AN: All that is left after this is the epilogue which I might post later today since I'll be busy tomorrow for the 4th of July. :)

Dominic knocked lightly on the door to Kaile's hospital room. When he heard a "Come in," he opened the door but didn't enter. He could just see his uncle, but the bathroom obstructed his view of most of Kaile. "I, uh, just wanted to see how things were going in here. Do you need anything?"

Don smirked, appearing much happier than the last time Dominic had seen him, though his uncle still looked like he had aged years in the last few hours. "Yeah, I need you to talk to my daughter." He leaned down towards the head of the bed for a moment, then stood and approached Dom. "Just treat her right, Dominic, and I won't have a problem with you being with her." With that his uncle nudged him into the room, walked out, and closed the door, leaving Dominic alone with Kaile.

He walked fully into the room and felt his chest tighten slightly at the sight of Kaile. Even though he knew she was going to be okay, it was still disconcerting to see her lying pale in a hospital. He was surprised out of his thoughts when Kaile's eyes opened. For some reason he had thought she was still unconscious, maybe figuring his uncle wouldn't want to leave if she had woken up. "You're awake," he said inanely.

"Yeah," she replied. Dominic stood at the end of her bed and they just gazed at each other, neither knowing where to start. Finally, they both spoke.

"I'm sorry, Dominic--"

"Kaile, I've been an idiot--"

They both stopped and grinned and all of a sudden a good bit of the tension seemed to dissipate. Dominic walked around the bed and sat on the edge, careful not to touch anything that seemed important. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

She smiled weakly. "Okay. Ella wasn't kidding a few weeks ago when she said the drugs are amazing."

Dom chuckled, then sobered as he looked down at her hand which he had unconsciously picked up and gazed at the bandages around her wrist. "I'm sorry I made you feel like you were doing something wrong, Kaile. I need to learn to think before I speak. I know you, I know you wouldn't haphazardly bring in people to question them, but more than that I know that you're a good person and that you do value Jim as a friend. Please forgive me."

Kaile squeezed the hand that held hers. "I do. And I'm sorry that I pick fights with you and then walk away before we finish them and work through whatever the issue is." She sighed despondently. "I've come to realize that it's unfortunately a pattern in my life." She looked off to her left. "And I can't promise that that realization will change the pattern. You might want to bail out now." Her heart felt like it was breaking when he didn't answer right away and she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Dominic wasn't sure if she was giving him an out because she thought that was what he wanted or because it was what she wanted. But the best way to find out was probably to ask. "Is that what you want, Kaile? Do you want me to bail?"

Kaile shook her head, wiping away the tears that were falling again. "Honestly? No. I just can't guarantee that I'll be worth it, Dominic. I get angry, I lash out, I--"

"Hey, hey, you're acting like I don't participate in our arguments. I'm a Messer, remember? Arguing is a hereditary trait in my family." He leaned over so their faces were no more than a foot apart and gently pulled her face around with his free hand so that she was looking at him. "And you've always been worth it, Kaile Flack. I've just been an idiot and not putting enough effort into our relationship. Part of that for a long time was my youth and wanting to focus on my baseball career; part of it has always been not wanting to mess up what we did have by pushing too hard in case we weren't on the same page." He brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles. "But all that stops right now. I'm laying it all out, K. I love you and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this thing between us work if that's what you want."

She nodded, the tears streaming down her face. "Yeah, that's what I want." He leaned down and she eagerly accepted his kiss. When they broke apart she whispered, "I love you too, Dominic."

His heart swelled. Kaile gave out the occasional "I love you" to a family member, but this kind of deep, heartfelt statement was a rare occurrence. Not that he was exactly used to saying it either. "Glad to hear it." He smiled to lighten the mood a little. "Just promise me that when we do have arguments in the future you won't go to these extremes to bring us together."

She returned the smile. "Well, I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best." She squeezed his hand and became serious again. "Are we going to really be able to make this work, Dominic? It's not like we haven't tried before. And even if you're here in the off season, we still won't be living in the same city seven to eight months out of the year."

"We haven't tried, not really anyway. If we make a concerted effort to keep in touch and see each other whenever possible, yes, I think we can make it work." He took a deep breath. "And, if necessary, I'll retire if that's what it takes because you mean more to me than baseball, Kaile."

She started shaking her head before he finished speaking. "No, you can't retire for me, Dominic. You'll always wonder how far you could have gone, what you could have accomplished, and despite our best efforts that would eventually come between us." She smiled as she reached up with her free hand to cup his cheek. "But the offer is very much appreciated because I know you really mean it." She stroked his face with her thumb. "It would make much more sense for me to leave the NYPD and move to Chicago."

It was Dominic's turn to shake his head. "No way. I know you could be an amazing detective wherever you worked, but you know this city like the back of your hand and it just wouldn't be the same anywhere else. Besides, your dad is here as well as much of the rest of the family." He turned his head slightly to kiss her palm. "Maybe I'll just have to make Dad's dream come true and ask for a trade to the Yankees."

Kaile grinned. "I don't know if the city could contain his ego if that happened. But are you sure that's what you want? I know you love the Cubs. You could have left when your last contract was up, but you stayed for less money than other teams were offering you."

Dominic shrugged. "I do love the Cubs, but I love New York, too. More importantly, I love you, and if leaving Chicago is what it takes to make us work, then I'm willing to do that. My current contract is up in a couple of years, so I could just accept any offer the Yankees make, or the Mets if the Yankees don't want me, instead of angering people by demanding a trade. And anyone who doesn't like my reasons for leaving Chicago then can go screw themselves."

She chuckled. "I'd pay good money to see you tell off the sports reporters." She held his hand in both of hers. "And maybe I could actually take some vacation time and follow you around the country a bit."

He smiled "I'd love to show you around the country." His eyes sparked with mischief. "You know, there is one benefit to all the arguing we do."

Kaile rolled her eyes. She knew exactly where his mind had gone. "Quit while you're ahead, ball boy, and kiss me."

"Yes ma'am," he whispered before kissing her again. Neither noticed the door opening and their fathers poking their heads in before being yanked back out of the room by Lindsay.