Title: Home by another name
Disclaimer: This is intended as a fan fiction on characters owned by their original creators and I am not making a profit out of it.
Note: For those who asked me to re-post my stories, sorry I took them away in the first place and thank you so much for your messages. Someone is helping with a translation into Spanish for those interested, it will be posted as it gets ready.
Molly knew by now, Charles Grey wasn't a man of complimentary words, but he never failed in giving her a hand in cleaning the kitchen wherever he was invited for lunch. Actions speak louder than words, they say. This time, she could tell he was on the verge of falling down, his tanned skin whiter than she had ever seen on years; except for the various changing colors of his present marks, eyes all red and bulgy, he was way too far from the chirpy joking guy he used to be at parties. Nonetheless, he didn't make excuses until the last dish was dry and everything in its place.
"Thank you, Molly. I'd better be leaving."
"Where are you going? I've Betsy's room ready for you to have a good nice rest."
"No, no..."
"Please, Charlie. You look like you need it. I know your apartment, far too noisy to sleep by day, no food in the fridge." Molly was looking directly into Grey's eyes and when he lowered his head she realized he wanted to be convinced as much as he didn't want to return to his apartment or to the base and she knew better than not insisting some more.
"I am just offering you a dark and quiet room for a couple of days, home cooked food with no timetables on you... I-I would feel so much better if you should say yes... You see Jonas didn't think it twice and is already at it..."
"You say you'd feel better? You... Molly, it's... I..."
"... and for the same price I will have a look at those bruises and cuts of you if you let me, credit me some experience in making them better sooner. What you say?"
Grey acquiesced quietly by raising his head and looking back at Molly.
"You sure you don't mind having a look at those? I can feel some are pulsing, not a good sign, maybe not a good sight either... I can..."
"I'm sure we can fix it quite well between the two of us. Remember when I cut myself that Christmas and you stitched me, six good ones, no anesthetics 'cause you said it wouldn't feel more than a pinch...?"
"Hell, yeah...With that big carving knife close by your side. I thought you were about to kill me with your free hand any minute, you were so angry at me..."
"You were quick and matter of fact... but man it hurt! Now it's time for revenge." And Molly melted in one of those warm, broad, smiles of hers. "Get off your shirt, right? How about your legs...?"
"Just the upper side of my independent republic of self got assaulted." Grey tried but couldn't return her a smile of his own.