Author's note: Another glimpse into the possible lives of Harrison Wells and Tess Morgan. I hope folks are enjoying this. As always, comments and suggestions welcomed! Thanks to my beta, encourager, and comment leaver - Alisha Winchester Collins.
Not mine and I make no money from this!
Castles in the Sand: Reality Check
Tess hated hospitals, not just because her father had died recently. She hated the waiting. Now, she was waiting for them to update her on Harrison Wells. Their hike and picnic had been ended by a freak storm. While trying to get back to their car Harrison had been injured. Tess wasn't certain how bad the injuries were, but she had been able to tell that her date had been in a lot of pain on their drive to the hospital.
"Mrs. Wells," a man said, coming into the room where Tess was waiting. They'd allowed her to be with Harrison the entire time, except when he'd been sent for x-rays and just recently to set his broken leg.
"Yes?" She didn't bother correcting him. She didn't know why, but everyone seemed to think she and Harrison were married and not a couple out on their second date.
"Dr. Dreyson," he said, offering a hand. "I've set your husband's leg, but he's a little out of it due to the pain medication."
"I see." Was all Tess could think to say.
"Now, I will release him into your custody, but he does have a concussion so it would be best to try to keep him awake for the next 24 hours. If he does fall asleep you need to make sure he's rousable."
"Okay." Tess didn't have any plans, so spending a day with her date was no big deal. She just hoped he'd be able to tell her where he lived.
"We'll send him home with a wheelchair to use for the first few days. At least until the sprained wrist has healed. Once his wrist feels better he can switch to crutches and return the wheelchair. He should schedule a follow up appointment with my office for 2 to 3 days from now. Do you have any questions for me?"
"Yes," Tess said. "Where is Harrison?" She'd not seen or heard her date the entire time the doctor had been speaking. If she was to take Harrison home, it would be nice if she had Harrison.
"One of the nurses is bringing him back. They should be here in a few minutes. Anything else?" Tess shook her head and the doctor smiled and then left the room. A few minutes later, Tess heard Harrison's voice in the hallway.
"I really think you should slow down before we get pulled over," Harrison was saying. A moment later he was wheeled into the room in a wheelchair. "Tess!" He shouted loudly.
"Harrison, how are you feeling?" Tess asked, genuinely concerned.
"My brain is buzzing," Harrison replied. He grinned a goofy grin and tugged at the wrist they had wrapped. "I'm glad you waited."
"There is nowhere I'd rather be," Tess replied honestly. After everything Harrison had done for her, being there for him was the least she could do for him. "Now, the doctor said we could take you home. Are you ready?"
"Sure, but you're driving. This lady drives like a maniac." He nodded back towards the nurse that had brought him into the room. "Whoa! Shaking head bad." His eyes went large before he started blinking rapidly.
"I'll help you get him checked out and into the car," the nurse said gently. Nodding her thanks, Tess followed the nurse, Harrison's discarded items in a bag in her hand.
Checking out was fast, though Harrison was no help. While Tess dealt with the last few instructions from the nurse, Harrison drummed on the arms of the chair and looked around. He was a little bit more helpful when they went to get him into the car.
"Where we going?" Harrison asked as he put an arm around Tess while he moved from the chair to the car.
"I am going to take you home," Tess replied, reminding herself that the man was injured and medicated.
"Oh goody. Where do I live?" He sounded like a happy child, willing to take any answer as truth. It was not a question to which Tess had an answer.
"Check your driver's license," Tess ordered.
"Good idea," Harrison replied cheerfully. He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a battered wallet and holding it as he climbed into the car. The nurse helped Tess fold the wheelchair and stow it in the back seat.
As Tess slid into the driver's seat, she glanced at Harrison. He had his license out and was frowning at it. "Can I see?" Tess asked, motioning at the license. Leaning a little, Harrison handed her the license.
"I can't remember how to get there," he told her, fear tainting his voice. "My brain is fuzzy. I can't make it think right." Putting his uninjured hand up to his head, he rubbed at first one temple and then the other.
"You have a concussion and are on medication," Tess told him. Reaching out, she took his hand away from his head and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry."
