Neil couldn't get Kady to listen. Clapping her hands over her ears, she screamed, "It's all my fault!"

"No, sweetheart, it's not," he hastened to reassure her.

"It is! It is!" she shrieked, her voice growing more and more hysterical by the moment.

"If I was a good girl, like she told me to be, Mommy wouldn't be gone!"

"That's not true, Kady. Please listen to me. You didn't do this. You didn't do *any* of this." Neil reached out to his daughter, but she darted away and down the main staircase, clearly heading for the front door.

"Mommy didn't love me cause I was bad," Kady sobbed, refusing to let Neil come any closer.

Neil was close to tears himself. Seeing his daughter this heartbroken only increased his feelings of guilt tenfold. He knew he hadn't forced Maddy to leave, but he hadn't tried to stop her either. Even if her leaving was probably for the best, there was no shortcut through the emotional minefield for those she left behind.

Afraid that Kady might hurt herself, Neil did the only thing he could do. He grabbed the little girl and wrapped his arms around her. Kady immediately resisted, kicking and crying out vociferously. "Bring Mommy back, Daddy!" the six-year old wailed.

Neil tried valiantly to hold onto Kady, but her words chilled his heart. "I can't, sweetheart."

"If you loved Mommy, you'd make her come back! I hate you, Daddy! I hate you!"

While Neil found himself almost in shock from what Kady was saying, Kady sank her teeth into his arm. Instinctively recoiling, he inadvertently released his grip on the little girl. Kady bolted through the door, her shrill voice echoing in his ears.

"Kady!"

Neil managed to pull open the door in time to see Kady fly mindlessly into the driveway. Completely distraught, the child didn't see the car that was coming up the driveway.

But Neil did. "KADY!!!" he screamed, realizing that he wasn't going to have enough time to save his daughter from being struck by the car.

Kady whirled around and saw the car at the last moment. Instead of running, she stood there stoically, as if she accepted whatever fate God had decreed for her.

The car veered away from her almost too late. With a metallic screech, the car jumped the low brick wall that confined the chateau's gardens and came to a stop on top of one of Nikita's favorite rose bushes. Its wheels spinning madly, the car dieseled for several seconds before shutting down.

By now, Neil was holding his daughter in his arms, checking every inch of her for injury. "Are you all right, Kady?"

Kady nodded soundlessly, staring at the metal sculpture that was once a car. She was pale, but otherwise unhurt. Which was more than could be said for the occupants of the car.

Sey pushed open his door and nearly fell out of the car. "Neil! Is Kady okay?"

Neil put Kady down and strode over to the younger man. "What the hell were you doing, driving so fast on the grounds? You could've killed Kady!"

"I wasn't driving. Declan wa-" As if belatedly realizing that Declan was not standing next to him, Sey turned and stared incredulously at the damaged vehicle.

"Declan!" Sey screamed hoarsely.

Neil's anger dissipated as he realized that the former field operative hadn' t so much as responded to his name. "Declan?"

Declan's head was bleeding where it contacted the windshield. A slow thin trickle of blood was making its way down his right cheek. Just as Sey would have leaped back into the car, Neil pulled on his arm. "Don't move him yet. I'll take a look at him first."

"You're the last person I want looking at him now!" Sey shouted.

Michael intervened, beckoning to Nikita to take Kady back inside the chateau. "Then come back and get Birkoff."

"No! I want to be here! I have a right to be here! I want to see how he is!"

Michael framed Sey's shoulders with both hands, noting that it took considerable strength to restrain him. "You're not doing him any good this way, Birkoff. Let us take care of him."

"But he's unconscious. What if he wakes up and doesn't see me there? He needs me, Michael," Sey protested, his strong façade giving way under the weight of his fear and anxiety. "He needs me, dammit," he whispered, willing Michael to understand.

"I know."

Nikita brushed at the tears in her own eyes and said huskily, "Why don't we wait for him inside, Birkoff?"

