I grimace in pain as I walk the hallway to our door. I have only been back on duty for a month now and a major case has hit. I have stayed past my allotted time at the precinct and spent the majority of it on my feet going up and down stairs. I know I will pay for it tomorrow more than I am right now and possibly more than I will when I walk through the door and face Alex. Finally taking a deep breath and preparing for a fight I slide my key in and slowly open the door.

"You're home early" I hear as I walk in and my eyes land on her. She looks so beautiful sitting on the couch in my t shirt watching one of her mind numbing shows as I call it.

"I'm over three hours late." I point out biting my inner lip as I take a step.

I can see the concern flash though her eyes when she realizes I'm in pain. Before I can even tell her I'm ok she is by my side and assisting my to my chair. The thought of sitting down and propping my legs up is the best thought I think I have ever had.

"Did you eat or did you ignore that too like the signs to rest your body."

"Alex, I have a job to do and sometimes it requires me to work long hours. What do you expect?"

"I expect you to slowly work your way back in to your 48 hour straight days not try to jump right back in." She tells me as she squats down in front of my and runs her hands up my legs. "Do I want to yell at you and tell you to stop working yourself so hard. Yes, I do. But I also know this is the person you are and you will always be so it will be like beating a dead horse. What I do want is for you to take your time and allow yourself to finish healing."

"The doctor released me so I am …"

"The doctor released you to moderate light duty not on your damn feet all day. You're trying to jump right in the deep end and the only thing that is going to do is set you back. Honey I don't want to go back and I can't go back. I refuse to go back."

"I never asked you to step up in the first place." I bite out pushing her away and struggling to stand "As for working late this is my job. I can't sit at home while there is someone out there with a child doing god knows what to them."

I turn to head back out the door trying my best not to fall over my own two feet. I can barely lift my right leg because the pain is so bad but I have to leave and couldn't tell you why. Before I can make it to the door to leave she is there blocking my way. Which only serves to fuel my anger.

"No I didn't have to step up" she says as she stands firmly in place "I could have walked away or never even bothered to show up when I got the call but I did because I love you. And I didn't just tell you to stop doing your job, I only asked that you worked yourself up to what you use to do."

I stand there breathing hard feeling my anger boil. I know she's right and that pisses me off further. I go to open my mouth to argue when she steps aside and opens the door.

"Go" She says in a voice that is full of pain "If you want to leave so bad or feel you have to leave then go. I will not hold you back and I certainly won't stop you."

I take a minute to look at her before I head toward the door and walk out. I refuse to look back as I hear the door shut behind me. I start to walk toward the elevator when the full effect of what I have just done hits me. I lean against the wall and take a few deep breaths before I turn back. I'm pretty sure I deserve the award for the biggest ass to walk the earth right now.

I slowly open the door and peak inside not sure if I'm welcomed anymore at this point. I swallow hard when I find her leaning against the couch tears silently pouring out of her eyes and that is my undoing.

"Alex" I cry as tears begin to fall from my eyes as well. I have once again managed to hurt this beautiful woman. "I'm sorry, oh God I'm sorry."

I lean against the wall as my legs give out and I start to slide toward the floor. Before I know it I am wrapped in her as she catches me.

"Shh, I have you" she soothes as she kisses my forehead. "It's ok."

"You don't deserve this. Why don't you just let me leave. It's obvious I'm going to hurt you again."

"I don't let you leave because I love you and I will fight for you till I you give me no reason not too." She whispers into my ear. "No relationship is all roses Liv, we're going to hurt each other from time to time. We're going to fight and we're going to be mad at each other. What determines how strong this relationship is, is whether or not we can overcome that argument and move on."

She sits down next to me and pull me against her. "If you had listened when you came in I had only said I wished you would work your way up to your old ways. You've suffered a major trauma and are still recovering whether you want to believe it or not. I know you could never come home and sleep when there is a child out there in need of your help and I would never expect you too. But honey, for right now you have too. You can't be the super detective putting everyone else first right now. Right now you have to realize you have to come first and I know that is killing you more than anything.

I can only nod in agreement as a pain shoots through me when I go to move my leg.

"Now let me help you up and in bed. I'll bring you something to eat and your pain meds." She says as she stands "I don't want to hear anything about the pain meds either you need them tonight."

I chuckle as I let her help me back to my feet and to her bedroom. I start to say something and I realize she needs me in here tonight just as much as I need to be in here tonight. She needs the reassurance that I'm still here the same as I need from her.