Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 40: T.L.C

After discovering the bruises on her back, Alex immediately shifted into tender loving care mode when it came to Hailey for the rest of the night. 

He ran her a hot bubble bath, allowing her to soak while ordering them dinner, emphasis on getting her favourite. 

He then helped her clean off in the shower, rubbing the soap in and washing it off. Admittedly, he had to do that twice because the first time around resulted in a little extra curricular business. 

"We shouldn't be doing this here," was his words originally when she started. "I don't want you to slip and cause yourself more pain." She then wrapped her arms around him tighter as she kept him pinned against the wall.

"Guess that means we'll have to be extra careful," was the response he received.

He then helped her dry off, before giving her one of his t-shirts to slip on with a pair of shorts in wanting to ensure she was as comfortable as possible. By that time, their dinner arrived, leaving them to sit down at the table and enjoy the meal together. 

When every bit of it was gone, he took on the responsibility of throwing out the containers. He then told her to relax while he let Finn out to do his business quickly. It did not take long for him to return, and lead her to the bedsroom once he had.

He then got her to lay down on the bed stomach first, straddling his legs around her waist as he began to run his hands up and down her back. He reached for the same cream she had used on his back over the past couple weeks, rubbing it in to every inch of hers. He made sure to be careful as he did so, lightly in not wanting to cause more pain in the process from the marks which remained.

"You are absolutely amazing Alex," she complimented him as he did so. "You don't have to do all this for me. I'm okay.." She then carefully rolls over onto her back, a small grimace across her face as she does so as it was one of the first times she had laid right on it since the original incident. Maybe she needed the tender loving care more than she realized. "It looks worse than it is. It's not as painful as you think it is. I am going to be okay, Alex." 

"Of course you're going to be okay because you're a complete badass," he comments back in response with a smirk on his face. The other drivers may talk about the great clothes their wives could design. There also may be some that would talk about how great their ladies look. Meanwhile, he could brag about how amazing she looked and the fact she could kick any of their asses at the same time. He wondered what Denny's reaction would be. "It doesn't mean that I cannot take care of you. It doesn't mean that I cannot show you how much I love you." 

"I appreciate it, I really do. It also feels really great..." She then wraps her arms around his shoulders, bringing his face down just above her face to where their lips were almost touching. "But I'm here this weekend for you. I made the trip to be here for you and stand by your side. I should be taking care of you. You have 400 miles to run tomorrow and should be in tip top shape to do so." 

"You've been taking care of me since we got together - well, except that first night. I am pretty sure I took care of you at the condo." She couldn't help but chuckle a little, as that was certainly an interesting first way of spending a night together. At least when she did get sick, he was not going to be one of those grossed and running away from it. "We're a couple, and this is a two-way street. It's okay to let me take care of you, Hailey. Let me be here for you. Let me ease your pain. Let me be your escape from everything for a couple days. We both know that you need it." 

"I suppose you're right..." She then takes a deep breath as this was the part of relationships where she always froze up. It was this conversation-base that caused her and Adam to become just friends with benefits for the longest time. It was this conversation-base that almost caused her and Jay to break up before they truly got started. Conversation had always been easy and natural with Alex since the beginning - it was one of the reasons why she loved him. This was going to be just like all that, right? "I'm just not used to it. Getting hurt is part of the job for me. You get hurt, heal, and move on to keep saving the lives of those that need you." 

"Your heart and ability to look out for people is beyond amazing - and you do such a good job at it.." He then runs his hands over her shoulders. "But Hailey, you also have to look out for yourself. There's only one you in this life, and you need to take care of her. So let me do this for you. Besides, comforting you works to the benefit of us both. We can both allow some endorphins to be released. I heard those are supposed to be very healing.." 

"I guess we should test out that theory..." She then runs her lips along his, a make-out session breaking out as he rubs his crotch against hers, the only thing stopping them right now being the thin clothes they wore. "I am glad that you just gave me a pair of shorts to wear. It'll make the next step here much easier for us both..." 

"Pretty sure I knew what we'd be doing sooner than later." He then slips a hand up underneath the left side of her shorts, his finger tracing his slit as she lets out a moan. "You've been wet there since we got out of the shower, no matter how many times I tried to dry you off."