"Why is it so cold in here, Penelope?" were the first words out of Aaron's mouth when she opened the apartment door.
"You're not home for one minute and already you're complaining? I can send you back, if that's what you'd like. They were kind enough to let you out an evening early, after all."
"No, I'm sure I'll get used to it."
"Good. It's only for a month, anyway. My computer has to stay at optimal running speed if I'm to work from here, so I have to keep it a little cooler than normal. Haven't you noticed I wear a lot of sweaters during the summer?"
"Now that you mention it, yes." Aaron sat heavily on the sofa, looking at what had been his coffee table. "So, is this going to be the mobile tech cave area?"
"Uh huh. The second laptop is for you to Skype with the team while they're on location." She smiled as she set his bag down on the floor. "Jack, why don't you read a story with your father while I work on supper, okay?"
"Sure, Aunt Penny."
She smiled and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a glass casserole dish from one of the cupboards she'd explored earlier. Then she turned on her iPad, opening up the Betty Crocker cookbook app while she set it on the stand she'd improvised. "Okay, so I already cooked the noodles, now I have to lay them out on the bottom of the dish," she said under her breath as she copied what the instructions told her to do.
"Can I help you, Penelope?"
She whirled around to look at Aaron. "Am I that obviously lost in the kitchen? I already made the meat sauce and bought lots of cheese. I hope you like cheese." She smiled as she went to the fridge and grabbed out the other ingredients for the lasagna. "But I think I have everything here under control. Where's Jack?"
"He fell asleep. All the excitement of the day caught up to him." Penelope noticed he leaned against the counter gingerly and she smiled sadly. "Hey, I'm alive and kicking here. No need to look so dispirited."
"I know. I just wish I'd left with you."
"Then you might have gotten hurt as well. That would have been worse." She looked into his eyes, only to find herself blushing at the truth shining there. She focused on pouring the cheese over the first layer, only to feel him come up behind her. "I don't know what I'd have done if you had gotten hurt."
He carefully put the next noodle layer on top of the cheese and she remembered to breathe. "If I can survive a point blank range shooting, Boss Man, I can survive anything the world throws at me. Will you grab out the container of garlic butter? It's on the top shelf of the fridge." She finished the dish and stuck it in the oven. Then she grabbed the loaf of Italian bread and cut it into thick chunks which she set on a metal tray.
Taking the mixture from his hands, she dumped it into a sauce pan and remelted it. "Is there anything you can't do?"
"Aaron?"
"Nothing. It's just, you're amazing."
"That would be the painkillers talking. Go, sit down in the living room. It's going to be at least twenty minutes before we eat." She shooed him out of the kitchen and turned back to the pan on the stove. As she stirred the garlic butter around, she let a few tears escape, hastily wiping them away. This was going to be so much harder than she thought; especially knowing he cared for her. She needed to be on top of everything and not let herself slip again.
Penelope pulled out a brush from the utensil drawer and covered the bread slices with the butter before sticking them in the oven, too. Then she went and joined Aaron and Jack in the living room. He was trying to read the paper and failing, his face scrunched up with pain. "Here, let me read it to you," she said impulsively. "Where do you want me to start?"
"Just read the international headlines, Penelope." He closed his eyes as he listened to her go through the news. She'd just finished the last article when the buzzer rang. She stood up and gently shook Jack's shoulder, waking him.
"Time to eat, buddy. Go get washed up." He nodded and ran off to the bathroom, leaving them alone. She didn't meet Aaron's eyes as she stood in front of him. "What do you want to drink with supper?"
"I'd say wine, but I'm not allowed alcohol on these drugs. Water will be fine, Penny." He stood and held out his elbow and she hesitantly took it, letting him lead her into the kitchen. While he sat, she pulled out three glasses and filled them with water. "Did you get the tub chair from the pharmacy?"
"Uh huh, along with everything else the physical therapist suggested."
"Good. After we do my exercises, I'd like to take a bath. It feels like the smell of the hospital is still oozing out of my pores. Remember, you'll have to help me for the first two weeks. The doctor doesn't want me doing too much with this bum arm of mine."
Penelope turned before he could see her blush, pulling out the lasagna and garlic bread from the oven. "Where do you keep the knives?" she asked to distract herself from the delicious thoughts of seeing him in the tub, naked and wet.
"On top of the fridge. I don't want Jack to have easy access to them."
"Okay, now I see them." She stood on tiptoe and reached for the largest one. As she pulled it out, she caught him staring at her chest and she bit her lip, turning to the lasagna and quickly cutting out three pieces. Jack took a seat next to his father and she served them first, putting the slabs of pasta on their plates before sitting down across from Aaron.
"We learned about Christopher Columbus today at school. Our teacher doesn't seem to like him much."
"Why would you say that?"
