Hey guys! Than ks for all the great compliments! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I didn't get a chance to write much today, but I did manage this. I hope you enjoy!

They were lowered in one of those baskets you see when the coast guard rescues people. Hannibal, Face and Aria went first, with all the luggage. Then, Murdock loaded B.A. onto the floor of the basket, and followed. It took about 20 minutes in all, and Aria was shocked it didn't take them longer. She thought they would parachute down or something with the level of danger they were involved in, why not up the stakes with parachuting?

When they were finished unloading all the supplies, and B.A., they all decided to call it a night. They had been given three rooms, and basically run of the ship, until they docked. Aria picked one meant for one of the higher officers, meaning it had only one bed. She dumped her bag on the bed, rubbing her neck, the muscles sore and achy. There was a knock at her door.

"Coming." She walked over to it, the knocking becoming louder. She opened it. "Yes?"

Murdock stood right outside her door with his own bag, a hapless expression on his face. He gave her a crooked grin.

"Uhm. There's only one bed in the other room."

"There's only one bed here." She informed him.

"Well, I'm going to have to share with someone, and I really rather sleep by you than B.A. He might try and kill me while I'm sleeping." He leaned in to whisper to her. She laughed.

"Ha-ha. Alright, I guess you can spend the night." Aria opened the door all the way, allowing Murdock to come in.

"This is gonna be fun!" He squealed like a little girl. Aria laughed.

"I haven't had a sleepover since college." She said as she walked over to her bags. It was bed time.

"College?"

"When my roommate or a friend's roommate wasn't there, we'd have sleepovers in each other's dorm room. It was a lot of fun." She told him. "Now, I need to change. I've had a long couple of days and an uninterrupted night's sleep is just what I need."

"Uh, what'd you want me to do?" Murdock asked, that same crooked grin on his face.

"You can turn around. I've gotten dressed in front of guys before, no big deal." She glanced back at him. "College."

"Ah..." He turned around, closing his eyes. He desperately wanted to peek, but he would respect her privacy.

"All right, all done."

She walked over with the outfit Face had gotten her in her hands. She had on a large button-up shirt and a pair of pajama shorts on. Her hair flowed in those gorgeous curls

, framing her face like an angel's. Her make-up was still on, but she pulled out a wipe when she got to her bag. After all the make-up was gone, she looked even more beautiful to Murdock. He shook his head, ridding himself of the image for just a second.

"My turn!" He jumped off the bed, grabbing his bag off of it. He rummaged through it and found what he was looking for. "No peeking." Aria laughed. "Seriously! Turn around." He spun his pointer finger around.

"Okay! Okay..." She turned around and closed her eyes.

"Alright! All done! You can turn around again."

Aria opened her eyes to see Murdock in a pair of pajama pants and that was all. His chest was muscular, but not to the point of excess. He had scars, all over his chest and back. His hair was messed up, just the way she liked it. He walked over to her, and he seemed...nervous.

"Ready for bed?" she asked him, turning down the covers. The bed wasn't the largest in the world, but it would comfortably fit two.

"Yeah!"

"Do you want inside, or out?" The bed was situated against the wall, a small circular window above it.

"Uhm..outside, please." He replied as he turned off the lights, the moonlight streaming in through the window.

"Yeah! I wanted inside anyway!" Aria climbed into the bed, the cool cotton of the sheets shocking her for a second. After a minute, her body heat warmed them up. Murdock looked at the bed for a second, lost in a memory. "Murdock, are you coming?" She held the covers open for him to slide right in.

"Uh..." He still just stood there.

"Hey, are you ok?" She sat up on her knees to be more level with him.

"I, uh, I don't know if this is such a good idea anymore." He started to back away from the bed. Aria reached out and grabbed his hand, suddenly very worried.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"The voices. I don't want them near you. I don't know what I'll do while I'm asleep. I don't want to hurt you." He looked at her, his blue eyes full of fear.

"Murdock, it's alright, sweetheart. You won't hurt me. Come to bed. I'll protect you, I promise."

He slowly let her pull him towards the bed. He was reluctant at first, but gave way, trusting her that everything would be fine. The sheets were warm against his skin thanks to Aria's body heat warming them up. He lay down, letting Aria slip under his arm and onto his chest, her hair tickling him. Her fingers found a scar, tracing it lightly.

"Where'd you get that?" Her voice was soft in the dark.

"B.A. and I were in Turkey, trying to get top secret blue prints from a military leader. We got caught in his moat, and one of his booby traps got me."

"What was it?" Aria was completely wrapped up in the tale.

"A big metal spike."

"Ouch!"

So they went on like that, Aria finding a scar, and Murdock telling her how he got it. After a while, the words came farther and farther apart, until Aria was fast asleep. Murdock was close behind, his fears long forgotten. He held Aria tight, the moon shining in on them. She snuggled up to him making a cute, little sound. He fell asleep thinking he was in Heaven and it smelled of vanilla.

In the middle of the night, he woke up. The voices were screaming at him. He was covered in a cold sweat and his breathing was fast and shallow. Murdock was confused as to where he was, what he was doing for a second. A sound made him look at the bed he was on. Aria was starting to sit up, her hair making a sort of halo around her.

"What's wrong?" She asked sleepily.

"I had a nightmare is all." He looked away, sliding out from the covers. He put his head in his hands on his knees.

"Wanna tell me?" She sat up and put her hand on his shoulder. It was warm and smooth.

"I, I don't know."

"I won't judge you. My mom would make me tell her about my nightmare when I was little, and it made me feel better because she helped me realize there was nothing to be afraid of." He sighed.

"I never had a mom." Aria put her hands on his shoulder, rubbing them.

"Honey. I'm sorry. Do you want to tell me about your nightmare?"

"I, uh, I- I was in the desert again, the boys surrounded me. They kept pushing me, and yelling at me. Screaming and yelling. I tried to get away, but I couldn't. Then, then-" he didn't know if he could finish. This part of his nightmare could change everything.

"Go on, sweetheart."

"Then I saw you. I tried to run over to you, but the boys held me back, forming a circle around me. You were sinking in quick sand and there was nothing I could do to save you." He turned his head to look at her. He couldn't tell her that the boys had said he didn't deserve her, Never would and that he was insane for thinking any sane woman would want him.

"I'm right here. See?" She picked up one of his hands and put it on her cheek. "I'm here and I'm fine. We're on a ship, heading for L.A. It's all ok, Murdock. I told you I'd protect you, and I am. Come on. Let's go back to sleep."

She pulled him into the bed, the covers warming back up. Aria snuggled up to him again, and fell asleep. Murdock just hoped she'd keep her promise.