Dawn's Never Ending Glow

Keeping out of sight, he ducked into the shadows and held his breath as Janine came out of the flower shop. Her arms were loaded with boxes. Juggling them precariously on her hip, she managed to open the trunk and stuff them inside the car. He could have gone over and offered to help. But, then she'd know he was following her. And by her own demands, that was against the rules.

His vision wasn't nearly as acute in the daylight. In fact, for the most part, he stumbled around like an ordinary human in the blinding light of day. He watched as Janine slid behind the wheel and rolled down the window for a breath of fresh air. She had taken out the diamond studs he bought her for Valentine's Day and replaced them with a pair of gaudy, cheap, dime store rejects that dangled wildly from her earlobes. He'd worked so hard to find her the perfect gift. And much like she'd done to him, she'd tossed them aside.

*******

Chris sat on the edge of Anna's bed, waking her. "Anna, its your big day," she said with a wide smile. Their friendship had endured so much. At the beginning, Chris wasn't sure that Anna could accept her for what she had become. In the end, friendship conquered over fear. That wasn't saying it didn't take time and lots of hard work to get there. But, Anna had come full circle, loving the life and the people she once cursed.

"Hi," Anna replied, sleepily. Sleep wasn't something she needed much of these days and she did it more out of habit than necessity. Everyone had something they clung to from their human life. Alex had her coffee mugs. Candace had her daily routine of picking up after the brothers. Toby had his computers. Even the Great Father warmed his hands by the fire for the pleasure of the heat. She supposed sleep was just her way of coping.

Anna shifted and sat up, lounging against the pillows. "My big day." She returned Chris's eager smile. "What time is it?" She glanced at the clock's digital display and counted the hours until the wedding. With a groan, she pulled the blankets over her head. "What are we going to do all day?"

"Well first, you're going to open this." Chris yanked down the covers and shoved a small, silver wrapped box, decorated festively with iridescent bows into Anna's hand. Keeping her surprise a secret had been hell. Especially after Anna had turned and had a one-way connection into the collective mind of the brotherhood. Try keeping anything a secret from someone who knew every thought.

"What's this?" Anna asked, turning the box over and over in her hands, shaking it gently. She hadn't expected a present this early in the day. She stared down at the box and then up at Chris.

"The first part of your wedding present," Chris answered vaguely. She had to really concentrate on blocking her thoughts before she gave the whole surprise away.

"The first part?" Anna asked, eying Chris suspiciously. Just exactly what had Chris and Toby been up to? She knew they had been busy lately, leaving one of the brothers to distract her while they snuck off to work on their big surprise. She rattled the box and felt something heavy slide around inside. She liked to try to guess what her presents were. But, she truly had no clue.

"Are you going to open the damn thing or not?" Chris flopped down on the side of the bed with an impatient huff. Part of the fun of planning and putting all the work into this whole thing was going to be getting to drive Anna nuts all day with the suspense.

When Chris had first encountered the Sons, they were living in a series of abandoned tunnels and mine shafts. They weren't living in the dark, dank subterranean labyrinth, but existing. Without Anna's help and planning that's what the brothers would still be doing. Creeping around in the dark like rats in a hole. Anna conquered the dark spaces and carved a home for them out of the rock. Chris merely took Anna's spark of inspiration and transformed it with paint and tile, carpet and décor and light, lots and lots of light. Now, the mines were truly their home. And it was time for Anna to have her own space in it.

Anna opened the box, tearing away at the foil wrapping paper and snapping through the stubborn ribbon with her nails in eager anticipation. She slid the box open and picked up the brass skeleton key. She was truly puzzled. The key was an antique and wouldn't fit any lock made in the last century or so. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

Chris snickered, "I can tell you no more. You'll have to wait until your honeymoon for the rest of the surprise." She crossed her arms, determined to keep her big mouth shut before she gave any more away. Her best friend was a quick and clever woman. And Chris had no intention of giving her any clue as to what the key opened.

Anna fingered the key, setting the empty box on her bedside table. The brass was worn, cool and smooth against her fingers. "You know I hate surprises. Is Toby in on this?"

