A/N – Last chapter, thanks for sticking around!

Chapter Four

The next morning Aubrey stormed into the office snapping at anyone who crossed her path. Beca eyed her cautiously for a few minutes before summoning the courage to approach the taller woman.

"So…rough night?"

The blonde leveled an icy glare on the brunette. "Not you too." She growled.

Beca quirked a brow and eyed her partner. Aubrey had dark circles under her eyes and her pantsuit was unusually less than crisp. It was clear she hadn't slept and was out of sorts.

"Ok, what happened?" Beca replied with a sigh. "What's wrong, did you have a fight with Chloe?"

"Why does something have to be wrong? Why can't I just have a night where I don't feel like talking? Why am I surrounded by incessant talking?"

Beca chuckled in spite of the blonde's obvious grumpiness. "Please tell me you didn't say that to Chloe."

Aubrey narrowed her eyes at Beca and the brunette could swear she saw steam. "Leave me alone."

"No." Beca replied with a smirk. "You've probably already made the mistake of pushing Chloe away when she is so obviously crazy about you. And perfect for you. She's the sweet to your salty, the happy to your grumpy…the sane to your neurotic-"

"Ok I get it!" Aubrey exclaimed before quickly glancing around to see if the other agents had taken notice of their conversation.

The blonde's demeanor quickly fell and she ran a hand over her face tiredly. Beca wasn't sure why or how she ended up with a soft spot for her uptight partner but she had and now she was intent on helping somehow.

"Come on."

Aubrey groaned but got to her feet and followed after the shorter woman. She followed her all the way to the gym on campus where the agents trained. They both got changed into workout clothes without a word. Beca tossed boxing gloves to the blonde and motioned her toward the punching bag where she had already taken up her position behind it.

"Well, come on, you need to get a little aggression out."

"This is ridiculous." Aubrey said, rolling her eyes.

"No seriously!" Beca exclaimed. "It's like a thing…punching something helps relieve tension. Not as well as sex but a close second. So let's go, punch it."

Aubrey once again rolled her eyes but halfhearted did as she was told.

"Come on Abe, you can do better than that!" Beca said with a smirk. "What's the matter, afraid to break a nail?"

"No!" the blonde yelled, swinging once again, this time with a little more enthusiasm. "I told you not to call me that! And I am not afraid of breaking a nail. Or of taking down asshole criminals. Or of stupid creepy messages."

Beca held the bag steady as Aubrey accentuated her words with punches, growing more forceful with each one. The brunette quirked a brow at Aubrey's last statement but shook her head in confusion. "Well what about of losing Chloe?"

At Beca's words, Aubrey stumbled and her swing went wide, missing the bag completely. She toppled to the ground. Instead of quickly getting back to her feet, Aubrey simply rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling with a sigh as she panted to catch her breath.

Beca saw the defeated look on the woman's face and took a seat next to her on the mat. "Alright, out with it…what happened?"

Aubrey sighed again, still flat on her back. "We fought. But I guess you already figured that out."

Beca nodded and motioned for the blonde to continue.

"It was so stupid. She just asked me what was bothering me. I didn't feel like talking and she kept pushing but I shouldn't have said…a lot of things. I didn't mean to be an ass but…I just didn't feel like talking!"

"Did you tell her that?" Beca asked calmly. "Or did you just go all mute and then snap?"

Aubrey cringed in answer and Beca nodded.

"Well," the brunette continued, "why don't you just apologize? I'm sure she'll be willing to talk about it. And let's face it, Chloe isn't the type to hold a grudge. She'll forgive you!"

"Maybe."

Beca nudged the other woman with her shoe until Aubrey finally met her gaze. "It's your choice dude. You either go talk to her and apologize or go back to being alone. And I gotta tell ya…we all appreciate how she's helped you unwind. You're much less of an uptight bitch when you're getting banged on the regular."

Aubrey quirked a brow but rolled her eyes at Beca's cheeky grin. "You're right…I just hope she'll see me."

