Something I wrote for you. I had this idea in my head. Enjoy. :)
Abbie paced around her bedroom, sighing and squeezing her cell phone in her hands. They hadn't spoken in one month since she left. She wasn't sure if she should do it or not. He may not even pick up the phone. He could be asleep. It was one in the morning. People slept at this time. Abbie bit her lip and took a deep breathe. She dialed Crane's number and hit the call button. It rang; she shouldn't have done this.
Crane sat in the kitchen with his phone in front of him; he stared at it. His elbows rested on the table while his hands were folded in front of his lips. If he was a gentleman, he would wait for her to call him. She's busy and needed her rest at this hour. He couldn't disturb her this morning, but he wanted to hear from her. Maybe he would call her when—. His phone lit up and vibrated; Abbie's photo was on the screen. He answered; he was afraid to speak.
They weren't scared anymore as they listened to each other's breathing; they closed their eyes. Five seconds, ten seconds, fifteen seconds, twenty seconds, one minute. Two. Three. Four. There was only the breath of the other in their ear. Then there were words.
"What's wrong, Captain?"
"You know what I wish to tell you, Leftenant. However, it is not the best time."
Crane missed her: her smile when he discovered a new object; her lips that she bit when she was uncertain or vulnerable before him; her kindness when she always left him a bag of doughnut holes; her tight hugs that reassured him she was there and would be back from Quantico. He missed her, and Abbie knew it. She wanted him to say it though, but she knew he couldn't, and she would never push him. He was still in the middle of grieving for his wife. He wanted to give her the proper respect.
"What is it, Crane?"
She missed him, too. She missed his coat that smelled like pine trees and acorns, his long fingers that skimmed across books, his pride when he didn't want to admit he was wrong, his complaints about modern technology, his eyebrows that responded for him; his persistence in always reminding her they were in it together. She missed him.
"Abbie, I wish to give you what you want."
"I know."
"But not right now. I'm terribly sorry to make you wait."
"I know."
"Thank you for your patience."
Abbie didn't say anything.
"Are you angry with me?" he said.
"No. I just didn't think it would be this difficult being apart."
"It is testing, but we both need it."
"It'll make us even stronger individually and together as partners."
"It shall."
Abbie didn't speak again.
"What's the matter, Abbie?"
"Can I tell you instead?"
"I'm afraid not, Abbie. I can't allow myself to be selfish. I wouldn't be able to give those words back to you as you deserve."
Abbie bit her lip. She nodded her head.
"This is harder than we thought," he said.
"I'll be back soon."
"How soon, Abbie?"
"In a year, Crane. And I'll come to visit. I promise," she said.
"That is somewhat of a comfort."
"I know it's not enough for us, but it's something. We'll make do."
"We always have persisted in the worst of times."
"It's who we are." Abbie removed the covers from her bed and slide between her sheets.
"Indeed." Crane walked from the kitchen into his room. He got into bed, too.
Silence came from both of them.
"Ichabod? I have a favor to ask."
"Anything you want."
"Can you—? Would you mind—?" She sighed and closed her eyes, then opened them. "Can we stay on the phone together? Only for tonight? I need you right now."
"That is one request I can fulfill." Crane rested his head on his pillow, turned off his bedroom lamp.
"Thank you." She relaxed against her pillow, too, and reached over to click off her lamp.
"I need you, too, Abbie."
Abbie had a small smile on her face as she put her phone on speaker. Crane did the same.
"Sweet dreams, Miss Mills."
"Sweet dreams, Crane," she said as they fell asleep with their breathing in each other's ears again.
Abbie yawned and looked at her phone beside her.
"Someone's finally awake."
Abbie smiled. "Good morning, Captain."
"Good morning, Leftenant." He smiled, too.