"But what if-"

"Ssh," she said, pulling the younger man into her arms. At times like these, she felt most keenly that Birkoff was family. "No what if's. Only good thoughts from now on."

"O-kay," he said slowly, sniffling.

When Nikita and Birkoff were gone, Michael turned back to the accident scene. "Do you need any help, Neil?"

"A miracle or two might be nice. Think you can arrange something?"

"Is he going to be all right?"

"He's still out. But his pupils are equal and reactive to light. He's reacting to painful stimuli. He's got strong and equal hand grasps. There's no real sign of neurological damage."

"Except for the fact that he's unconscious."

"Well, yeah."

"Any idea why?"

"You mean like the trauma of almost hitting Kady? Maybe."

"Declan knows about Madeline, Neil."

"Shit."

"Maybe he just doesn't have a good enough reason to come back to the real world right now."

Neil started to nod, but caught himself as a thought suddenly came to him. "Or maybe we just sent that reason away."

Michael raced ahead to warn Nikita that they were bringing Declan inside the chateau. The tall, lean Irishman was still unconscious, but Neil could find no logical physical reason for it. The cut on Declan's head no longer bled, thanks to Neil's quick intervention, but it was not big enough or deep enough to explain the younger man's continued unresponsiveness.

Nikita ensured that the children stayed out of the way, but she swiftly found that she needed Miranda to run interference with her. Naturally curious and concerned, for a moment, it seemed as though keeping them away from Declan took more hands than they could spare.

Sasha pushed his way through the crowd in the foyer, his dark brown eyes intense and searching. "Dad!" he cried as he spotted Sey.

Sasha was at his father's side in a heartbeat. "Are you okay?" he said, frowning at the assortment of superficial cuts that decorated Sey's face and hands.

"I'm fine. It's Declan who's-" Sey stopped talking as soon as he saw his lover's face, so still and unmoving. Like a death mask.

Sasha braced himself for impact. Sey was swaying dangerously, his eyelids fluttering as though he would pass out. Putting an arm around his father's shoulder, he held onto the older man, murmuring soothing phrases to keep him centered and in the moment. "If he dies-" Sey whispered.

But his son would have none of that. "Nobody's going to die, Dad. Especially not Da."

"But-"

"Nope. You know Da. Too fucking stubborn to know when to quit. When God calls him, he's just as liable to be too busy to go."

Sey gazed incredulously at Sasha. "Are you sure you're the son?"

"Yep. And you're the Dad. Well, one of them, anyway," Sasha quipped.

"Smartass."

"You love me anyhow."

"Sure do, kiddo."

***

When Michael and Neil had Declan settled in bed, they called Sey. Before he would let Sey go in, Neil forced Sey to listen to what he had to say. "His medical condition is stable." Noting Sey's skeptical look, Neil continued, "I'm not saying he couldn't use a couple of days in the hospital. But there' s nothing seriously wrong at this point. Just the fact that he hasn't woken up."

"What about internal bleeding? What about fractures that you can't see?"

Neil fixed Sey with a chilly glare that would have frozen a man less determined than him.

"Well? Unless you've got X-ray vision, how do you know?"

Neil gave him a look that would have rivaled anything Madeline could dish out. "The physical exam didn't turn up anything unusual or suspicious, Birkoff, but if you'd rather rely on the questionable assessment skills of some intern at the closest hospital, please, be my guest." The words "you ungrateful wretch" hung in the air unspoken.

"Oh," said Sey, suitably chastened. "It's just that-"

"You worry. I know, Birkoff. I've been there a few times myself." Neil forced himself to remember that they were all under considerable emotional strain and took a deep breath.

"Can I see him now?"

"Of course."

***

Ignoring the curious stares of the other adults, Sey made his way to the bed that held the person he cherished most in the world. Kneeling on the bed next to Declan, Sey whispered, "Declan?"

Neil frowned at the lack of response Declan showed. But he was convinced that he was right. Declan was suffering from a massive emotional trauma, and he only needed to know that Sey was right there, waiting for his safe return.

