Chapter Text
Lucy finds the white-tiled hospital ceiling dull. The entire room is quite uninteresting if she’s honest. It became that way when the painkillers stopped working maybe fifteen minutes ago. Before, the shape of the chair by her bed had been the most interesting object she had ever seen.
She focuses on the ceiling and the steady drip of the IV attached to her arm instead of the pain on her left side every time she breathes or moves. Her ankle is throbbing too, but she’s had worse.
Three bruised ribs and a bad ankle sprain. That was the verdict from the A&E doctors at some point of the morning. Oh and a concussion so bad that Lucy passed out as her head collided with a window and then her body went out of said window. Fortunately for Lucy and unfortunately for the tomato plants she fell on, it was just a first floor window. She had been brought in unconscious and had woken up to a nurse bandaging her ribs .
That was her first memory since the previous night.
She knew the job wouldn’t be simple, but Lockwood had taken over scheduling duties for Holly while she was on holiday and he had overbooked them. Lockwood had asked if she wanted to cancel since they would all be doing solo jobs and hers seemed like the most complicated one, but Lucy had said she was fine with it with a grin. Lockwood had thanked her and promised her breakfast.
Their friendship remained a sensitive topic after the Rotwell Institute, but she was back and he seemed happy to have her around again. Still, Lucy didn’t want to shake the brittle atmosphere between them by causing an unnecessary issue.
She wonders what happened with the poltergeist and if anyone from the agency will go clear it. The owners of the house lived in a cottage behind the main structure. They were a young couple who had purchased the property for cheap without getting an agency to certify there were no Visitors in the dwelling. They had resided in the back for the past 3 weeks and had contacted Lockwood and Co. to get the issue resolved after the poltergeist had smashed all their wedding china.
“Hi!” Says Holly coming into the room. “How are you feeling?”
“Like a poltergeist threw me out a window,” Lucy replies attempting to sit up, but clutching her side in pain. Holly drops the flowers and bag she’s holding on a chair and goes to help Lucy, placing more pillows behind her.
“Thanks, Hol.”
“We were here last night as soon as they called. We were so scared.”
“Eh,” Lucy gestures dismissively. “It’s not a big deal, I’ll be fine in no time. I think they’ll let me go today.”
“Um, no. They’re keeping you until tomorrow. At least you have a room all for yourself!”
Lucy huffs in discontent, knowing she’s lucky it’ll only be one day.
Holly stands up and starts gracefully arranging the flowers in an empty coffee cup. She makes them look beautiful.
“These are from everyone.”
Lucy smiles at her. “What are they doing today?”
“I’m here with you and then I’m running some errands, mostly supply runs. George is at the Archives and Kipps has a case tonight so I’m guessing he’ll be resting.”
“And Lockwood?”
“Ah, he’s figuring out insurance things so you can take some time off and still get paid. You’ll probably be out of commission for two to three weeks.”
“I’m already bored.”
Holly moves to sit on a side of the bed and holds Lucy’s hand. “You got lucky, Lucy. The Marinos thought you were dead.”
“They found me?”
“Yes, they heard the noise and saw you on the ground. They called DEPRAC.”
“Oh. I’ll have to thank them. Also apologize for crushing their tomatoes.”
“Ah, that’s the smell then.” Lucy laughs and it sends a flash of pain across her side. Her friendship with Holly has blossomed into something she didn’t realize she missed. She wasn’t sure if she would allow herself to make another close female friend after Norrie, but here’s she is, laughing with Holly Munro and letting her take care of her.
“We’re all really happy you’re ok.” Says the other girl and squeezes Lucy’s hand before leaving and making her promise she will call if she needs anything else.
Holly has brought her some books and her sketchpad. The pounding headache from the concussion won’t let her focus on either of those right now, so she watches the telly instead. She falls asleep to a documentary about famous people who have returned as Visitors.
Sometime later she’s awakened by a nurse taking her vitals and telling her she needs to eat.
Hospital food makes her queasy–or that could be the concussion. It must by magic that she summons George sneaking in containers of soup and a thermos with tea just how she likes it.
