This FanFic was inspired by the song, "Devil's Backbone," which is on The Civil Wars' new, self-titled album. Though I do not own any of the characters or lyrics or anything like that, I wish I did because, well, that would be pretty sweet. Please review/leave comments below. This is just the first chapter and more will be explored and explained in the next ones to come.

Don't care if he's guilty, don't care if he's not

He's good and he's bad and he's all that I've got

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, I'm begging you please

Don't take that sinner from me

Oh don't take that sinner from me

"Devil's Backbone" – The Civil Wars

"Dex…"

"Deb," he said with his hands firmly on my arms, "it's going to be okay. We're…going to be okay. You've gotta trust me this is going to work. Just remember everything we discussed, okay?"

He pulled me close. His arms, though gentle around me, felt strong. Protective. I wrapped my arms around him, wishing and hoping that there was another way. Any other way. We stayed like that for a moment. Silently pressed together, our chests heaving in and out as we took long, exaggerated breaths. When he stepped back and took my hands off his neck, I saw, for the first time since he found me at that motel with Briggs, tears welling up and eventually falling from his eyes. Before either of us could say anything, I felt a tug on my shirt.

"Goodbye, Aunt Deb!" I reached down and scooped him up into my arms, maneuvering him slightly so he rested on my hip.

"Oh man, buddy…remember? We talked about this. It's not goodbye, it's just 'see ya soon!,'" Dexter said after he saw my reaction to my nephews innocent salutation.

"That's right, lil man. I'm gonna come meet up with you guys just as soon as you all get settled into your new house, okay?" Tears were rolling down my cheek and I pulled him in tighter, his small arms grabbing hold of me as he nuzzled into my chest.

Saying goodbye to the people I love has been a part of my life since I was a kid. Grandparents. Friends. Parents. Boyfriends. Each one took a part of me with them, and though I had always been praised for my strength and ability to rebuild and persevere, the truth was that so much of that courage and motivation was not internal in the least. I had meant what I had said to him all those years back. Dexter had been the one constantly good thing in my life. He gave me confidence and support and even after I learned the truth, he was still the glue that held my world together.

"Why are you crying, Aunt Deb?" His big brown eyes were fixated on me. My own were on Dexter.

"I'm just already missing you guys, that's all. But I promise, we'll see each other again real soon, okay?" I kissed him on the cheek and squeezed him one last time, breathing in the soft smell of his shampoo and that awful laundry detergent that Jamie bought.

I placed him down on the dock and watched as Dexter picked him back up and put him on the boat, instructing him to go into the cabin and get on his life-vest, so that we could have a "grown up conversation." Harrison happily obliged, stopping right before opening the door to give me another wave. I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding, and a slight sob. Bringing one hand to my mouth to muffle the sound, I waved back and watched as he entered the cabin and shut the door.

Once he was inside, I launched myself at Dexter, who, just as he had done so many times before, caught me in his embrace.

"Fuck, Dexter. I can't do this. What if it doesn't work? What if they find you? What if…"

"Deb. Deb. Slow down, it will work. I promise."

Taking a step back, I raised my head and leaned in. We stood there with our foreheads touching for a moment before his hands crept up to cup my face. It still amazed me how his hands had the ability to bruise. To kill. To heal. His touch was soft and with his thumbs, he wiped away the tears as they fell. He kissed my forehead, making me sob even more. With my body near convulsing, I reached up and grabbed his own face, crushing my lips to his. We had agreed that no one could know. Especially Harrison – though we said that once the dust had settled and we were there, we would tell him. At that moment though – I didn't care if he was watching from the porthole in the cabin. Or if anyone else was for that matter. I just hoped that he wouldn't push me away. Our few short and quick staccato kisses led up to the most deeply passionate kiss I had ever had with anyone. He was the one who broke it off, which was probably for the best because had we been anywhere else – neither one of us would have been able to contain ourselves. He kissed me once more on the cheek before speaking.

"I'll call you as soon as we get there. In the mean time, you get everything else in order. We'll be waiting for you." A smile appeared as he said that last line.

"Jesus, Dex. Just…fucking be careful, okay? If shit goes wrong, you better fucking tell me, okay?"

"I promise."

"Okay, good." I stood there knowing I had to say goodbye, but I just couldn't.

"Deb, I love you. We'll see you in one month, okay?" I honestly wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure himself or me with that last part.

"I love you too. I'll see you in one fucking month."

He climbed aboard the boat and entered the cabin he had sent Harrison to. I watched them both emerge and stared as Harrison took a seat next to Dexter, who began backing away from the dock. As the boat turned and began moving away, I couldn't help but wonder and worry if our plan would work. I slipped off my sandals and sat at the edge of the dock, staring as the boat shrank as it got farther and farther away. I closed my eyes and started counting to ten. I reached in my pocketbook, which I had placed on the dock when we got there and knocked back two small white pills. Frank Lundy had once told me that to escape the chaos around him, he listened to classical music. But not even Mozart's symphonies could drown out the beating of my heart, the sobs escaping my mouth, and the sound of the waves crashing. Fuck knows I'm not exactly religious, but I couldn't help but just take a moment to look up at the cloudless blue sky and say a "prayer" to whatever or whoever was up there.

Don't care if he's guilty, don't care if he's not

He's good and he's bad and he's all that I've got

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, I'm begging you please

Don't take that sinner from me

Oh don't take that sinner from me