Glancing nervously at the others, Sey put them out of his mind, focusing totally on his beloved. He brushed a curl back from Declan's forehead and for the first time since he entered the room, there was a visible reaction.

Declan stirred, grimacing and turning his face the other way. "Did I hurt you, love? I'm sorry. You know I don't mean to hurt you," Sey whispered.

He never opened his eyes, but he wrinkled his nose and inclined his head in Sey's direction, as if he were listening to Sey's voice.

Taking one of Declan's hands in his, Sey said softly, "Please come back to me, Dec. I need you. Sasha and Emmy need you."

Declan's head gave a definite jerk. Whether that was an affirmative or a negative response, however, was difficult to tell.

Michael's hand on Sey's shoulder startled the younger man. He looked up anxiously. "Do whatever you have to, Birkoff, to convince him to stay with us."

Sey nodded mutely.

Michael left the room, taking Neil and the others with him. As soon as the door closed behind Michael, Sey breathed an unconscious sigh of relief.

Lowering himself to the bed, Sey slowly but surely insinuated his body next to his lover's. Placing his mouth to Declan's left ear, Sey said quite clearly, "You do know you're not getting away from me this easy, don't you? I love you and you're not going anywhere without me. Got that?"

Declan's lips seemed to curve into an almost-smile.

Sey kissed him.

At first, he was sure that nothing happened. Then, gradually, with a subtlety Sey wouldn't necessarily have credited Declan with, Declan began to kiss him back. If he hadn't been concentrating so hard, he might have missed it. But luckily, Declan had the strength to persevere.

"Dec!"

Declan opened his eyes all at once. Unprepared for the silvery gaze that met his, Sey flushed. "You're back."

A faint smile traced Declan's lips. "So I am. Where'd I go?"

"Y-you h-hit your head on the w-windshield, Dec. I thought you weren't going to wake up."

To offset Sey's obvious apprehension about his fate, Declan kissed him. "There now, does that feel like a man who has nothing to live for?"

"I don't know what I would've done if you didn't come to, love. I was so scared that you-"

Declan kissed him one more time. This time, sweet and hot and filled with the promise of many years to come. "Oh, God," he groaned, as if just noticing that his head pounded.

"Headache?"

Declan nodded, then winced. "Oh, bad move."

"I should go tell Neil that you're awake. He'll want to take another look at you."

His fingertips grazing the smooth pale skin of his lover, Declan stroked Sey 's face like a blind man learning to see. "Don't leave me yet, acushla. I might have a relapse."

"Uh huh," Sey agreed, smiling that beatific smile that he reserved only for Declan. With a suddenness that was almost startling, Sey buried his face in the curve of Declan's neck and shoulder. "I love you so much," he breathed against his skin, rejoicing in its warmth.

"I know, baby. You're what brought me back." Declan's throat ached with feelings he could never adequately express in words. But a kiss. .was unmistakable in its honesty.

They made a beautiful picture. Declan, lying peacefully on his back, his left arm wrapped around Sey's shoulder. Sey, his head pillowed on Declan's uninjured chest, his body flush against Declan's side, while his left knee rested comfortably between his lover's thighs.

As Neil entered the room quietly, Declan's silver-grey eyes popped open. "I'm not asleep."

Neil smiled and gestured at the other man who hadn't so much as stirred. "What about Birkoff?"

"I don't want to wake him up yet. He's had a hard night."

At that last, Neil snorted. "And you haven't?"

"Hey, you got me out of that car and stitched up my head. I'm forever in your debt, Neil. We both are," Declan added, indicating the man he held. "We're not ready to be separated just yet."

Neil pushed away the unwelcome pang of emotion with as much force as he could muster. He couldn't think about what he'd lost anymore. He needed to look ahead. To the future. There had to be something out there for him. Didn't there?

Noting Neil's uncharacteristic preoccupation, Declan glanced sympathetically at the older man. "How's Kady?"

