A/N: This chapter will cover a few of the days John is at Anna's. As always reviews and PMs are more than welcome!

Disclaimer: Same 1-14.

Anna stirred in her sleep as she thought she heard a noise. It sounded far off like something muffled. She fluttered her eyes open momentarily, wondering if she had indeed heard something or if it was just her mind playing tricks on her. A few minutes passed with nothing but silence, so she closed her eyes and settled further into the mattress.

"NO!"

Anna's eyes opened wide, clearly hearing what had been said. John had yelled out from downstairs. She flung the covers back and made her way down the stairs. When she made it to his door, she didn't even knock before entering. The room was dark so she backed out of the room to switch on the hall light and then went back through the doorway.

Coming further in the room, she could see in the now lightly illuminated room John fidgeting as though he was trying to get away from something and his face was contorted. Cautiously, she walked over to the side of the bed and realized he must be dreaming.

She gently placed a hand on one of his as she said, "John."

He didn't seem to hear her so she tightened her grip on his hand and said louder, "John."

His eyes blinked open with a sharp intake of breath, and it seemed like he wasn't sure where he was for a moment.

"It's okay, John. It's Anna. I'm here," she said loud enough for him to understand.

As his breathing steadied and his mind cleared, he looked at Anna and said, "I'm sorry."

From their conversations before their time apart, John had mentioned he still had dreams about his time in the military, particularly when he was shot. With this knowledge, Anna didn't feel the need to ask any details but wanted to make sure it was indeed only a bad dream.

"Was it a bad dream?" she asked softly.

He nodded, "I was hoping not to have one while being here. I'm sorry I woke you Anna."

"Don't apologize. Are you okay now?" she said as she brushed his hair back from his forehead, feeling he was a bit warm which was probably just the exertion from the dream.

He nodded.

"What time is it?" he asked hoarsely as he laced their fingers on one hand.

Anna pushed the button on his phone with her free hand and the screen lit up. 5:30am.

"It's almost time for me to be up for work," she said calmly, although she really hadn't seen before 6am in some time, "You want to try to go back to sleep?"

"No, I'd just end up laying here."

Anna released her hold on John's hand as she stepped back from the bed, and John pushed the covers away from him. She immediately noticed his bare upper body and saw he still had on his trousers from yesterday. She wanted to ask him if he had had a hard time changing his clothes but didn't. The last thing she wanted to do was make him feel more uncomfortable than he already was.

"I'll just pop back upstairs real quick and then I'll fix us some breakfast," she said and then left the room.

John raised himself up slowly and carefully shifted his leg with a grimace on his face until it was over the side of the bed. Shifting the rest of his body, he was now sitting up straight. He bent over to reach inside his bag for a t-shirt and pulled it on. He released a deep breath as he thought about what had just occurred, feeling embarrassed Anna was not only taking care of him physically but mentally as well. Deciding he'd better get ready for the day, he looked around the room and found his crutches were not there. He heard Anna descend the stairs and thought it'd be okay to ask her to bring them to him.

"Anna," he called as casually as he could, not wanting to alarm her.

It wasn't five seconds later she was in the doorway.

"Yes?"

The corners of his mouth lifted as he looked at her. She had pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail, and she was now wearing a light pink robe which was tided securely around her waist.

"I think I left my crutches in the living room. Would you mind bringing them to me?"

"Yeah, of course," she said and then disappeared from the doorway.

When she came back, she was holding the crutches and said, "What a forgetful lot we are."

John took the crutches and replied, "I think we were both too shattered to remember much of anything yesterday."

"Well, good thing today is a new day. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything else," she smiled.

"Thank you," John said with a shy smile.

After John got himself ready for the day the best he could, he sat down in the wheelchair and pushed himself into the kitchen. Anna was at the kitchen table focusing on what looked like something of particular importance in the morning newspaper while sipping on her tea. It was only when she noticed him coming into the room she put the newspaper down and said, "I was going to go ahead and have a cinnamon roll ready for you, but I thought I'd ask if you'd like that or something else."

John pushed himself up to the table and replied, "Cinnamon roll sounds great."

"Okay then. I won't be but a minute," Anna said brightly as she went to work on heating up one of the large pastries.

