"Come here." Nick whispered as everyone left the small office except himself and Zoe. He held out his arms, a smile dancing on his lips. "It is good to see you." He breathed as she got to her feet. Zoe flung herself against his chest, her arms wrapping around him as though she'd never let go. As Nick's arms enclosed her and he placed a kiss to the top of her head, every emotion that had been held in check flooded through her and she burst into tears. Nick held her close, his hands circling on her back, soothing, calming.
"I'm sorry Nick." She sniffed. "I never meant..."
"It's ok." He whispered nuzzling her ear. "You weren't to know how bad things were here, we'll work it out."
"But..." Zoe lifted her head from his chest, looking up at him. "I put you in danger."
"And you saved that man's life on the operating table." He spoke slowly, calmly. "The locals are learning fast, but there are some things that only experience can provide, they've still got a lot to learn." He kissed her forehead. "Lets sit down." He suggested, pulling up a chair then guiding Zoe to sit on his knee, he wrapped his arms firmly about her. "It's not the first time we've had to leave the locals holding the fort whilst we dash out of theatre and hide from the enemy. They might have turned up even if you hadn't." He rubbed the tip of his nose against her cheek. "For all the trouble you cause me Zoe Hanna, I wouldn't have it any other way." His arms tightened about her and he kissed her lips gently.
"Nick." Zoe breathed, wrapping her arms about his neck, raking her fingers through his untidy hair, kissing him forcefully giving in to the surge of desperate need that flooded through her entire body. She slid one hand across his shoulder, pulling back his unfamiliar Afghan jacket, sliding it down his arm as if to remove it. He broke the kiss suddenly.
"Zoe." Nick's voice had a warning note in its tone, his hand captured hers and held it to his chest against the slightly rough shirt he wore. "Much as I want to ravish you right now, we can't, not here." His eyes flicked from her face to the open doorway of the office, which lacked any form of door. "Save it for later." He pleaded. Zoe nodded, surprised at the voracity of her body's reaction to him. "I hope you're not really married to that Indian Doctor, are you?" He asked praying that she had no idea how much it had hurt him to hear Makul say those words.
"He's my cousin." Zoe told him with a light laugh. "I borrowed his wife's passport to get across the borders."
"Thank goodness for that." Nick sighed though he never doubted that Makul's words were a lie, the confirmation of his guess was a huge relief, accompanied by a second wave of relief that Zoe had at least made some effort to protect her western identity. He kissed her softly. "I guess we'd better get you settled in here then."