry, it's just pacing isn't going to get the doctor, " stopping mid-sentence as the door behind Frankie opened and a doctor stepped inside the waiting room, green scrubs on and a clipboard in hand.
"You must be here for Peter Boyd." The doctor closing the door as he looked between Frankie and Grace.
Grace was on her feet beside Frankie before the door was even closed properly.
"How is he?" Frankie being the first to speak as she bawled her hands into fists.
"A lot better than expected. He's a very lucky man. The knife missed everything important, caused minimum damage, clean cuts, easily repaired. He's going to be sore for a while but should make a full recovery. We'll keep him in a day or two just to make sure but he should be up and about in no time." The doctor smiling as he finished speaking and looked between Grace and Frankie.
Frankie felt a sudden rush of relief, her surroundings seeming to come rushing in as she staggered back a little. Grace caught her and guided her to a seat, sitting beside her as she rubbed her arm for reassurance and comfort.
"Which one of you is Frankie?" The doctor's voice seeming far away in the distance to Frankie.
"I am." Frankie managed to say as she tried to stand up.
"He's asking for you, has been since he was brought in. Maybe if you see him he may calm down a little, he's been very agitated since he was brought in. Took a lot to knock him out just so we could look at him properly." The doctor attempting to make a joke of how stubborn Boyd could be.
Frankie looked at Grace, then back at the doctor. The doctor understood the question without Frankie having to ask it.
"Your friend can accompany you, but only you can see him I'm afraid, just for now anyway. He needs to rest and get his strength back." The doctor trying to sound as sympathetic as possible.
Grace and Frankie nodded their heads, both just as eager to know he was okay, even if only Frankie got to see him.
"Follow me then, I'll take you to him." The doctor opening the door to the waiting from and stopping aside so Grace and Frankie could step out into the corridor.
Frankie and Grace walked a few paces behind the doctor down the long sterile corridor. The sterile smell that seemed to filter through the air conditioning filled Frankie's nostrils causing her anxiety to rise. Even though she had been told he was okay she had to see for herself, see with her own eyes he was alive. They were about halfway down the corridor when the doctor stopped outside a room, a room both Grace and Frankie knew held only one bed. Obviously, Boyd had been causing enough of a fuss for him to be separated from other patients, staff not wanting to inflict his complaining and moaning on other sick people.
"Here we are. He was alert and responsive when I last saw him." The doctor looking directly at Frankie when he spoke. "You can either wait here or there is another waiting room just there that both visitors and patients use." The doctor now speaking to Grace as he indicated to a door directly opposite the room Boyd was in. "I'll leave you both now as I have rounds to do. If you need anything just ask at the nurse's stations." The doctor bidding them both farewell as he stride off down the corridor.
Frankie and Grace both looked at each, both interpreting the doctor's words to mean Boyd was complaining and asking when he could leave no doubt.
"I'll be just in there Frankie, tell him I'm asking after him, and not to cause to much trouble." Grace smiling at Frankie as she patted her arms and turned to walked to the waiting room opposite.
Frankie watched Grace until she disappeared into the waiting room, taking deep calming breaths as she steadied herself before putting her hand on the door handle and pushing it down. The door opened onto a well-lit room, the blinds open and the overhead lights on adding more of a white glare to the room. Boyd was sat up in the bed, a hospital gown on and the hospital blanket and sheet folded neatly at his waist. His head darted up as she entered, no doubt to give whatever poor doctor or nurse he was expecting a mouth full. When he saw her his mouth opened and closed, his rant stopped before it had even started.
"Frankie." Shock, relief, and puzzlement all evident in the way he said her name.
Frankie went to say his name but it got stuck in her throat, a choking sound coming out instead as she closed the door behind her. Boyd looked Frankie up and down, watched as she put her bag on the chair under the window that looked out into the corridor then stepped up to the bed. He could see the relief etched on Frankie's face as she looked at him, her panic slowly giving way as she saw he was okay. He patted the bed at his side as he attempted to shuffle over a little to make room for Frankie to sit beside him, but failed miserably when he got a shooting pain in his side. Frankie sat on the bed and placed her hand on his chest, her eyes never leaving his as he just watched her. He saw the storm before it hit, the overwhelming emotions crest over Frankie as she fought to stay in control. Boyd didn't speak, just lifted up his left arm and extended it towards Frankie. The first tears feel as she leaned into Boyd, her face buried in his neck.