"She will." Beca insisted. "What were you so upset about yesterday anyway?"

The blonde sighed and pulled herself into an upright, seated position. "It's stupid. I've just been getting these random messages at work and at home. I'm not one to easily freak out but they might be starting to get to me a little."

"What kind of messages?"

Aubrey shrugged and toyed with the hem of her t-shirt. "The first one said 'I haven't forgotten'. Then another said 'I know what you did'. Another said 'you'll pay'. There were a few others-"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Beca exclaimed. "Why am I just now hearing about this? Aubrey, this is serious, you're being threatened by some creep and you don't tell anyone?"

"I didn't think anything of it at first." The blonde replied sheepishly. "And I tried to track it down myself once, grilled the poor mail delivery kid, but he didn't know anything about it."

"Well someone had to have hand delivered it if it wasn't mailed. We'll figure it out. In the meantime, I think we should tell the Chief. Just as a precaution."

Aubrey rolled her eyes. "I don't want to make a big deal out of this. I'm sure it's nothing!"

"Aubrey, if you thought it was nothing, you wouldn't have gotten into a fight with Chloe because you wouldn't tell her that it was bothering you."

At the mention of Chloe and the argument, the blonde once again seemed to deflate.

"Just go talk to her." Beca said again. "Hey, I was right the last time I told you to go talk to her wasn't I? Trust me on this. Talk to her tonight as soon as you get out of here…in fact, leave early. Let's just go talk to the Chief and then you get out of here."

Aubrey wanted to argue but she found herself nodding in agreement and allowing the shorter woman to pull her to her feet.

xxxx

"She's not here."

Aubrey cringed slightly at Jesse's less than friendly tone. She nodded. "Is she really not here or did she tell you to say that because she doesn't want to talk to me? Which I deserve by the way."

Jesse narrowed his gaze at the woman standing before him. "She's really not here. But you're right, you would totally deserve that."

Aubrey chewed on her bottom lip and dropped her gaze. "I was a jerk, I know. And I want to apologize, that's why I came here. I thought she worked today…"

"She did." Jesse continued, still not warming up to the blonde. "But she was pretty upset so she cut out early."

The blonde felt her heart twist painfully at the thought of Chloe being upset. "I was a jerk, I get it. I just want to apologize and if she never wants to see me again I'll have to live with that. I just want to talk to her. Did she go home?"

"I'm not going to tell you that. Call her. If she wants to talk to you or tell you where she is, she will."

Aubrey sighed and nodded again. "Thank you Jesse. Have a good evening."

She slipped from the coffee shop without another word. Once she slid back into her car she tried dialing Chloe for the third time since leaving work. Once again her call went unanswered. She gripped the steering wheel tighter and drove until she reached the redhead's apartment complex.

Aubrey steeled her nerves and glanced down at her slightly rumpled suit jacket. She winced at her appearance but still lifted her fist and rapped on the door. She knocked again when her previous knock went unanswered.

She thought she heard shuffling inside the apartment so she knocked once again.

"Ugh, Ms. Myrtle, I'm fine! Please, no more chicken noodle soup. I'm just home to-"

The redhead jumped slightly at the sight of Aubrey standing on the other side of her door instead of her elderly neighbor who had already dropped off two helpings of soup, assuming the younger woman was home during a weekday due to sickness. Chloe's mouth snapped shut.

"Hello." Aubrey said softly.

Chloe pursed her lips and scuffed her foot on the hardwood floor. The blonde felt her heart flip at the sight of the woman in boxer shorts and a baggy sweatshirt, her feet clad in fuzzy socks. She looked adorable.

"Hi." Chloe replied, just as softly.

"Can I come in? I wouldn't blame you if you said no but…can I please come in?"

Chloe raised her eyes to meet Aubrey's gaze. The redhead swallowed thickly at Aubrey's appearance. She looked tired. And was she wearing a suit that hadn't been ironed? This was serious. Chloe held her ground, blocking entrance, until the blonde's bottom lip quivered. She was defenseless against the quiver and she knew it.

