For Jolo. This is the Crane-saying-he-loves-Abbie-but-Abbie-doesn't-say-it short story you wanted if you remember. :) Hope you like it. :)
Crane and Abbie were in the archives. They weren't doing research, but they were organizing the books and all the other materials they used.
"We couldn't do this another day, Leftenant? It's our day off," Crane said as he put some books in alphabetical order.
"No. This place is a mess, Crane."
"Be that as it may, we are only going to utilize these sources again. There is no need to place everything as it was."
"At least we'll know where everything is for later. There's nothing wrong with organization." Abbie placed a book on a shelf. "You should know that. You were in a war. Didn't you have to be organized and strategic?"
"Yes, but─"
"My point exactly." She handed him a book, and he put it on another shelf.
They put all the maps and all the textbooks in their proper area. When they were finished, they stared around the archives. Abbie crossed her arms while Crane's hands were folded behind his back. Everything was clean. The table was clear, the shelves were full of books, and the chairs were empty of any extra files and maps.
"Nice work, partner." She held her fist out to him.
"Indeed." He bumped his fist with hers.
"Are you ready to go? We can watch that movie now."
They were planning on watching Titanic for their date night. It wasn't Abbie's favorite movie, but she got it for Crane. She wanted him to experience America's most popular films. Titanic was definitely one of them.
"I am looking forward to it."
"Our movie awaits then." Abbie turned to leave the archives, but Crane grabbed her hand.
"One moment, Leftenant."
Abbie's forehead creased.
"May I hold you for a moment? I've had the urge to do so since we began cleaning."
Abbie smiled at Crane and nodded her head. She thought it was sweet of him to ask, even though he didn't really have to. They've been dating for two months now. Of course, Crane was a gentleman. Most of the time, he asked if he could hold her hand or kiss her or take her out on a date. He hardly did anything without her permission.
Crane stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into him as he rested his head on top of hers. Abbie liked when Crane held her. It was sweet. Sometimes they didn't talk. They stood or sat somewhere in silence for five minutes, just them with their bodies together. When they did talk, they didn't discuss much.
"We did a good job," Abbie said as she stared around the archives.
"We did. We make an impressive team."
They were silent for a few seconds until Crane spoke again.
"I love you."
Abbie turned around in his arms. "What?"
"I love you, Abbie."
That was the first time Crane had ever said that to her. He's told her he deeply cared, but he never said he loved her. That was something new, a spot they hadn't touched, even though they were closer than anyone. She loved Crane. She did. She could admit it to herself, but never out loud. That would mean it was real, that she was in a serious relationship with Crane, that she was giving herself to him in ways she hadn't before. Telling him she loved him would mean she was more vulnerable, more honest, more terrified at losing him when they fought in battle. It scared her. She wasn't sure if she was ready to admit that to Crane. Not that. Not yet. She wanted to take things slow.
"Since when?"
"Since I had abandoned you in Purgatory. I believe that was the moment I knew." He paused. "You don't have to say anything if you have no intent to. I only desired to tell you because I wanted you to know my feelings."
She put her hands on his cheeks. "Thank you, Ichabod."
He took her hands and kissed them. "It is my pleasure."
"One day, I'll say those words to you too, but I can't right now. It's too much."
"No need to trouble yourself. You have my complete understanding. Do not make haste."
Abbie nodded her head, then kissed him on his cheek. "So, are you ready to watch the movie?"
"Why, yes. It sounds rather alarming and interesting. Romantic even." Crane led her to the door.
"It is. You may even shed man tears."
"We will see, Leftenant." He said as they left the archives.
It was around two in the morning. Crane and Abbie had just gotten back from a nasty fight with a witch. She left them each an ugly gash. One was on Abbie's arm; the other appeared on Crane's back.
Abbie sat down in one of the kitchen chairs, waiting for Crane to come back with the first aid kit. He insisted that she get patched up first, but she thought his injury was worse than hers. Crane said it was only a scratch. It wasn't compared to the one on his chest from the horseman. Abbie didn't believe him.
He came back with the kit, sat it on the table, and opened it. He removed the gauze, alcohol, a few cotton balls, some tape, stiches, anything else he needed. Abbie carefully rolled up her sleeve.
"You're scar is going to get infected if it doesn't get treated soon," she said.
"You come first. You know that." He began cleaning her arm with a cotton ball with alcohol on it. Abbie winced a bit. "Apologies."
"I appreciate your courtesy, but your wound is slightly greater than mine."
"Let me do the honor of taking care of you for once."
"I can take care of myself, Crane."
"I'm not disagreeing with that statement, but it is alright to permit a person to perform a deed for you from time to time, Leftenant."
"It is. I'm used to doing everything myself though." She paused. "Why do you always fix my scraps and cuts first anyway?"
