Eyes cracking open to the bright sun coming in through the window over his head, he groaned. Morning and he did not appreciate each other. For all of his life, they had never gotten along and he was quite sure they never would, something that was rather odd considering he'd recently awoken from a two hundred and thirty one year sleep. There was just something about having to leave the comfort and safety of one's warm bed to greet the unpredictable day ahead. In particular, this morning was a morning he felt perfectly content to remain just where he was. It was warm and he seemed to be in just the right position paradise was located as his body was perfectly relaxed. That was until his body moved slightly, or rather the body pressed flush into his did. Eyes snapping fully open, he glanced to the side to find crimson locks fanned out over the pillow next to his.

Katrina.

Doing his best not to move and wake her, he allowed a smile to come over his face as his gaze ventured down her body to where she rested beside him, the blanket completely gone from him and all twisted between her legs. How many times had he awoken to such a sight?

Dragging his fingers along her arm, he found himself torn between 'accidentally' waking her and doing the gentlemanly thing by allowing her to continue with her sleep. However, as the night before had proved, when it came to Katrina, all sense of propriety went out the window. Gently shifting so he could better touch her, he dropped his fingers from her arm, allowing them to rest over the swell of her breast that was pressed flush against his side. Her head was tucked into the crook of his arm as she'd slid slightly down in the bed as they'd slept. It actually looked as though she'd attempted to burrow her way beneath him what with the way she was adjusted against him. A smile crept over him as he moved his pointer finger over her soft flesh, sliding it upward toward the hollow of her neck. Continuing his journey, he caressed along the column of her neck to where her jaw began. Stroking the strong bone, he ventured along until he reached her plump lips, which were parted slightly with her breathing. Unable to help himself, he traced both lips with his thumb, taking his time to smooth over the entirety of the enticing flesh, before he shifted to his finger, which he pressed just enough to gain entry into the moist cavern that was her mouth. As he began dragging his finger back out, without any forewarning, her teeth clamped down on him. Eyes snapping up, he chuckled when she opened her own to stare at him.

"Good morning," he whispered, his voice husky and thick from sleep.

She ran her tongue along his finger as he finally pulled it from her mouth with a pop. When it was once again stroking her jaw, she frowned. "Why did you wake me? I was having a perfectly wonderful dream."

"I missed you," he said simply, enjoying the smile that came to her face.

With a laugh, she used his shoulder for leverage to pull herself up his body so she was resting face to face with him. Once she was within a breath of him, resting on his pillow with him, she spoke, "And what was it that you missed?"

"Your eyes," he answered without hesitating. "I wanted them on me. I always want them on me."

Those very green eyes blinked at him before she slid her hand to his neck where she began playing with his loose hair. "Is that so?"

He scooted his head the remaining distance to her so he could claim those irresistible lips of hers. However, before he could truly claim them, he pulled back with a chuckle. "Your breath is horrid."

The slap that surely left a handprint on his chest was her response as she gasped in surprise. Chuckling all the harder, he tussled with her before he finally captured both of her hands and restrained them over her head. Now, fully over her and pressing her down into the bed, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You're being very naughty, Ms. van Tassel." He smirked. "Now, I'm going to have to punish you."

She arched her hips into his intimately as she nipped at his jaw. "Promise, Captain?"

"Did I wake you?"

Eyes snapping up, he found her gazing at him tiredly. "Oh, no," he stuttered in surprise as he nodded to the window over the bed. "The sun."

She smiled before snuggling into his side. "I'm not ready to wake up."

Adjusting his arm so she could rest her head on it, he asked, "Did you sleep well?"

A nod against his shoulder was all he received as her eyes were already shut while she clearly attempted to return to her dreams.

Content to simply stare at her, he lifted a hand to run his fingers through her tangled crimson hair. When he met her scalp, he took to massaging it softly.

"Mmm, that feels good," she whispered just loud enough for him to hear as she burrowed even further into him.

"Are you really going back to sleep?"

