Okay well the action is gonna heat up in this chapter, I'm trying to get the Nicholas storyline moving along because I know many of you are anxious to see how thats all going to work out. Hope this chapter is enjoyable!

Erik woke when he felt Chris shifting in her sleep, feeling her skin against his reminded him that the previous night had not been a dream. The tears, crying, fear and everything else had been real. In her sleep Christina pressed a kiss to his collarbone, her head resting peacefully on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around him, her legs entwined with his. He brushed a stray lock away from her eyes, letting his finger graze her brow and down her jaw. She was really here with him, loving him, protecting him…even from himself. This precious angel had given him something priceless, something precious. He knew he had to keep her safe at all costs. Remembering the phone calls and that boy's odd behavior he tried to ease himself away from her but she woke, her sleepy eyes searching the dark before finding him.

"Erik? What are you doing? Are you okay?" she asked tiredly, pushing herself up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"I'm fine my love, I didn't mean to wake you darling. Go back to sleep" he murmured pressing a kiss to her lips.

Chris flopped back down onto the mattress and allowed him to pull the blankets up around her bare shoulders as he slid out of bed.

"Make your conversation with whomever you're going to drag out of bed quick" she muttered from under the blankets "I'm cold without you"

After a moment of deliberation he realized nothing could be done right now at this hour anyway so he slid back into bed, gathering her to him as he lay back down. Smiling with satisfaction that she got her way Chris worked her body next to his, head on shoulder. "What's on your mind?" He had assumed she'd gone back to sleep.

"I need to find out who's been calling you." He whispered into the dark.

"My own guardian angel eh?" she teased, picking her head up to look at him. He still looked uncomfortable without his mask; she let her fingers trace a scar on his cheek, causing him to look away, turning his face away from her. "Hey" she said softly, turning his face back to hers "What's that all about?"

"I don't want you to…" she silenced him with a kiss.

"Hush Erik. Remember, I have scars too. I don't care about yours." She pulled him in for a deep kiss with an unspoken promise of a thousand more "Stop trying to hide from me Erik, you can't get rid of me now, you're stuck" she teased "I can't imagine a life without you now. I need you Erik, I need you," she murmured her eyes filling with tears.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to each eye, his thumbs brushing across her cheeks "I'm yours Chris. I'm sorry. It will take some time…"

"I know, I understand. Just don't push me out, let me help"

Erik pulled her to him for a kiss "For now how about we try to get some more sleep. It's early and I don't want you to have a hard time at work tomorrow"

This set the pace for the next few weeks…

Christina returned to Erik's house every day after work, there were no more disturbing phone calls, no more unexpected visits from Nicholas who stayed away from her at school, he even went so far as to clear out of the break room when she would enter. It was a peaceful few weeks.

Every night Christina went to Erik's bed, sometimes they fooled around and others they were content to just hold each other. After nearly a month Chris felt it was time for her to return to her own townhouse, overcoming many objections from Erik…many angry objections.

"I don't think it's safe!" his voice was somewhat muffled because she was in his gigantic closet but she could still hear how angry he was.

"Erik, for the last time" she took a long deep breath, trying to reign in her temper "I'm not going to let anyone chase me out of my own damn house!"

She walked out of the closet and nearly ran into Erik, unmoving with hands on his hips, his lips almost entirely gone, a bad sign. "I'm not going to let some sick bastard run me out of my own house. I'm not the type to bend to intimidation"

He grabbed her shoulders "See sense woman! Anything could happen to you!"

Christina wrenched herself out of his grasp "Yes, I could get struck by lightning or I could get hit by a car! Again! I could get shot! Again! Damnit Erik I have to do this" she shouted at him.

His face paled, his hands clenching into fists, a sure sign that he was attempting to keep his temper in check as well…and losing the battle.

With her last article of clothing packed she grabbed the handle of her suitcase and pulled it off the bed.

"Please don't look like you're never going to see me again. I'll be here for dinner tomorrow" she set her suitcase down and took his hands in hers, feeling the tension in them. "Erik, please don't be mad. But I 'have' to do this. It's been weeks and everything has been quiet. I'll be fine"

He nodded his head once, gave her a quick peck on the lips and stalked out of the bedroom, leaving her to see herself out. Nadir met her at the door, looking a bit harried. She gave him a wry smile "I'm sorry if this is causing problems for you Nadir."

"Everything with Erik is dramatic and difficult. You did nothing, I feel you're doing the right thing."

"Thanks Nadir, I'll see you for dinner tomorrow" she pulled her suitcase out the door behind her.

Her first thought when she walked in the door to her townhouse was relief. Everything was just as it should be, everything would be fine. She unpacked her clothes and made herself a cup of tea and settled onto her couch to watch some TV. As the night continued she couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. Erik had made her paranoid! She returned her attention to the screen, ignoring her gut that was screaming 'danger'.

