A/N: Ok, a lot of people asked me how Sands managed to drive all that way without killing himself or at least crashing the car. It's a good question and one which doesn't have a simple answer. Basically I've been asking Sands and even he's not too sure (and he's very reluctant to talk about it). I think the reaction he had to Evelyn "leaving" was so strong that he flipped into reckless mode. He didn't care if he crashed or not but something similar to autopilot must have kicked in. As soon as Sands realised what he was doing he had to stop the car which is why he was in the middle of nowhere. I hope that answers the questions (admittedly it does require a suspension of disbelief which might be necessary for further chapters too :) ).

Anyway, thank you to all my wonderful reviewers! You guys are the greatest!

Chapter 10: Progression

Evelyn thought Sands might be taken ill after being so exposed for a day or so but he recovered remarkably quickly. The statue was given pride of place in the living room. Nino praised it highly but in truth he barely gave it a second glance. He was far more interested in Sands' return. He was immeasurably pleased to see Sands well and happy, it was evident in the little boy's beaming smile and the way he rushed about to do Sands' bidding with even more enthusiasm than usual. Nino was sure that Sands' happiness was down to Evelyn, not that his happiness was obvious to anyone who did not know him very well. He was not smiling any more than usual, and he certainly wasn't laughing but there was something in the tone of his voice that was more gentle than usual, that was the biggest clue. Then there was the way he occasionally reached for Evelyn as if to make sure she was still there. She would touch his hand and smile, her own happiness much clearer to see.

Nino had gone to bed after completing several English exercises set by Sands. Evelyn had read Sands' book to him and now they were sitting side by side in the flickering evening light. A moth was buzzing lazily around one of the light bulbs making soft thumping noises upon each collision.

"I should go back to my hotel," Evelyn said. Sands looked almost mortified at the idea.

"You can't," he said, "You should stay here."

"Why should I?" Evelyn teased. Sands leaned over and kissed her. When Evelyn woke a few hours later she found she was cold. She looked around and realised to her considerable alarm that she was outside. She sat up and stared wildly around until she saw Sands sitting beside her, smoking as usual.

"I don't know what you're looking so shocked for," he said casually though how he knew was anyone's guess, "You were the one who said you'd never done it under the stars before." Evelyn smiled as the memory came back to her, she did not go back to the hotel that night.

Evelyn drove Sands' car back into the garage the next day all the time wondering how on earth Sands had managed not to crash it and thanking everything she could think of that nothing had happened to him. She even closed her eyes very briefly while she was driving but the effect was so disorientating and frightening that she stopped almost at once. Sands made no mention of his car or of the events of the previous few days so Evelyn took her cue from him and decided not to ask. Nino polished the car up without Evelyn knowing and when she eventually did realise she never found out if Sands had asked him to do it or whether he had done it of his own accord.

Evelyn spent a lot of time at Sands' house after that, returning to her hotel room to collect clothes or art materials. Slowly her collection of things at Sands' house increased until her stuff was spread about 50:50 between the two locations. She made every effort to keep her things confined to her room when not in use and not to let things get left lying around but it happened occasionally. She left an easel in the living room and Sands had brushed past it, fortunately avoiding a head long collision. Evelyn found him standing by it, touching the wood lightly with his hands.

"It's an easel," Evelyn told him.

"I guessed," said Sands.

"I'm sorry I left it lying around," said Evelyn. Sands waved away her apology and resumed his inspection of the foreign object.

"It hasn't got a painting on it at the moment," Evelyn explained.

"I guessed that too," said Sands.

"Oh," Evelyn said not knowing quite what to say next. Sands turned to her and smiled but Evelyn saw it wasn't a happy smile; he wanted to see her paintings.

With Evelyn around more often Nino spent more time with his family. He had just returned one evening while Evelyn was making dinner. She heard him coming through the front door.

"Hello Nino," she called, "How was your family?"

"Very good," replied Nino without enthusiasm. He eyed the saucepans on the stove longingly.

"You hungry?" Evelyn asked. Nino nodded furiously then looked worried.

"Is there enough for me?" he asked.

"Of course there is," said Evelyn as she wiped her hands on her apron, "I wouldn't leave you out." Nino beamed before bouncing off to find Sands. Evelyn watched him leave wondering as she did so whether he minded the sudden introduction of someone else into the household; he had always been cheerful and happy so Evelyn hoped that meant he was pleased to have her around. At least Sands was less snappy with him now. He still had his instant temper but at least he did not shout as much, he was trying.

