He'd been leaning against the doorframe and watching the young woman burrow through her meager possessions with shaking hands for a short while. He'd hurried back to the house when Andrea called him. His heart was still pounding.

Alviarin was pale, but at least the deep dark circles under her eyes had diminished. It had been a good night's sleep, even if enforced. Her hair, her glorious, shining dark mane, was a matte mess, roughly caught in a heavy braid. He didn't know if she'd consciously waited until the children were at school. Either way, they were alone in the house.

"Alvi, stop. Talk to me."

"I can't. I… my head is a mess. Tom, I think I need a break. I need to… to… Gods, I-"

"Stop. This is not healthy. You're not well, physically or psychically. Please, talk to me, or to somebody else. You're wound…" he reached out a hand.

She moved away, even though he was nowhere near her. "My head is fine. I need to get out, away from people, away from the town. I need…"

He couldn't lock her up.

"Alviarin. I don't want to find your frozen corpse in the native ruins somewhere. Please. We'll give you space – I can give you space… But don't…" Don't run off.

"You still haven't asked why I didn't tell you about the codes, the secrets. Or did Mike tell you the filtered version?"

"Then tell me, talk to me! We were at this point before, remember? You're first response doesn't have to be flight! I want to know what's in your mind!" He shouldn't raise his voice.

"I didn't tell you because I don't trust Mitchener. Because I didn't trust you… to, to differentiate between… between duty and me. That you wouldn't trust my actions … because of Rachel, because I don't… I'm not… one of you. My trust in my former supervisor, my allegiance to him, my common sense. I thought you would have to put duty ahead of everything. I could not risk that, not knowing exactly what I was risking."

All old issues, he frowned inwardly. She was elaborating on empty words. Why would she not let him in?

"See, I put everything on the line, us, everything. I forgot, didn't put enough weight behind the conversation… And for what? – for… for what." Utter hopelessness. "I did this to myself. I have to leave."

"Then let it be for now only. Come back by nightfall. We'll talk about this."

"Tom… I- I might be putting you in danger. The kids."

"How." His voice was hard.

"The whole room was waiting for Mike to drop the question. What else might be in this head of mine, knowingly or unknowingly. Why didn't I come forward. The whole connection might revive the old suspicion against the government. Might undermine everything you've built so far. I thought… I thought I acted with thought, but it backfired completely. My uncle…" her expression tore at his heart.

"Alvi, you've just had the floor pulled out from under you. You need-"

"I need air! I need the woods. I can't deal… and you shouldn't have to. I'm taking myself-"

But Tom was done. "No. As the military commander I'm telling you to take a walk, and be back by nightfall. That gives you eight hours. If you don't give me your word, I'll send a tail after you. We don't have enough resources for a search party."

She stared.

"You can't force me…"

"As … as your lover, I'm asking you for trust. Come back. Let me be here for you. Please."

Ah, there was that lovely, lost, wondrous look. He had reached her.

"… my lover…"

She turned away from him. Her hands curled into fists at her side, her shoulders rose. "Tom, you'll never be just my love-"

No, he wasn't having this conversation, not the way they were both wound up. "Take it or leave it, love. Eight hours."

The look she gave him when she finally turned around spoke of a maelstrom of emotions. But she nodded finally.