AN: thanks for the continued support!! Here is a little bit of Henry cracking under pressure instead of Elizabeth, Enjoy...

Chapter Fifty Eight - Between the Lines

'Hey dad, listen I am running late from work and I need to swing by the State department on my way home to drop this shirt that I leant off mum back there before Blake moans at me anymore, any chance you can meet me at state in like thirty minutes? I really want to speak to you without everyone else around. Ring me back when you get this' Henry sighed heavily as he listened to Stevie's voicemail once again.

He slipped his phone back into his trouser pocket as his hand grasped his bag and walked into his old DC home. He paused for a second at the hallway, his senses redefining themselves as they adjusted to the new smell of the old family home.

'Kids?' He called out as he forced himself to enter further into the house, finding his way back towards the kitchen.

'In here' Alison called out

'I need to go and meet Stevie. She wants to catch up about some things. Will you two be alright here for about an hour, maybe two?' He asked and they both nodded in sync.

'Hey dad, on your way home grab some food, Mom literally has nothing here' Jason groaned as he shut the fridge door.

'I am sure there is something in there' Henry dismissed his comment

'No seriously dad, there is nothing. Stevie said that Mom doesn't even cook much anymore, when we came up a few weeks ago she looked thinner' Alison shrugged and walked into the lounge flicking the TV on. Henry furrowed his brow in concern as his mind wandered back to Elizabeth for a moment.

'I fancy pizza' Jason patted his father on the shoulder as he walked past, throwing him a cheeky wink. Henry rolled his eyes in response and turned to walk back towards the front door.

'I'll ring you when I am on my way back' Henry explained

'Are you definitely staying here then dad?' Jason raised an eyebrow and Henry nodded.

'Your mom said it was ok, so I don't see why not'

'Won't Char-' Alison teased and Henry groaned in response.

'Don't! Stevie and your mother do not know, let me be the one to tell them not some snide comment from you, or you Jase' He warned.

'Hey what did I do?' Jason huffed. Henry went to respond but thought better of it. He ran his hand through his hair and turned on his feet, leaving them alone and heading for the state department.

~ MS ~

Henry stood outside the state department, his hands shoved in his pockets as he tried to distract himself with the view of the surrounding buildings, trees, the road, anything if he was honest. He was not completely oblivious to the obvious stares from passers by, some clearly recognising who he was and wondering why he was outside the state department, a. Building he is no longer associated with.

'Come on Stevie' he muttered as he chewed his lips, his impatience growing with his daughter who was now nearly twenty minutes late.

'Dr McCord?' Nadine called out as she walked towards the building. Henry turned to greet her, a smile on his face as he locked eyes with her.

'Nadine, Hi, How are you?' He asked softly

'I am good thank you, how are you?' She asked cautiously

'Fine thanks, just waiting for Stevie' He rolled his eyes and chuckled impatiently

'Why don't you wait inside? It's warmer, and Stephanie McCord is at the white house with Russell Jackson, I just saw them as I left there. I think they may be a while' She explained and Henry shook his head in annoyance.

'That girl is always on her phone yet she cannot even send a simple message to her father' he grunted and smiled apologetically to Nadine as he ranted. 'Thanks for the offer Nadine but I don't think I am welcome upstairs' he pressed his lips together and looked into the building, then back to her.

'I believe the Secretary is in a meeting for another hour. Is that what you're worried about? You can wait in my office if you like?' She smiled gently. Her fondness for Elizabeth and Henry had grown over the years, and despite recent events she wasn't going to kick him to the curb now. Henry took a moment to think it over before deciding to follow her upstairs.

'Thanks, It is quite cold out' he chuckled awkwardly to break the silence as they took the lift to the seventh floor.

Henry followed Nadine down the corridor to her office and took a seat inside, his mind connecting with the building he thought he had erased from his memory.

'Nadine my meeting fini- Henry?' Elizabeth stood in the doorway, her eyes falling to him as he sat with his hands in his lap, his facial expression shocked at the sight of her.

'Henry, what are you doing here?' She asked, her tone a little more cursive that she intended. Henry couldn't speak, Elizabeth wasn't well, he could see straight through her. Her body looked frail, smaller in stature and paler, despite the reflection of colour from her orange blouse, she had lost her glow. Her eyes withdrawn and tired and her tone dry, lacking in any emotion as the words fumbled from her lips. Elizabeth glanced at Nadine in the silence before turning back to Henry.

'Henry?' She repeated his name one again, his time capturing his attention.

'I urm, I am waiting for Stevie, she was supposed to meet me here about twenty, maybe thirty minutes ago,'' he cleared his throat, forcing his eyes to look at her face and not her body.

'Oh, that was my fault, she needed a Harvard reference from Russell, I made her stop on her way over here as I knew he was free' She apologised.

'Can we talk?' He blurted out. Elizabeth jolted her head back a little at the rush of his words, her eyes narrowing on his. A slight anger that he had asked her in front of her staff despite the fact she had said no many times during the week. 'I know you said we couldn't because of your meeting, but seen as it's finished?' He continued, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, a glimmer she couldn't resist.

'I have about twenty minutes,' she responded as she turned to leave the room, heading towards her office. Henry groaned silently at her lack of response before following her out of Nadine's office and towards Elizabeth's.

