The Life and Times of Bonnie Chance

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Bonnie and Izmir stayed up most of the night, wary of each other. They didn't talk much after that, and they both eventually drifted off to sleep around the same time. But Izmir was the first to wake up. The first thing he noticed was a smell of Jasmine and lavender, and the feel of something silky against his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw a red like fire that alarmed him for a second before he realized it was only hair. He sat up a little bit and observed Bonnie while she slept. Her carefree expression was beyond beautiful. Her lashes were long and dark against her skin, which was white like moonlight, except for her rosy cheeks and lovely lips. Izmir couldn't help being drawn to those lips, which had once kissed him. They looked just as soft as he remembered them being. Bonnie's eyes suddenly shot open, and she stared up at him with wide eyes, looking startled. Izmir realized he was leaning over her as if he was about to kiss her.

"Good. You're finally awake," Izmir said, sitting back to give her some space.

"Yes..." Bonnie said, eying him warily.

"Too bad. I was about to kiss you awake," Izmir teased, wanting to see her reaction. Bonnie didn't even blush.

"Ha. Ha," Bonnie said dryly with a look that said she didn't believe him at all. "I know you have a thing for Carol and only see me as an annoyance, so there's no point in toying with me."

"Bonnie!" Carol exclaimed as she burst into the tent, followed by Kurush. "Are you okay? Did he do anything strange to you?" she asked urgently.

"I'm fine. He isn't interested in me that way," Bonnie said. "What about you? Did they warm you up and give you the pain killer?"

"Yes! I feel much better now!" Carol said.

"Good. Then you should have a healthy appetite for breakfast," Izmir said as food was brought into the tent for them. "Thank you, Kurush. You can go now." Kurush bowed and left the tent. The girls started to eat. Izmir watched Bonnie, paying more attention to her than Carol. He watched how she moved and talked, the way she encouraged Carol to eat more. He had never realized how graceful she was before. He had always been so focused on Carol, that he had for the most part ignored Bonnie when she wasn't causing him trouble. And he realized he tended to give Carol credit for everything without pausing to consider how much of a role Bonnie must have played in the events so far. Even when only considering everything she had done while disguised as a doctor, alone in hostile territory, surrounded by enemies... she had done so much without anyone else's help. That took a lot of nerve. She didn't have to come after Carol like that. She could have waited and come with the Egyptian military.

"What?" Bonnie asked when she noticed his staring. "Is there something on my face?"

"Not at all," Carol said. "Why are you staring at Bonnie?" she asked Izmir.

"No reason," Izmir said. "I was just wondering if you were planning on giving me any more trouble."

"I promise you'll be the first to know if I do," Bonnie said smartly. Carol smiled a little despite the situation they were in. Izmir smiled a little too.

"In that case, I think I'll keep you close to me," he said. The priceless looks on the girl's faces were definitely worth it.

"You leave Bonnie alone!" Carol said, worried Izmir was up to something. "I thought I'm the one you wanted?"

"You are, but Bonnie has her own value. As long as I can use her to threaten you, you won't run, right?" Izmir said. "So I can't afford to lose her, can I?"

"You!!!" Carol said angrily, outraged.

"Calm down, Carol!" Bonnie, guiding her to sit back down. "Don't let him provoke you. We need to keep our heads clear." she whispered, but Izmir heard her.