A/N: I know I've been uploading faster this time, but my muse is speaking to me and telling me to get moving. I also want to be able to finish this story so that I can rewrite the beginning, since I've reread it and feel like changes can be made. Any who, things are picking up from now on from the more dark side! As always, reviews and thoughts and ideas are always welcome! :)

It took another two days before Emily was stable and slowly beginning to wake up on her own. She had been lucky that the damage would not affect her in the long term. She would be able to make a full recovery without any problems. She had to be on bedrest for a month or so though, and it would be difficult to move around for some time. The whole team had come when they had heard that she was waking up. They were all excited to get to see her again.

Scully though, was not sure what to feel, really. She had stayed by Emily's side for so long, waiting and waiting. She had not even considered what would happen once she woke up. Would she be angry? She couldn't imagine that. Would she think it was weird that Scully had stayed there like that through everything? Would she even want something from her now that the case was closed and all the women had been arrested as accessories to murder? What was it even that she wanted from Emily? A relationship? With both of their schedules that seemed difficult. What would they even do together? Did she want a date? A chance to kiss her once more, was that it? Maybe even do more? No, all she wanted was a chance to know that she was all right, that she was safe. She just wanted a chance to see that heartwarming smile once more, that was all. Just knowing that she was waking up was enough for her. She could leave now, she told herself. Her thoughts would go away from Emily again knowing that she was safe, she was sure of it. She was tired and overthinking everything. They had been to agents undercover, enjoying a bit of fun, that was all. Right? She was an adult, it wasn't something that bothered her. Then why did it make her heart churn like that with disappointment? No, she was just tired. She hadn't sleep properly on a bed for a whole week, that was it. She had never before cared what anyone else thought of her, so why should it matter now what Emily would think when she woke up?

So instead of staying when Emily showed signs of waking up, she chose to go back to her hotel room, turn of her phone and go to sleep. Sleep. That was all she needed now, a chance to rest. After that, she could return home once more.

She was awoken however, 4 hours later, by a knock to her door. When she opened up, she was greeted by Hotch standing alone outside her hotel room.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked in a tired voice. "I thought all the paperwork was done and the case closed?" she remembered sitting in the hospital room at nights, making her reports.

"I came to pick you up." Hotch said in a soft tone.

"Sir?" she asked confused.

"There is someone who wants to see you and get the chance to say thank you." He had a hint of a smile on his lips, a rare thing.

"She's awake? How is she recovering?" Scully felt her heart race a tiny bit. She knew she said to herself that she would leave and not look back, but now, with Hotch standing right in front of her, saying that Emily wanted to see her, it felt absolutely impossible to not at least hear how she was.

"She okay, not fully back to all her senses. She have been asking for you." The comment made Scully stand still for a second, wondering how she should move forward now or what to reply.

"Let me just grab my jacket and I'm ready to go." She said without any more hesitation.

It felt strange, reentering the hospital. She had grown such used to this place, the pace, the decorations, walls. She knew the exact route to get Emily's room, yet now it felt strange and unknown; as if she dreaded every step she took, dreading the unknown, dreading what would come. She had no idea what to say, what to do, how she would react seeing Emily. Her heart was racing, making her tired eyes beat open, as she walk with a straight back and her usual indifferent mask safely planted on her face.

Walking past the venting machine, she saw Reid and Rossi talking together. Rossi nodded his hello in her direction when she passed, and she had an odd flashback to when she was walking with Margie having Emily's detonator in her hand and the knife to her back. Outside Emily's room, JJ was sitting in one of the chairs, her hands folded in her lap, deep in thought. She smiled at Scully when she noticed her, making her know that everything was all right, that she did not have to worry about anything.

"I'll let you go in alone." Hotch said there, wanting to respect their privacy. Even if he didn't let on, he was still a professional profiler, who wasn't all that blind to Scully's affection towards his team member, no matter how well Scully thought she had hidden it. And haven spend time with the woman, he wasn't concerned for Emily. Not that her private life and choices were any of his business anyway.

"Thank you." Scully said as he tried to give her a small reassuring smile.

Still, she felt her palm sweating as she grabbed the door handle in front of her and turned it, slowly pushing the door open.

On the other side of the door, Garcia and Morgan were standing over the bed. She was careful as she stepped forward, not wanting to disturb. She could hear Morgan laughing as Garcia was talking. Then she saw Emily, lying down on the bed, her eyes open, a small smile grazing her lips. It was clear that she was tired and spent. It only made sense. Then Garcia saw Scully standing there. She smiled brightly and calmly at her, as she went over to Morgan to touch his arm.

"Let's go and give these two lovelies some privacy big guy." She said sweetly.

"Take care Princess. We'll be back later to check up on you." Morgan said as he and Garcia closed the door behind them, leaving Emily and Scully alone once more.

Scully was silent as she sat down on her chair next to Emily's bed. She same chair she had been sitting in for so many days. When she looked to Emily, she was smiling happily at her, her tired eyes seeming to light up. Dana looked to the edge of the bed, slightly uncomfortable, not really knowing what to say or feel. She could feel her emotions stirring inside of her, the effect of all these days, all that worry, finally showing itself. Suddenly not being able to find any words, she instead put her own hand to Emily's, and weakly leaned in over the bed, holding Emily's knuckles gingerly against her lips. Tears were pricking in her eyes and her composure was falling apart as her brows furrowed.

"I was so scared for a moment." She finally mustered, her voice raw and close to a whisper. "I kept telling myself that this was all my fault. God, I'm so sorry Emily. I'm so sorry." She repeated in a whisper, more to herself really than anyone else. She sat still like that in the silent, just carefully kissing and caressing Emily's hand, until the hand began moving on its own account, removing itself from Dana's touch to be able to land on her cheek instead, wiping away the spilling tears and turning the chin so Dana could look into Emily's eyes.

"It's not your fault, Dana." Her voice was hoarse, her eyes were tired, but her smile was genuine. "I—…" Emily wanted to say more, to comfort, but her voice was failing her, her mind still dizzy and clouded. She closed her eyes and moved her face away, trying to will herself to pull herself together. But Dana's hand on her cheek stopped her and made her turn back to her.

"Sh." Dana said lovingly. "Don't try to speak. You've just woken up from a coma, your body needs time to heal and relax. We can talk later. You need to sleep now." Her eyebrows were still furrowed and tears still spilled slowly, but it didn't matter. Emily mattered.

"Will you stay with me?" Emily asked, sounding more fragile than Dana had heard before.

"Of course." Dana tried to wipe her eyes and produce a small smile to make Emily feel more calm; to give her the sense that everything was okay. But it felt forced and almost fake. Everything was not okay, and it was hurting her to pretend otherwise. Scully, who had been looking at Emily's hand, look back up in confusion as Emily began moving, shifting to the side, away from Dana.

"Come lie down with me." She pleaded as she patted the now small empty spot next to her.

Without hesitation, Dana rose from her seat and careful of Emily and her injuries crawled up in bed next to, leaning her head on Emily's shoulder as she put a protective arm carefully around Emily's stomach. It felt nice, being so close to the other woman. Like she was finally beginning to find her purpose after so many nights of nothing. In Emily's arms, she felt safe again. And finally, closing her eyes next to the woman who had been filling her mind and heart lately, the first true and peaceful sleep slowly began crawling up on her.