Title: Here Comes Trouble - Part 25
The cool breeze is what wakes me up from my nap.
"Nora?"
I look around the small living room of her boat house and spot the sliding glass doors open. I also spot the bag with all of her wet clothes thrown about haphazardly.
"Nora?"
OK, nothing to worry about, Beaumont. She got a couple hours of sleep and woke up, so she must be around here somewhere. Check the obvious places first.
Throwing back the afghan I had tucked around me not too long after Nora had passed out and I had taken up a watchful eye over her, I unfurl myself from the recliner and head outside.
I can see her out in the dark, the low glow of the one light from inside just barely touching her.
Nora's standing there, arms bracing herself against the railing, just staring out into the dark. With the water less than a foot away.
Reaching out hesitantly, I slide my fingers over her left shoulder, hoping I don't startle her. I'd really rather not have to do another water rescue tonight.
She's so still, that she doesn't even react to me. It's... disconcerting.
"Nora?" Too loud to be a whisper, my voice cuts through the night. It's so quiet out here. No traffic. No birds. Just the slap of water against the pontoons and logs under us.
Turning her head she looks at me... my heart just hurts at the look. She seems so lost.
"Hey," Nora greets me, her voice hoarse.
I slide my arm along her shoulders and stand next to her, giving her a companionable one-armed hug. A small smile tugs at the corner of her lips in response.
"What are you doing out here?" I ask her, seriously wondering at her state of mind.
"I can't find my..." she clears her throat and ducks her head in embarrassment.
"What? What can't you find?"
"My medallion," she whispers softly.
Oh. I hadn't even noticed when they'd removed everything from her at the hospital. Going back over those hectic few minutes in my head, I cataloged everything that I'd been given. All of her clothes had gone into the plastic bag and they'd given me the wallet out of her jeans, her keys, her badge, and her gun.
There hadn't been anything else. Damn.
"It wasn't with you when they took everything off to examine you. I'm sorry." All I can do is apologize for her losing a precious item like her Saint Michael's. Not precious as in monetary value, but in personal worth. Her father had given it to her, along with her car, when she'd entered the academy. Sort of a family tradition.
And now it was gone.
I let a sigh escape and suggest, "Maybe we'll find it in the car?"
She looks back up at me, the light from inside hitting her eyes just right. So green. So sad. Weary.
"Maybe," is all she offers back.
"What else? Nora? What else is bothering you?" There's something off about her and I think I know what it is. It was there just before she crashed on the couch. Fear.
"It's nothing," Nora turns and looks out in to the dark again. The rain finally stopped sometime while we were at the hospital.
I reach out to hold onto the railing, with my free hand resting near hers. Her fingers are clenched tight against the wood. Bone white tight.
"Nora?" I can't help the small sound of fear for her in my voice.
"It's the water..." She takes a deep breath and holds it for a moment, then lets it noisily escape. A cleansing breath.
"Nora," I wince, unable to stop the tide of guilt I've been holding back all evening from washing over me. "God, that stupid seat belt. I... almost got you killed because I couldn't take the time to..."
She turns to me, face to face. "No," she interrupts me. The fear in her is gone, at least momentarily. "No. You saved me, Nikki. A stupid seat belt didn't almost get me killed. Simon Martins did."
I blink at her. "Nora..." I want to argue with her. Plead with her. It is my fault. I almost got my partner killed. This woman I've only known a few days, but who I've gotten so close to that she chose me to look over her instead of her family. Of course, I might have done the same if I had a big family like that. Nora's a solitary soul. A bit like me, no matter how outgoing I may seem.
"No." Her eyes are firm on mine. Insistent. She doesn't blame me, even though I'll blame myself for the rest of my life. "I'm just a little jittery from the accident. All that water," she continues. "I love living out here, but all I can think is 'what if' now."
Nora visibly shudders and I rub her shoulder to warm her. It's never really helped me, but it's something we humans do. Maybe to make it feel like we're trying to help. Warm them, even though it's not cold and it's not the temperature making them shiver.
We spend a few long silent moments enjoying the quiet and the dark. And each other's company.
Finally, I decide to take a chance and ease the tension.
*sniff*
*sniff*
I poke my nose towards Nora's hair and sniff again.
Ugh. Let it not be said that Nikki Beaumont doesn't sacrifice herself in the name of friendship.
Nora jerks her head back to look at me oddly.
"What?"
*sniff*
"Nora?" I sniff again and make a godawful face so she can see it.
"What??"
"You smell like week-old dead crawfish," I deadpan and try not to laugh outright at the look of horror on her face. "Perhaps you'd be willing to take that shower now? And point me to the towels so I can take one too?"
Her eyes get as big as saucers at the thought of something. Of course, I do have a sneaking suspicion what that something is, since I intentionally put it there.
TBC