"A bit shook up. She'll be all right, though. Especially now that-" Neil stopped himself from completing that sentence. He'd almost forgotten about Declan's relationship with Madeline.

"-Maddy's gone," Declan finished for him, his ragged voice tearing at Neil's composure.

As if sensing his lover's disquiet, Sey opened his eyes. "You okay?" he asked, slurring the words together like someone who was still half-asleep.

Declan unconsciously rubbed Sey's shoulder with his left hand. In times of stress, touching his lover grounded him in a way he couldn't really explain. "I will be."

"Would you like something for the headache?" Neil asked thoughtfully.

Declan looked as close to surprised as he could get. Few things truly did. "How did you know I--?"

"Some of the best things a doctor learns aren't in a textbook. They're written on people's faces for them to read."

Declan smiled. "Aye, I think I would like something for the pain. It's hard to think clearly when your head aches this bad."

Sey yawned and settled back into place at Declan's side, his head once more on Declan's chest. "Love.you." he murmured sleepily.

Declan chuckled at Neil's apparent discomfiture. "It's only love, Neil. It won't kill me."

"It's not *love* I'm worried about, Declan. It's the strenuous activity that usually follows."

"Oh, I'm hardly ready for that."

"Glad to hear it because trust me.anything that increases your circulation that much.is going to take your head off."

"You sound like you've been there. Head injury?"

Neil shook his head. "No. Hangover."

Declan threw his head back and laughed. Then he saw stars and immediately regretted moving. "Bloody hell."

"As I was saying."

"Bring me a painkiller. Bring me two. Unhhh," Declan groaned, holding his head.

Sey snuggled closer, the top of his head nestled under Declan's chin. Almost instantly, Declan pulled away, unsettling his sleeping lover. "Hey," Sey protested.

"Birkoff, if I were you, I'd get the hell out of there."

"Why?" Sey asked, peering through bleary, red-rimmed eyes.

"Cause unless I miss my guess, Declan's about to discover one of the most unattractive side effects of having a headache this severe."

"You mean--?" Sey sat up quickly.

"Yeah."

Neil handed Declan a damp towel. Slowly dragging the cool material over his face, Declan swallowed hard. "I hate throwing up."

Neil nodded. "You'll hate it even more when you're through."

"You mean I'm not done yet?"

"Unfortunately, no."

"What about the pain medication?"

"I can't give you pills if you can't hold anything down, Declan. I'm afraid I'll have to give you a shot. In fact, while I'm at it, I think I'll give you some Compazine IM to curb the vomiting."

Declan lay back on his pillows, his face completely ashen. "That took everything out of me. I feel like shit."

"You still up to staying with him, Birkoff?"

Sey, who had been watching everything with a combination of anxiety and empathy, nodded. "For better or worse, right?" he asked Declan, alluding to their vows.

Declan smiled wanly. "I won't hold you to them right now, baby. This has got to be-"

"-disgusting? Yeah, it is. But hey, I share all your other body fluids, so why should this be different?"

"Sey!"

Neil colored. "Birkoff, that was entirely too much information."

"Neil, for Christ's sake, get the shot. I'm dying here." Declan hid his face behind his splayed fingers, peeking at his lover through them.

Neil expertly drew up the two injectable medications in one syringe. "This way, I won't have to give you *two* shots."

"My ass appreciates your concern," Declan said in a muffled voice as he rolled over.

Sey unfastened his lover's pants and lowered them, exposing his firm, muscular buttocks. For a second, Neil seemed almost spellbound at the sight, but he quickly recovered.

Sey flinched when the needle entered Declan's body. No big fan of needles under the best of circumstances, Sey disliked anything that caused his lover pain. "Are you okay, Dec?" he asked anxiously, pulling Declan's pants back into place.

"Just great."

"You should sleep for a while, Declan," said Neil, disposing of the sharps.

"I should? Or I will?"

"Both."

