Disclaimer: I still do not own any of the characters or the premise of Dark Angel, James Cameron/20th Century Fox do. Please don't sue me. I'll return them, no money do I make. I'll even make you cookies as a show of my appreciation.

Author's Note: I want you all to know, that I got some wonderful ideas from reading your comments. Thanks for reviewing :). A special shout out to Kimmy (iluvaqt) for all of her help and encouragement on this story. Without her this story would never EVER have been updated this quickly. So everyone go read her totally awesome stories, and give her some kickin reviews ok. And keep your eyes peeled for our special collaboration, hitting your screens soon. My buddy Acire Fox gets a shout out too...when ever I'm stuck on Lydecker's characterization, I ask her the questions I need the answered and there we have it.

Fractured Fairy Tales

Chapter Four

She woke the next morning with a warm, heavy weight across her back. A few breaths and the rational deductive powers that had made her so valuable to Manticore kicked in. It feels like an arm, but it can't be an arm…unless. Oh God. Please don't let this mean that I went out, got drunk, and brought some scum home and slept with him. She closed her eyes against the thought and only to have them snap open again as the deep breath she'd taken to steady herself brought his familiar scent to her.

He shifted in his sleep, let lose a half-formed grumble, and tightened his grip on her. Oh my God, it wasn't a dream. He really is here. She watched him sleep for a moment, able to take her time and catalogue the changes in him for the first time that she'd seen him again. Even as he slept she could spot differences. He was on edge, and while she once could have slipped from his arms without incident she doubted that would be the case now.

Well, I can either lie here and stare up at him until I get a crick in my neck, and probably piss him off if he wakes up and catches me. Or I can hunker down and get some more of the best sleep I've had in years. She considered for a few moments. Definitely sleep. She lay her head back on his chest, smiling as the pulsing of his heart beat reached her ears. The combination of soft, warm skin and crinkly hair beneath her cheek brought a soft sigh of contentment to her lips. He still smelled of earth, and man, and strength, and she let all of these things wrap around her as she slid back into a dreamless sleep.

A few hours later she woke again. She was still in his arms, but she had the distinct feeling that she was being watched. She considered faking sleep for the moment, to avoid ending what had been a wonderful dream. She was sure the peace between them had been just that, a wonderful dream that would look a lot different in the harshness of the morning's light. She decided that she might as well go ahead and face him, because there would be no way he wouldn't realize that she was awake. Not as many times as he'd watched or held her as she slept.

She looked up and met his piercing blue eyes with her own. His face was expressionless, and his eyes betrayed not a speck of emotion. Damn, he always was better at hiding things than I was. Finally after a moment she decided to try for a good start at least. "Good morning." She tried not to let her face show that she was waiting eagerly for his response. Moments passed in silence and she was beginning to wonder if he would answer her or punish her for her transgressions with cold, unyielding silence.

He could see the trepidation in her eyes, and decided to keep her waiting a few seconds longer than necessary. It was petty to leave her hanging like that, and he knew it. But damnit, she hadn't apologized for any of the things she'd put him through in the last few years. He wasn't going to deny that he understood her reasons, or that he agreed with most of the things she'd done. Be he had no intentions of forgiving her and trying to go back to the way things had been before until she gave him some indication that she wanted that as well. She was the one who had left him, and if she wanted him or his forgiveness she would have to come to him. He'd be damned if he'd greet her hat in hand only to have her make a fool out of him. Finally he decided that he'd left her in suspense long enough, and grunted a non committal. "Morning."

Well not the happy satisfied greetings of past mornings, but I suppose given the circumstances it's the best I could expect. It's not like he's going to sweep me up in his arms, kiss me, and tell me all's forgiven. Get a grip Adrianna, real life doesn't work that way, and you're not living in a fairy tale so you better get used to it. "Still seeing the glass as half full after all these years Deck?" She commented knowing that he'd remember the conversation they'd had on the subject just as well as if not better than she did.

It was early morning and the sun had just begun to stream through his window. He opened his eyes slowly, and smiled at the sight of her small form laying beside him with her head pillowed on his chest. He took a few moments to watch her sleep, enjoying the warmth of her pressed against him, the smile on her face, and the way she would nestle even closer to him every so often. Finally he stroked her side with the hand that was draped over her back and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She wrinkled her nose and burrowed her head deeper into his shoulder.

"Dri…It's time to get up."

"Mhhh…I don't wanna." She said and then continued to lie bonelessly against him.

"Adrianna…." He let his voice drop deeper and the tone of authority take over, as he drew out her name.

"Alright, alright. I'm up…" She sat up and stretched, giving him a very pleasant view to start off his morning. Some how the sight of her in clothes she'd borrowed from him was more of a turn on that any lingerie he'd ever seen her in. Maybe it was because of the implied intimacy; after all very few women in his life got the privilege of pilfering from his closet, any woman could make a trip to a lingerie store. Maybe it was the fact that she only wore his clothes after he'd taken hers off, or maybe it was desire left from the night before. Whatever the reason she looked very sexy in her borrowed t-shirt, and he'd love to relieve her of it.

