Axyl! Get away from that door!"

Savannah turned from the stove to see the German Shepard sniffing at the door, and every few minutes he would let out a frustrated whine. Since Steve arrived, not once had Axyl barked, but instead, sniffed the door out of curiosity, and this puzzled Savannah. Her dog did not like other men. Period.

She heard the creak of the basement stairs, so she quickly grabbed ahold of Axyls black collar and pulled him back from the door just as it opened, and Steve appeared looking fresh and clean from his shower.

Without the bulky parka, Savannah could clearly see the bulge of muscles as they stretched the blue sweater he had on. He noticed the huge dog pulling against its owner, and he took a step back.

"Should have warned ya." Savannah smiled at him sheephisly. "He's kinda protective." Axyl let out a whine and lunged for Steve and she wasn't prepared and the dog slipped free. She waited for the attack, but it never came. Instead, the huge dog sat on its haunches, it's huge head lunging forward and it's wet nose sniffed his hand. "That's really weird."

Savannah was in awe as she watched Steve squat down in front of the dog, and she instantly sucked in a breath waiting for her dog to attack, but it never came.

"He most know I like dogs." Steve ruffled the dogs fur and heard the clink of the tags. He took his finger and lifted up the silver metal and noticed a yellow gem in the middle, and above that, etched in the collar was the name Axyl. "Nice to meet to you Axyl." He looked into the dogs eyes, and he swore he could see the awareness in the brown pools. "Had him long?"

"He just showed up here one day two years ago. No one around here seen him before."

Steve stood up from the floor, puzzled at the dogs behavior. It seemed that the dog was actually studying him, trying to figure him out. "Well, lucky him."

"So," Savannah turned from the handsome man in her kitchen, to the dinner on the stove. "Dinners ready. There's beer in the fridge if you'll grab some and meet me in the living room?"

As Savannah grabbed the plates filled with pasta, bread and salad, Steve walked to the fridge and took out the six pack of beers, and with Axyl following behind him, he walked into the living room where Savannah was taking out a DVD form the entertainment cabinet.

"It's just me usually, so I hope you don't mind eating here." She pointed to the coffee table where the plates were sitting.

"I'm just thankful I have company."

Savannah grabbed the remote, then headed to the couch, where she sat on the floor, her back resting against it, and Steve followed her lead. "So, I hope you like old black and whites. My Grandpa loved 'em."

"Yeah," Steve slid her a smirk, then took a sip of his beer, wondering if he should tell her who he was. The picture he found downstairs unnerved him and he wasn't sure if she'd be angry if she knew the truth of who he was.

"The Big Sleep. Pops favorite. He always joked with me that I was born in the wrong era." She hit play, then turned her head to see Steve was looking at her. "What?"

Steve had been thinking how strange it was, of all places, to be in this small town, in the remote part of Washington's forest, and find himself in the company of a woman who's turbulent past, had involved him.

"Nothing." He shook his head, took a sip of his beer and tried to focus on the movie."

After that, it was pretty awkward between the two of them, each not sure how to break the uncomfortable silence.

Until half way into the movie, Axyl lifted his head off the floor, cocked his head and let out a loud bark, and then a growl. Savannah felt the prickles along her scalp as she recognized that bark.

Someone was coming that Axyl did not like.

Savannah got up from the couch and walked to the window, and pulled back the yellow lace curtains. She sighed as she saw the green and white patrol car pull into the snow lined driveway.

"Damn him." She muttered. She turned to Steve, while grabbing the green parka hanging by the door. "Don't let Axyl out."

By the time she stepped out onto the snowy porch, and closed the door behind her, James was stepping out of his patrol car.

"I'm not some helpless widow who needs to be checked on." She hugged the parka tighter against her.

"You need to know who your house guest is Savannah. For your safety."

"For my safety? Or because of your jealousy." She challenged him.

"Savannah, you can't stand there and till me you don't think somethings off about him?" He was satisfied at her lack of response. "I came out here to give you this." He reached into the inner pocket of his brown coat, and pulled out a Manila sized envelope. You have a right to know who's under your roof. And Savannah, were ever he goes, death and destruction follow. Good evening." He tipped his hat, got back in the cruiser and backed out of the driveway.

As her heart thudded painfully against her ribs, Savannah watched the tail lights crest over the hill, then disappeared. With shaking hands, she opened the envelope, reached inside and took out a photo. As she looked at the photo, she clasped a hand to her mouth.

"No."

Steve couldn't hear what was being said outside, but he could hear Savannah's raised voice, and she sounded very angry. Axyl let out a whine, walked over to where Steve was, plopped on his side, and let out a sigh as Steve ruffled his fingers in the black fur.

Five minutes later, the door opened, so Steve looked up and saw her eyes were red. "Savannah?"

"I wanna know something Steve. And I want the fuckin truth." She threw the envelope at him, and the picture tumbled to the floor. "Is that you?"

Steve looked at Savannah for a few seconds, wondering where this anger was coming from. Then, he looked down at the photo and felt his heart drop.

Savannah," Steve held up his hands and slowly got up from the floor. "I can explain."

"Where you not going to tell me? Huh? Just go around pretending that this isn't you?"

"I've been through hell, Savannah." He kept his hands up. "I needed to get away from it all. Start over. Start a new life. I-i was going to tell you, I was."

Savannah felt her lip tremble, then she looked at the photo on the floor. "I need some time."

She turned from Steve, and without saying a word, she closed the door behind her, Axyl hot on her heels.