The fact that Kealey said she wanted things as much as Jacen did was nice but even more than that the honesty between both of them was refreshing. Lori had been sexy and exciting because she was dangerous and unpredictable. She had been good in the shower and wherever else they went but they had never had anything more than physical intimacy. With Kealey it had been the exact opposite. The two of them had shared an emotional intimacy before anything physical ever began.

"It's normal to be scared and nervous, especially when experiencing something new." Jacen observed quietly while he tried to think of how to phrase his next question. "Especially for you. You're so used to feeling everyone else's emotions that I'm sure it must be overwhelming to be feeling anything like, like this."

There was no need to explain what he meant by 'this'. Even a girl as innocent as Kealey would be able to figure that out but that meant it was time to move on to the next question which he somehow knew would be a little more of a touchy subject.

"I was in the military Kealey." He finally said, deciding to get to his question in something of a round about way. "I took two bullets in my left arm and a grenade explosion put shrapnel in my back. I know what a scar feels like and I know that's what I felt when I was caressing your back. How'd you get the scars that you try to hide all the time?"

Now that Jacen's mind was a little more clear certain things were beginning to make sense. Like the fact that a woman as beautiful and stylish as Kealey never wore anything that exposed her stomach and lower back. For most any woman her age that would have been a standard part of her wardrobe but either she didn't like those kinds of clothes or she was avoiding them because of what she was hiding on her back.

Kealey had feeling that Jacen was trying to make her feel better about being scared. It was working. It was also obvious that he really did understand what it was like for her, at least as far as he could. Kealey hadn’t ever had anyone really get it before. Then again, hardly anyone had spent as much time watching her interact and react as Jacen had. The way he skirted around what had just happened made her laugh though, he hadn’t seemed shy when he was doing all the kissing and touching.

”It is overwhelming…even if it is something that I’ve felt before.” she said softly, with a slow smile, ”It’s kind of like the cheeseburger though. It’s overwhelming in a really nice way. You have no idea what it’s like to feel something and know it’s your own after years of feeling the overflow from other people.”

She’d been right, there had been more questions that Jacen wanted to ask. The way he started the next statement made her frown slightly in confusion, though. He’d mentioned being in the military, even if he’d never mentioned being hurt before now. Then he went on and Kealey’s hand with the glass stopped halfway to her mouth.

Slowly, she lowered the glass and set it on the table. Nobody had really ever asked her about this before. Everyone had known back in the convent, and there hadn’t been reason to share with anyone in New York. Until now. Damn those scars, Kealey cursed internally taking a deep breath and looking at Jacen for a moment.

”Well…” she said, ”In a way…it’s why I’m here.” she said slowly and carefully. Emotions weren’t threatening to spill over, so she continued.

”I wasn’t born in a convent…” she said haltingly, eyes turning away from Jacen’s as she remembered, ”My family was poor, but happy, and most of the money we did have went to sending my sister and I to Catholic school. We were both in the choir.”

Her voice took on a soft tone as she spoke, lost in the memory, ”My parents got the night off to come to our big concert that year…it was a big deal because my Da was always working. “ she paused for a second and her voice was harder when she spoke again.

”In the middle of our third song, the bomb went off.” There wasn’t a whole lot more to say about it. ”When I woke up…my powers were working…I was hurt…”

Kealey turned and pulled up the back of the shirt to show the burn scar, ”This one was from some kind of metal…there was a lot of fire.” she dropped the shirt and pulled up the front of the shirt, just high enough to show the thinner scar that ran from her ribs to her hip, ”This one was a shrapnel wound…I lost my spleen…but I was lucky.”

She took a deep breath, and picked up the glass again, taking a drink of water before continuing, ”They were all dead. I went a little crazy for a while…being able to feel all that, the nuns took me in…helped me deal. I don’t really hide them because I’m ashamed…I just don’t like telling the story.”

Kealey took another drink and set the glass down, that hadn’t been too bad at all, it could explain a little more too, though, ”It’s also why I want the picture. By the time I was better, the bank had taken the house. I didn’t get much, and it’s the only one I have of all of us.”

She managed to smile a little and took another bite of pizza, ”Anything else?”

