Between Limestone Ruins

Chapter Twelve

While Walker used the bathroom, Hannah opened her laptop and looked at the images of the micro-fracturing sent over by Doc and tried to compare it to any and all studies done on freezing bone. She was so focused she didn't notice Walker exit the bathroom until he was standing in front of her.

"Whatcha doing?" he said inquisitively.

"I'm working, looking at little bone cracks and the research regarding..." 

Hannah trailed off as she looked up to finish her smartass remark to Walker's face, but quickly realized he had stripped down to nothing but boxers. "Why are you basically naked?"

"I get too hot when I sleep, I always sleep like this," Walker threw out his arms. "See something you like Morris?"

"Hmm, I dunno Walker, do a lil' spin for me," Hannah countered, playfully.

"No way am I doing a Magic Mike dance for a woman who is not planning on sleeping with me," Walker said, strolling over to his bed.

"But you do Magic Mike dance?" Hannah asked innocently.

"Well fuck, I walked into that."

"Yep," Hannah chimed, turning her attention back to her computer. "You should get used to someone outsmarting you Walker. You're stuck with me until we solve this case."

"I dunno Morris, maybe I was wrong."

"What, seeing me panic in front of my ex made you like me? Kinda weird if you ask me," Hannah said joking, closing her laptop.

"No, I saw you vulnerable. And I saw you handle it. Proves you're not just another happy-go-lucky airhead shrink and might be worth a damn in the field."

"You had to save me from Ethan!" Hannah waved her hands over her head. "I can't even defend myself from him now! I am just as weak as I was five years ago."

She paused. "Maybe you just like having a damsel to save," she finally sighed. 

Walker snorted. "If I wanted a damsel, I'd have one on each arm sunshine. Drop the pity party act Morris, you're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"How nice for you," Hannah snapped back. She sat up against the headboard and wrapped her arms around her knees.

It struck Walker how small she looked. How uneasy she seemed.

Walker got up and sat on the edge of Hannah's bed. "Hannah," he said, quiet but forceful. She turned her head towards him but couldn't meet his eyes. 

"You told him no. A few times if I recall. That's looking the devil in the eyes and telling him to fuck off. That's progress sunshine. Do not discount the strength you had there because I had to step in. We all need help sometimes. Asking for help is just as scary and makes you just as strong."

"And I'm sure you ask for help all the time, mister cool, confident, and sexy," Hannah muttered sarcastically.

"You think I'm sexy?" Walker said devilishly.

"Oh, screw off, everyone thinks you're sexy and no one thinks you need help," Hannah responded. 

She flipped Walker's switch. Somehow, she knew exactly what buttons to push.

"You know what I've needed help with?" Walker wasn't quite sure what hit him, but it hit him like a bag of bricks to the gut; suddenly he was off the bed and pacing, his voice rising in volume as his words got sharper and nastier.