"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." – Alexander Graham Bell

Kurtis knew Lara was in trouble. He simply knew it. This damn click he feared so much. So far it had never meant anything good and he could feel it in his blood that something was wrong. Terribly wrong. He listened for a while, then worry started to climb up his spine, sinking its cold, cruel claws into his nerves. There was no time to waste. He had to find her immediately.

Lara froze for a moment when she heard the sound. In that endless moment millions of thoughts were swirling in her head. It was not the possibility that she could die that scared her. The realization that she wanted to tell him about her feelings and she would have no chance for that anymore.

"Lara!" – she heard his voice again, but she had no time to react. Darts were flying towards her from the walls and Lara started to run for her life. One after the other they shot out, the whistling sounds filled the air and there was no way to tell anymore where exactly they were coming from. Lara had no idea where she was heading, she just ran as fast as she could. One dart whizzed right next to her arm, almost cutting her skin. When she saw the corridor bend, she hurled forward and landed hard on the floor. For one moment she let out the breath she was unconsciously holding, but it was not over. Instead of darts, fire shot out of the walls of the next corridor she arrived to. The yellow light of the fire blinded her for a second, she snatched her arms in front of her face to keep the heat away.

"Don't… " – she shouted as loud as she could. "Don't try to save me…" – Lara waited a moment then she ran again. Though she had never believed in God, she found herself praying. Not for herself, but for Kurtis to get out safely. Deep inside, she knew that he would not leave her. Please try to get out, she muttered under her breath.

"Where are you?" – his voice filled her mind, giving her hope and fear at the same time. How she wished she could have turned back time just a little. To be back in his arms, to feel his lips on hers that made her senses burn with greedy need. Just for a second. These damn seconds. She hated herself for feeling that way again. The same way she had felt thinking of Alistair. It had been only a second needed, but she was not fast enough, not good enough… simply not there to save him. She did not want to feel that again. Never again.

"Please get out of here!" – she shouted desperately, trying to avoid the deadly flames at the same time. Feeling the heat against her arms, she had one thing on her mind. She wanted him to be safe. No matter that it was her in deadly danger.

"I won't leave you here." – Kurtis started to sprint in the direction where her voice was coming from, but he ran into a dead-end. "Damnit" – he cursed angrily. Turning around, he kept listening to those frightening noises that sent nasty shots of panic right into his stomach. Not willing to distract her attention, he did not even dare to call after her anymore. Then he saw the light of the fire somewhere over the walls. Shiver ran down his spine. Cursing and praying, he raced down that damn corridor. It was driving him mad. Having her so close and so far at the same time. Without knowing what he was doing, he ran.

Seeing the end of the corridor in front of her, Lara hurled forward. She felt her whole body shake and she had never felt this before. It was not fear. It was worse than fear. The blade that flung out of the wall almost hit her. She flattened to the floor, still feeling the whizzing air at the back of her neck. Rolling over, she tried to get away from the deadly metal, but then the next one was coming. She fought her way through, seeing his face in front of her. One blade after the other, one meter after the other. Sweat appeared on her forehead, her clothes were covered by sand and she had no idea if she ever got out of there. If she ever had the chance to tell him.

The warm wave of relief filled her again when she spotted the end of the corridor and she felt she would be safe there. She could not explain why, but she knew it. Concentrating on nothing else but getting there unharmed, she jumped, ran, ducked, pulled her head back when the last blade almost cut her.

A drop of sweat ran down her face and she was standing there, having survived all the deadly traps. Her chest heaved heavily and she closed her eyes for a moment. Just to hear that one damn click again she was not expecting, and she was sure she had made a huge mistake thinking it was over.

When her eyes opened, she glimpsed the heavy blade jumping out of the wall right in front of her. It was all just a fraction of a second, but she could see it as if time had stopped. The light of the fire glinting on the metal, the sweat dropping down in front of her eyes and she prepared for the pain. She was simply unable to move, even stir.

It was him she saw in front of her, his figure jumping towards her and it took her another endless moment to realize that it was really happening. The blade whizzed, cutting into the empty air exactly where she had been standing just a second ago. His body covered hers, his weight pushed her down and they were lying on the floor in the sand.

Lara looked up and their eyes met. Kurtis did not move away, he kept her body under his and their bodies pressed against each other as two halves that had been never parted.

"God, I thought I'd lost you." – he whispered, not being able to move his stare away from her. Her body was slightly moving under his as she breathed in, he felt her belly quiver.

"I'm so sorry." – she whispered in return, trying to grasp that he had saved her.

"Don't say that. Whatever happened in the past, I'm sure it was not your fault. You would never let anyone down. I know that." – his gaze scanned her sweet face, his hand roamed up her arm, gently touching the bandage on her shoulder. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this." – his finger touched her cheek, the arch of her eyebrows, then finally traced those gorgeous lips.

"I never wanted to…" – but he did not let her talk. Not this time. Putting his index finger on her lips, he hushed her. No words would stand between them this time. No shadows of the past.

"You're such a pretty mess." – he crooned, devouring her with his eyes and this time Lara did not want to run. Not anymore. Her lips parted and Kurtis took the chance, slowly tasting her. The hazel eyes closed and she let it happen. No need for hiding anymore. Her need met his, the sweet urgency met surrender and they drowned in that breathtaking kiss they were both craving.