She shrugged as she blindly reached down to adjust the covers back over them. "I'm sorry."

Reaching down to assist her, he chuckled. "It's nothing I'm not accustomed to. You've always been a blanket thief."

A small smile came to her face. "I'm cold."

Frowning, he looked down at the thick blanket pulled halfway up their bodies. For his part, he was more than slightly warm. Between the blanket and her body heat, he was practically sticky along the side she was pressed into. Gaze back on her face, he dropped the back of his hand to rest along her forehead. The warm feel of her skin made his eyes widen. "Katrina, you're burning up."

A moan left her as he turned on his side to examine her, promptly dropping her head from his shoulder to the pillow. "I just want to sleep. I'm so tired."

Pushing her hair back, he pressed his cheek to hers, measuring her temperature before sitting up in concern. "Do you feel ill?"

Another moan left her as she pulled his pillow down and wrapped her arms around it.

Worry building, he leaned over her again to push her hair, which had once again fallen in her face, away. "Katrina, please tell me how you feel."

"I told you I was cold," she mumbled into the pillow. "And sleepy."

At his wit's end, he stated, "I'm beginning to panic."

She rolled onto her back with a sigh as she sleepily stared up at him. "I think it's just a slight cold. I'll be fine." She stretched her arm so she could lay her hand to his cheek. "Stop frowning. You're far too pretty to frown."

Clearly, she was out of it. Glancing to his phone, he reached over and grabbed it.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she limply dropped her hand back to the bed.

As he scrolled through the names, he stated, "I'm calling the Leftenant. You need medication."

"Ichabod," she said, mild irritation in her voice. "Abigail is likely resting. She needs it after the night she had. Leave her be."

Eyes jerking to hers in surprise, he confessed, "Oh."

What a horrible friend he was. Their entire ordeal the night before had completely slipped his mind in the minutes he'd been awake. What if Abbie was still ill? What if she had gotten worse? Now, panic for his friend began to consume him as he attempted to discern what it was he should do.

"Hey," she whispered, laying a hand over his. "I'm sure she's alright."

Gaze back on his phone, he tapped the last name on earth he wanted to call.

"Ichabod, I said not to call her," Katrina groaned as she weakly made a move for his phone. However, he slipped out of her reach and stood from the bed to begin pacing.

When the line connected, her voice bit at him. "Crane, do you have any idea what time it is?"

Sucking in a deep breath, he answered, "No, but that is of little concern to me."

A muffled curse came through as he heard movement at the other end of the line. "What do you want?"

He glanced to Katrina, who looked like she was caught somewhere between frowning at him and smiling at him. Her appearance came off as slightly insane, which was concerning him more than a little. "I was hoping to inquire into how the Leftenant is at this time?"

"I checked on her an hour ago and she's sleeping like a baby. Now, I'm going to return to doing the same."

"Katrina is ill," he blurted out, hopefully before she hung up on him.

"What?"

"Ichabod," Katrina groaned as she squirmed in the blanket. "It's just a cold."

"She's burning up and seems more than slightly delirious. I think she is in need of medication, but I'm not sure-"

"Bring her back home and I'll take care of her," Jenny said, obviously now fully awake.

Feeling slightly indignant, he bit out, "I'm perfectly capable of caring for her myself, thank you."

"Then, why are you talking to me at five thirty in the morning?"

Without a proper response, he looked back to Katrina, who seemed to have fallen back to sleep. "I'll have her there as soon as I get her up."

"Wait. What is she even doing there? Did you two sleep together again?"

Clenching his jaw, he answered, "That is none of your concern."

With that, he hung up the phone and tossed it to the dresser before crawling on all fours back into the bed beside her. Running his fingers through her hair, he said softly, "Katrina, I'm going to take you home. Miss Jenny is going to give you some medication."

She turned away from him to snuggle back into his pillow, the outcome having her bottom in perfect view of his gaze. There were more than a few tingles that went through him at the red laced covered flesh, but with a deep breath he shoved them down and reached to attempt pulling her into a sitting position. "Come, Katrina. Let's get you dressed."

