He couldn't get to the hotel fast enough, and it sure as hell wasn't to sleep. It was an absolute madhouse. Two ambulances and three buses were outside the hotel loading up patients.

It took him twice as long as normal to get out of the truck, and he was damn near hobbling as he made his way from the parking lot to the hotel entrance. Was this what it was going to feel like when he reached eighty? All of the mayhem going on in the lobby was a blur until he saw blonde hair.

"Sarah!" Suddenly he wasn't feeling so old. In less than a second, he was across the floor and had her in his arms. So warm. So soft.

"David." Her flushed face jammed into his neck. She breathed his name over and over. Then he felt her tears. "You saved Carys."

"Where is she?"

"She came in with a medic named Aiden. They're over there." She motioned with her hand to a curtained off corner.

"Is she really okay?"

Sarah looked at him. "I haven't talked to her, not really. But I don't think she's going to be okay for a while. Even if her body is. You know?" David hugged Sarah, and she clutched at him. Then he picked her up.

"Put me down," she finally whispered.

"No. I don't want to."

"I know you don't," she whispered. "But I want to go to our room."

He let her body drift down his until her feet touched the floor. She took his hand and led him to the elevator.

"Stairs," he insisted. She rolled her eyes, then nodded her head.

He opened the door to the stairwell, intent on a kiss, but then saw the herd of people. He was not the only one who thought the elevator was a bad bet. She tugged his hand, and they rushed up to the third floor.

In the room, he saw evidence that she had moved in and breathed a sigh of relief. Then all of his attention was focused on one thing, and one thing only. Sarah Kyle was taking off her clothes. Her shirt was tossed off, and she was unclasping her bra.

"Strip," she demanded. "Shower, then sex."

He laughed and started to take off his shirt and groaned.

"Fuck."

"Dammit, David." Bare chested, she came to him and pushed up his shirt. All thought of pain was gone as he cupped her breasts.

"Stop that, your bandage is soaked through."

"Fuck my bandage." He bent and brought a rose colored nipple to his mouth. Heaven. Her breast was so soft to the touch. Damn. Her nipple pebbled against his tongue, and he was as hard as a rock. Good, he felt her hands at his waist. What?

"You're not unbuttoning me."

"No, I'm pushing you away. Dammit, David, have you popped your stitches?"

"Quit saying Dammit, David. Say 'fuck me' David. I haven't popped my stitches. I just did some running and the wound bled." He pushed her towards the bed and sat her down. Then knelt down and untied her boots.

"I should be doing that for you."

"Doesn't matter. We're getting naked. Getting wet. Then you're getting wetter. Then we're going to fuck. Then we're going to make love. Got it?" Way to go, Sloane.

Her hand cupped his cheek. "I'm already wet." She kissed him.

They finished undressing, and she checked his wound.

"You're right, it's okay. Don't scare me like this again."

"I won't," he lied. She looked at him and nodded, knowing his words were a lie, but appreciating them anyway.

After a decadent shower, where he indulged in the softness of Sarah's skin, he dragged her to the bed. "God, you're beautiful." He didn't know how many days it had been anymore. Four years, five months and twenty-one days? Hell, he didn't know today's date, all that mattered was that he had her underneath him.

He pushed up on her thigh so that it rested over his arm, opening her to him. He looked down, and saw nothing but a pink wet welcome and shuddered.

"Now. I need you now." Looking up, he saw the same welcome reflected in her stormy gray eyes.

He thrust deep, and she moaned, her smile wide. He knew his was wider. Nothing had ever felt better. Her thighs clamped around his hips. They found their rhythm, yearning, reaching.

"Deeper, harder," she demanded.

Perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect. He gave her everything she asked for and reveled in it. Oh God, he felt everything in his body begin to tighten. No, not without her.

Shudders wracked her body, nails bit into his ass.

"David," she wailed.

He was lost. Nothing had ever felt better.

When he opened his eyes and looked into the soft gray eyes, he realized he'd been wrong. He was found.

"You need to sleep."

"I can't, baby."

He found clean clothes that Carmen had somehow found for him and started to put them on.

"I'm not talking as your lover. I'm talking as your nurse. Yes, you were wonderful in bed. Frankly, I don't know how you managed it. You need sleep."

Her words were strong, but there was something in her tone of voice...

"Sarah, what's going on?"

"Nothing. Nothing's going on. I told you, you almost died. You need to stay here and sleep."

