Disclaimer: I own none of the recognized characters. I am merely borrowing them to satisfy my muse

Chapter 9

Skyhold. That was the name of their new home. It needed a lot of work done, but even damaged as it was, it offered better defense than Haven ever had. Talon accepted the role of Inquisitor. CJ hid a smile. She was going to have fun with that.

Talon went hunting for Cole, to determine whether he should be allowed to stay. Cole helped the soldier. Talon let him stay. Most were not happy, because they didn't understand what Cole did. They were afraid of him. CJ could understand that, fearing what you didn't understand, but she was glad that Talon was willing to give the kid a chance. He deserved it. Without him, the casualties would have been a whole lot worse at Haven.

They'd been at Skyhold for two weeks now, CJ was currently sitting on a low wall, reading to Tommy out of a history book.

"You're quiet." She paused at the sound of Cole's voice. "Inside. Sometimes I hear you, other times, I don't. Why?"

"So it has been working." She mused. "You can just hear inside people's heads, right?" Cole nodded. "I've been trying to block you out. Creating a mental wall, and picturing it locking all sounds in. I wasn't sure if it was working."

"No one's been able to do that before. Why are you doing it? Do you not want my help?"

"I want to help you." She answered. "You can't shut the world out, so you are always surrounded pain. If I can block you out, then for a while, you can sit by me and not be surrounded by pain. I know you want to help everyone, but what about you?"

"You . . . . . want to help me?" He spoke slowly, as if that thought had never occurred to him. That someone would want to help him.

"I do."

He was silent for a minute. "Can you . . . . try to block me out?"

CJ nodded and focused on a wall.

"It's . . . . working. I can't hear your pain."

"You can stay as long as you'd like, Cole." CJ smiled at the young man. "I'm going to continue reading to Tommy, ok?"

"Thank you."

So that became a routine, of sorts. When CJ didn't have other duties to attend to, she'd take Tommy to a quiet spot and read to him. More often than not, Cole would join them. He would sit silently as CJ read and focused on keeping her wall up.

"You are like a mother duck."

CJ raised an eyebrow at the sound of Iron Bull's voice. She was currently working a piece of wood with a carving knife, attempting to create a false leg of sorts for Tommy, so he would be able to walk.

"What?"

"A mother duck. You adopt the abandoned little ones. Krem, Tommy, and now Cole. Hell, even Boss. You adopt them and protect them against the harsh world." She looked at him, trying to determine if he was making fun of her.

"Krem and Talon are hardly little."

"You've still adopted them." He retorted. "Why else would you get so upset when Boss runs off on missions without you? Or why you are so determined at helping Krem." Iron Bull moved to sit next to her, the bench she was seated on creaking ominously at his additional weight.

"I'm their friend."

"That you are." Iron Bull agreed. "But that doesn't mean you haven't adopted them. Anyone can see that the kid, Tommy, is as in love with you as you are with him. And Cole? The kid never looks more at peace than when he is by you."

"Is there a point to this?" She muttered, feeling her face warm.

"Just wanted to know why, is all."

"Why what?" She exclaimed. "Why do I care about them?"

He nodded.

CJ was silent for a moment, debating on how she should answer. "Because I know what it feels like to have nobody care about you. To have no one worry about whether you're dead or alive. Or wonder if you're eating right. Or a parent to care about you. And if I can stop someone else from feeling that pain, I'm sure as hell going to try."

"Your life has not been easy, has it?"

"No. It hasn't. But it has made me stronger."

CJ was surprised when Iron Bull put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. "That could be dangerous when I'm holding a knife, Bull." But she didn't pull away. She felt safe in his hold. Safe and warm.

"You wouldn't cut me."

"Have you forgotten our last fight already?" She asked easily, frowning at the wood in her hand. It wasn't turning out correctly. Making a disgusted noise, she chucked the wood away from her.

"Hard to forget when someone half your size takes you down in front of an entire army." He answered.

She shrugged, the movement causing her to shift against his side. She really should probably maybe pull away soon. "You were the one who challenged me, remember?"

"Yeah," He laughed. "Yeah I did. You'd think I'd learn after the eighth time, huh?"

"You've won your fair share of our fights." She exclaimed.

"I keep underestimating you." She tipped her head back to look at him, surprised to realize he had leaned his head down. Their faces were mere inches apart. "Every time I think I've got you figured out, you throw me off balance."

"I've got to keep things interesting around here. Wouldn't want anyone to get bored."

"Around you, I don't think I could ever get bored." His voice lowered.

CJ's mind was racing. He was going to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes. He was going to kiss her. Him kiss her! He was going to kiss her, and she was going to let him. It's not like he was holding her in place. CJ could easily move away if she desired. Instead, she was rooted to the spot, unable to do anything except stare at him as he moved closer and closer.

His lips were just a hair away from hers, their breath mixing together.

"Fighter!" CJ jumped away like she had been burned. "Inquisitor's looking for you!" Sera hadn't entered the courtyard yet, and when she did, she only found Iron Bull, looking extremely ticked off.

CJ was long gone, dodging around civilians as she focused on putting as much distance between her and Bull as possible. He had almost kissed her. And she would have let him!