Chloe sighed and stepped to the side to allow Aubrey to enter. The blonde sniffled and gratefully stepped inside the apartment.

"Want something to drink or…some chicken noodle soup? I've got enough for an army." Chloe muttered glancing back toward the kitchen.

Aubrey smiled slightly and shook her head. She steeled her nerves and dove in. "I came to apologize Chloe…I'm sorry I was such a jerk. I shouldn't have taken it out on you! You're completely right! I'm closed off and you really are the only person who cares about me and I just pushed you away and I don't even know why I said you talk too much, you totally don't! I love listening to you talk, I really do. I'm so, so sorry Chloe. I'm such a mess, you deserve so much better and I wouldn't blame you if you never want to see me ag-"

"Ok whoa, Aubrey take a breath!" Chloe interrupted, stepping closer to the taller woman. She reached for the blonde's hands as tears began to leak from Aubrey's eyes. "First of all…I love you. I meant that the first time I said it to you and I've meant it every single time since. I love you. I don't deserve, or want, anyone other than you!"

Aubrey's breath hitched and Chloe's heart clenched at the hope she saw shining in her green eyes.

"And I'm sorry too." The redhead continued. "I shouldn't have pushed. I know you're a little more…reserved and I should have trusted you to talk to me when you were ready. It just felt like you were shutting me out so I just kept pressing. I can be a little pushy sometimes. And plus, those hateful things I said…I'm really sorry Aubrey. Just because you're reserved, that doesn't mean people don't care about you, they do! And I love you so much! So please…forgive me?"

Aubrey stared into Chloe's gaze for a few heartbeats as if trying to determine if the other woman was telling the truth. When Chloe smiled sweetly back at her, Aubrey sighed in relief. She felt as if a weight had been lifted and she could finally breathe again. "I love you."

Chloe stepped closer and slipped her arms around the blonde's slender waist, squeezing her tightly. Aubrey pulled her close and buried her face in the shorter woman's hair.

"So how about that chicken noodle soup?" Chloe asked finally. "Seriously, please have some with me. I'll be eating it for months otherwise."

Aubrey chuckled and nodded. They wandered into the kitchen hand in hand and Chloe set about warming up the soup for them. Aubrey simply watched her as she worked.

"I'm sorry you had a bad day yesterday." Chloe said softly as she placed their bowls on the table and took a seat across from the other woman. "Is today better?"

"It is now." Aubrey replied, reaching to take Chloe's hand. "I'm sorry I pushed you away. I'll try harder to be more open with you. I'm just not used to people asking or…caring. Other than Beca anyway. She can be a real nosy little bitch."

Chloe laughed and squeezed Aubrey's hand. "I knew I liked her. But seriously, just talk to me, even if it's just to say 'hey, had a shit day, don't really feel like talking about it, but here, let me give you a foot rub'."

Aubrey was finally relaxed enough to laugh as well and rolled her eyes. "A foot rub, I'll remember that next time. But really, I shouldn't have even made such a big deal out of it, I'm sure it's nothing."

"A work thing?" Chloe asked as she stirred her soup.

The blonde nodded and sighed as she too idly began to twirl her spoon in her soup. "Beca made me go to the Chief with it though…And she also suggested maybe I should take a few days off and lay low but it's happened at home too."

"Aubrey," Chloe interjected, "I want to be perfectly clear here, if you don't want to tell me you absolutely don't have to tell me…but what the hell are you talking about? What's been happening? Are you ok?"

The blonde sighed again and smiled wryly. "Sorry, I forgot I just stewed over it and didn't actually tell you anything. Again, I'm sure it's nothing but…I've been getting these weird notes at work. And even one or two at home."

"What kind of notes?"

Aubrey shrugged and once again began to swirl her soup. "Well, not threatening exactly. But creepy. Like, 'I haven't forgotten', or 'I'm waiting', or 'You'll pay'. Just stuff like that."