"I could tell by her voice. I asked her why and she said I'd find out when I'm older. Why do I have to be older to know everything?"
"Because there are some things you have to go through in life before you can understand fully. Columbus was an explorer, yes, but he was so using other people's work. We should never take credit for something that's not ours."
"I know that, Aunt Penny. Why couldn't she just have said so?" Jack frowned slightly and Penelope tried to mask her smile.
"She probably doesn't think the rest of your class knows that yet."
"Oh. Aunt Penny, you're spending the night, right?"
"Actually, my junior G-man, I'm spending the month."
"Great! Will you read me a bedtime story?"
"Of course I will." She smiled at Aaron and was happy to see a warm smile flicker across his face as well. Jack chattered on for the rest of the meal and helped her put the dishes in the washer when they were done.
"You have an hour before bed, Jack. Do you have any homework?" Aaron held out his hand expectantly and Jack went to the hook where his backpack was and took out a folder, handing it to his father. He quickly went through the papers there and smiled at his son.
"It was easy stuff today, Daddy. I got it done while she was still explaining it to the others." He put the folder back in his bag and pulled Penelope over to the living room. "Let's watch cartoons. Aunt Jessica showed me how to DVR Justice League so I can watch it any time. You like superheroes, right, Aunt Penny?"
"I love them, honey." He grinned and called up an episode and then snuggled next to her on the couch. Aaron joined them a few minutes later, wrapping his good arm around his son's shoulders. Jack squirmed a little, knocking his hand into Penelope's breast and she felt her face turn red at the unexpected intimate touch.
"Sorry," Aaron muttered and she shook her head, a tiny smile flitting across her face.
"They do kind of get in the way," she replied and enjoyed seeing his quick flush of embarrassment. "Aaron, it's okay. At least you didn't make any honking noises."
He let out a short guffaw and Jack shushed him. "Daddy, the show's started."
"Okay, Jack." He smiled at Penelope over Jack's head and she returned the smile. They sat through two episodes and then she brought Jack over to his room.
While he pulled on pajamas, she perused his bookshelf. Frowning, she pulled her phone out of her purse and quickly downloaded Black Beauty in her eReader. "We're going to read a book I loved as a child. We'll read two chapters a night, all right?" Jack nodded and listened to her read the story. By the end of the second chapter, he was yawning and she tucked him in, kissing his forehead lightly.
As Penelope went to leave the room, she saw Aaron in doorway, a sad smile on his lips. "You're really good with him, Penelope."
"Thanks, Aaron. I'm trying to be the best rock I can be for him." She smiled back at him. "So, are you ready to wash away the stink of the hospital?"
"If you are," he said as he walked across the hall to the bathroom. By the time she'd joined him, he had stripped down to his boxers and she was able to see his wounds and scars for the first time clearly.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she reached out to touch his chest. "Oh Aaron, I didn't realize how much you've been through." To cover her quick tears, she turned the water on, letting it fill the tub fill with hot water. She felt him brush against her and straightened slightly before turning to look at him.
Aaron had taken a seat, a washcloth over his lap. Penelope swallowed hard, feeling her cheeks flush once more. "Could you put a little more cold water in? Things are a little too hot for me right now." She nodded hurriedly, trying not to focus on his lap or his eyes.
She grabbed another washcloth and stuck it in the warm water, soaping it up. As she washed his back, she hummed lowly under her breath. She was surprised when he began to hum along. "I didn't know you were a Wainwright fan."
"I moved on to the son after growing up on the father. What's your favorite song?"
"You're going to make me pick one. Fine. 'Go or Go Ahead'." She moved on to his chest, dragging the rough cloth along him. "And yours?"
"Dinner at Eight comes to mind first, but there are so many good songs from him." She slipped lower and he growled lowly, reaching out to stop her hand. "I'm not a saint, Penny." He brought her hand back up to his chest. She nodded and went to rinse the cloth when she slipped on a spot of water and fell onto him. Aaron caught her with his good arm, bringing her tight against his chest, thoroughly wetting the front of her dress.
Penelope raised her face and found herself staring into his eyes, so close to hers. It would be nothing to lean just a little further in and kiss his hard lips. Once more, she swallowed and saw his lips come down to capture hers. She sighed, loving too much the feel of his lips on hers. "Aaron," she breathed out as he broke the kiss. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Here, let me wash your legs." She picked up the washcloth once more and scrubbed at his legs, focusing on the bottom of the tub.
"It's okay, Penny. I'm as much responsible as you." She smiled slightly and ran her hands up and down his legs as she took the soap off. Still not looking directly at him, she ran some clean water into a cup and ran it over his head, washing his hair.
"Do you need me to get any other spot I may have missed, Aaron?" she asked in a subdued voice.