She groaned and flopped a hand down behind her back to grab his arm. "Just come lay with me and I'll be better."

Rolling his eyes, he laid his hand on her leg and pulled her toward him as he stood from the bed. She protested by kicking out at him, but he avoided her foot and reached for her trousers.

"If you had the slightest idea of how worried I am, you would cooperate with me."

Another groan left her as she finally sat up while he knelt to the floor and lifted her foot to slip into her trousers.

"I like it when you're on your knees between my legs," she said in what should have been a teasing tone, but came out more as a hoarse whisper.

Smiling up at her, he managed to tug the trousers up to her thighs. "Is that so?"

She coughed before placing her hands on his shoulders for support as he slipped the material under her thighs and tugged it up to her hips. "When we're all set and in love, will you do that first? I miss it so much."

Trying to keep his flustered nerves down as he zipped and buttoned her trousers, he muttered, "I promise."

Next, he reached for her jacket, but startled as it was the red, lacy material that he brought between them, holding it by a strap. "Oh, I-"

"I don't want it," she mumbled as she knocked it to the side.

Nodding his consent to this, and quite thankful he wouldn't be subjected to attempting to get whatever that was on her, he grabbed her jacket and helped her slip into it. "There," he stated as he stood. "You're all set. Just give me a moment."

With that, he moved to the other side of the room where he pulled on a shirt and some socks before slipping into his coat. Making his way back to her, he sighed when he found her laid back against the bed. Then, he noticed her bare feet and began looking about the room for her shoes. "Katrina, where are your shoes?"

She lazily turned her head to the side. "The door."

Nodding, he reached down and pulled her to her feet. "Can you walk?"

A small glare managed to make its way to her face. Leave it to Katrina to be completely out of it, but still manage to give him such a look. "Of course, I can walk. I'm sick, not drunk."

Raising an eyebrow, he kept silent his thoughts on the fact that he'd just had to dress her and instead said with a tight smile, "Of course."

She began walking to the door, surprisingly a bit drunkenly, before he rolled his eyes and stepped up behind her. Arm around her shoulders, he slipped the other around the back of her knees and lifted her up. She gave a small squeal as she clung to his neck and groaned. "Ichabod."

Ignoring her, he made his way into the living room where he set her on the edge of the table before slipping into his boots and coat then picking up hers. When he turned back to her, he chuckled at her closed eyes as she rocked slightly back and forth as though she were about to slip into unconsciousness.

"Come on, my lady," he said as he once more lifted her up, making sure he had a tight grip on her body, and carried her from the house.

Upon reaching her car, he paused. Perfect. He hadn't thought that far ahead. Seeing no other choice as she certainly wasn't manning a vehicle capable of such speeds, he struggled to open the passenger door with her sleepy body sagging in his arms. After finally managing to get it open, he gently lowered her into the seat and reached across her to snap her seat belt on before closing the door.

When he, too, sunk into the leather seat, though, for the first time, in the driver's position, he sucked in a deep breath and gazed at the many buttons and levers. Reaching for the ignition, he frowned when he found no key, but a button that said Start. "Choices," he muttered in irritation. "Why are there so many different vehicles with so many different features?"

As he pressed the button and the car came to life, he took another deep breath before glancing at her closed eyes. "Well, you're no help."

Moving the orange indicator to drive, he hesitantly pressed the gas. When the car slowly rolled a few feet, he smiled triumphantly. "Ah, this isn't so difficult."

Pressing a little harder, he picked up speed as he steered down the driveway. For a while, he kept rolling on along at about 15mph. However, when a sign indicating he should stop came into view, a mild panic filled him. Upon reaching it, he slammed his foot on the other pedal, causing the car to jolt to a stop. At this, Katrina rolled her head to look at him sleepily. "Ichabod?"

"Go back to sleep, love," he whispered, brushing a hand through her hair. He definitely didn't need her upping his panic by realizing he was driving her quite obviously expensive car.

