My Guarded Heart

Kelden rubbed his hands over his face. "I know that," he said, gritting his teeth. It was all he could do to not snap at his partner. It wasn't Drake's fault that he was right, even though Kell wished he weren't. The problem wasn't exactly that Kelden wasn't committed enough, but that maybe he was too committed. He wanted to always be there for Hazel, even after the job was done. But he was here for a job right now and that job was to protect both girls. If he was being true and honest with himself, he knew that Hazel distracted him enough that he might risk June. Or god forbid he have to make a tough call while he was on this assignment and he let his feelings cloud his judgement.

Kelden thought about all this through the movie. He sat next to Hazel, grabbing bites of popcorn occasionally. At one point they both reached for the bowl and their fingers brushed and he completely lost his train of thought. He glanced down at Hazel, the soft glow of the tv illuminating her features and he wanted to run his fingers through her long hair.

By the end of the movie Kell still hadn't really decided what he was going to do. In most cases, if an agent couldn't remain objective to the assignment, they were supposed to be reassigned. But he couldn't imagine what leaving and bringing in a different agent would do to Hazel and June after they'd formed some trust with him and Drake. He decided that having trust between them was a good thing that he could keep objective with. He hoped that maybe as long as he had the restraint to not act on his feelings, he could do his job properly and still maintain a friendship with Hazel.

---

June returned Hazel's hug. "Yeah, you're right," she sighed. She felt a stab of hurt in her chest. Just another thing that psycho has taken from me. June thought, anger and sadness swelling in her heart. She would try to stop pushing boundaries with Drake from now on. She'd focus all that energy into herself, building her strength and endurance back up. Back in the living room she grabbed a blanket and snuggled up into it, nibbling on a few bites of popcorn every now and again. She lost herself in the movie, grateful for the escape. Her mind tried to wander a few times but she just refocused her attention on the screen when it did. Thinking about how much she wanted to lean into Drake and cuddle against him would do her no good right now.

Despite the exhaustion of the day pulling at her, June was able to keep herself awake through the movie. When it was over, she took the empty popcorn bowls into the kitchen and cleaned them quickly before grabbing a glass of water. She headed towards the rooms, pausing to tell everyone goodnight in the living room.

In her room, she put away the clothes that Hazel had brought home for her before changing into something to sleep in and crawling under the covers of the bed. Last night she'd fallen asleep next to Drake on the couch, so tonight would be the first time she'd slept alone in weeks and weeks. Part of her wanted to go back down and sleep on the couch again. She lay there for a while despite being tired, just staring into the darkness before eventually falling into a fitful and restless sleep.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel stopped eating the popcorn after their hands met in the bowel though she hadn't pulled away her eyes meeting his in the dark. She took the popcorn and once she finished it she rested her eyes. Hazel ended up falling asleep sometime during the movie. She first was just resting not he end of the couch but rolled over cuddling into Kelden. Hazel woke at the sound of the ending credits and hummed sleepily looking up seeing Kelden look at her. She blushed and sat up. She stretched out and then folded the blanket. "Better get some sleep playboy we're waking up early in the morning." she teased and headed out of the room offering a goodnight to Drake and sighing as she locked the door of her bedroom. Hazel bit her lip and sighed pressing her back to the door. She looked around and suddenly her reality came back to her. She walked over to the window checking to make sure it was locked then went around the room checking to make sure everything was in order and nothing, or rather no one was hiding there.

Hazel changed for bed and put everything in the laundry basket. She then crawled into bed her body tired from the long emotional day. She sighed and stretched out. She hugged her pillow and wished it was Kelden. If she imagined it was she might actually sleep better. She could feel all the sleep deprivation catching up to her and she let herself imagine just for tonight that her pillow was the most safe and sweet man she knew. Hazel snuggled into her pillow and after some self arguments she fell asleep.

---

Drake said goodnight to Hazel and June and sat there with his partner with a sigh. "Do you think they feel it too?" he said looking over at his partner. He didn't know what else to say but rose and stretched. "Want me to take the first shift again?" he asked. The fact that June and Hazel could be feeling the pull towards them as well had his mind in turmoil. It would only make sense after all they have been through but he didn't want this just be because he was there and no other reason. Drake sighed and looked out the window.

"Do you think that he will come back for them? I don't see how he could find them but still do you think he is looking for them?" he asked glaring at the darkness. What if that psycho did come for them. "He seems to have a fascination for Hazel... more than June... maybe it is the order he has to follow and once he believes he has taken care of Hazel he would focus on June." Drake ran a hand through his hair. "Hazel was smart she had brought back his wallet with his id and everything. How cocky can you be?" he huffed. Drake looked over at Kelden. "She has told you more of what happened hasn't she?" he asked knowing. Hazel wouldn't be that broken up for nothing. She also wouldn't be so trusting of Kelden if he didn't know the things she told him and helped her through them.

@ Jinx...

Kelden tried to be as still as possible while Hazel slept against him. He had been surprised when he first felt her snuggle up against him, but looking down and seeing her sleeping face he couldn't resist letting her rest against him. He relaxed, resisting the urge to play with the ends of her hair. It was all too soon before the movie ended and she woke up, embarrassed. He gave her a smile as she teased him with that nickname again. "Goodnight Hazel, looking forward to it," he told her as she retreated to her bedroom for the night. He looked over at Drake.

"I don't know. I think they do. You should see the way June looks at you when you're not looking at her," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nah, go ahead and get some rest, I'll take first shift. Might as well give Hazel the pleasure of waking my ass up for yoga first thing in the morning," he told him.

"I think he will. He's got something for Hazel, but I don't think he's going to let June get away so easily either." He told Drake, sitting up on the couch. "Hazel's certain he won't give up, and I am now too. He may be cocky enough to try, but he's not even going to get another look at them if I have anything to say about it. He better hope he's caught before he makes it here." He said, his voice low and threatening. When Drake asked if she'd told him any more of what had happened to her, he simply nodded. "She's been through a lot, Drake. More than most. The death penalty would be too good for this guy." He told him. He went into the kitchen and flicked on the light to help him see during his watch. He pulled out his gun and for a portion of the night, he took apart and reassembled his gun several times until it was time to switch with Drake.

---

June woke up gasping from a nightmare. She got up instantly, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream that had felt so real. She could have sworn she was back in the dungeon again. She ran her hands through her hair, trying to bring herself back to reality. She glanced out the window to see that the sun wasn't up yet but the alarm clock on her nightstand said it would be morning soon. She paced around her room for a bit before going downstairs to get some water. While down there she also quickly set up a warm cup of tea to ease her nerves, she knew she should at least try to get a little more sleep.

Taking the tea with her, she bumped into Drake on her way back to her room. "Oh! Hey, you're up," she whispered, not wanting to wake anyone up. "How was sleeping in your bed compared to the couch?" She teased, remembering his complaints of how small the couch was the previous day.

"I was just up getting something to drink," she said, somewhat truthfully. He didn't need to know that she had woken up from a nightmare. "I'm going to try and get a bit more sleep, but I was hoping we could start working on that training later in the morning?" She asked. She was eager to get a start on it. They chatted a moment longer before she started back up the stairs. She patted his arm gently as she passed, a small, tired smile on her lips.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel woke in the morning before the sun rose panting. She couldn't even remember her dream but she would feel the fluttering of her heart and the sweat on her body that confirmed that she had another nightmare. She sighed and got up heading to the bathroom. she looked at the shower and instead filled the sink choosing to clean that way not wanting to have another panic attack just yet. She cleaned up and dressed in her work out outfit for the day. She was thinking afterwards he could train her some more and save the cardio for tomorrow.

Hazel finished putting her long hair up and then went to Kelden's bedroom. She tried the door finding it unlocked. That was not a good choice but as she walked in looking at him asleep she smiled. He looked so handsome. She sat on the edge of his bed and patted his shoulder. "Kelden your late for school." she teased wondering how he woke up normally. Hazel chuckled and stood as he woke. "Morning sleepy. I'll meet you on the porch, we'll be greeting the sun this morning." she said and smiled a tint on her cheeks. She turned and headed out of his room.

Hazel grabbed the mats and headed out to the porch. She set them up and even got a rope and block for Kelden thinking he wasn't going to as flexible as she was. When he came out she grinned. The sun was just starting to rise making the sky a dusty blackish blue. She stood on her map waiting for him. "The most important part of yoga is the breathing. You have to breath through the pose, nice and slow, you want to keep the resting heart rate even in the activity." she said and smiled a sadness passing over her eyes but she pushed it away. "The other important thing to remember as a beginner is that if the pose is uncomfortable then your trying too hard and you need to relax out of it, only stretch as much as is comfortable." she said.

