"I can't do this again."

— Abby Griffin, "Stealing Fire"

Marcus was sitting behind his desk when Abby walked in, carrying a plate of food. A tablet was on the table and he was focused on the contents of the screen. He glanced up at her entrance but looked back down when he realized who it was. She set the plate on the desk before sitting in the chair across from him. She glanced at the board behind his desk. A rough map of the coastline was drawn on it and possible locations to O'Donnell's people - whom most were calling Traverkru - were circled in red. His handwriting was usually so neat but the notes scribbled along the bottom of the board looked like they were made by a madman.

Abby nudged the plate of food toward Marcus. He pushed it back without a word. She sighed. It had been a week since Rebecca's death and she hadn't seen him eat a complete meal. At night, he came to bed long after her and he was always gone before she woke up. She was getting worried. Looking at him now, she saw the bags under his eyes and the hollowness in his cheeks. His beard hadn't been trimmed in the past week and was quite unruly. She didn't really know what to do anymore and she only had one idea left, but he wouldn't like it.

She smacked her palm against the desk and he started, his head snapping up to look at her. She said bitterly, "Fine, if you won't eat, I won't either. If you won't sleep, I won't either."

His eyes studied her and she glared at him, a challenge on her face. She crossed her arms. He glanced down at her growing stomach and frowned. Slowly, he pulled the plate of food towards himself, his eyes still on the pregnant belly. He picked up the fork and speared a piece of meat on it. He raised it his lips and, looking her in the eye, he bit the meat. He chewed, watching her. Her eyes darted down to his throat and she saw him swallow. She sighed and he mumbled, "Happy?"

"No," she replied. She leaned forward and pushed the plate closer to him. "All of it."

Abby watched him intently as he ate. He averted his gaze as he continued chewing. She could see it was difficult for him to swallow the food and it sat uneasily in his stomach, but he needed to eat. It took him a while to finish the plate, but she was patient and, when he pushed it back toward her, she said, "Thank you."

She stood up and grabbed his tablet from the desk. She saved his progress before turning it off. She took the plate and walked to the door, which she held open for him. He just looked at her for a few moments before he stood up with a deep sigh. She waited and he walked silently out of the room. She closed the door and followed him down the stairs, out of the building, across the square, and into their home. She went to the sink in the kitchen and set the plate in it. She turned back and found Marcus sitting on the couch. She sighed and walked over to him. He looked up at her and she offered him her hand. He took it, a look of sheer resignation on his face. She guided him up the stairs and closed their bedroom door behind her. Marcus looked at her helplessly and she frowned, walking to him. He let her take off his brace then his pants. She led him to the bed and pulled back the blankets before she eased him onto the mattress. She readied herself for bed and turned off the light. She climbed into bed next to him, turning her back on him.

She felt his hand on her hip and he pulled her onto her back. She looked at him and was surprised that he had tears in his eyes. He whispered, "I'm sorry, Abby."

"For what, Marcus?"

"I've pushed you away this past week."

"Yes, you have," she nodded. "And you haven't been taking care of yourself."

He frowned and murmured, "I know. But, I needed something to distract myself."

She nodded again, waiting for him to say more. She knew that it was often better to let Marcus say what he wanted without interruption. He was silent for a while and took her hand gently in his as he thought. She waited and ran her thumb over the back of his hand in the meantime.

His voice was brittle as he said, "I knew her for over ten years. She was...I don't really have the words to describe her."

She whispered, "You don't have to talk about her, Marcus, if you don't want to. I understand."

He nodded and she opened her arms to him. He gave her a sad smile before sinking into them. She squeezed him tightly and he shook against her. She felt tears prick at her own eyes as she held his trembling body. She knew how much this was hurting him and she was sorry that it took her giving him an ultimatum to cause him to finally open up. She didn't like how they got to this moment, but she knew he wouldn't have allowed himself to grieve if she hadn't done it.

Marcus pulled away after a while and pressed his lips to hers. He whispered against them, "I'm sorry, Abby. I'm sorry."

She pulled his face against her neck and breathed, "It's okay, Marcus. You're okay."

He cried against her as she stroked his hair gently. She whispered soothing words as sobs tore through him. After a while, his body shook less and relaxed slowly. She kissed his forehead and held his sleeping body in her arms, unwilling to let go of him.

Marcus woke the following morning, his face buried in the crook of Abby's neck, her arms wound tightly around him even in sleep. He felt emotionally drained but also like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He may not have agreed with her tactics, but he couldn't deny that they were effective. She always knew how best to manage his emotions when he was too far gone. He didn't know what he would do without her.

Marcus pulled back slightly to kiss her skin as he placed his hand on her belly. He jumped and pulled his hand away when he felt something move against it. Abby's eyes flashed open in an instant and she asked, "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

He shook his head, more-so to himself than her. He placed his hand on her stomach again and felt the movement again. The worry erased itself from Abby's face as she watched him fondly. He looked up at her with a grin. She smiled and said, "Yeah, she's been doing that lately."

His eyes widened. "She?"

Abby shrugged. "I just have a feeling."