The sound of a baby whimpering rouses Maggie from a sound sleep and she groans. She opens her eyes and looks at the clock and her heart sinks when she sees it's well after two. She pushes herself upright and sits there listlessly as Abe hands her the nursing pillow.

"She isn't coming, is she?" she asks sadly, putting the pillow in place.

"She'll be here when she can," Abe answers as he hands her Morgan. "She called a little while ago and it seems Trevor sensed she was leaving and became very clingy. She'll be here as soon as she can get him calmed down."

"So, she's still coming?" she questions uncertainly, finally looking up at him, hope in her eyes.

"She's still coming," he assures her as he kisses her on the forehead and then goes to get Dylan.

Several hours later, Maggie and Liz part company in the library, each loaded down with a multitude of shopping bags. Maggie is feeling a bit better after spending time away with a friend, though the guilt and doubt still gnaw at the back of her mind. She makes her way up the spiral staircase and as she nears the top she can hear the twins screaming.

She dashes up the last few steps, bolts through the tank room door, flies through bedroom, barely remembering to drop her bags on the bed as she charges through the bedroom door into the living area. Abe and her mother are holding the twins, trying to consol them but they are so upset that they're colors are changing from bright red to deep blue or green and back again.

Maggie gets to her mother first and takes Dylan from her and within moments the crying stops and the tears dry up. Abe hands Morgan to his wife and the process repeats itself with their daughter. Abe steps up behind Maggie and circles his long blue arms around his family.

"What was that about them not needing you?" he gently teases in her ear as he holds them close.

"I think they're hungry," she states as the twins are now trying to nuzzle their way through her top.

"I'm not surprised," he replies as he releases her and gently herds her towards the bedroom. "They haven't eaten since you left. And it seems that no sooner did you and Liz leave then they woke up crying."

"I guess I won't be going out again any time soon then," she sighs sadly as she steps into her room.

"Yes, you will," he nearly orders as he starts to clear the packages off of the bed.

"But the twins…," she starts to protest as she sits on the bed.

"Will adjust to you being gone," he interrupts as he helps her get situated. "You're not going to do them any good if you don't get a break every once and a while. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," she replies meekly.

Nothing more is said as they get the twins latched on and nursing. As soon as they're eating, Abe settles down next to her and wraps his arm around her shoulders. He can feel her backsliding into her depression again as the feelings of guilt and being trapped chew away at her thoughts.

"Please let me help you," he whispers in her ear.

"I can't," she sniffs, choking back a sob. "You're too valuable to the bureau and the world. I won't let you risk yourself over me."

"Don't you understand that if you're not in my life, I don't give a damn what happens to the rest of the world?" he moans, his heart breaking that she won't let him help her.

"I can't, I just can't," she whimpers, no longer able to hold back the tears.

"It's ok," he says, holding her tighter. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. It's ok."

Nothing more is said until the twins are done nursing nearly fifteen minutes later.

"Your milk supply is doing better," he observes as he takes first one baby and then the other after getting out of bed. "I'll go change their diapers while you get some rest."

She simply nods while she puts her clothes back in order and he leaves the room. As soon as she's done arranging herself, she lies down in a fetal position and sobs into her pillow feeling like the worse human being in the world. By the time he returns, she's cried herself to sleep again. He sadly covers her with a blanket just before kissing her on the temple and then going to make dinner.

Some time later, Maggie and Abe are lying in bed together with them both being fully dressed except that he's removed his top and gloves. Dinner has come and gone and the dishes have been washed, dried and put away. The twins are down until their middle of the night feeding so Abe is trying to get Maggie to get some more rest, but it's not working right now.

Her family has done what they can to help for the day and have now returned to their respective rooms. Tomorrow, Maggie's grandmothers will return home as they've done all that they can, but her parents will stay a while longer. Unfortunately, they too must leave soon and prepare to sell the house in California.

With yet another sigh, she repositions herself, finding some comfort as she rubs her cheek against his unique skin. He strokes her short hair as he holds her close. He cannot get his mind off of the idea of helping her and it's driving him crazy.

