Steven Hunt was guilty, his team had made it out the other side and now it was all reports and files to deal with. Boyd did manage to get a couple of reports written, then gave up and started to pace. No matter how many times he checked his watch time didn't seem to be passing any faster. He considered phoning Frankie, asking her what was happening and if she had heard anything but bugging her wasn't fair. He dropped heavily back into his chair, picking up his pen and looked at the pile of stuff still to do. He was sure it had quadrupled since he left it five minutes ago. Waiting was not his strongest suit, waiting was for people with patience and he had none, absolutely zero. He tried to concentrate, tried to get on with the paperwork but sitting doing it was mundane and mind numbing at the best of times, now it was just torture. When he heard a quick rap on his door he looked up just as Grace entered carrying two steaming mugs of tea.
"Here, it won't make time go any faster, of Frankie ring you any quicker but it might calm you down a bit." Grace passing him a cup before sitting down opposite him. "You know what hospitals are like, doctors can take all day to do their rounds." Catching the angry glare from Boyd at her words and holding up her hand in apology. "Sorry. Not helping I know."
"This just doesn't hold my interest anymore." Picking up his cup of tea and taking a drink.
"Maybe you need to change jobs then." Graces words only partly serious.
"Maybe I do. Maybe it's times I just walked away, threw in the towel and became a house husband or whatever bollocks they're calling it this week." Knowing he didn't mean what he was saying but still saying it to see how it felt actually saying the words out loud.
"Only you know the answer to that, Peter. Maybe when you and Frankie get settled you can talk about it more with her. I would say don't rush into anything, but I know you and that would be a waste of time. Take some time, that's the best advice I can give you." Grace drinking her tea as she watched him over the rim of the cup. "Stella and Spencer are getting on a lot better." Grace hoping a quick change in conversation would help distract him.
"Yeah, she's doing okay. I still have to catch myself though. When I shout through, stop myself shouting for Mel instead of Stella. It's tough." His eyes looking out to the main squad room where Stella sat at Mel's old desk.
Grace saw the mix of sadness and guilt cross his features briefly, his issues over Mel's death still unresolved. She didn't push the matter, knowing he would talk when he wanted, which was hardly ever.
"Unfortunately I can't sit here all day, I have my own paperwork to file." Grace standing up from her seat as Boyd looked at his watch again.
"She'll call, just be patient." Grace laughing at her own words knowing Boyd was anything but patient.
After Grace left him alone Boyd got up and went to sit on the settee, leaning his head back against the wall and closing his eyes. If he was this impatient now he dreaded to think what he would be like nearer the time when the baby was due. Thinking of the new baby automatically drew his thoughts back to Luke, back to his firstborn. He looked at the picture on the unit of a ten-year-old Luke playing football in the garden. A happy carefree boy so full of life and promise. It was only a few years after that picture had been taken that the slippery slip to him losing Luke had begun. He was brought out of his morbid thoughts by his phone ringing, his mobile phone not his office phone. He got up quickly and dug it out his trouser pocket, seeing Frankie's name on the small screen and nearly dropping it.
"Frankie." Skipping the hello as he answered the call.
"Hey, Boyd." Frankie's voice filtering through the phone making him smile. "Doctors just been, I'm free to leave whenever I want. You still okay," Boyd cutting her off with a hurried, "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Thank you. I'll see you soon. Bye." Frankie ending the call as Boyd stood grinning like an idiot.
He had his coat on and was at his car in less than five minutes, nearly running up the stairs to get outside. As he drove through the city he was sure all the traffic light were against him, all turning red as he approached them. When he finally reached the hospital it had taken him thirty minutes already, and he still needed to get to the ward. He tried to walk but ended up jogging across the car park, through the hospital and up all three flights of stairs. He did slow down when he reached the ward but was still a little short of breath when he reached Frankie's room and opened the door.
Frankie was sat in a high back chair beside the bed. She was wearing the grey shirt he had brought in with all but two buttons done at the top. If he wasn't much mistaken she had a pair of black leggings on, and a pair of trainers to finish off the bizarre fashion statement. There were two bags on the bed, no doubt holding her wash things and dirty clothes ready to leave.
"Frankie, sorry I'm late." Rushing up to her after looking her up and down.
"It's okay, not like I have anywhere to be." Standing up and reaching out to hug Boyd.
Boyd folded Frankie is his arms, closing his eyes as he kissed her temple, his lips lingering on her skin longer than necessary. Frankie could feel how stressed and tense he was again, his body stiff and rigid.
