Even through the layers of heavy clothing, the freezing cold seeped into my body. As I stood in the sub-artic tundra of Kazakhstan with my weapon drawn, the last soldier emerged from the hidden tent in the camp where we had been held up waiting for transport to get us of out of this country. The chopper had landed and in my haste, to board, I had become sloppy. This was the first time I was lead a search and recover assignment. I had missed the pack of barking Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs that caught onto our trail and were now closing in on us.

I drew my weapon and fired a shot hoping to hold off the vicious canines. My team was able to make it to the chopper. Heavy booted footsteps could be heard closing in on our location. I sprinted in an attempt to make my own escape to the copter. Just feet away from the helicopter two of the dogs attacked my arm dragging me to the ground. I struggled to free myself while yelling for our sniper to take a shot, hoping he could hear me over all the noise. A man in Kazakhstani military fatigues towered over me with the butt of a rifle careening violently toward my head. I managed to get off another shot before I lost consciousness.

"STAND DOWN SANTOS! DROP THE GUN ! STAND DOWN SOLDIER!"

I wasn't in Kazakhstan, but my weapon was in my hand. Light flooded through the window and I could now see that I was inside a home. Where ? I did not know ?

"Lower your weapon !" an authoritative voice demanded. Even in the poorly lit room, I could see the nickel plated 9mm pointed at my head. Disoriented and confuse , I slowly lowered my gun. The bedroom light switched on and Claudia's face came into view. She kept her weapon trained on me as she slowly approached. Gently Claudia eased the gun from my hand before lowering her own.

My entire body was shaking as I stood barefoot in her guest room wearing only my boxers briefs.

"Lester ? you alright ?"

Wordlessly I nodded, still trying to comprehend the situation.

"I'll be right back," she whispered before leaving the room, taking my gun with her.

When she left the room I picked up my pants from a nearby chair and started to get dressed.

"Slow down Santos. Where do think you're going?"

"Home,before someone gets hurt. I should not be here Claudia!"

"Why not it's late , nothing wrong with you sleeping in my guest room , she said gently."

"I could have shot you, Claudia !"

"No, I was nowhere near you when you let off those rounds." "I know better than to run into gunfire, Lester."

"Accidents happen. What if ..."

"It's alright Lester,just calm down," she told me as she sat down on the bed.

I ignored her as I continued to look for my key.

"You're not going anywhere Santos. You are in no condition to drive. Look at yourself. You're shaking."

"I need to go home, Claudia!"

"Your keys are in the gun safe."

I stopped and stared at Claudia before resigning , then flopped down on the bed beside her.

"You are shaking Les." "Come on get back into bed," she said pulling me by my arm.

"You don't want me here Claudia, I'm a dangerous man" I told her as I inhaled the smell of gun powder that wafted through the air.

"In case you forgot I work with a building full of dangerous men." "It's ,late now lay down and go to sleep", Claudia said as she turned off the light then settled in next to me under the covers.

"Hey! What are doing?", I said jumping out of the bed on the other side.

"Seriously Santos ?" I'm trying to get some sleep."

"In here? With me?"

"Yes , you got a problem with that then go home. Oh right, I have your keys."

I stood there in the dark weighing my options, then I got into bed next to her.

"About time, big baby," Claudia yawned.

I woke up two more times that night, yelling at the Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs from Kazakhstan. Screaming for help. Twice Claudia soothed me back to sleep. The blazing sunlight that glared through the windows roused me from my deep slumber. Much to my disappointment, my sleeping companion was gone. There were a towel , washcloth and a few toiletries neatly stacked on the bedside table. After I got cleaned up I went looking for my clothes. They were nowhere to be found , not even the boxer I had slept in. Claudia must have come in and retrieved them while I was in the shower. I wrapped the towel around my waist and went to search for her.

Claudia was lounging against the kitchen counter while chatting on the phone. The clock on the wall behind her told me it was almost 1:30 P.M.

"You should have woken me up , It's late."

Claudia turned pointed at the phone then walked to the far end of the kitchen. She took a plate from the refrigerator, then put in the microwave. Claudia continued her conversation and gave me a friendly wave. When the microwave beeped, she took the plate out and set it on the counter. She gestured to the plate and the silverware next to it.

"My clothes. Can I have them back ?"

"Shhh!" she said covering the phone.

"Can I have my clothes back ?"I whispered.

Claudia pointed to the plate.

"I need to get dressed," I said quietly.

"Huh, no one Hector!" she said."What are you talking about?" "Who?" No, that was the television. Facetime with you , now? No, I can't I'm busy. Of course not, don't be crazy Hector, she pleaded. NO, don't tell them that !"

I listened to her trying to reassure Hector of something. All I wanted to know was where I could find my jockey briefs. I walked up to Claudia and dropped my towel. Her eyes scanned my body and a smirk appeared on her face and mischief in her eyes.

"Nice, real Nice, but now is not a good time," she said talking to both of us. Then she covered the phone and said , "Your food is getting cold." Claudia picked up my towel and tossed it to back to me.

I wrapped the towel around my waist and sat down to eat. As I ate I watched Claudia playfully chat with Hector on the phone and felt a tinge of jealousy.

"What's with the frown Santos ?" , she asked after hanging up the phone.

"So you and him an item , I know he is not your source."

Claudia let out a bark of laughter then strolled over to me and flicked my ear hard. "Next time I'm on the phone be quiet !" He heard your voice and started asking questions. If I get a call or a visit from my... source , I'm going to kill you.

"Understood, but you still didn't answer my question."

"Do I act like I have a man?"

"No, but you two seemed really chummy on the phone."

"Hector is a good friend. When I was in Trenton visiting my... source, had concert tickets. Hector took me out and showed me around Jersey so I would not be stuck sitting in the house alone. What's wrong Les you jealous , you catching feeling for me ?'' she asked playfully.

"A little and Yes," I answered. The dryer buzzed. Claudia smiled then turned on her heels and walked out of the room. When she returned she was carrying a neatly fold pile my clothing. Resting on top were my wallet and keys. I looked at the pile then looked at Claudia. Our eyes locked.

"Something is missing," I said.

Les, I can't give that back to you. It's not safe to send you out of here with a gun , you know that right."

"yeah."

Then Claudia pulled a post- it out of her back pocket with a phone number and a name scrawled on it. She sat down next to me.

"A few years back I did two tours in Iraq. By the time I came back from my last deployment I was a mess ! I was driving my family crazy in Miami so I went up to Trenton to visit my ..., someone very dear to me. It was suggested that I talk to some of the men at RangeMan. They convinced me that I needed help to deal with my issues left over from Iraq. That's the number to the place I went to get my head together. I called and they said they can take you right away. All you have to do is confirm your reservation ,"she said as held out the phone for me take.

I looked at her and then the phone then at the post-it. My hands started to shake as I reached for the phone. Claudia took my other hand in hers and gave me a reassuring smile as I dialed.