End of Part X
We both crawled into bed after using the bathroom and as per usual now Belle snuggled up beside me practically using my body as a pillow. As I wrapped an arm around her, she leaned over and kissed me saying, "I love you, Robbie."
"I love you too Belle, sweet dreams my little minx." I replied as I shut my eyes. As I started to doze, I wondered how long this good life between Belle and I could last, hoping that it wouldn't end.
Part XI
The next few weeks seemed to pass in a bit of a quick fury as summer slowly started to change into fall. With Belle starting at the Institute and my workload increasing due to staffing issues and an increase in crime in the Capital, plus having to deal all the lawyers surrounding Belle's case it seemed like we had very little time for each other. I was often working 10-11 hours a day on field visits and therefore having to spend more time at night and on the weekends updating the crime database at home.
While I was used to such work coming and going and was able to stifle my fatigue and loneliness due to my years of military training and discipline, I failed to see the effect it had on Belle. That is until one evening where after getting home late and bolting down a quick dinner I was back at my desk in the lab. I, as per usual at this point, was ignoring the fatigue in my body as I worked to get the crime databases up to date. Belle suddenly appeared in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
"Are you going to be in here all night again?" She asked with a tone of frustration in her voice.
Still not picking up on the whole situation I said simply, "Unfortunately yes. I've still got a lot to get put into the crime database."
"All you do when you get home is spend your time in here working on that stupid database." she said in a sad yet also frustrated voice.
Normally I would have been able to react to her complaint with a calm, logical response but I guess the fatigue that I was trying my best to suppress combined with my own frustrations over the situation pushed its way to the surface and made me respond in a less than congenial way.
I took the file I was holding in my hand and slapped it down on the desk none to gently as I looked up at her fully for the first time since she appeared. "This is my job." I said with irritation. "I don't have an 8-5 job where you can leave it behind until the next day especially when we're two analysts short right now."
Far from being assuaged by my argument she quickly replied, "I get that you have a hard job, but in case you've forgotten you have a girlfriend now."
Now I was really getting irritated when I shot back, "How could I forget when I had to spend 3 flippin hours being grilled by that slimeball lawyer representing your ex-boyfriend and 3 hours before that being grilled by Wells?! All that time didn't help me with all this damn work either."
I continued, "And if that wasn't enough of a reminder then there's the latest bill from Wells for his services." I reached into an inbox on the far corner of the desk and pulled out the bill Wells had sent and held it up. "It's the job that you don't like that's paying Wells and for this house." I added pointedly.
"Oh, so it's my fault we can't spend any time together!" she shot back angrily. "Well, I'm sorry for being such a pain!" she added before quickly turning and walking out of the lab. A few seconds later I heard the front door open and close. I walked to the window and peered through the blinds and saw Belle at the end of the driveway turn left and walk down the sidewalk. I briefly thought of going after her but then figured it was best if we both cooled off before trying to talk to each other again.
I picked up the file I was working on and went back to work and as I did, I felt the anger that she had boiled up in me quickly beginning to subside. With a calmer mind I realized that she did have a point that about 90 percent of my free time was being spent in the lab.
About an hour later I was still working and finally feeling like I was making some headway when I heard the front door open and close again. A few seconds later Belle appeared in the doorway this time with a pensive somber look on her face.
"Robbie." she said shyly.
"Hi Love." I said gently as I laid the file down, this time much more gently, that I was working on.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." she said. I could tell she was holding back tears, so I got up and wrapped my arms around her.
"I'm sorry too." I said as I held her. "I shouldn't have taken my frustrations out on you."
We moved over and sat down on the sofa as Belle said, "It's just been so lonely lately. All we do is work and come home and you're in here until you get in bed."
"One of the reasons I'm so good at my job is that I'm practically a workaholic." I told her. "It's never really been a problem until now for obvious reasons. Military training and discipline have taught me to push fatigue and frustration to the back of my mind. I promise I didn't neglect you on purpose and if you start to feel like this again, I want you to tell me sooner." She nodded gently as I finished talking.
"I think I'm done working for tonight." I said as I stood up. "I think our favorite old show is on tonight. How about you cut the tv on and I'll scrounge us up some desert."
Belle grinned widely at me as she said, "Ok."
We had just enough ice cream left for me to make a couple of banana splits as Belle confirmed that our favorite 70's sci-fi monster of the week show was indeed on. Her eyes widened in surprise and glee as I appeared at her side holding the bowl of ice cream out for her.
"There's the Robbie I remember." she said. "Always spoiling me."
"And there's the Belle I remember." I shot back.