When Boyd arrived back in his office he didn't expect to be ambushed by Stella, handing him a file and asking him to read it. He did read it, and was surprised that the file involved a case Spencer had worked on many years earlier. As Stella talked he pointed out he was playing catch up, his mind not really focused on the case if he was honest. Boyd did try his best as he and Stella interviewed the witness who had brought new information in, possibly meaning the wrong person was in prison for the crime.
Felix had located the evidence he had asked for and asked Boyd if he wanted to come along with her and collect it. Boyd agreed all to willing, anything to get him out the office and over thinking the whole Spencer thing. As they walked they discussed the evidence and the DNA results from the time. Felix was rather surprised by the fact Boyd was able to rattle of exact numbers and systems used to match DNA. He would have to thank Frankie later for making him look good, obviously some of what she had said over the years had stuck in his head.
By lunchtime, Boyd was done. Everything pointed to Spencer being involved but nothing was making sense. Even after a long chat with Grace, Boyd was still at a loss, his head telling him one thing and his gut telling him something else. This case was proving to be tougher than normal, and it was causing major rifts in the team. All Boyd wanted to do was go home and find a bottle of whiskey, after seeing Frankie of course. Frankie would know what to say to him, help him work through the logistics of what was happening. When Spencer went home Boyd decided he would as well, sitting staring at his office walls was not getting him anywhere.
Standing knocking on Frankie's door was a little unusual. Boyd had been home first, had smuggled a fresh suit and shirt into the boot of the Lexus parked behind Frankie's dark blue Volvo. When the front door opened Boyd couldn't help grin, the sight of Frankie stood there drying her hand on a tea towel looking all domestic was more than he could ever imagined.
"Hey." Boyd managed to say as he continued to stand on Frankie's front door step grinning like an idiot.
"Hey yourself. What's got you looking so happy?" Frankie stepping aside so he could entered.
"You." Stepping inside Frankie's house and stopping just inside the hall while Frankie closed the door behind him.
Frankie turned to face Boyd after shutting the door, waiting to see if he would elaborate on what he had said but he didn't speak. Instead he stepped in front of her, his sheer height and bulk enough to crowd her personal space. Frankie looked up at him, saw his smile had gone, replaced by a more serious and stern look. Reaching up she let the tips of her fingers move across the wiry bristles of his beard, heard the scratch of her nails as they caught the short hairs.
"What's wrong?" Cupping the side of his face with her hand.
He wanted to tell her, share with her what was going on, but not as soon as he walked through the door.
"Later." Turning his head so he could kiss her palm.
Frankie watched as he turned his head, felt him kiss her hand as he closed his eyes and leaned every so slightly into his touch. Whatever had happened was really bothering him, it was more than work. Moving her hand further up around his head she closed the small space between them, bringing his head down as she wrapped her other arm around his back. Boyd folded into her, his bigger body covering hers as he slid his arms up and around her back. Frankie could feel how tense he was, how tightly he was wound up. Running one hand up and down his back she used the other to massaged his scalp and neck as she just held him.
Boyd breathed in deeply through his nose, his face buried against Frankie's neck. Days like today were when he would normally be sat drinking whiskey on his own, the office door and blinds closed against the world. Not today though, today was a day he wanted to be exactly where he was stood, Frankie wrapped tightly in his arms.
"You okay?" Frankie's words barely audible even though they were so close.
"I am now." Giving Frankie a squeeze before he started to pull away but not letting go of her completely.
"You ate yet? I just made something if you haven't." Taking his hand in hers as she led him towards the kitchen.
"No, I was going to see about getting something delivered." Following just behind Frankie as she lead in into the kitchen.
"Take a seat, it's just pasta in sauce. I'm having a food hates me again day so wanted something simple." Frankie said as she let go of Boyds hand and walked towards the stove to pick up the pan that was shimmer gently.
Adding another plate to the bench Frankie dished up the pasta in sauce, turned the stove off and put the dirty pan in the sink. She went to pick the plates up but was beat to it by Boyd, his body crowding behind her as his arms reached either side her, his chest going flush with his back. Boyd didn't miss the opportunity to lean his head just enough to place a kiss on her temple as he picked the plates up. Frankie shivered at the very gentle, very sweet gesture. Boyd didn't do sweet, or overly romantic, neither did she. It was definitely a new sensation, one she could possibly see herself getting used to. Frankie waited for Boyd to move before she turned around, watched as he placed the plates on the table and held out a chair for her. Frankie couldn't help smile as he attempted to help her tuck her chair in. Boyd was the one who got cutlery and drinks from the fridge, moving his seat so he was sat beside Frankie instead of opposite her.
Boyd started to eat, watching as Frankie just picked at hers slowly.
"Not going to get much eaten that way, are you?" Boyd already halfway through his while Frankie had hardly touched hers.
"If I eat it slowly it may stay down longer. Since I got back this morning I've felt queasy." Managing to eat a couple more pieces of the pasta from her plate.
