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Chapter 55 - Doctor Thomas Webber

Arles, sweaty from the football match, popped into the hallway outside of Kelly's flat. The air conditioning after being on the hot pitch, made him momentarily lose his breath. Goosebumps formed on his skin.

He knocked on her door. He rocked on his feet and after a few seconds, Kelly answered, immediately groaned, and covered her face. "Oh, God! You would have to see me like this!"

She held a small cloth to her head and it appeared to be bleeding.

Arles didn't wait for an invitation into her flat. He quickly came in and closed the door. "Who did this?"

"No one." She groaned, "Well, me."

He stood in front of her and looked at the cloth she held on her head, "What does that mean?"

She took her cloth from her head and he saw where it was still bleeding. "It means-"

He quickly took the cloth and put it back on her head. "Come sit down."

She hopped and he immediately put his hands on her arms to make her stop. "What is this?"

He looked down and noticed she wasn't wearing a shoe on one foot. He picked her up and took her to the sofa. He sat her down and looked her over. "Okay. Start explaining how this happened."

She had been crying. "I was getting out of my car. Downstairs."

He looked at her foot and quickly took a pillow from the edge of the sofa. He put it under her foot as she spoke.

"I stepped off of the sidewalk. I was carrying some bags from the store-"

Arles was looking at her ankle and gently moving it, "And probably carrying too much."

She groaned and covered her face, "I was. And completely misjudged my step when I was walking to the elevator and - AW!"

She had jumped when Arles had moved her foot a certain way.

He grit his teeth, "Sorry. So, you stepped off of the curve?"

"Yes. And twisted my ankle. I fell into the wall. I hit my head on that brick wall. The security guard ran over and helped me up here."

He took her hands and looked at them. They were all cut up. "Oh, you've done a great job with this."

She wiped her eyes. "I called Dad, but he couldn't come to the phone. I really didn't think you would come-"

He gently placed her foot back on the pillow. "When someone sends me a text and it simply says, 'Help. I think I've broken something.' I always run. This isn't broken. But, you don't need to walk on it."

She groaned as she sat back on the sofa. "I feel so stupid."

He shook his head. "You're tired. I shouldn't have kept you up so late last night."

"I don't think that's it-"

"I do."

"Well, damn it. You're only here for a few more days and then you have to go back to New York!"

He took her hand and sighed. "Kelly-"

"I'm sorry. I really don't know where that came from-"

"You're tired. It's alright."

"I just…." She started, "I just am really enjoying you being here."

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. When he rose up, he looked into her eyes and smiled.

She returned his smile and took his hand. "Arles. I'm sorry-"

He stood up and went over to the refrigerator. "There's no reason to be sorry."

He opened the freezer and walked back over to her with a bag of frozen corn. She covered her face as he gently laid it on her ankle.

"There. That should help the swelling then." He told her quietly.

She closed her eyes tightly and relaxed as her ankle stopped throbbing for the first time since everything had happened.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes to find he wasn't there. "Arles?"

He stepped back into the sitting room with a wet towel in his hands. He sat on the table beside of her and cleaned off her head. "Oh, this isn't bad."

"Feels like it is."

He moved to sit next to her on the sofa. "You said you hit your head?"

"Yeah." She told him. "That brick wall down there."

"Let me look at your eyes."

He leaned in closer to her to look into her eyes.

"Why?"

He continued to look at her eyes and spoke slowly, "To see if you have a concussion."

His icy blue eyes seemed to look deep into her soul. She loved being this close to him.

He asked as he put his hand on the side of her head and looked closer, "Headache? Light bother you?"

"Are you finding something you're concerned with?"

He grinned, "No. Just want to make sure you're alright."

"No. None of that. It just…hurt."

He looked back at the wound, and then back to her eyes again. "Yeah, I imagine so."

She smiled, "You have such pretty eyes. Like your Mom or your Dad's?"

"Blue. Like my mother's. Or so I'm told."

"Or so you're told? Have you never noticed your mother's eyes?"

He shook his head. "Never seen them."

