"Mmm, Henrik." She shot up, "Henrik?"
"I'm here." He reassured behind her.
She turned to see him checking his phone, damp hair and naked bar the towel wrapped around his waist.
His eyes glanced up from his phone, an amused smirk lining his lips, "Morning."
Tabby rubbed her eyes, "Good morning. Have you showered already?"
"No I've just been outside it's pouring down." He smirked placing his phone down on the bed side table. He paused and gave her a condescending look, tilting his head, "Our flight is 10:00 you know?"
She realised what he was getting at, "Oh right of course." She threw off the covers and headed for the bathroom.
As the door clunked shut and the lock was pulled across Henrik couldn't help but chuckle himself. Tabitha was a lovely girl, the only things that got to him were her constant mood swings and timidness, the latter though he found quite endearing on times. He never thought he'd have these feelings for her, she was overly energetic, sometimes loud, unable to stick up for herself at times, but she could speak her own mind and was very talented. He regularly felt the need to protect her and he always found he could relax around her, she brought out his fun, playful side, a side maybe only one or two people could access in him.
"Henrik?" Came a small whisper from the door.
"Yes?" He looked towards the head of wet hair poking through the door.
"Um, can I be a pain and ask if-" Before she could finish a set of clothes was held in front of her. She took them gently and retreated back into the bathroom to get dressed.
"So this is what he picked out for me." She spoke to herself as she glanced through the clothes he'd handed her. She eyed up the lacy underwear, "Typical." She snorted, "Underneath that cold, sophisticated exoskeleton he's just a typical man." Nevertheless she put them on, along with the stockings and suspenders, pink long sleeved shirt, grey pencil pinafore and purple neckerchief.
She reappeared out of the bathroom to find a casual looking Hanssen lying on the bed reading his Kindle. He looked up, admiring her attire; he'd done well, "Breakfast?"
After breakfast they headed back upstairs to pack their belongings.
"Henrik?"
"Yes, Tabby?"
"Is my…? Yes it is." She answered herself, "Sorry just looking for my bag." She flung a few extra items in and looped it over her head. She stood next to her suitcase, "Right, ready for the off?"
"Most certainly." He got to his feet and grabbed his suitcase.
They both checked they had everything then headed for the lift.
It was the same driver that had picked them up before who was taking them back and throughout the 20 minute journey nobody spoke a word, Tabby looked as though she was dropping off, Henrik was more interested in what was outside and the driver couldn't think of any intelligent small talk, so chat was futile.
It wasn't long until they arrived at the airport, again check in was a doddle, they slinked through security and ended up in the departure lounge, thankfully this time their flight was on time.
Tabby dumped her bag next to where Henrik was sitting down, "I'll be back in a min." She slurred out quickly hurrying for the loos.
Her discomfort did not evade the senses of Henrik, "Tabitha, are you alright?" He asked concerned.
"I'm fine." She called back.
He furrowed his brow before taking out his phone and sorting out his calendar.
Soon Tabby returned and sat next to him, hand on her stomach she pointed across him, "Can you hand me my bag, please?"
He handed her the satchel and she sifted through it urgently. Finally finding what she wanted she popped out a couple of pills and swallowed them down with a swig of water. It was then that Henrik realised what the problem was.
"Coffee?" He went to get up.
"Tea please?"
"Of course." He smiled squeezing her leg gently before heading towards the shopping area.
Tabby leaned her head back and blew out, waiting for the painkillers to kick in.
"Hey."
Tabby nearly screamed, "Cory?"
"Yeah, um, though my actual name is Tom." He smirked, "May I?" He pointed to the seat the other side of her, "It was Tabitha wasn't it?"
Tabby nodded, "That's the one."
"It's a pretty name." He smiled sweetly.
"Thanks. Um, are you stalking me?" She laughed.
"My dad was on a business trip for his company and seeming as though I'm next to take on the company he thought it would be a good opportunity to take me with him."
They chatted a while longer before Henrik returned with two cups of hot liquid and something purple and fluffy under his arm.
He handed Tabby her drink, "Ah, Cory, how nice it is to see you again." He didn't seem too pleased though.
"Hi." He waved casually, "Erm, I'll leave you guys to it, have fun." He got to his feet and jogged away.
"Henrik stop scaring the poor kid, he only came to say hello and-" She was interrupted by the fluffy purple thing, "Aww, Henrik is that for me?" She took the teddy with both hands.
"I thought it was something to cuddle to help ease your pains." He referred to her stomach cramps.
"Henrik you're too sweet." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the cheek.
It wasn't long until their flight was called and as they were waiting to go through the gate, as Tabby reached for Henrik's hand this time he took hers and held it tightly, though dropping it swiftly as they went through the gate, to maintain professionalism.
The flight was uneventful, not much different to when they were flying out. When they arrived Henrik helped Tabby with her suitcase though now she was managing to hobble without her crutch, but he still insisted she used it with the exasperated words of, 'Tabitha, it's there for a reason so bloody well use it, you're a doctor aren't you?' to which she huffed and rolled her eyes, using it until he wasn't looking then hobbling about without it, quickly using it again when he turned around.
"Henrik, can I please just take my suitcase?" She begged.
"Alright, fine." He huffed and handed it back to her. She was thankful that he kept a slower pace so she could keep up and as they got out of the front doors he spun round to face her.
"Right, if I leave these with you…" He parked his suitcase and hand luggage next her, "I'll bring the car around, saves you walking too far then." He smiled.
"No Henrik it's fine I can walk-" He'd already left, "Bastard."
It wasn't long until he pulled up in the 'drop off' layby; she got herself into the car whilst he put the luggage in the boot. Once he was sorted he slinked into the drivers' seat, clunked in his seatbelt and they set off home.
