Disclaimer: Waking The Dead belongs to the BBC (unfortunately not to me!)
Reasons To Stay
"Boyd?" She said questioningly. He looked up, shocked to hear her voice, she was leaning against the doorframe to his office. The lights behind her creating a soft glow around her figure. He gave her a small smile, one which he knew she would understand. She always amazed him with how well she was able to read him. She sadly smiled back, slowly making her way into his office. A sudden gush of feelings gripped his stomach, guilt. He felt guilty, guilty for the way he sometimes, sometimes? always treated her. She looked crushed, tired, fed-up the list could go on. He felt sorry. How he'd be able to tell her this he didn't know. She sunk into his sofa, curling her legs beneath her.
He knew what she wanted, the way she sat, the way she positioned herself she wanted, needed to talk, for him to talk.
He leaned back in his chair and took his glasses off. He then rubbed his hands over his face and closed his eyes.
Grace sat watching him, a sad, yet concerned look etched across her face.
"It's late." She tried lightly.
He opened his eyes and sat forward. He reached over and opened the bottom drawer of his desk. He brought out a bottle of red wine and two glasses.
Standing up he walked over to her, her eyes watching him, her head slightly tilted. He sat down closely next to her, brushing her leg with his as he made himself comfortable.
He silently handed her the two glasses, he poured them both a generous amount of the dark liquid. He put the bottle on the floor and took his glass from Grace. He studied the expression on her face the way her body looked, the way it was positioned.
He lifted the glass to his lips and drained its contents.
After finishing his wine he felt at a loss. He looked up at her.
After what seemed like an age he managed to pluck up the courage to speak.
"Grace…I…" He struggled "I … sorry" he managed to say hardly audible.
She never took her eyes off him, she pressed her lips tightly together, she could feel the emotion building up within her. Boyd looked into her eyes, he saw the pain, he knew the pain. He was frustrated with himself, he did know Grace he did know how she felt, he did know that he treated her like shit, yet did he do anything about it?
"This isn't going to work is it?" she croaked, not realising how close to the surface her emotions had risen. She didn't want Boyd knowing just how much his careless actions could damage her.
He looked down into his empty wine glass, he noticed she hadn't drank anything.
"I'm sorry" he said, this time slightly louder.
She placed her hand over his and squeezed it. She removed a leg from underneath herself and started to stand up. Boyd gripped hold of her hand tighter to prevent her from walking away.
"I'm tired. You've drained everything from me Boyd."
"Grace." He said looking up at her, he looked into her eyes he saw the pain, pain he'd caused.
"Please, please don't…don't give up on me now! I …… need you"
Something surged in her stomach, she wasn't quite sure what it was.
"Its too late now Boyd." She tightened her lips again, slumping her shoulders in defeat.
"Please Grace, it's not very often I say please." He tried lightly.
"One more chance?" he asked looking into her eyes, seeking something.
He laced his fingers between hers and gently tugged her hand down coaxing her to sit on the sofa.
"Its taken me a long time." He started softly "a lot of arguments, I never comprehended that it would take me till you threaten to leave for me to realise just how much I need you, how much I take you for granted. I don't want you to leave Grace." He searched her face, for something, anything.
She was too tired to argue, too tired to fight against him.