Jacen was silent as he listened to Kealey's story while he worked on eating his pizza. Being a typical man both of his slices were completely gone by the time she had made her way, rather haltingly, through the tragic revelation. He didn't know what to say or think on the subject. It was obviously that the pain was still very real for Kealey. After all, how much mourning could she really do when her own emotions were being over ridden by the emotions of people around her? How could she be sad about her parents if someone extremely happy happened to come by? Or extremely angry? How could she really vent her own emotions when everyone else was intruding on her private space.

Rising to his feet Jacen walked around to the kitchen and gave himself another two slices of the loaded pizza. As he headed back to his seat, he detoured by the end of the couch where Kealey sat. Leaning down he pressed a kiss to the top of her and then moved on to take the seat he had vacated a few moments before.

"I was in Iraq, patrolling with the rest of my squad. We were attacked by insurgents. I took two bullets through my left bicep and then when a grenade exploded I had shrapnel slice into my back." Jacen related, pulling up his own shirt to show the scars that peppered the small of his back and then slowly traced up to the large patch over his right shoulder blade. Pulling his shirt back down, Jacen continued. "I was dieing... bleeding out right there in the sand when one of the men in my unit placed his hands on my chest. It was like there was pure heat running through my veins. And then suddenly I was healed. I owe my life to that man... that mutant. Apparently his saving me activated my own powers. A few years later he was the one bleeding in the dirt until he couldn't heal himself because I didn't know enough to step away from him."

It was a story that Jacen had never fully told to anyone until now. Sure people knew about his injuries and officially there was paperwork detailing the loss of one Corporal Larry Bryant but no one really knew the full story. For the next few minutes Jacen was silent, eating and thinking before finally he shook himself and tried to break the somewhat melancholy mood that had been set.

"Will those clothes work for you to sleep in tonight or do we need to run out and do at least a little shopping this evening?" He asked, giving the blond the best smile he could muster up right at that moment followed by a wink at the end of his statement, "Personally I think you'd look good in nothing at all but we might not be quite ready for that."

Jacen didn’t have much to say when she finished with her story. Kealey hadn’t really expected him to, though. It was a lot for a person to take in, very intense. He took it well though, and she could tell he was sympathetic by the look on his face. For some reason, though, she was glad he didn’t comment on it. Somehow the quiet acceptance was better. Sometimes nothing needed to be said.

Jacen got up to get more pizza and Kealey took the opportunity to really tuck into the two pieces she’d taken. The pizza really was good, and Kealey really was hungry. Jacen returned and she smiled over at him when he kissed the top of her head before sitting down. The smile faded, though, when Jacen started talking again.

Kealey’s eyes widened when he explained that he’d nearly died, and when he pulled his shirt up to show his scars, Kealey could see what he meant. The wounds would have been terrible. Kealey could relate though, she knew what it was like to feel helpless like that. They’d both been saved, though. Kealey listened raptly as he explained how his life had been saved by a mutant, the same even that had triggered his ability. The same ability that had resulted in that man’s death later on. Kealey felt so bad for Jacen, but at the same time wanted to give him the same courtesy he’d given her and not smother him in condolences. ”Thanks for sharing…” Kealey said, looking up and smiling slightly at Jacen, ”and listening...and comparing war wounds with me.”

It was obvious that this was hard to talk about, and Kealey felt almost privileged to know the story that Jacen had just told her. It was nice to have someone to be this close with, someone who she could talk to about these things. They really were friends, whatever else was developing. Kealey sighed slightly, again, feeling lucky that she hadn’t ruined that with her hasty words in the past.

Jacen spoke again, and Kealey’s head jerked up as she was pulled from her thoughts by his questions about her clothes, ”These are just fine…” Kealey said, gesturing to the clothes Jacen had loaned her, ”Just too big.” He went on to say that he thought she’d look good in nothing at all, and Kealey’s cheeks flushed, ”Really?” she said, tilting her head with a wide smile curving her features. But then he said that they probably weren’t ready for that yet and Kealey frowned. She’d been ready to completely throw caution to the wind before, though, and that in and of itself set off a small, but audible warning bell.

”Maybe…” she said, nodding her head slowly, and looking down at the couch before raising her eyes to meet Jacen’s again, ”But the kissing was definitely okay.”

With a mouth full of pizza there was no way to respond to Kealey comments about comparing war wounds so instead Jacen just nodded and gave her a quick smile. In one way conversation over food was a great way to pass the time but in another way it was rather annoying. It seemed that one or the other was always asking a question or saying someone that required a comment while the other person had their mouth full of food. But even with that slight inconvenience Jacen wouldn't have traded his time with Kealey for anything.

