"You're being serious?" Maverick asked.

I nodded. "I need my defences repaired and some new things to protect us. For that, I need manpower. This was a probing attack and I'm worried about how much they knew about my defences. I think I'm going to need the builder to go further afield for his supplies this time. I hadn't had these things that long so... they found out somehow."

He smiled. "You want the traps just in case right?"

I smiled back. "Yes just in case."

He sat next to me sighing in relief. "Excuse me I'm tired now." He said closing his eyes.

He's been reluctant to leave my side since I woke up. "I'm not surprised, you have been hovering over me since I came round."

He nodded looking up at the ceiling. "You scared me."

"You've seen it happen before."

He sighed. "This time scared me."

I frowned at him. Why would this scare him this time? "Maverick... was it different from last time? I need to know if it was."

He turned to look me in the eye. "No... at least not as far as I know."

"Then why did it scare you?"

He took my hand again. "When you fell to the ground... I was the only thing stopping you from hurting yourself. I realised how much cared for you. Then you didn't wake up afterwards... I was... scared that you wouldn't wake up. I had to leave you to disarm the traps, to have someone come check on you. They said you might not wake up for a while, but then you started to...."

I stared at him. Did he just say he cared for me? What does he mean to care for? "I don't think I should have told you that." He said.

"Tell me what, that you care for me? You've already told me that. In action as well as words."

He sighed shaking his head. "No Tia... I'm compromised in my position." His words struck me as I realised what it meant. I smiled which turned into a chuckle, which turned into a laugh. "What's funny?"

"Sorry.. it's just what you said. You are not compromised Maverick. You've not acted on it." He looked into my face looking intense. "Not yet." My smile widened at my words. "As long as you don't while here officially...."

My words cut off as he leaned in and kissed me. I stiffened on instinct. He pulled back and looked sad. He opened his mouth to say something and I leaned in to kiss him back, killing what he was going to say.

He looked shocked when I sat back. "I didn't want my shock at you doing that to me to send the wrong message." He blinked at me still stunned. "Speak Maverick." His mouth moved and nothing came out. I laughed and he smiled. "I broke you."

He shook his head. "Nope. I'm still working just... shocked. I expected you to recoil like you did but..."

I laughed. "I'm not one for doing what people expect of me."

"You can say that again."

He looked over at Tobin, who was happily drawing away with the ear defenders on. I guess he realised that he shouldn't listen to this conversation. "This means I can't be here right now."

"Why not? I trust you, and that's very important to me." He sighed looking down at our hands.

"I'm compromised. It's a conflict of interest."

"We are adults Maverick, and right now you're here as an officer."

He shook his head. "I can't be both Tia. I can't have these feelings towards you and investigate this. Not to mention you're still under suspicion for murder."

"You overreacting Maverick. Nothing has happened. So calm down and talk to the chief when he comes back."

He shifted and sighed. "Alright, I give in." I smiled.

There was a sound coming from upstairs. A low rumble followed by a bark. "Brut?" As I said his name quietly a noise like a thousand feet came down the stairs filled the room.

He ran to me and started licking my face. "Burt... are you OK?"

Burt barked and Tobin stood. "Burt!" He came running and cuddled him.

Maverick stroked Burt's head with his free hand. "What a nice family reunion."

I smiled at Roland. "What are you doing here?"

"Someone was brought to my home because their owner was out of contact. When he got there he laid by the door and whimpered. I had to bring him home."

Burt headbutted me and I kissed his nose. Roland smiled. "Did something happen?"

He gestured to us holding hands. "Ahhh."

Maverick tried to let my hand go and I refused to let go of his. "Tobin will you show Burt your drawings and get him some food."

Tobin smiled and put his ear defender's on walking back to the makeshift bed with Burt. He got to the blankets and they started rolling around. Roland watched with interest "He's changed."

"He feels safe because we have kept him safe."

Roland turned back to us grinning. "Now please tell me the gossip. What on earth happened here and what's with the hand holding?"

I smiled leaving Maverick to answer his brother. After a moment he realised I wasn't going to say anything and sighed. "We were attacked."

"I can see that much Mac, from the state of the house. If you can't tell me more about that tell me more about what's happened between you two."

Maverick looked at me but I stayed quiet smiling at him. "Well... not much... Tia had a fit and she hit her head. I realised how..."

He stopped talking and looked at the floor. I frowned at him. "Mac?" Roland knelt next to his brother sounding very concerned.

Maverick's hand tightened in mine. I shifted and tipped his head up. He shook my hand off his chin but not before I saw the redness of his face and the tears he was fighting to hold back. "Roland could you take Tobin and Burt upstairs to make some food. I'll take care of your brother."

Roland nodded standing. "I think that's for the best."

He gathered up Tobin and Burt, leading them up the stairs. As soon as they were gone I opened my hand and Maverick let it go. I wrapped my arms around him and he did the same to me.

He didn't make noise just held me tightly. When his grip loosened on me I moved back and saw his face was less red. "It's OK to be weak Maverick." He shook his head. "It is. I was very vulnerable with you earlier and you were able to show me that you would help me. Let me do the same for you."

His eyes met mine and I smiled at him. "You got comfortable with this quickly." He said wiping his eyes.

