#andiwrites

Your wish is my etc…!  I haven’t edited this at all, I just finished it this afternoon, so I hope it’s okay!  Thanks for asking!

Sometimes, being a TV producer could be a dangerous business.  Not everyone liked the way interviews went or how they came across on screen, despite having had their permission on both the subject matter and their appearance.  Some people complained, normally unsuccessfully, to the body that oversaw media complaints, while others chose to take matters into their own hands.  Others didn’t have a leg to stand on and, as a result of your expose, they ended up being prosecuted.  It was one of the latter you had had to deal with today.

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You were running late for your date with Gavin.  You hadn’t intended to, you never did, but today you had deliberately scheduled to ensure you could leave on time.  It was the unexpected hold up of one angry individual who had been waiting outside work for her that had delayed her.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!’  You repeated as you trotted up to Gavin who was waiting for you outside your favourite restaurant.

He smiled warmly as you reached him, bending to press his lips to your cheek.  ‘It’s fine  You’re here now.  Shall we?’

You nodded, your cheeks flushed pink at not only his warm greeting but his hand on the base of your spine, encouraging you to walk beside him.  ‘I really did plan to be here on time.’

‘I know, really, don’t worry.  Your work is important to you.  I love that about you.’

You didn’t have much of a reply to that.  You both had a good worth ethic, taking your jobs seriously to a point of living and breathing it, but you both made sure you made time for one another.

You were shown to your table and menus given before you started chatting again.

‘Did you and Anna get the proposal finished?’  Gavin asked as you both got comfortable.

‘Just.’  You rolled your eyes at the deadline you had been chasing all week.  ‘We had one small hiccup that needed investigating but, believe it or not, Minor came through on that one.  He had the file right there when we asked for it.’

‘That doesn’t sound like Minor.’  Gavin gave you a raised eyebrow.

‘Well, no.’  You admitted as you slipped out of your suit jacket, still warm from your run to the restaurant.  ‘I’m just pretending that I don’t know Minor probably had the file in one of the many piles on his desk waiting to be put away.  What?’

Gavin was obviously not paying attention to you fully, his eyes focused on something lower than your face and to one side.  You assumed he had either remembered something important, or had an epiphany about a case.  It had happened before and would happen again, but you didn’t mind, you just hoped you hadn’t ruined his concentration.  Instead you glanced down at your menu, letting his train of thought continue uninterrupted, and it was only when he moved his chair around the table to sit beside you that you realised anything was different.

‘Who did this?’  His voice was quiet and controlled, you almost didn’t hear him over the general chatter in the restaurant.

‘Did what?’  You asked in an equally hushed voice.

‘This.’  His fingers touched your arm in a ghost of a touch, making you look down.  Your sleeveless blouse had left your arms fully on display and there on your skin starkly showed the beginnings of a bruise, fresh and red with mottling already forming, in the perfect print of a large hand.

‘Oh.’  The word fell from your lips on a breath as you realised where it was from and how Gavin would probably take it.  ‘That’s why I was late.’

His golden eyes looked up into yours, anger sparking in their depths at the thought of you being hurt by anyone.  ‘Who.  Did.  This?’  He repeated slowly and you knew he was holding in his emotions until he knew the full story.

‘Okay, just, don’t get mad, because it’s already been taken care of.’  You leant into him, pressing your forehead to his in the hope of distracting him.  ‘You remember the expose we did on the home maintenance guy who was causing additional problems at elderly customers homes and charging them extortionate amounts to repair them?’

‘Yeah.’  Gavin said hesitantly, already not liking where this was going.

‘He was waiting for me outside the office when I left.’

Gavin was silent for several moments before he spoke in a harsh tone.  ‘I’m going to need all the information you have on him.  Name, address, any aliases, his…’

‘Gavin!’  You interrupted him, pressing your palm to his cheek for good measure.  ‘It’s okay.  Building security detained him and called the cops.  I need to go give a statement tomorrow morning.’

‘I’m coming with you.’  His eyes dropped back to the marks on your arm, knowing they would stain your beautiful skin for days to come.  ‘And I’m staying over at your place in case he knows your home address.  I’ll drive you to the station then work after.’

‘You’re overreacting.’  You chuckled.  ‘I know you’re worried about me but it’s really okay, and he won’t be going anywhere tonight.’

‘The station can only hold him for so long.’

You shifted in your seat awkwardly, enough that he noticed and straightened his position to look you in the eye.  ‘What about if he had to go to hospital first?’

‘The hospital?’  Gavin gave you a confused look.

‘With a suspected broken nose.’  You added.

Gavin’s mouth finally quirked at the edges.  ‘Did you…?’

‘You always made sure I could take care of myself.’  You shrugged.  ‘So, when he grabbed me, I hit him in the nose with the heel of my palm on instinct.’  You flexed your hand where it was still aching from being jarred.

‘You broke his nose on instinct?’  Gavin finally smiled fully, proud of your reactions.

‘Yeah, so you could say I’m not really responsible for that one…but the throat punch, I was completely aware of what I was doing.’

His eyes went wide at your hesitant confession before he pulled you into his arms in a tight embrace.  ‘You never cease to amaze me.’

‘But, like, in a good way, right?’  You checked as you nuzzled into him, gripping the back of his shirt in your hands for the comfort his nearness brought.

‘In the best way.’  He replied before placing a soft kiss on your lips.

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