Author's note: I know I've been missing for a while now. My muse had hidden itself somewhere where I was unable to find it. Now, I'm grabbing onto it with both hands and dusting it off. This is my first attempt in 5 months, so please be kind

"Kind of a mess, huh?"

I look up from the fractured vase in my hands, feeling a bit like I'm looking at the remnants of what my life was like these days. Fractured, broken and without purpose.

"At least the maid's coming tomorrow," I answer David, who is looking at me with something resembling pity inside of his eyes. Well, that is certainly not a look I ever expected him to give me. I don't need to be pitied. I always bounce back; whether it's from a man robbing me of all of my money, losing a baby, or someone trying to kill me. Except, I'm not really sure if I have… bounced back, that is. All I could think about when that dirty cop was trying to plant his knife in me, was how unpleased I was with how things had turned out if this was it. Suddenly, my life felt bland and hollow. Yes, I could get by on my own. I knew I would always survive whatever the world threw at me. I was a strong woman, I knew that. There was something missing, though. I put the broken vase away and looked around my house, a sigh leaving my lips. My house had been all I had left and they destroyed it. A desolate feeling crept up my throat.

David walked through the destruction and stopped in front of me. He probably wanted to say goodbye. It suddenly felt like something would snap if he left right now. Perhaps I could hold him here a little longer….

"Thanks," I utter.

I can see the frown forming on his face. He probably doesn't understand why I'm thanking him. I never thanked him all that much; I mainly treated him like he was a pain in my behind. I had done nothing but snap at him ever since he had climbed through my window, trying to warn me about dirty police officers. Of course, he had pointed out the wrong police officer, but the fact that he had tried to break into my house to look out for me was telling. Somehow, I had missed this entirely.

"For trying to look out for me," I let him know, trying to be as honest as I can be.

"That's what partners are supposed to do, right?"

I want to huff at him. I want to throttle him, but I can understand his reaction. I haven't given him a reason to be anything other than distant. I had put him there, at arm's length, where he was safe…. where I was safe. The truth was that this man had been there for me for several years now. Sure, he had his shady reasons in the beginning as to why he wanted to get me to join the Blue Moon team, but he had unsuspectingly given me a new purpose. The ironic thing was that his green eyes had been all I could see when my life was supposed to flash before my eyes in that garage. He was the one who had cared. He was the one who knew me a little better than anyone else, even if I kept my heart and head a tight fortress.

"Partner's, huh?" I ask him.

I wasn't sure why I had said it in a questioning form, like I was asking him if that was all we were, or if I expected him to answer to that. He wasn't going to, that much I could tell. Instead, I could see him leaning forward, ready to quickly peck my cheek.

"I'm glad you're okay," was all I got. "I'll see you later."

I can see him wavering a little, an undetermined look in his eyes. His tone of voice is almost the same from when we had been dancing in that bar not soon after we had first met and landed ourselves in that bizarre case. The case that had sealed the deal and made me the boss of a sinking company. A company that was thriving now. I remember how cocky he had been when he had uttered his 'See you later' back then. He had known that I was going to come back; after all, he had taken that watch, ensuring that I would. Ha! It hadn't all been about that, though. I had found him utterly captivating in that bar… sexy even. Not that I would have ever admitted that to him. Right now, he had lost that sexy cockiness when it came to me. He was angry and unsure whenever we talked now. The bond that we once had was wavering, ready to collapse on itself.

I watched as David turned around, gazing at his retreating back, and all I could think of was how his face would have been the last thing on my mind if I had died a few nights ago.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Vulnerability was foreign to me. If I called him back, I was going to have to explain why. Somehow, I had a feeling this was a defining moment, though. If I didn't speak up now, nothing would ever be said again. This was an opening… a window… Would I climb through it, or would I slam it shut?

"Ma'am?" an officer was trying to get my attention. I tore my gaze away from David's retreating form, shooting the officer a puzzled look.

"Just a minute," I said, my voice sounding odd.. high and almost squeaky. Well, that was certainly unlike me. My throat suddenly felt tight and something was burning in my chest.

"I'm sorry, but we can't wait too long. We have something for you to decide on right now," the officer pressed.

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now."

I blinked, letting my eyes wander back to where David was gradually beginning to disappear into the shadows. The smart thing to do was to let him go, back to Annie…. back to someone who could make him deliriously happy. The burning sensation became stronger, almost suffocating me. Out of nowhere, something warm and wet trickled down my cheek. Confused, I wiped at my face, staring at the wet liquid that suddenly coated my fingers. Was I crying?

"Ma'am?" the police officer interrupted my thoughts again. "Are you okay? Can I get you anything?"

From the look of his concerned face, I really was crying. I felt another tear trickle from my eyes and I looked up at my partner… my everything… who was now almost out of view. Just two more steps and he would be gone.

"Please," I hear myself whispering.

"Ma'am?"

"Please stay."

"Stay? I don't know what you mean, ma'am. Of course, we're going to be here. You'll be safe, I assure you."

The darkness outside swallowed David whole now and more tears leaked down my face. As if in a daze, I glanced around my broken home, feeling the odd resemblance to my current state of mind. What was once a fortress was now ripped wide open… a sturdy house, brought down to a mess.

"David!" I cried out suddenly. God, I sounded awful; as if I was in pain. "David!"

Darkness. Was he already gone? Had he left? Had he left me?

"David," I whimpered.

Well, that was that, then. He hadn't heard me and he wasn't coming back. I wipe at my face and straighten my shoulders, trying to be the strong woman I always was.

"I'm sorry. What did you need from me?" I ask the officer, ready to forget that I was ever vulnerable a moment ago.

"Right, we just need…"

"Maddie?" a voice interrupts.

My body breaks out in goosebumps as I realize that it's him. He has indeed come back. I make a move to hug myself; a form of protection if this isn't what I hope it might be. David steps into the light that's pouring from my front door, a concerned look on his face.

"I thought I heard you call out to me. Is everything all right?"

I see something different in his eyes now; something different from the aloofness that always resides in them these days. Something intense flickers in his irises and I find myself drawn into the pools of green.

"I did call out to you." My voice sounded breathy again. "I…"

Can I say it? Can I be someone who lets something in every now and then? Am I ready to unlock that door?

"Stay," I say so softly that I'm not sure he has even heard it. "I need you to stay."

It is then that I see the aloofness slowly disappear. Something flares in his eyes, but I can't read into it quite yet.

"Okay," he says, a bit hesitantly. "If that's what you want, I'll stay with you."

"It's what I want." My voice is sure and steady now, and I have stopped hugging myself. "It's what I need," I emphasize. "I need you, David."

Now, his eyes downright widen with shock, before everything in his body seems to relax a little. I can see softness creeping into him, where there was once hardness. It's like he's letting me in again, and I can almost see it coming over his body like a wave…. Like I'm the blood that's racing through his veins, trying to get to his heart. Then, he does something that I know is a careful olive branch: he reaches out and slowly tucks a lock of my blonde hair behind my ear, a move that has gotten to me before. The tips of his fingers graze my cheek as he pulls back and I can feel a smile pulling at my mouth.

We just might be all right, after all….

One last thing; I'm dedicating this fic to a huge Moonlighting fan, whom I've gotten to know online and have talked to over the past few years. Sadly, she passed away this July. Her name is Sue, but over here, you mainly know her as Bluemoon Stranger. This one is for you, Sue…