XxX

A/N: This was inspired by Sunrise by ARTY ft. April Bender, hence the title :)

XxX

Nigel lingered long after everyone had gone home. It has been a long week but, for some reason, he just wasn't tired. Sitting at his desk, his eyes were locked on the door to the Crypt. It had been an hour, maybe two, before she finally appeared, wiping at her tear-stained face, and clutching the remaining pieces of her heart.

"Jordan?" He asked quietly, not wanting to scare her.

She turned to him, feigning a smile, "Oh, hey Nige, I didn't think you'd still be here?"

"I just wanted to make sure you're alright?" His voice was soft, like he was approaching a wounded animal.

"Well, for someone who spent the last week running from the police because she was framed for tw—two murders, I'd say I'm doing pretty good." She wrinkled her nose, trying to keep her composure.

His eyes flit back to the dark vault she had just come from, where J.D. Pollack's body now lay, cold and lifeless.

"Can I give you a lift home?" He offered, not wanting her to be alone.

Sniffing back her grief, she nodded, "I'd like that, just…just let me get a few things…"

Nigel nodded and dutifully followed her back to her office, watching her closely. He knew the break was coming.

Jordan had barely gotten into the small room when the tears stole her breath, her sobs choking her. She felt Nigel's arms catch her before she collapsed. Carefully, he lowered them both to the floor and just held her, rocking back and forth, as all the grief and anger and shock burst forth. It was a never-ending flood of emotion, and she was drowning.

"Shh, shh, it's alright, luv."

She shook her head, her hand grabbing his shirt tightly. Eventually, her breathing evened out, her demons letting her be for a brief moment. Disbelief filled her as she rested her head against his chest, his steady heartbeat her only tie to what was real.

"It will be alright." He promised, soothing her hair, "It will all be alright."

Slowly, carefully, she looked up to him. His brown knit as she leaned closer and he turned, her kiss just brushing the corner of his mouth.

"Jordan, don't. You're not in the right head—this…this week—" He sighed; his words lost.

"Nigel," Her voice broke, her tears blinding her, "Please." Her thoughts were written across her face, Help me forget.

He looked at her evenly, "You sure?"

She nodded and leaned forward, this time he didn't move away. That night, he helped her to forget.

XxX

Nigel startled when he felt the buzzing and he snatched up the small mobile, "Townsend." Consciousness slowly took hold, and his eyes grew when he saw Jordan fast asleep beside him, her creamy shoulders just visible above their blanket.

"Nigel, I need you to come in early. There was a triple homicide at The Godfrey."

"Yeah, I'm on it. See you in a few." He whispered, taking care not to disturb Sleeping Beauty. He didn't want to leave her, not like this, but he didn't want to wake her either. It was probably the first time she'd slept in over a week.

Carefully, he untangled himself and gathered his things before writing a quick note. He closed the door quietly behind him, hoping he'd done the right thing.

Garret was surprised to see Nigel had beaten him to the morgue, and even more surprised when he noticed that the criminalist was wearing the same clothes he had on yesterday. With a shake of the head, the seasoned M.E. let it go and the pair headed out.

A couple hours later, Jordan stirred. She smiled as she stretched, knowing she hadn't slept that well in a long time. Her heart stuttered when she found herself alone in her office, it eased only when she found his note.

Jordan –

I didn't want to wake you. Dr. M called about a triple homicide, so I had to head out. I hope you understand. If it helps, I made sure the coffee pot was turned on for you and I will make sure to pick up one of those lemon pastries you love on my way back.

N

Her smile was bright, as if she was seventeen again, and she hugged the note close. The walk of shame to the locker room didn't faze her at all and she took her time, finding hope in the new day.

"Jordan, what are you doing here?" Garret chided when he passed her in the hall, "I thought I told you to take a few days off!"

"Hey, Garret!" Jordan spun around, "How did the pickup go? Do you need me to take one of the bodies?"

"How did you—never mind," Garret shook his head, "Go home, get some rest, I am sure there will be enough bodies to go around in a few days."

"Alright, alright," She held her hands up in surrender as she reached for her coat, "Oh, did Nigel come back with you?"

"He had to make a stop off, he'll be back in a few." Garret's expression was skeptical, wondering what was going on and if it was airborne.

As if on cue, the main doors opened to reveal the chipper Brit. A precarious amount of bakery boxes was balanced in his arms with one small bag perched on top.