“You’re my favourite person in the planet, did you know that?” Lucy says breathing in the smell of aashe doogh.
“Only when I cook for you,” he replies dragging a chair close to the bed. “I had to ask my mum for the recipe.”
“You’re the greatest, Georgie.”
Lucy eats her soup while George tells her about the additional research he did on the poltergeist.
There’s a question in the back of her mind that she wants to ask, but doesn’t know how to approach it.
“Is Lockwood going to clear it?”
George’s expression changes almost imperceptibly, but Lucy knows him too well now to let him hide it.
“What?”
“Nothing,” he takes off his glasses to clean them with the sleeve of his shirt. That’s his tell that he’s either about to lie or upset her. “We’re not doing the job anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“What?”
“Lockwood had some words with the husband.”
“What words?” It’s not Mr. Marino’s fault, so she hopes Lockwood wasn’t a dickhead to him.
“I don’t know, I wasn’t there when he called them.”
“I hope he didn’t say anything stupid.”
“It’s Lockwood, you’re asking for too much.”
George leaves shortly after as curfew approaches. She wonders if Lockwood will come see her or at least call. She had a message from Kipps when she woke up earlier.
The doctor comes by her room late and explains she will be on medical leave for at least three weeks and will need to do some exercises for her ankle once the swelling is down. She can go home the next day, but she will need someone to come pick her up.
Lucy is happy and thanks the doctor. After he leaves, she calls 35 Portland Row using the phone in the room. She hopes Lockwood will pick up. Holly answers. She explains the doctor’s instructions and Holly says she will speak to Lockwood and someone will be there to pick her up in the morning.
Lucy finally gets some strong pain meds to help her sleep through the night.
***
They give her a boot for her ankle and trade the head wrap for a plaster to cover the stitches on her forehead. Lucy is thrilled to be going home, though there’s an undercurrent of anxiety due to Lockwood’s complete silence and what happened with the Marinos.
She gets a prescription for painkillers and instructions for her recovery. The nurse helps her change into the clean clothes Holly brought her.
Lucy doodles on her sketchpad while she waits to be picked up. She’s not looking forward to all the time off, but knowing Lockwood will work out the stuff with the insurance so she doesn’t starve gives her peace of mind. Not that they would let her starve, but it’s good no to feel like a burden on her colleagues.
“You did it again, Carlyle. Surprised you got a concussion with how hard your head is.”
“Ah, Kipps, you would still be crying if I had died,” she teases back and looks up to find him standing by the entrance of the hospital room.
“You’re probably right.” Kipps goes to hug her and she flinches. He apologizes and grabs the hospital bag carrying the few things she has gathered over the past day.
“Come on, I’m driving you home.”
Lucy struggles to figure out how to use the crutches and a nurse comes help her while Kipps snickers behind her.
Kipps helps her into his car and Lucy is reminded of how he has a whole separate life away from Portland Row.
“I thought Lockwood would come pick me up.”
She senses some hesitation from Kipps before he answers. “He’s busy. Plus, I’m the one with the car, so you’re stuck with me.”
She smiles at him and thanks him.
Arriving at Portland Row presents a new issue: steps. More specifically, how she’s going to get up the steps to the house and then to her third-floor room. George comes to meet them outside and carries her bag in. Kipps picks her up and she yelps.
“Jesus, you’re heavier than you look,” he says taking her up the stairs to the house.
“I’m going to hit you with my crutches,” Lucy replies making Kipps laugh.
“Take her to the library,” says Holly meeting them in the hall wiping her hands on a flannel.
“Why?” Lucy asks.
“We set up a space for you down here, so you don’t have to worry about going up to the loft.”
“And don’t worry, we got your telly in there and a little bell so you can call us like a sick Victorian grandmother,” pipes in George.
Lucy is extremely touched by their gesture. It’s kind and selfless and they did it just because they wanted her to be comfortable. She thanks them and her face must betray her feelings because George tells her not to cry.
Kipps sets her on the air bed that’s been placed between the armchairs and the fireplace. Holly says she has a couple of minutes to settle down and that she’s drawn her a bath upstairs. George will help her get to the bathroom and Holly is free to help her if she needs anything.
