VANGUARD(101)

“You’ve been quiet,” she whispered against his lips. “What have you been thinking about?”

He smiled and kissed her again. “I have been thinking about you and me. Our future. My career. Many things.”

“Have you come to any conclusions?”

“I know that I love you. I do not wish to live apart from you. I would like for us to look for our own place together, mana mila.”

“Me too.” She put her head on his shoulder. “It would be nice to live here in Manhattan, if we can manage it.”

He nodded. She shivered, and he reached over to pull a throw around them. “I also think…” He paused, struggling over what he had to say. “I think it is time for me to see the therapist you recommended.”

She looked up at him. This couldn’t be an easy thing for him to admit. “I can call on Monday, set something up for you.”

He nodded, and she said nothing more. He was trying, and that was all Sophie could ask.

“There is something I need to tell you,” he said. “Something I have been thinking about a lot lately.”

“Tell me.”

“Anjali was extremely unhappy with my lapse in judgment regarding your medication the day we returned to the camp from Kaliningrad. She threatened to file a formal complaint against me as a physician upon her return to America.” He turned his face so he could look her in the eye. “I could lose my license to practice medicine.”

Sophie wasn’t surprised. Anjali had a high professional standard, and his actions in Europe had breached that standard decisively. Anjali’s temper rivaled Michael’s. Sophie didn’t think her friend would push the complaint, given the circumstances, but she didn’t know for sure.

“I’m sorry, Michael. I’d like to think that Anjali will take the circumstances into consideration.”

“There are no circumstances to consider. I did a wrong thing, and I am willing to accept responsibility for my actions.” He ran his hand through his short hair. “I will never forgive myself for hurting you in that way.”

“It was wrong, but it can never be undone.” She cupped his face in her hand. “And I have forgiven you.” He kissed her palm, once lightly, the second time more slowly. She laid her head against his chest and listened to his heart beating under her ear.

He’s alive. He’s safe. We are together.

She would never forget what it felt like to go to bed at night, not knowing if he was alive. She would never again take his presence in her life for granted.

They sat in dark together, his heartbeat steady in her ear. Warm and comfortable, she drifted off. Sophie stirred as he gathered her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs, still wrapped in the blanket. Gently, Michael laid her down in the bed and slid into the sheets, turning toward her. She snuggled into his arms, their bodies intertwined. She sighed with pleasure, and tipped over the edge into peaceful darkness.





-





When Sophie awoke, she was shocked to discover that it was just after noon. Michael still slept, his face relaxed. She got up and left the room, returning with the newspaper, her iPhone, and a cup of coffee.

She read the international news section of the paper, noting the coverage on Orlisia. Then she caught up on the email reports from Parnaas. She smiled when she read that a school had been set up since they left. Even in the midst of chaos, kids had to go to school.

She flagged a dozen or so items for follow up. She should probably go into the office at some point during the weekend, but right then, she had no desire to get out of bed. Sophie glanced down at Michael, still sleeping beside her. Who would want to get out of bed with the most gorgeous guy in the world curled up naked in the sheets?

His green eyes suddenly fluttered open. He looked like he didn’t quite know where he was. “What time is it?”

“Almost one o’clock in the afternoon, if you can believe it,” she said. “You’re beautiful when you sleep, you know.”

Michael smiled sheepishly then got out of bed. He came back shortly after with his own coffee, and climbed back in beside her. “What is new in the world?” He gestured to the paper.

“Same old, same old. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees continues to urge the Soviet Republic to hand over full control of the Parnaas camp to them. Commandant Jaros, of course, has gone back to Moscow, never to be seen again. Zimbabwe is still a mess. Somalia’s getting worse. We’ve been thinking for a while that the Horn of Africa will be our next target.” He flinched, and she looked at him in surprise. “What?”