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A night passed before he saw her again Alexander woke up, and there she was, sitting by his side They sat and stared at each other Tatiana said, "Shura, now, don’t be upset with e "You are just relentless"

Nodding, Tatiana quietly said, "Relentlesslytoward him, she whispered, "Relentlessly in love" She added, "You needed me I came"

"I didn’t need you here," Alexander said "How many tioing to keep you safe?" She took his hand and s around to make sure there were no nurses or doctors close by, she kissed his hand and then pressed it to her face "You’re going to be all right, big etting a divorce" He was not letting go of her face For anything

Shaking her head, she said, "Sorry Can’t You wanted a covenant with God? You got it"

"Tatiasha"

"Yes, darling, yes, Shura? I’"

"Tell me the truth How bad was I hurt?"

"Not too bad," she replied in a low voice, s out after Marazov like that? I should have let his h They couldn’thi her lazed over with sadness, "I said a prayer for Tolya"

"Did you say one forI said a prayer for me I said, dear God, please help me heal him" She held his hand "But, Alexander, you could noin English at the doctor, or ju him behind you to safety You could nowith Yuri Stepanov Remember, Shura, we are all a sum of our parts And what do your parts say about you?"

"That I’ lunatic My back feels like it’s on fire" He slass cuts, Tania?"

Hesitating for a ot burned But you’ll be fine" She pressed her cheek harder into his hand "Tell me the truth, tell me you’re not happy to see " He rubbed her freckles, gazing at her without blinking

She took out a small vial of morphine from her pocket and attached it to the entry point in his IV drip

"What are you doing?"

She whispered, "Giving you a small intravenous morphine push So your back doesn’t feel like it’s on fire" In seconds he felt better She leaned her head back into his hand

Alexander looked her over up and down Tatiana exuded a porous, evanescent, yet everlasting warmth; her very presence, her satin face in his palm made his back hurt less Her radiant eyes, her flushed cheeks, her slightly parted loving lipsAlexander stared at her, his eyes wide open, his soul wide open, his adoring heart hurting exquisitely "You are an angel sent from heaven, aren’t you?"

An electric smile lit up her face "And you don’t know the half of it," she whispered "You don’t knohat your Tania has been cooking up here" In her delight she nearly squealed