I can't sleep. My body is exhausted and I'm even more mentally exhausted but here I am still struggling to sleep. All the events of the last couple of hours keep flashing through my mind and I just can't stop thinking about it. 

"I was expecting to find you passed out right now," a voice says and I notice Nash standing at the entrance of my room as I give him a tired smile.

"I wish I was sleeping but I just can't," I reply as he walks over to me and leans down to kiss me, my lips curling up into a smile against his. He breaks the kiss and just observes me quietly, his eyes not leaving mine for a single moment.

"I almost lost you tonight," I hear him say in a low voice and I reach out, linking our hands together to reassure him that I'm still here. 

"I couldn't let Felix get away with what he did," I tell him. "Plus I have someone to go back to," I add as I lift our linked fingers and press a soft kiss to his. "When did you get here?" I ask him in between a yawn.

"I just got here thirty minutes ago but they said that you've been sleeping for the last couple of hours though that wasn't the case," he replies as he leans closer and his other hand brushes my hair out of my face.

"I went through x-rays, an MRI, got a cast on my leg, they said I had some hypothermia and some other things that I can't remember right now," I list off for him. "I told them that my boyfriend was coming so they could also update you on how I'm doing."

"I'll talk to them when you're sleeping but nonetheless we just finished processing Felix, Georgia, and his friend. I still can't believe he was a part of this," he sighs.

"He was involved in more than this," I tell him and he looks alert when I say that. "To the best of my knowledge so far he was involved in Charlotte's case as well as Victoria's."

"And probably more," he guesses and I nod my head.

"Exactly, when I'm back at work I'll be looking into that since I'll be on desk duty for some time," I say in a forlorn tone as I picture the cast on my leg and the long healing process.

"I'm going to make sure you take it easy beautiful," he says with full confidence. Aw, how cute. 

"I know you will," I reply softly. "By the way, I should probably give my statement now right?"

"I can take it later or even when you're back at work, there's no rush," he answers but I shake my head.

"It's best I do it now since everything is still fresh in my mind," I answer as I push myself up to sit. He looks at me for a moment, I know he must see the resolve on my face as he takes out his tape recorder from his pocket and places it on the bed next to me before pressing it.

"Current time right now is six fifty-seven in the morning and I am Officer Nash Hendrix and I am here to collect statements from Officer Natalia Sanchez about the events on February second. Please state your name and everything you can remember until the arrest," he says as he slips from being my boyfriend to his professional role.

"My name is Natalia Sanchez, on the morning of February second I left my precinct and headed over to Georgia Hamilton's office at the forensics lab. With her being a prime suspect in an ongoing investigation, it was a calculated risk to head there alone but I had an inkling that I wouldn't find her there," I start narrating. "Upon reaching the lab my suspicions were correct when I found her office empty with no piece of paper left behind. When was leaving the lab I was on the phone with my Chief and I heard someone call my name before I was then hit across the head." I reach out and take his hand as his face darkens from my words.

"I later woke up stripped of my bulletproof vest, gun and was duct taped in a warehouse with another prime suspect, Officer Felix in front of me. I was roughed up a bit when I questioned him as to why he participated in the illegal drug manufacturing and his reply was that he did it for fun. He also stated that he was an active participant in the case with the officers and mafia two years ago and the Victoria Marshall case," I explain before taking in a deep breath for the next part and I know Nash won't have an easy time hearing this. "I asked him what he was planning to do with me and he said and I quote, he was going to take the page of what victim Victoria went through last year when her hospital room was lit on fire and was ultimately going succeed."

"The man that knocked me out at the forensics lab was there alongside Felix and was the one that lit the warehouse on fire. I waited for both to leave before taking out the knife that I was hiding on my body and using it to break free from the duct tape and escape," I continue as Nash's hand tightens around mine but I mouth to him 'it's okay' and his hand relaxes. "I was able to escape the burning fire though it came at the expense of being seriously injured. Once I was outside I found the man that kidnapped me and brought me to the warehouse, it seemed like he was waiting to make sure the warehouse fully burned."

