"You're being taken out of the field." Chris stood at the end of Ben's hospital bed with his phone in hand. It had been three days since Ben woke up and, though some of the painkillers kept him drowsy, he was able to stay awake the whole day with just a short nap in the afternoon. The doctors were impressed with his recovery and had him slated to "go home" that day, though the idea of returning to the cold impersonal hotel made him almost wish he could stay in the hospital longer.
Now, though, he was faced with the possibility of being shipped back to DC. He squeezed the blanket in his hands as he paled at the thought. "You're not serious," was all he could think to say.
"You were just shot in the chest," Chris reasoned. "And you're still in recovery. They don't want you on the ground anymore. Too risky." At Ben's indigent look, Chris added, "And I agree."
"What does this mean for me, then?" he asked, loosening his grip on the sheets. "Am I being sent back to Washington?"
At his question, a lopsided grin crossed Chris's face and Ben instantly knew he had done something. "You'll be staying here," his partner replied. "I suggested that it would be better if you didn't travel and that you should stay close to doctors who have treated both of your gunshot wounds. I also mentioned that, since you know about Leslie's campaign and the personal relationships of the townspeople, it would be critical you stay here. I wouldn't expect to be doing any more raids, though."
Ben grinned back at Chris. If he had the strength, he'd jump out of his bed and give him the biggest bro-hug of the century. For for now Ben's grateful, "Thank you" would have to suffice.
"You are going to have to answer to some questions," Chris warned, his smile turning into a serious frown. "And Director Barkley isn't going to go easy on you."
Ben leaned back against the pillows with a groan, not wanting to think about dealing with Jen. She would shoot him again herself for putting a mission this important in jeopardy by getting into a relationship with a townie.
"Wait," Ben's head shot up suddenly. "Do they know about Leslie and me?"
Chris shook his head. "They know you're good friends, and they can't fault you for living in a place for months and making nice with the people there. I also may have persuaded them that it's crucial you gain the trust of the other candidates so you can better protect them."
Ben smiled at his colleague and found himself laughing lightly. "You're the best. I really can't thank you enough for watching my back like this."
"It's what partners do." Chris reached over and dug into his briefcase that leaned against the wall. He took out a yellow folder full of papers and plopped it on Ben's legs. "Before you leave, you might want to get cracking on these reports. Jen wants them on her desk first thing tomorrow."
Ben reached over and grabbed the folder and started flipping through the drab lined questionnaires. "There's got to be fifty sheets in here." He picked out one and turned it over. "Double-sided!"
"Well, a serious gunshot wound, attempted kidnapping of a subject, and lengthy hospital stay tends to result in a lot of paperwork," Chris reasoned with a laugh. "Don't worry, Ben! I'm sure you'll do great!" And with that, he bid his partner goodbye and left the room.
Ben dramatically threw himself against his pillows with a long groan of frustration. He just wanted to get released and go, not work on all of these stupid redundant reports. After a good minute of wallowing in his misfortune, he picked himself up, grabbed a pen on his nightstand and got to work.
Ben got through about ten pages before he heard a knock at the door. Glancing up, he watched as Leslie made her way into the room and offered him a small wave. He smiled back at her and set aside the paperwork. So what if he didn't have this done today? What was Jen going to do, drive down from DC and kick his ass? Well, yes that was a possibility, but he would worry about that later.
"Hey," Leslie greeted as she crossed the room to her usual chair by his bedside. "How are you doing today? I heard they're sending you home."
"Back to the hotel," Ben corrected as Leslie sat.
"I thought you said you didn't really have a home though," Leslie replied, "That you moved around too much." Then it dawned on her. This was information Ben had shared with her before this whole thing happened and she couldn't be sure what was true and what was part of a coverup.
"I do have an apartment back in DC," Ben told her when he saw the realization on her face. "It's small, but I guess that's as close to home as it gets." Truth be told, while he loved living in the nation's capital, he hadn't done too much to make it feel like home. It was just where he lived and worked and spent most of his time.
