The day following the earthquake was draining, to say the least. Harry had meetings lined up one after another and Maddie was at the hospital all day; and they were exhausted. Having had very little sleep, having put their emotions through the metaphorical wringer, they were both exhausted.

So, at the end of the day, when Maddie arrived at Harry's looking like one big gust of wind could topple her over, Harry wasn't the least bit surprised.

"Have you eaten?" He shut the door behind her, taking her coat.

"I honestly don't remember," a tired smile pulled at her lips.

"Bernard made pizza."

"I love Bernard," Maddie sighed, kicking off her heels. "I want to take him home with me."

"Yes well, he's incredibly loyal to the family and you can't have him," he pulled at her fingers, leading her to the kitchen. "But I will share my pizza with you."

"You do love me."

"I really do." While Maddie loaded her plate, Harry retrieved two bottles of beer from his fridge and they sat down at the table in the kitchen.

"How were your meetings?" Maddie lifted her eyebrows, an attempt at conversation.

"I don't know," he shook his head with a faded smile. "I think they were fine. Not my finest day."

"No," Maddie chuckled; relating completely. "It could have been worse, though."

"Yes. It absolutely could have." The call could have gone in the absolute other direction; they were both keenly aware of that. Maddie watched him for a moment, judging his mood, taking in his disposition.

"Harry," her voice was soft as she put her pizza down. His eyes rose to hers; his attention on her. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Oh-kay," he scanned her tired eyes for a clue but found none. He took a drink from his bottle and wiped his hands on a napkin. "Go ahead."

"Well, last night, when we were making phone calls, I got through to Marquita. You remember the lady from Doctors Without Borders who gave me my job options once my furlough was over?"

"Yeah."

"And..." Maddie took a breath. "She said that they are pulling together a Crisis Intervention team; a team of doctors, nurses, mental health professionals. They are going to Bendal the day after tomorrow for two weeks and..." She could see the moment it washed over him; realization. His jaw tensed. His hand moved to rub at the back of his neck as he slumped back in his chair; his eyes trained on her.

"God, please tell me you're not going to Bendal." Maddie's lips closed tightly as she held his gaze. "Maddie..."

"I can't tell you that," she was soft with him; anticipating exactly what was about to unfold. He shook his head slowly, wanting to dismiss what she had just said, wanting to just pull it from the conversation. "Harry..."

"It's incredibly dangerous there right now, Maddie."

"I know."

"There is high level destruction to buildings and highways, there has been an upheaval of..."

"I know," she cut in. "I know all of these things. I've seen the news. I've read the report from the main office. But the airport is standing and functional. DWB has connected with people there and can secure..."

"Maddie..." He groaned; his hands moving over his face.

"I cannot sit here and do nothing. I just...I can't."

"You could be hurt or..." He ran his hands into his hair, his eyes finding hers.

"Yes," she nodded. "I could. Or I can help with the intervention. I can help with reconstruction efforts. I can be there with Khenda and Collins."

"Maddie..."

"Harry," she cut him off; her eyes welling with tears. Harry took a breath, his heart aching at the conviction he saw in her; the conviction that he had always adored about her. He looked away then, his eyes staring off to the side, his teeth biting at his lip. Maddie waited and watched as he processed it all.

"I can't go with you," he spoke out into the room.

"I know that."

"I can't," he turned to face her. "The security involved and the...there is no way anyone here would let me go with you."

"I didn't ask you to go with me." He nodded and looked down at his hands, fidgeting with his plate of pizza. She was right, she hadn't asked him to go with her—this was hers alone. She had been willing and able to put herself out there long before he was in the picture—he knew that. There was a long moment of silence, a tension filled moment through which Maddie held her breath; waiting for his response. This time when he looked up, when his eyes met hers, they were pleading.

"Please stay here," his voice was so low and quiet that she wanted to hug him close. But instead she swallowed the lump in her throat and shook her head.

"I can't."

"Maddie..."

"That's not who you're in love with Harry—the girl who sits by and watches it happen. You're in love with the girl who steps in."

"I know that." He hated how well he knew that.

"I'm stepping in. I've already made the decision. They asked me to go and I've spoken with Dr. Colvin at the hospital and Gerald at St. Joe's. And honestly this might be the last time I'm able to..." Her eyes met his and she stalled.

"The last time you're able to..."

"I...I don't know Harry. You keep talking about..." She shook her head. "You've alluded to the future and my place in it. And I just...I'm guessing that once that allusion becomes a reality that...I'm done stepping in to things like this. Am I wrong?"

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "The answer to that is...incredibly complicated."

"But it really isn't. You can't go there now, you just told me that you couldn't go, that nobody would allow you to..."

"Fine. Fine, you're right. Do you want to talk about this now?"

"No," she shook her head and reached across the table, pulling his hand into hers. "I don't want to talk about that now. Harry, when the time comes, I'll accept what comes with..." She met his eyes then; pleading with him to understand where she was coming from. "But right now I can still go; I can still do this. And..." She sucked in a breath, pulled at her strength and sat tall, "And I'm going to. Please don't be mad..."

"I'm not mad. I'm concerned. It's dangerous down there."

"It's always dangerous down there."

"It's been almost a year since you were shot and..."

"And you're worried it's going to happen again?" She laughed. "I think the odds are in my favor on that one."

"Don't joke," his eyes grew hard. "You were unconscious in my arms and your blood was soaked into my clothes. Don't joke about this." Harry stood, his chair screeching against the floor as he moved. He needed to move; needed a minute to steady his breathing.

"I'm sorry," she whispered; gulping at the lump in her throat. Rising to her feet, she went to where he stood, looking out a window at the grounds outside. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind; pressing her face to his strong back. "I shouldn't make jokes. But, there was an earthquake...in a place we both love. They need help putting things back together and they need somebody to talk to about what they are witnessing." She couldn't keep away the tears that stung her eyes when she thought of it. "I'm going to go do that. I promise you that I will follow all of the rules they outline. I will pay attention to all perimeters they set up and I will not do anything above and beyond..."

"It is all above and beyond down there..." His hand moved to stroke her arm that was wrapped around him. Maddie nodded against his back, knowing he was right. With a long, deep breath, Harry turned around in her arms; wrapping his around her in return. His eyes were a mix of emotions; fear, helplessness, defeat and a great deal of pride. Maddie tightened her hold on him and continued.

"I will be careful. I will do what I need to do and I will come home to you," she met his eyes; steady and sure. "But I am going."

Because he wasn't sure he could find anymore words without crying; from exhaustion, from emotion, from the strain of the last twenty-four hours, Harry simply nodded. Pressing his lips to the top of her head, he tightened his hold on her—wishing he could tighten it enough to keep her there with him. The relief he had captured that morning slipped away from him; replaced by something else entirely.