"Maggie, please…," he starts.

"No," she interrupts with a growl. "If something goes wrong we leave the twins orphans. Do you want Manning raising them?"

"No," he concedes. "But what if…"

"What part of 'no' do you not understand?" she snaps, lifting her head to look up at him.

"Will you please let me finish?" he asks.

"Sorry," she grumbles as she lies her head back down.

"What if I don't go as deep as I want?" he questions. "I'll have someone here to make sure I stay only on the surface. That way there's no chance I won't be able to pull back out. Would you agree to that?"

"But will it work?" she asks, feeling her heart start to speed up.

"I don't know," he admits, feeling her body begin to shake. "But it will at least give me a better idea if we need to up your medication or give it a bit more time to do its job."

"When?" she inquires barely above a whisper.

"After breakfast," he immediately answers. "Let's try to get a bit more rest and a good meal in us before we try. Does this sound good to you?"

"I guess," she replies quietly. "You're the doctor."

"Good, I'll ask John to help," he states a bit more relaxed. "Go to sleep. You need your rest."

She closes her eyes and concentrates on listening to his heartbeat. Within a few minutes she's sound asleep and he reluctantly slips out of the bed. He returns to the bathroom where his bed has already been filled. He removes the respirator and slips into the water, his body instantly relaxing. Moments later, he, too, is in dream land.

The next morning finds Abe and Maggie back in bed, but this time Abe is sitting with his back to the headboard, Maggie is situated between his legs leaning against him and John is with them. The twins are down for their midmorning nap and Maggie's parents are in the next room in case they wake up.

"Ok, every fifteen minutes I'll come and check on you to make sure that you're not going in too deep," John confirms with Abe.

"That is correct," Abe replies with a nod as he rubs his hands up and down his wife's arms, trying to relax her.

"Ok, then I'll let you two get to work and I'll be over here proofreading Hellboy's reports," John smiles as he sets the alarm on his watch and then goes over and sits at the small table.

"Just relax, my love," Abe say quietly in Maggie's ear as he brings his head down to her level. "Don't fight me. Let me in."

"Be careful," she whispers back as she leans back into him and closes her eyes.

He slips one hand under her shirt and nestles it just under her left breast to monitor her vital signs. Then he brings his temple in contact with hers as his other hand cradles her face in order to keep her head still. As soon as he's sure she's ready, he slips into her mind and begins to explore.

He goes through her memories of the past couple days and helps her sort out her feelings about the earthquake and windstorm she created. He helps her control the guilt she feels from not being able to do it all. Just as he's about to delve into the days she was alone with the twins, he's interrupted by John doing as what was asked of him. Abe acknowledges the young agent and then closes his eyes to dive deeper into her memories.

The chaos and feelings of being overwhelmed and completely out of control take him some time to work out with her. John interrupts him several times before he helps her control her emotions and understand them over those days of trouble.

But there's more and he knows it. He can sense it there, hiding in the background, daring him to find it. If he can just find it, fix it, he's sure that everything will be alright.

He starts to go deeper, searching for the source of her problems when someone shakes his shoulder. He wants to go after it, but pulls back with the insistent shaking. He opens his eyes and blinks a few times before turning to John and nodding. John nods back, but looks worried and he stays by the bed until Abe's eyes close again. Worriedly, John returns to his seat, but instead of going back to his proofreading, he watches the couple on the bed.

Abe continues to go through her memories, finding the ones that trouble her, picking them apart and helping her to see them more clearly. The memories that make her happy he reinforces, letting those be the ones that she'll remember first when things start getting tough. He goes through his leaving her back in California and her parents return before John rouses him again.

He searches through the first few weeks of the twins' lives, noting that her hormone levels are a lot to blame for her emotional state. The twins' birth and the meeting of her maternal family have both fears and joys and it takes him a while to help her get everything in order there.

When John goes to check on Abe again, the merman looks at him immediately instead of after several minutes and much shaking. John is still cautious, but relieved that Abe is sticking to his word. The agent settles back down in his seat and resets the timer, but still keeps an eye on the couple.

