As promised here is another chapter for this week. This was one of my favorite chapters to write so I hope you guys enjoy it! Love you all!

Chapter 28

Dyson found himself sitting next to Kenzi's bed. Neither he nor Bo had left her side in hours. Lauren was constantly moving around, reading machines, looking at x-rays, trying her damnest to figure something, anything, out. Bo had taken over the couch, stretching out and sleeping on and off, while Dyson had taken a recliner. Kenzi had been asleep since they'd arrived, she had hardly moved. Dyson flipped through the book in his hands, it was not interesting in the least bit. Bo had gone upstairs a few minutes ago to get some food and he was trying to stay awake until she returned. A sharp intake of breath brought his head up quickly. Kenzi was moving a little bit, but then her head came up and she coughed loudly. Dyson was on his feet and at her side, dropping the book to the ground, he put his hand on her shoulder.

"Kenzi." She opened her eyes and found his. A small, weak smile appeared on her lips.

"Dyson." she said.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Like shit." she chuckled and shifted uncomfortably.

"Here, let me fix your pillow."

"No, I just want to sit up." she hit the button next to her head and the bed lifted slowly. Dyson watched her intently, his eyes searching her for any sign of pain. He didn't want her in pain.

"Stop frowning and sit down." Kenzi smiled and patted the bed.

"I'm not frowning."

"You're always frowning." She said. Dyson stared at her for a minute. She was weak, very weak, all of her movements were slow and strained. Her eyes were tired and she was even smaller than before, her body seemed to be collapsing in on itself.

"Why are you staring at me?" she asked.

"Because I'm worried about you."

"Why? I'm clearly as healthy as a horse." Kenzi lifted her arm and flexed her muscles. She laughed and curled her legs underneath her body.

"Yeah I see that." Dyson nodded. As much as he wanted to smile and joke with her, he just couldn't. She was dying right in front of him and there was nothing he could do about it. That was killing him.

"Something's bothering you." Kenzi said.

"Just worried is all." He shrugged.

"I'm the sick one, you don't get to be all broody, it's time for all the attention to be on me." she laughed and then quickly coughed right behind it. The cough was hard it wracked her body. Dyson reached out and held her shoulders firmly to keep her from falling forward. His anger grew as she coughed and when she finally stopped her bright eyes met his again.

"Please stop joking, nothing about this is funny."

"Oh jeez Dyson, lighten up." she pulled out of his hands and his anger flew to a new height.

"Stop it, stop telling me to lighten up, stop joking, and taking this whole situation as a little bump in the road. This is serious Kenzi, this is not a damn joke anymore." He didn't mean to blow up on her, but he needed her to be real and serious for just a few minutes.

"Ok, fine, let's be serious. I'm dying, I'm probably not going to be here next week, hopefully I'll die in my sleep, peacefully, but I doubt that happens. Most likely it'll be painful and horrible to watch. But you know what is really real? My friends will have to stay here and pick up the pieces. And it sucks, it really sucks, but my part is easy, all I have to do is die. You all are going to have to deal with the heavy shit. And I'm not going to be here to joke and make everyone smile when all they really want to do is cry, that's why I'm making all my jokes now, so hopefully when I am gone, you all will remember the best times, not the worst." She had tears in her eyes and Dyson felt like shit. No one had time to be angry. He didn't want to be angry with her right now, he just wanted to be with her. He sighed and rubbed his hand across his face.

"I spilled my guts to you, your turn Dyson." Kenzi said. Dyson looked down at the bed where his hand was resting and he finally spoke.

"I'm strong."

"And humble." Kenzi snorted. Dyson smiled and shook his head.

"Shut up." he laughed.

"Continue." She waved her hand.

"I'm um, I'm strong and powerful, I'm used to being in control. But I can't control this, I can't find a way to stop what is happening to you. It makes me feel…powerless, vulnerable, weak." He shrugged.

"I know how that feels." Kenzi said softly.

"Is that how you feel right now?" he asked. Kenzi chuckled and her fingers brushed his knuckles lightly.

"Somewhat, yeah. But not about this, not about being sick."

"Then what?"

"I feel that way about you." she said. Dyson looked up quickly and his eyebrows furrowed.

"In almost every relationship I've been in, I'm the one in control, but you," she sighed and looked him straight in the eye, "Dyson you make me feel powerless, vulnerable, and weak. But in the best ways. I'm powerless against that look you give me when you really want to kiss me. The way you make me open up and talk about how I feel makes me vulnerable, but I know you'd never take advantage of that. And I feel so weak when you kiss me that I almost fall down." she chuckled and Dyson could see the vulnerability in her eyes. She was waiting for him to say something back so he did. But first he reached forward and cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb gently across her skin.

"God, you've just made me unbelievably happy. Kenzi I've never felt this way about anyone before. I feel so many things for you I don't even know where to start, but what you do need to know, what you have to know is this; I loved Bo, I did, but our relationship ended a long time ago. The feelings I had for Bo are no longer there. What I feel for you is so strong sometimes I think it is going to overwhelm me, but it doesn't, it just washes over me and makes me feel a warmth I've never in my entire life felt. I love you Kenzi." He laughed at the words as they came out of his mouth, he never thought he'd say that again, but here they were.

"What?" Kenzi asked, her face showed shock, but also delight.

"I love you." he said it again, not only for her, but for him as well, he wanted to hear it again. Kenzi moved quickly, pressing her mouth over his. Dyson smiled against her lips and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her harder, but kept it slow, he wanted to enjoy her, and this moment he had with her. She pulled back, but not far, their faces were inches apart.

"I love you too." She said softly. Dyson paused, he hadn't considered her saying it back.

"Kenzi, don't feel like you have to say that." he quickly said. Kenzi laughed and put both her hands along the sides of his neck.

"Trust me, I never feel like I have to do anything. I love you Dyson, and I mean that." she pulled him in this time and kissed him slowly, he felt her hands gently playing with his hair, he smiled and pressed closer, he never wanted this moment to end.