The next day had gone fairly well, Annie spending some time sitting in a chair but with a concussion it would have to be slow going and her midsection had taken a brutal beating and few of her internal organs, stomach, liver and spleen were swollen and bruised as well and the black, blue and purple marks, a very visible reminder. Her bout with nausea seemed over but eating anything had totally repulsed her although she did try but only a little. It was now late afternoon and she back in bed taking a nap. Eyal in the kitchen working on dinner, well two dinners, one for him and a bland one for Annie. For him baked chicken with brown rice dressing filled with spices and fresh veggie salad. For Annie, cream of wheat with canned peaches and banana bread pudding with sweet custard. He had made enough pudding so he could have his fair share.

Taking the chicken out of the oven, he started fixing his salad when he heard movement.

"Annie, what are you doing?" Eyal hastily coming out of the kitchen in a spy mode, second nature to him and saw Annie standing in the doorway of the bedroom.

Annie looked at him feeling slightly foolish, "Well smelling the food cooking and I'm hungry now so I was coming in to help you. Set the table or something productive to earn my keep. I feel like such a bump on the log here not doing my part and I know what you are going to say, that I'm injured like damage goods but I'm not damage goods. But I guess I was a bit over zealous because now I'm not sure I can make it back to bed... Eyal I feel a tiny bit dizzy..." And she started to fall.

He had broken out in a smile as he listened to Annie ramble on until she begin to sway and he quickly grabbed her, holding her upright, "Steady now Neshema. If you want to try to sit at the table to eat with me or I can take you back to bed and bring my dinner in also. Either way we can have a meal together."

Pointing to the bedroom, "Maybe I'm not ready to solo yet."

"You'll get your wings soon enough." Eyal helping her settle back into bed. "I'll be only a second." He back into the kitchen and fixed two trays. Tea for both of them, he didn't have to heart to drink wine in front of her and she couldn't.

Annie may have been hungry but eating was a different story. She took a couple bites of Eyal's chicken, slowly worked on the cream of wheat but only wanting half of it but did manage to down the banana bread pudding. Leaning back on the pillows, meal time had been taxing on her and as expected the moving about made her ache. Eyal set for a long time they not talking much, maybe exchanging a few words and he could tell she was in great pain. For Annie, he just being there was a comfort to her.

Eyal had gotten a different type of pain medication, much weaker than the narcotic morphine. More of a sedative and he handed her two pills. "Here it's time to take those."

Annie took the pills and was long before she started to feel drowsy again and knew the pills would probably knock her out.

"Thank you. Eyal you don't need to stay. I mean I'll almost certainly be fast to sleep in no time and you probably have other plans, something better than babysitting me." She really wanted him to stay with her but was afraid he might start to resent her if he had to cancel a date or something.

"No plans Neshema, although I would like to take a shower and change clothes and sit in that chair over there and read. I've started a good book and will entertain myself while you get your beauty sleep." Leaning over, he gently kissed her on the forehead, "No, I don't have to stay but I want to. I'll be back soon." Picking up the dinner trays and leaving her alone.

Stripping off his clothes he stepped into a hot shower, closing his eyes as he let the water wash over him and vision of Annie danced in his head. Opening his eyes he shook his head trying to clear it. He stepped out of the shower and looked into the mirror and mused. He was a domesticated home-body whenever he was in Tel Aviv, spending his time not dating but with his son Avi or with his mother, brother and family. Now Annie was becoming part of family and would probably meet the entire clan over the next two weeks. He knew what that meant but didn't care, Annie Walker was someone special and not to hidden for his love ones.

Sighing, he of course knew what Annie has done to him. Just thinking about her would make his entire face light up and feel all contented inside. 'Face it Lavin, the only woman you want now is your best friend and fellow spy'.

She wanted to stay awake until Eyal returned but she could barely keep her eyes open. Feeling herself drift off to sleep, a small smile played on her lips and she couldn't help dreaming of Eyal, music played in her head as the two of them dance as they glazed into each other's eyes, their lips met and they shared a sweet soft gentle kiss.

