Chapter Text
Ellie stared at her phone, call ended.
Hardy sounded so hollow. So lost. His voice was weak, like he had no fight.
Quickly she threw her orange jacket on. Checked on fred, Tom, Both asleep, and left, door locked behind her.
She made her way through the town in her car. Pulling up at the car park near hardys blue cottage.
She could see the lights on in the small house, but heard nothing from within.
One knock, another.
Hardy opened the door with a mumble and god he looked terrible.
Hardy made an odd noise and Ellie realised she commented out loud. Quickly she wanted to change the subject “mind if I put some tea on?”
In his usual antisocial fashion, Hardy didn't speak, just moving aside to let her in.
The place was untouched, from her last visit Case files still strewn about. However the curtains to his room were drawn shut.
She pondered only for a moment as she went to make some tea.
What was going on with Hardy. Why did he seem so off? She was worried. When she left earlier to bring Fred home, he seemed so distant, that it worried her through the night.
She handed him a cup, and sat down.
Watched him fidget with his sleeve, the mug, his pant leg. He apologised for being an arse, thanked her for coming. “you dont thank” he looked ashamed.
She wanted to understand what was happening. What was going on in this mans head. “Please Hardy, talk to me. I want to help”
Minutes passed and Finally he spoke, unexpected, careful, shy.
“Can I have a hug?”
Ellie was somewhat startled from her thoughts. Her own theories, coming to a halt. A hug? But he doesn't hug?
She was about to say no, or ask why, but the face he made, broke her heart. He was clearly in so much pain. He looked less like a man in his 40s and more like a child, who went to their parent after a nightmare.
Slowly she reached forward without a word and embraced him.
But she stiffened, he was so thin, his body felt like bones, sharp edges, barely any fat or muscle. He had lost weight. She knew this but didn't realise how much.
It put her on edge. Made her feed bad for not checking on him more. She wanted to squeeze him tight and never let go. To keep him close. To promise she'd be there.
But he pulled away. “Sorry, that wasn't… i shouldn't have…”
“Oh its fine hardy” ellie said quickly. She didnt want him to feel bad. To question reaching out.
More minutes of silence passed and ellie took his mug, her mug and walked to his kitchen to clean the items.
She pondered over Hardy, his body, his mind, wondering how she could help.
She barely noticed a sound at first over the rushing water, but the wind blew the front door shut with a bang, startling ellie.
She turned around quickly, hardy was gone, the curtain to his room, now open and by the bed, was a gun locker. Empty all, but one round.
She ran, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. How long was that door open? How long was he gone? She ran to the only place she thought he could be. Not maggies, not the beach, not the station.
The cliffs. Hardy always went to the cliffs when he was feeling down.
It scared her every time but she never mentioned it. After all he never did anything, until now.
She could see him against the dark of the sky. Tall, skinny, alone a familiar shape in one hand rising in slow motion from his waist up to his chin.
She ran faster, faster. Begging, pleading with the world to let her save him.
His finger was on the trigger, curling around it. His eyes closed, tears dripping down his cheeks but on his face, a smile.
It made her blood run cold.
She didn't stop running didn't hesitate, hand reaching out grabbing his shoulder and pushing her entire body onto his.
The gun went off, bright light flashing in her face blinding her for a moment.
The gun went off, his ears were ringing. His side hurt, his shoulder hurt, his neck hurt horribly.
He gasped and whimpered, coughing, stuttering. Had he missed his own bloody brains?
A hand grabbed his wrist, the gun wrestled from his grip, and slowly hus vision refocused.
“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR STUPID SCOTTISH FUCKING MIND!?!?!”
Ellie was straddling him. Legs on either side of his hips, keeping him on his back.
She was crying, tears falling from her eyes into his face. “YOU FUCKING IDIOT” she screamed.
He didn't really know what to say. His mind was empty, He missed.
He messed up his escape and he was still here, alive.
Ellie was sobbing, screaming, one of her hands grabbing at his neck as she berated him.
Yet he couldn't understand what she was saying. His eyes only focused on her face, her features.
She really was such a brilliant woman.
She was kind, caring, lovely, he wished he could've been better to her. Slowly he closed his eyes and stopped fighting.
Epilogue
Ellie sat at her house, sipping tea quietly, she was waiting for a call. Fred was out at primary, and tom was with his aunt.
She waited, and waited. Her phone buzzed.
“Ellie Miller?" A male voice sounded through the speaker
“Yes? Dr. gross?”
“Yes ma'am, calling to let you know Alec Hardy is ready for pick up.”
Ellie smiled “ill be there shortly”
She got into her car and drove off.
The mental health ward Hardy was at was a few hours away. But it was lovely, and they truly cared for him.
Pulling up to the building, Ellie readied herself, she grabbed a bag of seedless grapes, and headed inside towards the social space.
She spotted him instantly. Sitting alone at a table, book in hand, glasses on his face, a thick scar on his neck and ear, but he was alive.
She didn't bother with formalities, tossing the grapes over his book and hand.
He sighed “seedless?”
“Mm can't have you choking here or they might keep you longer”
“God, please no,” Alec said with warmth. He stood up and stretched a bit. “Im ready to leave this place”
Ellie chuckled softly, eyeing him as he walked to his room. “Good, fred misses you and wants to show you his new dinosaur books”
Hardy nodded, grabbing his bag “id be glad to see that”
Ellie nodded back, smiling as she watched him heft the item over his shoulder. He was clearly doing better, a soft smile on his face, life in his step.
Before he could leave the room she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into a tight hug.
“I know we don't do this often, but I think we should do it more” she mumbled into his chest. Feeling his heart beat under her ear the slight buzzing of his pace maker.
“Aye, that would be nice” he said softly, hugging her back.