A/N some of what happens in this chapter is most likely wrong, this is due to me not being in the Armed Forces and living in the UK so please forgive me but no one's perfect are they : P Enjoy!

Colby and Liz had been dating for six months and within the last month Liz had more or less moved into Colby's apartment. Not that he minded. But Liz still tended to go to her own apartment a lot (much to Colby's and Riley's, Colby's German Shepard puppy, disappointment) so Colby was trying to work out how to ask her to move in with him permanently. The team were currently standing in the break room after wrapping up a case and getting ready to go home, and all were laughing and joking until fellow Agent Newson stepped into the room.

"Colby" said Newson getting Colby's attention.

"Yeah? What's up Greg?" asked Colby looking at Greg but still not removing his arm from around Liz's shoulder.

"You need to come with me to the Director's office" stated Greg; something about the look on Greg's face was unsettling the team.

Nodding Colby slowly withdrew his arm from around Liz only for Liz to take hold of his arm and look up at him and ask "what's this about?"

"No idea" replied Colby. Wondering himself why he needed to go and see the Director. Colby kissed Liz's forehead and then after squeezing Liz's hand he followed Greg out of the break room and through the bull pen towards the elevator. While David went and stood beside Liz and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"David what do you think this is about?" questioned Liz, her eyes not leaving Colby's retreating back.

"Your guess is as good as mine" replied David, also watching as Colby walked towards the elevator.

As Colby stepped into the elevator beside Greg he caught a glimpse of his friends watching. He wanted nothing more than to tell them that they had nothing to worry about, but the truth was he couldn't because he didn't know what was going on either. The doors slid shut and Colby felt his heart clench at the look of concern on Liz's face as she continued to watch him.


Colby had been gone for an hour and the team were seated around his desk waiting for him, with Liz sat on his chair and one fist gently gripping the jacket he had left on the back of his chair. They heard the elevator doors open and Don, David, Megan and Liz all turned their heads to see Colby emerge. The team were concerned at seeing the look on Colby's face; he seemed to be in the middle of an internal battle. Soon he reached his desk and looked at his friends' expectant faces.

"Colby what's wrong?" asked David standing up so he was face to face with Colby. Liz remained silent watching how Colby reacted to the question and how he answered.

"I don't really know how to tell you" murmured Colby scratching the back of his head.

"Just try buddy, I'm sure it won't seem that bad once you get it out" comforted Don, also standing from his seat.

Colby took a deep breath and kept his gaze fixed on the floor, "My old Army CO wanted to see me" he paused but no one interrupted knowing Colby had to get it out. "Apparently squads from my old Unit have been getting into some trouble in an area of Afghanistan I have extensive knowledge of due to having done many missions there. And….er…I've been asked in such a way I can't say no too…to…er…to go out there to help the squads"

Silence met this, and then the silence was broken by Megan. "You're going back to a warzone?"

Colby nodded finally looking up and wishing he hadn't, Liz and Megan looked as if they were trying to contain tears and David and Don were just looking at him in disbelief and worry.

"How long for?" asked Don quietly,

"It could be a month" replied Colby,

"When do you leave?" questioned David.

Colby took another deep breath, "a week today". There was a shocked silence which was broken by Liz making a sound that told the team she was stifling a sob. Liz shakily rose from the chair and more or less ran out of the bull pen. Colby watched her go with sad eyes; David placed a hand on Colby's shoulder as a sign of comfort and support.

"You ok?" asked David, softly seeing the emotional turmoil in Colby's eyes.

"As much as I can be given the situation. Don the Director said he was sending you an email about some stuff" said Colby, before he took his jacket and keys and made his way towards the elevator.


Colby parked his car outside his apartment building and noticed Liz's car wasn't there, sighing he pulled himself out of the car. He feared he had just ended the relationship between him and Liz. Soon enough he entered his apartment and closed the front door with his back and lent against it rubbing his face and sighing again. He then grabbed a beer and collapsed onto the couch and just stared at the blank TV. Riley bounced over and threw himself onto the couch and nuzzled Colby's arm sensing Colby was upset.

