A/N: Disclaimer: I own none of the recognized characters. I simply am borrowing them to satisfy my muse.

Chapter 32

"Kadan." She didn't want to wake up. "Kadan, wake up."

"No." She exclaimed, burrowing into the warmth beside her.

"Kadan," His hand traced her cheek. "Wake up."

As his hand drifted lower, CJ realized something.

"Why am I naked?" She muttered, not moving away from his touch.

"You would have been uncomfortable in your armor." He answered automatically. "And I wanted to make sure you weren't hiding any more wounds from me."

"So it was totally innocently meant on your part, huh?"

He kissed her. "Maybe not so innocent, completely." He kissed her again, deepening it smoothly. CJ kissed back. Bull really knew how to kiss!

For a moment, she lost herself in the kiss. In his embrace. She'd missed him more than she was willing to admit. But then she pulled away. He growled lowly.

"We can't have sex here." She said firmly.

"If you let me continue, we could." He retorted.

She laughed. "Let me rephrase, we won't be having sex here. Not in the middle of camp. Everyone would hear!"

"Everyone's going to assume it anyways, Kadan. And I'll be quiet." His fingers were tracing across her skin, creating the most delicious sensations, making it hard for her think. She swallowed hard as he placed a kiss between her breasts. His lips were hot against her skin.

"You don't know how to be quiet."

"I accept that challenge."

For half a second, CJ considered stopping him. It really wasn't appropriate, but then his head moved lower and all further thought flew from her mind.

Later, as she lay trying to catch her breath, Iron Bull kissed her gently on the forehead.

"You win." She exclaimed. "Turns out you do know how to be quiet." He laughed.

"Tonight, I'll show you even more quiet things I can do."

"That a promise?" She sat up, reaching to find her clothes. Her hand skimmed Iron Bull's leg in the process.

"Damn right it is!"

"Where did you put my clothes, Bull?" She exclaimed, unable to find them.

"That's privileged information, Kadan." CJ could hear the laughter in his voice and directed a scowl in his direction.

"Unless you intend for me to go naked today, I need my clothes."

"That is a tempting prospect, but I'd hate to have to kill anyone who looked at you. I've grown fond of some of our fellow travelers."

There was rustling and CJ felt her clothes and armor being pressed into her hands.

"Would you really kill everyone?" She began to get dressed. As she fumbled to tie her armor, Iron Bull pushed her hands out of the way.

"Maybe not 'everyone'." He allowed. "Most, though. Probably."

"Fighter, Chief, you awake?" That was Krem's voice. There was an urgency in it that CJ didn't like.

"Yeah, Krem." The sound of the tent flap opening brought a burst of fresh air laced with the smoke of the fire. "What's wrong?"

"We got a letter from Skyhold." The crinkle of parchment as it was passed to Iron Bull.

"Shit."

"What?" CJ demanded. "What's it say?!"

"We're gonna have to postpone my promise for tonight." Iron Bull said.

"What's the letter say?!"

"Blackwall's gone missing and we've received news that Corypheus is preparing a march."

CJ was up in an instant, groping to strap on her weapons.

"We can't waste any time." She exclaimed. "We need to get to Skyhold."

"Kadan, I'm going ahead. See what I can do to help find Blackwall." Iron Bull announced, coming up to her. He took her in his arms, hugging her to him firmly. "Listen to Krem." He ordered.

"You are not the boss of me, The Iron Bull." She exclaimed, scowling as best she could.

"Please listen to Krem." He rephrased it as a request.

"I'll do my best."

He laughed and then kissed her. "See you soon, Kadan."

And then he was gone.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

They packed up camp quickly, on the move no more than an hour after the letter came. Since speed was needed, CJ could no longer be in charge of her own horse. She wouldn't be able to see any obstacles rise in front of her. Instead, she was riding behind Cole, one hand holding onto his shirt, the other still wrapped in bandages.

As they rode, CJ tried to see. The bandages had finally been removed, Dorian proclaiming all the wounds healed to satisfaction. There was no reasonable explanation as to why her sight hadn't returned. Maybe she just needed to stretch it like any other injured muscle? But how does one go about stretching their vision?

She tried squinting and widening her eyes, alternating back and forth. She tried to stare in one spot intensely, for so long that if she could see, it would have been all blurry, but there was nothing. Not the faintest hint of light, of color. There was nothing but blackness.

"Damn it." She muttered in disgust.

"You cannot force it, CJ." Cole murmured, for what had to be at least the sixtieth time. "There was a lot of damage done. It takes time to heal."

"It's been three weeks!" She retorted. "How much more time does it need?!"

"I don't know," Cole answered. "Maybe Solas or Vivienne will be able to help?"

"Maybe." She allowed. But she didn't hold much hope. What good would she be to the Inquisition if her sight never came back? How could she be a good mother to Tommy? And what about Bull? Would he still want her?

Immediately, she pushed that thought away. It would do nothing to help.

Focus on seeing. Eyes were a muscle, right? She just had to figure out how to stretch them correctly. She could control that.

They rode hard, making good progress, when Krem called for them to stop.

"How late is it?" CJ questioned as she slid off the horse. "And how far have we come?"

"We will reach Skyhold by noon. And it is about two hours past dusk." Cole answered.

As CJ listened to the sounds of a quick camp being set up, she felt uneasy. Something more was wrong. Something that Iron Bull had concealed from her. But what was it?

CJ didn't bother asking one of her companions. No doubt Bull had gotten to them already, getting them to promise not to tell her. Stubborn Qunari. It was a nice night, no clouds in sight (according to Varric), so it was decided they wouldn't put up tents. CJ was curled up on a bedroll near a fire, thinking. She missed Bull.

"What's wrong, Fighter?" Dorian's question prompted CJ to roll over.

"What makes you think something's wrong?"

"You practically have steam coming out of your ears and poor Cole has been looking more and more distressed with the passing minutes. What must he be hearing? Care to share with the class?"

"He's not hearing anything." CJ muttered.

"Which would explain the lack of color in the lad's face. Why do you torture the boy?"

Because she didn't want him to hear her thoughts, which were growing progressively more negative with each consecutive thought.

"What did you just think?" Dorian's voice was closer. "Your face just darkened. What is wrong?"

"I am allowed my own thoughts, Dorian." CJ exclaimed.

"Indeed you are." The Tevinter was not at all bothered by her tone. "But as your friend, I ask you, please talk to me."

"There's nothing you can do to help, Dorian. I just want to be left alone."

"Just because I can't 'fix' the situation doesn't mean that talking about it will do nothing to help." He retorted. "You listened to every single love poem I wrote for our esteemed leader without complaint. Let me listen to you."

CJ was silent for a long moment, contemplating how to answer.

"I'm all out of love poems." Dorian laughed.

"Then allow me to help you. I am sure we can come up with something suitable for your Qunari." He exclaimed. "What rhymes with The Iron Bull? Pull? Full? Cull?"

"Those are terrible, Dorian." But CJ had to laugh.

"I can come up with much worse, I assure you." He answered. "Come now, let's plan."