Disclaimer: This story is mine, but these characters do not belong to me. I make no money from this, but I did have a ton of fun writing it.

A/N: At the end of the episode, I See England, I See France, I See Maddie's Netherworld, Maddie was knocked unconscious and had a horrible nightmare in which David was the Grim Reaper. But in actuality, he was anything but...

Right before his very eyes, David watched as Winston Guy pistol-whipped Maddie with such force that it knocked her off her feet. The sight of which scared the shit out of him, and so David punched the man with all his might. But then, Winston fought back with one last hit... nearly sending David flying headfirst into the open freezer and giving himself enough time to take off running.

In that moment, though, David couldn't care less that Winston Guy got away because the one thing he cared about more than anything else in the whole world lay unconscious on the hard concrete floor.

'Maddie?! Maddie?!'

No answer. No response. Nothing.

'Maddie, can you hear me? Honey, wake up! Maddie?!' He patted her cheek and squeezed her hand. Still nothing.

David immediately recognized the need for an ambulance, and so he tore out of the garage and down the hallway to the small spare bedroom where he knew he would find a phone. He called 911, and before hanging up, the dispatcher assured him that help was on the way. As he ran out of the room, he grabbed a folded-up blanket off the end of the bed.

Once back in the garage, David knelt down on the floor next to her. He wanted to hold her. More than anything, he wanted to take her in his arms and hold her tight. But not knowing the extent of her injury, he was careful not to move her. The dress she was wearing was still damp and the floor was cold and rough, and so he did the best he could to tuck the blanket around her body to keep her warm. It was then that he finally sat down, holding her hand in his lap.

With nothing left to do but wait, David suddenly became very aware of his own heart beating. He could feel it pounding in his chest; he could hear the rushing sound in his ears. And then... déjà vu... he was back on that restaurant floor... holding her, comforting her and praying to God that he would let nothing bad happen to Maddie and her baby.

'Please God, let her be okay... please, God...' At first, he spoke the words softly, but then, like a mantra, they began to play on repeat… over and over and over in his mind.

Sitting there, he found himself looking out the open garage door... when his eyes settled upon that small patch of grass near the side of the driveway. It was not too long ago when he'd thought that would be the perfect spot to put a basketball hoop. But that was back when he thought they might one day be a family. He shook his head and sighed. He'd had so many dreams, and now, he had so many regrets, only one of which was that he'd never told her how much he wanted that damn basketball hoop to be right there... right there on the side of the driveway.

'Hey Maddie...' He suddenly spoke. If only she could hear him. And maybe she could hear him, but in some way, not knowing made it easier. 'I never told you this back when you were...' He stopped right there... remembering that the whole reason she's been pushing him away lately is because she doesn't think she can give him a child. Saying something like that right now... it'd only be like pouring salt in the wound. So instead, he poured his heart out to the woman he loved. 'I'm right here, Maddie. I'm not goin' anywhere, and I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. If you only knew how much I need you... just please come back to me.'

David felt relieved when he finally saw the flashing red and blue lights of the ambulance as it backed up into the driveway. Two paramedics stepped out of the vehicle, and began tending to Maddie, while a young police officer who had parked on the street approached him. David felt an instant dislike for the rookie cop, with his cocky strut and puffed out chest. He'd come to interrogate him with a smug look on his face and a pen and paper in hand.

'Can I get your name, sir?'

'David... Addison...'

'You the husband… boyfriend?'

'Got a box you can check off there for "Undefined"?' David smirked and the cop looked confused. 'Didn't think so. That's okay. She and I are partners. Work partners. We were working here tonight on a case when we were attacked. She took a pretty bad hit to the forehead. She's been unconscious now for over ten minutes. I'm worried she may have a concussion.'

'And her name is?'

'Madolyn... Hayes...' David waited a moment for the officer to finish writing down her name. 'This is her house.'

'Okay, so let me get this straight. The two of you are working together... here in this house… in the middle of the night... and suddenly you're both attacked? But, she's on the floor and you're not.' The cop was making no secret of his skepticism and suspicion of David. 'Attacked by who? What happened here?'

