Morning light peeking into the cave. Annie had slept a little but next to her Eyal was asleep, maybe not a restful sleep but enough so he could face another day. Her previous night beating was taking a toll on her body, she felt stiff and could barely move her arms and her head throbbing with intense pain like pressure. Unable to hide the soreness of rigid movements any longer, she decided to blame it on the cramped cold quarters of sleeping in a cave, sleeping ha, well that was a joke, maybe an hour at tops.

"Eyal wake up. We need to get moving. The sun is up and they maybe searching for us." Annie trying the best she could poking at Eyal's arm and she heard herself stumble over a few words, her speech a bit sluggish. It was a tad confusing for her not to think clearly and she knew it was not her normal self.

Slowly opening his eyes and taking in his surroundings. My god he thought, somewhere in the back of his mind he had hoped it was a bad dream. Standing and stretching, twisting his back and shoulders he started to reach down to help Annie to her feet. She raised her hand to stop him, mind over matter was no longer working and the pain covered every inch of her body. She had to send Eyal away so she with any strength left to get on her feet without him see the struggle. How much longer could she hide her condition from Eyal?

"Go check and see if we're in the clear." Eyal just nodded his head and walked to the front of the cave.

Annie slowly got up, trying not to moan in pain. She knew he would see the bruise on her face but she had planned her answer carefully. She was going to make sure he didn't discover the rest of her injuries covering her body. Walking every so gingerly to the mouth of the cave she took a deep breath and even that was painful, a few more short breaths she was ready to face Eyal.

"Is it clear? No signs we were followed?" Annie in a soft voice asked, speaking slowly.

Eyal still gazing out at the terrain didn't look at her, "After all the explosions my guess is the ones that lived have scattered. I think we are pretty much in the clear. Ready Neshema?"

When he turned to take her hand and saw her face - fire burn intensely in his eyes, dark rage was dreadfully visible on his face, how dare someone hurt his Neshema. He could only stare at her then tenderly touched the bruised cheek.

"I'm okay Eyal, it's just a bruise and it'll fade in time."

"Annie it covers the whole side of your face how in the hell can you say you're okay. Let me look at your eyes." Gently lifting he chin so he could see, "Just as I thought, they are dilated."

"I hope you noticed Mujahid wasn't exactly a little guy." Annie trying to make light of her condition.

"Annie..."

"Really Eyal I'm fine and we should be going."

He nodded and took her hand and again another surprise, her wrists were raw and had been bleeding. Lifting both of her hands for him to have a closer look, "Anything else you not telling me?"

"No."

"I don't believe you. Let me take a look at your back."

"I'm fine Eyal."

"Stop being the brave little Miss Annie Walker and let me see your back." Eyal gradually turning her and raised her cotton knit shell. He seeing more the extend of her injures and now he turn her back to face him. "Let me see your stomach."

Annie slowly pulled up the front of her shirt.

"You are not walking anywhere my brave one. With the looks of those bruises you may have some internal bruising also and walking over the rough terrain will only make it worse." He so gently walked her to the back of the cave and helped her down. Taking out his pistol and checking the load, "I'm going to leave you alone for a while." Eyal handing her the gun, "Here and keep watch on the front of the cave. If anyone or anything that doesn't call out Neshema... Well you know, just shot them."

"Where are you going?"

"To find comfortable transportation for you. One thing for sure, you will arrive in Israel in one piece, I promise." He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead, "Remember, Neshema is the code word of the day."

Annie watching Eyal vanish out of the cave, she settled back the best she could, gripping the gun and feeling more secure she waited. The cave was cool from the heat of the day and she thankful for Eyal's jacket, soon exhaustion took over and she drifted off to sleep in the stillness of total silence.

Was she dreaming or was someone washing her face. Trying to bring herself back to reality Annie opens one eye and there a pink tongue gives her another lick. With both eyes open she could blurrily see a black nose and two dark brown eyes looking at her. It didn't take long before she saw a wagging tail attached to a large tan dog. She could hear Eyal chuckling in the background.