Boyd wrapped his arm around Frankie's shoulder, he didn't even try to do both arms since moving had already made him see stars. Frankie was not an emotional person, neither was Boyd. They didn't do the hearts and flowers, or the big declarations of love. Boyd just held Frankie as she cried, turning his head so he could kiss her temple. He threaded his finger in her hair, stroked her scalp, the nape of her neck, whispered in her ear that it was okay. Frankie didn't cry for long, the sudden outpouring lasting only a few minutes. She sat up carefully, her face still wet but no more tears falling.
"You could have died! He could have punctured your lung or kidney, anything." Frankie's words abrupt but still holding a touch of fear in them.
"I could die everyday, Frankie." Knowing he wasn't helping Frankie's mood but stating the obvious anyway.
"And that's supposed to help how?" Frankie Giving Boyd the look that told him she was in no mood to be pissed around with.
"It's a fact, Frankie, we both know that. We have no idea what we'll face when we walk out the door, our only hope is we walk back through it again." Reaching out and taking Frankie's hand in his.
Frankie looked down at Boyds larger hand wrapped around hers, his thumb stroking her knuckles. She knew he was right, knew he was lucky to have made it so far and still be standing to tell the tale.
"Hey, at least we solved the case." Trying to lighten the mood as Frankie smiled wearily at him.
"Yeah, and the suspect is now being ferried to my table." An evil grin slowly forming on Frankie's lips.
"That's just wrong, Frankie, you know that right?" Not being able to stop himself smiling when he saw Frankie smile, even it was an evil one.
Boyd yawned, his eyes feeling heavy, and his side giving him more trouble than when Frankie had first walked in. Frankie saw him wince as he tried to move, looking at the clock and working out what he had been given in surgery was probably wearing off.
"I'll go get a nurse, you need a top up, and don't argue with me, or them!" Leaning in and kissing his forehead before she stood up and pulled her hand away for his.
Frankie opened the door to Boyd's room, looking back at him before she closed it over and went to find a nurse. After finding the nurse she went to find Grace, attempting to flatten her now ruffled hair after Boyd's fingers had brushed through it. Grace was sat in a nice big comfortable chair, coffee cup in hand looking out the window.
"Grace," she called out as she entered the room.
"Frankie, how's he doing?" Grace standing up as Frankie approached her.
"He's better than I expected. His usual chirpy self." Grace laughing at Frankie's description of how Boyd was doing. "Listen, I'm going to hang around until they throw me out, you get yourself away, I'll get a taxi back."
"If you're sure. I'll go back and tell the others how he's doing. If you need anything call me, okay." Grace patting Frankie's arm first, then suddenly wrapping her arms around Frankie in a very motherly hug.
Frankie returned the hug, hugging Grace just a little bit tighter as a show of gratitude for being there for her. Frankie ended the hug as she removed her arms from Grace and stepped back.
"Tell him we'll all be waiting for him to return, but not to soon of course." Throwing her empty coffee cup in the bin and making her way to the door.
Frankie walked with Grace to the end of the corridor, seeing her colleague leave the ward before returning to Boyd's room. When she opened the door she was surprised to see the nurse still there, Boyd now lying flat and on his side facing the door.
"Everything looks fine if you keep taking your meds and things stay the same you should be home day after tomorrow." The nurses head appearing from behind Boyd as she pulled his gown back down and helped him roll onto his back.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know you were still here. I'll just," Frankie indicting to the door as if to leave.
"Don't you bloody dare." Boyd's gruff voice making Frankie look away from the nurse to him.
"I'm all done, you're fine to stay, especially since you seem to have calmed him down." The nurse smiling at Frankie as she tucked the blanket and sheets back in around Boyd and raised the bed again.
Frankie stood looking between Boyd and the nurse, seeing Boyd grumble as the nurse wrote on his chart and then clipped it back at the foot of his bed. The nurse left the room as Frankie just stood watching Boyd.
"Grace has gone, I told her I was hanging around until they kicked me out." Taking her bag off the seat and pushing it aside so she could place the seat beside the bed and sit down. "How are you feeling now?" Taking one of his hands in hers and placing her other hand on his arm.
"Like I've just been stabbed, but it's not so bad. Them pills are good whatever they were." Yawning as he watched Frankie stand up and reach for his chart from the end of the bed.
Boyd watched sleepily as Frankie flicked the chart and read what the nurse had written.
