Chapter 28
"I'm sorry gorgeous, I didn't mean to upset you." Kaitlin said as she placed her hand on Zoë's other shoulder while she her lips together to try and push her tears back but she could feel the lump in her throat. She hated to see Zoë cry and to be the cause of it was upsetting to her. Horatio glanced at Kaitlin as Joe rubbed her arm. He could see that Kaitlin was cut up so gave her a reassuring smile before he placed one hand on Zoë's thigh as his other rested on her shoulder.
"I'm not gorgeous, don't look at me please." She begged and Horatio crouched down and put his head closer to hers.
"You are beautiful Zoë, it's only a little swelling, it'll go down soon. It's only noticeable when you're close to you. Don't worry about it sweetheart." Horatio tried assuring her and she looked over to him with a pained expression, Horatio could see that she was horribly upset by it. She then frowned at him and shook her head, disagreeing with him again.
"You try looking like a football." Zoë said quietly as she wiped her eyes and sent her eyes to the bed again.
"You don't look like a football Zoë, I promise you that. It's just a little swelling sweetheart." Horatio said softly as he raised a hand and rubbed her cheek with the pad of his thumb as he crouched lower to try and gain some eye contact with her. She blinked at few times and then looked back into his eyes while she continued to wipe the corners of her eyes, sweeping the falling tears away before he took over for her and wiped the tears away with his fingers.
"I'll give you some anti-inflammatory tablets in a moment sweet." Nathan said softly and she looked round to him and nodded. She then looked up to Horatio again and he moved closer again and lightly lifted her head so he could kiss her lightly.
"Don't worry sweetheart." Horatio said before he placed a light kiss on her lips. He watched a small smile tug at her lips when he backed off a few inches.
"Thank you." She said quietly and he gave her a small smile and then stood back up as they walked out of the lift. Horatio threated his fingers in her hair as she leant back again. Kaitlin and Joe remained silent for a moment, letting Horatio calm her and keep her calm. Nathan settled Zoë into the room before leaving to get her the anti-inflammatory tablets. He returned with a glass of water.
"I need to keep a close eye on you after you take these as you had a reaction to them last time, I do think however, you only had a reaction to them due to the stress your body was under." Nathan said softly and Zoë nodded and then took them without even thinking about what he said.
Horatio tried to stop her but she'd already swallowed them. "Are you sure they're safe for her to take if she had a reaction to them last time?" Horatio questioned as he looked back to Nathan.
"I'm not sure, no, that's why I'm keeping an eye on her." Nathan said softly and Horatio exhaled, not entirely impressed that he'd given her something that could cause a reaction. He was also shocked that Zoë had just swallowed the tablets without a care or thought. 'She probably didn't even listen to him, she trusts him that much to just take anything that he handed her? Then again, he does know what he's doing and is genuinely a good person.' Horatio thought to himself. Nathan and Horatio looked over to Zoë once she registered what Nathan had told her before she took the tablets.
"But surely if I had a reaction to it last time, this time won't be any different?" Zoë questioned as she lowered her eyebrows at Nathan.
"It was just your asthma that played up a little, you didn't have a full on allergic reaction, so I think you'll be fine this time." Nathan said and Zoë nodded happy with is reasoning. She sat back and took hold of Horatio's hand as he moved closer to her. Horatio's headache only felt minimal now, he barely even noticed that it was still there as he'd calmed down considerably and didn't feel half as stressed.
"You guys don't have to stay here, I'll be out soon anyway." Zoë said softly as she looked over to Joe and Kaitlin.
"I'd rather be here than anywhere else." Joe said softly as he gave her a reassuring smile while Kaitlin continued to compose herself from the upset she'd caused Zoë.
"You'd rather be stuck in a hospital than going on a lovely walk on the beach? Joe, you confuse me." She smiled at him and he chuckled as he walked over to the bed and tilted his head at her as he raised his eyebrows.
"If it were the other way around you'd be saying the same to me." He said softly and she nodded with a smile, knowing what he was saying was true. Nathan came in quite often to check up on her while Horatio sat on the edge of her bed while Kaitlin and Joe took two seats. 3 hours quickly passed and Nathan entered the room once more.
"Joe, Kaitlin, if you could both step outside for a little while as I give Zoë one last check over, I'd be most grateful." Nathan said softly and they quickly walked out. Zoë gave him a smile as she sat up a little more, ready for his poking and prodding. Horatio stepped back slightly as he let go of her and to sit down, ready to watch Nathan check Zoë over and ready to make sure that he was being gentle with her. "I do think that you've improved, I expected you to have an outburst in that lift earlier." Nathan said softly, honestly as he picked up her notes and glanced to her obs.
"I thought I was, but I didn't. Does that mean I don't actually have to stay?" Zoë asked and Nathan nodded as he put the notes down and then walked to the opposite side of the bed to Horatio so he could have a full view of what he was doing. He began to feel her hands, feet and legs. She hissed a few times, but continued to have a sweet smile set upon her face.
"I'm rather surprised you've not broken anything, you must be having a lucky day." He said softly as he gave her a wink, showing her his sarcasm. He moved his hands up to her head and gently felt the bones in her face and then moved to her forehead while she continued to act natural, at ease with his hands on her face.
"I don't think me and lucky day sounds right in the same sentence." Zoë said softly and Nathan gave her a smile as he stifled a chuckle with a nod, agreeing with her.
"You're going to be in a bit of pain for now, but I'll give you some painkillers for that. You're almost definitely going to come out in more bruises. You'll find that your head, chest and hip bones hurt the most, so try not to put weight on your front." Nathan said softly as he checked her eyes with his pen torch.
"Does that mean no sex?!" Zoë questioned as he finished with her eyes. Her eyes had widened as she looked up at him frantically.