Tabitha hugged the teddy to her stomach as the painkillers began to wear off. Her discomfort was not unnoticed by Henrik and he reached his hand over, gently placing it on her leg to comfort her for a moment before getting back to driving.
*Ring ring*
Tabby turned to the phone in the holder, staring at it for a minute, "Who's Maja?" She asked pronouncing the J.
"It's pronounced 'Myer'…"
"Of course." She mentally slapped herself.
"…and she's an old friend from Sweden." He explained briefly.
"Oh, do you want me to answer it?"
"No." Came the immediate bark.
She stared at him mouth agape for a moment before ignoring him and tapping the answer button, "Hello Henrik's phone." She gave him a childish 'you can't make me obey' smile to which he scowled at.
"Oh, hello, who is this?" Came the strong Swedish accent.
"It's Tabitha Rees, Henrik's PA."
Again Henrik gave a disapproving look her way but she was concentrating on the phone.
"Oh I see, is he around or can you take a message?"
"Actually he's in the car with me now." She turned her head to him expectantly, "Speak." She whispered.
He huffed, "Hello Maja."
"Oh, Henrik, I heard the conference went well."
"Oh you were there were you?"
"No, but Professor Olsen was and he said that you delivered an excellent speech alongside a very pretty young girl."
Henrik gave Tabby a warning glance, "Yes, to give her her full title that was Doctor Tabitha Rees."
"Ah I see, well-"
"Is there a reason you why you called?" He interrupted her.
"Well, I just wanted to say congratulations on a successful speech and hope you arrive home safely."
"Well we're home now safe and sound." He assured for the sake of assuring her as he pulled into his driveway.
"Oh, both you and Tabitha?"
"Yes. Problem?"
"Um, no, not at all, well I hope you two have nice evening, hope to see you guys at some point and… well… goodbye then."
"Yes goodbye." He then pressed the end call button.
Tabby smirked, "Oh I get it."
"Get what?"
"She's an old flame of yours isn't she?"
"W-what? I haven't a clue what you're talking about."
"No?" She tilted her head sarcastically.
He gave her a warning look before getting out and heading to the boot.
She too clambered out and hobbled around the back to him, "So what happened then?"
"Again, what an earth are you on about?"
"Well, simple loving and leaving doesn't create such a frosty relationship, Henrik, something more happened, care to tell?"
He bashed his fist on his suitcase and spun to face her, pointing his finger, "That is personal and I do not wish to tell you about it so stop harassing me for it." He growled.
She held her hands up in mock surrender, "Ok, I'm prying, I'm sorry, I'm just curious, I wasn't forcing you to tell me so you just had to tell me that you're not comfortable with it, and that's fine. You just need to get used to the fact that I'm a tease, if I find a weak point in a mate I like to tease them about it, it's all done in good humour and nothing is meant by it. So I apologise, can I take that for you?" She motioned to all the hand luggage he was picking up.
He nodded and thrust it to her before reaching into his pocket and dangling some keys in front of her.
She headed up the path.
"It's the one with the one with crocodile cover on it." He called up to her.
She sifted through the set for it and unlocked the door.
"Henrik there's a bleeping sound!" Came the call from inside.
"Oh shit." She muttered dumping the suitcases back down and jogging up the path, "Sorry, I set the alarm before we left, I forgot to tell you." He tapped in the numbers and the bleeps stopped.
"You have a house alarm?" She looked puzzled.
"I don't set it every day, just when I'm away for a while. Anyway, you can just put those underneath the stairs for now we can sort them out tomorrow."
Once the suitcases were in they decided it was best to leave the unpacking until the next day, they got straight onto preparing dinner; the night carried on as usual, it was like they never left. That was until the phone rang.
"Henrik Hanssen… yes… yes it is… oh that's excellent… um, I'm not sure, I will need to-… well I'm going to have to discuss this with her but can it wait until tomorrow? It's getting late and we're about to have dinner so-… y-yes… I don't know I'm afraid… I will speak with her about it tonight and I will ring as soon as I can tomorrow… Ok thank you." He headed back to the kitchen.
"Who was that?" Tabby asked still stirring some sauce.
"Oh, just management work, they want to know if…" He trailed off and swallowed.
She glanced up at him concerned, "Want to know if…?"
Henrik then came out of his short daze shaking his head, "Oh it's nothing." He quickly carried on with helping.
"So what happened to Sir Fraser?" She took a bite from her fork.
"Haven't I told you?"
"No, I seen you chatting with Cunningham at breakfast, you didn't look too pleased, but you haven't said a word to me about it."
"Oh, my apologies then, um, he has a hearing in a week with the GMC and local health board, actually, there's something I need to talk with you about."
She looked up slightly puzzled, "Go on."
"That phone call earlier wasn't to do with management; it was the vice chairman of the local health board, William Johnson, he told me that the hearing will definitely go ahead, but they would also like to speak to you."
"To me?"
"It was inevitable really, but it is completely up to you, though if you don't go up then they can't do anything about it." He placed down his cutlery.
"So they want to know if I'm going to press charges?"
"In a way, this is staying in the medical community for now but if they do decide that government intervention is needed then you will be asked if you want to proceed or not."
She too placed down her cutlery and laced her fingers together on the table, "I think a loss of job is more than enough thanks. I will go ahead with the GMC hearing but if it goes to court then I will take it no further." She stared deep into Henrik's serious eyes.
"Are you sure? Because I know you've been through some tough times with him." His expression morphed into one of sympathy, "I want you to find an end to this."
She nodded placing her hands flat on the table, "I'm sure." She whispered, choking slightly as her eyes began to well up.
Henrik reached across the table to place his hand on hers and as she felt his touch she broke down. Henrik glanced into his lap, there was nothing he could say.