John observed the table before him and saw a pot of tea, carton of milk, a mug, and his new and old prescription conveniently within his reach. He slid the mug closer to him and poured himself a cup, making it the way he enjoyed it. Anna came back to the table then and placed the roll in front of him. She then took her seat and continued eating her pastry as well.

"What was so interesting?" John asked after a few minutes had passed and then sipped on his drink.

"What?" she asked.

"In the newspaper, you seemed focused on something."

"Oh, it wasn't anything really. I don't even know why I still read the newspaper. I guess it's just out of habit. How is your breakfast?"

"It's just as great the second day. Thank you for preparing it," he replied kindly.

"You're welcome," she said as she finished her breakfast, "It's nice to have someone to eat breakfast with. Usually I sleep until I almost make myself late to work."

"I apologize again for waking you," John replied with a slight grimace.

"I'm glad you did. Well, not glad for the reason being woken up, but sitting down and having breakfast is nice. I'm going to the shower and get myself ready for work. Have everything you need for now?"

"I'm fine. Please, don't let me interrupt your routine."

John finished up his breakfast and took his pain pill as well as the new one. He began clearing the table as best he could, placing the milk back into the fridge, placing dishes in the sink, and bringing the teapot over to sit on the kitchen counter. Once the kitchen was as tidy as he could make it, he noticed Jingles sitting near his empty food bowl. His tail was swishing back and forth across the kitchen floor as his eyes met John's.

"Right, I'll just look for your food then," John said to Jingles and then began opening cabinets in search of the food.

When Anna came back downstairs after getting ready for work, she heard cabinet doors opening then closing. Wondering what John was up to, she peeked around the corner to see John looking for something and talking to Jingles.

"I know. I know. You expect me to feed you, but I don't know where your mummy keeps your food."

Anna's face crumbled with a silly grin at John's words. Hearing John call her mummy did something to her in a good way. It just sounded right coming from him. Deciding she had left him to his own devices long enough, she made herself known and stepped into the kitchen.

"Looking for something?"

John banged his head on the edge of the kitchen counter when Anna spoke. The words startling him as he was pulling away from one of the bottom cabinets.

"Ah!" he said out loud and brought a hand up to his head.

Anna rushed over and said, "Oh my god, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you."

Rubbing the spot on his head he had hit, he replied, "It's okay although I thought I was here to get better not to incur more injuries."

Anna felt even more horrible and was about to apologize again before she noticed John's sly grin.

They both started laughing as Anna responded, "Silly beggar. Let me get you an ice pack."

Anna was already on the move as John said, "It's fine really."

"Here," Anna said as she placed the ice pack on his head, "What were you trying to find anyways?" She knew but didn't want him to know she had been staring at him.

"Jingles was eyeing me from his food bowl, so I was trying to find his food."

"Well, it's good to know I'm not the only one he gives that look to," she replied as she walked to the other side of the kitchen, opening a bottom cabinet.

"It's all in here."

John placed the ice pack in his lap and turned his chair.

"I'll remember next time."

Anna picked up a small can of food and closed the cabinet.

As Anna made her way back across the room and over to the food bowl, John looked at her properly then. She had on her royal blue scrubs which he had tried to envision her in on several occasions over the weeks. Her hair was in a tight braid down her back and she had applied a small amount of eye makeup. She was stunningly beautiful.

"I'm just going to scoop his litter box, and he'll be set."

Anna's words brought him from his thoughts, and he simply nodded as she exited the kitchen. As he stayed in the same place, he thought his lap was getting rather cold. He looked down to see the ice pack still resting there; quickly he picked it back up and placed it on his head.

Anna entered the kitchen again, "I still feel bad about your head."

"Don't. It's fine," he replied, brushing off the whole thing.

"Well, I think you know where most things are by now. I want you to make yourself at home while I'm away, and yes you guessed it that means helping yourself to food and drink as well," she spoke with her arms folded in front of her.

"I will try my best not to be a bother," he replied as he placed the ice pack on the counter.

She slowly walked closer to him, trying to remain serious as she said, "If I find out you sat in one place without touching anything or eating anything, I'll be having a go at you later."

John gave her a smirk, looking into her eyes, he replied, "Will you now?"

His response made a shiver run down her back, and she felt her face heat up slightly.

