Trevor was pacing his office when Cassidy came stumping in.  It was a bloody miracle Marc wasn't dead. Or Stephen for that matter. Trevor was seriously considering resigning. Obviously he wasn't the right man for the job.

He ran back over his security plan and started cursing in Hindi. Laszlo kept quiet in the dark corner at the back of Trevor's office. Not much he could say really.

Cassidy got right to the point, his brain stem in charge since it was just 'us' guys...they'd understand a man had to do what a man had to do.  "We need to talk about security for Irisa."

Trevor looked up and met Cassidy's eyes. "I can't keep Marc or Stephen safe and you think I can with Irisa? Hah!"  Trevor's brain stem wasn't real happy either.

Cassidy heard the appeal.  "I can help you if you help me."  He offered, brain stem to brain stem.  His frontal lobe kicked into high gear, shoving his brain stem aside with a snarled, "I'll handle this, now."

"Oh?" Trevor asked. "You taking over my job? It's yours."

"No," he snapped.  "I can help you do your job, if you promise me Irisa goes no where alone....except to bed and the bathroom."  His brain stem added the last, with a rude gesture to his frontal lobe.

"And how do you plan to get her to agree to that?" Trevor really was interested. Maybe it would work for Maggie?

His brain stem took over again.  "It will be a case of the immovable object meeting the irresistible force.  She either takes your guys or I quit and she deals with me one on one, currently a fate she'd rather die than accept.  Besides," he added simply, "she ain't in my fighting class in a bout like that.  Someday, maybe, if she applies herself, but not yet."

Trevor sat down on the edge of his desk, his foot swinging back and forth.  "It's obvious you don't know a lot about women."

Cassidy grinned.  "I'll give you ten to one odds she takes your guys. "I'll give you five to one she takes 'em and gives me hell, not you."  He raised a brow.  "Women are easier when you ain't got 'em yet.  Leaves you more options since they're already sleeping in their own bed without you....what have you got to lose?  Want the bet?"

"Of course she'll take my guys because I won't be asking her to. When you're not trying to GET into her bed you have more options too."

Cassidy laughed.  "Yeah, but I plan to marry her so I can afford the long view of things.  Do we have a deal?"

In the corner Laz gave it up and started laughing.

"It's nice that you have plans. Maybe you should ask her what her plans are?" Trevor suggested.

"I have.  She said no."  Cassidy shifted impatiently.  We got a deal?  Or we gonna talk about my way with women some more first.  I don't mind just like I don't mind you thinking I'm an idiot with women.  It's just she's gonna wake up again soon and I'll have to tell her and give her time to yell at me."

"Look, let me handle it. I have the advantage of authority. You ask her, I guarantee you're gonna create more problems and not just for me."

His brain stem opened its mouth and then shut it, while his frontal lobe bowed in homage to a real fellow feeler.

"Thank you.  I will.  Now here's how you solve your problem, or at least the disappearing act part.  Stuff like yesterday's a bit trickier but I got an idea there too."  And Cassidy started outlining a plan he'd been working on with Cal for tracking people off the Refuge without leaving themselves vulnerable to being tracked by others.

"Great idea," Trevor replied, "but they won't wear 'em. Have to be subcutaneous."

"So?"  Cassidy shook his head.  "Doni's already making Stephen swear to behave.  I bet Dinah's willing to play too.  And if those two toe the line everyone else will too, sub-q or not."

"Including Irisa?" Trevor said fighting a grin. His anger was gone in bemusement. American men, sheesh.

"Including her."  Cassidy nodded.  His brain stem was emphatic.

"Uh huh," said Trevor, married to a redhead. "By the way, I'm sticking yours in your butt. Now run along and let us handle security. For what its bloody well worth."

"Where ever you like, Trevor."  Then Cassidy got serious.  "You really do do a hell of a job.  I'll have Cal come talk to you.  He's got a couple other ideas that may help make things easier we were gonna try with the teams."

"Good. Cal and I have a few ideas for security too. I'll brief you after I test them out."

"I'm at your disposal."  Cassidy said, with a mock salute as he left.

Laz watched him go then looked at Trevor.  "My money's on her in the pool.  But I'm thinking he just might win her in the end."  Laz shook his head, "He sure does have a pair."

"Yeah, but will we recognize him by then."  The both began walking out of the office, chuckling. "So, who on Irisa, since Home isn't safe any more?"

