Stephen, when the meeting broke up went immediately to Doni, like a bird to its homing. She was the center around which his world turned and at this moment it was turning in a very wobbly manner, indeed. When Cassidy had told him about the teams he’d been unable to breathe. That he’d been able to speak at all he considered a miracle.

He found her where he’d expected, in the infirmary, in a small room watching over one of Trevor’s security guards. He gave Tabitha a look and she fielded it, sending Greer, now recovered to take over for Doni. And as soon as she did Stephen grabbed Doni and zapped them home, where he took her in his arms and buried his face in her hair, suddenly trembling and unable to stop. A long while later when he finally lifted his head her eyes met his, brown and soft, filled with understanding and regret…and refusal.

He didn’t argue with her, he simply lifted her in his arms and took her to bed, where he kept her, making endless love to her until dawn.

Tabitha waited until the next day, having wanted the time to consider not just her approach, but the wisdom of her course of action. When she was sure she, had a word with Eli and then went back to work.

Eli, who’d been managing Tabitha without breaking a sweat since the day he met her shook his head, but reflected that Tabitha came from another world and had an entirely different set of expectations not to mention no desire to pursue her calling under fire. He gathered his tools and headed for the house in the woods he’d helped Stephen design and awaited his moment.

It came finally, late in the morning, when Doni stirred languidly and decided it was time for coffee, even if it was decaf and then a shower. After, she poured another cup and went to sit on the deck, to sit and think.

Eli gave her a while, knowing her and her ways. When he concluded the time had come he made a fresh pot and took it outside, where he handed her some and then sat, sipping reflectively and listening to the waterfall. Eventually he said, “Quite a day yesterday, wasn’t it?”

She nodded.

“How many did we end up losing?” he asked.

“The teams and seven more of the security people. Five are still critical and three should be getting out of the infirmary today. Plus the New Ones.”

Eli nodded. “Lucky it wasn’t you. You were on the rotation, I heard and it got shifted because of Kalket.”

Doni nodded, starting to tense up. “Yes, I was.”

“I know you don’t want to hear it, but somebody’s got to say it so I'm saying it. It isn’t just about what you want, it isn’t just risking you. It’s risking him as well. If something happened to you Doni, he’d be no good for anything and too many things, too many people depend on him.”

“I know. But it’s what I do. And I shouldn’t have to…”

“Shouldn’t have to?” he interrupted her. “Shouldn’t have to see a bigger picture than your own wants and preferences? Or shouldn’t have to compromise in a relationship where he’s done all the bending so far for something you believe in too.”

She started to argue, furious with him and he cut her off again.

“I know, it’s harsh and pretty blunt but it’s time somebody said it. Nobody’s saying you can’t work the teams and do it in the field. All I’m suggesting is that right now, it may be that right now…Doni we can’t always get what we want. And sometimes we’re asked to sacrifice one thing for something else. It’s what you’re being asked to do. To wait until it’s safe so that we don’t lose him too. To understand that you’re not just risking your life, you’re risking his, because that’s way it is.”

“Eli, this is none of your business! It’s between him and me.” Doni snapped.

“It is my business Doni. It’s the business of everyone who looks to him for the future. You think it’s only about you and him and him not telling you what to do, him giving you your rights. Well, I got a lot of problems with that, but the only one that’s my concern is that you understand it isn’t just about you and him and protecting your rights. It’s about who and what the man is and what he represents and what he does.”

She glared at him, knowing he was right, hating that he was right, hating him for telling her and hating herself for hating him for it.

By Thursday morning Irisa hadn’t said yes or no to Sunday and Cassidy was feeling it. By Thursday afternoon he was considering ways to get her answer without actually asking her for one. He’d evaluated a number of possibilities.

He almost punted and went to her about where she wanted to have lunch first, but that was presumptuous and would get him in hot water as were any of the variations on that theme. He weighted asking outright and rejected that as well. He's never pressure her, but at some point he’s have to have a chat with her about his needs vs. her decision making propensities.