"I'm ok boy" murmured Colby as he stroked Riley's head. Riley then put his head on Colby's lap.

Colby didn't want to go back, but he had no choice and if he was honest even though he dreaded the thought of going back, he did want to help his friends who were still out there.

He was jolted out of his thoughts at a knocking at his front door; he moved Riley then hoisted himself up and sluggishly walked over to the door and opened it.

"Liz?!" Colby was shocked he thought for sure that Liz would want to end things.

"You thought I was going to break up with you didn't you?" questioned Liz as she walked into the apartment and she turned around to face Colby not giving him a chance to answer, "Well I'm not. And you are an idiot for believing that, yes I'm scared that you'll be going into a warzone. But I'm not leaving you" Liz watched as relief spread across Colby's face.

Liz then took the two steps to reach Colby and tightly wrapped her arms around him, she then felt his arms wrap around her and he rested his head on top of hers.

"I just don't want you to go" she mumbled into his chest.

Liz felt Colby sigh and heard him reply "I don't want to go either, but I don't have a choice"

"I know. Don text me the Director told him that the team has the week off and that we won't be getting a replacement as the team has worked with four Agents in the past" Liz felt Colby nod, she then pulled back and looked up at him. "Come on you need to eat something" she then pulled him into the kitchen and then they started to make spaghetti and a pasta sauce. They both turned around at Riley's barking, "Alright! Alright! I'll give you some food as well!" exclaimed Liz to Riley as she filled his bowl up with some biscuits.

Cooking dinner brought them to fits of laughter because the sauce in the saucepan started spitting and a big blob of sauce landed on Colby's shirt.

Colby sighed dramatically, "Guess I'll have to go get changed"

Liz giggled "go on off with you!" and she playfully kicked him out of the kitchen.

Colby realized all his slobbing around the apartment shirts were in the wash so leaving his dirty shirt in his bedroom he walked back to the edge of the kitchen and bent down to open the washer. While trying to stop Riley from shoving his head in. This was when Liz caught sight of the scar on his shoulder, it was two thin white lines, one went over the top of his shoulder and the other went around the side of the top of his arm. Colby stood up and before he put the shirt on he noticed the look on Liz's face.

"Liz? You ok?" he asked softly, Liz lowered the temperature of the sauce and then walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. She knew the scar came from his last tour in Afghanistan and thinking about the situation in which Colby was injured he got off pretty lightly and Liz couldn't imagine him getting hurt worse.

"I don't want to think that you could get hurt worse than this" she choked.

"I can't make any false promises, but I'll try my hardest not to" Colby reassuringly smiled squeezing Liz's hand. Liz reached up and kissed him and then went back to their food. While Riley went to lie on his bed sensing from the mood that Liz and Colby needed each other.


They were relaxing on the couch the next day with Riley curled up next to them on the floor. When Colby got Liz's attention, "look I was just wondering as you more or less live here already and I love having you here. Would you like to move in with me?"

Liz's face broke into a wide grin and she threw herself on to Colby eliciting an 'oof' from Colby as she exclaimed "I thought you'd never ask! Of course I will!" Riley barked happily and joined Liz with jumping on Colby.

Soon Colby had to call his parents and tell them he was going back to Afghanistan, Liz watched as he made the phone call and saw how upset it was making Colby, but he didn't let his feelings show in his voice so as not to further upset his parents. He understood why they were upset, they thought he was safe from the war, they thought him joining the FBI would keep him away from it all and now they were finding out that it didn't matter that he was now in the FBI, he was still going back. After Colby disconnected the call he walked out onto his small balcony and looked out at the beach that was a couple of blocks away. Liz watched as he placed his arms onto the railing and then dejectedly he put his head on his arms.

Liz walked over and placed a hand on his arm, "I know this is a stupid question, but are you alright?"

