Something domestic and a promise for the future... only a short chapter ... because something momentous deserves its own space...

Having only one hand to do things was a nightmare that Stuart wished he could wake up from. They'd shot him full of painkillers at the hospital, so the ache in his shoulder was manageable, but the inconvenience of not being able to do things for himself was driving him slightly crazy.

Jo had had to deal with Mai's bath, and dinner was on the go. Stuart desperately wanted to take a shower himself, but that was currently out of the question, so he had to make do with a brisk, one handed wash and brush up. Now he struggled into his briefs and a pair of old tracksuit bottoms that he hadn't worn in quite a long while. Putting a shirt on would require Jo's help, and for a moment masculine pride warred with his need to be close to Jo. Masculine pride won, just. His defenses against Jo Masters were basically non existent. He got to his feet and headed into the kitchen.

"Smells good."

Jo turned round, "I should hope so, I've worked hard at this." she winked at Mai. She'd decided to do something that he could manage with a fork one handed, somehow she couldn't imagine Stuart's stubborn male pride coping with her cutting his dinner up for him. She looked at him more closely, he looked tired, stressed and very beat up. There was a small gap between the bandages round his shoulder and the top of the cast on his arm, the flesh was streaked with some very ugly purple bruises, his hip and side had more of the same where the car had struck him. But it was the look in his eyes that made her catch her breath; half hopeful, half defiant.

"Oh Stuart." her gentle sympathy was nearly too much, and when she stepped closer to slip an arm round his waist and give him a careful hug, it was very nearly his total undoing. His defenses weren't so much down, as crumbled to dust. Only the nagging ache in his shoulder and the powerful desire not to spoil whatever they had, kept any kind of control over his emotions.

Later, after dinner was done, and Mai had finished begging for bedtime stories, Stuart sat down on his bed. Jo arranged the pillows, so that he would have some support behind his shoulder. He was completely exhausted, the pain in his shoulder was not so much a dull ache as a needlepoint jabbing him with each tiny movement. Jo finished adjusting the covers and turned to go and sort out her own sleeping arrangements on his sofa.

"Don't go." he stretched out his good hand. Jo took it in both of hers and sat down close to him.

"I'm here."

"Jo ... I" the ache wasn't just in his shoulder, it was in his heart too, and he couldn't even think of the right words to say. It was just going to come out, his defenses were gone, and ...

Jo leaned in and gently pressed her lips to his, he closed his eyes, and took his hand from hers and gently pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Her hands slid very gently round his neck, careful to avoid his injured shoulder. Their differences melted away as they carefully explored each other.

Jo sighed. She had never thought that a man's kiss would mean anything to her and she wasn't even exactly sure why she had kissed him, but somehow Stuart had got under her skin. She hadn't changed as such, but a part of her somehow was now including cocky lady's man Stuart Turner in her life.

Stuart could think of a thousand reasons why this should not be happening and millions more why it was not wise, but he wanted it with all his heart. Despite the nagging ache in his shoulder and the heavy cast which was definitely a passion killer, he wanted Jo ...shit, I love Jo. That revelation nearly floored him; he prided himself on his detachment, on his ability to keep work and pleasure divided, but somehow Sun Hill had changed that. First Sam, and despite his current state of happiness, he regretted his own failings that had caused her to leave him and acknowledged to himself for the first time that it had mostly been his own fault, and now Jo. Beautiful, bright, passionate, committed Jo.

Whatever it took to win Jo, he wanted to do it. Anything could be worked out, he just wanted and needed her in his life.

They pulled apart slightly, he was exhausted, bruised and in pain, but perversely he had never felt better in his life. Jo rested her forehead against his for a second, then making another decision which surprised her, she slid round on the bed so that he could lean against her. Wherever this was leading, it was definitely going no further tonight.

Stuart leaned into her, content to just cuddle up. The spirit was willing to continue exploring the possibilities, but his battered body was saying no.

That promise could wait.