All the Pretty Flowers:

Brenda felt completely exhausted. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see the familiar surroundings of her room. She relaxed after a few more relieved breaths and decided that a good hot cup of coffee would make her feel better. As she moved from the bed, her body was heavy and she barely made it out of bed…careful not wake Fritz. It had been almost 24 hours since she had been rescued and there was still times that a car going by or a shadow that she saw out of the corner of her eye would startle her. Brenda chided herself for the useless, child like fears. She knew nothing was really out there, but why could she not mentally convince herself of that truth? She replayed the scenes over and over again her mind, trying to find ways that it could have not happened, but nothing would surface. All she kept seeing was Croelick's sadistic smile followed by the smell of burning flesh. That was the one thing she wished she could forget. Absent mindedly, she rubbed the bandage at her abdomen as she padded softly toward the kitchen. Fritz stirred behind her, rolled to his stomach, but did not wake.

Brenda felt odd and out of place making the coffee, as if she were still dreaming. Parts of still were and she shook her head as hard as it would let her and pushed all the cold fears to the deepest part of her mind. There was no room for being scared. She had never been like that and she was not going to start now. "You're home…your safe," she said to herself as she placed the tray of coffee grinds into the maker.

Five minuets later, Brenda leaned against the counter and swallowed the mouth full of coffee that she had holding when her mind had drifted once again. She did not care about the burning sensation that rippled over her taste buds. The last few days played out in her mind in perfect movie film action…drama. She was the hero, that did not come out unscathed. Her skin rippled with goose-bumps and she felt her throat constrict almost as if the devil's hand were wrapped around her throat again. She did not notice that her hand trembled rather violently and caused hot coffee liquid to spill all over the floor at her feet. She had not heard Fritz approach slowly with his eyes slits of concern.

"Hey, Brenda…" Fritz said softly and caught the cup in mid air as it was tossed from her hand when she jumped violently.

"Don't ever do that again, Fritz!" Brenda said, spun around and glared at him. She could not help it. She was mad…but more mad at herself than at him. "Especially not now…" she finished with a heavy sigh.

"I am sorry," he said, set the cup down and took her in a warm protective hug. He felt her shaking as he held her. "I thought I was dreaming again. When I woke, you were not there and I thought the nightmare had not ended."

"I am still…"

Fritz hushed her with his words.

"I can't live without you Brenda. I couldn't. I won't," Fritz said and held her tighter. He breathed in the scent of her hair and instantly felt calmer. There was just something about the floral shampoo that she used that numbed his nerves. He heard her sigh and felt for the first time just how much this whole thing had really affected her. Fritz could not remember the last time he had seen her this shook up.

"I am still here, Fritz. I am real. I promise," she said and finally wrapped her arms around him in return of the embrace he offered. Her ear rested against his chest and in the silent moment between conversation, she listened to his strong, constant heart beat. They were practically beating as one. Brenda smiled softly.

"Good thing…" he said and smiled to himself. "Because I don't ever want to be that crazy again. You already drive me insane Brenda…when you are physically here…"

"I am just tired," Brenda said, almost as if she did not hear his words. She shifted her arms around him and buried her face within his chest. Fritz felt her breath warm against his skin and it scent chills throughout his body in more places than one. He was now trying so hard not feel this way…feel turned on, but there was no way to avoid it. Brenda was the woman he loved and he felt complete having her back. Her injuries were not extensive, luckily, however the emotional trauma…was the thing that concerned him the most. Brenda Leigh Johnson was hard, stubborn, and at times selfish which was what made her vulnerability very clear. The harder she fought for control…the farther and harder she fell in her human flaw. He wanted to take that away. He wanted to protect her forever…even when he knew he would not be able to…

"I know you are. Brenda, you have as much time off as you need from work. Chief Pope gave you no limit. Croelick is in custody and under 24 hour surveillance. I took time off to be here with you. All you need to do is rest. I don't expect anything more from you…or anything less, " he added at the end.

Brenda mumbled something with her face still buried at his chest.

"What? Brenda?" Fritz took her face within his hands and gently pushed her back from his chest. He held back a snicker when he saw her crinkled face with her eyes still shut tight. "Hey," he said with a fond smile and tapped her nose to get it to relax. "Talk to me Brenda.""It was dark in there," she whined and shook her head back and forth within his hands. "I don't want to wake up or open my eyes. I am afraid of who I will see when I open them."

