Dreams On Wings
Nora Centric
Inspired by the prompt " She hadn't seen him in ten years, and as she stood outside his door, she seriously questioned the wisdom of being there."
A/N: In this story, Bo and Nora did not break up over Sam...there was no Sam. lol.

Chapter One

She stared at the door for a good ten minutes before finally gathering the courage to knock. The rain had been coming down hard now and she was probably chilled to the bones...but she couldn't feel it. She couldn't feel anything but the fear that crept up when he opened the door...She hadn't even realized she was holding her breath until he had stepped aside for her to walk in.

About a million different questions ran through her mind but she couldn't think of a single one at this moment...not when he was looking at her with those big blue eyes that always seemed to mesmerize her before...the reason she had left rather then stay here and know she could never get lost in them again. Why did she think this was a good idea? He couldn't help her...nobody really could.

"I'm sorry to just drop in on you like this...It's been too long hasn't it?"

There was a brief pause as he studied her face...studied the secret places he used to know by heart...the places he was pretty sure he didn't have a clue about anymore. "You know you're always welcome," he finally said, then kicked himself because he knew damn well that wasn't always the case.

"Once upon a time that was true...once upon a time..."

Her voice cracked and she was suddenly turning away. "Would you mind terribly if I used your bathroom? I don't know what's wrong with me? I need a moment."

"It's the first door on the right...and Nora, you don't have to worry...there's nobody here."

"You mean you're not seeing anyone," she asked, before she could stop herself, and then kicked herself for forgetting that they weren't exactly friends anymore. "I'm sorry. That was a stupid question. I have no right to ask that."

"Maybe not but...but I have no problem answering. There's nobody in my life Nora...there hasn't been in a really long time."

"I'm sorry Bo...I...I shouldn't have come. I don't know what made me think I could do this. We're not exactly friends anymore."

He watched her rush off in the direction of the bathroom. He was grateful that she hadn't left yet but he couldn't help but wonder what made her show up after all these years...and why she was so obviously hurting.

She sat against the wall in the bathroom, silent tears falling from her face. She could still hear her doctor's words ringing in her head. "If I were you, I would get your effects in order. We're going to do everything we can for you but the cancer has spread much faster then we hoped...if there are any goodbyes you need to say...any amends you need to make...."

Amends...how was she supposed to make amends with him? There had been too much water under the bride...too many broken promises...and...

She took out the picture of the only sonogram she ever had...a week before their child had died in her womb...months before their marriage had crashed and burned when their grief consumed them...It was too late to go back now...too late to fix what had gone wrong?

She was practically shaking when he knocked softly on the door. "Nora would you just open the door? I'm worried about you. You said before that we weren't friends...that's not true..."

"Of course it's true...It's always been true...and I really don't blame you for hating me...I would hate me too...Hell, I still do..."

" I don't hate you...I never did...and If you don't open the door, you're going to leave me with no choice but to kick it down...now open the door."

He was preparing himself for battle when she suddenly opened it...her eyes still red and puffy from the tears that now ran down her cheeks.

"You need to hear this Nora," He said. "I never blamed you for the death of our child...It wasn't your fault...I don't know why you left without giving me the chance to tell you that but I'm telling you now. It wasn't your fault."

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"It does to me..."

"Don't you get it Bo...none of this will matter in a few months...That's why I came back...I came back to try and make amends with you and everyone else that I hurt before I'm not around to do it anymore..."

"What are you saying Nora?"

"Forget it...I already said too much...I don't know how to tell you this...I can't...I can't do this now...I'm sorry I bothered you."

She was out the door before he could even tell her that it was never a bother. When he couldn't stop her, he did the one thing he could still do...he made sure she was safe. Picking up the phone, he spoke to his best detective. "Please make sure my ex wife gets home safe...she just showed up here and she's a wreck...thanks."

He hung up the phone and turned out the lights...it would be another sleepless night for him...he would be haunted by her words. "What's going on with you Red? What's got you so tortured?"

It was then that the cold reality hit him..."No...No, it can't be true...You can't be dying."

Nora walked into the dark hotel room and collapsed on the bed, tears still burning her eyes as she let it all out. She had come here to tell Bo the truth...to somehow make amends with him before she died...but she couldn't seem to find the words...what good would words do anyways...words couldn't make her well again...words couldn't mend the broken hearts that beat in both their chests...words couldn't do a damn thing.

A moment later, she got up and walked slowly to her purse. She took out the pamphlets her doctor had given her but she had refused to read...and she had to sit down when the fatigue washed over her. Silently she read the big bold letters with shaky hands, trying to prevent an onslaught of vomit- TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR STAGE III BREAST CANCER.