I had not but briefly looked out of the car window, so I was completely unaware as to my location. From my position on the seat I could tell that there were a lot of trees surrounding us so I assumed we had driven out into the country. The irony of this when compared to all the many action films where the hero whisks the damsel in distress out into the country where 'she will be safe,' amused me a little. From what I could recall, this was usually the only place where the bad guy could find them. That thought however made me a little uneasy so I pushed if from my mind for the time being. About half an hour after I had awoken we slowed down and eventually came to a stop. I could hear car doors open and shut as soon as we stopped. I sat up to survey the scene and was quite shocked at what I found. As I stared out the window, an agent opened the car door and nodded to Frank and I that we could exit the vehicle. As we stood, stretching the tightened muscles from the long journey, before us loomed one of the largest houses I had ever seen. It was fashioned like a log cabin but was the width of about three average houses and had two stories. The porch wrapped around the entire house and protected two front entrances. As I stared at the building, Agent Borders approached us. "Okay you two," he started playfully, a sentiment that I found surprising at the time, "the house is split into two houses really. It was used as a rental lodge for conventions and what not for a few years but the owners were losing money and the government needed large accommodations for their own 'conventions'." This statement was said with a smile and a wink in my direction. I assumed he meant that they used this building for meetings with different political leaders and the like, someplace where they could bring people that would garner much attention in a big city. He continued to explain that we would be staying in the smaller portion of the house while he and his men would set up in the rest. He assured us that many doors connected the two sections and they would have no trouble reaching us if necessary. Soon after we were escorted into the house and shown around briefly. The interior was just as beautiful as the outside had been. The walls inside were polished so precisely that the orange-brown of the stain nearly glowed. The floor was a gray stone with a variety of rugs laid near the furniture and down the hallway. The rooms were all furnished with large, imposing pieces that despite their beauty demanded nearly all the space available, even in a house of this size. When we entered we were greeted by a large living room area with two large burgundy couches and four antique wooden rockers all symmetrically arranged around the center coffee table. Behind this was an open dining area with a large mahogany table surrounded by eight tall ornate chairs. To the right of the table was a set of double doors that lead out onto an enclosed patio. To the left was another sitting area, smaller and more intimate than the first, and decorated in a less formal manner. Behind this was the kitchen. The two rooms were separated by long bar and the kitchen was obviously outfitted for a professional chef. The stainless steel appliances shined as though they had never been used. In fact the entire place was spotless, almost sterile. The warmth I had initially felt upon entering quickly diminished into an unsettling chill. Despite appearances, this was a place of business. I stood there taking in everything for a moment, my arms wrapped around myself for warmth, feeling like the tiniest person in the room. The men around me seemed so in control and certain of the situation. I however was lost in this world. I had never experienced anything like this before and was determined never to do so again. I watched as they talked candidly about the operation and the procedures they would follow should something happen. I had forgotten about Frank momentarily until I felt someone walk up behind me and place their hand on the small of my back. I started a little but as he came around me he gave me a little reassuring smile, which surprisingly helped. I smiled back, uncertain and not able to meet his gaze directly, and then watched as he joined the others. I wandered around a little and found that on the front wall of the second sitting room was a fireplace. The fire in it has just been started and was barely hanging on, but I sat down on the ledge of the hearth and curled up against the warming stone front. I closed my eyes and for the first time in a long time, pushed my thoughts from my mind and simply concentrated on my breathing. I sat against the fireplace until the last of Borders' team left. I watched for a moment as Frank sorted through a few electronic items Borders had left behind that I could not identify. It took a few minutes before he noticed and looked up at me. "What is it?" he asked suddenly. "What is what?" I retorted emotionless. "You want to say something, go ahead." "It's nothing," I said, trying to play off my surprise at how well he could read me. "I was just wondering why they put us in this section alone."

