AN- No idea where this came from. All I can say is I didn't kill her or anyone else so it's all good.
Now he was worried, he couldn't find her anywhere. He had gone to her house first and saw the place in darkness, all doors and windows locked. Next he tried the coffee shop she normally went to but she wasn't there. After checking out at least three bars, she went to he was running out of places to look. He had checked with Christopher and Loretta and neither had seen her. As he drove around the rain was getting heavier if that was even possible. The windscreen wipers were on full speed and he was still struggling to see. If she was out in this he dreaded to think what state she was in.
Pulling into he switched the engine off and sat back to think. He had checked all the places he knew she would normally go and no luck. Pulling his phone out he hit the speed dial number for the lab, someone would be there and at this point he didn't care who. After ringing for what seemed like forever someone finally picked up. He knew it wouldn't be Sebastian as he was finished for the day.
"Graham that you?"Pride asked into his phone.
"Yes, that you King? What can I do for you this late?" Graham asked.
"Trace Brody's phone for me please, I can't find her and I am getting concerned now. She wasn't herself today and now I can't find her." Trying to keep his tone casual even though he was a little panicked.
"Sure King, give me a second," Graham replied.
Pride could hear the keys on the keyboard being hit quickly and then silence. He waited, strumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited.
"Got her King. She's about four miles from you moving slowly, probably on foot heading northbound. Sending details to you now so you can link it to the sat nav. Got them?" Checking the information had come to the cars inbuilt sat nav.
"Got it thanks, Graham. Catch you later." Hanging the phone up and throwing it on the passenger seat.
Starting the car, he pulled away and followed the directions the sat nav was giving him. The rain was still falling just as heavy and he had no idea how long she had been out in it. For how far away she was from home it must have been quite awhile. Finally, he pulled onto the street she was supposed to be on according to her phone signal. With the wipers still on full power he slowed the car to a crawl speed looking as best as he could out onto the rain-soaked street.
He was nearly at the end of the street when he finally saw her walking away from him about to turn the corner. Speeding up he pulled up and jumped out the car. Running up to her he called her name but she never answered him, she kept on walking with her head down into the driving rain. Picking his pace up he finally caught up to her and reached out to take her arm. He prepared himself to be tackled to the ground or arm locked when he touched her but nothing. She never even turned as he took hold of her arm and stopped her moving from him. Now he was really worried.
"Brody what the hell are you doing out here? How long have you been out in this? You're soaked to the skin. Let's get you in the car and back home, come on I got you." Turning Brody to face him as he guided her to the car.
She was soaked to the skin and looked like she had been out hours. Her hands were blue and her hair was stuck to her face when it had started to grow out from her short pixie cut. Leading her to the car he opened the back door and guided her to sit down. Once she was sitting he fastened her seatbelt and stepped back to close the car door. Opening the drivers door, he climbed in and after doing his belt up he started the car and set off home. As he was driving he released he was closer to the office than to Brody's house. Changing direction quickly, he set off for the office as he needed them both out the wet clothes there were both now sat in.
As he parked the car up and the big black gates closed behind him he switched the engine off and got out the car. Opening the back door, he undid Brody's seatbelt and eased her out the car. She was still freezing and silent like she was in a trance. Walking her slowly into the office he steered her through and up the stairs of the courtyard. Arriving at the top he lead the way to his room and opened the door pushing her inside to where it was warm and dry. Shutting out the driving rain he kicked his shoes off and peeled his dripping jacket off. Hanging it up to drip dry he looked Brody's soaking wet clothes over.
"Let's get you some towels and out of them wet clothes. There are some towels on the shelves in the bathroom, go get out them wet clothes and I will go find you something to wear," pushing open the bathroom door and nudging her inside.
Turning to walked away he started to strip off his wet pants and socks. By the time, he made it to the wardrobe he was standing in just his boxer shorts. Pulling out a pair of sweatpants he put them on before he got a t- shirt out and pulled that on. Now he was ready he needed to find clothes for Brody to wear. After hunting through he got a t-shirt out that, would no doubt swamp her and he found a pair of sweatpants that were a little small on him. Making his way back to the bathroom, he moved all his wet clothes into a pile and went to the bathroom door.
"Brody you haven't moved, come on we need you out these wet clothes. You turning to ice and you're going to end up sick." Stepping back into the bathroom he stopped in front of Brody and moved his hand to the zipper of her coat.
Pulling the zipper down he peeled off the wet coat and dropped it to the floor. Next he bent down and one at a time he took her boots and wet socks off. Looking up she was still just stood there staring off into space. Reaching up he undid her belt and pants and worked them down her legs. He waited for a slap of a quick dig but still nothing. Adding her wet pants to the pile of clothes he stood up and grabbed a towel of the shelf and put it over his shoulder as he took the hem of the dripping top she was stood in and pulled it up over her head. She did lift her arms so she was at least with him enough to know what he was doing. Finally, she was stood in front of him in just her underwear which he saw was also wet. Now was when he needed her to answer him.
"Merri look at me, please. Come on I need you to move." Stopping in front of her and running a finger down her cheek.
Keeping his finger running up and down her cheek then cupping her face he finally saw her blink a few times and focus on him.
