If you had a clue that a simple case would launch into a full blown race for Edmund Bickerstaff’s bone glass, you’d have prepared more for the final fight. Which ended up with Lockwood getting shot. George had turned out to be somewhat hypnotised or influenced by the bone glass, Pamela Joplin turned insane while Lucy almost became the glass’ victim. As for the Skull, he was destroyed and left as mere pieces of a Type 3. You’d been in the middle of the fight and had ended up with a now-healed concussion and mild shock. Now was the recovery process and getting back to normal..

Since George was taking a power nap and Lucy was in her room reading, you took the liberty of making dinner out of the things you’d found in the fridge in the rather silent kitchen. After stocking up the fridge with some good beer, of course. And some tea in the storage boxes, just to save everyone some trouble.

“Oh.” You turned to see Lockwood at the door, looking mildly surprised to find you in the kitchen, and you could see him opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish before he recovered from the fact that he was just startled. “Uh, hi.” His hair was unkempt, but he was still - as always - in his shirt and slacks, with odd socks.

Lockwood gave you a small smile and a nod, possibly trying to make light in lieu of the awkwardness that came with the sudden arrival, but then his gaze landed on your work at the stove. Why were you doing it? You needed rest as well- unless you refused to get it. Lockwood got a bit paranoid when you got injured, and the concussion didn’t help his habits.

Lockwood looked you up and down and let out a small breath of relief. At least you’d changed into more comfortable clothes, and at least you had less pronounced dark circles. And as usual, he didn’t care about he looked. In his opinion, he looked stunning.

But you had a right to recover from the shock too.