Declan groaned as he fell back onto the pillows. "I hate staying in bed."

"I'm sure you do. But." Neil grinned. "You've got good company, if you don't mind me saying so."

Sey grinned back. "Why, Neil, I had no idea you felt that way." Sey deliberately fluttered his eyelashes at the older man.

Declan frowned. "No flirting with the doc, acushla. He might set me back. On purpose."

"Aw, Neil wouldn't do that. Would you, Neil?" Sey continued flirtatiously.

"Stop that right now, Sey. Or-or-or I'll throw up on you next time."

"You wouldn't."

Declan's mouth curved into a wicked grin. "Wouldn't I?"

Sey cast a wistful look at Neil before kneeling on the bed, crouched over his lover. "Not if you ever want to." Sey lowered his voice to a whisper that only Declan could hear.

Neil blushed at the thoughts his imagination was conjuring up. He needed to move on. Preferably as soon as possible.

Declan grabbed his lover and pressed a fervent kiss to his ear and Sey collapsed on top of him, giggling as Declan's hands renewed their acquaintance with his body.

Neil headed for the door. "Proceed at your own risk, Declan," he called over his shoulder.

"Oh, I am, Neil, I am."

Some things were worth the inevitable pain that accompanied them.

"Are we going home, Daddy?" Kady asked. In the past few weeks, she had been quiet and withdrawn. She refused to talk to Neil about her mother or the accident that occurred in front of the chateau. But Neil could tell that she harbored a great deal of guilt over what happened to Declan.

"Yes, sweetheart," Neil responded, noting the furtive look that crossed her face. She was hiding something, but he feared that it might take therapy to pry it out of her.

It had been decided that Adrian and Francesca would rent space in Neil's house. It wasn't that he needed the money, but the house was going to seem empty without Madeline, and they needed a place to live for the duration. When Adrian insisted on paying his way, Neil accepted, grateful only that he would have adult company.

"It won't be the same, though," he muttered under his breath.

Kady cocked her head and looked at her father in a manner that recalled Madeline so clearly, it brought tears to his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong, sweetie." He brushed impatiently at his moist eyes. "Daddy was just thinking about how beautiful you are and how much you look like Mommy."

Kady squealed in distress and ran out of the room, nearly knocking over Declan in the process. "What got into her?" Declan asked, indicating the little girl with a wave of his hand.

Neil shook his head and said huskily, "Oh, I just said the wrong thing. As usual."

"You know how kids are at that age, Neil."

He nodded. "But she's so fragile lately. I can't do anything right ever since-"

"Maddy left," Declan made himself say quietly, though the echoes of that phrase reverberated in his brain for several seconds.

"I'm sorry, Declan. I don't mean to keep bringing it up. I know how much she hurt you, too."

Declan sighed. "It's that little girl I'm worried about. Of course you can't bloody well talk to her. She just lost her mother."

Neil patted Declan's arm, his dark blue gaze compassionate. "In a way, so did you."

"I'll get over it," Declan declared. "The question is.will she?"

*****

One week later

"She seems glad to be going back to school," Nikita offered.

Neil readily agreed. "She does, doesn't she? Maybe she just needed something else to occupy her mind."

"I wouldn't forget about therapy just yet, though," she said. "This isn't something a kid works through on her own."

"You're right. I think I've merely been postponing the inevitable."

"Is there a reason you don't want her to have therapy?"

"It's not that. It's just-I suppose it reminds me too much of *her*," Neil said carefully, casting a quick glance at Nikita.

"You can say her name, Neil. I won't break."

"Sorry."

Nikita smiled warmly at him. "Don't be. You'll be okay."

"I wish it felt that way," Neil grumbled. "I'm not usually so moody."

"Neil, please." Nikita took his hand in hers and held it. "We're your friends *and* your family. We understand."

"Thanks," he answered tersely, trying not to let his runaway emotions do just that. Run away with him.

"Not to change the subject, but how are Adrian and Francesca?"

