Settling Down

9

When they got back from going to the jail, Stevie couldn't get out of his car, she just stared at her house from across the street.

"What's the matter Steph?" He asks. She had revealed that her full name was Stephanie Lynn Nicks when she made her statement. And though she had introduced herself at the venue as Stephanie Nicks, there was just something different this time and he couldn't stop himself.

"Steph?" She asks biting her lip.

"Do you not like it...I don't have to call you Steph if you don't want."

"No, I like it...but Lindsey I can't I..."

"You don't want to go into your house?" He asks.

"No I don't ."

"That's good because they crime scened it." Lindsey Points out showing the yellow Police line tape.

"So what do I do...I don't have any clothes." She cries.

"They'll let you get in for your stuff, but they're not going to let you stay there. You can stay with us, I'll sleep on the couch." Lindsey states.

"Okay." Stevie sighs.

"Come on, let's get your stuff opens the door. They had dropped Luna off at his house and gave a small run down to the girls and then they left so though he could see them staring at them from the front door, he helped her out of the car and led her to the cops that were posting guard up at her house.

"Officer Buckingham, we can give her fifteen minutes." He states.

"Perfect.' Lindsey nods placing his hand on her back and leading her into the house.

"I don't even know what to pack." Stevie sniffles sitting down on her bed.

"Well., let's start with some clothes and toiletries, and then you can fill in the blanks with the rest." Lindsey sighs.

"How long." She sniffles.

"What?"

"How long can I stay at your house?" Stevie scrubs her arms up and down.

Lindsey looks at her.

"What are you doing, work-wise right now?" He asks.

"Well. I've recorded two new songs and I'm putting together a compilation of my favorite songs." Stevie shrugs.

"Stevie, you can stay with me for as long as you like...I can move Emily down into the basement with Stella or I can move Stella up and you can stay in one of their rooms. I can sleep on the couch for a couple of weeks but then we're going to have switch things up. But don't worry about it. You can stay with me as long as you feel like you need too." Lindsey tells her.

"Thank You Lindsey." She sniffles.

"I mean what I said, when Captain Grisman hauled that man out of here. I care about you." Lindsey tells her.

She nods, and smiles standing up and wrapping her arms around him. She packs a majority of her clothing and her shampoo and conditioner. She takes her pillows and a couple of blankets, a handful of journals, and some pictures and then she nods at Lindsey and they head across the street to his house.

"Why do you have bags daddy?"

"Um, because Stevie is going to be staying with us for a while. Em go on downstairs and get my sheets off of the bed, she's going to sleeping in my room for a little while. I don't know how long she's going to stay here so we have to talk about how we're going to do sleeping arrangements but for tonight let's get her settled in my room." Lindsey explains.

"Okay daddy." Emily nods heading down the stairs.

"So um, anything here is yours. You can eat my food, drink my coffee, watch the TV you have everything at your disposal, you can use the pool if you like, I know it's a little chilly as it's February but you could if you really wanted too. Um Emily's room is up here, down this hall. There's a bathroom across the hall, but you know that. Um, Stella and I are downstairs. So is the Laundry. It's a spiral case and it's a little steep but it's a set of stairs. Um. shall we go downstairs?" Lindsey asks.

"Sure." Stevie nods.

"So this room is Stella's. She has her own bathroom in there, and this is my room. I have my own bathroom too. I'm still going to use my bathroom and I'll probably come down here every morning to get into my uniform but I'll try not to disturb you." Lindsey Points to his bed that Emily is pulling the sheets off of .

"What side do you sleep on?" Stevie asks.

"Um, well it depends really. I've pretty much been sleeping in the middle but when Carol was still alive I slept on the left side of the bed." Lindsey shrugs.

"Good Answer." Stevie smirks setting her pillows down on the floor by the right side of the bed.

Lindsey and Stevie change the sheets on the bed and Lindsey heads upstairs to let her get settled. He and the girls watch a movie and then eventually one by one they head to bed and Lindsey makes himself comfy on the couch. It's not the comfiest bed in the world, so he's in and out of sleep when he feels a hand on his shoulder. He jumps up slightly and takes in a breath when he sees Stevie wearing a red silk nightgown.

"What's the matter."

"I know Luna's down there, but I'm...and...Oh god, I can't believe I'm asking you this because I don't even know you, but I..."

"You want me to sleep with you tonight?" He asks.

"I know it's weird, we're not dating and it's going to be awkward and I know that Luna'll will protect me but I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep if you don't." She sighs.

"Okay, I'll sleep down there with you."

"Really?" She asks.

"Really." he nods.

"Thank You." She sighs.

"This couch isn't comfy anyway." He winces as he sits up and grabs his pillows.

"I'm so sorry." She chuckles lightly.

"It's okay. We can even have a pillow wall if you want." Lindsey chuckles.

Lindsey goes to the bathroom and then he crawls into bed with her and she just looks him up and down. He's shirtless, only wearing a pair of police academy sweatpants to bed and she bites her lip.

"What?" Lindsey asks seeing the look on her face.

"I don't need a pillow wall."

And before he can react, she's burrowed into his chest her light breaths hitting the crook of his neck. He just lets out a light laugh and warps his arms around her, caressing her hair and her back as she fell asleep on his chest.