Eliza waited outside Ares' hospital room with Mac. Both of them agreed that it was Katie's right as his mother to see him first. That left Eliza more eager to get in there and hear her partner's voice again. Less than 24 hours without him and she was a basket case.

"Sit down, Liz," Mac ordered. "Your pacing is making me anxious. You'll get to see him when his mother is good and done."

"I'm well aware of that."

"Then sit down."

With a huff, Eliza plopped down in the seat next to Mac. She crossed her arms and glared at the wall across from them.

"Let's talk about something to keep your mind busy," the cop suggested while he rubbed his face.

The lady hunter leaned her head back against the wall. "Are you going to ask Katie out before she goes back to Earth?"

"And why do you assume I want to have a relationship with Kathryn?"

"The fact you called her Kathryn instead of Katie and you would not quit staring at her last night. I swear it was love-at-first-sight, Mac."

"Love isn't something a cop like me needs to get involved in."

"She'd say something similar, but she stared at you like she was seeing men in a new light." Eliza lifted her head. "Ezra fucked up her life, so she could use an honorable man like you. It might take some work to win her over though."

The cop shrugged. "She'd be worth it."

"Yeah, you are already head-over-heels. Ask her out today. If you don't, Ares and I will have to take drastic measures."

"Don't throw the man into some scheme of yours. He has to take time to heal."

"He won't have to lift a finger."

The room door opened, and Eliza was on her feet before Katie stepped out. Seeing Eliza, a brilliant grin lit up Katie's face. She even laughed.

"I guess it's your turn, Eliza." The hunter nodded, coming forward and pausing at the door. Katie rubbed her back. "He wants to see you, too. Get in there before a nurse comes by."

Eliza gave her an exasperated look before slipping into the room.

"Fancy seeing you here."

Eliza suddenly beamed at the hunter laid out on the hospital bed. He was paler than usual and dressed in a hospital gown, but he looked as beautiful as ever. Eliza sat in the chair beside the bed and rested her arms on it. She welcomed his touch when his fingers slithered around her arm. Her eyes glanced at the needle in his arm.

She jumped when his fingers suddenly touched her neck where the bruises had darkened overnight.

"I should have tried to stop him before that happened."

"It doesn't matter. You stopped him in the end."

Ares smiled. "And neither of us died."

"I thought you were going to," Eliza frowned. "Next time you do that, I will bring you back just so I can kill you myself."

"Duly noted."

The sounds of the hospital filled their silence while they gazed at each other. Eliza felt so much better seeing Ares awake and looking more like himself. Visions of his corpse haunted her for hours even after she knew he'd make it. That she blamed on Mae.

"I think your mom and Mac have a thing for each other," Eliza finally said, a smirk growing on her face.

"Really? I thought she didn't want anything to do with relationships anymore."

"Apparently, seeing Mac changed her mind. You should have seen them last night. They shook hands and just stared at each other."

He chuckled. "Wow. Mac is a good father, right?"

"I don't think they're going to get married, Ares."

"You say that now. My mom hasn't looked a man since Ezra. If Mac got her to pause, he's someone special."

Eliza interlocked their fingers together. "I did tell Mac to ask her out before she goes back home."

"Maybe something will spark."

Standing up, Eliza leaned over to leave a soft kiss to his forehead. She pulled away to see a cheeky grin on his lips.

"I nearly died, Lizzy, and you think a kiss on my head is enough?"

"I don't think getting you excited right now is the best idea. A nurse could be in at any moment."

He pouted. "One kiss won't be a problem."

"Maybe I'll leave you unsatisfied, so you'll get out of here faster to finally get that kiss you want so bad." Eliza brushed his hair away from his face.

"That's not fair when I saved your life."

She smiled and felt her eyes well up. "You deserve a hell of a lot more than a kiss." Then she bent over again and pressed her mouth to his. It was simple and carried everything she felt for him.

Ares gazed at her when she pulled away, carefully wiping a few stray tears that started falling down her cheeks. "I can't wait to go back home with you."

"You have to get better before the doctor will let that happen. You have a leg to start healing."

"It can't be much worse than when your friend took care of me."

"Except it was because you lost a lot of blood. You were just fine to knock on my apartment door the last time with how many wounds?" Eliza crossed her arms and stared down at the sheepish hunter.

"His gun packed a punch."

She rolled her eyes and patted his arm. "I'm just glad you're okay."

His eyes twinkled. "Do you think I'm going to get a sexy scar there?"

"You already have scars, Ares."

"Sexy ones?"

"If it helps you sleep tonight then sure."

Eliza received a satisfied smile at her words. Ares gripped her hand tight.

"I hate to go," she said. "Mac will want to see you and I think your mom wants to see a little more of Mars. If you want me to, I can come back tonight."

"I'd love for you to come back. I'd also love for you to hang out with Mom for as long as you want. Enjoy your time with her. I can see you tomorrow."

The lady hunter bent down again to wrap her arms around Ares' shoulders carefully. She left a kiss on his cheek and his lips before she stood up again. "I'm so relieved you're okay, Ares. I'll see you tonight or tomorrow morning."

Eliza turned to leave, her hand reaching for the handle when Ares' voice paused her movements.

"I love you, Lizzy."

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth to hide her smile and failed miserably. In an act that was much like her old self, Eliza turned around and bounced back over to the injured hunter. She grinned at him and captured his lips for a few seconds. He eyed her, a surprised smiled on his lips, when she pulled back enough to stare at him. She could have stared at his warm eyes forever.

Eliza released a breath. "I love you, too."

Ares groaned. "What a time to be strapped to a bed with an injury..."

"You'll be fine. I'll see you later."

Ares stared after Eliza, already missing her presence when the door closed. He cursed his hospital bed and the wound in his leg. How frustrating. He hid his displeasure as soon as the door opened again, Mac entering the room. He was happy to see that cop again.