Magnum takes a hefty bite of the sweet treat he brought Noelani as a bribe, coating his lips with sugar, when his phone starts to bark. Recognizing Higgins' custom ringtone, the P.I smiles. He had been surprised she offered to help with his investigation, especially since he was doing it behind HPD's back.
He answers and immediately asks her if she's on her way to Nuzo's office when she interrupts to inform him she's been shot. His blood runs cold and, while his brain is telling him that since she's calling him she is most definitely conscious, he can't help but worry about her.
He's also feeling guilty because she was there to do him a favor and if it weren't for him, she would be alright. He makes her promise to get checked out and call him back immediately when he sees Dr. Cunha coming back in his line of vision. The M.E tells him his hunch had been right: Nuzo had been tortured before he was killed.
The information Noelani gave him circle in his mind the whole ride to the hospital. There's no way he will let Higgins get a ride home from the hospital with an Uber. Besides he wants to see for himself that she is alright.
When he gets to the emergency room he sees her sitting on an examination table with her left arm in a sling. He rushes to be near her, even though he can tell she's okay.
"Higgy!", he exclaims when he's close enough
He notices her shoulders slump when she sees him and he doesn't know if it's in relief or discontent.
« Magnum, what are you doing here? I thought you were at the M.E office. », she asks him but there's no heat in her words so it must have been relief which comforts Thomas in his decision to come to her.
« I came as soon as I was done there. I didn't want you to worry about how to get home so I'm here to pick you up. How are you feeling? »
She attempts to shrug but winces when the move pulls on her injured arm. It takes all his willpower to give her space and not wrap his arms around her but she might kill him if he attempts any PDA in public.
« I'm just waiting for the painkillers to kick in. »
« Are you allowed to leave? »
« Yes, I just need to pick up the prescription for the meds. »
« Okay, we'll do that and go home. »
He helps her hop down the examination table and escorts her to the Ferrari parked on a loading zone. She throws him a disapproving look.
« What? I was really worried about you and in a hurry, okay? », he says to justify himself.
She tries to hide the smile creeping on her face at his words but Magnum catches it. Something warm settles in his stomach knowing his presence makes her feel better.
XXXXXX
That night, when he enters his room, he finds her sitting on his bed, her back against the headboard with her laptop on her thighs.
"I'm not really in the mood for sex tonight, Higgy.", he sighs tiredly as he sits on the edge of his bed.
"I'm not either.", she adds, still typing away with only one hand. "I just thought you could use some comp…."
She sees his beaten face and gasps.
"Are you okay?", she cries out. "What happened?"
He sighs, he wants to run his hand down his face but he knows it will hurt like hell so he abstains.
"The thugs responsible for your bullet wound came for me and mistook me for their punching bag. They don't want me to keep on investigating."
She throws the computer on the bed before crawling next to him as fast as she can with her arm in a sling. She makes him turn his head towards her to assess his injuries.
"You're gonna need a bigger bag of frozen peas.", she deadpans, trying to lift his spirits.
He smiles to humor her; even though he's glad she came to him tonight he can't help feeling a bit down tonight. Maybe he's finally coming to terms with the fact that he will never see his friend again, that his wife was a widow and his son fatherless.
"I'll be fine.", he tries to reassure her.
She nods but he can tell she doesn't believe him so he does what he knows will make them both feel better: he tilts her chin up and brushes his lips softly against hers. She deepens the kiss with a swift move of her tongue through his open mouth and he finds solace in her warm embrace.
He sees that being here and making him feel better bring her out of her comfort zone, especially since she did her best to keep him at arm's length until now. She made the effort to push her doubts aside for him. Tonight, he's grateful for it. For her.
He releases her lips slowly but keeps his forehead against hers.
"You're staying tonight?", he whispers, afraid to spook her if he talks too loudly.
"Do you want me to?", she asks him in the same tone he used.
Their eyes lock when he backs away slightly.
"Yes.", he answers earnestly.
"Okay.", she breathes.
