She sniffed and wiped away her tears.
"I'm so angry at you.", she said quietly. "I'm so, so angry at you, Henry."
If only he knew how much she'd needed him in the past few months, and how hard it had been to ignore him at work.
If only she knew it how anguished he had been, and how fearful, and regretful, and just how he just wanted to be with her.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before, Jo, I really am. But, you see, you have to understand… please, please try to understand. I know I haven't been there for you as much as I wanted to or as much as you've needed me to. I am so sorry. But I've been fighting my demons for months, I've been slaying my own dragons, and I swear… I want to be with you, and support you, and and and-… and love you, and love our baby. But I was so afraid of losing you. I still am. Please, Jo, don't shut me out again."
"I don't get it! So you don't die. Ok. Let's say I believe you, what's the big deal? Am I missing the point here? Why the hell would you lose me over that, Henry? What could possibly have happened that you'd shut me out when I needed you the most?", she hissed and sobbed.
Henry spoke quietly as he turned to face her and looked her in the eyes. "I've been locked up several times. I've had people experimenting on me. I've had my body opened alive to be studied. I've had to run away more often than I can promptly tell you. If you think you have trust issues, Jo, you have no idea of what the past two hundred years have been like for me. I've buried every friend I'd ever had. I've loved and I've been betrayed, a lot.", he said, stressing the last few words, and paused.
She winced slightly, heart truly condolent and mind scattered about.
"But I chose to trust you with everything I've got. I've… I've been… trying to keep to myself and not invade your personal space too much, but damn it, Jo, you gotta know there's only so much I can do. I can't be that jackass anymore. I swear I'm not a jackass. I want to buy you flowers and take you on picnics, as tacky and stupid as that may sound, and hug you in public places and hold your hand instead of pretending nothing's going on. I just have so much I want to give you, sweetheart…" he paused and cupped her face, chasing away those tears with his soft lips.
She closed her eyes and let him, her hiccups and sobs slowly subsiding to a softer tone.
When he spoke again, it was a mere whisper. Pleading.
"Please. Give me a chance. We can make it."
Jo opened her eyes and faced him, a tint of sadness but so much affection clear in her eyes.
She didn't know what to say, they seemed so fragile and broken recently that she just didn't know what to say. Henry's declaration filled her heart with so much love and hope for their future, it woke those butterflies for good, and set them on a sugar rush.
Jo nodded and moved in to kiss him, capturing his lips in a chaste and loving kiss. Her arms embraced his shoulder and held him close. Soon her body was moving on its own and her legs were straddling his. The proximity of their bodies made him shiver and his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her even closer
This was the Henry she knew – the caring and romantic guy she had pictured before it all went crazy. This was her best friend and confidant, and the man she had fallen in love with.
She pulled away slightly, looking into those sparkling eyes and couldn't help but kiss him time and again, smiling into the kiss. "I love it when you call me that."
"When I call you what?", he looked at her puzzled, and then understood, and then smiled, and then grinned. "Sweetheart?" Jo nodded bashfully and nestled her face in his neck.
Henry laughed softly and stroked her hair. "Love, darling, sweetheart… you'll hear those a lot."
Jo smiled and whispered softly against his warm skin.
"I love you, Henry. I missed you."
Henry tightened his grip and neither said anything for a long time, merely basking in the quiet and precious moment until Jo felt sleepy again.
"Can you stay?"
Henry laughed lightly. "Only if you don't run away the minute I fall asleep."
Though he couldn't see it, her cheeks reddened and she smiled apologetically, shaking her head. "I won't."
Obviously she wouldn't let him leave at nearly 5a.m., but he knew what she had meant. It was Saturday, and even though they still had to go in to fill out paperwork, neither had to be there early. Some restful sleep would be much appreciated, as they hadn't been sleeping well in a long time.
Jo stood and helped Henry up. She tugged the heavy covers away and then onto her body, lying on her side waiting for him. Soon she felt the weight on her bed and his arm embraced her, gently stroking her belly and lips showering loving kisses on the nape of her neck.
She mind felt light and foggy, but she couldn't help thinking of how lucky a girl she was. She had to be honest, even though both had kept each other at an emotional distance in the past few months, he did find ways to care for her.
Like that Thursday when she was called into Reece's office the moment she stepped into the bullpen. Upon seeing Henry in there, staring awkwardly at the floor, she thought they were in deep trouble somehow.
"Martinez. Your friend here has made me a strange request.", said Reece sternly.
Jo's eyebrows went up in surprise and she looked at Henry, who kept his gaze on the floor.
"Oh? And what is that?"
"He has requested that I transfer you to another department, because he is concerned about your health." She paused and studied both of them. If anything, she was dead curious.
Jo scoffed and looked at Henry. Unbelievable.
"I am aware you've had plenty of health issues in the past month. Should I be concerned?"
She hesitated.
"No, Sir."
"Should I move you?"
"Actually, um, that… would be appreciated, yes."
"Detective, may I ask why?"
Jo shifted uncomfortably where she stood, not daring to look her in the eye. She smiled through gritted teeth, as a child who's done something naughty. "I am pregnant. I believe that would be reasonable."
Words could not describe the look on the lieutenant's face, and the way she looked back and forth between them. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and not think too hard on those two together. Well, too late.
Henry was quite amused and Jo would have laughed herself silly were she not stark mad at her partner.
Reece cleared her throat. "Very well. You may clean your desk and wait, I will see what I can do.", and dismissed them. Behind the closed door, Reece shook her head and allowed herself to smile.
"Are you kidding, Henry!? Seriously, was this necessary?", Jo hissed as they walked away.
He shrugged. "You might be angry now, Jo, but you won't see me mourning you should something happen. You can't risk yourself anymore. Not… that it was fine before… I mean.", he stuttered, and added proudly, "I have no regrets."
She scoffed and walked off pissed – he was right, she knew it, but she was going to deal with it, she had been psyching herself up to talk to her superior. Surely it could take a while, but she could fend for herself!
There had also been that lazy day off when she had a humongous parcel delivered at her place. She thought it was dearly sweet how Abe had taken the time to wrap and deliver the antique stroller at her doorstep. She thought she'd never see one of these in her life, because it was so old and obsolete she'd only seen it in cartoons as a a kid! But it was beautiful - a true work of art - and now there it was, waiting on the corner of the living room with a card still attached to it. It had been quite a special gift, but thinking back, was it really a gift from Abraham?
"He is your son." She stated quietly, mind still awake. "Abe."
"Yes.", was the quiet and sleepy reply.
"Was that his stroller?"
Henry smiled. "It was."
"Was that a present from him or from you?"
A pause.
"From the both of us."
"So he knows."
"Yes. He is delighted."
Jo smiled and snuggled back into his embrace.
"Good night, Henry."
"Good night, love."
