Shaw's eyes opened as she slowly came back to consciousness. The evening's activities came flooding back and she became aware of the familiar ache that resulted from another night of fireworks. Smiling, she glanced at the time.

4:15- I wonder what woke me up.

As Shaw turned over she became aware of something disturbing the bed. Rising up on one elbow, she saw Root shaking, almost convulsing in her sleep. She reached for her love, gently shaking her shoulder.

The room was faintly bathed in moonlight- as a result, Shaw could see Root's eyes squeezed tightly shut as she continued to shake uncontrollably. Then, suddenly, her eyes opened. She stared unseeing at the ceiling as the shaking continued.

Alarmed, Shaw grabbed Root with both hands and shook her harder.

"Root, are you OK? Root, hey…. ROOT!"

Root's eyes blinked once, twice, then cleared as the shaking subsided. Shaw, concerned, leaned over and brushed the hair from her face.

"Hey babe, you all right?"

"Sameen…. I…. I think I was having a nightmare."

"Well, now I'm wide awake- I need a drink of water." Shaw climbed out of bed and headed for the kitchen. Root sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"I'll be right there, after I go to the bathroom."

"Relax, I'll bring us both a bottle."

"Thanks, Sam."

Shaw headed into the kitchen and went to the fridge for a couple bottles of water. Only three left, I could go down and get….. her thoughts trailed off as she remembered her guests downstairs. Smirking, her mind drifted off as her imagination started to run with the possibilities.

We can get more water in the morning.

Shaw headed back toward their bedroom with a smile plastered on her face. As she entered the room, she tilted her head, frowning.

No lights. I thought Root was getting up to use the bathroom.

Shaw headed for the bathroom and turned on its light. Glancing toward the bed, she noticed Root was lying sideways as if she'd passed out. A ribbon of concern wrapped itself around her heart as she approached the bed.

Oh no, after what she's been through.

Shaw climbed on the bed and leaned down over Root's head. As she was checking her condition, Root's eyes snapped open.

"What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" Shaw's voice was harsh, covering her concern (panic?). "I thought you were getting up."

"I am getting up." Then realizing the position she was in, "At least I thought I was getting up."

"Are you OK?"

"Yes, Sam, I'm fine…. just a little tired."

Shaw looked down at Root, noticing how pale she appeared. Her concern (panic) threatened to ratchet up into something approaching fear as she thought how much her love had been through in the last year.

She was:

Psychologically scarred from Shaw's captivity,

Shot,

Dead on a slab in a morgue (if only for five minutes),

Comatose for months,

Given a heart transplant followed by months of recovery and rehab all leading to the events of the last few days...

Where she was:

Tased,

Abducted and...

Tied to a cross by that piece of shit and his minions.

What the hell have I been thinking? She's been through enough to kill five people and we just hosted a dinner party…. after an hour of…. of… well intense activity. Then more intense activity... Shit, I've allowed my feelings to override my common sense.

This stops now!

"Root, in the morning we're going back to the hospital and you're getting more than a brief session with Dr. Tillman. I've had my head up my ass regarding your condition and that's done, over, finished as of right now!"

"Sam? What's…."

"No! We are going to get you looked at, tested and given a clean bill of health. Or, you're going back in there until you have one. I said this before and I'll say it again. I won't… I can't lose you Root. I lost you once… no... it's not happening again!"

Shaw wiped angrily at her eyes, shook her head and grabbed Root by the shoulders.

"We're going back this morning and that's final!"

Root looked into Sameen's eyes. Recognizing the concern and, yes, the love, she capitulated. With a small smile, she raised up and kissed her love on the cheek.

"OK, Sam, you're the boss."

Shaw rolled her eyes. Who are you?

"Good, let's get back to sleep. We have a big day ahead of us."

….

Four hours later, Shaw was in the kitchen making pancakes, sausage, eggs, bacon and toast.

I should probably make something for Root and our guests.

She opened the fridge and pulled more supplies and set to work. Fifteen minutes later she went to the bedroom to check on Root. The bed was empty, but the bathroom door was closed. Shaw knocked softly on it.

"You OK, babe?"

"I'm fine, Sam, I'll be out in a minute."

"Why don't you climb back in bed, I made us breakfast."

"You say the sweetest things, Sameen."

Shaw turned back to the kitchen as the flush crept up her neck once again. Returning in moments with a tray filled with coffee, juice and some food, she found Root sitting on the side of the bed.

"You're almost as pale as last night. I'm glad we decided you are going back today."

"Are you sure this is necessary, Sam, I think I'm just tired."

"You know Root, there's a few things you need to realize. I've told you them before and I will tell you them again- and I will keep telling you them until you get it through that thick skull of yours.

"You're a warrior. You will rush into a hail of bullets with absolutely no regard for your safety. You showed how even the Machine better be careful or it will feel your wrath. You'll go days without food or rest when you're on a mission.

"Your feelings are so intense it scares everybody at times, yet you seem to think little, if anything about yourself. Your devotion to me, the Machine and the team borders on scary at times- but you treat yourself with such little regard it's almost as if you had a death wish.

"That's where I come in. Since you won't care for yourself, I have to watch out for you. And it's a labor of love, believe me. But it would be a lot easier for both of us if you would show just a sliver of concern for yourself the way you do for me and some of the others."

Root looked up with a faint smile.

"I love you, Sam."

Shaw's eyes softened and she leaned down to kiss the top of Root's head.

"Eat."

….

Almost an hour later, as Shaw was sitting at the breakfast bar drinking her third cup of coffee, Elizabeth walked into the kitchen. Shaw took one look at her and smirked.