"Borders thought you might like a little time away from all the confusion. Besides, they're just on the other side of the wall. You heard him say both sides of the building were connected," he explained, visually returning to the equipment. "I know. That's not what I meant," I said, stopping before I could finish my thought. "Then what did you mean?" he asked looking up at me again. "I don't know. It just feels strange." "What does?" "This. All of it. Being here in this place. Secluded from everything - everyone." "I thought you would have welcomed the privacy after everything that has happened." "I do. That's not it. I just don't know how to do this." "Kate, you're not making any sense. What are you talking about?" "I mean this! This! I don't know how to have a conversation with you that doesn't involve Carter or surveillance or weapons or - whatever! I don't know how.I don't think I can." "What?" "Be alone with you! I don't know how to be alone with you and it scares me." His expression quickly went from confusion to surprise and then sank into shock. He lowered his gaze, suddenly uncertain of what to say, staring blankly at the box before him. I knew I had hurt him, but I could not have held in my fears any longer. "Frank, listen. Everything that's happening between us came on so quickly, so.naturally, it took me by surprise. For a while I denied it, then I thought maybe I had imagined it, and then I told myself that it was just the situation and we would come to our senses when this had all blown over. Then I realized I didn't want that to happen, I didn't want to lose you, and I started worrying that maybe you didn't really feel the same way I did, and I panicked. Now I don't know where I stand or what I want and I'm scared you don't feel the same." "I understand your concerns, Kate," he said still staring blankly down. He slowly brought his eyes up to meet mine and continued coldly, " I thought I was making my feelings for you clear, but apparently I was wrong. As for my doubts, those are my concern, not yours." With that he picked up his bags and turned to walk down the hallway towards the bedrooms. We did not talk much the rest of the day. Beyond discussing Borders' security details and obligatory remarks to questions about the fire, the weather, and the like, we went about the afternoon shrouded in an uneasy silence. I placed what clothes I had, mostly purchased by Borders' people and some of my own brought out of storage, in the armoire in one of the bedrooms and lay down on the large bed. The damask comforter felt inviting and cool as I stretched out the length of the bed, something my injuries and hospital stays had not allowed for some time. Though I still struggled with pain, my injuries for the most part were under control and well on their way to healing. It was not long after I had lied down that I drifted off to sleep. I remember it was a deep sleep. Not really restful, but I was thankful for one aspect: it lacked dreams. Every time I had fallen asleep since that first encounter with Carter, I came face to face with the nightmares and fears it had created. They were always dark and tense, and I was always alone, cold, and scared. And almost always, there was never a happy ending. But this sleep was different. I was so exhausted, so lost for comfort and rest that I allowed my body to completely break away from what was going on around it. I embraced the silent darkness, and subconsciously thanked it for the reprieve from the fear and isolation I had come to expect over the last few weeks. I must have been asleep for a coupled of hours when I was awakened gently. I could not tell what it was that had brought me out of my slumber at first. I slowly realized that there was a hand pressing gently on the side of my knee. I opened my eyes and stretched slowly, finding that I was curled up on my side with my back to whomever it was that was sitting on the edge of the bed. I remember now that I was not one bit alarmed. It was strange that I did not jump or start when I realized I was not alone. Maybe I knew. When I turned over slowly, I saw Frank sitting there staring down at me with a soft smile and a knowing glint in his eyes. "Dinner is ready. You should eat and keep up your strength," he said softly, obviously testing the waters from my outburst earlier in the day. I nodded and rolled back over, and letting my legs drop over the side of the bed, sat up as slowly and purposefully as I could, maneuvering between sore muscles. When I was finally sitting up straight, I lifted my hand and ran my fingers through my hair, trying to tame the disheveled mess. During this, Frank had stood up and walked to the door. I could feel him standing there watching me and turned around to let him know. "I suppose we just said what we should have sooner," he remarked. "I guess we did." "I don't play games, Kate." "I never thought you would." "Then don't worry about how I feel because you already know." "Okay," I said, nodding a little, unsure what to say in response. "Alright then," he said, he shoulders visibly relaxing a little, "I'll go set the table." He turned and walked out of the room. I sighed a little as I watched him go. Part of me was grateful he was gone for now and part of me longing for him to stay. I stood up finally and walked over the one window in the room. There was a small window seat in front of it, cushioned in an antique rose colored fabric that I found oddly comforting. It reminded me of something I would have found in my Grandmother's home when I was little. I stared out the window at the fading sunlight. I had always found comfort in that light. I remember as a child watching the sun rise and set with the greatest anticipation. I must have thought it created this magically disappearing act just for me. I still found it mesmerizing and understood that this spectacle was, in a way, just for me. As I stood there absorbing the rich golds, reds, and oranges of autumn, I realized that this was a singular experience that only I myself could experience, alone or not. For one moment, just before the sun dipped into the darkness, through the flames of the leaves on the trees and the beams that burst forth from between the limbs, I caught a glimpse of my soul on the horizon and felt my breath catch in my throat. For the first time in a long time I felt something I thought I could never again. I felt hope.