Okay, fourth chapter is up, and much faster than the third chapter was! I'm a little confused about the direction I want the story to take, but hopefully I don't contradict myself too much in this chapter. Thank you everyone for your constructive (and polite) criticism of chapter three!!! I tried to fix stuff that you pointed out to me, but let me know if you have any other suggestions. For some reason, I can't get the beginnings of my paragraphs to tab. I do it on word perfect, but after I transfer it too document manager, the tabs are gone. Sorry.

I only own Sophia. Everything else belongs to Tamora Pierce.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As Sophia finished the last bite of her meal, Dom squirmed in his seat, uncomfortably.Dinner

had been awkward: Patchy, unintelligent small talk, alternating with seemingly-long periods of

silence. Not for the first time, Dom experienced nervousness with a woman. But in a way, it was

a new experience: The nervousness wasn't because of the shine of her hair, the flash of her eyes,

or her flirtatious giggle. It was because the woman across the table from him was in full uniform,

and was now his commanding officer.

He looked at her empty plate. The girl can really pack it in, he thought. She had finished a

very large dish, and had never lost momentum or gusto while eating. He supposed it was silly for

women to peck daintily at their food, but it was so much more...feminine that way.

"So, we should talk about the assignment," Sophia said briskly, sitting up straighter in her chair.

"Okay," Dom said uncertainly.

He hadn't wanted this to become a business meeting, but that was what it was becoming. He

glanced at the napkin in his lap. The corner of the stiff white cloth was turned up, and seemed to

be waving at him, in a gesture expressing, "help me!"

Sophia raised her hand into the air and snapped her fingers loudly. Dom frowned, finding the

gesture common and rude. However, the waiter did come quickly.

"Yes, My Lady?" He said, in an almost humble tone.

"We are ready to pay," She answered pointedly. Dom reached for his pocket, but Sophia was

quicker.

She handed the man a gold coin and commanded, "No change. Good night."

The waiter bowed and nearly ran from the table, leaving Dom with his dinner companion-turned-

drill sergeant.

Sophia jumped up from the table, and fairly marched towards the door, Dom trailing behind.

She pushed her way out through the heavy oak doors of the eating house, ignoring two coat-

check boys trying to open them for her. As soon as Dom was outside and beside her in the cool

night air, she said,

"We can talk in my rooms when we ride back to the palace. As the two commanders we need

to form a fight plan as soon as possible, so we know what supplies we'll need."

She turned, preparing to walk over to where he horse was tethered nearby, but Dom caught her

arm. She turned questioningly.

"What is it, Sergeant Domitan?"

"Why are you acting so changed?" Dom was himself a little shocked at his directness.

She blinked, blue eyes wide, the picture of innocence and ignorance of his intent. "What do you

mean?"

"Why are you so cold, so...distant? Why didn't you let me pay or open the door for you?" He

asked, the words coming easier as he spoke faster. "I thought we were friends. Suddenly, it's as

though you don't know me."

She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held it tight, as though the very act of retaining her arm

was evidence of the truth of his words. Her façade crumbled slightly, and her expression

changed. She now looked uncomfortable, unhappy. She leaned towards him slightly, and said

low,

"I just think we need to approach this in a business-like fashion. We shouldn't treat each other

as friends, but as partners. It will just complicate the situation to bring personal affection into the

picture."

Dom gripped her arm suddenly harder. He saw her flinch in pain, but he felt as though he

couldn't control his limbs. A rush of anger, hot and painful as a cramp, flooded his system.

"But what about us? We get along so well, we were getting to know each other so well. There

was something between us. You're willing to give up a ripening future for you and me because of

complication?"She met his eyes for one moment. Then she wrenched her arm out his grasp,

and sharply turned her face away.

"I'm sorry, but that's my decision," She said coldly "I would appreciate it if you would comply

with it."

She quickly untied her horse, mounted, and turned the dappled grey pony to face Dom. He

stood, staring up at her, finally feeling pain in place of anger.

"We'll meet tomorrow instead of tonight, Sergeant. 10 am, my rooms. Goodnight."

And she turned and cantered off without a backwards glance.

Dom mounted his horse slowly, his thoughts burdening his body. For a fleeting moment, he felt

contempt and near hatred for Sophia. It's good I escaped that slut. She played the man too

much, and my taste is wholly for women, he thought bitterly. It hurt so much, and he didn't

understand why she had done it. She was heartless, cold, cruel, he thought savagely, as he

mounted carelessly. How could it be so easy for her to rid herself of him?

But his overriding emotion was loss, as he rode back towards the palace. He felt strangely

drained, devoid. He hadn't realized she occupied such a big place inside him.