Disclaimer: None of the Benedicts/the Savant World belong to me. All rights to Joss Stirling :)

Chapter Fifteen

"Could you stop playing vampire on my neck and help me with the luggage, you muppet?" I say giggling and bend down to lift my suitcase.

"Nope" Xav says and sets my suitcase back on the floor. Slowly, he backs me up against the wall and starts to kiss his way from my collarbone to my earlobe. "You can't stop me from kissing my own wife." And despite me desperately needing the toilet I kiss him back, my heart stuttering a little at him calling me his wife, something I haven't quite got used to yet. He unlocks the door leaning over my shoulder and drags me and the luggage in with him.

"You know, Cupcake, our honeymoon phase isn't over" Xav nudges me and gives me another light kiss.

"You know, Androcles, I think it is" I respond and turn his face towards the pile of letters in the coffee table and the answering machine, alerting us to twenty-three missed calls. Xav groans in defeat and throws off his jacket on his way over to the phone.

"Have fun!" I chant mockingly and make my way to the bathroom.

Crystal?

You seriously can't-not-talk to me even when I'm in the shower? I grin.

We have a problem.

I know you do with your constant stalking thing going on.

No, we have a serious problem.

I almost trip trying to get out of the shower and actually do when tying a towel around me.

"What's wrong?" I ask and hurry over to where Xav is sitting with his head in his hands.

"We have a problem" Xav mumbles without lifting his head.

"You already said so. What kind of problem is it?"

Without saying a word, he reaches over the table and clicks a button on the answering machine. The message goes in one ear out the other but a few words stick.

Lawyers, sue, bodily harm, court date…

"Money problems" Xav says and lifts his head. Holy shit, has he been crying.

"Xav, who is this guy's client?"

"Dylan Hodgson, 18-year-old son of top lawyer Graham Hodgson, caused a car accident after drinking, wasn't breathing when he was found, I did CPR on him, broke a rib during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, now we're screwed because he's decided to sue me for bodily harm."

"What an asshole!" The words slip out before I can edit them. "This is how he repays you for saving his life?"

"I don't necessarily want to be repaid or even thanked but I kinda to want not to be sued afterward." Xav lets out a shaky laugh.

"Xav… We'll think of something. We'll do some-"
"How?" Xav looks so lost and desperate that my heart aches for him, for us.

"Cupcake, we don't have the money for a lawyer. I'm in med school, you're an apprentice, we're struggling enough as it is paying the bills. We simply don't have the money."

"I can take on some more hours at Melinda's plus I could do the job at that Shakespeare Company and-" I rattle on even though I can't think of a single way to keep up with that huge amount of work.

"Crystal. Don't overdo it, please. I'll ask Doctor Ferris whether I could do some double shifts at the hospital in the next couple of weeks-"

"We do kinda have one last resort" I say and pray he won't kill me for this. One look at my face and he's already shaking his head.

"No way, Crystal."

"Why not? I'm sure he'd be willing to help."

"I don't want to be some kind of charity case for him." Damn him and his stupid male pride.

"You wouldn't be, Xav. You'd be a family member needing some help. You're his brother!" I emphasise and take his hand in mine.

"I can't." I let go.

"What happened to the we?"

"Besides, they have a kid on the way. They need all the money they can get." Now that is a really lame excuse and from Xav's reaction to the look on my face, he knows as well.

"Yves is practically rolling in money. And he's always sneakily trying to give you money anyway, so why not – just this once – accept his very generous offer. You'd be doing him a favour." I can see that I've almost convinced him but I'm tired of trying anymore.

I'm going to bed. You coming?

I have stuff to look through. I'll come soon. He nods towards the pile of bills on the table.

Good night, Xav!

He doesn't even look up as he responds.

But the next morning, there's a note on the bedside table:

Gone to see Yves and his friend. I'll be back by four. I love you, Mrs Benedict!

We'll finally meet Jerk-Dylan next chapter that I'll update maybe tomorrow or maybe Thursday evening (I won't have Wi-Fi from Sunday to Thursday). It'll also involve some brotherly love, jealous Xav and an infuriating 'villain' in court.

Please review!