While the rest of his team gathered for a drink, Bull sent Ashton a text message from the entry of her apartment letting her know that he was downstairs. She let him up and was waiting to open the door without even giving him a chance to knock.
"This is a surprise. What's so important?" she asked coolly.
"I thought we'd go for a walk," he said which caused Ashton look at him in surprise. Bull looked around as he walked inside. He noted the lack of music or television noise in the apartment and it confirmed his thoughts that Ashton wasn't quite herself. She usually kept one, or sometimes both, on at home even when working.
"A walk?" Ashton repeated as he nodded. "I'm not dressed to go out."
He looked Ashton over and decided that her black leggings and grey hooded tunic were perfectly fine for taking a walk in. He grabbed her coat from the hook near the door and held it out so she only had to slip her arms into it.
"You look fine," Bull assured her. He wanted to speak with Ashton and decided it best to do so in a neutral setting.
Ashton slowly let out a long exhale and made a conscious effort not to put up an argument. She quickly snatched her keys off a table as Bull ushered her out the door.
As they started down the block she blurted out, "What are we doing?"
"We are walking," Bull stated with a brash smirk. The smirk disappeared as he went onto to inquire in a serious tone, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Ashton replied shortly without looking at Bull as she walked along hands deep in her pockets and head down.
"You're sure everything's alright? You've been very quiet," he explained.
"I don't have time for a session, Doc," Ashton told him and stopped walking.
"But I do some of my best work outdoors; I had a girlfriend a long time ago who told me that," he said with a sly look in the hopes that she recalled that night.
"I'm pretty sure the scenery and perfect weather helped out with that assessment and, more importantly, they offset the cork pieces in the wine which would have brought down your score," she suggested as she matched his look. Ashton had a clear recollection of the evening he was referring to and was surprised that he remembered it. It had been one of their first dates.
"It was a beautiful night," Bull agreed. "Full moon just beginning to rise, stars out…"
"Jason, why are we really out here?" Ashton interrupted. "If you wanted to reminisce, there are places with chairs and warm drinks to do so."
"You're not talking," Bull informed her without pretense. He had almost forgotten Ashton's predilection to bypass small talk and get to the point of a conversation.
"We're divorced. Me talking to you is entirely optional at this point," she replied a bit sharply. "And might I remind you that you do have my number."
"Ash – you have mine, too. I'm available to talk, or listen, anytime," he said patiently. Bull was now certain that his initial impression that Ashton was upset, from the somewhat aloof welcome he received and lack of music at the apartment, was correct. He knew if he didn't tread carefully, she would shut him out totally and stop talking entirely.
"I wouldn't want to bother you, I'm sure you're busy with work," she stated.
"You are never a bother, and I would make time for you," he answered.
Ashton disguised a stifled laugh into a cough, deciding that the end of his statement wasn't a point worth arguing over. Bull's lack of time for anything but work was the main reason behind their divorce. "Jason, between being worried about my dad, getting my work done, and the board recertification I've got coming up – I'm doing the best I can," she explained with quiet honesty.
"You don't have to do this alone," Bull assured her.
"If you're offering to go and take my recertification exam, I accept," Ashton told him.
"We both know that's a bad idea," he said with a grin before continuing in a more solemn tone, "I'm concerned about you and I promised your dad I'd keep an eye on you."
"So, you've been stopping by because my dad asked you to – that explains a lot," she said with frustration evident in her voice as she remembered him abruptly leaving the apartment.
"Ashton, please; you're jumping to conclusions," Bull said firmly. He had guessed where her mind went.
"Well, you always said that's what I do best," she reminded him sharply and then added, "I'm still not sure how it's any different than what you do all the time."
"I base my observations on a lot of information, while you tend to assume the negative outcome that pops into your head is correct," he told her calmly. They had had this discussion many times during their relationship and it usually ended in a stalemate.
"As usual, you're always right and the rest of us are wrong. Guess what? You're not God, Jason," Ashton muttered stubbornly.
"I'm pretty sure you came into my life to remind me of that very fact," Bull replied thoughtfully which elicited a begrudging smile from Ashton. "I haven't been stopping by because your father asked me to check up on you."
"Then why?" she asked and turned away from his eyes before he could form a reply.