I shook my head. "It looks that way but no. You started making me more comfortable as soon as you met me. You have this way about you. You are so earnest in everything you've done. I could see you meant it when you told me I could trust you. Although I would be offended if you kissed anyone else to put them at ease."

That made him smile. He let his arms drop and I moved back to lean against the post behind me. I sighed as my muscles complained at the movement. He watched me concerned.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Maverick. Body's aren't meant to fit like that so it leaves you tired and sore."

He took my hand and kissed it. "What would sir Arthur say, Guinevere?" I laughed. "That's better."

He smiled at me. "I told you I'm fine. I don't need cheering up."

"I did." I shook my head at him.

Footsteps on the stairs made him turn looking up at them. He turned back and squeezed my hand before letting it drop. He stood as the chief got to the bottom of the stairs.

"I've brought the builder. He said he would be down in a minute after he's looked at the damage. Do you two want to tell me what's going on?"

Maverick shifted on his feet almost like he was standing to attention. "Can we discuss that after the builder has come and gone?" I asked.

The chief looked down at me and then at Maverick with an unimpressed expression on his face. He nodded as footsteps came down the stairs behind him. "Miss Frost, I will order you a new shutter..."

"I need you and your men to build some of the things Tobin has drawn.." I started to stand but Maverick looked panicked and gently pushed me back down.

He walked to the blankets and picked up the drawings. He handed them back to me and I shuffled through them pausing on one that had shapes on it. I tore it out and handed the builder the notebook full of his drawings. He looked at the drawings and seemed impressed by them. "This is easily done, but why do you need me to make these beds?"

"One must hold a gun safe and the other a door to a tunnel." I showed him the map. "I will give you better details but this will give you an idea."

His eyes went wide as I turned the page to the treasure map. "This is going to take heavy machines and a loss of trees."

I shook my head. "No loss. I don't care how much it costs to do it with shovels. Those trees are more important than a tunnel, but concentrate on reinforcing the house first If you have any ideas I will listen."

He looked around the basement and nodded. "I can soundproof this place and hide the door upstairs with a cupboard. We can do that while building these bits."

"Yes, that sounds good. I know it will take longer for you to do the tunnel so if you could start this end out towards the back of the house that will do for now."

He looked at the map. "I'll look into the tunnel. I don't know if you will need permits. For now, I will happily do the rest."

"Excellent. I have two more requests, Tobin would like to help build down here and you need to order the supplies for this from a new supplier."

The builder frowned looking at me. "Children are not allowed on the building site."

I shook my head. "I will look after him. He wants to help build something to keep us safe."

His eyes widened then he nodded looking grim. "Of course. you will need to get him some things to keep him safe, and he's not to go near the heavy equipment."

"Understood."

He looked at the drawings and nodded. "I assume you're offering the same incentive as before?" I nodded and he turned leaving the basement.

I closed my eyes feeling dizzy. "Burt!"

I opened my eyes as Burt came running. He came to my side and I stroked him. He sniffed at me and then licked me. "Why did you call the dog here Mac?" The chief asked.

"To make sure she's not going to have another fit."

The chief nodded then watched Maverick sit next to me. "Do you want to tell me what's going on here?"

"Nothing that would be a problem chief"

He crossed his arms and started tapping his foot. "Do you think I'm blind Mac? If I can see it so can everyone else."

"She had a fit and I realised I had feelings for her. We kissed, nothing more."

The chief put his hands on his hips and sighed. "Well, it could be worse. At least she's been cleared of the murder charges, now we just have to worry about it being when you were on duty."

I chuckled and Maverick smiled. "Told you."

Maverick patted my hand. "You were right."

The chief looked at us confused. "As interesting as this conversation is chief, I'm afraid I need to sleep soon." Maverick looked me in the eye and I patted his face. Always worried it seems.

"Would you look at some photos of the bodies we can't identify?"

I sighed. I'm so tired they might not haunt my dreams. "Sure."

He offered me a group of photos of identifying marks. I took the first one which was a scar on a forearm shaped like a half-moon. "So you didn't listen, you fool."

"You know this person?"

I nodded handing the photo back to him. "His name was Derrick Peyton."

"You sure?"

I sighed. "I was married to him so, yer I'm sure. I gave him this scar on our wedding night." Maverick looked shocked and the chief took the photo from me staring at it.

Before the questions started I offered the chief the next. "I don't know this one." The next one made me flinch. It was a crescent moon tattoo with a cluster of stars on a shoulder. I could see the arms of this person had been taken off by an axe. "This one is Tobin's mum. She was probably coming back for him and was caught up in this. On the other hand, the church of sky may have captured her." I handed that photo to the chief.

I could see Maverick looking upset by what I'd said. I continued going through the photos giving him the names I had. The chief noted the names down and turned to walk back upstairs. "I'm going to clear the people out of here, but until your shutter is repaired we will be outside."

"I'm staying down here." The chief looked at me and nodded.

He left and I went to stand but Maverick picked me up. I let out a squeak and clung to him. He laid me in the blankets on the other side of the room and smiled at me. "I'm not an invalid."

"I know."

He sat next to me as Tobin and Roland reappeared. They had brought food and I tried to stay awake to eat but it wasn't going to happen. My eyes were drifting shut as Tobin offered me a bowl. I took it fighting my tiredness to eat and picked up the spoon.