Theo watched her as she looked up from her work, glancing over at him for around the tenth time in around a hour and a half...
"Why you looking so puzzled ted?" Isabel asked as she stretched, obviously getting rid of the strain of working bent over a desk for hours on end "you look like someone has handed you some chocolate cake but has strictly forbid you from eating it"
"Just thinking that's all" Theo mumbled as he rested his chin on his palm
"I would advise you against thinking that hard, your mind might explode and start dripping out your ear" she mused jokingly before letting her smile slip "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Afraid not.." he replied shaking his head lightly
"You sure, I know I'm not a big advice giver but you can talk to me if you need too" Isabel reassured flashing him a soft smile...
He returned the smile "Just when I think I have you pegged you always seem to bring something new out onto the table..."
"What can I say I'm a very complex and deep woman" she mused half heartedly
"I'm really starting to believe that m'dear"
Getting to her feet, she moved across the room, taking a perch on the edge of his desk "So what's on your mind Theo?"
He looked up at her "You are..." he stated simple, before pulling her onto his lap, press his lips firmly against hers, holding her close and kissing her with everything he had...
Theo awoke to the sound of his name being called...
"I think it's about time to call it a day, Theo... before you start drooling on the pile of paperwork you are using as a pillow"
He just grumbled under his breath as he sleepily sat up, stretching and yawning widely...
"Easy there Shep, otherwise I fear you may end up swallow the whole room" she teased "Bed time boss man, I'll get this finished up"
"Just leave it, I'll get it done in tomorrow, lets just lock up and go home..." he mumbled before getting to his feet, slipping on his coat and picking up his glasses and keys.
"It's okay, I'm not tired at all so I might as well make a dent in it so we don't have a huge pile tomorrow" Isabel reassured "so you go ahead and I'll lock up when I'm done"
Theo shot her a disbelieve look "if your sure... here" he stated before handing over the spare office keys "I'll see you at 12 tomorrow then"
"That you will, sleep well Theo" giving him a quick hug
"You too m'dear" he bid before leaving the office.
Isabel just watched him go, shaking her head and laughing lightly at how cute he was just after she awake him up... he looked like a sleepy lion.
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Upon returning the next he found the that all the work had been completed, and gone from the room, with nothing but a folded piece of parchment laying on his desk addressed to him, in Isabel's usual sharp pointed writing style.
Dear Theodore,
I finished the work in hope that you will excuse my absence for today,
it seems my injuries have found this an opportune time to start acting up,
leaving me in capable of much.
I know you are used to the lack of assistance but I thought it was necessary to
do as much as I can to help...
Hopefully I'll be back on my feet soon
I apologise once more
Isabella Lillian Winters
Theo shook his head lightly at after reread the note several times, worry building in the pit of his stomach at news of her being ill, but a mixed with a small amount of amusement at how she was concerned about helping him even though she was unwell... she really was quite the intriguing yet thoroughly confusing woman.
He had completely pushed aside the dream he had last night/ this morning, for nothing could be gained by dwelling on it... other then fuelling his curiosity towards her in that way, which was extremely unhelpful to say the least.
Deciding that she had finished all the work and none was due until at least 3 o'clock, he would go and check up on his dear little assistant, he went in search for her file to find out here her apartment was located. After which he locked up and headed over to her apartment on the third floor of the reaper residential block.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx
Isabel was stuck grumpily glaring at her living room wall, lungs burning and her chest, neck and shoulder muscles aching like hell, willing herself to fall asleep after a night of attempting to cough up a lung. She despised these days, how they reminded her of what happened and that because of her poor judgement she was left weakened to a shadow of her former self while her injuries slowly healed, taking their own sweet time in doing so.
Her brooding was interrupted by a knock on her front door, followed by the sound of the door locks and steadily approaching footsteps, ending with the tall figure, that was her newly instated boss, Theo standing in .
"Good afternoon, mind if come in?"
"Knock yourself out" she croaked nonchalantly, pulling up her legs and turning to put her feet on the floor, so he could sit down. Adjusting the blanket covering her, she picked up her water and taking a long drink, soothing and clearing her throat enough to utter short strings of words without sounding like a frog.
"How you feeling Iss?" he asked softly as concerned etched across his face as he took a proper look at her, she was very pale and her breathing was ragged and heavy.
"Been better... I have to admit..."
"you do sound like you are about to eat a fly" he mused sitting down beside her "you didn't have to do all that work if you wasn't feeling well, I mean look at you, I've seen corpses with more colour..." he cooed softly,
"Gee thanks for that... little confidence boost..." Isabel grumbled
"May I ask is this to do with what happened in Verona or is it something you've had it for a longer term?"
Isabel nodded lightly "Yes... this is just a... side effect from the... injures I sustained... in battle..." she croaked bitterly, closing her eyes as she shifted lightly "It's a long... and painful story... so you'll have... to excuse me... for I really don't... feel up to telling it..."
Theo gentle touched her cheek "I won't rush you m'dear, whenever you feel up to telling me, I'm here to listen" he reassured her, his voice warm and sincere...
Isabel's eyes slowly opened, looking up at him, his eyes met hers, she saw something in his eyes, a warm shine that made her heart skip a beat. "Thank you" she breathed, getting hold of herself and looking away again. "So shouldn't you... be at work?"
That moment they had just shared hadn't escaped his attention, sending his mind reeling... he quickly pushing it as her question caught up with him "I have nothing to be getting on with, I thought I'd check up on you for a while since I'm free until just before 3 o'clock"
"you sound disappointed... that I completed... your work... are you really that... attached to it... to mourn it's... departure?"
"Unlike your last boss, I do not have a love affair with paperwork, I'm just a little sad that you would choose to discard your own well being for the sake of completing paperwork"
"I suppose I'm still... not quite used to... having to submit... to limits in what... I can and can't do... plus I could feel... that I was going to be ill... today. It had been building... for the last couple... days, so I thought... I might as well finish it..." she stated with a half hearted shrug
"you really should take it easier, I can handle whatever you can't, so please just as much as you feel able to. Don't make me have to go annoy, controlling boss on you" he warned
Isabel lifted an eyebrow "oh really? Well you already... have the first part... covered... and believe... me you can't... be worse then the... boss I had in Germany... she was just missing... a whip"
"Oh believe me m'dear, there is a reason why I have my reputation of being the toughest manager that this place has ever seen."
"Believe you me... I am not someone... to be underestimated... either" she countered with a hard faced look
Theo chuckled light-heartedly "Okay wheezy, you don't have to get all glarey, it was just a warning to the wise that I'm not always this laid back, especially when it concerns my subordinates or my friends... you being both make your dose twice as potent as someone from a single category" he mused lightly pinching her cheek
"Whatever you say... big bad teddy bear" she retorted sarcastically, before laughing lightly, something she instantly regretted as she started coughing.
He jumped into action, rubbing and lightly patting her back "Easy..." he said, his voice lowing to a softer, calming tone
Her body shook violently, aggravated her already sore muscles, making them burn painfully, as she gasped for breath. Her cough slowly eased off again after a few minutes, leaving her feeling even more exhausted then before, she wheezed softly as she leant back into the sofa cushion.
"Come on, lets get you too bed" he stated, scooping her up before she could argue, and carrying her into the bedroom laying her on the bed and covering her up with the blanket.
"I don't... need molly... cuddling... Theo..." she grumbled, her voice weak and croaking
"Stop complaining Isabel, I'm going to do it even if you like it or not, everyone needs to be looked after at one time or another like I've said before. So stop being so damn stubborn and just accept it!" he replied rather pointedly.