Cal had just pulled into his driveway when the phone rang. He smiled when he saw Gillian's name pop up. He pressed the button to answer it.
"Hello darling. You change your mind about coming to keep me warm?" he grinned to himself but it soon fell when he heard the male voice at the other end of the line.
"Is this Cal?" Cal's blood ran cold.
"Yes…" he said warily.
"I'm Tom, Gillian's neighbour. She's uh, she's been beaten up. She told me to call you." Cal felt the anger begin to burn in his stomach once more. But there was no point in taking out on Tom. He asked where she was being taken to and thanked him for calling. Then he put the car into reverse, screeched out of the driveway and tore off towards town.
OXOXOXO
The hospital was reluctant to let him in because he wasn't family. He sighed in exasperation. He contemplated telling them that they'd been sharing a bed for the last three nights but decided against it.
"She's my business partner and my best friend," he said forcefully.
"I'm sorry Sir, the rule is 'family only'." Cal shook his head before a thought occurred to him.
"Her family's in California," he lied, "Who's her medical contact?" He prayed that she hadn't taken his name off that slot during the cold war that they'd had earlier in the year. The nurse checked the file and finally nodded, telling him where to go.
OXOXOXO
He didn't knock on her room door, just walked straight in. She was sitting up in the bed, and he felt nauseous when he saw her. The whole right hand side of her face was black and blue. Her attacker was left handed, or one of them was. She looked up when she saw him and seemed to contort into herself. He moved and sat next to her on the bed, carefully draping an arm around her as she winced in pain.
"Sorry love." She shook her head.
"It's ok. I'm ok."
"No, you're bloody not. What happened darling?" She sniffed and he threaded his fingers through hers, turning to face her on the bed.
"I was walking up the steps to my apartment and one of them hit me in the face. Really hard. I fell and they dragged me up the steps. There were two of them. I don't know how long they kicked me for…" she trailed off and Cal reached up to push her hair off her face. He touched her black face with the back of his hand and leaned in to softly press his lips to her bruised temple.
"Bastards," he said finally.
"You were right Cal. It was a warning. They didn't say anything but…it has to be, right?" Cal nodded his head, standing up.
"It shouldn't have happened…" Gillian thought he was about to start saying she should have stayed with him.
"Cal…"
"That sodding useless FBI should have been watching your house. They left you out to dry and they're bloody well going to hear about it from me…" He trailed off as he felt her hand on his. He stepped in closer to her and softly kissed her forehead again. Everything had to be gentle, she was very sore.
"What's the damage love?" he asked holding her hand in his.
"Two broken ribs, three more bruised. And bruising on the face. The doctor said I was really lucky, there was no internal bleeding or head injuries." Cal nodded his head even though he didn't consider it very lucky that she'd been beaten to a pulp.
"Are you allowed to leave?" She nodded.
"I just have to check in with the nurse on the way out and she'll give me some painkillers." He nodded at this one and helped her stand up off the bed. He trailed his hand softly behind her, anchoring her if she needed him.
"Are you going to object if I say you're staying in mine tonight?" She shook her head. No she certainly was not. But she hated the fact that she needed to rely on him, needed him to protect her. They stopped at the nurse's station as they passed and Gillian pocketed two tubes of painkillers. Cal cast them a smile of thanks as he led Gillian on toward the elevator.
OXOXOXO
Gillian's back hurt by the time they got back to Cal's house. He helped her from the car and into the house, depositing her on the couch while he went to make tea. His FBI bodyguard was hiding somewhere. Good thing too because Cal might have taken all his anger out on him otherwise.
"I'm going to the FBI in the morning," he called from the kitchen and Gillian grimaced.
"Cal…"
"No Gill, you could have been bloody killed tonight. I told them, I told them to put someone at your house and the stupid bastards wouldn't listen. AND I'm charging them double next time they bring a case to us." He re-emerged and handed her a cup of tea, it was only three quarters full. He sat down next to her and drank his own in silence.
When both cups were emptied Cal took hers and left both on the coffee table. He turned to look at her.
"What do you need?" he asked softly, not sure what exactly he meant but willing her to say whatever she felt. She swallowed.
"Something to sleep in. A glass of water." He smiled. Practical as always. He stood up and moved to the kitchen, he brought the empty cups with him. When he came back he left the glass of water on the coffee table and turned to look at her.
"Let me see," he said softly and her eyes flew open. She shook her head.
"No, Cal. I don't, I don't want you to see it…"
"Why not?" She took a deep breath and moved to the edge of the couch to stand up. He helped her.
"Because it's horrible and ugly…" He shook his head.
"It is. You're not," he said, his hand settling on her knee, squeezing slightly. She sighed and shook her head again.
"It's bad enough that you can see my face. And anyway, I'm all bandaged up." Cal shifted closer to her, his hand coming off her knee to softly tip her face towards his.
"Don't ever suggest that it is a bad thing that your face can be seen," he said smiling softly. She smiled then, a genuine smile, one that reached all the way to her eyes and she pursed her lips to catch the soft kiss he placed there before standing up.
"Ok, let's get you kitted out for a sleep over."
OXOXOXO
Cal brushed his teeth and changed into a pyjama bottom while Gillian changed in his bedroom. When he came out of the en suite she was already in the bed, trying to lie in the most comfortable position for her ribs. He smiled and sat down next to her, stroking her hair.
"Does it hurt?"
"It's ok; I just took painkillers so hopefully they kick in." He nodded, standing and moving to sit in the chair by the window.
"What are you doing?" she asked, confused.
"Just go to sleep. I'll be fine." She looked at him, eyebrow raised.
"Cal, come to bed." He stood up and moved to sit down on his side of the bed but he didn't get under the covers.
"Are you sure I won't hurt you?" She looked at him through narrowed eyes.
"Were you planning to?" she asked, shielding a smirk and reaching her hand out for his. He grinned back.
"Oh you know me love, I find something I like I grab on tight." His wolfish grin sent a warm feeling to the pit of her stomach and she cursed her broken ribs that would have any kind of interaction excruciatingly painful.
"I'll take my chances. Get in." He smirked and pulled back the cover, sliding in under it, his head falling to the pillow. He glanced sideways. She was lying on her back, probably the least painful position for her now. He turned onto his side to watch her. She had the sleeves of his shirt tucked into themselves and he leaned across to place a kiss on her shoulder. She smiled and held back a laugh.
"What?" he asked smiling.
"I didn't realise you could be so…" she shook her head, trying to think of the word. He raised his eyebrows, searching her face for the answer and he knew it before she'd said it.
"…cute," She said finally. He flinched backwards, a look of mock horror on his face.
"Cute?" he said in exasperation. She chuckled.
"Goodnight Cal." He took that as the sign to turn off the light.
OXOXOXO
Slightly shorter chapter here but there's still loads more to come. I'm doing my best to keep it going!