Daniel jumped awake, feeling Elle flinch in her sleep. He peeked over her with half lidded eyes to see the clock, 3:32am. His brow's furrowed in concern when she flinched again, though this time more violently. Her breaths came in short and quick bursts, like she was running. Daniel felt panic well his chest when the breaths turned into sobs as tears streamed down her face.

Hearing her mumbles, he leant down, his ear near her mouth, "My fault," She whispered, her voice shaking, "My fault, my fault, my fault." She repeated.

"Elle, baby, wake up," He muttered, nudging her shoulder gently in an attempt to wake her softly. However, this only caused her to grow more frantic. Her voice grew louder and her breathing harsher.

"I'm sorry, my fault, I'm sorry." Daniel straightened up and got on his knees, kneeling beside her quivering form.

"Please wake up, Elle, please." He said and tried to stop his own trembling hands as he shook her again, much firmer this time which caused her to flinch upwards with a gasp. She grappled onto Daniel, fisting his shirt. He took her into his arms tightly as she sobbed into his shoulder.

"It's all my fault, Daniel," She mumbled, "It's all my fault."

He shook his head quickly, already knowing she was talking about a case she'd just done. She'd come home crying after the victim, a little girl, had been killed in a trafficking ring. "It's not your fault, Ellie." He muttered and peppered kisses across her face before pressing his forehead against hers. "You did everything you could."

Elle didn't say anything, only buried her face in his chest. He leant back slowly, Elara still wrapped tightly in his arms until they were both lying back on the bed with her curled perfectly against him. And so he waited. He felt sleep trying to drag him down into the dark but anytime his eyelids closed, he tore them open. Danny focused on her gradually slowing breath and her lips as they gently kissed his chest over his shirt. Within 10 minutes, her breathing finally evened out as she fell asleep and only then did Daniel allow himself to succumb to sleep himself.

A/N:

THIS IS SHORT IM SORRY

bOIII it's been a while, again, I'm sorry!! I've been having to deal with enrolling in uni and stuff (yikes) buT HEY! Ya girl's doing psychology and minoring in criminology and justice 😎 Am I Elara Aspen Ellis?

Anyway, we're coming to the end of part 3, only the epilogue left then we move into part 4 👀 AKA 👀 The Movie 👀

Please let me know what you think!! (I Am Desperate For Validation)

x Clara