"I most certainly will. I expect to see my books out of order, my remote moved from its current location, and to be eaten out of house and home," she said playfully, dropping her arms to her sides.

"How could I ever deny your requests Miss Smith?" John asked, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

Chuckling, she replied, "Also my back patio is flat so you can go outside if you need some fresh air. Now, I must be off so I don't make myself late."

"Can I get a hug?" she asked shyly and with a bit of hesitancy before turning to leave.

John's response to the question was him opening his arms.

Anna took a step forward and leaned down to wrap her arms around his neck.

As John's arms circled her waist, she whispered into his ear, "I'm really glad you're here, John."

Words like those still floored him, but they filled his heart in a way he had never experienced with anyone else. It all still felt surreal, and he hoped he wouldn't wake up at some point and all of this be a dream.

"Me too," he whispered back.

Anna was the one to break the embrace, smiling as she stood up straight.

"I should be getting off at four today. I don't believe I have any clients after that time, so I'll see you about quarter after."

"Okay."

She was gathering up her things as she spoke again, "I have my phone on me all day. If you need me for any reason ring me."

"Thank you, Anna. Have a good day," he replied as he pushed himself towards the front door.

"You too. See you later," Anna said as she shut the front door behind her.

The evening came and Anna was hanging up her coat and scarf after locking the front door behind her. Walking down the hall, she stepped into the living room and saw John wasn't there so she checked the kitchen, and he wasn't there either. Passing by the back door, John came into her line of vision. She stopped and peered outside to see John staring absentmindedly out at the back garden with his arms propped up on the armrests of his chair, his laced up hands supporting his chin. She turned away from the door and went to the kitchen to make up a tea tray for the both of them.

Once the tray was assembled with the tea and a few biscuits, she went into the hall to put her coat back on. She shrugged it on and wrapped the scarf loosely around her neck before grabbing a blanket from the living room. With the blanket tucked up under her arm, she picked up the tray and carefully opened the back door.

John turned to look at the back door as he heard it open, Anna was pulling the door closed as she said, "I thought maybe you'd fancy a cuppa since it's cold out here."

"That's very kind," he replied as she sat the tray down on the wicker table.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Anna this is your home. You don't need my permission for anything."

"I'll just take that as a yes," she said as she sat down in the wicker chair beside John.

She began unfolding the blanket, and draped it across both of their laps before saying, "How long have you been out here?"

"I'm not exactly sure. Maybe an hour or so."

She leaned forward and handed John a mug from the tray and then took hers as she leaned back in the chair.

"And what were you brooding about?" she asked as she turned her head to look at him.

He took a sip of his tea with a look of concentration, and as he brought the mug away from his lips he replied, "You."

Anna quickly took a sip of her drink to hide the smile that had formed on her face from his reply. She wasn't expecting him to say that at all, but now she felt like she needed to press for more details.

"Me? What about me?" she asked innocently.

John turned his head slightly and shifted his eyes to look at hers, "All I know is you amaze me."

Anna felt heat rise to her cheeks. She almost interrupted him to contradict his words, but she wanted to hear what else he might say.

"There's only been a few times in my life where I've been on the receiving side of kindness. Robert and his family pretty much rounded out that list and my mother when she was alive, but now I'm on the receiving side of yours and not for the first time. I just hope I have not seemed ungrateful. It is just something foreign to me, and I want you to know how very grateful I am for everything. You coming to visit me in the hospital, for offering me to stay here with you, for understanding my situation, and... for everything you did before."

Anna gently laid a hand on John's forearm and replied, "You don't have to thank me, but you're more than welcome. You haven't been ungrateful, and like I said this morning I'm very glad you are here."

She gave his forearm a gentle squeeze before continuing, "I know you would have done the same if it were me in the hospital."

"I'd crawl there if I had to if you were in the hospital," he replied in all seriousness.

"See? So, you don't owe me anything. Let's leave the past in the past. Please stop brooding and let's enjoy our time together," she said with a bright smile.

John would try his best to do just that.

"Now, tell me about your day," Anna said as she removed her hand from his forearm and wrapped both her hands around the warm mug.

John reached over to pick up a biscuit, much to Anna's delight, before he replied, "I watched your talk show."

"What!" Anna said with mostly mock shock before he could continue.