Christina fell asleep in front of her TV and probably would have slept through the night if not for the sound of breaking glass coming from her bathroom. Her senses on alert she sprang off the sofa, grabbing her cell phone in the process. She hurried up the stairs, ignoring the pain in her leg, adrenaline overcoming everything else. The window was broken but not enough for a person to climb through.

Hurrying back downstairs, dialing 911 as she did she heard a second 'thump' from the bathroom. Without thinking she raced outside, yanking her keys off the hook as she darted past them in the hallway making a beeline for her car when she was tackled to the ground. Reacting with all her soldier instincts she began to claw and bite the person who was attempting to hold her down. She felt herself land a hard blow to their face, pushing them off of her.

The whine of sirens could be heard coming down the street, her assailant grunted with her last blow and hurried off into the woods at the end of her cul de sac. Someone dragged her up, she screamed and whipped around to see Erik's pale, very angry face looking at her. It was then that she smelled smoke; looking up in horror she saw the smoke billowing out of her bathroom window.

After a moment she realized Erik was trying to talk to her, yelling at her.

"What? What?" she yelled back, the shock was wearing off.

"Are you alright?" he asked in a way that told Chris he was barely keeping it together.

She grasped his arms "Yes, I'm fine. I…there was someone out here, I ran outside to get to the car and…there was a person here, they tackled me and I fought him" she sniffled a little, not even realizing she had been crying until she felt Erik's fingers swiping away the tears.

He pulled her into his embrace, rubbing her back as she cried. She hardly noticed the swarming police officers and firemen. It seemed like an eternity before the fire was under control; Christina's neighbors had all been roused from their sleep by the lights and hubbub. Someone had returned her cell and keys, which she had apparently dropped in the scuffle. After a thousand inane questions from the Police, after she'd given her statement they allowed Erik to take her home. The shock had set in again, rendering her speechless and limp. Erik had to guide her upstairs to his bedroom and into his bathroom. She was covered in dirt from her fight and smelled of smoke.

When the warm water hit her skin she came to, Erik heard her gasp and turned back around to make sure she was okay. She was standing in his shower, shaking looking stunned and dazed. Quickly stripping off his clothes he joined her and pulled her to him, rubbing her back.

"I'm sorry Erik…I guess you were right" she said softly after a long moment. That startled a chuckle out of him.

"In this case I hate being right." He brushed her wet hair away from her face; she didn't have any wounds from her fight though he felt bad for the poor bastard who messed with her.

Feeling her arms wrapped around his waist, feeling her body pressed to his reminded him of their many nights together which started a chain reaction in his body that he couldn't stop…

Christina chuckled and tipped her head to look up at him, not caring if the water was now streaming into her eyes "You're my knight in shining armor Erik Montgomery" she pulled him down for a kiss, her arms pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss. Fear, it turns out is a powerful aphrodisiac. Erik pressed her against the wall to the shower, running a hand down her body, over her hip and under her thigh, holding it up and hooking her leg over his hip as he ground against her.

"Chris, please don't ever leave again," he rasped against her neck as he kissed it, her jaw before claiming her lips again.

Christina buried her face in his neck, her fingers digging into his hair "I won't. I'm sorry Erik" she could say no more because he possessed her lips again with a desperate kiss, frantic hands roamed her body, as much as she wanted him she was exhausted. Her body started to go limp against him; she continued to return his kisses but not nearly as exuberantly as before. Erik pulled back to see her eyes drooping though she was trying desperately to keep up with his attentions. His lust was spurred more by fear than anything, now that he saw she was safe and nothing was going to happen to her he could let himself relax.

Tenderly he washed her hair, taking care not to pull it too much, and then he washed her body. She leaned against him so trustingly, watching him with sleepy eyes as he shut the water off and wrapped her in a bathrobe and swept her into his arms to carry her into the bedroom. He laid her on the bed and brushed her wet curls away from her face and kissed her.

"Would you like some tea?"

She shook her head "No, I just want to sleep." She grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the bed with her "I don't think I was that scared when I was getting shot at. All I could think of was 'Oh my god, Erik was right'" she sighed and rubbed her eyes "I thought I heard the fire chief say something about a fire bomb? Who would firebomb my place?" she wondered frantically.

"Shh, you should get some sleep love you're exhausted" he pulled out a pair of his sweats and a t-shirt, they'd be huge on her but they'd have to do until they could procure her something more appropriate.

She ignored the pants and pulled the t-shirt on before sliding under the covers "Are you coming to bed?"

Erik nodded, pulling underwear on and slipping beneath the sheets with her, pulling her to him, safe in his embrace. He pressed his lips to her forehead as he heard her breathing deepen and even out.

A call to the principal of the school she worked at the night before ensure that Chris didn't have to go to work the next morning, she had been through quite an ordeal and she had a meeting with the fire chief so she could go through the remains of her townhouse to collect what she could. Erik had cancelled all his meetings so he could go with her.

