As Bane was conversing with the warlord, James was paying attention to Eclypsa. She was bored and disinterested, he could tell. He had gotten to know her very well over the past few months. He could read her easily. He knew that sometimes, she felt too comfortable and often forgot he was around-not that he minded. To James' everlasting delight, when she forgot that he was in the suite, she would often not close doors letting him see her when she changed or run out naked from the shower because she kept forgetting to bring a towel. He and Eclypsa were often playful and dare he say it-flirty with each other. He hoped that if she saw him in action, she would not treat him any differently. He would dearly miss her sultry half smiles, her looks of appreciation when he took off his shirt, and the way she bit her lip when she was thinking.

James got into step right behind Eclypsa once she went to go to wherever she was going. He balked when the men were trying to make him leave. He waited outside for a while until she came out holding a carved wooden box. He looked at her quizzically but she shook her head. Of course things went bad but when the warlord threatened Eclypsa, James' hand was on his gun and he already pulled the trigger before Eclypsa even registered the danger. Then the fighting. James cut man after man down, at the signal he left with the rest of them and detonated the bombs.

He was relieved to see Eclypsa safe and unharmed in the Jeep. He was concerned about the haunted look in her beautiful eyes. She continued looking back at the burning structure rapidly receding from them.

It was night by the time they got back to the abandoned house they called base camp. The men after the high of excitement and action were now exhausted and snoring loudly. James was waiting and sure enough a shadow detached itself from the building and walked off into the night. Eclypsa broke into a run and sprinted as fast as she could. James picked up the pace but didn't flat out chase her. He knew he was much faster than her and that she would tire soon. Soon enough she halted breathing hard, tears streaming down her face. James hesitated, he wasn't good at dealing with his own emotions let alone someone else's.

"Ahhhhh!" Eclypsa screamed her frustration into the night. James told her, "Tell me. I need to know." Choking on her tears, she told him about the warlord's wife, the horrible conditions the slaves were in, and her inability to help anyone and the death Oh God the deaths and the blood. She stumbled away from him and sank to her knees and retched.

Something deep in James' subconscious told him what to do. He knelt beside her and held her hair back while rubbing her back in soothing circles. He leaned his body against her, giving Eclypsa exactly what she needed: something to ground herself and someone to comfort her. James wrapped his arms around her and let her cry into his neck until she slumped against him in exhaustion.

Putting one arm under her knees and the other behind her shoulders, he picked her up in a fireman's carry and started walking back to camp. "It's not your fault," he whispered.

Eclypsa replied, "I know, but I could have done something. Anything."

"You did. It was just out of your hands."

Eclypsa shook her head and settled herself closer to his neck. "My calling is to heal people, to save. To prevent death, not bring it."

When they were almost to camp, he got back on his knees and settled her into his lap. Still holding her, James dared to stroke a flawless cheek gently marveling at the smoothness and softness of her skin. He felt her long eyelashes brush against his neck like butterfly kisses as she blinked groggily awake.

"We're here," his voice came out husky.

"5 more minutes," she snuggled closer and God help him, he couldn't do anything but hold her a bit longer. Too soon, he saw the sky turn from a midnight black to navy and he knew it was time. He stroked her cheek again and whispered her name until she woke. She stared into his eyes and threw her arms around his broad shoulders and hugged him tight. James was sure she could feel his heart rate accelerate and his breathing get shallower. He couldn't resist and hugged right back.