Chapter 5:

Comfort. Lying beside Vaughn in my bed I feel so completely, and wholly safe.

I'm wrapped in his arms with my back warm against his chest. Carefully turning in his arms to see his face, I'm suprised but not upset by the peacefully sleeping figure I'm gazing at. Sark.

I break into a smile and kiss his forehead. His mouth curls into a slight smile in his sleep and I roll over in his arms again, his heart once again beating against my back.

His hand is just under my chest, and I take it in my own and am suprised to feel cold metal. A knife in his hand held against my stomach. Panic sets in as I slide his hand away from me and see the trail of blood on my white tanktop before I feel the searing pain in my stomach.

My fingernails dig into his hand, still in my own, still wrapped around the knife, until they're buried in his flesh.

His breathing changes in my ear and I can tell that he's now awake.

'I trusted you...' I murmer in awe as his arm tightens around me.


"Christ! Sy- Melissa, let go!" I blink my eyes open at the harsh sound of a man's voice, not instantly realizing the grip I have on his hand.

I must have grabbed his hand in my sleep. It's something that I'd always managed to do.

Like in my dream my fingernails have torn into Sark's skin, and his blood is actually seeping from under my neatly painted fingernails.

It's all too disorienting to try to slip into my cover story, push my nightmare aside, and let go of his hand all at once when I've been awake for only seconds. All I can manage is a quiet, "Oh God..." as I watch him pry his hand from mine.

The few people around us that are awake turn and stare before turning away quickly, and one look in Sark's eyes makes it apparant that he doesn't want any more attention cast on us than what already exists.

Gathering my thoughts I speak hurriedly, vaguely aware of what I'm saying, "Oh God.. Honey, I'm so sorry. I had a horrible dream," I lean into his arms like a frightened child and will myself not to flinch as he folds them around me.

"I told you I hated flying," I murmer into his chest, my heart beating madly. "How much longer do we have to be up here?"

He smooths my hair absently as he speaks, a comforting gesture if it had come from anyone else, "Only another hour or so. You'll be alright, love..."

Nodding, I close my eyes for the benefit of those watching; a frightened woman comforted by the man she loves. To all appearances I was asleep, safe in Sark's arms. Only he knew otherwise, my heart pounding against his chest, the way I fidgeted almost inperceptably in his arms for the rest of the flight.