DISCLAIMER: I own nothing and no recognizable characters from Hellboy. I am just a poor college student who also happens to be a rabid fan and this just happens to be a fanfiction that my mind came up with that I feel like sharing with other fans. I make absolutely NO money from this fanfic. It is merely for fun and hopefully the enjoyment of other fans. Please don't sue and fans please enjoy.
Dear Readers, Please, please review this fanfic when you are finished reading. It only takes a minute and you have no idea how much a few words from you can help and inspire an author. Thanks to all of the people how have been reviewing this story. It really keeps me wanting to update as fast as I possibly can. Thanks again…
Chapter 9: Just a Touch of Love
Later that morning, after Martha had walked April out to her school bus stop, the redhead came back to find Abe washing the last few dishes that were left from breakfast. There was still quite a stack of pancakes left on a plate in the center of the table, but that's just how pancakes go: the recipe always makes much more then is needed. Martha leaned silently against the entryway for a few minutes, just watching Abe work. His calm movements as he washed and rinsed the plates. His graceful, blue hands reaching to place each dish in the dishwasher. Then, somehow sensing her presence, Abe glanced up and smiled. The warmth and friendliness in that smile almost made Martha blush. The redhead's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't even noticed feelings like these were developing in her until now.
Oh no girl, Martha thought sternly to herself. You're sooo not falling for this man. Just because he's kind and gentle and good with kids and he can cook… The redhead groaned inwardly. This is so unfair… I don't stand a chance do I? No, she though again sternly. You've got a daughter now to take care of and for all you know, a guy this nice probably already has a woman of his own. Snap out of it! You've only known him for like a week. You barely know anything about him at all! That is no way to start a romantic relationship. Abe equals friend only.
Having straitened that little issue out in her mind, Martha smiled back at Abe. "You know, you didn't have to do all this."
Abe shrugged as he placed the last of the dishes in the washer. "It was fun and I was starting to feel a bit restless anyway. Being an invalid is hard work you know. Having a distraction every now and then is good for me. Plus April made a wonderful helper," the Icthyo sapien added with a wink of his eye.
Martha had to laugh at that. "I'm sure she did." Then she watched Abe curiously as he wiped down the counter with a dishrag. "You know Abe you're really good with kids."
Abe looked up at that. "You think so?" he asked cocking his head to the side in consideration. "I guess we do have a few around the Bureau every now and again."
The two were interrupted then, before the conversation could go any further, by the sounds of a car driving up the lane.
"That must be William." Martha said turning away from the kitchen to rush towards the front door still just a little puzzled about the feelings that had suddenly come over her a few minutes before. "Be back in a second."
---
"Here ya go." William said to Abe, heaving a duffel bag up onto the kitchen table, a curious Martha close behind him. "Let's see if we can't get ya into some new cloths. Can't have ya mooching off Martha forever."
The duffel bag was literally bursting at the seams with clothing. After a few minutes of sorting and fitting, it was plain to see all the jeans William had brought were at least two sizes to big of Abe if not more – they had belonged to the old medic before after all – but luckily there were a couple grey and black sweatpants in the mix of clothing. William had originally intended them to be nightclothes, but as he so deftly put it: oh well. The shirts William brought were also pretty big, but that was to be expected when one compared the old soldier's quarterbacker's built to Abe's lean, but muscular swimmers physique. It didn't really matter though, Abe was delighted regardless. The Icthyo sapien had started to feel kind of guilty lately since he seemed to be depriving Martha of all her shorts, but before Abraham could change there was something else he and William had to do.
---
William was presently surprised as he lifted away the last of the bandaged that had covered Abe wounded hip. He turned his gazed up towards the Icthyo sapien, one eyebrow raised questioningly.
Abe smiled like he knew this was coming. "I heal fast."
"I can see that," the old medic commented looking down again at the almost fully healed wound that had been a deep and worrisome gash just a few days ago. "Looks like the stitches can come out. It's pretty much going to be the same as last time since you can't take pain killers, but I've been thinking, what about alcohol? We used to use it all the time in the army when the meds ran out. Don't know why I didn't think of it before…"
Williams's words slowly drifted to a halt as he noticed Abe was lightly shaking his head. "No thanks. Alcohol will knock me flatter then a pancake," the Icthyo sapien smiled a little then, realizing what he had just said, before continuing. "Just be as fast as you were last time and I'll be fine."
---
"Ow," Abe breathed when William had finished.
"That about sums it up," the old soldier said with a grin. The operation had gone as well as the last time if not better, but it still had left Abraham a little shaken.
After a quick check William found the Icthyo sapien's ribs were also much better then he had expected. They were still cracked, but just. "Well that's about all I can do for you now," he said finishing up. "Want me to grab some clothes so you can change when you get your wind back?"