John shoulders began to shake from his short burst of laughter.

"Oh, you think that is funny? You'll just have to endure watching it twice," she giggled.

"That won't bother me at all," he replied with a wide grin.

"So, what else other than watching my show?"

"I noticed you have a wide range of tastes when it comes to authors. I wouldn't have known you liked Irish poetry."

"There is just something about the Irish, and the way use words to impact people," Anna smirked while meeting his gaze.

It was now Wednesday evening, and Anna was hurrying to unlock her front door, trying not to get completely soaked from the rain. Once the door was closed and locked behind her, she laid down her things on the hall table and shrugged off her wet coat and hung it up on the hook by the door. When she walked into the living room she noticed John sitting rigid.

Coming closer and rounding the couch, she took in his clinched jaw muscle and colorless face.

"John, are you hurting right now?" she asked.

"It'll pass. It just needs a minute," he breathed as he closed his eyes in pain.

His leg was propped up on the coffee table with a cushion placed under his foot. Anna stepped even closer before saying, "I can try to ease the pain. I won't push much because of the clots. Would that be okay?"

John could only nod as he gripped the arm of the couch tighter.

Anna straddled his propped up leg and began applying light pressure with her hands. John sucked in a sharp breath at first, but as Anna carefully worked her hands over his leg the pain started to ease off.

"Is this helping?" Anna asked, craning her head up to look at him.

"Yes very much," he replied gratefully.

After a few more minutes, Anna stopped when John told her the pain was back to its normal state. She then took a seat next to him on the couch.

"Please tell me you weren't in pain that like for long."

"I wasn't. It started only a few minutes before you walked in," he replied honestly.

Anna gave him an easy smile and sensing he was feeling self-conscious she changed the subject, "So, what would you like for dinner?"

John took a moment to look like he was pondering over what he'd like for dinner when he was really thinking about how domestic this all felt. Them sharing the same space, them mauling over what they'd like for dinner which they would eat together, and then more than likely watch TV or read after tidying up the kitchen. To most people that would probably seem boring, but to John it was exciting.

"I don't know. What would you like?" he replied as he turned his head to gaze at her.

"I asked you first," Anna replied in a sing song voice.

John laughed, "Well, at this rate we'll just be going back and forth all evening."

"You're right," Anna said and then bought her index finger and thumb up to her chin in thought.

"Oh!" Anna said as a thought came to her.

"Since it's a cold, rainy day, how about I make us a pot of vegetable soup? Not the canned, but homemade," she said with bright eyes.

"I think that sounds wonderful under one condition," he prompted.

"And what might that be?" she asked with one eyebrow cocked slightly.

"I get to help you prepare it."

"Don't be daft. Of course you're helping," she said with a wide smile and a wink.

When night time came, John excused himself early for the night. Anna assumed the combination of the pain pill he took regularly with the new one for the blood cots was making him more drowsy than usual, plus the outburst of pain from earlier in the evening. She was happily reflecting on their evening as she tidied up a few things and locked up for the night. Dinner had gone swimmingly, and after they sat next to each other and read for a while. When one read something they thought the other would like, they would read to one another and discuss what was written.

Anna was about to switch off the remaining living room light when she heard some groaning coming from John's room. Leaving the light on, she made her way to John's door and could sense he was having another nightmare. Opening the door slightly, she could tell John was jerking about. In particular, his injured leg was jerking which wasn't good and could only be making the dream even worse from the real physical pain from the movement. She stepped inside and kept the door open halfway, allowing a small amount of light to enter the room. Coming to his bedside, she did what she had done Monday night.

"John," she said clearly as she squeezed his hand.

The jerking only continued so she shook his shoulder and said louder, "John."

When she realized her attempts weren't working, she rounded the bed to the other side and without hesitation climbed into the bed next to him. Inching closer, she wrapped an arm around his middle. He groaned louder as she pressed herself up against his side but began to calm down as she laid her head next to his, softly whispering in his ear. The sound of her voice and the gentle but firm hold she had on him soothed him more by the minute. Before long, he had completely calmed down and his breathing evened back out. As she laid there listening to his calm, steady breath and feeling his chest rise and fall, she thought it was cruel his sleep was so restless when he had so many things to battle with during the day. Wasn't it enough he had challenges all day every day? Her eyelids became heavy as she soaked in the warmth his body was offering, and it wasn't long until she drifted off to sleep.