She looked over at him after the sleep had cleared from her eyes, and smiled. "Good morning…"

"Morning." He sat up and pulled her back towards him. He started to nibble her earlobe as his fingers gently grazed the love bites he'd given her the night before. "You know, if I skip my run…and you shower here instead of going home we'd have time to…"

His words were halted as she pulled away and shook her finger at him. "Ah-ah-ah…there'll be none of that this morning. We've been late to work once this week already. If we're not careful they'll get suspicious."

"Johnston is in DC as of this morning, Correll is on personal leave, and Refno's been late four times this week because she's trying to get her hooks into Masterson. No one else will notice or care if they do. Well except Jenson, and he'll just notice that I'm in a good mood, and be thankful for it."

"You mean you're not going to start yelling for him as soon as you hit the front gate?" She said laughing at the mental image of Deck's beleaguered, though fiercely defended office assistant. Deck was tough on his staff, of that there was no doubt. But his command was at least free of backstabbing and conniving of those his junior officers: Johnston, Correll, and Refno, who constantly tried to discredit Deck with the committee.

"No…I'll wait until I get to the mess hall at least, give him a break." He smiled and pulled her playfully back into his arms. "Now where was I…"

"Mhhh…you know I'm not sure, maybe we should start from the top and work our way down. Just to cover all our bases?"

"Well it certainly wouldn't do to neglect anything now would it…" She didn't answer in words; instead her vocalizations were limited to sighs, moans, and soft whispers, as he proceeded to demonstrate how successfully he could accomplish his mission. With the ease of lovers who knew each other well, they touched the stars together and lay together afterwards communicating with out words.

Finally she broke the silence. "Deck, why don't you ever say good morning?"

"What do you mean? I say good morning…"

"No…you say hello, or you say morning. But you never say good morning." She paused a moment considering. "I'm certain you've never said good morning."

"What's with the questions this morning Dri?"

"Mhh I don't know, just curious I guess."

"I guess it's because you can't say that it's going to be a good morning first thing. You don't know, because it hasn't even started yet."

"But still you can hope can't you?"

"It seems a bit presumptuous, if you assume things are going to turn out badly you're pleasantly suprised when they turn out well."

"Such a pessimist…I'm going to have to work on that…" She punctuated the statement with a kiss.

He remembered that he had told her good morning once, only she hadn't been there to hear it. Instead he'd awaken to a cold, empty bed and walked out his door that morning sentenced to live a cold, empty life once again. It just reinforced what he'd always told himself. It was better to expect the worst of everyone and everything, because if you fail to do that it comes back to bite you in the ass every time.

"I've seen nothing to disprove that theory yet."

"I'm sorry to hear that…"

Silence descended upon the room as she waited to see how he'd answer that last remark. It was true. She'd hoped that he'd find something to make him happy after she was gone. Something to give him the hope and comfort that always seemed to elude him. "There are some things for you to change into in the bath room, go get ready and we'll head out." She took his words as the dismissal that they were, and began to disengage herself from their embrace. His hand pressing the small of her back gave her a seconds pause. "Be careful, and if you need help call me." She nodded and left quickly leaving him to consider his next actions.

The heat of the shower left her feeling clean for the first time in what seemed like forever, and she immediately felt better despite of the muscle twinges and stiffness when she lifted her arms to wash her hair. It always does help not to feel like something that emerged from the swamp. Sponge baths just aren't the same. She even hummed as she got out of the shower only to stop dead as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. My God…is this what he sees when he looks at me?

No one could have ever called Adiranna ugly, and she'd never subscribed to the school of thought that the more jewelry and make up you wore the more beautiful you were. But as she surveyed the image before her, she couldn't help but wish for a touch of blush or a smudge of eyeliner. Her stay in the hospital had left her with waxy skin, limp and lifeless hair, and dark circles under her eyes. Granted she was alive to criticize her appearance, but that only went so far when the man she'd dreamed of was just through that door and she looked like death warmed over.

Well, there isn't much I can do about that now. She realized then that she had been prancing around the room clothed in only a towel. She pushed the thoughts from her mind and continued getting ready, reluctantly trading in the soft worn cotton culled from his closet for the crisp linens she'd always preferred. She'd pulled on her under ware and fastened her bra. The pulling from the later reminded her that she needed to clean her wound and change the dressing. Oh..this is going to be fun. For an instant she considered calling Deck to help her, then shook her head dismissing the thought. No, he already thinks I'm weak enough as it is. I can deal with this on my own.

She reached for the gauze and bottle of antiseptic that he'd left out for her, suprised when she was suddenly overcome with a wave of dizziness. Her hands quickly grabbed for the sink so that she could continue to remain upright. As the room continued to spin the thump of the bottle from her hand onto the floor barely registered in her mind.

He had just begun to wonder if Adrianna was alright, but then dismissed it. She's recovering from a gun shot wound, that make things difficult, therefore it would take her longer to get ready. You know that first hand remember? Calm down, or you're never going to pull off the solid front that you want. You want her to come to you remember? Just then he heard a thump. Not loud enough to be a body, but she shouldn't be bending down to get anything either. He debated for just a few seconds. Oh hell…just go check on her. It's going to drive you nuts until you do.