"That was hard. At first they didn't believe me saying there must have been a mix up and 'not to worry but it will soon be sorted out', then when they realized it was true mom burst out crying but she tried to hide it which only made me feel worse. Dad was saying I should complain and say that I'm FBI now so I shouldn't have to go back. I told him what I told you and the team in the bull pen and then I heard my grandparents walk in asking mom and dad why they were crying, then they started to get upset. Then Grandpa said it was only for a month and that I will be fine. I don't know who he was trying to convince me or them and then-"

"Shhhh it's ok Colby, calm down" soothed Liz, stopping Colby's rambling knowing he only did this when he was very distressed about something.

"Liz I don't know what to do! I'm upsetting everyone and there's nothing I can do about it!" cried Colby finally meeting Liz's gaze and in his eyes she saw hurt, anger, confusion, worry and concern all swirling around his intense gaze.

"Colby when you are out there you cannot worry about everyone back home. You have to worry about yourself so you are careful and come back to us" Liz firmly said keeping her hand on his shoulder but with her free hand she rubbed soothing circles on Colby's back. They then sat on the deck chairs and watched the sunset together but thinking of different things.


It was the Monday and Colby was leaving on the Friday and Liz had encouraged Colby to go out for a few drinks with David. So David and Colby were sat in a booth of the nearby bar each nursing a beer. David looked across the table to Colby and observed how his friend seemed to be digesting where he would be going on the Friday.

"Are you and Liz ok?" asked David, as he hadn't seen Colby or Liz since Colby told them he was leaving for a month. He really hoped the relationship hadn't ended because he knew that would crush both Colby and Liz. Also he knew Colby couldn't afford to be distracted in the warzone, if he was. David shuddered. If Colby was distracted then there was a chance he wouldn't come home.

"Yeah we're fine. She called me an idiot for thinking she would break up with me" laughed Colby.

David chuckled, "that's good. Well she's right. You are an idiot"

"Says you" retorted Colby smiling wide. Looking as he normally did, completely opposite from how he returned from the Director's office. "Oh I asked Liz to move in with me and she said yes"

"About time! But that's great man" grinned David.

Colby then grew serious and said "look Liz said she'd look after Riley but she is planning on moving in when I'm…away…so could you help her. And she's acting like she's fine but-"

"You don't need to say anymore. Of course I'll help her and I'll keep an eye on your girl for you" replied David,

"Thanks man" sighed Colby.

"No problem, you'd do the same"

"Yeah I would. But for me to do the same you have to find yourself a girl" snarked Colby.

"Hey! I offer to help you out and you repay me with that!" David indignantly replied. But soon he joined in with Colby's laughter.

As they were leaving and walking back to their apartments (which just so happened to be four streets away from each other) David turned to Colby and said "what time do you leave?"

"Er… three in the afternoon" replied Colby unsure as to what David was getting at.

"Well I'll meet you and Liz at the airport to say goodbye"

"You don't need to" assured Colby,

"I know I don't need to" said David stopping Colby by placing a hand on his arm, "but I want to. You're like the brother I never had so I'll be there when you leave and there when you get back. Just let me know the where and when"

"Thanks" replied Colby choked up. David nodded and then they bided their good byes and turned towards their respective apartments buildings.

Colby walked through his front door only to be tackled by Riley pushing him to the floor.

"Hey Riley! Get off! Stop licking! Riley! Oof! Riley stop standing on my stomach! Riley!" laughed Colby as Riley clambered all over him. Liz appeared in the hallway and laughed. "A little help here would be nice!" called Colby.

"Come on Riley!" urged Liz and Riley jumped off Colby and ran over to Liz. "Good boy!" cooed Liz.

"Don't encourage him!" whined Colby,

"Oh you love it really!" laughed Liz.

"Huh. Whatever" groused Colby trying to hide his smile.

"Whatever" repeated Liz in a deeper voice mocking Colby,

Colby narrowed his eyes and grinned. He then lunged at Liz and picked her up and tickling her sides. Liz screamed with laughter and Colby carried her over to the couch where he placed Liz and then sat down beside her. Both still chuckling, Riley jumped up and laid over them.


