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But there was nothing there She was up on her knees, staring into the sudden light, blinking furiously She was more than decently clad in a massive cotton T-shirt, and he didn’t hesitate to rush to her, slide onto the bed and take her shoulders, shaking her slightly, bringing her focus to him

"Vanessa, what? What happened?"

She didn’t reply for a minute Then her eyes focused on his and a flood of color filled her cheeks

"Oh, God! I aht that I…that I screa He pulled her toward hiainst hiht First, I just saw the heads in the sand Then they began talking tome how and why I let it happen Travis wants to knoe didn’t even look for hiia wants to knoe didn’t believe her when she screamed about ia, I keep drea it and I certainly had no right co you and David involved Except that, of course, I don’t think these nightmares will ever stop if…if there can’t be an answer so back her hair "It’s all right I understand And David and I aren’t co into this blindly We knohat happened We consider ourselves worthy of the task, honestly We’re good at e do, and we kno to defend ourselves Lia We’ll stack the decks with the right people, Vanessa"

She looked up at hi exactly what you wanted, so many of your friends were already involved in projects"

"It will happen I’ to try to recruit old Marty, and maybe even Ja on the reef with the four of us working and see how it falls out"

"Leill coain He was there, and he saw," she said

"Lew…?"

"Our Bahauide," she said

"Of course," he said "David has already sent ahead to the Baha them know our location plans We’ll soon need a list of the crew, though I believe he’s sub…"

"Yes?"

"Never be afraid if you screaht here We’ve had our share of fear and dread, and there’s nothing to be ashaards fear," he said

He wanted to e and blue and staring so trustingly into his

Great When holding her ony

Yes, come to my house, it will be perfectly safe! he mocked himself

She smiled

"Do you want me to stay here? Until you fall asleep?" he asked her

"Oh, I really couldn’t ask you to do that," she said, offering a s I a in the es," he assured her

She sain "Stay," she said

"Your wish, ht, anyway"

That brought a true smile to her lips She crawled up to one side of the bed "Really aard, huh? I was about to plu you to come up But that would be rather…oh, God, the whole situation is very…"

He laughed "Premature That’s all Quite frankly, every time I see you, I’m more under soe and talents And there’s the siain, it could be how beautiful you are God knows, you’re probably vibrant and vital when you sleep Stopon ridiculously," he said

"There’s no one inis really out of the question when you’re the wrong kind of screahed and moved up to the pillow He drew her head down on his chest "Sleep, my dear, in comfort, I hope You’re safe froht"

"I think youis that good, and certainly not ruffly

He s against hiing filled hiing For soht, he would be content

Thank God, she didn’t screa, Vanessa opened her eyes and realized that she was sprawled atop Sean For a moment, she didn’t dareher She flushed and winced

"I’ht?" she asked hi with reater pleasure," he teased