"Jordan, before you head out." Nigel snatched the bag and handed it to her with his wide smile. She accepted it, surprised at how easy the interaction was. It was as if nothing had changed between them.

"Oh, don't worry Dr. M, I got a couple of those chocolate square things you love too." Nigel winked as he made his way into the breakroom, never missing a beat.

"I hope it's not contagious."

Jordan laughed as she saluted her boss, taking her leave for the day.

XxX

Things went back to normal, and that made Jordan almost annoyed.

Nigel was his typical, quirky self – cracking jokes, monologuing his finds, and treating her with just as much care and affection as he had before. It was as if that night had never happened.

Things finally came to a head three weeks later when they were working on the Doyle case.

"Jordan, what's gotten into you? You've seen cases like this a thousand times." Nigel shook his head, wondering what had sparked her passioned defense that the couple couldn't have killed each other, "Marriage, more often than not, ups your chances of being murder."

She slammed the saw down and Nigel jumped.

Her eyes cut to him, "Why haven't you brought it up?"

Nigel looked quickly between the Doyles and the blood splattered M.E., hoping the former might be able to clue him in on what was going on.

"I—I'm sorry?"

Tearing off her gloves, she slammed them in the trash, "What, do you regret it? Are you embarrassed by me?" Before Nigel could get his no out, she had run right over it, "Oh, poor, psychotic Jordan who just goes around shooting at people and throwing herself at any man that will have her because she's such a whore, but you know what, I didn't!" Nigel resisted the urge to comment how her little show wasn't doing her any favors in disproving her supposed psychosis, "Yes, I was upset, it might have been spur-of-the-moment, but it wasn't thoughtless." Before he even had a chance to reply, she stormed out. Ever loyal, Nigel followed after her.

"Jordan, Jordan!" He tried to keep his voice down as he caught up to her, "I'm sorry, I…I was just trying to give you space to sort it all out."

"Yeah? Well, I didn't want space. I wanted you to man up and say something!"

"Well, you could have womaned-up and said something too!" He shot back, not letting her off that easily. Jordan pulled back, having not expected his outburst. Her shock instantly corrected him.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Nigel sighed, "Look, Jordan, a lot went on that week. What with the wedding, and the wedding being called off, and the thing with TerraCoal and J.D….that isn't even mentioning the craziness going on the past few weeks with Lily's bun news and the addition of that inhumane M.E.!" He chuckled, trying to sidestep the tension. He waited till she eased a bit, and they were on level again, before he continued, "I just, you didn't say anything. And when you came back, it was like nothing had happened, so I went with it. I figured it was a one-time thing, that you just needed someone that night – someone you trusted completely – and I just happened to be there. And I'm fine with that, truly." He smiled, squeezing her arm, "I'm glad that's how you see me. Because I will always be here for you."

Jordan waited a half second to see if he was done before launching into what she had to say, "I spent three days waiting for you to call!" She shook off his arm, her eyes dark, "Then I figured you were just giving me space – which, alright, that's fair considering my past record – but then when I came back…I—" She bit back her tears, "I don't like feeling this way."

His expression grew weighted, his eyes kind, "Feeling what way, Jordan?"

"I just…it hurt, Nigel. It really hurt." Jordan refused to meet his eye, "That night meant so much to me, I felt…I felt hopeful and alive and then I—I wasn't sure if you were embarrassed, or regretted it, or if you'd gotten what you wanted and…" She let the thought trail off, finally letting herself meet his eye.

An intensity etched ever part of his face, she hadn't seen him so unyielding before, "You know me better than that Jordan, I would never do that to you."

With a sniff, she nodded, knowing she had let her past color her present yet again, "So…you aren't embarrassed, or regret it?"

"Of course not, luv." He fell back into a smile, content that she had accepted his response without argue, "Now, what do ya say we finish up this case, because I'd love to take you out to dinner. We'll go someplace brightly lit! Everyone will be staring at us, wondering how a bloke like me managed to snag a date with such a beauty, and they'll be asking you if you're embarrassed to be seen with me."

She wrinkled her nose, giving into her smile, "I've heard Amrheins is pretty good."

"Amrheins it is!" Nigel smiled, snatching up the file, "I'm going to go run these samples and then we will get Brandau on the phone so we can head out."

Jordan watched him head for the doors, her heart at peace, "Hey, Nige?"

"Yeah?" He turned back as he got to the door.

"Thanks, for being you."

He grinned as he popped open the door, "Back at ya, luv."

XxX