Dave has thrown the gauntlet down for Em to either put up or shut up. What will Em decide? Will Dave be strong enough to accept it? And yes, I found a way to work the song in but not like you would expect.

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

"Would it be too much for me to say 'yes, I would'?" Dave wondered. There was a part of him that wanted to tread carefully, but then again, he was after all, David Rossi, and treading carefully wasn't in his playbook.

Em tried to think of a witty comeback or throw herself in his arms. But not now. Not when too much had passed between them. "I don't think so." She shook her head sadly.

"Why?" he asked.

"Where to start…?"

Dave shrugged indifferently. "Why do you have to start? One good reason can be just as good as a dozen crappy ones. So let me hear it."

Em rubbed a hand over her weary eyes. She was so tired and the night hadn't turned out like she had hoped. She still wasn't sober enough to drive, but staying was breaking her down. Jumping up from the couch, she paced the floor.

"I know that pace," he observed, "it means you're trying to come up with a smart answer that will make me back off."

"Quit profiling me, Dave. Please." Em rubbed her hands over her arms to ward off the chill of the room.

"Then be honest with me."

"I have…all night."

"Except for the one thing I need to know. Is there an us anymore?" He watched Em pace like a caged animal looking for escape. Maybe he had gone over board keeping her when she wanted to leave. Maybe he should have let her go instead of filling her up with liquor and making her talk.

As the seconds turned into minutes, he realized that she wasn't pacing to free herself from him, but from the truth she was trying to hide. God, he wished the fire hadn't died out so he could read her face. He was tempted to turn on a lamp, but if he wanted to live to see the holidays, he would stay put.

"No matter what I say, it can't take back what has happened." Her voice was so hollow. So full of regret. "No matter what I say, it won't bring back all the hurt I caused you by failing to trust you."

"No it won't," he agreed. "But I don't want to go back."

"People say that all the time," her voice quavered, "but what does it mean? Humans live in the past. We have our regrets, our loves, our losses…and we spend our lives wishing for that second chance. We dream about what we would do if that second or third chance fell into our laps." She stopped pacing. She wanted to stop speaking but the damn had broken.

"I prayed for that second chance to go back and make it up to all of you. Especially you, Dave. I hurt you so badly. I should have known better because of what you had gone thru with most of your relationships. I made you a promise after Matthew died that I would open up and learn to trust. I lied."

A long pause weighed heavily between the pair.

"You put your faith in me, Dave, and I betrayed you. So, to answer your question: I don't know." Her voice was choked by the tears that clogged her throat. "Thank you for the party, and understanding my reasons for being a coward. I remember what we had, - every day it haunts me - but honestly…I don't think you could love me anymore." She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I…I have to go."

Blindly she headed out of the dark room. Once she got out to the car, she could call JJ to come and get her. But she had to get out of the house. Fast.

Reaching for her purse, she tried to locate her keys, but came up short. She would worry about it when she got outside and could gather herself. Making her way to the foyer, she reached out for her coat and slipped it on. Hand on the knob, she paused. Was that music?

Em turned around, her ears tuned in to the song. She knew that song but she couldn't put her finger on it. Where had she heard that song before? Inching her way toward the study, she held her breath outside the doorway.

"What do I gotta do to make you love me?" Dave sang. "What do I gotta do to be heard? What do I do when lightning strikes me?" His hands softly floated over the piano keys. "Sorry seems to be the hardest word."

He remembered! Em thought as tears broke free finally to course down her cheeks. Her mind flashed back to when she was fifteen and alone in her private dorm room. It had been a Saturday night and everyone on the floor was gathered down the hall eating pizza and watching the newest Tom Cruise movie. She had no friends and had just committed the biggest sin of her life. Never had she wanted her mother more than that moment. But the Ambassador was far away somewhere on one of her many trips.

The laughter and sounds of friendship was too much for her guilty conscience to handle, so she turned on the radio. She needed a taste of home. Maybe it hadn't been the best song to hear at that moment, but it said everything her heart was shouting. As the words filled the empty space, she wept her heartbreak. It took over twenty years, but she had finally confided her secret to Dave one night.

And now he was singing it to her. Dave didn't have the best voice, but it was haunting enough to pierce her heart. Turning around, Em walked back to the study and stood in the doorway. She listened as each and every note propelled her feet forward to the piano. Finally the song came to an end. A heavy, sad silence filled the air. Reaching out, she laid a hand on Dave's shoulder.

"Don't leave me again," Dave said. He stood up and faced her. "You ran once because you didn't trust me. Trust me enough to stay and work this out."

"Dave…" Em tried to say more, but her voice couldn't get the words out.

Cupping her face in his hands, he looked deep into Em's eyes. "Trust me."

"Yes." Simple but it said everything. Dave barely heard the word before he crushed her lips with his. Hungrily he drank as though his life depended on her saving him. And in a way it did. He had been so lost and lonely those seven months she was presumed dead. Hell, he had been lost longer than that since she had begun to pull away after L.A. But there was no more running. Em was alive and finally back in his arms.

Em didn't even try to resist as Dave kissed her senseless. She had dreamt of his lips on hers too many nights to count. And her body had longed desperately for his touch on the nights when she was curled up in some hotel hiding from people who wanted her dead. Now she was back in Dave's arms and she was safe.

There was nothing between them anymore. The past was finally buried and they were back where they belonged. Frantically their hands fumbled as they tried to undo buttons to get closer.

Pulling her mouth from his, Em drew in much needed air. "Bedroom," she gasped. Dave didn't wait for her to change her mind as he picked her up in his strong arms and carried her up the stairs to his bed. No, he corrected as he laid her on the mattress, it was their bed.

Fighting down the urge to rip her clothes off and take her, Dave slowly undressed Em. His lips kissed the creamy white flesh that was exposed with each button release. It was torture but he wanted to take his time and make it last as long as he could. Em was real and her moans were like music to his ears, but nights were for dreams and he could wake up tomorrow and find that she had been a figment of his imagination.

Em couldn't think as Dave's hands and mouth made love to her. Arching her back, she tried to help as he unbuttoned and removed her slacks. She wanted him. No, she corrected, she needed him. She needed to feel his touch and know that he was real and he would protect her. She couldn't leave as long as he held her.

That's all that mattered at the moment.