Heartbeat by AndromedaMarine

Author's Note: The first line (in italics) is a quote from the movie The Dark Knight. No copyright infringement is intended.

The Dawn is Coming

"The night is always darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you: the dawn is coming." John knew those words by heart. He knew the metaphorical night of Elizabeth's recovery was far from over. But he had the dawn to look forward to. They both did.

Elizabeth was cooped up in the infirmary for a two and a half weeks before Jennifer cleared her to return to her room. It was late evening. She had planned to walk on her own, but what she didn't anticipate was the presence of massive bruises all over her body. Jennifer had warned her of the possibility. Becoming a bed potato with John by her side was quite easy and she became lax when it came to moving. And oh, the pain. When she sat up on the bed after Jennifer had signed her release she squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to block the agony of the not-so-unexpected bruises. Her injuries still throbbed dully; her ribs the worst. John gazed at her with concerned eyes, imploring her to tell him what was wrong, internally asking her to let him take her.

They had left the infirmary and had been walking – slowly – for four minutes. Elizabeth was engrossed in her concentration, her good arm adhered to John and each step becoming more difficult. Hidden injuries inflicted by Oberoth and the barely-healed ribs made it harder than ever. Tears were beginning to cloud her eyes but she didn't want to look weak to John. She finally gave in when her splinted leg protested in agony. She collapsed but John adeptly caught her.

"Liz, I'm carrying you." He didn't leave any room for argument and he didn't want to waste her time and go back to get a wheelchair. "Why do you have to be so stubborn sometimes?" He picked her up with extreme ease and gentleness and she buried her head into his chest, letting the tears come. "I'm sorry." He took care to not aggravate any of her wounds.

Elizabeth shook her head into his shirt. "It hurts," she whispered.

Evan and Radek had taken care of the hallways ahead of time and there was no one to shoot criticizing or intimidating stares. "I know, Lizzie." Elizabeth's quarters were closer to the infirmary than John's, and the colonel was flooded with a multitude of thoughts. He didn't have far to carry her. "Take your mind off the pain."

"How?" she breathed, her tears evident even in her voice.

John shrugged halfheartedly. "Think of how refreshed you'll feel in the morning. I don't know, really. I just wish I could do something to help with the pain." Perhaps he had meant the last sentence to be a mere coherent thought and not a spoken statement. But it was said and there was nothing he could do to prevent it from reaching his leader's ears.

Elizabeth felt a warm balloon swell in her gut as John said those words. The colonel stopped in front of Elizabeth's quarters and immediately the doors swished open. Elizabeth was tired and exhausted from the ache that plagued her being. The colonel gently laid her on the bed and pulled the covers around her. "Sleep well," he said, and reluctantly turned to leave.

"John," she whispered, his ears still attuned to her quiet voice.

He turned back quickly, still hesitant to leave her. "Yeah?"

"S – stay. I haven't been alone for a week and I'm afraid if I'm alone it'll...it'll be a dream. I'm still afraid this is all Oberoth's making." Tears streaked her cheeks. "John, I'm scared."

The colonel reached to cup Elizabeth's face but she shied away again, her mind still heavily haunted by the Replicators. Understanding that it was another flashback, John withdrew his hand and rested it on Elizabeth's upper arm. "If you need me I'll be right over there, in a chair. Don't hesitate to call for me." He squeezed her shoulder and let his hand linger until the last possible second. "I'm not going anywhere."

But before he left her side Elizabeth reached out and grasped his wrist. "No...I need you to hold me. I need to feel secure. I can't do that if you're in the chair. Please..." Now it was Elizabeth's eyes that were pleading with John's.

"Are you sure?"

Elizabeth nodded. John tugged off his boots and awkwardly – nervously – joined the woman he loved. He hesitated as he wrapped his arms around the shivering woman, but Elizabeth molded into his embrace as if she were made to fit him. He rested his chin on her shoulder and exhaled, relaxing with her in his arms. "Thank you," she whispered, closing her eyes and stemming the tears. Just the feel of a warm body against hers was enough to calm her nerves. But she still couldn't be sure it wasn't just one of Oberoth's tricks.

She fell asleep in time to the crash of the new planet's sea and in time to John's breaths. John lost track of the time and joined the woman in his embrace in slumber.

--

John woke late the next morning with Elizabeth still sleeping peacefully in his arms. The warmth of her body felt comforting to him. Instead of moving and waking her he watched her sleep, watched the calm on her face that masked the agony her body was healing. The true dawn was slowly getting closer, and John knew if he strained his eyes he could see the beginning light. He lay awake for an hour, simply being with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth opened her eyes and for a moment forgot where she was. Then she felt John's arm around her waist and his chin on her shoulder. She wiggled and the pain came flooding back. She groaned and immediately John was attentive to the situation.

"Liz, are you all right?"

"I didn't know you were awake," she whispered, avoiding the question.

He started to pull away from her body.

"Don't go," she said, reaching with her good arm for him. She must have aggravated her ribs because she grimaced and cried out in pain. Instantly John's face was hovering above hers, one hand on her cheek, his other entwined in hers, and his eyes searching the green ones below him. "It feels like another one of Oberoth's tricks," Elizabeth said, tears forming in her eyes yet again.

Deciding whether or not to prove it was real he bit his lip. He had his answer when Elizabeth gazed trustingly into his eyes. "Oberoth can't fake this." His head descended and he lightly pressed his lips to hers, his whole body tingling at the contact. Elizabeth didn't need any more motivation and she intensely kissed him back, now knowing that it was all real. She was home.

"The night is always darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you: the dawn is coming." The dawn was only days away.