A/N: I'm finally back! I think there might actually be a couple of steady updates in the next few weeks – wish me luck with inspiration

I can't quite picture Dexter seeking out advice too often when it comes to Deb. At least from anyone who's not Harry. But I think there would have been things he was told over the years. Things that would have stuck…

As always, thanks for reading and reviewing. I love that I'm not the only one still thinking about these two so long after the finale :p

16. Attempt to seek help (from friend or relative)

"You're too attached to her."

Dexter frowns, glances up from his phone to find Hannah's blue eyes staring back at him, full of disapproval.

"Huh?" He frowns further at his own idiotic response and attempts a recovery. "What are you talking about?"

"Debra." Even her tone is laced with disdain, the name falling from her mouth like a curse. She gestures to his phone and the message he was reading. "I can tell that was from her. Your relationship…" Hannah shakes her head, not wanting to put the recurring thought into words. "Don't you think she knows too much?"

He tilts his head at Hannah. "I didn't want her to find out."

"But now she does. She's the lieutenant of homicide. How do you not see this as a problem?"

"She's my sister." Dexter tells her, an obvious answer which Hannah seems unable to grasp.

"Well can't you see that she's a problem for me?" Hannah challenges yet again.

"I already told you I would handle that." Feeling frustrated Dexter turns away from her, grabbing his bag and heading for the door.

"Fine. If you're not worried about me, aren't you at least worried for her?"

Dexter stops dead and though he hasn't turned around Hannah can see the tension in his shoulders and knows she has struck the nerve she wanted. "What you're doing to her…aren't you worried for her well being? Aren't you concerned that you're hurting her?" She moves closer as she says this, her voice dropping. "I know you care for her. I don't think you want her hurt in your crossfire." She touches his shoulder gently, turning him back to her.

He looks like a lost little boy, his mouth turned down, his eyes wide with worry. "I've already hurt her." He admits softly, Hannah's words voicing the very concerns he has had for so long now.

"Then shouldn't you do something about it? Make sure she isn't hurt more?" Hannah coaxes.

Dexter sighs, shakes his head. "I'll figure out a way."

"Maybe.." Hannah places her hands on his chest and gently continues "the only way is to let her go."

Dexter turns an angry gaze towards her and pushes her hands aside. "I'll find a way to keep her without letting her get hurt." He turns abruptly away, heading out through the door.

Hannah stands at the doorway and calls after him. "Dexter…Let's talk about this. Where are you going?"

"Deb needs me." He answers simply as he gets in his car and drives away.

Hannah just sighs and heads back into her house.

"This desire to protect a younger sibling, being an older brother yourself I'm sure you understand." Miguel nods at Dexter as the sun sets over Miami.

Dexter nods back. "Yeah, but most of the time I've found that Deb can take care of herself."

Miguel chuckles at that. "Yes, I've heard about your sister."

Dexter smiles. "She's a good cop. She's tough." Dexter takes a deep breath. "Still there are things…well I wouldn't want her to get hurt."

"Yes, I can imagine in her line of work that would be a concern for you." Miguel pauses a moment. "But of course, maybe you're referring to something else?" He looks at Dexter meaningfully.

"She doesn't know about those things."

"Of course not. She's a good cop. She's got a strict set of rules she plays by. You don't." Miguel nods his understanding. "I get it hombre. If she knew-"

"She's never going to know." Dexter replies sternly.

Miguel holds his hands up. "Never. Man, you don't need to worry about that with me." Miguel slips into thought for a moment before turning back to Dexter. "But I understand you two are close."

Dexter nods but doesn't respond right away, his eyes drifting over the marina in front of them. "We've been together a long time." Dexter answers quietly.

"Ya know…as good as you might be at keeping secrets, it's hard with the people you're close to. There may come a time when you can't control what happens. When the people who are closest to you will see the truth." Miguel pauses. "I've found that some distance helps. Keeps the people you care about from knowing too much."

"Debra needs me." Dexter answers simply.

Miguel turns his gaze towards the younger man. Even as Dexter's eyes hover on the horizon Miguel can see the determination in them. While he thinks Dexter is a good man, so unlike his own brothers, he sees too that Debra Morgan is tied to this man. And just like his own brothers, Dexter is capable of dragging her down.

"You haven't saved her you know." The voice startles him as he quietly stacks the dishes away into the cabinet. He nearly drops one, so unlike him to be caught off guard. But who could blame him when it's the voice of his dead brother he hears?

Dexter doesn't want to turn around. He doesn't want to face the man behind him. The one he killed three nights ago. It doesn't matter though. The voice is closer when it next speaks, right in his ear.

"You can't ignore me dear brother. I have nowhere else to be. Thanks to you that is." He can practically hear Brian's smile.

Despite this Dexter continues about his business, deciding that ignoring this particular issue may allow it to go away sooner. As he turns towards the fridge he can see his older brother eyeing the bedroom door. "You know she doesn't sleep, don't you? She's kicked you out of your bedroom and she's not even putting your bed to good use." Brian grins lasciviously. "Pity she's not putting it to that other good use either. Your sister always knew how to fuck. If only she wasn't so goddamn needy."

Dexter scowls in response, still attempting to ignore the taunt. Finished in the kitchen he switches off the lights, turns towards the couch to find Brian lounged atop it. Dexter frowns further.

"You know it's your fault, don't you? That's she's not sleeping." Brian crosses one leg over the other, tucks his hands behind his head, making himself comfortable.

Frustrated into response Dexter finally replies. "I'm pretty sure it's your fault." He mutters as he tidies the mess Deb has left behind in the living room.

"Ah! I knew you couldn't go on ignoring me!" Brian sounds positively giddy and it only aggravates Dexter further. "But the truth is, it is definitely your fault. Why would I have bothered with Debra if she wasn't your sister?" He say disdainfully. "I needed you to know who you really were. Problem is, you're still in denial." Brian waits for Dexter to say something, but when he remains silent Brian continues. "Just wait. You've hurt her before this, you are hurting her now and you'll hurt her again. Why can't you just accept that you are the problem in this situation?"

Dexter closes his fist with fury. "I am not the problem." He replies lowly.

"You should have stayed away from her Dex. You could have saved her a lot of pain."

Dexter swings around angrily, ready to pounce and beat the offending words from his dead brother. But all he finds is an empty couch, the wounding words echoing in his ears.

Dexter leans over the edge of the boat, his arms dangling over, fingertips skimming the surface of the dark water. He watches as she fades away. Until he can't make out the features of her face. Until he can't see the whiteness of the sheet. He watches until she is gone forever, lost in the depths of the ocean. He thinks how he has finally put some distance, kept her away, let her go. He wishes now that he had listened before, done this sooner. Maybe he could have saved her.