"Good question.  We need to figure out who's on everyone.  Dinah's gonna need someone again too.  But at least Doni's staying home for a while. But I'm thinking Tobie would be the best bet for Irisa.  She cleans up well, too, for all those PR affairs so she won't stand out in the crowd."

"I'm telling Tobie you said that. And I'm serious about the subcutaneous trackers."  They walked into Cal's office then, where he was waiting for them.  "Have you got a solution for a love-struck idiot?" Trevor asked Cal.

Irisa was feeling well enough to resent having to stay in the infirmary now. She slept a lot because that's what the healers wanted her to do and she suspected them of making sure of it (grrr) and mostly when she awoke Cassidy was there. Perhaps his mind was off communing with Jordon or with Cal on the teams, but his physical body was nearly always in her room. Hmmm.  She wasn't sure she liked that one bit. I mean, it was nice and all that he cared, but the whole male warrior I'm protecting you thing still made her uncomfortable.

She was awake eating lunch when Trevor St Cyr walked in. She smiled at him, delighted to see him. Now there was a nice man. Not pushy, nice looking, very nice looking when he smiled, polite, and she loved the English accent, not to mention the dimple his smile revealed.

"Hullo, Irisa. Feeling better?" Trevor walked in and she waved him to a seat. Surprisingly Cassidy wasn't in residence at the moment. That made her eyes narrow. Was this some guy plot?

"Hi, Trevor. I'm feeling far too good to be stuck here, but Tabitha insists." She sighed dramatically.

"I wanted to personally apologize for what happened to you on Home."

"Hardly your fault, " she pointed out.

"Nevertheless," he relied. "I reviewed the security tapes from the reception. You stepped in to protect Marc. That was very brave but perhaps a bit..."

"Foolish?" she interrupted him, her eyes suddenly becoming stormy.

"Your word, not mine," he replied smoothly. "I was going to just say that a public relations person is not normally quite so dedicated."

"Well, I've known Marc for some time. I appreciate his efforts and..."

"And you're one of his operatives on Home. Yes, I know. And no, he didn't have to tell me, and no I won't tell Cassidy."

She sighed relieved. "Cassidy is..."

"In love with you and therefore completely insane. True," he added in a tone that made her laugh.

"If he is a problem I can..." he offered.

"NO!  No, I mean, I, uhm, I can handle him."

Trevor raised an eyebrow and waited.

"He frightened me at first, but I think he's not what I.. I mean, he isn't like... He doesn't mean badly."

"No," Trevor agreed. "But sometimes, even when men don't mean to cause a problem they do, so I just wanted you to know I'll have a word with him if you ask me to do."

"Thanks, Trevor. I'll keep that in mind."

"Also," he said and paused.

Uh oh... Here it comes, Irisa thought.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to assign you security. Not that that seems to do much good around here."

"Trevor, that is silly.  Really. Seriously!   You just acknowledged that I put myself in front of Marc. So no one was trying to hurt me!"

"Irisa," Trevor replied quietly, "by doing so, you've announced that you are more than just the PR flack you pretend to be. Once our enemies know that, you become a target. I'm sorry. Really I am.  But I don't see any way around it."

"It's Cassidy, isn't it?" she hissed. "He's demanding this, and you're gonna let him have it to keep him quiet and keep his mind on his job. That is low, Trevor, I had more respect for you than that."  That she was furious was clear - in her tone, the look on her face.

Trevor sat back and crossed his arms on his chest and just looked at her while she fumed.

"I'm assigning Tobie. She'll keep an eye on you and you can pretend she's your minion, for all I care."

Irisa's mouth hardened into a narrow line. "Fine. She can fetch me coffee."

Trevor's lips twitched, which made her even madder.

"Hope you get out of here soon. See you later," Trevor said.

When the door closed as he left her, she picked up her lunch tray and tossed it as hard as she could at the closed door. "Fucking men!"

----------

“Ready for the morning brief, sir?” Jordon asked, poking his head in Cassidy’s office. “Cal just let me know they’re ready to start.”

Cassidy gulped the rest of his coffee and grimaced. “Yeah. Anything I should know first?”

“Four calls yesterday, no problems. Quiet so far this morning, here and Ocala.” Jordon said, handing him the briefing book.”

Cassidy nodded as he strode into the Ops Center and headed towards the glassed in conference area in the back where Cal, Michael and a woman he didn’t recognize were waiting.

