TEASER

Cole sat in his war-room, entering commands onto his keyboard in rapid-fire, his eyes scanning the shifting data attentively. The sound of the tapping keys was drowned out by the sound of his own voice. As a teacher and as a Tracker on Cirron, he had always been in the habit of singing to himself as he worked. On Sar-Top, there had been nothing in his life to sing about and the habit had lapsed. Just lately, though, he found himself singing again. More often than not, he was not even aware of it until after he had been at it for some time.

He was singing under the influence of chocolate, on long car trips, alone in the war-room, even in the shower like Mel. She did not think he knew of that habit of hers. The acoustics in the small bathroom really were too good to resist the urge to sing. He supposed this to mean that he had more reasons to sing now, more causes to be happy again. It was nice, comfortable. In English, modern Cirronian, or the wordless Old Style, singing brought him pleasure and filled the emptiness. Like Mel herself, he supposed. He doubted that he would be able to sing again if he had not found Mel and, with her, some measure of the Joy that had long been lost to him.

"Hwa'a'i, ne'o-a'i. Terri noran cirrot. Ne'o nor-eye, ne'o nor-i, Hwa'a ne'o cirrat..."

"That is so beautiful, Cole," Mel whispered from the door as he paused before the song's second verse.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, he smiled up at her. "Hello, Mel. I didn't know you were up here." If he had known, he would have tried MUCH harder to make the song perfect instead of simply half-mumbling the lines.

"Oh, I just ran up to grab some aspirin," she explained.

He rose swiftly, moving to her. "Are you ill, Mel?" he asked, frowning anxiously.

"No." She smiled reassuringly and shook her head, gently patting his shoulder. "I just had a little headache. I didn't even get the aspirin, but it's a lot better already, actually." Her smile widened and she stared up at him with wondering eyes. Just when she thought he was done surprising her. "The song actually helped. What was it, Cole?"

"You might call it a lullaby, Mel," he told her gently, brushing his fingers across her forehead, releasing soothing energy to help dissipate the pain there. "Cirronian adults sing it to calm their children. It was always one of my favorites."

"You sang it to your daughter?" she asked, closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of his energy. What was left of her headache vanished like fog touched by the first rays of sunlight.

He nodded, smiling. "Ashi loved it. She made me sing it to her every day before her meditations, and before she went to school." He paused, his smile widening. "And after she was done with her meditations, and when she got home from school..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "I sang it to myself just as often," he confessed with a shrug.

"Maggie told me that Nestov mentioned that you used to sing a lot. He said you could have done it professionally?"

Cole shrugged and nodded. "Nallia was a musician and I was never as good as she was, but people seemed to enjoy my voice and I always have enjoyed singing. Teaching was my real passion, though." He brushed his fingers across her forehead again, offering up more energy against the encroaching pain. "Headache gone?"

She smiled up at him. "Yeah, thanks." Reluctant to leave just yet, she asked, "What were the words?"

Cole considered before answering. "I think it loses something in the translation, Mel, but... 'The sunlight shines down. Earth... well, Cirron, shines back its greeting. Shine on, my little one... outshine the sun with the light that...'" He frowned thoughtfully for a moment, pausing in his translation, a lost look on his face.

"Cole?" Mel asked, concerned.

He shook himself. "Sorry, Mel. Um, 'outshine the sun with a light from within, the legacy of your parents, of your race, and of Cirron herself'." He shook his head and returned to the computer.

"Cole?" she repeated, entering the war-room and touching his shoulder lightly. "Is something wrong?" she asked, moving her hand to his throat, ready to release soothing energy as he so often did for her. He caught her hand before it could reach his throat, pushing it aside. "What's wrong, Cole?" she asked anxiously.

He shook his head and stared at the screen. "I was singing that song right before... After they were... taken from me." He shook his head again, looking up at her, his expression hopelessly confused. "I just remembered that. I'd forgotten. I should get back to work now."

"Do you... want to talk about it?" she offered uncertainly.

He shook his head, smiling up at her. He hated to see her worry. "I'm fine, Mel. I just need a new favorite song. I need to get back to work now, and you should as well."

"You sure?" she asked, dubious.

"Yes, Mel." He smiled and nodded, rising and gently turning her. "Let me know if your headache comes back. I'll help."

Reluctant to leave him, but aware that she was not really wanted there either, she returned to the bar. She sighed and shook her head when she saw who was waiting there. "Nestov."

"We need to talk," he told her anxiously, shifting uncomfortably and looking around anxiously.

Mel sighed and nodded. The headache was trying to reassert itself. This time, it brought spots for company. Like she needed another migraine right now. "Okay. I'll get Cole."

"Not Cole, man." Nestov shook his head firmly. "No way. I value my life WAY too much to bring this to him."

Mel put her hands on her hips, glaring at the Dessarian. "What did you do?" she demanded in a tight voice.

Nestov shook his head, annoyed. "You know, you could at least give me the benefit of the doubt here, Mel. I DID help you guys out with the Sprulaq incident."

Mel nodded and rubbed her forehead. He was right of course. He was trying very hard to redeem himself after their run-in with Zin and she honestly did appreciate his help. "I know, Nestov. I'm sorry. I'm just a little preoccupied right now. What's going on? Why can't you tell Cole about it?"

Nestov rose, took a final look around the bar and closed the distance to Mel, leaning close and lowering her voice. "It's Rhee, Mel. He's in Chicago."

END TEASER
ACT 1

"Rhee?" Mel repeated, swallowing hard and shifting. Her headache went from bad to worse in the three seconds it took her to absorb this. No wonder Nestov had not been eager to face Cole with this news. Combined with the uneasy sensation she had been feeling lately that she was being watched and followed, the intelligence made bad worse. "What's he want here?" she asked.

"You, Mel," Nestov whispered apologetically, shaking his head. "He wants you."

"Me?" Mel repeated, staring at him. She shook her head and sat down. "Nestov, Rhee doesn't even know me," she pointed out, rising and circling behind the bar. She did not think she had ever been in quite as dire need of a drink as she was right now.

"He saw you before Cole collected him in the junkyard, he knows enough," Nestov told her quietly, shaking his head. He looked up at her, shrugging.

"He wants me to get to Cole," she realized quietly, pouring herself a double scotch.

"Basically, yeah." Nestov sighed. "Could I get one of those, too?"

"Yeah. Here." Mel handed him the glass she had just poured and grabbed another for herself. "Guess I've been nominated to tell Cole the good news?"

