A/N:This chapter is a bit of a role reversal with Bird comforting Dutchy instead of the other way around because it's hard being strong all the time. I really like how it came out. There will be one more chapter as an epilogue, but I have another story idea planned for these two so they'll be back. Disclaimer: See anything familiar? Yeah, I don't own that. Enjoy!

Twenty minutes after she left the base Jess unlocked the door to her flat. She slumped back against the door and relished the silence. The quiet and space eased something coiled tight inside and she felt as if she could finally breathe. She inhaled a long breath before levering herself off the door in search of that hot shower.

She left a trail of clothing along the short distance to the bathroom. Boots landed by a chair in the corner. Pants were heaped by the foot of her bed while her shirt was discarded just outside the door. In the bathroom she stripped out of her underwear and cranked the shower as hot as she could stand it. Once Jess stepped under the scalding spray she relinquished the stranglehold she had been keeping on her emotions and let go.

The sobs wracked her body hard enough that she found herself slowly sliding down the wall of her shower until she was sitting on the floor, forehead pressed to her knees and arms wrapped around her legs while the hot water cascaded over her.

Jess had no idea how long she sat there, but the water was just starting to cool when her sobs finally subsided into hiccuping breaths. The tension had been completely drained from her body and had left her practically boneless from exhaustion. Rallying what little remaining strength she had, she pushed to her feet to wash before the water went completely cold.

The doorbell went off as she was toweling her hair dry. Jess frowned at her watch. 1830. She wasn't expecting anyone that she could remember. She threw on the tank and shorts she slept in then went to see who was at the door. A quick glance out the side window showed a familiar figure waiting on the other side.

"Dutchy?"

He gave her a sheepish smile when she opened the door. "Hey Bird. I, uh, I hope this is okay? I just find that I could really use some sympathetic company right now. Is it alright if I come in?"

She took in the red tint to his eyes and the tense set of his shoulders and stepped aside. If she was being honest with herself she could do with a friend too.

"Thanks." His broad frame seemed to fill the small entryway when he stepped inside. "You haven't eaten all the ice cream yet have you?"

She laughed. "No, I haven't even started in yet. I was thinking about doing a quick stir-fry first if you want some?"

"Yeah. That actually sounds pretty good right now. Besides, I'm not going to say no to free food. You want help with anything?"

Jess thought for a moment as they moved to the kitchen. "If you want to chop the veg while I get the meat started that would be good."

"Chopping the veg I can do. Just point me in the right direction."

They went to work in the kitchen. Soon the smell of sizzling vegetables and meat filled the air and Jess felt some of the remaining stress drain away as they worked. There was something comforting about cooking a meal with someone that she always enjoyed. Maybe it was from growing up in a large family where everyone pitched in.

They decided to forgo the narrow dining table when the food was ready and settled on her small sofa with their bowls.

"Since this meal was cooked by two Navy sailors does this qualify as SCRAN?" Dutchy teased scooping up a forkful and popping it in his mouth.

Jess laughed. "Never thought of it that way, but I guess it does."

"It's excellent as always," he complimented before they both properly dug in.

She had always marveled at the restorative effect a good meal could have, especially when someone was both emotionally and physically wrung out. Between the physical toll of her job, the emotional stress of the past week, and having to talk to the police today she was feeling pretty low. The simple meal helped to return some sense of normalcy and humanity. No matter what happened you still had to eat.

Between herself and Dutchy (mostly Dutchy) they polished off the entire pan of stir fry. They sat in a soporific silence, neither of them feeling inclined to move. Jess turned her head to look at him. When they had first met nearly a year ago she would have never imagined this man would become one of her closest friends. She certainly wouldn't have believed that she'd find him sitting on her couch. He sat with his head tilted back and he was staring at the ceiling, but she could tell his thoughts were far away. At some point he had picked up one of her throw pillows and had it hugged to his chest. It would have been endearing if she didn't suspect that he was holding it to protect himself from being vulnerable. He probably didn't even know he was doing it.