"No sweet, it doesn't. It means be careful." Nathan chuckled softly as he slipped the pen torch into his pocket and continued his examination.
"Don't forget there's more than one position sweetheart." Horatio whispered to her and she began to chuckle as she smiled radiantly at him.
"Oh yeah, that doesn't sound too bad then." She smiled at him with a wink.
"Okay, behave both of you." Nathan said with a wide smile as he felt Zoë's stomach as she continued to grin at Horatio while he grinned back at her.
"We are. If you think that's misbehaving, then you've got a lot to learn." Zoë cheekily grinned up at Nathan as she raised her eyebrows. Nathan chuckled at her as he shook his head.
He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Okay, you're free to go. I'll go and get you some scrubs." He said with a smile. She nodded at him before he turned and walked out. She smiled up at Horatio as he gave her a boyish smile back. Nathan quickly came back in with the scrubs and walked out with her notes to write a few things down while Zoë changed after he'd drawn the bed curtain. He then walked back in and made sure she was decent before he pulled the bed curtain back.
"Are you sure you don't want some stronger painkillers, Zoë?" Nathan questioned as he looked up at them once Zoë was fully decent and dressed.
"I'm sure, I'm just a little stiff from being strapped to that board and not being able to move properly for a few hours." Zoë said softly and Nathan nodded as he put the notes down on the bed.
"Okay, I'll be right back in with a wheelchair, you're to come back and see me in 3 days, then I'll see whether you can return back to work. Horatio, I don't advise that you leave Zoë again, she seems to still have that strong attachment with you." Nathan said softly and Horatio nodded as he put his arm around her lower back as she nodded at him as well. Nathan then walked out and Zoë turned to Horatio and hugged him. They both held the silent hug until Nathan walked back in. She got into the wheelchair before they exited the room. Joe and Kaitlin walked down with them to the entrance. Zoë constantly looked up at Horatio as he walked, she could see that he was thinking about a few things. She loved his look of concentration so couldn't peel her eyes from him. Once outside, Zoë got out of the wheelchair and immediately turned to Nathan.
"Thank you Nathan, for everything, you're such an angel and I can't thank you enough." Zoë said as she lightly hugged him. She then gave him a kiss on the cheek as she backed off. Horatio shook his hand with an appreciative smile.
"Thank you Nathan." Horatio said as he gave him an appreciative nod, just happy to see Horatio relaxed and not stressed any longer. Horatio's headache was a distant memory as he looked back to Zoë as she smiled at Nathan.
"Call if you need anything, okay?" Nathan asked and Horatio nodded as he put his arm around Zoë.
"Thank you again Nathan." Joe said softly and Kaitlin quickly said the same and then shook his hand. Nathan then walked back in with the wheelchair, happy to see Zoë well again, and happy to see Horatio much less stressed.
"Come on, we'll take you back." Joe said softly as he placed his hand on Zoë's arm and she nodded at him with a smile. They arrived at the hire car and Joe opened the front passenger door for Zoë, automatically as it is what he'd always done.
"I'll sit in the back with Horatio please." She said softly and Joe nodded, glancing over to Kaitlin who approached the open door.
"Of course darling." He said softly and then opened the back door as Kaitlin climbed into the front. Horatio helped her into the back and then walked around to the other side as Joe closed both doors and then got into the driver's seat. They all plugged in their seatbelts before Joe pulled off.
"Has my face gone down?" Zoë asked quietly and Horatio nodded as he placed his hand over her thigh. She placed both of her hands over his hand and then gave him a small smile, happy to hear that her face had gone down.
"Yes, it's just your forehead that's a little swollen now, but it's barely noticeable." Horatio said softly and Zoë nodded, happy.
"Okay, thank you." She said softly as she rubbed his forearm.
She then looked back into the front at Kaitlin as she sat forwards. "So you're off home tomorrow Kaitlin?" Zoë asked softly and she turned and nodded with a not-so-happy smile. Zoë knew she didn't want to leave, she and Joe could see that Kaitlin had fallen in love with Miami. "If my face is any better, can we all go for dinner later?" She asked as she glanced at all 3 of them before her eyes rested on Horatio last.
"That sounds like a plan." Kaitlin smiled at Zoë and Zoë smiled back as she quickly looked back round to Kaitlin.
"I'll call you with the details later if I'm feeling up to it?" Zoë asked and Kaitlin nodded with a genuinely happy smile.
"Sounds good." Kaitlin beamed. "Are you going to wear a dress or suit?" Kaitlin asked as she turned in the seat to look back at Zoe.
"More than likely a suit, I've got bruises everywhere. I suspect that some bruises from this morning will have developed by later anyway." Zoë said softly and Kaitlin nodded, already planning her outfit out now she knew what Zoë was wearing.
"Okay, I'll probably wear something along those lines too then." She smiled and Zoë nodded with a smile, somewhat relieved to know that Kaitlin wasn't going to wear a dress. 'I'm glad she's not wearing a dress because then she'll look so hot and it'll show me and my suit up.' Zoë thought to herself. 'She'll look hot anyway, she always does.' Zoë thought to herself as she continued to rub Horatio's forearm.
"Here you go darling, we won't come in because I know you want some space right now. Give us a call later and call if you need anything okay?" Joe asked softly and Zoë nodded with a smile as she unplugged her seatbelt.
"Thank you" she said as she sat forwards and kissed them both on the cheek. She then shuffled out after Horatio and waved them off as Horatio let them in to the house.
"I didn't have a shower this morning, did I?" Zoë asked and Horatio shook his head.