"I'm not usually dumb," Harrison said, there was panic in his voice. "I'm smart. Well, book smart. I'm not always socially smart. Chris says that when I try I can manage charm." Squeezing his blue eyes shut, he pulled his hand away from her and rubbed at his face. Frowning, Tess reached out and took his hand again.
"Harrison, listen to me," she began. She paused until he opened his eyes and looked at her. "You are smart, but right now, medications and injury are making it hard for your brain to function like usual. So, I'm going to drive you home. Now, this Chris, do you two live together?"
"No. Chris moved out. Got some hot-shot job in the city." His voice quivered, but he seemed to be getting himself pulled together. "So, it's just me right now."
"Okay. So, I'll take you home. Don't worry about your brain feeling fuzzy. We'll put in a movie or something and just hang out for the night and day." Smiling gently at him, Tess started the car.
"Tess Morgan, you are an angel," Harrison declared, leaning back against the seat. Tess didn't respond as she drove. When she'd seen Harrison's address she'd not been surprised to see that he lived near the beach. She was a little concerned when she pulled up and realized that he lived above a surfboard shop. How was she going to get him up the stairs?
As she parked the car and considered ways to try to get Harrison upstairs, he sat up a little straighter. "Tess, this is where I live." He seemed excited to get through the fog in his brain. "I live up there. Two bedroom, two bathroom apartment. It even has a washer and a dryer. Makes it easier to clean all my beach clothes."
"Harrison Wells, you are such a beach bum," Tess said, grinning at his excitement. "Now we just have to figure out how to get you upstairs."
"Let's ask Hogan," Harrison suggested.
"Who?" Tess asked in confusion, but Harrison was already opening the door.
"Hogan!" He seemed to be yelling at the shop he lived above. A moment after his shout a large man stepped out, turning sideways to get his wide shoulders through the door frame.
"Doc? That you man?" The big man approached the car cautiously.
"Yeah Hogan. It's me," Harrison said with a nod. The giant of a man leaned down, resting a hand on the roof of the car. "This is my date, Tess." Harrison motioned towards her.
"Hell happened to you man?" Hogan frowned, eyeing the skinny man's injuries.
"He fell while we were hiking on Mount Thom," Tess supplied. "Broke his ankle and sprained his wrist."
"Damn man. You need help getting upstairs?" As Hogan spoke, Tess opened the door and got out.
"Could you?" Tess said as she got Harrison's bag out of her car and pulled the wheelchair out. "He's supposed to let his wrist heal for a few days before he switches to using crutches."
"Sure. I can help. Doc, you just hold still and do as I say," Hogan declared. Leaning down, he lifted Harrison from the car. "Come on Tess. I have a key." Smiling beautifully at her, the big man started towards the stairs, carrying Harrison in his arms as if the skinny man was a child. "This way pretty lady."
They trudged up the stairs, Hogan letting them into the apartment and carrying Harrison back to a bedroom. Following a big more slowly as she brought up the wheelchair, Tess paused to look around. She was amused to see a surfboard leaning against the wall next to the door. There was a collection of sports paraphernalia around the room. It seemed that Harrison Wells was a bit of a sports fanatic. It looked like he enjoyed playing them more than watching them though. Hogan came back from the bedroom, having deposited Harrison in his bed.
"Alika Hogan. I own the shop below," the large man said offering a massive hand. "You going to be okay here?"
"Yeah. Harrison hurt his head so I need to keep him awake for the next 24 hours," Tess explained.
"No problem beautiful lady. I'll bring you guys some food in a little bit. Thank's for taking care of Doc for us."
"Doc?" Tess asked in confusion.
"Nickname for Dr. Wells in there," Hogan said, pointing back the way he'd come. "One of his favourite movies is Back to the Future. When he's not mimicking his gram's and gramp's accents, he does a great Doc Brown impersonation."
"I'll try to remember that. Out of curiosity, what is his gram's accent and what is his gramp's accent?" Tess asked, the words feeling odd in her mouth.
"Scottish and English, I think," Hogan answered. "You'll know. He seems kind of dopey right now. That's usually when he does it. He's a fun drunk. Even if he isn't drunk very often. Fool stays up late playing with his science often enough, he might as well be drunk then." Laughing and shaking his head, Hogan then turned sideways as he left the apartment, closing the door once he was through.
