Blake was exhausted after the long hours spent not knowing the fate of his boss. Emotions and tensions had run high in the State Department from the moment the Secretary landed in Iran, and they had been relieved when she was found alive. All Blake wanted was a hot shower and to fall into bed,tired after what felt like weeks at the office.

He had just showered and changed when he heard the knock on the door. He wasn't surprised to see Stevie standing there, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She threw herself at him causing his to stumble before wrapping her in his arms and kicking the door shut. Blake tried to guide her to the couch but she wasn't cooperating. As her body shook with the force of her sobs, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the couch.

Neither spoke a word as Blake settled on the couch, Stevie curling into his lap. Holding her, hearing and feeling her sobs was more than he could take. The emotions of the last few days finally caught up with him and feeling Stevie's tears soak into his shirt he allowed himself to cry with her.

Neither knew how long they stayed that way as their sobs quieted and their tears stopped. Blake became aware that he was currently rubbing circles on her back and that hers were in his hair but it felt too good to stop. Stevie looked up from his chest to meet his gaze and what she saw in his eyes shocked her. He wanted her. She tentatively leaned in and brushed her lips against his, causing Blake to freeze for a moment before returning her kiss. He kissed her softly at first before deepening the kiss. It quickly became passionate, his hand gently capturing her cheek and pulling her further into him. Stephanie shifted in his lap so that she was now straddling his legs. She could feel his desire pressing against her stomach.

Blake ran his hand under her sweater caressing her stomach and slowly moving up to caress the underside of her breast eliciting a moan from Stevie, hearing her moan brought him back to his senses and reality crashing back around suddenly broke the kiss and just stared at her. Stevie immediately saw the regret in his eyes.

"Stephanie we can't do this, as much as I want to. God knows I want nothing more than to take you to my bed and make love to you all night. Stephanie I have wanted you for months, ever since that first time you fell asleep in my arms. But your mom is my boss and we need to be smart about this."

Stephanie sighed and laid her head against his shoulder, knowing he was right.

"I know. Of course you're right. I just I want you and this feels so right."

Stephanie reluctantly climbed off his lap and took a few steps away to distance herself.

"What do we do now Blake?"

Blake stood and walked over to her wrapping her in his arms.

"I honestly don't know. I love having you in my life and I love spending time with you. I'm always going to be here for you Stephanie."

Stevie was devastated, even accepting the reasons they couldn't be together didn't change her feelings. She pulled away from him and said goodbye, leaving the apartment without looking back.

Blake's heart broke watching her walk out the door fearing she had walked out of his life forever.