Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to the creators of the FBI Tv Show. I make no profit from this story.

Key Point: This story is based heavily on their private lives, with a little FBI work in order to keep the story going.

Chapter 3: SAFE

OA rubbed her back and whispered soft words of ok and agreement as she cried in his arms. The crying and soft sobs had quietened down. OA peeked down to see that Maggie was once again asleep, but this time safely tucked into the crock of his arm, calmed by his steady heartbeat beneath her head.

Not sure that Maggie would want him there when she awoke, he made a slow move to lay her down on the coach and leave. But as he moved, she grabbed his shirt, fisting it in her hand, muttering a small groan that could have been interpreted as "Please don't". So, he didn't. He decided to stay.

OA watched her sleep, the slow rise and fall of her chest mesmerizing. In that moment, he thought that he had never felt such calm and contentment with his life. He had known for a while that he was falling for his partner, but sitting there, holding her in his arms cemented that notion for him. He never wanted that moment to end. He hated the pain that she was feeling that brought them to their position, and he would do anything to take that pain away from her. She deserved to be happy. She deserved to feel the way she had on that day on the beach. OA decided right then and there that he would do anything possible to see that smile on her face again.

He pulled her a little tighter against him. Resting his head on the top of hers, he whispered, "You aren't alone anymore. You have me." Then he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

OA awoke as the sun was rising through Maggie's blinds in the living room. It started off by warming his feet, then ankles and was now slowly making is way up his calves. Without jarring Maggie, he leaned over to check the time on his phone – 06:07. He had overslept. By this time he would normally have finished morning prays and be halfway through breakfast. He slowly raised himself off of the couch, lying Maggie's head on a small throw pillow. He looked around the living room for a blanket but couldn't find any, so he took his jacket that she had discarded at the door and placed it over her. He sat on the armchair opposite her to put his shoes on, but quickly found himself sitting back just watching her sleep again. She looks so peaceful, so relaxed. He wondered if she ever had the type of nightmares that he had. Thinking about it. Last night, sleeping there with Maggie on the couch was probably the longest uninterrupted sleep he has gotten in months. His nights normally are broken up by nightmares. Nightmares actually sound to calm. It's more like terrifying, realistic reenactments of his time sent in core.

Those thoughts sure snapped him out of the moment, so he tied his shoelaces, put his gun in his holster, attached his badge and grabbed his keys. He needed to head home and re-center himself before heading to the JOC. He took one last look at sleeping beauty and opened the door to leave. Right there in the center of the door was a bright red note with a message on it. At first glance it looked like a love note. His pace picked up and bile rose in his throat. He knew that he held no claim to Maggie, but that didn't matter when it came to the jealousy he felt. For a quick minute he walked the blurry line between respecting her privacy and just reading the note. It's not like it was in an envelope. Nor was it being hand delivered to her. It didn't have her name clearly on display on the top.

It didn't take him long to break down and just read the note. Within seconds, the jealousy turned to pure rage. He was seeing red as his hands turned to balls of fists at his side. His breathing turned shallow and his body was ready for any threat. He took his phone out to take a few pictures of the scene, before using his gloves to remove the card from the door. He walked back into Maggie's apartment and placed the note on the kitchen breakfast bar before making his way over to the couch that she was so peacefully sleeping on. He softly ran this hand over her hair to her chin, slightly cupping her face gently. He didn't want to wake her. She was so peaceful. But he knew better than to hold this back from her. He softly said her name a few times before she started to stir.

"Mags, I need you to wake up." OA pleaded with her in a soft, calm voice that gave none of the anger he was feeling away.

"Why? It's still early." She replied in a gravely voice, sleep so evident in it.

"Mags, I need you wake up. I need to tell you something."

"I already know. You spent the night. I remember waking up at some point." She replied with a small smile on her lips. That statement made his heart swell – she woke up to find that she was sleeping in his arms and she never left. But there were more pressing matters at the moment.

"Yeah, I did. There is something more important though."

"Can we make coffee first? PLEASE!" Maggie begged. Her eyes still closed but a clear smile on her face.

"How about I make coffee and you wake up properly? Your coffee will be in the kitchen when you're ready." OA said in his calmest voice while standing to make his way to the kitchen. A few seconds later he heard Maggie padding to the bathroom.

Maggie appeared in the kitchen from a fresh shower in a pair of jeans and shirt and a loose-cut gray shirt. Her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail and she smelt amazing. It took all OA's self-control to not kiss her senseless right there in her kitchen.