Putting down Harrison's bag, Tess took a deep breath, wondering how the day and night was going to go. Their time together when her father had died had been strangely wonderful. Harrison had done his best to be a gentleman and also help her forget her pain. He'd managed to make her laugh and smile and gotten her to remember all the good things about her father. Hopefully, in the next 24 hours she could return the favour.
"Harrison?" She called his name as she started down the hallway to his room.
"I'm back here luv!" He'd switched to a British accent. It was a good thing Hogan had warned her, or else she might have taken Harrison back to the hospital. "Let's do something!" Tess entered the bedroom cautiously. It was immaculately clean. One wall was nothing but bookshelves, full of books, all on various subjects. A desk occupied the other wall, a computer sitting on it, powered down. The wall across from the bed had two more bookshelves and a TV in between the two. Harrison appeared to have turned the TV on, flicking through channels as he spoke with her.
"What would you like to do?" Tess asked, wondering if she should join him on the bed.
"Let's be geeks," he joyously declared, his accent mutating again.
"Okay. How do we do that?" Tess had no idea what her date would enjoy doing. What kind of movies did he watch?
"Classic movie marathon? Ghostbusters, Princess Bride, Back to the Future Trilogy? I also have classic Who." He grinned happily, apparently proud of his collection. Laughing, Tess sat. "I could just press play and we'll watch whatever is in there."
"Oh, mystery movie. Works for me," Tess declared. Nodding his agreement, Harrison pressed play, flopping back into the bed. The movie started and Tess was amused to see that they would be watching The Explorers. "I love this one." Smiling happily, she sprawled next to him, hoping the next 24 hours would all be like this.
Nearly two hours later, Tess smiled and stretched. Glancing over at Harrison, she was surprised and worried to see his eyes closed, mouth partially open, and hear a snore issuing from him. "Harrison!" Reaching out she shook him, intent on waking him up. He didn't respond.
"Harrison wake up." Shifting around, she sat on her knees next to him. As she tried to wake him, she heard the apartment door open and close. A woman's British voice called out.
"Harrison! Are you home? I've been trying to get a hold of you!" The voice drew closer and Tess became more frantic in her attempts to wake her date. The door to the bedroom opened and a woman entered. Looking up from her efforts, Tess tried not to look like a caught teenager.
"Harrison!" With a shout the woman spun and left the room, slamming the door shut.
"I'm up!" Harrison shouted, rapidly sitting up, his blue eyes snapping open.
"I don't need to know that!" The other woman shouted from the room.
"Chris?" Harrison called out, confusion painting his face. "What are you doing here?"
"I am not holding a conversation with you while you're… busy!" The woman responded. Tess could hear the horror in the woman's voice.
"I'm not busy! We were just watching a movie," Harrison called out.
"That's Chris?" Tess asked. "The same Chris that just moved out?" Harrison had been going on dates with her while he was living with another woman? Tess couldn't believe her luck. Angrily, she stood, getting ready to storm out. As she threw the door open, she came face to face with Chris.
"I just realized you were both fully clothed," Chris said to Tess. "Christina McGee. I used to live in the other room. Strictly platonic, I assure you," she added, offering Tess her hand. "You would be the brainy, beautiful, babe, Harrison has been crushing on for the last month."
"Hey! You were supposed to keep that secret!" Harrison shouted. Christina looked to her long-time friend, frowning when she realized he was in a cast and had his wrist immobilized.
"Good lord Harrison, what the hell happened to you?" Tess stepped back, allowing Christina to come into the bedroom.
"I fell!" Harrison declared, almost proudly. "I'll get you later." He grinned evilly, his eyes sparkling.
"So, you fell, and broke your ankle and wrist?" Christina looked to Tess to see if she was getting it right.
"We were hiking," Tess informed the other woman. "Tess Morgan."
"That's Chris," Harrison said childishly, pointing.
"Enjoying his pain meds I see," Christina said. "And I still hate it when you call me that," she added, glowering at her former flatmate.
"I know, I'll call you Chrissy instead." Grinning cheekily, Harrison started shifting around on the bed. "Time for a new movie!"
