Author's note: Hooray! That last chapter's reviews set me over my record of 167 for (shameless self-promotion) "What Sarah Wants" in the JAG realm (posted under "Lexxi," if anyone's interested) and 166 for "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" in the Bones realm. (/shameless self-promotion)

Disclaimer: I don't own JAG or Bones, either. That's not really related to this story…just thought you ought to know.

"Oh, I am gonna sleep till noon," Elliot groaned.

He walked around to Olivia's side and helped her out of the car. She leaned against him and wrapped an arm around his waist. He slung an arm over her shoulders and they walked together towards the hotel entrance.

"Sure you two don't wanna go clubbing?" Curry teased.

"You're already dressed for the occasion," Reynolds added, indicating the nearly head-to-toe paint splatter.

"Yeah, how did you guys get orange on you, anyway?" Curry asked.

"Friendly fire," Olivia said. The FBI agents chuckled.

"We'll see you bright and early!" Reynolds called out.

Elliot waved vaguely to indicate he'd heard.

They got to their room, and Elliot shut the door. He turned and looked at his partner, who was eyeing her bed longingly, then glancing down at her paint-covered clothing. She seemed to be contemplating whether sleeping dressed like a Picasso canvas was worth it.

"Liv, take a shower," Elliot urged, leading her by the waist towards the bathroom.

When Elliot walked out of the bathroom, wearing a towel around his waist, he found his partner wrapped in a robe sitting in a chair with her head on the table.

He walked over to her and shook her gently. "Olivia."

She stirred and looked blearily up at him. "What?"

"You gonna put some pajamas on or are you gonna sleep in that?"

She looked down at her attire and said, "I just put my head down for a second. Guess I fell asleep."

"Guess so," he answered. She stretched a bit and winced.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I'm just really sore. I'd forgotten how much paintball can hurt."

Elliot moved behind her chair and started rubbing her shoulders. She let her head drop down and he leaned down and softly kissed the back of her neck, where a paint capsule had left a purpling bruise.

"You should see the one on my back," she said.

He pulled the collar of her robe and said, "Do you mind?"

She nodded and said, "Go ahead."

He pulled the neck of her robe back and peered down. He could make out a sickly green circle just between her shoulder blades where the latent shot had hit.

"Ouch," Elliot said sympathetically. "Here," he pulled out her chair, "if you move to the bed I can get lower."

She stood up and said, "Alright, but let me get dressed first."

She went over to the dresser and grabbed her pajamas, then went into the bathroom to put them on. Elliot, meanwhile, quickly pulled on his boxers.

Olivia came out of the bathroom and glanced over at her partner looking for a shirt to put on. She walked over to him and touched a dark spot on his side.

"Um, ow!" he said, flinching at the contact. When he turned to face her, she saw where he had jumped in front of the paint pellets from Smith's gun. She ran her fingers lightly over the three green and purple-tinged marks above and around his sternum, and one lower on his abdomen.

"Bastard got you pretty good, didn't he?" she murmered.

"Actually, he tried to get you pretty good," he corrected.

"I know," she replied, leaning in and placing a grateful kiss on the highest mark on his chest. "And for that, I thank you."

Elliot gave a half smile and a modest shrug. "You'd have done the same for me."

"See?" she said, affectionately patting his sides, "That's what makes us great partners."

Elliot nodded and gestured for her to lie down on the bed. He began to tenderly knead her upper back, between her shoulder blades. He slid his hands under her shirt, and she relaxed at the warmth of his fingertips across her bare skin.

Elliot began to drift off as well. His rhythmic massaging slowed, and he laid down next to her, keeping one hand on her back, rubbing gentle circles.

Around three in the morning, Elliot woke to Olivia shivering from the cool air coming from the A/C. He reached across her and pulled the blankets over them both.

"Is the other bed not to your liking?" Olivia mumbled.

"Do you want me to move?" Elliot asked, not taking any action of the sort.

She didn't answer, but her hand crept across his bare stomach. His response was to lay his hand on her back again and shifting into a more comfortable position on his side, from which he could smell his partner's just-washed hair. He leaned his head so that his lips almost brushed her forehead, and her hair tickled his cheek.

They both rested soundly for the rest of the night.

To be continued…

Forgive this chapter seeming a bit out of character. I just couldn't help myself. ;)