Just before six o’clock Friday morning, Alyssa pulled into the precinct seconds ahead of Cord. A huge travel mug of strong, black coffee in hand, she waited beside her car for him. She was running on less than three hours of sleep because every time she’d closed her eyes, images of Addis and Emerson being slaughtered or abused like the girls they’d rescued back in May wormed their way into her brain, taking up refuge. When she’d finally given up any pretense of rest, she’d climbed out of bed and done her best to cover the dark shadows under her eyes. One glimpse in the mirror assured her she’d been far from successful.

She didn’t think it was possible for her partner to look worse than she did, but she was wrong. Much like last night when he’d first arrived on scene, his shoulders were bowed down, and the black circles under his red eyes reminded Alyssa of the grim reaper. All he was missing were the black hooded cloak and the scythe. Unable to mask her concern for two of her favorite people outside her family circle, she asked, ‘Sara?’ as soon as Cord was within a few steps of her.

Fixing his eyes straight ahead, his voice was almost flat as, wearily, he answered, ‘Rough night, rough morning.’ His chest expanded as he sucked in a deep breath. ‘Rough week all the way around. She’s staying home today. I mentioned staying with her, but she pretty much kicked me out the door, complaining that she was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic by my constant hovering before kindly reminding me she was a registered nurse and knew what to do and who to call if something happened.’ He frowned. ‘I don’t hover.’

Alyssa highly doubted that, especially since she’d witnessed it firsthand, and that was before Sara’s pregnancy had turned from this miracle of joy into something that had her partner perched on a precipice, afraid of losing the love of his life and their children, too.

Never having experienced a rough pregnancy like Sara’s, the words to comfort eluded her, so she did what she could; she stopped him with a hand on his forearm and waited until he brought his gaze down to hers. ‘I wish I could say it will all be okay, and even though I believe it will—’ She shook her head. ‘That’s not the point. Remember, you don’t have to suffer your fears alone. I’m here anytime you need to get it off your chest. And before you argue, I’d like to remind you that you would and have done the same for me. So, no pressure, just a reminder.’

Cord dipped his head in acknowledgement, his soft, ‘Thanks, Lys, I appreciate it,’ barely audible, as they headed inside and walked into her team’s usual commandeered incident room.