“So,” George says plopping down onto an armchair. “What’s it like to be defenestrated?”
“What?”
“Defenestrated,” he explains like she’s supposed to know what he means. “Thrown out of a window.”
“Why is there such a specific word for it? Also, I don’t remember, but it fucking hurts.”
“Oh,” George gets the glint in his eye that says he’s ready to go on a ten-minute dissertation about something. “So it comes from the Latin–“
“George,” Lucy raises a hand. “Please, I’m already concussed.”
He shrugs and helps her get to her long-awaited bath.
Feeling clean and refreshed after her bath, Lucy sits on her new bed with a sandwich and a bag of crisps waiting for her medication to kick in. Still no Lockwood.
It’s not that he’s obligated to check in on her, of course not, but it would be nice to know he cares about her wellbeing. Maybe he’s been asking the others about her and he’s really worried. She’s already asked everyone about him and the consensus is that he’s busy. Lucy hopes to see him when he gets home.
***
“And you’re sure you’re not hungry?”
“Yes, Holly,” Lucy withholds the eye roll knowing that Holly is just trying to help.
“Will you call for George if you need something?”
“Yes,” Lucy answers. “I promise.”
Holly and George have spent the day doting on her. She wonders if perhaps they’re making up for Lockwood’s absence. After her bath and lunch, she had slept most of the afternoon. George had brought some of his work into the library to keep her company.
“Feel better Luce,” the older girl tells her before heading out to take a cab home.
“George,” she tells her friend and he looks up from the stack of files he’s been reading through. “You don’t have to stay here if you have other things to do. I promise I’m ok.”
“I’m only here because the light is better,” he says pointing at the lamps around the room. Lucy smiles at his excuse.
“Do you mind grabbing some things from my room?”
“Sure,” he stands up. “What do you need?”
“The Skull?”
George sighs, but heads upstairs.
Lucy knows she will get bored in the library by herself and she won’t be able to get upstairs for another week, so might as well get her ghostly pal down here. She should’ve taken him on the job, maybe he would’ve helped her.
The front door opening announces someone is there and it can only be one person.
She sees Lockwood pass by the library and continue walking. He walks back and looks surprised to see her there. Did he even know she was coming home today?
“Oh, hey Lucy.”
“Hi.”
He hesitates. Lockwood doesn’t hesitate. Lucy takes a second to assess him. His suit is rumpled, tie hanging loosely from his neck and the usual stark white shirt looks like it’s been worn to five jobs in a row, his shoes are caked with mud.
“How are you feeling?” His face remains impassive.
“I feel fine. Some pain, but the meds are working. Nothing is broken, but I’ll still have to take some time off. Holly said you were dealing with the insurance?”
She knows she’s rambling, but his presence makes her anxious for some reason. Regardless, she doubts he listen to anything she said since his eyes are fixed on the cut on her forehead. She feels self-conscious suddenly.
“Lockwood?” She calls attention to herself and his eyes meet hers.
“I’m glad you’re better,” he gives her a careful smile.
George appears in that moment holding the ghost jar. Lucy wishes George had left the valve closed, her headache is back and she doesn’t want to deal with him.
“You’re back,” George tells Lockwood. There’s tension in his voice.
“Yup,” Lockwood responds. “I’m going to bed.”
“No, hold up-“ George follows him.
Lucy wishes she could run right now so she could at least hide by the stairs and eavesdrop. She wonders what happened in her absence. They seem to be fighting, but why. Because Lockwood fought with a client? Doesn’t seem like a reason for George to be mad at him since he sort of had a reason. Lucy busies herself with organizing the pile of comics that George loaned her earlier, but her mind keeps drifting to Lockwood and George upstairs.
When George eventually appears. He looks distressed and it takes him a few seconds to speak to Lucy again.
“Sorry,” he says. “Here’s your mate. Do you need anything else before I head up to bed?”
“No, thank you, Georgie.” She wants to ask about Lockwood, but doesn’t.
“Alright. Night, Lucy. Scream if you need anything.”