When she gave a sloppy smile, he sighed in relief. "Alright."

The usual ten minute drive took thirty minutes at his pace, but when he finally pulled into her driveway, he felt as though he'd just proudly travelled the world. However, that was until he failed to notice her trash bin and in an instant took her driver's mirror right off the side of the car. Eyes going wide, he jerked his head to Katrina to find her still asleep. Panicking, he quickly exited the car to check the damage. The mirror was obviously gone, but there was also a rather prominent scratch along the driver's door, the black paint chipped away. Sweat began to build along his brow only to be doubled as a voice came from behind him.

"Did you drive here!?"

Spinning around, he found Jenny hurriedly walking toward him from Abbie's house. "I-"

"Oh my God, Kat's going to kill you," she said as she ran her finger over the scratch.

"It's rather minor," he attempted, but knew it was hopeless as she turned to him and crossed her arms with a smug look.

"Yeah, try telling her that."

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he jogged around the car and opened the passenger door. Not wanting to wake her and have her see her car, he gently unbuckled and lifted her from the seat.

"Careful, Crane," Jenny encouraged as he adjusted Katrina in his arms, where she sighed into his neck.

"I have her."

Jenny shut the door after he'd began moving toward the house. As they made their way inside, he carried her straight to her bedroom where Jenny had run ahead to open the door. "Thank you," he whispered as he moved past her.

When he reached the bed, he gently lowered her down into its soft embrace. Upon settling fully into the sheets, she immediately burrowed her head into the pillow, prompting Jenny to chuckle at his side. "Kat and sickness don't mesh well. She rarely gets sick, but when she does, it knocks her out."

"I remember," he said with a nod as he reached down to pull her jacket off. She moaned in protest at the movement, but cooperated long enough for him to drop it to the floor.

"Does she have any medication?"

Jenny nodded and left the room, leaving him to ease to the bed beside her. Unable to help himself, he brushed his hand through her hair for what had to be the hundredth time in an hour. At his touch, she sleepily turned her head to him and whispered, "Lay with me."

Dragging his fingers along her silk locks, he smiled. "You should rest."

"Please," she pleaded with a hand at his arm. "It's always more peaceful with you."

Before he could respond, Jenny returned with a handful of items. "Hey, sleepy head."

Katrina gave a tired smile before a frown took her over. "Jenny? When did you get here?"

Jenny laughed as she unscrewed a bottle. "I've been waiting for the two of you."

Katrina's frown only deepened as she glanced about the room. "I'm home."

"Where did you think you were?" Jenny asked with a chuckle.

Eyes back on him, she answered, "We were at the cabin."

With a nod, he smoothed her hair back. "I thought it best to get you home."

Confusion dominated her features for a moment before she nodded. "Alright."

"Ok, well, you need to take some of this," Jenny said as she held a spoon out to Katrina filled with some sort of thick, red looking substance.

Katrina scrunched her nose up as she accepted it. "That's gross."

"Yeah," Jenny agreed with a chuckle. "This is payback for last year when you doped me up on it. I still say you overdosed me."

Giving a small wave of her hand, Katrina shook her head. "You're exaggerating."

Out of sorts with their conversation, he cleared his throat. "You should take some rest, Katrina."

When he moved to rise from the bed, her hand shot out and grasped his. "Stay with me."

He cast Jenny a short look, but she, for once, seemed to be showing some care as she arranged the items on the bedside table. "I was going to go check on the Leftenant."

Before Katrina could speak, Jenny did. "Oh, she woke up about ten minutes after you called and went into work."

A surprised look overtook his face. "She did? She could barely walk last night."

Jenny shrugged. "I guess she got a good night's sleep. She seemed fine this morning."

With a sigh, he looked back to Katrina, whose eyes were closed again, though, he couldn't tell if she was asleep.

Jenny spoke as she backed toward the door, "I'm gonna go home for a while. You people might be content being up during the AM hours, but I'm not. Have fun getting sick with her."