Chloe sat motionless, wide eyed as Aubrey remained perfectly calm while relaying the information. "Aubrey…this sounds serious! How are you so calm about this?"

The blonde met Chloe's worried gaze and shrugged again. "Well so far that's all it's been, notes. I can take care of myself. I have all the proper training to protect myself-"

"Aubrey you deal with crazies all the time!" Chloe exclaimed. "They could come out of nowhere or something. And this guy knows where you live! Ok, you're staying here with me, no arguments."

Aubrey chuckled. "I was hoping we'd be together tonight. I didn't sleep at all last night…I missed you."

Chloe once again reached for Aubrey's hand. "I missed you too! We spend pretty much every night together, I've kind of gotten used to you. We should maybe start thinking about moving in together…But for the time being you're staying here because it's safer."

Aubrey felt a grin pulling at her face at the mention of them moving in together and she ignored the rest of the redhead's statement. "You want to move in together?"

"Of course I do." Chloe replied with a grin of her own. "I love you Aubrey. Maybe we should get a dog! Like a guard dog or something…or a cat. They're pretty badass too."

Aubrey laughed again and squeezed Chloe's hand. "Whatever you want."

xxxx

Aubrey had to admit the past two weeks had been nearly perfect. She had all but moved in with Chloe, at the redhead's insistence since she heard about the notes arriving at Aubrey's apartment. Everything about the apartment felt like home, even when Chloe was out. The blonde felt more at home there than she ever had in her place. But again, she suspected it had more to do with who she was sharing the home with and not the apartment itself.

And the notes seemed to have stopped as well. Aubrey hoped they were merely an angry person venting and now they had sent their fill and would simply fade away. As much as she hated to admit it, the messages had begun to get to the blonde.

She had gone back to work after taking only a handful of days off. Beca seemed to be watching her like a hawk and followed her nearly everywhere. Aubrey simply rolled her eyes and allowed the shorter woman to follow her if it made her feel better. The blonde couldn't help but smile, realizing Beca wasn't doing it to aggravate her, but more so because she actually did care about her. She even though about inviting her partner to their apartment for dinner one night.

She really was becoming a sap. Chloe was clearly rubbing off on her. With a smile, Aubrey had to admit to herself that she didn't mind at all.

xxxx

Chloe grunted under the strain of the heavy trash bag as she slowly made her way into the alleyway behind Bellas where the dumpsters were located. "Should have reminded Jesse to take this shit out before he left." She mumbled.

She grunted again as she hefted the bag up and into the large bin. The redhead nodded resolutely to herself and dusted her hands off. She turned on her heel and yelped in surprise when she came face to face with a tall dark haired man. Chloe chuckled and pressed a hand to her chest when his face finally registered as the man who had poured his heart out to her those weeks ago.

"James, geez you scared me!" She exclaimed with a smile. "Sorry, we're closed now…but I don't mind grabbing you something quick. You doing ok?"

"You seem like a really great person Chloe."

The redhead narrowed her eyes at the cold tone to the man's voice. "Um…thanks?"

"That's why I'm really sorry to have to do this…but you shouldn't have gotten involved with her."

Chloe could only gasp in surprise before James quickly swung his arm, a portion of metal pipe clutched firmly in his fist. She crumpled to the ground in an unmoving heap.

xxxx

Aubrey tried once again to call Chloe to see what she wanted for dinner but the call went unanswered. By this time the shop was closed and Chloe would have had time to finish closing down and at least pick up her phone. She sighed as she once again put her phone in her jacket pocket.

The blonde smiled when she felt her phone buzz seconds later, certain Chloe was calling her back. She pulled the phone out, a frown forming when she saw it was a text message instead of Chloe.

You have a lovely girlfriend.

Aubrey quirked a brow and stared down at the unfamiliar number. She was just about to delete the text message when another message popped up. The blonde squinted as she tried to make out the picture that was included in the most recent message. She clicked to open the picture to get a better view as her phone once again chirped signaling additional messages.