"It must be nice living there," Leslie said as she leaned back in her chair. "I've always wanted to live there. Maybe one day when I'm a congresswoman or senator." A devilish look crossed her face. "Or president."
Ben couldn't help but laugh, though he knew how serious Leslie's intentions were. "It's a nice place to live," he agreed. "But it's big and impersonal. It's nothing like Pawnee."
"You like it here so much?" Leslie asked, her eyebrow raised. "Even better than the big city."
"I have to say getting shot has put me off a little," Ben joked. "But yes, it's a nice town. The people aren't half bad either."
Leslie was just about to respond when Ben's doctor walked in. "Alright, Mister Wyatt, you're about good to go. I just need to put down an address we can reach you at." He passed Ben a clipboard and Ben grabbed the pen on his nightstand.
"I'm just staying at the Old Pawnee Inn," he told the man. "Do you want my room number?"
The doctor didn't look too thrilled by Ben's question, but he merely shrugged. "If that's where you are going to be, then yes that would work," he replied. "It would be preferable, however, if you had someone to possibly stay with just to keep an eye on you the first week while you're continuing to heal."
"Well Chris is right down the hall," Ben said. "Other than that, I don't have an actual place here in Pawnee."
"You could stay with me," Leslie piped in suddenly. The doctor gave her an approving look while Ben appeared confused and then a little bashful.
"You don't have to do that, Leslie," he said.
"No, I have a guest room," she continued, feeling much more confident in her offer now. "Yeah, this would work out! It's a nice guest room and I know I have a nicer shower than whatever they have at that old hotel. Plus, I can make sure you get a better breakfast at my place too."
"I don't know, Leslie. That's asking a lot of you and I really don't want to impose."
"You wouldn't be imposing at all," she insisted as she reached over and grabbed the clipboard. "I can't let you go back to that old hotel all by yourself." She crossed off the beginnings of the Old Pawnee Inn's address and scribbled in her own. "There. It's happening now, for real." She passed the paper back to the doctor who just nodded approvingly.
"I'll have a nurse come with a wheelchair then. You're free to get changed and we'll wheel you back out to the world." With that, he left and Leslie followed to give Ben a chance to change. He shook his head as the door shut and he was left with a pair of jeans and a new shirt Chris had grabbed from his room. He didn't know how living with Leslie was going to go, but part of him was glad she had insisted.
Leslie came back not long after he was done changing followed by a nurse pushing a wheelchair. Had he not already experienced Saint Joseph's Hospital, he would have likely argued about having to be wheeled out. It was their policy to see their patients to the door this way. A part of him was a little grateful. They were discharging him because he was doing very well and they needed the bed, but he was still pretty tired. However, being tired wasn't reason enough to stay.
While Ben was getting into the chair and the nurse checked that he had everything he needed, Leslie went out to pull the car around. Silently, he was wheeled down the halls he was once rushed up. He hoped he would never have to experience these stark white walls and sharp sterile smell again.
The front doors opened and the warm late summer sunlight hit Ben like a breath of fresh air. He breathed in, for once grateful for the distinct smell of Pawnee. It was a beautiful smell now, filled with flowers and sunlight. He'd been in the hospital less than a week, but it felt like an eternity.
Leslie pulled up and Ben thanked the nurse before getting in the passenger's side. His leg muscles hurt from lack of use and he was glad he didn't have to walk too far before he was in Leslie's cool car.
"So we can swing by the hotel and grab your stuff," Leslie immediately began chatting away as she pulled out of the hospital parking lot. "And then we can head to my place. I'll make dinner." She paused and thought about that for a minute. "Well, I might just get takeout. But it will be good! And then we can marathon movies all night long! It will be like a sleepover! I'll make popcorn and maybe some cookies as well! What do you think? Any movie suggestions?"
"How about Star Wars?" Ben asked, amused, though he already knew he wouldn't be able to stay awake long enough for whatever she all-nighter she had planned.
