A/N: Thank you for the reviews. They definitely helped when I thought about dropping this chapter. There might be another one or two to come, I haven't made up my mind yet, but if you review...Anyway, enjoy! And please, tell me what you think of it.

"Olivia, wake up."

"What is it?"

"Just c'mon. I want to show you something."

"It's five in the morning. What is it?"

"Look."

"What...It's beautiful."

"I love you, Liv."

She watched him sleep in the uncomfortable hospital chair in her room. She was surprised that he hadn't gotten the nurses to put a cot right next to her bed for him to sleep in. Then again, maybe he hadn't gotten the chance, seeing how his arms were draped on her bed and he was leaning against them. She knew he'd be complaining when he finally woke up to see the position he had slept in. He still had his coat on and something told her he'd just collapsed in the chair upon arriving and he hadn't moved. Damn, could he be stubborn.

"C'mon. Open the door."

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not okay. Can I come in?"

"Why do want to know if I'm okay anyway?"

"Because I care about you, Olivia!"

His hair was mussed and she felt a small smile creep it's way onto her face. She's always loved the way his hair looks after sleep. Something about it makes her love him all the more. And the way he does little things for her at the oddest times. Just little things, but never flowers. She remembers once in the office, him and Fin bickering over the importance of flowers. In the end he had won with the simple comment of, "Only 'cause you have to." It was one of those times that she had had to withhold a laugh as she wrote up a report.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"Can I take off this stupid blindfold yet?"

"Nope. You gotta wait."

"I wish you wouldn't-"

"We're here. Let me."

"How'd you get reservations here?"

"Don't you know by now that I've got friends in the business, Liv?"

Suddenly, it was as if everything came rushing back to her as she looked down on him. And she wasn't in the hospital anymore, she's running down the street, gun drawn. But the bastard shoots her before she can shoot him. As she falls, she hears a yell from behind and another gunshot. And he's leaning over her. Trying to stay the flow of blood. It hurts so much. Like there's this burning hole. He's muttering and she feels water drip onto her face before she blacks out.

"I just heard Rogers was acquitted."

"Yeah, I know."

"You okay?"

"Not really, but I'm gonna have to be. We can't charge him again, so..."

"So you wait. The day will come when he does it again."

"Yeah, and then there'll by another woman who can't sleep at night."

"That doesn't mean you give up, Olivia. It means you keep trying."

His breathing was steady in sleep and she thought about how peaceful he seemed without the pressures of work to cloud his demeanor. Of course, work always led to some morbid joke or another, and he was king. Sometimes she hated hearing them, but mostly, she was glad that he still had a sense of humor. Glad that he could still joke about it while caring enough to cry at times. While caring so much, it seemed he would explode with it, only to come back together again for the victim. Come back together again for her.

"Is this how it was?"

"How what was?"

"How it was with your wives?"

"No."

"How was it?"

"Annoying. Eventually, it was unbearable."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I love you Liv."

As she watched him sleeping, his face scrunched up and she immediately knew he was having a nightmare. Having woken to his sometimes frantic yells after waking from one, she knew that it was something from his past. A past case or his father or his neighbor or any number of horrors. She always hated seeing him like that, but at the same time always wondered if waking him up was the best solution. He had told her that a few times when he had been awoken by something in the middle of such dreams, he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. And in this city, there were many a night when he didn't sleep.

"So, did I catch up?"

"Maybe. Depends."

"What on?"

"Whether or not you can hold your own."

"Against what?"

"Me, Olivia. Me."

He was always so afraid of hurting her. As if all his failed marriages were his fault. As if he thought every woman he touched would break. She knew him better than that, but nonetheless, he didn't trust himself. She doubted even now, after all this time that he trusted himself. And there were days when she doubted herself. Days when she was so out of it, she thought he would give up on her, like anyone else would. But he didn't. He really loved her and it scared her. As much as she loved it, loved him, it still scared her.

"Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars."

"Song?"

"Yeah."

"It's true, you know."

"I'm lookin' at you, so it must be, right Liv?"

His face relaxed again and she debated seriously about whether or not to wake him up. Luckily, for her at least, he solved that problem by stretching his arms out. Capturing his hand with hers she watched his eyes shoot open as he looked at her. He squeezed her hand once, before looking deep into her eyes. She could've sworn he touched her soul.

"I thought I might lose you," he whispered hoarsely. All she could do was shake her head. "Oh Liv." He stood and leaned over her and she leaned forward as he wrapped his long arms around her. Returning the gesture with one arm, she let out a strangled sob as she buried her head in his crumpled coat, reveling in his warmth. After a moment she had to move, the position hurting her arm and shoulder. He slowly released her and stood over her still, holding her hand. There were tears in his eyes and she eased her hand out of his to wipe them away as they slid down. As she rested her hand for a moment on his face, he grasped it and held it there. "I love you."

She smiled and nodded. "I love you too, John."