A/N: A drabble that popped into my head when I was studying for finals. I just had to jot it down.
Disclaimer: If these characters were mine, then the Protector of the Small series would not be PG anymore.
Kel remained awake despite of the buzzing pleasure in her body that willed her to sleep. She felt safe in the warm arms around her and savored that feeling. It has been so long since she had been protected by someone.
For the first time in months, possibly even years, she allowed her mind to drift and go blissfully blank. Gone were the worrying, the planning, and the naggings in her mind of what she should do. The state of meditation was all the rest she needed.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed when the body beside her stirred. The arms around her flexed as the head that rested on her shoulder moved. Her companion is waking.
"Kel?" the person beside her whispered. She snapped out of her meditation, but remained facing the wall.
"Kel? Are you awake?"
She remained silent and forced her breath to remain even. This morning-after conversation is extraneous. If she pretends to sleep, this awkward conversation will not occur.
The warm arms around her withdrew. The person beside her untangled himself from their intertwined embrace and got out of the bed. Her illusion of protection is broken.
"Kel, I'm sorry. I have to go."
(The finality of the statement echoed in her head.)
The whispers of cloth in the room indicated that her visitor was dressing. She remained faced to the wall, but her eyes are open, tracing the cracks the bare walls bore. She marveled briefly how the voice she hears is so much like a lover's voice. Not the voice of a best friend. But this won't change anything, she told herself, whatever happened still won't change anything.
"But…Kel…"
(Ah the dreaded "but")
"…I do love you."
No. Not even this.
As her visitor closed the door behind himself, a sob she could not hold back escaped her throat.
Never had she felt so alone.
A/N: Yes. This is supposed to be K/N. I had always envisioned what the morning-after conversation for the couple would be like. I mean, Neal wouldn't exactly be the "silent" type, now would he?