When the first picture opened, Aubrey felt a wave of uneasiness wash over her. It was a picture of Chloe through the coffee shop window. The second picture was also of Chloe, alone in the back alley behind Bellas.

Aubrey's heart was hammering in her chest as she opened the third picture. She reached a hand to steady herself against the side of the building at the sight of Chloe bound with her hands behind her back and sitting in a hunched position.

Do I have your attention? Warehouse 15 on the docks. Come alone. Better hurry.

Aubrey paid no attention to the looks from people on the street as she bolted for her car. The thought came to her as she ran to her car that she still had no idea who this person was or what he wanted with her. She also had no idea what she was about to walk into but none of that mattered.

xxxx

Chloe's first realization was that her head was splitting. Her second was that she couldn't move. Her vision finally cleared and she glanced around. She quickly realized she was strapped tightly to a chair with her hands tied behind her back. A man was standing nearby looking at his phone. James. And then suddenly she remembered the alley.

"James?" She asked tentatively. "What's going on? Why am I here?"

He glanced up and with a sigh stepped closer. A shiver shot down her spine at the cold look on his face.

"I apologize again Chloe, I really do." He replied. "But you got involved with the wrong woman. It's her fault you're here…her fault that you're going to have to die."

"Jesus." Chloe hissed. "What is wrong with you? How do you even know Aubrey? I was nice to you!"

James sighed again and nodded. "You were and because of that I almost changed my mind about this. Almost. But she has to pay. And unfortunately for you, that means you're not only the bait, but you're what is going to hurt her the most. She loves you…so naturally she can't have you."

"I don't understand." Chloe said softly. "Is this…is this about your boyfriend? Or was that all a lie? What does Aubrey have to do with him?"

"Don't talk about him in the same breath as her." James snarled. "She has to pay! She killed him!"

"You don't know anything about her!" Chloe replied desperately, hoping to reason with him. "She is a good person and-"

"Shut up!" He screamed in rage, lunging at the woman, fists balled.

James was trembling when he finally collected himself. He was panting slightly and his fists were still clenched tightly. He glanced down at his hands and grimaced at the sight of his split and bloody knuckles.

The man sighed when he finally took in the sight of Chloe slumped sideways in the chair. James roughly pushed her into an upright position and secured a gag in her mouth to avoid any further outbursts from the woman.

"Now we wait."

xxxx

Aubrey braced herself against the side of the building, her pistol firmly in her grip, and exhaled slowly to steady her breathing. She quickly glanced heavenward as if searching for some sign of guidance. All of her training led her to this moment. However, never in her training did she feel that her entire world was hanging in the balance.

"Come on in Agent Posen." The voice sounded from inside the warehouse. "Glad to see you got my invitation."

The blonde clenched her jaw and tightened her grip on her pistol before she turned and eased her way through the doorway. She kept the gun raised in front of her as she quickly scanned her surroundings. Aubrey clenched her jaw when she finally spotted them.

Chloe was seated in a wooden chair, her arms tied behind her back. She was completely still with her head lowered, her red hair tousled and wild and draped over her shoulders, blocking her face from view. A dark haired man was squatting behind the chair with a wide grin on his face as Aubrey inched her way closer. The fading sunlight glinted off the blade in his hand as he raised it to the redhead's neck. Chloe didn't move.

"I came like you asked." Aubrey said, willing her voice to remain steady and not betray her true feelings. Chloe still didn't move, even at the sound of Aubrey's voice. "Step away from her and let's settle this."

James chuckled and shook his head. "Now, now, Aubrey-may I call you Aubrey? That's not how this is going to go down. I'm the one with a knife-a very sharp knife-pressed to your girl's throat here. So I'm calling the shots. Drop the gun."

"For all I know she's already dead." Aubrey said softly, trying to buy time as her mind reeled through her options.

