Hi so I love this pairing and I wanted to continue it so here is another little one shot.

I really want to expand this story (maybe about 20 chapters) but I really need prompts to do that-it can be angsty, fluffy, episode related-whatever you guys want so please send them in...

Disclaimer-I own nothing

And please let me know what you think

How To Save A Life

A Series of One shots (hopefully) in which Dutchy and Bird attempt to overcome difficulties in their relationship. Established Dutchy/Bird

Chapter 1-We Need To Talk

Dylan had been on the end of his more shares of that message, he knew what it meant and what it connotes. He's been on his end of a fair shake of break ups and he's sent this text enough times to know the damage that it can do.

Call him conceited but he had never really thought of himself as the type to get that text message.

And certainly not from Jess.

That right there and then had been his most arrogant move ever. It had been the worst thing he could have ever have done and it was enough to make him sick now he was on the receiving end of it.

But God this was Jess. This was the one woman who despite the differences between them had made him feel alive. Jessica had taken the whole of his insecurities and scars and wiped them clean like he had become a new person. She was the reason why he woke up nightmare free and with a smile on his face for the first time in the last ten years and the thought that it could all be coming to an end made him physically sick.

But really he wasn't that surprised he thought leaning in his rack on the day that they were due to come into port. Jess had been at home for the last couple of days and therefore the time that they had had was special, the three days were the only time they had to spend together until Christmas when they were all together again.

But now it looked like everything was falling apart.

And it was just when he had got it all. When he had felt like he had won.

He laid back in his rack again feeling sick, feeling burning tears in his eyes.

Damn.

The one woman he had really let himself fall for.

But that night he thought, he really thought, was he really worth it for Jess? He knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was it for him but was it the same?

She was young and stunning and had a promising career. Did she really need him getting in the way of that? Did he really want to be the reason why Jessica never got a chance to do things because she was stuck with him? The hunk of muscle that other than his brawn didn't have anything else to offer her.

Hell the age gap (while she claimed it had never been a big problem to her) was a problem for him, and there was the fact that he had nothing to offer her…hell other than the Navy he was nothing.

So when he finally stepped off the ship it was with a cloud of self-loathing surrounding him, making every step he took feel like a marathon.

He really was quite proud of himself when he managed to get all the way back to his apartment without crying hysterically.

Dutchy knew at the end of the day it would all end. Everything good that had ever happened to him always ended. Why should he delude himself by thinking this was anything different?

But damn it hurt…it hurt much more than anything he had ever felt.

He wasn't that surprised to see Jess on his couch when he got home, they had taken to going to the other's apartment in order to surprise the other.

It was generally his since his was bigger due to his status but still it was like another bullet to the ribs because Jess looked like she belonged there. In his home.

She was asleep, spread on her back her long legs stretched over the ends, she had one hand gently over her stomach and her other was curled around her head her eyes closed. There was something around her that seemed so peaceful and Dylan slipped into the chair next to her feeling nothing but exhausted.

He really didn't want this to end.

"Hey" came a quiet voice and he looked up to see Jess watching him her eyes still sleep ridden. "Hey" he said unable to stop his face twisting into a grin and coming closer to him his eyes wide and vulnerable coming closer to sit next to her.

Damn he was a pure example of machoism.

Jess smiled crawling into his lap and Dutchy closed his eyes letting the scent of strawberries and vanilla wash over him "I'm glad your home" she whispered and Dylan swallowed bitterly.

"Are you?" he asked and Jess frowned pulling away to perch on the coffee table, "Of course I am" she said looking shocked and Dutchy swallowed bitterly the knot in his throat increasing.

"What's wrong?" she asked and Dutchy bit his lip hating himself for feeling this empty. "I don't know" he confessed "You're the one that wanted to talk"

Jessica nodded "So?" she said and Dutchy let out a hollow laugh. "I know" he swallowed looking down at his hands "I know I'm not the best option that you can have, I know I'm not the best person for you but God Jess if you let me I swear to God I will try and make it work, I can change and before you tell me it's useless I promise you that it's not despite the age gap I can change for you…"

He was cut off from what seemed to be his last desperate attempt by Jess who had leaned over to pull him into a hug. "I'm not dumping you Dyl" she said and Dutchy half sobbed in relief letting his chin drop onto Jessica's shoulder.

After a moment of being curled against his girlfriend's neck Dylan pulled back unable to stop the confusion sweeping through his veins.

"Why did you say you needed to talk?" he asked and Jess gave an audible gulp. "Well when I was on shore leave I began to get sick" she looked down at her hands and Dutchy paused. While it hadn't been what he had been expecting, it was still enough to make him feel sick because if she wasn't leaving him in that sense then maybe she was leaving him in a another sense…

"Jess" he said but she shook her head cutting him off without even speaking.

"I'm not dying or anything" she said pausing before standing up and pacing the length of his living room. Dylan watched her with wary eyes before standing up himself, "Jessica" he said sternly and she turned to look at him.

"Dyl I'm Pregnant" she said finally and Dutchy nearly stumbled forwards his ears ringing.

She was what?

"You're…?" and Jess nodded watching him with a nervous expression that increased as Dutchy paused.

A child. A little bit of him and Jess, some solidary goodness in the dark world. Someone who would be dependent on him.

Without even thinking about it, he reached out swinging his girlfriend up into his arms and spinning her around "I love you" he whispered kissing her again and again bubbles of carefree laughter escaping his throat for the first time since the taskforce in the Gulf.

"I love you" he said smiling gently and the relief seemed to seep into Jess leaving her boneless against him.

Settling back onto the couch pulling Jess (and now their baby) with her Dutchy let her snuggle up close letting her rest her head against him, her shirt (which is actually his) creating friction against his neck.

"I love you" she said smiling against his shoulder and Dutchy smiled back unable to stop the swirling emotions running rampant throughout his body. "I love you to" he whispered back his hand cradling her flat stomach, "And I love you as well" he whispered to his unborn child before pressing a kiss into Jessica's hair.

"Are you happy?" she asked twisting to look at him and Dylan nodded unable to stop grinning like an idiot. "I have you and we are having a baby, how can I not be happy?"

And right there and then cuddled on the couch with his girlfriend and baby locked in their own private bubble Dutchy realised that that was true.

He had never been happier.

And Reviews are always welcome... Prompts even more so