Esposito was cleaning the table now and Lanie noticed the way he was practically throwing the dishes into the sink. She wondered how he kept from breaking them and what had him so stressed out to begin with. Supper had been normal if not a little quiet and she didn't feel any ackwardness. She offered to help clean up the dishes and he told he not to bother before standing and beginning to throw them into the sink.

"Are you alright?" She asked and he froze almost as if he just realized she was there.

"Yeah, I'm fine I'm just a little tired that's all" He braced his arms against the sink.

He hurt. The truth was he hurt all over and he needed to take the pills the doctor gave him. He didn't want too and he definitely didn't want Lanie to know but he needed one now.

"I'm sorry I'm such a bother. Really I am" She sounded so depressed and he turned to look at her with a sigh he went to her.

He kneeled in front of the wheel chair.

"Hey, Lanie look at me" When she did at last look up she was crying.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" He shook his head and picked up one of her tiny hands giving it a kiss.

"No, I'm sorry I'm just tired and a little achy that's all. Once I finish the dishes and get a shower we can watch a movie and I think I have some ice cream" She gave him a weak smile and he felt horrible.

He couldn't tell her any of the things he wanted. He couldn't tell her what happened that day at the warehouse. About the pills he had to take, Or the doctors appointments he had to sneak off to. He couldn't tell her how much he loved her, Loved coming home to her and how badly he wanted to be with her. He kept it all hidden away and now it was threatening to rip him apart. He loved her, he hated himself every time he hurt her and here she was crying her eyes out in his living room because he was acting like a jerk. He was hurting the only woman he ever loved.

He stood and went back to the dishes and she stayed where she was, He decided tomorrow he would do something nice for her.

When he came out of the shower she had somehow gotten herself onto the couch and was stretched out under a blanket his mother had knitted him. He got a sick feeling in his stomach he had pushed her away and they weren't even dating.

"Lanie..." He couldn't bring himself to call her Lane again. He only did that when his emotions took over his mouth.

"I think maybe you're tired because I'm taking up your bed, I'll sleep here tonight" She said it with a tone that he knew he wouldn't change her mind.

"Lanie...Are you sure? You don't haft to." She nodded and burrowed deeper under the blankets.

"If you're sure. You know if you change your mind or if you need anything...I'm here" She didn't say anything and he sighed turning off the light and heading for bed.

He lay in his bed tossing every way until the blankets were twisted around him and the pillows were everywhere. He tried to convince himself it was because he was worried about her being alone in the living room but the truth was he couldn't sleep with out her close. The bed was cold and empty and he felt completely alone. Part of him wanted to go down to the shooting range and vent his anger another part the part of him that was slowly winning had better ideas. He could go out into that living room grab her drag her into his bed and take out his anger in a more productive way.

He was still awake at four o'clock when he heard her scream from the living room and he was up and out of bed before she even woke completely up.

"Lanie" He reached the couch and she was sitting up.

"Lanie, Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine I just had another nightmare. I'm so sorry I know how tired you are"

He shook his head and when he saw the tears in her eyes he felt his self pity dissolve. She needed him.

"Come on" He picked her up in his arms as if she weighed absolutely nothing ignoring the pain that shot through him. He turned and went straight to his room. He realized of course the intimacy of what he was doing but he didn't care. She didn't fight him just gripped his shoulders which caused more pain but he kept it hidden. He reached his room and he went to the bed going down on one knee and placing her there.

He pulled the blankets up and crawled in next to her and without a seconds hesitation she curled against him like a cat. He didn't care he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry" She said softly.

"Oh, Lane...It's alright. Just get some sleep" She snuggled in closer and in less then ten minutes they were both deeply sleeping.

When Lanie woke up like always she was alone but her wheelchair was beside the bed for her and there was a note on the pillow beside her. She picked it up and read it.

Lanie,

I had some things to do today I won't be long. Keep the door locked.

Javier.

She smiled and then burrowed deeper into the thick blankets, She could get up but she decided not to. The blankets were warm and the sheets smelled like him and it brought a comfort to her that nothing else did.

She was still sleeping at eleven when he came home she didn't hear him come into the bedroom but when she felt him lay down beside her she opened her eyes, Only to see the roses. She sat up and he did too smiling at her.

"What are these for?" She asked as he placed the red roses on her lap.

"For being you" She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

"Here I'll put them into some water for you" He took them and rolled out of the bed heading for the kitchen.

She moved to pull her wheel chair closer and Esposito was talking loud enough she could hear him.

"Don't forget you have a doctors appointment today at three. Maybe you can get out of that wheel chair"

"That would be really nice. I feel better" She wheeled herself into the kitchen where he was putting her roses in a vase.

"Really, I'm not as tired and my hands barely hurt at all" She flexed her fingers as she spoke and he smiled at her. A genuine smile the kind she hadn't seen in awhile.

At the doctors office Lanie was relieved to learn that the wheelchair was no longer necessary.

"We will give you crutches but I'm afraid the brace will still be needed for awhile at least" The doctor told her and she nodded.

"Does that mean I can go home?"

"I'm afraid not quite yet Miss Parish. Being a doctor yourself I'm sure you understand. Your knee suffered a severe trauma which is why crutches are necessary to begin with. If you fall and further injure it you could have permanent damage. We need you to remain at your friends house for only a few more days"

She didn't know if she wanted to remain at Espositos or not. The doctor turned to look at her file before continuing.

"As for your hands I see no need to keep them wrapped since they are healing quite nicely and I don't think your head will need bandaged anymore either" He smiled at her.

"Other then the crutches and of course I still need you take things a little easy you may return to your normal activities. Just stay with your friend a few more days and if things keep going the way they are you should be able to return home in a week"

"Will I be able to move around more?"

"Oh my yes. Anywhere you want to go feel free just don't bend that leg. You of course can go anywhere you want to...You may also return to your normal physical activities if you like"

"Physical activities?"

"Sex, Miss Parish"

She blushed and looked away her doctor laughed and went back to scribbling in her file before handing her a paper to sign. Esposito stood when she came into the waiting room and moved to help her.

"Lanie, Do you need help?"

"No, I think I got it" She smiled as the doctor followed her out he smiled at Esposito and spoke with a wink.

"Well, You must be the boyfriend. I just gave Miss Parish here a clean bill so you should be one happy man tonight"

Both she and Esposito blushed and she continued to move while he stuttered out a thank you before darting ahead to hold the door for her. Neither one had the thought to correct the obviously confused doctor.