"Dog meet Annie and Annie meet Dog." Eyal being very amused at seeing Annie trying to reach for the dog's head and his loving licks. Eyal finally rescuing Annie from Dog if that's what it could be called. Clearly the animal has taken a liking to Annie and if the truth be known so had Annie.

"Is this our mode of transportation?" Annie wiping the wet doggie kisses from her face.

"Not actually, he came with the package." Eyal bending to help her up. Eyal wanted to fuss at her for falling to sleep but he knew it would only satisfy his ego and she did need the rest. "Come on Neshema, your ride is waiting."

Outside the cave stood a donkey hitched to a small cart. The four-legged animal happily munching on grass, twist his ears at the sound of Eyal's voice and swishing his tail. Annie had to laugh at the sight, even now laughter was painful but she couldn't help it.

"Shouldn't laugh at Donkey, it may hurt his feelings."

"Donkey, you named him Donkey."

"Sure." Eyal holding the animal head up for a better view, "Kind of looks like Donkey don't you think."

"And who are you Shrek?"

"Well that makes you Princess Fiona and it fits, you are beginning to look a little green around the edges. Bet you need some food. Here have a seat on the back of the cart. I have soft bread and fruit juice from one of the locals."

"Do I dare ask how you got this, you know the donkey, the dog and stuff." Annie holding onto Eyal's strong arm as he helped her to the back of the cart. She could have saved her breath, he didn't answer so she could guess it wasn't through earnest price negotiation but more along the lines of essential appropriation.

There on the flat part of the cart were blankets and pillows. Eyal lifting her slightly with care and placing a pillow behind her back for a little support. "Comfortable."

"As much as I can be." Taking a slip of juice, "Didn't realize how thirsty I was."

"Take it easy Neshema, don't drink to fast and upset your stomach. Here have a bit of bread to help with the juice acid. I have some goat cheese but I don't think you can handle it yet." He sitting beside her hand feeding her and every once in a while throws out a piece of bread to Dog.

"You know where we are." Annie speaking very slowly, trying to sound coherent. She being thankful for having Eyal with her, she felt safe just like the time he pulled her out of the Russian prison. She never apologized for giving her go packet to Simon's sister

"Yeah, not far for the buffer zone, about another hour or so depending on the speed of Donkey."

"Eyal."

"Hmmm..." Chewing on a piece of cheese with bread.

"I'm sorry for many things but most for making things so tough on you when we were in Russia. I should have never given my go packet to Simon's sister."

"Water under the bridge Neshema and I should expect that from you. It is your way, your empathy for others and something I've grown to admire in you. Don't ever lose it... I may need it one day." He smiles at her with warm caring twinkle in his eyes. Their morning meal finished, "Time for us to get this dog and donkey show on the road."

"It's pony. It's called a dog and pony show."

"Now Annie you've gone and hurt Donkey's feelings. Calling him a pony and he doesn't look anything like a pony. Tell him you're sorry." Eyal in a playful mood which cheered up Annie from her remorseful mood, she had to laugh at him, another painful laugh but it was worth it.

"I'm sorry Donkey."

The blankets made a half comfortable bed and the pillows adding support to her back and head as she laid on her side, just about the only part of her body that hadn't taken a beaten. Eyal had rigged up a frame canopy with a dark canvas on top and thin white cloth over the sides to protect her from the glaring sun. As the cart started moving, Annie's thoughts turn back to Mujahid and first hearing Eyal call to her. He had called her baby, yeah he did call her baby and it was only the second time he has called her baby. Amsterdam being the first and her jumping into his outstretched arms onto a moving canal boat escaping yet again. They were the words she remembers so well, encouraging her to leap, to leap to him for safety. Kismet, he seems to show up at the most critical times when she needed him the most. She did feel safe being with Eyal; she could let her guard down and just be Annie.

With the motion of the cart rambling along Annie found herself nodding off to sleep, a welcome sleep and escape from pain. She woke briefly when Dog decided to join her on the cart, lying at her legs, his back resting against the lower part of her legs gave her a bit of security, a guard dog and some protection. At one point she couldn't tell if she was dreaming or if the voices she heard were real but the one voice she heard, the only voice she completely trusted was that of Eyal and no need to force herself into a conscious state.