Sorry its late again, shoot me if you want but it's the same damn excuse again. Again this chapter is a tad dry but we're slowly reaching the conference so stay with me readers because I love you all. Don't forget to review.
"Take these if you have any pain, they're stronger than regular painkillers; don't get your cast overly wet and beware of any signs of infection which I don't need to list for you." James handed her the box of drugs and smiled as she packed them into her bag.
Just then Henrik appeared at the door. Tabby looked up.
"Ready then, Miss Rees?" He asked holding up his car keys.
"Yep." She swung her bag over her shoulder and grabbed her crutch.
She hobbled to Henrik and gave a short wave to James before leaving with the boss, suddenly she reversed back to by the door, "But slow the fuck down next time." She warned then caught up with the tall Swede.
James gave an exasperated sigh before glancing at the name board by the bed:
Name: Tabitha Rees
Nurse: Chrissie Williams
Consultant: Henrik Hanssen/James Harvey
"Wow, he sure does dote on her." He muttered and sighed again and headed on out.
Henrik pressed the button for the lift and as the doors opened they revealed a startled looking Jac Naylor.
"Christ, Tabs, what happened to you?" She looked over the patched up girl.
Tabby hobbled in, "Oh yeah, you weren't here yesterday, I got hit by a car. James Harvey, Orthopaedic Consultant, mowed me down."
Jac nodded, "Yep, that's sounds like him." She looked the two over, "So I take it Mr Hanssen is taking you home?"
"Yes he is." Henrik huffed, pissed that he was being referred to in third person when he was stood right there.
"Clearly it isn't going to be for a night of passion though is it?" She joked looking avoidantly around the lift cell.
Henrik tensed and thankfully the doors opened not a second too soon, "Thank you for the pleasurable ride Ms Naylor." He stated irritated as he strode out.
Tabby gave a warning look to Naylor before following the ginger out onto the ground floor.
Hanssen was already at his car, holding open the passenger door as he watched Tabby hobble towards him. He took her bags and placed them in the boot before rushing to her side again.
"Careful now." He placed his hands on her waist and helped her into the car, gently shutting the door once she was in.
Soon they had left the hospital and were on the road. Tabby leaned her head back and shut her eyes; she listened to the soft growl of the Volvo's engine. The car soaked up every bump in the road like a sponge, it felt like travelling on a posh, gleaming yacht over gentle waves. Soon the noises drifted away, the waves subsided, and she fell into a deep and much needed slumber.
*Clunk*
"Tabitha, wake up, we're here."
She felt the warm hand rub her shoulder and she began to open her heavy eyes. As she did so her eyelids slowly revealed a beautiful, large and expensive looking semi-detached house. They were parked in a driveway in front of a garage which was situated beside the house. Hastily she grabbed her crutch and Henrik helped her out. As Henrik shut the door behind her she took the time to look around the neighbourhood; it seemed a very expensive area with big houses, each with drives and garages and lofts with windows.
Henrik shut the boot and locked the car, carrying both of their bags he led the way up the path to his door. His garden was gorgeous; bedding plants were surrounded by sandy coloured gravel and dotted through the small garden were pale paving stones. She looked up when she heard a jangling of keys which Henrik was taking from his pocket.
"Hello, Henrik, you're home early. Oh and you've brought someone with you. Who's this lovely girl? Is she you're girlfriend? My, my Henrik, quite a catch."
"Afternoon, Fran, this is Tabitha Rees, my work partner." Henrik introduced the old woman on the other side of the fence to Tabitha.
"Looks like you've been in the wars, Tabitha, what happened, love?"
"I managed to get myself run over." She smirked, slightly embarrassed.
"Oh dear. I'm sure Henrik will take great care of you." She winked.
"I'm sure he will."
"I will come and check up on you later, alright, Fran?" Henrik sorted through his keys for his house key.
"Sure thing, lovely. And any hanky panky, keep the noise down yeah?" She joked to which Tabby giggled, perhaps in her condition that wasn't going to be a problem.
Henrik held the door open for her as she hobbled up the steps straight into his hallway. As you enter, there was a staircase on the left then the main hallway on the right.
Henrik helped her take her coat off.
"So who was that?" Tabby asked curiously, shrugging off her coat.
"That is Franny Lloyd, I care for her sometimes." He hung the coat on the peg.
"How do you know her?"
"She moved in next door with her husband Mick, a year after I'd settled here, unfortunately though Mick died a few years ago and she's still feeling the effects of it. She's old, vulnerable, and I go round as often as I can to make sure she's comfortable." He explained, "Would you like a cup of tea?" He helped her to the living room.
She smiled thankfully, "That would be great."
