Cindy awoke the next morning to a familiar scent and she allowed herself a minute to enjoy it. "What are you doing back here already?"
Lindsay looked up from her paper. "I told you I'd be back." She reminded her as she stood and moved to the bed.
"What time is it?" Cindy asked with yawn.
"Seven." Lindsay reached down and took Cindy's hand. "I would have thought you'd slept enough." she teased.
"Apparently not." Cindy responded with a smile. "Pete's only here a few days, you really should be with him."
"Don't worry about that. I don't want you to be alone." It seemed like that was all Cindy wanted lately though. It was a month ago that her mother passed away and since then Cindy seemed to pull away from them. It probably didn't help that Claire was spending more time at home to help her ailing marriage, Jill was working hard to get back into Luke's good graces, and Lindsay...had Pete.
"I'm fine." Cindy turned her head in order to stop the tears that were threatening.
"Maybe I'm not." Lindsay admitted softly as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"Why?" Cindy turned back to Lindsay and squeezed her hand. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice thick with concern.
Lindsay gave a small smile at the reaction. Cindy was the one lying in the hospital, she was the one who almost died and yet she was more concerned with how Lindsay felt. "You saved my life." When she saw Cindy shaking her head Lindsay reached out and placed a hand on her cheek. "You did." Lindsay said with conviction.
Cindy fought the feeling the touch set off in her. "I just reacted. I would have done it for anyone." That wasn't entirely true. Of course she always tried to help anyone she could but there were actually very few people she would risk her life for. She just didn't want Lindsay to feel like she owed her anything.
Lindsay felt her emotions starting to push to the surface so she stood up and took a step away from the bed to keep them at bay. "We need to figure out where you are going to stay once you get released. It will probably not be for a while but when the time comes you're going to need some help."
"My place has an elevator, I'll be fine there."
"I was talking with Claire earlier, we thought you could stay with her. The house is already wheelchair accessible."
"Claire has had enough house-guests lately, besides I'd feel more comfortable at home."
"Okay, well I could stay with you." Lindsay suggested tentatively.
"You have Martha to take care of and my building doesn't allow dogs."
Did Cindy not want her around or was she just trying to be a friend and give Lindsay an excuse not to feel obligated. Whatever the reason Lindsay could feel her frustration building. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"Hey there, what are we interrupting." Claire directed at Lindsay as she and Jill entered the room and approached the bed. "How are you doing honey?" Claire bent to kiss Cindy's forehead.
"I'm good." Cindy responded with a subdued cheerfulness.
Smiling slightly at Cindy's attempt to comfort them Claire stepped back to give Jill some room, "hey there hero." Cindy grimaced at the moniker but Jill merely nodded. "Glad to see you awake."
After taking a moment of comfort in having the 'club' whole again Claire turned her attention to Lindsay. "She's only been awake a few hours what could she possibly have done to have you upset already."
"She's insisting on staying by herself when she gets released." Lindsay said as justification for her outburst. She hadn't intended to start an argument, she just started this conversation because she was too afraid to say what she really wanted to.
"You do realize we don't have to decide that today." Claire reasoned.
"You do realize I'm an adult, I can make my own decisions." Cindy chimed in from the bed.
"See." Lindsay huffed, pointing to the bed.
"Why don't you and I go get some breakfast." Claire suggested as she ushered Lindsay to the door, stopping briefly next to the bed. "We will talk about your release when the time comes," Claire informed Cindy. And Cindy had the good grace, or maybe just the brains, to keep silent. Arguing with Lindsay was one thing, she generally just frustrated the Inspector into giving up, but she never seemed to win against Claire.