"The kissing was more than OK." Jacen corrected with a slight grin, "And we'll have to see about a repeat performance when there are no delivery people on their way. And yes, I really think you'd look great in nothing."

Lifting his glass of water Jacen's eyes twinkled playfully as he added a few more words before sipping at his beverage. "Maybe some day you'll allow me the pleasure of finding out."

It was nice to be able to distract Kealey from the events of the previous week and especially earlier that day but Jacen knew that even with their playfulness it was probably preying on her mind at least a little bit. Suddenly a though occurred to him and he set down his water glass while looking at the young woman very carefully.

"Will you be OK in the guest bedroom?" Jacen asked softly, his voice serious and obviously concerned, "You're welcome to sleep in my room if you want. I promise to be a perfect gentleman if you need some emotional silence in order to rest."

Kealey looked over her shoulder at the pizza in the kitchen and considered grabbing another slice for a few moments as Jacen finished his. Her tummy seemed happy, though, and Kealey decided against eating anything else. She sure hoped Jacen liked leftover pizza, though, there was going to be a lot of it.

He finished his pizza and commented that the kissing had been more than okay and Kealey grinned, nodding when he suggested a repeat performance when there wasn’t any food on its way. She wondered if kissing was really all he had in mind. His next comment suggested not, and Kealey finally had to look away at the last one. Jacen really was interested. ”Maybe…” she breathed, clearing her throat and taking drink of water before returning her gaze to his and smiling a sideways little smile.

Her belly was full, she felt safe, she didn’t have any other people in her head, and she was more relaxed than she could remember being in the longest time. It was strange considering the fact that someone had tried to kill her just a short time before. The same person who’d managed to send her apartment building to the ground in a cloud of ashes. Some of the earlier anxiety returned and Kealey shook her head, things were going too well to deal with that. There was always tomorrow for that, after all.

Jacen seemed to be reading her mind again and he asked if she was going to be okay staying in the guest room. Jacen’s offer was tempting, so tempting. Kealey wanted to stay close to him. The simple fact of the matter was, Jacen wasn’t going to be around 24/7 to make sure she was emotionally sound. Then again, with the weariness starting to come down on her again, Kealey thought a good night’s sleep might be awesome, and the easiest way to keep emotions out of her sleeping form would be to stay by Jacen.

It was too tempting…

She shook her head though, ”I should be fine in the guest room.” Kealey said softly, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth, ”As tempting an offer as it is…and as sure as I am you’d be a gentleman. Usually the worst that happens when I’m asleep is that I have strange dre...” As if on cue, Kealey’s words were cut off by a huge yawn and she covered her mouth, smiling after she finished. "dreams...and that I can handle on my own." She yawned again.

”And I guess that’s the cue…” she said, then looked at Jacen intently for a moment, ”Have I said thanks yet? For everything? “

Jacen finished up the last of his two slices of pizza and then sat back against the couch cushion in obvious contentment. His stomach was full, not stuffed, and he was in the company of a beautiful woman that seemed to enjoy flirting with him as much as he enjoyed flirting with her. She was definitely a special girl but as they sat there a question had begun to float through his mind. "Am I really the right one to be her first if it were to come to that?"

"Well if you have any extra strange dreams you can always call me." Jacen said with a slight smile, "I won't be that far away after all."

What could she mean by "strange" dreams? Were they just weird because of the emotions she felt? Did she deal with anger, sadness, and joy all in the same one? Or what about erotic dreams? Did she drift in that direction from the lust of those around her? Maybe those were questions that needed to be left for another day and another time.

"You don't need to say thanks." Jacen replied with a smile as he stood and took the empty plates, carrying them into the kitchen to dispose of them. "Friends help each other when they can and I'm glad I can do that for you." As he talked he went through the motions of grabbing out some storage bags and putting the extra pizza in them before tossing it in the fridge. "Looks like we've got leftover for a little while."

Walking back out, Jacen smiled down at Kealey while reaching over to gently caress her cheek. "You sleep well tonight. We'll see about getting everything done tomorrow."

Kealey shook her head and chuckled when Jacen said that she could call him if she had any especially strange dreams. ”You’re on the top of my list.” she assured, as she watched him take the plates and pack the leftover pizza into bags. The direction of the conversation made Kealey think about one strange dream she’d had because of others’ emotions and her eyes widened as he face flushed red. How had she managed to go this long without thinking about it? Now she was embarrassed.