He took a long pull of the scotch and shook his head. "I'll tell him if you need me to, but not until after you've taken his Collector away, gotten him drunk, and, um, tied him down..."

She shook her head. "I should be the one to tell him."

"I admire you, Mel, but I can't say I envy you. He is going to FLIP. You ever seen the man really angry?"

Tev. That Dessarian on their camping trip to recover the second Key. Slow, torturously painful Collections executed with grim satisfaction. Not quite pleasure, but not far off, either.

Mel nodded slowly. "It's not pretty."

"It's really not." Nestov shook his head. "Cirronians aren't a violent species, Mel, but on Sar-Top we ALL knew better than to piss off Daggon. Man's reputation preceded him. He's... like you." Nestov shrugged apologetically and held up his hands for her to let him continue. "Takes an awful lot to set him off, but when you reach that point... hell really hath absolutely no fury that even comes close."

"I appreciate the warning," Mel told him quietly. "Both of them."

"You might want to be out in public when you tell him," Nestov advised.

Mel shook her head. "No way, Nestov. Absolutely not, Cole is entitled to NOT have to censor his reaction to this."

"Be careful, Mel."

Mel blinked at the quiet concern in his voice, but shook her head. "Nestov, this is Cole we're talking about. He's not going to do anything to me."

Nestov nodded. "I know. I meant be careful with Rhee." He drained his glass and glanced around the bar quickly. "I should probably get going, but..."

"There's more?" Mel whispered, staring.

Nestov nodded and explained, "Him coming after you is not something the powers that be really want, Mel. Between Cole and all your cop, judge, and lawyer friends, any direct attempt against you is only going to bring all the wrongs kinds of attention our way."

"You don't sound as happy about that fact as you probably should," Mel noted, draining her glass. "So what's the bad news?"

"Rhee's been on the run from Haag pretty much since the second escape," Nestov told her. "Not even Lana can control the man at this point, and neither of them have been able to keep track of him for very long. He wants Cole to suffer and that means making you suffer, Mel." Nestov shrugged. "Up to you, of course, but the best thing to do might be to let Lana handle the situation."

"Lana?" Mel scoffed.

"Not a woman who likes being disobeyed. She wants his head on a pike in a worse way than Cole does right now," Nestov told her with a shrug. "Even if it means you get to live for a little while longer. This is not a woman who deals well with defiance. She makes Haag look cuddly." Nestov shrugged. "She doesn't want any attention drawn to... whatever it is that she's up to right now, Mel. She has a price on Rhee's head. A BIG one. My suggestion is that you lay low and let someone collect it."

"I've got my own Collector now." Her expression was grim as she continued. "Maybe I'll be the one to 'Collect'. Save Cole the worry."

Nestov shook his head. "Mel, Rhee kills because he likes to hear the sound of women and little girls screaming. He also likes making Cole suffer." He leaned towards her again and spoke in a low voice. "I didn't come here to tell Cole that Rhee is here. I came to warn YOU, Mel. Rhee killing Cole's family was no coincidence. Cole had just arrested Remel."

"Remel? Rhee's brother?" Mel whispered, gaping.

Nestov nodded. "It has ALWAYS been personal between those two. You may be one of the toughest Trackers I've ever met, but you're still just a rookie and you're only one person. You do not want to mix it up with Rhee, Mel, you really don't. Just leave it to the professionals." He shrugged and rose, dropping some money on the bar to cover the drink. Sighing, he looked at a women of whom he was genuinely fond, in spite of her previous animosity towards him. "Pick a profession, Mel, assassin or Tracker. I'd put my money on the assassins if I were you."

Mel shook her head and gathered the money together, pushing it back at him. "On the house, Nestov. Thanks for... everything. I... I'm glad that I misjudged you."

"I mean it, Mel," he told her, shrugging and retrieving the money. He covered her hand with his. "You think on this very carefully. Rhee's the kind of guy who'll kill a woman slowly just to hear her scream."

"I know he is," Mel whispered, nodding.

"I'm not sure if Cole ever told you, but... Killing them... that wasn't all he did, Mel," Nestov told her quietly before leaving.

Mel stared after him, pouring herself another drink and cursing softly. She looked up as Maggie walked in. "Hey," she greeted her quietly.

"You feeling okay, Mel?" Maggie asked gently. "You don't look so good."

"Think I'm getting a migraine," Mel told her honestly, finishing her drink. "Can you handle things down here for a few hours?"

Maggie nodded. "Going to lie down?"

"Yeah," Mel lied, nodding. She really needed to talk to Cole. "May not be down at all tonight. Can you and the girls handle that?"

"I think so, Mel. You go get some rest, sweetie. And feel better," Maggie called after Mel as she wearily climbed the stairs.

Mel sighed and shook her head, wondering what in the hell she was supposed to tell Cole about Rhee. One thing at a time, she told herself firmly, mentally stalling against the painful task. Stairs. Bathroom. Medicine cabinet. Imitrex. A Tracker-in-training's best friend, she sometimes though. She dry-swallowed two of the pills and regarded herself in the mirror.

"Pick a profession, Mel," she muttered bitterly, repeating Nestov's words.

Part of her was sorely tempted to leave Rhee to Lana's not-so-tender mercies. There was a certain poetic justice to him meeting his fate at the hands of one of Zin's own lieutenants. At the same time, though, this was RHEE. Cole had a right to know that he was in town. He even had a right to know that the Vardian was probably planning on coming after her. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes and braced her hands on either side of the sink, leaning forward. Life was never simple these days.

She was not looking forward to breaking this news to Cole. She did not think Nestov was right about how angry Cole would be, but she did know that he would be very, very upset by what she had to tell him. How could he be anything else after what Rhee had taken from him? It did not matter, though. This was Rhee. Cole had a right to know.

"Mel, are you ill?" Cole asked, worried. Not waiting for an answer, he took her arm and quickly steered her into her bedroom, sitting her on the edge of the bed and dropping into a crouch in front of her. He looked up at her with worried eyes. "Mel, what is wrong?"

She shook her head, reaching down and touching his cheek. "I'm fine, Cole. Sorry. Just thinking."

"About what?" he asked gently. Whatever it was had her upset and that would not do at all. He reached up and covered the hand on his face with one of his own. "It's okay. You can tell me."

Mel nodded and gently grasped his hand, tugging. "Sit," she directed quietly, trying to decide what to tell him and HOW.

Cole frowned faintly but moved to sit next to her on the bed, watching her curiously. "What has happened?"

