AN: Hi there,

Bluee thank you for the pms and your review-

i had tears in my eyes when i read it, i m so happy about it.

And crazykelly101- thank you for the fav entry!

So now we go on with the story! If you like you can listen to Kenny Chesneys „To Get to you"

the song i heard when i wrote it ;-) don't know what about you but i really like country music!

Sorry, Scotty :-)

Chapter 3

They sat down again at their table and Scotty ordered a new round of drinks.

„That was really nice. You're a good partner to dance with."

Lilly smiled and played with her straw.

The icecubes of her coke went together and gave a clining note.

„Just to dance with? I thought i'm the best partner you've ever had!"

Scotty joked and lifted up his beer.

„'Cause i can definatly say your mine."

She looked deep into his brown eyes and searched how much truth was in his words and what more meaning they hold that he didn't told with.

„Are we talking about work now, Scotty?"

she asked slowly and saw how he turned his gaze away from her.

He clearly was uncomfortable.

„Na, ya know what i want to say, don't ya?"

Lilly reached out and took his glass from his hand and put it down on the table beside him with a thud.

„Can you say that and look at me the same time, please?"

This situation really reminded her of an interrogation and he shifted from hanging loose and relaxed on to stiff and overcorrect sitting on his chair.

„What we're talking about, Lil? I don't know what you want to hear from me."

She let go of his glass and rubbed her eyes.

Headache come into view...

„I think i need some fresh air. Excuse me, but..."

She took back her chair and her light coat she'd hung over the top of her chair.

He waved for the waitress named Jenny and in a swift motion he grabbed her hand.

„Please wait form me. We can go for a walk through the alley if you want..."

She stared down at his hand on hers.

Maybe it's now or never.

„I'll be waiting outside."

She rushed through the door and tried to slow down her racing heart.

First this accidentally contact when they arrived, now this dance when he held her so close that for a blessed moment she thought he wouldn't let go ever, then her feeling his lips on her neck and turning her skin to fire with them... too much. It was too much to handle.

She passed the hallway of the reception and reached the entrance of Hotel Golden Alley.

As soon as she passed out she breathed in the cooling air of starting sunset.

Her lungs filled with it and she calmed down a little bit.

You're behave like a little girl, running away from him.

She scowled at herself and began to go up to their parked car.

She touched it lightly and wished she could be home in her living room with Oliv and Tripod crawling up her couch.

„Homesick?" she nearly jumped as Scotty came up behind her.

„A little." she admitted smiling and felt a wave of relaxing wash over her.

His tone was soft and he offered her his arm to get.

She accepted it with a sly smile and they started walking slowly under the trees.

„They're beautyful."

she said and looked above them.

The rare sunlight put them in a fire of orange, gold and pink.

She could feel Scottys muscles tensed up and frowned wondering what's up with him.

Lilly caught his glance and realized that he was looking straight and intense at her from her side

and felt suddenly very warm.

„Yeah, i think so." he nodded but didn't look away.

It was clear even for her that he didn't mean the trees.

„You're the best partner i can have, you know that, don't you?"

she blurted out fast and felt her cheeks turned red.

„I am really grateful for what you did for me when i called you to help me with the Christina trouble.

You could have loose your job because of me and i had no right to require your help."

Scotty stopped all of the sudden but didn't let go of her arm.

„Why don't you call Eddie or that New York guy to help you with Chris?"

he asked eagerly and she could see his eyes darken.

„Don't matter." she said quickly and now it's her turn to feel very uncomfortable.

„I trust you, you're my partner. My backup. And i know that if i haven't told you you'll call the cops and send them after me in case that you'll think i need the cavallery. And that would have had destroy my plan to go undercover and on my own."

She could see him struggling with her answer.

„But maybe to me it mattered, Lil!

I know i can't let you go alone but i don't do it 'cause your my partner.

I wanted to go with you.

To watch your back, yes cause i know you're going to be in trouble.

But that's not the only reason."

His arm let go of hers but his hand grabbed her wrist.

„That i was your partner at work was never the reason i would have had gone everywhere you wish me to without looking back or forth, maybe even blind into death. I'll do it for you."

Lilly heard herself breath inhaled sharply.

„And i was wondering why you haven't called Eddie or that New York guy?!"

He'd let go of her hand and took a step back.

„You don't have to say anything, Lil. I just wanted to know it."

Then he turned and left her standing there, beyond shocked.

Had he just said that he'll go right into death for her?

What does that mean?

„I... i trust you. With my life. I never thought about asking anyone but you!"

she called suddenly shakingly at his leaving back.

She saw his shoulders and head went down a bit and he stopped in tracks.

„Scotty, please...

Don't leave me."

She pleaded.

Lilly Rush pleaded.

Her knees were struggling to keep her upright.

This felt so aweful familar to her.

She'd called something like that after Joseph when he had left her, too and it didn't stop him.

Lilly closed her eyes and felt tears began to water them.

She knew he wouldn't come back.

She had hurt him she realized... so many times.

Maybe too many times.

She knew should try and go after him but she just... couldn't.

She just could at leat try one thing.

„Hey!" she shouted out loud.

It was their code word.

If she needed him, he would have known when he heard it.

It was her last chance to reach him-

Her head hung down and she stared at her hands which were opening and closing in a ineffective way to get rid of the growing tension and the uncontrollable feelings that were rushing through her.

Then she heard it.

Quite at first.

Then louder.

Echoing footsteps.

Closing the gap.

Then she could feel it.

Feel him.

Strong arms that were reaching for her and encircled her waist, pulled her to his chest.

She nuzzeled her nose in his coat and breathed in his scent.

„I have said it and i mean it. I'll always be there for you when you need me. Just say..."

„Hey and you'll be there." she finished his sentence and heard and felt the tears coming down her cheeks, wetting his coat.

He did came back.

Scotty didn't leave her.

Not like all the others did.

With sudden clearness she knew-

He'll be there for her if she would let him.

She could hurt him, scream at him, throw really aweful things on his head.

And he'll always be there.

Like he had been the last eight years.

He would never leave her as long as she wants him to stay by her side.

It was her turn now.

„Let's take this walk you talk about, please.

Together- okay?"

„Together than."

He nodded and kissed her forehead.

„I'll be okay with that."

„Me too."

And she hooked herself under again, leaned her head on his shoulder and watched as the last

sunbeams streched out and illuminated his face.

He had tears on it, too.

„I won't leave you either."

she said in a whisper and leaned into him a little bit more.

And together they went into the sunset.