Jake followed Seth as he led him down the ICU corridor.

"She's still weak and tired which is normal, just follow her pace and be there. The nurses will monitor her vitals and pain levels regularly. The anesthetic will continue to wear off and the pain will slowly resurface. We'll keep her as comfortable as possible until it is manageable and heals."

"Her eye was in bad shape."

He nodded. "They drained the accumulated blood during the surgery, and it looks a lot better. She isn't complaining of severe vision problems, so like all the rest, we'll just keep monitoring her."

"I know you're only doing your job, but thank you," said Jake as they stopped in front of Liv's room.

"If you need anything, let the nurses know.

Seth watched as Jake slid the door, let himself in, slid it closed and walked over to Livi's bed.

Jake looked at the machines keeping track of her vitals, the IV bag that was connected to catheter in her arm, her bandaged arm, and then her face. He realized that she had opened her eyes.

Seth was right, her face and eye looked better. Martha had cleaned her up after having collected the samples and there were no signs of blood left.

He took a deep breath, walked over to the bed, and sat down on the mattress so that he was next to, and facing, her.

At first, he didn't know what to say. What do you say after something like this? He then decided to let his heart do the talking.

"Jake," he heard her say as he looked down at her hand inside his. Her voice was hoarse and raspy, nothing like it used to sound, but the simple fact that she said his name was, regardless, music to his ears.

He looked up at her. "I thought I'd lost you." He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it, before placing it on his cheek.

"I'll be OK," she said.

She closed her eyes and fell back asleep.

Two days later, Jake sat in the interrogation room where the MAs and investigators in charge of Liv's case were questioning him.

They had earlier in the day gotten Liv's deposition and were collecting his. Even if they weren't pleased that he hadn't stated the nature of his relationship with Liv from the moment the investigation started, since his version of the facts correlated with what Liv had said, they didn't give him a hard time.

Furthermore, DNA testing had come back. Both his semen and Beau's had been matched, which wasn't a surprise, but Beau's blood, most probably from his knuckles, had been collected on Liv's face and her top. In turn her blood had been found, mixed with his own, on his knuckles and on his shoes.

Under all the evidence presented, he had had no choice but to confess to his crime. His legal representative had told him that if he plead guilty there was a higher chance that his sentence would be reduced.

A week after the events, luckily, the Navy and jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault. He was dishonorably discharged, with forfeiture of all pay, allowances, and veteran benefits. He was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment with no eligibility for parole.

Jake, Javy, and Bradley had stood after hearing the sentence and had left the courtroom. It had been important for Jake to be there, he wanted to hear with his own two ears the fate that was waiting for Beau. Liv had left the ICU for a regular room on the surgical floor and Natasha had staid to keep her company. Even though she was out of the woods, she still wasn't strong enough to leave the hospital and her blood pressure was still a bit low. But Stuart and Seth had reassured him that there was nothing alarming.

Jake and Liv hadn't talked much about what had happened or about the two of them. He was waiting for her to get better, to grow stronger and mainly he wanted to build up his trust in her. Even if it hadn't been the case, he felt as though he had let her down, that he hadn't been able to see that she was in danger. The only thing that had put his mind at ease was when she had told him that there was no way he could have known.

Jake walked into the room and Natasha eyed him. He nodded his head and she stood and walked out of the room as Jake sat down next to Liv on the bed.

"And?"

"Guilty on all charges. 40 years of imprisonment without possibility of parole."

He saw the tears well up in her eyes for the first time since she'd been in the hospital, she finally allowed herself to let go. She cried as she looked at him.

He took her in his arms and held her. "It's over. It's all over, Liv. He'll never be able to hurt you ever again."

He stayed with her until she calmed down and inevitably fell asleep.

"I love you," he said as he looked at her from the armchair next to her bed. He knew there was a big chance she hadn't heard him, but it didn't matter. He had felt the need to say it and he knew he'd have a million chances at saying it again and he would never get tired of it.

Bradley opened the door and peaked his head inside. "We're being called in, they need us," he said as he showed his phone.

Jake took his phone from his pocket and looked at it. Out of respect, his phone was also on silent mode when he was with Liv. Bradley was right, they were being called in, wheels up in four hours. He sighed. This couldn't have come at a worst moment. He stood, caressed Liv's face, and kissed her forehead, just as Seth walked in.

"Is something wrong?" asked Seth seeing that Jake wasn't his usual self.

"I'm being called out on a mission. I don't know where yet or for how long."

He looked at Liv. "I don't want to wake her."

"Don't worry, I'll tell her."

"Thanks, Seth. I appreciate it."

"Hey Jake?"

Jake turned around just as he reached the door.

"Focus on your mission and come back in one piece. I'll take care of her until you do."

Jake nodded and left the room against his will.