She sighed and glanced over at him, shaking her head and leaning into his shoulder. Cole looked down at her thoughtfully, sliding his arm around her shoulders. He lightly wrapped his hand around her upper arm, gently securing her against him.

"Mel?" he whispered encouragingly.

"I just talked to Nestov," she began, looking up at him. His eyes were full of concern. She took a deep breath and quickly told him, "Rhee's in town."

The hand on her arm abruptly tightened. She ignored the bruising grip.

"Mel?" Cole whispered, shaking his head. It had been so long since he had heard anything of Rhee. The Vardian had been completely inactive since the second escape. He had begun to hope that Mel might actually be safe from him. "This is... a joke?" he asked hopefully, his eyes begging her to tell him that she was not serious.

"I'm sorry, Cole." She quietly relayed the salient points of her conversation with the Dessarian.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head. "Nestov is wrong. He must be, Mel."

"I don't think so. He seemed pretty sure. And shaken, Cole."

Cole considered for a few moments, then nodded shakily. "You should leave town," he said firmly.

"No." She shook her head. "Cole, I can't leave you to face Rhee alone. You... I... This will be upsetting for you, I know it will. I want to be here for you."

Cole frowned, knowing by the look in her eyes that she was not about to go anywhere. She could be so damned stubborn at times. It was something about her that he absolutely adored. Usually...

"You could stay with Maggie," he suggested hopefully.

"I'm staying with you, Cole," Mel told him firmly, shaking her head.

"He will come for you," he whispered.

"I know that. I'm not scared."

"You should be." Cole wrapped his other arm around her, holding her firmly against his chest. "I am."

END ACT 1
ACT 2

"You allow yourself to be intimidated by this jerk and he wins," Mel told Cole firmly as he paced the living room.

"I allow anything to happen to you, Mel, and I lose!" he retorted.

"You're getting hysterical, Cole," she sighed.

"Yes, Mel." He nodded. "I really am getting there." He closed the distance between them, resting his hands on her shoulders. "You really can not stay here, Mel. This is the first place he will look. You should stay with Maggie."

"I can't drag her into the middle of this, Cole." Mel shook her head. "I can't..."

"She has a gun, Mel. She knows how to use it, and we know from experience that she will back you up if it comes down to it."

She shook her head, reaching up and stroking his throat. "Cole, anyone I go stay with... they'll just be targeted too. We can't do that to people we care about."

Good point. He sighed and rested his forehead against hers. "Mel..."

"I know, Cole." She nodded and slipped her arms around his waist. "I do. You worry and I... well, I know that it means that you care. But I care about you, too, which is why I can't let you face this alone."

"Face what alone?" Vic asked, walking into the living room. He paused, his smile slipping to find them in such an intimate pose. "Bad time?" he guessed.

Cole looked up at him, momentarily thoughtful. "You can stay with Vic, Mel," he suggested firmly, ignoring the unsettled feeling it gave him to suggest that she move in with her ex for a few days. Reasonably, he knew it was silly to be worried. He trusted Mel, after all. But he could not help but feel a little uneasy about the idea all the same. Still, he wanted her to be safe, and she obviously was not going to agree to stay with Maggie.

Vic frowned uncertainly. "Okay, I'm... guessing I've missed something here," he ventured.

"Maybe he has an extra gun he can lend you," Cole suggested to Mel.

"Okay. Definitely missing something," Vic decided, glancing questioningly at Mel. She was too busy staring at Cole to notice.

"Absolutely not!" she told him firmly. "Forget it, Cole. I am not staying with Vic or Maggie, and I am definitely not about to start carrying around a gun that I don't know how to use!"

"Vic can teach you. Or Maggie," he added, nodding firmly.

"Guys?" Vic asked, clearing his throat. "WHAT is going on?"

"Rhee is in Chicago," Cole told him simply before returning his full attention to Mel. "You could go visit Jess."

"No!" Mel snapped, shaking her head. "Damn it, Cole, I don't care if he wants me dead. I'm staying!"

Vic took a deep breath. Mel had told him all about Rhee recently. "Mel, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for you to--"

"NO!" came the firm reply. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at the two men. "I am not exactly helpless here," she pointed out, annoyed. "So you can just both stop treating me like I am! I am more than capable of holding my own in a fight with a fugitive." She glared at Cole as he opened his mouth. "So help me, Cole, if you say one word about the camping trip, you will live to regret it," she warned.

Cole nodded and shut his mouth. Given the look on Mel's face, Vic could hardly blame him.

Vic cleared his throat gently. "Mel, it might not hurt for you to start carrying a weapon."

"Have one." She brandished her Collector at him.

Vic took a half-step backwards, not sure if that thing would work on a human or not, and not really caring to find out. "Just a suggestion, Mel. Most cops carry a clutch piece..."

"I'm not a cop, Vic," she pointed out, shaking her head and walking into the kitchen. "And I don't know how to use a gun," she added. "It would be irresponsible of me to start carrying one."

"Have Maggie teach you," Vic suggested. "Or I can, Mel. But you can not ignore the fact that Rhee has a habit of targeting..." He trailed off, not really wanting to complete the sentence in the current company.

"People I care about, Mel," Cole finished for him, dropping onto the couch. "Nallia. Ashi. You, Mel." He sighed and climbed to his feet again, restless. "Mel, just think about going somewhere safe for a few days," he suggested, picking up his cell-phone.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"For a walk. I need fresh air. And to think, to plan." He regarded her sadly for a moment, shaking his head. "Stay safe, Mel. I'll be back in a few hours."

Vic watched him go, shaking his head. "I don't think I've ever seen him that upset," he told Mel gently.

"He has a right to be upset. This is Rhee we're talking about."

"Which is why he's worried about you, Mel," Vic pointed out. "Rhee. Remember? The Vardian who kills people Cole cares about on general principle?"

She shivered, remembering Nestov's earlier comment. Killing them wasn't all he did. "So I should compound things by endangering you or Maggie or Jess?" She shook her head. "I can take care of myself."

"If this were a human, I'd be inclined to agree," Vic told her. "As it is, my gut is telling me to hide you away until this Rhee guy is no longer a problem."

She sighed. "Vic, sit down," she directed, returning to the living room. "I need to explain something to you."

"Mel, if this is about you and Cole--"

"It's not, Vic. It's just about me, okay?"

He nodded slowly and sat down. "What's up, Mel?"