Chris nodded. "Ever since it's conception." Toby helped her design and decorate the suite. When Anna's things arrived, he'd helped to unpack and organize her belongings. Somehow in the midst of all the chaos, he'd even managed to sneak his personal possessions out of his room and into the suite. How he'd kept Anna from finding out, Chris would never know.

"Will I like it?" Anna asked in an attempt to pry a little more information out of her friend. Chris never could keep a secret for very long. And with a little coaxing Anna would have her spilling her guts.

Chris held a finger to her lips, shushing Anna. "You'll love it." She settled back on the bed and clamped her mouth shut. "Now, don't ask me anything else."

"You people suck," Anna said, begrudgingly. Pumping Chris for further information would prove useless and futile. Chris wasn't going to give it up. "I'm going to take a shower." A long, relaxing bath would be better. But, she still had not quite managed to conquer her fear of the tub or what had happened in it.

******

Janine searched the garage for the keys to the ATV. Usually, the brothers were so anal about every little detail. But, the keys weren't hanging on the hook where they belonged. She found them stashed under a crumpled, oil stained shop cloth. Her car, or rather Chris's car, was stuffed to the hilt with decorations and goodies for the wedding ceremony. And as usual, she felt pressured and short on time. She had to get up to the bluffs and decorate, then return to the compound and help get Anna ready, and then get herself ready. Her role was important of the up most critical in nature. It was her job to ensure that the wedding ceremony was beautiful and went off without a hitch.

The day was unusually stuffy for this time of year, humid and hot. She wiped away a fine layer of sweat that was forming on her brow. Janine loaded the wagon hitched to the back of the ATV with her goodies and cranked the keys in the ignition. The engine groaned and shimmied. Shuddering with such force, the vibration shook the whole vehicle. But, the engine refused to start. "No, no, no!" Janine hissed. "Not now." She tried once more, but the engine still wouldn't start. She climbed off the seat and lifted the cover off the engine.

The machinery looked like nothing but a tangle of wires and snaking belts and hoses to her. She had no idea what made things run, or how they worked, and certainly no clue of how to fix them. And she'd just spent the last hour getting a mani-pedi. She'd ruin her polish job by trying. "Damn," she muttered. There wasn't time to reload the car. And besides, the path wasn't wide enough and was way too bumpy to allow a vehicle to pass without sustaining major damage. Surely, there was someone around who knew something about engines. Will was pretty handy with a wrench. At least, she hoped he was. And she hoped she could find him.

Janine jogged through the tunnels, looking for a sign of life. The hallways were completely deserted. Most of the brothers were out somewhere. Probably keeping Toby company while he waited for sundown. Luckily, hopefully, that meant Patrick was with them too. She didn't have time to think about that, right now. She needed help in a major way. "Shit, shit, shit." There had to be someone here. "Hello?" she called out. "Anybody?" Her voice echoed through the empty halls.

Patrick heard Janine's voice. Not the soft, feminine, lilt he was used to. But, a shrill, desperate cry, filled with panic. He jumped up from his post at the monitors, where he'd been watching her running haphazardly through the halls, closely resembling a chicken running around with its head cut off. And went out to see what was going on.

"Oh, it's you," Janine grumbled less than enthusiastically, eying Patrick with dismay. He didn't know anything about engines. She possessed more mechanical know how than he did. And that wasn't saying much.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Patrick said, crossing his arms defensively over his chest. Less than one minute and they were already at each other's throats. That had to be some kind of record. Janine glowered at him disdainfully, as if he were a cockroach she'd found doing the backstroke in her margarita. "Most everyone else is with Toby or out at the bluffs building the bonfire." He eyed her suspiciously and asked, "Why aren't you there?"

"Never mind." Janine wasn't about to ask Patrick for help. She'd take the time to run to the bluffs and grab one of the guys to come back and fix the ATV. Hell, she'd risk her porcelain nail job and do it herself before she wasted her breath asking him. You Tube was a wealth of information. And she could follow along with a simple instructional video. The air in the halls was chilly against her flushed skin, causing her nipples to harden beneath her bra and poke out from her t-shirt in full 'headlights-a- shinin' mode. . And guess where Patrick's eyes automatically went. Wonderful.

My god, those full nipples were a thing of beauty. Poking up into twin peaks from beneath her thin t-shirt. He caught her subtle shift and forced his eyes to her face. So what. He was a guy. And they were on display. Of course, he was going to look.

