A/N: Ok I think we're entering the homestretch with this one, just a little more to go.

Half-sitting, against pillows that were propped up against the headboard, Merri closed her eyes, enjoying the aftershocks from the moment she had just spent with Chris. Being away for three months had definitely not hindered the man's form, nor his prowess in helping her reach new orgasmic heights.

"That was nice." She sighed, lazily dropping a hand into his short sprigs of hair as his head rested up against her swollen bosom.

"Nice ain't the word for it", he grinned before planting a kiss in valley between her breasts.

"I think we set a new record." She teased watching his head jerk upward.

"For you meb'be," he quipped. The truth was Chris loved her body, the way it felt when he was inside of her, the way she tasted against his lips, her heavenly scent of vanilla mixed with a slight hint of brown sugar. There was just nothing else to compare it too. His new wife was as close to perfect as they came and he gained pleasure from serving her sexual wants and needs.

"Maybe I'll let you have a freebie doggy style later." She smiled, cupping his chin. He'd shared with her before that there was a just a different feel to the way that her muscles wrapped around him when they were in the position. They were tighter, not that Merri was loose by any means, but it was just more gratifying for him at times to take her that way.

"I might just hold ya too that." He winked at her, before climbing his way up to her lips. "But right now, I just wanna hold ya in my arms and get some shut-eye." After flying 22 hours, jet lag and the time change had him whipped. "And then after that a little Commander's Palace for some dinner." He yawned, placing his head on her shoulder. "and afterwards, we can come back here for round two." He teased, taking her hand as he rolled onto his side, so that she was spooned up against his back.

"Round two, I like that," she said, punctuating her words with soft kisses to his back before inspecting the scars that were once the trigger to her nightmares. After 7 months, they had healed quite nicely. Most had faded to half-inch white lines that seemed to be at peace. But there was one that still bothered her. The one directly over his left kidney was still angry and deformed. For some reason it hadn't healed like the others. Delicately, she ran her finger over it, in prayerful reflection. They could actually be happy now she smiled consenting to the fact that the unsightly scar would help keep her humble.

Moving her hand under his ribs so that it was resting on his side she encountered something that she had not noticed before, a ridge that ran horizontally. It was straight, maybe a half inch to an inch long. The skin around it was dry, flaking as if it were healing.

"Chris, what is this?" she asked increasing the pressure so that he winced.

"Nothin,'" he said quickly rolling back on to the offensive side that was about to have his new bride all wound up in knots.

"Chris-" Her brows arched as she shot him her sternest of looks.

"It's nothin,' for ya to worry about," he countered touching her face. Their lips met and he felt her stiffen. Seemingly, she had steeled herself against his charm.

"I always worry about you and on occasion I still have dreams where you end up dead. So don't you dare lie to me."

He chewed his lip, letting his eyes fall into the sheets. "All right, someone took a shot at me." He lifted his head, to gauge her expression, "But I swear it was just a scratch, there weren't any stitches or nuthin'" he added looking at her a bit owl eyed.

"Shot-" she repeated letting out a quite scoff. "How?"

"Everything that happened that on the Sub is classified, I can't tell ya." Technically, it was still an ongoing investigation and since it wasn't NOLA's investigation, he was obligated not to say anything.

Brody gave him another murderous glance. How could he not be able to tell her of all people? She understood classified, she really did. But still. She was his wife and not an ordinary wife, she was a federal agent.

"I need to get back to work or Pride will be calling soon," she said icily glancing over Chris' shoulder at the clock, she was way past due her limit of personal time to care of Cade's so called emergency. She also hadn't forgotten that she had left Jackson high and dry in the middle of a stakeout and with this newest revelation, she needed some air.

"Wait-" Chris latched onto to her arm as she started to she roll over in time with her phone coming to life.

"I need to get that." She swallowed, turning away from him.

"I'll tell ya!" Chris reached over her and grabbed at the phone knocking it from the nightstand. The phone bounced and then settled face down on the carpet. Both peered over the edge of the bed, staring down at the hapless phone until it went silent.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled back into his chest, despite her initial squirming. "OK, it happened like this. I shot at the bad guy, he shot at me." He told her, wide eyed, his heading bobbing. "But you should see him-"

Merri pressed two fingers to his lips, silencing anything more he might have wanted to say. "Ok, I get it. You can't talk about it. But next time a little warning in advance would be nice."

"You got it." He said, giving her a chaste kiss that quickly deepened with any luck, he could coax into round two before he lost her to the hustle and bustle she had going on for whatever case. He wasn't quite sure if his body could handle another round so soon, but the idea of keeping her wrapped up in this moment without the interference of the outside world, particularly anything that might pertain to the horrible massacre he had recently witnessed was more than tempting.

Merri twisted in his arms and wrapped her hands around his biceps, pulling herself away. "I really do have to get back. So, what'll be? Are you going to stay here and sleep or come with me to the office? I know some people who would really like to see you." Secretly, she hoped that if she brought Chris in tow, that Pride would let her go once all of the greetings and welcome backs had been made.

Professionalism was out the window as Brody tugged on Chris' hand pulling him through the large green barn style doors. "Look, who I just happen to run into-"she beamed, the rest of her words dying on her lips, as the welcoming party came into view.

Pride and Director Vance were standing in the middle of the room, staring at them expectantly with hard glances.

"Mr. and Mrs. LaSalle, how nice of you to join us." Vance tossed out.

Brody let go of Chris' hand, looking back at him as if he were the center of attention in the room.

Chris looked past her, directly at Pride. "Uh-Oh, I know that look. I'm in trouble aren't I?"

Pride momentarily shifted his eyes to Vance. "Christopher, Director Vance wants to have a word with you. Brody, you're with me in the courtyard."

"What's going on?" Brody asked, as the senior agent's hand fell to the small of her back, guiding her outside to the small wrought iron patio table.

"Sit," Pride told her.

"I think I'd rather stand," she countered, crossing her arms over her chest as he stood before her with his hands on his hips.

"So, you and Christopher got married."

Brody's eyes automatically, went to the clay gravel at her feet. "I...we were going to tell you as soon as Chris got back."

"I see and when did you and Chris decide this?" he quizzed.

"It just sort of happened. We didn't plan it." Well, they had but then had gotten caught up in the moment.

"Didn't plan it." Pride repeated. "The two of you were just talkin' on the phone and decided that getting married was the thing to do."

"Something like that, but Chris and I are adults," Brody felt her neck start to grow warm. She was starting to feel as if she and Chris were a couple of teenagers who without much forethought decided to just up and elope.

"Well aware, but just think about all of this." Pride took a moment to rub his nose. "You and Christopher get married on a whim after another huge tragedy in your lives and then he shows up here six days before his investigation is officially closed."

Brody closed her eyes, letting out a sigh. She had been so caught up in the fact that Chris had come home that she hadn't stopped to think about his very highly publicized case. He'd left an open investigation. No wonder Director Vance was here. "Let me guess you think he's still in some sort of shock and can't handle the trauma."

"You're the one with PTSD, you tell me," Pride tossed out in investigator mode.

Brody pursed her lips, but refused to break eye contact. "I'll talk to him. Just let me take care of it."

"You sure you're up for it?"

Brody really didn't know. She was still trying to deal with her own demons.

Pride gave her a subtle nod. "All right then, you take care of Christopher and I'll smooth things over with Leon."

A/N: I know what you're all thinking, but this last little hurdle is what ties the title together with the story: Girl with the Healing Touch. But I promise, Brody will have some very intimate ways of healing him! Fluff Alert!