Jacen pointed out that she didn’t need to say thanks, and it pulled Kealey’s mind away from that blasted dream and anything else as she tilted her head. ”You don’t have to be so nice all the time, you know.” she said, a thoughtful look on her face for a moment, ”I’ve noticed that people treat me like I give off some kind of ‘wounded lamb’ vibe, but I’m not quite as fragile as you all seem to think.”

He pointed out the state of the leftovers and Kealey shrugged her shoulders with a small smile, ”Sometimes I can’t decide if I like hot, fresh pizza or cold pizza better. So I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”

Jacen came back by her and Kealey leaned her head into his hand when he touched her cheek. She hadn’t been lying when she said that she thought people craved human touch. ”I’m sure I will…I really haven’t been sleeping the past few nights…”

Kealey rose from the couch and stretched her arms, yawning once more as she thought about climbing into a bed and snuggling with a pillow. ”Well…” she said moving to walk around Jacen and start heading for what she assumed had to be the guest room based on process of elimination, ”Goodnight then…” she said with a small smile, ”I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”

"I'm not being nice because your a wounded lamb or anything like that." Jacen said quietly as he watched Kealey suddenly turning thoughtful, "You're a kind and beautiful woman. I enjoy your friendship an until we get in an argument I have no reason to be anything but nice."

Her cheek was so soft and the way she leaned her head into his hand just made him want to scoop her up in his arms even more. She was so innocent and trusting even though she really didn't know him all that well. She had no idea if he was being truthful about his breakup with Lori but she gave him the benefit of the doubt. How in the world had she survived in New York City this long?

"Good night Kealey. Sleep well." Jacen replied as he watched the blond dissapear down the hall and into the guest bedroom. Turning around he walked over to the window and stared out into the darkness. Now that some of the emotion had drained off he found himself remembering a blond woman other than Kealey. He hadn't seen Lori since their run in at her trailer and even though he had been hurt and walked away while swearing to forget her, it was a lot more difficult to put her out of his mind than he thought. This part of the day, as everything wound down and he got ready for bed was when she began to pop into his mind even more. While he was busy he could forget about her but at this time of night it was hard to forget the passion and the heat that they had shared on multiple occasions. Her smirks and smiles that were wo beguiling.

Suddenly shaking his head, Jacen mentally cursed the fact he was once again thinking about the woman that had chosen free love over him. Spinning on his heel he walked back to his bedroom, leaving the door cracked slightly so that he could hear if Kealey called out. A few minutes later clad only in his boxers he closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep while thoughts of two very different blonds danced through his mind.

Things were different once she was in the guest room by herself. Somehow when she left that 8 ft field of silence that Jacen emitted and the feelings from around her started to filter in, other things started to as well. Some of the people around her were sleeping, and that actually calmed Kealey to some degree, but there was also anxiety and doubt. Those things made her curl up into a tighter ball and despair slightly about what was going to happen next

Here she was, staying in the home of someone she really didn’t know all that well after practically throwing herself at him, again. She hadn’t forgotten about the last time they’d seen each other, but earlier in the evening it had been so easy not to think about it. This was someone who had not chosen her…and while Kealey wasn’t opposed to what had happened…it was slightly less than every girl’s dream to be second choice after the first had proven herself unworthy. She knew part of the issue was the emotions assailing her from the other apartments, but this was something that probably merited at least a little rational thought when she could be sure she knew what she felt.

Then there was her apartment. The thought of it popped into Kealey’s head as she turned over and admonished herself for thinking so much when the next day would be so busy…

Everything….everything she’d owned had been in that apartment. There was also the fact that she wasn’t an American citizen, would they even be able to replace her papers? Kelaey didn’t know. On top of that, there was the fact that every tangible thing she possessed of her home in Ireland was now gone. Silent tears welled up and this time Kealey let them fall for a few moments before pulling herself together with supreme effort. Sleep was simply what she needed, sleep and a good attitude to start the next day. Thinking about actually going to sleep made Kealey realize just how tired she was and her eyes started to droop, breath evening out as she relaxed into the pillows and blankets. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

It wasn’t very long by most people’s sleeping standards, only a couple of hours, when Kealey’s mind entered the REM cycle and dreams started to filter in. In reality, each one only lasted the amount of time it took for the random neural firing to register with the part of her brain that made pictures, it seemed much longer to Kealey though.