"Let's begin with some easy floor poses to warm you up since you just woke up." she said and moved down to all fours explaining as she went. "This is called cat and cow. You want to be sure to stretch the opposite of the pose and cat and cow is a really great example of that. So let's start with cow and raise your head dropping your torso towards the ground creating a great arch in your back. Your hips shouldn't move and your hands are pressing down into the mat keeping you grounded. Inhale as you go and we will hold here a moment." she said and looked over at him to see how he was doing and chuckles. She sat up and pressed gently in the middle of his back to help him drop a little more. She pressed her hands to his and spread his fingers. "This isn't a push up." she teased and bit her lip realizing how close their faces were. She went back to her pose and then sighed. "Okay now we will move into cat. Go ahead and go back to table." She showed him. "For cat you are going to think the scary black cats and try and arch your back just like that scrunching your shoulders and really engaging your core to help you get up there." She arched her back exhaling. "This position is a natural exhale." she came back to table and motioned for him to try. She smiled and came over pressing on his abs to get him up there. "Engage your core like a sit up." she said and felt his abs tighten and she took in a sharp inhale. Wow he had abs for days. She watched his shirt riding up and chuckled. He would end up taking that off she was sure of it but she pulled it back down for him this time. "Good remember it is an exhale and to breath while in your positions." she said and had him come back to table. "Okay let's do a couple sets of that." She said and they went through it and she showed him how to use the poses to help him breath nice and slow. "At your own pace, follow your breath but try and keep your breath slow and controlled." she said. They did that for a couple minutes. "Okay and come to table." she said and looked over at him. "Let's move into downward facing dog." she said and showed him. Her shirt shifted and showed a long scar still healing on her rib cage. She had several cuts along her torso that were still hidden. "You can walk the dog to." she showed him the heel stretch and chuckled. "Just be sure not to let your shoulders fall into your ears hold them back and relax into the stretch. She looked over seeing his shirt fall around his ears and laughed. "Just take it off." she said and giggled. It was funny to see him struggle like most beginners with cloths. It took a while to find the right kind of cloths to do yoga. They moved on to cobra and she had him start with baby cobra so he could feel the core engagement that he needed before moving into cobra. "Breath in on cobra, notice that your chest is open so it feels natural and then when moving into downward dog you breath out." she said. They did some sets of that.

The sun was rising and she had them stand just as the sun was peeking over the horizon. "Let's do some warrior poses to greet the sun and then we can do some meditative relaxation." she said. So start a hip length apart a normal relaxed stance." she said and stood then turned one foot out walking it forward and brought her arms out her her hips opening as she moved into the easy stance. "Just like this." she showed him before coming back to center. She watched him try and chuckled. Hazel came up behind him and put her foot inside hits get his toes right. "Push in with your toes for balance." she said pressing up into him to help get him in the right stance. She touched his thigh and leaned him forward more. "Feel that?" she asked and nodded. "Your toe needs to be aligned with your knee." she said and nodded as he did so. Hazel ran her hands down his arms straightening them out her breasts pressing into his back as she stretched him out. She then put her hands on his hips and opened them up. She stepped back and grinned coming around. "Just like that and breath." she said and went back to her pose making it harder by curling her arm up and putting her other hand on her back thigh so she was stretched out. She looked fierce and a lot like a goddess as the sun started to peek over and pour it's light over her. Hazel came to center after a while. "Okay back to center and now to the other side." she showed him how to use coming to center as an exhale and then come into the other side with an inhale. She grinned looking at him and helped him with his pose again. She opened his hips and had to resist the urge to place a kiss on his neck right there as she stood behind him. She pressed her forehead to his back before pulling away. It wasn't much longer and she brought them back to the mat.

Hazel sat with him as the sun poured over them. "Close your eyes and listen to your heart beating keep breathing and try to slow it down." she said and listened to her heart and the birds as they sat facing each other crosslegged on the mats. She moved them to a laying position and spoke softly guiding him through a meditation where he became aware of everything his body was feeling from the aching to the humming and the heat and the tingling from the workout. After a while she went silent and just lay there for a while more relaxed than she had been in a long time. Hazel sighed and slowly sat up. "When you're ready open your eyes and slowly sit up." she said waiting for him. She smiled and watched him. "So what did you think fo your first yoga lesson?" she asked. She hadn't even done a particular balance heavy routine. She wanted to start him off with the basics nice and easy.

---

Drake was up and doing his route around the house when he bumped into June. He saw her with he tea and smiled softly. She was really trying to sleep and he was glad for it. "Yeah my shift to watch over you two." he winked playfully his voice quite and gruff with the early morning. He chuckled as she teased him on the bed. "I will never live that down will I?" he smirked. "Honestly the bed is small too." he chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

Drake nodded as she said she was up for a drink and he shrugged. "You don't have to explain June I understand." he said softly. "Yeah we can start training later." he said and smiled. "Sleep well June." he said before she left and went back to bed. He sighed watching her go really hoping the rest of her sleep came easily and was deep. Drake went back to the kitchen after checking the house and cleaned out his weapon. He then went to his bedroom and changed into some workout cloths. He left his shirt on the rail and started a jog around the house checking the foliage and the panels and such so he would know if there was a difference on any particular day. He checked for foot prints in odd places and was relieved that there was nothing. Drake was starting to believe that Hazel was right and this guy would find a way to get beck to Hazel and June. I mean the FBI had his id and everything and still hadn't caught him, that was saying something. Drake wondered if he shouldn't try and profile this guy to see where he might be hiding out until he can get a trail on Hazel and June. Drake plugged a headphone into his ear listening to the news about June and Hazel from the very beginning to try and get a feel for what information this guy might be able to get. It was a lot more than he would like. Both woman were taken into FBI protection and no more statements have been given by the FBI. The Chinese Water Butcher is still at large and the FBI have not given any indication of their progress on the investigation. Drake stopped and cursed. The should have been getting his photo and name out to very media outlet. What were they doing sitting on their toes waiting for him to take and kill someone else or to show up here? Drake looked around at the woods and frowned. Maybe they were waiting for him to show up for the girls. It made him so angry. He ran up to the porch and grabbed a towel whipping his forehead and neck tossing it in the hamper going to look for Kelden.

Drake stopped at the back door seeing Hazel and Kelden finishing up their yoga and talking a happy grin on Hazel's face. He was so happy to see her so relaxed and happy. He chuckled at his partner and turned going to the kitchen making breakfast for the lot of them. There was nothing he could do about it right now. Drake pulled on his shirt and took his frustrations out while whipping the eggs.

Kelden blinked drowsily. He focused on Hazel's beautiful face looking down at him in bed and for a second he was sure he was still dreaming. He was waiting for her to join him in bed when she got up and left the room, telling him to wake up. Ahh this wasn't a dream, Hazel was waking him up for their yoga session. "Be right there!" He called to her, his voice still thick with sleep. He climbed out of bed quickly, not wanting to keep her waiting for him. He pulled on a t-shirt and some sweatpants, hoping Hazel would go easy on him today. He'd never tried yoga before but the little he knew about it, it could involve some pretty intense stretches.

He met her out on the porch, sitting down on the empty mat next to her and listened to her instructions. He took up what he thought was cow position and was trying to focus on his breathing through it when Hazel touched his back suddenly. She adjusted his stance, correcting his back and hands. Their faces were so close and he wanted to turn his head just a bit more so their lips would touch but he held back. Regardless, his pulse sped up and immediately he knew that keeping his heartrate at resting would be impossible through this. They moved on to cat and he tried to follow her lead, exhaling as he arched his back. Another touch to his stomach sped up his heart rate again and he chuckled a little as she fixed his shirt for him. "Thanks," he murmured, trying to focus on his breathing and stay in the correct position.

He followed her instructions through the sets and as they moved on to more positions, he couldn't help but notice the scar on her ribcage. Had that been from when she escaped? He wasn't going to ask and ruin the happiness he could see on her face as she instructed him through the lesson. He switched to downward dog and then the world went dark as his shirt covered his face. Was this supposed to happen? He smiled as he heard Hazel chuckle and tell him to just take it off. He did so, tossing the shirt on the railing and returning back to the position. He felt like he was doing an ok job until it was time for warrior position and he tried to copy how she was standing. He must have been doing it wrong because she came over to adjust his stance again.

He tried to focus on making the correct stance but god, it was hard to focus on anything with her touching his thigh and pressing up against him. His skin tingled everywhere she touched and desire burned inside of him. He wanted to tangle his fingers in her hair and kiss her deeply and he might have actually done it if she hadn't returned to her own stance. He tried to focus on his breathing, his pulse spiking out of control. There was no keeping at resting heart rate now, he was too amped up. He glanced at her as the sun peeked over the earth and began shining on them. She looked stunning and he forgot to breathe for a second before he quickly looked away, not wanting to get caught staring. He followed her through the meditation and he actually found himself feeling a lot looser and more relaxed after this. "That was amazing," he told her honestly. "I'd love to join you for it more often," he said. He stood up, holding a hand out to help her up. He still wanted to just pull her to him and kiss her hard so he decided he was going to need a cold shower, pronto.

