Upon regaining consciousness, she had hoped to see him sitting by her bedside - a familiar, treasured face to offset the clinical coldness of the hospital room. Whilst the injuries she had sustained could not be considered life-threatening, she had been in no state to make any decisions regarding her medical care - not to mention the fact that she was still technically under arrest - which surely qualified as an exception to any draconian regulations regarding visitor eligibility. Instead, she awoke to an empty room. Her confidence shaken slightly - after all, she did not know for certain whether, faced with a beautiful, willing female companion or an unconscious woman who constantly derailed and complicated his life, he would choose her - she summoned a nurse and requested to see him. In a comfortingly short time, he appeared through the doors at the far end of her room, measuredly making his way to the foot of her bed.

"I have been informed I have you to thank for solving my case."

"Your concern for my health is touching."

He smiled a small smile that illuminated his eyes in a manner which played havoc with the rhythm of her heart. "I was building to that, Miss Fisher."

"In that case, I suppose I can forgive you."

"How very gracious of you. But before you bestow your forgiveness so willingly, please hear me out. The Victorian Police Force thanks you for your work on this case and in light of the circumstances, drops all pending charges against you and releases you from custody. However, you behaved recklessly, in a manner which endangered your life without thought for those who care about you, and impeded a current police investigation. Whilst there will be no official form of retribution, I wish to make clear that I am disappointed in your actions and thoroughly hurt and angry that you acted behind my back. Whilst we have been through a tumultuous couple of months, I had hoped that you understood my reasoning for distancing myself from you and could respect my choice regardless of your own personal feelings. I am aware that I haven't chosen the best moment to reprimand you and I understand that as a result you may disregard much or all of what I have said. But I beg of you. For the sake of those who care about you, stop being so reckless with your life. Its loss is irretrievable."

He slumped into the chair that sat near the foot of her bed, emotionally wrought following his impassioned speech. Silence on her part was the only appropriate initial reaction.

"Do you care about me, Jack?"

"Pardon?"

"Do you care about me? Your actions do not strongly indicate an answer. I admit that I at times behave recklessly, but do you appreciate how selfish your decision to abandon our partnership was? Did you consider how it would affect not only me, but the people in both our lives as well? Hugh was placed in an extremely uncomfortable position as a result of your action. I did respect your decision, Jack. But our partnership is too valuable to abandon. You resolutely stuck by your decision and would have stubbornly refused any offer of my help, so I was left with very little choice. Sometimes, a reckless action is preferable to inaction and I hope it has lead you to appreciate the importance and indestructibility of our partnership. However, I value and listen to the people in my life who care about me and I appreciate how difficult it was for you to say your piece. However, you never explicitly stated whether you yourself care about me. So, I wish to know whether you do, or if you are merely dispassionately reciting a speech in your role as a police officer. Because I will place the highest of considerations on your words if you care."

"Perhaps I have not spoken explicitly of my feelings toward you. I was afraid that my actions spoke what my words could not. However, you make a valid point as to the unclear origins of my lecture. So, Miss Fisher, I want you to know that it stems from deeper feelings. I care about you as a friend and as a partner. I can no longer imagine my life without you in it and, having now experienced your absence, wish to keep you in my life regardless of whether I suffer hurt in the future. We work seamlessly together, but there is a missing component that I have only just come to understand and identify. I am in love with you. And I am no longer afraid to admit it."