[A/N- thank you for all the reviews. Wow. I've never had this many. It's awesome. I love you all. A.H, babe, don't worry about getting too attached to Alinnya, this story's barely half done, and part of that's because the chapters are so short. If you see something for the re-write, tell me, because I'm going to get started on my next story as soon as this one's done. As for Alinnya's demons, well, frankly guys, she only has one, and she's not at the point where she will be face to face with him yet. After that, all she has to face is herself- trust me that that's the worst it will get. On to the next chapter!]

The shaman smiled, quietly, as he watched the two of them, wrapped around each other, close as lovers, flipping pages in the book every minute or so. It had been years since he'd felt that kind of caring, but she was dead now, and the memory was enough. He would not tarnish it with another. It was she who had led him to the spiritual, to read eyes for a soul. And the eyes of the woman outside worried him. They spoke of horrors he could barely fathom, a ruthless audacity, and a single- minded possessiveness that would be the death of her. The cracks in her armor were Jack's, and Jack's alone. He was proud of him for his handling of the situation. There was something about the man that seemed almost as dark as she did, some great sympathy that lurked in their depths, a certain protectiveness where she was concerned. He'd make them stay another week. Then that arm could go wherever they saw fit. He could let her leave- her soul would be taken care of.
***
"Come on, love. Let's go," Jack pulled her up by her good arm, steadying her. He was grinning like a madman.
"Where are we going?" she didn't know which was more surprising- his behavior, or the fact he was holding her hand walking down the street. He never held her hand. It was… alien. Strangely comforting, but foreign nonetheless.
"Well love," he spun her around, so that she was facing him, his hands on her hips, their faces so close that any small motion would turn into a kiss. "I have some… unfinished business with you, if you will."
It was all he could do, with his body that close to hers, to suppress the urge to have her, right there, on the street. He grinned savagely at her in the fading twilight, kissing her gently, seductively, and then leading her deeper into the night life of Singapore.
She was surprised by the bonfires on the beach, till she realized the date. It was a holiday, of sorts. It was spring, and there was rum everywhere, food cooking, and a band playing lazily on the side. They stopped as Jack led her toward them.
"Ah, my friends, will you dance?" the lead bandsman asked them, waving his arm invitingly. "It is good karma to all here."
A mutter went through the crowd, and she turned to face Jack, who smiled at her and kissed her hand.
"There are no women here with hoop skirts or corsets to whisk me away," he smiled at her, stepping back. The look in his eyes was entreating. "Tonight, mi'lady, I am all yours."
She turned to face the musicians and nodded, stepping forward to kiss him forcefully as the music started.