He too finally begins to relax. Eventually he drifts to sleep. After a few hours he's awakened by screams of terror. He sits up, and looks around. After a few moments he realizes what's going on. He gets off the couch, and heads towards her bedroom. He stops in the doorway. She screams, and thrashes in her bed. He enters the room, and walks over to her bed. He gently places his hand on her.
"Eames, wake up," he says gently.
Finally the screaming stops. She looks up at the man standing over her.
"Eames, it's me," he reminds her.
"I didn't mean to wake you up," she apologizes.
"It's ok. You should go back to sleep," he suggests.
"I don't know if I can," she admits.
"Just close your eyes and relax."
"Has that ever worked for you?" she retorts.
He turns on the lamp. He looks at the bed, and smirks.
"What?" she questions.
"I can see why you wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. You've nearly hung yourself with your bedclothes."
She kicks the covers off of her. He silently remakes the bed, with her in it. He flips off the light, "Now go back to sleep," he insists.
"I'll try," she admits.
"Do you want me to stay in here until you fall asleep?"
"You're just going to stand there until I fall asleep?"
"No I was planning on sitting in the chair over here in the corner,"he admits.
She doesn't argue. Eventually she falls asleep. He watches, and listens as she sleeps. She rolls over in bed. Her breathing is even, and un-labored. There were things he wanted to tell her, things he could never say, but maybe...he should.
"Are you still here?" she questions after two more hours.
"Are you awake?"
She turns on the lamp, and sits up in bed. She rubs the sleep out of her eyes. He looks at her, with word on the tip of his tongue.
"What?" she questions.
"I don't know how this is supposed to work out for you but..."he stops.
"But what?"
"I know you. I know that you could never hurt a child. If you want to do this then you should."
"What if I ruin her?"
"You won't," he answers quickly.
"Thank you for staying."
"No problem."
"I should go get a shower..."
"Will you be ok if I head out?" he questions.
"Yeah," she nods with a flicker of a smile.
He tries to get her face out of his head. Before he knows what he's doing he finds himself at the 1-6.
Olivia looks up when she hears footsteps. She recognizes the tall man approaching her. She stands up before he reaches her.
"Goren?" she questions.
"Benson?" he replies.
"How's..."
"She's conflicted."
"And you?"
"I'm always around to pick up the pieces."
Fin enters the bullpen.
"Liv we've got to go," he insists.
"Why don't you talk to my partner," she points to Elliot who is standing by the coffee maker.
"Ok," he nods as she walks away.
He approaches Elliot. "You're Goren?" he questions.
"Yeah."
"Can I give you some advice?"
"I guess."
"Don't let her fall apart. Don't let her get in so deep that you can't dig her out."
"I want her to be happy but... I would never ask her to do what..."
"I know what you mean. If the bastard wasn't dead you'd kill him, but you can't."
"What do I do? What do I say? She asked me what she should do, and I... I wasn't sure what to say."
"Tell her the truth. Lies will drive a wedge between you."
"I know."
"You married?"
"No," he shakes his head. "Why?"
"You aren't her partner anymore. What's stopping you?"
"Stopping me?"
"From telling her the truth."
"I don't want to overwhelm her."
"You won't."
"How do you know?'
"If I told my partner the truth... everything would be different. Everything would be better, but I can't because I'm married. I've got kids, I can't ruin that. No matter how much I want to. No matter how much she deserves to be happy."
"You're right," he agrees.
She opens the door. She finds Goren on the other side. She stares at him questioningly.
"I'm ok," she reassures him.
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah," she nods.
"Is something wrong?" she questions as he takes a seat on her couch.
"I have something that I need to say."
"Ok?"
"Whatever you decide I'll support you. I want to help you in any way that I can."
"I know."
"I don't think you understand what I'm saying. Whatever you do I want to be around to...do it with you."
She doesn't say a word. She sinks into the chair adjacent to the couch. She stares into his big brown eyes. Her heart pounds in her chest, and she finds it hard to catch her breath. She tries come up with something to say. Finally she squeaks out, "Ok."
"Ok?"
She nods, "Yeah, ok."
"You're sure?"
"As long as you're sure," she replies.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I might lose it. I might not be able to handle it," she admits.
"That's ok. I'm here for you," he promises.