Cal, not a man to waste time in or on meetings, got started as soon as he and Jordon were in their seats. He ran down the four calls yesterday and then said, “Ellie’s out today, got a cold she said, so Fawn, Ms Fairchild’s filling in for her.”

“Fine,” Cassidy said, not looking up from the notes he was making. “Take me through it, if you wouldn’t mind, Ms Fairchild.”

Fawn walked over and activated the monitors and then began calling the board for him.

Cassidy listened, made some notes and asked a couple of questions before thanking her and turning back to Cal. “Tabitha’s got the list of healers who will be on stand-by. As soon as I get it I’ll send it over. Also, start coming up with a list of skill sets you’d like to see in the new recruits since they’ll start out with you as usual. Where are we training this week?”

“On Home since we're doing fire rescues. By the end of the week everyone will have rotated through for the refresher,” Cal said, glancing at Michael who confirmed with a nod.

Cassidy finally looked up and grinned. “Thanks Cal. I’m around all day if you need me.”

Cal and Michael were the first to leave, Jordon right behind them as Cassidy took a minute to finish his notes and study the board.

Fawn walked over to sit down beside him.

He barely noticed her.

She leaned forward resting her chin on her hand and stared at him.

Finally it penetrated, but only because he was getting ready to look up.  When he saw her he blinked and pulled back.  It took him a minute but he dredged up the name.  "Ms Fairchild?"

"Fawn to you. So, uhm, I hear from quite a few sources you like a good time."

He frowned, not sure he'd really heard what she just said.  "Excuse me?"

She smiled at him. "Oh, you have quite a reputation on Home. I just thought maybe we could get together some time. It's awfully boring around here. We could... oh, I don't know. I'm sure we'd think of something."

His face leached to impassivity, his eyes flat.  "I think not, Ms Fairchild.  Besides, you shouldn't believe everything you hear."

"Oh, I don't know about that. I hear you're quite something in bed. I'd like to believe that, but I confess I'd like even more to find out for myself how true it is."

He let some of the distaste he felt show.  "Really?  Well, I must confess I will be unable to oblige you.  Whatever the details of my reputation Ms Fairchild, I can assure you one thing is true."

"Oh?" she asked.

"I don't frequent whores."

Fawn stood up abruptly knocking her chair over backwards as she did so. She leant down on the table and glared at him.  "Funny. Very funny. You know, it isn't like you're taken, or anything. And it isn't like you don't sleep around. Discriminating or not. So I'll thank you to watch your penchant for nastiness.  I've heard about that too."

"You do seem to do a lot of listening," he said, his voice bland.  As for nasty...well, only with the nasty."  Then his voice got icy, "I would suggest, Ms Fairchild, that your moment to effect a graceful exit is fading quickly."

She drew herself up straight and her eyes flared wide. She opened her mouth to retort, thought better of it, and instead whirled on her  heel and exited the room, slamming the door on the way out.

Cassidy watched her go, his eyes hard.  Not good, he thought.  Not good at all.

He decided to shower first and change before seeing Irisa, who may or may not be angry at him, and hence may or may not speak to him. Regardless of his insouciance with Trevor and Laz he was not nearly as sanguine as he would have them believe. At the end of the day, though, his position was set in stone. His first priority was to keep her safe. Once that was done he could go back to worrying about the rest. Without her being safe there was no rest, possibly the only point he and his various mental helpers were in agreement upon.

It was an hour later when he knocked softly on her door. Her ‘come in’ sounded distinctly disgruntled. He grabbed tightly to his self control and sense of humor and walked in. “Hi there,” he said his smile friendly.

She didn't answer. Not a good sign. The fact her eyes were narrowed and smoke was rising from her head, was also not a good sign. She sat as she had been when he'd walked in, arms folded on her chest, frown firmly in place.

"Ah," he said, taking a seat.  "If I had to guess, I'd say Trevor's given you the news."

"It was you, wasn't it?  What gives you the right to say _anything_ about me!  To make decisions about me. You aren't my keeper, my father, my brother or any other damn thing to me. You aren't even my boss, as you were quick to point out when it seemed like a good idea.  And what? We've had, what, two dates? Now all the sudden you are the protector I so desperately need."  Toward the end of the diatribe her voice had gone cold and calm, which was, Cassidy thought, worse than the anger in the beginning.