She sat, in silence, ringing her hands, glancing around the room, taking in her new surroundings. 'Well this is awkward.' She thought. This was Henrik Hanssen's house, why was she here? He's such a private man, if anything it was more likely they went to hers. Soon the door handle clunked and he entered; a cup in each hand. He smiled cheerfully as he made his way to the coffee table and set the drinks down. He had clearly read her expression, "Are you alright?"
She smiled weakly, "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She reached for her tea.
"I was just wondering." He sat next to her on the sofa.
She took a quick sip, "Henrik, why are we here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you bring me here, to your house?"
"You need taking care of for a while, I thought it best you stayed with me." He grinned before taking another sip of his hot drink.
Tabby smiled, staring at him for a few seconds before shuffling over and cuddling up to him.
He was taken aback by her bold action but as her head rested on his arm he felt her relax and thought it was better than seeing her tense and uncomfortable.
"So how long have you known Fran?" She sipped her tea.
"About 6 years." He answered simply.
She snuggled into him more and sighed contentedly. He couldn't help but smile and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired." She yawned.
"Do you want to go to bed?"
"Nah, I want to stay with you." She looked up at him with sweet, hopeful eyes, "Can I?"
He grinned and kissed her head, "Of course you can."
It wasn't long after she finished her tea that she began to feel sleepy. Her eyelids were getting heavy; as was her head, and soon she couldn't keep either of them up. Henrik felt her head slump onto his chest. He got up and began to sort out some cushions for her before laying her down to sleep on the sofa, pulling a tartan, woollen blanket over her.
He found it quiet with her asleep; obviously she wasn't there every day but just knowing she was in the building and not a peep was coming from her, he found it quite disconcerting. He loved the way she managed to brighten things up; she was always talking or humming yet even if she was silent there was an energy from her that livened up any place no matter how dreary it was. As she slept, he couldn't help but admire her, her soft skin, her tender lips, her cute nose, though he sighed when looked over her hair, it was only then that he realised how awfully cut it was, but he did find the length of it quite appealing.
She was out for most of the day but soon she woke when she heard some rustling and quiet clunking beside her and as she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the wonderful sight of Hanssen's perky arse in front of her, he was bending down to place something on the coffee table. Her hand was on auto pilot as it removed itself from under the blanket and slowly reached out, making contact with the fine piece of muscle set in front of her.
Henrik froze, tense and shocked, he bloody well hoped that was Tabby's hand stroking his backside. He glanced around and was relieved to find it was just the young girl.
"Henrik, we should set to work on plans for Malmö." She mumbled.
He carried on sorting out whatever it was on the coffee table, "If you're talking about the speech I've already written it, but I do need it proof read."
"Can you tell me what's going on at the conference?" She curled into herself.
Henrik finished and sat next to her, "Well we fly in on the Monday where we have the welcome dinner, Tuesday we have the speech where I am praying you don't get drunk again, then that evening we have a ball."
"A ball? You mean like dancing and shit?" She didn't seem too pleased.
"Is there a problem?"
Tabby laughed, "I don't dance. I can't dance."
"Well neither can I but I think it would be beneficial for us to stay. Then we fly back home on the Wednesday."
Tabby nodded, the plan seemed sound, "Right then, where's your speech, I'll scan my critical eye over it." But when it was handed to her, her face morphed into a look of shock, "Wait, y-you want m-me in the… speech?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"Um, I'm not sure if –"
"Tabitha, I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you were up to it, now –"
"You didn't ask!"
"Do you want to be part of it or not, because if not then there's no need for you to accompany me!"
"What? So you're just going to abandon me at the hospital with nothing to do whilst you're gallivanting around a Swedish city, meeting new people and eating nice food, 'cause I tell you what Henrik, without me you will be lost, I guarantee it."
"You're very sure of that aren't you; do you really think you're that important to my job role? And I'm sure I can find plenty for you to do whilst I'm away."
"Let me guess, relating to your job role? I do a lot for you, I organise your paperwork, I sign off theatre slots and equipment orders when you're not around, I take on plenty of your duties when you can't do them, so don't tell me I'm not important to your job role because without me you couldn't do your job!"
Henrik was left stunned at Tabby's final shout; immediately afterwards she recoiled and was convulsing in tears.
"I'm not important to you, that's what you really mean isn't it? You don't want me around." She sobbed.
"Tabitha." He whispered, "That's not what I meant at all. Come here." He shuffled over and wrapped his arms tight around her.
She felt the warmth from his body surround her and then she realised that she was wrong. This was proof wasn't it? Proof that she meant something and she wasn't just a maid. By being in his arms she felt accepted, she felt loved, but most of all, she felt safe.
"What do you want for dinner?" Came the soft voice directly into her ear.