"After I managed to make sure he wouldn't harm me nor escape, I took his gun and keys along with his phone to head to the place he was meeting Felix. On the drive there I contacted Officer Hendrix and Chief Carter to let them know my status," I carry on as I lie back down in the bed. My body is still tired from everything it's gone through in the last couple of hours.

"I reached the meeting place ahead of the backup that was coming so I went to arrest Felix myself. It was luck that Georgia was there as well so I could arrest both. She took me to where Felix was and once be realized I managed to escape, he attempted to shoot me but I shot him first. Once the police arrived Georgia was able to trick them into believing that she was me and the police were biased at the fact an old woman wouldn't commit any crimes."

"I was placed into handcuffs and taken to the paramedics when my backup arrived. I was subsequently then released from my handcuffs by my Chief and my work was taken over while I was taken to the hospital," I conclude and I give him a thumbs up to let him know I've said everything that needs to be said. Nash picks up the tape recorder and stops it before pocketing it away. Because we work in the same unit he can't question me but he can collect my statement which would then be turned over to whoever will question me for the case.

"After you left Jason and me couldn't stop laughing at the fact that Georgia tried to impersonate you," he tells me and I chuckle.

"Honestly I tried to speak up that she was in fact a fucking liar but in the end I just decided to not bother. I was so done with everything at that point and I didn't have the energy to fight with her on that fact so I just let her think that she'd have the freedom to leave," I say as I roll my eyes at the remembrance of her clear relief. 

"I wish I could go punch Felix in his face, matter of fact I'd shoot him like you did," he says seething in anger. "You left out how you got injured, what happened?"

"When I got the duct tape off of me I was able to find a window to escape from though it did take some work to open it. There was a metal crate under the window and I didn't bother wasting my time trying to think of something else. I just held onto my head and basically threw myself out of there, that's where I got these," I say as I move the front of my hospital gown to show him my heavily bruised shoulder, the skin is a nasty colour of black and blue. "There's some more going down my sides."

"Fuck, I hate seeing you like this," he mutters before leaning forward to press a delicate kiss to my skin. "What happened after? How did your leg end up in the cast?"

"When I fell the first time it already hurt but when I fell a second time going from the crate to the snow, there wasn't a lot of it piled up there so I ended up hitting some ice," I explain as I glance at the cast on my leg. "They did x-rays on it and even though they haven't told me the results yet they said I'll probably need surgery."

"And then you got the jump on Felix's friend, called us, finished the job and now we're here," he surmises. "My sexy girlfriend is such a badass," he says with a grin.

"You're flattering me," I say in a haughty tone before breaking down in laughter. "You know with the adrenaline gone, if it wasn't for the medicine numbing all the pain I'd probably be sick again. I really pushed myself tonight. And since I did that I think I should be rewarded for my hard work,"  I say as my laughter calms down. 

"And what would my girl like?" he questions, lips twisting up into a small smirk. 

"I want you up here beside me and I want you to hold me," I order as I  shift over in the bed to make room for him and pat the space beside me as an invitation for him.

"You think the nurses will say something to you?" he asks as he takes off his jacket and boots before lying down next to me on the bed. 

"I don't really care, I just want to be in your arms," I reply bluntly as he fixes the blanket that's on my lap around my body while being mindful of the i.v lines on my hand. He lifts my head and wraps his arm around me pulling me towards him, my head falling onto his shoulder as his hand holds mine again.

"Are you comfortable?" he asks me and I nod my head.

"Very, hopefully I'll be able to sleep now with you as my pillow," I mumble as I close my eyes. 

"Is that what I am to you now?" he questions in amusement.

"Yes," I reply in a snobbish tone as he laughs and tucks me in closer to his side.

"Just relax, I'm right here next to you and I'm not going anywhere. How could I leave the woman I'm starting to fall in love with," I hear him mutter and my eyes fly open. If it wasn't for our close proximity I would have missed it and I push myself up as I look at him in surprise.

