The second day of 'playing musical chairs with houses' ended at Jay's now empty apartment. As it had turned out, Erin had spent the previous day packing and hadn't had time to get to cleaning the place. On day two, Kalinda had offered to clean it while Hank helped Jay and Erin move their things into their new apartment.

"Hey. We're all done," Hank reported when Kalinda let him, Jay and Erin into the apartment. He could tell immediately that she had been working hard. Her brow glistened with sweat, and the light blue rubber gloves and apron she was wearing were dirty. The apartment smelled strongly of cleaning products.

"Good to hear. I think I'm about done here too," Kalinda said, peeling off the gloves and dumping them on a nearby kitchen work surface, followed by the apron.

"Holy shit. Is this the same place?" Jay asked, looking around almost in awe.

"You've done an amazing job," Erin agreed.

"Had to make sure you get your security deposit back. We all know what kind of tossers landlords can be."

Jay stepped forward before Hank had a chance to say anything. He gave Kalinda a hug and a peck on the cheek. "Thank you, KR. You really are the best. Appreciate everything you've done for us."

"You're most welcome," she replied, returning the embrace.

Usually not much of a hugger, Erin stepped forward next and offered one. Hank watched and listened carefully as they embraced each other and Erin expressed her gratitude. He picked up on the dynamic. There was an air of a mother and her kids about it, which made it easy to understand why Kalinda was doing so much to help. The motherly role was something she deeply craved. To an extent, she was maybe starting to get it.

Jay and Erin moved off to inspect Kalinda's handiwork in the rest of the apartment and to make sure for a final time that none of their belongings had been forgotten. It left Hank to have a private moment with her. He began by giving her a kiss.

"Like Jay said, you're the best. You've busted your ass for them today."

"Yes I have. Look at my hands." She showed him her hands, palms up. Her fingers looked sore from the punishment they had taken. He went to hold her hands, but she pulled them away. "Don't. They're sweaty and they smell. I've had those bloody gloves on all day. Even so, my fingers took a hammering. My knees and my back have seen better days too. The team will think I've had a kicking when I turn up for work tomorrow."

"I'll run you a tub when we get home," he promised. "Soak for an hour or two and that will ease the aches and pains. I'm glad Erin and Jay appreciated your hard work."

Kalinda gave him a tired smile. "So am I. Being a part of their lives is important to me."

"I know," he said simply before kissing her softly on the lips. The way he said it and the way he delivered the kiss showed her that he really did know, but he chose not to say anything more. She could continue getting closer to Erin and Jay at her own pace, with his unspoken but unquestioned blessing.

"Looks like we're all set to get out of here for good," Jay announced as he and Erin returned from their walk around. "You're welcome to come to our place for a drink."

"Thank you, but Hank just offered to drive me home and run me a bath," Kalinda said. "That's an offer that's simply too good to refuse at the moment."

Her use of 'at the moment' as opposed to 'right now' caused that feeling he often got when her posh-sounding accent worked its magic on him.

"How about dinner one night in the week then?" Erin suggested. "Our place. I'll cook."

Hank didn't need to seek Kalinda's opinion on that. "You're on. We'll figure out which night works between the four of us. Right now, let's go home. We've all had a hell of a couple of days."

"Yes," Erin said, "and I've just realised that we both came in here and thanked Kalinda, rightfully so, but we didn't thank you. You've spent two days fetching, carrying and driving for us. We really appreciate it." She hugged him.

"That's right. Thank you, Hank. Thanks a lot," Jay added.

"You're welcome," he said, thinking that he had gotten his own reward out of the process in the fact that Kalinda now lived with him. Nonetheless, it was a nice family moment upon which to part ways for the night.

Back at the house, Hank made, running the bath, as she called it, for Kalinda his first priority. She deserved it after the hard day's work she had put in at Jay's former apartment. He made sure the water was hot almost to the point of discomfort and added plenty of bath salts. The combination would be ideal for soothing aching muscles.

With the tub ready, Hank went to let Kalinda know. He found her sitting on their bed wearing only her underwear. Her hair was down for once. It was a delightful sight, but he didn't have the energy to do much about it.

"The tub's ready," he said, standing in the doorway.

"Thanks, passion fruit," she said, giving him a tired smile along with the humorous nickname. "Why don't you join me?"

"Don't think we'll both fit in there comfortably."

"We've not tried."

That was true, he had to admit. There was no point fighting something she clearly wanted. "Okay, I'll join you. But if I dislocate my hip it's up to you to wait on me hand and foot for months while I recover."

She chuckled, getting up off the bed. "Wouldn't mind that at all."

"Neither would I. Apart from the busted hip part obviously."

Kalinda playfully shoved him towards the bathroom, enjoying his joke cracking as ever. "Enough. Into that bathroom, mister."

"Alright, alright, I'm going."

They were soon both undressed. Kalinda tested the water with a toe. "Nice and hot to soothe this broken down old body."

Hank had to laugh at that because of how ridiculous it was. The body he was looking at was the exact opposite of how she had described it. "I don't know what you see in the mirror, but I don't see a broken down old body. I see a fit and healthy body in amazing shape."

"For a fifty year old," she added.

"You said that. I didn't. Do you want me to get in first?"

"Okay. I'll try sitting in front of you."

Hank got into the tub and sat down, grimacing at the initial heat of the water. His body got used to it within seconds. He sat with his legs apart, leaving room for Kalinda. She got in and carefully lowered herself to sit in front of him.

"Mmmm," she moaned in satisfaction as the warmth hit her.

He put his hands on her shoulders, finding them tense. He started to massage them for her.

"Ah, that's nice," she said quietly.

"Sshhh, just relax. Enjoy."

Hank spent several minutes working on her shoulders. He was by no means a masseuse, but he didn't think he had done too badly.

"That was really nice, Hank." She leaned back against him and he put his arms around her. "You know, although today was hard work, it was worth it."

"You wanted to do it for Erin and Jay. I understand completely."

"In a way, you might think this is stupid, but..."

"No need to explain. I really do understand." He was telling her that he knew she was doing her best to be some kind of motherly figure to them, Erin in particular.

"You don't mind? Or think I'm stupid?"

"Of course not. I think you're a wonderful person with a lot of love to give. The only thing I would say is manage your expectations. I think achieving something of a motherly bond with Erin might be possible in time. She's started calling me dad recently, which is new for us. Just know that she's probably not going to consider you a step-mom as such."

"I know, Hank. The words aren't what I need. It's the way... You know how they both reacted when they came to that apartment earlier and saw how clean it was, and how they thanked me? It meant so much to me. I could have cried."

"I love you," he said, kissing the side of her neck. "Erin and Jay are as lucky to have you in their lives as I am. They're starting to see that for themselves."

"Well I'm lucky too. You, Erin, Jay, three very special people. All of this is something I never thought I'd have."

He kissed her neck again. After a moment, he changed the subject. "So, we said we'd take a vacation when the moving was done. Want to start looking into it?"

"Oh yes," she said, relishing the idea of getting away for a week. "But not tonight. Tonight I only want to sit here with you."

He kissed her neck one more time. "That's just fine with me."

A/N: There are the first signs of Erin and Jay bonding with Kalinda in the way she wants so badly. How strong do you think that bond could become?