"They should definitely help, paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Dihydrocodeine. Nice combination, at least they haven't given you morphine as well." Placing the clipboard back on the end of the bed and turning back to look at Boyd. "You should get some sleep, give your body a chance to recover." Brushing her hand through his hair so it wasn't all flopping over his face. "I love the curtains Boyd, but maybe you need them cut or brushed out." His hair falling back on his face after she had swept it to the side.
"If you like it, it's staying." His smile turning into a yawn.
"Go to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up, promise." Kissing the corner of his mouth then his nose.
Boyd didn't say anything, just took her hand in his and closed his eyes. Frankie sat down, dragging the chair as close to the bed as she could get. She watched as Boyd slipped into a deep sleep, his breathing evening out as his body set about repairing itself as he slept. Frankie sat watching him sleep, a thousand thoughts and images of what could have been playing over in her mind. She couldn't lose him, not now, not when he was finally hers and hers alone. She rested her head on his thigh, her face turned so she could see him, see his face, watch his chest rise and fall proving he was alive.
Frankie hadn't even been aware of how tired she was until she felt a hand on her head, fingers gently stroking through her hair. She blinked as her eyes focused on Boyd, his big brown eyes watching her. Frankie went to sit up, feeling Boyd's hand slip from her head back onto the bed.
"God, what time is it? I should have left by now." Her eyes darting to the wall to see the time.
"Frankie, calm down. I flashed my badge, you're good." Seeing the panic leave Frankie's face as he explained.
"Misuse of your authority, tut tut superintendent Boyd." Frankie smiling as Boyd just scowled at her.
"If I misuse my authority then I don't have to be on my own as long. And the nurse did say you have a calming influence on me." Frankie just shaking her head at his feeble excuse.
"I do have to go soon though. I can only imagine the mountain of stuff that's stacked up while I've been here. All the evidence from the house, that bastards body, the knife." Shuddering as she imagined having to handle the knife that had stabbed Boyd.
"You have a good team, I'm sure they'll do you proud in your absence." Finally managing to shift over on the bed making more room beside him.
He patted the newly enlarged space he had made beside him and smiled at Frankie. When he saw her hesitate he gave her his best pout, his floppy hair adding to the needy and lost look. Frankie climbed up beside him, turning on her side so she could cuddle right up against Boyd. Boyd wrapped his arm around her shoulder and held her as tight as he could single handed. After several minutes it was Frankie who pulled away, not really wanting to but knowing she had to.
"I really do have to go, it's gone eleven and I have work in the morning. You need your rest, and so do I." Kissing his cheek then his lips.
When he felt Frankie's lips on his he returned the kiss, his tongue working along Frankies lips until she opened her mouth. It was Frankie who broke the kiss when she needed to breathe properly. She could feel Boyd's heartbeat had increased, her own heart beating just as quickly.
"Now I really should go, lucky you're not hooked up to a heart monitor." Placing one last quick kiss on Boyd's lips before she climbed off the bed.
Boyd just grinned at her as she bent down and picked her bag up.
"Behave!" Glaring at Boyd as she put her hand on the door handle. "I'll try and get back tomorrow, depends on how much I have to do. I'm sure Grace, Mel and Spencer will pop in given the chance. Night, Boyd." Finally turning the handle and pulling the door open. "Love you." She mouthed as she stepped through the door and turned back to look at him.
"Me too," Boyds whispered reply making her face light up.
Frankie closed the door as quietly as she could, she didn't want to cause any issues making too much noise past visiting hours. The hospital corridors were still brightly lit, only the wards had dimmed lighting this late. When she reached the hospital foyer she rang for a taxi, staying just inside the doorway to keep warm. When it arrived she gave the driver her own address at first, then changed it to Boyd's house five minutes later. When the taxi pulled up outside Boyd's dark house she paid for the taxi and headed inside quickly. She flicked every light on as she passed it, a habit she had picked up many years early that drove Boyd nuts. He understood why she did it, but it still drove him mad as he followed behind her switching them off. She made herself a coffee before heading upstairs, for once actually turning the lights off as she went. She had made sure all the doors were locked, and the alarm was on, something she never bothered with when Boyd was about.
She drank her coffee as she showered and got ready for bed, finally curling up on Boyd's side of the bed with his pillow tucked under her head as she hugged it. She slept fleetingly, images and old memories coming back to haunt her. She woke several times during the night, nightmares clinging to her and Boyd not there to ease them. She missed him, missed his presence, his calming words when she woke sweating and terrified. As she closed her eyes again she reassured herself he would be home soon, back home where he belonged.