Humming softly beneath her breath, Amethyst several thick slices of bread, wih a serrated knife, then liberally spread one of them with creamy yellow butter. As he watched is melt, Kai could feel his mouth watering.

She put the bowls and the basket of bread on the table, she's set earlier. From the way he'd been staring at the food, Amethyst expected he'd immediately sit down and begin wolfingit down. Instead he stunned her by pulling out her chair.

They ate in silence for a time, Kai's attention was directed solely on his meal, while Amethyst watched him from beneath lowered lashes as her her own dinner.

"You're not a bad cook" He said after a while.

"Thank you" she smiled accross the table at him, wondering what he'd say if she'd told him that she'd once cooked dinner for Julius Ceasar.

"where'd you get the flowers?"

She'd put the arrangement of red and white carnations and holly in the centerof the table after cleaning of what had appeared to be months of newspapers.

"I found them in the grocery store. I thought they're add a little holiday spirit"

"Holiday?"

"You know. Christmas?"

"Oh, yeah"

His disinterest was easy to understand, she thought. Obviously, he wouldn't be looking forward to a season that celebrated family and the hope a baby brought into the world.

"I can take them away" She offered "If you don't like them"

"I don't care one way or another/ BUT I supposed you expect me to reimburse you for them too"

The temper that Amethyst had not known she possessed flared again. "Do you know" She said pointing her spoon at him "it's one thing to suffer a loss. I can understand how might not feel like being overly cheerful after the year you've had,. However, that is no excuse for ill manners"

His eyes narrowed, and pinned her with a cold, deadly look. "What the hell do you knowabout the year I've had?"

"well, it isn't exactly a secret" She replied. Actually, from what she'd readof the case in the file, that had magically appeared on the table beside her conjured-up bag, the death of Kai's married lover -whose husband had been reported to be the republican's great hope to regain the white house- had made headlines all over the world.

"Anyone ever tell you you're the master of understatement?" He said dryly. He'd been reaching for his beer but now his fist curled on the top of the table. "Hell they probably know about Laura's murder on mars"

He flinched as he said his sweethearts name and Amethyst's irritation was replaced by compassion. Allowing her heart to rule her head she reached over and placed her hand gently on his, covering his balled up fist.

"I'm sorry"

"You didn't kill her" he muttered

"No. But I wish I could bring her back for you"

He laughed at that, but the cold, wintery sound of it chilled her blood. "you and me both, Baby"

It was not often Amethyst allowed down to earth and when she was usually one of things she looked forward to the most was the amazing variety of foodshe was able to prepare and enjoy. But a dismal mood had settled over the room, like a depressing, wet gray fog. The stew had suddenly lost it's appeal and the bread now tasted like ashes in her mouth.

It did not escape her attention that Kai, too, seemed to have lost his appetite. He polished off the beer, went over to the refrigerator for another, then seemed to reconsider. He shut the door and instead pulled down a new bottle of vodka from the cupboard next to the stove.

"I'm not certain you should do that" she said quietly.

"what did you say your name was?" He snapped "Jimminy Cricket?"

"It's Amethyst" She said ignoring that concious crack. "And I was only suggesting that if you intend to drive me back down that twisting road to town, perhaps you should refrain from drinking any more alcohol" She had no intention of leaving, of course, but that wasn't the point at the moment.

"Now you sound like a public service advert" He tore the seal and unscrewed the cap. "Friends don't let friends drive drunk, isn't that how it goes?"

Although there was a rack of glasses beside him, he ignored them and took a swig directly from the bottle. While he swallowed, he kept his eyes on hers in what Amethyst understaood to be a challenge.

"Actually I'm amazed you have any friends left" She murmured

The vidka burned in a soothing, familiar sort of way. Soon, with any luck, not only would he not be able to drive, he wouldn't be able to think. To remember.

"My friends, or lack of them, aren't any of your business"

"True. But although I've been called reckless in my time, I'm not stupid enough to get into a truck with a man who's been drinking"

Unfortunately, she had a point. He had enough guilt on his conscience as it was. There was no way he wanted to risk killing this woman whose only crime had been to clean his house, cook him the best meal he'd had in months, hell perhaps ever, and still somehow manage to be a royal pain in the ass.

"I'll make you a deal"

"What?" She folded her arms across the front of her scarlet sweater embroidered with a trio of black scotties wearing plaid hair bows that matched her short skirt. The motion drew his attention to her breasts which, although not voluptuous, filled the sweater out nicely.

"I'll drink however much I want. But I'll give you the keys to the truck and you can drive yourself back to town."

"Then how will you get it back again?"

He shrugged. "Don't worry about that. I'll figure out a way"

"When you're sober"

He heard the censure in her tone and didn't like it."Yeah" He took another swig "When I'm sober"

Becoming more frustrated by the moment, Amethystdecided if Kai kept behaving like a bratty two year old, she was going to forget she'd ever felt sorry for him. "And when do you think that will be?" She asked. "sometime in the next millenium?"

His laugh was short and mirthless. "Anyone ever tell you you've got a smart mouth?"

"Anyone ever tell you that you're not the first person to lose someone you love?"

