A/N I kinda just threw this together because I felt bad for waiting so long! :) I hope it doesn't disappoint you too much! BTW, who's watching American Idol? Who do ya'll want to win?

Disclaimer: Nope. I own a broken piano, a dog, three cats and some milk that's way past its sell-by date.

syn·chro·niza·tion

1. To occur at the same time; be simultaneous.

2. To operate in unison.

When his alarm went off at 9 the next morning, Scotty turned it off, feeling a pair of slim legs wind around his.

"No..." Lilly whined, gently slapping his chest. He chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"We gotta get up, Lil."

"No...after what you did to me, you're lucky I can still move," his partner grumbled. Scotty pulled her towards him, letting her move her head onto his chest.

"I'm so tired, Scotty," she murmured, the sadness in her voice telling him that she was no longer talking about their recent exertions. He smoothed her hair away from her face, his fingers soft against her cheek.

"I know, baby," he replied softly.

Any protest she might have made at the endearment was lost as sleep began to rob the blonde detective of her power of speech, instead coming out as a muffled mumble against the planes of his chest.

"Sleep," he said softly, "I've got you."

Lilly snuggled into him, resting her arm on his stomach.

"I know."

Later that afternoon, Lilly stumbled into the kitchen, wearing his t-shirt and her discarded panties. She blinked at the sudden brightness, seeing her partner sitting at the kitchen table.

"What time is it?" she grumbled, sulkily rubbing a hand over her eyes. Scotty chuckled at the scowl on her face, and stood up to block the sun.

"A little after two," he replied.

"You didn't wake me?"

"I thought I'd let you sleep. Thought you might need it," Scotty pointed out with a smile. His partner suddenly realized how close they were standing, and a shy smile spread across her face, running her fingertips over his bare chest.

"Hi," she said. He grinned, linking his hands in the small of her back and pulling her closer.

"Hi."

Lilly raised herself onto her tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Her partner tightened his arms around her waist, moving forward until her back was leaning against the counter.

"What is it with you, me, and this counter?" she laughed. Scotty waggled his eyebrows.

"I don't know, Lil. Must be somethin' in the air."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to take a shower..." she said, leaving the sentence hanging. Scotty grinned mischievously.

"Need some company?" he suggested in a low voice. Lilly nodded seriously.

"Those showers can be real lonely."

Laughing, he easily scooped her up into his arms, sliding his hands under her backside, and letting her wrap her legs around him. The blonde detective placed soft kisses down his neck, giggling slightly as he walked towards the bathroom. She shifted lower on his hips, groaning when she felt his hardness pressing against her centre. Lilly lowered her legs to the floor, tugging on the waistband of his boxers to draw him further into the room. His tongue delved deeper into her mouth, lifting her t-shirt to caress the smooth skin at her waist. Making sure his hands would not leave her waist, the blonde detective pushed the bathroom door shut, reaching into the shower cubicle to turn the water on.

Scotty lifted the material over her head, throwing it to the floor and laying a trail of kisses over the slope of her breasts and down, down to the peaks, taking a hard nipple into his mouth. Crying out as his tongue flicked the sensitive nub, Lilly hastily removed his boxer shorts, letting his erection spring free.

The mirror was beginning to steam up, and Scotty tore the tiny scrap of material away from her centre. Fumbling around in the cupboard drawer for a condom, Lilly smirked as her fingers closed around the foil square, and she skilfully encased his member in rubber. Grinning and once again taking her into his arms, he backed her into the shower cubicle, forcing her against the cold tiled wall.

Tangling his fingers through hers, he brought their hands up to either side of her head. Scotty groaned as he felt his tip push against Lilly's slick folds. She leant her head back against the tiling, and with one forward thrust of her hips, managed to engulf his length in her slick heat.

Scotty shuddered, releasing her hands so that he could hold her still as he allowed her to adjust to his size. He managed to break his lips away from hers, gently biting down on her earlobe, something he'd recently learnt drove his partner crazy. After a moment of just savouring her tight walls surrounding him, the male detective began to move, cupping her ass as he thrust into her.

"God, Scotty..." she gasped, clutching at the walls.

