Her hand gently cupped his cheek as their lips met in a kiss so unlike those of last night. It was over before it began, too, much to her dismay. Ultimately, the soft kiss was for the best, as she really did have to go to work. Fallon couldn't miss more time, not after a month and a half of being out of the office. Any good will she had for sick days vanished when she became a victim instead of an officer. Even if she wanted to stay (which she did) she simply couldn't.

Choose me. And just like that, the tranquil moment snapped. Gone was the quiet peace they'd established in their sleep and in its stead was the resumed panic of having to make a decision at all. Fallon moved to sit up, her cheeks flushing at the sight of her torn blouse and missing trousers. As discreetly as she could (which wasn't very discreet at all considering their eyes were locked onto one another) she pulled the two sides back over her shoulders and shut. Being exposed while this vulnerable was new to her, she didn't like it.

Had her choice changed? She felt like it had, but every time she thought of saying goodbye to Jesse a fresh wave of panic washed over her. It dragged her across the rocks, leaving her heart broken and exposed. "Lachlan," Fallon began as she struggled to find the right words to express her thoughts. Yes, her decision had changed, but she hadn't the slightest idea on how to break with Jesse. "I love you." Fallon settled on instead and offered him a small smile.

Then, after taking a deep breath and pushing her hair behind her ears, she said, "I already did."