"Are you ok?" he asked, noticing her skin, flushed in a way that had nothing to do with her embarrassment at being ogled, and the slight shivering of her body. Her heart was racing and sweat trickled over her cheeks in damp rivulets. Dark circles cut sharply into the flesh beneath her eyes. He took a step forward. And immediately backed off. It was so obvious she didn't want him touching her. "Why don't you sit down for a minute and have something to drink?"

"I don't have time for that," Janine huffed. She was too busy for a break. She skipped breakfast, opting for an energy drink and it was catching up with her. Not to mention rushing about in the oppressive, unseasonable, heat wasn't doing her any favors either. Her legs trembled and her knees threatened to buckle. But, she was in full crisis mode and running on pure adrenaline. "I need to get to the bluffs and get busy decorating." She heaved out a sigh, hiding her exhaustion by leaning against a wall. "The damn ATV won't start."

"I'll go take a look at it." Patrick slid the keys from her fingers and whether she wanted him to or not, turned her by the shoulders and pointed her toward the kitchen. "You go find something cold to drink and get yourself something to eat," he ordered.

Janine wasn't about to take orders from him. Who did he think he was? Her dad? "No, I'm fine. As soon as you get that damn machine fixed, I need to get up there." She blinked at him, narrowing her eyes. Daring him to push the issue. "You can fix it can't you?"

Patrick shrugged, "I don't know. I'll have to take a look at it first." He clasped the keys in his fist storming toward the garage with her tight on his heels. Damn woman wasn't going to do anything he told her to. No shocker there, she never did.

Janine gasped as Patrick opened the security door leading to the garage. A fresh wave of heat and humidity pressed in on her, covering her body, like a hot, damp blanket. "I didn't think it could get any hotter," she moaned, wiping at her forehead with the back of her hand. "My roses are going to wilt before I can even get them put up."

"You look like you're going to wilt," he grumbled. Cranking the key over, he tried to start the ATV. The engine was locked up tighter than a drum. In Janine's most recent attempt of woman versus machinery, she'd flooded the engine.

"At least sit down somewhere. This might take a while. Maybe, you should go in and cool off." He was about to suggest she take a nap. She looked like she could use it. The dark circles and gaunt look to her face worried him. He was tempted to use his mojo and put her out for a few hours. But, he made a promise. He swore he wouldn't put her to sleep. However, he didn't make any promises not to influence her into that direction. He breathed out the word soundlessly as he popped open the hood for a closer look.

Janine yawned and shook her head. Sitting in the stuffy garage was making her sleepy and she didn't have time for it. She watched as Patrick fiddled with hoses and belts, adjusting this and tightening that. He looked good in the faded, tight t-shirt that stretched across his muscular shoulders. The muscles in his forearms flexed with each careful turn of the wrench. And the way his jeans molded to his butt, had her licking her lips with a sudden surge of unadulterated lust. She could almost imagine that they were still a couple. But, like so many other things in her life, it was merely an illusion.

After several attempts and many, many curse words, the engine roared to life. Sputtering and shimmying at first, but then buzzing with a high-pitched whine completely resurrected from the dead. Janine snapped awake from her doze, blinking at Patrick as he gave the hood a satisfied thump.

She sprung to her feet after seeing the time the clock on the garage wall displayed. She still had a whole day of work ahead of her and it was already past noon. "Thank you, Patrick." She smiled, sliding onto the seat and gunning the engine, very pleased with the purr under the hood. "I owe you a million bucks."

Patrick wiped his greasy hands on a towel and returned Janine's smile. "I'd settle for a kiss." He stepped closer, wishing the whirring engine wasn't covering up his voice. "I miss you Janine," he confessed so low, he wasn't sure if she'd heard him or not. He kept his eyes low, bending at the waist to bring his cheek in line with her lips. He'd ask for something small and hope for something bigger. And be happy with what he got.

Janine's heart melted as he looked at her in that special way of his. She could never say 'no' when he gave her those big, round, sad puppy dog eyes. What harm could come from one little kiss? It didn't have to be a deep intense one and he was being so sweet to her... for the moment. Against her better judgment, she rose up in the seat and pressed her lips to his cheek. Blushing, she remembered exactly where her lips had been, just last night and pulled away. She gunned the engine and carefully pulled out of the garage before she did anything else she might regret. Like kiss him fully and in earnest.