He crushed his lips, his cock reaching deep within her. His tongue snaked past her lips, and Lilly trembled against him, her release approaching fast thanks to her already sensitive core. The hot water trailed over them, adding extra heat to their bodies. Scotty increased the pace of his thrusts, her breathy moans only making him harden inside her even more. Lilly dug her nails into his shoulders, her lips beginning to bruise under the force of his kisses. Her partner groaned, tightening his grip on her waist.

"Holy mother of God," he murmured, his voice muted by her lips. She could feel the pressure beginning to mount, and she met his thrusts more urgently.

"Scotty..."

It seemed that he'd taken the hint, because a hand slid between their wet bodies to stroke her centre, finding the swollen bud and squeezing it gently. Lilly cried out, bucking wildly against his hand. Her wet hair stuck to her face, and Scotty realized she had never looked more attractive than she did at that moment.

The attention he was paying to her core sent the blonde detective flying over the edge, and she wrapped her arms around his back, holding him tight against her. Feeling her muscles clenching rhythmically around him, Scotty groaned.

"Lil..."

His hips jerking erratically, he came with a low grunt, pressing Lilly more tightly against the wall. They floated down together, and when she found the strength, the blonde detective lowered her legs, sinking back against the tiles. The water trailed down over their bodies, washing the mixture of sweat and bodily fluids into the drain. His semi-erect member twitched, and Lilly winced slightly. Scotty chuckled, pressing a kiss to her damp forehead.

"We have to stop doing that," she murmured. He nodded, his chin grazing her smooth shoulder.

"We'll walk it off."

Lilly pulled her head back to look up at him doubtfully.

"Walk it off? Scotty, I might as well have a sign on my back that says 'I have just been thoroughly fucked'."

He grinned.

"I'm gonna take that as a compliment."

Their 'walk' was almost enough to make her completely forget that her life was in danger.

Almost.

So when the drunk moved a little too close, leered at her a little too obviously, Lilly edged closer to her partner, holding her head down as she walked beside him. Despite her nonchalance, Scotty knew she was scared. He drew her into his side, casually tangling his fingers around hers and squeezing them slightly.

When she stumbled, Lilly grabbed at his shirt, feeling his warm frame there to steady her. As they stood staring at each other in surprise, a car backfired. Lilly jumped, failing to conceal a soft gasp.

"Lil, it's OK. It's OK," Scotty reassured, sliding his hands up to her shoulders.

The blonde detective flinched at the unexpected touch, and he quickly pulled away. Scotty narrowed his eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing," Lilly replied quickly. He shook his head.

"I can't believe you're doin' this again."

Lilly stared at him, anger flashing in her eyes.

"Doing what?" she questioned defensively. Scotty waved a hand at her.

"This. Freakin' out. Actin' all...jumpy."

"Well, sorry if I'm slightly concerned about the man trying to kill me!"

He sighed heavily.

"That ain't what I meant, an' you know it."

"Then what did you mean, Scotty?"

"I just...I thought that you were OK with us?"

"I am, but this is big, Scotty. This is too important to screw up, and right now I'm not sure where we're going with this."

Scotty shook his head in confusion, reaching for her hands and holding them tightly.

"But I don't understand! I thought you wanted this!"

"I do," Lilly replied sadly, "and you have to know I'm not changing my mind, but we've been pretending that there's not somebody trying to kill me, and it's all just..."

"Catchin' up?" he finished softly. A tiny smile graced her lips.

"Yeah."

The male detective released her hands, caressing her cheek.

"I can help, Lil."

"Those little girls, Scotty. We've been forgetting about those little girls. I just need...I just need..."

Lilly raised her fingers to his mouth, tracing his lips.

"He'll use you. He'll use you to get to me, and...I can't let that happen."

"So you're callin' a time out?" Scotty said, irritation tainting his words. She sighed.

"If you just let me explain..."

He held up a hand, stopping the words that were about to stumbled from her mouth.

"Save it, Lil. Now I told you I'd wait, an' I will...but there's a point, Lil. There's a point."