When the morning light began filtering into the room, John stirred lazily and smiled to himself as he snuggled closer to the warm body pressed up against his front.

Realizing there was someone else in the bed with him, he snapped open his eyes to see Anna's back pressed up against his front. How did we end up like this? He slowly lifted his arm from around her waist, trying his best not to wake her. He then began to turn onto his back when he noticed a pillow in between his knees and his pyjama bottoms sporting a rather large tent.

Finishing rolling onto his back, he closed his eyes tightly and prayed Anna hadn't felt him pressed up against her. He didn't want her to think he couldn't control himself. Had he gone to bed alone last night? He remembered going to bed early and alone, so this must have happened in the middle of the night? He wasn't sure how long he laid there until he felt Anna stir beside him.

Coming to life slowly for effect, Anna had been awake for John's discovery of her being in bed with him. She inwardly smiled as she spotted him placing a pillow over his lap as she turned around to lie on her side facing him. She had most definitely felt him pressed into her lower back which had been the cause to her waking up. She was relieved when he woke up and rolled onto his back because her ability to contain her desire was quickly dwindling.

"Good morning," Anna said as she covered her mouth to stifle a yawn.

John didn't think Anna could possibly look any more beautiful than she already was, but he was wrong. She looked incredibly adorable with her eyes still heavy with sleep. Her hair draped freely around her shoulders and a lazy smile creeping onto her face. The peace and contentment he felt in that moment was unimaginable, but he wouldn't allow himself to bask in it for too long as the need to know how they got here became too much.

"Good morning," he replied, "I... I don't quite remember how this happened."

Realizing he made it sound like a bad thing, he continued," I mean not that it is a bad thing. It was very nice. I'm just a little fuzzy on the details..."

Anna knew he was talking himself into a corner, so she decided to stop him and explain.

She propped herself up on her elbow and said, "John, you had another bad dream last night."

He closed his eyes in the way he did when he was inwardly chastising himself and before he could speak Anna spoke again.

"Don't you dare apologize to me."

He opened his eyes back up and looked up into her eyes.

"I tried to bring you out of it but it wasn't working, so I got into bed with you. After I did, it wasn't long until you completely calmed down and finally got some sleep."

When he first woke up he had felt very rested which was a rarity for him, and now he could attribute Anna being there with him as the reason why.

She could tell he was thinking of a way to apologize even still so she said with a grin, "In fact, I haven't slept that well in ages."

Whatever long, sincere apology he was concocting in his head completely left him after her statement.

"I don't want to put you in awkward situations," he said in an apologetic tone.

"I don't feel awkward at all. Do you?" she asked back quickly.

"No," he said back truthfully.

"I'll keep that in mind Mr. Bates," she quipped back playfully.

He was even more thankful for the pillow covering his lap.

"I'm going to go start breakfast unless you need anything," she said sweetly.

"No, I think I'll have a shower and then I'll join you."

By the time John was done showering and readying himself for the day, Anna was all ready for work.

"Sorry I won't be able to join you for breakfast this morning. We slept in later than I thought," she said as she gathered her things.

"That's okay," he said as he rolled further into the kitchen.

Coming to his side, Anna continued in a friendly tone, "Your breakfast is on the table, and my house rules still apply. Do you remember them?"

"Let's see... disorganize your books, move the remote, and eat you out of house and home," he said with a mischievous grin.

"Very good," she replied with a wink and leaned over to give him a hug without asking this time.

John willingly opened his arms and welcomed her loving embrace. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent as he circled his arms around her waist. They both seemed to stay in the embrace longer than any friend would hug one another, but neither seemed to mind. It was Anna who started to pull away first, knowing she would need to leave soon. As she started to pull back, John turned his head and placed a soft, quick kiss upon her cheek.

Anna froze for what felt like hours but was only seconds as the sensation of John's lips were still tingling her cheek.

"Have a good day, Anna," John said quietly as he slowly released his hold on her.

Anna could not find the words to say after John had kissed her cheek, so she instead kissed him tenderly on the forehead in return.

She broke all contact after that and after she collected her things she flashed him a smile before closing the door behind her.

Thank you for reading! :)