Title: Fragile
author: Cindy Ryan
timeline: AU set after Diamonds are Forever
Notes: This turned into my version of Jo finding out Henry's secret. This was also a challenge to myself to see if I could finish a story before posting and this one is very nearly finished. :)
summary: Henry knows Jo is far from fragile and doesn't need his protection. What happened with Dunn is a reminder that life was fragile and he has to protect her from his demons.
It was nearly dinner time before Jo was able to free herself from the case and make her way to Henry's apartment. As silly and illogical as it was she'd been holding onto the hope that this was a mistake; a mixup. That Henry was really on vacation and would be coming back. However, when Jo pulled up and saw the darkened windows of Abe's antique's Jo's heart sank. She sat there gripping the wheel tightly staring at the 'closed' sign until someone behind her honked angrily. Jo regained her composure and pulled out of traffic into a parking spot two blocks away. Walking back to the store Jo tried to come up with a theory as to why Henry would just leave. New job was her first idea; family emergency the second.
Either way Jo knew deep down Henry would have told her. Even if Mike was correct with the idea that Henry was one of those people who wasn't good at goodbyes. After all their time together Jo couldn't believe that he'd just leave; leave her. Now as she stood in front of the store Jo had clear evidence. Evidence was what she dealt with every day. Jo's heart that had been closed for so long didn't want to believe what that evidence was telling her.
From an upstairs window Abe watched Jo as she walked back to her car. He really hoped his father knew what he was doing. As noble and admirable as Henry's reasons were Abe was looking at what the price of that sacrifice was. Jo was the first person since Abigail that Henry had started to care for. Abe had hoped that Henry would let Jo in; that he would trust her with his secret. Unfortunately that hadn't been the case. His father was gone and Jo was left wondering what happened. Abe had to find a way to fix that and he knew the only way he could was to follow the plan. Follow the plan and convince Henry that protecting those you love wasn't always the best way to solve problems. It was sometimes the worst. Stepping away from the window Abe went back to packing.
Days turned into weeks and Jo was for once grateful for the crime rate of New York City. It was keeping her and Mike very busy. They had four new cases in the last two weeks. On top of that the weather was about to turn. Forecasters were predicting an early Nor'easter to wreck havoc later in the week.
The medical examiner's office had been in turmoil since Henry left. The temp they'd got from Chicago had a severe case of home sickness and went back home the following week. Jo had gotten several texts from Lucas who was about to pull his hair out. Between the increased body count and not having a permanent medical examiner things were stressful to say the least. All Jo could do was be a friend she knew Henry would want her to keep an eye on Lucas.
Henry. The name brought a fresh pang of emotions. It was a tuesday afternoon and she and Mike were in the squad room making phone calls, doing research, and diving into various suspects backgrounds. Jo glanced at her cell phone sitting next to her computer keyboard. She'd tried Henry's cell several times over the last few weeks; all had gone straight to voicemail. Jo had finally stopped leaving messages. She'd even tried Abe's number and hadn't gotten a response either. Texts had not been returned.
Despite telling herself not to Jo had tried to find Henry. She'd done a general search, but without anything to narrow it down it'd been a dead end. There were a lot of Henry Morgan's in the United States. Jo wasn't even sure he'd stayed in this country. Feeling a headache starting Jo reached for her coffee mug only to find it empty. She stood picking up the mug and went in search of fresh coffee.
Toronto, Canada
Henry helped Abe uncrate antiques as they stood in the half full storefront. The store was due to open before Christmas. They still had a lot of work to do. With the move to Toronto Henry had given up being a medical examiner. The antique store had been a risk but Henry knew how much Abe loved it. So the store was under an alias. Setting up a new life was something he'd done so many times before and yet this time felt wrong.
"Something I didn't tell you."Abe said breaking the silence.
"What's that?"Henry asked as he took a pair of bronze candle holders out of a crate.
"I saw Jo before I left."Abe continued as he pried open another box.
"Abe!"Henry protested as he set the candle holders down.
"Don't worry I didn't talk to her; just saw her."Abe explained. "She came by the store."
"How'd she look?"Henry asked despite himself.
"Like her world had crumbled around her and she didn't know why."Abe responded grimly.
"You know why I'm doing this."Henry stated firmly going back to the boxes. "I have to keep her safe."
"She's stronger than you think, Henry."Abe commented quietly. "Still think you should tell her."
"Jo's been through enough."Henry said with a sad shake of his head. "She doesn't need my burden."
Abe simply shook his head before moving to the other side of the store to put items away.
