Chasing Away the Darkness

It's been four months since Gabrielle died and Bo and Nora spent every waking hour trying to bring the Music Box Killer to justice. That day finally came but not before Nora's life was almost taken...

Two weeks after the attack:

Bo leans his head back, running his hand over his face as he tries to wash away the images of Nora lying there with the red leotard wrapped around her neck. The images always invaded his mind at night; when he sits in his living room alone, staring into the darkness. He had held her in his arms that night until the paramedics arrived, willing her to wake up, to fight. He had gotten there just before Troy, who turned out to be the not so dead Colin, was able to complete his task. Nora was unconcious and not breathing when he had finally gotten to her. He had been able to revive her but no one knew whether she would survive the attack.

Bo stood up and walked out onto the fire escape, taking another swig from his beer. His mind and his heart were constantly waging a battle; a battle of guilt and responsibility versus feelings of pure happiness when he allowed himself to think of Nora and their son. He had felt so much guilt after Gabrielle died. Guilt for not being able to protect her; guilt for leaving them both at the Palace that night, but mostly he felt guilty for not mourning Gabrielle. When he received Matthew's phone call just after midnight on New Year's, looking for Nora, his only thought was on where she was and on the fear he heard in their son's voice, not on Gabrielle or the fact that he had left her unguarded to go to Ultra Violet. Gabrielle was the last thing on his mind when he found Nora sitting in the Palace bar shook up after her encounter with Colin. He had held her while she filled him in on every thing that had transpired. He held her while she cried, as the fear and vulnerability, mixed with her guilty feelings about the innocent women dying in her name, finally took it's toll.

He walked back into the living room, grabbing his keys off the desk. He had to get some air, he had to try and clear his head. He had so many thoughts, feelings and emotions coursing through him. He knew his feelings for Nora had changed, he knew they had been changing for a long time, he just never wanted to admit it, no that's not true, he was afraid to admit it. He had finally realized it as he sat beside Nora's hospital bed day in and day out. He finally admitted that he had been with Gabrielle out of some sense of obligation only. That the woman who's hand he held against his cheek as he willed her to open her eyes, was the woman who owned his heart, and always had. His thoughts and his feelings were still his alone, he hadn't shared them with her and he wouldn't, not until he knew she wouldn't think it was out of obligation or because she had almost died. He wanted her to be happy, and if that meant loving her in secret he would.

He walked up to his jeep and opened the door, closing it just as quickly. He needed to walk, needed to breathe in the early morning spring air. He walked along the waterfront, his final destination in mind...

*~*

Nora walked quietly down the hallway, tying her robe tight around her as she approached his bedroom door. She slowly opened his door and looked at him lying there on his stomach, the blankets kicked off, lying halfway off the bed. The moonlight streaming through the window illuminating his innocent face. She kneeled down beside his bed and brushed a few strands of hair off his forehead. He looked so much like Bo when he slept, something she had always known deep down, but had never allowed herself to think about, after the second paternity test. But now, now she often found herself sneaking into his room at night just to watch him sleep, to allow herself to finally see what had always been there and not have to deny it or bury it. After a few minutes, she stood up and carefully covered him back up. Matthew stirred; rolling over on his side, pulling the blankets up under his chin. Nora leaned down and lightly kissed his cheek before walking out of his room, quietly closing the door.

She walked down the stairs and right into the kitchen. She stood in front of the refrigerator, staring at the contents, or lack there of. She reached to the back of the top shelf and pulled out the bottle. She walked over to the counter and popped off the cap; placing the bottle opener back on the counter. She took a quick swig and then walked out into the living room, glancing at her reflection in the mirror as she walked passed. She stood there for a few moments, bringing her trembling fingers up to touch the fading bruises that were still visible on her neck. She closed her eyes; willing the images to leave her mind, willing the tears not to fall. -

She walked over to the couch; placing her drink on the coffee table. She sat down, tucking her legs underneath her, holding a throw pillow tight against her chest. She rarely slept any more, so many things plagued her in the darkness. Every time she closed her eyes she was flooded with images, the sight of Gabrielle's lifeless body, Bo trying to revive her. She could still see the look on Bo's face when they told him it was no use, that she was gone. She remembered the feel of being in his arms when he had realized she was okay, for a brief moment seeing that old look of love. It was gone as quickly as it came, replaced with a look of guilt, a look of responsibility after Gabrielle's body was found.