The man chuckled again but rolled his eyes. "Come on now Aubrey, do you honestly think I would drag you all the way down here to save your lady love just to kill her before you got the chance? To rob you of your hope just like that? Does that really sound like something I would do? Ok…it totally is something I'd do, you're right. But have no fear…I haven't killed her yet. I intend to make sure you watch it happen. That's the whole point of this…to see your face as you watch her die, watch the most important thing in your life slip away from you. I wasn't given that chance…I had to hear about it on the fucking news."

With that, James reached with his free hand and fisted Chloe's hair and roughly jerked her head backwards.

Aubrey felt her stomach clench at the sight of the gash above the redhead's eye as well as the bloody gag in her mouth. But Chloe winced and groaned at the rough movement. Now that her red hair wasn't draped and shielding her chest from sight, Aubrey could make out the blood stains on her shirt.

Chloe groaned again and blinked rapidly, trying to clear her senses. Her vision finally cleared and her eyes widened as her gaze landed on Aubrey. Her breathing grew rapid and she swallowed thickly against the blade still pressed to her throat.

"Happy?" James said with a smirk. "Now drop the gun or I'll make her death slow and painful instead of quick like a nice girl like her deserves."

Aubrey exhaled slowly and finally loosened her grip on her weapon. She raised one hand in a placating manor as she slowly lowered the gun and placed it on the ground in front of her. She eased back into an upright position, her hands still clearly visible in front of her.

"There." She said softly. "I'll do what you want, just let Chloe go. This isn't about her."

"Oh isn't it?" James laughed bitterly. "I have a score to settle with you Agent Posen. An eye for an eye. And I'm very sorry that Chloe here has to suffer for your sins, she seems like a really nice person, she really does. But she made the mistake of getting involved with you and now you only have yourself to blame for her pain. I'm going to take the thing that you love most away from you just like you did me. Say goodbye Aubrey."

Chloe screamed against the gag in her mouth as the blade dug deeper into the flesh of her neck. A thin trickle of blood began to spill as he sliced through her skin.

"Who are you?" Aubrey cried desperately, taking a step closer. "Your attempt at revenge would go a lot further if I had any clue as to what I've allegedly done to wrong you. But I don't even know who you are!"

James snarled but her words had the desired effect and he stilled his hand. Chloe hissed in pain and choked against the gag in her mouth.

"You don't even know." He hissed. "After all this and you don't even know what you did. You fucking piece of shit! You didn't deserve to pick up his garbage! And you killed him! I loved him and you took him from me…for no good reason! What we did was art and you people treated it like it was some disgusting trash. Myles was brilliant…an artist! And you fucking shot him like some worthless criminal."

Aubrey's jaw dropped as memories of her early days with the Bureau came flooding back. Myles. Her lip curled in disgust inadvertently. "Myles Jones…the child pornographer? That's what this is about?"

"Don't you say his name!" James bellowed, rising to his full height in his anger. He kept one hand fisted in Chloe's hair and the knife pressed firmly to her neck with the other. "You robbed me of the love of my life! You killed him!"

"Because he pulled a gun when we went to take him in!" Aubrey replied tensely, eyeing both James and Chloe's vulnerable positions. "He shot and killed an agent, I didn't have a choice!"

The man snarled again and rolled his eyes. "He wasn't hurting anyone and you had no right. You had no right! He was beautiful and we were beautiful together! And you fucking killed him. You killed the love of my life and now I'm going to return the favor. I've been waiting for this day for years. Say goodbye Agent Posen."

Time seemed to slow. Aubrey's heart seemed to still as James dropped his gaze to Chloe, a sickening grin on his face. In one fluid motion, Aubrey reached for the small revolver still tucked into the back of her pants underneath her jacket and swung her arm. She exhaled steadily as she aimed and fluidly squeezed the trigger.

The blonde's quick motion caught James' attention and his eyes flickered in her direction. His eyes barely had time to widen in surprise before his head snapped backwards from the force of the bullet ripping through his forehead.

The knife slipped from his hand as James toppled backwards. Aubrey kept the gun trained on the downed man as she quickly made her way to where Chloe had hunkered down in the chair as far away from him as she could manage.

