"Glad you're okay, son." Maddock patted Hudson's shoulder. "Why don't you go home."
Hudson blinked at him. "Home?" He looked around. Did their sergeant not see what was happening around them? As if reading his thoughts, Maddock narrowed his eyes at him.
"Son, what's your badge say?"
Hudson blinked at him, confused. "Um, Chief Medical Examiner?"
"Right. And seeing as how the first dead body we had turned to confetti when the explosive went off and the second was crushed under nearly three thousand pounds of elevator, I suggest you go home, take a shower, and rest. Your team can take it from here."
"But, I can help--"
Maddock planted his hands on his hips. "Boy, you just got blown up and almost had an elevator land on your head. Get your ass home. I will have your skinny British ass dragged away like I did with your partner." Maddock shook his head. "I got boots that weigh more than that woman, but when she puts her foot down, nothing short of a crane is moving her ass."
Hudson chuckled. That sounded like Nina all right.
Maddock's expression softened. "She was worried about you. We called her the second we knew, so she's okay. I imagine she's gonna be giving you an earful soon enough, so good luck with that." Maddock turned and headed toward the building's entrance. "Go home, Colbourn."
"Yes, sir," Hudson promised. He turned to go, but a woman came running, waving her arm and shouting his name. She looked familiar. He recognized the big brown eyes and head full of tight black curls. Hudson braced himself, expecting a verbal thrashing. Instead the woman flung herself into Hudson's arms and hugged him tight. He held on to her trembling frame.
"Thank you so much for saving my little girl, Dr. Colbourn." With a sniff, she pulled away, tears spilling from her eyes. "Thank you."
"It was a team effort, Mrs. Willis."
She shook her head, her curls swishing with her movement. "You were the one down there with her, keeping her from going into shock. I'm grateful to your teammates, but you were there."
"How is she?"
"She's going to be okay, just a few broken bones. I need to go, but I wanted to thank you in person. The city's lucky to have agents like you, Dr. Colbourn." She kissed his cheek before rushing off. Hudson smiled after her. He was glad to hear Melissa would be all right.
Hudson hitched a ride with one of the EMTs heading out. They were carrying two Therians with minor injuries. From the hospital, he took a cab to Seb's house. He sent Seb a text to let him know he was okay and at home. Seconds later his phone rang. Hudson answered with a smile. "Hello, darling."
"You sure you're okay?"
"Promise. Sarge sent me home anyway."
"Good," Seb grunted. Silence came on the line before Seb cleared his throat. "When you say 'home,' do you mean...?"
"Your house." Hudson smiled shyly. "Perhaps when you get home, we can discuss living arrangements."
Seb's sharp intake of breath was not lost on Hudson.
"Really?"
Hudson smiled even though Seb couldn't see him. "Really."
"Okay. You rest up, and I'll see you tonight?"
"I'll be here," Hudson promised. "Stay safe."
"I will. Love you."
"Love you too." Hudson hung up and headed upstairs to take a shower. As he stood under the hot water, washing away the remains of today's ordeal, it struck him how close he'd come to dying. He should have been shaken up, but he wasn't. Seb had listened. He'd been faced with losing Hudson, and although everything in Seb had likely shouted at him to save his mate, he'd listened to Hudson. Together they helped get Bill and Melissa out of there.
Hudson shut off the water and ran a towel over his hair before stepping out. He dried off, his heart pounding fiercely. Perhaps they could do this. For the first time in a long time, Hudson felt confident in their bond, in them. Dressed in his atom T-shirt and pajama bottoms, he went downstairs and made a cup of tea. Turning on the telly, he curled up on the couch. He released a yawn and placed his mug on the coffee table before sitting back. He hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep until he felt fingers in his hair. Hudson hummed, his head groggy and body heavy with sleep.
"Seb," he murmured, too exhausted to open his eyes.
"Shh. Go back to sleep."