Chapter 21
Hank was more than willing to fill Betsy's request. In fact, he had gone above and beyond by providing a pot of tea and a thermos of hot chocolate along with several sandwiches and cookies. He had waved aside her gratitude, stating that he was glad to be able to do something to help and gave her a rundown on what he had found so far. Remy was too thin and slightly malnourished, which he was sure Betsy had already guessed. The blood tests were coming along quickly and Hank was just preparing to go over the cat scans. He assured her, once again, that he would call her immediately upon finding anything. She thanked him once again and slipped back into her room with the tray.
Locking the door once again, she placed the tray on her dresser before carrying the two mugs into the bathroom. Remy lay back in the large tub, his eyes closed, looking relaxed but Betsy could feel the tension that still remained in his mind. He smiled and sat up when she pressed the hot mug into his hands and Betsy moved to sit on the tub's edge, massaging the tense muscles through his shoulders and back. It did not take long before his mind became relaxed and fuzzy and she could feel the sleepiness overcoming him.
"Ready for bed?"
He nodded sleepily and she took the mug from his relaxed fingers and handed him a towel as he stood up. After getting him dry, Betsy steered her half- asleep charge to the bed and tucked him in, kissing him softly before grabbing one of her nightgowns and retreating into the bathroom to change. It was not due to modesty, not really. After all, he had seen all of her, more than once but she needed some distance, some time alone as her mind finally began to process his last words. 'Je vous aime'. She was not fluent in French but she knew what he had said. Je vous aime. I love you.
Her mind whirled. Had he meant it? Was it just because of today? Would he even remember saying it? Did she want him to? She liked him. That was a certainty. She liked talking with him, being with him. He was a wonderful lover and friend but love, actual love?
Betsy shook her head, firmly bringing her thoughts to a stop. Remy was vulnerable, exhausted, she doubted he would remember anything and, if he did, she would deal with that later. Besides, if she worried about it too much, she would guarantee that he would remember it. The link would make sure of that. So, put off the words, focus on the now, on his health, his needs.
Feeling better at having a firm plan in mind, she quickly changed into the nightgown and slipped into the bed beside Remy. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him tight and joined him in sleep.
The next morning dawned bright and sunny and Betsy woke up wrapped in Remy's arms as he lazily nuzzled and kissed her. She returned the kisses happily.
"Mornin', chere."
"Morning." Their kisses became deeper until Betsy pulled back playfully. "Much as I like this, I have something to tell you."
He smiled at her, quirking an eyebrow questioningly. "You got Remy's full attention." His hand slid over her hip, carressing her through the silk of her gown.
Betsy laughed and captured his hand, bringing it up to her mouth for a quick kiss before laying it against his chest. "We will continue that later, right now, though, I have to tell you something very important, I am hungry."
Remy's eyes danced with laughter as he pulled away from her. "Non, not dat. Anyt'ing but dat. You one cranky femme when you hungry."
Betsy gasped in outrage and immediately grabbed a pillow, cheerfully swatting him with it. Remy attempted to defend himself but was hampered by his laughter. Of couse her aim was off due to her own laughter and it was not long before they collapsed onto the bed, out of breath, eyes dancing. Several minutes later, once they managed to catch their breath, they kissed quickly before rolling off the bed. Remy pulled on his pants and shirt, gathering the rest in a bundle before going to his room to quickly clean up and change, leaving Betsy to do the same.
She had just finished her make-up when her intercom went off. "Betsy, we are having a meeting in five minutes in the common room." Scott's voice had an angry edge to it but Betsy was not intimidated.
"I will need more than 5 minutes. I have not eaten breakfast yet."
"You should have thought of that earlier."
"You should have warned me about the meeting earlier."
There was a pause and she could imagine him grinding his teeth. "Five minutes."
Betsy's stubbornness raised its head. The meeting would have to include Remy as well and Hank had said he was malnourished. "After breakfast." She shut off the intercom and grabbed the tray, leaving her room before he could respond. *Remy?*
*Oui, chere.*
*Where are you?*
*M'old room. Hadn' really moved anyt'ing out yet.*
Betsy turned and began walking down the hall to his room. *Have you heard about a meeting?*
*Non. But de probably callin' de boat house. Remy not supposed t'be in de mansion.*
*True.*
*When is de meetin'.*
*In less than five minutes according to Scott. We, however, are going to be late.*
*Gonna make dem mad.*
*I do not care. Hank spoke to me when he brought the hot chocolate last night. He says you are underweight and suffering slight malnourishment. Therefore, we are eating first. Your health is more important than their peace of mind.* She could feel a wave of affection and gratitude wash over her, as well as the thought that he did not deserve her kindness. *Besides, you would not want me to be 'cranky' at the meeting, would you.*
She had reached his door and he immediately stepped out to greet her, smiling. *Non, dat be bad, tres, tres bad.*
He gallantly took the tray from her and offered her his arm. Betsy ignored it, wrapping her arm around his waist instead. He returned the gesture and they headed down to the kitchen together.
Betsy could sense the minds in the common room as they passed it so she knew the rest of the team had gathered there. However, they would just have to wait. In the kitchen, Remy disposed of the uneaten food on the tray while Betsy put some english muffins in the toaster oven. A few minutes later and the two of them were eating the warm breads with jam, drinking fresh coffee and ignoring the fact that they were late.
