It's time for Kim to talk to someone. Someone from Hank's past. I think that's a good way to end the story of Kim and Hank.

Hank and Kim, the two of them are happy - that's all we want.

Chapter 23

Thoughtfully, Kim chewed on her lower lip. She stood leaning against the doorframe to his bedroom, watching Hank as he slept.

The previous night Hank had been plagued by nightmares. Again and again he had stirred awake in a cold sweat. And at some point, the sun was just coming up, he had finally fallen into a dreamless sleep. The incident yesterday, Kim's injury, even if it was only a superficial cut, all that, it had haunted his dreams.

And when they had made love that night, Kim had clearly felt the desperation in his every touch on her skin. Like he was trying to memorize every inch of her body, like he was afraid it would be the last time they made love. As if it would be the last time he would be able to touch her and the morning would hold an even worse disaster in store for them. Kim had found it hard to reassure him, hard to convince him otherwise. Over and over again she had whispered some reassuring words in his ear. Convincing him with a touch that all was well, that she was fine and that all this was real and not a dream.

Somehow it was hard for Kim to leave him alone now, but this visit, she had been putting it off for quite a while. She finally had to do it. For both of them.

"I'll be back soon," she whispered softly into the silence of the room. Knowing full well that Hank couldn't hear her in his sleep.

Taking Hank's car, she drove to her destination. But when she arrived there, she still wasn't sure if it had been a good idea to come here today and talk to her. In the past she had visited the grave of Alvin Olinsky again and again. Had always told him how Hank was doing, that she tried to be there for him and how he sometimes brought her to the brink of despair.

But Kim had never been here before. At Camille Voight's grave.

"Hello Misses Voight," Kim hesitated, "I'm, well my name is Kim. Kim Burgess. I'm part of your husband's unit. And I'm also someone important to your husband. So-", Kim broke off. What were the right words here? How could she describe what was developing between Hank and her? How could she explain it to anyone else when Hank and herself hadn't even really talked about it-what this was between them. What this could become. Hank had said once that he wanted to see what was developing between them and that he wanted an Us, but really, no, they had never talked about it. Only so far there had been no time for it. For such a conversation.

Kim stared at the grave, where Hank had surely spent many hours. And if she was to believe the bouquet of flowers in a small vase in front of the grave, he had just been here. Probably yesterday. Camille was, after all, an important part of his life, had been the love of his life - and that was why she was here now. Because there was something she wanted to tell her. One thing she'd been wanting to tell her for a while.

"Sometimes, there's this darkness. For years, I've observed his life being filled with a darkness, and he's always been on the edge of that darkness. Always on the verge of sinking completely into that darkness. Al was always watching over him. Keeping that darkness from swallowing him up. And me, you know, after Al died, I tried to be there for Hank. . At first like Al, in a way, and then like, well, somehow there was more. And," Kim took a deep breath before continuing, "Hank and I, you know your husband. He didn't make it easy for me. Time and time again he tried to push me away. But I didn't let him push me away. Although there were moments when others would have given up. But not me. I knew that I had to be there for him. You know, and in the process, I realized how important Hank is to me. And I to him."

Kim stared at the engraved words - Camille Voight - beloved wife and mother. Forever in our hearts and lives - as our guardian angel.

Yes, that was true. Camille Voight had been a guardian angel - to Hank. And now Kim would look out for Hank, too.

"You don't have to worry about Hank. Look, I'm here for him. I'll take care of him. For both of us. And I promise you, I'll always be there for him. I'll look out for him because," Hank was supposed to be the one to hear her next words first, but somehow Kim found it easier to say them here first, "I love him. I love Hank."

Well, now that she had said it, she couldn't take the words back. Kim didn't want to take them back either, she wanted to say them again. Only this time, to Hank. Over and over again. She wanted him to know that she loved him. That she would be there for him - as long as he let her. And as long as they needed each other. Ideally forever.

For a moment, Kim remained standing in front of the grave before it was time to leave. To go home. To Hank's.