"Oh, thanks for reminding me. They're great. I guess you know that Adrian is insisting on paying me rent. I feel foolish taking his money, but-"

"If that's what it takes to make him feel comfortable, let him."

"Right."

When Neil didn't volunteer any further information, Nikita asked, "How's she doing?"

"Fine. In every way that counts, her pregnancy is unremarkable."

Nikita grinned. "Except for the fact that she's having triplets."

"Well, yeah, there is that," Neil admitted, chuckling despite his earlier dark mood.

"How do you feel about that?"

"About what?" Neil looked at her blankly.

"About having a pregnant woman in your house."

Neil shrugged. "I'm fine. Is there any reason I wouldn't be?"

"No, of course not."

Suddenly the guarded look was back in Neil's eyes. "She told you, didn't she?"

"Who?"

"Mad-dy," Neil said, his voice breaking.

"Told me what, Neil?" Nikita seemed genuinely puzzled, but Neil couldn't believe that right now.

"That I wanted more children," he whispered.

"No," Nikita said, realizing at once how incredibly sad Madeline's leaving was for Neil, on more levels than they had been aware of.

"But she didn't." Neil gritted his teeth against the wave of pain that very nearly blindsided him. "She didn't want any.more."

He began to laugh, but his laughter held a strident, bitter note. "I don't know why I was so surprised. Hell, she didn't even want the ones she had."

"Oh, Neil." Nikita would have wept for Neil, if she could have, but she knew that he was going to have to process all of this in his own way.

She moved to hug him, but Neil pulled away, as if the very touch of another human being was too much for him to handle. A choked noise coming from around the corner alerted them that they weren't alone. When Neil went to investigate, to his utter horror, Connor stood there, leaning on the wall, his face buried in his hands.

It was obvious that Connor had heard what Neil said.

"Connor-"

Connor swiped his entire arm across his wet face in an effort to dry his tears. "It's okay, Dad. It's what I always knew. What I always felt in my heart. That Mom didn't want us."

He stammered uncharacteristically, wishing there were a hole in the floor through which he could disappear. "I guess it still hurts to hear it, though."

For a moment, Neil hid his feelings behind a mask of total stoicism, convinced that he needed to be strong for the kids. Then he looked deeply into his son's tragic eyes, so like his own, and he couldn't bear the lie he 'd been telling himself all this time.

"Connor, I know I can't make you feel better about what I said, but-" Neil shuddered. "I don't think she ever truly wanted *me* either."

Connor threw himself into his father's arms, apparently heedless of the fact that teenagers, especially male teenagers, would rather be caught dead than anywhere near their parents. But that was part of what made Neil so proud of Connor. That he *was* different. That he wasn't afraid to be compassionate or kind. He wasn't *weak*, no matter what his mother said.

"Oh, Daddy, I'm so sorry," he whispered, winding his arms around Neil's neck.

"Me, too, Con. Me, too," Neil choked out.

And then he held his son. It felt good to be able to do that again without fear of Maddy's censuring eye.

For the first time in weeks, he thought, Maybe we're going to be okay, after all.

"But I don't like that lady," Kady pouted.

"Honey, she's very nice," Neil reassured the six-year old. "She just wants to help you feel better."

"I'm okay, Daddy."

"No, sweetheart, you're not. You're angry and upset-" He stopped speaking when he saw fresh tears well up in Kady's dark brown eyes. "You need to talk to someone."

"I talk to you and Luc."

"Someone big, Kady. Someone who can show you how to get rid of your anger without hurting yourself."

"I wouldn't hurt m'self, Daddy," she whined, her lower lip quivering.

Neil intentionally shut all of his emotions down. He was not only too close to the situation, he was empathizing with Kady's pain far too much to be useful. He was a good man and a good doctor, but when Madeline left, Neil lost his ability to maintain a safe emotional distance. The only alternative was to pretend indifference. He could cry over what that was doing to Kady later.in the privacy of his bedroom.

