A/N: For helpful references, let's say that Greg and Morgan have been dating since before the events of Skin in the Game.

Disclaimer: I don't actually own CSI, because if I did, Greg and Morgan would have been dating a long time ago.

He sat on his sofa, staring absently at the television screen. This had become his routine before going to bed. Eat, grab a drink out of the fridge, and stare at the screen for nearly an hour before going to bed. It never mattered. He would never be able to get out those images from his head.

They haunted him. Every moment of time where she wasn't there. The sight of her lying there on the ground, broken and bleeding. No, she wasn't broken. She was still that strong woman that he'd fallen in love with. She was still as fiery and fiercely independent as she was before the kidnapping. But it was that same independence and strength that was causing her troubles. Everyone was trying to help her transition back from the trauma. She would refuse insisting that everything was fine. Even when it was just the two of them on their dates, she wouldn't open up about it. She was clamming up. She wouldn't even allow him to walk her to the door of her apartment anymore. He understands, somewhat, but he misses kissing her goodnight.

There is a knocking on his door and his face reflects his confusion. Who could that be? It couldn't be any of his neighbors. They all knew that he worked graveyard, so they wouldn't be disturbing him in the morning. Unless it was an absolute emergency,

The door knocks again. Sighing he sets down his drink and walks towards his front door. He vaguely thinks about putting a shirt on, but the persistence of the knocking quickly shoos that thought away. Whoever is at his door needs his attention now and doesn't seem to want to wait.

He opens the door and stares gaping.

It's Morgan.

"Hey, uh, Greg. May I come in?" She asks quietly.

It takes him a moment to realize he needs open his mouth and speak.

"Yeah, absolutely. Of course. Come on in." He pulls the door open wider and gestures a hand for her to come in.

"Thanks."

She walks in with a bit of hesitancy. There's a small flinch as he shuts the door behind her. He walks to her side and offers to talk her coat. She refuses.

"Alright. Why don't you take a seat? I'm sorry about the mess. I wasn't really expecting guests," he tries apologizing.

"It's alright. I wasn't even sure that I was going to be coming here today." She sat on the only armchair that he had in the apartment. It happened to be his favorite place to sit.

"What do you mean?" Greg sat on the sofa, drink abandoned. He fought a growing blush when he realized that he was only in his pajama pants and his robe was still in the bathroom.

Morgan looked up at her companion's face and fresh tears danced in her blue eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She closed it and tried again. Her lower lip quivered for a moment before the dancing tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks in fat drops. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

"Morgan?" Greg was concerned. She hadn't shown this much emotion in a long time. He looked at her seeing what he could see.

She was wearing the same blue and white coat that she had been when she was taken. She had told him that it was her favorite coat before she had gotten out of the car for the switch. He hadn't seen her wear it since he - they - had gotten her back.

"Morgan? Baby what's wrong?" He asked.

She pulled her face from her hands and only looked at Greg. He was surprised at how different she looked. Her face was still the same; there were still the lovely blue eyes that made him feel like he was drowning, the blonde curls that wrapped round her round face. But something wasn't the same. Her blue eyes never stayed in one spot for many seconds. She behaved as a cornered animal would.

Which was why he was so surprised when Morgan suddenly moved from her seat on the recliner, pushed him deep into the sofa he sat on, and kissed him passionately.

He was surprised, but not complaining. He'd wanted to do this exact same thing for a long, long time. But out of respect for her, he never did. There hadn't been a right time; she wasn't ready for it yet.

And now she was giving him what he wanted, she was here, and he didn't want it. A part of him still wanted it, but he knew something wasn't right. The night before she barely let him hug her, and now she was all over him with intentions that didn't need any deciphering.

"Morg-Morgan!" He said pushing her off of him and on to a cushion next to him. "What are you doing?"

She shook her head and took off her coat. Underneath she was wearing the same dress as she was when she was captured. Well, not the same dress, that one was in the evidence locker shredded from the killer's attempts to get it off of her. Slowly, she reached behind her and unzipped the dress. When she moved her hands back to the front to slip the straps off of her shoulders, he grabbed her wrist gently. She flinched.

"Morgan, what are you doing?" He asked gently. This wasn't healthy.

Tears still streamed down her face. Her sobs were shaking her whole body, and with her shaking hands she removed Greg's hand from her wrist.

"I need to do this. Let me do this."

Those were the words she said after proposing her idea to get on the inside.

Slowly he nodded and drew back. But not before he placed a gentle kiss on her hand. Morgan stood up and finished pulling off her dress. Greg made a mental check that all the drapes and blinds were shut. But his gaze never wavered from the woman he loved.

