The Last One She Expected (closed for lmcms)

[Armphid]

Rosenberg grimaced but nodded, "That's understandable, Miss Campton. There's no need to apologize." It didn't look like he had a partner. That was good but he still would have liked to have it confirmed for sure. "I know this is very difficult."

Anna spoke up for the first time. She's taken a seat in the chair on the other side of the bed to be more on Noreen's level. "Miss Campton, we're also trying to determine if this man had been targeting you ahead of time or if this was a random opportunity that he seized. Did you ever have any interaction with him before this?"

 

[lmcms]

She erased the board and quickly wrote another message. She knew how to answer this one.

He was a cook at the dinner
I ate there at least twice a
week I am friends with one of
the waitresses so I go when she
works and we talk while I order
and eat. We were never quite
about what we talked about
It's not like it was a secret I
was divorced.

She turned the board for Anna to read.

 

[Armphid]

Anna's eyes followed the message, "Good news," she murmured. Then louder, she said, "Thank you, Miss Campton."

Rosenberg then put his hands in his pockets, "That actually clears up what we needed to know, ma'am. We appreciate your cooperation." He looked at Tim and then at the door, "Doctor Marin tells me you should be released in two more days. We will be in town at least one more finishing up with the local authorities. They will want to talk to you as well but I've convinced them to wait until you're released to do so."

Tim wondered what that look was about. Had he started putting things together too?

Anna then stood up, "I think we should get going to that finishing up. Is there anything you need, Miss Campton? Or anything that you'd like to ask us?"

 

[lmcms]

Noreen felt a pang in her heart at the thought of Tim leaving. She smiled at all of them as best seh could even if it didn't reach her eyes. She shook her head no that she didn't have any questions and then turned her back to them closing her eyes and blocking her pain that showed in her eyes. She knew pain killers wouldn't help it was emotional pain she was feeling now not physical. She squezed her eyes shut tighter trying to keep the tears from falling.

 

[Armphid]

Anna frowned a bit as the three agents left the room. "She went down a lot there at the end. Douglas, is she really all right?"

Tim shrugged, "Yes and no. She's handling it well for the most part but she's afraid of being alone right now. And, um, she seems to feel calmed by my presence, since, ah,-"

"You got her out of there, and she knew you already," Rosenberg finished. He sighed and ran a hand through his rigid haircut, tousling it in the process. "Douglas, we'll need you for some of this but if it's for her benefit, when we're done, come back here, all right?"

Tim blinked. Was his boss giving him permission to stay here? "Sir, isn't that a little...irregular?"

"It is. But if we can contribute to her recovery this way, then irregular or not, we're going to do it." The older agent shook his head, "I'll clear it with the higher-ups if anyone complains."

Tim nodded. "I'll tell her then."

"Right, we'll be downstairs." The two others turned and walked away, Anna waiting until Rosenberg was fully turned around to give Tim a wink and a thumbs-up.

Tim watched them go and went back into Nora's hospital room and crossed over to the bed. "Nora?" Was she crying? "Nora, are you okay? I can call the nurse, if you need to. I've got to go for a few hours but I'll be back. I've got the okay to stay with you. I'll be here in a few hours and I'll stay all the night and as much as I can."

 

[lmcms]

Even with her eyes squeezed shut tears still managed to leak to out. The thought of never seeing Tim again was breaking her in ways Carl never could have. She didn't pay attention when she heard the door open again. She tensed up a bit when she heard Tim talking until the last of what he said and her eyes flew open wide staring at him in shock as the tears fell from her eyes.

She didn't say or write anything instead she just stared in shock at what he said. She didn't even pay attention to the tears falling from her eyes. He was coming back he was staying with her again. A part of her was sure it was just a dream and she was scared if she blinked he would vanish.

 

[Armphid]

Tim felt his heart cracking as she stared at him wide eyes, tears rolling down her face. God. He reached over to the box of tissues in the room and pulled one out. "Nora, it's okay."

He leaned over the railing on the bed and carefully caught her tears with the tissue; his touch light and gentle. "I'll be back. Just a few hours to do some work and take care of some things I need to do," and maybe shower, "and I'll be back. I'll stay with you tonight and all day tomorrow, until you're discharged from here, okay?"

Tim wished he knew why she was so sad now. What was it that had hurt her this much? "And even when you're better, I won't just disappear. Before, I didn't know that you, or that anyone here, wanted to know anything about me. I left it all behind because I didn't know anyone cared. But I know you do, so I won't just go away. I'll call, I'll write...I'll visit, if you want to see me that way, and...and I don't know what to say from there. But things will be different."