It was Tuesday and David had offered to look after Riley for the day to let Liz and Colby be alone, but Liz needed to run to the supermarket as they were in dire need of food. While she was out a Corporal from the nearby base came by and had Colby sign for his new uniform. Colby still had his old kit bag and boots so he only needed a uniform and what he needed to put in his kit bag. When Liz returned she found Colby sat on the living room floor, his legs outstretched staring at his kit bag, boots and clothing/uniform and in his hands he was gripping his old dog tags.

"Colby?" Liz softly asked as she crouched next to him.

"I'm really going" he murmured not taking his eyes away from his kit.

"I'm afraid so" comforted Liz rubbing one of Colby's arms. This was when she realized Colby had been comforting her, David, Don, Megan, his family and everyone he was friendly with. No one had thought to comfort Colby because they all saw how he seemed to be coping. Liz ashamedly admitted to herself that they had all probably thought as Colby had been deployed twice before that he would be used to going to Afghanistan and therefore they wouldn't need to see how he was coping.

"I wished and hoped that this was just a nightmare. But this has just made it all real" Colby admitted as he wrapped an arm around Liz. He lent against the wall and Liz lent against Colby both lost in their thoughts. This was how David found them when he came to return Riley; using the spare key Colby had given him he let himself into the apartment. A part of his heart broke seeing the sad expressions on Colby's and Liz's faces as they comforted each other, both staring at Colby's kit. Riley whined as he walked over to Colby and Liz with his head down, he nuzzled Colby's hand.


Liz stroked Riley and then looked up at David who was sat in front of her, meeting his concerned gaze. She looked to her left to find Colby wasn't there. Then she remembered. It was now Friday evening, Colby had already left. She was thinking it was still Tuesday and it was still three days until Colby left.

"Were you thinking it was Tuesday again?" asked David gently, he guessed this as Liz was sat in the same position she was in that Tuesday evening when he returned Riley. Similar to Tuesday when Colby was gripping his dog tags, Liz was gripping a photo of her and Colby taken about a month ago. Liz then thought back to earlier in the day when Colby left

They were standing on the runway of the nearby Armed Forces base waiting with Colby and other soldiers whose leaves had ended, until they would be given the orders to board the plan. Because David and Liz were FBI Agents they managed to get permission to be on the runway. Liz found it different seeing Colby in his uniform and this only made it all the more real. They stood not knowing what to say when the soldiers were given the signal to board.

"Take care of yourself over there man" said David as he hugged Colby and clapped Colby on the back,

"You got it" replied Colby nodding at David. Colby then turned to face Liz; she bounded forward and hugged Colby tightly. Colby returned the hug just as fiercely burying his face into her hair wanting to remember the feel and smell of it, as that had always comforted him after a difficult case.

"Just make sure you come back. Do you hear me?" Liz firmly stated still with her arms around Colby trying to hold back her tears. She didn't want Colby to worry about her and so she didn't want him to see her cry.

"Time will fly, I'll be back soon" murmured Colby into Liz's hair. He gently titled her head and kissed her. Then he bent down picked up his kit bag and hoisted it onto his shoulder, gave a small smile to David and Liz. Then he was jogging after the small group of soldiers, just before he walked up the ramp we waved at them and then he was gone from sight. Liz wanted to run over and pull Colby of the plane telling everyone he belonged with her and that she wasn't going to let him leave.

But soon the engines rumbled into life and the ramp was raised and the plane began slowly taxing down the runway. Then it took off and soon it was out of sight. Taking Colby with it, away from his best friend and girlfriend.

"I wish he didn't have to go" choked Liz finally letting her tears fall as she clutched the photo with dear life.

David lent forward and hugged her, "I know" he soothed. Liz looked down at the photo and despite her tears she smiled slightly seeing Colby's familiar grin. She gently ran her fingers over his face and let David and Riley comfort her knowing in a months' time she would be wrapped in the familiar hold of Colby's arms.

TBC (sorry if the ending was a little confusing!)