“We use this and this project should be done in no time,” Melanie says proudly, her hands on her hips. Gwen hums, looking over the computer screen again.
“Good work. Keep it up and we might just get this done within a couple of months.” Gwen says and Melanie beams. Out of the corner of her eye, Gwen sees Melanie glance over at Alison, who gives her a bright smile and a thumbs up. Gwen’s watch beeps twice and she looks at it.
“Time to go home, guys.” She says and Joseph breathes a sigh of relief.
“Finally.” He says and Alison scoffs.
“Not like you got anything done.” She reprimands and Joseph doesn’t respond, ignoring her words as he leaves the room. Alison glances at Melanie, frowning.
“What’s going on with him? Usually, he says something back, but lately…” Her voice dies in her throat and a hand flies up to cover her mouth. Alison’s eyes shift to Gwen, who meets them with a steady gaze.
“He really… He does still love me. Right?” Alison asks and Gwen nods in answer.
“I told you he did.” Melanie moves to stand next to Alison, who looks at her.
“Melanie, I don’t--” Melanie shakes her head, smiling.
“It’s fine.” Alison frowns and is about to speak when Joseph appears in the doorway, his jacket replacing his lab coat.
“Might wanna see this.” He says, looking at Gwen. She nods and follows him out of the room, stopping by her locker to put her lab coat away and grab her jacket. She pulls it on, following Joseph outside, finding way more protesters than earlier.
“There she is! Gwendolyn! Gwendolyn, can you answer some questions about Project Phoenix?” A reporter yells, holding out a microphone. Gwen steels herself and pushes the microphone away, walking down the steps, Joseph and the others following quickly behind.
“Stop Project Phoenix! Cloning is immoral! Do you even know what you’re doing?” Someone yells and another reporter stops Gwen in her tracks, shoving a microphone in her face.
“Tell us about Project Phoenix.” Gwen grits her teeth.
“No comment.” She snarls and pushes the reporter away, pulling her car keys from her pocket.
“Just one question!” She reaches her car and unlocks it, slipping inside. She pulls the door shut quickly, making sure everyone else is in their cars before starting the engine. She waits, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel while the others drive away. Her phone rings before she can put the car in gear and she answers.
“Hello?”
“Hey, you on your way home?” Harvey asks and Gwen nods, watching the crowd swarm around Reginald as he leaves the building.
“Yeah. I barely made it past all the protesters and reporters.” Harvey sighs.
“The crowd got worse, didn’t it?”
“Yeah. It was huge when we got out of work. I’ll be home soon, Harvey. Talk to you then.”
“Alright. Love you. Drive safe.”
“Will do.” She hangs up and puts the car in gear, seeing Reginald slip into his car with reporters crowding around him, microphones waving. Gwen shakes her head and drives out of the lot, pausing before turning onto the road.
---
“I’m home.” She calls, shutting the door behind her. She kicks off her shoes and hangs up her jacket, hearing soft footsteps. Harvey appears, drying his hands on a dishtowel.
“Hey.” He says, smiling. She smiles back and walks over to him, kissing his cheek.
“How was work?” She asks and he shrugs, draping the towel over his shoulder.
“Could’ve been better.” He says, his voice quiet. Gwen swallows and takes his hands.
“You did what you could, right?” Harvey nods.
“Yeah, but… If we had gotten there just a little bit sooner, maybe…” He sniffles and pulls a hand from hers, wiping his face. Gwen squeezes his hand and lifts her free hand to his face, cupping his cheek.
“You did all you could do. It’s not your fault, Harv.”
“He was just a kid, Gwen. He… I’ve washed my hands so many times but I still feel like his blood is still there.” Harvey whispers, his voice shaking. Gwen pulls her hands away and hugs him tightly, pressing her ear to his chest, hearing his heartbeat. Harvey hugs her back, hiding his face in her hair, shaking in her arms.
“He was just a kid.” He repeats, his voice muffled.
“What happened to him?” Gwen asks and Harvey lets out a shaky breath, hugging her tighter.
“Hit and run. If we had gotten there sooner, if we had been there… Maybe we would’ve saved him.” Harvey sobs and Gwen bites her lip, looking up at him, seeing tears rolling down his cheeks.
“It’s ok. Let it out, Harvey.” Gwen soothes, rubbing his back gently. Harvey sniffles and lifts a hand to wipe his face.
“I’m ok, it just… He was a kid.” He says again and Gwen nods.
“What’s important is that you did your best to save him. You did everything you could to help him.” Harvey sniffles and pulls his arms away from her, wiping his face with a sigh.
“Yeah. I just… His family must be devastated.” Gwen hums and takes one of his hands.
“Let’s get ready for bed, Harvey.” He nods and lets her lead him through the house, into the bedroom. She drops his hand and turns to face him, reaching up to cup his face.
“You’re ok. You’re an amazing person for doing what you do every day. I’m so grateful for you.” She whispers and Harvey snorts, pressing their foreheads together, his hands on her hips.
“I’m grateful for you.” He says and smiles, brushing a strand of hair away from Gwen’s cheek.
“I missed you today.” He murmurs and Gwen hums.
“Missed you too.” She breathes and Harvey shifts, pressing his lips to her forehead.
“No matter where we are, whether we are millions of miles apart or steps away, I’m always here for you, Lynn. I’ll do anything for you, to make you happy.” Gwen searches his face, smiling.