His brain stem was about to storm his frontal lobe, fully armed and ready for a hostile take over when he had a thought. He pulled up the public calendar and checked her’s for Sunday. And he couldn’t believe his eyes. He blinked and looked again. On Sunday, her calendar didn’t say circus or date with Cassidy or anything even vaguely resembling plans to spend the day with him. Nor was it blank.

The damn fool woman had made other plans for Sunday. He was going to wring her neck.

He couldn’t do that. His brain stem called him a liar; his frontal lobe told it to butt out.

He pressed his lips together to keep from swearing out loud. He swore anyway, long and fluently, to the admiration of Jordon who heard it.

His brain stem suggested spanking her. Both he and his frontal lobe told it to shut up. His frontal lobe suggested getting over her. Both he and his brain stem were as one regarding the impossibility of that and told his frontal lobe to take a hike. Finally they both shut up so he could think.

After a while he sighed, resigned. There was no avenue he could use to either mention he knew, or get her to reconsider without losing a battle that might cost him the war. He was screwed. His only hope was that she’d change her mind, because if she didn’t he’d have to remind her she’d already, at least tacitly, agreed to the date. His brain stem roared its agreement and demanded action.

But if he reminded her she’d be ticked off, at best. So he couldn’t.

He really was screwed. He narrowed his eyes and added it to the list of things he would exact retribution for one day. Then he went and got a drink. At this rate he’d drink himself to death before he ever kissed her again, the damn fool woman. This couldn’t be allowed to go on.  Only it would because she'd grabbed the car keys from him when he wasn't looking and now he'd have to wait until she ran out of gas to get them back.

He fell to the much more enjoyable task of plotting exactly how he'd exact his retribution.  He'd gotten as far as her naked, hot and needy when she arrived.  His brain stem went into over drive and his frontal lobe shut down.

He bullied it back on line in a hurry and grabbed hold of himself...tightly.

Because she was all hot and sweaty. She'd obviously been out for her run, having had, as he well knew, a dawn TV appearance that morning. Her running shorts clung to her body, her hair was wet and what was too short to stay in her pony tail curled on her sweaty brow. Her cheeks (the front ones) were flushed with exercise and her eyes were fire.

"Any sort of dress code for Sunday?" she asked brightly.  "Oh and the gift ... it's beautiful, thank you."

He grinned, his eyes forcefully locked on her face, while his brain stem whined.  "Jeans, ti...er jeans are fine.  I'm glad you liked it.  How was the run?"

"Great, thanks. Okay, jeans. Any other last minute instructions?"

Both his brain stem and his frontal lobe flashed several suggestions. He picked the most innocuous of them. "Nope.  Do you prefer to run alone or would company be okay once in a while?"

"I'm not as regular at it as you are. My schedule gets complicated. But if you'd like we can give it a try. Although you'd probably have to slow down for me."

His mouth twisted with humor, flashing a dimple.  "It'd be worth it.  Since I usually run early, as you know, why don't you just let me know when you're available."

"I'll do that. Ta!" she said as she spun on her heel and was gone.. Cassidy could hear her voice, she was joking about something with Jordon before she left the outer office.

Cassidy spun his chair around and started out the window, a wolfish grin on his face that would probably objected to if she'd seen it.  Damn fool woman!  She'd drive him insane before she was through.  Didn't matter.  She'd said yes.  And he'd hold her to it...the circus and running.

Slow down for her?  Oh baby, if only she knew!

Melly walked into the dining room humming. She got her food and coffee and headed over to where Irisa was sitting in the corner. Irisa was toying with her food and looked up a bit startled when Melly sat down across from her.

"So, girlfriend, what's wrong."

"Oh, nothing," Irisa lied.

"Come on. Spill. It's Cassidy, isn't it."

Irisa groaned. "Does everyone always know what everyone is doing around here."

"Yes. Get used to it. So spill."

"I finally said yes."

Melly's eyes got big. "You did?"