The first dreams weren’t so bad, the usual scenes of walking around somewhere familiar, but noticing that certain little things are different. Then the nightmares started. First was a practical recount of the day’s events, right down to the way the glass had felt as she ran to the door to try and pull it open. The memories had her tossing and turning, muttering slightly.

Then the scene changed, she was still in her apartment, every detail as she could remember it. Only the assassin hadn’t waited until Jacen had gotten there, the sniper had taken a shot and Kealey was on the floor, unable to move. The apartment door opened and in he walked, smirking and pleased with himself as he came forward to gloat. Tears ran down her face both in the dream and out at the pain and fear mixed with his own calm pleasure at the way the situation had turned out.

Finally there was the nightmare that had haunted its way into Kealey’s dreams repeatedly over the past fourteen years. They were singing, lined up on the risers in the sanctuary. The choir robes were over her uniform and Kealey felt special. It was her first performance with the special choir. She looked to the side and down a little to see Maire grinning back at her, then out into the assembled crowd at the proud faces of her parents.

Halfway through the third song, something had changed. Someone was yelling in the audience. Kealey had frowned, angry that someone would ruin a performance like that. The man stood, face straining as he screamed and yelled, his voice echoing off the walls of the small sanctuary, then Kealey heard the three letters, screamed as his arm stretched out to click the button on the remote he held clutched in his fist. IRA. Kealey met her sister’s gaze, her own terror mirrored in the dark features of her sister, then there was nothing, nothing but fire and noise and pain. So much pain, and Kealey screamed…and screamed…and screamed. Completely unaware that her sleeping form was echoing the memories.

Hours of tossing and turning found Jacen still staring up at the ceiling with thoughts of beautiful blonds dancing through his head. One was the girl that he had enjoyed for several weeks and then left because of her lack of commitment while the other one was the innocent woman that slept in a room just down the hall. One was sassy and dangerous, the kind of woman that every man fantasized about while the other was sexy and kind, the kind of woman that you could bring home to your parents. Sighing to himself, Jacen rolled over and finally, finally succumbed to weariness.

***

The sound of screams made Jacen leap out of bed before he was even aware of his surroundings. For a moment he stood there, dazed and confused as he tried to figure out what had just happened. Then yet another scream rang out and Jacen was off at a sprint. In a matter of second he had covered the living room and hallway and was darting through the door. Another blood curdling scream escaped Kealey's lips as she seemed to be twisting and thrashing in the sheets. A nightmare had obviously struck since there were no real threats anywhere in the room.

Quickly Jacen slid into a sitting position on the bed and wrapped Kealey up in his arms. He was lost as to what he should do but then instinct took control. Gently rocking back and forth while making quiet shushing noises Jacen focused on just waking Kealey up and then comforting her. Words escaped him for several minutes before finally something clicked. A memory from his childhood of his mother doing the same thing for him when he had experienced a nightmare.

"It's OK Kealey." He murmured, replacing her name for his in his memory while pressing kisses against her hair as he rocked back and forth with her in his arms, "Everything's OK. You're safe. No monsters and no bad men. You're safe."

While they were the same words that had comforted a nine-year old boy, somehow Jacen knew they were the right things to say. Waking from a nightmare, no matter how old, everyone just wants to be held and loved on. Something instinctual and child-like is awakened by the trauma of the dream and now Jacen did his best to comfort the young woman.

"You're safe."

There were screams everywhere and Kealey could feel the panic, despair, and pain of everyone. Her whole body hurt and she couldn’t move. Where were her mum and da? Where had her sister gone? She’d been right there… The same recurring terror and overwhelming panic that accompanied the dream every time was there, except this time Kealey wasn’t alone.

Someone had saved her that day, pulling her burned and battered body from the rubble of the building, an event that never repeated itself in Kealey’s dreams. It was now, though. Someone was pulling her up and out of the dark. Kealey blinked the smokey haze out of her eyes and saw nothing but dark. There was a moment of panic at that darkness and she struggled against whatever it was restraining her, until she realized that she wasn’t in the burnt out rubble of a destroyed church at all.

Gasping for air in the panic, and hardly listening to the words he was saying, Kealey clung almost desperately to Jacen as her sleep fogged mind struggled to put together the pieces of everything that was happening. Apparently her subconscious had decided that she wasn’t taking everything that had happened seriously enough. Slowly, the panic faded and Kealey realized that she was absolutely sobbing again. Great.