"Oh. What color are your father's eyes?"

"Papa's eyes are brown." He told her quietly.

She grinned, "Papa. I've never heard anyone call their Dad that."

"This doesn't look like a concussion. But, let me clean these hands, and then we'll wrap your foot."

She squeaked as he took the towel and cleaned her hands, "This stings-"

"I know." He told her as he gently cleaned the dirt and grit out of her hands. "Oh, this is deep. Ummm..."

She looked at him, "What is it?"

He glanced up at her. "On the count of three. Ready? One, two..."

"Aw! AW!" She jumped has he cleaned out the worst of her hands.

"Alright. It's all done. It's all over." He told her as he blew into the palms of her hands.

His warm breath made it stop stinging. She couldn't help the tears that had rushed from her eyes.

He smiled at her. "There. Better?"

She was surprised when he wiped her tears from her eyes. She looked at his beautiful, blue eyes and wished how he would kiss her. She managed to tell him, "Better. Yes."

He stood up and began to look in his pockets for something. "I apologize for my appearance. I was at a football game."

She looked at her hands, "Football?"

He took out a pair of socks out of his pockets and laid them on the table. Then his phone, a pen, a silver circular device about as big as a lighter, an actual lighter, and finally a small black box. "Ah. There it is! I thought I had one."

"How deep are your pockets?" She asked in amazement.

"Deep." He sat down and opened the box. He took out a small circular tube and held it to her head. "Okay. Let me get this sorted."

"What are you doing?"

His attention was completely on her head as he used the tool. "Repairing this. It won't hurt."

She watched his eyes as he worked. After a few moments, she said quietly. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Arles."

He didn't take his eyes off of his work and said slowly, "I was close. Just out on the beach with some...nutters."

She giggled. "Who was winning?"

He grinned, "They were. Rotten children."

She smiled. "Adults versus kids, huh?"

"Yep. And I picked the wrong side." He stopped and stroked her head, where it had been injured with his finger. "And that's better?"

She quickly rose her hand to her head and felt it repaired. "That's amazing! What is that?"

He smiled and took her hand in his. He used the tool to repair the palms of her hands. "It's this….device I keep with me."

"I've never seen anything like it." She told him in amazement.

He continued to work on her hands with the device. "It's a small unit. I'm hoping it will last long enough to do both hands. It took a bit on your head."

The device stopped working just as he said that.

Arles grinned, "Brilliant. Died at the right time! Just finished both of them."

Kelly looked down at her hands and rubbed them together. She giggled. "Arles! That's the neatest thing I've ever seen."

He leaned over and put it back in the box. "I use it way more than I ever thought I would."

"Where did you get it?" She asked.

He put it back into his pocket and leaned back to look at her. "My Dad gave it to me."

"Dad? I thought you called him 'Papa'?"

He chuckled as he put the rest of the stuff back into his pockets, "Two separate people."

Someone knocked on the door of the flat.

Arles stood up and pointed at her. "You, stay. I'll get this."

She leaned up and looked under the bag of frozen vegetables at her ankle. It was bruising nicely. She groaned.

Arles opened the door to see a tall, skinny man standing there. He was wearing a nice suit and tie, without the jacket. The look on his face was shock to see Arles' answering the door.

"Ummm." He started, leaned back to look at the number beside of the door to make sure he was at the right place. "Ummm. This is my daughter's place."

Arles smiled warmly at him. "Oh! You're at the right place. Kelly is just here. Please come in."

The man stepped into the room and Arles closed the door behind him.

Kelly smiled and sat up straighter when she saw him. "Dad!"

He glanced back at Arles and joined his daughter. He stood next to her and looked down at the bag of frozen vegetables on her foot. "Well, this looks…."

Kelly smiled, "It feels better than it did."

Arles stood behind the bar watching him. Bags of the shopping Kelly had done still sat full. Arles decided to unload the shopping and put it away. Arles guessed the security guard must have brought it up when she fell.

Kelly's father took the bag off of her ankle and looked it over. "This looks like you did a great job. Can you walk on it?"