When she had left the room, he released a heavy breath before standing and shrugging his coat and boots off. Turning back to Katrina, he took her in as she laid half hazardly stretched across the bed. Placing a knee to the mattress, he gently lifted her legs and adjusted her to where she was righted.

"Mm, take them off," she mumbled with her eyes still closed.

Unsure what she meant, he inquired, "What?"

"My pants," she answered. "They're uncomfortable."

Though, he now understood, he still found himself unsure. That likely wasn't the best idea. Eyes journeying down her body to the place her shirt had ridden up to reveal the smooth skin of her belly, he realized 'likely' wasn't the best word. That definitely wasn't the best idea.

"Don't be such a prude, Ichabod," she said in a tired tone as she unbuttoned her trousers. "We slept together without them all night and I'm certainly not in the mood to attempt molesting you this morning." She smiled at him crookedly as her zipper parted. "Perhaps, this evening will be a different story."

Clearing his throat, he hesitantly grasped the top of the material and began tugging it down. With each inch of creamy skin that became a feast for his eyes, he felt his pulse quicken. Ill as she may be, she was still a beautiful woman and he wasn't immune to such sights as the one he was partaking of now. Once he had the trousers off, he neatly folded them and turned to place them atop her dresser. When he turned back to her, he found her smiling at him with heavy eyes. "You're adorable," she whispered, holding her arms up as best as she could. "Come here."

He couldn't help his own smile as he rolled his eyes and stepped toward the bed. "I object to being referred to in such a way."

When he lowered himself to lie beside her, she wasted no time in burrowing into his side. However, before he could get his arms around her, she pulled back with a frown and plucked at his shirt with her fingers. "Get rid of it."

"Katrina," he began warily.

"Ichabod," she mocked as she tugged it up his body.

Knowing she wouldn't quit, he rolled his eyes again as he sat up and pulled it over his head. "Satisfied?" he asked as he fell back against the pillow.

Her answer was to resume molding herself into him, a hand in his hair and a leg resting between his. "So satisfied," she mumbled into his skin.

As she quieted, he contented himself with dragging his fingers through her hair, but it wasn't long before he started to feel sleep tugging at him as well.

A loud clanging brought him into consciousness. As he blinked and attempted to discern where he was, the white ceiling overhead made him realize he was still resting with Katrina. With that thought, he glanced down at her still wrapped around him, though more loosely than before. Her mouth was slightly open as she breathed shallowly. Her hand had fallen to the bed on the other side of him and her lower body, he noticed with a smile, was about a two feet away from him, all the blankets twisted between them. She was such a messy sleeper. In their rest, she'd managed to almost set them at a perpendicular angle.

When the clanging happened again, he perked up and looked to the door. Whatever it was, or whomever, was clearly in the kitchen. Carefully extracting himself from her arm, he slid from the bed and reached for his shirt. Once he'd pulled it on, he turned back to her and gently untangled the blanket from her legs and pulled it up her body. She never even moved.

Shaking his head, he made his way out of the room in search of the sounds. What he found was Jenny Mills standing in the middle of the kitchen with a confused look on her face.

"What are you doing?" he asked as he approached her.

She gave him a half glance before shrugging. "Trying to fix something to eat."

Judging from her look and the state of the counter, he concluded she was definitely trying. Succeeding, however, was another thing altogether. "Hmm and why are you doing that here? Do you not have a home?"

She rolled her eyes. "As Abbie has been so busy with the Apocalypse and your love life, she hasn't exactly had time to grocery shop and I'm not fond of bumping into the snobby soccer moms I knew in high school."

Not allowing her quip to pull a rise from him, he answered, "Would you mind some help?"

There was a moment where she regarded him curiously, but then she nodded and gestured him toward the cans lining the counter.

"Kat needs to eat something," she said as she sliced a tomato. "There's a can of Chicken Noodle Soup in there somewhere."

Picking up the appropriate can, he stared at it. "There's soup in here? And it's for illness?"