"Sure. That would be lovely." Abe said, still a little out of it. This time the Icthyo sapien's check up had occurred in Martha's bedroom. The boys had grabbed a chair from the table and dragged it and the first aid supplied into that room so Martha could continue to work in the kitchen.
"Lovely," William muttered under his breath with a shake of his head as he rummaged through the clothing he had brought. Abe certainly had an interesting way with words… Grabbing a black pair of sweatpants with white racing stripes and a white button up shirt, the medic moved back to the bedroom. "Here ya go," he said flopping the clothing onto the bed when he noticed the Icthyo sapienhadn't quiet recovered enough to move from the chair yet. "Take your time," the old soldier said then quietly. Abe might be healing fast, but he was still healing. "We'll be out here when you're ready."
---
A little while later, Martha was starting to worry about her injured guest because he still had not come out of the bedroom. The redhead had made some fresh, morning coffee and was in the process of convincing William to go check on the Icthyo sapien when the person in question entered the kitchen. Abe was fumbling with the last few buttons of the shirt William had given him and was frustratingly not having any luck. Finally exasperated he gave up.
"Having a little trouble there partner?" William said, hiding a smile behind his cup.
"I just don't get it," Abe replied a bit perplex, falling into a chair. "No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get these buttons to work!"
Martha choked on her coffee. All thoughts of her earlier attraction fled the redhead's mind as she simply laughed at her blue friend.
Concerned, Abe looked at her. "Are you alright."
"Fine… fine," the redhead somehow managed to gasp out through her combined coughs and laughter.
Realizing he was somehow the cause of the laughter and smiles, the Icthyo sapien's brow furrowed. "But it true," he insisted blushing fiercely. "It's like their cursed or something… they just won't fasten right."
William set his coffee down smartly, knowing that if he even tried to drink any he would have the same problem Martha was inflicted with. "Can't believe there's a guy out there that can't even button his own shirt," the old soldier jokingly mumbled under his breath as he watches Abe attempt again. Martha was still laughing.
"Oh get your butt over here and let see what I can do." William finally said after watching poor Abe's new and very futile attempts.
---
"Well here's the problem," William announced a moment later. Martha's laughing/coughing fit had finally ended and she looked up wiping a few stray tears from her eyes. "You're off by one." The old medic continued unbuttoning the shirt all the way. Then he stopped as he saw what lay underneath. "Abe, what is this?"
Abe looked down. He had already forgotten he had put on his bullet-proof vest underneath the shirt. Out in the field, it was required for all agents to wear them so the action had almost been unconscious.
"Oh, Abe," Martha said a little sadly, her earlier mirth forgotten. Did Abraham still feel that uncomfortable around them? "There's no need for that around here. You're perfectly safe."
"Sorry, it's just kind of a habit." The Icthyo sapien quickly moved to take the vest off.
"No wait," William said stopping him. "I think," the old soldier paused to consider something and then nodded. "Yes I do think this will actually help your ribs out a lot."
"Because it is such a tight fit," the medic continued talking to Abe as he noticed Martha shooting him a questioning glance in his peripheral vision. "Almost like it was tailored for you. It will keep all your ribs from shifting around too much."
The old soldier then moved closer to admire the black article of clothing. It had a small emblem on the left side of a hand holding what looked like a sword with the legend BPRD under it. "Jeez," he breathed. "This things really high grade. Where did you get something like this?"
"I work for a government agency." Abe said matter-a-factly. There was really no need to hide the truth. "The bulletproof vests are standard issue when we're out in the field. "
The old soldier's eyes flashed with humor then as he leaned back his seat again. "Huh, conspiracy theories really do come true."
Abe had to smile at that…
---
"Okay," William said to Abe after the medic had finished off the last of his coffee. Martha had offered Abe a cup as well, but the Icthyo sapien politely declined saying that much caffeine would just make him annoyingly hyper. "Let's take a walk. I think you've been fawned over by two beautiful ladies long enough. Plus, knowing Martha, she's kept you in bed all this time. Like you were going to break or something."
The redhead stuck her tongue out at the older man over her coffee with a bit of a guilty smiled. He was right after all…
And with that the two guys, one human and one not quite, started off towards the sea, waving to Martha as she stood in the doorway until they couldn't see her anymore.
TBC…
Thanks to everyone for reading and please don't forget to review ;) …
Echodex: I love the way you think! And I love your messages. Thanks a bunch. PS: Nya, I wish I could pet your puppy… Me's loves animuls…
SesshiraRayu: Thanks for the review!
Iz the Shadow Pirate: You make me happy! Thanks for lovin' the pancakes and our sweet little "Mr. Fishy…" Thanks so much for your review.
Peya Luna: Pancakes are good aren't they…? Thanks a bunch.
P.S. Could someone who knows tell me what 'visitors' are... i just can't figure it out... how are they different from hits?
P.P.S. Chapter Title: "Just a Touch of Love" sung by C & C Music Factory