She sighed and sat down on the edge of the coffee table, staring at him. After a few moments, she explained, "Something changed in me, Vic, the day I saved Isabelle. I guess it had started to change before that, but... Vic, I'm not the Mel you used to know. Not any more. I'm a Tracker now and I can't back down from this any more than you could if it were you. It would be wrong for me to try. Cole needs me on this probably more than he's ever needed me before."

Vic nodded slowly. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. Whether she called herself a cop or a Tracker, it did not change what she was. It definitely did not change the fact that some things just had to be done. She could not have backed down from this any more than either of them could have.

"Mel, you're right, you are. I understand that. Cole's a brother in blue and you have a duty to stand by him, but that doesn't change the fact that you also have a duty to yourself. You keep yourself safe because THAT is a part of the job, too. You can't protect anyone if you get yourself hurt. Humor a pair of guys who care about you a whole lot, Mel. Let Maggie or me teach you how to shoot and start carrying a gun."

"I'll think about it, Vic," Mel promised, sighing. "I'd... need a permit."

"They aren't hard to get. I can help you with the paperwork."

"Thanks." Mel smiled weakly at him. She glanced at her watch. "Your lunch hour must be almost over, Vic."

He sighed and nodded, rising. "It is, Mel. I just thought I'd drop in and see how you two were doing."

"You doing okay, Vic?" she asked, walking him down the stairs. "Holding up all right?"

He nodded, grinning at her. "In spite of the left turn from reality my life has taken in recent months, I'm actually doing fairly well," he assured her.

She smiled and shook her head as they emerged into the bar. "I'm glad, Vic."

He grinned more widely. "Look, Mel, why don't I stop by this evening after work? See if Cole can use any help with... anything."

"We appreciate it, Vic. Thanks. See you then."

***

Walking down the street, Nestov let out a startled squeak as he rounded a corner and bumped into Cole. He took a careful look up at the Cirronian, calculating his odds of getting collected before opting not to run.

"I've been looking for you," Cole told him simply.

Nestov nodded cautiously. "I'll bet. Guess that means you've talked to Mel?"

Cole nodded. "You should have told me, Nestov, not Mel," he pointed out mildly.

Nestov grinned and took a nervous step backwards, directly into a brick wall. He had to fight the impulse to blend into it. "Yeah, well... You know, I didn't want to find myself on the receiving end of a Collection and, for once, that meant dealing with Mel." He gave a nervous chuckle.

"Why would I want to collect you, Nestov?" Cole asked gently. "You know who I really want."

Nestov swallowed and nodded. "Rhee," he whispered.

Cole nodded. "Mel tells me that Lana has a price on his head?"

Nestov gave a cautious nod. "Quarter of a mil," he provided.

"That's a lot of money. It seems a shame for her to waste it like that."

Nestov shifted uncomfortably. Cole's quiet tone was starting to remind him uncannily of Lana at her most malicious. And everyone knew that when she got quiet it was time to get the hell out of Dodge.

"What do you have in mind, Cole?" Nestov asked, shifting again.

"I just want to keep Rhee from hurting Mel, Nestov," Cole told him honestly. "That's all."

Nestov nodded. "I'm down with that plan. What do I have to do?"

"I need names, Nestov," Cole said. "Pictures. Intelligence reports. The usual."

"And then?" Nestov asked, obliquely offering his assistance.

"And then you pretend that you never found out that Rhee was in Chicago, Nestov." The Cirronian smiled gently down at the Dessarian.

Nestov watched as the Cirronian turned and walked off, shaking his head. He should have known better than to go to Mel at all with news that Rhee was in town. Lana's people would have handled it within a few days with no one the worse or wiser. Now Cole would probably get himself killed trying to keep history from repeating itself with his new love. Without Cole watching her back, Mel would not last long herself, and then there would be nothing standing between Lana and Zin, or Zin and his plans.

"Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed," the Dessarian sighed, shaking his head.

END ACT 2
ACT 3

Mel was not about to waste Cole's time out. Slipping into his war-room, she quickly pulled up Rhee's file. Of course, she could not read all of it, but Cole had taught her to read enough Cirronian for her to know that Rhee was one of the nastier fugitives out there. Absorbed in the detailed account of the Vardian's crimes, she completely lost track of the time. And of what was happening around her.

"You shouldn't be reading things like that before bedtime, Mel," Cole pointed out in a low voice, clamping his hand around her left shoulder.

Mel jumped easily a foot, shrieking. "Jeez, Cole," she gasped, staring at him with wide eyes.

"You shouldn't be reading at all while you're fighting a migraine," he added, reaching around her and turning off the monitor.

She rose slowly, regarding him uneasily. His voice was subtly off and he was acting oddly. Even for Cole.

"You startled me," she whispered.

"It's getting late, Mel. Maybe you should go help Maggie?" he suggested gently. "Or if your head still hurts, maybe you should lie down."

She ignored both suggestions and her growing discomfiture at his behavior. "How was your walk?"

"Productive, Mel," he told her simply, sitting down at the computer. He looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "I won't ask how your afternoon was, but I will say that you should not be reading things like that. They will only upset you."

"I'm not a child, Cole," she pointed out, folding her arms over her chest in annoyance. "You've never treated me like one before, and I don't appreciate you doing it now."

He rose swiftly, closing the distance between them in three strides. Mel found herself wedged against the door, less than an inch of clearance between her body and his. He stared down at her with a strange fire in his eyes, unlike anything that Mel had ever seen before. If she had not known him better, she would have sworn that he was regarding her with some strange combination of desire and revulsion. As it was, she was not sure what was behind that heated gaze.

"It is not lost on me that you are a grown woman, Mel," he informed her in a low voice, reaching down and caressing her throat firmly.

Mel shifted uncomfortably, trying to look up at him but finding herself unable to maintain eye contact. He was doing that on purpose, actually making a conscious effort to arouse her with his proximity and his touch. She was suddenly a lot less convinced that she had been imagining the lust in his expression. She relaxed when he saw her uncertainty and softened his own expression in response. His caress became more comforting than suggestive.

"I don't think I could stand it if anything ever happened to you, Mel," he confessed quietly, sighing. "Especially not... not this something, Mel." He shook his head. "Please go, stay somewhere safe?" he asked hopefully.

"I can't." She shook her head, reaching up and cupping his face. It had been fear in his expression, she realized; fear and the desire that was growing into a constant presence for both of them. "I couldn't leave you to face Rhee alone. I want to be there for you, Cole."

He smiled faintly, closing his eyes and leaning into the touch. "Why?" he whispered, his lips brushing her forehead as he spoke.

"What kind of question is that?" she asked, shaking her head. "I always want to be there for you."