"Can we go home now?" Frankie whispered in his ear, her words tickling his skin.
"Of course we can." Finally letting her go so she could step back.
Boyd glanced around the room looking for a coat but didn't spot one.
"Frankie, you do have something to wear on top of that shirt, don't you?" Still looking around the room as he asked her.
"No, it was early when I came in, and I had a blanket around me from the paramedics." Seeing him already undoing the button on his big overcoat and shrugging it off.
"We're only going to the car, I don't need a coat on." Frankie attempting to protest as Boyd held his coat up for her to slide her arms in.
"Coat on, no arguments." Giving the coat a shake until Frankie begrudgingly slipped her arms in and he covers her with it. "I just got you out of here, for my own sanity just wear it until you get home. I am not having you both getting cold." Doing up one button so she was tucked in.
Boyd automatically picked up the bags from the bed and held his free hand out to her, grinning when she took it. Frankie opened the door to the room and they stepped through it, Frankie going first. By the time they reached the lift Boyd had managed to let go of her hand and slid his arm around her waist, his need to have her close overpowering his need for personal space and decorum. He didn't let go of her until he had the car door open for her to get in. On the drive home, he kept glancing over at her as if to check she was still there. When they pulled up outside Frankie's house Frankie was on edge, Boyds sideways glances at her not going unnoticed.
"Boyd, I'm really, and I'm definitely here." Placing her hand on his thigh after he cut the engine and took the keys out the ignition.
"I know, it's just, weird, having you here after you being away so long." Placing his hand on top of hers on his thigh.
"It was only six months, not like I was gone years." Managing to turn her hand over under his and linking their hands together.
"It felt like it. From seeing you every day, hearing your voice, seeing you smile, to nothing." Stroking his thumb over her knuckles as he spoke.
"It wasn't easy on me either. I missed you, I missed you all, and it hurt more than I thought it would." Her eyes misting over with unshed tears.
"Let's get you inside. I didn't bust you out of the hospital to have you sit in a car all day." Squeezing her hand before letting go and opening the door.
Frankie was already halfway out of the car when he joined her on the pavement. He got the bags off the back seat and walked beside her up the path to her house, his hand placed on the small of her back as they walked. Frankie opened the door and he let her go instead, closing the door behind him and looking around.
"It's freezing in here, how do I put the heating on?" Seeing Frankie about to take his coat off.
"I'll do it, I need the loo and want to change my pants anyway. Why don't you make a cup of coffee, I won't be long." Stopping beside him and kissing his cheek.
Frankie went to walk away but Boyd stopped her, his hand on her wrist stopping her moving away. He gently drew her back towards him, her chest touching his as he stopped her in front of him. Boyd cupped her cheek, watched as she closed her eyes, tilted her head into his hand and smiled lightly. Dipping his head he stopped millimetres from her face, their breaths mixing together as he waited to see what she would do. Even with her eyes closed, Frankie could feel how close he was, his breath mixed with hers, the heat radiating from him. She closed the tiny gap between them, her lips gently touching his as she placed a hand on the back of his head. The kiss was slow and soft, lips moving over each other in a slow sort of dance. His thumb stroked her cheek as she slid her hand down for his head and onto his back pulling him closer to her. She could feel his rapid heartbeat against her chest, no doubt he could feel hers beating equally as fast. It was Boyd who broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers as they both caught their breath.
"Frankie." Her name is no more than a murmur across her face.
"I know." Frankie replying without even thinking about it.
Boyd kissed the bridge of her nose before he started to move away, Frankie's eyes never leaving his.
"I thought you needed the loo?" Boyd seeing Frankie move from one foot to the other.
"I do, and that's where I'm going before I don't make it. Back in a minute." Frankie moving as quickly as she could up the stairs and into the bathroom.
Boyd did as she suggested and headed into the kitchen, taking the bag of laundry with him. He tipped every item of clothing into the washer, then dug out his reading glasses. After looking over the instructions on the front of the machine he gave up, some of the clothes in there were his and he didn't really want to ruin them. He made coffee and tea and found some bread to make toast, smothering it with butter before taking it all through to the living room and putting it on the coffee table. When Frankie joined Boyd he was sat with his shoes off, feet on the coffee table and the plate balanced on his chest.
"Just make yourself at home." Frankie joked as she sat beside him, her feet joining his on the table.
"Want some?" Holding the plate out to her.
"Did you leave any butter in the fridge?" Frankie asked as she picked up a piece of toast and butter ran down her fingers.
"Some. But toast is better like this." Taking her hand holding the toast and bringing it closer to him so he could lick her fingers.
