Chapter 16 - Aftermath

The drive back to Grey House was a silent one; Cassie clung tightly to Sam's right hand as he drove while Abigail sat in the center of the bench seat and leaning against AJ, his arm around her and his head leaning against hers. When they arrived, AJ handed Abigail something from his room before he walked her to her door. He went to take a shower in the guest bathroom while she did the same in her room. When he came downstairs, he was wearing trackpants and a grey hoodie with NAVY written across the chest.

"You gave us a pretty good scare, Admiral," George said as he shook AJ's hand.

"Been hurt worse playing baseball back in the day." AJ shrugged it off.

"All the same, I'm glad it wasn't more significant." George smiled before excusing himself for the evening.

"We're going to turn in too," Harriet said before she and Bud said goodnight and went up to their room.

Grace hugged AJ, careful not to touch his injured arm then she and Nick said goodnight as well.

AJ went into the kitchen where Cassie was making tea and Sam was sitting at the island scribbling away in a file. "After action report?" he asked nodding at what Sam was writing.

"Something like that. Being Chief of Staff, it would set a pretty bad example if I don't keep my records up to date." Sam put the paperwork away and smiled at AJ. "How's the wing feeling?"

"I'd say somewhere between a stubbed toe and a toothache." AJ smiled at him. "Thanks for checking on Abigail at the hospital, Doc."

"She'll be fine. Her blood pressure just got a little out of hand due to the panic attack she experienced." Sam tossed his reading glasses on top of the file before looking at AJ with a serious expression on his face. "Thank you, AJ, for protecting her like you did. If you hadn't gotten her out of the way…" he let his voice trail off, not wanting to say anything that would upset Cassie. "Thank you."

"No thanks necessary." AJ nodded to him. Sam understood that with the speed the car had been going and where she had been standing, if it had hit her, she likely wouldn't have been coming home tonight or any other night.

"Well, you have at least one more thank you coming your way," Cassie said as she walked over to him and hugged him fiercely. "Thank you for saving my cousin's life."

AJ simply nodded as he returned the hug. He felt a tightness in his chest and throat hearing Cassie say what he and Sam had left unsaid. The fact that Abigail could have been killed made his blood feel like it was freezing in his veins.

"I made tea; would you like some?" Cassie asked as she stepped away from AJ. She quickly wiped a few tears from her face.

"I'll have some," Abigail's voice was quieter than usual as she spoke from the edge of the kitchen. AJ turned and crossed the few feet that separated them. He grinned down at her seeing that she had put on the sweatshirt he'd offered her. It was several sizes too big for her, but it was warm and had the SEAL insignia embroidered on the upper left side of the chest. He rubbed her shoulders momentarily before positioning himself beside her and wrapping his arm around her, holding her to his side.

"I think we could all use a cup tonight," Sam nodded and went to the cupboard to get the mugs down for Cassie. Once they each had their mug, they went to the parlor where Abigail tucked herself into AJ's side on the sofa while Cassie and Sam sat on the loveseat across from them. After a few moments of sitting silently, Sam smiled at Cassie and said, "I just remembered, Kyle Richardson asked me to tell you hello."

"I haven't seen him in ages. How is he these days?"

"Busy, he's moving to Florida to be closer to his kids," Sam told her. AJ, Sam and Cassie fell into an easy conversation while Abigail remained silently curled into AJ's side. When Cassie and Sam said goodnight and went upstairs, they remained there for a few minutes before AJ turned his head and kissed the top of hers.

"I should turn in and let you get some rest," he said to her softly.

"I don't want you to," she answered as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "If I'm holding you then I know you're okay."

"Abbi, you're exhausted. You need to get some rest," AJ pointed out.

"I need to be able to hold you more," she insisted.

"Well you can't sleep curled up in a ball down here, you'll end up with sore back. How about I escort you to your room and I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."

He was right, she was exhausted and had a terrible headache. She conceded wordlessly with a nod of her head.

They went to her room and AJ left the door ajar behind him. She realized immediately why he'd done it; it was his way of making sure no one would get the wrong impression about what they were doing alone together in her room when everyone else had already turned in for the night. She felt the slightest tug of a grin at the corner of her mouth knowing that he was going out of his way to protect her yet again, this time protecting her reputation.

She climbed into bed and as soon as she felt the mattress beneath her, she realized just how drained she was. AJ draped the blanket over her and kissed her forehead before walking around the other side of the bed and settling on top of the blankets. He laid behind her and rested his arm over her, holding her gently. She reached across her body and intertwined the fingers of her right hand in his left.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything. And I'm sorry."

"You never have to thank me for protecting you, I do it gladly, always will. Like I told you last night, I promise I won't let you get hurt. And you have nothing to be sorry for," he replied as he closed his eyes. He was starting to feel the fall he'd taken after being clipped. He'd have bruises by morning.

"So, does that mean you haven't changed your mind about me then?"

"Changed my mind? Abbi, I realize we haven't known each other long and it may seem soon to be saying this, but I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. No random accident is going to change that."

"I like the way it sounds when you call me Abbi," she admitted and for the first time in hours, a genuine smile came to her. "I like it a lot actually. And you're not the only one feeling something new, for the record. I've never felt like this about anyone either."

"I'd say that's a good sign," he commented and couldn't stop the smile that came to his face at her words. "We have a lot to learn about one another, and we can start fresh tomorrow. After you get some much needed rest," he felt himself relaxing into the bed and reminded himself that he was only staying until she fell asleep.

"AJ," she waited until he hummed softly behind her before continuing, "stay with me tonight, please. I don't want to wake up without you here."

"If you're sure that's what you want," he whispered into her hair. He was surprised how quickly he was relaxing now that the adrenaline was leaving his system. Without thinking, he squeezed her gently, pulling her body more tightly against his own. He inhaled deeply and tried to memorize the scent of her shampoo.

"Yes, you staying here is exactly what I want," she answered quietly. It was more than wanting him there, she needed to feel him close to her. She closed her eyes and drifted easily to sleep with the gentle, reassuring sensation of his breath on her shoulder.