"I know that, Mel." He smiled down at her. "I just don't understand why." He shrugged. "I am grateful though."

"You really don't... understand why?" she asked, staring up at him, startled. "Cole, I care about you!" Love you, Cole. I love you. "Of course I want to be here for you. Come here." She drew his face down to hers, gently kissing his cheek and resting her forehead against his. "Now what are we going to do about Rhee?" she asked, stroking his throat tenderly.

Cole slipped his arms around her waist, keeping his forehead against hers, drawing comfort from her presence and support. "You will let Vic or Maggie teach you to shoot, Mel, so that you may be safe. And I will... I will deal with Rhee."

"Deal with him?" she repeated quietly. His tone when he said that scared her, like he was talking about something more than simply Collecting Rhee. Considering how Cole felt about unnecessary violence, but also knowing what Rhee had taken from him, it had her worried. Worried that he might do something he would live to regret, more worried that he might get himself hurt or killed. It would not be the first time he had done something stupid just to protect her.

He nodded grimly. "I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Mel," he told her simply, shrugging.

"You just keep yourself safe, too, Cole. I don't think I could deal with it if anything happened to you, either."

He closed his eyes and pulled her against him, shaking his head. After Nallia's death, he had been sure that he would never love, or even really be happy, again. In Mel's arms, he could be happy again. In her arms, he was complete. He loved her and she loved him. That they never said the words did not make them any less true. They lived them every second of every day and that was all that mattered.

He was not about to let anyone, least of all Rhee, take away what he had found in his remarkable human friend and love. He would kill the Vardian if that was what it took to protect Mel. The Cirronian had always considered the taking of life to be both a crime and a sin, but he knew in his heart that he would not have hesitated to kill any of the fugitives who threatened Mel if that was the only way to protect her.

"I won't let anything happen to you, not ever," he promised quietly.

"I know, Cole. I know." She nodded and closed her own eyes against the pain in his voice when he spoke of harm coming to her. "I'll stay safe, I promise. I'll let Maggie show me how to use a gun, and get a permit and buy one if I have to. And you've shown me some self-defense moves. I won't do anything stupid and I won't walk into anything I shouldn't. But you need to make the same promise to me, too, okay?"

He nodded slowly, weakly. "Thank you, Mel. Thank you. I won't, I promise."

She nodded and spent several minutes in silence, just letting him hold her until he seemed calmer. "So, what the plan?"

"Nestov is getting me some information that should make Rhee easier to find, intelligence from Lana's people. After that, it won't be long."

She nodded. "You going to be okay, Cole?"

"For as long as you are," he assured her, nodding. "Let's go downstairs," he suggested gently. "We can talk to Maggie about teaching you how to use a gun."

"Okay, Cole," she agreed quietly, not moving to pull away.

Cole smiled faintly, pleased that she seemed as disinclined to move as he was. Simple, quiet moments like these were perhaps his favorite thing about life with Mel. Just being with her, drawing strength. Before her, it had been almost ten years since he had enjoyed any of the rare gifts that a loving mate could give him. He was duly grateful to Mel for all of them, from that warm smile that she greeted him with in the mornings or when he returned from Tracking to moments of contact like this one.

"Let's go," he finally suggested, gently taking her hand in his. He smiled down at their intertwined fingers for a moment, another of those wonderful gifts of intimacy.

Mel's eyes followed the direction of his smile and she smiled back at him. He was a romantic, her Cole, and she loved that about him. Most men his age who had experienced only half his heartbreak would have become embittered cynics. It only made Cole seem that much more grateful for the little things, the ones that most of the human males she had been with in her time half-expected and half-ignored.

"Come on," she whispered, tugging his hand and starting down the hall. "Cole, you won't do anything foolish, will you? With Rhee?" she asked uneasily, looking over her shoulder at him.

Cole shook his head, stopping abruptly and pulling her back into his arms. "Rhee is a dangerous opponent, Mel. I will be careful. You must be as well," he whispered firmly. "I understand you wanting to be here with me, Mel, and I appreciate it. But you should do your best never to be alone or make yourself vulnerable to anyone. If I am Tracking Rhee, I can't be here to keep you safe. You must be vigilant, Mel, keep yourself safe."

"I will, Cole."

Impulsively, she leaned forward and kissed the hollow of his throat, smiling as he closed his eyes. She had never really noticed before that their respective heights made it a very easy activity indeed and, judging by Cole's expression, it was one he enjoyed very much. Unfortunately, that fact made it unwise to continue, so she reluctantly pulled away. He slowly opened his eyes, his own expression reflecting much of the same disappointment that she knew hers must have.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, staring at her feet. Sorry for having done it in the first place, even more sorry that they could not have continued.

Cole closed his eyes, taking a few moments to recover from Mel's gentle kiss and the amazing emotions and sensations it had evoked. He was sorry, too, not about the kiss but about the restrictions that prevented anything from coming of it. He sighed and pulled her back into his arms, needing to feel her against him. It was not as comforting as it should have been, though. She was as upset about those restrictions as he was, and worried as well.

"Don't be sad, Mel," he whispered, shaking his head.

She nodded reluctantly, aware that he was getting distressed the way he frequently did when she was upset. "Let's go have that talk with Maggie," she suggested, hoping to sidetrack him.

He nodded slowly, grateful to her for changing the subject. "Good idea, Mel." Reluctantly, he broke his gentle embrace of her and followed her into the bar.

"Hey, guys!" Maggie greeted them cheerfully between customers.

"Hello, Maggie," Cole greeted her as Mel went to retrieve her apron. He looked around the crowded barroom, pleased by the number of people present, and not just because the crowd provided a buffer between her and Rhee. Large crowds always made Mel happy, which made him happy as well. "Do you need more help than just Mel?" he offered, knowing that there would be little for him to do until he talked to Nestov again. Plus he would be able to keep an eye on Mel that way.

"Oh, that'd be great, Cole," Maggie said, nodding and smiling up at him. She found a spare apron and handed it to him as Mel moved past with a tray of drinks.

"Maggie, I need a favor," Cole told her as he tied on the apron. "I hope you can help me."

Maggie nodded, drawing up a mug of beer. "I can try, Cole. What do you need?"

"Vic and Mel say you know how to shoot a gun?" he asked quietly.

Maggie blinked but nodded. "Sure do. Crack shot, too. Been shooting for better than thirty years now."

Cole smiled warmly at her. "This is good. You must teach this skill to Mel," he told her.

