Awkwardness settled around them as they made their way back to the truck. Chris pressed the button on the remote to extend the automatic running board so that Brody could climb up into the passenger's seat.

"I'll take a cab," Brody's breath rushed out in a hiss. She felt like a fool. What was she thinking kissing him like that?

"I'll take you home," Chris said, resigned.

Reluctantly, she climbed back into the cab and settled into the passenger's seat. For several minutes nothing was said as they drove back toward the French Quarter, each keeping their eyes focused on the road ahead.

When she could no longer stand the silence, Brody opened her mouth and then shut it, contemplating, "I'm sorry." She said finally.

Still focused on the road, Chris chose his words carefully. "You don't have to say anything."

His heart was hammering a mile a minute. He was contemplating how to play this out without damaging their partnership. He couldn't deny that ever since she had walked through the door that he had been drawn to her, that perfect figure, the brains and not to mention the kick-ass moves. It would so easy to take her back to his place and let this play out like the scene that he was formulating in his head. But if he did, how could they ever work together in the field?

"Maybe it's the curse-" she added.

That did it. Not caring about the motorists behind him, he punched the break hard. They both jolted forward as the truck's wheels screeched, skidding into a deserted intersection. Cars laid down on their horns, drivers throwing the finger as they went around.

Chris didn't care. "So, now you believe in the curse?" he glared at her incredulously. Of all the things that had happened a kiss was the thing making her believe in the possibility of Voodoo? She had to be kidding. Right?

Brody leaned forward pointing a finger, "No, actually I believe that you can't handle the fact that a strong woman came on to you."

Chris raised his eyebrows. Really? " You see, where I come from women still like to let the man take the lead." His gaze bored into hers as he threw the truck into park and undid his seatbelt.

Brody started to speak, but before she could he flanked her face with his hands and leaned in with a harsh demanding kiss that made her toes curl. Her nails dug into the leather armrest in resistance but then relaxed as the kiss found its rhythm.

Sinking deeper into seat, she grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him on top of her.

They were so engrossed in each other, that neither noticed the delivery van that had just run the red light to enter the intersection. Brody was the first to break out of the kiss at the sound of wheels screaming against asphalt. White lights blinded her. A scream ripped from the back of her throat, only to be lost in the sound of crunching metal, as the vehicle plowed, head on into Chris's truck.

"Ma'am you need to let him go"

Brody heard the words of the EMS worker but didn't comprehend them. All she knew was that LaSalle was lying in a pool of his own blood. He was out cold. Blood covered his face. A large gash at his temple was to blame."

She was seemly fine, save for the airbag exploding in her face. The fact that Chris was leaning over her at the time of impact had spared her serious injury. Her head was spinning. Her stomach was twisting. How could this have happened?

"He's my partner!" She barked, cradling Chris's head in her lap.

"We're federal agents," Brody added, out of habit.

"And your vehicle was just hit by a drunk driver."

"Ma'am you need to let us help." The female paramedic said gently trying to pry Brody's hands from LaSalle so that her partner could secure a cervical collar around his neck.

"We need to get you out of the truck. You need a doctor."

"I'm fine," Brody protested as a uniformed officer helped her from the mangled vehicle.

Pride palmed the counter of the admissions desk. "Dwayne Pride. Two of my agents were just brought in."

"Curtain 6 & 7," A women dressed in a dark blue scrubs replied. She waited until he turned before calling out to him. "Two times in twenty four hours, that's a new personal best."

Pride let out a long sigh as he walked back to the treatment area. As luck would have it, the doctor that had treated Brody for the snakebite was still on duty.

"Doc?"

The timely looking physician looked up from his tablet and gave Pride a tight smile.

"You want the good news?"

"Just give it to me."

The doctor went to explain that Brody had suffered typical burns from the deployment of the airbag and would soon be released.

"And LaSalle?"

"His injuries are a bit more serious. He has a skull fracture, a couple of broken ribs and punctured lung. There's also bruising in his abdominal area-"

"Internal bleeding?" Pride questioned.

"We're prepping him for surgery now."

Pride thanked the doctor before pushing the curtain back to enter Brody's cubical. He found her sitting on the bed hugging her knees. She was wearing a pair of blue hospital scrubs. Since she was about to be discharged the nurses had given her a change of clothing for the car ride home.

"Brody?" Pride spoke softly.

"It's my fault," she answered staring pensively into beige colored wall.

"How?"

Brody shifted her eyes, but refused to look at him. "I'm cursed."

Pride's brow furrowed. "What do you mean cursed?"

She was just about to explain when a nurse appeared at the curtain. "Excuse me, Agent Pride. There's a man here claiming to be Agent LaSalle's brother."

"Cade," Pride sighed. He turned to Brody. "I'll be right back."