Thank you guys for all your responses, to everyone and anyone who has left me a little comment. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I think you'll understand why I had to hurt Lilly. (I'm still sorry. BTW)
I forgot to add, last chapter's song is by James Morrison. This chapter's song is by Lifehouse.
Disclaimer: If anyone's offering, I'd be glad to take them off their hands. Anyone? No. Didn't think so.
Chapter 12: Learn You Inside Out
"Boss is comin' back." Kat said, as she walked back into the hospital room. As much as she hated to disturb Lilly, who was starting to drift off to sleep once again in Scotty's arm, she knew she had to. She shooed Scotty off the bed and smoothed down the sheets where he'd been lying. Idly, Kat wondered when she'd become the department mom to this bunch of teenagers.
As Scotty found himself suddenly being yanked away from Lilly, he opened his mouth to protest, to scratch and claw his way back to her, but the glare given to him by Kat Miller, who was bustling about, erasing signs of his presence on Lilly's bed, stopped him. He stumbled a little on the hard hospital floor and was temporarily shocked by the cold air between his arms where Lilly should have been. Scotty exchanged a look with Lilly, who was wearing a similar expression of longing, a look that was obviously not lost on Kat.
"Yeah, yeah. You two can hold hands and exchange whatever lovey dovey looks you want to later." She said as she straightened the pillows around Lilly and pointed menacingly at a chair, indicating for Scotty to sit and stop hovering. He did as he was wordlessly told, but neither woman saw his pout because of the people who suddenly entered the room.
"How are we all doing here this morning?" A young, kindly doctor picked up the chart at the end of Lilly's bed as she greeted the group of detectives.
This morning? Scotty checked his watch and realized it was indeed early morning. Ridiculously, ungodly early, just past 5 am, but still morning. They'd spent the entire night in the hospital. A night that seemed both the longest and shortest in a while.
Scotty pulled his attention back to the present as the doctor continued talking, "I'm Dr. Aldrin. Sorry to keep you waiting, but it's been crazy here tonight." Scotty sighed impatiently; this seemed to be a common phrase doctors used. He wished she'd get to the point and tell him when they could go home.
"So we spent most of the night running every test known to mankind on you." She said to Lilly. "X-ray, Cat Scan, MRI…We like to make sure everything's okay." Dr. Aldrin paused, sensing the interest of her audience drifting. "Your sprained wrist and bruises will go away by themselves, but you'll have to come back in a week to get those stitches removed. You also have a very mild concussion, which is why we've kept you so long, but that doesn't seem to be too serious. Other than that you're free to go home." She smiled encouragingly.
When the worry on their faces remained apparent, Dr. Aldrin sighed, and walked over to the side of the room, putting up several x-rays pictures on lighted panels. "See? No broken bones, no fractures. Everything's okay. This is a prescription for painkillers, in case you need them." She left the detectives to figure out the x-rays, as they no doubt would want to, and walked out the door.
Vera was the first to speak up. "You had us worried for a while there Rush."
"Yeah Lil, glad you're okay." Will said kindly.
Lilly smiled wanly, then frowned. She suddenly noticed that Scotty was no longer in the room, "Where is he?" She asked.
"He's probably in arraignment." Boss replied. "DA is charging him whether you agree or not, there are a dozen eye witnesses." His tone was clear and final, as though he'd expected Lilly to protest to court action and declare it unnecessary. What he didn't know though, was that he'd completely misunderstood what she meant by 'he'.
Meanwhile, Scotty had chased the doctor out into the hallway, carrying in his hand an x-ray image. As a child, he and Mike had been in the hospital numerous times, and x-rays had been frequently required. Between martial arts lessons, brotherly fights, and common, everyday mishaps, he'd had his fair share of accidents as a child. As a result, Scotty was fairly proficient at reading x-rays and upon seeing Lilly's he knew something was wrong.
"Hey!" He yelled at Dr. Aldrin's retreating back. "Wait a sec."
The doctor turned around, looking confused. "Detective?"
When he caught up to her, he was panting, but he shoved the x-ray furiously in her face anyway. "What kinda doctor are you?" He demanded.
"Excuse me?" The young doctor was genuinely confused.
"You miss this or somethin'?" He pointed at the x-ray, and at the obvious fissure in Lilly's jaw. "Now I ain't a doctor, but that ain't lookin' like everything's okay with me."
The doctor sighed, "Let me see that again." She held the x-ray up to the light and looked at what the furious detective was saying. There was indeed an obvious break that Dr. Aldrin wondered why she hadn't mentioned before, but it was healed, decades old probably. She tried to explain this to Scotty. "I didn't miss any-"
"Are you kiddin' me?" Scotty exploded. He grabbed the x-ray out of the doctor's hand and pointed again at what he saw and what she obviously didn't. "Right there, on the left side-"
"Sir, if you don't calm down and let me explain, I'm going to have to call security." Dr. Aldrin put her hand on her hip, where Scotty knew she wore a pager that could summon all the muscled guards the hospital hired in an instant.