Maggie stared up at him, a little surprised by the request. "You and Mel in some kind of trouble?" she asked quietly.

Cole smiled ironically down at her, shrugging. "No more than usual, Maggie."

"Yeah, right. So you just want Mel to learn how to exercise lethal force for fun?"

"Mel needs to be safe, Maggie," he pointed out gently. "I can not always be here to protect her."

Maggie nodded. He was right, of course. "Okay, Cole. I'll do it."

He smiled brightly. "Thank you, Maggie." He looked up as a patron tried to draw his attention. "Excuse me, Maggie."

Maggie looked after him, momentarily troubled by the request. It was not the sort she would ever have expected Cole to make. Men like Cole and Alan were not exactly known for approving of such things. It worried her, made her wonder what they were up against this time.

END ACT 3
ACT 4

Mel had concerns of her own, and she was sharing then with Vic when Cole left with Nestov later that evening. The look of grim determination on the Tracker's face was frightening beyond words.

"He's going to get himself killed," Mel whispered to Vic, shaking her head.

"You honestly think so?" Vic asked, startled by the quiet certainty in her voice.

She closed her eyes and nodded. "He's been acting so strangely, Vic," she whispered. "He's not himself."

Vic took a deep breath. Whether he had a chance with her or not, and he was growing to accept that it was unlikely that he did, he hated to see Mel suffering. "You want me to follow him?" he offered, rising.

Mel stared at him with wide eyes for a moment before rising and throwing her arms around him. "I'd appreciate it so much, Vic. I'm just really worried that he's going to do something stupid..."

Vic smiled down at her, nodding. "Okay, sweetheart. I'll follow him and back him up if he needs."

"Oh, thank you," she whispered, meaning it from the bottom of her heart. "You... you keep yourself safe, too, Vic," she told him firmly. "You're one of my closest friends and I don't want you getting hurt, either."

He nodded and gave her a gentle squeeze. Keep himself safe and keep Cole safe. Easy. Or not, considering that Cole was going up against an alien serial-killer and had a score to settle. In his time, Vic had seen people with grudges do some truly stupid things, and he knew that Mel's fear was well-founded. His gut told him that in a confrontation between Rhee and Cole, with the stakes what they were, one of them was NOT going to walk away alive.

He kissed Mel's cheek. "You stick close to Maggie until we get back, okay?" he ordered gently.

At Mel's nod, he smiled down at her and left the bar. He could hear Cole's hushed voice from nearby, so he followed, reaching a side alley in time to see Nestov leaving. Cole's head shot up as Vic approached and he frowned and shook his head. He turned and started walking, Vic close on his heel.

"Go away, Vic," he advised quietly, not turning.

"Don't think so, Cole. Mel's worried about you."

Cole spun to face the human Detective, scowling at him. "Mel should be worried about HERSELF. Rhee wants her dead."

"And you want Rhee dead. Fair enough after what Rhee's done to you, probably, Cole, but you can NOT do it! You're a cop."

"So?" Cole shook his head. "You honestly think that my oath to the Tracker Corps means a damned thing to me when the man who killed my wife and my little girl wants Mel dead? Killing one to save the life of another is justifiable homicide, Vic. You're a cop; you know that." He turned and started walking again.

"Cole, this is premeditated murder and you know it," Vic protested, following.

Cole sighed and turned to face Vic again, his shoulders slumping. "I know." He shook his head sadly, wearing a defeated expression. "I want him dead so badly that I can TASTE it, Vic, but... killing Rhee would be... It would be betraying my heritage! I can't do that. So no matter how much I might WANT to make him suffer, no matter how badly Rhee really DESERVES to die the way he killed all those girls and women... I am... going to Collect him instead. I hate it, but it's my duty." He shook his head and kept walking. "I'm not going to kill anyone, Vic," he told the human honestly. "You can go home now..."

"You're not going without backup," Vic informed him firmly, following. "Grief and anger make it hard to think on your toes. You could do something careless, get yourself hurt."

Cole frowned, turning to face him, his expression reflecting confusion. "Why do you care what happens to me? You don't even like me."

"Doesn't mean I want you dead, Cole," Vic told him, shaking his head. "I mean, quite aside from what your death would do to Mel, there is the fact that the stakes are pretty high here. Human race needs you, man. I'm coming."

Cole regarded him thoughtfully for a moment, then shrugged and nodded. He resumed walking, speaking as they went. "Vardians are telekinetic. Stay low and try to keep large objects between Rhee and yourself for cover. Do NOT try to engage him hand-to-hand. Even without telekinesis, he can break every bone in your body. Twice. You let me deal with him. If something happens to me, shoot until he drops and then you run, Vic. Once the human body shuts down, he'll die pretty quickly. But until he does, he's still dangerous to you. You understand me?"

"Yeah, I do." Vic nodded, mentally repeating Cole's advice to himself. "Where are we going? Where is he?"

"Intelligence reports indicate that he may be staying nearby, in an abandoned warehouse."

"Okay. Let's do this."

Cole nodded, but stopped walking and turned to face him again, his expression reflective. "If anything happens to me, Vic, you MUST take care of Mel and keep her safe. Do you understand this? Her life is very important to your species. You can't let anything happen to her."

Vic blinked at Cole's pronouncement. Mel's life was important to his species? What the hell was that supposed to mean? He nodded anyway. He would have protected Mel's life with his own anyway and they both knew it. He suspected it was why Cole was asking this of him now. Cole turned and resumed walking, quietly giving Vic more advice as to the best way of protecting himself if he came under fire by Rhee. It mostly amounted to 'duck' and 'run away quickly'.

"This is the warehouse," Cole whispered as they approached it.

Vic caught his arm as he started heading towards the back entrance. "Won't Rhee expect that?" he whispered.

"From me, no." Cole shook his head. "My tactics were much more direct that last time I faced Rhee. He would expect me to come through the front."

Vic shrugged and followed. Stranger thing had happened than a cop 'sneaking in' through the front door. His life frequently resembled an episode of the Outer Limits these days, so he could not bring himself to be TOO surprised by that. Whether it was watching Cole getting high on chocolate and glow like Time's Square on New Year's (only in more colors) or finding out that many of the fugitives feared Melanie Irene Porter more than the super-human alien Tracker sent to retrieve them, his life had definitely taken a sharp turn-off from its previous self. He found himself actually missing the good old days when the biggest thing he had to worry about was getting shot in the chest during bungled robberies.

