Forgiven

[death_glare]

[ No one questioned anything when William suddenly left his office that morning. "I've been called to a meeting" was all the information he gave the rest of Dispatch. To them, it wasn't surprising, seeing as he was the head of the department. For William, however, the summoning came with zero notice. As he made his way to the upper managements' offices, all he could wonder was what issue his subordinates caused that he'd have to clean up after, this time.

It wasn't until lunch break that William returned to Dispatch. The others expected they'd get reprimanded for something, but William remained quiet, his face expressionless as he closed the door to his office. ]

Comments

[untodeath]

--Hm?

[ Grell's eyes refocus on William before shifting to the nurse. She looks genuinely baffled, veering on offended. ]

Why would I hurt you?

[ As though she doesn't realise precisely how unruly she's been. ]

You're outside the scope of my interest, to be quite honest. [ She rolls her eyes. ]

[death_glare]

Be grateful for that.

[ He addresses the nurse who finally gets to work on Grell's wounds. As she works, William takes a seat on one of the provided benches. ]

I had them deliver my suitcase to your flat. I will be staying with you until they can procure me one of my own. I doubt you have any issue.

[untodeath]

[ Such earns an amused little hum from Grell-- immediately followed by a low his, as the woman peels the bandaging away from her chest. She closes her eyes as she processes the pain, but it isn't long before she's prying an eye open to look William's way! ]

Reallyyy... No, I can say that I do. [ Finally, that gets a lopsided little smile. ] That won't be a permanent rooming situation, counselor?

[death_glare]

No, it won't be. And I will go stay with someone else if you continue to ask me.

[ He won't say it, but it's nice that she's slowly starting to act like her old self again. Surely he'll feel otherwise once she's fully back to normal, but for now it's relieving. ]

[untodeath]

[ Her cheeks get a little puffy when she pouts! ]

Hn, just when I was beginning to think you were warming up a little. [ A dramatic little sigh. ] It's fortunate that I live your icy little heart-- but I think I was starting to like it.

[death_glare]

Hence why I'll never be rid of you.

[ His eyes shift to the nurse who's about to apply rubbing alcohol to the larger of Grell's wounds. That icy heart of his just may be looking forward to the reaction it gets out of her. ]

[untodeath]

[ For the cleaning, removal, and reapplication of the stitching, she's been asked to shift to her back. Grell does little more than sigh before complying, seemingly unfazed.

However, when the alcohol actually hits the wound, her hands slam down to grip the sides of the table, knees pressing together with a groan! ]

This-- isn't as enjoyable as it should be--!

[death_glare]

Only you would expect it to be. Honestly.

[ A shake of his head. Inquiring about how long the wounds may take to heal, the nurse gives him the optimistic answer of a week max for the large one. More than he'd expected, unfortunately. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell takes her chance to breathe, while the nurse arranges what she'll need for the procedure. ]

A week?! [ Groaaaan. ] It's already bee days. Damned thing.

[ Looking over to William, she still manages some flirty eyes. ]

At least you'll be there to take care of meeeaaahhh... [ There's pulling the first stitches! ]

[death_glare]

[ One of the provided magazines on the side table is picked up and William idly flicks through the pages while Grell's stitches are redone properly. It's a very good way of ignoring her flirtatious looks and comments! ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell HUFFS at being ignores, but she's a bit too preoccupied to comment any further! It isn't until everything's all done that she can catch her breath, staring blearily up at the ceiling as the dull pain pulses through her chest. ]

I feel a bit guilty. [ She mutters, before rolling her head to the side to address the nurse, appearing a bit light-headed. ] Perhaps I should've bought you dinner first.

[death_glare]

[ While the nurse flushes a bit at Grell's comment, William frowns, shaking his head. The nurse is shooed away by him as he gets up to stand by Grell's side. ]

It's best to just ignore him.

[ A run down of follow up procedures are given to him and he makes a mental note while he helps to hoist Grell back to sitting. ]

[untodeath]

Ignore who?

[ Grell raises her arms to wrap around his neck, not unlike a child; however, she only manages to raise her arms so far before she is forced to forgo the inclination with a hiss! ]

[death_glare]

You.