"Eww, I'm going for one now then." She said softly and Horatio nodded with a secret smile, a little amused as he glanced down and dropped his keys into the key bowl. "Yes, you can come too; I know you want to make sure I'm okay." She smiled at him when she saw his hesitance. She then saw him relax as a shy smile developed across his face as he looked back up at her.
"Come on then." She smiled as she walked upstairs. He followed her up and also showered himself after her. He came out once she had dressed in her joggers and a tank-top. A smile immediately developed across his face, happy to see her in her own clothes without an argument. He also put some lazy clothes on and walked over to her as she sat and filed her nails while sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked up at him and saw the smile across his face and then stood herself and wrapped her arms around him after dropping the nail file to the bedside table.
"Not too tight, please." She asked softly when he wrapped his strong arms around her. He loosened his grip and then placed a light kiss on her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck and then kissed him back with a smile of her own. They kissed a little more with their eyes closed, just feeling their bodies together while their lips fit perfectly together. 'She's so relaxed, she's not been this relaxed since before the crash!' Horatio thought to himself as one of his hands moved down to her ass. He pulled back when he heard her stomach growl.
"Lunch?" Horatio questioned and she nodded as she released him. They walked downstairs, both happy, both with secret smiles on their faces. "Ham and cheese omelette?" Horatio asked and she nodded with a smile.
"Can I help with it?" Zoë asked softly as he washed his hands.
"You can whisk the eggs or grate the cheese?" Horatio asked softly as she washed hers.
"Cheese" she said as she got the ingredients out of the fridge and placed them on the side for him.
"How much cheese do you want?" She asked Horatio as she pulled the cheese grater from one of the cupboards and began to grate the cheddar cheese.
"Stop when you fill it half way." Horatio said referring to the tub that the cheese once grated falls into. She nodded while he started to whisk the egg. Once she'd finished, she cut up the thick ham and placed it in a bowl ready for him as she watched him begin to make the omelettes. She often looked down to his ass with a wide smile. He knew she was checking him out, causing a grin to appear on his face as he glanced back a few times with a boyish grin. She looked up and into his eyes every time he turned around. He then made the omelettes and then sat down with her after she got them both a glass of orange juice.
"Thank you Horatio" She said as he placed the plate in front of her and then handed her cutlery.
"You're very welcome" he smiled at her. She glanced round when she heard something odd in the living room and then looked back to Horatio.
"Do you want to swap?" Horatio questioned softly, thinking that was the problem. She tilted her head and looked at him with a mild frown as she exhaled a small laugh, confused.
"Swap what?" She asked with a smile. 'I must be hearing things.' She thought to herself.
"Plates and cutlery?" Horatio asked softly as he readied himself to swap, but saw her confusion.
"Why would I want to swap? They're the same thing." She chuckled and Horatio raised his eyebrows, surprised, but happy. She quickly cut a little bit of the omelette up and then ate it while she studied his surprised, yet relieved expression. "Don't tell me that I refused to eat unless I swapped with you too?" She asked before she took a sip of her orange and Horatio nodded.
"You even ate my prawn salad sandwich, instead of your cheese sandwich." Horatio said warmly as he cut into his omelette, happy that he wouldn't have to swap with her.
"Eww, really?" She asked and Horatio nodded as he picked up a piece.
"You also said you didn't like fish, especially salmon." Horatio said softly before he ate his first bite of the delicious omelette.
"I love salmon." She said as she looked at him and he nodded.
"I know." He said softly after he'd finished his mouthful.
"What else was I doing?" She asked curiously before she took another mouthful.
"That was about it I think." Horatio said softly and she nodded. 'I'm not going to go into detail about the clothes business and how she was naked most of the time, it would destroy her. She's better off if she doesn't know. I'm glad she doesn't remember that, she's feel incredibly embarrassed if she knew about it and probably wouldn't want to face anyone ever again. Yes, keeping that quiet is probably best.' Horatio thought to himself.
"Well, I really must be better then." She said softly and Horatio nodded with a smile. They continued to eat the omelettes whilst continuing the pleasant conversation.
"What shall we do this afternoon then?" She smiled at him as she pushed her plate away and pulled the large glass of orange juice closer to finish it.
"Rest, I think." Horatio said as he looked up at her and she nodded, agreeing. Both looked and felt shattered.
"Sounds good to me." She smiled and then cleared her plate away as Horatio cleared his away. They walked through into the living room once they'd tided and relaxed back on the sofa. Horatio called to make a reservation with a restaurant after making sure Zoë was happy to go out.
"I'm going for a shower." She said as she got up.
"I'll be up in a bit sweetheart." Horatio said as she walked out and she nodded at him with a fresh smile. He quickly rang Eric to see where they were with the case, but they weren't much further. After hanging up he went upstairs and had a very quick shower himself. He walked into the bedroom just as Zoë was changing into a black suit and red silk shirt. He froze by the door as she turned and smiled at him. He felt his heart rate double as his face drained of it's colour.
"What's wrong?" Zoë asked frantically when she saw the fear and torment on his face. He couldn't answer, he was thrown into a deep daze, remembering their kidnapping when she was poisoned. He blinked a few times, reliving the moment when he first woke up in the green, dingy room, firstly seeing her deep red shirt. He relived the fear and terror he first felt as his heart rate only increased when he envisioned the time when they took Zoë from him, letting him believe that they were going to rape her. His heart leapt into his throat when he closed his eyes to relive the scene where they brought her back, re-dressed.
"Horatio, what's wrong? You're scaring me." She said loudly as she walked over to him and placed her palms on his cheeks, pulling him from the deep flashback. He took a few deep breaths as his eyes darted around Zoë's face. He placed his hands on her waist, just to feel her beneath his hands to reassure himself that she was real, that she was okay. He stared, blinking at her shirt for a few moments while she frowned gravely at him, exceptionally worried. He swallowed and then looked back up at her, gazing into her terrified eyes.