"Yes, I asked Trevor to assign security to you," he admitted, calmly and in no sense apologetic. " He however, or so I was given to understand, had already reached the same conclusion as I had...that being that it was a move warranted by the situation and your position."

"Don't you dare fall back on that sexist argument that I'm the emotional little woman, probably PMSing and you are the calm, cool , clear-headed realist.  Don't you dare!"

He was truly baffled, unable to fathom where in the world that had come from.  "Uhm, okay, I won't," he said.  "Won't be hard, either.  Especially since I'm the emotional one and not ashamed to admit that the thought of something happening to you is one I can't face."

"Oh, that's right. You're in love with me. Like all the other women you've been chasing all over Home? Did you give them that line too?"

His eyes narrowed as he digested that.  "No.  You are the only woman I have ever said those words to.  You are also the only woman I ever expect to say those words to."

"Oh here we go with the soul mate forever crap. Like I have no choice in the matter and that I'm eventually going to see the error of my ways and throw myself in your arms and say, 'Take me darling!'  Well, buster, I wouldn't hold my breath for that to happen. Now get out!"

He stood, suddenly as angry as she.  "You really are a little hypocrite aren't you? I find it remarkable that while I am expected to toe the line and take seriously your need for independence and respect your ability to make your own choices, you seem to think that that doesn't oblige you to at least consider returning the favor.  Secondly, while you get have every choice there is and screw anyone who might get in the way of that, because you're you and a woman, and I, a piece of crap guy who, according to you is lower than pig shit for doing anything that might even suggest otherwise...I am barred by your fiat from exercising my own right to chose who I love and who I don't and what I do about it just because you don't like it...because it makes you uncomfortable to even consider that your idea of how loves works might not be the only one there is.

"You've made assumption after assumption about who I am, and what I'm about without ever taking the time to study the subject first.  You've decided I'm not to be trusted and everything I do is a plot to oppress and enslave you just because I had the unmitigated gall to dare to care about you without your consent first and then do something about it. So tell me Irisa, just exactly who is it that I'm taking the beating for?  No wait...never mind, don't!    I'm sure in your mind that by even asking I'm just looking for ways to manipulate you."  He said the last from the doorway, his eyes raking her.

Only now though had he realized her face had gone deathly pale and she'd drawn up against the back of the bed. Her eyes were swimming in tears and one big fat tear was tracing down her cheek.  She took a deep breath and said, "Please. Just go."

"Right," he said, and went.

The tears came in earnest then and she buried her head in her pillow.

Irisa's sobs had at least abated but her face was flushed and her eyes were red and swollen from weeping. All that crap about how beautiful women were when they cried? Lies. All lies.

She heard the knock on her door and yelled, her voice still muffled from the pillow, "Go away!"

The door opened anyway. "Hey, I'm coming to break you outta here."

"I'm fine. I never want to go anywhere ever again," was Irisa's response. "Go away."

"You probably don't remember me very well. I'm Tobie. I'm your security minion."

Irisa groaned.

"I know, I know," Tobie replied, going to the closet and getting out the few things Irisa had there with her. "Come on, we'll just zap ourselves to your room so no one will ever have to look at you again, how's that?"

"No, I'm fine," Irisa was sounding petulant.

"Everybody in the Infirmary heard the fight," Tobie pointed out helpfully.

"Okay, let's go to my room," Irisa agreed, wiping away her last few tears and letting Tobie touch her.  Tobie zapped them right into Irisa's rooms.

"Go get a shower you'll feel better," Tobie suggested.

"Everybody?" Irisa moaned.

"Yup. No way you're gonna get out of this with any dignity intact. You're pretty much down to ritual suicide as your only option. Man, I gotta call Reno and change my bet."

Irisa moaned as she walked into the bathroom.

"Do I have to sweep the bathroom for razor blades?" Tobie called out to her.

"Stop it!" Irisa said, despite herself half laughing.

"Just checking.  It's what I do."  Tobie yelled.  "Man, men like him can be a hard to handle.  You're a brave woman."

But she wasn't brave, that was the point, Irisa said to herself as she showered. She was terrified. She didn't want a relationship. She was happy as she was. Why did things have to change?  Why couldn't he just, like, be friends?  Now he'd hate her. She should look for another job, maybe. She'd have to apologize. Oh God...  Where was the valium anyway.

