3.
The Hardest Word.
When Frankie found him he was sat in his office, door closed, feet propped on the desk, brooding. They hadn't really spoke much over the past few days, the case keeping them both busy. She had just finished in the lab, everything now shut down for the night. Spencer, Grace and Mel had left long ago, Boyd and herself now the only ones left in the CCU basement offices. She stood watching him through the glass, saw the way he absentmindedly rubbed the knuckles of his right hand. Grace had told her about the incident in the interview room, and about the conversation they had had afterwards.
Walking up to the office door she turned the handle and pushed the door open, saw his head turn quickly towards her to see who had disturbed him. Closing the door behind her she walked up to the settee and sat down heavily, slumping so her head rested on the back.
"Thought you had gone home?" Boyd's words making her lift her head so she could look at him.
"I thought the same about you. I just finished shutting everything down. Have you finished for the night?" Seeing him take his feet off the desk and stand up.
"Yes. I was just," no other words leaving his mouth as he sat down beside Frankie.
"Brooding." Frankie deciding to finish his sentence for him.
"Something like that. Want to go home?" Boyd placing his hand on Frankies thigh as he asked her.
"Come on then. My place?" Watching him consider her question.
"Have I got clean clothes at yours?" Now watching as Frankie thought about what he had asked.
"Yeah, sure you have a couple of suits and shirts hanging in my wardrobe. Can we go then, I'm starving." Patting the hand he still had on her thigh and standing up.
Frankie stood at the office door as he cleared his desk, switching the lamp off and getting his coat. When he came to stand beside her he slid his hand in hers knowing they were the only ones left. They walked hand in hand up the stairs and out the building, stopping at Frankie's car.
"Get in, I'll drive." Opening the car and throwing her bag on the back seat.
When she got in the driver's seat she watched as Boyd slid his bag through the gap between the front seats so his bag joined Frankie's on the back seat. Starting the car Frankie started the drive home, Boyd back to his brooding in the front seat. When they arrived at her flat Frankie was out the car before Boyd had even undone his seat belt. Frankie waited on the doorstep for him, locking the car after he shut the door. Once they were inside Frankie dropped her bag on the floor and took her coat off. Boyd did the same, watching as Frankie made her way to the kitchen.
"Okay if I have a shower?" Boyds voice reaching Frankie just before she went into the kitchen.
"Of course, you don't have to ask. Clean towels are in the cupboard. I'll make something to eat then we can talk." Seeing Boyds face at the suggestion of talking.
Boyd didn't answer, just nodded and walked towards the bathroom. Frankie watched him until the bathroom door was closed, shaking her head at his behaviour.
When Boyd came down he smiled as he saw Frankie placing two plates of stir fry on the kitchen table.
"You want a drink?" Reaching for the bottle of wine on the bench.
"Have you got any? If not then no, if yes then just bring the bottle over." Hoping that she did have a bottle of the stuff she drank.
Frankie passed Boyd the bottle and two glasses, then turned back to the fridge. She could understand his need for drink, cases involving children always affected everyone, but cases that combined children and sexual abuse were far worse. Sitting down opposite him she poured out her own drink, watching him down the first glass of wine without it so much as touching the sides. She didn't say anything, just let him get on with it. The meal was eaten in total silence, both now brooding over the last few days. When Boyd finished he stood up and cleared away his plate, sitting back down to wait for Frankie as he finished his wine.
Frankie finished her meal and put her dishes with Boyds. She went to wash them but he stopped her.
"Leave them." Reaching out and taking hold of her arm.
Boyd didn't let go of her arm until he was sat beside her on the settee. When he did he just looked at her, attempting to let her know how he felt without having to actually speak. She could see the torment, the anger, the frustration, all swirling around in his dark brown eyes.
"Come here." Frankie turning sideways as she held up her arms.
For someone who didn't like hugging, or being touched he moved quickly, letting Frankie wrap him tightly in her arms. He snuggled into Frankie, his face turned into her neck as he inhaled deeply, let the smell of her shampoo, her deodorant, the smell that was unique to Frankie soothe his torment and misery. She brought a hand up to his head, let her fingers rub through his hair and massage his scalp as he slowly seemed to be letting go of his tension and anger. After several minutes she felt him kiss her neck, four small open mouthed kisses to her skin before he moved his head and settled it more on her shoulder.
"Want to tell me what happened?" Feel him sigh deeply.
"Bastard thought by telling me he had kids of his own and she was just from the streets it was okay. I called Mel in so one she didn't see me, and two when she entered I knew I would stop. Grace isn't impressed with me." His arms wrapping more around Frankie as he explained.
"I can't say I blame you, but Grace has a point. Anyway, it's done now. Let the courts deal with him. How's Greta?" Not being able to help the slight jealous tone as she said the physiologists name.
"Gone home. Maybe now she can start getting help after what's happened to her. She said something to me though, when we were talking and it got me thinking. She said that at least two people out the twenty on my team have been abused." Frankie now being the one to stiffen. "Have you spoken to anyone? Other than me of course?"
"Yes, no, sort off." Not really wanting to have the conversation at all.
"That's a really productive answer." Unwrapping himself from Frankie's embrace and sitting up. "Want to try that answer again in English."
"Sort of. Grace knows, not the details, but she does know. She sort of guessed years ago when I was stopping at hers when we saved your arse. She woke me up from a nightmare, I was calling out. No idea who for or what for, she never said. She just climbed into bed with me and we fell asleep. I was going to tell her, I was ready to tell her then Kate came back and I left." Frankie told Boyd as she chewed her bottom lip and fidgeted with the hem of her sweater.
"You should tell her, maybe it will help with the nightmares." Him now being the one to open his arms up for her.
"Maybe, one day." Sliding across the settee and sighing as Boyd wrapped her in his arms.
"I'll be there, if you want to me too, just say the word." Squeezing her a little harder as he kissed her temple before yawing.
When Boyd yawned, of course, Frankie yawned.
"Let's go to bed." Kissing her temple one last time as he let his arms slip down her back so they could both get up and go to bed.