They spent two more blissful, peaceful days at Niagara Falls, but their happiness was short-lived. On Monday, they took a flight back to New York City. Alex was dreading their return home because she knew they would both have to deal with their bosses and tell their story.

Olivia tried to make it as easy as possible for Alex, distracting her as best she could. She let Alex have the window seat and gave Alex her iPod earphones so she could watch a movie, but Alex abandoned it after about ten minutes, unable to concentrate. Olivia kissed her cheek, not even caring that they were in public, and gently rubbed her back. Alex sighed, but settled into the touch and rested her head on Olivia's shoulder.

As the plane started to descend, Alex started to shiver. She really didn't want to do this.

"It's going to be okay," Olivia murmured, noticing the trembling of Alex's shoulders and massaging them. She pressed a soft kiss to the base of Alex's neck. "Don't be scared, honey. I'm here, and I'll stay here, by your side. Forever and always."

Alex took a deep breath and nodded, folding her shaking hands in her lap, clasping them so hard that they turned white.

Olivia took Alex's hands in her own, rubbing them to warm them up. She caught Alex's eye and gave her a smile, and Alex managed to smile back. Olivia reached out to caress her cheek and said softly, "You have such a beautiful smile, baby. Keep it there, okay?"

Alex nodded and took another deep breath, leaning back against Olivia as the plane hit the ground.

They waited until everyone else got off the plane before exiting themselves. Olivia hailed them a cab back to their apartment and Alex rested her head in Olivia's lap. "You're so brave, baby," she whispered, stoking Alex's hair. "I'm so proud of you."

Alex closed her eyes and tried to calm her fears. They didn't have to do this today. Olivia said they could wait until tomorrow morning to talk to Liz and she'd promised she would stay with Alex every step of the way. She was going to be okay.

They reached the apartment a few moments later. Olivia paid the taxi driver and they went upstairs to their apartment. It was sort of nice to be home.

Alex went into their bedroom and started to unpack, but Olivia gently took Alex's hands in her own and kissed them. "It's okay, honey. I'll do it. You go lie down."

Alex was too worn out to argue. She curled up on the bed and watched Olivia toss their new clothes into the dirty clothes hamper and put away their bags. She closed her eyes and sighed.

Olivia looked up, her brow furrowing in concern, and she climbed up onto the bed beside Alex, pulling the ADA into her arms and kissing her forehead. "I love you, princess," she murmured.

Alex snuggled closer to Olivia. "I love you, too."

Olivia ran her fingers through Alex's long, silky, blonde tresses and pressed a soft kiss to the base of her neck. "Tomorrow morning we'll go talk to Liz."

Alex started to tremble, but attempted to calm her nerves. "Okay," she agreed quietly.

Olivia kissed her again, rubbing Alex's arms to warm them up. "But tonight it's just you and me. Try not to worry, Alex. It'll be okay."

Alex took a deep breath and nodded.

Olivia smiled weakly, but she didn't say anything else. She just held Alex until she fell asleep.


Olivia was on the ground, bleeding, unconscious. Alex was trying to staunch the blood flow, but to no avail. "Stay with me," Alex begged through her tears. "Please, Liv. Wake up!"

She heard the whirr of an engine. A car was approaching and she got up, waving her hands so they'd notice her. They needed help.

But she realized when they got out of the car what a mistake that was. It was the men who'd hurt Olivia. They were back!

One of them grabbed Alex and put a hand over her mouth so she couldn't scream. "It's time to save yourself," he growled. "We're leaving and you're coming with."

"I won't leave her," whimpered Alex.

The second man held up his gun, pointed it at Olivia, and shot. One in the head and she was dead. "Now there's nothing holding you back."

Alex woke up with tears streaking down her cheeks. But then she tried to reassure herself and curb her tears. She was here in Olivia's arms. Olivia was okay and so was she.

She didn't want to wake Olivia, so she gingerly extricated herself from the detective's grasp and went into the washroom. She splashed cold water on her face, but it didn't help.

Even though she knew she shouldn't, Alex couldn't help herself. She rummaged around in the cupboard for a razor . . . but she couldn't find one. She held back her groan. Damn Olivia. What else could she use? Scissors? A knife? No, she didn't want to cut too deep. She wanted oblivion, but not death. She stamped her foot in frustration.

"Alex?"

Alex jumped at the sound of Olivia's voice coming from the doorway. "Did I wake you?" she asked softly, trying to keep her annoyance at Olivia under control. She wasn't a baby, dammit. It wasn't Olivia's job to throw out all her razors just so she wouldn't hurt herself.

But then, that was just Olivia, and that was one of the things Alex loved most about her. Olivia was always trying to take care of everyone around her and she hated seeing anyone in pain. She was only trying to protect Alex, and the ADA couldn't fault her for that.

"Are you okay?" asked Olivia, matching Alex's quiet tone.

God, that was one of the things Alex absolutely hated, even though she did it herself. Answering a question with a question. "I'm fine." She hesitated. "I'm sorry I woke you," she offered.

And then Olivia's warm arms were wrapped around her and she felt a gentle kiss being pressed to the crown of her head. "Come back to bed," murmured Olivia, and Alex knew that she hadn't fooled Olivia one bit. The detective realized what she'd been about to do.

"I'm sorry," Alex whispered again.

"I know, honey. I know." She gently took Alex's shoulders and kissed the base of her neck. "Come on."

Alex let Olivia tuck her back into bed and wrap her arms around her, holding her close. To her horror, she felt more tears brimming in her eyes and tried to blink them back.

"We're going to be okay, Alex," murmured Olivia, rubbing soft circles into her back. "I'm here. I will always be here."

How was it that Olivia always knew just the right thing to say? "I know."

Olivia kissed her shoulder blade. "Go back to sleep. We have to work in a couple hours."

Alex sighed. It wasn't as if she really had a choice.

She couldn't sleep. She was dreading the morning.

Review for chapter thirty!