So sorry for my delay but my friend was in town and I didn't have time. Chapter 6 is finally on… enjoy and review, please!

Bip. Bip. Bip.

The machines in the room signaled her vital signs. Zoe was alive.

The doctor said she barely survived, she lost much blood and the surgery was far more difficult than expected due to complications. The bullet drilled through the spleen, just few inches to the left and it'd have hit the uterus. The baby was miraculously alive too.

John was seated near the bed holding her manicured hand, she was still with him, they were still with him, he couldn't think of a bigger miracle than that. Zoe was still unconscious, the sedatives' effect they gave her for the surgery still didn't run out but he was patient, he wasn't going anywhere until she'd have opened her eyes again. After all they have been through, he wasn't even sure she wanted him there, Zoe could be so proud and stubborn but considering the situation he hoped she'd have understood. This time there wouldn't have been tricks or games, he wanted to be with her, wanted her to be his even if she didn't want to keep the baby, he loved her and couldn't stay away anymore.

He raised his head and looked at her, her hair were scattered on the pillow and her breathing was slow as if she was simply asleep, as if anything happened and she was in her bed after making love with him like that night at her apartment. He had watched her sleep until the dawn, incapable to take his eyes off her, drinking her in, every little detail, realizing he had never really seen her before, even if they had worked together and went undercover together. Zoe wasn't the kind of woman who goes unnoticed but he had always looked at her without really seeing her, maybe because of her walls, of that façade she showed the world or maybe because he pretended not be enough careful, knowing how affected by her he already was.

Finch showed up at the door, a look of concern in his eyes, of course he was glad that Zoe was alive, indeed that worry wasn't for her.

"How is she?"

"She's gonna be fine" he hissed trying to convince himself more than Harold

"I'm sure she is"

"Why are you still here, Harold?"

John never called him by his name and the fake sweet way he did underlined how much he was annoyed by his presence.

"I just want to be sure…"

"Of what? Of what exactly?"

"I know you're mad, Mr. Reese, maybe we should talk about it another time"

"And what's there to talk about? Your machine failed and I was about to lose her, to lose them both"

Finch didn't say anything because he did get Zoe's number, the truth was that John wasn't reachable but couldn't tell him, it was no one's fault but he thought it was better he and his machine took all the blame.

"I'm sorry"

John stared at him, his eyes cold and numb "I don't care"

Finch lowered his gaze "I should go"

"Yeah you should. Don't count on me for the job, not until she'll be fully recovered"

The man nodded and left. Walking out the hospital, he remembered the first time he had met John, his long hair and beard, dirty clothes, his lifeless look and he gave him a job, a mission, a reason to reborn and have a new life. The implications of that were pretty clear, both of them had lost someone, they knew the rules of the game and the importance of not to have any bond, to live in the darkness. Finch sighed, John fell in love and even worse, he fell for someone who had a dangerous job like he did, someone he wouldn't be able to protect and now he was going to be a father… that changed everything. He was relieved that both Zoe and the baby were fine, he had never seen John so freaked out and probably would never be able to forget it, for a moment he did think he was going to die at the hand of him. John needed time to cool down and think properly, they'd have found a way to make things work.

…

John must have dozen off, because the slight movement of her hand in his woke him up, Zoe opened her eyes slowly winching in pain, she looked around confused and not recognizing the environment around her she started panicking.

"Zoe hey, I'm here"

"John…" her voice sounded raspy after so many hours without drinking and talking

"Shh," he caressed her forehead "You're at the hospital, they shot you" she opened her eyes wide and sensing her fear, he reassured her "The baby's fine. I'm going to call the nurse, I'll be right back"

Zoe's brain started waking up slowly and working again. She was at the hospital because she has been shot but the baby was fine, their baby, she put a hand on her belly and exhaled relieved.

She knew she was at the MET to meet a client, the Senator … oh God the Senator! Was he okay? She wasn't sure. In a corner of her mind she remembered the gunshot's sound and the blood yes, the smell of blood, John's hand pressing the wound and his eyes… then all was blank.

Moving slightly she tried to get where her injury was but she felt as if she had been hit by a truck, all her body was in pain especially her belly.

The doctor and the nurse entered the room followed by John, they checked her vital signs and explained her what happened and that she'd have stayed there for the next days. The doctor, who was going to visit her again later during his shift, recommended her to ask to stay in bed and ask for help in case she needed to use the bathroom, then he left and a deep silence fell in the room.

John seated near her bed again watching her.

"What happened?" she asked "How's the Senator?"

"You both have been shot. He's dead, he was the target, you've been…" he inhaled trying to contain the anger "a collateral damage"

Zoe looked at him, she could see so much pain and anger in his eyes

"I shouldn't have been there, you know" she said playing with the hem of sheet "It was a last minute call and I couldn't say no"

"You never say no to your job"

It came out bitterly, like an accusation but it wasn't his intention or maybe it was

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it"

"I think you did but it's okay, you're right"

"I don't wanna fight anymore Zoe, I almost lost you and…" his voice trembled and he passed a hand on his face "Why does it have to be so complicated between us?"

"I don't know"

He wanted to tell her Give me a chance, I love you, I don't wanna live without you anymore, stay with me but it seemed his tongue was tied and he couldn't say a word. He held her gaze then decided to change the subject…

"How are you feeling?"

"As if I've been hit by a truck"

"Yeah that's what I imagined. It'll be a very long recovery, gunshot wounds are not a piece of cake"

She said nothing and he continued

"I told Finch I won't go back to work until you're fully recovered"

"There's no need to John, when they discharge me I'll hire a nurse"

"It's not a problem to me"

"I know but I do prefer..."

"God Zoe, why do you have to be so stubborn?" He shut her up "I wanna do it, I wanna take care of you, I wanna be with you!"

Losing his temper helped him to say what he couldn't manage to but left her speechless.

"I… I didn't want you to feel forced to do it just because I'm pregnant with your child"

"You know that's not the only reason…"

Their gazes met and there was no need of words.

"If you decided to interrupt the pregnancy… I'd understand"

"I haven't decided yet John"

"You still have time, don't you?"

"Four weeks"

"Okay"

"I'm sorry"

"For what?"

"Everything, the way I handled the pregnancy news or just my suspects wasn't fair towards you" she lowered her gaze, her following words were just a whisper "You know, I thought I'd have never seen you again"

"I thought that too and it almost killed me"

She let his words sinking deep into her skin just looking at him, his honesty, almost brutal, wasn't hiding an hint of scolding. He seemed so out of his element, so different from usual and so shattered and since they started talking she noticed his appearance: his white shirt open and stained of blood, his red and haunted eyes, his features hardened by tireness and worry.

"I'm sorry"

That time he didn't need to ask for what, he did know it. He caressed her cheek and she leaned into his touch closing her eyes.

"Go back to sleep, you had a tough night"

"Okay. Night John"

"Night Zoe"