“You being here and being with me is more than enough to make me happy, love.” She whispers and Harvey grins down at her, one of his hands moving up to cup her cheek.
“How was work?” He asks and Gwen purses her lips.
“I’d rather not talk about that shitshow.” Harvey snorts, clamping down on the laugh.
“That bad?”
“You heard the news. Someone told the media and there were reporters and protesters everywhere. It was chaos. Reginald said we can’t do shit about it because we don’t have the money to pay everyone to keep quiet about it.” Gwen grumbles and Harvey kisses her forehead again.
“Damn. That sucks.” Gwen hums in agreement and shifts closer to Harvey, leaning against his chest, her eyes shut.
“Tell me about it.” Harvey presses a kiss to the top of her head.
“C’mon. Let’s get in bed. Go change into your pajamas.” Gwen hums and gently pushes away from Harvey, her fingers tangling in his shirt.
“Gwen… C’mon.” He says, gently pulling her fingers from his shirt.
“Harvey… Can I ask you something?” She asks and Harvey nods.
“Yeah, of course.” Gwen nods and takes a breath, collecting her thoughts before speaking.
“What’s your opinion on what I’m doing?” She asks and Harvey blinks, frowning.
“What do you mean?” He asks and Gwen moves to the closet, changing into her pajamas.
“I mean, with Project Phoenix. What do you think about it?” She turns, seeing Harvey’s back as he tugs off his shirt. She turns away again, staring into the closet while she waits for an answer.
“I don’t know, Gwen. I mean… Sure, cloning is wrong but… It’s for a good reason, isn’t it?” He asks and Gwen shrugs, shutting her eyes.
“I… I don’t know. I’m just scared that… I was scared that once I’d told you what Project Phoenix was, that you’d…” Her throat closes up and she can’t force out the words.
“I’m not leaving you because of your work,” Harvey says, his voice right behind her. One of his arms slides around her waist and tugs her back against his chest, the other gently tugging her hair from the ponytail. He brushes her now free hair over her shoulder and presses a kiss to the back of her neck, making her shiver.
“I’m not going anywhere, Gwen. I love you, so much, and just because the lab you work at has taken on some project that might challenge a few dozen ethics, I’m not going to leave you.” He breathes and Gwen lets out a sigh, relaxing in his arms.
“I’m sorry, I just…” Gwen trails off, Harvey pressing a kiss to her shoulder.
“No need to be sorry, Lynn. You didn’t do anything wrong. Not in my eyes, anyway. C’mon. Let’s get in bed. It’s late.” Gwen hums and turns in Harvey’s arms, not wanting him to let go. He chuckles and lifts her into his arms with a soft grunt, cradling her to his chest. Gwen sighs and rests her head against his shoulder, keeping her eyes closed. She feels the mattress against her back as Harvey sets her down and snaps her eyes open, grabbing his shirt collar before he can move away. He lets out a startled noise and presses his hands into the mattress by her shoulders, holding himself up.
“Gwen, what’re you--” She cuts him off, tugging him down into a gentle kiss, holding his shirt tightly in her hands, her nails biting into the fabric. Harvey doesn’t protest, kissing her back gently, one of his hands moving to cup her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin. She pulls back with a soft gasp, trying to regain her breath. Harvey kisses her forehead, lips pressing against her forehead for a couple of seconds before he straightens and moves away, turning off the light. The bed dips as he climbs under the covers and he gently grabs her hips, tugging her to his chest, kissing her temple. Harvey lets out a breath against her cheek, hugging her close.
“I love you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” He breathes and Gwen snorts.
“Even kill someone?” She asks and Harvey pauses before answering.
“Depends on what the person did, but yeah. Even that.” He murmurs, kissing her cheek. Gwen turns onto her side and sets her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat under her fingertips. She taps her fingers against his chest along with the beat and lets out a breath, leaning her forehead against his shoulder.
“You’re really warm.” She says, her voice a hushed whisper.
“So are you,” Harvey replies, an arm draped over her waist.
“My parents are coming for a visit next week.” He says and Gwen frowns.
“Since when?” She asks and Harvey swallows.
“Since today. Sorry I didn’t tell you in any of my calls. I was distracted.” He says sheepishly and Gwen shakes her head.
“It’s ok. Guess we’ll have to clean the guest room up a bit.” Harvey hums.
“I can do that, I’m at the flower shop tomorrow and that’s it.” Gwen nods.
“Alright.” Harvey kisses her forehead.
“I’ll bring home some tiger lilies for you.” He whispers and Gwen feels her face grow warm.
“Thanks, but you don’t have to.” She mumbles, her face hidden in his shoulder.
“I want to. They’re your favorite and you should get them every day and I’m sorry that you don’t.” Harvey murmurs and Gwen frowns into his shoulder.
“It’s fine, Harvey. I don’t need them every day.” She says and he sighs.
“Alright, alright. We should sleep.” He says and Gwen hums, pulling her face from his shoulder to look up at him.
“Kiss?” She asks and he chuckles, kissing her gently. She hums against his lips and pulls away with a soft sigh.
“Goodnight, love. Sleep well and have sweet dreams.” She murmurs, snuggling against his chest.
“Same to you, Lynn. Sweet dreams.”
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