Hey, readers! New chapter here! Read, review, and enjoy!

The next few hours passed as they normally, with the two of them bantering as they so often did.

"That's still not fair!" Mal grumbled.

Natara grinned. "Yes, it is!"

"I couldn't solve that thing, and you pick it up and act like it's easier than burning toast!"

"Exactly how long did you have it sitting on your table?" Natara challenged, tossing the Rubix cube from one hand to the other. Mal scowled.

"I dunno... I don't even remember when I bought the thing."

"You do know it comes with directions, don't you?"

"Yeah. And you should know that I threw them out."

Natara rolled her eyes and reached for the phonebook. "What do you want for dinner?"

He thought for a moment. "I'm in a pizza mood."

"Sounds good. What do you want on it?" Natara found the number of a nearby pizza place and dialed the number.

"Triple meat and pepperoni."

Natara frowned. "I don't care for pepperoni. How about pineapples?"

Mal made a face. "Yuck. Like I said, triple meat and pepperoni."

"But I don't want it!" Natara protested. "Fine, we'll get two. And cheesy breadsticks."

"Chicken wings," he argued. "And a beer."

"I want iced tea," she insisted.

"Excuse me...?" the voice on the other line questioned. "Will that be all?"

"Yes," Natara said quickly, glaring at Mal. He smiled innocently and shrugged his shoulders.

Natara hung up the phone, and before long their food arrived. The delivery man seemed surprised to see that the order was for only two people, but he simply accepted the money and walked away.

"We're probably the only two partners who need to order this much just so we're both satisfied," Mal commented as he opened his box of pizza and grabbed a hot chicken wing.

"We're definitely the only two who bicker over a Rubix cube." Natara gestured to the cube, which had been neglected during their pizza disagreement.

"But I know we're the most awesome. Or at least I am."

"Or so you think," Natara teased.

"Nah. I just know it."

"Is that right? Because according to you, I'm the know it all."

"Oh, you are. Don't worry. You won't lose your special role."

"Thanks for the words of wisdom."

By the time dinner was over, Mal was beyond exhausted. He felt as if he could sleep for an entire week without so much as fluttering his eyelids open.

"I'm ready to hit the hatch," he yawned, resting against the back of the couch.

"Go on to bed. I'll be sleeping out here."

"You can have the bed if you want."

Natara stared at him incredulously. "Mal, you are not sleeping on the couch!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him up. "Now go to bed. Just call for me if you need anything."

"Wow, you're bossy. I can just see a whip in your hand."

"Don't give me any ideas." Natara watched as he retreated to his bedroom. She slipped into a tee shirt and sweatpants before turning the light off and lying down on the couch, grabbing the throw blanket and draping it over herself.

Mal slipped into bed, nearly asleep before he hit the pillow. His head felt as if it weighed one hundred pounds, and his eyelids felt every bit as heavy. Yet he didn't fall asleep right away. He made himself comfortable, closing his eyes.

His bedroom was much more peaceful. Compared to the sound of beeping hospital machinery, the murmur of passing cars on the highway was a relieving sound that lured him to sleep.

Down the hall, Natara shifted on the couch, unable to sleep. She had always had difficulty sleeping in a new place, and something bothered her. Mal had seemed so calm about the bitter reality of giving up his job that it scared her. In the year that they had been partners, she realized how important his job was to him. If it weren't for his job, they never would have met.

She had always tried to avoid getting too close, but she suddenly realized that she couldn't imagine life without him. She yawned and closed her eyes, and eventually she fell asleep.

COD-COD-COD

Morning came all too soon, but it was the first night Mal had slept through in the past week. He groaned and closed his eyes in an attempt to shield himself from the sunlight. But it was a futile attempt, and he pushed the covers off with a yawn before rolling out of bed and walking out of the bedroom.

Natara was already awake, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Hey there, lazy. I made coffee."

"Thanks. I need some caffeine." He yawned again and poured some coffee into a mug, taking a long sip of the steaming hot beverage. He sat down across from Natara at the table. "Are you always up early?"

Natara shrugged. "I guess I am. Better than sleeping until ten every day."

"Not in my opinion."

She laughed. "Who asked for your opinion?" She put her empty mug in the sink and combed her fingers through her messy ponytail.

"I guess today's the day I go into work and... you know..." He couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.

"I guess so. Do you want me in there with you or stay outside?"

Mal thought for a long moment. "I guess I can handle this one alone."

Natara nodded and reached across the table, resting her hand over his. "Okay. We'll probably leave soon."

"Alright." Mal stood up and left the kitchen. After a shower, he changed into a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. Natara knocked on the bathroom door.

"Mal, are you decent? I need to brush my teeth."

"Unfortunately, yes." Mal opened the door and Natara stepped in.

"How adorable."

"That's what I aim for." He stepped aside so Natara could brush her teeth, and as she looked in the mirror, she tried to stop glancing at Mal's exposed biceps. Fortunately Mal didn't seem to notice.

They soon climbed into Natara's car and made their way to the SFPD precinct. Mal hoped he looked more ready than he felt, because inside, he felt small and frightened. He wasn't ready. Not for leaving behind his job. Not for anything.

Awww... this chapter was mostly some relief from the depressingness, but I assure you, the sadness will return very soon.

*dodges rusty forks and burning chairs thrown by readers* Uh... OW! *yells a string of made up nonsense*

Reviews contribute to a foundation called, "Let's Make Jara Update More Than Once Every Nine Hundred Blue Moons." Working title... sorry. LOL.