Kelly shook her head. "No."

He moved it a bit and Kelly jumped and shouted, "Aw!" when he moved it the way Arles' had just moments earlier.

He put the bag back on it. "Well, it needs to be wrapped, but it's not broken."

Kelly groaned. "That's what Arles' said."

He turned to look at Arles, unpacking the shopping. "Arles, huh?"

Kelly nodded, "Yes. Arles, this is my Dad-"

Her father stood up and introduced himself. "Doctor Thomas Webber."

Arles quickly walked over to introduce himself. He held out his hand to shake. "Arles Bennett, sir. It's a pleasure."

Doctor Webber nodded and seemed to be deciding if he liked Arles or not.

"Bennett, huh? Like….your friend."

Kelly waved her hand. "They aren't related. I don't think, are you?"

Arles laughed, "No. Well, not really."

Kelly told her Dad. "Karen is marrying his brother."

Doctor Webber looked back at Kelly in surprise. "Karen is engaged?"

Kelly smiled. "Yes. I just found out."

Doctor Webber nodded in understanding. "Right. So, you and Kelly, then?"

Arles held his hands out. "We're just friends, sir."

Kelly giggled. "Yes, just friends. Arles lives in New York. He was just down for the funeral."

Doctor Webber put his hands on his hips. "Oh yeah. That was…today?"

"Yesterday." Arles told him and returned to the kitchen to finish putting away the shopping.

"Yeah. I heard about that. Damn sad. No one is saying what happened." He said as he sat on a chair next to Kelly.

Arles opened a cabinet and put some things inside of it. "No."

Kelly groaned and readjusted herself on the sofa.

Arles noticed. "Do you need something for pain? I didn't think of that. I'm sorry. Where do you keep it?" He immediately started opening cabinet doors to find something.

Doctor Webber shook his head. "Hang on. I brought something."

He took out a bottle of pills and handed Kelly one. She took it with a bottle of Vitex that sat on the table.

"That's probably going to make you sleepy." He told her. "Do you have anything to wrap that with?"

She pointed, "It's in the bathroom, in there."

Arles insisted. "Hang on. I'll get it. In the cabinet, then?"

She nodded, "Yes."

He disappeared into her bedroom.

Doctor Webber turned around and looked at his daughter. He asked quietly, "Who is that?"

"Arles, Dad."

"English?"

"Yeah-"

"Where the hell did you meet him?"

"He was at Karen's."

He rose his eyebrow, "And he knows where your bathroom is?"

"Dad!" She groaned. "We're just friends."

He wasn't convinced. "Yeah, right-"

"Dad." She groaned.

Someone knocked on the door.

Doctor Webber pointed at her. "You. Stay. I'll get it."

Kelly rubbed her face as her Dad got up to answer the door. He opened it to find the Doctor standing there.

The Doctor smiled, "Hello. Ummm." He leaned back and looked at the number beside of the door. "I'm looking for Kelly's place."

Doctor Webber looked confused. "You look familiar. Do I know you?"

The Doctor put his hands in his pockets. "I don't think so. Do I know you?"

He held his hand out to introduce himself. "Doctor Thomas Webber. I'm Kelly's father."

The Doctor shook his hand. "Oh! I'm Doctor Johnathon Smith. I'm actually looking for Arles. Is he here?"

Doctor Webber's mouth dropped open in shock. "Doctor Johnathon Smith?"

"Yeah." The Doctor agreed slowly.

Arles walked back into the sitting room. "Kelly, I found something to wrap your ankle in."

Kelly pointed towards the door. "Ummm."

Arles turned to look back at him. "Dad?"

Doctor Webber repeated in shock. "Dad?"

The Doctor smiled proudly. "Yes, I'm Dad." He walked into the apartment towards Kelly.

Arles looked at him in shock. "What are you doing here?"

"Samuel told me you left in a hurry, and he was worried. You wouldn't answer-"

"Dad. I was a bit busy."

The Doctor pointed at him, "Not too busy to answer."

Doctor Webber stood staring at the situation.

