Author: VictoriaEsme
It's only 9pm and she's already in bed. Her whole body aches but the worst ache of all is the one in her heart. The heart that aches for him. It's been perhaps the longest day of her life and certainly one of the worst. She was on the way to work, having dropped Grace at school, when a car attempted to overtake but instead collided into her.
She'd spent the day as a patient in her own department and at times could have sobbed at the indignity of it all. She longed for Jacob only to find out that his conference in the South had been extended and as a result, she'd desperately begged Charlie not to call him. Somehow she'd escaped with only bruising but now laid in bed her body was beginning to ache despite the painkillers she'd been supplied with. Her head too was pounding and every time she closed her eyes she was back in that car, alone and scared.
Connie gave a heavy sigh, a whimper lost of her lips as she attempted to roll over, her whole body aching. His name too is lost on her lips, despite how much she aches for him also. She reminds herself that he'll be back tomorrow and let's herself believe even for the briefest of moments that perhaps she'll even let him look after her. She knows she won't. Connie gives another sigh, desperately hoping that sleep will wash over her. She knows it won't, not when he is not beside her.
...
It's a little after 9pm and Jacob knows he won't be sleeping tonight. He finds himself apologising profusely to the conference manager as he shields himself from the rain and races towards the car. Grace had rang not long ago, the words car accident and Connie blurring in Jacob's mind. He's very aware that he needs to get back to her. He's even more aware that they'll both feel unsettled until their together. Safely in the drivers seat he lets out a shaky outward breath before wasting no time starting the engine.
The driving conditions are treacherous and if it's not the harsh rain beating down on his windscreen, it's the wind threatening to push his car off the road. He silently prays for his safety because he doesn't know what he'll do if he can't get back to her. She needs him and he knows it. She knows it too but she'd never admit it. He's glad that Grace also knows how much her mother needs him and was courageous enough to ring him.
The drive is long but he doesn't stop. It's made even longer by road works and flooding but he doesn't give up. He knows she's lying awake but longs to sleep. He also knows that she won't let herself sleep until he's there. When he pulls up outside her home (which is now his home too, she says) he can see that the bedroom lamp is on. Jacob wastes no time clambering from the car and letting himself in.
Not wanting to startle her, Jacob calls her name as he reaches the landing. At first Connie is sure she is dreaming but when he repeats himself her heart gives a happy skip.
"It's me. I've miss you so much" he offered softly. His words are few but he doesn't need to say anything else. She knows for she feels it too.
Jacob's breathe is nearly drawn from his body at the sight of hers, covered in scratches and bruises. He can only imagine her pain and carefully clambers onto the bed bedside her, holding her body as best he can.
"What can I do?" He whispers into the darkness, his hands running through her hair, his lips everywhere as he attempts to kiss every part of her body that might be causing her pain. There's a lot of kisses to be given.
"Hold me" she mumbles, her eyes already growing heavy. "It wasn't the same here without you" she adds softly. Jacob gives a smile for he knows it's the closest he's going to get to an 'I missed you'.
Connie thinks it's perhaps a combination of his hands in her hair and his heartbeat that finally allows her to drift off to sleep. His heartbeat is the main comfort, a reminder that they are both still very much alive and thankfully together once more.
When she wakes a little after midnight in needs of painkillers he's already there with the medication in one hand and a glass of water in the other. When she wakes at 3am and is suddenly violently sick after a shattering nightmare, he's there without judgement and keeps a soothing hand on her back until she feels better. He's there to dry the tears that never fall and hold a cold flannel to her face until her night sweats are gone. She snaps a little bit he knows it's only because she's both scared and embarrassed. Instead of rising her snipes he kisses her in return and she eventually falls back to sleep.
...
When she awakes at 6am determined to go to work he's there once more, an amused smile on his lips.
"No work today sweetcheeks" he tells her softly.
"Jacob, I have to!" She protests, frustrated as she struggles to move without pain in every limb.
"No, no, no" Jacob tells her with a wag of his finger. "What you need to do is stay here with me, watch films, rest and let me look after you".
Connie falls silent because that sounds like a day she could really do with.
"Charlie will send you home anyway so why don't you just stay here with me and save yourself the trouble?" He asks. There's a look in his eye which makes her believe him and she gives a small shrug.
When he gets Grace ready for school and drops her at the gates Connie is forced to realise that perhaps just today she needs to let herself be loved and looked after. When he gets back from the school and clambers into bed beside her once more with both painkillers and tea Connie gives a grateful smile.
"Jacob?" She asked as she rests her head upon his chest, her gaze focused on the TV in front of them.
"Mmm?" He replies, silently rubbing pain relief gel into her aching limbs.
"I missed you" she finally admits, her voice as timid as he's ever known it. Jacob gives a grin and silently vows not to leave her again.