"I'm sorry Zoë, just a memory." Horatio said quietly as he brought a hand up to her face to gently cup her cheek as he exhaled.
"What memory?" Zoë questioned. He looked down and exhaled once more. He didn't want to tell her because it would cause him to relive the memories once more. He shook his head and dropped his hands from her body and face. He gave her a small forced smile as he held her concerned eyes.
"I'm fine." He assured her and then walked past her and picked out a pair of boxers from the draw and quickly pulled them on. He pulled the towel from his hips and picked up his suit and shirt while Zoë stood by the doorway, studying him silently, confused.
She blinked a few times before she herself was thrown into a flashback that she didn't remember. It was the day previously when they were outside by the pool. Her jaw tightened when she heard herself shout those horrible things at Horatio. She swallowed as she looked down and shook her head, wanting to un-see what had been seen. She looked back up at him as he tried his best to concentrate on his suit as he dressed, unable to look up at her while he composed himself. "If you're thinking about what I said yesterday, I didn't mean it at all, what I said was disgusting I know. I'd never do anything like that Horatio, please believe me, I'd never do that. I can't believe I said it. I'm so sorry, I really am so sorry." She said frantically as she began to walk over to him. Horatio looked up at her and he saw the horror on her face and her sheer panic. She clasped her trembling hands together, afraid that he believed her.
"It's nothing to do with that sweetheart, it's okay. Don't worry." Horatio assured her as he walked over to her and then engulfed her in his arms as he closed his eyes, he tried his best to push the memories back, but each time he saw the red silk shirt, a new memory awakened.
"Then what is it?" Zoë asked quietly, needing to know so she could put her mind at rest.
"Your suit and shirt… it just brought back some memories that I'd rather have buried and hidden away." Horatio said softly as he pulled away and stepped back to place his hands on her upper arms, fixing his eyes on hers so he didn't have to look at the shirt.
"What memories?" Zoë asked softly as she placed her hands on his sides, above his belt, looking frantically into his eyes.
Horatio exhaled and glanced down as he briefly closed his eyes. "When you were poisoned sweetheart, you wore a black suit with a red silk shirt." Horatio said softly as he looked back up at her and ran his hand in her hair, watching her hair part between his fingers. She looked into his distressed eyes for a few moments more as she stepped back and began to undo her shirt immediately.
"Oh Horatio, I'm so sorry, I didn't realise, I didn't remember. I'll change." She said as she pulled out of his grip and then quickly took her shirt off and threw it into the bin. He'd never seen her take a shirt off so quickly, not even for intimacy. He stood in the middle of the room while she walked over to the wardrobe and pulled a light blue shirt from it. He just stared at the screwed up silk shirt in the bin. She pulled it on as she walked out as she flicked her hair out, pulling her jacket on over the shirt. "I'm sorry Horatio." She said softly as she looked over to him.
"It's okay sweetheart, I'm sorry for worrying you." Horatio said softly as he gently pulled her in for another hug. She knew he needed the comfort more than her so nuzzled at his neck a little.
"We should get going handsome." Zoë said softly as she ran her fingertips over the back of his cotton shirt.
"You're right." He said as he pulled from the hug and smiled gently down at her.
"Let's have a wonderful evening." She smiled and he nodded and then kissed her. She then took hold of his hand and walked out of the bedroom with him. They had a cheerful evening, but Zoë shed a tear or two when she said her goodbye to Kaitlin, Kaitlin shed many more. Horatio reassured her that she'd see her soon and then got her home. They weren't long into bed and the next morning they woke, they went for a slow walk up the beach in the warm Miami sun.
"Do you mind nipping into the lab? I'd like an update on what's gone on." Horatio said softly as he glanced to Zoë, feeling the sand give way under his heavy feet.
"Of course" she said softly as they strolled back to the house. "We'll head off once I've changed into something a little smarter." She said softly and Horatio nodded as he tightened his arm around her lower back.
"Ah, a little looser please Horatio." She yelped and he quickly released her.
"I'm sorry beautiful." He apologised quickly as he looked at her, trying to judge whether he seriously hurt her, but she seemed fine, she just grimaced a little.
"It's okay, just try and keep your strength out of the grip." She smiled up at him and then pulled his arm back around her. He kissed the top of her head and carried on walking. Once back, Zoë changed and then went over to the lab with Horatio. They quickly met with Eric as he continued work on the case.
"Eric, what have you got?" Horatio asked softly as he lightly rubbed Zoë's lower back.
"Not much, we can't do anymore until we interrogate LeBrock." Eric sighed.
"May I have your notes?" Horatio asked and Eric handed him the pile of notes. He looked through them and nodded as Zoë looked down at the desk, taking in everything that was in front of her while she fiddled with her fingers.
"I'm going to have a few words with him now." Horatio exhaled as he pulled his phone out and looked up at Eric. "Are you busy Eric?" Horatio asked and he shook his head. He glanced to Zoë as she looked down at some of the evidence, silently telling him to keep an eye on her and Eric nodded.
"I'll be back in a few minutes sweetheart." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she looked up at him. He walked out as she looked back down to the evidence while Horatio phoned the prison.
"How are you feeling, Zo?" Eric asked softly as he leant on the desk.
"Really good thank you Eric, I had a small knock to the head yesterday, but since I've felt normal again, I mean I don't feel mixed up, foggy or confused anymore, so I'm happy." She smiled and he smiled at her, happy to see her happy and relaxed. Even he could see a difference in her, he couldn't put his finger on it, but he could definitely tell that she was back to normal or near enough.