Arles sighed and rubbed his face. "Yes, Dad. You're right. I'm sorry. Kelly sent me a text telling me that she thought she had broken something."

The Doctor relaxed. "Oh. I understand. So, it was…"

"Not an attack, Dad." Arles told him. "She fell into the wall and appears to not have any concussion. I used the derma-regenerator on her head and her hands."

The Doctor nodded, "Oh. Good then. You should probably watch her to make sure on the concussion. How hard did you hit the wall, Kelly?"

Kelly was a bit star struck. "I'm sorry. I think I may have hit my head rather hard if this is really happening."

The Doctor didn't follow. "If what is happening?"

"You! Here?" She insisted.

The Doctor smiled and sat on the edge of the coffee table. "Oh! I apologize. I'm being rude. I have a problem with that. We've not been properly introduced. I'm Arles' Dad, Doctor Johnathon Smith."

Kelly glanced back at Arles. He had moved to the end of the sofa and was beginning to wrap her foot.

Doctor Webber seemed to come back to life. He finally closed the door. "Ummm. You're the Doctor Smith that married Rose Tyler?"

The Doctor chuckled. "Yes. I'm Mr. Rose Tyler. I should probably start introducing myself like that."

Arles laughed. "Go on then, Dad."

The Doctor stood up and nodded. "I am. She's at home with the children. Cooking."

Arles didn't look up from wrapping Kelly's foot. "What is she making?"

"Beef Stew and Dumplings."

Arles closed his eyes and groaned. "Oh, that's my favorite."

Doctor Webber still was uneasy. "Well, hang on a damn minute-"

The Doctor held his hand out to Arles. "Stop a bit."

Arles stopped wrapping.

Doctor Webber looked at the Doctor, and then to Arles. "Umm."

The Doctor rose his eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

Doctor Webber pointed to Arles. "He said his name is Bennett."

The Doctor nodded for Arles to begin again, "Yeah. Arles Bennett-"

"Your name is Smith-"

"It's complicated-"

"He's a Doctor?"

The Doctor shook his head. "No-"

"And you're accepting his diagnoses about a concussion and him wrapping Kelly's foot-"

"This is my son! Do you think he doesn't know as much as a doctor during this time period? He's not thick-"

Arles coughed, "Dad."

"What?" He snapped.

"You're being rude, Dad." Arles told him as he finished wrapping Kelly's foot.

"Oh. Am I?"

Arles smiled, "Yes, Dad. You need to apologize."

The Doctor groaned and looked back at Doctor Webber. "I apologize for my rudeness. It's, a problem. I'm working on it."

Arles laughed under his breath and looked up at Kelly, who was smiling.

Doctor Webber crossed his arms. "You're not old enough to have a son this age."

The Doctor laughed. "Oh, what you don't know."

Arles cleared his throat again.

The Doctor looked back at him. "Again?"

Arles nodded. "Yes, Dad."

The Doctor groaned. "I apologize. I'm working on it."

Doctor Webber shook his head in confusion. "Ummm-"

The Doctor cleared his throat and stood up in front of Arles. "Hmmm. Your Mum asked me to tell you about a meeting. Samuel's place. Tomorrow. Breakfast."

"Breakfast?" Arles looked back at Kelly and bit his lip.

The Doctor rose his eyebrows and nodded. "Oh. Right. Time difference."

"And possible concussion."

"You remain. I'll have her reschedule. I'll let you know. It's alright."

Doctor Webber shook his head. "Hang on-"

The Doctor pat Arles on his shoulder. "You're in good hands, Kelly. If you will excuse me, I have a date!"

Arles grinned as his Dad walked out of the door. Before he disappeared, he shook the stunned Doctor Webber's hand. "Again. I apologize. Arles. Keep me updated."

Arles sat down on the arm of the sofa at Kelly's feet. "Yes, Dad. Thank you for coming by."

The Doctor walked out of the door and closed it.

Doctor Webber stood dumbfounded. "Ugh." Was all he could muster.