“I have the bell,” she says pointing at the bell Holly gave her earlier.
“A scream will be more effective. I’m going to leave the door open, alright?”
“Yeah, thanks for everything. Will you turn off the light?”
“Of course.”
The room is bathed in the green glow of the Skull. Lucy closes her eyes and tries to sleep.
Only that after spending the better part of the past two days sleeping, it doesn’t come.
“Well, it’s good to see you didn’t die,” the ghost speaks and Lucy sighs. Just her luck. “But with a scar like that on your forehead I would say death would be welcomed, huh?”
“I’m happy to see you too.” Lucy lays down on her good side and looks at the Skull. George placed him in the coffee table that’s covered in attempts to keep her sane, or at least entertained.
“This is why you have to take me on cases.”
“I refuse to agree with you. How do you even know what happened to me, anyway?”
“You left me in the kitchen. The whole house went insane when they got the call. Then glasses took me upstairs.”
“Huh, I forgot I didn’t take you up to the loft before leaving.”
“The girl came up to tell me you didn’t die. Pity, you know I would’ve made space for you.”
“Thanks.”
“The tall one disappeared.”
That gets ger attention. “What?”
“Yes, saw him burst out of the house. Glasses tried to follow him and they started yelling at each other outside.”
“What did they say?”
“Couldn’t hear them.”
Lucy gets an idea.
“Did you hear them now? When George followed Lockwood upstairs?”
“Ugh, Lucy, you know better than that. Of course I did, but what am I getting in return?” The Skull taunts her.
“How about I don’t throw you in the furnaces?”
“And how would you do that? You can’t even walk!”
“I’ll ask Holly to do it,” she sneers. “I know she’ll be more than happy to oblige.”
“Fine. Glasses asked the tall one where he’s been and the tall one answered he had been out. And then glasses said ‘ok smartass, where is out?’ And the tall one said he needed to clear his head and then glasses called him a prick and told him he had asked every single person he knew if they had seen the tall one and the tall one said ‘well you shouldn’t have’ and then glasses said ‘fucking right I shouldn’t have, because I should’ve been using my energy to worry about Lucy not about you, arsehole-“
“Wait,” Lucy stops him. “So he hasn’t been back since he left? When did he leave exactly?”
“As soon as they call from the hospital, then he came back, then he left again and that’s when they fought outside.”
“Oh.”
“So do you want to hear the rest of it?”
Lucy gestures for him to continue.
“So glasses says ‘yeah, I should’ve been worrying about Lucy not about you, and then the tall one got quiet and sulky and said ‘Lucy is fine’ and then glasses told him to get a fucking grip.”
The last part feels like a stab. And Lucy has been stabbed so she’s familiar with the feeling. So, Lockwood thought she was fine and that’s why he hasn’t checked on her. She guesses he spent the two days galivanting and doing whatever the fuck he does in his free time, without a care for how she was. It shouldn’t hurt as much as it does.
“Thanks for telling me. I’m going to sleep now.”
“Nooo! Lucy I’ve been so bored, you-“
But Lucy reaches over and shuts the valve, willing herself to fall asleep and not think about Lockwood.
***
The next two days are not any better. The painkillers help her, but she feels drowsy. Holly, George, and Kipps try to keep her company at different points of the day and for that she’s grateful. Not Lockwood. She’s heard him leave every morning and come back near curfew for whatever case they have scheduled. He stopped by the library once to ask how she felt and then left after barely acknowledging her reply.
Holly is staying over for a late job so she’s in the library with Lucy watching another part of the celebrity Visitors documentary.
“Hol,” she says. “Do you or Lockwood need me to sign something for the insurance? Last time I had to sign a form.”
Holly fixes her watch before speaking. “Oh, Lockwood had issues so I’m taking care of it tomorrow.”
“What issues?”
“Something about the accident report from DEPRAC.”
“He didn’t do it, huh?” She knows he didn’t.
“He’s been busy,” Holly says. “I’ll take care of it tomorrow; don’t you worry about it.”
“Doing what? He’s barely home anymore.”