'Blake can you let Stevie know Henry is here and to come straight up please.' She commanded as she walked behind him and opened her office door.

'Yes Ma'am. Good Afternoon Dr McCord'

'Blake' Henry nodded with an awkward smile as he followed Elizabeth, closing the door behind them.

Then it hit them, the elephant in the room no longer an elephant that was being ignored, The last time they were in this room was before they announced their divorce. All the unresolved emotions rose to the surface, their entire beings consumed in the vortex of destruction they had created.

'Elizabeth, I, I need to speak to you about something important but right now I need to know, are you ok?' His voice was laced with concern.

'I'm fine Henry' she dismissed

'Really? Because despite what you may think Elizabeth, I know you, and I also remember you getting upset before Geneva because that orange blouse didn't fit you, so why is it so loose and baggy now?' He raised an eyebrow at her. 'Why is there no food in your fridge? Why is Stevie saying you don't cook much anymore, Alison concerned that you're losing weight?' He pushed her further.

Elizabeth chewed her lip in anger, her irritation with him growing rapidly.

'That's none of your concern anymore' she bit back but he shook his head

'Elizabeth I told you that I need you to be ok, look at you! You're not'

'And I need you to stop caring for me!' She snapped back, her hands thrusting in front of her to convey her frustration as her chest rose and fell a little heavier. Her eyes fixed on his.

'I'm fine, Had you asked me this a few days ago then no, I wasn't ok but I am, go and ask Blake if you like. I've got this in hand now' she spoke through gritted teeth, offering him a slither of the truth, hoping it would be enough, of course she knew deep down it wouldn't be.

'I don't need to ask Blake, I can see it with my own eyes' he snarled 'I cannot switch my feelings off, I cannot just stop caring for you' he spoke calmly as he attempted to lower the tension.

'And you cannot expect me to be ok just so it makes all of this easier for you Henry' she raised her eyebrow at him, her hands falling from her hips to her sides as she relaxed back into her stance. 'What did you want to speak to me about?' She asked, pushing their conversation in a direction she was more comfortable with.

'The Philippines' he lied

'I told you, it's classified' she shook her head and bit her tongue as she walked to her desk, standing behind it placing a protective barrier between them.

'He hurt you didn't he?' His tone was rough as he pushed her harder than he meant too. She snapped her head around and scoffed at him.

'Why are you not listening to me? After everything we've been through you still cannot listen to me' she argued.

'Anger is a secondary emotion Elizabeth, you're getting angry because I am getting close to the truth' he reasoned and she raised her hand in front of her, instantly shutting him down and dismissing him.

'Don't psychoanalyse me' her tone ripping through the final shreds of them. Henry stood shaking his head as he chewed his lip, the disappointment rising as he watched her shut him out once again. 'What did you really want to talk about?' She questioned, her face firm as she watched him.

'That was it' Elizabeth shook her head, matching Henry's disappointment as she watched him lie to her once again.

'Hey Mom, Dad!' Stevie bundled into the room unannounced. She paused and glanced awkwardly between them as she stepped to her father for a hug.

'Did I interrupt?' She asked.

'No, no of course not baby' Elizabeth smiled, standing to greet her daughter.

'Yeah you did Stevie, and I want to know why you have failed to mention to me at any point that your mother has been struggling?' Henry spoke. His love and need to care for and protect Elizabeth strong than his disappointment for her.

'Woah, Dad-'

'No Stevie, Every time I have spoken to you you've been with Jareth, Have you ever been home to support your mother? Why can you mention to Alison that she hasn't been cooking or even eating but not me?' He snapped

'Excuse me SHE is in the room!' Elizabeth raised her voice

'Dad, Mom is not my responsibility, so she has skipped a few meal, I am sure everyone does that after a break up' Stevie moaned

'I am so disappointed in you, Stephanie McCord' , his tone lowered as he shook his head.

'Dad!'

'Henry come on, don't you think that's a little harsh?' Elizabeth sighed

'No I don't, we raised her better than that. You have just worked nearly an hour extra to support those applying for micro loans but you cannot even be bothered to support your own mother, or your brother and sister for that matter. When was the last time you picked up the phone to see if they were ok? Have you even bothered to process how anyone but yourself is taking this divorce?' He continued to rant at her, his inferior rising.

'Oh that's unfair, I've been busy!' She began to tear up but Henry wasn't standing for it.

'Yes busy living a happy life whilst the lives of those around you fall apart'

'I'm not listening to this, Mom I gave your shirt to Blake, I'll see you at home' she pushed her emotions down and walked out of the door.

'Henry' Elizabeth sighed

'Don't pretend like you haven't thought of Elizabeth' he argued and watched as she swallowed her words, accepting his truth.

'Even if I had, or do agree with you. I don't think that was the way to deal with it. I don't need you fighting my battles for me anymore Henry. She tried to remain calm.

'No, you're right I forgot this family doesn't communicate anymore, ignoring all our issues is the new McCord way' he replied sarcastically, letting his anger carry him to her office door and shutting it firmly behind him.

'That and lying' she mumbled to herself as watched him walk out once again, instantly dreading tonight when she went home, if she went home