"I've not had any of those outburst things either, or been stubborn." She smiled and Eric smiled widely, he liked to see her happy. 'It's so good to see them both up, well and relaxed after nearly two weeks of watching them lie in those hospital beds an inch away from death.
"That's great Zoë, how'd you knock your head though?" Eric asked softly, curiously.
"I jumped from the balcony." She said sweetly as she looked back down at the evidence, Eric took a sharp intake of air, shocked. He mildly frowned, unsure if she was joking. 'Is she messing with me? She must be joking, surely?' Eric thought to himself. He studied her facial expression again. 'She's actually telling me she jumped from her balcony, she looks like she's telling the truth.' He thought to himself as he watched her eyes study each individual piece of evidence.
"You jumped from your balcony?" Eric questioned and she looked up at him and nodded. He saw the placid, happy look on her face and his eyebrows rose. 'She's actually telling me the truth.' Eric thought to himself as his eyes widened slightly as he stood up straight.
"I knocked myself out and since I've felt brilliant. I should do it more often." She smiled and his eyes widened more. "I joke, I wouldn't do that again." She said quickly when she saw that he believed her. She then began to giggle softly when he looked down and exhaled a chuckle as he shook his head. "Horatio very nearly had a heart attack, it was just as well Nathan was round at the time." She said softly. 'Well, Horatio nearly having a heart attack is believable.' Eric thought to himself as he nodded, still shocked.
"Are you okay? How are you up and walking about if you jumped from a balcony?" Eric questioned and she shrugged casually as she began to play with a pen that was in front of her. She looked down and focussed on it, wondering where Horatio had got to.
"Nathan said I was lucky, don't get me wrong, I hurt like hell but I feel really good. I'm okay, the only damage I did was creating a larger fracture in my skull, nothing serious." She smiled naturally, sweetly. He began to involuntarily chuckle as he shook his head.
"I can't believe you used 'creating a larger fracture in my skull' and 'nothing serious' in the same sentence…" Eric smiled at her and she giggled as he looked back up at him.
"Well, it's not really." She said softly and Eric let out another involuntary chuckle as he furrowed his brow.
"You're unbelievable, you know that, don't you?" He smiled at her sweetly, leaning on the desk again.
"I like to think that I'm pretty believable actually." She said softly, looking up at him sweetly, fiddling with the pen more vigorously.
"No, I mean… oh never mind." He said softly as he looked down with a smile.
"You mean what?" She asked softly as she tilted her head, confused.
"I mean that I'm astonished that you're so relaxed about having a skull fracture, jumping off a balcony and not thinking it's anything serious." He said softly and she nodded, finally understanding what he meant.
"Oh, I get you now." She said softly and Eric nodded with a smile. "Sorry, a little bit of a scatty moment." She said softly with a smile and he chuckled but soon stopped when he saw her anxiousness grow a little more. "Where'd Horatio go?" She asked as she turned around, dropping the pen back to the desk.
"He's gone to make a phone call." Eric said softly and she turned back to him and nodded. "We can go and find him if you want?" He asked when he saw her becoming uncomfortable and her need for him setting in. She nodded as she looked up at him with a shy smile. "Come on then." Eric said as he walked around the desk and placed his hand on her back and walked out with her. He could see her becoming increasingly nervous and continued to rub her back in hope that it'll ease her anxiousness. They walked up to his office and Eric knocked on Horatio's office door.
"2 minutes." Horatio said softly and then continued to talk on the phone. They could hear his muffled words on the phone.
"Horatio?" Zoë questioned.
"Come in." Horatio said once he heard her voice, he heard her anxiousness in her tone and they entered. He saw her nervousness immediately as she walked over to him and then wrapped her arms around his waist as he continued to talk on the phone.
"Okay?" Eric mouthed as he looked at Horatio and Horatio nodded as he placed his free hand on her back and began to rub. Eric quickly closed the office door as he walked back out. Zoë remained quiet while he was on the phone and just hugged him. Horatio hung up a few minutes later.
"Everything okay sweetheart?" Horatio questioned softly and she nodded against his chest as he looked down at her.
"I just wanted to hug you." She said softly and Horatio nodded and then kissed the top of her head.
"Shall we go and find Eric again?" Horatio asked and she nodded as she looked up at him with a sweet smile. He took a loose hold of her hand and then walked out with her. He saw her confidence rising once again as they walked through the lab.
"Eric, I've rung the prison and I'm going to go over there to have a talk with LeBrock, would you mind keeping Zoë company here while I take care of this?" Horatio asked softly as he rubbed the back of Zoë's hand lightly.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, H." Eric said as she hugged him again.
"I want to come with you." She said quietly as she looked up at him.
"The prison isn't a good place for you to be going yet Zoë, it's not very nice, it's worse than autopsy." Horatio said softly.
"I don't want you to leave me." She said as she looked up at him and he then nodded and saw why Eric was hesitant. 'Is this the separation anxiety that Nathan was talking about? Is she still feeling attached to me?' Horatio asked himself in his head. 'I can't take her to the prison, she might not like it, I don't know what's running through her head, she didn't even like autopsy the other day. I have to go and talk to LeBrock though.' He thought to himself as he ran his left hand through his hair and wrapped his right around her back.
"Eric, would you mind coming with us?" Horatio questioned and Eric shook his head.
"Not at all" Eric said softly with a sweet smile. They soon set off in one of the hummers, Horatio driving.
"You can wait in the hummer with Eric if you'd like?" Horatio questioned Zoë and she shook her head frantically as she looked at him and placed her hand on his thigh, furrowing her brow. "Okay sweetheart, you can't come in when I talk to LeBrock though, okay? You'll have to stay with Eric for a few minutes then." Horatio said softly and she nodded, a little happier, a little more relaxed. They pulled up and got out, then signed in and showed their badges. Horatio flashed Eric Zoë's phone from his pocket and then gestured to Zoë and Eric understood his silent message.