[ Ah, this is going to be a long week for both of them. Actually attempting to be gentle, lest he rip her stitches again, William hooks one of Grell's arms around his neck and slowly pulls her up off the table. He thanks the nurse then exits them both from the clinic. ]

[untodeath]

[ When William moves her, she's surprisingly more tolerant of it, only showing her pain through a twinge of the brow. ]

I'm not a man, or am I someone to be ignored.

[ She grumbles as he walks them out, not bothering to thank the nurse as William does. ]

[death_glare]

[ A huff at her talking nonsense. ]

You're laying down to sleep the moment we get to your flat.

[ A moment later they're in front of Grell's door. He motions to her to dig up her key from where ever it may be stashed. ]

[untodeath]

[ A blink, before she reaches into that hammerspace of hers through her slacks pocket. ]

Must I, though? I admit, I've missed running water, and a bath sounds lovely.

[ No matter the fact that she's hindered and shouldn't get her new stitches wet! ]

[death_glare]

[ Bringing her inside, he leans her down to sit on one of seats in the living area. ]

Do that and you'll have to get your stitches re-sewn.

[ Although, she's in a right mess. Dare he say she could, and should have a wash before her meetings tomorrow. ]

It will have to be a sponge bath to avoid that.

[untodeath]

[ Grell plops right down where he sets her, leaning back into the cushions with a defiant sigh. ]

That's certainly not what I had in mind. [ But with a peer at him, she visibly relents. ] But it will have to do, I suppose - if you won't scold me for washing my hair, as well.

[ As for her flat, it isn't in the best shape, either. It appears she had begun to pick through her belongings at some point and simply never bothered to tidy up after, a glass here and there - as well as a broken one she'd just left in pieces. The kitchen unused and bare, the laundry undone, the bed slept in and never made.

To be fair, she hadn't intended to come back to it. ]

[death_glare]

[ William really hadn't expected to comeback to a pristine flat. But a bit of a mess and neglect was far better than where Grell had been staying. ]

As long as you don't get your bandages wet you're free to clean up whatever you'd like.

[ Heading to the kitchen, he puts a few dirty dishes into the sink before searching the cupboards for a large enough bowl. Then, he's off to the bathroom to run some hot water to fill it. After a few minutes he reappears before her.
]

I have things set for you. You'll have to choose your own soap, though, you have far to many bottles in there for me to know what you'd prefer.

[untodeath]

[ Grell watches him curiously, and upon realising that he was indeed making her bath - albeit a sponge bath - for her, she thinks her heart might be skipping in her chest! He's really caring for her, and being rather sweet about it.

There's a bit of a sparkle to her eye! ]

The creamy rose-scented one would be nice...

[ Feeling a bit better, now that the pain's subsided and she's had the chance to settle, she's picking herself up to go find it! She might be the most graceful, but William has seen worse of her today. ]

I never imagined you as much of a caretaker. You're-- surprisingly good at it, I think. [ A thank you of sorts, in other words. ]

[death_glare]

You aren't going to get much done in your state. It will be less of a headache for both of us if I help. As I said earlier, I'm not entirely uncaring.

[ He follows along behind her so he can see which bottle she's referring to. ]

Honestly, I came back to help you and that's what I'm doing. Otherwise I may as well have left again after I located you.

[untodeath]

[ With a frustrated little pout, she looks away! ]

That's not what I meant.

[ Once in the bathroom, she grabs at the wall to lean over at sort through sizable stash of bath products to find the one, a silky looking liquid with a rose on its bottle. ]

I appreciate it, is all.

[ With a teensy huff through her nostrils, she opens the bottle to let him smell it! ]

[death_glare]

[ He almost says 'As you should' to her thank you, but, knowing she's usually not one to do so, he can tell it's sincere. ]

You're welcome, then.

[ He leans in to smell at the bottle, raising his eyebrows slightly and nodding. ]

Quite nice. Not too overpowering.

[ Set with that, he makes his way back out of the room. ]

I will leave you to it, then.

[untodeath]

[ The redhead shifts from appearing pleased at his approval, to her shoulders slumping, as though let down! ]

You weren't going to give me my sponge bath? [ A twinge of the lips. ] Talk about leading a lady on!

[ Just like that, she got flustered and ruined the moment. What a disappointment! ]