Jenny chuckled. "It is. She likes it, too." As she began on a cucumber, she went on, "I got a really nasty cold last year and I swear she stuffed twenty cans of that stuff down my throat."

"She tended you while you were ill?"

"Yep," she replied. "Abbie's always been such a workaholic and then she had Luke to keep her occupied. As both Kat and I are unemployed and have no significant others, we tend to spend a lot of time together. Actually, when Abbie was planning on moving to Quantico, I was going to move in with Kat." She raised an eyebrow. "Funny how things change. Abbie's staying in Sleepy Hollow and you're living here."

Her assumption brought a frown to his face, making him stand taller. "I'm not living here."

She rolled her eyes and set her knife down. "Crane, come on. You and Kat are going to live in this house, get married, and have a bunch of little Crane's. I know it, she knows it, and hopefully you're smart enough to know it, too."

At a loss for words, he stuttered, "Perhaps, but it's not happening now, nor anytime soon."

Jenny began tossing all the vegetables she had in the large bowl. "Really, now? Last I checked, of the three days you two have been reunited, you've spent two sharing a bed." She glanced at him knowingly. "And where was it you were planning on sleeping tonight? Because with the way you're worrying over her, I don't see you leaving anytime soon."

With a heavy sigh, he held up the can, needing to distance himself from this conversation. "What do I do with this?"

She stared at him oddly for a moment before taking it from his hands and pulling the tab open. "Grab a pot from over there."

Gaze venturing to the place she'd indicated, he reached for the silver pot and set it on the stove she'd switched on. As she set about pouring the contents of the can into the pot, she continued what he was now beginning to think was her interrogation of him, "What are you going to do, Crane?"

"Katrina might be content to discuss the personal details of our past with you, but I have no such mindset."

She shrugged as though his words were of little consequence. "Fine, then, you can listen. Abbie gave her warning to Kat about hurting you because you're her best friend who she loves and wants to protect."

Taken aback, he stared at her wide eyed. Though, he wasn't sure if it was more so because Abbie had threatened Katrina or because she supposedly loved him. Sure, she was likely fond of him, but loved him? That was such a strange sentiment to him. The only women in his life who'd ever loved him were his mother and Katrina. He wasn't sure what to make of someone else of the opposite sex loving him.

"But Kat is my best friend," Jenny went on, still stirring the contents in the pot. "She's been there for me through some pretty rough stuff and I was there for her when she completely fell apart six months ago. I tell her when she's being a manipulative, control freak and she tells me when I'm being an insensitive, butthole to my sister." Jenny turned to him with narrowed eyes. "For some reason I'll never understand, she loves you, which means you have the power to rip her heart out. So, I'm telling you that whatever it is that you need to figure out, do it fast, or leave her alone until you do because you're giving her all this hope and I really don't want to have to hurt you for breaking my friend's heart."

"I-"

She held up her hand, effectively silencing him. "I don't require an answer. I understand your situation is far from ordinary relationship problems and it's going to take a little more thought than normal to figure it all out. All I'm asking is for you to consider what she's going through while you do that. Now," she said, pouring the boiling soup into a bowl. "Take this in there and make her eat it. I'm starving and want to enjoy my lunch without your sappy romance bringing it down."

With that, she grabbed her bowl along with a bottle of water before heading to the living room where she turned the television on and plopped down to the sofa.

Finding himself more than slightly dumbfounded at the conversation that had just taken place, he looked down at the steaming bowl of soup. Sighing, he grabbed a spoon before setting out to return to the sleeping source of his clouded thoughts. When he entered her room, he found her rolled to the other side of the bed with a pillow wrapped in her arms. Carefully setting the bowl down, he sat on the edge of the bed and laid a hand to her arm.

"Katrina?"

She moaned into the pillow her face was pressed into before rolling onto her back with a disgruntled expression. "Why are you up?"

He smiled as he brushed some stray hair from her face. "Miss Jenny has prepared you lunch." Reaching for it, he said, "She assured me it was appropriate."