Boyd was finished his while Frankie continued to eat hers slowly. Instead of sitting around he got up and cleaned the benches, the stove, and washed the pan and the other few dishes in the sink. He was pleased when Frankie passed him a empty plate to wash, at least she had managed to eat all her pasta.
"You want a cup of tea?" Boyd asked Frankie as she turned to lean back against the bench.
"You don't have to do all this stuff you know, I can manage." Watching as Boyd pulled out two cups and started to make coffee and tea.
"I would never ever suggest you couldn't do something, more than my life's worth. But I want to help, I want to make things a little easier." Pouring the boiling water into the cups as he spoke.
"Do you now. Well, how about I go put my feet up and you can bring them through when they're done." Smiling up at Boyd before she stood up straight and walked towards the door.
Boyd didn't say anything just watched as she walked out the kitchen, his eyes never leaving her backside.
When he joined her in the living room he placed the cups on the coffee table and sat at the opposite end of the settee. Frankie was sat with a huge pile of cushions gathered around her back and sides, feet on the coffee table head back, eyes closed.
"Hard day?" Asking as he had no idea what she had done since he dropped her back off that morning.
"Not really. I went to the shops, threw up a few times, got heartburn from throwing up. Ate some lunch, threw up some more. Then I took a nap, went for a walk, came home, lounged about, cooked tea, then you showed up. Average day when I'm not working, excluding the time spent throwing up of course. That's come back with a vengeance today for some reason." Turning her head and opening her eyes as she ran through her boring day.
Boyd just watched her for a minutes or so, seeing her return his stare as they sat in silence. Boyd was the first to move, turning so he was partly lying on the settee. He didn't speak, just held his hand out to Frankie. Frankie saw what he was doing and moved to join him, his strong broad chest supporting her back as his arms came up under her arms and around on to her bump. When they were setteled Frankie tilted her head and looked up at Boyd.
"Want to tell me what's got you so tense? And don't say nothing." Knowing he would try to brush off what was bothering him.
"It's an old case, Spencer is involved somehow, I just don't know how. Grace wants me to give him the benefit of the doubt but I can't." His body tensing as he explained to Frankie what had happened.
"Why can't you give him the benefit of the doubt?" Already having a sneaky suspicion of why.
"When I needed his support he ran for the hills. He honestly believed I was capable of hit and run and drink driving. I don't think I'll ever really forgive him for that." Knowing it was pointless holding a grudge but not being able to help it.
"I came back to see you when that happened. I just never actually plucked up the courage to see you face to face." Frankie admitting she had traveled to London when he was accused of drink driving and hit and run. "I saw the papers, knew instantly you weren't guilt. I stayed here three days, even got as far as reception, then needed to throw up so left. I did see you from the car park though. That was some knock you took to the head." Frankie reaching to trail her fingers down the left side of his face where he had been kicked in the head.
"Hurt like a bitch. Not as much as Spencer not believing me, but hey, Grace stood by me. Even Felix tried to help me and she hadn't been there two minutes. Stella landed right in the thick of it and everything was still so raw. What I wouldn't have given to see your face then." His fingertips skirting over Frankie's bump as he talked.
"I'm sorry. I wish I had the courage to see you. I just couldn't face you, then when I got to reception and started to throw up I knew it was an omen not to see you. I did speak to Grace, she said you were okay. I knew she was keeping an eye on you so you were in good hands. You have to give Spencer a chance to explain, then decide what you think. Spencer wouldn't deliberately betray you. Spencer's problem was he had you on a pedestal and you feel off. It wasn't your fault so he shoved you back up there. He's a good bloke, give him a chance." Placing her hands on top of his as their daughter wiggled about under their palms.
They lay in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't until Frankie yawned did Boyd speak again.
"Bedtime, come on." Giving her hands a squeeze as he waited for her to sit up.
Frankie did manage to sit up, but it took her some time.
"You stopping over?" Frankie asked as she finally got herself upright.
"If you want me too." Sitting up as he reached for Frankie's hand.
"Did you bring a change of clothes?" Seeing him smile when she mentioned changing clothes.
"In the car." Catching her hand and bringing it to his lips before she could hit him.
"Bedtime it is then." Frankie getting up from the settee as Boyd stood up beside her.
"I'll get my stuff from the car and lock up." Boyd moving to walk away from Frankie as he went to get his keys.
Boyd went to the car and got his clean clothes and bag out, coming back into the house and locking the door behind him. He made sure everywhere was locked up before heading upstairs. Frankie was already in bed, her back to the door as he entered the bedroom. Hanging his clothes up he put the bag on the chest of drawers and stripped off his clothes, joining Frankie in bed. Without thinking he automatically spooned up behind her, her legs sliding through his as she took his hand in hers.
"Night, Pete." His pet name murmured as she fell asleep.
"Night, Frankie," Boyd whispered as he to fell asleep, having no clue that he would be losing yet another member of his team within the next forty-eight hours.