There it was. He almost died. Could he be more of an idiot? She stood there, her fists clenched by her sides, standing in her panties and bra. He put out his hand and waited. Finally, she took it. He drew her down on the tousled bed beside him.

"I'm not going to die."

"You don't know that. Don't promise me something you can't deliver on." She reached out one trembling hand and traced his bandage. A tear trickled down her cheek.

"My job isn't combat. My job is boring. I do investigations." She continued to trace his bandage. He tipped her chin up, forcing her to look up at him. "You understand that don't you, Sarah? My job is boring."

"You almost died. I couldn't cope if you died." Another tear fell. "Do you have to go?"

"Yeah, I do."

"But the SEALs are here. You told me they're staying. There's Joaquin, can't he work with them?" He willed her to look him in the eye. She finally did, and his heart almost broke.

"Sarah, how often were you in danger when you were in Africa?"

"That's different?"

"Why was it different?" he asked.

"I wasn't in love with you," she cried desperately. He caught her as she flung herself at his chest.

"Ah, baby. I've got you. I promise I will be so careful, it'll be like I'm wrapped in cotton wool. I promise. Now that I have you in my arms again, I'm coming back, nothing is keeping me away."

"Do you promise," she asked desperately.

He pulled away and stared at her. "I give you my word. Coming back to you is the most important thing in this world." She settled back.

"Oh God, did I hurt your shoulder?"

"Honey, I'm just worried about hurting you."

"Just come back to me, David. I need you."

"I need you too." He stroked her hair, his other hand drifted down to her breast.

His phone rang. Dammit!

"You have to get it," she said quietly. "You know you want it to be Joaquin." David rested his forehead against hers for one more ring, then got up.

He answered it and put it on speaker.

"Riggs and Harrison got the boys."

David sagged with relief. "Where are they all now?"

"They're all back at the prison. Harrison didn't want to call, he refused to let anyone make any noise until they got back in case the escaped convicts were around."

"Good man."

"The SEALs arrived, what do I do with them?"

"Get out some maps," David huffed out a quiet laugh.

"Huh?"

"They are going to be the best team you can ask for to find those convicts. Call in our search teams. We're going to redeploy them. The SEALs don't know Las Flores like the natives, so we'll pair them up."

"Make sense," Joaquin said. "When will you be here?"

"I'm leaving the hotel now."

"Lieutenant Tyler said to bring O'Malley with you."

"Will do."

Joaquin hung up, and he looked at Sarah.

"At least you're taking a medic with you. He can help you when your wound starts bleeding or you keel over from lack of sleep." He appreciated the ghost of a smile on her face.

"Hey, why are you putting on clothes? I like you in your underwear," he said trying to keep things light.

"I'm going downstairs with you. I want to check on Carys."

David held out his hand as he opened the door. She took it, and they started down the hallway, skipping the elevators and heading straight for the stairs. Sarah tugged at his hand as he paused at the spot where she had hit Dr. Stanton.

"Don't think about it, David."

That wasn't going to be possible. But he let her lead him away. The idea of the two of them being separated clawed a hole in his gut. He knew how worried she was about him, but he was just as worried about her. The only saving grace was that she would constantly be surrounded by people and should be safe. But he wanted to be the one watching over her.

As they walked into the lobby, it was pandemonium. The lobby doors were wide open, as gurneys passed through towards ambulances. There were still two curtained off areas. Amidst all the dark hair of the Las Flores residents, it was easy to spot the blonde giant that was Aiden O'Malley as he hovered over the strawberry blonde doctor. What the hell? David checked his watch. Yep. Three hours ago she had been held hostage, and now she had a stethoscope held against a young woman's chest.

"Do you see them?" Sarah was on her toes, but she couldn't see over the throng of people. David tightened his grip on her hand.

"Follow me."

"Doc, do you mind telling me what you're doing. You need to be resting," David said in his most reasonable tone of voice.

"Yeah, what he said," Aiden growled.

Carys made a shushing motion with her hand, then finished listening to the woman's lungs. She ignored the two men and spoke to Sarah. "How many more in the rural areas need to be brought into the hospital?"

"If they've made it into the clinic and needed hospitalization, I've gotten them there. The problem has been all the people who haven't been able to make it to the clinic. I keep hearing reports of people who have died because of untreated injuries. We need an outreach program. Carys, we need to go to them."

"No way," David said. "Not while there are convicts still on the loose. You are not going door to door looking for earthquake survivors who need care."