"Sleep well?"

Elizabeth had the good grace to blush. She glanced over her shoulder at the stairs to the basement and said quietly.

"She's on her way up. Just don't say anything about last night. I wouldn't mind if there was a repeat performance in the future."

"I need to talk to her, and it's not about your social life so don't worry. There's food in the oven, and in the microwave. You guys are welcome to finish it, Root and I already ate."

"Right now I need tea. Then food."

Just then, Dr. Tillman appeared. Shaw, smiling, greeted her warmly.

"Dr. Tillman, good morning. There's breakfast for you both in the oven and the mic. Coffee's in the container next to the Keurig. Did you sleep well?"

The doctor's eyes were sparkling. She smiled and glanced at Elizabeth.

"I slept wonderfully. I'm not even hung over, which quite frankly, is surprising."

Elizabeth turned from the counter, tea in hand.

"Hey Megan, you want some coffee?" Shaw noted the use of her first name.

Dr. Tillman smiled and nodded. "Black please. Can I get you a plate?"

Shaw, amused by their interplay, decided to leave them alone for awhile.

"You two go ahead and enjoy. I need to take a shower then I need to talk to you doctor. I'm concerned about Root."

"What about Ms. Groves?"

"Let's wait until you're done eating and I've had my shower, then we'll talk."

"Fine."

Leaving the two alone, Shaw headed for the bedroom.

….

After showering and dressing, Shaw returned to the kitchen. Root, having finished breakfast was coding in bed with a cup of coffee on the nightstand. As she entered the kitchen, Elizabeth and the doctor were sharing a laugh as Dr. Tillman rested her hand on Elizabeth's knee. Smiling, Shaw cleared her throat and headed to the coffee maker. The two, looking like kids caught in the cookie jar, jumped up and separated.

Dr. Tillman, recovering quickly, looked at Shaw and smiled faintly.

"Breakfast was delicious, Ms. Shaw. What did you want to talk about regarding Ms. Groves?"

"I think we've all overestimated Root's physical recovery. She's probably the strongest person I've ever met, so I think she can do things that normal humans can't. While true much of the time, I think I've forgotten that she's still human. Last night, she was almost convulsing in bed while she slept.

"When I woke her up because I was terrified of the way she was shaking, she said she had a nightmare. I walked in here to get us a couple of bottles of water while she went to the bathroom. When I returned, she had passed out without getting completely out of bed and when I tried to check her out she didn't even realize what had happened.

"I told her she was going to get checked out completely and if she had to stay in the hospital until she got a clean bill of health, so be it. The thing about this conversation that scared me the most was that Root didn't argue with me. She folded without much discussion at all.

"That tells me she knows something is off, maybe she's even known it for awhile and wouldn't admit it to anyone, even herself. My calling it out may have just been what she needed to agree to get some help.

"I'm worried there's something seriously wrong with her, maybe even that she's rejecting the heart."

Shaw's eyes filled when she voiced the fear that had been gnawing at her. She turned her head, then looked back defiantly at both Dr. Tillman and Elizabeth.

"I told her I can't, I won't lose her again. I know that's extreme, but when I escaped from Samaritan we had a confrontation in the park. I threatened to kill myself, believing that was the best way to keep her and the team safe. She pulled her gun and said if I die, she dies. She said if I couldn't live with her, well she couldn't live without me.

"Now the shoe's on the other foot. I can't live without her." Tears leaked out and cascaded down her cheeks as she stared at them. "You need to see if she's ok... you need to make her ok."

Shaw turned away, grabbed her coffee and stared out the window. As they watched, Shaw's shoulders began to shake. Elizabeth walked over to her and put her hand on Shaw's shoulder. Turning her gently, she took the coffee cup and wrapped Shaw in her arms. For several minutes Elizabeth held Shaw as she let out some of the stress and angst that had been building since early that morning.

When Shaw regained control, she leaned back, smiled at Elizabeth and sighed.

"Thanks."

"Shaw, Dr. Tillman is one of the best docs around. The hospital is one of the best in the world- the Machine made sure of that. Root's in the best hands anyone in her situation could possibly be in. Plus, she has you.

"When I first came out to help my mom, that last part would have meant nothing. You couldn't have helped her, you couldn't have been there for her. Now you're different. I saw you at the church, you're still as dangerous as ever to your enemies. But with your friends, especially with Root, you're another person.

"Loving, caring, considerate, protective. As long as she has you to look out for her, I believe she'll be OK. And Root, she's changed too. Some of it's still there, let's face it: crazy's gonna crazy. But for the most part she's… and I can't believe I'm saying this, she's become more normal.

"She'll do what's necessary to get better, if not for herself, for you and Gen."

Dr. Tillman took the opportunity to interject.

"Ms. Shaw, we are going to find out what, if anything is bothering Ms. Groves. Everything Beth said is not only correct, most importantly that you're probably the biggest reason we are here. Without your presence, we might still be waiting for both of your friends to return.

"You insisted on trying the experimental ultrasound procedure on her. I don't think it's coincidence that she first awakened within twelve hours of it. You went to New York to get John's friends here which played a huge part in his return.

"I can get the top physicians in their fields here to examine Ms. Groves if needed. Our facility is the best as is our staff. There is no place she'd be better off. There are several possibilities regarding Ms. Groves issue last night- most of them relatively benign.

"Whatever it is, we'll find it and we'll do everything possible to fix it."

Shaw's face had cleared and she smiled at her friends.

"Thanks again. So when should I bring Root in?"

"I'm clearing my schedule for today. Why don't we meet at the hospital in two hours…. say 12:30."

"We'll be there."