The accusation, which had flown off the tip of her tongue in frustration, scored a direct hit. She watched as a cold shadow moved over his crimson eyes and a muscle began to twitch in his cheek.

"Bulls-eye" he murmured.

They stood, a few feet apart staring at other. Amethyst wished she could take the incautious words back. She sighed feeling sorry that she'd wounded him, and guilty, that she was more concerned that he'd send her away, blowing her chance to remain in the romance ranks.

"I'm sorry" She murmured "I had no right to say that"

He shrugged "you don't have to apologise for speaking your mind. And you're right. I'm not the first man to lose the woman he loved. And I won't be the last"

"No. But that doesn't make it hurt any less"

"It's not going to work" He growled the brief truce suddenly broken again.

"What?"

Yeah, that nagging little voice in the back of his mind echoed, what the hell are you complaining about? Do you have a problem with the idea that a kind, seemingly generous, beautiful woman might actually give a damn wether or not you live or die? Kai ignored the faint voice of reason. AS he had for months.

"The sweetness and light routine" Hr said gruffly. "You could be freaking Mary Poppins and I still wouldn'tbe in the market for a housekeeper." He took another long drink, feeling a bit like a rebellious teenager daring his parents to ground him for bad behaviour.

Amethyst understood his defiance and refused to play along. While she was trying to figure out her next move, he dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a roll of money which he held out to her.

"Is this enough?" he cursed when he recieved a blank look in return. "For the damn groceries. And your work."

She didn't count it, but since there was a hundred bill on top, she suspected it was more than generous. "Yes but-"

"Then thats it"

Kai was not normally rude, although admittedly even before Laura's murder he wouldn't have won any contests for Whiskey River's Mr. Congeniality. But there was something about this woman - an indefinable something that disturbed him more than he care to admit.

Determined to get her out of his hosue, he dug down into the pocket again and pulled out a set of keys. "Here. The trucks parked int he driveway. It's all yours"

"How do you know I won't just keep the truck?"

"What makes you think I give a damn?" He reached out, grabbed her hand, stuck the keys in it and then closed her fingers. "Go away whatever your name is-"

"Amethyst" She reminded him in a voice that was almost a whisper.

"Go away Amethyst. Theres nothing for you here"

Before she could argue further he put his arm around her shoulder and practically pushed her out kitchen door.

"I can't drive a truck"

"Don't worry it's a automatic. All you have to do is put it in drive and steer"

So much for that no other choice. Amethyst blinked and in her mind's eye watcjed the far side rear tire go flat.

"Is there something wrong with that tire?" She asked innocently

The mercury-vapor light on the side of the nearby garage cast a wide yellow glow that illuminated the tire she'd flattened. He followed her gaze and cursed ripely.

"Wait here. I'll get the spare."

That's what he thought. Another blink caused a entire string of curses.

"What's the matter?"

"The spares flat too"

"Oh dear"

Even though the comforting alcohol fog was beginning to settle over his brain once more, Kai thought he detected a insincere note in her calm tone.

He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt, lit one, and puffed thoughtfully as he submitted her to a long look. Her expression was one of absolute innocence but there was something not quite right, something he couldn't put his finger on that kept him from trusting her,

"You realise, of course, theres no way you're going to get downt hat mountain tonight"

Yiu don't have another spare?"

"no I'll have to fix this one in the morning"

"I'm sorry if I'm being a inconvience"

Kai knew, with every fiber of his being, that she was no sorry. Hwoever, he decidedthere was no point in calling her a liar. He'd simply let her spend the night then send her the hell on her way in the morning.

He cursed again. Then he turned and strode back towards the house. Trying to keep the smile of satisfaction of her face, Amethyst Followed him back into the kitchen.

"I don't suppose you happened to bring some clothes with you when you came to apply for that job that doesn't exist?"

"Actually I did"

He shook his head. "Why doesn't that surprise me? the bathrooms at the top of the stairs. The spare bedroom is the first door on the left."

"Thank you-"

"Just don't get too comfortable" He snarled "Because you'll be leaving in thee morning"

"I've always heard about western hospitality"Amethyst felt as she felt her temper beginning to simmer again "But it's so illuminating to see it in action"

"I never invited you here in the first place" He reminded her "So techincally, you're not a guest"

"Point taken" She eyed the bottle he'd picked up again "Why don't I make some coffee before I do the dishes?" She suggested.

"I don't want any damn coffee. As for the dishes, leave them"

"But-"

"look, Lady-"

"Amethyst" She reminded him helpfully.

"Look Amethyst, the dinner was great. Better than great. It was world class. And you seem a very nice woman. You're also kind of cute, and, as a bonus, you smell real good too. In fact I'm sure, under other circumstances, you'd be real dandy company.

"But you have to understand that I've had about all the conversation I can handle for one night. And right now, if you don't mind, I'd just like to be left alone"

Deciding that having won the evening skirmish, she could tackle the war in the morning Amethyst decided to do as he asked.

"Of course" She agreed mildly.

Kai followed her into the living room, where she picked up a large overnight bag he could of sworn hadn't been there when he'd come though the room on the way to the kitchen earlier.

Deciding he was definately losing it, Kai went into the living room, where he sat in the dark, with only his new best friend, Vodka for company and proceeded to get quietly and desperately drunk.