Aubrey kept her attention on James only long enough to be certain her aim had been true. Unseeing eyes stared back up at her with blood pooling underneath his lifeless body. She quickly whirled back to Chloe and dropped to her knees next to the trembling woman.

"Chloe!" Aubrey quickly reached and unfastened the gag from Chloe's mouth and cupped the redhead's cheeks in her hands. "It's ok, I'm here Chloe. You're ok. You're ok baby."

Aubrey quickly scanned Chloe's face and, taking in the bruises and cuts. The gash above her eye seemed to be the main source of the blood stains to her shirt but her lip was also split and a number bruises were beginning to form on her cheeks and one eye was already black and badly swollen as well. Blood was also still trailing down her neck from where James had cut her.

The blonde thumbed away tears that began to leak from Chloe's eyes and brushed a gentle kiss to the woman's forehead. "You're safe now Chloe, I've got you. I'm just going to untie your hands ok? I'm not going anywhere, I just need to untie you ok?"

She waited for the redhead to nod before breaking contact with her. Aubrey then quickly slipped behind the chair and untied Chloe's hands. As soon as she was free, Chloe fell into Aubrey's arms as the taller woman helped ease her out of the chair.

Still with one arm wrapped securely around the redhead, Aubrey fished her cell phone out and quickly dialed for help.

"Ok babe, they're on the way. Help is coming and then we'll get you all checked out ok? You're ok, everything is fine. You're safe."

Chloe's adrenaline seemed to be fading and her injuries were once again getting the best of her, particularly her head wound. But she nodded against Aubrey's shoulder. "I knew you'd come." She whispered.

Aubrey squeezed the shorter woman in her arms and once again gently pressed her lips to Chloe's forehead. "Of course I came for you, I love you Chloe… And you finally got my coffee order right…I'm not about to go through the trouble of breaking in a new barista."

Chloe chuckled softly. "Plain black coffee, got it. You could have brewed your own cup for a lot cheaper ya know."

"Maybe." Aubrey replied, smiling softly. "But then I wouldn't have gotten to see you every morning."

Chloe winced slightly as she lifted her head to get a better view of the woman still cradling her tenderly. She smiled finally. "I knew it, I knew that's why you came in every day. I love you Agent Posen."

"I love you too." Aubrey whispered. "And I'm so sorry I got you into this. I'm so sorry he hurt you…God, I've never been so scared…I'm so sorry Chloe!"

It was Aubrey's turn to tear up slightly and Chloe smiled as she dropped her head back to the blonde's shoulder once again. "I'm ok Aubrey, I'm ok."

A few minutes later Beca came rushing in with a handful of other agents and EMT's. "Jesus Christ Aubrey! There's such a thing as backup! What the fuck were you thinking?"

Aubrey smiled in relief as the medics quickly began to tend to Chloe. She kept the redhead's hand firmly in her own as they moved to load the injured woman onto a stretcher. "Nice to see you too Beca." She called over her shoulder.

"Holy shit." Beca muttered, her gaze drifting between Chloe and the dead man's body. "You know there is going to be a shit ton of paperwork for this right?"

The blonde simply shrugged at the brunette before disappearing out the door, still holding tightly to Chloe's hand.

"Sure…I'll just take care of…all of this then." Beca called after her.

xxxx

Hours later when Beca arrived at the hospital to check up on Chloe, she found Aubrey perched in a chair next to the redhead's bed where she was sleeping soundly. The lights were dimmed in the room with only a soft lamp shining from the wall behind the bed.

"Hey, how is she?" The brunette asked softly, stepping closer.

Aubrey smiled at her partner as she stepped closer and rose from her spot next to the bed. "She's going to be ok." She replied quietly. "Stitches and a concussion. They're keeping her overnight for observation but she should get out of here tomorrow."

"That's awesome." Beca said with a nod. "I'm glad she's ok. But you should get your ass kicked for barging in there all alone. You could have been killed Aubrey!"

