Protect

Dearest Dana,

I hope you know that I wouldn't have gone into hiding for anyone but you. I'm reckless with my own life. Always have been. But I've always tried to protect you.

Not because I don't think you can take care of yourself — I know you can. But it would destroy me me to lose you. I do everything I can to protect you because if you were hurt, and I could have prevented it, I don't know how I'd survive it.

That is one of the multitude of reasons why it is so hard to be away from you now. I know that you're capable, well protected, that you've been reassigned to be in the field less. But still I have the irrational fear that no one else can protect you as well as I can.

And, actually, that may well be true. But the thing I can do to protect you, the thing I must do to protect you, is to stay away. I need to keep you out of the path of the danger that threatens me. And if that means being separated from you, then that's what I must do.

I'll do anything to protect you, Dana. And your , gods, I pray that the threat lifts and I can come home to you soon.

I miss you.