Night had fallen. There was no one in the clinic. Cass knew that because Jeremy came by to do a last check on her before he left. She also knew that she should be sleeping.

But she couldn't. Her brain was working too much. There was so many things to take note of now that she lived. First and foremost was Bryan. Did he know she was still drawing breath? He should be aware since his men didn't find a body to dispose.

So she was still living on borrowed time. Bryan was probably biding his time. He first had to find her and then think of a way to dispose her without implicating himself. Which would be difficult to do with people knowing about her injuries in the first place.

All these brought her to the next issue. Kendall. His welfare was still in a limbo. Right now, Bryan was probably not aware of where he was. He wouldn't even enter that monster's mind unless he could use her baby. But that was going to end anytime soon. So she needed to find a way to out of that man's paws for good.

And the only way was to sign away all her rights to him. Which meant she had to push Daniel to sign those papers. If he hadn't thrown them away. She had made a will in preparation for the beating. It had stated that, in the event of her death, Daniel's parents would be Kendall's guardian. She knew they hadn't known about Kendall but she was sure they'd take good care of him. She did consider Daniel but he was too consumed with vengeance. As much as he loved his son, she could never be sure he wouldn't use Kendall. But now that she was alive, that was no longer an option.

Which brought her back to the papers.

Suddenly her door opened and a man entered in silence. Forcing herself to not move and breath normally, Cass watched him move to her bed through slitter eyes. The way he moved. It was familiar. There was a self-assuredness that exuded confidence in a way a top predator would.

"I know you're awake,"his gruff voice growled. Still not knowing who he was but not willing to show her hand, Cass opened her eyes widely and blinked rapidly at him. Then she sat up, ignoring her protesting muscles, hands fluttering at her throat.

"W-who are you?"she asked breathlessly. Even in the darkness, she could see his lips quirk up in a smirk. Battling down her irritation, she demanded,"How did you get in here?"

"Nice acting, Mrs Adams. But I've got your number,"he said, amusement rich in his voice. Reluctant to drop the act but unwilling to show any vulnerability, Cass frowned.

"What happened to my guards? Did you kill them?"she exclaimed. His smirk turned to a smile and, with the moonlight shining through the small window above her bed, Cass spotted a wide white scar slashed on his right cheek, further highlighted by his dark skin. Stiffening as she finally recognised him, her mind drew a blank for the first time in her life. And she saw that he knew that she knew. His demeanour became more serious.

"Don't worry. Bryan doesn't know you're alive. Or here,"he said.

"What? Why? How?"she sputtered. He was silent, making her even more nervous.

"You saved my sister. It's not a debt I will ever forget,"he responded gravely. Sister? Who was he-

"Sarah?"she inquired, her mind flying back to when she had to get about with a broken arm and pregnant belly. The girl she had had to fight Bryan for. The girl who had looked half-dead and wishing for the end. "How is she?"

"Good. Just got hitched but she got her bachelors,"he said fondly and she couldn't help but relax in his presence. "You didn't know it but she planned to commit suicide the day you asked for her."

"It's not a surprise,"she said softly and the both of them wallowed in past. Then she had to find out more. "You're his head of security. Why are you risking your life for mine?"

"'Cause you're the only one who can bring him down." She was stunned. What was he talking about? "I know about the recordings. I know about your codes. The guns in your room. I know and I've been turning the other way all these years. But you can't wait anymore. He's getting deeper and more powerful."

"And I have to stop him before he knows that I know,"she finished. Closing her eyes, Cass resigned herself to the task. But- "All my stuff, it's at the house."

He placed a bag on her bed. "There's a burner phone with my number. Only use it once."

Cass didn't touch the bag. She knew it had all that was important to bring Bryan down. And her guns. Another reason she couldn't sleep. She didn't feel safe. It was disconcerting that she had spent most her life creating a safe environment only to suddenly be kept without her security blankets.

She wanted to say more but a sudden awareness made them realise someone was approaching. Footsteps could be heard. He melted into the shadows behind the door while Cass painstakingly hid the bag under her pillow.

And when Daniel entered with a pajama-clad Kendall in his arms, he managed to make his exit.

--------@@@@-------

Daniel was surprised to find Cassandra still awake. He'd thought to show to Kendall that she was fine, resting, so as to calm him. But the moment they saw her with eyes wide open, Kendall demanded to be with her.

Situating him beside her, Daniel took a chair by the wall and set up by her bed. She was looking down at Kendall, who'd fallen back to sleep. Her expression was one of love and adoration. And a part of him softened.

"Why aren't you sleeping?"he asked softly. Her hair having fallen to cover her face and creating a barrier, he wasn't sure that she was going to answer and was about to repeat the question when she did.

"I can't. I just can't relax here,"she admitted. "I don't know if Bryan knows where I am or not. Whether he will send someone to finish the job."

He felt like an idiot. He knew how Bryan worked, how he didn't like to be thwarted. And after living with him, he was sure Cassandra knew him even better.

"I'll set up a room for you tomorrow and get you there as soon as possible,"he told her, placing his elbows on the bed, playing with Kendall's lax hand. "But Jeremy has to check you out first. And a OBGYN if I can get one."

Even in the darkness, he saw her cheeks flushed. Something he hadn't seen in a long time. All the women he'd met were quite jaded and assertive. Knew what they wanted. Aggressive. Traits he found attractive. Or used to.

Now, faced with her sudden bout of shyness, some part in his chest just softened. It aroused a protectiveness and attraction that he hadn't thought possible. He knew he was attracted to her-they did have sex twice- but the former was new.

He didn't know of he liked it.

"Um, thanks. I'm sure it's nothing. But for the sake of thoroughness, you know,"she said haltingly. He hid a smile by looking down. "I saw that. How can you enjoy the sufferings of an injured person? Not sporting at all."

"Sufferings? I don't see any suffering. You look pretty comfortable,"he teased. She narrowed her eyes at him. Then yawned. "Sleep. I'll be here to keep an eye on things."

"Are you sure?"she asked, her words slurring slightly. "You can leave if you want."

"And leave you to the tender mercies of a sleeping Kendall? I wouldn't even wish that fate on my least favourite person."

"I am your least favourite person,"she responded, a smile in her voice. Why would she say that? Perplexed, he was going to correct her when she continued. "Why are you guys even here?"

"Kendall wanted to check up on you. He wouldn't stop bugging me about it."

"Stubborn,"she said, chastising the sleeping boy. But Daniel knew she wasn't truly angry. Just resigned. As was he when Kendall had practically ordered him about. Then she surprised him. "He must've gotten it from you."

That startled a laugh out of him. Her eyes shone with amusement even as her eyelids fought the call of sleep. He, impulsively, grabbed her hand, which had been slung over Kendall and was the closest to him, and kissed it.

"Sleep. I'll be here,"he promised. And she finally gave in to her body's demand.

With Daniel still holding her hand, reluctant to let it go.

AN: Hey guys. How're you doing? Sorry about not posting last week. If you'd read the new chapter in AR, you'd know why.

Anyway, how do you like the new chapter? It's part serious and part sweet. Which makes one question if it would stay that way.

Let me know if some part doesn't make sense. I posted this without editing. So if there's incoherence, let me know.

Anyway, please VOTE & COMMENT if you like this chapter.

And, as always, ENJOY. :)