DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but Allyson.
Allyson listened to the doctor describe her injuries. She was more alert than she'd been two days ago, but she was in pain. She had a broken nose and had received stitches for the laceration to her forehead and the bridge of her nose. She'd also gotten several wounds stitched up and Allyson knew if the law thing didn't work, she could rent herself out at a road map.
She had suffered a broken arm and dislocated kneecap. She had minor surgery to remove her spleen. She didn't know what her pain was from, just that she was in pain. She knew she'd been violated and thought the pain she was because of that. She didn't care, she just wanted it to go away.
She turned back to the doctor.
"We'll release you sometime tomorrow. Do you have someone who could stay with you," the doctor asked.
"I have a roommate. I'm sure he can help me. If not, he'll be able to make the arrangements for someone to help me. All my family is in the States," Allyson said.
"Well, provided that you have someone with you for the first few days, you can go home tomorrow," the doctor told her.
"Thank you," she said.
She settled back on the pillow and the nurse came in to give her some additional pain medicine. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Matt arranged for a guard to be stationed outside Allyson's room, just in case. He returned to work, despite his desire to stay with Allyson. He was determined to find the person that did this to her and set his sights on that one goal. Allyson had insisted he go back to work. He had reluctantly agreed, if for no reason other than to find the person responsible. Allyson was safe in the hospital and Matt wanted to keep her safe.
Alesha spent some time with her, the two talking about anything and everything.
Alesha agreed help her when she went back home. Allyson was grateful. She was worried how Matt would handle being a caretaker to his roommate.
Matt walked into the hospital and went up to Allyson's floor. Matt was only too happy to pick her up and had assured Allyson that he wasn't burdened with the thought of taking care of her. 'She did plenty for me during my recovery,' he thought to himself. He stepped out of the elevator and walked toward Allyson's room, which was located near the nurse's station.
"Detective! What are you doing here? Come to take one of us out," the floor nurse asked.
"I'm actually here to pick up Allyson. My...girlfriend," he said, smiling as he said it.
"Lucky her. She's all ready to go. I just have to pull her IV. Here's her paperwork and her medication," the nurse said. Matt followed her into Ally's room. He nodded at the officer standing guard.
"Look who's coming to take you home. Several nurses are going to be jealous," she said to Ally.
Allyson turned and saw Matt standing in the doorway. "You came," she said.
"Of course I came. When everyone found out you were coming home today, they covered so I could come down here. I'm taking you home because I can keep an eye on you better than anyone else can," he said.
"What makes you think that," she asked, smiling at his cockiness.
"You said I'd offer you my roof if you ever needed it. Seeing as how I have a roof and plenty of room, you should come home with me and I'll take care of you," he said, his eyes twinkling.
As he helped her into the wheelchair, he leaned close to her. So close Allyson could see he was freshly shaven and smelled... well, like Matt. "And don't say anything about that roof belonging to you," he said, before placing a feathery kiss on her cheek.
In an effort to hide the goosebumps he was giving her, Allyson rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe Matt was using her own words against her to get what he wanted. 'He played you,' she thought to herself.
'Yeah, but it's nice to be played,' she thought back.
"Lead the way," Allyson said, smiling as Matt took the handle of her wheelchair to push her out the door.
Allyson had only required assistance for a week, before she began to exert her independence and asked Matt to let her try things on her own.
She hated asking Matt to help with everything. Alesha came over several times during the week and helped Allyson bathe. Not that Allyson wanted help with the task, but the stitches and cast needed to be kept dry and, with Allyson's dominant hand in a cast, she needed the help. Alesha brought a bathing dress over for her so she wouldn't be embarrassed to ask Matt to give her a hand.
Matt stayed at the flat, taking call and heading into the office when he had to do so. Everyone was trying to find Allyson's attacker and knew, the best thing for the investigation was to keep Matt with Allyson. When the link with the other attacks was made shortly after Allyson was admitted to the hospital, Matt knew he had to keep it from her.
Three weeks after her release from the hospital, Allyson rode the lift up to her office at the CPS. Her arm was still casted, so she was limited in her abilities, but she was determined to return to normal.
"Welcome back, Ally," Alesha said, giving her friend a hug.
"Thanks. It's good to be back. I think I was driving Matt crazy," she said, smiling.
Alesha's eyes shined. "I'm certain he loved every minute of his taking care of you. Especially since you did so much for him. It shows how much you two care for each other," Alesha said.
"Care for each other? I care about what happens to Matt. He's my best friend," Allyson said, placing her briefcase on her desk.
"Ally, really? I know you care deeply for Matt. It's perfectly fine. I'm just wondering what's taking you both so long to figure it out," Alesha said.
"Fine. I admit it. I have a school girl crush on Matt. I like him...a lot. But that's got nothing to do with how he feels about me. I'm sure he's just grateful I gave him a place to stay after he was shot," she said.
Alesha smiled. "OK, Ally. I'll talk to you later," Alesha said.
Allyson sat at her desk and went through the things Alesha had placed there that morning. She was lost in the paperwork when the phone rang.
"CPS, Allyson Briscoe," she said.
"Lyssa! Want to grab lunch? Ronnie and I have to deliver some stuff to Jake and Henry and thought you might want to join us and then I can go with you to your appointment," Matt asked.
"Sure. I'm actually only supposed to work half days so I'll check out with Henry and Jake when you guys are ready to leave," she said.
"See you in a few," Matt said.
Allyson did the things she could and took them to Alesha and Jake.
"This is what I got finished with. A bit hard with one hand. I've got an appointment this afternoon to check out the wrist, so I'm going to call it a day, if that's OK," she said to the three in the room.
"Of course, Allyson. I can't believe you've come back as soon as you have," Henry said.
"I miss you guys," she said. "I can take some of this home and look at it there if you like," she added.
"Rest. There'll be plenty of work for you later," Henry said and Jake and Alesha agreed. She turned around and headed out of the office just as Matt and Ronnie stepped off the lift.
Ronnie headed for Jake's office while Matt came to her desk.
"How are you," he asked.
"Tired. I'm also a little sore. I have to get an xray this afternoon, so I'm hoping to eat and make it to the appointment so I can go home and rest," she said.
"Well, I promised lunch and an escort to your appointment," Matt announced.
"Really? Don't you and Ronnie have something to do," Allyson asked as Matt helped her on with her coat.
"Well, Ronnie's going to see his grandson, so Natalie told us to take off. We've been working on this serial killer case non stop and she thinks we need a break," Matt said.
He took her briefcase before she could reach for it and put his hand in the small of her back. He guided her to the lift and Ronnie soon joined them.
As the three stepped into the lift, Jake looked at Alesha. "Do they know," he asked her.
"That they're in love with each other? Don't think they have a clue," she said, smiling.
"How do you feel about that," he asked his partner.
"Matt and Allyson are perfect for each other. I'm glad Matt's got someone in his life," she said.
"I hope they figure it out soon. They are living together. Are you sure they haven't figured it out," Jake asked as they headed back to grab the files off the desk.
"Yeah. Between his shooting and her...attack, they haven't had time to acknowledge it," she said.