Christina stood in front of her townhouse, the charred shell that had once been home…a home meant for her and Rodney. Tears were streaming down her face as she walked through her home, walls blackened and a sickly smoky smell in the air that threatened to choke her. Glass crunched beneath her shoes, startling her every time she stepped on a shard. The pictures that had once hung on the wall were now sopping messes on the floor, trod on by numerous firemen.

Under her coffee table, where all her precious photo albums had been stored was a disaster. Crumpling to her knees, heedless of the glass and other various dangers poking into her legs she reached trembling hands out to pick up the photo album that she had so lovingly put together, it was a picture show of her life with Rodney. All she had left of him. The tears started falling, one drop, two onto the cover that was smudged with soot. She heard the two men behind her, shifting their weight from one foot to the other. When he could take no more Erik pulled her into his arms, where she buried her face in his neck and cried.

It was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do, next only to burying Rodney. What few possession she was able to salvage were piled into a truck and sent over to Erik's. An insurance agent had arrived to perform an inspection so they could cut her a check for the damages. Fortunately her father had insisted on her getting some kind of renters insurance so she would be able to replace everything that had been damaged or destroyed. Erik watched, with pain in his heart as Chris floated through the days a mere shell of what she had been. Much like he had been after he'd gotten out of the hospital he assumed. There was nothing he could do to ease her pain; he knew she had to suffer it just like he had.

A week after the fire a detective from the police station came to talk to Chris and him surprisingly. Principal Snyder had been kind enough to give Chris an extended leave of absence so she could get her affairs settled.

Taking a seat in his office, Christina nestled against his side, her hand firmly in his with Detective Michaels across from them Erik waited to see what the good fellow had to say.

"I'm sure you're both wondering why I wanted to see both of you." He gave Chris a smile "After hearing your statement and speaking to Mister Montgomery I did some digging and I found the report about your fire six years ago sir. After speaking to the detective who had been in charge of your case Mister Montgomery he sent me his case file. I found some disturbing similarities between the cases. Particularly in the method the suspect used in starting the fires. The same accelerant was found in your bathroom Ms. Davies that was used to start your fire" he said looking at Erik "So the case has been reopened and the Feds have been called in"

"The FBI? Why in gods name are they sticking their fingers in the mix?" Erik demanded.

"Because we believe it's the same person, he's also responsible for three other fires in Delaware and New Jersey. He's crossed State Lines and four of the five fires involved members of the civilian military consultant population. Some of the most brilliant minds that have extensive knowledge of top-secret files and projects are being terrorized by this serial arsonist. You, Ms Davies are the only odd duck in this mix. He or she have been very specific in their victims, you don't fit the profile."

Christina nodded as she took the information in, she couldn't help but feel that Nicholas had something to do with this but that seemed too easy, too obvious. Erik voiced her unspoken concerns, Detective Michaels nodded "We've spoken to Mister Delaney, so far he as an alibi but we're checking the validity of it. I'll keep you in the loop about the investigation"

"Thank you Detective." Christina murmured weakly. There really was nothing more to say she supposed, she was tired…bone deep tired. How had things turned so shitty so quickly? Erik had left to show the detective out but returned quickly, his own face as pale as Christina's.

Swallowing her own grief Chris angled herself on the sofa and took Erik's hand in hers "Are you okay?" his eyes were distant, lost in the past. She wasn't even sure he's heard her.

He nodded after a while, though she could see that his jaw was still clenched. Chris maneuvered her way onto his lap and rested her head on his shoulder, relaxing when his arms came up around her and his lips brushed her forehead. "Yes my dear, just surprised is all. And worried for you. You could be at risk, since you seem to be an inconsistency in his pattern…it could be personal for him now, which makes it dangerous for you."

She saw the sense in his words "I suppose, but I can't just hole myself up here in your house waiting for him to try again. What kind of life is that to be controlled by fear?"

His cheek rested against her head so she couldn't see his face but she knew she'd struck a nerve. "I'm sorry Erik, I just meant that this is exactly what this person wants. For me to be afraid, he thinks he has power over me. I need to prove to him that he doesn't."

His finger tipped her chin up so she was looking at his face "Chris, I love that you are so strong and you refuse to let anything get the best of you. I'm not asking you to hide, I'm asking you to be smarter then the person who is trying to kill you"

Christina saw the tears shimmering in his eyes as he continued, "My heart stopped when I got the call saying your townhouse was on fire. I thought I'd lost you" his voice caught and a tear slipped down his exposed cheek "When I saw you rolling on the ground while that person was trying to kill you" he almost couldn't say the words "Christina I'm begging you, please back down…just this once" he ended by resting his forehead on hers, his eyes closed, lips quivering as he attempted to control himself.

Chris cupped his exposed cheek with her hand, letting her thumb wipe away his tears "I promise Erik, I'll cooperate with you on this. I didn't mean to hurt you"

His eyes opened, pain still shimmering in his golden green eyes. Chris gave him a soft kiss before letting her head fall to his shoulder wondering if they would ever have any peace at all?