6 A.M. C.A.T.

Frankie's watch beeped, dragging her from sleep. She turned the alarm off, and stretched, enjoying the warmth against her back.

She froze. Why was there warmth against her back?

An arm snaked around her waist, and someone nuzzled her neck. She released the breath she'd been holding.

"John?"

"Mmm."

She carefully extricated herself from his hold and sat up. "What are you doing?"

He rubbed his eyes. "What?"

"You—" She shook her head. "You know what, never mind. We need to get going."

Frankie climbed off the bed and bent to put her shoes on. Then she ran a brush through her hair and twisted it into a braid, aware of Kilmer's gaze on her. She didn't give in to the temptation to look at him. Instead, she picked up a bandanna and tied it at the nape of her neck.

"That's cute," Kilmer said. "You look about sixteen."

"I'm not trying to be cute."

"Well, I like it."

Now she looked at him. He was still sprawled on the bed and looked far too chirpy for someone who'd had so little sleep.

"Are you coming?" She moved towards the door.

Kilmer jumped up, slipped his feet into his shoes, and followed her out. "Did you sleep well?"

"I could have done with another hour."

"But you slept most of the flight here."

She shrugged. "Maybe it's the heat."

They reached the hotel lobby to find Okapi waiting for them. He held up a plastic bag. "Do you mind having breakfast on the road?"

They said they didn't so Okapi led them to a jeep outside. He climbed into the driver's seat. Frankie got in the back, letting Kilmer have the passenger seat. She looked at the scenery as they drove, noticing how the people stared at her and Kilmer. When she commented on it, Okapi chuckled.

"We don't get many Western visitors here," he said.

Kilmer opened the packet Okapi had brought and took out a muffin. He turned in his seat and offered it to Frankie. She shook her head, trying to quell the nausea brought on by the bumpy road.

"No, thanks. I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat something."

"Kilmer, I don't want it." She held on to the edge of the jeep as they went over a particularly bad piece of road. "Is there any water?"

He took out a bottle of mineral water and passed it to her. It had been cold when they left, but was now already warm.

"Thanks."

"The heat takes some getting used to," Okapi said. "You should make sure you drink a lot of water."

She bit her tongue to keep from retorting that she knew that, and managed a smile instead. It was going to be a long day.

"Have either of you been to Africa before?" Okapi asked.

Frankie met Kilmer's gaze in the rearview mirror and took another sip of water. Since he was so chirpy this morning, let him answer, she thought. She looked at the scenery again, only half-listening to the conversation. She remembered all too well the last time they had been in Africa. Kilmer had ended up with a bullet wound . . .

She blinked in an attempt to dispel the image from her mind. It hadn't been a serious injury, but she'd still been frightened when she'd seen his blood. In a brief unguarded moment, she'd cupped his cheek in her hand, letting him see her concern, and then she'd taken control again.

Maybe it was morbid of her, but she was glad she had been there with him. It was better to see for herself that he was alright, than to be waiting helplessly in the Vault. And though it was often frustrating to be working together, there was no one she trusted more to guard her back. Theirs was an amicable relationship, for which she was glad, though some part of her recognized it wasn't a completely healthy relationship. She didn't want to dwell on that, and returned her attention to the present in time to hear Kilmer swear quietly under his breath.

Ahead of them was a roadblock. Men in army uniforms stepped into the road and waved for Okapi to stop the car. Frankie noticed Kilmer's posture stiffen and put her hand on his shoulder as Okapi climbed out the jeep.

"What's going on?"

He shook his head. "Don't have a clue." A pause. "I don't like this."

Neither did she, but she wasn't worried . . . yet. "Not everyone's out to get you, you know."

He smiled, turning in his seat to face her. He held her gaze for a moment, his expression softening just a little. "Are you okay? You were miles away just now."

"I'm fine. I'm just struggling with the heat."

"That's a first."

She shrugged and raised the water bottle to her lips.

"Hungry yet?"

Just the thought of food made her stomach turn. She shook her head. At his frown, she said, "I'll eat something later. I promise."

He didn't look completely satisfied with her answer, but he let it lie. Okapi returned to the car.

"What was that all about?" Kilmer asked.

"There's been some rebel activity in the mountains over there." Okapi pointed to the east. "The general wanted us to be aware that traveling this road might not be safe."

"What did you tell him?"

Okapi grinned as he started the engine. "That if the crazy Americans wanted to carry on, then we would carry on."

Kilmer didn't look amused. Frankie hid her smile, and leaned back against the seat. "How much farther is the hangar?"

"Maybe twenty minutes."

Okapi drove past the roadblock, raising his hand in a wave. Frankie, uncomfortable with the stares she was receiving, looked straight ahead. Kilmer caught her gaze in the mirror and winked. She rolled her eyes.

"Maybe we should start charging," Kilmer said. "I wonder if any of them are looking for a wife."

"Not funny, Kilmer."

"Okapi was telling me it's a matrilineal culture."

Suddenly irritable – whether from the heat, too little sleep, the tone of Kilmer's voice or Okapi's amused smile – Frankie snapped, "Oh, you've cured me of the idea of marriage for life, John."

His jaw dropped, and he quickly shut it. Okapi's eyes widened in confusion. Frankie instantly regretted the comment, and she looked down at her lap. Consumed with guilt, she glanced at Kilmer, but he was staring ahead.

She exhaled softly; so much for being amicable.