The shiver that ran through her body didn't go unnoticed by either of them, Frankie turning her attention back to her piece of toast. Boyd ate one more piece, leaving the last two on the plate for Frankie. When Frankie was finished Boyd passed her the tea towel he had at his side and put the plate on the table, picking up the cups and sitting back.
"Good to be home?" Boyd making ideal conversation as he drank his coffee.
"Yeah, I can't wait to sleep in my own bed." Frankie finishing her tea and going to put the cup on the table but Boyd taking it and doing it for her. "Thanks for today. Picking me up and bringing me home." Frankie snuggling closer to Boyd as she thanked him.
"You're welcome. Are you tired? You want to go up and take a nap? I can order in a takeaway, save either of us cooking?" His arm sliding around Frankie's shoulder so she was even closer to him.
"Yes, I'm tired, no I'm not going up to take a nap. I am very comfortable here with you unless you're coming up to nap with me?" Yawning as she turned a little more, her baby bump now resting against Boyd's stomach.
"Sleep then, I'm not going anywhere." Whispering as he watched Frankie fall asleep.
Boyd wasn't sure how long he had been asleep, or what woke him up, but he woke with a start, his heart beating faster than normal. He blinked to clear the sleep out his eyes, felt movement to his left and looked down. Frankie was wriggling in her sleep as if trying to get away from someone or something.
"Shhhh, it's okay, I'm here. I've got you, Frankie, it's all okay, your safe." Stroking his fingers down her cheek as he talked soothingly to her.
Frankie settled again, her body shifting impossible close to his. Just then the baby decided it needed to stretch out, his stomach getting a few quick thumps before she settled again. Boyd's stomach gave a loud growl, the toast from earlier on long digested. If he was hungry Frankie must be hungry. As carefully as he could he pulled his phone out his pocket, opening it and swiping through the phonebook. He found the number he was looking for and pressed to dial it, talking as quietly as he could when he ordered the Chinese takeaway.
"Is that food on its way?" Frankie's sleepy voice making him turn his head and look at her.
"Yes, foods on its way. Are you gonna lift up so I can go pee? And get plates and cutlery out." Taking his feet off the table and searching his legs.
Frankie shifted so he could get up, then stood up herself. Boyd makes his way upstairs while Frankie went into the kitchen. When Boyd came back down Frankie was waiting at the foot of the stairs.
"Everything is on the table ready, my turn." Letting Boyd pass her so she could head up to the bathroom.
When the Chinese arrived Boyd paid and dished it out, Frankie already eating bits before everything was on the plates. They didn't really talk, just made comments about the food, the weather, how the baby was enjoying the Chinese. It was Boyd who cleared away the rubbish and washed the dishes while Frankie took a shower after putting the washer on. Frankie came down half an hour later wearing just a baggy t-shirt and underwear, obviously ready for bed. As she snuggled up with Boyd on the settee, she felt herself yawning again, and Boyd noticed as well.
"I should go, let you get to bed." Boyd trying to extract himself from Frankie's grasp.
"Or you could just stay, you'll have a clean shirt and underwear in the morning." Frankie keeping hold of Boyd's shirt as she sat up.
"Frankie I don't want to rush things between us. I don't want you to feel pressured because I'm here." Having no idea what the hell he was saying as he looked at Frankie.
"I think the not rushing it thing is six months too late, Boyd. Our daughter is a testament to that. As for you stopping over, I just want to sleep with you. I don't want to have sex. You, me, in my bed under the same blankets sleeping. My head on your chest listening to the steady beat of your heart with your arms wrapped around me. That's all I want, Boyd, that's all I'm asking for." A lump forming in Boyd's throat as Frankie spoke.
How could he ever say no to her? Her chocolate brown eyes staring deeply into his as she waited for an answer.
"Go on up, I'll lock up." Seeing a flicker of a smile on Frankie's face as she went to stand up.
"Thank you." Frankie kissing his lips briefly before she left him to lock up.
Grace was right, taking things slowly and not rushing was never his strong point, and the fact he was locking up Frankie's house and following her to bed showed just that. Frankie was already under the covers when he arrived in her bedroom, the lamp illuminating the room in pale yellow. Stripping down to his boxer he climbed in beside her, her body moulding to his as he tucked them both in.
"Night, Frankie," Boyd whispered into her hair and he kissed her head.
"Night, Boyd." Frankie sleepy muffled voice replied.
Boyd closed his eyes as Frankie fell asleep, her head on his chest and his arms wrapped around her just like she had said.