Eventually she turned off the shower and toweled off and wrapped herself in her favorite old bathrobe and wrapped a towel around her still wet hair. She peeped out of the bathroom but Tobie hadn't gone anywhere.

"I'm not," she said to Tobie.

"You're not what?" Tobie asked, handing Irisa a stiff whiskey and soda.

"Brave. That's the trouble."

"Sure you are.  Men like him, the up front negotiation is always something they shy away from.  It's their nature."  Tobie sipped ice tea and grinned at Irisa.

"Uhm?" Irisa asked.

"Men like him."  Tobie eyed her.  "You really don't know, do you?"

Irisa shook her head. "Not a bloody clue. Didn't even know there was a type."

Tobie nodded.  "Ninety percent of the guys I work with are like him to one degree or another.  He's a warrior, which should be no surprise, I mean look at what he does.  Cassidy, though is...well...he's very family oriented.  Warrior guys like him are also protective of those they love and that protectiveness makes them possessive.  It's ingrained."

Irisa frowned and looked down at her drink, as she swirled it. "Well, I'm all wrong for him. I'm not a warrior, and I'm not .. God..."

"I'm explaining badly.  Look, he looks at you and he sees a woman as strong as he is, a woman who won't roll over for him.  You're strong willed and you think for yourself.  He expects to have to win you...to woo you in a very old fashioned sense.  But he's also vulnerable in a way he hates."  Tobie shrugged.  "It's up to you and he knows it.  So he's trying to find a way to court you."

"But that isn't how he acts. He acts like if I don't agree to what he wants he's gonna drag me by my hair into some cave and lock me up there until I agree to do whatever."

Tobie laughed.  "How's he done that?  He knows it's up to you, that to have what he wants, the thing around which he hopes to build his world, your yes, if you say it, has to be free and willing, uncoerced.  So he's fighting his warrior genes to the death, which means he's fighting himself, to make sure he never coerces you or forces you to do something you don't want to do."  She laughed again.  "Front brain vs. back brain."

"Yeah, but he says stuff like 'it's a done deal' like no matter what I want it's gonna happen.  Of course he's probably so mad at me now I won't have to worry about it."

Tobie gaped at her.  "You really think that don't you.  Honey, let me tell you something.  For him it _is_ a done deal.  He's toast and he knows it.  Guys like him, they're the reason they talk about the one woman man.  Every guy I know like this...it hits 'em like a ton of bricks  and that's it...no matter what they did in the past, no matter the future, they never look at another woman again...so when he says it's a done deal, that's what he's telling you.  He doesn't mean for you though he hopes like hell he got it right and it turns out that way and he'll do whatever he can to show you it could."

"I understand that with people like Stephen and Doni it might work that way. But I'm not. I .. I'm not even looking for a relationship. I'm fine the way I am. And I just don't understand why he picked me.  I'm not anything special and I certainly didn't go out looking for him."

Tobie shook her head.  "To take your points in order...  This isn't bonding.  Saying you're not looking as a way of saying no is like tripping over a diamond and not checking it out because you weren't looking for one today.  I dunno whether you're fine.  As for why he picked you...who knows, pheromones, a twinkle in your eye, the way you hold your head.  And baby, trust me, you're special to him.  He'd die to keep you alive and to make sure you were happy.  All he wants is for you to let him do it for the rest of his life.  That's how special you are to him."

"Will he give up if I'm horrible to him?"

"He'll only give up...maybe...if you can tell him that you don't love him and there's no chance you ever will....and then I dunno.  Irisa....what are you so afraid of that you won't give the guy a chance?"

"I dunno," Irisa finally said. "Maybe I'm still in love with.. I dunno. When he isn't scaring the crap out of me he's a nice guy. But then every time I get comfortable with him he goes all commando on me."

And what is it that scares you?  That he plays by a different set of rules?  Or something else?"

"Maybe. I feel lost when I'm dealing with him. He doesn't make sense to me. It's not like I haven't had relationships."

"Oh, I get it.  You're thinking you can understand him using the systems that you used to understand other men.  You can't.  Look what if you start from a different set of assumptions...like he's telling you the truth, that whatever he's told you about himself is true, including that he loves you and then just ask him to explain the rest," Tobie suggested.

"He seems to think I should just know, you know?  He tells me to stop making assumptions but what else can I do?  He's made assumptions about me too. Like firstly that I'd find this whole thing rational."