"NO!  Not that, I finally accepted a second date with him."

"So why so glum?" Melly asked. She was pretty happy with her dating life at the moment.

"I said yes and I knew it was a mistake the second it came out of my mouth."

"Why?" Melly asked, fascinated. She'd never done much dating, and the intricacies were like a fascinating puzzle. Especially Irisa and Cassidy. They sort of circled one another like prize fighters.

Irisa groaned. "When I said yes..." she hesitated.

"What!" Melly asked.

"He got this look on his face, like was gonna. I dunno.  He's crazy, Melly."

"Oh, he's pretty nice. And cute."

"He's crazy, Melly, I'm telling you. Within 5 minutes of us being alone together he used the L word."

"The what word?" Melly asked, eyes going wider still.

Irisa leaned closer. "The L word. You know. L.O.V.E."

"Uhm," Melly was a bit confused, since that sounded like something good.

"No guy, no guy in his right mind, just pops that word out, Mel."

"They don't?"  She really needed to read some romance books or something, Melly thought. This really was fascinating.

"No. It's like the word chokes them or something. Men are just naturally allergic to it. It's torture to get it past their lips."

"Oh."  Melly began to wonder about Reno. He hadn't used the word either. But then neither had she.  Maybe she should?

"Yet Cassidy just popped it out. He's just not right in the head, Mel."

"Well, if he's bothering you, you could complain to Marc."

"Hah!" Irisa said. "He thinks its hilarious. He's even in the pool."

"What pool?"

"The bastards have a pool on how long its gonna take me to cave and go to bed with him! I could kill every man in the place."

"Gee, Reno didn't tell me about that." Melly was wondering if she could place a bet.

"And then... well I was so astonished by that feral mad wolf look on his face I heard myself agreeing to run with him!  Argh."

Melly checked the stove, peeked in the oven and smiled. She’d decided it was her turn to cook for him and he’d had no hesitation agreeing.

Trouble was most of her repertoire was geared to coleman stoves and reheating carry out. Then she’d remembered a recipe for a spicy Morrocan stew, a dish she’d learned about on a dig years ago that worked as well at home as it did in Tunis when she cooked it over an open fire. She’d asked for help at the wine place and been pointed towards the Trentino pinot gregio. For dessert she’d stopped at the bakery. The table was set and she was ready.

She beamed at him as she opened the door and pulled him inside before he could say a word, kissing him enthusiastically as she gave the door a shove to close it. She was way past what the books had told her and deep into improvisation when he lifted his mouth from hers. “Hi,” she said, glowing and happy.

"Something smells wonderful.  Besides you, I mean," he added as he nuzzled her neck.

"Mmmm," she murmured appreciatively, "eat now or later?"  leaning into him, her hands slipping under his shirt to explore his back.

"Will it wait?" he asked as his hands found buttons and began unbuttoning.

"Yes," she replied.

He picked her up in his arms and zapped them into the bedroom.  He laid her on the bed and got rid of the rest of his clothes. There were no coherent thoughts or conversations for some time, but then afterwards, as she lay in his arms, him stroking her cheek, he asked, "So...  What have you been up to today?  What puzzles did you solve?"

Melly, in a state approaching bliss, had to think about it.  "Dinner," she said.  "I solved dinner.  I didn't think you'd be up for campfire stove recipes so I dug out a spicy stew recipe.  How 'bout you?  What'd you do today?"

"I got you a present."

She wriggled against him until she was almost nose to nose with him.  She looked like a child on Christmas morning.  "A present?  What'd you get me?  Can I open it now or do I have to wait?"

"Hmmmmm.... Dunno. Maybe I should make you wait."

She pouted.  "Please?" she said, smiling winsomely.  She wriggled her way on top of him.  "I'm not letting you up until you say yes," she promised him, leaning forward, her weight on his shoulders.

He laughed. "I obviously should bring you more presents. But you are devilish hard to buy for. You aren't a frilly girly thing, so ..."

