I could hear David set his bags down inside the entry way, checking the alarm panel. The downstairs zones were now active.

"Jaidyn?"

"I'm upstairs."

He set the security codes for the night and went up to find me. I was in my bedroom, curled up on my bed reading a book. I was dressed in jeans and a marine t-shirt compliments of the JAG wardrobe. I think that he would have teased me about it, had he not been on a mission.

"I was beginning to think you'd got lost," I joked, checking the clock on my dresser to confirm the late hour, 11:37 pm. Then his expression registered. "What's wrong?"

"Given a little call I got around 6:36 this morning, I was just going to ask you that." He leaned against the door jam and waited.

I set my book on the table to keep my place. Apparently, the day's earlier events had been relayed to him.

"I had an interesting day," I began cautiously, avoiding eye contact.

"Elaborate." The terse word was about the best he could do. In the little time I had known David, I came to one realization about our relationship that stuck out above all others: We didn't get mad at each other very often, but when we did, the fights tended to be explosive. I knew that he wanted answers.

"You might want to take a seat."

One eyebrow rose. He sat down his bag and sat in the chair across from her.

"My step-dad knows where I am. He followed me today."

I had the ability to separate emotions from facts, but I only did it when the event was traumatic. There was no emotion in my voice at all tonight. His anger evaporated. I could see him thinking through what had obviously happened.

"Who was with you?"

"I was by myself."

His eyes widened.

I grimaced.

"I think I set a new PR for my 5K." My attempt to inject humor into my voice didn't work.

"How are you doing?"

I held up my tea cup. "Fourth cup. Tonight, I almost wish I drank. Your housekeeper talked me into a cup of coffee because it was obvious I was a ball of nerves. I switched to tea somewhere around five."

"Jaidyn… "

I cut him off. "I did what I thought best."

I looked down at my tea cup. I told David all of it. Not just because he'd asked, but because he needed to know. This was his house, and his family could be at risk.

"I'm sorry."

"You're forgiven… as long as you promise to call Travis next time." Travis was the family's top security guard. I couldn't believe it… I was going to have to have security.

"Next time I get chased by my step-dad, I'll call Travis." I laughed at his determined expression.

"Don't even tell me how you found out about this morning—I don't think I want to know." Getting to my feet I walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine."

"Think you'll sleep? I'll be glad to stay up and talk to you if you'd like."

I looked at him with a knowing smile.

"Since your body is on less sleep than mine, I think you need it more than I do. Seriously, other than a little too much caffeine I'm fine. I've been through events like this before. I'm coping remarkably well. Go to bed. If I can't sleep, I'll read for a little while longer."

David brushed my hair back from my face. "I'll pray you have peaceful dreams."

"Thank you," I whispered as I was amused and somewhat relieved when David did a security sweep of her bedroom, "just to reassure himself," he had said.

When he exited the room, he left the bedside lamp on, the door open, and the hall light on. I smiled, in spite of the day, and went back to my book. Somehow it would work out—it always did.