"Quiet!" Aubrey hissed, glancing back toward the bed. "She needs to rest. And yes, I'm aware that going into a situation like that alone is dangerous but I didn't have time to plan a full operation. I had to get her out of there. Don't tell me you would have done anything differently because I know you wouldn't have."

Beca smirked and elbowed the taller woman. "That's because I'm the badass in this partnership Posen. And don't you forget it."

Before Aubrey could reply, Chloe stretched and stirred in the bed. "Aubrey?" She mumbled, her voice slurred from a combination of sleep and medication.

The blonde quickly slipped back to the redhead's side and took her hand. "I'm right here babe. You ok, need anything?"

Chloe grinned, still only half awake. "'m ok." She mumbled again. "Is that Becs?"

Beca stepped closer to the bed as well and gave a small wave. "Hey there Chloe. You're really rocking that black eye! Looks awesome."

Aubrey leveled a glare on the brunette while Chloe simply chuckled. "It's 'cause I'm awesome. And Bree's awesome…she saved me."

"Bree." Beca repeated with a cheeky grin. "Was that a nickname? Did Aubrey Posen approve of a frivolous nickname? Agent Bree Posen, nice ring to it."

Aubrey rolled her eyes before turning back to her girlfriend and giving her hand a squeeze. "Sure you don't need anything? Water, another pain pill?"

Chloe smiled up at the blonde and shook her head, the movement causing her to grimace slightly.

"Ok," Beca said, seeing the other woman's discomfort, "I should get going and let you rest. I just wanted to check in on you. I'll come back tomorrow. I'm really glad you're ok Chloe!"

"K." Chloe replied after the other woman had already turned to leave. "I love you Beca, you're my best friend! You an' Jesse. He likes you by the way. Totally loves you an' wants to make cute lil brunette babies with you."

Beca's face paled slightly and she stumbled. She turned back and narrowed her eyes at Aubrey who was trying unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. Chloe simply continued to smile up at Aubrey, oblivious. The brunette shook her head and slipped quietly from the room.

Aubrey turned back to Chloe and eased herself to sit on the edge of the bed. The redhead sighed and blinked sleepily up at the blonde as Aubrey brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, careful to avoid any bruises.

"How bad is it?" Chloe asked.

The blonde smiled, somewhat sadly. "Beca was right, you're totally rocking that black eye. Just a few bruises and stitches but you'll be good as new in no time. Although I doubt Jesse is ever going to forgive me for this one…he barely spoke to me for days after we fought."

The redhead chuckled softly. "He'll forgive you…you saved me…my hero."

"Technically you helped save yourself by giving me that gun." Aubrey replied, lifting the injured woman's hand to press a kiss to it. "I don't know what I would have done if…"

"I'm ok." Chloe slurred again, squeezing the blonde's hand. "I knew you would save me."

Aubrey smiled tenderly. "You should be sleeping. And then tomorrow we'll get you out of here and you can rest in your own bed…you'll be much more comfortable there I'm sure."

Chloe grew serious and tightened her grip on Aubrey's hand. "You'll stay with me?"

The blonde felt her heart clench, assuming the redhead was still afraid after her ordeal. "Of course I will Chloe. But you don't have to be scared, you're safe now."

Chloe smiled and once again tried to shake her head, the movement again causing her to wince. "I know that. I'm not scared. I just want you to stay with me…forever. Ya know?"

Aubrey couldn't keep the wide smile from her face as Chloe's words registered. She finally nodded. "I'd like that. In fact…we could get a place together…once you're feeling better of course. Or I don't mind moving into your apartment…whatever you want."

"Awesome." Chloe replied, still smiling but struggling to keep her eyes open.

"I love you Chloe." Aubrey whispered, leaning down to press her lips to the redhead's forehead.

"Love you too Bree." She responded, finally drifting off to sleep again.

Aubrey smiled down at the woman as she nestled comfortably into the pillow. Maybe having a nickname wasn't such a bad thing after all.

The End.