"He hit his head, got a concussion," Tess informed the other woman. "I didn't know if there was anyone we needed to call and he wasn't much help. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Christina said, waving her hand as if to wave away any indiscretions. "I'm just happy he had someone to take care of him. Sometimes he can be a bit of a baby. So, 24-hour movie marathon? Keeping him awake because of the concussion?"
"Yes," Tess said. "Hogan said he'd bring food by at some point."
"Well, I'll leave you two alone then," Christina said, starting to leave.
"Actually, Christina," Tess began, stepping to follow the other woman. "This may sound strange, but would you be willing to join us?" She'd realized she could use some help keeping Harrison awake. The fact that he'd already fallen asleep on her watch once bothered her.
"Gladly, but, do call me Tina," Tina said. "I'll go pop some corn, shall I?"
"That'd be great," Tess agreed with a nod.
"I need a body warmer!" Harrison bellowed, apparently tired of being ignored. "And a new movie!" He'd switched accents again. This one seemed to be Scottish. Tina just rolled her eyes and left the room.
"I can take care of both," Tess said. Moving to the TV she put a new movie in, and then joined Harrison on the bed. To her surprise, he wrapped an arm around her and leaned against her, using her as a pillow.
"Yeah! Back to the Future!" Harrison cheered as the movie started, knowing which movie it was before it even really started. Smiling at his goofiness, Tess just shook her head. A few minutes later, Tina returned, a bowl brimming with buttered popcorn. Harrison sat up a little bit, snagging a handful of the buttery goodness for himself.
"Thank you," Tess said to Tina.
"It seems to me you two haven't had a normal date yet," Tina observed. "First he saves your life, wonderful first meeting if you ask me."
"Then her dad died," Harrison added, throwing some popcorn into his mouth.
"I'm terribly sorry to hear about that," Tina added, glowering at a blissfully ignorant Harrison.
"Then my mother and sister decided he was gay," Tess added.
"Really? Harrison hadn't told me about that," Tina said, smiling viciously.
"Great. As if breaking my leg wasn't enough, now Chrissy has more ammo," Harrison grumbled.
"I say that's fair," Tina declared. "You've met her family, now she gets to meet the closest thing you have to family."
"You don't have any other family? What about your grandmother and grandfather?" Tess realized maybe she shouldn't have asked right after the words had left her mouth.
"They died three years ago," Harrison said.
"I'm sorry," Tess replied. "Forgive me."
"Yeah. But it will cost you a kiss." Grinning, Harrison leaned forwards and stole a kiss, though honestly Tess gave it willingly.
"Look, if you two are going to be cutesy for the next 24 hours, I'm leaving," Tina declared. "Good lord Harrison, they shaved part of your head."
"What?!" Horrified at her words, Harrison's hand flew to behind his ear. Sure enough, where he'd cut his head open during his fall, they'd shaved his head. "My hair!"
"You'll need to do something about that before your interview," Tina declared.
"You have an interview?" Tess asked.
"No," Harrison replied.
"Yes, you do. In a month. I've arranged it," Tina declared. "So, we'll do our marathon for today, then Tess and I will get you interview ready."
"I know how to do an interview," Harrison argued.
"Harrison dear, you wear ball-caps to interviews and forget to mention that you are an MD and have 5 PhD's," Tina lectured.
"Well, he already has a newsboy cap he can wear if he must wear a hat," Tess declared.
"We'll just have to train him to take it off as soon as he goes indoors," Tina added.
"Dear lord, there's two of them," Harrison grumbled. "Will you two stop planning my demise and just watch the damn movie!" Seeing them both smile, he smiled back, happy that his best friend and, dare he think it, his girlfriend, were getting along.
"It is a good movie," Tina agreed, grabbing a handful of popcorn.
"One of my favorites," Tess added. She looked to Harrison and then Tina. "So, Tina, what do you think Harrison and I should do for our next date?"
"Avoid anything strenuous," Tina recommended. "Perhaps a nice night star gazing? Though, with your luck, a comet would land on you." All three ended up laughing and Tess decided that it was going to be an enjoyable 24 hours after all.