She gently bumped his shoulder. "Penny for your thoughts?" she asked him mirroring his words from their conversation the other night.

He rolled his head to look at her with a smile that was slightly broken at the edges. "You sure you want to spend that penny?"

Jess turned her best imitation of her mother's deadly serious stare on him. "You don't have to be strong all the time you know. It's okay to lean on others when you need to. Lean on me."

"When did you become so wise Chicken Legs?"

"I've always been that way. Maybe you just weren't paying attention. Also, quit trying to change the subject."

He made a face, but gave in to her suggestion.

"Today was hard. Giving my statement to the police brought back all the emotions from that time full force. How helpless I felt on that island. How scared I was and how angry I was that I had failed in keeping my crew safe. My only consolation that whole time was knowing that you were safe. If anything had happened to you I don't think I would have ever forgiven myself." He broke off and let go of the pillow with one hand to take hers like he needed an anchor to remind himself that she was okay and they had made it. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and he continued.

"It also brought back memories of some of my experiences in the Gulf. You know the story of what happened to my boarding officer on the last ship I was on?" At her nod he went on. "It was the same feeling. I froze and in those moments I was helpless to protect him. Yes, I went on to save the other members of my team, but that one loss still haunts me. The similarities in the two events occasionally makes it feel like I'm living both at the same time."

Her heart broke at the haunted expression in his face. It was easy to forget sometimes that people everyone called heroes were human too.

He looked down at their joined hands. "It also doesn't help that I've been having quite a few nightmares lately. Normally I can somewhat control them, but my brain apparently has other ideas. I've imagined what could have happened to us on that island so many times. Especially what could have happened to you if they had caught you. Like you said the other night, I've seen you killed and tortured in my dreams so many times I'm sometimes surprised to see you walking around. You've become one of my best friends Jess. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."

He trailed off with a ragged sigh that was born of a bone deep exhaustion and she found herself wondering when was the last time he had let himself be so open with someone. This was the most she had ever heard him talk about his experiences.

He sagged further into the cushions, his body leaning toward her silently asking if he could seek the physical comfort he had so easily given her when she needed it. In answer Jess reached around him with her arm and gently pulled him down until he was on his side with his head resting in his lap. She plucked another pillow from behind him and eased it under his head while he still held the other pillow captive against his chest, held there with both of their hands as neither of them were willing to let go. Her free hand came to rest on his head and she absently carded her fingers through his short hair. It was a method of comfort her mother had used on Jess and her siblings when one of them was sick or upset.

They sat in silence for a while, taking comfort from each other's presence. Eventually Dutchy's shoulders relaxed and then the tears came. If she hadn't noticed the slight hitches in his breathing she probably wouldn't have even known he was crying. He was trying to do so quietly to maintain the strong facade he had built. She didn't say anything, just squeezed his hand tighter to tell him she knew he was hurting and it was okay to have it out, which he did.

When he was done she reached for the box of tissues she kept on her small end table for when she watched a particularly emotional show or movie. She set it in front of him before her hand resumed combing through his hair.

"Thanks Jess," he murmured reaching for one with his free hand. He cleaned up his face and rolled over on his back so he could look up at her.

"Sorry for being such a mess. It's been a longer time than I've realized since I've felt so...safe with someone."

She looked down at him and made sure he was looking at her before she spoke. "You know you don't have to apologize for being human like the rest of us mortals. And know that you're always safe with me." She paused for a second and then added, "Unless you've committed an unjustified murder, then I might have to reconsider."

Dutchy shook his head with a stronger grin than before. "You are one of a kind Jessica Bird."

"Don't you forget it."

"I could never," he declared through a yawn. He was starting to crash now that the adrenaline and stress had run its course.

Jess smiled at him softly. "We'll get through this together yeah?"

"Together," Dutchy whispered right before his eyes slid fully closed and he was asleep.

She felt her own eyes start to lose their fight with gravity as she watched him sleep. A minute later she followed him into dreamless oblivion.

As always I would love to know what you think. Leave a message after this note. ~Naomi