Bobbie unlocked the outer door and pushed it open with her hip, juggling her cleaning and the grocery bag.  From behind her a hand appeared, holding the door open.  "Here beautiful, let me help you with that," a voice said and then she was inside and he was between her and the door.  Then another voice said, "Let me take those for you they look heavy."  And a different hand took the cleaning and dropped it on the floor while the first hand took the grocery bag and dropped that to the floor too.

She shoved her hand under her blazer reaching for her gun and stifled a scream as the second hand wrenched her hand away while the first was around her neck, choking her.  "Now that's not nice, beautiful.  We just want to talk to you for minute.  There's no need for guns," he said, taking her gun away as the other man yanked her back arching her away, his arm tightening painfully.

The second man eyed the sight of her breasts heaving and thrust forward by the position and shook his head.  "Would that I had time to really show you how much I like you.  Next time though, I'll be sure there is."  He cupped her chin in his hand, squeezing it, his thumb stroking her lips.  "Now beautiful we just want you to tell Simon we said hello and that we're real sorry we haven't seen him around. 

He squeezed harder, making her eyes water as she struggled to get loose, stepping back just in time as her knee headed for his groin.  "Oh baby, that's so not nice," he said.  "Where's your manners?" he asked as he hit her in the mouth.  When she didn't say anything, just tried it again he punched her in the stomach twice, making her gag on the bile.  "Now stop it beautiful.  I don't want to hurt you so bad you can't tell Simon we were here," he said, wiping the trickle of blood from her mouth with a napkin he pulled from his pocket.  "No diseases I hope," he said, laughing.

She twisted hard, trying to find leverage and the man behind her wrenched her back towards him hard, making her stifle another scream. 

"Just give him our regards, baby and tell him we'd sure like to see him soon."  Then they both laughed and she went flying towards the stairs, her hands going out to break her fall, turning painfully as it hit the edge of a step and slipped.  Behind her she heard her keys landing.  "Can't be too careful around here beautiful," the second man said and then the outer door click closed.

She got herself to her feet, cradling her wrist, wondering if it was broken and kicked the can of mandarin oranges into the wall.  Then wiping her lip, she shoved the pain away and bent to gather up her things.  She dumped them on the table and got a bag of ice for her lip, collapsing on the sofa.  He had her gun, she thought as she leaned her head back and the thought and all the problems it would cause sent her fury over the edge. 

She heard his knock somewhere between the thirtieth and thirtyninth iteration of a swear word her mama wouldn't like to hear coming from her mouth.  She stood up carefully and opened the door.  "Hi, come on in," she said, trying to smile.   Then she headed back to the couch, his expression making her wonder how bad her face looked.  It also made her afraid to look.

He was right on her heels.  He took one look at the mess and began cleaning it up for her. "Uhm, what happened?"  He was putting food in the refrigerator, picking up her laundry and eying her as she put the ice back on her lip. "Did you slip?"

"Yeah," she said.  "I slipped.  I'm gonna kill the ice cube that did it."

"Here, let me get you a pillow and you put your feet up."

She smiled at him.  "Thanks.  And thanks for cleaning up the mess."

"Sure. Can I get you coffee or tea or a drink?" he asked as he brought a pillow and a throw out to put over her. "Aspirin?"

"There's some tylenol in the bathroom," she said.  "You're really sweet to do this.  And here I can't even kiss you properly."

"I'm not sure how you managed to fall and hit your lip like that," he said as he went to get the Tylenol. "Maybe we should take you to the Healers?"

"I'll be fine, I'm just talented," she said when he came back.  "So how are you?"

"I'm good. I just, you know, didn't want you to think I was going to just disappear again."

"I don't think that," she said, lifting the ice and her head to look at him.  "And I'm really glad to see you.  It's a nice surprise."

"I'm just sorry I didn't get here early enough to help you with the groceries and laundry."

"Maybe next time.  I usually pick up both on Tuesdays."

"Ah," he replied suddenly staring at her. "What's that?"

"What's what?" she asked, startled.

He leaned down to peer at her neck. "It's a bruise. It looks like a thumb-print. What happened here, Bobbie?"

"A guy tried to make me bend in a direction I didn't want to go," she said, resettling the ice.

"What guy?"

She lifted the bag and gave him a look.  "We didn't exchange names," she said. 

"Bobbie," he said, his voice going hoarse, "what happened here. Please."

"Oh Jesus, you're not going to let it alone, are you?"

"No, because... If this has something to do with me... "

She grabbed his wrist.  "Don't.  Just don't.  I'm fine.  Just a little sore.  That's all.  I've dealt with worse, a lot worse."

He sat down on the couch with her. "Tell me. I need to know who it was so I can make them stop."

She sighed and set the ice bag on the coffee table.  "They said to tell you they said hi, that they were real sorry they hadn't seen you around.  They said to give you their regards and to say they'd like to see you real soon."

"Oh shit. Oh, shit!" Simon muttered. "I am so sorry. I ... I thought.  I don't know what I thought. I guess I didn't think."  He ran a hand across his shaved head. and then lowered his head putting both hands on the back of it.  "I knew it. I knew this was a bad idea. That I'd be nothing but trouble for you, that..."

"Don't, she said fiercely, "or I'll hurt you.  We're so far past that there's no chance of going back.  Are these the people who shot you?"

He nodded. "Yes, probably," he sounded miserable. "They're angry because I didn't get them what they wanted."

"What is it they want?" she asked, reaching for his hand. 

"Some ancient tapestry. It isn't famous. I'd know it if it were. I've no idea why they want it."

"Where is it?" she asked.

He sighed and finally looked up to meet her eyes. "In the vault at the Zoo."

She was quiet for a moment, her eyes holding his.  Finally she said, her voice going soft, "I love you."

"And look what I give you in return."

"This is nothing, it's irrelevant.  We deal with it and it's done, it's over.  And we're left with what matters."

"You're incredible. I can't believe you aren't furious with me."

"I'm too tired to be furious.  Just tell me this.  Do you love me?" she said.

"I love you," he said, meeting her eyes. "I've loved you from the first moment, I think. I knew it was crazy, and yet... And yet there it is."

She drew her fingers across his lips, smiling.  "Thank you.  Then that means you won't mind cooking dinner, right?"

"No, I don't mind one bit. Although I'd hoped to take you out.  Guess not, huh?"

She laughed, carefully.  "Not tonight," she said.  "Will you spend the night too?"

"If you want me to, I can't think of anything better."

She nodded, pressing his hand.  "I do.  I don't want to be alone to night and I can't think of anyone I want here more than you.  In the morning we can figure out how we're going to stop these guys and get my gun back."

His eyes went wide. "Oh. Okay, we'll do that.  Now, let me see about dinner while you wait for that Tylenol to kick in."