"Three weeks and no word from him. Must be a good sign." Cindy said, smiling as she held onto Lindsay's hand as they walked out of the movie theatre. She closed her mouth at the look Lindsay gave her. "Sorry. I know I said there would be no talk of him. I don't want to ruin a perfect date. A perfect first date." She said, the smile never leaving her face. They began to walk down the street, the sun beginning to set in the distance. "You know, I have a lot I want to share, but I don't think I am ready to." She whispered.

"Well, I am not going to push you. I learnt my lesson with that." Lindsay said, putting her arm around the smaller woman's shoulders. "I am just perfectly content to walk around the city with you."

"You mean like I am a trophy?"

"Yeah. A trophy. Oh what being a bitter bitch gets you."

"You're not bitter."

"You can deny the bitch part at any time now."

"You can kind of be a bitch."

"Gee. Thanks."

"I speak the truth." She said, leaning into Lindsay. "You know something?"

"What?"

"I feel safe." She whispered. "I've never felt safe before."

"Hey, it's only because I have a gun." Lindsay replied, smiling as she held Cindy tighter. "Seriously though, I am glad you feel safe. I am glad I can make you feel safe. It means a lot to me."

"Could it be? Have I tamed the wild Lindsay Boxer?" Cindy said, laughing.

"Oh shush." She said, letting herself loosen up. They reached the bay and found a bench.

"So, you love me?"

"How many times are you going to ask me that?"

"Until I get sick of hearing the answer. Which will be..never." She whispered, leaning her head on Lindsay's shoulder and gently taking her hand in hers. "It's part of what makes me feel safe. Knowing that you are right there."

"Just think. I most likely wouldn't had Jill not felt the urge to come yell at me."

"I need to remind myself that I owe her one now." She was quiet as she observed and took in every bit of their surroundings. She wanted to remember this night forever. "Why me?" She whispered.

"What?"

"Why me? I mean, why did I have to be the one that was stuck with Arik? Why did I have to be the one who ended up in the hospital? Why did you want me?" She sat up and turned her body towards Lindsay, pulling her feet onto the bench and hugging her knees gently. "I mean, I am no where near perfect. I am no where near what you deserve."

"I think you overestimate what I deserve." Lindsay said.

"Shut up. You may think you don't deserve much, but you sure as hell deserve better than me."

"What is so bad about you?"

"Everything." She said, watching the sunset. "You think I went my whole life being as chipper as I was when you met me? I would have been murdered by the time I was twelve had that been the case."

"So, what were you like before you were Miss Chipper?" Lindsay turned her on the bench and pulled her so she was leaning back against the taller woman.

"Well, I wasn't chipper, that's for damn sure. I was more of the 'fuck off because I hate you for no apparent reason' type. I didn't have many friends, and writing was my only outlet. I thought it was a great thing when I got to go to Vassar, but college wasn't what I had expected. I thought it would be a breeze since I wrote so much. But everything got thrown for a loop when I met Arik. I just wasn't the same anymore, and it was okay at the time because I guess I thought I needed something different to happen to me. To make me grow up." She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, wishing that her ribs would just heal already so she could breathe normally. "Let's just say…" She tilted her head back to look at Lindsay. "Life wasn't good to me, and I wasn't good to me." Lindsay kissed her forehead gently. "But, that has changed. I am good to myself now."

Lindsay couldn't help but take the bait. "Explain how you weren't good to yourself. Please?"

"One day." Cindy whispered. "One day I will explain it to you, and it won't make sense, but then you'll know. You'll know why I am fragile. Why I am scared out of my mind right now." She whispered. The sun had finally set, and the bay was now basking in the glow of the moonlight. "Be good to me Lindsay. I can't handle being broken again." She closed her eyes as Lindsay wrapped her arms around her.

"I won't break you. And I most definitely will not let anyone else break you. I'll keep you safe." She whispered, gently rocking back and forth. It took her a few moment to realize that Cindy was crying, but she, for once, held her tongue and didn't prod. "Come on. Let's get you home." She said, helping Cindy stand up.

"I am scared to go back to my apartment. I realized last night that it makes weird noises. And..well..yeah."

"Is this some cheap attempt to get me to ask you if you want to stay the night? Because I was going to offer up my couch anyways. You would just have to share it with Martha." Lindsay said, smiling as they began the trek back to Lindsay's place. "One of these days, can I take you on a date where we don't walk everywhere?"

"Yeah. I guess you can." The redhead said, smiling and looking at the ground. "You make me smile, you know that? I like that quality in you."

"I do my best." Lindsay replied. She watched Cindy as they walked along, and she could almost feel her heart breaking at the pain that was in the woman's eyes. She knew she didn't deserve that kind of pain, and it only made Lindsay wonder even more about what was under the surface. She found herself wishing that she could just get in her Jeep with Cindy and drive. And not stop unless they needed gas or food. To get away from all the pain this city had caused. Just leave it all behind and start fresh somewhere else in the country. Maybe she could take her to Texas. The reporter would fit right in down there. They could get a place near Corpus Christi so they could spend lazy days at the beach. One day, Boxer, one day. Slow your mind down. Just deal with what you have now. You have the one person you want to care about walking right next to you. That should be enough for now. As Lindsay smiled at Cindy, she knew it was enough.