Scotty was shocked. He was used to his temper helping him get his way, both in the interrogation room and out on the streets. It was part of what made him and Lilly a good team. They worked the good cop, bad cop angle perfectly. Without her by his side though, bad cop on its own obviously wouldn't get him anywhere.
Still fuming inside, Scotty remained silent and allowed the doctor to continue, "This is an old break. As in not from this incident. She probably broke her jaw when she was a little kid. Bones don't heal completely, you know."
When she was a kid. Lilly had broken her jaw when she was a kid. Oh God. Scotty's brow clouded with worry and his mind filled with possibilities, each more terrifying than the other. But there was one obvious conclusion. She got hurt. All of a sudden, anger ran up Scotty's veins, consuming and overwhelming him. How could someone do that? How could someone let that happen? Clenching his teeth and ordering his temper into submission, Scotty realized the doctor was still looking at him questioningly, and he also realized he probably owed her an apology.
"Sorry." He muttered sheepishly. Scotty turned around and raked a hand through his hair before turning back to the doctor. "I'm just, so worried, and I want to make sure she's okay."
Dr. Aldrin smiled kindly and looked at him sideways, "She's your partner?"
"Yeah," Scotty replied, hoping that that would be a reasonable explanation for his behavior a few minutes ago.
"Uh-huh" She smiled knowingly, "How long have you guys been dating?"
Scotty sighed, was is really that obvious? He supposed it was. "Actually, just a week." He replied, knowing it sounded impossibly short and insignificant. "But really, it's been years. I've always, well we've… It just feels like it's been a long time." He finished lamely.
"I've seen this kind of injury before," Dr. Aldrin said, "And… usually when you're worried about something like that, it's not for nothing. Just ask her." She concluded encouragingly.
"Yeah… maybe." Scotty said, wondering if he would get up the courage to ask about her broken jaw, and wondering at the same time if he could stand not knowing.
"Where the hell did Valens go?" Vera asked out loud. Trust the idiot to disappear without a word when his partner needed a ride home. He added internally.
"He probably got lost on the way back from the bathroom." Kat added with a shake of her head.
"Can't blame a guy for that, I guess." Vera replied. "Hospital is freakin' huge. Well since we're waiting…" He picked up Lilly's jello from a tray in front of her bed.
"What?" Vera asked, a spoonful of jello halfway to his mouth, in response to the indignant glares of his colleagues. "A guy's gotta eat and if you people hadn't devoured everything I brought up from that crappy excuse for a cafeteria…"
Lilly pressed a hand to her temple, willing away the headache that was setting in and trying to keep a smile on her face at the same time. She wanted Scotty. She wanted to go home. She wanted to go home with Scotty, where they could forget all about what happened today. To her horror, Lilly felt the pressure of tears behind her eyes for the first time in a long time. Oh no. Oh hell no. She thought frantically, not now. Where the hell had Scotty gone anyway?
Lilly turned her head and looked at her reflection in the window. She could see the Nurse's Station on the other side, but because of the light in her room she could also see herself, and she was shocked. The over sized hospital gown made her skin look pale and ghostly, or maybe it was the just the early hour and the fatigue of being poked and prodded all night. A purpling bruise that wound its way from just below her left cheek bone along her jaw stood in dark contrast against her fair skin and there was a small but obviously deep cut on her right cheek covered in surgical tape.
When Lilly reached up to touch her injuries, just to make sure they were real, she had to bite her lip to suppress a whimper of pain. She shook her head fiercely, only to regret it when the headache returned with a vengeance.
"We've got to go." Boss's voice shattered the silence permeating the room, as he snapped his phone shut. Lilly hadn't even noticed he'd received a call, maybe the silence was only in her head.
Either way, Lilly was happy for the distraction. "Oh…" She said, the question in her voice apparent.
"CSU found Holly's blood covered coat buried in the wall of Simms' apartment." Boss said gently. He looked apologetic. Apologetic that work would come in and interfere in Lilly's rest, and apologetic that he had to mention someone to fresh and painful in everyone's mind.
The case. Lilly thought. We still have a case to solve. Even though Wayne Simms was going to jail, most likely getting the maximum for the aggravated assault of a police officer, there was still Holly, who deserved justice as well. "I could help." Lilly said, but when four pairs of incredulous eyes turned on her she knew it was no good.
"Take the week off Lilly. Today's Friday. I don't want to see you until next Monday." Stillman paused, "I mean the Monday after this coming Monday, Lilly." He knew if he wasn't perfectly clear, especially with someone like Lilly, he was likely to see her in a couple days, claiming she had misunderstood him.
