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It was morning when Jesse checked into the motel she would be staying at till she found an apartment. She dropped her bag down and headed to the bathroom for a hot shower. Twenty minutes later she was dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a white t-shit. The bed looked tempting but she couldn't sleep. There was something she needed to do. Something her bones were jumping to do since she finally made up her mind.

She tucked the room key in her pocket and locked the door behind her as she stepped out into the morning sun. It was a beautiful day. She decided the stress of yesterday wasn't going to cloud this day or any day after it. She felt clear headed, in control, finally.

The hospital wasn't busy. There were about three people waiting to be seen. Jesse walked up to the front desk were a couple of nurses were chatting. "Excuse me. I'm looking for David and Terry Sawyer. She was having a baby." She explained to the nurse with high hair that amazed Jesse at first glance.

"Oh yes a baby girl. It's so sad what happened."

Jesse instantly knew this wasn't going to be good. "What happened?"

"Oh darn I've said too much. If you aren't family I can give you any information." The nurse explained.

"Please. I need to know what happened." Jesse begged.

She looked at Jesse for a few seconds before she made up her mind. "Just after giving birth. The mother began to bleed internally. The doctors did everything they could but in the end she died." She softly explained.

Jesse's heart sank. "The baby?"

"A healthy little girl, she's just fine."

Jesse nodded at the good news. "Is the father still here?" her voice became croaked as she thought of everything David must be going through. She thought back to the day she first saw Terry. A beautiful pregnant woman and now she was just gone.

"Poor man, he was here all night. He just left, said he'd be back. They're keeping the baby here for another day to make sure everything is ok since she came a little too soon." She explained.

"Ok, thank you." Jesse told the woman. She knew David stayed at a hotel because he was in town for a case. As she thought about it, she had no idea what hotel it was. They always met at her place. She looked at the nurse again. "Can I see her? The baby." She softly asked. The nurse nodded as she wondered why she trusted this young woman before her. She stepped out from behind the desk and showed Jesse the nursery. With a nod, she walked away leaving Jesse alone. Se looked through the glass window at Baby Sawyer. A smile formed on her lips. It was sad that beautiful little girl would never know her mother.

She crossed her arms and continued to look at the sleeping baby. - David looked around the hotel room. Another couple of weeks till she was old enough and David decided they would go back home. He sat on the edge of the bed. Needing a moment to just think. He had called Jesse several times last night but no answer. He tried again an hour ago and still no answer. Of course he wondered if something was wrong. On top of everything else he was worried Jesse was in trouble again.

Before he went back to the hospital he would just go see her and make sure for his state of mind she was ok.

David still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact Terry was really gone and now he had a new born baby to take care of and rise. All on his own. He thought back to Terry and how happy she was to be having a baby. Everything she was looking forward to that was now gone. He still felt Terry knew she was going to die. There was something in her eyes, in her words. She asked him to be there for their child. To always make sure she was ok and that's what he was going to do. Till the day he died.

He grabbed his keys and left the room. His mind was just so busy. Thinking about Terry and the baby. Thinking about Jesse and how now more then ever he needed her. She wanted to leave town and he couldn't blame her. She was hurting and it was his fault. And soon he would be leaving town too. The baby needed to be raised at home. The home Terry had made for her.

David reached Jesse's apartment. She wasn't there and deep in his heart knew she left already. He didn't know what to feel. It hurt to know she left with out a goodbye. To know he never got the chance to stop her. He just threw that hurt into the mix of emotions he was already feeling.

He waved to the nurses who've been a great help. He walked straight to the nursery. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her. She was just standing there and he thought she never looked more beautiful. Her long shady blonde hair was tied back into a pony tail. Only her legs could make a pair of jeans look that good, he thought as he began to walk again. Some of the mix of emotions, the confusion, it all seemed lighter now. As if seeing her made it all go away.

"Hey." David softly said as he now stood beside her. "What are you doing here?" Jesse's eyes were on the baby but his eyes were focused on her.

"I left. I thought it would be better to never see you again. But someone made me realize that wasn't the case. I couldn't handle never seeing you again. It would hurt too damn much. More then the lies. I came straight here. They told me about Terry, I'm sorry." Jesse said. Once she stopped talking she finally looked at him. It was obvious he hadn't slept but he still looked really good.

"Thank you." David said. "What do you mean? What does everything you said mean?" he asked. He wouldn't let himself jump to conclusions of what he wanted.

Jesse looked around. She didn't think it would be this hard. "It means," she looked at his blue eyes now. "that I don't want to lose you. I forgave you before I left I just didn't know how to tell you. I forgave you but not enough to stay but the more I thought about it, I changed my mind. I realized it was time I took what I wanted. And what I want, what I'll always want is you. So now it seems you're stuck with me." She explained. Near tears at he end, but happy ones.

David smiled and placed his hand around the nape of her neck. "That's one thing I don't mind." He pulled her close into a kiss. They pulled away and he stared into her eyes. "I have to go back home and rise the baby the way I know Terry wanted. Come with me." He explained.

Jesse just stared at him. She did want more in her life, she was going to leave town anyway. "There's no where else I'd rather go." She wrapped her arms around him into a tight hug. She looked at the baby again and smiled. "What are you going to name her?" she asked at the thought just occurred to her.

"I don't know. Do you have any suggestions?" David asked as he looked at her face now.

Jesse nodded. "I think she should be named after her mother." She said.

"I agree. Her full name was Theresa. I think she would love if we named the baby after her." David explained.

"We?" Jesse questioned as she held on to his hand.

"Yes, we." David said before he kissed her again.

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AN: I know it took me awhile to end this but now I have. And I hope you enjoyed it. Review and let me know. I would love to hear what everyone thought of A love that lingers.

Thanks and goodbye,

Isabelle A.