"I need to tell you something."

Mickey turned to see Liz wringing her hands at the sink. They'd just finished clearing up after dinner. The idea of such a normal domestic life would have been alien to him even a few months ago.

"Sure," he said. "I need to tell you something too, actually." He hadn't been planning to tell her tonight, but the worried look on her face made him want to pre-empt her. He was pretty sure he could top whatever she had to say.

"Let's sit down." She pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and he sat opposite her. His hands were shaking, he realised.

"You go first," she said when he didn't say anything.

"Erm." He couldn't met her eyes. "You know I was at MIT before the NCS. Before that I was at Sun Hill."

"Yeah, I know."

"Well, there's a reason why I transferred to MIT."

"Were you in trouble?" He could see all sorts of corruption scenarios running through her head.

"Not exactly. I was attacked. Someone attacked me. Sexually." He'd said it now, the worst part was over. He still couldn't look at her.

She was silent for what felt like minutes.

"Who?" she said finally.

"His name is Martin Delaney." Mickey felt sick just saying it. "He was wanted for a series of attacks on prostitutes. I was chasing him. I followed him into this warehouse, and he hit me. Here." He gestured at his head. "And when I came around I was tied up. That's when he did it." He couldn't say the exact words. "He's in jail, now. I testified against him before I moved to the NCS. He got put away for rape." He had finally said the word.

When he looked at Liz he saw the horrified look on her face and tears in her eyes. He immediately wished he hadn't told her.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you sooner. I understand if you can't be with me no more…"

"What? Michael, what are you talking about?"

"I know it's a lot to handle…"

"Of course I still want to be with you. I just… I'm so sorry that happened to you."

"I don't want pity."

"It's not pity." The tears were pouring down her face now. "I love you."

It was the first time she had said that. "I love you too," he said automatically, realising as he said it that it was true. He felt so relieved. Tears pricked his own eyes as he took her hand.

"So that's why…" She hesitated. "Why things have been so slow between us?"

"Yeah. I thought I should tell you, before…"

She reached out to touch his face, stroking his forehead where Delaney had hit him. "That animal. I could kill him."

"Steady on, Uma Thurman." He smiled at her. "He's in jail. He'll be there for a long time. He can't hurt us no more."

She dried her eyes.

"What did you wanna tell me?"

"Oh… it's nothing." She sniffed.

"No, go on, you said you wanted to tell me something."

"It's work stuff. I think I made a mistake. But I'll tell you another time."

"Alright." He didn't push her. There had been enough revelations for one night.