Her nose wrinkled as she scrunched it up. "I'm not hungry."

"Please," he pleaded. "You must eat for your strength."

She stared at him a moment before sighing and pushing herself up to lean against the headboard. Satisfied with her cooperation, he scooted toward her and handed her the bowl.

"Chicken Noodle Soup," she breathed over the bowl. "The cure to everything."

As she began sipping at the juice, he turned and situated himself beside her shoulder to shoulder.

"Are you going to eat?"

At her question, he glanced at her. "Oh, I'm not hungry."

"But you must eat for your strength," she mocked, a teasing grin on her lips.

A smile came to his face, but it soon faded as he dropped his gaze to his hands which were fidgeting in his lap. His morning had been perfectly fine... Well, minus Katrina being sick, but that was beside the matter. The two of them had woken up together, laughed together. It had been almost like old times. However, then Jenny had spoken her part and once again he was making himself miserable with his over thinking. She'd been right, of course, which only aggravated him. He shouldn't give Katrina hope if he was going to continue in the manner he had been.

"What's wrong?" Gaze jumping back to her, he found her staring at him knowingly. "Doubting again?"

"I don't mean to do it," he whispered despondently. "I simply..."

She handed him the bowl. "I'm not hungry anymore. Can you set it over there?"

As he accepted the bowl, he noticed it was only half eaten. "Katrina-"

"I'm done," she interrupted before sliding back down in the bed and turning on her side to face away from him. "You should go fix you something. I know how much you like to eat."

Setting the bowl on the bedside table, he followed her lead and settled down behind her before slipping an arm around her waist as he propped his head up with one hand. When she didn't shove him away as he'd feared she might, he whispered, "Katrina... I don't want to hurt you."

A heavy breath left her as she grasped his hand and brought it beneath her chin to hold. "Why would you hurt me?"

"Uncertainty is a very slow hurt, is it not?" He leaned forward to rest his chin to her shoulder. "I recall how I used to be so terrified you didn't feel the way I did. I questioned every look, every word. I'd lie awake at night doubting the things I thought to be true. One moment, I'd think I saw love. Then, the very next moment I'd think I was being ridiculous. I couldn't wrap my mind around why you would ever love a bumbling idiot like me."

A small laugh shook her, bringing a smile to his face.

"The truth is... I'm angry."

At his admission, she turned onto her back with a searching frown. "At me?"

"No," he answered immediately before sighing. "Well... Katrina, the only thing I know for certain is that I'm some foretold Witness to the Apocalypse who has the responsibility to protect the world from evil. Yet, I can't even purchase my own groceries. I have no job, no money. Only four people in the world know who I am." He brought his hand up to rub his eyes. "And yes, I'm angry that... another man has been in this bed with you."

"Ichabod-"

Brushing his fingers through her hair, he shook his head, "I know. You've explained it all to me. I just... I need to be alone with my thoughts for a while. I need to take it all in somewhere away from distractions and the pressure to make a decision. I was trying to do that last night, but..."

"I interrupted you," she finished softly. "But you called me. You said you should've stayed with me. Did you really think I wouldn't come to you?"

Heart in his throat, he took in her confusion. "I know and I'm glad you came. I truly am, but I do need to go somewhere quiet where I can clear my thoughts. I don't want to keep doing this. I want to evaluate my life and make a decision. Most of all, I want to find an answer to give you because I can see how desperate you are for one."

Her hand fell to her belly as she nodded. "I understand that."

"Do you?" Because she certainly didn't look as though she understood.

"Ichabod," she whispered with a tired look at him. "Go."

"Well, I'm not going to leave you alone right now. You're ill."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. Jenny's here. Besides I've made it the last two hundred and thirty one years without you. I'm sure I can survive... however long it is you need to think."

With a sigh, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Thank you."

She laid a hand to his cheek as he pulled back. "I'm going to miss you tonight."

He chuckled. "You mean you'll miss tormenting me."

