She parked the car outside his building and turned the engine off. She looked at her partner, who hadn't moved much the entire drive home. Maybe his injuries could explain that, but she did not think that was all of it. In fact, she knew it wasn't. He turned his head to look at her. "I guess you're staying?"

"Yes, Bobby. I'm staying. At least until I know you're okay."

"And just telling you I am…?"

"…Is not going to work and you know it. Come on."

They got out of the car and headed into the building. She caught him when he stumbled on the steps. He leaned against the wall as they waited for the elevator. She knew he was exhausted and hurt…and more…but he still wasn't in a place where he would talk to her about it. As injured as his body was, his spirit was suffering just as much…if not more. And she was not about to leave him until he let her help to heal the damage.

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As soon as they entered the apartment, he headed toward the bedroom. She hadn't seen him like this in a long time. He was really hurting. She followed him down the hall and stood in the doorway as he dropped onto the bed. He raised his hand to his head and rested his forearm across his forehead. She walked over to the bed and sat beside him. Gently, she touched his cheek and ran her fingers down along his jawline. "Get some sleep," she said softly. "I'll be here when you wake up."

He looked at her through half-closed eyes. "I know you will. Uh…I…do you trust me?"

"Of course I do."

"Then lie down and go to sleep. The bed is a lot more...comfortable than the couch, and I want you...to be comfortable."

She leaned down and gently kissed him. "Go to sleep," she whispered.

He half-smiled, and she was reassured. She got up and walked to the window, looking out. The sun was up, and the street was quiet. This was a nice neighborhood. She wondered if any of the neighbors knew a cop was living among them. She pulled the curtains closed so that the room was dark. Turning back into the room, she looked at her big partner. He was sleeping. She studied him for a long time, thinking. Then she realized what she was doing…she was being just like him…thinking too much, over-analyzing. She laughed at herself and walked over to the bed, gently covering him with the blanket. Then she sat on the edge opposite him, kicked off her shoes and slid under the blanket beside him. Turning onto her side, facing him, she closed her eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep.

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The courtyard was dark. He held his gun, leveled at a young man's head. The darkness got heavier, like a weight pressing down on him. His finger tightened on the trigger, and the gun in his hand erupted. Blood flowed over the ground, running down the cobbled stone toward him, and he dropped to his knees, gun falling from his hand into the blood…

"No!" He sat up, pain firing through his chest and his head. "No…"

He buried his head in his hands, focusing on his physical pain, and nothing else. Seemingly from out of nowhere, hands came to rest on his back. He felt the gentle whisper of someone's breath on his ear, a soft kiss caressed his cheek. And that was it. He turned into her arms, buried his face in her shoulder, and he cried. She just held him, stroking his hair, kissing his temple. Neither said a word…and after a long while, he went back to sleep…and she held him.