Matt walked into the doctor's office with Allyson. She was taken back after a few minutes and the doctor examined her wrist.
He ordered and xray and Allyson sat with Matt in the waiting room while it processed.
"Think you'll get the cast off," he asked.
"Oh, no. I'm just hoping I'll get a softer and lighter cast. This one is down right annoying," she said.
Before Matt could comment, Allyson was called back into the office.
"Well, Miss Briscoe, I'm going to change your cast. You're healing nicely, but the bone is still weak at the surgical sight. This lighter cast will give you more movement of your fingers, but please don't overdo it. We don't want to have to repair those pins," he said.
Allyson nodded and he and his assistant set about removing the old cast, washing her arm down and giving her a new one.
She headed back out to see Matt with a new cast.
"Can we go home now," she asked.
Matt nodded and they headed to his car. He drove home, parked in the garage and headed up to the flat.
Allyson wasn't in a mood to talk, she just wanted to collapse on her bed. It seemed strange, but after a few weeks of limited activity, her stamina was gone.
Matt had gone to check on her and found Allyson on her bed, still fully clothed and snoring. A glass of water and half a pain pill sat on the side table. He smiled. Allyson must have been hurting and, because she didn't like taking the medicine, only took half the prescribed dosage. He carefully slipped off the boots she had worn that day and covered her with a blanket. He put the other half of the pill in the bottle and took the glass to the kitchen.
He sat down at the table to go over some files he brought from the office. He placed a call to Ronnie and they planned to meet for dinner at the flat. Ronnie promised Chinese.
Matt checked the time and saw that he'd been working for two hours straight. He knew Allyson was probably hungry and, since Ronnie was on his way, he went to wake her.
As he headed down the hall, the phone rang.
"Hello," he said.
"Is this the number for Allyson Briscoe," a male voice asked.
"It is," Matt answered, his interest piqued.
"I need to speak with her. It's important," the voice said.
"Whom shall I say is calling," Matt asked.
"It's none of your business. I need to talk to Allyson," he insisted.
"I don't know if I want you to talk to Allyson," Matt said, his protective nature coming out.
"Look, just tell Allyson that Brad is on the phone. She'll take the call. She'd better," Brad said.
Putting the phone down, Matt went into the bedroom.
"Lyssa," he whispered.
Allyson rolled over and opened her eyes. "Matt. What's wrong," she asked.
"Sorry to wake you, but Ronnie's on his way with Chinese and there's a phone call for you. Some rather rude bloke named Brad is insisting on talking with you," he said.
"Brad? Brad's on the phone," Allyson asked.
"Yeah. Who's Brad," Matt asked as Allyson threw the blanket off herself and went out the door.
"My half-brother," Allyson said, picking up the phone.
"Brad," she said.
Matt heard the knock on the door as she started talking. There were only a few people allowed up to flat without the doorman calling to see if they were expecting anyone, so Matt assumed it was Ronnie. He opened the door and directed Ronnie to the kitchen. He turned his attention back to Allyson just as she hung up the phone.
Allyson didn't say anything as she looked at the phone.
"Ally," Matt asked.
"Huh...wha? Oh, that was my brother Brad. He was calling to tell me about our mom," she said.
"Everything OK," Matt asked.
"No. Mom's got cancer," she said.
Matt went to her and wrapped her in a hug.
"Do you know anything else, Ally," Ronnie asked.
"She's having chemo. Brad wanted me to know. I'm surprised he called me. He and Alex haven't spoken to me since Gram died," Allyson said.
"Are you going to New York," Matt asked. The thought of Allyson being several thousand miles away tore his heart out, but he knew she had to do what was the best thing for her mother.
"I don't know. Mom needs someone to take care of her," she said.
"What about your brothers," Matt asked. He knew Allyson's brothers were upset about the inheritance they received and had blamed it on Allyson. Allyson hadn't cared. She gave them money from her inheritance, but the brothers wanted more.
"Brad's living with mom, again. He lost his job and claims he can't afford to live on his own," Allyson said.
"Wait! Didn't he get money from the settlement and you also added a bit to that, right," Matt asked.
Allyson nodded. "I added to whatever Gram left them because I felt bad. Alex moved to LA right after she died. He took his money and invested it and is living on that while trying to forge a music career. Ben lost his money because he pissed it away and then his ex-wife got the rest in the divorce. Plus he's paying child support. He thinks I'm responsible," Allyson said.
"You? How's he figure," Ronnie asked.
