AN: I'm jumping in time again. This is, sadly, the last chapter. I hope you love it, that it wraps everything up nicely and maybe even ties it together with a bow. I appreciate all of you very much. Ever single one of you who took the time to read my story, every single one of you who decided to give even more time to review. Happy New Year!

Also, fluff warning. I may have gone overboard just a little, but I feel like they deserve it after everything.

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Three days later

Maggie's POV~

My entire body is sore, but not in agony like it has been. I realize I can breathe and that feels even better. I take a few deep breaths to test my lungs. I cough a little, but it's not like before. I raise my hand to touch my face. The cut on my forehead is now a thin line. I cover my eyes to shade them as I open them to fight the harsh light.

I slowly look around the room. I'm no longer in the bubble, but a normal room. OA is beside me. His arms are on the bed beside me and his head in resting on his arms. He's asleep. I smile, lifting my other hand and gently touching his short hair. I start right at his forehead and run my hand all the way back to his neck.

"That's nice," he mumbles before lifting his head to look at me. He grins at me, his OA smile that says everything is fine.

"How are you?" he asks, studying me.

"I... I feel good. My body aches, but it's so easy to breathe."

He nods letting out a chuckle, his smile getting brighter. I feel a little pang in my stomach at how it makes me feel to have him smiling at me like that. "You did so well, Mags. I was really worried. At one point your heart stopped again, but you kept fighting. You never gave up."

He is looking at my hand as his fingers brush from my elbow to my fingertips before he folds his hand around mine.

"I had a dream," I say quietly. "But I'm not sure it actually was a dream. That man... Jose...was in the room with us. With a gun." I stop talking and look at him. His smile fades for the first time since waking up.

"You're right. He was here. He had a gun and was threatening you. But I stopped him before he even touched you."

"Is he... dead?" I whisper.

He looks at me before shaking his head. I should have expected that, but I just want it to be over for real. He's already been shot and 'stopped' twice. What's to say he won't come after me again? But I know I won't be able to ask without crying so I just turn my head away and close my eyes.

"Mags," he says trying to get me to look at him but I'm suddenly so unsure, so worried. Worried that I'm not truly safe, worried about what will happen between us. Unsure of what he's thinking or feeling, unsure of how I'm feeling either.

"Maggie," he says again. "It's not quite what you think. I thought he was dead at first. He wasn't moving and I couldn't hear any breathing. The doctors must have brought him back. But, Mags, he really can't hurt you anymore. He sustained a lot of brain damage. He may be technically living, but he will never recover. The doctors are sure of that."

I'm trying to take in his words, to focus, but it's too unreal.

"Maggie, it's okay. Whatever you're thinking, let's just talk about it," he prods.

I almost laugh again at how strange it is we can talk about things like this at all, let alone that he is specifically asking me to share what I'm concerned about.

So I look at him even with tears shining in my eyes and doubt written across my face. But I can't talk so I just shake my head.

"You survived. You lived through kidnapping, torture, exposure to anthrax. You did it. And Jose really is gone. He's not even in this hospital anymore, and the Zeta who released Jose from his hospital room is dead. He was shot by an officer trying to get out of the hospital. It's really over this time. You aren't in danger," he wants me to believe him, wants me to understand. I desperately crave that, too, but it's so hard to believe this whole thing could ever truly end. However, I know he won't lie to me. Honesty is pouring off him. I feel the dread and panic begin to slowly subside.

I reach up and cover his cheek with my hand. I leave it there feeling the warmth on my fingers, my palm. He closes his eyes and leans into my hand slightly.

"Why are you here, then, if I'm safe?" I'm not accusing or testing, I just need to know, have to hear the reason.

He looks at me, my hand still on his cheek and covers my hand with his own. "You think I wanted to leave? There's nowhere else I'd rather be." He is so sincere and everything about him pulls me in.

"I heard you talking," I confess. "I don't know how long; it must have been hours, over the course of days. Every time you were talking to me, I could hear you."

A slight scarlet color dances across his cheeks. "I meant everything I said," he explains.

"Everything?" I feel my heart rate increase, feel it pounding in my chest. He nods.

"Say it again," I ask him. I bite my bottom lip wondering if I made the right choice in asking this. He leans closer, is about a foot away.

"I said I think I'm falling for you. That I hope you feel the same." I feel like he's looking into me, seeing everything I am. "Then I said when you woke up I'd ask you. So...?"

I'm looking at the man in front of me. The man who, time and time again, has shown me how kind he is. He has risked his life for mine many times over, and is the hardest worker I know. He is brave, caring, patient, dedicated. He makes me laugh, isn't afraid anymore when I cry, and he knows me well enough to know what scares me and what I need at any given moment. I can't imagine not having him here with me.

I must think too long because he leans back in his chair, pulling away from my hand.

"Come back here. Look at me," I say with a smile. He looks at me for a moment. Just when he starts to give in and come closer again, the doctor returns to my room. I groan in annoyance at how terrible his timing is which makes the doctor think I'm in serious pain. He's asking me how I'm doing, how I feel, what my pain level is. I answer as quickly as I can hoping he'll leave us alone again. I soon realize the doctor has other plans.