He had never seen her in such distress. Her pale body shook with each sob and tears dripped off her face and ran down the rest of her body. He wanted nothing more than to just get up and hug her. To soothe away those negative feelings.

Morgan knew Greg. She knew he loved her with his whole heart and would do anything to protect her. As she would him. And that was why she was doing this. For him. For her. For them. She knew in order for their relationship to progress, something needed to be done.

Images and feelings rushed her brain. The adrenaline of being in the same room as a suspect. The dread and unbelief as he told her to undress. The relief to get out of there. The terror as the ride back to safety turned deadly. The bondage. The beatings. The unspeakable evils. The relief when Greg and the other officers came busting through the doors. The guilt nothing could be done to save-

She didn't feel as her knees gave way. But Greg was there. Catching her and guiding her down to the sofa again. Tears still streamed down her cheeks. He hugged her close to his chest, uncaring that she was naked and he was halfway so. She needed a friend more than a lover at the moment. He petted her hair as he spoke softly.

"Morgan, it's alright. That's over. That's all over. You're safe. You're safe from him."

Eventually he stopped speaking and just let Morgan cling to him. For a smaller woman she had a very strong grip. Her tears ultimately ran dry and there were dry sobs. Those turned into hiccups. They still held each other.

Greg took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak.

"Morgan. This has been an emotional morning, for the both of us. Why don't you take a shower and wash away those memories? I'll lend you some clothes, so you don't have to wear that outfit again, is that alright?"

Morgan hiccupped once more, and nodded against his chest. She drew herself away and looked into Greg's face. He reached up and wiped the tears away from her cheeks. Then he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"This way to the bathroom." He held her hand and led her down the hall.

She didn't flinch away from his touch this time. She followed, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't in a while. She knew she made the right choice.

"I'll be in the living room when you're done. Uh, here." Greg offered her a pair of his sweatpants and a t-shirt he hadn't worn in a while and a towel. She offered him a slight smile in return and slipped into the bathroom.

Greg stood outside for a moment before turning to walk back into the living room. Even though at first he didn't understand just what Morgan was doing at the time, he understood now. He just hoped they wouldn't have to go through that again. Seeing her break down like that was heartbreaking.

He sat on the sofa before getting up and walking into his kitchen. His coffeepot still had coffee inside, he poured himself a cup. The flavor wasn't what he liked, it had been sitting too long. But it was hot and gave himself something to do.

Now that she was gone, he took the time to think about what transpired. The sight of her body rippled through his mind and try as he might, it wouldn't go away.

"Stop it," he muttered to himself. Morgan wasn't ready yet.

He didn't hear when the shower was turned off and the footsteps walking towards him.

"You lied."

"Huh?" His head jerked up to see Morgan standing in his sweats and shirt with dripping hair still.

"You told me that you would be in the living room. This doesn't look like the living room to me." She smirked at her teasing. It was only there for a moment before it faded again.

"I needed some coffee. It's past my bedtime you know." Greg winked at her.

"Oh, sorry. But you can't say that it was a waste of time." She raised her eyebrows and bit her lip.

Greg laughed. She was the better of the two at being subtle, but she was completely failing at the moment. He wrapped an arm around her and brought her into another hug. Her hair smelled like shampoo that she 'forgot' when her apartment building was being fumigated. Strawberries.

"You need sleep. That was an eventful hour we've just had. One doesn't expect you to just bounce back in one night. Let's take it slow. Okay?" He smiled down at his girlfriend.

She nodded. Secretly, she was relieved. No pressure pressing down on her. He had seen everything and she didn't feel like the prey of a vulture. He saw her fading bruises and winced with her. He didn't shy away. But one thing still bothered her.

"Would you sleep with me? I don't want to be alone," She whispered. "I don't want the nightmares to come back."

"Of course. I'll always be there for you."

He gently guided her to his bedroom and allowed her to lie underneath the covers. He grabbed a spare blanket and threw it over himself as he lay next to her. She snuggled closer to him. He reached around and pulled her close.

Quicker than he thought she would, Morgan fell asleep. Her rhythmic deep breaths lulled him almost to sleep. Before he could fall into those depths he managed to whisper.

"I love you Morgan. I would never hurt you."

Content his head rested on the back of his pillow. His eyes closed. It was really past the time he should be asleep. He was confident that Morgan was getting better. She would pull through. She was strong and independent. That was why he loved her.

"I know."

A/N: (again) What did you all think? So, Review and tell me what you think.