Annie completely lost in her dream didn't notice the subtle changes going on at first but suddenly the kiss was no longer gentle, it was rough, hard forceful and uncaring; when she tried to pull away the man had grown dark and held onto her tighter, his fingers painfully digging into her arms before one hand reached under her chin, forcing her bent head up and there staring at her with predatory eyes was Mujahid.

Eyal finished with is shower and had left the bedroom to get his book and when he returned, he stood just inside the doorway and watched her sleep. He noticing her beautiful smile, a sweet caring smile and wondered what was going on in her dreamland and felt as though he could stand there all night just watching her.

He noticed the change in her expression immediately, her steady slow breaths became fast and ragged, the smile disappeared from her lips and a small whimper escaped her lips. "Help" He clearly heard her say.

Moving to the side of the bed, he placed his hand on her shoulder and gently shook her, "Annie wake up. Come on sweetheart wake up, you are having a bad dream."

She trying to pull away from his touch and looking at the face he saw tears starting to creep down her cheeks.

"Annie please wake up." He started to shake her a little more but she wouldn't wake, not knowing what else to do, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her to his chest, holding her head on his shoulder and started to hum. She stirred a bit.

"Shhh Annie. I got you and you're safe." He whispered in her ear as he rubbed the back of her neck. Feeling her again to struggle against him. The sedative had pushed her into a deep sleep and he realized how vulnerable she was to drugs. He couldn't decide if he should let her go or hold onto her even more and deciding holding on and begging her to wake up was the best course of action.

Annie tried to pull away from Mujahid but the more she tried pull away the tighter his hold became and soon she found it hard to breathe. She could see the lamp but no matter how hard she tried this time she couldn't get to it, her arms would move... it was like she was under water and couldn't swim. She couldn't stop him this time as he continued to hit her over and over and over.

"Eyal please help me." She screamed out as she tried to pull away from the beating.

"Annie, I'm right here baby. Come to me you can do it. Come to my safety I'll catch you just wake up."

She could hear Eyal's voice begging her to come to him, just like in Amsterdam but it seemed so far away. "Eyal."

"I'm right here Annie. Can you hear me? I'm right here." Eyal could hear his low voice crack a bit as he pleaded with her. "Annie, baby please wake up."

Annie blinked her eyes a few times and woke in a state of confusion. The room was dark with only a tiny light for a lamp and she could feel someone strong holding her but with the dream so fresh in her mind she didn't realize it was Eyal. She started to pound on his chest with her fists. "No, let me go. Eyal please help me."

"Neshema it's me. Annie look at me." Eyal moved her away a little from his chest and lightly held on to her arms.

Looking into Annie's eyes he watched as she processed where she was and that she was indeed safe. "It's okay Annie. Do you want to talk about it? It should help."

Meeting Eyal's eyes she could see the concern but she shook her head and tried to look away.

"Annie aren't you the one that is always telling me I shouldn't keep things bottled up. I think I can help but you have to let me in. Okay?"

"It's silly or you will think it's silly."

"I doubt that so give me a chance." Eyal leaning her back against the pillows and holding one of her hands.

"Well okay..." Wishing she could tell him about the pleasant part of her dream but knew she wasn't ready to share those feelings at that moment, she took a deep breath and began. "I was back in Mujahid's compound but this time I couldn't get to the lamp... I couldn't stop him from beating me, he just kept hitting me and hitting me."

Looking down at her hands she stopped, "I told you it was silly of me. It is all over with and he is dead and ..."

"Annie stop. Look at me. It isn't silly at all I don't know what you went through but I've seen the results and there is nothing wrong with being scared. Even after it's all over. You remember Russian and that ordeal and how long for those dreams to fade. This dream will to fade and I'll be here to hold your hand."

"But..."

Eyal reached over and put a finger on her lips, "No buts Annie. Everyone gets scared and you've had a pretty rough couple of days. I'm impressed you handled it as well as you did." Lifting her hands to his lips and softly kissed the tips of her fingers.

