The cycle of drugs kicks in and I feel myself falling under its spell. I wake, semiconscious, noticing the darkness of my room, the only light from the machines whirring in the background.

I hear her voice, "Hey", she emerges from the shadows and sits on the side of my bed, leaning forward, kissing my lips. I take her hand in mine and she intertwines our fingers.

"Hi"

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. Especially, now."

Vic flashes her broadest smile and tilts her head down.

"Have you been getting any rest?"

"Yeah"

"No, really, have you been getting any real rest?"

"I've grown accustomed to the western chic furniture of your room. I sleep pretty good in that chair over there."

"Why don't you go home and get a full night's sleep? I don't want you to wear yourself out."

"I want to stay with you, that's why"

I smile at her thinking of our last conversation and a little hesitant about bringing it up because my mind is in a partially drug induced blur.

"I'm glad you are here." My hand squeezes a little tighter and I hear the machine cycle. In a few minutes, I will be officially under the influence but I have so much to say.

"Vic, can you brush my teeth?"

Her eyebrows scrunch, "What?"

"Can you brush my teeth?"

"Are you having another magic carpet ride?"

"I want to kiss you so bad it aches." I swear I can see her blush.

"I will see what I can do."

The familiar float is back and it begins to take me away but I fight it long enough to tell her that I love her.

Her voice whispers in my ear, "I love you, babe and I will be here when you wake up." I feel her hand caress my hair as I drift into outer space.

When I do wake, I intuitively call her name, "Vic?"

"I'm right here." She rises from the chair next to my bed and holds a plastic wrapped toothbrush and a small travel sample of toothpaste.

"Your ready for this because I'm ready for my kiss."

"Take a sip of water, first. Just a small sip" I do as told.

I smile and she soaks the brush in the small hospital Styrofoam cup.

Vic gently begins to brush my teeth. I think how could she be so sexy doing something like this but she is and my body for the first time in three weeks relaxes. When she finishes, I rinse my mouth and Vic produces a small bottle of mint Listerine. I smile as use that, too.

"Rinse with the water one more time." I do.

Vic sits on the bed and smoothes out my flimsy hospital gown. "I'm bringing pj's tomorrow, even if I have to cut off the fuckin' sleeves, because I hate this gown." She's nervous.

"Give me your hand." I say softly. She does and our fingers fall together.

I reach up as far as the tubes will let me, Vic leans down to meet me, and I hold her face. The IV prevents me from caressing her face. "I need to tell you how much I love you." She lowers her cheek into my hand and kisses the palm of my hand.

"May I kiss you?" I smile and ask as if it is the first time and in some ways, it is the first time. The first time since I decided to come back and live, truly live, with her in my life.

Vic's face grows soft, "Yes, and I promise not to cry."

"It's ok if you cry, baby...it's ok"

Vic leans down and slowly presses her lips to mine. She tastes good. She tastes like life, my future, and our future. Our kiss grows deeper and my hand stays intertwined with hers. I think of how much I love her, how much I respect her, and how much I want her. I can feel her responding as the intensity of our kiss grows.

Our lips finally part and I fight for much needed air.

"Are you ok?"

I nod. "Yup."

"You sure," with a serious look of concern on her face.

"You took my breath away." We laugh together and she lays her head on my chest over my heart. I think she wants to hear it beating to make sure this is real.

My fingers walk through her hair and fold in my fingertips.

"I was scared before but I have officially moved into the category of terrified." I hear her words even though they are muffled against my chest. "I was so scared you were going to die. Not many people survive a rifle round, Walt."

I kiss the top of her head as she pours her fears into my chest.

"I knew before this that I loved you but I don't know…when I saw you…when I saw you trying to breathe…and your blood filling your shirt and pants…my heart stopped. It's like my life passed before my eyes and I wasn't expecting that. I never thought of it. It is not about me ...it's about you... but my life just stopped. It stopped in its tracks because my life became about you and fully realizing …and understanding…..that for the first time in my life what love really is, what it does and what if feels like. I won't have a life without you, Walt, and I don't want a life without you. So, while I would still like for us to slow down from warp 5 to maybe warp 2; at this point, I don't care who knows about us and what they think because there will always be critics but there is only one, you.

Vic looks up at me and holds my eyes, my hand rests on her arm, and she says, "I know I'm long-winded, but you need to know all the things I have been thinking the past 3 weeks."

Her voice catches and she takes a deep breath, "Walter Longmire, for he first time in my life I am completely and unashamedly in love and I am in love with you. If you will still have me?" She cracks a smile on her serious countenance.

My smile matches hers because I recognize this feeling having experienced it twice, now, in my lifetime. Henry was right. I am a lucky man.

"I am in love with you, Vic. I know that but what I want to know is if you will kiss me once more?"

"Yes, but then you have to go to sleep. I need you rested and healed up so you can make up for the three weeks of amazing sex I've missed while you were in here acting hurt and all."

We laugh aloud with each other and we kiss each other, deeply and lovingly. I have to get out of this hospital that's what I think this time when we kiss because I have a lot to make up for. It's a honey do list I will take every time.

I will keep writing if you guys keep reading...lol...let me know what you think.