A/N: Thank you everyone for your delightful reviews on the previous chapter, I've never really written anything like this before, so it's definitely encouraging to get feedback - criticisms are good too! So I'm still not entirely sure how I want to play it out, plot is not my strength, but I did want to drag the first bit out a little more. I don't intend for this to be hundreds of chapters long, but I'd like to eventually give it a resolution. It's a little short, but that's sort of how it works for me. I hope it's a pleasant read!
05:50 -
Henry rolled over to find Elizabeth facing away from him. He glanced at the clock, knowing she would wake soon. Reluctantly, he rolled out of the bed and headed for the shower.
The water was hot; Too hot, but he let it cascade down his back, scalding his skin and making the wounds on his hands sting. Henry was usually a man of vivid thought, thriving in the quiet time of reflection. Now, he dreaded that time. Since his work with DIA, he'd been forced to only allow his thoughts to echo in his own, crowded subconscious. That was proving to be hard habit to break, and it'd bled into his emotional stressors. He felt trapped and suffocated by his own mind. You can talk now. Henry felt he didn't want to now, he'd been bitten before. They both had. They could discuss their work now, but it seemed the damage was already done.
It wasn't just the legal ramifications that made him hesitant. Henry felt that Elizabeth already had enough on her plate without him offloading his own, comparatively menial problems onto her. It was hurting her, and he could see it. Elizabeth would never complain, even when they fought, she never condemned him personally and rarely lashed out in anger. He felt guilty, unable to grant her the same respect of recent times.
-o-
Henry rounded the corner, she was rummaging through the refrigerator, and he stood close, blocking her exit. "Did you block me at DIA?" He was frowning, lips pursed.
"Excuse me?" She spun, surprised to find him so close.
"I was rejected. Somebody had their finger on the scale."
"I didn't have my finger on any scale… " Elizabeth turned away from his scrutinising glare, moving around the island bench, creating distance between them.
"Yeah but you weren't exactly thrilled about me rejoining." He tossed his glasses on the bench angrily. "Did you say anything to Ephraim Ware or Russell?"
"Are you actually accusing me here?"
"Maybe you just complained about me rejoining and they took it from there." He moved as he spoke, facing up to her again.
"I don't complain about you, Henry. Not anywhere, not at work and I'm starting to feel attacked!"
"Well I'm feeling played because it makes no sense."
She sighed, meeting his eyes, her own were wide and pleading, cornered again. "I'm on your side —"
"Good. Then call the President, and ask him to reinstate me." She recoiled from the coldness in his tone. She couldn't believe he was asking her to make that call, and she was relieved when her phone rang, giving her an escape.
-o-
Elizabeth was always conscientious and hard working, but her stubbornness often lead to her trapping everything inside, until she couldn't hold it in any longer. Henry encouraged her to be open and talk through her emotions, but he knew there was always things she'd hold onto; He would be there to pick up the pieces, always. She wouldn't speak of the fear she'd felt when Henry was in the hospital. Much like Henry, she didn't want him to burden him. He knew these things. He would have to make the fist move.
Henry clothed himself and grabbed the dressing kit he'd been given at the hospital, producing two new crepe bandages, once for each blistered hand. He didn't want to make a fuss, and if it were up to him, he'd not bother, but the cold air stung the excoriated skin and still bled a little. He sat on the cornered arm-chair and attempted to bandage his hands. He'd underestimated the difficulty of wrapping his own hands, the roll fell to the ground and unraveled. Frustrated, he moved quickly to try and recover it, knocking raw wound on the chair. He yanked the hand back and hissed at the pain.
Consumed by his own thoughts, he hadn't noticed her moving towards him. He was surprised to see her standing in front of him, she'd moved so quietly. Picking up the grounded fabric, Elizabeth crouched in front of Henry, taking his hand in hers. She began to gently bandage his hand, meeting his eyes for a moment, they'd softened as he looked at her. She took the other and repeated the process which she was surprisingly proficient at.
-o-
Elizabeth loved caring for her husband, she often looked for opportunities to return what he always so willing gave to her. He'd looked startled when she bandaged his hands for him, and she wasn't sure it was the right move. Since when had they wondered if it was appropriate to touch one another. She stood again, moving to turn away but he stopped her, holding her hands in his.
"Come here." He beckoned, opening his arms. She didn't hesitate, moving to curl herself up, onto his lap. He was warm and surrounding and she felt small in his arms. Elizabeth breathed in his scent deeply.
"I'm sorry." Henry whispered into her hair.
"Me too."
She knew that wasn't the end of it, that there was so much more to be said, but now wasn't the time for it.
"Elizabeth. We need to talk." As the words left his mouth, he recognised the coldness in his voice, but it was too late to take back.
Panic struck her, her stomach knotted uncomfortably. She hated that sentence, but she didn't know why. There were so many things that needed to be said, and none of them she wanted to delve into. No, no. Please. She wriggled, trying to free herself. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as he resisted her movements.
"Henry." She gasped, the fear evident in her voice as she began to pant. She met his eyes briefly, the welled tears threatening to spill.
Realising he was scaring her, he released her immediately. She pushed off of him and fled to the bathroom. Shutting the door, she slid down to the floor and brought her knees up. The tears began to stream as she tried to regulate her breathing. You wanted him to talk. Now he wants to. She was nothing without her family, yet the universe kept tempting her, pushing just enough to make her question everything she thought she knew. She couldn't believe the irrationality that coursed through her. For someone so logical and intellectually driven, she couldn't grasp the concept of a panic-attack. There was no imminent threat, yet her body was screaming with every fibre of her being to run and fight. Her husband wanted to talk to her. Her husband who loved her, more than his own life. Deep down, she knew what he'd say, what he wanted to discuss.
-o-
Henry watched in disbelief as his wife disappeared behind the door. He was unable to curb the hurt plastered on his face. He wanted to go to her, but knew it would only make things worse. She would come around to him, he knew that, but he didn't know it would take her this long. His arms fell limp at his sides as he listened to her quiet sobs. The muffled sound struck him deep inside, every gut-wrenching heave of her breath.
-o-
13:00 -
Elizabeth glanced up from the document she was viewing, looking at her phone as the screen lit up, displaying Henry's name. She stared at it as it vibrated menacingly until the call ended. You can't keep avoiding him like this. She sighed heavily. She'd made up her mind, she wanted to forget everything that happened that morning, but she would simply have to face it. She owed Henry that much, and she couldn't bare the thought that she was still hurting him, even in her absence. She quickly typed out a text addressed to him: "Can't talk now. I will be home by 7. I promise we will talk then. I love you."
You lied to him.