Perfect Storm

Chapter 29 - Tell Me You Love Me

"...you owe me!!"

Kate froze in the doorway to Hank's house, keys still in the door as she watched him throw his phone down onto the table in frustration, bracing his hands on the back of a kitchen chair and breathing heavily.

The jangle of the keys drew his attention and the look of sheer rage on his face had Kate shrinking backwards involuntarily, half-wishing she had gone back to her apartment instead. It had been a week since Agent North showed up at the district and Hank was becoming more and more volatile with each passing day.

Thus far, Kate had restrained from asking him what the FBI wanted with him, choosing to wait and see if he would open up to her on his own.

'Evidently not.'

"Sorry, I should have knocked or something..."

Dropping his chin down to his chest for a few seconds, he let out a long sigh before straightening up, running a palm over his tired face.

"No, you don't ever have to knock. I'm sorry, it's..."

He tailed off, hand gesturing as he searched for the right words. Sliding her key from the lock, Kate stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind her with a soft click. Her shift had ended hours ago but she'd agreed to go for a drink at Molly's with the rest of the unit before heading home. Hank hadn't spent much time at her apartment in the last few days and, truth be told, she'd missed his company.

Dropping her keys next to his in the bowl on the side board, she discarded her purse and shoes in their usual spots before moving cautiously towards him. This was also something new for her. Kate felt like she'd become pretty good at the subtle art that was reading Hank Voight but, given his recent unpredictable behaviour, she was struggling somewhat to know when he needed to be left alone and when he needed her around him.

But the dark circles under his eyes and the defeated expression on his face were both very clear indicators that he was in desperate need of something that she was more than willing to provide.

When he was within touching distance, she ran her palm up over his bare forearm and bicep, fingertips sliding under the fabric of his sleeve to clutch his shoulder. His eyes immediately closed at the contact and he let out a ragged breath as she coaxed him towards her body, wrapping her free arm around his broad shoulders. They stood like that in total silence for a long time, his forehead nestled in the crook of her neck as she drew soothing circles on his back.

Kate turned her head slightly so that her lips brushed against his ear.

"Do you trust me?"

After a few seconds, she felt him nod against her shoulder. Taking him by the biceps, she eased him upright so that she could cup his lightly stubbled jaw in her hands, his eyes dropping closed as she brushed her lips against his in a featherlight kiss.

Interlocking their fingers, Kate tugged him towards the stairs and he followed without question or resistance. When they passed through the bedroom, she paused briefly to toss her phone onto the bed before continuing into the bathroom where she stopped and turned to face him. Letting go of his hand, she crossed her arms over her body and pulled her t-shirt off over her head, dropping it to the floor before making a start on her jeans, pushing the denim down her thighs and kicking them carelessly in the direction of her discarded shirt. Despite her nakedness, Hank's eyes never strayed from her own as she removed the final scraps of lace on her body, leaving her bare before him.

Closing the space between them, she reached out to wind her arms around his neck, lips barely touching.

"I want you to forget everything and everyone else but me."