---

June was up again a short while later. She got up and changed into some workout clothes, hoping that Drake would be willing to get started on training right away. She bounced down the stairs, searching for Drake. She glanced out the back porch, thinking maybe he was sitting out there but saw Hazel and Kelden doing yoga instead and she couldn't help but smile watching them a moment. She retreated quietly into the kitchen where she found Drake. "There you are," she said, smiling. "Good morning, again. Can I help with anything?" She went over to him, curious as to what he was cooking.

She helped him prep breakfast, humming quietly to herself as she cooked with Drake. It was another nice morning and she was growing accustomed to the beautiful, quiet mornings here. She'd never realized how loud city life was until the constant honking of horns, sirens, and crowds weren't there anymore. It was refreshing and she was once again reminded that she needed to look into moving out of the city once all this blew over.

With breakfast done, she and Drake sat down to eat. She was pleased with herself that she was able to eat most of her plate again. "Are you ready for some training?" She asked, cleaning up her plate. She was nervous and excited to begin. She followed him outside once he was ready, heading to the spot where Kelden and Hazel had trained the previous day.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel smiled as Kelden said he enjoyed yoga and helped her up. She held his hand a moment too long and blushed. She let it drop blushing. "You're welcome to join me but just so you know I went easy on you today." she said and winked at him. "Come on I smell food." she said and went inside before she pressed herself into Kelden and kissed him. She needed to let him focus on his job instead of her.

They went inside and she smiled ad Drake was cooking. She was surprised to see June helping him out without complaint. It meant a lot that June was okay with Drake cooking for her. She grinned and sat down watching them. Hazel sat there thinking how even before the psycho was was never as happy as she was now. Even with all the pain and the fear she was more happy surrounded by friends than she ever was a lone focusing on her career. Hazel ran a hand through her hair. Breakfast was served and she started to eat.

After breakfast she watched June and Drake head out for training and she turned to Kelden. "Are you up for some training of our own? We haven't used the gym at all." she said and grinned. Hazel realized the more time she spent with Kelden the worse these feeling of desire was going to get. She bit her bottom lip and told herself that she would make a point of staying away tomorrow. She wouldn't wake him for her early yoga and would do some running and training but then would spend the day on her own for both their sakes to cool off. Today she was helping him build a tub.

Hazel helped Kelden clean up the kitchen trying to stay out of his way. After this morning she was all too aware of his presence. Kelden was hot there was no denying it. He made her insides all mushy but it wasn't how he looked that was the issue, if it was they could fuck and be done with the problem. No the problem was that he was sweet and considerate and took her shit. He understood her and if he didn't he worked with her until he did and that was the issue because it made her heart ache. Hazel knew they weren't even a week in and she was already mush. If this continued she would need to talk to June about switching body guards to keep the distance. The mere thought had her heart clenching with pain. She didn't want less time with Kelden but she might have to.

They moved to the gym looking around. She never did understand weights. "Why would you want weights like these?" she held up the dumbbells. "There are so many better options that engage a larger range of muscles than these." she said and set it down chuckling. "Like yoga and kickboxing and things that use your entire body." she smirked at him and moved to the mats. She stood there and looked at Kelden.

---

Drake smiled as June came in and he nodded. "Yeah." he said handing her something. He cooked beside June enjoying her company. When breakfast was done he grinned as she ate his food. She trusted him and he was great and touched. He tried not to stare as she ate but once she got up finished he noticed she ate most of it and he again was pleased.

Once he was finished with breakfast June asked to start training and he grinned. "Yeah lets go." he said and walked out with her. They moved to the grass outside that was good for training. He turned to June and smiled. "Alright let's see your fighting stance." he said and watched her move. He chuckled and realized she probably got all her moves from movies. "Alright so your stance is two fold. First it is your first defense against attacks and second it is your ground that allows you to launch an attack from." He turned his hips his legs hips length apart and he angled them so he could put weight on whichever leg he needed easily. He raised his arms tucking his elbows loosely into his sides his fists up by his nose. "This is your basic stance. Try to hit me." he said and smiled at her. "Don't worry you won't hurt me." he said and grinned as she tried to hit him. He dodged and then tapped his wrist to hers. "Here is were I could have launched my attack." he said. "Now you try." he said and waited. He helped her adjust her stance telling her exactly what he was going to touch before doing so when she didn't object always pausing to give her time to object.

"Good. Now even in this stance you need to be aware of your weak spots." Drake said. He carefully showed her her weakest spots on the sides, her belly and her shin. "If you see an attach heading for these spots they are easy to counter but you have to be paying attention. As much as a fight is about attacking it is also about protecting yourself. If you can not protect yourself you will lose. The most important moves are your counters. You will also longer and have a higher chance of winning if you protect yourself." he said. "Let's start with how to protect against these weak spots. There are some basic and easy ways." he smiled at her as he got in his own stance again. "The first is the dodge, obviously." he smiled. "To do this though you have to have enough space behind you or to either side. You also have to be able to gage the length of your appointments attack. Someone taller will require more of a dodge than someone smaller." he said and demonstrated some ways to dodge. "Never turn your back to your appoint that is the weakest spot a person has and the only way to guard it is to stay in front of your appoint. Later I will teach you how to get out of an attack from behind." He wanted to start off easy remembering how Hazel had a problem with the behind attacks. He had a feeling June would have a similar reaction because of the nature of her abduction.

"The second way to protect your weak spot is to block it." Drake had her attack him again and he used his body to block it. "The down fall of this is that in one way or another you are getting the hit but this way you are controlling where and how which in a fight will give you an advantage because your weak areas are more vulnerable than say your thigh or arm. Remember the most important areas to protect at all times are, your face, your back, your gut and your balance. If you get hit in the face you can loose your senses like sight and hearing and then you are at a huge disadvantage. If you don't protect your back you get taken into a hold, or if you are hit there it will drop you and you have lost your balance. If you get hit in the gut it exposes your back and face. If you loose your balance and fall you are at a huge disadvantage that when fighting a larger appoint you will need. I will teach you what to do in case all those worsts happen but after I teach you how to avoid them." he grinned wanting her to know there was always a way to fight even when you are at a disadvantage.

"The third way to protect is to counter, or fight back. When someone, even you, are launching an attack you have to expose more vulnerable spots to reach theirs. Speed and accuracy in this case are important." Drake said. "This is the most used form of protection I would say but it also the one that is done wrong." He said. "If you would like me to demonstrate. I won't counter against you just yet but I will tap were I would use to do so." he said. Once she was ready he got in his pose and let her attack tapping the spot were he would grab or hit to do a counter. He let her try a few different ways. Drake smiled as they stopped. "See? This is something you learn with a lot of practice so we will work on it. I want to teach you first how to keep your balance, or your feet under you in whatever attack you are doing." he said.

"So let's start with a punch." he said and had her show him how she punched. He nodded. "Not a bad start I am glad you came back to your stance after." He showed her how he punched out in the air like her. "When you push you need to throw your weight behind it, remember that your side you are throwing from is now a bigger weak spot as is the leg that you are tossing your weight on. These are good spots to remember when countering. Seeing how your opponents will usually be bigger than you small fry you will want to use the front leg and the side to get your own attack in. "Now there is the uppercut punch that will be useful as well in this counter." he demonstrated by crouching down and then shooting up his fist coming up them back to his stance before hopping back. He felt like a goof fighting the air but it was all about her learning. "Okay I want you to try a regular punch again and toss your weight into it. Later we can go tot he punching bag and see how your punches hit. "Remember keep your wrist tense otherwise you will hurt your wrist and make punching again painful." They worked on punches until he called a time out for some water and sat on the porch with her. "Questions so far?" he asked.

Kelden joined Hazel in the gym, smiling as she poked fun at some of the weights. "They're good for focus on very specific muscles. Not as fun as most.. full-body activities, but still good in their own way," he told her. He picked up one of the larger dumbbells and flexed it a few times. He'd done his fair share of weight training although personally he preferred kickboxing. He hadn't gone on his jog this morning so he was looking forward to some cardio. He strapped on the gloves and took up stance, working on the punching bag. "You are a great teacher by the way," he told her honestly. "You ever think about opening your own yoga studio?" He asked between punches.

They each worked out for a while before Kelden decided he was done. He pulled off his shirt and wiped his forehead. "I'm going to shower and then I'm going to start getting to work on the tub," he told her, heading for the bathroom. He took his time in the shower, going over the last few days in his head. How had he ended up falling so deeply for this girl? It'd be way easier if all he wanted to think about was how good her ass looked in those yoga pants, which he did, but he was also thinking about how best he could make her smile. She was constantly surprising and inspiring him with her strength and kindness and he just wanted to make her happy in every way he could. He sighed, dunking his head under the stream of water.