"Pasta." She replied tearfully.
(After Dinner)
"Thank you for doing the dishes." Henrik poked his head around the kitchen door.
"No problem." Tabby turned to see Henrik shrugging on a jacket, "Where are you going?"
"I'm just going round to check on Fran. You'll be ok on your own won't you?"
"Of course I will." She grinned.
"And by the way, I've measured the amount of liquid in each of my bottles so don't think you can get away with it." He swiftly left.
"Get away with what?" *Clunk* "Bastard! I'll never be trusted with alcohol again."
"Here you go, Fran." He handed the elderly woman a mug, "Careful, it is hot."
"I know, dear, I know." She gently took the warm cup and lifted it to her mouth, "Ooh, that's lovely."
He sat with the old woman, watching TV for an hour or so whilst she sipped her Horlicks.
Fran took her last sip.
"Finished?" Henrik stood to take her mug.
"That was lovely, Henrik." She smiled handing it to him.
"Now, I'm going back now, but if you need anything, you know where I am, my number is by the phone, and you know where your panic cords are situated."
She got herself to her feet and shooed him, "Yes, yes, yes, stop making a fuss and go home, you shouldn't keep a lady waiting, I bet she's getting impatient, women have needs too you know." She kept pushing him towards the door.
Henrik chuckled, slightly flustered, "Yes, of course. Keep safe." He stepped out onto the doorstep.
"Come here you gorgeous man." She waved him back.
Almost reluctantly he leaned down and offered his cheek.
"Mwah." She held his face, "You're a lucky man Henrik, she's a beautiful girl; attractive too; don't let her wander."
Henrik pondered for moment before yet again he was being shooed.
"Now go, before gets bored and pays a visit to Mr Right the Handy Man." She laughed.
"Franny." He playfully warned.
"Go! Go, go, go." She shut the door.
By the time Henrik got in he was surprised to find Tabby had already changed and gone to bed, though he couldn't help but chuckle when he found her in a pair of his pyjamas; on the way home that day he stopped off at Tabitha's, using her key to get into her house and pack a bag for her. Clearly, she hadn't found that bag. Though he too felt that it was lights out for him as well, so changing into his PJ's he settled in next to her and drifted off.
The next morning he awoke to the familiar and alluring scent of well-done toast, and strong black coffee. He removed the covers, slipped his feet into his slippers, and proceeded to follow the scent to the kitchen. There he found a smartly dressed Tabitha, hopping around the room.
"Tabitha?"
"Morning, Henrik." She waved cheerfully.
"Where's your crutch?" He glanced around the room for it.
"Over in the corner." She pointed, her mind clearly on sorting breakfast.
"Why aren't you using it?" He asked annoyed.
"It's only a small room; I'm fine hopping around for now." She replied simply.
Henrik did his best to keep his cool, "You should be using it."
"I know I should." She clearly couldn't care less.
Henrik clenched his fists, "Then as your medical consultant and as your boss, I ORDER YOU TO USE IT!" He growled, freezing Tabby mid hop.
There was a long pause, "Spread? Jam? Marmalade or Marmite?" She stared at the counter.
"Excuse me?"
She turned to him, "For your toast."
"Oh, um, just spread please." He made his way to the counter to carry some things to the dining room.
Soon Tabby hobbled in, thankfully using her crutch.
"Jesus, Henrik, why do have to get so techy about it." She smiled sweetly, taking a seat opposite him.
"I apologise but for your own safety and health you should be using your crutch. And I see you found your bag." He began eating.
"Ha, what an idiot am I? I remember seeing you carrying it in yesterday yet I completely forgot about it last night, so I rummaged through your drawers and used a pair of your pyjamas, I hope you don't mind." She set to eating her own breakfast.
"That's fine. Where are you going dressed like that?"
She poured some milk over her cornflakes, "Dressed like what?"
"Smartly."
"Where do you think I'm going, the boyfriend's?"
"Oh no, Tabitha, you are not going in, you need at least a fortnight off."
"Well that's too bad isn't it since we jet off to södra Sverige next week. Oh and that reminds me, who'll be providing my doctor's note, hm?" She tucked into her cereal.
"Mr Harvey, he's your consultant isn't he?"
"Oh? But earlier didn't you order to me to use my crutch as my boss and my consultant?"
"Are we quite finished?"
"Henrik, please let me into work, lock me in your office, chain me to your desk, (cause I know how you like that sorta thing), and I will not do anything that is above my condition level, I promise."
He pondered a moment before carrying on eating, "No."
"Twat."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing."
A sudden clunk was heard as he placed down his empty coffee mug and got up from his chair picking up his own dishes, "Good, because I'm off to work, see you later."
*Slam*