Altruism | Part Four : Love

Episode Twelve

"We need to date now" Ana insists, weakly, the second that the rest of the team leaves Tim and her alone in the hospital room.

"Ana" Tim sighs, sitting down in the chair by her bedside.

"Tim, please" Ana pleads, shifting a little to look at him better.

Tim reaches out and gently strokes her cheek. "I'm sorry"

"why?" Ana whispers.

"I'm sorry because I promised you six months ago that we would be able to date soon, and that's obviously not happened" Tim apologizes.

"it doesn't matter, we just need to do it now" Ana murmurs.

"we can't" Tim replies. "There haven't been any new Sergeant positions, I just need you to be patient-"

"then I'll find a job" Ana decides, interrupting him.

"what?" Tim asks. 

"Harper says the offer's still available on undercover work" Ana explains, softly.

"Ana, no, you hate undercover work, it makes you anxious" Tim frowns.

"everything makes me anxious" Ana argues, weakly.

"you know what I mean" Tim huffs. 

"I can't keep doing this, I need to be with you, please" Ana pleads. "If that means going undercover sometimes then so be it"

"you really want to join the undercover department?" Tim questions.

"I don't want to, I need to" Ana replies.

"Ana, what's bringing this on?" Tim inquires. "like I get it if you're impatient but you've never seemed too bothered about it until now"

Ana's eyes flit away from Tim's blue ones and she looks ahead.

"Ana, baby?" Tim prompts.

"I need to take advantage of my time with you" Ana sniffles.

"what?" Tim asks.

"I need to spend as much time with you as possible before I lose you" Ana whispers.

"you're not going to lose me" Tim insists.

"I lose everyone" Ana murmurs, finally turning her glassy eyes back to Tim. 

Tim opens his mouth to protest but Ana watches him deflate as he realizes she's right.

"I lost my papa, I lost most of my family, I lost Captain Anderson, I lost Jackson, I lost my grandparents, I'm going to lose you and I-..." Ana can't continue, a few stray tears running down her face.

"Ana, you have had a terrible terrible life" Tim starts.

"but I'm not letting that happen anymore, you're not going to lose me, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere, I promise" Tim continues.

"and if you are really worried about this, then give me two weeks, just two weeks to find a job in another division and then you can talk to Harper about the undercover job if I can't find any" Tim finishes.

"okay" Ana sniffles, nodding.

Tim takes her hand in his, rubbing his thumb across each of her fingers. 

"how's Jack and Dominique?" Ana whispers.

"Dominique's legs look as good as they can be, doctors think they'll heal perfectly, Jack is perfectly healthy, all thanks to you" Tim replies.

"I'm the reason they were kidnapped in the first place" Ana argues.

"No. You weren't" Tim says, his tone suddenly stony.