Chapter 9 - Wounds

"I really don't think I need to go to the hospital," Jenny said as Silas parked a short distance from the main entrance.

"They never do," Silas shook his head as he opened the door for her and offered his arm to her.

She took it just to make sure, that she didn't make a fool of herself by falling over. "Well, I…. and how do you know exactly?"

Silas grinned, "I work here." He escorted her into the building and held up a hand to greet someone. "She just needs a bit of a check – car accident, likely, not anything, just make sure she is run through the whole checklist," he said to someone he quickly caught as they walked by.

"Oh, alright then," Jenny said and gave up on her objections, "will it take long thought?" She scratched the back of her neck, "I should really be getting home."

"Someone, you have to meet at home?" He asked as she was run through her checks.

"Not exactly…" She paused, "I ditched my husband at a dinner party when he started flirting with someone."

Silas lifted his eyebrows a little, "I see. So, you haven't had dinner yet?"

Jenny shook her head.

"Allow me to treat you to a bite when you are free to leave then," he said and put a finger against her lips when he noticed that she was about to object. "Now, you can say no if you don't want to. But, if it is out of some feeling of responsibility to your husband… I think you should reconsider. That is all."

Jenny looked away for a moment from Silas's eyes to see if the person doing her check-up had any reaction to their conversation.

"You are all good to go," the doctor said and looked at them both before she turned to Jenny, "I can only say he is a good doctor and lovely to work with. That is all I know," she smiled at Jenny and bit her lips before she added. "I would take the chance," she said and winked at Jenny before she left.

They left the hospital and Silas drove them to an area of the city, Jenny wasn't familiar with. She patted around herself to find her bag, and luckily her mobile was still in there with plenty of battery left. She leaned back against the seat, feeling comforted and safe.

"Have I remembered to thank you?" She had closed her eyes to enjoy the slightly cool ventilation wind on her face and didn't bother to look at Silas for his reaction.

"It doesn't matter," he said, "I hear plenty of thanks – and curses - when I work. I have grown slightly immune to the word."

Jenny opened her eyes to see something of a sad smile on his lips. "How can one ever grow immune to people expressing gratefulness?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe it is just the daily rhythm of it all. You go in, do your job, take your thanks and your curses, leave, go home, and sleep as much as you can. And then it is the same all over again. The pain and the happiness."

Jenny nodded, "I know it is not the same… But I feel as if the curses are growing in numbers, and the thanks… well they are as good as gone. I will take every thanks I can get."

Silas ponded this for a moment and turned the car at the next turn. "I think I will be taking you home after all, if I can save our date for another time?"

Jenny blinked a couple of times, "our date… yes. Of course," she said, nodded, and tried to hide the blushing in her cheeks - easily done in the dark car, only lid by the streetlights and the oncoming traffic.

"Please tell me, when to make a turn," Silas asked.

They drove for a while before they arrived at the house. Jenny stood out of the car before Silas had a chance to come over and open the door for her.

"I must thank you in some way," Jenny whispered, "but please wait here while I go check on who is home."

Silas nodded, and Jenny went off towards the house.

She was greeted by housekeeper Linda, as usual, awake and not marked by the late hour it had become.

"Mrs Huxley, welcome home. But… might I say, how is it you look? Of course, that is not my place." Linda shook her head. "Your husband has not returned yet, should I leave a message for him or…?" she paused to give Jenny a chance to give her orders.

"No thank you," Jenny began. "I was in a bit of an accident, nothing much. But I was kindly saved by a good man. I would like to invite him for a small bite in the kitchen, as we have not eaten yet."

"Of course," Linda said with a slight nod of the head, "I will prepare two plates in the dining room."

"Please," Jenny stopped her, "you can just set it up in the kitchen. We will come down."

Linda blinked a couple of times. "But it is not… proper. How it is done."

Jenny shook her head, "I know. But we want no trouble, as we must all be very tired."

Linda nodded. "As you wish. It will be ready in a moment."

Jenny smiled and went outside again to show Silas the way to the kitchen.