'Here's the thing. We're private investigators. This guy... we didn't know he was a bad guy at first, but he turned out to be a bad guy... he followed us here and pulled a gun on us. There was a scuffle and she got hurt.'

'Does this "bad guy" have a name?'

'Guy.'

The cop looked at David like he was holding out on him. 'The bad guy. What's his name?'

'Guy. Winston Guy. At least, that's what he told us.'

'I wouldn't plan on going anywhere tonight, Mr. Addison. There'll be a police detective down at the hospital who'll want to speak to you.'

David got the impression that the cop still suspected that he did this to Maddie... that he was the one who hit her.

'Listen, I want to ride in the back of the ambulance with her.'

'No need… the paramedics got it covered. What do you think... your her guardian angel or somethin'?'

'Yeah, somethin' like that.' David couldn't get over what an arrogant prick the cop was being, but he knew to keep his cool. Getting Maddie safely to the hospital was much more important to him right now than setting this guy straight. 'And like it or not, I am riding along with her in that ambulance.'

David turned away from the officer and watched as the paramedics lifted Maddie up and onto the gurney. He followed them out of the garage and pulled the door down and locked it. He was going with her, and that was that. He knew he was no angel, but he said he wouldn't let anything happen to her, and he meant it.

Later that evening, after the x-rays and cat scans revealed there was no concussion, Maddie was ready to leave the hospital. David, having given his statement to the police, arranged for a cab to come pick them up and take them back to her place.

When she was finally home, Maddie went upstairs, eager to wash up and get out of her grimy clothes. David waited for her on the living room couch. When she came back down, she was all ready for bed in her light pink silk pajamas. Draped over her arm was an old sweatshirt of his that she'd found in her closet. 'Here, I found this for you.'

'Oh, that's terrific! I was beginning to think I smelled like one of the deceased in this filthy shirt.' He unbuttoned his dirty work shirt and tossed it on the coffee table. He stood up and pulled the clean sweatshirt on over his head. 'There... better?'

'Much.' She smiled at him, then she looked at the clock. It read 3:24 am. 'It's really late, David. You should get going... and sleep in tomorrow. You can come in to the office… you know… whenever…'

'I don't like that you're going to be alone tonight.' His tone turned serious.

'The doctor said I was fine.'

'I know that, but… you wouldn't feel better if I stayed with you? I know I'd feel better.' He sounded hopeful, but nervous, like he'd been debating with himself whether or not to ask her.

'No, David, and besides, we've talked about this. You know how I feel.' She seemed agitated.

'Yeah.' He knew. No more sleeping together, and we should see other people. He didn't like it or understand it or agree with it, but he knew. Still, not counting the side trip to the hospital, they'd had such a nice day together. It felt like old times, and he really didn't want to see it end on a sour note. 'Today sure was pretty eventful, wasn't it?' He asked, changing the subject and trying to lighten the mood.

'It definitely wasn't boring.'

'Did you have fun?'

She pondered the question. 'I did. Dead bodies and all, I did have fun... tons of fun.' She gave him a warm, knowing smile.

He remembered that night in the bar when he held her close. He could feel the heat rush through his body, just like it did when they'd danced, and he melted inside. This is what she did to him then... and now.

'You're sure you don't want me to stay? I can sleep right here on the couch.' He really hoped she'd change her mind.

She shook her head, no, and then took his hands in hers, keeping him at arm's length. 'Thank you for caring, David.' She looked lost for what more to say, and then she let her hands fall to her sides.

The moment felt awkward... for both of them.

'Well, I guess I should be going. Do you mind if I...'

'Take the car? I'll take a cab to work tomorrow.'

'You sure? If it's too inconvenient...'

'No, I insist. Take the car... please.'

He could tell she was getting impatient and wanted him to go, but for a moment he let his eyes linger on her lips. He wanted so badly to kiss her goodnight. But he had no choice... he had to let the moment pass.

'If that's what you want, I'll take the car. I'll see you tomorrow?' He blew her a kiss.

'I'll see you tomorrow… goodnight…'

A/N: A special thank you goes out to Boink at MoonlightingStrangers for helping me out with this one.

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