Chapter 4

Isaac stood there staring into her eyes, unable to look away. Here was someone. He certainly couldn't hold any illusions of romance at the moment, rather feeling the need to kick his own ass, but here was someone he could trust. In Cassandra he could have a friend from whom he wouldn't have to keep secrets.

She touched his bare forearm, and he drew back from the gentle concern he felt in her fingertips. "Isaac? Are you ok?"

He shook his head and gave a weak smile. No, he just needed to leave. She would just become another reminder of a life belonging to someone else. They didn't belong in each other's lives even as friends. "Do you know who I am?"

She gave him a curious look. "Isaac O'Neill. That's about it. That's why I asked you here." She smiled. "I want to find out more, Isaac."

"I've got to go," he said, turning his back on her and heading for the door, leaving a confused Cassandra staring after him.

"You came all the way back out here to tell me you had to leave?" She asked, chasing after him. "You said you'd come so we could talk."

"Things change," he said and went outside. He shook his head when he heard her come through the door behind him.

"Isaac!" She shouted and grabbed his arm. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

He stopped and turned to look at her. "Forget you saw me, Cassandra."

"Oh, yeah, that's exactly what I'm going to do," she replied. She crossed her arms and stared at him, her face confident. "If you don't tell me what's wrong then I'll just call Jack and ask him."

Isaac grimaced and muttered under his breath. That's all he needed was Jack and everyone else dragged back into his life, just when he was making progress. "Don't call Jack."

She moved closer to him. "I will."

He sighed. Well, she certainly hadn't changed. "Wanna go for a ride?"

She tilted her head slightly to the side and chewed her lower lip as she studied his face. "Where'd you have in mind?" She asked after a few moments of silence.

"We need someplace private," he replied, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully, and then glanced at her uneasily, realizing that had not sounded good.

"Oh? Is that so?" She asked with a smirk. "Getting a little ahead of yourself."

Isaac grimaced. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Just a place where we can talk."

"Ok, my place or yours?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced at the ground then back at her. "How is Hanka this time of year?"

She pursed her lips and sadness filled her eyes.

His face grew solemn and he cleared his throat nervously. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. You'll have to forgive me. I've got some remnants of insensitive idiocy floating through my mind. I just wanted you to know…"

"That you know far more about me than I do about you. Don't worry, we'll soon fix that," she said with a perceptive grin. "How about your place?"