"I'll be back in a few minutes sweetheart, stay calm. Eric's with you." Horatio said softly and she nodded, then took hold of Eric's hand. Horatio gave him a small nod and turned away, happy to see Zoë using Eric for some comfort. Eric led her into an office where they could see Horatio taking a seat opposite Joe LeBrock in the interrogation room.
"He's just there on that TV screen Zoë." Eric said softly as he pointed to him and Zoë sat forwards and watched Horatio intensely after letting go of his hand. 5 minutes passed and Eric's eyes darted from Zoë to the screen, often making sure she was okay. The officers in the office often looked over to Zoë. Eric glared at them when they stared at her when she began to bite her lip. He knew they were checking her out, he knew they were caught under her invisible hold when she began to bite her lip. It was near impossible for anyone not to gaze at her when she bit her lip. Eric was now used to it, he wasn't affected when she bit her lip. She took a deep breath as she tried to push her growing need for Horatio back as she knew he needed to interrogate Joe LeBrock. She took hold of Eric's thigh subconsciously for comfort as she continued to watch. She looked round when she felt him push her hand up to his knee.
"Sorry Zoë." Eric said softly, hoping he wouldn't upset her, he knew she didn't mean to do it.
"No, I'm sorry Eric. I didn't mean to do that." She said as she quickly withdrew her hand and placed it in her lap and began to fiddle with her fingers.
"He'll be done soon, Zoë." Eric assured her as he pulled his phone out and began to quickly text. She nodded as she concentrated on the screen, studying the black and white footage. Her eyes never left Horatio.
"Zoë's beginning to get nervous again." He quickly notified Horatio and then put his phone away to look back up at the screen. They watched him glance down at his phone and read the text, he then looked like he was wrapping up the interrogation. He began to get up when he turned back to Joe LeBrock again and leant on the table. Eric could see Horatio's stress and anger. Zoë began to hyperventilate as she began to panic while she tried her best to keep herself under control. Eric could see her anxiety through her hands, they were trembling as she constantly and vigorously fiddled with anything that came into contact with them, whether that was her hair, her other hand or her jacket.
"H, I'd wrap up quickly, she's about to cry I think." Eric quickly texted him and Horatio looked back down at his phone. Horatio quickly made his way out of the room after he received the text and walked into the office where Zoë and Eric were sat. He saw Eric rubbing her back as she looked up at him. She quickly got up and rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"I hope you didn't cut the interrogation short because of me and my stupid problem?" She asked softly, hugging him tightly.
"No sweetheart, I was finished." Horatio said softly as he rubbed her back and looked at Eric. Eric nodded and then put his phone away. He looked over to the two other officers in the room as they stared at Zoë's ass. Horatio's eyes grew annoyed as he cleared his throat, causing both officers to look up at him. They both swallowed when they caught the fiery glare from Horatio and then looked in opposite directions and turned on their chairs to get on with some work.
"Come on sweetheart." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she looked up at him and then took his hand as she pulled away from him. They walked out with Eric following closely.
"Horatio, I touched Eric's thigh, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to." She blurted out as they walked over to the hummer when the guilt became too much for her.
"She was starting to panic." Eric said softly, wanting to make it clear that she didn't mean anything by it.
"He pushed my hand away and I then realised, I'm really sorry and I'm sorry Eric." Zoë said softly as she looked down at the floor.
"It's okay sweetheart, I know you didn't mean anything by it." Horatio said softly and she exhaled a sigh of relief and nodded as she looked back up at him.
"I had to tell you." She said softly and Horatio nodded with a calm expression and reassuring smile. "Sorry Eric." She said softly as she looked around to Eric.
"Don't worry about it Zoë." Eric said softly and she nodded and then hopped into the front as Horatio held the door open for her. Eric and Horatio then climbed in and did their seatbelts up after Horatio gave Eric a nod to signal that he was okay with what happened as he could see that Eric was being careful around him.
"Did you get anything, H?" Eric asked softly as they drove back.
"He was definitely a part of it, I'll have him restricted from seeing visitors and his time out of his cell restricted too. I'll have him monitored closely." Horatio said softly and Eric nodded. "But other than that, I've got nothing to actually charge him with. We've got to go on the evidence at the scene of the crime." Horatio said softly as he glanced to Eric in the mirror but mainly keeping his concentration on the road while he often looked over to Zoë.
"We've got nothing H, nothing at all." Eric said softly.
"If you can't find anything within the next couple of days, you'll have to close the case." Horatio sighed and Eric nodded, silently. Neither of them wanted to close the case, they knew that if it went unsolved, then the same thing could happen again. They got back to the lab and got out of the hummer.
"We're going to head back home now, we need some rest." Horatio said softly when he saw Zoë fatigued and hurting, not to mention very quiet. Eric gave them both a nod, looking at Zoë sympathetically. Horatio quickly shook his head at him and Eric frowned slightly as Zoë looked up at him. 'Thank heavens she didn't see his sympathetic look.' Horatio thought to himself.
"See you soon sweetie, I'm sorry and thank you." She said as she gently hugged him.
"See you both soon, I'll call if I find anything. H, do you have a phone yet?" Eric asked softly as they pulled from the hug as Eric looked over to Horatio.
"Not yet, I've not had a chance to get to the phone shop, contact me on the landline or on Zoë's phone." Horatio said softly and Eric nodded.
"Okay, see you later." He said softly and then walked in once they said bye. Horatio linked arms with Zoë and then walked back to the car with her.
