Chapter 4

…

By the end of the week, Ariana gave her permission for Hetty to finally go home, the older woman had never been so relieved in her life, and knowing Owen would be there with her, somehow eased her mind that little bit more. As they drove back to Hetty's home, she chose that time to have a little nap, Owen glancing over at her every now and again to make sure she was okay. When he pulled in to her driveway, he turned off the engine and undid his seatbelt before coming around to the passengers side, kneeling down when he opened the door.

"We're here sleepyhead." He said, grinning at her.

Hetty slowly opened her eyes, giving him a strange look.

"You shouldn't smile like that, you'll scare the kids."

"Oh haha very funny. You want me to carry you in?"

"Try it and I'll shoot you myself Owen, I'm more than capable of walking on my own two feet."

Owen didn't reply, instead stood up and stepped aside as she got out of the car, he closed the door behind her and stayed close to her as they made their way inside the house. The heat hit her almost immediately, feeling so glad to finally be home. As they walked through to the front room, she notice the blankets, the books and dvd's sitting on her table.

"What's all this?" She asked.

"Preparation for your recovery, we have to keep you occupied while you heal."

"You've already been in my home."

"Well it's not the first time as you and I both know."

"Yes but it is the first time without me actually here with you?"

"I was just making sure we had everything we need while you recover so that I wouldn't have to keep going out to get things."

"I can be left alone for an hour or so you know."

"Yeah nice try but I'm not taking any chances with you, I promised your Doctor I wouldn't leave your side until you were better and I plan to stick to it."

"I'm not going to win this am I?"

"There's no winning, just do as you're told and we'll be fine, okay?"

"Fine."

"Good, now I'll go get us some coffee and you make yourself comfortable on the sofa."

…

Owen stayed true to his word and spent every waking moment by Hetty's side, they read together, watched some old classic films together, ate together. Hetty couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed living with someone, it was nice and she hated to admit that she was getting better and better everyday and couldn't deny she'd miss Owen being there when he went back to his own home. She was lost in her thoughts when he passed her a small whiskey. He knew she's been worrying about him leaving when he said that Ariana had been happy with her progress and that she'd be able to return to work the following week. He had enjoyed his time with her, they'd gotten a lot closer and he couldn't deny the feelings he had been having for her since she had been taken in to surgery that day.

"What are you thinking about Henrietta?"

"Mmmm, oh nothing much."

"Liar, talk to me. What's on your mind?"

"I was just thinking that…these last few weeks have been, good."

"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing."

"You've been so good to me Owen, giving up your own time to take care of me, the way I've treated you in the past…I don't deserve it."

"I always gave as good as I got, we were good friends once and then…I don't even know what happened…we just drifted."

"You allowed the power of your job to go to your head, I'm not saying I didn't either before you start on me. We lost track along the way of what was more important, because of out egos and our goals in life…our friendship suffered."

"When you were taken in to surgery…it, scared me."

"Me too."

"No I mean, I couldn't imagine my life without you in it."

"Owen I…"

"I know you feel something too Henrietta, all these weeks of spending every waking minute together…it's brought a lot of things…feelings to the surface."

Hetty put down the glass she had been holding before turning to Owen, looking him directly in the eyes.

"No one has ever cared for me the way you have, don't get me wrong…Mr Callen and the others probably would, but being me…I'm proud."

"Just a bit."

"You don't let me get away with anything, or hide away my problems. You're not afraid to stand your ground with me, I need that in my life, someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind."

"Henrietta…"

"I don't really know why you feel the way you do about me, that lovely woman at the bar, she's always had feelings for you."

"Perhaps, but they're not reciprocated."

"Why chose someone like me, over someone like her."

"Because you're everything she isn't. She has no ambition, she does what anyone tells her too. I don't want someone like that, I want someone who will argue with me, stand their ground, she won't…she also doesn't have the history with me that you do, there's nothing you don't know about me, you get me. You don't have to say yes to anything here, I just think you should at least know how I feel. I don't say this to just anyone, but I do love you, what you chose to do with that, that's up to you."

Hetty sat quietly for a few moments before she felt Granger take her hand in his.

"Could we just keep it as just us for a little while, I don't think I'm quite ready to tell our little family just yet."

"So that's a yes then is it, because I didn't quite hear the actual words too…"

"Oh bugger….I love you too…alright?"

"We can keep this between us as long as you want too, I won't rush you in to anything."

"Thank you Owen, and thank you for taking such good care of me these last few weeks."

"It was worth it, for this moment."

Hetty made a small noise as Granger moved in and kissed her softly on the lips. For now….just the two of them was enough…for both of them.

…

Fin