Apologies to everyone for the very long delay in updating. I hope you enjoy this and thanks to Urquoise for messaging me – it honestly would have been another few months if they hadn't decided to say 'Hi' and made me realise that I had made you all wait a very long time for this next chapter. I appreciate the love and hope that this chapter marginally makes up for the wait.

Beyond the Wall – Paul Oakenfold

I'd come for you – Nickelback

Chapter 14 – These things we feel

It was late at night when Leon returned. When she heard him quietly enter the apartment, her heart quickened in anticipation. She wanted to go out and see him, speak to him, but 'only fools rush in' and her silly heart had been foolish enough. When she heard a gentle knock at her door, she was glad. She could be a bit more honest with her feelings if she knew he wasn't trying to keep his distance from her. "I'm up," She called out gently – she didn't have the strength to put much more force behind it and hoped he heard.

Leon hesitated slightly before entering her room, he had seen the light on and wanted to check on her…but the better she got the more out of place he felt staying with her. The whole situation was starting to feel surreal. Standing in front of her bedroom door like he was now felt too comfortable and…ordinary. Though this was an unusual place for him to be; as a special agent he spent more time on missions than he did his own apartment, so being in another person's home…especially someone that he had begun to really care about was even more alien to him. Trying to push that aside he walked in to see her propped up on her pillows with papers covering her duvet. "You should be resting Angela," he said frowning and looking at what she was working on.

"I have been, but I've just been breaking up my day with a bit of activity. Else I'm going to go a bit stir-crazy! I'm pretty much finished up here though and I'll probably be heading to sleep soon, but first…maybe you could tell me…" she hesitated about what to say next. She didn't want to say 'tell me about your day' because it seemed like something a couple would say to each other and right now…he looked as distant as the time they first met each other. "If you have any good news today?"

He pushed his hand through his hair roughly, momentarily displacing the ash-coloured strands. His day had been filled with paperwork and other things he didn't want to tell Angela about because…he didn't like what they had done. He had only hesitated for a moment, but that coupled with his body language was sufficient for her to pick up on his reluctance to tell her about his daytime activities.

"Leon…are you alright?" She noticed that he seemed a bit distant and…restrained and she wondered what had happened to make him appear as troubled as he was now. He was patently trying to keep it from rising to the surface, but his cool expression and rigid shoulders conveyed more information than his stoic face intended. "You don't have to tell me, but it seems like something you're better off not bottling up. You could have a shower and process it and if you still feel bothered by it, you can talk to me about it… I just want to help you."

Leon was a bit annoyed about being so transparent with her…but maybe she was just able to see through him. It didn't do thinking about it just at the moment though, not when he felt like he was intruding on her space. "I think it would be best if I gave you back some breathing room, Angela. I've been coming and going through your home like an interloper and it doesn't feel right," because he wanted more he realised. "I'll get set near your headquarters and let Melissa know so she can check in on you instead."

Angela was upset by his words and her automatic reaction was to think that it was because of some fault of hers. "Did I do something Leon?" When they had shared that kiss earlier in the day, she thought that her feelings were reciprocated and she didn't know what to think in the aftermath of his statement.

"Angela, it's…it's not like that…" he hadn't intended to hurt her, but he wasn't prepared to voice his thoughts, especially when it wasn't clear to himself what he wanted. "This arrangement…I feel like I'm taking advantage of you, I've been too comfortable inviting myself into your home."

Her dejection was eased slightly, but part of her wasn't completely satisfied. She ignored it and decided that like was too short not to be a fool occasionally, "If you're just waiting for a formal invitation then I'll write you one right now Leon. I'm the one who's felt like I've been imposing on you; looking after me at night when you haven't been off chasing down a lead or something else. And ignoring my being sick, I've really come to appreciate having you…in my space. It's comforting when being faced by the virus again. I'd like it if you stayed... I know the couch probably isn't that comfortable so if you'd rather get a better night's sleep elsewhere…."

Despite their obvious chemistry Leon couldn't seem to stop pulling away. Was it better to let something grow between them and risk hurting her when he had to leave, or douse the spark before it got out of control? It wasn't a conversation he could have with himself or Angela right now and he opted for the easier route, "It's reassuring to hear you say that Angela, I'll continue to impose on you for a while longer then, at least until you're able to join in the action alongside us again."

"Is…there anything else that's bothering you Leon?" It was a throwaway question, but she wanted to spend just a few more minutes with him.

"Yes, I think you need to go to bed now."

His response didn't satisfy her, especially if he thought that sharing any new information about the investigation would agitate her. "And what if I said I couldn't rest properly unless you told me what's on your mind?"

"Angela…" he breathed. He wanted to be able to tell her, but that would mean acknowledging the other thing he didn't want to think about this evening. It's not like it would go away though, it never does and he sat down beside her and tousled his hair again as he debated it.

"We've resorted to more severe tactics to try and get some information from the S.F. team. It's never sat well with me, the approach they take and knowing that I let it happen always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth."

She was silent for a few moments. She didn't know what he had seen…and frankly she was a little too afraid to ask what lengths the government would go to in the name of the greater good. The level of malice required to defeat evil, "In the ideal world, we would never need to resort to this, but humans are cruel…and we hurt and kill each other. The best I can do is to pursue my truth in a way that will let me look myself in the mirror at the end of the day. I guess you need to ask yourself if you could you live with what you've lost?"

It had been a long time since Leon had confided in another person and shared his internal burden; to let them have a glimpse of the things that wouldn't let him sleep. It was comforting, like a warm hand caressing his cheek. Such a simple gesture with her wise words of advice were like an instant salve and he could feel the fatigue set in almost immediately as some of the tension left him.

A few moments passed in silence before he took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders. "Wise words from an equally wise woman," Leon looked at her and smiled gently.

As she smiled in response she reached out and caressed his cheek. He exhaled in satisfaction as the very feeling that had been conjured in his head after he divested himself of his burden came to life. Her hand then trailed down his neck, across his shoulder and along his arm to find his fingers and pull him towards her on the bed.

She didn't have to say anything more. Her actions spoke as loudly as her words and he allowed himself to be pulled under the covers with her. Laying down he drew her back up against his chest and wrapped his arm around her warm waist. They revelled in feeling each other so close together. The hard and soft come together as the warmth from their bodies seeped into each other; no space separating them. Breathing deeply they were comforted by each other's scent. They didn't need to voice the mutual contentment and comfort they both felt at that moment; the feeling of safety and affection; the blissful pleasure of sharing each other's personal space so intimately. Leon had come to a conclusion quickly after hearing her words, but he'd compartmentalised that away. His solution would wait till the morning. For now he would enjoy this as they both drifted off to sleep.