Shaking his head, he silently followed Cole into the warehouse. Like most such abandoned warehouses, it was large and mostly empty. A few old boxes and odds and ends lay scattered about, bits of wood mostly… and a small fire. With a man huddled in front of it, keeping warm. Cole tapped Vic's shoulder and gestured for him to move behind a box and get himself out of sight. Vic nodded and unholstered his gun before moving to crouch behind a nearby box. He was determined to back Cole up if he had to, and hoped the Cirronian would have the sense to give him a clear shot if it came to that.

Cole spared Vic a final glance, assuring himself that he was both out of sight and out of any likely line of fire. Nodding to himself, he started across the warehouse.

"Rhee," he greeted the Vardian in a grim voice. He would have recognized that life-force anywhere, like a chilling breeze on a warm day.

Rhee jumped up, startled. "Daggon," he sneered, recognizing him. "Come to beg for your mongrel girlfriend's life?"

Cole ignored the urge to beat the Vardian to a bloody pulp for insulting Mel, settling instead for, "She's not my girlfriend, Rhee. It does not matter, though. You will still regret deciding to target her."

With these words, Cole produced his Collector and launched himself at the Vardian. Rhee stepped out of the way only to find that Cole's initial charge was only a feint. Cole spun in the opposite direction, hitting Rhee with an uppercut that sent him flying across the warehouse. Rhee jumped to his feet immediately on hitting the ground and warily circled Cole.

"You've changed," he observed.

"You have NO idea," Cole told him grimly. "You should never have come back, Rhee. You will regret it."

"What are you going to do?" Rhee scoffed. "Kill me?"

"The thought had occurred to me, yes," Cole told him honestly.

Rhee did not believe that for one second. Daggon, after all, was Cirronian. He just laughed bitterly and kept circling.

"Your mate fought," he observed, sneering at Daggon. "Trying to keep me from taking the girl."

"I know." Cole nodded, refusing to allow Rhee to upset him. He had known the entire sequence of events since shortly after the murders. Rhee had tried to rape Ashi. Nallia had fought to prevent that, fought the way only a mother could fight in defense of her child. She had gone to her fate knowing that her attempts to save her little girl had been futile. Cole had once thought that this knowledge would drive him mad. "Nallia was a fighter."

"She was definitely one of my more fun kills." Rhee smiled at Cole. "Wonder how your new woman will compare? I'm told she's quite a fighter, too."

"She is."

"Good. I enjoy... breaking the strong ones more. Their screams sound sweeter. And their little moans when I take them. Your wife, she tried so hard not to make a sound. I tore them from her in the end, though..."

A deluge of memories flooded Cole at Rhee's words.

Forcing his way past Trackers trying to restrain him as he entered his home and saw what Rhee had done.

Walking, heedless, over broken glass to reach them. The scars that glass had left, the blood...

His partner and friend Kallissa reluctantly admitting that they had both been violated before their murders.

Mel scuttling out of the crossfire of his last confrontation with Rhee only to find herself in Zin's hands instead.

Holding her lifeless body, whimpering. Crying for her as he had never cried for Nallia.

Bursting into that motel room to find Mel struggling against Tev.

Realizing that he had nearly lost her as he had Nallia.

Yhir and Sudor, targeting her because of her connection to him.

Finding out that the fugitives were back, worrying for Mel's safety.

Knowing that Rhee would eventually come for her, that he would try to do to Mel exactly what he had done to his beautiful Nallia and sweet Ashi.

Something inside of him snapped. It could NOT be allowed to happen. Not ever again! The Cirronian let out an angry howl and launched himself at Rhee in hyper-speed. Catching the Vardian's head in both hands, he snapped his neck without a second thought, still screaming in rage and pain. His shout caught in his throat as the Vardian slumped to the floor and he let hyper-speed slip, staring down at him, stunned.

What had he done?

"No!" he whispered, shaking his head and dropping to his knees, feeling as if he was in a dream.

Maybe it was not too late to take it back, heal the damage? Shaking, he reached for the Vardian's throat, assessing the damage. Damage wrought with his own hands, hands that so often caressed Mel by way of comfort and reassurance. Gentle hands. Hands that had perpetrated this atrocity, a violation of all that it meant to be Cirronian.

A quick scan told him the exact extent of the damage. Bones were broken, nerves severed... His mind refused to accept the implications.

"Is he dead?" Vic whispered, approaching. He was not entirely sure what had just happened, but Cole did not look good at all.

"He can't be." Cole shook his head, releasing healing energy. "I'm not what he is!" he protested. "I... I can't be. He can't be..."

"What are you doing?" Vic asked as Cole moved his hands to Rhee's chest.

"Bringing him back." Even if he could not heal the damage, maybe he could still restart the heart?

Vic gaped. "Bring him back? To life?" Cole could do that? He WANTED to?

Cole nodded absently, closing his eyes and releasing more energy. "I'm not a killer, Vic. I didn't mean what I said about wanting him dead, not really. I was just upset, scared... I didn't mean it, I swear!"

Vic stared, staggered. This man had raped and murdered Cole's wife and daughter, threatened to do the same to Mel, had taunted Cole with details of the first murders, and Cole felt bad about killing him in a moment of anger? Vic did not think most men would have had it in them to feel remorse at a time like this, let alone try to save Rhee's life. The Cirronian was definitely a breed apart, all right. He was going to have to reevaluate his own stance on Cole Hauser, he realized.

He waited silently as Cole tried to revive the man who had taken his family from him. Finally, it became clear to Vic that it was not working. "Cole, come on," he whispered, touching his shoulder. "Let's get out of here, buddy."

Cole looked up at him, his expression hopelessly lost. "I didn't mean it, Vic," he whispered, shaking his head. There were tears in his eyes.

"I know." Vic nodded and pulled him to his feet. "Let's get you home, okay?" he suggested gently.

Cole nodded meekly and allowed Vic to lead him from the warehouse.

END ACT 4
TAG

Mel jumped up as Vic led Cole back into the Watchfire. Cole seemed not to notice her, walking across the bar and vanishing up the stairs, his expression dejected. And hopelessly lost.

"Vic, what happened?" Mel whispered as he approached her.

Vic quietly told her everything that had passed that night. "He's kind of broken up, Mel. I don't know if it's the things Rhee said or the fact that he couldn't bring him back..."

Mel closed her eyes and nodded. "Knowing Cole? They're probably both killing him," she sighed, shaking her head and staring in the direction of the stairs.

Vic caught her shoulder, forestalling her.

"Is he going to be okay?" he asked gently. "Is there anything I can do?" he offered.