He climbed out of the shower, drying off and getting dressed. He went downstairs and grabbed the bag of supplies he'd bought the day before and brought it back up to the bathroom. "I don't know why they didn't have this as a tub/shower combo to begin with," he muttered to himself, pulling out all of the supplies.

---

June started out with a stance like she thought was right. She flushed with embarrassment when Drake chuckled quietly and corrected her. She had a lot to learn. She was very thankful that he told her where he would be touching her before he did it, giving her a chance to prepare herself each time. She did her best to follow his instructions, feeling a little silly whenever she had to be corrected. At first she'd worried about hurting him when he told her to hit him but now she was finding that she was probably a bigger threat to herself than she was to Drake. So she gave it everything she had, eager to learn how to protect her weak spots and throw punches correctly. She even managed to keep her focus on the fighting when he touched her in sensitive areas, such as her back and stomach.

She listened to all of his instructions very carefully, realizing that she was severely unprepared for if that psycho came back for her and Hazel. Even if he couldn't make it past Kelden and Drake, this would be good for her in the future. She planned on never letting herself get taken by surprise again. She practiced punching for a long while, feeling kind of silly just hitting air but it made it easier to imagine that creep standing in front of her. Eventually Drake called for them to take a break and drink some water so she sat on the porch, her body already feeling a little sore. She'd need to start building her strength back up, so she decided that she would going to start a nightly routine before bed where she would do some strength building exercises and practice punching and blocking like Drake was teaching her.

She finished her sip, looking up at Drake as he asked her if she had any questions. "No, not yet. You're doing a good job of teaching," she told him, smiling. "Sorry I'm so bad at all this. You'd think maybe I would have taken some self defense classes being alone in a big city but I never really got around to it. I was ignorant, thinking carrying around some pepper spray would be enough to fend off anyone wanting to hurt me," she said, somewhat bitter. But bitterness wouldn't fix the mistakes she'd made so she let out a sigh. "Nevermind. Thank you so much for doing this. I know its more than you have to do for this job so I really appreciate it." She told him.

@ Lost Oceans



Drake stood in the closet of his room. He had article clippings and case files and anything he could get his hands on. He understood the bureau said they still had their best guys on this but he didn't think they were looking at it the angle he was. Drake and Kell had made it a point to talk with one another bout what the girls were telling them and with each indicate detail Drake was getting a better picture of this psycho. Something else he had learned about all the victims is that they were brunette naturally despite what color they had currently died their hair. They also all had blue eyes. His psycho had a type and since the girls escaped he hadn't taken another like them. It was actually strangely odd how many brunette and blue eyed women were not missing since the escape in the sate and surrounding states as well. Drake had shifted through a ton of photos in the past month a long with everything else. It was safe to say that this guy was completely focused on Hazel and June and we was focusing all his efforts on finding them and staying out of custody.

Drake came out of his room in time for his nightly routine with June. He walked out onto he lawn waiting for her to finish grabbing her jacket and the blanket as he waited for here were they had done their training just that morning. She had improved immensely in her training and he was seeing leaps and bounds improvement. She had to be practicing while he wasn't looking he was positive of it. Drake had been working with her on so many other things too. They had come to be spending almost all day everyday doing something. He had taught her more about the stars and showing her how to pick them out. It had been the most amazing month of his life and yet he was struggling like he had never struggled before to keep to his job. June had become his night and day, his thoughts were centered around her and everything was tinted with what June would think of it and he knew he was in trouble.

Drake stopped outside waiting for June to come and meet him when his phone went off. "Stevenson." he answered and listened as his superior officer said that he needed to talk to him and Kelden. "Look Stevenson the truth is... we are getting no were and the cases are piling up and I can't have two of my best guys sitting out there on their bottoms we need you guys back in the field." he said and Drake ran a hand through his hair. "I won't speak for Kelden but I won't leave these women until that psycho is caught. Look I have some new intel I have been sitting on and trying to wok out let me send you the profile I worked up. Let me prove just how bad of a call that would be Sir." he said and rubbed the back of his neck. He would not leave June unguarded even if he had to take a personal leave of absence.

He hung up the phone sitting on the back porch steps remembering the last time he sat there with June. "June this is more than a job to me now. I hope you know that. You never should have had to go through this and you should never have had to even have a thought in your mind to prepare for your safety. I am sorry for that, I can't take it away but I can make your his promise." He had looked at her with intense eyes turning to her so that she could see his eyes and the truth in them. "If you ever need me I will be there for you. I might not always be onetime, or say the right thing but I will be there if you want me to." Even then Drake knew he shouldn't have said it because he couldn't always protect her even if he was always with her but he wanted to to know if she wanted him he was hers. Now they were trying to send him away and he was going to fight to stay. He needed to let Kell in on it all but tomorrow. He smiled looking up and seeing her coming down towards him. "Ready?"

---

Hazel was sitting no the couch with Kelden after dinner her feet propped in his lap. "Well I still can't decide if a small town would really work for this yoga gym duo and yet I can't bring myself to live in a town much bigger than this one. I think it is just so quaint." she grinned and sighed sitting back flipping through pictures on Kelden's tablet of studios. "You know it would be easier to get just a really big warhorse and build what needs to be done like the bathtub!" she said and giggled remembering how they had gotten soaked trying to figure out that blasted plumbing. The tub was amazing now but it had been more of a large project than they had anticipated. Hazel giggled looking at Kelden remembering the look in his eyes that day. She hadn't been so scared with him there as the water dripped down the ceiling. She had taken his hand though with had made cleaning hard but still he had let her hold onto it. Hazel didn't know what it was about him that caused her to feel like it was going to be okay but the feeling didn't go away and now she was sure that life would go on after all this and for that she would always be grateful to Kelden.

They were silent a while when suddenly Kelden suggested an ice cream run and she blushed. Normally should would laugh and suggest they drag along June and Drake. Hazel had been trying so hard to let Kelden do his job but the more time together and she was starting to see this was more than just a job, he was going above and beyond the call of duty and when she looked at the future she saw him there in it, no matter what it was. "Okay." she said and watched his eyes light up. She giggled and got up. "Let me grab my jacket." she said and ran upstairs.

When Hazel was in her room she looked around and bit her lip. Suddenly she couldn't stop the flutter in her belly and she told herself she was just freshening up because they were going out in public. When Hazel slipped into the dress she had been saving for a special day out she told herself it was just because she wanted to look cute but inside she knew and as she came down the stairs her boots she gripped the banister tightly realizing she forgot that jacket but Kelden had already spotted her. "Shall we go?" she asked and bit her bottom lip nervously.

Hazel moved out to the car with him the silence as he looked at her made her cheeks burn and she was sure he could see them even in the dark. She slipped into the car as he opened the door and looked up at him. "Thank Kell." she said softly the tenderness in her voice as she said his nickname to him for the first time since they had meet was startling even to her and she covered it by slipping her seatbelt on. 'This is not a date, this is not a date.' She had to keep repeating it to herself in her mind but yet the way he looked at her when he slipped into the drivers side had her smiling and looking out the window her stomach clenching with the nerves and desire.

@ Jinx...

June stood in front of the mirror in her room, inspecting the skirt on her. She'd been so excited about it when she found it at the store a couple weeks ago but now she wasn't sure. She turned and tried a different angle, and finally decided that she wanted some leggings with it. She inspected it again with the new accessory and found that she was happier with it. With the leggings she wouldn't need to worry about being cold and she could still keep the cute skirt on that she definitely wasn't wearing for Drake. Even if, at the moment, she was currently wondering what Drake would think of it on her and if he'd like it. She did like how you could still see the clear muscle tone in her legs now, a big improvement from her thin body from when she'd first arrived at the house here. Her training with Drake and working out alone had greatly improved her strength and it showed.

She quickly brushed her hair, sweeping it all over one shoulder and gave herself one final check in the mirror before heading out to meet Drake for their nightly star gazing. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she'd been treating the outings as dates more and more, trying to make sure she looked her best. It was hard not to try and give him an excuse to look at her when every time he did, he made her chest flutter. Her feelings had only grown in the month they'd spent together and she was sure that the tension would get the best of her at some point and she'd do something she might regret, but until then she was going to enjoy every second with Drake.

She grabbed the blanket on the back of the couch as she passed it, heading out the back door where Drake waited for her. She smiled brightly, flashlight and blanket in arm. "Ready." She told him, leading the way down to the dock. Somewhere along the way, her hand found its way to his as they walked but she let go of it when they reached the end of the dock and she set the blanket down for them to sit on. Sometime later they'd end up pulling it over their shoulders to get warm but for now it was like a picnic blanket. "Ah there's our good friend Orion," she said, looking up at the first constellation Drake had ever pointed out to her. Secretly it was her favorite, that being one of the reasons why. She relaxed against Drake, her head resting on his shoulder as they looked up at the sky. He'd taught her a lot of the constellations and she could pick out most of them by herself now. She'd even found a book of Greek mythologies while at the store and occasionally brought it to read together, but she hadn't grabbed it tonight.

