Chapter 3

"I'm not hiding anything sweet, I'm trying to look out for you. You'll panic if you go down there, there's lots of people around." Nathan said softly.

"I can handle it." Zoë said firmly as she looked up at him.

"You just flinched when I went to touch you, Zoë. I know something's gone on, Horatio won't spill anything, but I know something's happened to cause you to react like that. If you react like that to me, then what are you going to do if a doctor or a nurse innocently passes you?" Nathan questioned softly as he put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head.

"I didn't mean to move away from you." She looked at him and saw his compassion and worry as she lightly bit her bottom lip and then looked down at her fingertips as the right met the left.

"I know sweet, it was an involuntary response. You seem to be on high alert at the moment and that means more drastic responses, I don't want you down there because you could also end up in my care too, I don't want that to happen." Nathan said softly as he tilted his head to the other side and crouched slightly to try and gain some eye contact with her, but she didn't give him anything, she continued to look at her fingers.

"Horatio will be up here very soon, probably in about an hour, in the meantime, you're very welcome to stay here, I can make you a tea or coffee if you want?" Nathan asked and then watched her exhale a gentle breath as she slowly looked back up at him. She glanced down to the knot of his tie and slowly nodded. "A cup of tea would be good, thank you." She whispered and Nathan nodded with a warm smile developing.

"Feel free to make yourself comfortable." He pulled his hands out of his pockets slowly and gestured over to his desk and computer and Zoë looked down again as she walked over to his desk and sat back in the chair as he walked over to the side. He walked over to the counter in the corner and began to make the tea while Zoë sat in silence and studied the items on his desk. 'She is exceptionally quiet and timid, something really is wrong.' He thought and then quickly turned around with a cup of tea and placed it on the desk. She glanced up and gave him a quick half-smile and then looked to the steaming hot tea in the mug.

"If you want to use the computer, here is my password. Don't worry, this is just the password for the computer, you can't access any medical records or anything private like that. But you can use the internet and things. I wouldn't give that password out, just to clarify." Nathan said as he wrote it down on a post-it note. Zoë chuckled a little and then nodded at him, looking slightly more relaxed. He then watched her turn the mug and read the writing inscribed "Trust me, I'm a doctor." He saw a more gentle smile form as she took hold of the handle.

"Thank you." She said quietly before he headed out, he gave her a smile and a nod.

"I'll be back up soon, okay? And I'll let you know when Horatio is up here too." Nathan said as he walked out and Zoë gave him another nod.

"Thank you Nathan." She said quietly and he gave her another smile. Zoë sat back and logged onto the computer and kept herself entertained on YouTube until Nathan walked back in about 50 minutes later.

"Horatio is just being brought up." He said with a warm smile and Zoë smiled at him and then closed the window and logged off.

"Thank you Nathan." She said softly as she got up, looking a little more lively than she did before he left. He walked over and picked the mug up.

"Good cup of tea? Or was it pretty lousy?" He asked with a warm smile as he read the inscription and smiled again.

"A good cup of tea." Zoë said as she bit her lip softly and glanced up at him as he placed it on the side.

"He should be in the room now, shall we go and see him?" Nathan asked as he turned to her and put his hands back in his pockets. Zoë nodded and then walked out after him, following closely. They walked down the corridor and Nathan heard Zoë's footsteps slow. Zoë stopped as 3 nurses walked towards them, she backed off and up against the wall and looked down. She took hold of the bottom of her jacket and felt her palms beginning to get clammy. Nathan quickly turned around and stood in front of her once he realised it was the nurses. She pulled her jacket closed and bit her bottom lip harder.

"You're okay sweet, they won't hurt you." Nathan assured her, he felt her grab his hand as she moved closer to him just as the nurses passed them, all chatting and laughing. "Well done, see they didn't hurt you." Nathan said warmly. She exhaled and released her lip from her teeth as she slowly loosened her grip on Nathan's hand. "Shall we carry on?" Nathan questioned when he saw that her breathing had calmed. She glanced up at him and then nodded as she looked back to the knot in his tie.

"Sorry." She whispered as she rubbed her clammy hands together in an effort to dry them, when that didn't work she put her hands in her pockets. She glanced up the bright corridor and then looked back to Nathan just as he was about to speak.

"Don't worry about it sweet." Nathan said tenderly as he cautiously placed his hand on her back and walked with her down the corridor with her. She flashed him a small smile before they walked into Horatio's room. Nathan opened the door for her and she quickly walked in and rushed over to him. He sat up and put his arms around her as she put hers around him.

"How are you feeling?" Zoë asked softly, immediately calming down as his scent surrounded her and lulled her into a relaxed state. She nuzzled the short hair just behind his ear.

"I'm good Zoe, there's no need to worry about me." Horatio assured her with a tender expression as they slowly pulled from the hug. She nodded and gave him a warm smile as she looked into his eyes. He saw that she'd been worrying about him, her eyes always told him everything she tried her best to hide. She leant against the bed and searched his eyes for reassurance that he was in fact okay. He gently took hold of both of her hands and ran both thumbs over the backs of her knuckles.

"We'll have to change the bandage regularly, okay? But other than that, everything should be fine." Nathan briefly interrupted and Horatio nodded as he glanced around to Nathan. Horatio gave him a thankful nod as he knew that he'd done well in keeping Zoë calm. Zoë then gave him a smile as she glanced round to him just as she gave both of Horatio's hands a light squeeze.

"Thank you Nathan." She said with a sweet smile, he gave them a nod.

