Theodore was not working especially late at the clinic, but his hours were later than they had been the previous year. Tracey knew this already, of course, and he had been enjoying anticipating her coming over in the evenings sometimes, ever since he'd changed the wards. Not that he expected her to come over every evening, of course, but it was always a pleasant surprise when she did.
He stayed a little while afterward with Amanda to negotiate the lightening of both their schedules, somehow - being with Tracey made him want to have more time in which he was not working. It had been a long time - actually, it had never happened that he had anything that he was more passionate about doing than working, and it was a nice change.
When he arrived home, he didn't realize she was there immediately. The lights were still off, and the fire wasn't lit in the fireplace, though he didn't think she should have any hesitation about settling into his home as if it were hers as well. He turned on the lights as he came up the stairs and entered the living room, and started when he saw her sitting on the couch.
"Tracey," he said, concern filling him as he took in her expression. "Why were you sitting here in the dark? What's wrong?"