"I am here Brenda…" Fritz said carefully.

Brenda slowly opened her eyes to find relief by his familiar, comforting face. She saw the smile instantly fade from his lips as he looked down at her. "I don't think I slept all day. I remember trying, but…I could not get my eyes to close for more than a second." she said and blinked once. It was then that he finally noticed the dark circles under her brown eyes. Fritz gingerly ran his thumb under her left eye as he spoke.

"I can see that. You look like you have not slept in days…"

"I know I haven't…"

"Then I order you to get some rest and Brenda…I will make you close those beautiful brown eyes of yours if it kills me."

"Oh…no," Brenda said and placed her fingertips to his lips. "I will do that myself as long as you promise not to leave me…"

Fritz smiled and lightly kissed the fingertip at his lips. "I won't leave…'ever'…" he said and leaned over her to kiss the top of her head. "You don't have to ask me twice." Fritz released her face and Brenda saw a familiar look in his eyes. A look that turned her still raw stomach inside out.

"Fritz, I can't. I have been beaten and tortured for three days. I don't think I have the…"

His lips met hers in lustful passion.

"…energy…" was all she got out before she fell under his spell.

It was just about a second later when Fritz lifted her easily up into his arms, still within the embrace and carried her back into their bedroom. Gently, he lowered her to the bed and fell in place on top of her. He paused within the kiss for one moment to stare into her eyes. He wanted to make sure she was ok and his heart nearly stopped beating when he saw the passion in her eyes returned. He swallowed fast. Brenda, could never stop herself from him, just as he could never stop himself from her. They were too good for one another. He was glad she was ok and also wanted him as much as he wanted her. Three days apart, three days of stress and worry…had been too much for him…

Brenda felt safe within his arms…sex included.

Fritz embraced her again and Brenda moaned deep within her throat. Physically, she really was ok. She moved her hands to his shoulders and pushed him down from her lips to the soft nape of her neck. He eagerly obliged. She curved her fingers around his shoulders and then dragged them deliciously down the toned muscles of his back right to edge of his boxers. He nipped lightly at her neck and urged her onward because he was not sure how much longer he was going to be able to last. Brenda shook her head and slid her fingers beneath his the fabric to touch the warm roundness of his backside. She took both cheeks within her hands and squeezed. Fritz jerked his head back and gave her a sharp look.

"Now now, Brenda. Not fair," he said and kissed her once. She smiled and winked at him.

"Right. It is not fair," she said and completely removed her hands. His face showed disappointment. "I think I should go first," she finished and placed her hands above her head. Fritz blinked for a moment, slightly confused, before it clicked. He nodded, shook his head, and sighed playfully.

"You're right…"he chuckled. "What was I thinking?" Brenda shrugged, smirked, and waited for him to continue. At this point she had all but forgotten about the patch at her lower abdomen and the lighter burn that was hidden beneath. Fritz again, did not wait long.

Almost an hour later, Fritz drew her sweet soaked body into his arms and breathed loudly with bliss. She weakened inside his embrace and he looked down to see her eyes closed.

"Already?"

"Three days of trauma…"

"You win…" he laughed and stroked the side of her face.

"I will win every time…"

"Oh no! Brenda?!! Are you back?!!" Fritz teased.

"Shut up! I want to sleep." Brenda said and dug her nails into the sensitive skin at his side in teasing.

"Ouch!"

Brenda shook her head against his chest and blew out a sigh. "Sorry," she mumbled. Fritz ran his fingers through her hair and fixed loose strands behind her ear.

"Don't worry about it," he replied staring down at her.

"Thank you…" Brenda said after a long pause.

Fritz's brow furrowed and he titled his head to the side to see her face. Brenda's eyes were still closed. "For what Brenda? I will always find you no matter where you go," he said.

Brenda smiled sleepily. "For helping me sleep," she finished. Fritz's lips formed a child-like-grin and he wrapped his arms around her possessively. He raised his head up and kissed the top of her head.

"You're welcome…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Downtown, the state prison alarms had gone off. Three guards lay burned to a crisp at the entrance to an open cell lock door. On the floor written in blood and burnt human flesh was a message.

'TELL THE DEPUTY CHIEF I AM READY TO COME HOME…'

The chief of prison police looked up from the message to several other officers standing behind him. "Get me Chief Pope on the line NOW!"