"If he'd been given more in the settlement, his wife would have been happy and he would have been able to have the lifestyle he felt he deserved. When he didn't get it and spent all that time contesting the will, his wife found out that he'd been cheating. If he'd just taken what he was offered in the first place, no one would have found out the way they did. She divorced him and got the money in a settlement because of the treatment she received. Can't say I blame her. He's been mad at me ever since," Allyson said.
"Stupid bastard," Matt muttered under his breath.
"Anyway, just because he's living with mom doesn't mean he's going to be her nursemaid. His words, not mine," Allyson said.
"So you'll go back to New York and help her," Ronnie asked.
Allyson shrugged her shoulders. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she knew if her mother needed help her brothers weren't the ones that were going to provide it. Alex was also angry that Allyson had gotten more of the money than he did. She knew, because she loved her mother, that she'd return to New York. She just didn't know how that would affect her life in London.
"I need to think about it some. So can we sit down and eat? I'm starving," Allyson said.
She busied herself with getting plates and silverware and bringing them to the dining room table. Matt knew she was pushing her emotions to the side and trying to forget about them. He started to say something as she took the glass from the cupboard, but Allyson stopped him.
"Don't, please, Matt. I don't want to talk about this right now," Allyson said.
Matt, realizing he'd grabbed her hand, nodded and let go.
Matt, Ronnie and Allyson ate their meal, carefully avoiding the conversation Allyson had had with her brother. When they were finished, Ronnie excused himself. "Sarah's invited me tomorrow morning for breakfast before the little one's christening," Ronnie said.
"That's wonderful, Ronnie," Allyson said, giving the older detective a hug.
"Oh, Sarah asked me to give this to you," Ronnie said, pulling an envelope out of his coat.
Allyson took and opened the envelope. It was a thank you card from Sarah for the baby gift Allyson and Matt had sent her.
"I'm glad she liked it and is able to use it," Allyson said.
"It was sweet of you and Mattie to get it for her. She was touched," Ronnie said.
Allyson and Matt had purchased a rocking chair for Sarah to use in the nursery. Sarah had purchased everything for the nursery, but had neglected the rocking chair. Matt mentioned it to Allyson and Allyson had immediately purchased the chair, signed his name to the card and had it sent to Sarah's flat. Matt was once again amazed at Allyson's kindness and ability to read people.
"I'll talk to you later, Ron," Matt said.
Ron showed himself out and Matt turned to Allyson.
She turned toward the french doors and opened them, stepping out on the deck. She leaned on the railing watching the traffic on the Thames and seeing the lights of Tower Bridge. Despite the fact that she'd grown up in the city, seeing the sites from her balcony still amazed her. She loved London. The thought of returning to New York, her second home, felt foreign to her.
Matt came up next to her and leaned on the rail with her. "Never gets old, does it," he said.
"Nope. This is the best view I've ever had in the city," she said.
"I'll admit, it's the nicest I've ever had as well," he said. Allyson looked up at him and smiled. She caught the gleam in his eyes and wondered if he was talking about the view of the river or her.
"Want to talk about it," he asked.
"It's my mom, Matt," she said.
"I know and I know you want to be there for her," Matt said.
"I can't bear the thought of something happening to her. I lost Gram, then dad. I never had my step-father or my brothers really. I always felt like the outcast. Except with Dad, Mom and Gram. If she needs me, I have to go back to New York," she said.
Matt nodded. He'd known Allyson was going to return to New York to help her mother. He didn't know how it would affect their relationship, but he knew he would support her.
"I'll support whatever decision you make," he said.
Allyson leaned into him and Matt wrapped her in his arms.
A few minutes later, Allyson yawned and Matt encouraged her to go to bed. Matt went to his room and changed for bed. He climbed into the bed and fell into a restless sleep. Three hours after he'd gone to sleep, Allyson's screams echoed through the flat.
Matt leaped out of the bed and rushed into her room. He knew she was having a nightmare. He knelt by the bed and placed his hand on her head. "Lyssa, it's just a dream. I'm right here," Matt whispered.
Allyson grabbed onto Matt, clinging to him. Matt rubbed her back and slowly felt her relax. It was a ritual they'd repeated every night for the last three weeks. Matt didn't know what she was dreaming about but he thought it was of her attack. However, she never remembered.
Allyson relaxed a bit and Matt pulled her to his chest and he fell asleep, Allyson secured in his arms.
When they woke up the next morning, Allyson didn't have to ask what happened. She wasn't surprised to find Matt in her bed in the morning, she just hated why he was there.
She was getting ready that morning when an idea hit her. She didn't know how Matt would react, but it was worth a try.
She was brewing her tea when Matt came out of his room.
"Morning, Lyssa," he said.
"Morning. I wanted to talk to you about something," she said.
"What," he asked.