"Well from what I can tell, you might, if you'd actually talk to him instead of judging him against a yardstick that doesn't fit him.  That's all he's really asking anyway.  Look, Reno went through this with Melly and got all tangled up.  Reno thought Melly was like all the women he knew and she's not.  Melly says what she means...there's no hidden agenda, no hidden meaning and Reno kept looking for one, he kept listening for what she wasn't saying.  It wasn't until someone explained that to him that he could actually communicate with her.  You seem to be doing that with Cassidy somehow.  Besides Cassidy thinks he is telling you."

"Oh right, Mr. no assumption guy. Right. God. I was such a bitch."

"Well, see that's the good news.  He loves you so...he gets over it.  That's what love does...it forgives and it tries to understand when it cools off.  He won't give up on you Irisa, even if you give up on him."

If asked, those who knew him well would have said that Cassidy didn’t have a temper. What they would have meant was that he didn’t have one until he lost it, something he rarely did. And, having lost it with Irisa it had taken him the rest of the day and most of the night to get it firmly under control again so he could start thinking rationally.

He’d spent the hours between dawn and now doing just that, having shackled and gagged both his brain stem and his frontal lobe. He’d also spent the time seeing the look on her face as he’d left, the tears glittering in her eyes and the fear she made no effort to hide. Just the thought of her being afraid of him made his gut clench in self castigation. It also made him want to shake and tell her she was being foolish, that she had to know he’d never…never…hurt her on purpose, that he couldn't. It made him want to fold her in his arms and kiss her tears and her fear away, holding her there, safe and close.

That he’d lost his temper and done just that was a reality he refused to let himself flinch from. He’d said unforgivable things to her, things he’d no right to say the way he’d said them. So the first thing he needed to do was begin to apologize, something he was sure would be a process since he couldn’t imagine her sitting still long enough for him to do so after that look and what he’d said.

He showered and dressed and headed for breakfast. Then he went looking for Eli, to ask him for some of his late summer blooms for a bouquet he would have Jordon deliver to her rooms first thing…with a note that made it plain he knew he was a heel and jerk for what he’d said and wanted to make amends. He didn’t know how he’d word that just yet; no doubt his inner commentators would have an opinion when he finally uncaged them.

Cassidy found Eli deadheading zinnia’s and made his request. Then he waited while Eli performed a comprehensive survey of him, presumably trying to decide is he could be trusted with the flowers.

“You know,” Eli said slowly, chewing on a blade of grass and leaning on a rake handle, “your trouble is you’re speaking a language to her she just doesn’t understand.”

Cassidy, examining a bed of early autumn hyacinths for purple blooms, symbols of sorrow and a desire for forgiveness, was taken aback. He eyed him, a question on his face.

“All over the place. Everybody heard.” Eli said.

Cassidy groaned. He’d hurt her, scared her and, it turns out, he’d a managed to do it publicly. She’d never speak to him again.

“Not as bad as it seems, son.” Eli reassured him. “You just got to figure out a language you two share and stick to it.”

“You think?” Cassidy asked.

“Yup. The flowers might help too, no telling about that. But mostly, you two need to find a vocabulary you agree on. Plus, it ain’t all that likely she’s used to men like you and me. Tabitha wasn’t but then I had the culture on my side in those days. Likely making her a tad nervous.”

“What do you mean?”

“Most guys these days are all about avoiding commitment and embracing the temporary and the useful. You, you’re all about commitment. Plus, you know what you want and ain’t shilly shallying around about it. Likely makes no sense at all to her, that sort of thing since she’s never encountered it. You got to educate her and, I ‘spect, it’ll be slow going after the hash you two made of things yesterday.” Eli shook his head in admiration. “Fight like that, reminds me of the old days, when Doni would push Stephen too far and he’d lose his temper. Useful for clearing the air sometimes, but better not too often.”

Cassidy was speechless.

“I’ll do the flowers and send ‘em over to you, shall I?”

“Ah, yeah, thanks.”

Irisa dressed carefully.  She chose a very professional looking gray pin-striped suit, wide pants, white blouse with a wide collar. Heels of course.  Simple gold earrings. There.

Today would be her first day back at the job, even if it was to be only a half day, and a limited schedule. Still, she would field, she well knew, questions about her own wounding and she wanted to make it clear to anyone watching that she was fine, thank you very much.

