Just the Way you Are

Cradling Someone in their Arms

Note: This takes place back in Season 9. (well, a slightly altered Season 9) (from my BTH Bingo collection)

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It had been a month since Granger had returned after hearing what Hetty had gone through in Vietnam. He went to see Nate for advice.

'How's it been taking care of her?' Nate asked.

'Difficult. Some days are better then others.' Granger responded.

'Must be difficult to see your former partner like that.'

'It is. The nightmares are the worst.'

'Do you have ways of calming her down?' Nate asked.

'Well, I hold her in my arms, say soothing things to her until she calms down.'

'That's very sweet.'

'Well, it's more effective then just holding her hands.' Granger replied.

'How hard is it really, to see someone you've known for most of your life, who has always been so strong, show a very vulnerable side of her?'

'Harder then I thought. Every time I hear her cry in her sleep, I feel something hurt inside of me. Every time I see her so unhappy even when she's trying to fight it, I just want to hug her and tell her everything will be okay. And, I've been feeling guilty about leaving her last year, because I've been thinking that if I stayed, I could've prevented what happened to her from happening. Does that mean something?' Granger asked.

'I'm not an expert on this, but. All of this sounds like you really care about her, maybe even love her.'

'I do love her. Up until last year, we were unofficially dating. And before I left, I told her I loved her, and she said she loved me as well.'

'And you left soon after that?'

'I didn't want her to watch me slowly die. That kind of thing does something to a person. But as you know now, I recovered.'

'And you came back after hearing what had happened to her to take acre of her?' Nate asked.

'Yes.'

'Are you hoping it evolves into something more?'

'I guess. But, odds of that happening right now are, practically zero. She's depressed, trying to recover from a terrible ordeal, in pain. I doubt she'll be in much of a dating mood anytime soon.' Granger said.

'Here's my advice: Be patient with her. Let her know you'll be there for her every step of the way.' Nate replied.

That night at home

Granger saw that Hetty was still awake.

'Trouble sleeping?' He asked.

'More like, don't want to sleep because I'll probably just have another nightmare.' Hetty replied, gloomily.

'Well, I'm here if you need me.'

'Mmm.'

'Just out of curiosity, what do you feel when, you're in my arms when I'm trying to calm you down?' Granger asked.

Silence.

'Safe, protected, loved.' Hetty responded, awkwardly.

'Kind of reminds you of when we were dating, huh?'

'In a way. Sigh. I don't know if or when I'll ever be ready to date again, if you're even still here when I decide to go back to work. But, I'm glad you're here right now.'

Holding her hand. 'And I'll still be here when you're ready to go back to work. I'm not leaving. And I'll prove it right now. Let me give you a hug right now.'

They hugged.

'Mmm. You sure about this?' Hetty asked.

'I'm sure. And, you like this?'

'Yeah. It's nice to feel the comfort of someone's arms, especially when you're trying to recover from a terrible ordeal.'