She sat next to him, they leaned against each other.

“I’ve missed you, David.”

“Missed you, too. When Ken told me they were railroading you, and you were on the run with Teren, I —” he shook his head. “Well, I nearly got out of bed, tubes and all.”

Alex smiled at him.

“But, I figured that if anybody could keep you safe it was Teren.” He sighed. “Lord knows I couldn’t.”

His partner narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you talking about? I’m the one that came through without a scrape.”

David raised an eyebrow. “Really? Then why did Ken say Teren needed suture kits to take care of you?”

Her face got hot. “It was just a graze, under my elbow. It’s healing well.”

“Good. Ken said you were dripping blood and wouldn’t let the doctors do anything.”

“It wasn’t dripping, just bleeding a little.”

“Right.” He grinned and put an arm around her shoulders.

Alex grew somber. “David.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry. I led us into the ambush, and I nearly got you killed.” She sighed. “If I had it to do over again —”

“You’d do the exact same thing.” She looked up into his serious eyes. “Alex, that ambush was the result of somebody on the inside playing against us. You didn’t have a clue, at that moment, that the whole thing was a set up. None of us did. You went by the book — and somebody else threw the book out. It’s not your fault.”

“But —”

“It wasn’t your fault.” He held her chin, keeping her eyes level with his. “It was an ambush, nothing more or less than that. We’ll all carry scars, but not because of you — as a matter of fact, I think I owe you a thank you.”

She looked at him in confusion. “Why?”

He sighed and turned his gaze toward the floor. “I remember hearing a click behind me, and I turned. As I did, there was this ripping pain, and I hit the ground. I knew my gun was still in my hand, but I couldn’t raise it, couldn’t even yell. I saw the guy above me, and he grinned and cocked his gun again. I thought I was dead.” He closed his eyes. “Then I saw him turn slightly, and he raised his gun and fired. At the same time the back of his head kind of mushroomed out, and I watched as he fell.” He opened his eyes and looked at his partner. “The last thing I remember thinking is that I nearly let him shoot you. I had my gun in my hand, and I couldn’t stop the bastard.”

Alex reached up and brushed the hair from his forehead. “Tell me you haven’t been beating yourself up for this, David.”

He nodded, his gaze dropping again.

Alex sighed. “We’re quite some pair, you know? You get shot, and I blame myself. I get a small bullet scrape, and you feel guilty about it.” She shook her head. “Teren would probably smack us both on the head.”

David grinned a little, and squeezed her shoulders. “Alex, Ken told me you killed that guy.”

She swallowed. “Yeah, I did. Him and a couple others.”

Her partner frowned at her. “I thought Teren took out the others.”

“In Philly? She did. I’m talking about the cemetery in Germany — where Teren was shot.”

“Oh” He paused. “How are you handling that?”

She shrugged. “Sometimes okay, other times not.” Her hands fidgeted in her lap. “I have nightmares — about that, and you getting shot, and Teren . . ” She let her voice trail off.

“How is Teren?”

“Good.” Alex grinned. “She’s like a kid when she’s not feeling good, but other than that, she’s doing well.” She chuckled. “Wouldn’t let the doctors keep her more than one night. Insisted that she wanted to leave the hospital and stay with me.”

David raised an eyebrow, and caught her gaze.

She blushed.

“Something you want to tell me, Alex?”

She thought about that. Did she want to tell him? And if she did, just what would she say?

“No,” she said slowly. “I don’t think so. I mean, I’m not sure what to say, so I don’t want to say anything. It’s just a little early, Dave.”

His smile widened. “But you like her. A lot.”

Alex nodded.

“Are you in love?”

She took a deep breath and let it out. “I don’t know.”

“Have you slept with her?”

“David!”

The smile became a grin. “You have, haven’t you?” Her blush gave him an answer. “That’s cool, Alex. I’m happy for you.”

“David, I don’t know how she feels.” Her voice dropped, and he had to lean closer to hear her. “We haven’t talked. There hasn’t been time.”

He nodded, pulling her closer to him. “It’ll be okay, Alex. You two are gonna end this, and then you’ll sit down and have that talk.” He kissed her gently on the head. “You’ll say you love her, and she’ll say she loves you, and the two of you will be as happy as Miri and I.”

Alex sat up and looked at him. “David, why do I always believe you when you talk like that? I mean, you’re almost never right, but I still feel better.”

He grinned. “Cause you know that eventually the odds will be on my side, and I’ll get one right.”

She laughed and leaned back against him.

Lunch was a comfortable affair, with David and Alex teasing each other, and enjoying their friendship. Even Teren relaxed enough to hold Arlea, feeding her part of her own meal. Ken kept grinning at the picture the two made, which would make Teren growl. Arlea seemed to enjoy the low rumbling in her new friend’s throat, though, and would laugh playfully whenever she heard it.

Finally, after a leisurely meal, Alex and Teren looked at each other and nodded. They had a plane to go meet.

“Well, gang, it’s been wonderful. But, Teren and I have work to do.”

Miri looked up at her. “Are you sure you don’t wanna stay a little longer?”

“Thanks, Miri, but no. It was a great lunch, though.”

“Alright.” Miri reached over and took Arlea from Teren’s arms. The little girl reached out for Alex, who leaned over and kissed her.

“I need to get this little one cleaned up.” She gave Alex a half hug, and did the same to Teren. Arlea tried to climb into Teren’s arms again, and howled in outrage when she couldn’t.

“Oh, you hush, you. You don’t want to go with them anyway.” Miri winked at the two of them. “Alex, you’ll call soon?”

“Sure thing.”

“And Teren — you’re always welcome, alright?”

Teren smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Miri. That’s nice to know.”

Miri nodded and smiled, then left, carrying Arlea who was still sniffling.

Alex turned to David. “You look good, pal. Hurry up and get well, alright?”

“Will do.” David reached up for a hug, and kissed Alex’s cheek gently. “It’s good to see you, Alex.” He turned his gaze to Teren. “And you — come here and give me a hug before you go.”

Teren raised an eyebrow, but did as he requested.

David whispered in her ear, “It’s a good thing you’ve been taking care of her, Teren. She’s my partner, you know.”

The dark woman pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes. “I know. She’s mine, too.”

The brown eyes in front of her widened, as David’s smile turned to a grin.

Teren straightened back up and turned to Alex, who was watching Ken slip into his coat.

“Where are you going, Ken?”

“With you, Alex.” He pulled up the zipper on his jacket.

“Um, no, Ken, I don’t think so.” Alex smiled, but shook her head. “You don’t have any idea what kind of trouble you could get into.”

“Don’t care. You either take me with you or I’ll follow you.”

Teren folded her arms and looked at him. “Ken, Alex has already lost her badge. You sure you want to risk yours as well?”

“Yes.” He pulled out his FBI identification and laid it on the table. “I’ll give it up in a heartbeat.” He started towards the door.

“Wait, Ken, no. You don’t want to do this.” Alex took his arm and made him face her. “Look, I’ll get my badge back, I swear I will. Don’t get yourself in trouble over this, okay? I mean it.”

“Alex, I don’t care about the goddamn Bureau. I care about you, and tall, dark and dangerous here. Got it?”