Sands could hear Evelyn humming something as she cooked. He liked it when she did that, it was easier than listening for footsteps or breathing. Sometimes he found it hard to believe she was still here after what she had seen and what she had been told but here she was. Every morning Sands would wake and if Evelyn wasn't lying next to him he would feel a horrible emptiness which scared him. He knew he was already far too dependent on her and it had happened so quickly. Just like it had happened with Ajedrez, that bitch had made him believe she loved him but he had not looked very hard to see if she was lying. She had been beautiful, too beautiful and too deadly. This time though he couldn't be seduced by looks. This time he had got it right surely, he wouldn't survive if he made another mistake. The nightmares had not stopped, neither had they lessened in intensity but when Evelyn was there Sands somehow managed to suffer in silence smothering his screams in his pillow so that, so far at least, he had not woken Evelyn even once. He shuddered and was glad that at that moment Nino arrived to take his mind off things.

Evelyn was dressed only in her short silk pink nightdress so it was quite chilly standing on the porch. The meal dishes had all been cleared away by Nino who had insisted on helping out. He was now curled up in bed and Evelyn was keen to follow suite. Sands was smoking on his usual chair. Evelyn walked over to him.

"I'm going to bed now," she announced. She kissed Sands on the cheek.

"Ok," he said, "I'll be in once I've had my fix." Evelyn smiled, squeezed Sands' shoulder and then left. She fell asleep almost immediately so she did not hear Sands come to bed.

Sands knew she was asleep; each breath was deep and regular. He listened to her for a little while and then slipped into bed beside her. She gave a sleepy moan and turned so she was facing Sands before snuggling up to him. Sands put his arm around her and felt her warm body against his own, it was comforting. He didn't want to fall asleep, he never wanted to, because he knew what was coming. He sighed and eventually the conscious world slipped away.

She was there, slipping in and out of focus horribly. He struggled to watch her but once she started speaking it was no effort to hear her words.

"Sorry baby, I told you I wasn't interested in your scheme" Sands turned his head and saw her father, Barillo, advancing upon him his face wrapped in bandages. He could see him, he could see the malicious Dr Guevera, he could see the silver device spinning and spinning and spinning. His scream ripped through the silence. He was bolt upright shaking uncontrollably the pain still tearing through him. He felt someone try and push him back onto the bed but he lashed out catching them right round the face. He didn't know anything but the pain until a gentle hand touched his face.

"It's alright," said a soothing voice which did not belong in his nightmare, "You're ok. Just relax." Sands found himself obeying the voice's instructions, he lay back still breathing hard. Slowly he began to remember where he was.

"Evelyn?"

"Yes, I'm here," came the reply as Evelyn lay down beside him her own heart beating wildly in her chest but none of it showed in her voice.

"I'm sorry," said Sands in an anguished voice feeling utterly drained, "I didn't mean to hit you, I"

"None of that matters," said Evelyn kindly, "Just go back to sleep now." So he did. Evelyn, on the other hand, stayed awake for a long time with the scream echoing round her head.

Evelyn got up early the next morning; she was finding it difficult to get any sleep at all now. Sands felt her rise and so he sat up too.

"How was your sleep last night?" he asked knowing what the answer would be.

"Not that good," confessed Evelyn as she rubbed her tired eyes.

"It's my fault," said Sands, "I knew it would happen sooner or later." Evelyn thought she knew what he was going to say but she had to ask.

"What did you dream last night?" Sands' face clouded over.

"Day of the Dead," he said simply. Evelyn sat back and touched his hand.

"How often?" she asked.

"Every night," Sands replied with a shiver. Evelyn put her arms round him.

"I'll help in any way I can," she said, "Even if it means not sleeping at all." Sands produced a small smile.

"You shouldn't have to deal with my problems," he said but at the same time he clung to Evelyn like she was keeping him afloat.

"I only want to help," said Evelyn, "If you want me to just leave you alone then tell me so."

"No," said Sands, "Don't leave me alone." He said this quietly so that no one but Evelyn could possibly have heard even if they had been in the room.

"I won't," Evelyn whispered in his ear and she kissed him warmly feeling tired no longer.

So their lives existed in this balance. Nino and Evelyn shared the cooking and other jobs and Sands found he now had two people eager to assist him, and he learnt not to resent this quite so much. Gradually his smile became quicker to appear and often lingered longer which delighted Evelyn and Nino alike. But like all good things, this time had to come to an end.