A/N: I am sorry and I have no excuses for how long it took to write the next chapter. Please don't hate me. Thanks amacma for your ideas and encouragement to keep writing the story.

Jack tapped his leg impatiently as he and Heller went through some last minute work on the plane on their way to Boston.

"Jack, how much coffee did you drink this morning?" Heller asked, noticing that Jack hadn't sat still the entire ride. Jack apologized and tried to relax. The truth was that he was both excited and nervous. He had gotten Olivia to tell him Audrey's hotel location and room number. He figured their work day would be over after their last meeting at 3. Then he would drive the two hours from Boston to Amherst to surprise her. He was excited to see her but nervous that she wouldn't want to see him or that she would tell him that it was too late and that she had chosen Paul. No matter what the outcome, he would rather find out in person rather than over the phone. He couldn't wait for the day to be over.

"Well, if it isn't the most beautiful woman in the world," Paul said as Audrey came into his room. Audrey smiled at the compliment.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Better now that you're here."

Audrey smiled again. She remembered why it had been so easy for her to fall in love with him. He certainly could be charming when he wanted to be. "I guess you're in a good mood."

"I know we've been fighting a lot lately," Paul started. "But, it just feels like we are making progress. Do you feel that way too?"

Audrey shrugged. She did feel like they were making progress but she wasn't sure what they were making progress towards. Over the past weekend, they had many conversations about where their marriage went wrong. Paul tried to talk about the future but Audrey wasn't ready for that yet. She felt like they had all their issues out in the open but that they weren't actually resolving any of the issues.

"But, let's take a break from fighting," Paul suggested. He grabbed her hand and sat her on the edge of the bed. "Today is a good day."

"And why's that?" Audrey asked.

"Look," Paul said, looking down at his feet. He was moving his toes slightly. Audrey could tell that he was concentrating hard to make it happen but felt a wave of relief run over her.

"Oh my God!" Audrey exclaimed. "Paul, this is great! Did you tell the doctors?"

"Yes. They were already in here doing some tests this morning," Paul told her. He grabbed her hand. "Thank you again for being here. I seriously would not get through this without you."

Audrey smiled but then looked away from him. She felt guilty. She wasn't sure that she could ever be in love with him again. The day Paul was shot made her realize that there were some unresolved feelings that she had for him. She just wasn't sure if those feelings were due to the possibility of loving him again, due to how grateful she was for what he had done for Jack, or just due to the fact that she had loved him in the past and couldn't imagine losing someone she had known for so long. After their most recent talks, she was leaning toward the latter two options. They were both different people than they were when they met and fell in love. Audrey wasn't sure how she would tell him that she wasn't in love with him and likely never would be again. It would break his heart and he wouldn't have the attitude necessary for physical therapy. She decided that telling him would not be a smart way of handling it for the time being.

"What is it, Audrey?" Paul asked noticing that her demeanor had changed. "You're thinking about Jack. Aren't you?"

Audrey nodded.

"He'll get over it," Paul insisted. "You're my wife. What was he expecting?"

"Paul, I never said I was leaving him." Audrey said.

"I know I'm not much use in this bed but I can protect you from him if you're scared of his reaction."

"I'm not scared of Jack," Audrey said, confused by what Paul was saying.

"Seriously?" Paul asked. "The guy electrocuted me. I can only imagine what he'll do when you break up with him."

"Jack would never hurt me," Audrey insisted.

"Whatever you say," Paul said, sounding unconvinced. "Maybe he already found someone else anyway and won't be that mad."

A group of doctors walked in interrupting their conversation. The rest of the day they played cards and both of them avoided the conversation about Jack.

However, Audrey couldn't stop thinking about him. Audrey missed Jack a lot. Every night when she returned to her hotel she sat with her phone and thought about what she would say if she called him. But nothing ever sounded right. So she hadn't called in a few days. She wondered if Jack was waiting for her back in DC or if he had moved on, like Paul suggested. She knew Jack wasn't like that but just the thought made her jealous. She promised herself that she would call him tonight even if she wasn't sure what to say.

"You have plans tonight?" Heller asked Jack. Jack had been checking his watch religiously throughout the day. "You've seemed distracted."

"No, sir," Jack lied.

Heller rolled his eyes. "Jack, if you want to leave early to go visit my daughter just say so."

Jack smiled. He had almost forgotten that Heller knew about him and Audrey now. They had worked so hard to keep their relationship hidden and Jack still felt like it would be inappropriate for him to bring up their relationship to Secretary Heller. "I can wait until the end of the day."