She was unmoved and undeterred.

"Oh, all right then. You'll find it sitting by the door."

She scampered off and returned with the box, plopping herself comfortably on his hips and grinning at him. She started removing the paper methodically, folding it and the red bow away and setting them aside.  Then she read the box and her eyes got big.  "Oh Reno," she breathed.

"Is it okay? I mean, I thought you might like to take it up again. But, you know, only if you really want to."

She nodded, already fitting it together.  "I'll have to practice...I don't know if I..." and she stopped, trying it out, her fingers remembering what she'd thought she'd forgotten.  "Oh, Reno, thank you!" she said leaning down to kiss him.

He grinned at her. "We can do duets and then, if we find others who want to play, we can have a trio or a quartet even. I wonder if  Jordon plays any instruments. Are any feng shui?"

She considered it seriously.  "I don't think so, but I could look it up if you want."

"No, I think I prefer duets anyhow."

Cassidy moved through his warm up routine a bit slower than usual, hoping Irisa would show up, but not having any high hopes for this morning. He’s caught her in a weak moment when she’d agreed to run with him and leaving the when to her had been designed to sooth her nerves.

He was aware her nerves needed soothing, a lot of soothing from what he could tell. He sighed, wishing he could just introduce her to his family, his mother in particular. His mother, who’d know without him telling her that Irisa was the one, would have by now explained a number of things to her that would have made her nerves worse in the short run but a lot of things simpler in the long run.

It happened this way with all the men in his family, as far back as recorded family history went. They loved once, one woman, forever. It usually hit them like a rocket and that was that, there was no turning back and no option but to secure the object of their affections, by whatever means necessary...and two hundred years ago he'd had better options, his brain stem said, already grumpy.

Cassidy sighed and not seeing her, started his run, heading towards the monastery along the drive. He was, he knew, possessive and protective; almost obsessively so over her. It was in his nature, the way he was made and he wasn’t going to apologize for it. She’d have to get used to it. Trouble was he, like his forebears, had no interest in anything but a strong willed, independent female who was impervious to intimidation and likely to go the mat with him whenever his nature got in the way of her plans.

Cassidy passed the cemetery and headed towards the duck pond, thinking of the circus and how to best take advantage of it, to implement his overall plan as well as whether or not to explain his nature to Irisa.

His brain stem, unsolicited, voted for a demonstration. He reminded it of the results of the last demonstration along those lines and told it to shut up. His frontal lobe was marginally more helpful, suggesting that in this case a slow exposure, laced with the ongoing ruffling of her senses might help him to slip the information over to her…under the radar so to speak. But since neither he nor the frontal lobe had a plan for that he set it aside.

As for the circus, it was his hope that she would relax, and then…between the petting zoo and the carnival rides, there’d be ample opportunity tease her senses, focusing them on him and then…

Cassidy rounded the duck pond and headed towards the gate house looping around it and then crossing in front of the monastery. Irisa may not know it yet, but her senses were already aware of him, and of the nascent sensual affinity between them. Irisa’s sensual awareness was his greatest asset. He planned to exploit it to the full, using it to lower her defenses and then it would be over her drawbridge and into the castle, all at her invitation and behest.

His brain stem moved to protest, pointing out how long that was likely to take. Cassidy agreed there were probably a lot of cold showers and long runs in his future. His brain stem wasn’t nearly inclined to such stoicism, pointing out again that he could just overwhelm her. But Cassidy stood firm, much to the relief of his frontal lobe.

As he reached the front door of the House he was satisfied. He had a plan and he had a date. Soon, he’d have her, too.  There was no other acceptable alternative.  His brain stem agreed.

At dawn on Sunday morning. Irisa had already been up for an hour. She was sitting in a chair staring out at the dawn wondering just when her mind had finally snapped. Why in the world she'd agreed to go to the Circus with Cassidy she had no idea. It wasn't that she didn't like him as a colleague, it was just that... She'd had a relationship with a possessive man before. It had been horrible. He'd followed her, had even shown up at a reception and tried to drag her out of there deciding she was cheating on him. She hadn't been, she was there as part of her job. He'd even hit her at one point. And yet here she was, agreeing to date a guy who had every trait that buzzed every alarm bell in her currently muddled brain.