"No, I think I'm clean enough, Penelope." She nodded and pulled the plug, letting the water drain out. She helped him to stand and handed him a towel. He used his good arm to wrap it around his body. For just a moment, she caught a glimpse of him and felt the damned flush return.
She turned and bent, grabbing his boxers and handing them to him before turning around with his t-shirt. "So, we have to go through your exercises before I leave you along for the night." Aaron nodded and they went back out to the living room. Penelope quickly read over the instructions one more time and began to work through the list of five exercises the physical therapist had prescribed.
Aaron hissed slightly, the only noise he made throughout the cycle. By the time she was finished, both were breathing heavily. She looked at him and saw his eyes were closed, his face scrunched up in discomfort. "Penny, would you go into the kitchen and grab me two of the 800 milligram Tylenol?"
"Sure." She went over and found the bottle, shaking two into her hand. Then she went and filled a glass with water. Penelope returned to his side moments later. He took the pills from her, throwing them in his mouth and then sipping at the water. She yawned and he turned his head to smile at her. "And Monday begins the real test of this. If I'm so exhausted now, what will it be like then?"
"You're the best, Penelope. I have no worries about you doing this with your usual perfection."
"Hey, I'm not perfect. Those drugs are addling your brain, Boss Man. Remember the Fisher King? Or Darren Call?"
"I've made mistakes, too, Penny. But we've moved on and learned from them, right? And two mistakes over our entire caseload is as close to perfect as you can get." He held out his arm and she instinctively curled up into him. He made it so easy to be free like this. She could almost pretend that they were together, a couple, and he was so close to her. Even in her wildest dreams, this had never come close to happening.
"Aaron, we have to be careful. I want this too much. And you know Strauss will be checking up on us. But…"
"You were always one to play with fire, even when it burned."
"Yeah." She looked up and saw his eyes were closed. "Maybe, maybe it would be for the best if you went to bed now. Otherwise, who knows what will happen." Penelope stood and grabbed some pajamas from her bag. "I'm going to get changed for bed." She knew she was babbling and that if he was to reach out his hand, she would let him lead her to his room. Neither could afford that.
"I'll see you in the morning, then."
"Bright and early, Boss Man." She escaped to the bathroom and leaned against the door, her heart racing wildly. "That's it, cold shower for you tonight, Garcie." Slowly, she stripped, looking at herself in the mirror. He desired her. Him, one of the most gorgeous men on the face of the planet. And here they were, stuck together for the next four weeks.
Penelope stepped into the shower, standing beneath the cold spray. It seemed like the Universe was forever playing some kind of joke on her. First Battle, and then Kevin, and now this. Slowly, she washed her body, trying not to picture his hands running over her curves. And she couldn't even get off, not with them so close to her.
Finally, she turned the water off and quickly dried her body, slipping into the pajamas. When she got back to the living room, she saw that he had left her a set of sheets and some pillows. Smiling, Penelope made the couch over into her bed and lay down, covering herself up. The sheets smelled like him, and she drifted off to sleep with her mind in the other room, with him.
In the morning, Jack woke her up by sitting on her legs. Blearily, she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Hey Jack. What time is it?"
"6:30. Aunt Jessica's going to be here soon to take me to school. Daddy has breakfast ready, if you're hungry."
"Good." She shoved her glasses on her face and then stumbled after Jack into the kitchen. Aaron was just putting the plates on the table and he smiled at her. She smiled back and sat down next to him. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing. I know the couch isn't too comfortable."
"I had sweet dreams to ease my sleep. But how about you? Did the medicine last the night?" She touched his shoulder in concern and he turned to look at her.
"I was fine." She read the truth he didn't want to say in his eyes and she bit her lip a little as she nodded. "So Jack, are you going to be good in school today?"
"Of course I am, Daddy. You're home and Aunt Penelope is here." Jack shoved a huge piece of pancake in his mouth and grinned at them. Penelope had barely finished eating when there was a knock at the door.
"I'm not even dressed yet," she wailed as she put her plate in the sink.
"You look fine, Penelope. Besides, it's just Jessica. You don't need to impress her."
But I do her mind screamed as she smoothed her hair, looking around the room for somewhere to hide.
"Pumpkin, you look fine," he repeated, kissing her cheek softly. It was enough to still her hands and plaster a dreamy smile on her face. "I'll go to the door if you want to get Jack's lunch out of the fridge. I was up early this morning anyway, so I thought I'd get that out of the way."
Dumbly, she nodded and got up, opening the fridge door and finding the Captain America lunch bag. Jack ran up to her and took the bag from her hand. "Have a great day, Aunt Penny! I love you."
"I love you, too, Jack." He hugged her tightly before running to the door, hugging his father on the way out. "Well, shall we get to work, Aaron?" He nodded and they went into the living room where she began to set up the computers to the best configuration.