John helped Jessica into his apartment and sat her down, while Dorian carried her bags in from the car.

"Hey, Dorian," John said, "I don't have a way for you to get a good, full charge, man. Plus, they've seen my car. I need you to go back to the station."

"I can't leave you here alone."

"Yeah, you can. We'll be fine. Talk to the Captain. You two figure out a way to mislead the leak in the department. Make it seem like she's there until she can be moved again."

"Okay."

"Don't take a direct route back."

Dorian nodded and walked over to Jessica.

"Is there anything I can do for you before I go?"

"Can you make it stop hurting," she asked as she held her arm.

Dorian frowned. "No, I'm sorry."

"Didn't think so," Jessica said with a smile. "I'm okay. I'm sure John will take good care of me."

Dorian smiled and glanced at John. "I'm sure he will."

"Watch it, pal," John said, pointing a finger at the droid.

Dorian held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll see you guys later."

John disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. He handed it to Jessica, then opened his hand to hold out a couple of pain killers.

"Thank you," she said.

John nodded, and stood as she swallowed the pills. She tried to hand the glass of water back, but he shook his head.

"Finish it."

"Will it help something?"

"Can't hurt."

Jessica finished the water then handed the glass back to John, but he just placed it on the table.

"Let's get you into the bathroom and cleaned up."

Jessica stood, but wobbled. John wrapped her good arm around his shoulders, and held her waist.

"I feel really weak," she said.

"Adrenaline crash... and you've been shot."

"I thought it was just a flesh wound?"

"Yeah, well, they can still be pretty intense. Especially when you're not used to being shot at in the first place. Can you walk?"

"Yeah, I can."

He held her up as they walked, then he sat her down on the edge of the bathtub. He grabbed the alcohol and some gauze, then sat beside her.

"This will probably burn."

He poured the alcohol over the wound and Jessica yelped. Her body jerked, as if trying to pull away from the pain. John patted the area dry, but made a noise that sounded like disappointment.

"What," Jessica asked.

"This is a little deeper than I thought," he said as he stood. "It'll need a couple of butterfly bandages to hold the skin closed."

He went into the medicine cabinet and returned with the bandages. Jessica winced through the pain as he fixed her up. When he was done, he placed a gentle kiss at the edge of the bandage.

"All done."

He stood and cleaned up the bathroom while Jessica just sat there. He noticed that she was swaying a bit, as if she were trying to stay upright.

"You okay?"

"Very tired."

"Pain killers could be kicking in, too. Come on," he said.

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his bedroom.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to rest."

He lay her on the bed and covered her with the sheet. The instant her head hit the pillow, she snuggled in and closed her eyes.

"Mmmm... smells like you," she mumbled.

"What?"

"The bed... it smells like you. All over."

"Well, I guess that makes sense."

"I like it."

"That's the pain killers talking."

"No, it's not," she said. Her voice was getting softer, and her speech slurred with exhaustion. "You smell great."

John smiled. "Go to sleep."

"Okay."

John started to walk out of the room, but Jessica called out to him.

"John..."

"Yeah?"

"Stay with me."

"I should really go call the Captain."

"Please," she said as she opened her eyes a bit. "Just until I fall asleep."

John walked back to the bed and sat on the edge. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to the corner of Jessica's mouth, then took her hand in one of his. The other hand gently stroked her hair, brushing it away from her face.

"I feel so safe with you," she mumbled.

"Shhh... Go to sleep."

John stayed with her until he was sure she was asleep. He checked in with the Captain, then made sure his security system was fully engaged. He checked their food supply, tossing out some things that were expired after being gone for weeks. They had enough food and supplies for the next few days.

He walked back to the bedroom and stood there, just watching Jessica breathe for a while. Recovering from a gun shot wound wasn't really the way he wanted to have her in his bed, but there she was. He climbed next to her on the bed, staying on top of the covers. He moved in close behind her, careful to avoid her shoulder, and draped his arm over her waist.

He didn't think it would be this easy to care for someone after Anna, but being with Jessica felt right. They actually had similar personalities. Both guarded and private. Both, what many would call, old-fashioned in a lot of ways.

John nuzzled her hair, breathing her in. Was it love? It sure felt like it. Could it be love so fast? They had spent more time together than normal during those weeks in protective custody. The time they had spent together amounted to way more than just a few dates.

Maybe it was love. All John knew was that he loved holding her. He loved having her in his arms. He loved talking to her.

John thought back to his dad's old Elton John albums, and thought of a song. He couldn't remember the title, but some of the lyrics had been rolling around in his head. When you love someone "reality runs up your spine, and the pieces finally fit."

And wasn't that how he felt? If he was honest with himself, he could pinpoint the exact moment he knew: when he watched her sleeping on the sofa, covered with the blanket he had laid over her.

So, that was it, then. He loved her.

John squeezed her tighter, and realized just how tired he felt. The stress of the day had caught up to him, and he eventually drifted off to sleep.

John awoke a few hours later to see the sunset shining through his windows. Jessica was still asleep, but he thought he should wake her up to eat. He ran his hand up and down her arm as he pressed kisses into her hair.

"Jess, sweetheart... you hungry?"

Jessica let out a small whimper of protest, but John just smiled.

"Come on, Jess. You should eat."

Jessica came around slowly. Her eyes fluttered open, only to close again, several times before they would remain open.

"Do I have to," she groaned.

"Yeah."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

John gave Jessica a bit of room as she turned onto her back and looked up into his face.

"Were you here the whole time I was asleep."

"Not the whole time. I had to call the Captain, check supplies, secure the apartment... have to keep you safe, you know?"

Jessica smiled. Even sleepy and half-drugged, he found her so beautiful. John leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips before he got out of bed and moved to help her stand.

"Come on," he said with an outstretched hand. "Let's eat."