When those images weren't haunting her images of Colin's face as he grabbed her dragging her to the ground, would creep in. She could still feel the tightening of the leotard around her neck, the images of Matthew and of Bo flashing through her mind as her world turned black. She remembered waking up to the feel of Bo's arm lying across her stomach, his head lying on the bed.

Things had begun to change within her, her feelings for Bo mainly. She knew she was falling in love with him, and she had felt something changing on his end, but every thing was so mixed up now. Did they only have a connection because they shared a son, or was he feeling guilty because she almost died? She loved him that was for sure, but her feelings would be hers and hers alone, if she had to love him in secret for the rest of her life she would.

She stood up and slid open the doors to her office. She walked over and sat behind her desk, flipping on the small desk lamp. She would work, work was her refuge, her way of shutting out the world and the pain it brought. She flipped through file after file, glancing every once in a while back out into the darkened living room. She had no idea how long she had been sitting there, when there was a knock on the door. She looked up and saw him looking in through the window, the porch light illuminating his face.

She opened the front door and immediately noticed his tired and troubled eyes. She took his hand and closed the door behind them. They walked out into the living room hand in hand, sitting down side by side on the couch. They sat in silence, allowing the other's presence to bring them the calm they needed.

He turned and looked at her, noticing her red and puffy eyes. He knew she hadn't been sleeping, neither one of them had, and they often found themselves doing this exact thing night after night; just sitting beside each other, being the source of strength that they both so desperately wanted. Bo noticed a single tear as it fell onto her cheek. His heart was breaking for her, it was breaking for them, and for all that had happened to them. He wanted to reach out and take her in his arms, to kiss away the pain, and to take away the fear she was feeling.

He reached out and wiped the tear from her cheek. She leaned her head into his hand, the warmth of it setting her skin on fire. She turned and looked at him, the love she saw in his eyes in that moment mirrored the love she held in her heart. He slowly leaned in closer, she could feel his warm breath against her lips as they lingered just inches from touching. She closed her eyes as his lips finally brushed against hers. Their kiss was soft and tender, but cautious. His tongue slowly began to part her lips, stopping when he felt her hesitation. He broke their kiss sensing that she wasn't ready, knowing he needed to take it slow, "Dance with me, Red?"

She smiled at the use of the nickname he had given her all those years ago, something she had longed to hear from him again, "I'd love too."

He stood up and held his hand out. She placed her hand in his allowing him to pull her into his strong arms. They swayed back and forth to the music that played softly on the radio she had turned on hours before.

They danced in silence neither one wanting to break the moment with words. They were communicating through touch; through the words to the song that played on the radio. Bo held her close, his hand resting on the small of her back; her head resting on his shoulder. It felt so good to hold her in his arms. It felt so good to be held by him once again.

They danced through the next four songs in silence. As the fifth song began he pulled slightly out of their close embrace, his arms still wrapped around her. He looked deep into her brown eyes and knew he had to finally put his feelings into words, "I love you, Nora. I've been slowly falling back in love with you for months now, but too afraid to admit it, even to myself. But now tonight, I finally realized that I can't hide it anymore. These feelings I have for you are so strong and so overwhelming." He could see the look in her eyes and he knew what she was thinking, "I want you to know that I am not saying this out of guilt, out of obligation, because of all that we have been though in the past few months, but because I honestly and truly love you with all my heart. I need you Nora. I need you in my life, but if this is too soon, if you're not ready for this, I can wait..."

She silenced him with a kiss, a kiss that held all the love she had for him. She looked into his eyes, as the tears welled up in hers, "I think I've been falling back in love with you a little more every day for a while now. I pushed my feelings aside, not wanting to admit them to myself let alone you, but looking at you now, being held in your arms again, I can finally say it. I love you, Bo Buchanan. I love you and I need you, and I want to wake up with you beside me for the rest of my life."