He stepped quickly to the door, and knocked softly knowing that the sound would carry well through the thin wood. It wouldn't do to startle her, she's probably already unsteady on her feet as is. "Adrianna? Are you alright?" There was no answer, and he almost panicked. "Adrianna?" Still no answer, he turned the knob thankful that she'd left it unlocked. "Adrianna I'm coming in."

He opened the door slowly, thankful when he didn't feel any resistance. Her back was towards him, but the reflection of her face in the mirror was ashen. He took in the beads of sweat on her brow, and the whiteness of her knuckles grasping the sink. Realizing that she was holding herself up by sheer will he quickly moved to help her, guiding her to sit on the commode. "Adrianna, can you hear me?"

The room was still spinning, but there was a solid warmth behind her. She leaned towards it, and felt herself being guided, then lowered onto something solid and cold. But the warmth wasn't gone, and she tried to focus. "Adrianna, can you hear me?" Deck. She nodded weakly unable to speak, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He grabbed a cool cloth and bathed her face, and brought her some water.

As he took in her pale form he realized his mistake. She'd never taken well to anestisia, although the more precise dosages at Manticore had helped tremendously. That coupled with the fact that she hadn't eaten solid food in over a week, and the fact that hospital had based the dosages of the sedatives and pain killers on the weight that he'd told them all contributed to the weakness she was experiencing now. He'd given them the weight that she'd been when she'd left, and the woman before him was at least twenty pounds lighter than the one he'd known then. Damn Dri, what have you been doing with yourself…You weren't big as a minute to start with. "Adrianna…can you hear me?"

She nodded, and then cleared her throat before asking softly: "Deck, what happened?"

"I think you'd better tell me. What happened to call me if you need anything?"

"I didn't have time to. I just remember feeling dizzy and you then were there."

He nodded then pressed the back of his hand to her cheek softly. "Well, I don't think you've got a fever. Probably trying to do too much too soon."

"Maybe."

"I should have just said to hell with being a gentleman and came in here to help in the first place." Her cheeks colored at the thought of him helping her bathe or dress, and the color deepened as she realized that he might very well have to help her with the latter. He chuckled at the blush, shaking her head at the foolishness of it. "You don't have to be embarrassed Dri, it's not like we haven't done this before."

"I know…but that was different." Things were different.

He didn't comment, instead he brought his hands gently to rest over the plastic covered bandage. "This still needs to be cleaned doesn't it?" She nodded, and he picked up the bottle of alcohol from where it had fallen, along with the scissors. He grabbed the rolls of gauze and tape that he would need and put them close at hand before he removed the old bandage. Then he rose to dispose of it and wash his hands before cleaning the area.

He soaked a ball of cotton in the alcohol, and cautioned her before he touched it to her skin. "I'm sorry, this is probably going to sting." She nodded and he pressed the ball to her skin and heard her gasp, he finished with the painful part as quickly as possible. He allowed the alcohol to evaporate, and then he placed a clean bandage over it and taped it securely. He repeated the process on her back, before crouching beside her. "Feel better now? Any more dizziness? Chills? Anything?"

"No…I'm fine." She lowered her eyes and they sat in silence for a few moments. She became lost in her memories of former first aid sessions conducted with much more fun and laughter, not to mention liberal sprinklings of kisses. His hands hand been gentle when they'd tended her, but they'd also been strictly business as well.

She was pulled from her thoughts by the feel of his hands changing positions, one remained on her shoulder to hold her upright and the other reached over and grabbed the clothes that he'd laid out for her. He placed her feet and legs into her pants then lifted her easily and slid them up over her hips. Then he raised her arms carefully guiding them into the sleeves of the sweater that he'd chosen for her, and in a blink of an eye he had it over her head. "Do you think you can stand?"

She nodded and he helped her into a standing position. He gave her a moment to allow her to regain her balance, then stepped away cautiously, but still close enough to be able to catch her if need be. He led her to the sink and placed her hands on the sides, pressing them there to let her know that he wanted her to keep them there. Her eyebrows raised as he picked up a brush and began to brush her hair. "Deck, I can…"

"Do this yourself…possibly. The question is can you do it without pulling on your stitches, and having it hurt like hell?" She was silent as he finished knowing that she'd been caught. When he finished her hair was spread around her shoulders to air dry before going out into the cool air. He raised an eyebrow sardonically as if to say 'was that so bad'. He was taken aback when she turned in his arms.

His eyes were still mesmerizing, even after all these years. The warmth from his body called to her, and she swayed towards him almost imperceptibly. "Thank you…" The words were vague, and she knew that he'd wonder if they were meant to thank him for helping her dress, saving her life, or something different altogether. She leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder lightly. She was suprised when his arms wrapped around her comfortingly. Maybe things aren't as bad as I thought. Maybe there is a chance for us after all.

So what do you think? Please do review. Let me know what you think? The more feedback...the faster the updates come. What can I say, my muse is a glory hound ;). And all comments are greatly appreciated! Even flames, which will be used to keep my feet warm as I sit typing away at my computer :).