"I need a hot bath, and soon." She sighed and Horatio nodded at her as they pulled off.
"We're running out of arnica gel, shall we stop off and pick some more up?" Horatio asked and she nodded. Once they were home Horatio sat on the edge of the bath and massaged the soap into her skin as she let out a few content moans as she laid in the hot water with her eyes closed.
"You're working wonders for my muscles and soothing those bruises." She said softly and he smiled as he concentrated on being gentle with her. She then swallowed and opened her eyes to look up at him. He looked at her as he put his hands back in the water to rid the soap from them as he picked up a plain pink wash cloth. "I don't understand why I panic when you're away from me for more than 5 minutes." Zoë said softly as she looked at him, wanting to have an answer for her irrational behaviour.
"Nathan said it's something like separation anxiety." Horatio said softly as his eyes focused on where he was washing the soap from.
"Like what dogs get with their owners?" She questioned a little shocked as she frowned at him.
"I guess it's like that, yes." Horatio said softly as he glanced up at her. "You should get over it Zoë, it's because we've been through major trauma and had head injuries. It's nothing to worry or stress about, it'll pass. I don't mind anyway sweetheart." Horatio assured her as he looked back down to her body and continued to wipe the wash cloth over her skin to wet it and remove the soap.
"But I know you're going to come back, I knew you were interrogating him and wouldn't be long. I knew you were just on the phone earlier, I don't understand why I panicked." She said softly, still confused.
"It's another head injury symptom sweetheart, it'll pass." Horatio assured her and she nodded and then sat up straight, feeling very relaxed.
"Thank you handsome, you and your hands may rest now, I feel really relaxed and I no longer feel achy and painful." She said softly and Horatio nodded and then stood up and held her towel out for her. She dried herself in the bedroom while Horatio went to collect the new tube of arnica gel and then came up.
'I should probably apply this, she'll be too rough with herself and will end up hurting again.' He thought to himself as he entered the bedroom. "Sit down sweetheart." Horatio said softly before he crouched in front of her and then squeezed some of it onto his fingers and then handed it to her. He rubbed it into her legs while she rubbed it into her arms where the bruising was starting to really show. Horatio rubbed a lot into her knees as they were the worst on her legs. He knew that her arms weren't the main problem, it was her knees, especially her right knee and leg as well as her hips and chest. "Can you lay back for me sweetheart?" Horatio asked and she quickly did as he asked and he rubbed it into her hips where her hip bones were, then into her ribs and shoulders.
"I look absolutely battered." She said as she sat back up as Horatio stepped back and sighed as he agreed.
"You'll heal soon though sweetheart." Horatio said before he disappeared into the en-suite to wash his hands. Zoë then changed into her jogging bottoms and a t-shirt.
Joe visited that evening for a meal.
"I'll see you soon, you move down in a couple months, don't you?" She smiled as she stood at the door and hugged him loosely and he nodded. He only hugged lightly and then kissed her cheek as he pulled back.
"I will see you then, stay out of trouble for me please, I can't deal with anymore heart attacks and I'll have to start dying my hair if anything else happens." He said softly and she chuckled as she hugged Horatio's arm by his side.
"We'll try." She said softly with a beaming smile.
"Let me know how you get on at your appointment." Joe said softly and she nodded.
"Have a safe journey, let me know when you get back okay." She said softly and he nodded. She quickly hugged him again.
"Miss you already, love you." She said softly and then backed off.
"Right back at you." He said softly and she smiled.
"Take care, Joe." Horatio said as he shook his hand firmly.
"You too, both of you. I don't want a phone call to say that you're both unconscious after a car crash ever again. In fact, I don't ever want a call to say that either of you have been hurt ever again." He said softly and they nodded.
"We will definitely strive to keep that from happening, we didn't exactly like it either." She said softly and Joe smiled at her with a nod. "Night night Bunny" she said softly and he then left. She turned to Horatio and then walked upstairs with him. She climbed into bed while Horatio had a shower. He climbed into bed and then rolled over to her and gently put his arm over her stomach as he moved closer to her while she laid on her back, feeling more comfortable on her back than on her side. He rubbed her stomach and kissed her neck once they'd settled down. She then felt him rub her foot with his.
"I'm really sorry Horatio, I would love to make love to you right now, but I hurt and I'm certain I'd need another bath to stop myself from aching." She said softly as she placed her hand over his. 'I'm actually saying no to sex with Horatio. Am I crazy?' She thought to herself.
"That's fine beautiful." Horatio said softly and then kissed her neck one more time and then relaxed back, resting his head on her pillow, lightly moving his fingertips over her side.
"We could try with you behind again, but I'm afraid of having to stop half way through if I start to really hurt." Zoë said softly as she bit her lip and turned her head to him while she furrowed her eyebrows.
"We don't have to do anything sweetheart; laying here with you is perfect as it is. But if you're hurting, you should take some painkillers." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she slowly sat up. He released her from his arm, thinking she needed the loo.
"I think you're right." She said softly, he was slightly shocked that she'd agreed, but knew she was in quite a bit of pain and discomfort if she was agreeing to take painkillers. She quickly took two tablets and then laid back.
"Is the appointment with Nathan tomorrow or the day after?" Zoë asked softly as she looked at him while he placed his arm back over her stomach.
"The day after." Horatio said softly and she nodded.
"Okay, thank you." She said softly as she kissed him on the lips lightly.
They fell asleep after saying their goodnight's and spent the next day relaxing together. The next day, they drove over to the hospital and walked up to Nathan's office, they entered when he asked them too.
"I can wait outside if you want sweetheart." Horatio said softly.
"No, I'd prefer it if you were here." She said softly and then sat in front of Nathan on the seats.