Maggie was anxious about what OA had to say. He looked serious and he kept running his hand down his face. He only does that when he's nervous about something. She remembered last night well. She had woken up during the night to find herself lying on his chest with his one arm wrapped securely around her and his other hand resting comfortably on her hip. She wasn't sure if he would want to wake up in that position in the morning, so she made an attempt to move to her bed, but he quickly tightened his arms, making it impossible for her to even move, never mind leave him. She was comfortable where she was so she didn't even try any further.

"I was going to make you breakfast but couldn't find any ingredients." OA admitted with a cheeky smirk.

"Yeah, I don't have any." Maggie said, hiding her head in her hands. She was just glad that things between them felt normal.

OA poured her a cup of coffee and handed it over before continuing.

"Maggie," OA paused not sure how to continue.

"Spit it out, OA! You're making me nervous."

"Mags, I was on my way out the door this morning, when I found this." He picked up the card and held it out for her.

She took the card from him using the glove he currently had folded over it. If he was this anxious and serious about the card then it must be important, she thought.

As she read the card she felt anger and rage rise within her. Her palms started to sweat. Was someone threatening her? Why? They hadn't had any particularly bad cases lately. But who? Who would threaten her?

Finding her voice, she asked OA, "Start at the beginning, please. Where was it? Did you see anyone wondering around? Anything out of the ordinary."

OA could clearly see the anger that she felt. But he could also hear the tiniest bit of fear in her voice. She had lost so much already and she wasn't sure if she could survive losing anyone else she cared deeply about.

"Yeah. It was just after 0600 and I was heading home. I opened the door and there in the middle of the door was this note. It was stuck to the door with blue-tac. I took a few photos and then removed the card using my gloves. I placed the card on this table and then woke you up." OA said so matter-of-factly while handing over his phone with the pictures on. Maggie looked through the pictures carefully. Not noticing anything important or of significance she handed the phone back to OA. Both of them noticed the slight tremor of her hands. She picked up the card again – reading the card aloud this time:

"Having someone special in your life will make this way more fun!
I know who you are, I know what you like, but more importantly I know your greatest fear. Can you afford to lose another special someone?"

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Maggie said repeatedly.

OA walked around the breakfast bar until he was standing next to her. He turned her chair around until she was facing him. She was just staring at the card. He saw a single tear roll down her cheek. She was shaking from the anger. He quickly wiped the tear away – not even sure that she noticed it. Then he lightly placed his finger under her chin and raised her face until she was looking at him instead.

"Maggie, I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." OA said, hoping his eyes and tone were expressing the sincerity in which he meant that.

"I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about you." Maggie explained quickly.

OA thought about that for a second, then raised his eyebrow in confusion, asking Maggie what she meant. Why him?

"OA, think about it. You were here last night. Don't you think they are talking about you and me? Shit! Does that mean that someone was watching us yesterday? Damn it! I was so tired when we got home. I wasn't aware of my surroundings. I can't even say if there was anyone around that looked out of place." Maggie expressed. Each statement getting a little more frantic than the previous one. Her heart was racing. She had been trained better than this.

"Mags, breath, please." He waited for her to take some deep breaths before he continued, "Yeah, I've been thinking about it. I do think someone has been watching. I'm not sure if they are watching me or watching you, but I think that it is relevant that they left the first message for both of us to find." OA explained.

"I think we need to hand this into the JOC for fingerprint and DNA analysis, maybe even handwriting analysis. See what the lab can find." OA continued, giving Maggie a chance to catch her breath.

"Yeah… yeah, I definitely want to hand it over… but do you think we could keep the fact that you were here last night out of the story. There's enough rumors about us already, I don't want to add fuel to the fire." Maggie added a little shyly. She didn't want OA to think that she embarrassed or trying to hide anything, but she also didn't want the rumors to get any worse.

"Of course. No problem. I found it when I came to fetch you for work. How's that?" OA said with a bright smile on his face.

"Perfect! Thanks. Give me 5 minutes and then we can head in." Maggie said as she left the kitchen.

"Just an FYI, we are definitely making a pitstop at that coffee place on the way. The one with the donuts that I love." Maggie shouted from her bedroom as she put on shoes and brushed her hair. Today was going to be a long day and she needed stronger coffee and a little something sweet to get through it.

Within minutes she was back in the living room putting her gun in its holster and clipping on her badge. As they walked out the door, Maggie was surprised that she felt safe even with an active threat against her. Knowing that OA was beside her, she was certain that they could get through anything that was thrown their way.

Walking out the door OA thought about how nice it felt to be leaving the house together. He had never allowed himself to think about an ordinary life that involved a wife or family, but he had to admit that the past few hours made him want it more so than ever before.