"You know I was in an astronomy competition when I was younger," she told him, keeping her face straight. She looked at him, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "I didn't win, but I still got a constellation prize." She couldn't help but smile at her awful joke.

---

Kelden relaxed on the couch, Hazel's legs draped over his lap as she browsed studios. He had been pleased and surprised that she had found his suggestion to open a yoga studio a good one. They'd been talking about it for a while now, it was mostly dreams and talks right now since she couldn't exactly open a business while being under FBI protection but that wouldn't last forever. He had done his best to help Drake put together a profile of this guy, in hopes that it would lead to a faster arrest, but unfortunately nothing had come of it so far. He knew the guy was still out there somewhere, looking for June and Hazel but Kell was also very sure that he and Drake could take him down before he even laid eyes on the girls ever again. He came out of his thoughts, smiling as Hazel brought up the bathtub incident. He chuckled, shaking his head. He had been in way over his head with that project, he didn't think he'd be attempting any DIY plumbing again anytime soon.

Kell patted Hazel's legs and looked over at her, grinning boyishly. "What would you think of going on a midnight ice cream run?" He asked her suddenly. He was craving some chocolate peanut butter ice cream and a nice time out with Hazel. He wouldn't mind if June and Drake joined them but he was pleasantly surprised when she agreed without suggesting any accompaniment. "Alright, I'll be waiting right here," he told her, watching her head to her room. He was sending Drake a quick text to let him know that they'd be back soon when movement caught his attention and he glanced up the stairs to see Hazel. He nearly did a double take, surprised to find her changed completely into a dress. He stared for a moment, mouth open before coming to his senses and giving her a smile. "Let's do it," he told her, leading them out to the car and holding her car door open for her. Again, she surprised him by using his nickname and he felt his heart melt at the tender way she said it.

If Kell thought he was in trouble for falling for Hazel before, he was way out of his league now. He was no match for this gorgeous woman with her soft blue eyes and tender words, especially when they were saying his name. He forced himself to stop staring and went over to the driver's side to start the car. "You look stunning," he told her, his voice husky with desire. He wanted to pull them over right now and just lean over and kiss her but he forced himself to look straight ahead at the road, all too aware of the beautiful woman sitting beside him in the car.

@ Lost Oceans
Drake was nearly at a loss for words when she came down to him in that cute little dress. He was glad she had put on the tights though his mind wanted to peel them off and look at her amazingly shaped legs. He walked with her happy to hold her hand and yet sad when she let go to put down the blanket. They sat under the stars and he looked up at them finding he much rather be looking at June. "Yes Orion will always be up there watching out for you. You're lucky stars if you will." he winked grinning. He was glad she liked Orion and looked for him now in the night sky. He hoped one day when she was finally safe and truly happy she would look up and see it remembering him. Drake's heart ached with the thought of letting her go but she would be better for it. Or that was what he had to convince himself of otherwise he would never leave her side.

Drake looked over as she said she had been in a competition. "Really you never said..." He stopped as she finished the other part and he was silent before he laughed hard. "Oh that was a good one!" he said putting a hand on his stomach. It was something else to have a bad joke take you by surprise. It was amazing and he loved it. Drake couldn't help but love her more and more. He looked over at her. Totally as a friend nothing more, he kept telling himself at least. "What were you like as a kid though, really?" he asked curious. He had told her of his childhood. Or the good parts at least. She didn't need to know the struggles that lead him to where he was now.

Drake had never been more comfortable with someone in his life. June was easy going and fun and loving, she was even funny though maybe no one else would ever think so as much as him. They had created a bond he didn't have a word for yet but he knew that she had stopped being a job a while ago. Drake looked over at June studying her in the starlight. The moon was just a sliver so the stars burned bright in the sky doing their best to outshine the moon. "Isn't it truly amazing that the starlight was are seeing is coming to us from far in the past? When we look into he stars we see the past and yet so many people use the stars to look to the future. Have any idea what that is?" he asked curious of what she thought.

---

Hazel blushed as he told her she was stunning. "Thank you." she whispered the sound of his voice stirring something inside her and she bit her lip suddenly realizing she didn't have anyone here to stop her from completely distracting Kelden. She leaned over tot he radio running it and looked up at him the dashes lights illuminating his face with blue light. Hazel grinned softly. She cold get use to road trips and late night runs for ice cream but she knew better. This was his job. Hazel decided that she didn't know how long she had with Kelden so she had to enjoy it while it lasted because when they told him it was time to move on he would.

Hazel sat back crossing her legs her skirt couldn't get much shorter. When they arrived at the ice cream shop open 24/7 she chuckled. There were more people here than she had expected but in a small town she really shouldn't have been surprised this was the most hoping joint in town. She grinned and walked in with Kelden holding onto his arm. They went in and ordered. Hazel bit her lip leaning against the counter as they waited. "Should we take a walk? There should be a nice little place to take a stroll around here." she said smiling at him. She had gotten a cone of course with her favorite scoop. She was not going to be able to sleep but she was pretty sure it wasn't going to be only because of the ice cream.

Hazel and Kelden found a walk by the river paved with streetlights. It was short straight walk with a little look out at the end and some benches. Hazel and Kelden walked slowly together nurturing their ice cream. "June has been telling me how Drake takes her to see the stars every night and tells her all the tales he knows of them." she grinned. "He is sweet to her. It's good because I think I am almost to the point where I could kick his ass if he wasn't." she said and laughed. Hazel didn't know what to talk about so Drake and June was an easy and safe topic to start with. "I have been trying to think of names for the gym something like Fully Body... I don't know I have never been very good at coming up with names." she said smiling up at him. Kelden was still a playboy, she wondered why he never asked her why she called him that. She wouldn't have told him before but now she was thinking he would like the answer.

@ Jinx...

June smiled even more as Drake laughed at her awful joke. She didn’t have an arsenal of them handy as Drake seemed to sometimes but she was always pleased with herself when she could throw one out there. “I was a spunky little kid,” she said, thinking back to how much energy and imagination she’d had as a child. “Also surprisingly outgoing, I was always the first to go introduce myself to the other kids on the playground and rally them up for games.” She remembered going to the park and joining the other kids without hesitation or worry. “You’d better believe I was the troublemaker too,” she laughed. “I remember the time I convinced a small group of 8-year-olds to join me on an adventure down to the creek near the playground. We ended up having a water fight, getting soaked and covered in mud, which is how our panicked parents found us after they’d realized we’d been gone for too long.” Her mom had been apologizing profusely to the other parents as she and her new friends had giggled at their very dirty clothes. She was tempted to reach down over the dock now and splash him with water but if they got wet, they’d have to head in early and she didn’t want to cut their night short.

She settled back, laying down to look up at the sky. She shifted her skirt a bit, making sure it didn’t fall. “I think,” she began, staring up at the stars in wonderment. “I think it’s because of what we talked about our first night here,” she said. “It’s humbling to be here, looking out at the universe. In the face of the grand scheme of everything, what significance do our problems even have? I think we look at it and realize that our worries are so small, and that helps us to move forward from them. It makes people want to focus on the good things, because in perspective, life is fleeting and why shouldn’t we focus on the things that bring us joy while we can?”

She flushed a bit, feeling embarrassed for her reverie. Perhaps it was a little dark but she also thought that it was hopeful. She turned her head to look at Drake, knowing that he had, and continued to, bring her more joy in the past month than she’d ever thought possible. Her gaze met his and she felt her resistance slipping. Really, would it be so bad to just let it go?

---

Kelden felt like the luckiest man on earth to walk into this ice cream parlor with Hazel on his arm. It felt like a date and he tried to remind himself not to think of it that way but it wasn’t really working. They got their cones and he nodded at her suggestion of a walk. It was such a nice night and he wanted to do anything to let this feeling last as long as it could. It couldn’t have gotten more perfect to find a quiet little path along the river, well lit and maintained so he could see all around them easily. It made for a much more relaxed walk as they ate their ice cream.

Kelden chuckled as Hazel told him that she was almost ready to kick Drake’s ass. “You’d certainly give him a run for his money,” he told her, knowing that she’d made phenomenal progress and could hold her own even against him and Drake. “He’s a good guy though. He cares a lot for June,” he mentioned off hand. They walked along the path, still arm in arm. “I like it. I think you’re pretty good with names,” he said. “Remember my nickname you gave me our first day?” He asked chuckling. He still didn’t know why she’d called him playboy. “Why Playboy anyway?” He asked, curiously. “Perhaps because of my dashing good looks?” He joked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

Kelden ate his cone, content with the evening so far. The month had gone by quickly, and yet it felt like a lifetime ago that they’d arrived at the house. Things were much more relaxed now, all of them growing very close. He’d long since decided that June and Hazel especially were no longer just a job and he fully intended to keep in contact with Hazel even when all this was over. “Did you see the movie theater back there? I hadn’t noticed it before. We should go see a movie sometime,” he told her. Just a couple friends seeing a movie, nothing date-like about that. He told himself mentally, though deep down he knew the truth.

