Rinse [manxman]

Chapter Nineteen

It felt hot. It was also a little cramped... But, it felt safe too.

I cracked my eyes open, frowning at the beige walls. They certainly did not look like the harsh, white walls of the infirmary, and they definitely weren't the gray walls of Dakota's bedroom. I blinked my eyes open a little more, settling when I saw it was dim enough to open my eyes fully.

"Good morning." Warm breath slid past my ear.

For a split second, I tensed, almost popping off the couch and onto the floor. I held myself down, though. It was only Dakota. I had nothing to be afraid of.

I forced myself to relax again and craned my neck to see him wrapped around me. A quilt was wrapped around both of us, and the corner of the sofa pressed me against Dakota. How on earth had I managed to fall asleep like that?

I looked back toward the wall, frowning when I saw the cup of tea on the table in front of us. "You made me tea?"

"If you want coffee, you can have some of mine," Dakota said.

I shook my head. It wasn't the tea that confused me; instead, it was that Dakota had woken up, remembered everything that had happened—everything that I was—had made my tea, and had sat next to me again.

"When did you wake up?" I asked. Maybe he was still groggy and wasn't thinking clearly. There was no reason to get my hopes up.

"About an hour and a half ago. I made your tea a few minutes ago, though. It's fresh."

I sunk beneath the quilt, pulling it over my chin as I faced the wall. "Do you remember last night?"

"Yes. Do you?"

I nodded, twisting my fists into the blanket. "I just don't understand why you're still here, especially after you've had time to think it over."

"I wasn't saying those things in the heat of the moment last night, Blake. I meant every word of what I said." He shifted, putting his mug on the table before moving even closer to me, slipping an arm around me and propping his chin on my shoulder. "I still mean it. Should I repeat it so it gets through to you?"

"No." I shook my head. "I'm just trying to understand and believe it."

"I'll say it as many times as I need to, and I'll do everything in my power to prove it to you."

"That's not necessary," I said, though it could be somewhat beneficial... "I just need some time to come to terms with it."

Dakota nodded. "Take as much time as you need." He squeezed my hand, then sat up and grabbed his coffee again.

Neither of us spoke, just sat in the silence of the living room. I peeked over the blanket and peered out the window. Slivers of gold and orange light had begun to illuminate the sky. It was still early, no later than seven, I felt sure. The kids wouldn't be up for a while. From what I recalled about Dakota's team, none of them were early risers either.

We still had some time before the events of the previous day beared down on us. I'd gotten the worst part of it out of the way, though. I knew what Dakota thought. Perhaps I still hadn't come to terms with it, but it was in the open.

If the others were as understanding as Dakota or Wyatt, things would go well... However, if they saw me the way Boone and his troops did, I didn't know how the peace would be kept.

I turned to face Dakota. "What happened with Stanner at the conference?" I asked.

"Katya assassinated him, just as planned. When we were ambushed, Holly and Luca grabbed you and ran. I went upstairs to the main room with Katya and Bly as backup, and then told the Qizadian reporters everything we know about Goss and Stanner's plan."