Arles stood back up and asked Kelly. "Can I get you something to drink? Hungry?"

Kelly pointed at the shopping bags. "I got you some tea."

Arles rubbed his hands together. "Oh! Brilliant. I could use a cuppa. You?"

She was still in a bit of shock, "Yeah, I'll try it."

He clapped his hands together as he went back to the kitchen and busied himself making them a cup of tea. "Doctor Webber? Cup of tea?"

Doctor Webber stood looking at Kelly. Then Arles. "Umm. That's your Dad?"

Arles nodded, "Yes, sir-"

"You don't call him 'sir'."

Arles chuckled as he finished putting up the shopping. "No, sir. I do not. Dad hates to be called 'sir'."

Arles spoke to Karen. "Want me to cook something, or would you rather get take away?"

Kelly rubbed her eyes. "It doesn't matter to me."

Arles nodded. "Okay. Tea, first."

Doctor Webber sat at the bar to speak to Arles. "You're English."

Arles nodded. "I am."

"Why are you in the States?"

"I live here. I work in New York."

"Doing what?"

"Teaching."

"Teaching what?"

Arles stopped and looked back at the man. "Maths."

"Maths?"

"Yes."

"I've never heard of you. Doctor Johnathon Smith is all over the news."

"We prefer not to be. The longer we can remain unknown, the better."

"Why is that?"

He continued to make them tea. "Well, imagine that sort of life. Press, no privacy, bodyguards…"

"You don't have body guards?"

"I have training. So, they allow me to be out on my own. Like this. Well, not everyone is happy about it."

"But, if it is known?"

Arles nodded, "I'll have to have them. Papa would insist. Did you want tea, sir?"

Doctor Webber shook his head. "Umm…no. No, thank you."

Arles stepped over, knelt beside of the sofa, and gave Kelly the cup of tea. "And there you are."

She smiled at him. "Thank you, Arles."

"Do you need another pillow? Ice? Anything?"

She sipped it, "I think I'm alright."

"Wrapping isn't too tight-"

She giggled. "Arles. I'm alright."

He smiled at her. "Certain?"

She nodded. "I think so. Oh, this tea is wonderful."

He cheered as he stood up. "And I've converted another American. Yes!"

Doctor Webber crossed his arms. "And you and Kelly are just friends?"

Kelly groaned, "Dad-"

He waved his hand at her. "I'm just trying to understand. Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I told you we had been on a date."

Arles grinned and walked back over to the bar.

Doctor Webber was surprised, "Hang on. This! This is who you went on a date with?"

Arles sipped his tea as he stood behind the bar. "We've been out. How many times, Kelly?"

"Just the one date. The rest wasn't dates."

Arles nodded and looked back at her Dad. "Yeah. Just….softball-"

"And….that sort of thing."

Doctor Webber wasn't convinced. "Just one date? And you never told me he was the son of Doctor Johnathon Smith."

Kelly shrugged her shoulders, "I didn't know who his Dad was."

Arles stood behind the bar and sipped his tea.

"And you said it wasn't an attack. He thought it might be. Is that the reason he came so quickly?"

Arles sighed and leaned on the bar, "Kelly sent me a text just as I was walking off the pitch playing football-"

"Football?"

"Yes. I left immediately to come here, and didn't explain why. My brother told Dad."

"Brother? He's the guy that's marrying Karen. That's how you met him."

Kelly rolled her eyes. "Dad. Really. Who cares who his parents are? He can't help it, and I doubt it's something he really wants to talk about."

Arles smiled proudly, "That's the reason we get on so well. Thank you, Kelly."

Doctor Webber crossed his arms, "I'm just curious-"

Kelly groaned, "Daddy. Stop asking him all of these questions. Really. It's like an integration."

Doctor Webber rose his eyebrow. "Kelly. Being friends with someone of a high profile nature can be a very dangerous thing. Doctor Smith ran over here because he thought you were attacked. Is that a likely thing to happen?"

Arles shook his head. "No one knows who I am. For now, she's safe-"

"For now. But, what happens when…" He stopped and looked back at Kelly. "Sweetheart, this is not an ideal situation."