He began stitching her. "You always take care of me. Therefore, I would like to return the gesture towards you if you allow me. And ladies first."
"I get what you're saying. I've just never had anyone look after me like this, except for Corbin and Jenny. We'd put band-aids on each other when we were kids."
"I can ensure to look after you. Let me be here for you for once. It's the least I can do." He gave her a small smile as he continued to stitch her soar.
She nodded her head and felt him wrap gauze around her arm. He was done.
"My turn," she said. She stood up from her chair. "Sit."
"Must you be so commanding?"
"Yes. Take your shirt off."
When he took it off, Abbie started to clean his slash like he did hers. His was bigger.
"This is slightly inappropriate."
"I've seen you shirtless before."
"Yes, but weren't dating. I don't want my chiseled features to tempt you."
Abbie chuckled. "You don't have much."
"I'm quite offended."
"Your ego will get over it."
"The lack of sympathy."
Abbie laughed again. When his cut was cleaned, she stitched it up. Once she was done, she placed a patch of gauze over it with tape.
"All good. You can put your shirt back on now." She turned from him and started to clean up the table. Before she could finish her task, Crane grabbed her hand. He pulled her in front of him, placed his hand on her cheek. Abbie didn't look in his eyes. Instead, she stared at the scar on his chest. She traced it when her finger. She knew what was coming.
"I love you," he said. "In case we don't see another day, I want you to always know that."
She kissed him. She kissed him hard and left the room.
She handed him his shirt and walked away. That was as close as she would come to admitting it to him. That was all she would allow for now. She wouldn't go any further. She already came close to losing him today. She didn't want to say those words and then he ends up dead. She would never be able to say them again. Why bother saying them at all?
Abbie and Crane lay in bed, facing each other. They had a break from the Apocalypse. It was only them in the cabin, in Crane's bed.
"How long have we been Witnesses?"
Crane yawned. "I can't recall at the moment, Miss Mills."
"It's tiring."
"Quite, but who else is going protect the citizens of Sleepy Hollow?"
"It's up to us, huh?"
"I'm afraid so. However, at least we have each other." Crane grabbed her hand from her pillow. He entwined their fingers.
"We do." She became quiet. "Crane, what will we do when this is over? What happens to us?"
He sat up. "If you wish to discontinue our relationship, then I'll let you go."
Abbie sat up as well. She turned Crane's face to hers. "Witnesses or not, you're not going anywhere. We're not ending our relationship because our job is finished."
"What if you tire of me?"
"I could never tire of you. You know that, Crane."
He kissed her shoulder. "I love you."
"This isn't goodbye."
"No, it is not. In case you ever do decide to go your own path, separate from me, I'm reminding you."
Abbie sighed and wrapped her arms around Crane. This was the third time he's told her he loved her. She believed him. She loved him, too. But she still wasn't ready to say anything to him yet. She knew he would like to hear the words repeated, but he wouldn't force her. Maybe she would next time. "You know how I feel about you."
"I know, Abbie." He lay them back down with her in his arms. "I know."
They fell back asleep.
Crane was standing with his back towards her. His nose was in a book; he flipped pages. Abbie sat at the table, staring at him. He was wearing one of his old white shirts with khaki pants and his boots. She smiled at him. Some things he couldn't let go of.
She thought about the different times that Crane told her he loved her. He told her the first week, in the archives, the second week, when they fixed their injuries, and last week, in bed. Each one wasn't the same. They all varied. His love for her varied. It grew; it changed, transformed into a stronger version of what it was before. His I-love-yous were intense confessions, heartfelt little secrets just for her. He meant every word.
She continued to watch Crane. When would she ever get a chance to see him like this again? Today could be their last day or tomorrow and Crane wouldn't know how she felt about him. She showed him she loved him with her actions, but as of now, that wasn't enough. Abbie wanted to tell him. She needed to right now.
It was moments like this, in the quiet, when Crane was skimming a book or glancing over a map, that she was grateful for him, her partner, her equal. She imagined what it would be like to work in the archives all by herself. She'd have Jenny, but it wouldn't be the same without him. It was her and Crane from the very beginning. Always has been. It's where their relationship grew. There were good times, bad times. She couldn't envision being here without him. She was once, when she was looking for the Sin Eater with Jenny. She didn't like that feeling then. She wouldn't like it now. It was the something-is-missing feeling. It didn't seem right.
While he was still searching through the book in his hands, she got up. She stood behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist. He didn't say anything. She didn't either when his hands brushed her arms.
"I love you, too. Don't ever think I don't." She rested her head on his back. He turned around in her arms.
"I never doubted that you didn't." He smiled at her; then he kissed her like he wouldn't see her again tomorrow.