@ Lost Oceans
Drake chuckled as she told him all about her as a child and her adventures with her friends. It sounded like so much fun now. "And now? Are your parents in your life?" he asked. She hadn't seemed to have made very many phone calls. "Do you have siblings?" he asked knowing this was all a bit touchy but if it were him that was close to her and he had hardly gotten to speak with her after the incident he would be a mess. He knew his family would feel the same way about him. He called his father once a month even when on a job just to let him know everything was okay and check up on the family.

Drake knew he was not the easy kind of man that would let someone contently stay in their comfort zone but he never pushed someone to far just enough to think about it and he supported them the entire way. He knew she had been reported missing fairly quickly when she was taken but he didn't know how concerned her family had been. He had heard from Kelden that Hazel still hadn't reached out to her own family. He did not want that for June. It had been a long while and she has become so strong not only physically.

When she laid back and started to talk about the stars referencing their conversation in the beginning he grinned glad he could affect her point of view. It honored him truly. Drake smiled looking down at her and could see him doing nothing else but leaning in and kissing her. She was so stunning. He leaned down his eyes clouded with his desire and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "June you are amazing in so many ways." he said softly. It was not just her physical beauty that made him desire her. If it was this wouldn't be so hard. No it was all of her, her thoughts and heart and spirit. Drake wondered right this moment what she was thinking about and he wanted to much to peek into her mind.

---

Hazel smiled glad to hear that Drake really did care for June even his partner could tell. "Good because she deserves someone like him." she said. They kept walking and he said he liked the name. She giggled. "Really you don't think it to plain?" she asked and sighed as he brought up her nickname for him. "Yes and I stand by it playboy." she teased and bit her lip as he asked why. she giggled. "I was wondering when you would ask." she said and nodded. "Yes it is a little due to your good looks." she blushed. "But it had more to do with how I thought you were pretty self absorbed. I mean no offense to it now of course but you know the definition of a playboy right?" she asked and chuckled reciting it off for him just in case. "A wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who behaves irresponsibly or has many casual sexual relationships." She blushed and chuckled rubbing the back of her neck. "I really didn't think you could do anything the cops couldn't that I couldn't do myself. Also I completely thought I was going to sleep with you and that you were going to suggest it." she looked up at him red as a tomato and chuckled nervously rolling her eyes. "So now every time I call you playboy I still am referring to your dashing looks but now it is a reminder to me not to judge people to harshly because they will surprise you." she admitted and bit her lip. "Is that completely terrible?" she asked a bit nervously.

They came to the end of the little walk onto the dock with the seating and she dropped his arm leaning against the railing and staring down into the water pushing on to her toes to lean over the rail more. "I didn't know then how you would stare into my soul and take every dish I served and break down my walls." she said and looked up at him then back at the water that still scared her. She didn't think she would ever be able to swim or take a bath or a shower without thinking of what that psycho put her through. "I don't think you realize this but you're the only one that is inside... I even keep June at arms length, not because she isn't worthy. If anyone it should be her but I don't want to burden her." she didn't know why all this was spilling out and somewhere inside her told her to stop but she couldn't. " I don't hold her as far as I would anyone else but you're the only one that I tell the complete truth to and if you asked for every detail and every dark thought and for me to show you all my pain I would." she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I think in a way that is part of the reason I haven't called my brother because I know he will want to ask and I can't tell him. We weren't on good terms to begin with really, we were civil since our parents died but that was it, we haven't been close in a very long time." she bit her lip and looked sad. "Yet despite it I miss my brother, not the civil we're adults brother but the one I would play pranks on as a kid." she smirked and rubbed her arms shaking her head. "I am sorry I don't know how we got here from that little question." she smirked and looked up at him. "Cheery I know." she looked apologetic. The ting was though that her honesty and openness with Kelden was more a compliment than a laugh or a smile could ever be though he made her smile and laugh at times too.

@ Jinx...

June bit her lip. "My mom is in my life. And my older sister. I don't really know my dad, he ran off when I was really young so I don't remember much." She explained. "I think my sister is the one who reported me missing," she said. "I didn't get a whole lot of details but she was my emergency contact for work, so I think they called her when I didn't show up and she went from there. I talked to them while I was in the hospital, they wanted to drop everything to come stay with me but I felt like I was just burdening them. I just told them that I was getting taken under FBI protection and wouldn't be able to talk to them for a while. Funny enough, that was before I knew I actually was getting put under your protection," she admitted.

She sighed, seeing what Drake was doing. All her feelings aside, he really was a good friend, always looking out for her. She knew that she would always be able to count on him and it was reassuring. "Maybe I should call them tomorrow," she said. They were probably worried about her and would want to know how she was doing. They used to talk so often but after everything that had happened, she really just couldn't face them. But she was in a better place now, largely thanks to Drake, and she missed her mom and sister a lot.

She stared into his eyes as he leaned in close and tucked the hair behind her ear. The way he was looking at her made her feel so special and they were so close. "You make me feel amazing," she whispered. She bit her bottom lip and found her fingers playing with the hem of his shirt as he leaned over her. Why was this bad again? How could it be when it felt so... good? June didn't even fully realize what she was doing until her lips were on his.

---

Kelden faked shock as she told him how she really felt about him when they first met. It was funny to hear now, knowing that she had gotten to really know him now. He did, however, blush when she told him that she thought he was going to ask to sleep with her. He made a point of not looking at her leaning over the railing, feeling a bit guilty of how turned on he felt seeing her in her dress. He cleared his throat, trying to clear the embarrassment from his voice before he spoke. "It's not terrible," He assured her. "I'm just glad you know me better now." When she started to bare her soul to him, he felt his heart fluttering to hear what she thought of him now and to hear her offering to open up everything to him. He definitely wanted her to feel like she could open up to him like this, but he wasn't going to force her to.

"Hazel," he said, stepping up to the railing and putting his hand over hers gently. She'd been a lot more comfortable with him touching her since they'd grown closer but he still didn't want to push any boundaries. "Hazel, I can't even begin to tell you how much you mean to me and how happy it makes me that you trust me so much. But I don't want you to feel like I'm coming in and invading and you have to bare everything to keep me close. I will always be here for you, Beautiful, however much you're willing to share with me. As long as you feel comfortable, I will always be here to support you." He told her.

He listened as she told him a bit about her brother and he shook his head at her apology. "Hey, you don't have to be sorry around me. Tell me more about these pranks," he said. He could definitely picture her torturing a brother the way only a sister could. He noticed her rubbing her arms and he pulled off his jacket and draped it over her, offering her a smile as he stood next to her looking out over the river.

@ Lost Oceans
Drake smiled softly glad she had talked with them. He nodded and chuckled. "Well that was a luck coincidence then." He said grinning. She suggested calling them and he nodded. "Yeah I bet they would really like to hear from you." he said softly. "If you like I will sit with you and if you need help I can help you answer any uncomfortable questions. I don't mind speaking to them too if you want me to. I bet they had tons of questions." he shrugged. "Just as moral support and all." he said.

Drake grinned as she told him how he made her feel. "I don't think anyone should make you feel any less than amazing ever because you are truly amazing always." He said and felt her fingers on his shirt holding very stop his fingers still lingering on her cheek. He knew he should pull away and lay back looking up at the stars letting both their heart rates drop but he just couldn't pull away. She was so stunning and he wanted to just hold her.

Drake saw her coming his world going into slow motion as his brain tried to figure out what to do. He could be taken out of his position for fraternizing with his ward but as her lips met his he didn't care, about any of it but her. Drake gently cupped the back of her neck pulling her closer as his lips meet hers in the romantic dance that was a first kiss. His body and mind came alive and yet that amazing and dangerous fog clouded him in his desire.

Drake ran his fingers up into her hair. His body told him more and his brain said to be gentle with her. He tried not to lean of her to much with resulted in him bringing her body up to his own as his mouth explored hers. Her taste was sweet and intoxicating and he was trying so hard not to go further to taste her more to see what her tongue would feel like against his own or how intense the taste of her would get. Drake was shocked and pleased but above all he didn't want it to end. Like most things though it needed to and before his bodies desires took over the screaming in his mind to be careful and tender he let the kiss fade and gently pulled back still holding her close. He rested his forehead on hers refusing to let the moment go just yet. His breath was thick and paced with his heart rate as he kept his eyes closed. Drake hummed and after a few more moments when he was more calm he looked down at her only inches away. "June..."

Drake knew he should say something but what did you say to that. He wanted to pull her closer and burry his face i her neck but he needed to be gentle. Drake slowly released her their bodies relaxing as he untangled his fingers from her hair. His worst fear was that she would try to apologize for that and then pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You are so very amazing." he whispered.