Kelly groaned, "Dad! We're just friends-"

"You hanging out with someone who needs bodyguards, but doesn't have them-"

"Dad! Seriously. I didn't know who his family was until just now."

Doctor Webber wasn't pleased. He crossed his arms and shook his head. "I'm not comfortable with this-"

"Dad!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not." He looked back at Arles. "I'm sorry, you seem to be a nice guy. But, you have to understand that the safety of my daughter is my top concern."

Arles sat his tea down. "Believe me. It's mine, too."

"Then how could you put her in such a position?"

"Dad!" Kelly insisted.

Arles explained. "Kelly and I play softball together. Both my Dad and Uncle Tony have been to the games and no one noticed them."

Doctor Webber looked confused. "Uncle Tony. Who is that?"

"Tony. Tony Stark."

"That's your uncle!?" Doctor Webber exclaimed.

Arles nodded, "He is. And if they can keep off the press radar down here, it makes it a lot easier for me. No one knows me here. I can walk down the street and no one will shout how there is Arles just there. If it became known, yes. Kelly would be in danger. But she's safe. She's fine. If I thought she wasn't, I would already have taken steps for her safety. It's already been discussed."

Kelly looked surprised. "It has?"

Arles held out his hand. "Well, Kelly! Seriously. Does it surprise you?"

Kelly sipped her tea. "Not really, now that I think about it."

Doctor Webber looked back at him. "Friends, huh?"

Arles looked over his cuppa and nodded. "Yes, sir. Friends. That's all."

Doctor Webber scuffed just as his phone rang in his pocket. He groaned and took it out. "Hi. Oh, hi Linda."

"No, I'll be straight home."

"No, I'm not at work. I had to come check on Kelly. She got hurt."

"Yes. We can still make it. It will be fine."

Arles sipped his tea and noticed that this…"Linda" hadn't asked about Kelly. He glanced back over to Kelly who was silently running her finger around the top of the cup of tea.

Doctor Webber continued to speak. "Yes. I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm already ready."

He ended the call.

Arles sipped his tea. "Plans, then?"

"Yes. We have tickets to the theatre." He stood up. "Excuse me."

He walked over to Kelly and sat on the side of the sofa. "Call me, if you get worse."

She smiled, "I'll be fine."

He nodded, "Arles. Could I ask you to stay and keep an eye on her?"

Arles grinned, "I'd be happy to, sir. I'll keep you posted."

Doctor Webber relaxed. "Good. Thank you." He ran his fingers through Kelly's hair. "Sleepy?"

She nodded, "A bit. I was tired before, and that medicine-"

"Yeah." He told her. "Eat something, and rest. I'll come by in the morning before work to check on you. Make sure we don't have to get a cast or something."

She giggled.

"Wrap you in bubble wrap. You've always been the one to get hurt." He teased. "Would you promise me that you'll be more careful?"

He took her hand in hers and she nodded. "I will Dad."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

He stood up and walked back over to Arles. "And…Ar….I'm sorry."

Arles smiled, "Arles. It's alright. I'll keep you posted. Enjoy your evening."

"I'm not happy about it, but….well. You have training."

Arles nodded. "I do, sir."

"And you're just friends-"

Arles grinned. "Friends. Yes."

Doctor Webber still wasn't convinced, but nodded anyway. "I left that medicine there on the table."

Arles nodded and shook his hand. "I'll be sure she takes it, sir. If it's needed. Not to worry."

He waved at Kelly and then left the apartment.

Arles walked back over to the sitting room, sat his tea on the table, and collapsed into a chair. "Oh, that could have gone better."

Kelly giggled. "I cannot believe that is your Dad."

He rubbed his eyes and nodded. "That's Dad. Yes."

"So, that's how you know Rose Tyler. She's your Step Mom."

He chuckled, "Something like that."

"I'm sure she's better than mine."

He readjusted her frozen vegetables on her foot, grabbed his tea, and sat back in the chair. "What did your Dad mean that you were always getting hurt?"

