Cases // h.s

six

I rush to my work-desk where I have a list of all the numbers of the people from the office. Whom should I call? My finger trails over the names and I stop at Harry. Without overthinking it, I dial his number.
The adrenaline is pumping through my body as I wait for him to pick up. He probably went to bed it's 4:30 in the morning for God's sake. To be honest I haven't been this scared before.
"Hello?"
My hearts jumps when his voice sounds through the line.
"Harry, someone was in my apartment," I rush the words as I bite my nails nervously.
"What?"
"Someone was in my apartment. They ruined everything and all my work-papers are scattered everywhere and.. Oh my god, my grandmother's vase," I almost start crying when I realize what has actually happened; someone was in my apartment, strangers who I do not know.
"Pull yourself together, Alexandra. I'll be there in five minutes. Lock the door meanwhile. Stay on the line,"
Even though his words might sound rough, especially coming from him, it was exactly what I needed. My apartment is not going to clean itself up from me standing here crying.
"Okay,"
I rush to the door and lock it, still trying desperately not to let the tears fall.

A few minutes later I hear someone rush up the stairs.
"It's me," he says through the phone and I open as we both hang up. He looks at me and it seems he's trying to read my face. I really want to hug him actually. I trained for situations like this, why do I feel so powerless all of a sudden? I look down and sniff and then I feel his arms surround me, pulling me into his chest. He's warm and I only feel like crying even more from his warm embrace. I lean into him squeezing my eyes closed for a second before I pull away.
"Thank you for coming Harry,"
He smiles softly at me, his large hands still resting lightly on my shoulders.
"Hey," he says softly. "That's what partners do,"
I smile slightly and look to the floor, tears still evident in my eyes.
"Let's take a look around, see if anything is missing and then clean this mess up, yeah?"
I sniff, softly nodding as we make our way through the livingroom. I don't feel like this is my apartment. The atmosphere of this whole scenario just doesn't belong here, and I pretend that this is just another crime scene at another person's apartment.
"Nothing is missing," I conclude to which he nods.

An hour later, everything is as it was when I left and I let out a sigh of relief.
"Who do you think would do this?"
My paranoia is slowly taking over and every little sound startles me.
"To be honest, I have no idea. My first assumption would be that you've just been unlucky and have had a break-in, but nothing's missing," he says the last part as if he's talking to himself.
"It's like someone came here to look for something. When was the last time you were completely naked?"
I gape at him, a little shocked by his inappropriate question.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Someone might have put a tracker on you, that's why,"
I think for a moment, squinting my eyes as I look to the ceiling.
"Oh my god," I exclaim as realization sets in. "Do you remember when we lead Nick to the interrogationroom?"
"Mmhmm," he hums and I think back to the episode.

I grab his arm as I get him out from the backseat of the car. He struggles for a second, but calms down when Harry looks at him. We walk down the corridors making our way to the interrogationroom. I yelp when something touches my behind and I hear Harry growl something at Nick. He only snickers, sending me a weird smile.

"The bastard put a tracker on me. And I just thought he was just being a pervert," I say as anger replaces paranoia.
"But he's been in custody. That means he must have someone working for him or something. Do you think it's safe for me to stay here?" I ask already knowing the answer.
"No," Harry answers simply walking closer to me. "I have a guestroom at my place," I nod and decide against rejecting his offer this time; I really want to get out of here.
"Go pack a bag and make sure to change all of your clothes. Your shoes too," I nod and go to my bedroom to change. As I slip off my panties, I hear something small fall to the floor. I pick them up and sure enough; a tiny device is fastened at the upper sewing. He actually had his hand all the way down my pants. I feel like throwing up, but decide against it for the time being. Instead, I put on some new clothes and quickly pull out a bag. I throw some pieces of clothes in there along with my toiletry and a picture of my brother and I.
"Hurry, Alexandra," I hear from outside the door just as I'm about to leave the room.
I lock the door to my apartment and we drive back to Harry's place.

He opens the door and lets me inside first. I shiver a bit; Harry's place is not exactly warm. He seems to notice because he turns up the thermostat and observes me again for a bit. None of us talk before I break the silence.
"Where can I put my bag?"
I'm not sure why but I flush a bit and look to the floor. He takes the bag from my hand without saying anything and cocks his head, signaling for me to follow. We walk through the livingroom and into a small hall with just one door on each side. We go into the one on the right and he places my bag on my bed.
"This is your room, the one across the hall is mine,"
"Thank you Harry, this is very kind of you,"
He nods, smiling slightly at me before he leaves the room closing the door behind him. I fall backwards and hit the soft mattress. Within minutes, I'm asleep.

I wake up, confusedly sitting up. Where the hell am I? Everything that happened yesterday suddenly comes crashing back like a ton of bricks; the party, my apartment and Harry coming to my rescue. I'm wearing the same clothes as when I got here and I quickly change into something a bit more comfortable. I check the time; 2pm.

Barefooted I quietly make my way into the livingroom. My intention was to get to the kitchen, but a picture catches my attention. It's a small picture standing on a small table in the corner of the room. I step closer and pick it up, examining the frame before looking at the actual picture. It's four people; in the middle sits a teenageboy and I immediately recognize him. It's Harry and his arms are slung over two females on each side of him. One seems to be a little older than he is and the other is probably his mother. In the background stands another person, but he's not smiling nearly as much as the other three are. He's just kind of there, let out of the other's loving embrace.
"What are you doing?"
I almost drop the picture as a voice from behind startles me. Harry is standing behind me with two steaming mugs in his hands and I quickly put down the picture.
"It's a lovely picture," I comment, not really sure how he feels about me sneaking around.
"Yes, it is," he agrees but doesn't smile and I feel a bit uneasy. He stares atthe steaming mugs for a second before he turns around and goes back into the kitchen. I follow him and he has put the mugs on the table and is pacing backand forth.
"Is something wrong?" I ask softly and walk closer, desperately trying to read the expression on his face. He stop spacing and seems to collect himself for a second.
"No. Do you want the tea or what?"
His tone is harsh as he looks at me and I'm left confused as he grabs his own mug and storms out of the kitchen. I hear a door shut and assume he went to his bedroom. What is up with him?

I sit in the kitchen alone for half an hour, thinking about everything that has happened in the past 6 days. I had never imagined my job at CSI to be so eventful, at least not at first. My tea is cold since I forgot it and left it behind on the counter. I decide to make a brave move and seconds later I'm knocking on Harry's door. I hear him grumble something and assume that it'sokay for me to come in. He's sitting at his desk, the pen in his hand moving vigorously across the blank paper.
"Harry?"
"Mmhm?" he answers, bitterness laced in his voice.
"Whatever you're angry about, could you please tell me? I really need someone to make me a new cup of tea," I attempt at a joke and it seems to work because I can see that the pen stops moving and his shoulders relax slightly.
"Sorry, but something triggers me when people snoop around," his words start out softly but becomes more harsh throughout the sentence.
"I'm sorry,"
I walk over to him and do something I never thought I would, ever. I run my hand through his hair, the soft curls tickling my palm. He looks up at me in surprise and I immediately withdraw my hand, embarrassed by my bolt move.
"I'm sorry," I mutter for the second time.
"Stop apologizing,"
"Sorry,"
"Alexandra," he sternly says but I see a hint of a smile on his lips.
"It actually felt nice," he says referring to his hair. My cheeks burn and he chuckles at my shyness, obviously finding it entertaining.
"Are you hungry?"
I nod vigorously and he gives me a playful smile, grabbing his keys off his desk.
"Let's go then,"

A/N: Halexandra for the win or what? Please don't forget to comment and vote!