"They're both okay," Stark said quickly. "Grant will be in here a while but the Commander has already been released."


Rene closed her eyes for a few seconds. "Thank God," she murmured.God, is it finally over then? She was beginning to remember -- running through the dark, the flash of the explosion, the tearing pain in her shoulder.


Stark frowned when she realized that Savard was trembling. "I should go. You need to rest."


Savard opened her eyes again. Softly, she said, "You look like you could use some, too."


"Yeah, maybe," Stark said with a sheepish grin. She was actually about to fall down she was so tired. But she couldn't leave just yet. "So...uh...Savard -- just in case you have any memory problems, you know -- from this little...uh, episode...I...uh...wanted to remind you that we -- you know -- have a date. Right?"


Renee Savard smiled, and this time her eyes sparkled with their old vitality. "You don't need to worry, Agent Stark. It would take more than a bullet to make me forget that."


*****


When Cam awoke, she was naked in bed and Blair was beside her. For a few moments, she lay quietly, simply luxuriating in the feel of Blair's arm possessively draped across her body. She liked the weight of it, the quiet reminder that she belonged there--with her.


"He's really dead, isn't he?" Blair said into the still darkness, part statement, part question.


"Yes," Cam said, reaching for Blair's hand, interlacing her fingers with Blair's and squeezing gently. "We don't have a positive ID, but I expect that we will when the forensics people are finished."


"Who was he?"


Cam hesitated for a second, and then said quietly, "He was a State Trooper assigned to your security detail about ten years ago - when your father was still governor."


Blair rolled onto her side and pressed tightly against Cam's body, nestling her face against her shoulder. After a moment, she said, "I don't remember him. I don't remember any of them."


"There's no reason that you should," Cam said gently. She brushed her fingers lightly over the curve of Blair's breast, and Blair shivered in her arms. "We're not supposed to be memorable. We're supposed to do our job and keep out of your life."


There was an edge of bitterness in her voice that she couldn't quite hide. Harker had tarnished so many things she valued. Dishonoring his oath was the least of his sins. It enraged her every time she thought of him watching Blair with his fevered distorted longings, all the time that he had been entrusted with her care.


"I seem to have quite a few pleasant memories of you though, Commander," Blair whispered softly, rubbing her palm lightly over Cam's chest, chasing away her demons.


Cam's swift intake of breath followed fast on the surge of excitement that rippled through her. She shifted so they were face to face and she kissed her way along the edge of Blair's jaw to the corner of her mouth. "Let's make a few more."


Blair pushed Cam down and moved on top of her, straddling her hips. "Let's."


"I love the way you look when you're on top of me," Cam murmured, reaching for her breasts.


Blair leaned forward, catching her lower lip between her teeth as Cam's knowing fingers closed on her nipples. She rocked, slow easy strokes, teasing herself as well as her lover as her wetness coated Cam's stomach. When the pressure began to peak and the tingling started on the insides of her thighs, she dropped her head and closed her eyes, bracing herself with her hands against the mattress on either side of Cam's shoulders. Her breath came in uneven sobs as she gave herself to the escalating urgency between her legs, pressing harder, faster. Soon, it would be impossible to stop.


She forced her eyes open and struggled to focus on Cam's face. "Should I wait?" she gasped.


"No," Cam rasped, barely able to force the words out her chest felt so tight. "You're so beautiful when you come."


Cam brought one hand down between them and slipped her fingers between Blair's legs, cupping her as she thrust.


"Oh Cam," Blair moaned, riding hard on Cam's hand. She jerked once and then she was gone. As the spasms continued to bombard her, she collapsed against Cam's chest, groaning softly.


"Sorry," Blair finally murmured. "I seem to be afflicted with terminal lust."


"Nice," Cam remarked, running her hands up and down her back. "Have I mentioned lately that I find you terminally sexy?"


Blair laughed, leaning up on one elbow and shaking the hair back from her face. "You think we're safe together?"


Cam stroked her face, then raised her head and kissed her gently. "Oh yes. Quite safe."


"Are we free now?" Blair asked, suddenly serious.


"Yes."


But they both knew that wasn't quite true.


"I'd prefer that you not scare the hell out of me again for a while," Blair said, pressing her lips to Cam's bare shoulder, tasting the light tang of salt and feeling her desire rise again.


Cam brushed a kiss into her hair. "I have no intention of scaring you again at any time. I know it's hard to believe at the moment, but these situations are extremely rare. I hope you'll be able to believe that someday."


"You're not resigning, are you?"


"I don't want to," Cam said quietly. She tightened her grip and held Blair closer when she felt her stiffen. "It's what I do, Blair, and it feels right to me. It lets me be with you more than I would be able to under any other circumstances. I don't want to see you for a night every couple of months. Not for the next seven years."


Blair tried hard to put her fear aside and to listen to what Cam was telling her. She couldn't deny the reality of the situation, because if Cam were not part of her security detail, it would be very hard for them to be together. It would still be hard for them to have a personal life, but that was not a new challenge for her. She had been working outside the system in that regard all her life. She sighed.


"I don't know if it will work, but I'm willing to try."


"If it doesn't work," Cam assured her, "I'll do whatever I have to do. Blair, I love you."


Blair moved on top of her and looked intently into her face. "We'll both do whatever we need to do, Cam. Because I love you, too."


"Is that so?" Cam murmured, catching Blair's fingers and pressing a kiss to her palm. Then, she moved Blair's hand down her body. "Perhaps you could repeat that."


Blair laughed, watching Cam's eyes as she touched her. "As you wish, Commander."


The End