Prologue
Darien was once again in the room that under a month ago he had hung from the ceiling, almost dead. He felt the pressure from Cassandra's gun on the back of his head. He saw the bomb counting down. Then he saw the door swing open and Claire and Alex walked into the room, followed by Arnard and Stark, the Official and Eberts, and then Bobby. They all stood around Darien pointing and talking but he couldn't make out what they were saying. The bomb hit 10 seconds and then they all left, Alex, Claire and Cassandra kissing his cheek before they left him to die.
…4
…3
…2
…1
Darien jolted up in bed right before the bomb went off, the sudden stab of pain making him wish he hadn't. It ripped through his stomach, almost causing him to pass out. He cautiously lay back down and took a calming breath. It was just a dream. Well, most of it. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, pulling it away slick with sweat. He struggled to prop himself up onto his elbows and looked around the room. His eyes settled on Claire's sleeping form by the far window. Darien smiled recalling the conversation that had been more of an argument, which of course, Claire had won.
"No Darien, you're hurt. I want you to have to bed. I'll take the chair."
"Are you sure? I mean it is your place. You can have the bed. I'll sleep on the couch or something."
"Darien Fawkes.You are healing from a number of wounds. I will not hear that you will sleep on the couch or something."
"But Keep, you have 1st degree burns on most of your body. You said that you should get lots of rest-"
"Darien." She had practically screamed." You're taking the bed and that's final."
Darien smiled as he thought back to the 1st few nights after he had been allowed to go home. Neither of them had been able to sleep, thanks mostly in part to the burns that they had. They talked for a while and then watched late night movies. Once the burns had begun to heal, Claire claimed the chair as her 'sleeping area'. But Darien still couldn't get to sleep. Claire thought that it was from his wounds and gave him a mild sedative. The sedatives helped at first, but then Darien was left to try and find away to escape from his dream/memories. Thanks to Cassandra, it wasn't the regular 'brother dieing' dream; it was his torture being played out over and over again, with his friends and enemies watching.
Darien now stood up slowly and made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. He took a glass down out of the cabinet and got a carton of orange juice out of the fridge. After he had poured himself a glass and put the carton away, he made his way into Claire's living room. He saw that the TV was still on and that the screen was a bright blue. He smiled and walked over, flicking it off and placing his untouched glass of juice on top of it. He went back upstairs and instead of going to bed, he moved over to the window by Claire. He looked outside and the sight took his breath away. The moon was full and there were no clouds in sight. He moved closer to Claire. Looking down at her he remembered the conversation they had had the last time neither of them could sleep.
Both of them sat on her bed neither being able to sleep. They had been talking for a while and now there were just sitting there with an uncomfortable silence between the two of them.
"Do you have a deck of cards?" Darien had suddenly blurted out.
"Yeah, I think I do. You check the bedside table. I'll go check the junk drawer in the kitchen."
Darien sighed and turned and began to look through it. He saw pens, pencils, and a handset for her cell, a book, some notes, but no cards.
"Claire, no cards here!" he shouted
"I've got them in here." she said smiling as she walked back into the room with Pavlov on her heels." What do you want them for?"
"I just figured out what we could do instead of watch a movie or just sit here," He said smiling taking the cards out and then starting to shuffle them.
"Darien, I'm not playing strip poker, with you," she said laughing. But something in her voice made Darien think that she might have. She took a seat across from him. Pavlov jumped up by her then lying down between them. Darien smiled.
"Did you ever play blackjack?"
"21?"Claire asked. "Yes, why?"
"Good. How about we play 21 and instead of money the loser has to take a truth or dare." Darien said showing her his puppy dog eyes.
"Fine." Claire said smiling mischievously." Who's dealing first?"
Darien smiled as he remembered that he had done a lot of dares and a lot of truths that night. Some of them would have cost him his job if anyone from the agency ever found out. But he trusted Claire. He knelt down by her chair and looked at her face.
So peaceful. he thought. He placed his hand over hers. Then he sat sown and placed his head on her lap and fell asleep watching the moon.
He didn't have another nightmare that night. But he did dream.
