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Ty looked back up at hi Zane to tell him what to do

Pure joy swelled quietly inside Zane "You don’t want to go," he realized, lifting his hand with difficulty to brush Ty’s cheek

"Not right now," Ty whispered in soht I’d just leave your sorry ass after all this?" he asked incredulously

Zane shook his head slowly, ss they gave s," he murmured He didn’t have to be scared All of a sudden it was easy to accept that "You care abouteyes that spoke volu white as he clasped his hands together "I do," he finally agreed "And stop forgetting it," he chided gently

Rather than replying right away, Zane turned his head fully to the side so he could rest and watch Ty at the same time He studied the bed hair and the thinner face, dark with stubble He realized Tyreleased But to Zane, he was gorgeous "Okay," he agreed, then licked his lips "So they’re sending you off somewhere?" he asked, back to the "they"

"Lecture circuit," Ty answered bitterly "Again" He looked away and then lowered his head, blushing deeply "They can’t put me on a case until …

they’re sure I won’t freak out in the dark" He sighed and closed his eyes, unable to look back up "They had to leave ht," he admitted sheepishly

"C’mon and look at me, Ty," Zane murmured

Ty didn’t respond, other than to open his eyes He stared at the thin blanket over Zane’s body for what see his eyes to meet Zane’s

"You’re a brave man," Zane rasped "I hope that the next time I’m with you and it’s dark, you’ll let onna have to," Ty responded in a broken laugh, " ’cause all the current evidence points to the fact that I’ll cry like a little girl"

"That’s okay," Zanehis left arers "Still want you"

Ty glanced over his shoulder nervously and then back at Zane guiltily

Zane smiled His eyes flickered to the empty doorway and back

"Don’t worry," he said softly "There’s no one watching"

A pained look caain

Zane nodded, relaxing soently He didn’t have the years of habit to break He lowered his arain "When do you leave?"

"Now," Tymo else to say, then And nothing else to be done

One more time, he’d have to watch Ty walk away, and he couldn’t do anything o?" he requested, knowing it would be hard if Ty was truly as on edge as he was acting

Ty closed his eyes and shivered "I do want you," he whispered "I want you to find me, as soon as you’re free," he murmured as he looked up

Zane nodded and watched the battle warring in Ty’s expressive hazel eyes It hurt more than he would ever have expected "Take care of yourself,"

he said, exhaustion breaking past his bold front

Ty reached impulsively and s over him to press a kiss to his forehead "We can still cut and run," he whispered against the warh hi other than the occasional flyby as they passed each other by while working He had to try to ignore the twang he felt at the thought of leaving his hard-earned and well-loved job behind

"Just say the word," he said thickly

Ty closed his eyes, his fingers tightening in Zane’s hair He was proposing they both give up a job they loved, give up everything either of them knew "We can open up a flower shop and sell black-ht hitch in his voice

Zane sh he kneas Ty’s defense h he knew Ty never would, and he wondered what he himself would do if it ever caed to stop you"

"Even if I quit now, I couldn’t stay here," Ty responded alo "I couldn’t stay with you"

Calht," he said evenly

Ty moved quickly and pressed a kiss to Zane’s lips "Be careful, Zane," he breathed, then stood and swiftly walked away froh the door

THE ht, skillfully handled by the rider in brown leather and a full-face helh the thin traffic The rider reached out and thumbed a button when the headphone in his helmet beeped for a phone call

"Garrett," he shouted over the roar of the engine

"Special Agent Garrett"

Zane blinked and looked frounned the bike to speed up "What do you want, Burns? I’m on vacation"

"Yes, I know Five months of Miami earns you three weeks of vacation How are you, Zane?"

Even more surprised to be called by naood," he answered cautiously