Mel sighed and shook her head. "I honestly don't know, Vic. I think I'm going to go talk to him, okay?"

Vic nodded. "Sure thing, Mel. I think he could probably use a sympathetic ear tonight. You... you call me if either of you need anything, sweetheart."

She smiled gratefully, nodding. "This mean you like him now?" she whispered.

Vic nodded slowly. "I think it might. He actually seems like a good guy."

"He is," said Mel. "More than you can know. I should go talk to him now. Are you okay?" she asked as it occurred to her that she had not yet.

"I'm fine, Mel." He smiled reassuringly. "Go."

"Thank you. Take care."

"You, too. Stay safe." Vic smiled down at her, gently squeezed her shoulder, and left the bar.

"Maggie, I'll be upstairs," Mel told her.

Maggie had seen Vic and Cole come in and had noticed Cole's uncharacteristically grim behavior. She nodded, giving Mel a gentle smile. "You let me know if either of you need anything, Mel," she said.

Mel smiled. "Thanks, Maggie. I appreciate it."

Mel turned and walked up the stairs and into the apartment. Cole was sitting on the couch in the darkened living room, staring into space.

"Hello, Mel," he said quietly, slowly looking up at her. His voice was uncertain. "Did Vic..."

She nodded and sat down next to him. "He told me everything. Are you okay?"

"I... I don't know, Mel. I feel so horrible. Guilty."

"You tried to bring him back, Cole. It wasn't your fault." She shook her head.

"But I enjoyed it," he confessed, unable to look at her.

"I would have," Mel told him simply. "I think most people in your situation would have. It's... natural."

"Human nature," he murmured. How had Mel put it after he had locked Zin in the Vault? He was becoming more human every day, that was it. At times like this, he hated himself for it.

"Maybe." Mel sighed. "But you can't beat yourself up over it, Cole."

"How can I not, Mel?" he whispered, looking up at her. "To kill without remorse is to be like Rhee. I can't be like him."

"And you're not. You never will be," Mel assured him, gathering him into her arms. "Because you do regret it. And you tried to change it. So you are completely different from Rhee, Cole. You need to understand that, okay?"

Cole closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, leaning into the embrace. If it was even possible, he loved her more at this moment than he usually did. He sighed gently as she shifted slightly, opening his eyes when it felt like she was about to break the embrace. His eyes pled with her not to leave him. Not yet.

"I'm not going anywhere, Cole," she assured him gently, rising only long enough to retrieve a throw, one her grandmother had knitted. "Come here." She sat down again and gestured for him to move against her. "Closer, Cole. It's okay," she encouraged.

She smiled as he obediently snuggled against her. She threw the blanket around their shoulders, then pulled it tight before wrapping her arms around him and pulling him even closer. If ever a man had been in need of a protracted cuddle, it was Cole right now. She gave him an encouraging smile and a little nod as he hesitantly looped his arms around her.

Emboldened, he tightened his grip on her and drew her body more firmly into his, shifting them both into a slightly more comfortable position. It felt good, holding Mel like this, drawing comfort and strength from his amazing human friend. It helped more that she honestly did seem to understand what had happened with Rhee. She accepted that it had all been a terrible mistake, was not shocked or upset that he had enjoyed it on some level. Few Cirronians would have been so understanding of that. Human nature, perhaps, or maybe just that Mel was Mel. She was a good woman, a better woman than he probably deserved.

And now, she would also be safe. That knowledge was beautiful. He buried his face in her hair, drinking deeply of its lavender scent and enjoying the way her curls tickled. It felt good, right, to have Mel in his arms.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she offered quietly.

Cole lifted his head slowly and regarded her thoughtfully. Nine and a half years without really speaking of the murders to anyone, not even his closest friends. And now Mel wanted to know. Part of him was inclined to say no. It had always been very private to him, his pain and grief over their deaths. He had not shared that with anyone, not even his closest friends. With Mel, though, talking about it seemed as right as holding her in his arms. His expression hesitant, he nodded slowly and began speaking.

Mel listened in almost complete silence for hours, her own tears mingling with his, her hands caressing his face or his throat or smoothing back his hair as he spoke. She knew that he was drawing more comfort from her simple presence than he ever could have from any words she might have said, no matter how sincere, so she simply held him close and tenderly touched him to make her presence known. She made no attempt to interrupt or to make him stop crying. Both words and tears were cathartic, something she suspected he had needed very badly for too long a time.

He fell silent after he had finished his story, resting his head on her shoulder and closing his eyes. Confusingly, he felt both better and worse at the same time. Most, though, he felt VERY grateful to Mel just for being there.

"Thank you," he whispered after a moment, rising. He smiled lovingly down at her. "It's late, Mel. You should sleep."

Mel stared up at him, shaking her head and rising. He was right of course. It had been a long day emotionally and although the threatened migraine had not put in an appearance she was still utterly exhausted. But she could not in good conscience leave him alone after the day he had had. She moved to stand in front of him and reached up to dry his tears.

"Will it make you feel better to join me?" she asked gently, her fingertips smoothing away the moisture on his cheeks. 0

At Cole's wordless nod and grateful smile, she reflected on the absolutely unique nature of their relationship. Any other man would have read a lot more into the invitation than the offer of support and company that it was. Cole, in spite of their mutual attraction, had understood it for exactly what it was, an offer to be close. He followed her down the hall and patiently waited outside as she changed into her pajamas. He stripped easily to his briefs and an undershirt, but his expression was shy as he climbed under the wonderfully warm blankets and felt Mel pull him into her arms.

"Thank you, Mel," he whispered into her hair, wrapping his own arms around her. The sensation of holding her close was wonderful, like clinging to Nallia after she had joined with him.

"Any time," she assured him gently, nestling into his warm chest. Better than an electric blanket. "You wake me up if you need to talk, Cole," she told him firmly. "I mean it."

"I know you do, Mel." Cole smiled down at her and impulsively kissed the top of her head. "Sleep well. And thank you."

"Night, Cole," she yawned, closing her eyes.

Mel smiled as Cole began crooning a Cirronian lullaby. She fought against the desire to fall asleep, but she was, unfortunately, more human than Cirronian and her body eventually won out.

Cole understood that she needed her rest and did not mind in the least. He was simply grateful to his Mel for not making him spend the night alone after what he had been through that day. He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head again.

"I love you, Mel," he whispered into the darkness, holding her close. Smiling to himself, he began quietly singing again, a love song this time. Strange as it seemed, he suspected that there was hope for them yet.

END