---

Hazel sighed and looked up at him. They were so close. She smiled softly as he said he wouldn't force anything on her and she started to twirl a strand of hair. "I know you wouldn't Kelden." she said and shifted her hand so she could lace her fingers with his. He had big strong hands and she believed in them and their ability to protect her. "And I really do hope you mean always." she said and grinned before looking out at the river. Her heart begged her to just lean into him to let it take the natural corse but she couldn't. Hazel didn't want to put Kelden in that situation and she would try forever if she had to to let him do his job.

Hazel laughed as he asked about these pranks. She looked up at him. "My brother and I use to be really close. I mean laughing instead of trying to murder me when I put pop rocks in his sink so when he walked his teeth int he morning he was pelted with candy." she laughed and bit her lip looking at Kelden a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "Or the time I made pancakes and used shaking cream as whipped cream for my brother. Oh he was livid." She laughed and leaned into Kelden her head resting on his shoulder. "He loved food so the best way to get back at him for the stupid little things was to use it against him. Or.. oh you will love this one. "I changed out his deodorant with cream cheese." she laughed and shook her head then sighed.

Hazel looked up at Kelden. "What about you Kelden, do you have family?" she asked. She knew he wasn't married or at least assumed so with the lack of a ring and the way he looked at her. He was so good of a guy to cheat like this. "Any cute little stories I should know now?" she teased and pulled his jacket closer as he place dit on her shoulders. She smiled. It was amazing to be all snuggled up in his coat. It smelled like him and she loved that smell wanting to just burry her nose into the coat or better even into his chest but she didn't do either since she was trying to behave.

@ Jinx...

Her brain screamed at her, wondering just what in the hell she thought she was doing but when Drake's fingers tangled in her hair and pulled her closer, it shut up in an instant. Desire exploded in her body and she brought a hand to his cheek. She could feel how gentle he was being with her and she thought it was sweet. She also had to resist the urge to take things further, ignoring the burning want inside of her. How was it possible for him to feel so good? His taste and smell overwhelmed her senses and she didn't want to stop. But all too soon the kiss was ending and she rested her forehead against his as she tried to slow the pounding in her chest. Her name on his lips brought her back to reality and suddenly she fully realized what she'd done. She looked up at Drake, the apology ready but a soft kiss to her forehead killed it before it left her lips. "You're pretty amazing yourself," she whispered back.

She let her hand fall from his cheek and just sat there, staring into his eyes for a moment. "Good thing we got all that sexual tension out of the way," She joked sarcastically, trying to deflect any awkwardness. She didn't necessarily regret the kiss but she did feel incredibly guilty about the position she'd put him in. She desperately wanted to apologize and promise to be on her best behavior from then on but the more impulsive, troublemaking part of her wanted to say 'fuck it' and just do it again. She squashed that part of her as soon as she could, not wanting to cause any more trouble than she just had.

"I.. you.. Hmm." She stammered, trying to find the right words. She paused for a moment, trying to think what she really wanted to say. She looked back up at him, trying to keep the rising panic out of her voice as she spoke. "What are you thinking right now?" She asked him, desperate to know what was running through his head. The full extent of what she'd done was beginning to dawn on her and it was taking every ounce of strength to not full out panic. Her mind raced fearfully. He couldn't avoid her if he wanted, she was literally his job right now. But would he try to get reassigned? His promise to always be there for her played in her head, but would he still mean that? Did he just want to go back to pretending there was nothing between them? She didn't know if she could now, she'd opened the floodgates and she didn't think there was any going back. She needed to know what he was thinking so that she could brace herself against the devastation she was sure she'd just caused.

---

Kelden brought their laced fingers to his lips and kissed her hand. "I do mean always," he promised. Maybe he was going a little far but he wanted her to know he was dead serious. He listened to her recount the pranks she'd pulled on her brother and he had to let out some hearty laughs at some of the pranks. "Shaving cream for- Hazel, that is downright evil," he laughed, trying to imagine the taste of a big bite of shaving cream. He shook his head. "I'm going to have to check my deodorant sticks tonight," he teased her.

He smiled as she asked about his family and he sighed. "Well, I'm the youngest of four, my older siblings all being my sisters, so I'm sure they could tell you about a million embarrassing stories about me," he told her. Even as a grown adult working as an agent for the FBI, he couldn't escape the childhood stories when he got with family during the holidays. He looked at her teasing expression and had to give her at least one good story to make fun of him with. "When I was really little, I really badly wanted to play with my sisters and my grandma had to force them to let me join in a lot. One day, my sisters pretended to hold a seance for our hamster that had passed away, Snowball." He started. "Scared the shit out of me then, but really they were very obviously banging on the table and making it move with their feet. I left food out for Snowball's ghost for a month after that," he said, rolling his eyes at his own naiveté. Really though, despite all he'd put up with from his sisters as a kid, he was actually close with all of them. He tried to keep in touch often and he usually didn't go more than two weeks at a time without hearing from at least one of them.

"But, if you do feel like calling your brother at some point, I can be there with you. Even if you guys didn't get along well, I'm sure he'd want to know that you're ok and if you aren't comfortable answering any questions, I'll put on my FBI voice and tell him it's 'classified'," he told her with a wink. "Completely up to you though," he assured her. He didn't want to pressure her.

@ Lost Oceans
Drake chuckled as she talked about sexual tension. "Not even close, firecracker." he teased and laid back on his back looking up at the stars. His heart was still beating out of control and he couldn't decide what he needed to do next. He had to determine if his feeling for June would put her or Hazel in danger and he knew that if he had to choose between the two of them it would always be June and that was a risk. He would have to discuss this with his parter. If his partner was ready and willing to take that risk then he could stay here with June. There was so much to talk about with Kelden. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. She probably wanted him to sooth her worries about that kiss but he didn't know what to say but the moment she seemed worried he looked over at her and took her hand lacing heir fingers and squeezing gently.

Drake looked over at June as she asked her question and he smiled. "Just my next step and what all this means. And I am only thinking about that because this means something June. And I don't think that tension is going to go away." he said and kissed her hand. "So I have to talk with Kelden to see what we want to do because I don't want to endanger you or Hazel because of my feelings. That doesn't mean I won't be there for you it just means if it is to much a danger we will just have to wait until you are both safe before exploring things more and you might have to have a new handler in the mean time, that is just the worse case senecio. There are lots of options June and you did nothing wrong." he said sitting up and looking at her. "Now your turn, what are you thinking?" he asked wanting to be sure that she wasn't over thinking too much.

Drake knew there was so much to consider but they also had the fact of where they went from there. He smiled over at her and could honestly say he wanted more than a kiss. He wanted more kisses and more things after that at whatever pace it was she wanted to go. Drake cupped her cheek his thumb rubbing against her cheek gently. She was so beautiful and he couldn't help but be happy about what had just happened. He grinned and kissed her forehead again. "Don't worry we will figure this all out and you won't be alone. We will talk about everything before any decisions are made." he soothed. "Okay?" he asked and looked into her beautiful eyes.

---

Hazel bit her lip and hoped that it was true. She wanted him to be in her life a long time for sure. When he laughed and called her evil she snickered. "Oh but it was so so funny!" she smirked and shook her head as he said he was going to check his deodorant. She snickered. "You're lucky I haven't pranked you yet." she said but now that he suggested it she couldn't help but want to and chuckled. Hazel laid her head back on his shoulder and sighed relaxing.

Kelden spoke about his family and she chuckled as she listened to him talk about his sisters. She could see where his older sisters had given him an advantage on her. He understood the inner working of the emotions that were a woman. She smirked and chuckled as he said he left out food for Snowball. "Well you sound really close to them. That is great." she said and honestly she wanted to meet his family and that scared her because that meant it was serious for her. She blushed and pressed her cheek into his arm.

Hazel grinned as he offered to support her while she called her brother and she nodded. "At some point." she said knowing she should call him and let him know that she was okay. "Thank you Kelden." she said and hoped he knew how much everything he did for her meant. There was something about him that gave her so much piece and comfort. She bit her lip. It was getting late and she knew they needed to head back soon but there was one more thing she really wanted to do.

Hazel stepped back and looked at Kelden as he looked at her and she blushed. "Will you dance with me?" she looked up at him and bit her bottom lip. She really wanted to be in his arms. It didn't matter to her that everything else that happened and how wrong it might be she didn't think one dance was going to harm anything.

@ Jinx...

June felt the color drain from her face. She tried to keep her features neutral but she could feel the tide of panic threatening to overwhelm her. What had she done? Some other agent would have to come in until they were safe? She didn’t even know if they’d ever be safe. She could hear him trying to reassure her that it was worst case scenario and that she hadn’t done anything wrong but it wasn’t registering. And what about Hazel? She’d opened her hearts up to these men just as June had, how would it affect her to have to lose Drake and replace him with someone they didn’t know or trust? She looked up at the stars, begging them to make this all feel small and insignificant but how could they when it felt like her world was ripping apart. Why did she have to be so fucking selfish?