 

[lmcms]

Finally Noreen came back to herself and helped him mop up her tears as she quickly grabbed the board and marker.

I was so scared you were going to
leave me again Tim. Promise you'll
be back. Please even only for the
dinner and ride I owe you. I can't
bare the thought that the last time
you see me I'll be broken and
battered.

She wrote the message with qiuck haste and shoved it at him needing his promise that she would see him again. That he wouldn't just poof like a dream come true.

 

[Armphid]

The writing was jagged and wild, unlike her clean and distinct penmanship before. It tore at his heart and he felt a great rush of sympathy and affection for his old friend and crush.

Tim, took the board out of her hands and set it in her lap before taking her hands in his. "I'll come back. I promise. Hopefully more than once for the ride and the dinner. I really want to get to know you and your life now and...well, the rest should probably remain unsiad until we're both a little less emotionally volatile."

That he wanted to know more about her in other ways too. That he wanted her.

"I'll come back tonight, and I'll stay with you until you're out of here, and after that I'll come back too. You won't lose touch with me and I'll return to see you healthy and happy, okay? But you know, you're not broken. You're too strong for that."

 

[lmcms]

She grasped the hands he held and looked p at him with longing for a few moments. She nodded pulling herself together emotionally so he could get to his job done. Noreen lifted their joined hands placing soft feather light kissed on the back of each of his. She gave him a small smile before releasing his hands and patting his arm so he would know she was okay for now and he should go.

After he had left she paged the nurse and after they came to see what she wanted she was given a sponge bath to freshen her up followed by pain meds that had her taking a long nap that was well needed for both physical and emotional healing.

 

[Armphid]

The worst part was the paperwork. There was so much to fill out and file. The forms to explain why they'd entered the house without a warrant, both to the local, state, and federal authorities, as well as the separate forms for all three levels to account for each of the shots he'd fired. They were long, specific, and at the moment, vastly annoying.

Tim found himself a bit surprised at that, actually. He normally went through paperwork with a resigned indifference but now he was feeling insulted by it. As if it was questioning his integrity and keeping him from more important things.

From Nora. He wouldn't really be able to do anything there. She'd be asleep, or she should be. But he wanted to be there with her. Much more than in a borrowed room in the police station filling out forms one after another.

The door to the room opened and Anna came in, bearing a stapled form. "Co-op and document sharing agreement is all done." She set it down on the table.

"Great. I'm not sure how much longer this is going to take," Tim said with frustration evident in his voice. "I've fired my weapon before but I didn't remember the forms being this bad."

"Well, it's a little different when you just fire as to when you fire and neutralize a suspect," Anna said with a shrug. Then she grinned and pulled a chair up to the desk. "Sooo, while you're taking care of that, why don't I help take your mind off of the mundane bureaucratic crap?"

"How do you plan to do that?" Tim didn't even glance at her, his pen still moving over the paper in front of him.

"By asking about what's going on with you and Noreen Campton." Anna's grin grew as Tim looked up at her with a stunned look. "You knew her before, you said. In high school or something, right? So...old girlfriend? First crush?"

"Anna, come on." Tim shook his head.

"Tim. Seriously. I can tell something's going on between you two." Anna tilted her head to one side, "It's almost visible in your interactions; you care about her a lot and she's into you way more than just a "my hero" crush." Tim looked down at the papers and started writing again. She smirked and leaned down so that she could make their gazes meet. "Come on, Tim. I've told you about my relationships."

"Often in more detail than necessary," he muttered with blushing cheeks.

"It's fun," she said dismissively. "But we're friends, Tim. This is something friends do. You're into this woman; I want to know about her to make sure she's okay. It's something girls do for their guy friends."

Tim sighed, still writing. "You aren't going to let this go, are you?"

"No, nooo, no, no."

He sighed again. "All right. I'll tell you a little about how I know her, all right? IF you fill out these," he pushed a few sheets of paper towards her.

"Deal." The blond produced a pen of her own and pulled the documents over. "So. Start talking."