"I wanted to know if you thought about staying in my room tonight, just to see if I still have the nightmare," Allyson said, fixing her cup of tea.
Matt thought about what she was saying. Allyson didn't seem to have any nightmares when he was in the bed with her and he thought if it could help her, he'd do it.
"If you want to try it, I can certainly do that," Matt said.
"Maybe we can both get a full night's sleep out of it," she said.
"Maybe," he said, drinking his coffee. Allyson rarely drank coffee, but she had gotten a one cup coffee brewer for Matt when he moved in and Matt had been touched by the gesture. She had gone out of her way to make him feel like he belonged and he slowly found a niche in her place.
"Is it a half day again," he asked.
"Yeah. Jake and Henry don't want me to work too hard. I'll come home this afternoon and probably call mom and see how she is and if she wants my help," she said.
Matt nodded. "Promise me you'll call a taxi when you're ready to go home. Or better yet, you'll ring me and Ron at the station," Matt said.
"Matt, I can take a cab. I'm not going to bother the two of you to bring me home when you're working on a case," Allyson said, taking a bite of the bagel Matt had prepared himself.
He frowned which caused Allyson to smile wider and Matt couldn't help by smile back.
"It won't be a problem. Ronnie likes taking you home," Matt said, finishing his bagel.
"Will it get you off my case," she asked as she put on her coat.
"Yes," Matt said, handing her a scarf and her hat.
Matt buttoned up his coat and grabbed her briefcase and escorted her out the door.
He opened the passenger door for her and soon they were headed out into the London traffic.
Matt parked at the curb and said goodbye to Allyson.
She headed into the office, anxious to get some work done and be productive.
She was at her desk for a few minutes, reading her email when her phone rang.
"CPS, Allyson Briscoe," she said.
"Ally Rose," her mother said.
"Mom! How are you? I was going to call you later when I was sure you were home," Allyson said.
"I know Brad called you," her mom said.
"He did. He was quite rude to Matt when he called," Allyson said.
"You know your brother. He's staying here," she said.
"Did he get a job," Allyson asked, hating the thought of her brother free loading off their mom and, now that she was sick, she hated it even more.
"I know you know I have breast cancer," her mom said.
"Brad said cancer. I figured that was probably it," Allyson said.
"Well, don't you worry about me. I'm probably going to beat this thing. Doctor caught it early. I'm having the mastectomy next week and doing the chemo," Betty said.
"I'll come home and be with you mom. I don't mind," she said.
"Allyson Rose, you have a life in London. You told Matt how you feel," her mother questioned.
"My relationship with Matt is simply a friendship, mom," Allyson said, tired of stating her relationship with Matt.
"I know that, dear. I'll call you later, but I want you to know that I'll be fine," her mom said.
"I know. Bye," Allyson said.
As Allyson prepared to leave work that afternoon, she had decided, after talking to her mom, that she would stay in London unless things changed.
And change they did. But not with Allyson's mother.
Three months after her attack, her arm now free of a cast and her mother responding to chemo, Allyson was waiting for Ronnie and Matt to pick her up outside the building.
She exited the building. She knew she was early and she was craving some soup from the kiosk on the corner. Deciding to give into her craving, she headed to the shop. She figured Matt would call if he arrived before she returned.
As she entered the shop, she saw something that made her stop short, shock on her face.
Matt, back to her was hugging another woman! The woman saw Allyson looking at her and Allyson looked away quickly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Matt and the woman share a kiss.
Allyson was certain the breaking of her heart was audible to everyone. She immediately turned around and rushed out of the shop, not seeing where she was going. Her eyes were clouded by the tears that threatened to fall.
Ronnie came up the sidewalk just as Allyson rounded the corner. "Ally," he called as Allyson rushed past him.
Hearing her name she stopped and saw Ronnie. She quickly wiped her face and turned to him.
"Everything OK, Ally-girl," Ronnie asked.
"Yeah. Had a conversation with mom. It's hard knowing she's sick and I'm here, but she's getting better," Allyson said..
Ronnie seemed satisfied with her explanation. Ronnie guided her around the corner, where Matt had parked his car. Rather than getting in passenger seat, Allyson got in the back. Ronnie didn't ask questions, but got in the passenger side and waited for his partner.
Matt jogged to the car and held up a paper bag. Allyson assumed it held something to eat, but her appetite was gone.
He got in and looked at her. "You OK," he asked.
She nodded, not trusting herself to say anything to him at that time.
"I got you some soup. I got you some, too, Ron. Thought we could eat at the flat," Matt said.
"Fine," was all Allyson said as Ronnie took the bag from Matt and they headed toward Allyson's building.