Standard disclaimers applied.

Author's Note: Second last chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

Part XVII The Obvious Truths

Forgiveness is love in its most noble form.

- Anonymous

She woke up the feeling of being in a warm cocoon. Like a butterfly that was just breaking out of its transformation, she rose to inspect her surroundings. Instead, she found herself wrapped secured in the arms of her husband. The clock on the far wall revealed the time to be five in the evening.

"Penny for your thoughts," said the amused voice in front of her.

"Oh, I think my thoughts are much more precious than that."

"You are much more precious than anything else in this world, Deb." His tone was teasing at first, but he said the last statement in the most serious and most endearing manner.

Her look softened before settling her head back upon his chest. They were in one of the few unused beds at Mercy. It was a rather tight fit for both of them, but John bore it with the greatest patient. He would give anything to have Deb in his arms forever. After signing off on his email, he saw his future to be resplendent and full of hope. He had the greatest urge to see her, and so, gave in to every temptation. Calling Weaver had been difficult but she was understanding when he told her the reason. "I need to get her back, Kerry."

"Then go, John."

Next, he phoned his travel agent and got himself on the next flight to New York, on one of his family's private planes. On route, he had gotten the news of the series of tragedies that had occurred in downtown New York - the explosions, the fires and the subsequent injured parties. His thoughts were on Deb alone.

That's why it was a mixture of relief and happiness to see her walking out of Mercy with coffee cup in one hand and her eyes closed to the rest of the world. He was enraptured by the mere sight of her and he took a moment to reorientate himself after such a long absence. He easily, absorbed the full blunt of her weight collapsing in his arms. She burst into tears, as he buried his face into her hair. A little later, he carried her inside. A nurse directed him to one of few abandoned beds in the ward and there they stayed.

"I need to go find, Faith," Deb later announced. She felt guilty at abandoning her friends for so long.

John reluctantly released his hold on her. "Deb."

She turned her attention back to him and spoke softly, sensing his thoughts without him saying so. "I missed you, John. I've been an idiot and I'm sorry."

"I love you, Deb. I love you and I missed you. I'm the idiotic one who should be saying sorry."

"I'm glad that you are here."

"I intend to stay."

-o-o-

They later found Faith in Bosco's room. She was still recovering from the injuries that she sustained, but nobody could sway her away from Bosco's side. The staff at Mercy knew that both partners rested easier with the close physical proximity. The two women hugged, before Deb went to reassess Bosco's condition and reviewed his charts for the last couple of hours that she was away.

Deb introduced Faith to John. The two shook hands, as the blonde managed a weak smile, "I've heard so much about you. It's good to meet you in person."

"Thank you for everything that you have done for Deb. You have no idea what that means to me."

-o-o-

The resolution between Bosco and Faith came later. For the most part, Bosco laid unconscious. He was recovering slowly. His condition was kept under strict monitoring by the machines and ventilators. Faith kept a vigilant watch, rarely leaving his side, talking to him and holding his hand. She was the one who called Rose Boscorelli, Bosco's mother of her son's condition. Rose had a hard time with hospitals, but still, she was often there by her son's side.

When Bosco finally woke up, his eyes first laid on Faith who was dozing in a chair next to the bed. Her hand was draped loosely over his. There was a tube done his throat, so there was no way he could speak aloud. However, the machines sounded in alarm as his vitals took a drastic jump. Faith woke to the noise and found him to be awake. "Bosco!"

He weakly squeezed the hand that was in his. Jing-Mei quickly came in when she heard the alarms and she smiled at him. "Bosco. It's Jing-Mei. You are Mercy Hospital right now."

She proceeded with some of her assessment questions, asking him to squeeze her hand in response. She left later with the promise of removing the tubes and giving him some more pain medications. However for now, he welcomed the darkness of sleep, knowing that Faith was alright.

Waking up the second time, he had the function of speech again. His mother had cried at seeing him, but that was to be expected. He had truly given her quite a scare. Faith smiled tentatively at him and asked quietly, "Why did you do it, Bosco?"

His throat was perched from its un-use, but he managed to say, "I ...think ... the answer.. Is obvious, Faith."

"You could have been killed, Bosco and it would have been my fault."

"Would ...it ... have mattered?"

Wryly, she used his exact words against him, "I think the answer is obvious, Bosco."