"Well, we first met when we were both freshmen; that's when the classes of the local schools all were joined to go to the high school...."

~~~~~~~~~​

It was nearly evening by the time he made it back to the hospital. The sun was setting outside, painting the sky in vivid colors. He and Anna had gotten a lot of work down; his friend prodding him for more information the whole time.

He didn't understand why she was so concerned. But she meant well.

Tim knocked before entering Nora's hospital room, a small travel case dangling from one hand and the other holding a styrofoam cup. "Hey, I'm back." He spoke softly and the room was dark, so he wasn't sure if she was even awake. "Um, I brought you a milkshake. Chocolate. Maybe a change from what they're letting you have here."

 

[lmcms]

Noreen had woken a few moments before hand when the nurse had brought in another liquid meal she didn't think she could stomach. She had been disappointed to see Tim wasn't back yet and felt a stab of fear that he was gone for good but she pushed it away and trusted him he promised he would be back.

Her mind drifted back to all those years ago when she and Tim had been friends. She had fallen in love with him during their sophmore year though she couldn't remember when it had happened exactly. She had been so scared of telling him how she felt and having him reject her she had kept her silence for years. She knew he was going off to college soon when she had decided to take the chance but by the time she had gotten up the nerve to tell him he was gone, without a single word. Her heart had been crushed.

The sound of his voice brought her back to the present and she smiled over at him in the darkened room. When he set the milkshake in front of her she quickly took a sip and moaned in pleasure. She took another long sip before grabbing the board and marker and pushing on the button to turn on a dim light.

I love you.
OMG this is so good.

 

[Armphid]

She was so adorable with that message! He wanted to hug her but that was a risky proposition with all of her injuries still on the mend. It wouldn't make any o them worse but it would probably hurt like hell.

Tim just grinned and set his bag down under the chair by the bed. He didn't sit though, he'd been doing plenty of that already today. He stood by the bedside and shrugged, "I guessed you'd want something a little different than this," he lifted up the liquid meal that had been left for her and gave it a shake before setting it down. "You really should at least have some of it. The milkshake tastes better but this has stuff you need in it."

"I won't push it though." She looked better, he thought. Or maybe it was just his own enjoyment at seeing her that made him feel that way. "You look better. Were you able to sleep?"

 

[lmcms]

She smiled at him and wrinkled her nose at the liquid meal but knew he was right. She decided the milkshake would be a good way to wash it down.

I'll drink some of it put trully
thank you for the dessert.
And yeah I slept most of the
time you were gone til they
brought in this king fest for
my meal a few moments ago.
I'm glad your back.

She turned the message toward him and began drinking some of the liquid meal as fast as she could so she wouldn't have to taste it.

 

[Armphid]

"So am I." Tim grinned as she tried to guzzle down as much of the nutrient slurry brought to her as possible without tasting it. "Between doing paperwork and glad handling the local cops and DA people and watching you sleep or suck on a straw, I'd much prefer the latter."

He walked about the room, stretching his arms out. "Not to alarm you, but Anna, Agent Marshall, has figured out there's something going on between us." Tim turned back to the bed, "Not that I'm assuming that there is or that I expect anything, but...um, she's pretty perceptive. I told her about how we knew each other in school and that you're my first crush and, well, first more than that."

Tim came over to the bed. "I hope that's all right. She'll keep it to herself, she's a good friend, but she's also really good at getting things out of people."

 

[lmcms]

Norren watched him walk around and listened to him talk before pushing away the nasty dinner they had brought her and jerk the milk shake gulping down a few swallows to rinse down the nasty taste.She moved the board to write again as she took one more sip of the milk shake to actually enjoy it.

I just don't want you to get
in any trouble I would feel
terrible it you did. As for
assuming there is something
between us that is something
we will have to take the time
to see and not while I am
battered in a hostpital bed. I
hope you are willing to see
where this might go. If not I
understand that too.

She blushed and handed the board toward him and went back to drinking her milkshake and blushing crimson as she waited for him to read it.

 

[Armphid]

Tim read the message and looked back at her with a grin. "I don't remember you being this blushy before. It's really cute." He looked down at the message again and took a moment to compose his thoughts. "Don't worry about me getting into trouble. Agent Rosenberg cleared my staying here; he feels it'll help you deal with all this and he wants to help if we can. Anna knows more about our connection but she won't tell anyone."

He made sure he was looking into her eyes before he spoke again. "I, uh, I do want to see where this goes. I never thought I'd even see you again, much less find out what I have. I missed something special before, because I didn't know how you felt then. I feel like...this is a second chance. I want to take it."

