Alek found Brian's car, and then glanced at Chloe, hopefully.

"Can we?"

Chloe look pained as she agreed. "Are the keys in it?"

Alek nodded and opened the passenger door, easing her in. He raced over to the driver's side, not wanting Chloe to be alone anymore than she had to. Amy and Paul were loading themselves into Amy's Volkswagen, Paul driving.

"Go to my apartment, but stay in the car. Call me if anything happens, okay?" Alek ordered.

Paul nodded, and they were off.

The drive was filled with the silence of heartbreak. When they finally reached the apartment Chloe whispered, "It smells like him…"

Alek reached over to hold her chin. "…Chloe…"

"Let's just go inside" She answered with a sharp edge, like she had swallowed a sob. She jerked her head away, wincing with the movement. Alek got her out of the car, and held her waist, just as she had done for him what seemed like ages ago.

"I want you in my room, so that you don't have to deal with another death. You've been through enough today." Alek murmured in her ear.

"No Alek, let me help you."

"Chloe." He said fiercely, turning her so he was looking at her, His hands on her waist. "Please, Chloe. I just need to clean up, so the police don't get alarmed. You've been though so much already."

"Alright, but only because I'm injured."

Alek kissed her softly on the tip of her nose. "I'll fix up Aunt Tino and Jasmine and Zane, then I'll check on you, okay?

Chloe nodded. "What are we going to do with them?"

"Get them cremated so there won't be a fuss, how many lives do you think you've lost?"

"One." Chloe looked at the floor, embarrassed. Alek growled and opened the door to the apartment, and picked Chloe up, bridal style. Shielding her from seeing anything, but the smell still reached her nose, and she crinkled it. "Do I smell like that when I die?"

"No, you don't. If you did, I wouldn't be the one protecting you." Alek smirked, returning to his cocky self. Chloe glared, pretending to be hurt. He laid her down on his unmade bed, her head resting on a pillow. Chloe's eyelids flickered, getting heavy. Alek smiled, and kissed her forehead. "Even if you did smell like that, I'd still go to the ends of the earth to protect you. I love you Chloe." Chloe's breathing slowed into a rhythmic hum, and Alek ran his hand down her cheek. He turned to leave, wishing he could stay right in this moment, holding her forever.