"Thank you, I got to take this wet underwear or you want to do it while I hold the towel up?" Looking down at the wet underwear and then back at her.
She copied his movement but still just looked at him.
"Right I will take them off and wrap this towel around you when I do. You understand?" Seeing her eyes lock with his as he spoke.
Bending down he pulled her panties down and then stood up to remove her bra. Once they joined the wet clothes he took the towel off his shoulder and wrapped it around her, tucking in the edge so she was covered. Taking another towel, he stood behind her rubbing it over her hair getting as much of the water out as he could. When he was happy it was as dry as he was going to get it he chucked the towel on the floor. Coming to stand in front of her he looked her up and down, she still had wet skin and was still cold. Getting another towel he rubbed it over her shoulders and arms before dropping to his knees and drying her legs.
"Right you're as dry as I can get you so let's get some clothes on you and then we can warm you up, maybe then we can find out why you were wandering around in the rain." Standing up and slotting his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side as he lead her from the bathroom to the main room.
Getting her to sit on the bed he picked the t-shirt up and slid it over her head as she lifted her arms up and slotted them in. When the t-shirt was on he got her to stand up and unhooked the towel from her as the t-shirt covered her to mid thigh. Picking the sweatpants up he went to put them on but she sat back down and shook her head.
"Okay then, no pants but we do need to get you warm. How about we get you wrapped up in a blanket and we can talk." Seeing her finally look at him.
It was when she finally looked at him he saw how hurt and lost and utterly alone she looked.
"How about we get you tucked up in bed and get you warm that way." Seeing her nod her head.
Reaching out she took his hands and he pulled her to standing. Coming around the bed he pulled the covers back and she sat down, bringing her legs up as he tucked them under the covers. Waiting till she shuffled about and got comfortable, he pulled the covers over her and was about to walk away when he heard her say something. It was barely audible and if it wasn't for the fact it was quite he would have missed it.
"Hold me." Was all she said as he moved to walk away.
Spinning around he looked down at her and he saw her face, the tears building in the corner of her eyes. He couldn't say no when she looked so desperate, so needy. Climbing on the bed he crawled up it till he was beside her on the bed. He turned on his side to look at her and now saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. Lifting up he moved the covers and climbed in the bed, but not before he took his t-shirt off. Once he had pulled the covers over himself he just watched her for a split second before he opened his arms and spoke.
"Tell me what's wrong? Let me help make it better." As she turned to face him and her head impacted so hard with his chest he swore there would be a bruise there come morning.
He wrapped her up in his arms as he felt the tears flow onto his chest. He had no idea what was wrong or what had her wandering the streets for God only knew how long. She hadn't been herself all day, quite and distance for them all. Her usual ribbing with Christopher had been none existent even though he did try a couple of times. At least now she was against him in bed he could pull her close and warm her up as they lay there. As she lay in his arms sobbing he ran his hand up and down her back as he placed soft gentle kisses to her hair. It was drying now and he could stroke his finger through it, whispering in her ear as he did.
"Shhhhh it's okay, let it out." Feeling the tears still running on to his chest.
As he held her close he felt the coolness of her skin slowly warm as she started to thaw from her wanderings. He still stroked her back as she slid his hand under the t-shirt and felt the skin on her back was still cold. Checking her back was tucked in he managed to move her enough so he could use both his arms to run up and down her back. The position they were now lying in had her practically covering his body with hers as she lay just about on top of him. As he moved her he felt her hang on to him as she slid her arms around him to hold his waist. She was not letting go and he wasn't going to make her. He had never seen her this emotional in a while and he hated seeing her like this. She never cried and on the few occasions she had he understood why.
The last time she cried was a couple of months back when he got shot. The bullet nicked a major artery and he nearly bled to death. When he came to in the hospital she was the first face he saw as she stood up and kissed his cheek, the tears falling as she did. He knew their relationship had been building to something for months. Other than hugging and the odd kiss on the cheek or corner of the mouth they had never really pushed it. When he woke and saw her there holding his hand he knew what the tears were for even before she spoke.
"Don't ever do that to me again, I can't lose you, King." Was all she said and he understood.
The time before was again when the team suffered an injury only that time was Christopher. He had been stabbed three times and they nearly lost him due to blood loss and then infection. She had cried for her surrogate brother, as the machines around him kept him alive. The only other time he had seen her cry was for her sister as she relived the story of her death during the Moultrie investigation. His mind now drifted over things he had seen and read, and it was only then it hit him like a lead weight, the reason she was crying. Lifting his arm up to see his watch he confirmed the date and he mentally slapped himself. Of course, he should have remembered, how could he forget. Now he felt even worse than before.
"Hell Merri why didn't you say something? You know I am here no matter when it is. How the hell could I forget? Baby, I am so sorry." Holding her even tighter as she cried.
He had known it was coming up but due to cases coming in one after the other he got sidetracked and it had slipped his mind. Now he felt awful that he hadn't remembered it was her birthday. He knew she wouldn't celebrate it but to be alone today of all days, he just couldn't comprehend how that felt. Lying here with her he knew he had a lot to make up for, he would have to show her how sorry he was for not remembering. He could feel the tears easing and her back was now warming with his hands running up and down the bare skin. He continued to whisper in her ear as he kissed her hair, he just wanted to make it right.