Heels clicked against the solid floor as a young woman with a delicate figure and troubled wide eyes entered the department. She was clutching a file and a bag was carelessly dangling from her thin arm. 

Her hair were coming loose from the clip she had fastened in haste and by her demeanor it seemed as if she was rather worried.

She stopped in front of Richard's desk, her eyes frantically darting around as if searching for someone, "Officer Grayson, where is Neal?"

"He's in the lockup, please take a seat," Richard spoke politely but got up from his own seat in order to look for some senior officer to deal with her because he knew she had probably come there to bail him out and the process required legal documentation which Richard did not deal with since his job was more of the field officer rather than paperwork or bails.

Officer Thomson entered shortly afterwards and he explained the situation to him and the elder man nodded. He came towards the woman who stood up immediately, anxiety dripping from each feature.

"I want to bail Neal Hastings out. I have all the documents and the required amount," she spoke up.

Thomson had nodded but Richard who had a slight knowledge of how Neal would react to the situation spoke up, "do you want to meet him first, Ma'am?"

She nodded and since Thomson hadn't objected either, Richard led her to the lockup area. "I'll be at the other end of the corridor," he told her and gave her a reassuring look, "he's in there. Take your time."

Richard stepped back and went to the end of the corridor so that the two could converse freely plus he did not want to give them the impression that he was overhearing them and respected their privacy.

"Neal..."

Neal's head snapped up recognizing the voice, "Rose?"

Her fingers closed on to the metal bars as she leaned closer, dropping down to her knees, her face turning into a mask of pain as she took in his pitiable state, "oh Neal, what have you gotten yourself into..."

He edged closer to her, his hands gently resting on top of hers at the metal bars that separated the two, "you shouldn't have come here."

"I am here to bail you out. I have all the documents and the amount, I'll bail you out and then we'll go back together."

Her words seemed to have disturbed him as he looked at her with an unfathomable expression in his ocher eyes, "but where did you arrange such a lot of money from?"

"It doesn't matter. You're more important."

He sighed wearily, shifting even closer to the bars, his hands caressing the back of her palms, "Rose... Rose... How many times have I asked you not to worry such a lot for me?"

"But Neal..."

"You've taken a loan, haven't you?"

"Yes but..."

He shushed her gently, resuming in a soft comforting tone, "listen to me carefully. You are not going to bail me out. You will return this loan before the interest rates apply and you will not worry about me. I'll be fine here. It's just a couple days then I bet they'll kick me out themselves. I don't want you to carry any sort of burden due to me and especially not the burden of this hefty loan."

Her hands reached towards him through the bars as she cupped his face, taking in each injury engraved in it with pained eyes, "but you're in here because of me. If it weren't for me you would neither have been injured nor locked up."

He shook his head dismissively, "I did what I had to. If there was anyone else in your place, I would have done the same. Those men have no right to go about freely harassing people. I did what I thought was right and you are in no way responsible for how I am now."

Rose's wide eyes had welled up with tears upon hearing that. Neal had always been too caring, too supportive and even though he always warned her not to get too attached to him because it would cause her pain later on, for a reason only he knew but refused to tell her, still she couldn't help but fall in love with him.

"I love you, Neal," the words passed her lips at last, "I want to be of help to you."

The words cut through his soul but he did not pull away from her, "love is overrated."

Her voice broke, "you don't love me then?"

"No," he admitted truthfully, "I don't love myself either. I... I had warned you the first day we had met that you must not grow attached to me. I'm temporary, I'll go out. Then who will be there for you? You deserve someone who is much more wholesome and better than I am."

She seemed to be in conflict for his words seemed so opposite to his actions, "but what about all the good times we've spent together, all the little things you do for me, every time you take the blows for me... What is this if it's not love?"

Neal let out the breath he was holding for he knew all along that their conversation would come to that point. Gently grasping her hand, he pressed a soft kiss on her knuckles, lacing his fingers through hers, "I care for you. You are important to me and I want you to have everything I am unable to give you."

"But you are all I have ever wanted, Neal."

His features contracted in pain and regret for only he knew the reason he was pushing her away from him. He did not want to cause pain to her but he could not be so selfish to push her off the cliff she was standing on. He wanted to save her from his own self.

He wanted to save her from the life that could haunt her if she chose to spend it with with him.

"Rose, my sweet darling Rose... I am nothing. I am just a shell of a person who can give you nothing except pain and sorrow. I'm someone you can have fun with for a short time but not the type to dedicate your whole life to. I had warned you earlier and I am doing so again, don't grow attached to me. Don't give me so much importance. I am not worth it."

"I don't care," she was stubborn as she replied, her grip tightening on his hand, "I don't want you to leave me."

"Look here," he gently took her face in between his palms, fingers caressing the pale skin underneath, "the pain which you will go through if you leave me now will be endurable but if you stay with me, then the pain which will be in your fate would be intolerable."

"But why?"

"Because... Because..." The words stuck in his throat as he decided whether or not to tell her the truth. Because I am dying, the words circulated in his head but he could not voice it out, because I have very little to live.

But he could not bring himself to face her questioning eyes and say it out loud. He could not tell her the truth that he had so far managed to conceal successfully from the rest of the world.

"Just take my word for it, I want what's best for you and that isn't me," he seemed to have been exhausted by the conversation as his voice was dimming and his eyes were dropping shut from both pain and fatigue, "call Officer Grayson, please."

Soon enough Richard came to the cell. Seeing him, Neal spoke up, "Officer Grayson, please show her out. She will not be paying my bail and I will remain a guest here for a little longer."

Richard was thoroughly surprised at that, "but Neal..."

"No buts please," he mumbled then facing her he added, "return the loan immediately. And don't be worried, I'll be fine."

Richard didn't know what had passed between the two but he could sense that their conversation had torn Rose as she stood up shakily, her eyes still locked on to Neal. But she said nothing as she walked out though the distress on her features spoke volumes.

And just as Neal had asked her, she did not bail him out but left the police department with a heavy heart. Deep down she knew he was right, he had always warned her but she had been foolish to fall for him.

He was not at fault for her heartbreak because she had brought it upon herself despite his words of warning. The sole comfort for her was that even though Neal might not have loved her, he still genuinely cared for her.

And though it might seem surprising, it was just how Neal was; outwardly dazzling and careless but really soft and caring on the inside. 

As she pondered over his words more, she realized that he had been right. He had pushed her away for her own benefit though the reason behind it was still unknown to her and would remain unknown to others as well.

***