She'd never admitted to anyone just how badly that relationship had gotten. She didn't want to remember... And she'd sworn to herself that never again would she be in that situation. And now, here she had yet another man telling her she was his. A possession. No choice on her part, no right of refusal. Done deal. Why were men like that?  How did they come up with this Neanderthal notion that they had the right to walk along the street somewhere and point and say 'she's mine.'

Several hours later, when she had to start thinking about getting ready for her date, she had herself more under control. She'd cried, she'd fumed, she'd shouted at God, she'd begged Him, and now she was calm and wasn't going to make an ass of herself. She could defend herself. She was not going to let this bother her. She'd ... she'd treat him like a colleague, which he was, and not give him an inch more, dammit.

She dressed (after trying on five pairs of jeans) in her oldest most broken in pair of jeans. She picked a simple, unadorned white tee shirt to go with it, adding only a leather belt and boots to finish the outfit, and grabbing a denim jacket if it got cool, wherever it was they were going. She pulled her hair back behind her ears with clips and let it cascade down her back and put in simple gold earrings. Her makeup was even more understated than usual and she did not put on any scent. She'd been horrified when he'd told her he could smell her scent 10 feet away. She wanted nothing whatever to do with that sort of nonsense. So if she smelled at all it was from shower soap and shampoo and he'd have to deal with that.

And then the doorbell rang and she fought down last minute nerves as she answered it.  She found a smile and plastered it to her face as she swung open the door.

He'd also chosen an old pair of jeans and a teeshirt.  And he knew immediately she was wound up tight as a spring.  "Hi," he said, keeping his voice friendly and resisting any urge to try to help her relax by pissing her off.

"Do I need to bring anything?" she asked. "Beyond money for a taxi home?"  At his blank look she added, "Young women going out on dates are always told to make sure they can get home on their own if their dates turn out to be frothing monsters. It's a joke."

"Ah. Well, in your case you probably wouldn't need a taxi.  You can just clobber me and zap out of there," he quipped.  Then he sighed.  "Irisa, I'm not the enemy and I'm not going to hurt you or do anything you don't want me to do.  And if it's too much, if spending time with me bothers you this much we can just call it off."

"I like the circus," she replied. "Just don't go talking about the L word and do your best to resist dragging me off into some dark alley. If I get the urge to do that to you we can negotiate."

"If that's what you want.  Here we go."  He grasped her hand long enough to zap them where they were going and then let go of it immediately.  He'd brought them to what was obviously a circus combined with a carnival.  He grinned at her, his eyes twinkling and for a moment put his hand on the small of her back, steering her in the direction he had in mind.  He felt her tense at the touch and ignored it.  As soon as she was headed the right way he dropped his hand, "Petting zoo.  One of my favorites.  It's this way."

"I"d never have guess it," she confessed. "You don't strike me as the little fuzzy animal lover type."

"Oh yeah," he said.  As soon as things settle down, I'll build a house, then I can bring my critters from Home.  I miss them.  They're like family."  Cassidy assured her.  "Here, this way," he said, steering her slightly and then removing his hand immediately.

"It's all right, Cassidy, I'm not quite that jumpy," she snapped.  "And I don't believe you about the critters."

"You callin' me a liar?" he asked her softly.  And he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a wallet and showed her the pictures...three dogs, two cats and a pair of ferrets were the subjects of the first three.  It was the fourth that was surprising.

"Isn't it illegal to keep a wild creature as a pet?" she asked, intrigued despite herself.

"No, I got a license.  She used to be a circus cat and I took her when she got too old."

"So your interest in the circus is longstanding I gather," she said, as she turned her attention to the animals, a grin erasing the tension he'd seen earlier.