Hank was more than willing to fill Betsy's request. In fact, he had gone above and beyond by providing a pot of tea and a thermos of hot chocolate along with several sandwiches and cookies. He had waved aside her gratitude, stating that he was glad to be able to do something to help and gave her a rundown on what he had found so far. Remy was too thin and slightly malnourished, which he was sure Betsy had already guessed. The blood tests were coming along quickly and Hank was just preparing to go over the cat scans. He assured her, once again, that he would call her immediately upon finding anything. She thanked him once again and slipped back into her room with the tray.
Locking the door once again, she placed the tray on her dresser before carrying the two mugs into the bathroom. Remy lay back in the large tub, his eyes closed, looking relaxed but Betsy could feel the tension that still remained in his mind. He smiled and sat up when she pressed the hot mug into his hands and Betsy moved to sit on the tub's edge, massaging the tense muscles through his shoulders and back. It did not take long before his mind became relaxed and fuzzy and she could feel the sleepiness overcoming him.
"Ready for bed?"
He nodded sleepily and she took the mug from his relaxed fingers and handed him a towel as he stood up. After getting him dry, Betsy steered her half- asleep charge to the bed and tucked him in, kissing him softly before grabbing one of her nightgowns and retreating into the bathroom to change. It was not due to modesty, not really. After all, he had seen all of her, more than once but she needed some distance, some time alone as her mind finally began to process his last words. 'Je vous aime'. She was not fluent in French but she knew what he had said. Je vous aime. I love you.
Her mind whirled. Had he meant it? Was it just because of today? Would he even remember saying it? Did she want him to? She liked him. That was a certainty. She liked talking with him, being with him. He was a wonderful lover and friend but love, actual love?
Betsy shook her head, firmly bringing her thoughts to a stop. Remy was vulnerable, exhausted, she doubted he would remember anything and, if he did, she would deal with that later. Besides, if she worried about it too much, she would guarantee that he would remember it. The link would make sure of that. So, put off the words, focus on the now, on his health, his needs.
Feeling better at having a firm plan in mind, she quickly changed into the nightgown and slipped into the bed beside Remy. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him tight and joined him in sleep.
The next morning dawned bright and sunny and Betsy woke up wrapped in Remy's arms as he lazily nuzzled and kissed her. She returned the kisses happily.
"Mornin', chere."
"Morning." Their kisses became deeper until Betsy pulled back playfully. "Much as I like this, I have something to tell you."
He smiled at her, quirking an eyebrow questioningly. "You got Remy's full attention." His hand slid over her hip, carressing her through the silk of her gown.
Betsy laughed and captured his hand, bringing it up to her mouth for a quick kiss before laying it against his chest. "We will continue that later, right now, though, I have to tell you something very important, I am hungry."
Remy's eyes danced with laughter as he pulled away from her. "Non, not dat. Anyt'ing but dat. You one cranky femme when you hungry."
Betsy gasped in outrage and immediately grabbed a pillow, cheerfully swatting him with it. Remy attempted to defend himself but was hampered by his laughter. Of couse her aim was off due to her own laughter and it was not long before they collapsed onto the bed, out of breath, eyes dancing. Several minutes later, once they managed to catch their breath, they kissed quickly before rolling off the bed. Remy pulled on his pants and shirt, gathering the rest in a bundle before going to his room to quickly clean up and change, leaving Betsy to do the same.
She had just finished her make-up when her intercom went off. "Betsy, we are having a meeting in five minutes in the common room." Scott's voice had an angry edge to it but Betsy was not intimidated.
"I will need more than 5 minutes. I have not eaten breakfast yet."
"You should have thought of that earlier."
"You should have warned me about the meeting earlier."
There was a pause and she could imagine him grinding his teeth. "Five minutes."
Betsy's stubbornness raised its head. The meeting would have to include Remy as well and Hank had said he was malnourished. "After breakfast." She shut off the intercom and grabbed the tray, leaving her room before he could respond. *Remy?*
*Oui, chere.*
*Where are you?*
*M'old room. Hadn' really moved anyt'ing out yet.*
Betsy turned and began walking down the hall to his room. *Have you heard about a meeting?*
*Non. But de probably callin' de boat house. Remy not supposed t'be in de mansion.*
*True.*
*When is de meetin'.*
*In less than five minutes according to Scott. We, however, are going to be late.*
*Gonna make dem mad.*
*I do not care. Hank spoke to me when he brought the hot chocolate last night. He says you are underweight and suffering slight malnourishment. Therefore, we are eating first. Your health is more important than their peace of mind.* She could feel a wave of affection and gratitude wash over her, as well as the thought that he did not deserve her kindness. *Besides, you would not want me to be 'cranky' at the meeting, would you.*
She had reached his door and he immediately stepped out to greet her, smiling. *Non, dat be bad, tres, tres bad.*
He gallantly took the tray from her and offered her his arm. Betsy ignored it, wrapping her arm around his waist instead. He returned the gesture and they headed down to the kitchen together.
Betsy could sense the minds in the common room as they passed it so she knew the rest of the team had gathered there. However, they would just have to wait. In the kitchen, Remy disposed of the uneaten food on the tray while Betsy put some english muffins in the toaster oven. A few minutes later and the two of them were eating the warm breads with jam, drinking fresh coffee and ignoring the fact that they were late.