"Just go now," Heller insisted. Jack thanked him and set out to see Audrey. But first he knew that he had to visit Paul and thank him again for saving his life. He drove to the hospital and found Paul's room. Jack knocked on the door frame.

"May I come in?" Jack asked, looking into the room he noticed Audrey wasn't there.

"As long as there aren't any bullets following you," Paul answered.

"I wanted to thank you again for saving my life," Jack said, sincerely. "How is your recovery going?"

"No progress," Paul said. "I'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life."

"I'm sorry," Jack said. As much as he did not like Paul, he hated the fact that all of this was happening because of him.

"Audrey went back to her hotel room," Paul told him. "She's why you're really here."

Jack nodded, not really sure what else to say.

"And, you don't see anything wrong with screwing my wife while I'm lying in a hospital bed because of you?" Paul asked.

"Audrey can make her own decisions," Jack said, surprised by Paul's forwardness.

"So can you," Paul countered. "Let's face it, Jack. I am in this situation because of you. I need her. Audrey and I talk about our future together. We talk about having kids and growing old together. The only thing that makes her question it is you. You need to leave her and let us be happy together. I saved your life. You owe me that much."

Jack was taken aback. "I'm not breaking up with her."

"Then we have nothing else to talk about. Just think about it. I can make her happier than you can."

Jack walked angrily out of the room and got into his car. How could Paul ask him to do that? Jack knew that he owed Paul, but not by breaking up with Audrey. Audrey loved him. But, Paul had said that she also talked about a future with him.

Jack wondered if Paul had been making it up. Maybe she hadn't discussed the future with him. Paul mentioned kids in their future but Audrey had never mentioned wanting kids to Jack before. Of course, Jack knew that Audrey loved kids as she would take any opportunity to babysit Olivia and Brian's daughter. She was really great with kids too; she would make a fantastic mother.

"Damn it," Jack yelled in the car as he drove to Audrey's hotel. Of course she wanted kids. Jack realized that she hadn't mentioned it to him because early on in their relationship he had revealed that he wasn't interested in having anymore kids. He hadn't lied. When Teri told him she was pregnant before she died he was excited. But when Teri died, he decided that he was too old to raise a child again anyway. Paul could give Audrey the life she truly wanted. And, Audrey had been so torn between the two of them that it would save her a lot of trouble if he removed himself as an option. He also knew that he owed it to Paul. He knew what he had to do.

Jack knocked on Audrey's door, dreading the conversation they were about to have. When the door opened, he immediately regretted trying to do this in person. Audrey was wearing a pair of pajama shorts and one of his t-shirts but Jack thought she looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her. He knew this was going to be impossible.

"Jack!" Audrey exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. She kissed him passionately but couldn't help but notice his lack of enthusiasm. She figured he was still upset that she had come to Massachusetts with Paul. "I'm so happy you're here. I really missed you."

Audrey pulled him into the room and they sat down together on the foot of the bed. Audrey decided that this was her chance to tell him that she loved him and only wanted to be with him. That she would help Paul recover and then go back home. That he shouldn't worry about her choosing Paul over him.

"Jack, I love you," Audrey said. "I'm so sorry for everything. I know we have so much to talk about but-"

"Audrey," Jack said, sadly. "I think that we should-"

Jack paused not being to get the words out. Audrey felt like her heart dropped into her stomach. She could tell that he was trying to break up with her. Audrey started to cry.

"Please don't cry," Jack begged, wiping away her tears.

"I don't understand," Audrey said. "I love you. Don't you love me?"

"I'm sorry," Jack said. "It's just not going to work."

"Last time we talked you said you wanted to wake up next to me everyday. And now you don't?"

"Last time we talked was days ago and ended with you saying that you were still considering being with Paul," Jack reminded her.

"And, now I know that I don't want to be with him. I want to be with you."

"You have no idea what you want," Jack argued. He sighed. "I'm sorry. I just don't want to be a part of it anymore. This should make your decision a lot easier."

Jack watched as Audrey pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face. Jack couldn't bear to watch any longer or he would end up taking it all back. He kissed the top of her head.

"Bye," he whispered, before walking out the door. He rushed to the car and got inside. He slammed his fist against the steering wheel, fighting back tears. He knew he made the right decision but he hated watching her cry, especially when it was because of him. Jack drove away quickly, knowing that if he stayed a moment longer he would change his mind.