A sly grin crept over her face. "Maybe a little. You're so easy to embarrass."

Smiling, he brushed her hair again. "Promise me you'll be alright?"

"I promise."

Sucking in a deep breath, he nodded and pushed himself to the edge of the bed where he began pulling on his boots.

"How are you going to get home?"

He shrugged. "I'll walk."

"That'll take forever."

"Yes and it'll give me plenty of time to think."

A few moments passed as he finished and stood to face her. However, when he looked at her, she was frowning. "What?"

"How did we get here?"

Startled at being caught, he shifted uncomfortably. "Well..."

Her eyes narrowed. "Yes?"

"You were... delirious and... quite incapable of driving?"

She chuckled and sat up. "Was that a question?"

Realizing it was all over, he sighed, "I drove us here."

"Alright," she said slowly with a shrug. "I didn't know you could drive."

Nervously chuckling, he admitted, "Before this morning, I never had."

She nodded with her lips pursed for a few moments before saying, "You... practiced... with my eighty-five thousand dollar car?"

Eyes nearly bulging out of his head, he replied heatedly, "Eighty-Why on earth would you spend so much money on a car? Have you lost all sense?" He flung a hand to the window. "There are people starving in the streets and you-"

"What did you do to my car?" she asked so directly as to silence his rant.

With narrowed eyes, he said, "I thought you made it obvious what's yours is mine."

Raising her eyebrows, she said, "Oh? Have you made a decision already? Without your time to think and walk to determine if you really love me? Are we to now marry where all I have will becomes yours?"

At his wit's end, he picked his coat up from the end of the bed and blew a heavy breath through his nose. "I got us here perfectly safe and sound. It wasn't difficult at all."

"Good," she said shortly.

Biting the bullet, he added, "But then I may have not noticed the trash bin in the driveway and..."

Her eyebrows went up again. "And...?"

Eyes on the floor, he continued, "Your driver's mirror is gone and there's a scratch along the side."

"Ok."

Gaze jerking back to her, he stared at her wide eyed. "Ok? That's all you're going to say?"

She was a picture of calmness. "Come here."

Hesitantly stepping forward, he sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you going to hurt me?"

She bit her lip as she shook her head slowly. "I'll forgive you on one condition."

Unsure what to say, he asked, "Yes?"

Lifting a finger to her lips, a smile appeared. "Kiss me goodbye properly."

"Kiss you? That's all?" he asked, bewildered at how calmly she was taking this news. Jenny had made it seem as though she'd murder him.

"Well," she drawled, tilting her head to the side. "If you kiss me, there's a greater chance you're going to catch my cold. Though, after allowing me to waller all over you this morning, your chances are already pretty high. I'd say that's punishment enough."

Shaking his head at her antics, he leaned forward and brushed his lips to hers before pulling back only to find her frowning. "What? You said to kiss you."

"Like a proper goodbye," she said quite dramatically. "That was pitiful. I'm not even sure that was a kiss at all. It was-"

He cut her off with his mouth clamping over hers firmly. Her gasp of surprise came out quite strangled as he guided her back to her pillow with one hand supporting him on the bed and the other behind her neck. When her hands made their way into his hair as she attempted to return the kiss, he pulled back and stood, leaving her breathing heavily in the midst of her pillows and blankets.

"Am I forgiven?" he asked, adjusting his shirt with a smug look.

All she did was nod and lift her hand with her thumb pointing upwards, which he took to mean yes.

"Good. Then, I'll leave you to recover."

As he began making his way to the door, she called, "I love you, Ichabod."

Hand on the door frame, he glanced back to her with a smile. "I hope you feel better soon."

With that, he started down the hallway. It was going to be a long walk home.

I gotta say, I really wouldn't mind Ichabod Crane tending me and carrying me around while I was sick ;)

Next up: A date gets interrupted. Abbie makes a confession. A little Detective Morales and maybe some girl talk. Who is Jenny's mystery guy? Comfort given in the midst of a mother's death.