She stared at him, watching as he began to walk away. Lilly was left alone on the sidewalk, shivering slightly. She hesitated, caught between going after him and following her instincts, which were screaming at her to run in the opposite direction.

"Fuck!"

The drunk was back, and seeing the male detective disappearing from sight, made his way towards her. Barely thinking twice, Lilly ran after her partner.

"Scotty!" she called helplessly. He turned in surprise. Lilly came to a stop a few feet in front of him, desperately trying not to burst into tears. She suddenly closed the gap between them, flinging her arms around his neck and clinging on for life. He pulled her body tight against his, resting his cheek on her soft blonde hair. Lilly buried her face in his shoulder, releasing the air she didn't realise she'd been holding.

"Every time I let you leave it seems to make me need you a little bit more," she said in a rushed breath. Scotty sighed, running his hands up her back.

"You always have this much trouble makin' up your mind?" he asked in a soft voice. Into the material of his shirt, the blonde detective made a noise that was halfway between a sob and a laugh.

"No more backin' out, OK?"

Lilly shook her head, clutching at his shirt. Scotty grinned, impulsively kissing the top of her head. She shuddered against him, hugging him fiercely.

"Take me home," she whispered. A warm feeling spread through his chest at her Freudian slip.

"Yes, ma'am."

They'd started off in a comfortable silence, her arm looped through his as they'd walked back towards his apartment. But something had changed.

Maybe it was the way she was hugging his arm to her chest, her breasts warm through the material of his shirt. It could have been the brush of his hand over the smooth skin of her neck when he draped his arm around her shoulders. The smell of his aftershave surrounding her, his breath soft in her ear, her breaths growing shallower as she felt heat pool between her thighs...

The apartment door had only just shut. Lilly's lips crushed into his, her hands grabbing the front of his shirt to draw him closer. Scotty's breath caught, and then his arms were circling her waist, pushing her slight form against the wall.

They broke apart long enough to share a startled look, before their lips were attached again. Lilly's hands snaked up to the back of his head, deepening the kiss. Scotty felt his tongue gently probe into her mouth, pinning her hips to the wall. His fingers raised the material of her t-shirt, stroking her waist. Lilly wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, clinging to him as she savoured the hard lines of his body pressed against her.

Scotty moved his fingers to the front of her shirt, slowly pulling it over her head. Her nails dug into the sensitive skin at the back of his neck, her hands sliding down beneath the collar of his shirt as she began to undo the buttons. The material fell to the floor, and the male detective gasped when Lilly reached between them to cup his growing erection.

"Jesus, Lil..."

A sharp ringing removed all ideas of anything remotely sexual from their minds. Lilly groaned, resting her forehead against his shoulder.

"Leave it," she murmured. Scotty chuckled.

"You really want Boss breakin' the door down to see why we didn't answer?"

She pinched his arm, sighing in frustration and unsatisfied lust.

"Make it quick," she whispered, and Scotty could have sworn she made her voice that little bit more seductive just to elicit a response.

Maybe the response came from the hand that was quietly undoing the fastener on his jeans, the fingers that were surreptitiously sneaking lower beneath the denim. Hearing the strangled gasp that crept from his throat, Lilly smirked, giving his hardness tender stroke. Scotty jerked involuntarily, and narrowed his eyes in warning.

"Not funny, Lil," he hissed. She rolled her eyes.

"Talk fast."

Scotty picked up the phone, smiling as his partner peeled herself away from him.

"Hello?"

"Scotty," Stillman said. The lieutenant didn't need to say anything else. The smile slid from the younger detective's face, and feeling her partner tense, Lilly looked up at him in confusion.

"When?" he said shortly. Another pause.

"Where? Then...yeah. I'll call you later."

Snapping it shut, Scotty threw his phone to the sofa. Lilly watched in silence.

"We have to go," he said seriously, gently grabbing her arm.

"Why?

"Just get dressed."

Lilly yanked her arm from his grip as she stopped.

"Not until you tell me why," she said, her quiet voice dangerous. Scotty looked back. Seeing the pain in his eyes, her heart stopped.

"No..." she whispered. He took a step towards her.

"Lil..."

"No!" she shouted frantically. Scotty brought her close to him, sliding a hand up her neck to cup her face, wiping away her tears with his thumb.

