An hour later Varun stopped in Niyati's driveway. He glanced at her, and his expression softened when he saw her sleeping form. He was glad she had slept on the drive to her house because that is the only uninterrupted she is going to get tonight. He had strict instructions from the doctor to wake her every two hours because of her concussion.

He walked around the passenger side and shook her gently to wake her. "Wake up sleeping beauty. You are home."

She opened her eyes and glared at him, "You are no prince charming." She grumbled under her breath, but he heard her and smiled.

He bent his knees and picked her up in his arms then waited for her to look at him. "Like it or not I am all you got sweetheart."

Niyati looked away from his magnetic gaze, "You can put me down. I can walk on my own. There is nothing wrong with my legs."

He ignored her protest and carried her to the doorstep. He had no choice but to place her on her feet to open the door. He let her walk two steps into the house then bent and picked her up again once he closed and locked the door. He brushed off her complaints with a look and carried her to her room to place her on her bed. Once he had her settled, he stepped away from her bed. He wished he had the right to lie beside her and hold her in his arms all night.

He placed his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her and took another step away from the bed. "Do you need help changing?" When she shook her head slowly he took another step back, "I will go get you something to eat while you change." He said as he rushed out of the room.

Niyati frowned at his retreating form. She wanted to call him back and ask what happened. One minute he was all touchy feely and next he just up and left. Then she realized what had made him run and sighed. She pushed the memories aside and got up slowly to dress in her comfortable yoga pants, and a t-shirt then got back under the covers before he came back.

Varun gazed out the window thoughtfully as he waited for the soup to heat up. He had felt Niyati's confusion as he rushed out of her bedroom but he couldn't help it. As soon as he placed her on the bed, old memories had resurfaced. It had been a blustery, cold night just like tonight except there had been half a foot of snow on the ground and the city had just started to shut down for the evening when he had unexpectedly shown up at her doorstep covered in his partner's blood.

She had asked no questions, just took him in and provided him with food and warm clothes then comforted him when he finally lost control and told her everything that had transpired that day. He hadn't shared any confidential information with her but he had told her how his partner had been shot right in front him and he had been unable to save the person who had mentored him and taken him under his wings to train him.

And do you also remember how you repaid her? His conscious mocked him. How can he forget? She had given him everything, and he had paid her back by kicking her out of his life. All because of his guilt and his misguided attempt to avenge his partner.

The ding of the microwave alerted him that the soup was ready. He moved away from the window and pushed his memories aside. He got a bottle of water to go with the soup and crackers he placed on the tray then carried it to her room.

He was sure she would be asleep by the time he returned, but to his surprise she was under the covers, sitting up, gazing out the window. "Do you think it is going to snow?"

He placed the tray in front of her then followed her gaze, "I don't think so."

She sighed then looked at the tray. She frowned when she saw the food in front of her, "I am not hungry."

"You need to eat something, and it's just some soup and crackers. It will help with nausea."

She picked up the spoon reluctantly and started eating without complaining further. Varun waited until she was almost finished with her food before deciding to ask her about the accident.

He leaned back against her dresser with his legs crossed at the ankles. "Did you notice anyone following you from DC?"

Niyati pushed the tray away from her and frowned at him. Now, why was he asking her this? This was just an accident, wasn't it? Then she realized what this implied and looked at him in shock. "Do you think this is related to the notes?"

He saw the hint of fear in her eyes that he couldn't take so he immediately left his relaxed pose and sat next to her on the bed. He took her hand in his. "We don't know yet if the accident was deliberate, but the driver did not stop, and the car he was driving was stolen."

She thought back to his question and couldn't recall anything unusual before the accident, and she hadn't exactly been paying attention to the cars around her because her mind had been on other things at the time. She felt a real panic seize her at the thought of someone attempting to kill her.

Varun squeezed her hand gently to bring her attention back to him, "Niyati look at me."

"Who would want to kill me?" as soon as she asked the question a thought formed in her mind. The only people that can benefit from her death are her family but would they go this far?

"I don't think, whoever it was, was to kill you. Maybe he or she just wanted to scare you," Varun tried to reassure her. He should have never brought up the accident now. He caressed her head gently to calm her. "We will talk about this in the morning, try to get some sleep for now."

She opened her mouth to speak, but he placed his finger on her lips and shook his head, "Leave everything, for now, Shane, and I will take care of everything. No one is going to harm you, I promise."

Niyati was used to taking care of her problems on her own. She did not like depending on anyone else because of past disappointments. This situation with the notes and now the accident rattled her and was making her very anxious. She didn't know how to deal with it, and he is asking her to leave it up to him and Shane.

She could trust Shane because he was her friend and she wasn't emotionally connected to him as she is to Varun, but she didn't know if she could put her trust in him like he is asking her to. It was getting harder and harder to remain indifferent to her feeling, and if he kept showing her his tender side, then she knew she would fall for him again.

Varun saw the fleeting expressions on her face and cupped her face to look into her eyes, "I know you don't trust me yet because of our past but I promise I will be right beside you and no one is going to hurt you, as long as I am alive.

She gazed back at him for a long second and the sincerity in his eyes may have convinced her to believe him because she slowly nodded her head in consent. He leaned down and placed his lips on hers for a brief kiss, but one touch was not enough. He wanted to devour her, but he knew once he tasted her mouth he would not be able to stop. He pulled back reluctantly and moved back slightly.

The memories of the past were like a big elephant in the room, neither wanted to discuss it, so they both felt awkward after the brief kiss. Varun mumbled a quick goodnight and walked out of the room without looking back.

Niyati touched her still tingling lips. She was confused by his sudden hot and cold attitude. She didn't know what to expect from him nor had she expected him to come this close to her this quickly considering his feeling towards her in the past. She didn't know what to make of his change of heart.

She did not want to think about anything anymore, not about the threat to her life, her family or Varun. She wanted to bury her head under the covers and forget everything for a while, and that is what she did.