She sipped her tea and sat it down on the table. "Oh, it's nothing-"

"Kelly. It isn't."

"Arles. It's just-"

"You were always getting hurt, and she's who was doing it."

"Arles-"

"That's the reason you wanted to move out so quickly. And he doesn't know."

Kelly sighed and closed her eyes tightly. "Arles."

"Why won't you tell him?"

She held her hand out to the door. "Because, he's happy! He deserves that-"

"Not at your expense-"

"I never see her anymore! I haven't seen her since I moved out."

Arles pointed at the door. "That man just told me that your safety is his highest concern-"

"Arles." She sighed. "I really don't want to talk about this."

He nodded. "Okay."

"Arles. It's….something….so hard to explain."

"Not really."

"Gosh. I can't believe you figured that out. How did you work that out?"

"It's not that hard-"

"It's not anything I really want to talk about."

He sipped his tea. "It's not anything you're ever going to deal with again. You're getting a bodyguard, Kelly."

"A what?"

He propped his head up on his fist. "A bodyguard. That's what my Papa and Dad do. They are in charge of security for the Tyler and Stark families."

"Now all of this makes sense!" She realized.

"That's it. So, you….are getting a bodyguard. Whenever, you have to be around this woman. You are to tell me. I'll come and keep you safe."

"You're a teacher, not a bodyguard."

He grinned. "I actually am a bodyguard. I just, don't do it. It makes my Papa worry too much."

Kelly covered her face.

Arles moved to sit next to her on the sofa. He gently uncovered her face. "Kelly."

She was crying silently. "Arles, you can't do that."

"Why not?"

"You live so far away-"

"I can be anywhere you need me. This is happening."

She wiped her tears and shook her head. "This has been the strangest afternoon."

He pulled her hands up to his lips to kiss. "Look at me."

Her eyes met his.

"Kelly. You're so important to me."

She smiled through her tears, "Your friend-"

"My best friend. Kelly, can I tell you…."

"What?"

He grit his teeth and looked at her. "I…"

She put her finger over his lips. "Don't think you have to say anything."

He smiled. "Too high on a pain pill to remember it?"

She giggled. "I won't lie. I wish I had something else."

"Like what?"

She covered her face and grinned. "Umm. I wish…"

He rose his eyebrows. "What? Name it."

She sighed. "How do you feel about…smoking?"

"Weed? Marijuana? That's what you're on about?"

She bit her lip and nodded. "Yes. You're probably not into that-"

"No." He held his finger out. "You'd be surprised. Umm. I can get you some of that."

She smiled, "Really?"

"Yep." He popped and looked into her eyes.

She giggled and ran her hands through his hair. A smile spread across his face.

She whispered, "Arles. Would you please kiss me?"

He grinned like a loon, "I thought you would never ask."

He leaned down to meet her lips with his own. She noticed he licked his lips in anticipation. It made her giggle when she realized she had done the same thing.

His fingertips caressed her face as they snogged one another. His beautiful, strong body leaning over the top of her own, seemed to want hers as much as she wanted his. Her hands went up his shirt that was loosely hanging on him. She felt his skin, that was cool to the touch. He had told her that he had been playing football. He wasn't sweaty as she expected, but maybe it was because he had been inside of her apartment with the air conditioning. She ran her fingertips across his back and felt goosebumps form on his skin.

He smiled as he kissed her.

"Are you cold?" She asked him.

"Yes!" He told her flatly.

They both laughed and Arles shivered.

"You, with your fingertips. Damn." He insisted and shivered. "I was fine until then."

She giggled. "I'm sorry."

"No." He smiled. "I love it. Umm. I have a thought."

She rubbed her eyes. "Keep in mind one of us is reduced to one leg."

He chuckled. "Let's go back to my place. That way I can shower, and keep an eye on you."

Her eyes lit up. "The boat?"

He smiled, "Sure. Let's get away from all of your problems. Leave them on shore."

"Arles….I…."

"What? That's the second time you've stopped in the middle of your sentence. You can tell me."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

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