Wow. I can't believe all the wonderful reviews for the last chapter :) love you all! I've just finished a course for my degree so hopefully more updates will be coming soon. This one contains a line from House (which I've repurposed) so credits to whoever wrote that one. It got to me today.

Mild warning for a little hint of violence but this is Aaron... who are we kidding?

If you like, please review :)


4

Nearly dying changes nothing. Dying changes everything.

She isn't dead. She's pretty sure she's isn't dead. If this is some kind of Hell she's been demoted to, it's a bad version of it. Like a pirated video version. Marta's sure Aaron wouldn't be kissing her forehead if this were real Hell. Her eyes cloud over and she sighs, grabbing onto his strong safe arms. If only there was a way to cross that threshold on equal terms. Love compromises situations that are surrounded by people shooting guns at you; it makes you think irrationally. At least, that's what Marta's learnt from 10 years of cop shows and almost two weeks with Aaron Cross. How can he accept all this, this whole fuck up of a life, without any wavering? He'd told her to take the money and run for her life away from him but Marta hadn't even thought about leaving him alone. Perhaps it was a selfish notion in reality but she couldn't let him push her away for anything. He was right about her, though. She was a warrior, except now she was fighting for him as well. Just hold your breath and let go.

He still has a grip on her jaw. It feels so tender and strong, she wonders whether self-control was in his training too. "It's a promise, Doc. I'll get you your life back if it kills me."

"What if I don't want it?" She mutters. His thumb was now tracing the bare edge of her bottom lip. She hates how good it feels. "I'm being serious, Aaron. Don't want it. My old life… that mess… it didn't have you."

She looks up at him and sees his edge. Aaron threads his fingers through her hair and tugs her head up to his lightly. The sharp pain makes Marta gasp and suddenly he's not so dangerous. He could kill her. He could kill her. He won't kill her. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Doc. I've seen agents who were… Outcome called it 'compromised'." He hasn't let go of his hold on her hair but softens. His fingertips dance on her skull and set her nerve endings alight. Christmas has come early.

"It's not compromise, Aaron. It's… being open." Marta licks her lips. The wetness cools instantly. Maybe she was dying. Nerve endings go into overdrive just before you die.

"Vulnerable."

"Yes. Yes, it is. It's pain and anger and jealousy and … and…"

His eyes have gone dark. "Lust."

Marta nods and swallows again. Did he take another step forward? "That too."

Aaron almost growls and lets her go completely. Self-control had to be part of his training. "Marta, you can't be talking about this now. Not now, not here. Not ever. Understand?"

She folds her arms. Marta Shearing is still in there somewhere after all, "No. Don't order me around. Your gun isn't pointed at my head, Aaron. Is that the only way you get people to do what you want them to, think what you want them to? By making them stare down the barrel to your goddamn face at the other end?"

He has his back turned to her now, fingers gripping the wooden table. He'll get splinters. She can see the twitch in his muscles. Aaron doesn't say a word.

She bites her lip. Marta takes a step forward and touches his shoulder. The barest hint of contact.

Aaron wheels around and grabs her by the throat before he can stop himself. A second. That is all it takes for his self-control to snap. "Why aren't you afraid of me?"

She smiles smugly. His fingers are still wrapped around her throat. "Why are you afraid of me, Aaron?"

Marta nearly buckles to the ground when his other hand holds her waist. Her ribs were still painful but not enough for her to let him distract her. "Is this a dance?" The hand around her throat loosens and lingers. It's all they've ever done.

"Don't know how to dance." He says gruffly. "If I were some guy you met… if you were a teacher and I was on the street and I bumped into you, we'd go for coffee because I felt bad for spilling your drink and we'd talk and I'd make you laugh. I'd ask you out on a date. Take you to the movies or a picnic in the park."

"So in your head, we live in a rom com?"

"Shut up." He has the decency to blush. "We'd date and maybe you'd want another and then another and another. I'd meet your parents and tell you my secrets. I'd get down on one knee and give you my grandmother's ring. We'd have… have kids and grow old and die happy."

"And dance." She lays her head on his chest. His fingers are on the back of her neck. Marta runs her own down his arms. "Live a normal life."

"But we can't. We made choices... I don't regret them. Not a single one, Marta Shearing."

She leans back. "I don't either. Except the Number 5 thing." She laughs and looks down.

He lifts her off his chest. "Nearly dying changes nothing, Doc." He leans in close to her lips. "Dying changes everything."

Was she dead?


A/N: I'm completely evil, I know...