Finally, after a lot of writing and rewriting, a chapter I am finally happy with. Hope you like it :)

David and Karen arrived at her house where it took her the sum total of twenty minutes to grab what she needed while David waited patiently, glancing out the window every few seconds.

"I'm pretty sure we are safe," she said as she leaned against the doorframe watching him

"I just want to be sure"

"David, you set the alarm the second the armed escort cleared the house, and they haven't left their posts, in fact, I don't even think they have blinked for the last twenty minutes so unless whoever this is has superpowers, I think it is safe to say that we are alone" she said in a half joking, half serious tone

"You're right. I guess it is possible that I am being just a tiny bit paranoid" he replied with a laugh "Are you ready to go?"

"I just want to make one phone call and then I'll be ready," she said sounding a bit mysterious

"Anyone I know?" he asked quietly

Karen crossed the room and grasped his hand, giving it a light squeeze

"I know that you trust your team, but it never hurts to have a backup plan," she said with a smile

Davis listened as Karen spoke to someone named Chloe and then Jack. He paced around the living room, glancing out the window occasionally to make sure that the guards were still in place, before he finally sat down on the sofa. He heard Karen mention the BAU and give Aaron as the contact person before she hung up the phone and returned.

"All set?" he asked

"Thank you David...for understanding. It isn't that I don't trust your team..."

"I know. I guess I would want my own people if it were me," he said as he rose and headed toward the door. "So have you given any thought about what you would like for dinner?" he asked

"Why don't you surprise me?" She said with a smile as they headed toward the car.

Karen seemed almost lost in her own little world on the way back to David's, occasionally glancing at him, but for the most part just staring out the window with a blank expression. He could almost feel the tension building as they drove up the drive and parked in the garage. As they made their way thru the kitchen, she suddenly stopped and had the most bewildered look on her face.

"Something wrong?" he asked as he put her suitcase down and put his hand on her shoulder

"This is really happening isn't it?' she said quietly as her eyes began to fill with tears

David took a step forward and pulled her into a tight embrace

"It's alright Karen," he whispered as her emotions came flooding out as though a dam had burst

"Why?" was all she managed to say in between sobs as he held her close

"I don't know," he mumbled angrily

As her tears and sobs subsided, David gently led her to the guest room, and insisted that she lay down for a while as he prepared dinner. She lasted in the room for about three minutes before wandering back out to the kitchen, collapsing into the nearest chair.

"Hey, I thought you were going to try and get some rest?" he said as he quickly dried his hands and came to sit beside her

"I didn't really want to be alone," she said quietly as she folded her hands in her lap

David rose from the table, grabbed two glasses and a bottle of wine and stopped by the table long enough to offer her his hand, before escorting her to the sofa.

"We have some time before dinner is ready, why don't we just sit and relax," he said handing her a glass as he built a fire and then sat beside her.

Karen curled up beside him, resting her head on his shoulder as she swirled her wine around in her glass.

"I bet you didn't plan on THIS when you got up this morning," she said thru a yawn

"No, I can honestly say, I didn't see this on coming" he said with a grin as he kissed the top of her head

"Do you think they'll find them? The person or persons behind this?" she asked quietly

David took her glass and placed it on the table alongside his and then put his arm around her

"Yes" he said tilting her chin up to look in her eyes "They'll get them", he said before leaning down and capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.

Karen reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss. The need to feel loved and protected almost overwhelmed her as she leaned back against the cousins, pulling him along with her until he was practically on top of her. David almost felt as though he was taking advantage of the situation, but it felt good to be needed, wanted...loved and he immediately pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he let his hands wander across her chest until he found the buttons of her blouse and began to undo them one by one. Karen had already made short work of the buttons on his shirt and was attempting to remove the offending article of clothing when the timer on the stove went off, indicating that dinner was done.

"I don't suppose the oven will shut itself off will it?" said David with a grin as he pulled back to look at her

"Probably not" she replied with a pout as she sat up and re-buttoned her blouse

The two of them headed to the kitchen, Dave finished preparing dinner while Karen set the table and retrieved their wine glasses from the living room.

"Dinner is served," he said proudly when she returned

"It smells wonderful, what is it?" she asked as she took her seat

"Baked Ziti with a secret sauce, made from an old family recipe" he said mysteriously

"I see" she replied as she took a tiny bite "And just what is the secret?"

David grinned as he leaned over and gently kissed her cheek

"A can opener, a little bit of this and that, and Love"

Karen Laughed as she reached up and cupped his cheek, giving him a quick kiss

"We really need to work on your ability to keep secrets during an interrogation," she said with a giggle

Once they had finished their dinner, they found themselves back on the sofa, with Karen curled up in the crook of his arm, resting her head on his shoulder and her feet tucked up under her, quietly staring at the slowly dying fire he had built a few hours earlier. The clock on the mantle began to chime breaking the silence.

"Is it really only nine o'clock?" she said thru a yawn

"It is," he said lightly kissing the top of her head "But it sure seems like it should be a lot later"

David couldn't tell if it was the wine, the events of the day or the fact that they hadn't moved in more than two hours, but he could definitely tell that Karen was exhausted, both mentally and physically.

"Why don't we go get you settled in the guest room?" he said as he shifted into a sitting position "Unless you would rather..."

"No, the guest room will be fine" she replied quietly, desperately trying to hide the disappointment in her voice

They rose from the sofa and he guided her up the stairs to the room opposite his, where he stopped and pulled her to him in a tight embrace.

"I just want you to know that it isn't because I don't want you" he said quietly "I just don't want to rush things...I don't want a relationship built out of fear and desperation"

"I know" she replied leaning up to kiss him

"I'll be right across the hall if you need me"

"Goodnight David" she said disappearing into the room, closing the door behind her

David crossed the hall to his own room, closing the door behind him as he pulled out his phone and dialed Aaron

"Hotch? Any new leads yet?"

TO BE CONTINUED...