"How are you doing?" Nathan asked with a genuine smile as he leant forwards on the desk.
"Really well thank you, I think Horatio can vouch for that too – I've not had an outburst since, nor have I been difficult when eating or dressing." She said softly and Nathan nodded, happy to hear it. "I've had a little difficulty with Horatio leaving me though." She said softly and Nathan nodded.
"Okay sweet, how are you feeling in yourself?" He asked softly as he wrote a few things down.
"Really well thank you, the only time when I feel like I'm not improving is when I'm panicking about Horatio being too far from me." Zoë said softly as she took Horatio's hand in hers and began to play with his fingers.
"That should pass." He said softly and Zoë nodded as she glanced to Horatio with a small sweet smile.
"How are you physically? Are you hurting severely?" He asked softly as he leant back on his desk, ready to observe her body language to make sure she wasn't lying to him when she answered.
"I'll admit that I do hurt, but it's bearable. My head seems to hurt the most, but that's only when I accidently knock it or when I'm washing my hair or if I move too fast. My hips can be a little stiff as can my shoulders. But nothing is really bad." She said softly and Nathan nodded.
"That's to be expected sweet, are you taking your painkillers?" He asked softly. 'I bet she hasn't touched them.' Nathan thought to himself.
"I've had some, but I'm not taking them regularly, I never like to take them regularly, only if I really need them. I don't need them too often." She said softly as Horatio began to play with her fingers to calm her mild nerves.
"That's what I like to hear. Are they strong enough?" He asked softly and she nodded confidently. "Have you had any restrictions because of the pain?" Nathan asked and she looked down as Horatio looked to her. Nathan then sat forwards and knew something was up. "You can talk to me Zoë, I assume it was something personal?" He asked and she nodded as she glanced back up at him.
"I just didn't want to get intimate as I knew I'd hurt. Well, I wanted to, but I didn't want to hurt and I didn't want to build Horatio up only to stop at the last minute if I hurt too much." She said softly and Nathan nodded. "But that's it." She said softly as she placed her hand on Horatio's thigh. He was a actually happy she'd brought it up with Nathan, for once he didn't feel embarrassed when the word intimacy was mentioned.
"Are you sure you don't want stronger painkillers?" Nathan asked softly as he wrote a few more notes down again.
"I'm sure, I'd be less inclined to get intimate if I was high off my face on painkillers anyway. Even if I've had paracetamol I only like to relax. I don't like taking them Nathan. I don't like doing anything when I'm on painkillers." She said a little more firmly and he nodded, noticing that he'd struck a chord.
"Okay, I was just offering." He said softly as he raised a hand in submission and gave her a gentle expression as Horatio placed his hand over hers.
"I'm sorry Nathan." She said softly as she looked down to her hand on Horatio's thigh with a sigh.
"They wouldn't make you high off your face anyway, Zoë." Nathan chuckled as he looked back up to her from the file in front of him.
"Well, the ones you've given me make me feel quite euphoric and floaty. So if they were any stronger I'd think they'd knock me out." She said softly with a shy smile as she looked back to him and bit her lip lightly.
"Ah okay sweet, I forget that your tolerance is quite low when it comes to painkillers. Most people knock so many normal painkillers that what you're taking now just touches the small aches and pains." He said softly and she nodded with the shy smile. "How often on average do you take painkillers, if you don't mind me asking?" Nathan said curiously as he sat back.
"On average between 2 and 4 ibuprofen tablets every 3 months, that's for stomach cramps when I get my period. Sometimes I don't take them though as the stomach cramps don't hurt at all, but at most I'll take 2 a month if I have my period monthly." She said softly and Nathan nodded as he sat forwards again.
"Not much at all then." He said softly and Zoë nodded.
"Okay sweet, if you don't mind hopping up onto the bed and letting me get a look at your head and bruises I'd be most grateful." He said softly and she nodded. He quickly looked her over and seemed happy.
"Just a few more questions and I'll be done." Nathan said softly and she nodded with a smile as she sat back next to Horatio. He asked her some basic questions assessing her mental ability and stability.
"I'm happy to let you back to work, mentally wise, however, I advise against it for a couple more days as you're still quite bruised and hurting. Not to mention stiff, you've also got this attachment with Horatio still, I could see that you were even panicking a little when we were just over there, so how you'll cope being separate from him most of the day at work could be a problem. But you may improve before then. Then again, going back to work may help you because you'll be focussing on other things. I can't say don't go to work, I can't stop you. But my advice is that you should take a few more days off just to really recover." Nathan said softly and they nodded. 'There is no way she's going to listen to him, she'll be back tomorrow.' Horatio thought to himself as he glanced over to her.
"Thank you Nathan." She smiled, he smiled back and Horatio then thanked him.
"If you have any problems, call me." He said softly as he got up and shook Horatio's hand. They both nodded and Zoë hugged him gently.
"See you soon sweetie, thank you." She thanked him. He gave her a smile and then showed them to the door. Zoë linked arms with Horatio and walked down the corridor, happy.
"I think I will take his advice and stay home for a couple more days." Zoë said softly and he looked round to her shocked.
"Don't look so shocked." She smiled at him.
"Well, I think that may be the first time you've agreed and listened to Nathan, I have to be shocked." Horatio boyishly smiled at her and she giggled. They arrived home, happy and stayed home together for a few more days until Zoë was happy enough to go back to work. She managed to focus and cope without panicking about being apart from Horatio, she was happy with her recovery and felt 100%. Horatio was also feeling very good in himself, he struggled with the thought of not having Emily and Olivia around a little more than Zoë, but she got him through it without even knowing it herself. Things once again, looked up for the both of them.
The End
Thank you all for reading and especially those who have reviewed! Next story - "Broken Promises".