"Lilly, listen to me," he murmured, "He can't hurt you. He can't hurt you."

"But he can hurt them, Scotty! Oh God...he's killing them. He'll kill them, and he won't stop, and he's hurting them...so much pain..."

Giving her a gentle shake, the male detective felt bile rise up in his throat, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I'm here, Lil. He can't get to you here," he said quietly. Her hysterical words of fear and pain and anger began to slow, and she loosened her hold on his wrist. Tears spilled over his hand, falling into the space between them. After what seemed like forever, Lilly spoke, her voice hoarse and raw.

"I don't think this is ever going to end."

"I won't let that happen, Lilly."

She raised her dead blue eyes to his.

"But he's never going to stop, Scotty."

Taking her hand in his, Scotty led her into Homicide department, feeling her trembling frame shiver again. She froze, looking through the window to the whiteboard, and watched Jeffries stick up two more photos.

"Two?" she questioned faintly. Stillman cleared his throat.

"You shouldn't be here."

Lilly turned to look at him, pain shooting through her head from the headache that had suddenly reappeared.

"What aren't you telling me?" she demanded. Vera shook his head.

"Go home, Lil."

Scotty squeezed her hand.

"Come on, Lil," he whispered in her ear, "let me take you home."

"We just got here," she replied stubbornly, "and I want to know what they're hiding from me."

Jeffries stepped into the bullpen, exchanging glances with his male colleagues. Vera took a step forward, his face pale and serious.

"He's escalatin', Lil," he said quietly, knowing that would be all she needed to hear to work out what they were keeping from her. The little colour slid from her cheeks.

"He...he...raped them?" she said, her voice faltering. Stillman nodded slowly.

"Raped, beaten and..."

Scotty coughed, shaking his head, and the lieutenant swallowed whatever it was he had been about to say. They should have known that even in her condition, nothing would escape their blonde colleague.

"What else?"

Her partner moved closer, his eyes darkening.

"Lil..." he said, his voice barely audible. She felt tears spring to her eyes.

"I have to know, Scotty."

He swallowed the lump in his throat, nodding.

"He pours alcohol down their throats," he said in a low voice, "Makes 'em drink it until they throw up."

They watched the different emotions play out across her face. She was silent, staring at the floor.

"That's not it," she whispered after a moment. With a resigned sigh, Stillman slid his hand into his pocket, withdrawing a crumpled evidence bag. He handed it to her, and watched as she extended a shaking hand to take it.

Looking over her shoulder, Scotty heard her breath hitch, and subconsciously pulled her towards him. Together, they stared down at the plastic encased paper.

'Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life'

I stop when you stop, Lilly.

Lilly swayed on the spot. For a moment, Scotty thought that she was about to pass out, but she just stood there, taking in what he'd told her. Stillman took a step forward, and at Scotty's scared glance, shrugged uncertainly.

"Lil?"

Vomit rose up in the back of her throat, and the blonde detective tore her hand away, heading for the nearest trash can. They winced as she collapsed against the wall, the contents of her stomach landing in the bin.

"All my fault," she gasped. Soft sobs racked her slim frame, and Scotty took a tentative step towards her.

"Lil..."

"This is all my fault! They're all dead because of me!"

"Lilly, listen to me..." Scotty began, reaching out to touch her arm.

"Don't," she whispered brokenly. He ignored her, rubbing circles on her back until she straightened.

"You ain't alone," he replied gently. She turned to him, looking up at him in despair as tears crawled down her cheeks. Lilly fell into his waiting arms, clinging to his shirt and letting her tears soak his chest. Scotty hugged her against him, moving to the nearest chair.

"It's OK," he soothed, pressing his face to her soft hair, "it's OK."

The note fluttered to the floor and the three older men stared at it, jaws tightening, eyes darkening, fists clenching.

'Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life'

I stop when you stop, Lilly.

So I know you all hate me right now. Take a ticket and join the line. I'm pretty certain this is the penultimate chapter, so things will be resolved fairly quickly, I think. Anyway, I hope you could leave me a review to let me know how you think I could improve this chapter!