All The Small Things
"Don't move," Magnum commands as he sprints around the Ferrari to help Juliet and her newest accessory out of the car. Their latest case had unfortunately concluded with a visit to the ER and her right ankle in an air-cast.
"Put your arms around me…" he instructs as he bends down to pick her up.
But she does the opposite and backs away.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Making sure you get home safe," he answers.
"We are home and it's just a sprain. I'm perfectly capable of crossing the driveway by myself," she protests.
"That's not what the nice ER doctor said," his eyes dart down to her injured ankle. She had been lucky. Even though the fall she took while chasing after their suspect had looked much worse than it actually was, it was still a miracle that she hadn't broken any bones.
"She said to take it easy for a few days."
"Yes and it's a long driveway, not to mention the stairs up to your bedroom…"
"Magnum…" she rolls her eyes.
He sighs in frustration. "With all due respect, I know that you can do it but It's been a long day and I won't get any sleep until I know that you're safely tucked in. So please don't make me wait while you hobble to your room on those crutches when I can have you in bed in two minutes…"
She scowls and leans back in her seat.
"What no comeback for that? You must be feeling worse than I thought…"
"Fine," she caves and he swears he sees a flash of relief cross her expression, but he doesn't comment on it. If letting her believe that she's doing this for him is what it takes for her to accept some help, then he's ok with that.
"Come here…" he places one arm behind her back and the other under her knees, while she wraps her own arms loosely around his neck as he lifts her up with ease.
"See, it's not that bad…"
"Didn't you say something about two minutes?" She glances up at him.
"And that's without buying you dinner first," he jokes, closing the car door with his foot.
"You're incorrigible…" she mumbles as they make their way towards the house.
"You're welcome," he replies, a smile curving his lips.
They make it to her bedroom with 10 seconds to spare.
"Here we are…" he puts her down on her bed, but she keeps her arms around looped around his neck.
"Did you want me to stay?" He laughs and she immediately lets go of him.
"Sorry," she blushes.
"Nothing to be sorry for," he sits next to her on her bed and they share a look before he reaches out and tucks an errant curl back behind her ear.
Her eyes follow his hand before they dart back to his own and for a moment he thinks that she really does want him to stay. But that can't be right, so he snaps out of it and hastily stands up.
"I'll go get your crutches and some water, do you need anything else?"
She shakes her head.
"Ok, I'll be right back. You stay put."
When he comes back with her crutches and the water he's also carrying an extra pillow and a bottle of painkillers.
"Just in case," he puts the water and pills down on her night stand.
"And that?" She asks, eyeing the pillow.
"It looked really soft," he shrugs, although now standing next to her bed, full of plush pillows, the gesture seems somewhat silly.
"Keep it, you'll need it if you intend to sleep on the couch."
"I wasn't…"
"Thomas…" she gives him a knowing look.
"Ok, maybe I thought about it…" he admits and they exchange another smile before he makes her promise to call if she needs anything and they say good night.
xoxo
He doesn't sleep particularly well. It's not that he's worried, as much as a sprained ankle sucks he knows she'll be back to running around with him in no time at all. But he hates to see her suffer, even it's just because of an inconvenient injury.
He gets up as soon as it's light out, feeding Zeus and Apollo (who actually left him alone during the night) before he prepares breakfast for Juliet and himself, pulling out all the stops for the occasion: coffee, fresh pressed orange juice, waffles, even that awful vegan bacon she likes and some flowers for good measure.
"Good morning," he knocks on her bedroom door.
"Come in," she answers, a smile on her face when she sees what he has prepared.
"You really didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to," he explains setting the tray down on the bed before he joins her.
She raises an eyebrow at the intrusion.
"Oh come on, I have to eat, too. So how's the ankle?"
"I've had worse…" she replies, but he can tell that there's something else on her mind.
"What is it?" he gives her a little nudge.
"Why are you doing this? Are you feeling guilty? Because there's nothing you could have done, it was a stupid accident…"
"I know, you fell all on your own," he jokes.
"Then what is it? Do you really think that I can't handle a sprained ankle?" She tilts her head to the side, waiting for an explanation.
"Listen, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Asking for help does not make you any less capable. It doesn't matter if you're too tired to make it to bed on your own or if you want ice cream at 3 a.m," he turns slightly to meet her gaze. "And until you get that, I'm just gonna have to be proactive…"
"I don't eat ice cream," she scoffs.
"Not the point, now eat your waffles before they get cold."
"Fine," they share another look before she turns her attention towards the food in front of her. "Is that almond butter?"
"Almond coconut, your favorite…" he smirks.
"Lucky guess," she returns the gesture and they fall into their usual banter while they share the breakfast he prepared.
"I guess there is something you could do for me…" she says once they are done.
"Just say the word."
"I'm going to take a shower, but would you take the Lads out for a run in the meantime? They've been cooped up all day yesterday."
"You sure you got that shower situation handled? I'd much rather…"
"Magnum!"
"I'm kidding," he laughs. "I'm happy to tire them out for you, they'll be waiting on the couch when you're done."
"Thank you, and if you want to wait with them. I mean, unless you have other…"
"I don't," he smiles. Baby steps.
Maybe Magnum and the Lads will get some cuddles later ;)
Comments are very welcome!
Love,
Laura
