"Nadine, I want you in this" Tony said in the phone. He glanced down to se Michelle sitting at her desk, "because I need this to go smoothly. You're the best for the job" Tony was unsure of how to put it, he didn't usually have problems expressing himself, but this was one of those times. "Yeah, thanks" He hang up, and saw Michelle getting up from her station and walking towards his office.

Michelle had been waiting for him to get of the phone. She was just desperate to se him, it had been a week!

She opened the door and her gorgeous smile met him, he melted instantly.

"Hey you" he smiled.

"lunch?" she asked hopefully, he couldn't help but smile, she was so cute, so lively,

"yeah, why not" he got up from the chair,

"I'll be with you in a min, okay?" She smiled, and walked back down.

She almost attacked him the second they got clear of people's view. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He willingly kissed her back. As their lips parted he held her by the waist, and looked at her,

"I've missed you", she smiled and kissed him again, but only brief this time.

"I've missed you to, the place fucking stinks without you here! I hope you had a terrible time in New York, cuz I'm not letting you go back anytime soon" He smiled and pulled her inn for a hug.

They went to get lunch, and talked and laughed. The thought of what he would have to ask her to do was devastating. He had done everything he could, but it was out of his control. He was so afraid of what might happen to her, and he knew to well that she wouldn't even complain, she would go through with it. He pulled the thought away, and focused on her, today was all about her.

They finished up early at work that day, and went to his place. It was a simple, yet stylish apartment. She loved it from the second she walked inside the first time.

When he came out of the shower, she could her lying on his bed, with her laptop in front of her. She smiled as he came in. He looked at her screen, and laughed.

"you have serious problem woman" she put on an angelic face,

"whaat?"

"you're working! You just don't know when to quit do you" She rolled over, smiling, so that she was lying on her back, facing her, he pushed the laptop away. She laid there watching him for a while, with a smile on her face.

"it's so good to se you smile" he said, and stroke her face gently.

"it's good to have a reason to smile, she said"

"ohh, whats your reason?" he placed her hand on her arm and sat there listening.

"You, everything… It's just all falling into place now. You've changed my life dramatically, and you just make me happy, and you make everything else so much easier for me." Tony smiled,

"It makes me so happy to hear that, you deserve it, you're just so amazing, you know that, and I don't think anyone's ever made me as happy as you make me"

"aww, don't go soft on me here", she said, teasing. He tickled her, and she laughed and rolled around trying to escape him. She was so happy, so alive….

Later Michelle was lying in Tony's lap, on the coach. She was wearing a college sweater and thin flannel pants, she looked so cosy and sweet he couldn't help but stare. He was constantly brushing his hand over her hair.

"You seam distant…" She said. He touched her nose gently with a finger;

"I'm lost in you, that's all" he smiled.

"no, seriously" she laughed.

"It's nothing, I just haven't been home for a week, I haven't seen you for a week, I've been flying around all day, I'm just tired, yet glad to be home." she looked at him, and settled with the answer.

The last three weeks seamed like forever. But that day, it seamed like yesterday… CTU being bombed, those people dying, desperately kissing Tony in the hallway. In some ways, it seamed as if they were going to fast, but things had just kind of happened. After everything that had happened, being without him for the entire week had been difficult. Tony had been there for her through so much, and she felt herself falling deeply in love with him. She couldn't imagining going back to the life she'd had without him…

He could se her drifting off to sleep, and he just watched her. She looked so peaceful and pretty. He carefully carried her to his bed, and laid her down. She opened her eyes slightly as he put her down, and smiled.

"I'll be with you in a minute" he said and touched her briefly on the arm, then he went back out to turn of the lights.

She could feel him lying down beside her, and barely awake, she moved closer, and curled up in his embrace. In the few nights she had spent with him, she had become far to used to this, and couldn't imagine anything better.

Two days later, he broke the news. He called her station and asked her to come up to his office.

"Hey, sit down" he said, as she entered. He took the papers from his desk, walked around and leaned against the desk.

"You know about the operation against Ashrim right?" he asked,

"yeah, I haven't been working on it to much, but yeah, I know about it" He took a deep breath and continued.

"well, we've discussed it and, come to the conclusion that you'd have the best shot at getting it right" She nodded.

"Look, I've done what I can, but they've made up their mind" She bit her lip.

"I'll do it" His heart sank,

"It's my job, I'm qualified, and if you've come to the conclusion it's our best shot, I'll do it. Look, we both knew this would come, it's the way it is. We'll talk about it later" She got up from the coach.

"fine, the briefing is tomorrow, I'll tell them your inn."

They were both tense as they drove home from work that day. They had agreed that they would meet up later that day at her place.

When Tony got inside, he sat down on the coach, wondering if there was anything he hadn't done, anything that could change what was about to happen. He pulled himself together, grabbed something to eat, and got in the car.

She was sitting on the coach with her computer on her lap, and he saw her as he got out of the car, she looked at him and smiled, and he walked inside.

He walked up behind her, put his arms around her shoulders and kissed her on the top of the head.

"Hey, she said,

"we need to talk" he said.

"yeah, look, why don't we go out to the porch, I need some fresh air" she responded. The walked outside.

The porch on the back had view to the city underneath. Michelle stopped by the rail, and Tony wrapped her arms around her from behind as she leaned against him, resting her head on his chest.

"I wish every day was like this. "he said. He took a deep breath, and continued,

"I just want you to be safe, and I can't imagine you going undercover for Ashrim, I know what that guy is capable of, and if he smells something's up, your done" Michelle turned around facing him, as Tony loosened his grip on her, without letting go.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. It's my job, and you either fire me, or you let me do it. I know it's not easy for you, but it's the way it has to be."

He paused, and let go of her with one arm, gently stroking her hair back.

"I love you, I can't loose you, and the though of the risk in this, it's killing me" Her heart skipped at least one beat by the sound of those words. It was the first time he'd told her he loved her. He just needed to say it.

"I'll be okay, I'll come back to you, because I love you, and I won't leave you, I promise!" She sealed her promise with a tender kiss, and gently stroke his face.

"I will come back, always, because I have so much to come back for"

He felt warm, he felt terrified, but warm. He pulled her inn for a tight hug,

"You're so amazing, you know that?" he whispered. She smiled into his chest, and they stood there for a while, in a silent embrace.