"I don't think I have that," Leslie replied. "I can rent it!"
"Don't worry about it." Ben waved off the idea. "But I will get you to watch Star Wars with me eventually. It's a great series! One of the best of all time! I still can't believe you haven't seen it!"
Leslie just shrugged, but a contented smile graced her lips. As they drove through the bright town streets, she felt thankful that they were even able to have this conversation. That night last week could have turned out very differently. It was only now starting to sink in just how close she came to losing Ben.
They pulled into the hotel and Ben briefly left to gather a bag of his things. He ended up packing most of his stuff since he didn't travel with many personal items and didn't know how long he would be at Leslie's place. As he left his room, he glanced at the door to Chris's and he wondered how the rest of the investigation was going. What information had Chris gathered in his absence? Being taken out of the field meant he likely wouldn't have access to all the information he'd had before. Hopefully, Chris would keep him in the loop. After all, he was still part of this mission.
He got back in Leslie's car with a heavy huff and she stole a glance at him as she pulled away. "You okay?" she asked.
"Exhausted. I never realized how much energy it takes to walk around." Ben frowned. "It's frustrating."
"You'll be good as new in no time," Leslie replied confidently. "You're still healing, so you should take it easy." As she finished her sentence, she pulled into her driveway. Ben noted how normal it looked as if there hadn't been a serious injury and crime scene on this very yard not a week ago. However, as they exited the car, he noticed an overturned potted plant, its base cracked and broken. It was the only memorial to what happened that night. Perhaps that was for the best. He would much rather put the whole thing out of his mind.
Ben had been to Leslie's house before, but he hadn't been inside. When he did finally walk further than the front door, he raised his eyebrows at all the clutter in the home. It wasn't a dirty house at all, but the rooms were filled with boxes, papers, and all sorts of miscellaneous things that he couldn't recognize. He wasn't exactly surprised. Leslie was able to keep herself together, so there had to be some messy part of her life. She struck him as the type to be completely organized at work, but let a few things go in her own home.
"Sorry, I haven't had a chance to clean up," Leslie told him when she saw the look on his face. "It's not usually this bad, I swear!"
"As long as there's a bed somewhere upstairs, I don't care at all," Ben replied. If he could just fall into bed, he would be a very happy camper, regardless of what Leslie's dining room looked like.
"Well," Leslie smiled leading him up the stairs. "The guest room is right over here." She turned directly to the right at the top of the stairs and walked into her spare room. Stacks of notebooks and boxes lined the wall, but the room was clean and sunlight spilled in through the window at the far end of the room. Ben threw his duffle bag down by the dresser and hung up his nice suit and shirt while Leslie went to shut the blinds.
"I'm going to clear up downstairs and figure out what to order for dinner," she said as she crossed back to the doorway. "What are you in the mood for?"
Sleep was the answer Ben wanted to give, but he just shrugged. He didn't care what they ate or if they ate at all so long as he got in a good afternoon nap. Leslie pondered for a moment and then a bright grin stretched across her face. "I know! I'll have the local pizza place specially make us calzones for tonight. Sound good?"
Now that was an answer Ben could get behind. He was originally thinking about going straight to bed for the rest of the day, but this could actually get him up when the food was ready. "That sounds great," he told her, restraining himself from sounding too excited.
"Awesome!" Leslie then hesitated, as though she was waiting to ask him something else. He continued to stand there as she shifted from one foot onto the other before finally stepping back into the room. She crossed over to him, pushed herself up on her toes, and kissed Ben on the cheek. "Have a good nap!" she then said before exiting the room, shutting the door behind her.
Ben smiled at the gesture, but he didn't take too long to relish the feeling of Leslie's lips on his skin. It was only by a small miracle that he was able to even pull the blankets up over him. He was asleep the second his head touched the pillow.
Update day is a little early this weekend since I'm a little busy tomorrow! Thanks as always for reading!