As Lewis walked towards Laura, he slipped his jacket from his shoulders. Wrapping it around her, he sat down carefully next to her on the bench. She smiled weakly, her cold fingers pulling the jacket closer around her neck,
"Sorry, I'm being pathetic"
He shook his head, and lightly smoothed his hand over her back,
"Not at all. If you want to see pathetic, you should give me a scalpel and put me in front of a body"
She grinned, momentarily imagining the incongruous sight, and shivered noticeably,
"Wouldn't be as funny as watching Morse trying not to be sick as I listed the stomach contents…"
He chuckled,
"You are a cruel woman, Laura Hobson…"
Her eyes twinkled, and he felt her relax her shoulders a little.
"Is your car back at the station?"
She nodded, her gaze still fixed on the river, the clouds of smoke drifting out over the city.
"Though to be honest, I'm not sure I want to walk all the way back there, to then drive home. It'll only take me ten minutes to walk home from here."
He reached over, and pulled his phone out of the inside pocket of his jacket, his hand gently brushing up against the curve of her body. They exchanged a shy smile. He pressed the side button, and checked the display,
"It's nearly six thirty… How are you feeling?"
She ran her hand through her hair, the adrenaline hit finally beginning to dissipate,
"I'm ok. Just a bit edgy. I'm just over-tired." She sighed, rubbing some warmth back into her arms. "I probably should eat something, I didn't have lunch. But what I really need is a run, a hot bath, and about three pots of tea."
He edged a little closer, his gaze also innocently fixed on the smoke, moving near enough to whisper in her ear,
"Well, the tea I could certainly provide, the bath…I would certainly like to help with…the run…hmm...sorry, not my forte, you'll have to do that by yourself"
She tilted her head towards him, the blush rising on her cheeks, and she smiled at his deliberately innocent far-off stare,
"I might just hold you to that, Robbie..."
He smiled, pleasantly surprised how easy it was to be confident around her, turned, and pressed a small kiss to her temple.
"…but this evening I think I need a few hours to myself."
His face fell slightly, but he smiled and nodded, understanding her need for space.
She took his hand, clasping it between her own, stroking his fingers,
"Is that ok?"
He nodded again, holding her gaze, making sure that she really was fine.
"I just need a hot bath, a glass of wine, and some time alone to let my brain catch up with all this"
He smiled again, his eyes sparkling mischievously at the image her words conjured,
"Don't even say it, Robbie Lewis…"
"Hey…I'm a gentleman."
She grinned warmly, and looked down at their clasped hands,
"Yes you are"
"Walk you home?"
She caught his gaze again, and nodded her assent.
As Innocent watched them walk away together, Lewis's jacket still draped around Hobson's shoulders, their joined hands just visible under the long sleeve, she wondered not for the first time with those two, what had just happened. He hadn't exactly swept her off her feet, had he? But then again this was Robbie Lewis… Bloody hell. Oh well, she'd tried her best. Maybe Hathaway really was right that they were just friends… It looked like his £20 would be safe after all.
Robbie had held her hand all the way to her door, and as Laura slipped the key into the lock she was reluctant to break the contact. She turned slightly, her hip resting against the door frame,
"Do you want to come in?"
He smiled his assent, but shook his head ruefully,
"Nah, Innocent might have let me off the leash for a few minutes, but I need to be getting back to the river. There were at least three people who thought they'd seen something, so statements will need to be taken."
Still he didn't release her hand, though, his fingers curling around hers,
"But are you ok now? I don't want to leave you if you still feel weird…"
She squeezed his hand decisively and nodded,
"I'm fine. Much better."
He stepped back slightly, still looking concerned, but reassured enough to consider leaving. Before he could draw breath, though, she had stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, her cheek pressed tightly into his chest. Instinctively, his arms enfolded her, holding her even closer, his lips pressing a firm kiss to the top of her head. There was a desperation in her grasp, a fear that he well understood.
For several minutes, they were silent, simply holding each other, their unspoken gesture somehow resetting the balance between them. Gradually, he felt her begin to relax, and he stroked her hair, his thumb caressing the side of her face,
"The neighbours will talk…I can hear the net curtains twitching…"
He felt her smile, and, as she looked up at him, he saw tears shining in her eyes,
"I can't say that I care…"
He grinned back, pressing a kiss to her forehead,
"OK now?"
She nodded, her hands coming to rest on his chest,
"Just promise me no more burning boats or buildings this week?"
He grinned sheepishly and nodded his assent.
"OK, then yes, you may go back to work"
"Am I allowed to kiss you properly, or will that really upset the neighbours?"
Her eyes lit up with mischief, and lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper she replied,
"I can't stand my bloody neighbours"
He had barely recovered from the laughing fit when she wrapped her hand around his neck, and expertly drawing his lips to hers, really gave the neighbours something to gossip about.