Lilly opened her mouth to protest, to proclaim herself perfectly fine, just a little banged up, but she decided not to. Especially since she'd insisted this morning she could handle that interview, and she… couldn't. Will nodded at her, "I think that's wise, Lil."
The rest of the team stood reluctantly to leave and Kat hesitated, "Maybe I should hang around a little longer. Drive her home if Valens doesn't show up in the next little while."
Boss nodded. "Good idea. We'll see you later." He and Will turned to leave.
"Don't get lost on your way out of the hospital Miller," Vera said sarcastically before looking pointedly at Lilly and taking the rest of her hospital food on the way out.
As soon as everyone was out of earshot, Kat rounded on Lilly, "So while you were out, me and Valens had an interesting talk."
Lilly groaned and fell back into her pillows, "Not now Kat…"
Kat wasn't letting up, "So you and Valens, huh? I mean, he's like my little annoyin' brother, if you know what I mean, but hey, to each her own. He does have that Latin charm goin' for him I guess."
Lilly felt a blush creep up her cheeks as Kat continued, "How exactly did this happen anyway?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Lilly said, picking up a pillow and burying her face in it.
Kat reached over and pulled the pillow from Lilly's grip, which even when Lilly had only one hand to use, wasn't an easy task. "Hey, you talk to me about it, or you talk to Boss about it." Kat made herself clear.
"Why?" Lilly whined. She didn't care that she sounded like a child, she'd do just about anything not to discuss her sex life, with her boyfriend, with her colleague.
Kat rolled her eyes. "Well, if I'm keepin' you and Valens's dirty little secret, I gotta know I'm right in doin' so and you guys ain't doin' anything stupid…Or illegal." She added as an afterthought.
"Please. Just, not now." Lilly pleaded with Kat.
Kat surveyed Lilly critically. "Fine." She agreed. "Just because you took a beating today and I feel sorry for you."
Lilly tossed her pillow a Kat with her uninjured arm. "I'm fine. It's just part of the job." And surprisingly Lilly was telling the truth. She'd gotten in over her head in this one interrogation, but her life was not in danger for one second and she knew that. Because she knew that, she wasn't fazed by what happened, and was actually frustrated she couldn't jump back into the investigation. Sure, she'd been vulnerable, she'd lied in her boyfriend's arms and let him see how scared she'd been in that second. But that was more about the physical damage, than the minimal emotional damage. It was Scotty she was worried about. It was Scotty who had a tendency to blame himself and a temper to match.
Right on cue, Scotty rushed into the hospital room. "Where's everyone else?" He asked breathlessly, looking between Lilly and Kat for an answer, both of whom were wearing amused grins.
"Work, you know the thing you get paid for, Valens?" Kat replied teasingly. "Speaking of which, I gotta take off. Oh, by the way. Boss is expecting your ass in the office after you drop Lilly off." She said to Scotty.
"What? But-" Scotty began to protest.
But Kat cut him off, "Don't shoot the messenger alright? That's what you two get for keepin' them in the dark. You gotta deal with not being together every second of everyday." And with that she was gone.
Scotty sighed and collapsed into a chair by Lilly's bed. He felt his eyelids starting to droop with the fear of the past night. Lilly looked at him from her hospital bed, "You okay, Scotty?"
Scotty looked up at her, "Ain't that what I'm supposed to be askin' you?" His eyes were dark with grief and pain and residual fear, and just a hint of, what was that? Oh, ...Confusion. He was studying her as though he couldn't figure her out.
Lilly climbed out of bed, wincing a bit, and walked up to Scotty. The hospital gown hung loosely around her slim body and as she lowered herself into his lap, Scotty was amazed once again at the fact that she fit perfectly against him.
She knew it. She knew that Scotty would have more trouble with this than she would. He was probably blaming himself for not preventing her from going in there, as if he had some super power that allowed him to predict exactly what would have happened. He may also be blaming himself for not breaking down the door soon enough, as though he could've made the sturdy wood splinter any faster. This blame, coupled with the worry she saw in Scotty's eyes pushed him near the abyss Lilly had pulled him out of just a couple of days ago.
Lilly didn't tell him she was okay, nor did she say it wasn't his fault, or that he couldn't have prevented her from getting hurt. She knew it wouldn't help. What Scotty needed was some way to help her, some way to feel like he was doing something useful and that's exactly what Lilly decided to give him. "Scotty… I want to go home. Will you, drive me home, please?"
Scotty's heart filled with love. He knew she was doing this for him and he couldn't verse how much he appreciated that. Lifting them both up from their position wedged into that uncomfortable chair. He set her on the bed and wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. Scotty then picked up the clothes she was wearing before and pulled her back into his arms. As he carried her toward their car, as fast as he could without dropping her to avoid the late November cold, Scotty discovered how much playing the hero, Lilly's hero, was helping him.
Scotty knows something! What's he gonna do about it? Please Review!