Red woke up when he felt the bed next to him dip. He knew right away what was happening. Carefully, quietly, and quickly Cass was extracting herself from his bed and the room. Well if that is was what she needed to do to feel better about the situation he was not going to interfere. There was no shame in her need for companionship to feel safe enough to sleep, but he understood that most people didn't think the way he did. Why should he make it more difficult for her. He was a little uncomfortable when his brain decided to remind him that he was also sleeping better with her there too. He always slept better with a woman in his bed. He had just always assumed it was due to the sex beforehand… apparently not.

When Red woke up in the morning, or night, he was up for the day. Today he stayed abed for another 20 minutes. He wanted to give her time; she had tried to leave the bed so carefully that it seemed a shame to let her know that she had woken him up. When he did finally leave the room, he was showered, dressed, and ready for the day.

It was the smell of breakfast cooking that greeted him downstairs. Making his way to the kitchen, he saw her there, still in her silk pajamas, dancing at the stove as she cooked.

"Morning." She greeted him with a big smile. She didn't seem embarrassed or ashamed about last night; in fact she seemed relaxed, and well rested for the first time in days.

"Sleep well?" He smiled back at her as he sat down at the island counter.

"Very," she half turned, full of energy, "as you well know."

Even though he could not see her face, he could hear her smile; a smile that was not there when she finally turned to face him. Instead she looked concern.

"I…" She struggled to find the words she needed. "I'm sorry about last night." He didn't say anything. "I know it's weird… I mean… I don't really know you… but then again, it's not like it's the first time we've slept…"

He could see she was spinning, so I held up his hand to stop her.

"Have you been sleeping these past few nights?" He asked in his most reasonable tone. A tone he was not used to using. He normally liked to make the people he was questioning feel nervous… or idiotic.

"No." She admitted.

"Did you sleep well last night?" He continued.

"Yes." She didn't even hesitate.

"Why did you come to my room last night?"

"Because the last time I slept… a proper night sleep… was that first night. I tried having other noises in the room: a ticking clock, the radio. They didn't work."

"Well there you go then." He smiled at her, returning to his playful criminal persona. "You need sleep. You only sleep when I am there. I am happy to be of service." He gave her a little wink that made her laugh.

"I'm sure it's such a hardship for you." She teased, before getting serious again. "But that fact is that despite our… past… we don't actually know each other that well."

He got serious as well: "I know you well enough."

"Now that makes me nervous."

She might be nervous, but as she said it she brought breakfast over to the table and laid it down. She was not scared, just cautious; a trait he could appreciate, so he decided to change the topic.

"Where is Dembe? It is not like him to miss breakfast."

"Oh he just left before you arrived; said he wanted to take a walk."

Ah, so Dembe was doing a safety sweep. There was no need to worry Cass about the protective detail he had surrounding himself… and now her… he was glad Dembe felt the same way.

"What are you plans for today?" She asked as the two ate.

"I have a few meetings," he vaguely stated, "but they should not take long."

"OK." She remained silent after that. He could tell she had asked for a reason, but she didn't seem to want to elaborate on it.

"Was there something you wanted to do?" Sometimes the blunt approach was the best.

"Actually, yea. I was kind of hoping I could go shopping… for clothes." She quickly jumped to defend her request, before he even had time to think about it. "Not that I am not thankful for clothes that Liz and Dembe already got me, but they are not really… well… me." As she said this, she pointed down to her silk PJs. "I was also hoping to get some more… fitted… underclothes."

She looked embarrassed by the need for bras and panties. It was cute. He had slept next to her many times, three times in the same bed. He had even seen her in a bathing suit, but she still blushed when she mentioned 'underclothes'.

"Of course. Sounds like a blast."

Shopping was one of his many indulgences; he was starting to really look forward to the day ahead.