"Guess you are right." Annie gave him a shrug as she tried to hide a yawn.

"I know I'm right. You're tough, a lot tougher than most have given you credit for and being scared is normal. You always amaze me with your resourcefulness and the lamp weapon bit was perfect. Now let's get you tucked in and don't try to argue because I see those yawns your hiding." Eyal winked at her as he smoothly arranged her pillows.

"Eyal... Will you ummm... oh never mind." Annie was embarrassed to ask him to stay close and pulling the spread up to her chin she gave him a small smile. "Goodnight."

Eyal walked to the other side of the bed and gazed at her trying to hide herself with the bedspread. "I'm not going anywhere. Right here Neshema, I'll be right here."

He wasn't sure how she was going to feel about his next move but he was quite sure it's what she wanted and needed, really what they both needed. Slipping off his shoes and jeans he pulled back the covers on the bed and laid down beside her, pulled her close to him. He almost expected a protest but instead she snuggled in closer to him smiled with total contentment and closed her eyes.

The only dreams for Annie as well as Eyal were of them being together.

****Two Weeks Later****

"You all packed for the flight back home?" Eyal standing in the doorway of his bedroom.

"Yeah, guess I am." Annie attempting to be cheerful but wishing she could stay, to be with Eyal but that wasn't possible. She wasn't real sure just when her feeling for Eyal Lavin had changed from friendship to more longing to be with him romantically. Maybe Danielle was right back at Christmas about the connection between the two were stronger than they perceived to portray. She wondered what was deep inside his thoughts, had he grown to feel more than friendship for her as she had for him. He being the sweetest and most caring person during her recovery and yet as she returned to being her normal self so had he with his flirtatious ways but never acting on them. They could joke about the sexual overtones but he never once did he made any advances toward her. Always in control of the situation and the perfect gentleman. Oh how she wanted to ask him his feelings but couldn't bring herself to for fear of the answer. Two different agencies, two different countries, a romance that could never be.

The night before he had taken her to a beautiful romantic restaurant overlooking the lights of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean Sea, his farewell gift to her and hopefully to show her Israel wasn't that bad. He was right, everything was wonderful in Israel, his family had welcomed her graciously and Avi had visited several times. He brought her a T-shirt with his football team's logo on it, something to remember Israel.

"Annie, before we go I would like to say something and hope I'm not crossing a fine line."

"That has never stopped you before from saying anything." Annie not sure what was going be said and trying to put a lighthearted touch to something that may hurt.

Eyal walked over to her, placing his hands on her arms and looking into her eyes, "My dear sweet Annie, over these two weeks of caring for you has made me realize you mean more to me than I can express. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to take you in my arms, to shower you with kisses to feel your warm and tender body next to mine. To be closer to you than I have a right as a friend. I don't know your feelings for me or if there is someone at home and the last thing I want to do is ruin our preciously and most beautiful friendship with my desires."

"There is no one special in my life...but maybe you." Annie raising on arm so she could touch his face, put her fingers on his lips, "You remember the night I had that ghastly nightmare about the beating."

"Very well." He kissing the tip of her finger.

"The dream started off differently, we were dancing to soft music and you kissed me. Not a passionate kiss but engaging and amorous kiss. That has been one of many dreams I've had about you and always dancing."

"You are a romantic my darling. If we only had candle light and wine now." He tenderly taking her in his loving arms, holding her close to him and started dancing as he softly sang,

Love is a many splendored thing

It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring

Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living

The golden crown that makes a man a king.

Once on a high and windy hill

In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still

When our fingers touch, my silent heart has taught us how to sing

Yes, true love's a many splendored thing.

Lifting her chin to him, Eyal gently kissed her, the affectionate kiss she had dreamed of, a kiss of promises of more to come for them as a couple. For Eyal to have the love of Annie would make him feel like a king as the song says. To have the love and understanding of a woman who knows what being a spy can do to someone and he in turn identify with her emotions and dedication of also being a spy. Yes, spies can have a love life and Annie with Eyal will prove it to be the most wonderful journey together.