Tobie would meet her in the cafeteria.  Irisa wanted, no needed, some time alone first. She looked away from the mirror and regarded the vase of flowers that sat on the table near her.  She liked that it was a mixed bouquet of flowers and that they were clearly from Eli's gardens. There had been no note, but that was fine. She got the message, which made the delivery of her own message all that much more important.  She squared her shoulders and walked out, closing the door softly behind herself.

Tobie had checked for her (there was a good side or two to a security minion) and Cassidy was in his office. So that's where she went first. Jordon looked up as she came through the door and smiled at her. "He's in his office. Shall I knock?"

"Please," she asked, fighting to keep her voice even and calm. She wrung her hands together, and took a deep breath.

"Cassidy? Ms Diamond is here to see you," Jordon said, sticking his head through Cassidy's office door.

Then Jordon stood back and held the door for her to enter.

She walked in, her chin high, and thanked Jordon who was kind enough to close the door behind her.

Cassidy stood as she came in. He opened his mouth to say something but she quickly interrupted. "Please. I just want to apologize for my behavior in the Infirmary. You were right. I shouldn't judge you badly because of someone else. I'll try to watch that with everyone from now on. I'm also sorry so many people apparently heard me. I hope you aren't too embarrassed about it. I'll be glad to make a public apology if you think that will help."

"You're apologizing to me...after the unforgiveable things I said to you?  After I scared you?  After I humiliated you in front of all the people who heard me?"  He drew breath and pulled himself together.  "Irisa you've nothing to be sorry for.  I'm the one who should apologize."

"You have. The flowers are lovely. Thank you."

"I really am very, very sorry. I had no right to say those things.  That you'll even speak to me..." his voice trailed off.

"I think it is safe to say we both lost our tempers and acted badly. So can we just leave it there?"

"Sure, however you want it.  How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Quite well, thank you. Look, I've got to run. I've got an early briefing on Home. But I did want to just.. Well, have a good day, Cassidy."

"You too, Irisa."  He held the door for her as she left and then shut it again, totally confused.

She paused in the hallway, taking deep and thankful gulps of air.

Cassidy sank into the visitor’s chair in front of his desk after Irisa left his office, totally confused by her. What was she about now? And did she even know that’s what she was about?

His frontal lobe attempted to cheer him up, opining that her not knowing was a good thing, an acceptable alternative at this point. His brain stem sneered. He smacked them both around, having still not forgiven them for letting him down in the infirmary.

OK, he thought, she apologizes and ran out the door. She let him apologize and acted like he hadn’t needed to. She’d thanked him for the flowers. And then she ran out the door. She avoided any other interaction with him. Clearly, now, his frontal lobe suggested tentatively, is not the time to ask her out again. Cassidy was inclined to agree.

His brain stem protested. The only hope they had was propinquity, spending time with her so they had to see her.

Cassidy considered the point. She didn’t run regularly, she was in and out, here and on Home with no set pattern according to needs of the day. Still, given all that there might be times, might be ways he arrange things.

He recalled Eli’s advice and asked for opinions. His frontal lobe suggested a glossary while his brain stem voted for as much non verbal communication as possible as soon as possible. Cassidy while liking the idea didn’t think it would happen. He considered the glossary idea and then sighed.

He could just picture the response. He’d walk up to, do five minutes of small talk and then hand it to her, saying…what? Here, here’s a present…just a little light reading for in your off hours. Thought it would help you learn how to communicate with me. Then what? Did his frontal lobe think she fall in his arms, cooing and sighing in his ear, “Oh honey thank you….kiss, kiss…this will solve everything. I’ll read it right now….kiss, kiss.”

Oh yeah, that had a prayer.

He needed, he knew, to give her some room, let her relax and come to grips with almost being killed. He needed to just let things evolve naturally for a while…seeing her in the course of the day as it happened, using those opportunities to let her know him a bit better.

Yeah, he thought. Maybe that was the best plan for the next week or so.

But what, his brain stem asked in tones of gloom, what about Chance. Yeah, his frontal lobe agreed, what about him?

Cassidy gave it the thought it deserved and then concluded that Chance would be doing a job and Irisa resented the body guard so it probably wasn’t an issue. He would however, keep an eye on things, just in case.

He nodded to himself. He had a plan, a course of action that had some small chance of working and he could live with it. For a while.