"You're one of the strongest, most determined people I know, Quince, but you'll make yourself sick before you ask for help or even talk to someone about how much you're hurting," he said as he stood behind her and slowly put his arms around her. "I care about you too much to let you do that to yourself."
"If you wanted to know if I was okay, you could've just called or texted," Ashton told Bull but didn't pull away from his embrace. She had thought about calling him but talked herself out of it more than once during the past few days.
"I wanted to see for myself," Bull said simply.
"And the walk?" she asked.
"I wanted to talk to you," he told her.
"We couldn't talk at the apartment?" she pressed. "I'll keep my hands to myself from now on; promise."
"That would be highly disappointing," he whispered in her ear.
Ashton turned around and looked into Bull's eyes for a second before replying, "You really get a kick out of trying to be an enigma while you read everyone like a book, don't you?"
"I'm as plain as day," he said.
"Right," she scoffed. "When I didn't keep my hands to myself, you ran faster than a vampire flees from garlic; now you seem to be telling me that you want more. Make up your mind, Jason."
"Ash, I regretted leaving you as soon I got home," Bull admitted to her. He then said, "You've so much going on; I don't want to add any more to your plate right now."
"It never occurred to you that despite all of your…um…challenges, I would find you to be a welcome break from everything?" Ashton inquired.
"Challenges?" he questioned with raised eyebrows and they both laughed.
"It's getting chilly. Can we head back now?" she asked now that the tension between them had disappeared.
"I have a better idea," Bull said. "I haven't had dinner yet; come grab something with me. Is that little café still around?"
Ashton nodded in affirmation and he tilted his head in the direction of the restaurant as an invite. She tucked her arm in his and smiled in response. After having a bite to eat and Bull gently coaxing Ashton into sharing more of what was weighing on her mind, they headed back the short distance to the apartment.
"Interested in a drink?" Ashton asked as they entered the apartment building.
"It is a school night, but I'll make an exception," Bull told her.
He stood to the side while Ashton fished her keys from her pocket and began to open the door to the apartment. Before she finished, her elderly neighbor poked her head out of the door from across the hall.
"Ashton, how's your father?" the woman inquired and then added as she saw Bull standing in the hall, "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize you had company."
"He's doing okay, Mrs. Pasternak. Thanks for asking," Ashton replied cheerfully.
"Is that the doctor?" the older woman asked as she peered curiously at Bull who was casually watching his former neighbor.
"Hi, Mrs. Pasternak. You're looking lovely as ever," Bull answered with a nod as he followed Ashton inside. "Have a good night"
"She always did like you best," Ashton said with a chuckle as they hung up their coats.
"A testament to the power of chocolate rugelach," he winked and followed his ex-wife into the kitchen.
Ashton shook her head slightly and chuckled. "Red okay?" she asked as she picked up a bottle of wine. Upon receiving a nod in assent, she poured two glasses and handed one to Bull.
"Why are you taking the in-depth certification test?" he inquired as he idly swirled the wine in the glass.
"I haven't been keeping up with my continuing education credits, so now I have to take the exam again," she admitted.
"Ms. Catazarro's been playing hooky; that's highly unusual," Bull replied and observed Ashton intently.
"I've had a lot going on during the past five years," Ashton retorted. She unflinchingly met his gaze almost daring him to contradict her.
"Uh-huh," Bull replied casually yet still watching her keen interest. Ashton returned the scrutiny and it was almost as if she could see the wheels turning in his mind.
"Jason, don't," she warned. Ashton was well acquainted with the inquisitive and studious look that filled the psychologist's face.
"I'd be willing to help you study," Bull said and refrained from pressing the issue with further questions or offering his analysis of the situation. When he saw a look of shock beginning to emerge on her face at his offer he continued, "You passed, didn't you?"
Ashton took a sip of wine and smirked, "The last time I took you up on your offer to help me study, you proposed."
"Obviously you passed my test, too," he teased. Bull gazed over at her and watched Ashton's eyes soften as a smile began to form around her mouth. He leaned in to kiss her. Ashton wrapped her arms around him as she carefully tried not to spill her glass of wine and returned the kiss.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said when their lips finally separated.
"Your offer's under consideration," Ashton answered coyly as her eyes sparkled.
"Maybe I can convince you," Bull replied and bent his head to kiss her again.
