After the first hour, there was little improvement. After the third, Doctor Richards noticed a slight difference in the results but not enough of a change to give the people waiting at her bedside the good news they were all waiting for.

He'd tried to be strict and insist on only two people at a time in the private room that had been assigned to Miss Parker but that had been difficult to enforce when even the ARC Director decided to break the rule. Lester had given him a disdainful look before pushing his way into the room, calling out an order over his shoulder for more chairs to be brought in.

There were never any less than four people in the room at any one time. While Captain Becker was a constant, the others seemed to take regular breaks to get food or drinks or use the facilities. Not the Captain. Doctor Richards hadn't so much as witnessed the man move an inch from his position at the Field Co-ordinator's side, his hand wrapped so tightly around hers the doctor wouldn't have been surprised to have to surgically remove it if things took a turn for the worse.

Fortunately, he didn't think that would be the case. After hour five passed, Doctor Richards finally had good news to impart.

"She's getting stronger," he announced to the group, who'd assembled at Lester's command. "There's a significant decrease in the toxin in the latest blood sample we took, which means the anti-venom is doing its job and working alongside her immune system to neutralise it."

"So she's going to be okay?" Captain Becker finally looked up from his study of the sleeping woman, his expression unreadable.

"I would say there's every reason to believe she will make a full recovering." Doctor Richards gave the soldier a reassuring smile. Becker gave him a nod in response before turning his attention back to Jess. The doctor was under the impression that he was no longer listening to the conversation, having heard the only thing that mattered to him. "She'll need plenty of rest," he continued, looking at Lester. "I know she will protest but her body has been through a hugely traumatic experience. She will need time to recover, which means no work for at least two weeks and, when she's back on duty, no working extended shifts, regular breaks away from her station and no skipping meals."

"She's been doing that?" Matt's eyes narrowed as he turned his intense stare onto the doctor.

Doctor Richards almost snorted. "Miss Parker is somewhat of a workaholic, Mr Anderson. Just like the rest of your team. I have mentioned my concerns to her in the past and will no doubt be forced to do so again."

"We'll make sure she takes it easy," Abby promised, giving him a reassuring smile but the glint in her eyes was determined.

The doctor nodded, approving of the idea. Out of all of them, Miss Maitland and Miss Merchant were the two he was counting onto ensure his orders were carried out. Well, them and the Captain, who he suspected would resort to drastic measures to keep the young Field Co-ordinator from over-extending herself during her recovery.

His announcement made, Doctor Richards excused himself to his office.

He checked in with his patient once more before he left for the evening, shaking his head at the sight of Captain Becker still sitting at her bedside, holding a lone vigil for the sleeping woman.

He'd insisted everyone else should leave but, with the exception of a quick bathroom break, he had no intention of going anywhere. Despite Doctor Richards telling them she was going to be okay, Becker wouldn't let himself believe it was true until she opened her eyes and smiled for him.

If he was honest with himself, he was a little nervous, too. Their relationship had changed and there was no going back. While he was happy with it, he was a little apprehensive about how Jess would react when she realised she was no longer running out of time. She loved him, he knew that. But whether or not she felt ready to be tied to one man for the rest of her life, being so young and in some ways so inexperienced in what the world had to offer...

"Becker?" Her voice was weak but loud enough to cut through his thoughts. "How did we get here?"

A grin broke out across his face and he moved to the edge of his chair. "Matt came in a helicopter. You thought we were in a castle for some reason."

"A castle?" Her confusion told him that was a question he'd never get an answer to but he was okay with that. As long as she lived, he'd be okay with anything. "I don't remember. I think... Did you mention an antidote?" Her eyes widened. "They opened an anomaly! What were they thinking?"

"They were thinking about you, about saving you." His hand tightened around hers. "I owe them. It should've been me."

"No. You were where you needed to be. Where I needed you to be, even if I didn't want to admit it." With her words, Jess absolved him of his guilt and assured him she had no regrets. "About what happened... What we did..."

"I hope to do it again." He smirked at the blush that immediately crept up her neck and flooded her cheeks. "I meant everything I said, Jess. I don't regret a thing."

"Really?" Her smile was bright and hopeful, exactly what he'd hoped to see. "If mean, if you're certain?"

"I've never been more certain about anything else," he assured her. "So if you're sure..."

"I am," she answered quickly, blushing when he smirked again at the speed of her response. She opened her mouth to say more but yawned instead, the hand that wasn't held by his moving to stifle it. "Sorry. I feel like I've slept for years but I'm still tired."

"Go to sleep." He reluctantly released her hand so she could shuffle on the small bed to get comfortable. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Jess continued to shift on the mattress but Becker didn't realise what she was doing until she tugged back the sheets. "You need to sleep, too."

He arched an eyebrow at what she was suggesting. "We'll never fit. It's too small for both of us."

"So we'll have to stay close." Jess shrugged a shoulder and tried but failed to stifle another yawn. "Please?"

Rolling his eyes at both her request and his inability to say no to her, Becker took off his boots and climbed carefully into bed beside her. It took some manoeuvring but they managed to squeeze onto the bed together, with Becker lying on the mattress and Jess lying mostly on him.

He told himself he'd stay until she felt asleep and would then return to his chair by the bed but knew after only a few minutes that it wasn't going to happen. For starters, her limbs were so entangled with his that he daren't move for fear of waking her and second, he felt his own eyelids grow heavy as he lay holding her.

Beginning to follow her into oblivion, Becker allowed himself to relax for the first time since hearing her letter read out loud. He could sleep and know she'd be there when he woke up, living and breathing and willing to share her future with him.

And there we have it. Fluff, fluff, fluffity fluff. Hope you enjoyed it - and thank you for being part of it, whether you reviewed/followed/favourited or not.