Chapter 11

"...There is a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until twelve am...be advised...strong winds, hail and frequent lightning...be advised of possible power outages due to down power lines, trees..."

Jeff listened to the broadcast on the radio as he smoke a cigarette. A flash of lightning came through the window and was followed by a loud rumbling crack of thunder. It amazed him that his companion was still sound asleep in her bed. Brings new meaning to -you sleep like the dead- he thought as he took a draw from his cigarette. He'd been awake for a little over an hour and that's about the time the broadcast had started about the weather. The constant beeping had woken him. That was one of the disadvantages of having better hearing, he slept lighter. Sometimes the slightest sound would rattle him. It was horrible the first few months, but he adapted, like always.

"...no...I told you...it was me...a turtle...and Aerosmith..."

'What in the hell is she dreaming about' he wondered as he stood from the table and made his way to her bed.

"...the turtle was my only friend..."

He couldn't help but smile as she continued to mumble in her sleep. He softly sat on the edge of the bed and listened to her breathing, her heartbeat. She didn't seem to be having a nightmare but he figured he better wake her before she started to spout other things in her sleep. Although, it would be interesting to know what goes on in that subconscious of hers he smiled to himself.

"Lynn..." he said softly.

She moaned and rolled over to face him, still asleep. He smiled as an idea came to mind. He listened to her breathing so he could pinpoint where her face was and gently took his forefinger and ran it up and down her nose.

"Come on darlin'...time to wake up," he whispered.

She moaned and pressed her face into the palm of his hand and rubbed her cheek against it. He froze in place, unsure of what to do. She doesn't know it's you he told himself. He found himself caressing the side of her face gently almost tenderly. He was amazed at how soft her skin felt, the texture.

"You gonna wake up sugar?" he asked quietly. He took his hand away and waited for her to fully wake up.

"...mmm..." she stirred slowly. She lazily opened her eyes and saw Jeff sitting on the edge of the bed. "Hey, " she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What are you doing?" she asked running her hands through her hair.

He shrugged innocently, "Nothing."

Another flash of lightning came through the window and she gasped in time with the crack of thunder that rumbled the room. "Whoa, sounds pretty bad out there," she ran her hands up and down her arms as if she were cold.

"Yeah, radio said it was supposed to get bad," he stood from the bed walked too the table. "Looks like we're stuck here for the night." He took a seat at the table and lit another cigarette.

Lynn wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her chin on them. "How long have you been up?" she asked looking over at him.

He shrugged, "A little over an hour."

She looked at him in confusion, "So you've just been sitting here listening to me sleep?"

"It's soothing," he said quietly.

"Listening to me sleep?" she chuckled. "I would say that's weird but...it's actually kind of endearing." She was trying to tease him. Something seemed to be bothering him and she wanted to help him and the only way she could think to get anything out of him was to get some kind of a rise out of him. "Do I snore?" she asked.

He chuckled, "Just a little bit...but you wanna know something."

"What's that?" she stood from the bed and walked over to sit across from him.

He waited till she was seated across from him before he continued, "...Your heart beats about ninety-eight times a minute and you take really slow deep breaths while you sleep."

"How do you do that?" she said amazed.

He smiled, almost shyly, "Like I said, it's soothing, and it was something to pass the time."

She watched him with a soft expression for a moment. "I never have thanked you," she said quietly.

He shook his head, "No need."

"But I want to thank you," she insisted. "I was a perfect stranger and you and Lucas risked your lives to save mine...I'll always be grateful for that."

He shifted in his chair as if he were uncomfortable. "You're welcome," he almost whispered.

A loud clap of thunder sounded and shook the room. Neither said anything. They sat in silence as he smoked his cigarette and she finished off the rest of her drink.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" she asked trying to kill the silence.

He sighed, "We continue heading west. It's only about another six, eight hours from here."

"What time do you want to head out?"

He took a draw from his cigarette then put it out, "We shouldn't stay too long. DeMarco's men could be right on us."

"What do you know about DeMarco?" she asked curiously.

"He's a dangerous man," he mumbled as he silently tapped the table.

"I've gathered that," she remembered the run in with his minions at the rest area. "I still can't believe he's going out of his way just to kill me."

"Believe it darlin'," he said. "If its one thing DeMarco is...is a cold blooded killer...among other things."

She looked at him curiously, "What do you have against him?"

He cleared his throat and licked his lips. "I've never told anyone this..." he paused. "...Lucas...was the oldest of three children. His little brother Jose was this annoying ass kid who used to always stop me on the street and ask me if I wanted to by bubble gum." He laughed at the memory. "When I stumbled out of the church after they had taken my eyes I 'ran' into him...he helped me...turns out Lucas was his older brother."

"So that's how you met Lucas, was through Jose?" she realized.

He nodded, "I stayed with Lucas and his family for months recovering. He also had a sister...she was a sweetheart..."

"Was?" she asked.

"Yeah, um...she was...killed in a shootout between DeMarco and some rival...along with Jose," he almost had to choke out.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "They must've meant a lot to you."

"They did," he whispered. "I just..."

"What is it?" she asked gently.

"I don't want you to get hurt," he confessed.

She smiled softly, "I don't want you to get hurt either."

"You watch my back I'll watch yours," he smiled.

"Deal," she reached across the table took his hand and squeezed it. He squeezed back and they sat in silence for the rest of the night...listening to the raging storm outside.