Going through the forced bed rest is fairly easy since it was mostly just frustration at not being able to get up and boredom. He gets her to release those feelings and once again, he can sense the heart of the problems nearby. It's like it's just around the corner, just out of sight. Before he has a chance to look for it, John interrupts again and Abe acknowledges the man's presence once more.

He returns to her memories once more and idly notes that her heart rate has elevated. Not sure of what to make of it just yet, so he continues his journey through her memories. After getting past the areas that have been sorted out, he hits a wall.

She's actually fighting him and keeping him out. He wants to know why and he pushes on the wall, ignoring her now racing heartbeat, her rapid breathing and her whimpering. He knows the key to all of her worries and troubles is hiding behind that wall and he wants through. Not even aware that he's using his suction cups on her, he batters against the barrier that's thwarting him. She cries out and then they both go totally limp on the bed.

"ABE! MAGGIE!" John yells as he jumps up out of his seat and races over to them.

He vigorously shakes the two of them, but neither one of them responds. A second later, Selma and Rupert burst through the door, looks of worry and fear on their faces.

"I heard Maggie cry out and then you yelling their names," Rupert explains as he steps up to the bed.

"I think Abe went down deeper than he was supposed to," John states, still trying to rouse them. "I'm going to go get the doctors."

With that, John is out the tank room door in a flash and they can hear him pounding down the spiral staircase. Selma sits on the edge of the bed and tries to take her daughter's face in her hands but discovers Abe's hand attached to it. She pulls on the hand, but the suction cups won't release and when she pulls on the other arm, she discovers that those are also latched on.

"Maggie, honey, can you hear me?" she calls out and gets no response. "Come on, baby girl. Please hear me."

"Magpie, please say something," Rupert begs as he strokes her hair.

They try for what seems to be hours and neither Maggie nor Abe react to their pleas and they stand by helplessly when the doctors arrive. Dr. Jones tries to get Abe to answer as Dr. Evans and Dr. Hodson try to get a reaction out of Maggie. When all the normal methods fail, they then start discussing the best way to move the couple. At that moment, the twins wake screaming their heads off.

He slams through that barrier and finds himself in the library. He is seeing the world through her eyes when she is almost six months pregnant; a much younger Trevor is in his play pen asleep and Guillermo is there as well, placing the last of the plates from their lunch on the cart. She's well fed, happy and content. She's also very tired and she can feel her eyelids getting heavy. She doesn't fight it and lets herself slip into blissful sleep. She's partially aware of a blanket being put over her and she lets out a little sigh.

And then it happens. Her world is shattered as she can feel the bond that she never even knew existed being torn from her soul. Beyond a shadow of a doubt she knows he's dead and that she'll never love or be loved again. She wakes screaming as her heart is shattered into a million pieces and everything goes black.

Suddenly, he sees himself being wheeled past her on a gurney with the broken shaft of a spear through his chest and the world fades away. Then he sees himself floating in the medical tank as she kneels before it sobbing and silently begging him not to leave her. She wakes up to find that he's regain consciousness but he's telling her to go to bed. Then the scenes start flashing past even faster.

Her watching him shut himself into a room and not talking to anyone. Her going to her doctor appointments alone and then him refusing to look at the pictures from the ultrasound. The final straw is when he pushes her away and tells her to leave.

The images fade into black and he's finally able to pull himself out of her point of view. She's there with him, but either she doesn't notice him or she's ignoring him. She's floating in this empty space curled up in a fetal position.

Then he realizes that despite everything, the constant reassurance of his love, their love making, everything, the bond isn't there any more. Even more heart wrenching is that she has been subconsciously not letting it regrow. She's afraid to feel that pain again and so she has refused to let the connection between them reestablish itself.

Maggie, let me back into your heart, he requests sadly.

I'm afraid, she replies, sounding like she's a million miles away. I don't want to hurt any more.

I love you, he assures her. I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe. Do you love me?

Yes! Oh god, yes, I do love you, she cries back, sounding a little closer and he can 'hear' the hurt and fear in her 'voice.'

