Alex woke up to find herself in her bed, tucked underneath her covers. For a moment, she entertained the notion that perhaps her abduction and all of her pain had just been a bad dream, but as soon as she turned onto her side and felt the searing pain that coursed through her veins, she remembered.

"Olivia?" she called, a bit hesitantly. Olivia must have carried her upstairs and tucked her in.

Olivia was by her side in an instant. "Hi, baby," she said tenderly, sitting on the bed next to Alex and taking her hand. "How are you feeling?"

Alex stiffened, but then she gave Olivia's hand a squeeze and tried to calm her body. "Okay," she whispered.

Olivia smiled and brushed Alex's hair back from her forehead. "It's so good to have you home with me."

Alex nodded and laid her head in Olivia's lap.

"I made you dinner."

"What time is it?"

"6:22," replied Olivia as she checked her watch. "Are you hungry?"

"What did you make?"

"Spaghetti. You don't have to have it if you don't want it, though."

Alex shook her head. "I'll have some." She held out her hands to Olivia and the detective helped her to her feet.

They sat down at the kitchen table, but Alex only took a few bites of pasta, and spent the rest of the time twirling the noodles around with her fork.

"Aren't you hungry?" asked Olivia, knitting her brow in concern.

Alex shook her head. She picked up her plate and carried it to the sink. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

Olivia took her hand. "Hey, it's okay." She managed a smile. "It's not very good anyway."

"It's fine. I'm just not too hungry."

"Okay." She kissed the crown of Alex's head. "Do you want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."

"Which one?"

"I don't care."

They curled up on the couch and flipped channels on the television until they finally found something, and they watched television for a few hours until Olivia noticed Alex starting to fall asleep.

"Baby," she said gently, rubbing Alex's back. "I've got to clean your cuts again before bed."

"No," murmured Alex sleepily.

"Yeah, baby. I'm sorry, but I have to."

"No!"

"Sweetheart, I'll try not to hurt you, but I promise you'll feel better after. Come on." She took Alex's hand and helped her to bed. "I need you to lie down on your stomach for me."

They did very much the same thing as they had this morning, and Alex stayed perfectly still for the entire time, even as tears streaked down her cheeks.

"Thank you, princess," Olivia said when she finally finished. She helped Alex change into her nightgown and took her girlfriend into her arms.

Alex didn't say anything, but Olivia could feel Alex beginning to calm in her embrace. Within minutes, they were both asleep.

Olivia panicked when she woke up in the middle of the night to find Alex's side of the bed empty. Terror seized her and suddenly she couldn't breathe, wondering if all this had just been a dream, and Alex was still missing.

But when she got up out of bed, she found Alex kneeling on the ground, her eyes lowered as if she was trying desperately not to cry. She was trembling, and her shoulders were curled like a beaten dog. It broke Olivia's heart.

She wrapped a blanket around Alex and spoke gently to her. "It's cold here, baby. Will you come back to bed with me?"

Alex didn't say anything, didn't move, didn't even seem to register Olivia's presence, and a surge of fear coursed through Olivia once more. Had Alex had another nightmare, and she'd somehow slept through it?

"Alex," she tried again. "What's the matter, princess?"

Still, she got no reply.

"Sweetheart, please tell me what's wrong." Olivia was practically begging by now.

"Can't sleep," Alex finally said, and Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll hold you," she offered.

"No."

"What do you want me to do, baby? Just tell me how I can help you, and I will."

Alex started to cry. She crawled to the closet and curled up in a ball. She tried to close the door, but Olivia followed her and knelt down beside her.

"Leave me here," Alex whispered.

"No, baby! You don't have to sleep here."

Alex shook her head. "I can't sleep in your bed," she murmured, and lowered her eyes in shame.

Olivia gently lifted her chin. "Sweetie, it's your bed, too."

"Liv, I can't –" She swallowed hard. "Please, Liv. I'm sorry." She bowed her head and started to cry again. "Please."

So Olivia left her, although her heart was breaking as she did so.

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