Chapter 50

Anna spent all the time that she could in the shower. She was excited and nervous about the wedding. She had to keep busy today, all day, otherwise all she would accomplish would be pacing and working herself up into a full blown jumble of nerves and anxiety, something she simply didn't need. Reluctantly toweling off and dressing in a comfortable pair of kaki shorts and a tank top, she retreated from the bathroom.

"My God, I thought you were going to be in there all day," Chris said, glancing up from the magazine on her lap. She read Anna's face noticing the nervousness in her eyes and the set of her jaw. Anna was in desperate need of a distraction. "Let's take a walk. We have a while before Janine comes to torture you."

Anna nodded, she could use a drink and the fresh air would do her good. She wasn't looking forward to Janine's nervous hovering over her. "Sounds good."

Chris and Anna walked, enjoying the dim light filtering through the leaves above their heads. They made a light lunch out of a couple of unwary rabbits and were headed back to the compound to finish preparing for the wedding. The cool of the shade and the fresh air helped to calm Anna. But now, that the sun was slowly creeping lower in the sky, she was getting nervous all over again. Finally, she mussed. It was almost time for the wedding. "You know," Anna said. "I really do love him."

Chris snorted, "I would have never guessed." She snatched up a stray bloom from a nearby tulip tree, holding the fragile pale blossom in her palm. "You two have been through a lot in the past few weeks."

Anna nodded, "And he loves me anyway."

"Who wouldn't? You are still you despite what you've gone through. Your heart hasn't changed, why would his?" Chris smiled and tucked the pale pink petals behind Anna's ear and gently arranged her hair to hold the flower in place.

"At first, given what I'm capable of, I didn't think anyone would accept me. I didn't think Toby would still love me. I've changed so much so quickly." Anna waved away a fat bumblebee that took a particular interest in the flower behind her ear. She was allergic, although that might not be a problem now.

Chris wrapped an arm around her best friend's waist as they walked back to the compound. "The beast wanted to kill. I think it could have." They all had a terrible beast tucked in side of them that was capable of unspeakable things. Some of the brothers called it a hunter. Some had no name for it. Amongst all the wonders this life had to offer, the beast was the most feared and shared. Perhaps, that was the reason rogues went rogue, there was no one to help shoulder the heavy burden. "But, you held it back. After all Roark put you through, you still couldn't kill him. I don't think you're capable of it. Its simply not who you are."

"It's a part of me," Anna admitted softly in shame. She stared down at her upturned palms and clenched her hands into fists. At just the mention of it, she could feel the power beginning to surge through her hands.

"A part yes, but not the sum." Chris loosened her grip on Anna's waist and took her clenched fists in her hands, gently prying Anna's fingers open. "Yours is a gift I don't envy. And I can't begin to understand. But, you can't be afraid of who you are. Or of what you are."

"I'm trying. I can remember the fist time I came here. I was so afraid. I wanted so badly to forget and just walk away. But, I couldn't. I don't make friends very easily. And when I finally do. I guess I can't let them go. I tried everything to get you to end our friendship. But, you kept hanging on, even when I gave you no reason to. Chris, I'm glad you did."

Chris smiled at Anna and released her grip on her hands. "Me too." They walked the rest of the way to the compound in companionable silence, simply enjoying the wind rustling the trees and the feel of the cool breeze on their skin. Friendships were fragile things in the beginning, easily broken. They needed careful tending and plenty of TLC to make them grow. At the hidden entrance to the compound, Chris stopped Anna and pulled her into a gentle, friendly hug. "You and Toby are going to be great together."

"Thanks, Chris," Anna said, returning her hug.

Chris pressed her palm on the electronic print reader creatively hidden amongst the vines and waited for the soft hiss of the magnetic locks to disengage. Anna was supposed to be all smiles on her big day. And she knew one sure way to get a smile to replace that pensive, serious expression on Anna's face. "Oh, by the way, I heard you zapped Patrick on the ass last night," she said, barely able to suppress her chuckle.