“You’ve noticed?”
Lucy nods. “Do you think he’s upset at me?”
Holly looks at her incredulously. “Of course not! Why would you think that?”
“He’s avoiding me, he won’t come in to see me, he didn’t even call when I was at the hospital…”
There’s something like pity in Holly’s eyes and Lucy hates it.
“I can talk to him if-“
“No,” Lucy stops her. “It’s really fine.”
Thankfully Holly, ever the tactful one, drops the topic. There’s a big warning sign in the back of Lucy’s mind telling her that Lockwood is simply fed up with her. This is not the first time they’ve had to take care of her because of a stupid mistake. Now they’re probably losing up on jobs. Perhaps he didn’t fill the insurance paperwork because their rate will go up. It’s too much for Lucy, who ends up falling asleep with Holly still there.
Next time she opens her eyes, she’s alone and the house is dark. The only problem is that she still hasn’t managed the crutches and she needs to use the loo. Fuck.
She drags herself to the edge of the mattress and grabs onto one of the armchairs for leverage. The crutches are next to the door, so she’ll have to do some hopping to get them. This is fine, she’s athletic enough to manage.
After the first jump, she tries again, only to position her torso in a way that sucks the air out of her lungs. She comes crashing down on the floor and breaks the fall with her arms. The pain of her ribs makes her feel like she’s about to vomit and she has to stop herself from crying. George must’ve heard her because there’s someone running down the stairs.
The lights are turned on and she feels pathetic laying on the library floor on all fours, unable to get herself to the bathroom.
She looks up and Lockwood stands there, still in his suit. Immediately he’s at her side asking her what he can do.
Lucy asks him to help her get up and hand her the crutches. The pain is subsiding, but she still feels sick.
“Thanks.”
Lockwood nods in acknowledgment.
“What were you trying to do?”
“Oh,” she blushes. “I needed to use the loo.”
“I can help you up.”
“No, it’s alright. I can do it myself, thanks.”
“Let me help you, it’s no bother,” he offers with a timid smile.
Lucy wants to confront him in that moment. She wants to ask why he cares now. Instead, she finds herself nodding.
Lockwood holds her while she ditches one of the crutches. He places her arm around his middle, too tall to do it around his shoulders. This close to him, she feels his body heat and senses her anger dissipating.
Using a combination of hopping and Lockwood lifting her, they make it onto the landing.
Lockwood opens the door to the bathroom and helps her in.
Lucy leans on the cabinet while he gets the other crutch from the library.
“Thanks for helping,” she tells him when he comes back.
“Do you need any help?”
It must be a combination of the late hour and the pain that makes her reply, “I think I can figure out how to lower my own pants.”
Lockwood blushes furiously and stutters that he’ll be outside waiting for her.
Lucy wants to give herself another concussion so she can be less mortified.
She manages to do what she needs to do with little accident except having to wash her hands separately so she can always be holding onto the basin.
Lockwood supports her down the stairs when she’s done.
“Thanks,” she says as he helps her sit on the makeshift bed. “How did you even hear me?”
“Oh,” Lockwood clears his throat. “I was awake reading. And you’re welcome. Do you need anything else?”
Lucy wants to say no, but her throat is parched from the exertion of getting up the stairs and needs to take her medication, so she asks him for some water.
When Lockwood returns, he’s carrying a tray with water, juice, and some biscuits.
“Figured it’s too late for tea, but maybe you can drink it with your medication. You shouldn’t take your pain meds on an empty stomach; I learned that the hard way.”
He laughs at the end and the sound makes Lucy feel almost normal.
Lockwood lingers for a moment and Lucy wonders if he’s going to say something else or apologize for his absence; however, he says goodnight and starts to leave.
“Lockwood, wait!”
He turns. “What is it?”
“Is everything alright? I’ve barely seen you.”
“Yes, of course, Lucy. Sorry, I’ve been…dealing with some things–agency things.” But he won’t make eye contact, focusing again on the plaster on her forehead.
Lockwood says good night again and leaves before she can ask him anything else. The painkillers are the only reprieve from overanalysing the way he looks at her.