Slowly, her white-knuckled grip uncurled from Jacen’s arms and her crying dissipated into little hiccups. Jacen was rocking her back and forth and making little shushing noises and Kealey relaxed against him, suddenly feeling sheepish.

”I’m so sorry…” she finally said, her voice wobbling way more than she wanted. ”This happens sometimes…I didn’t think…I woke you up.”

It was too much, Kealey pulled again, trying to extract herself from Jacen’s arms, ”This was a bad idea…I need to go…”

Slowly she was calming down and the scream became a sob and in moments was simple hiccups and slightly heavy breathing. Finally she spoke, once again apologizing for things that were beyond her control. Jacen wanted to say something but before the words come come out, Kealey was already trying to pull away, saying that she needed to go.

"No, you don't." Jacen replied quietly, loosening his grip slightly but refusing to actually release Kealey. "Kealey, quit trying to run away. You don't need to be worried just because I've seen you at some of your weakest moments. I'm not going anywhere and I'm not ashamed by what I've seen."

Releasing one hand, Jacen reached up to gently tilt the young woman's head up so that her blue eyes would be staring into his own brown ones. Looking at her Jacen suddenly felt himself at a loss for words once again. What could he say to make her feel better? What could he do that would be a permanent solution? She had to deal with the emotions of the world as well as her own every day. What could he do to help?

Before he knew it, Jacen's lips were pressed against Kealey's in a sweet, comforting kiss. There was no heat and no coaxing for more. Just the simple kiss of a friend and lover that wanted to share your pain without really knowing what to do.

No? Kealey was as inexperienced with being told no as she was everything else and for a moment irrational anger flared up in her at the fact that she wasn’t being immediately released. She pushed harder and his arms loosed slightly, but then Jacen spoke and Kealey stopped struggling.

She listened and tried to puzzle out if Jacen’s words made sense or not. He wasn’t ashamed by what he’d seen, but Kealey was and she was having a heck of a time trying to wrap her mind around someone seeing her this deeply. Feeling this vulnerable. If he was okay with it, should she automatically be? It was outside her comfort zone, but wasn’t this what she’d been thinking about earlier. It was hard though, so hard to try and convince herself that anything about this was okay.

She wanted to avoid looking at Jacen, she was so embarrassed, still hurting so bad from everything she’d been feeling, but he wouldn’t allow that either. She raised her eyes and her face with the gentle pressure of his hand, and met Jacen’s eyes. She wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to put into words what it felt like to try and deal with all of this.

Then Jacen was kissing her. It wasn’t a kiss like earlier though, there was nothing demanding or intense about it. Kealey melted, all resistance and chagrin gone. It was comfort and she was taking it. There wasn’t any more room for panic or running, and it helped. And so she stayed where she was, even after the kiss had ended, not moving, still looking up at Jacen, her breathing still evening out from the crying.

”Okay..” she said, ”I’ll stay.”

Pulling back from the kiss Jacen just looked at Kealey for several moments until finally she said the words he had been hoping to hear. Smiling slightly, he nodded and listened his grip a touch more though still without completely releasing the pretty blond.

"Want to take me up on my offer?" He asked, tilting his head to the side as he looked at her questioningly. As soon as the words left his mouth he realized that maybe he shouldn't have asked. Even if she wanted him to stay, the fact he was wearing only his boxer shorts could easily outweight any other desires.

"Uh... forget I said that." Jacen said, fully releasing Kealey and flushing ever so slightly though she was unlikely to notice the change in coloring due to the faint light in the room. "Sorry, I, uh, just ran in here when I heard you screaming. I should have grabbed a shirt or something."

It was an odd thing to say the least. Even though Jacen wanted to stay and comfort Kealey the lack of clothing was making it slightly uncomfortable. Instead of the innocent situation that it really should have been Jacen was feeling a sudden tension due to his lack of clothing. The last time he had been dressed like this around a woman was the last time he and Lori had been intimate. "Hell!" Jacen thought to himself, "Why do I keep thinking about her? It's over. We're done!"

"I'll go if you want me to. If you're ready to be alone again." Jacen offered as he scooted just a little bit away from Kealey. Being in this close proximity with so little fabric between them was far more dangerous than she could ever realize.