Just saw the prompts meme and in case you are looking for people to send you numbers: Bodyguard: 13, 23, 37. X
sorry these took so long! xxx
13. “It’s One in the morning.”
When Julia wakes up, the space beside her in the bed is conspicuously empty.
She sighed and smoothed her hand over the space David had vacated some time after they had gone to sleep next to each other.
This wasn’t the first time it had happened since they had moved in together and she knew it wouldn’t be the last. He still attended therapy and it helped - But he still had a way to go.
She turned the bedside lamp on, then got up and turned the bedroom light on. Through the open doorway she could see the rest of the flat remained dark.
“David?” She called. “It’s me.”
She didn’t always know what to do on the really bad nights - Her brisk default rearing it’s head when nervous - But she didn’t want to wake him suddenly or for him not to know who was there. She knew David still felt guilty over that night in the hotel room. The fact he knew what her throat felt like crushed in his hands made him sick, even though she’d forgiven him. So if he was sleeping she’d leave him, unless he was having a nightmare.
“I’m here.”
He waved weakly from the sofa, his face illuminated by his phone screen.
Turning the light on - She spared a thought for her growing electricity bill - She shot him a wry look.
“It’s one in the morning.” She moved to stand in front of him. “Are you ok?”
He didn’t miss her meaning and his head shot up, their eyes locking. “Yes.” His voice was sure and controlled and she knew he was telling her the truth.
She visibly relaxed and he pretended not to notice and not to feel bad about it.
He held his phone up and she saw the picture of Charlie and Ella on his phone. “What with Vick taking them camping with whats-his-face…” He shrugged. “Sorry if I woke you.”
Julia shook her head. “Don’t apologize. You miss your family.”
“I miss my kids.” He gently corrected her, always knowing she picked her words carefully. He knew she felt insecure about Vicky sometimes.
“Come back to bed when…Well, you know.” She couldn’t help but shiver.
He frowned in concern. “You’re cold.”
He stood up and quickly stepped towards her, running his hands up her bare arms. Then he pressed against her, his arms moving round her back to hold her close to him. “You’re part of my family Julia. You know that don’t you? Just because I’m sometimes out here doesn’t mean I’m not here, with you.”
She pulled away from him. “Just…come back to me. Preferably sometime before three, I have a press conference in the morning.”
He grinned at her and nodded.
Before she got to the bedroom she stopped and sighed. “Sorry. It’s late. You’re very sweet sometimes. I just wanted to make sure you were Ok.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
23. “I’m pregnant…”
“You’ve been in a mood all day. Are you going to tell me about it? Apparently that sort of thing helps, at least that’s what my therapist says. Not sure I believe her though.”
Julia pushes past him where he’s still in the doorway.
“Oi, I don’t mind you being a cow, I’d just rather know why.”
David follows her into the flat. She’d flung her coat and bag down and disappeared into the bathroom without a word.
“Right.” David muttered, pulling at his tie. “Well this is just great!” He shouted at the closed door.
After a few minutes Julia hadn’t come out of the bathroom. It wasn’t where she usually went to sulk, and he started to worry. He knew something was wrong. His instincts kicked in immediately - The combination of training and nearly losing her causing his heart to speed up even as he moved seamlessly into protective mode.
He pressed his ear to the door heard nothing. He tried the handle but the door was locked.
“Julia?” He called. “Are you alright? Can you open the door love, just let me know you’re ok.”
He listened again and heard her throwing up. His heart sank - There was a chance this wasn’t just a one off, that someone had done something to her because of her work. He might not be her PPO anymore, but he’d damn well still protect her.
“Ok, Julia, I’m going to need you to move away from the door. I’m going to break it down.”
He rolled his shoulders and let out a deep breath.
“Ok. I’m gonna do it now!”
“No!” He heard Julia cry suddenly. “Don’t! Don’t kick the bloody…Just, give me a minute. Just one minute, is that allowed? Is that-” She was cut off from her growing rant by another bout of vomiting.
“Shall I get the doctor?”
He heard her let out ragged breath before the click of the lock went and the door swung open.
Julia was sat on the bathroom floor. Even sick and with her hair messed up she still managed to look intimidating when angry.
“Get in here James Bond, before you wreck the place. You don’t have to be quite so macho all the time darling.”
She held her hand out and he took it in both of his, kneeling in front of her.
“Sorry. Is this why you’ve been quiet today? I shouldn’t have shouted, I didn’t see that you were sick.”
“You were right. I’ve been terrible today. But I’m not sick.”
He glanced at their surroundings. “You sure about that?”
“I’m being serious. I’m not ill.”
“I think-”
“I’m pregnant!”
A dead silence fell over them.
“David. I’m pregnant.”
She closed her eyes against what she was sure was coming - Chaos.
David lifts her hand to his mouth. She feels his smile against her fingers.
She opened her eyes.
“What does that face mean?” She asked breathlessly.
“It means I’m happy.”
And then he really smiled. One of those face aching smiles.
“I’m terrified” She whispered. “And I’m happy.”
He kissed her hard. And she let herself smile.
37. “Just stop talking.”
David is doing the washing up angrily to make a point. Normally he would never be so passive agressive and he knew full well they employed people to clean for them. But he was trying to keep control of himself. Julia found it even more exhausting than a full out row.
“You’re overreacting.” She sighed from the sofa.
“If I was overreacting love you’d bloody well know about it. If I was overreacting we would be somewhere a lot safer than a flat with one exit a lot of windows. If I was-”
“Alright! Jesus, I get it, please just stop talking.” Julia snapped.
David stops and leans wearily on the counter.
She got up and wandered slowly over to him. The truth was, when an angry bystander had managed to get past the cordon and right into her face that day, she had been scared. Really scared. But like her boyfriend she was getting good at hiding it.
She touched him gently on the shoulder and he seemed to melt into the contact.
“Sorry. But…” He shook his head and looked up at her. “I lost you once. I can’t do that again, I just can’t.”
He stood up and she stood up on her tiptoes to press their foreheads together.
I have been contemplating whether to start watching Line of Duty or A2A first and you made me decide on A2A. My Keeley Hawes obsession really is being nutured by your wonderful posts.
i am so happy to put keeley on your dash, she’s criminally underrated!
and ah, i have to admit whilst she’s amazing in both i think i would choose a2a as well. she gets to be funny and loud and it really works for her. also keels in those 80′s outfits? stunning