Tim felt himself blushing as well and leaned back in the chair, looking a bit shame faced. "But yes, of course, we'll see what happens once you're healed and well, and...well. But I want to follow it too and see what can be."

 

[lmcms]

Noreen smiled at him feeling like less of a fool and took the board from him with a small laugh.

You're cute when you blush
I always thought so.

She smiled and showed him the board thinking back to when they were in high school and how she would constantly think up diffrent things to try to make him blush. Even though she wasn't trying it made her feel good to know that she could still make him blush.

 

[Armphid]

Tim blinked and then grinned, "So you did do it on purpose!" Back then, he'd thought it was just accident or chance but she was always doing or saying things that would make him blush and get stammery around her. A little slip that would show a bit of thigh or an off color comment or joke.

He was smiling, "You've still got it, at least we know that. Imagine what would happen to me if you were really trying! I might faint."

Well, not really. But if she some of those things now, he's still blush, but his body would also probably react in other ways. He was, well, it had been a very long time, that was all.

God, now that he thought about it, it had been years. How depressing.

"But I can at least return the favor now," he went on. "Before, I'd have just sputtered something out and tried to slink away. I'm not so easy to run off now."

 

[lmcms]

She couldn't help it she laughed softly and shrugged. When she finished laughing she reached for his hand and began pulling trying to coax him on the bed beside her. She knew it was inappropriate and the time was far from right but there was one thing she had waited years for and she wasn't going to wait anymore. That was if she could get him closer.

 

[Armphid]

Tim let her pull him up out of the seat; the young FBI agent not sure what she was trying to do at first. She tugged at him and pulled him into the side of the bed, looking up at him with pleading, insistent eyes. "Nora, I don't know what you-" and then he did, "oh. Oh."

He blushed again, deep red. She wanted him in the bed with her. It wasn't really being in bed with her, after all, so he shouldn't blush or feel...but it was still lying next to her. Even touching, perhaps.

And he knew he shouldn't. What Rosenberg had cleared was nothing like that. It envisioned him staying to talk and sleeping in the chair, if not in a lounge somewhere else in the hospital.

"Okay." He shouldn't say that. He shouldn't do this. "Just, um, let me get this light." At least no one could look in and see them that way. He turned it off and plunged the room into darkness, slowly feeling his way around to the other side of the bed. Finding it, he took a moment to slip his shoes off and then sat down on the bed beside her. He turned to orient on her in the darkness. "Better?"

 

[lmcms]

He had turned off the light so she had to go by feel. Her hand went over his chest making her way to his head. She was nervous and was now glad it was dark so he wouldn't see her blush or how scared she was of what she was about to do.

She pulled his head to her and whispered his name against his lips before lightly pressing a very chaste kiss against them. She wanted to deepen the kiss but knew her split lip wouldn't allow it but still even from the light innocent kiss she felt heat spread through her body.

 

[Armphid]

He was able to stop himself from making a happy sound as her hands found him and touched his chest before seeking higher. God, that felt good. Her hand then tangled in his hair and pulled him down to, oh.

The kiss was brief and chaste; a light, soft touch of their lips, but all the same it felt fantastic. It lasted only a moment and he wanted to feel her lips again, to kiss her deeper, but he couldn't. He couldn't.

Her lip could reopen and it was just really starting to heal. Even if it didn't, it would hurt more than it would feel good. Tim wasn't about to do that to her. It had still sent an electric thrill of arousal through him, just that one light little kiss. "Nora...that was very nice," he murmured.

He leaned down to kiss not her lips, but her forehead and then the tip of her nose ever so lightly. "If that's any indication, when you're better, you'll kiss my socks right off."

 

[lmcms]

She gave a small musical laugh and snuggled against him. She soft sweet kisses made her feel cherished. Noreen waited him to hold her forever but she knew she was being unrealalistic but she was happy for right now. She had finally had her first kiss with Timmy Douglas and she felt as if she was on cloud nine.

The nurse whom had brought her dinner earlier had encouraged her to try to talk a bit even though it was still painful. "Thank you. You're ......... pretty amazing ..... yourself." She whispered hoarsely.

 

[Armphid]

That laugh made his heart sing and he couldn't help but respond in kind. Then came the press of that soft body to his. "Nora, oh, that's..." He shut his mouth, shaking his head. Her nearness, her warmth, the feel of her body, it was all so wonderful.

Tim smiled at those hoarse, rough words. Not that he really felt that amazing. "I like your voice, even like this. Are you supposed to talk though? I don't want you to hurt more because of me."