"But we've been only dating for a month," I stammer but he just shakes his head, a soft expression on his face as he looks at me.

"The feeling was there from when I first asked you that we become exclusive, besides the sex being good between us why wouldn't I fall for you?" he questions. "You're beautiful, fucking intelligent, so strong and I could keep going but I don't want to make you more emotional than you already are," he concludes as he wipes a stray tear from my face.

I reach out and pull his face down to kiss me, tongue twining against his until we have to break for air. My hand cups his face as my thumb brushes his dark brown skin, eyes are filled with warmth as they gaze at me; I hope he never stops looking at me like this. I think with time I can reach where he is but for now, I'm content with where my feelings stand. 

"I'm not there yet, I don't know when I'll be but I do care for you, a lot you know," I tell him earnestly.

"I know, now go to sleep you need it. I'll be here when you wake up," he says as he pushes my head back against his shoulder. He fixes the blanket around me again, pulling it up until it's under my chin and his free hand finds mine. My eyes fall close listening to the machine's beep and the movement of Nash's chest every time he breathes. Years ago I didn't think I would be like this with another person but if I had to be, I'm lucky it's Nash. 

✘✘

"We're going to forward everything to your local hospital and they should contact you tomorrow to book you for a follow-up," the doctor tells me as she hands me some papers for me to go through. 

"Thank you so much for everything," I reply as I fold them and stuff them into my jackets pocket. It's been two days since I've been here and I can finally leave. 

And I'm especially looking forward to washing my hair. I've been stuck with a sponge bath while I've been here so I'm just looking forward to being fully clean, I just feel so fucking gross at this point. I grab onto my crutches that are next to me and stand up, it takes me a couple of seconds to get used to it but then I'm already heading to the door.

"Are you sure you don't want to be wheelchaired out?" the doctor asks as she follows me.

"I need to get used to it so I'd rather use these," I explain to her in a kind voice.

"Alright, take care then and I hope you have a fast recovery," she tells me and I echo the sentiments. It's a slow process as I go through the busy corridors of the hospital to the main entrance. Nash told me he'd be waiting for me to finish so we could go, I know he's looking forward to being back home. 

He hasn't left my side except to go to his hotel room when visiting hours are over or when he had to do shopping for me. I needed a whole new outfit for leaving here and I'm just thankful he took the time to shop for me. But I just can't wait to go and see my friends, see Jade who I've been talking with whenever she wanted to know how I was doing. I didn't really go into details as to what happened but once she sees the cast I know she'll put two and two together that this wasn't an easy job.

I finally reach the main entrance of the hospital, my eyes looking for Nash and when I finally find him there are two women trying to talk to him while it looks like he's outright ignoring them. The content look on my face falls blank at the sight, annoyance passing through me for a second. Sorry ladies, he is without a doubt a sexy man but that doesn't mean he's on the market. 

"Nash, I'm ready to go," I call out to him and he immediately gets up coming over to me. 

"Everything went alright?" he asks, the women are now not only looking at him but at me as well and I'm pretty sure they must realize now he's a taken man.

"Yeah, I'll fill you in when we're in the car," I reply.  

"Okay, wait for me here, I don't want you getting cold," he says as he looks at the shorts I'm wearing before turning to leave. I turn to look at the women, both of them have faces full of disappointment and when they see me watching them I mouth to them 'he's mine'  with a fake smile and wave of the hand. I soon see Nash's car turning up to the front entrance and I don't know what faces they have as I leave but it's not like I regret it one bit. Though I feel going forward I'll probably have more encounters like this, good thing I can be selfish not to mention really petty as well.

✘✘

A/N Hi!! Omg, another update so soon, can you believe it? I missed having a Natalia and Nash-centric chapter where it's just the two of them so I'm happy with how it came out. And Nash's confession to Natalia, literally swooning. When I was writing this I was like 'did they say I love you already?' and went back to skim the story again. Honestly if they did I'll just edit that chapter because I like this scenario better. But anyways be sure to leave your thoughts of the chapter in the comments! We're almost to the end!! ^^