This chapter is ridiculously short. I apologize. And there will be perhaps another two chapters following this. I really, really don't want to drag this out, but this chapter needed to be the way it was.

And how about that episode last night? So cute, right? I'm glad they did manage to address the issue between them, even though it was really briefly. At least it's not being ignored, right?

She had no idea what she was doing.

It was six o'clock in the morning, and she was standing in front of her closet staring at her options for the day, wondering what on earth she should wear. It was more than that, though, it was everything. This was just the small start to a world of troubles that she could see brewing. If she wore something boring, what signal would that send? But if she went for flashy, or something that showed too much skin, she wouldn't be doing herself justice either. What would Angela do in a situation like this?

To top it off, of course, was the fact that she was actually terrified of just going to work today at all. What if he brought her a case, and acted like everything was completely normal? What if he came by, and everything was just horrible between them, entirely? What if she didn't say the right thing?

What if he just didn't come at all?

There was no positive side ahead, as far as she could see.

Finally she just grabbed a green top with a low v-neck, and wore a white camisole underneath. Tan pants. Her usual dark shoes—the heels weren't ridiculously high, but they gave her an extra inch and a half that she appreciated. It would help to be eye-to-eye with him, literally as well as figuratively.

If he even came today.

What would she do if he didn't? Was it reasonable to go to his office, or should she avoid that route altogether? Should she wait for him to come to her, or should she go directly to him first?

After all, there was quite a large portion of her that was still desperate to know that he needed her. That he wanted her to change. That he didn't expect everything from her, when she knew she couldn't give it to him. She needed his help. That was all she wanted... to just know that he wanted to try, but try with her. And the night before... he hadn't been willing to wait. Would he ever be willing to wait? Or was the fact that she wasn't... good enough for him... would that just make this entirely impossible?

And what would happen to everything else, if this did work out? They wouldn't be able to work together anymore, and that was the bulk of their relationship. How often would they even see each other? Would she still feel the same way? She'd never known anything different with him around... the adjustment would take quite some time.

She was willing to try, though. She wished he could see it. It was just that... what if she did end up hurting him, in the end? She had never had a successful relationship, all her life. Her parents, her brother, every short term boyfriend she'd had, Sully... they were all failures. How could she bear to lose him entirely if things didn't go well?

And what about their partnership? Would he be sent off to another section of the FBI, with a new partner? Would she get a new partner, or would they just send her back to working in Limbo?

The sacrifices up ahead were terrifying.

But the reward was breathtaking, if it worked out.

She wanted this. More than anything she'd ever wanted before. And that fact should have been enough to terrify her all over again.

As it turned out, he didn't come to the Jeffersonian at all that day. He didn't call. Or email. Cam and Angela said they hadn't had any contact with him. The fact that she'd asked at all had been humiliating, with Cam at least, and the sympathy in her boss's eyes hadn't helped matters. She wasn't sure how Cam was even aware of the situation, but clearly she was. Not like it mattered anyways. Who really cared if everyone knew? All that mattered now was the overall outcome.

He didn't come to see her the next day. Not a word. Part of her wondered if this was some sort of test. Or punishment. Or maybe he just didn't want to be around her at all anymore. Maybe she'd broken his heart, and unlike her, he hadn't found a way to push through it and find a point to reach for. Maybe he was just broken entirely, and not willing to do a thing about it.

Maybe he was hoping that she would just go away, so he could move on.

Maybe... maybe he just hated her.

He had no idea what to do. A large part of him wanted to see her, and to have things be totally normal. But he knew that wasn't going to happen. It wasn't possible.

It had already been two days, and he was losing hope entirely. He wondered if he should go to her, or keep waiting for her to come to him. She was the one who needed to make this choice before they could move forward... unless of course she really did want him to move on.

For God's sake, where was that fiery and independent woman he'd grown to love? She was the one who had to solve this; he had already told her he was willing to try this. If she wanted to fight for it, too, then she'd have come by now. Wouldn't she?

Or did she truly mean it when she told him she couldn't do this? Or maybe she was just too scared? He'd always been afraid she'd run... the fact that she didn't had meant something major. And she was still sticking around.

He... maybe if he just... checked on her. Figured out where she stood. He checked the clock. Nearly closing time... he didn't have any case to bring to her... but who cared? They would be getting ready to leave, and besides... she was more important than that, anyways.

And he had to know.

She had made up her mind.

The silence had been killing her, and she just hadn't been able to... handle it.

Every time the door opened, she looked up, desperately hoping that it was him who was striding confidently towards her, ready to talk, to ask her again... to just show her that he needed her as much as she needed him and he didn't actually want to move on. That he wanted to help her work through this, and learn how to be like him. To learn how to not end this badly.

Because if it ended with them both heartbroken... she didn't know how she would survive it.

So she did the only thing she knew how to do in this situation. She dragged Angela aside, gave her very specific instructions, made several promises, and then hurried out of the Jeffersonian, back to her apartment... and began to pack.

Hey, I said it was short. Next one will be up soon enough.

And for goodness sake don't panic about that last line. I promise that this will not become a horribly angsty story. I have something planned, and it's important for the overall story line.