A/N: LOL! Glad you liked the last chapter. Made me chuckle too. But now - here we go. The Aftermath. :( Until 16 xox-G

Abby sat there stunned for what amounted to a good hour. She finally stood and walked home slowly, not sure what she'd find when she got there. She was betting she wouldn't find Cameron. As she made her way back to the apartment she fought vainly to keep tears from spilling from her eyes. It was hard, but the last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to herself.

What a stupid move, she said to herself trying to keep from sobbing as she fumbled with the keys. Her fingers were numb from the cold. Cam would yell at me for not wearing my gloves. She thought with a sigh. Cam would yell at me for a lot of things tonight.

Her heart was hopeful but still heavy as she finally walked through the door. There wasn't a light on in the place.

It was clear. Cameron wasn't there.

She eased off her coat and flicked on a light. She knew she should be hungry but she had absolutely no appetite. Abby shivered and decided to go take a hot bath. She was still so cold. She didn't think she'd ever be warm again.

Abby stayed in the tub until her skin started to wrinkle. She grabbed the sweatshirt that hung on the door and started to cry again. It, like practically everything she wore to bed, belonged to Cameron. Still she pulled it on and wiped at her eyes with the sleeve. She moved into the other room and curled up on the couch, pulling a blanket over herself as she laid her head down. She touched the back of her hand to her cheek - it was still stinging. Livvie was tiny but she could really pack a punch.

She had been having so much trouble sleeping lately. For the first time in weeks, she wasn't plagued by visions - she wasn't tortured by what she saw coming. Abby knew exactly what she was up against now and she should be sleeping soundly.

But she couldn't sleep. Not without him.

Minutes ticked by, quickly becoming hours. Abby was caught up wondering where he could possibly be and if he'd ever come home. Finally, she heard the door click open.

He was back.

Cam walked in and slowly turned around to close the door behind him. He placed his keys on the table next to the door softly. The gesture usually made Abby smile. He'd vowed to do that on their wedding day and not a day had gone by since then where he failed to do so. After what had happened today - watching him keep his promise to her just made her more upset and twice as guilty.

Abby twisted her rings around her finger and stared at her lap as she heard him move around the apartment, hanging up his coat. The silence around them scared her. Cam was way too calm. She knew he was either about to burst or was so hurt he couldn't even speak.

She watched as he walked into the kitchen and take something out of the freezer. A few seconds later he walked towards the couch and sat beside her, holding a bag of ice in his hand.

He reached over and pressed it to her cheek. "You need to keep ice on that. She clocked you good. I'm pretty sure you'll have a black eye tomorrow."

Abby started to weep. "Cameron." He was being so nice to her. She sighed with relief. "I thought you were mad at me."

"Mad, Abby? I passed mad hours ago. It was just before I was furious, irate and livid."

She realized her mistake now, he was fighting with all he had to keep his voice calm.

"Now I'm just plain old angry - and sad - Abby. Today, most of all - you made me sad." Cam got up and walked over to stare out the window.

"Cameron. I was going to tell you…" she began.

He whirled around to face her. "You were? Really? When did you plan on doing that? After Livvie beat the crap out of you? Or maybe after she tried to run you off the road the second time? Or would it have been after she poisoned you or shot you in the back? When were you going to clue me in Abby? Just tell me."

"I…"

Cam wasn't nearly done with what he wanted to say. "Because she's so dangerous - Abby. You saw it all happen. You know exactly what she is capable of. And you still tried to go after her by yourself."

"I made a mistake." Abby whispered as she set the ice pack down on the table.

Cam walked back in the room and stood to face her, leaning against a wall. He shoved his hair out of his eyes and glared at her. "You made a huge mistake Abby. Maybe - you know - maybe we both did. Let me ask you something - do you really want to be married?"

That was the absolute last thing she expected him to ask her. "Cameron…" She sobbed as she stared up at him in shock.

Cam crossed his arms across his chest and didn't blink. "Answer the question, Abigail." He said softly.

"Of course. Of course I do." She replied as she moved to wipe the tears from her cheeks, wincing as she touched the bruise there.

Watching her cry was just about breaking his heart - but Cameron needed her to understand what she had done by shutting him out like that. He couldn't put all the blame on her really. Part of him felt like it was his fault. He'd left her alone for four years and she'd only been able to depend on herself. But he was here now and Abby needed to decide what she truly wanted.

"But you know what that actually means though, Abby? Don't you? "

Abby could barely catch her breath she was so distraught. She tried to answer him but was crying so hard she couldn't form a sentence. His heart was aching as he watched her. Cameron finally crossed to her and sat beside her again. He took her hands in his and held tight.

"It means that you're not alone anymore Abby. You can't just go off and take things on by yourself. I'm back, I'm here now and as far as I know - I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. If something or someone is bothering you - then they're bothering me too. Do you get it yet?"

Abby nodded and started to shake. "I'm so sorry." She finally was able to whisper.

Cameron's arms closed around her and pulled her close. He held her for a full minute before he eased back and gently ran a hand over her face. He kissed her forehead and tucked her hair behind her ear. "OK. Shh. OK. We'll talk about this more in the morning."

"I'm…" Abby tried to apologize again.

"Shh. Tomorrow. Just rest now - OK?" Cam whispered as he placed a pillow in his lap. He tenderly eased her down and ran a hand over her hair. He reached over and picked up the bag of ice and placed it on her cheek. It was turning a light shade of purple. Cameron would never strike a woman but he was sure he could strangle that witch with his bare hands for daring to hurt Abby. "How are we going to explain this? Huh? Can we tell people that you got this learning kickboxing from Rafe?"

She couldn't believe she was actually able to laugh. "No. We can't." She said softly.

"I don't want people to talk." He whispered as he lightly rubbed her back.

The events of the day had exhausted her. Abby's mind was still filled with worry but despite it all her eyes began to flutter closed. Cam watched her fall asleep but was sure he wouldn't follow anytime soon.

He wanted her to trust and depend on him. He never before had doubted she would. They had both thought picking up where they left off would be easy.

Maybe they were wrong.