"Since you are feeling so well, let's see if we can get you up and standing for a minute or two." I just stare at him in surprise as he moves around the room getting things ready.

"Agent, I could use your help," he says to OA. My partner stands and comes around the bed to where the doctor is waiting.

"I assume you won't use a walker, yes? So you will need us to support you at first. Are you ready, Agent Bell?"

He helps me sit up slowly. He asks how my head feels and when I give the correct answer, he tells me to swing my feet over the side of the bed. I move slowly, my body protesting each movement, but loving it just the same. Then OA grabs one arm and the doctor grabs the other, careful for my IV. I stand for the first time in about a week. My ribs scream at me, my shoulders are in agony at the weight they are supporting as I lean onto the two men next to me.

But dang, does it feel good. The doctor must read my face because he asks for the level of pain.

"Five... and a half," I say determined to do more.

"So, seven or eight? Maybe higher?" OA says knowing me well. I just roll my eyes and scoff.

"Well, we have plenty of time. There's no need to rush," the doctor tells me. "Let's get you back into bed."

"Can I just stay like this for another minute or two?" I ask, desperate to stay standing. Despite the pain it really does feel good to use my muscles, to stretch like this.

"Sure, another minute or two should be fine. I have another patient to check on. You have her, Agent?"

OA nods to the doctor who then let's go of my arm and leaves the room. Suddenly I realize how close OA is and the butterflies return.

I somewhat turn and somewhat stumble as I try to face him. He catches my other arm in his and keeps me balanced.

"Now that I've got you where I want you..." I joke, but he doesn't smile much. I decide to try again anyway. "Okay. Well, like I was saying earlier," I tell him looking at him pointedly, "after you so rashly pulled away from me: Look at me."

"Maggie, it's fine. I don't know what I was think-"

"Oh shut up already," I say interrupting, teasing. "Now, say it again."

He looks at me carefully trying to gauge my intentions. Sighing, he rolls his eyes and says, "I don't want to." He's partially joking back now, giving me a hard time, and partially just being stubborn. I just narrow my eyes a bit. "Again," I demand.

He continues to look at me like he can't decide what to do. I drop all pretenses, all signs of joking. "OA, please?" I ask softly.

He exhales slowly and relaxes. What I'm asking him to do isn't easy, but me asking in the first place isn't easy either. He finally repeats his confession.

"Mags, I really care about you. And even though it's a bit scary, I think I'm falling for you. Now that you're awake, now that I know you're going to be fine, I can ask you. How do you feel about that?"

I'm still being supported by his strong arms. Feeling him close like this, nearly wrapped in his arms, I know that if I don't tell him the truth, I'll regret it forever, that I'll regret not giving this a shot.

"Even now," I begin, "even though I'm getting better and will recover, even though the Zetas are no longer a threat to me, even though Jose is gone, I still feel the same."

He's looking at me, brow furrowed, eyes confused, not sure what exactly that means.

"I. Still. Need. You" I whisper. I'm smiling at him, biting the inside of my cheek like I do when I'm nervous, waiting for my words to sink in. Then he wraps his arms around me completely and I wrap my arms around his neck. He's holding me and I feel so complete, so whole, that I know I made the right choice. We will face whatever comes together.

He pulls away just enough to look at me. The light in his eyes is almost blinding. He says those same words I long to hear, the words that confirm he feels the same.

"Never stop."

Suddenly I can't handle my emotions or the way he is looking at me. I grab the back of his head and pull him closer. Our lips collide with more passion this time, and I feel my need for him only grow. Short of breath, we pull away. But he keeps me in his embrace. Minutes pass, maybe more, but I'm in no hurry. Neither is he.

Then I hear myself chuckle. I try to stifle it, but I can't. I laugh a little louder and OA pulls away to look at me confused again.

"Was that as good for you as it was for me, or...?" I ask him. He laughs, too, hearing me use his words and pulls me in again for another hug.

"Oh, yes," he says softly. "Oh, yes."

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, don't know where we go from here, but I know it will be okay. It has to be. And after all I've been through in the last week, I know that I can face anything. With OA by my side the whole time, I know he'll here with me, too. And while I'm not completely sure of the capacity of my words, they hold truth. I need OA. And, at least for now, he doesn't want my need for him to disappear. That's all either of us needs.

END~

AN: This is the end of the story. To those of you who have supported me this whole time: THANK YOU SO MUCH. You make me love writing. I'm leaving this story open for a possible continuation, though I'm not sure how I feel about it. Maybe a series of one shots? There is still a lot to figure out for these characters: how Maggie will handle the reality of what happened including healing from the attacks both mentally and physically, what will happen to their partnership and relationship, what will happen with the remaining Zetas, etc. for now though, I'm content to end and maybe wait to see what more we get from the show. Also, I already have plans for a one shot that's not connected. Be watching for it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

-wisher93