He pulled her into another kiss, a kiss that no longer was cautious but a kiss that held all the need and desire they felt for each other. He reached behind her and picked her up, carrying her up the stairs towards her bedroom. He pushed her bedroom door open and carried her over to the bed; setting her down in front of it.

She broke their kiss for a moment, lying her hand on his cheek, "I'll be right back."

Bo watched her disappear behind the bathroom door, returning moments later dressed in the black silk nightgown he had given to her, back when he was afraid she was going to crawl back under the covers and not take him with her. She looked amazing, the slight changes to her body that carrying their son had left behind, only made her more beautiful.

She placed her hands in his as he pulled her close against him. He lovingly kissed her neck, her breath catching in her throat at the sensations that were coursing through her. He once again picked her up carrying her over to the bed, gently lying her down in the center of the bed. She sat up on her knees and reached her hand out to him, giving him the invitation he was waiting for.

I don't need a lot of things

I can get by with nothing

Of all the blessings life can bring

I've always needed something

But I've got all I want when it comes to loving you

You're my only reason, you're my only truth.

He kneeled in front of her on the bed, reaching out to pull her into a kiss, his hand resting on the back of her neck, pulling her closer. Their kiss continued as she ran her hands slowly under his t-shirt, the feel of her skin against him igniting a fire within. She broke their kiss for a moment as she pulled his t-shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor beside the bed.

He placed his arm behind her, supporting her as he slowly lowered her onto the bed. She wrapped her arms around him; pulling him down on top of her. The feel of his body against hers, the taste of his tongue as their kiss deepened, caused a moan to escape from deep within her. His lips moved from her mouth to the crook of her neck and down her chest as he began to lower the straps of her nightgown down her arms.

I need you like water, like breath, like rain

I need you like mercy from heaven's gate

There's a freedom in your arms

That carries me through

I need you (oh, yes I do)

He continued to lower the top of her nightgown, slowly revealing her breasts to him, his lips replacing the silken material. She reached out and found the front of his jeans, his desire for her evident as her hand brushed up against him. She released the button, slowly lowering the zipper.

She began to lower his jeans over his hips as his lips continued to caress her. He kicked free of his jeans, his lips never breaking contact. She brought her hands up, running them over his chest once again, the chain he wore around his neck, lightly brushing against her stomach as his lips traveled down; away from her breasts.

You're the hope that moves me to courage again

You're the love that rescues me

When the cold winds, rage

Her hands traveled back down his chest, stopping at the waistband of his silk boxers. His breath caught in his throat for a moment at the feel of her hand against him. She smiled when she heard him release the breath he had been holding.He looked up at her for a moment, their eyes locking for just a second before he brought his lips back down onto hers.

His hands found the sides of her nightgown; lowering it the rest of the way; revealing her fully to him. He sat up for a moment and just stared at her, "Beautiful." he whispered breathlessly.

And it's so amazing

Cause that's just how you are

And I can't turn back now

Cause you've brought me too far

She reached out and pulled him down on top of her; her arms wrapping around him. A moment later she rolled him onto his back, bringing her lips down onto his. Her lips left his after a moment slowly traveling down his chest; her breasts brushing lightly across his chest, as she made her way lower, finally stopping at the waistband of his boxers. She looked up at him and smiled, their eyes never leaving the other's as she slowly lowered them over is hips.

He pulls her down on top of him, rolling her over onto her back just as she had done to him just moments before. He reached out and took her hands in his, intertwining his fingers with hers. His mouth found its way back down onto her neck slowly moving lower. He kissed along the inside of her thighs, the feel of his breath as it brushed across her causing her breath to catch.

She closed her eyes as he began to caress her, the feel of his hands on her bringing her closer and closer. He lowered his lips down onto hers as he continued to pleasure her. She broke their kiss, staring into his eyes, "Make love to me now, Bo." she whispered.

I need you like water, like breath, like rain

I need you like mercy from heaven's gate

There's a freedom in your arms

That carries me through

I need you.

He lowered his lips down onto hers as he slowly entered her. Tears began to wet her cheeks as their souls reconnected in this most intimate way. He kissed the tears from her cheeks and as their bodies finally gave into their release, they knew they had chased away the darkness and let the light back into their lives and the love back into their hearts.

The End

"I Need You."

Leann Rhimes