He smiles to show her his gratitude before he gets up and goes to the bathroom to get ready for bed. In the meantime, she closes her laptop and drops it on the armchair near the French doors.
She's a bit hindered by her sling so he goes to assist her when he comes back in the bedroom wearing only his boxers. He helps her strip down to a tank top and her panties. She decided to forego her bra, thinking it would be easier with her incapacitated arm.
They slide under the sheet to settle, each on their respective pillow, nervous about what to say or do which is quite absurd seeing how physically intimate they have been before.
However, the need to be near her is stronger and Magnum closes the distance between their bodies, turning on his side towards her before wrapping an arm around her waist. She lifts her valid arm so he can lay his head on her shoulder, snuggled against her good side.
He lets out the breath he was holding, fearing she would bolt at the first contact between them.
Suddenly, he feels compelled to tell her about how he met Nuzo, Afghanistan, the POW and after he does he can't hold back the tears, devastated with the loss of one of his best friends. She squeezes him closer to her while whispering soft reassuring words against his hair and lets him cry against her until he falls asleep.
And for the first time ever, they sleep in the same bed through the night.
The next morning, when he wakes up, she's gone and if it wasn't for the lingering scent of hers on the pillowcase, he would have thought he had dreamt it all. However, his eyes burn and his head aches from all the the crying he did so it must have been real.
Later, when he comes to her for a favor, he finds her sitting on the kitchen counter in the middle of dressing up her wound and he has a sudden flashback of her, naked in this very same location just a week ago.
He shakes the inappropriate image off his mind as she pretends to be offended by his presence. He steps in to help her, ignoring her slight recoil when he takes over her and secures her bandage on her arm. He grabs her thighs and spread them gently so he can place himself between them.
He starts buttoning her shirt, knowing she won't be able to do it one-handed.
« It's funny, last week I was doing the exact opposite. », he jokes to break the ice.
She doesn't reply but she's not pushing him away either so Magnum takes that as a win. He's done with her shirt but he doesn't move away. Instead he braces his hands on each side of her hips.
« I'm sorry you got shot. I shouldn't have let you get involved. », he says softly.
She relaxes immediately and Thomas understands she has been waiting for his apology.
« I'm not blaming you Magnum. But I accept your apology. », she tells him as she drops her gaze between their bodies. « Thanks for the shirt. »
« Thank you for last night. », he acknowledges.
She lifts her eyes to meet his.
"Anytime, Thomas."
He noticed they both used their first names several times outside the bedroom in the last couple of days and wonders if the lines between them are blurring. Whatever the answer is, he decides not to fight the urge to seal his lips to hers. He keeps it chaste, not willing to arouse but to soothe his tortured soul like only being close to Juliet, surrounded by her scent, could do.
If he wasn't so distracted by his will to find Nuzo's killer, he would take some time to think about what those feelings inside of him meant for their deal.
Her right hand cups his cheek and she attempts to deepen the kiss but Magnum breaks apart from her lips. He still has a favor to ask her.
"MI6?", she scoffs once he does and she pushes him off her to slide down the kitchen counter.
"Come on, Higgy. Don't underestimate my investigating skills. I know you're former British Intelligence."
After a bit of cajoling she admits he's right and agrees to help him.
XXXXXX
As he listens to her directives through the phone, he can't help thinking how great they would work together if they were partners. Professional partners. He already knows how compatible they are in other, more intimate settings.
"Please, Magnum, bring the car back in one piece.", she begs him.
"I think you mean me.", he chuckles because he's quite sure she's scared for him.
"Yes.", she breathes. "But also the car."
He smiles. Yeah, she's worried about him which means she cares and that's why she offered to assist him in the first place.
XXXXXX
In the end, they manage to stop the gold thieves in a desperately reckless stunt, however, Robin1 suffers the consequences as it falls down a cliff.
Higgins will bite his head off as soon as he comes home.
To his surprise though, she welcomes him with a tight hug but doesn't dare for more because Rick and TC are not far behind him. He whispers a 'thank you' to her ear before unwillingly backing away from her one-armed embrace.
TBC