Then let me back into your heart, he urges, trying to pull her closer to him.

I'm afraid, she whimpers, she's a little closer still. It hurt so much to lose you. I don't want to feel that again.

Let me help heal you, he offers stretching himself beyond what he knew he could do.

I'm afraid, she whispers and he knows she's closer now.

I can ease your fears, he tells her, reaching for her but unable to 'touch' her. I can make you feel better. Don't you want to feel better?

Yes, she answers in a small voice.

Then reach for me, he instructs pushing himself even farther.

I can't, she whimpers.

Yes, you can, he assures her again. You can do it.

I'm not strong enough, she sobs and he knows she's within reach, but he just can't seem to touch her.

You have to want this, Maggie, he tells her. You have to reach for me. I can only heal you if you let me.

Abe, I'm afraid, she whispers.

So am I, my love, he replies. But together, we can do this. We can do anything.

I can't stand losing you again, she cries, pulling away from him.

If you don't let me in, then you have already lost me, he states sadly, feeling like his own heart is about to break.

NO! she shouts.

Suddenly she's there with him, joined with him. He opens himself up completely to her and hesitantly, she does the same for him. At that point, their minds and souls are one and they are healed. The peace they have found defies description, but it is something they never want to leave ever again.

"We'll have to separate them somehow," Dr. Jones states as he gently tugs on Abe's hand.

"But what damage would that do to her skin?" Dr. Evans asks only barely aware of Maggie's parents being in the room. "He's attached to her face."

"So her looks are more important than her well being?" Jones demands of the younger doctor as the sound of babies crying distantly reaches them.

"Is separating them even a good idea?" Dr. Hodson inquires as Selma and Rupert try to work their way past the doctors to get to the door. "John said that Abe was doing something with Maggie's mind. If we separate them we stand to permanently damage both of them mentally."

"What we need is another telepath to bring them out of this," Evans muses, mostly to herself.

Selma stops dead in her tracks and stares at the doctor for a good fifteen seconds before turning pushing her way past Jones. She dashes across the apartment, bursts into the babies' bedroom, startling them briefly, scoops Dylan up into her arms and then hurries back as fast as she dares. She shoves her way past the people standing around the bed.

She quickly strips Dylan down to his diaper, pulls Maggie's shirt up and then holds their son to them, making sure there is skin to skin contact between the three of them. The instant they touch, Dylan lets out a shriek and Maggie and Abe's eyes fly open as they both take deep breaths. Maggie immediately reaches for her child and starts to rock him.

"Hush, little one, Mommy's here," she assures him as his crying quickly fades to little hiccups. "It's going to be ok now. Mommy loves you."

Abe quietly releases his hold on her as she prepares to feed her baby. Selma herds the doctors into the living area as Rupert goes to get Morgan. The medics stand around trying to figure what happened as Rupert takes his granddaughter to her mother. By the time he returns, the doctors are all staring at Selma who has a rather smug look on her face. Rupert steps around behind her and places his hands on her shoulders, giving her his support.

"What just happened?" Evans asks.

"How did you know that the child would bring them out of it?" Jones demands.

"She said that we needed another telepath," Selma replies smugly indicating that Dr. Evans is the 'she' that was referred to. "Dylan is a telepath. And while he may not know how to really control it right now, no mother worth her salt can deny her child when he is truly in need of her."

"I had forgotten that Dylan is a telepath," Hodson chuckles. "Good thinking Selma. Now, if everyone will excuse me, I was in the middle of examining one of my patients when John came running in."

With that, Hodson takes her leave with Evans and Jones following her. Rupert closes the door behind them and then returns to his wife. He pulls her into his arms and gives her a long hard kiss.

"You think that Abe was able to help Maggie?" he asks when he finally lets her up for air.

"I hope so," she gasps, her cheeks pink with flush and her lips swollen. "Because if he didn't, I'm going to drop kick his skinny blue but from here to California and back for scaring us all like that."

"Hmm, I'd pay good money to see that," he chuckles just before he reclaims her lips.