"Yep, since I was a kid.  I wanted to run away and join one, it never worked out.  'Sides, doesn't pay very well and I prefer to be home at night.  Now I just go see 'em all the time."

She was reaching out to stroke a pigmy hippo. "Poor thing," she said to it. "Forced to put up with little kids who'll pull your ears."  She moved on then, to other animals, and finally said, after they'd been there awhile, "I never had a pet. I envy you in that."

"I can't imagine not having them."  He stopped in front of a pair of lambs, and baa'ed softly, smiling when they came straight to him.  He stroked their noses and murmured softly to them.

She watched him for a time, the look on her face unreadable. Then laughed when a baby billy goat almost knocked her over. "Hey you," she said with a laugh.

Cassidy laughed as she made friends with the goat. Eventually he had to interrupt.  "It's almost time, unless you'd rather stay here?"

"God, I smell like goat," she laughed. "No, lets go see the circus."

He grinned and took her elbow, pointing her in the right direction.  "Wanna hot dog, too?"

"Sure," she said laughing. "I confess though I can't stand cotton candy."

They got their dogs and headed off toward the main tent where they could already hear the ringmaster calling everyone to get ready for the circus!

They spent the next two and a half hours laughing like children at the clowns, flying with the acrobats and doing tricks with the animals.  He bought her peanuts to toss to the elephants and cracker jacks for the monkey's.  Later he walked with her down the midway.  "Want some dinner?  There's corn dogs, burgers, tacos in a bag, funnel cakes....whatever you want the sky's the limit."

"Quit trying to turn a girl's head with your free-wheeling spending. But I could possibly be talked into one of those gyros. And then you can win me one of those white tigers over there", she said, pointing at a stuffed animal that was a prize in one of the booths.

"You're on," he said.  "I'll win you two if you want?"

She laughed. "One's enough, unless you plan on keeping one for yourself."

"Sounds like a plan."  And while she devoured the gyro he won her the tiger and then one for himself.  "Now, the rides," he said, a light in his eye reminiscent of the daredevils of old.  "Ready for the roller coaster?"

"You really do love this stuff don't you," she said surprise in her voice.

"Don't you?," he asked, surprised.  "I mean if you don't...we don't have to."  He meant it, to.

"Come on, let's hit that roller coaster."

He grabbed her hand and led her to the line.  "Front car, right?" he said, as he handed the man their tickets.  "That's the most fun."

She just shook her head and followed along, and screamed her head off on the downhills and laughed and let herself forget her worries and relax.

He took her on all the rides after that and then tried to talk her into going on them again.  When she refused he argued and then gave in.  "So, what would you like to do now?  There's bingo?"

"I don't think so. And I'm kind of tired. How about we just go find a comfortable chair and sit for a bit."

"Sure."  When he'd come back with drinks for them he said, "So what are we talking about?"

She eyed him. "Whatever you like except for..."

"Ah, the unmentionable.  OK, well...then how about we talk about this, maybe you can help."  And he reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper and spread it on the table.  Then he went and got a pen and came back, drawing on the sheet. "See, this," he said, sketching it out "is the way it works now, and this," he went on, "is what's wrong, and is this what we're gonna do to fix it.  Think it'll work?"  Then he drew her deep into the intricacies of amateur theatrics and stage lighting.

"Try the lighting this way," and she took the pen from him and crossed out half his scribbles. "The other way you wash out their features. Of course, lighting it THIS way, and she showed a plan for lighting from below, "highlights shadows and lines on faces. Not good for looking pretty, but effective for horror or mystery or sometimes black comedy."

They were still arguing the lighting ideas when he finally took her home and they were both standing in front of her door.

"Thanks, Cassidy. I had a great time."

"So did I."  He studied her for a moment and then said, "Thanks for coming with me."  Then he smiled at her and headed for his rooms.

She watched him walk away then closed the door to her room. "Okay", she admitted to herself. "I really did enjoy it." She was humming as she got ready for bed.