"I want you to talk things over with Mrs. Hill, Kady."

Backed into a corner, Kady reacted like a trapped animal. She screamed and stomped her feet. She didn't want to do this. She didn't have to. No matter what anyone said. Even Daddy.

The therapist smiled kindly, but it was clear that she had little patience with histrionics. "Come along, Kady."

"No! Nooooooo!" Kady thumped her head on the wall and kicked at the older woman's shins.

"Kady," Neil said, trying to calm his daughter, "you want to go back to school, don't you?"

Kady froze and hiccupped. "Yes, Daddy," she said almost inaudibly.

"If you don't do this, I'll have to pull you out of school, maybe send you away."

Kady shrieked before dissolving into loud, uncontrollable sobbing. Neil closed his eyes briefly. He knew he was doing the right thing, but it was hurting both of them.

He nodded to Mrs. Hill over Kady's head. This time, when Mrs. Hill offered a hand to Kady, the little girl took it. But as they walked into Mrs. Hill's office, Kady threw a terrible look over her shoulder at her father, and he feared that their relationship might never be the same.

***

Neil scowled even though the person on the other end of the phone couldn't see him. "What do you mean, she isn't talking?"

Every day, Kady was dropped off at Mrs. Hill's office for intensive therapy. But things were hardly progressing well. "What am I paying you for? She goes every day and she doesn't say a thing?"

"I realize you can't *force* Kady to talk, but-"

"Damn!" Neil hung up the phone with uncharacteristic vehemence.

Francesca hovered in the doorway, trying not to eavesdrop, but reluctant to leave Neil alone. "Trouble?" she said softly.

"It's Kady. She won't talk to the therapist."

Francesca smiled patiently. "I'm sure you've thought of this, but-get another therapist."

"I'm not sure it would help."

"Then let Kady go to school. She's already missed almost a week. She needs to focus on something else."

Neil laughed darkly. "Isn't that advocating denial as a coping mechanism?"

The tall ex-model shrugged. "Whatever works."

"No, no, I want this over with."

"Neil," Francesca said, grasping Neil's arm. "It's never going to be over with. Kady lost her mother. That's a hurt that never goes away."

"Tell me about it." Neil felt the warmth of Francesca's fingers penetrate the fabric covering his arm. In the midst of feeling cold and abandoned, Neil clung to that warmth like a beacon in a turbulent sea.

"Cesca," he murmured, using Adrian's nickname for her.

"I want to help you and Kady."

"You do," he hastened to assure her. "Sometimes-"

"What, Neil?"

"Sometimes I think you're the only thing making this all bearable," he whispered.

Francesca shook her head, her long light brown hair catching the light as it swayed to and fro. "You give me way too much credit."

"No, I think I don't give you nearly enough." For a moment, it seemed as though Neil were about to kiss her, but Francesca quickly drew back to avoid even the appearance of something inappropriate.

Her smile a little less genuine than before, Francesca excused herself, returning to the suite she shared with her husband.

Adrian took one look at her and knew that something was wrong. "What is it? Someone's upset you."

"It's nothing, Deep. It's just Neil. He's so.vulnerable and fragile right now. I didn't want to say anything . I might hurt his feelings."

Adrian didn't want to hear about extenuating circumstances. He demanded to know what Neil said or did to her. Frustrated in her desire to help Neil, Francesca told her husband about the almost-kiss, hoping that Adrian wouldn't overreact.

"He's out of line," Adrian clipped out. "We're staying in his house, but that's all. He has no right to treat you that way."

"Please don't say anything, Deep. Please."

"Cesca, you've got a good heart, but you can't take care of the whole world."

"I know. But please.give Neil another chance. He's a little confused right now."

"All right, Cesca. But I'm doing this for *you*, not him. He'd better watch his step cause I'll have my eye on him from now on."

"You belong to me." Adrian kissed her, his lips as possessive as they were passionate. "And I protect what belongs to me."