The next day came with more revelations with the case and from Henry. While the case unfolded, first finding the security officer and then taking him to custody. Hanson was still trying to get information as Henry and Jo took a much needed coffee break.
Jo after asking Henry's permission to ask more questions started simple. Jo turned towards Henry until her knees bumped his and she leaned in close. "What is your favourite colour?"
Henry chuckled his amused chuckle, "Its green, like the grass just after it rains. How about you?"
"I thought this is about you."
"It is but I want to know about you too. You're a little secretive yourself you know."
"I feel like an open book around you. I feel like I can't have any secrets. You always seem to know everything."
"Trust me. I don't know everything especially when it comes to you."
"Okay fine my favourite colour is purple, dark purple."
Henry smiled encouragingly ready for her next question.
"Favourite ice cream flavour?"
"Mmm, I would have to say butterscotch, you?"
"Mint chocolate chip."
Jo went a little deeper "Why did you stop being a doctor?"
Henry breathed out. "It is one of my biggest regrets in life. Not stopping being a doctor but why." He shook his head "I was selfish. I choose myself over a patient who needed me."
Jo looked at him waiting for him to elaborate.
"I choose to protect myself and my secret instead of saving a man bleeding within my reach."
Jo put a hand on Henry's shoulder and waited for him to reach her eyes again. When he did he smiled a small sad smile. "We all do things we regret" Jo said to him.
He nods and asks her why she became a cop. Jo answered in telling him more about her father and how he wasn't a good influence on her and how she just wanted to do what was right.
"You amaze me" Henry said which seemed like a surprise to both of them when it slipped out of his mouth. Then there was a moment where nothing else was said both Jo and Henry just looked into each other's eyes and acknowledged for the first time that they had more than just friendship. Jo thought for a moment he was going to lean in and kiss her. And maybe he was going to except they were in the make shift kitchen at the precinct and only seconds later Hanson came marching in chattering about being able to 'do this all day'. Henry and Jo jumped apart as if they were caught doing something more intimate than looking into each other's eyes. But Jo later thought that maybe there was nothing in her life that had been more intimate than that moment.
It was hours later when the security guard finally admitted to where the dagger was. Jo and Henry were the only ones who went, they didn't expect any trouble. However the man, Mr. Griffin did and he was ready because when Henry and Jo walked in to see him it was only seconds before there was a hand around Jo's neck and a knife to her throat.
In moments like this Jo's instinct was to panic to try and hit her attacker, run if possible. But she kept calm often Henry could talk his way out of situations like these.
Henry had been standing directly beside her, close enough that he was able to slyly take the gun from Jo. It was Mr. Griffin who spoke.
"No one has to die, you can walk out of here alive or the pretty one gets killed first. Taking a look around the office Jo could see he was getting ready to run. If they had not gotten here when they did he would have most likely been gone.
"What would killing her accomplish for you?" Henry said calm but firm.
"It would give me enough time to escape. I don't exactly want to leave but I will to protect the dagger."
"You hired the security guard to go after Blair."
"I never meant for anyone to die! I am giving you the chance to leave unharmed. Take it."
Henry looked at Jo and she knew he was going to back down. She didn't know why she couldn't let it happen but she would never be able to live with herself if she let him get away with the dagger and death on his hands. So Jo fought to get free. She was able to slip away from the guard holding her and jump at Mr. Griffin. She hit him across the head with the first thing she got her hands on. He got knocked unconscious.
Henry had gone for the guard but after a short battle Henry ended up with the knife in his shoulder. Jo didn't have enough time to react before the security officers gun was pointed at her head. But only seconds later Henry was standing once again pointing her gun at the culprit.
"I will let her go with a promise of immunity" The man with the gun to Jo's head said. "Not only will I not be prosecuted but I will be omitted from the reports. Nobody else has to get hurt here. If you let me go she will live I don't care about the stupid dagger. He hired me to do this."
Although she didn't want to die the thought of the man getting away was unbearable.
"Henry don't do it."
"Jo" Henry says with a small smile "He's not worth it."
With that he holds out the gun puts it on the ground and walks a few paces back.
"Leave now before I change my mind." Henry said with a snarl. He sounded almost cruel.
The gun left Jo's head and is put on Henry. He began to leave Jo's side slowly backing out of the room gun pointed at Henry.
The man lowered the gun a fraction of an inch and Henry responds faster than Jo would have thought possible. He dived for the gun on the ground and lifted it enough to get one shot off. The bullet hit the man in the arm holding the gun and he instantly dropped it.
Jo quickly cuffed both men and called for backup, while Henry examined his shoulder with a knife sticking out of it. Jo came over to him.
"Are you okay?"
Henry didn't respond he only pulled the knife out with a grunt. "It didn't hit any bone, nerves, or blood vessels only soft tissue. I'm going to be fine."
"Henry…" Jo was dying to ask the question frightening her. "I didn't know you knew how to shoot a gun."
Henry sighed "I was in the military."
Jo looked up at him shocked. Henry wouldn't hurt a fly if he could avoid it, what would bring him to join? Realising that learning a thing or two about his childhood was only a first step into all the pain he went through in his life and people he has lost.
"I can't picture you in the military" Jo finally said
"Well I was an army doctor not a solider. But everyone got basic weapons training which is why I know how to shoot a gun."
"Why didn't this come up in any files or reports of you?"
"I guess you just didn't go deep enough."
All of a sudden Jo couldn't stop herself from throwing her arms around his neck and holding him close. She put her face into the crook of his neck. She breathed deeply allowing the scent that was uniquely his to calm her.
"Thank you" She said her face still resting on his shoulder "for saving my life." And she didn't just mean that night. She meant for all the times he had frustrated her and confused her and made her look at life in a different way. And most importantly he had made her feel again and that is why he saved her life and why she would always be grateful for it.
