Chapter Thirteen

Hic nunc sum – 'I am here now'

November 18th 1988

10.34am

Elizabeth's hair whipped around her as the wind kissed her face. She pulled her coat tighter around her body as she walked from her car towards the hospital doors. Leaves were being kicked up and harshly being thrashed around as the blustery weather took its course. One thing was certain about the wind; nobody can ever gage the strength of it until you are faced with the harsher blows. Once inside she shook her body in an attempt to shake the bad weather away, reaching the main reception desk she removed her gloves from her hand one by one and placed them in her coat pocket;

'Hi I am looking for Henry McCord, I believe he was brought in about half an hour ago' she spoke politely.

'Yeah Right this way' the receptionist guided Elizabeth towards a bay within the corner of the hospital ward.

'Just in there' she smiled and pointed. Elizabeth nodded and silently thanked her. She swallowed hard. She hadn't really processed the information she received roughly half an hour ago. The words 'Henry's had an accident' swarming around in her mind. Accident, accident, accident tortured her. The last time she heard those words was on that fatal day nearly five years ago when she lost her parents. She slowly pulled back the curtain and a wave of relief washed over her like the wind passing by as she saw Henry sat up in bed smiling.

'Hey' he chuckled matched with a goofy grin. Elizabeth wanted to break into tears in that instant, she felt like the wind had sucked the air from her lungs as her mind relaxed; he's ok.

'Hey you' she smiled, she walked over and placed a loving hand on his face, stroking his cheek with her thumb.

'What happened?' she pressed her lips together as her eyes searched his

'I was running track and just tripped, they think it's just a real bad sprain, I have to wait for an x-ray to confirm but I should be ok and heading home soon. Although I am in a lot of pain and will probably need some tender loving care' he smirked at the last part causing Elizabeth raise her eyebrow and roll her eyes as she placed herself on the side of his bed, her hand lingering over his body.

'Really Henry, there are easier ways to ask me for some TLC rather than giving me the fright of my life' her facial expression serious, she couldn't quite joke

'Hey, I'm ok. It's ok' he reassured her, wrapping an arm around her realising she wasn't quite comfortable with the situation, the reasons to him unknown. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Henry pulled back and cupped her face, kissing her lips softly

'Are you ok?' he looked a little concerned

'Yeah, Yeah I was just told you had an accident and my mind went places' she shook the feelings aside, she didn't lie to him, but she didn't tell him the in-depth truth either. She started to wonder if she would ever have the courage to tell him about her parents.

'Well we will probably have a few more accidents, especially as I cant weight bare so that means you're going to have to cook' he teased and she laughed

'Who said I was going to be around for meal times? That is very presumptuous Mr McCord' she tilted her head and grinned at him.

'Ohh don't toy with me Adams, you've hardly left my house since Halloween' he mocked her

'Yes but only because of the food, so now that's gone...' She tried to keep a straight face but couldn't. Soft giggles escaped her lips as he placed his hands on her hips and used his strength to tug and pull her closer to him. He cheekily raised an eyebrow at her and the glint in his eyes spoke for himself.

'You know what else it means?' he whispered and she narrowed her eyes

'It means you have to go on top' he winked and as her mouth fell open in shock he pulled her close crashing his lips down onto hers. She immediately responded and groaned in pleasure as he started to nibble at her lip. Her hands wrapped around his neck and their tongues started to reminisce. She pulled her head back and lingered inches from his face

'Oh I think I can do that' came the gentle playful tone.

'Now that is a reason worth heading home for' he laughed and took her hand in his, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand as he looked lovingly into her eyes.

'I am glad you're ok Henry' the sincerity creeping in. He smiled at her warmth.

'I know' his hand moving to brush her hair from her face, and resting on her cheek.

'Move in with me' he blurted out. She done a double take and looked at him shell shocked by his request.

'Sorry?'

'Move in with me, I hate it when you're not there' he replied simply. She looked at him and shook his head

'That's the pain medication, ask me when your foot is heeled in a few weeks time' she dismissed his comment. She adored him that much was evident, but he still knew so little about her, and her him. As she gazed into his eyes she stared lovingly at the colour of them; reminding her of the blustery winds outside which scooped the leaves up ferociously. If anything in life if certain to help change the direction and pace which something is travelling at, it is the wind. The question is; did you turn and run with it, or continue to push on and have a barrier between you and your destination? Elizabeth often opted for that barrier, but what was it about Henry that made her want to turn her back to the wind, run in the same direction and dance with the leaves...