"Call me if you need anything." Nathan said warmly, feeling at ease himself as they nodded. Horatio patted the bed once he'd let go of her now dry hands and she hopped up after Nathan had left.

"On painkillers?" She asked softly as she turned to him.

"No, just local anaesthetic in my leg" Horatio said with a smile and lifted one of her hands and then lightly kissed the smooth skin above her knuckles.

"Ah, that's good." She smiled and Horatio nodded as he placed his free hand on the side of her face and lightly swept his thumb over her cheek.

"Are you really okay?" He asked very delicately as he looked into both of her eyes and then saw her gently roll her lips together as she nodded.

"Yeah, I'm really okay." She whispered softly, encapsulated in his gaze. She never wanted to look away again, but a niggling insecurity sent her eyes downwards again.

"I'm sorry for practically dragging you across the floor this morning." Zoë apologised quietly as she bit the corner of her lip and studied their fingers as Horatio interlocked his with hers.

"Don't apologise Zoe, thank you for dragging me across the floor. I would be worse off if you hadn't have done that." Horatio said softly as he gently squeezed her hand and lifted her head from the downwards position it was set in. Her eyes connected with his again.

"You're so lucky that it didn't hit anything major." Zoë said warmly as she tilted her head towards his hand and felt his fingers move through her hair. "I know." Horatio agreed as he glanced down to her lips to see a smile tugging at the corners of them.

"However, Nathan has said that I apparently can't use a specific organ down there until the anaesthetic has worn off, so I kind of have got shot there." Horatio smiled boyishly at her as he looked back up and into her eyes. He saw her eyes pinch at the corners as her natural smile returned as she exhaled an amused breath.

"There isn't any need for the use of that organ yet anyway, especially not here… you gave me a good seeing to last night." She grinned at him and he chuckled as he tilted his head and studied the smile he loved. "That'll keep me going for a day or two until you're better." She said as a more cheeky smile replaced her natural one. 'I do love that cheeky grin… her cheeky grin.' He thought as he very delicately edged closer to her. He kept her eye contact as he guided her head closer to his until they both finally closed their eyes at the same time just before their lips made contact. She could feel that his lips were dry and had no problem in moistening them for him. They both exhaled as they put their foreheads together and held their eyes closed, taking in each other's touch and scent.

"There was something strangely erotic about not completely undressing, I have to say…" She grinned as she pulled away, but still kept her close proximity, close enough for him to feel her gentle minty breath hit his moist lips.

"I have to agree, however, I still love to see you completely naked." Horatio whispered as he moved closer again and lightly kissed her plump lips. She pressed her lips together and pulled back a few inches. "If you didn't have anaesthetic in your leg right now, I'd be on you…" She lightly bit her lip and then kissed him again.

"No, I think you'd be up against the wall in the en-suite, so we could have some privacy." He whispered quietly as he tilted his head and then glanced back down to her lips as he mouth form an 'O' shape. She could feel a smoking fire being lit deep within.

"You are so naughty." She grinned seductively as she bit her lip, he chuckled as he looked back into her eyes and saw the small flame lighting.

"It feels weird, right now I'd usually have an erection." Horatio bluntly admitted and she began to laugh. 'I do love how blunt he can be.' She thought to herself as her eyes skipped from his right eye to his left and back, repeatedly.

She tilted her head and then pursed her lips as she moved slowly and gracefully. "Well, does that mean I could get a cheeky feel of you and you wouldn't even know it?" She boldly grinned as she placed her hand over his crotch lightly.

"I think you could." Horatio replied quietly as he studied her grin as he raised his eyebrows at her.

"I am." She whispered as she moved away and he looked down. He saw her hand over his crotch and knew if he didn't have anaesthetic in his thigh, he'd quite literally be hitting the ceiling.

"I think you're the naughty one, don't you think?" He asked as he placed his hand over hers and then gently pulled it away and she chuckled and sat back, freeing his other hand that was still buried in her hair. He saw the difference in her body language from when she first entered the room.

"I reckon you could still do wonders even if you didn't have an erection, there isn't just one thing that can go in me..." Zoë grinned at him and he laughed out loud. She seemed shocked with herself, more shocked than Horatio himself as she covered her gawping mouth with a hand. She relaxed when she saw that it had amused Horatio more than it shocked him. "I must say, you're looking rather cool in that gown, now I can see how I look in them…" Zoë raised an eyebrow and lowered her hand from her mouth and took hold of Horatio's hand.

"Don't remind me." Horatio raised his eyebrows back at her.

"Would you like some proper clothes?" Zoë asked and he looked up at her and thought. He felt a draft reach his thighs which quickly made the decision for him.

"Yes please." Horatio said as he moved his legs and pulled the blanket up to his shins to cover the end of the gown.

"Do you want trousers and a shirt or would you prefer joggers and a t-shirt?" She asked softly.

"Trousers and a shirt please." Horatio replied and Zoë nodded as she got off the bed and turned to him. She reached out with both hands and placed her palms against his cheeks.

"Okay handsome, I'll be right back." She then leant in and placed a passionate kiss on his lips. She pulled back and then ran a hand over his chest.

"Thank you." Horatio said softly and she smiled warmly at him.

"I love you." Horatio said softly as he placed his hand over hers on his chest and gazed into her eyes once more.

"I love you too, stay out of trouble." She smiled at him and he nodded with a small boyish smile. She gave him one last quick kiss and then backed off him and walked out after picking her handbag up. He watched her walk out, also having a quick glance at her ass and then relaxed back with a smile across his face.

She returned 30 minutes later, she froze as she opened the door while her mouth fell open and her eyes widened and hardened.