The cheerful humming could be heard coming all the way up the stairs and making its way down the hall. The sound grew closer and closer as my fingers paused on the keyboard while I looked toward the open door. I catch the sway of swinging hips as the form of my very happy companion passes by. "Hey, can you come in here for a sec?" I call out to stop her and simultaneously hear the humming stop and bare feet backtracking on the carpet.

"What's up?" She walked in my office and perched on the arm of one of the chairs.

"Just need you to come sign something." I located the form I had set aside earlier and turned it around to sit on the edge of my desk facing her. I grabbed a pin from the holder nearby and laid it on top of the page.

She hopped up and leaned over to look at the form, there was a brief silence and I waited while she read. Without straightening up, her eyes rose to look at me, "You are giving me stock in your company?" Instead of signing as requested, she took a step back and dropped into the seat behind her.

"Yeah…in light of recent events…I wanted to make sure you were set should anything happen to me. There's a living for you set aside in my will that will be there until you marry or otherwise move on and are cared for some other way." My hand waves as I rush through the explanation, "but I wanted to do something more, something you could keep even after you leave here." I reached across and picked up the pen, holding it out to her.

She did not move, she just stared at me. Her lips parted as if she were going to speak then closed again. This happened two more times before she finally spoke, "Why…why are you assuming I would leave? …Or marry?" The second part was tacked on reluctantly, her throat cleared as she shifted in her seat.

"I…well, I just assumed you wouldn't want to stay here forever." My hand rose, rubbing the back of my neck, still holding out the pen with the other hand. I would have much preferred she just be grateful for the offering and have signed so we could have both gone on about our day.

"Well, it is my life," her face seemed redder than usual and I found I did not like her tone. She leaned forward to pick up the sheet of paper, grabbed it by the top and ripped it right down the middle. She proceeded to put those two pieces together and ripped them in half as well. This continued until the sheet of paper was in several pieces and littered on the floor. I just sat there and watched, too stunned and confused to respond. She looked at me, her eyes seemed to be on fire, "No one…" she started as she stood up, leaning over my desk and getting far closer than I was comfortable with. I dropped the pen to the surface of my desk and sat back in my own chair to avoid the tip of her nose brushing mine, "No one makes my decisions for me. IF I should leave, it will be on MY terms. Just because YOU feel guilty about your own limitations does not mean you can arrange things for my future to make yourself feel better." She reached out, her finger poking at my, thankfully, covered chest everytime the words 'you' or 'your' were used and then she left. I did not have an opportunity to respond even if I knew what to say. She had even slammed my office door on her way out.

I leaned forward, dropping my forehead to my desk. I stayed like that for a long time, I didn't even know where to begin to solve the issue I apparently created so I gave up. Straightening up, I strove to put it out of my mind and return to work.

–

It was several hours later before I allowed myself to venture out of the office. The plan was to find my angered companion and try to patch things, however, just as I was stepping from the room, a chime from my computer brought me back to my desk. I opened the new email that appeared and read it. The contents of the electronic letter put all other issues out of my mind. I pushed back from the desk and left the room quickly to find her.

I checked her room first without success, the library I found to also be empty. Even Johnson had not seen her. Once I had checked every room in the house, I heard the front door close. Reaching her quickly, I watched as her features changed, the look of concern on her face clearly came from my rush to find her.

"Finally, I was looking all over for you…" I was about to explain the reasoning when I realized where she had been, "Wait…why were you out? You know how dangerous…"

Her hand lifted the moment I changed course, irritation filling her formerly concerned features, "Don't start. I am fine, I took one of the guards with me." After the police detail had ended, I'd hired bodyguards to watch the house. "I just needed to get out for a while and calm down."

I just nodded. The issue most likely would have been pressed further had there not been more pressing matters. "It doesn't matter, you need to go home." The look of shock and sheer terror I received had me nearly tripping over my words to explain, "It's your father, he's sick. I was not given details, but he needs some sort of procedure which only you are a match for. They didn't say blood, organs or what. Regardless if you can or want to help, you should at least go see him. The men will go with you."

Before I had even finished speaking, she sunk into the bench seat a few steps from the door, staring off. I was not even sure she heard most of what I said. I waited for a moment, letting everything sink in and process. After a while she looked up at me, "You realize you are talking about a man who SOLD me, right? My father literally sold me like a slave and you want me to go save his life? And what about you? I can't just leave you."

I have long since resigned myself to every shred of happiness I will never have being continually ripped away and my being left in worse shape than before, it was only a matter of time and I honestly feel it is better she leave now, remember what it is like outside of this prison and move on. "I will be fine. You should at least get closure if nothing more."

"Fine, but come with me." She stood suddenly, her hand rose as if to grasp mine but changed course last minute and touched the sleeve of my shirt.

That one action seemed to say enough, and I could see the realization in her features even before I spoke, "You know why I cannot." I moved my hand, turning it over to take firm hold of hers. Every muscle in my body tensed as I did. It wasn't the first time my skin had touched hers, not even the first intentional time, but it certainly had not gotten any easier. My grip was likely firmer than I intended, my eyes closed as the discomfort rose but I held on tightly, took several breaths, then abruptly released my grasp and headed for the stairs without another word or look.

–

Over the next day, it was decided that she would go. Transportation and security was provided, she was packed, the only thing left to do was to say goodbye, something I did not know how to do. I had almost decided that I wouldn't. That it would be better if she just left and even though she was leaving most of her things, the impression that she may not return had hung heavily in the air over the past 24 hours. In the end, I finally gave in and went downstairs as the car was being loaded. Naturally, the distance I had imposed made the situation even more tense.

I was surprised to find her dressed in a turtleneck and wearing gloves, even more so when she walked directly up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Even as the purpose for her dress in such warm weather dawned on me, shock still filled my system. I could not even remember the last time I had received a hug. Most likely sometime as a child, as I could not recall a time or reason I would have received one while I was in the military, Johnson was too proper to attempt it, even before my aversion to touch formed. After a moment, however, I found myself returning the embrace, however, briefly before drawing back. I cleared my throat and pulled a cell phone from my pocket, "Here, take this. Call if you need anything. My number is programmed." It was clear by the unsteadiness of my hands that I could not handle any more of a goodbye than that. I lowered my head in an old fashioned bow and left the room swiftly, telling myself it was for the best.