He asked her what he thoughts were and she almost didn’t register the question, too deep in trying to figure out how to fix this. She was quiet for a few moments, tucking her knees up to her chest. “This means something to me too,” she said quietly, not sure how to tell him everything that was racing through her mind right now. How was he so calm? How wasn’t he angry with her for doing this? She was having troubles rationalizing everything, trying to separate the fear and the panic and the want and everything swirling around in her head. Their conversation about her family suddenly popped into her head and she had an idea.

“Drake, I’m so sorry. I promise I can behave myself, but regardless your work shouldn’t be affected by my selfishness,” she said. Before he could argue, she continued. “I can go. Being under the FBI’s protection is voluntary. If I say that I accept the risks, probably sign a few waivers, I can go and it won’t affect your job or Hazel’s safety.” She was rambling now, trying to get the thoughts out as quickly as they were coming. “Realistically, Hazel is the one he’s more likely to go after so she’s the one who should have the protection and safety from the two people she’d accept it from. I can go stay with my mom until I get news of his arrest, she lives out of state, it’d be far enough away that I doubt he’d even bother come looking.” This was how she could fix this, by taking herself out of the equation. Drake’s warm hand on her cheek and soft kiss to her forehead eased the pain for a second and she knew she didn’t want to lose this, didn’t want to lose him.

---

Kelden knew he was in trouble when she snickered about pranking him. “Me and my big mouth,” he laughed. He’d definitely be checking his deodorant for a while now, although he had a feeling she was way too good at pranks and wouldn’t be so obvious. Or maybe that’s what he wanted her to think? He shook his head, not particularly concerned about it at the moment. “Anytime,” he told her when she thanked him. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a side hug.

He knew they should probably start heading back but he wanted the moment to last a little longer and he was thankful and pleased when she asked him to dance. “It’d be my pleasure,” he told her, offering a hand out to her and pulling her away from the railing to a more open spot on the dock. He held one of her hands and rested his other on her hip. Lucky for him, he’d taken dancing lessons for his eldest sister’s wedding.

They swayed a bit, Kelden leading as best he could. He was pretty rusty since he hadn’t danced in a while but it was coming back to him. It was nothing like dancing with his sisters or the bridesmaids. Then, he had felt as though it were a duty to fulfill, that had ended up being kinda fun. No, here and now he found himself wanting to pull her against him, wanting to make this moment last forever. Her body against his lit a fire inside of him and so he focused hard on his steps. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to impress Hazel. As he began to get back into the swing of it, his confidence grew. He twirled her and then put his hand more firmly on her back and dipped her. He held her there, easily supporting her weight and stared into her eyes. She was so, so beautiful. Their faces were so close and it was taking everything in him not to close the distance between them with a kiss.

@ Lost Oceans
Drake frowned as he saw the panic taking over and he watched her hug her knees and how she was trying to pull away. "June stop... no." he said sternly. "First off if you left our protection he would use you to get to Hazel and I think you know that; not to mention you wouldn't put your family at risk. And he isn't just focused on her I'm sorry but not everything is about Hazel though sometimes it probably feels that way. Sometimes I wish that it was. I simply think he has an order in which he wants things and once he has the last out of the way he would only be focused on one thing. I am not going to let anything like that happen. Look, I know what I said scared you and I am sorry but I want you to be prepared but you have to trust me June. I will be here for you, even if I have to take personal leave to be here. Hell I will pitch a tent out in the woods if I have to." he said cupping her cheeks. "You're not going to loose anyone. I can see you June and what you are going through and I'm not going to have it. I won't have you being upset about the best thing that has happened to me in a long time." he said his hands gently cupping her cheeks as he looked into her eyes. "Okay?" he said hoping she was coming back to the now instead of letting her worry consume her.

"Now if you don't mind I am going to kiss you again just to prove to you that this is a good thing and whatever else we have to face we will do so together and it will work out because fuck the universe owes you one... at least one." he said and looked into her eyes waiting like all the other times he touched her for her to object before his lips came in and took hers. His kiss was a little less gentle and took more wanting to let her know that this was not something to apologize for. Drake kissed her until they were breathless and smiled as he leaned his forehead against hers. He had to focus on breathing for a while but then sat back and grinned at her. "Feeling better now?" he asked her wanting to be sure because he would happily kiss her until she was smiling and laughing again.

It was late and he knew it was time. They had worked through all the little fears inside of June and he reassured her until he could have gone blue that he would be there for her no matter what happened. Drake stood and helped June up wrapping the blanket around her then gently pulled her into his arms until she was pressed to his chest and he rested his head on hers stroking her hair back and brushing out the ends. He held her carefully and yet with the full realization that she was better in his arms. Drake knew he needed to talk to Kelden tonight so he could give June some answers to calm her mind.

---

Hazel could have turned into his arms but dancing was so much better and as he lead her out further into the middle of the little outlook she grinned and moved closer to him. His hand started on her hip and she smiled up at him letting him warm up and lead her into a stiff dance but it didn't matter. He smiled and she smiled back at him stepping closer so her body brushed against his as they swayed sweetly. She ended up resting her head on his chest enjoying the closeness and the sent of him.

When Kelden pick dup the pace she grinned and followed his lead until he was twirling her and then dipped her his hand low on her back. She laughed her hair nearly touching the ground and she looked up at him her arms coming up to wrap around his neck. She could see that look in his eyes and she wanted it to, oh how much she wanted it but she hugged him tighter her cheek pressing to his won. "Kell." she whispered the strain in her voice of the struggle inside her. "We should go back." she said and closed her eyes bitting her bottom lip. She knew if they stayed any longer that she would do something that neither of them were ready for and she wouldn't stop with just a kiss. Kell was dangerous to her system. He made her feel strong but also made her knees wobble. He fogged her mind and yet brought everything into sharp focus. He made her dream and believe and hope and all of that could break her heart. She couldn't kiss him. If she ever did kiss him it would just be the beginning of something that she couldn't control and she would get hurt just like all the times before. Hazel had a good history of ruining all the good things in her life. The best thing she had ever done was successfully escape a serial killer.

Hazel walked back to the car with Kelden and got in the car. She hummed tot he radio until it seemed like an appropriate amount of time to fall asleep and she rested her eyes her head against the window as she listened to Kelden. It wasn't long after that that they got home and she "woke up" as the car came to a stop. She smiled gently at Kelden and touched his arm. "Thank you for tonight I had fun." she said and slipped out of the car inside. She checked the windows and then said goodnight going to her room. She sighed sitting on the bed and resting against the wall. "Stupid." she sighed and slipped into her pjs and crawled into bed.

@ Jinx...

June forced herself to look Drake in the eyes as he cupped her face gently. He poked holes in her plan and though a lot of what he said was making sense, she wasn’t going to let it go that easily. He’d said there would be a lot of discussion of their options before anything happened and she intended to make sure that if any worst case scenarios had to be considered, it would be hers. But she had to admit that his determination did ease some of her worry. Her cheeks tinted pink to hear him say that had been the best thing to happen to him in a long time. So she nodded, agreeing to try not to be upset.

She had to give him a small smile as he warned her he was going to kiss her again, to prove that everything would be ok and she didn’t stop him when he kissed her a little harder this time. It was so easy to lose herself in this, to forget about anything and everything around her. Maybe that’s what made it so dangerous but she couldn’t care. She tangled her own fingers in his hair, almost desperate to make the most of this moment. It would be so easy to just climb onto his lap right now and let the kiss take them further but they were pulling away before her body had a chance to go through with that particular path of bad ideas. She was breathless and dizzy and she needed a minute to breathe and slow her pounding heart. When she was more relaxed, she nodded. “Much better,” she said, a soft smile on her lips. Things weren’t perfect, there would certainly be trouble ahead, but she knew that she and Drake could handle it.

She stood up with him, knowing that they should probably be getting back. She snuggled into the blanket, leaning against Drake as they stared out at the sky one last time. She led the way back, flashlight in one hand but held onto Drake’s hand with her other. Before they went inside, June gave him a quick peck. “Goodnight,” she murmured, and then went inside to go to bed. She passed Kelden and gave him a small smile and wave before heading off to her room to think about the night’s events.

---

“Yeah, it’s getting late,” he agreed, his voice husky with desire. He held her a moment longer before pulling her back up. He put a protective arm around her shoulder as they walked back to the car. He opened her door for her again and then began to drive as she hummed to the radio in the passenger seat. He sang along to a couple songs quietly, Kell was actually a pretty decent singer, and he glanced over to see her nodding off. He smiled at how cute she looked when she was sleepy.

When they arrived back home, he smiled gently at her. “Me too. I’m always up for a midnight ice cream and a stroll,” he told her. He didn’t think he’d ever pass up an opportunity to spend time with her like they had tonight. He fiddled around in the kitchen as she checked the windows for the night and flopped on to the couch when she disappeared upstairs to her room. He ran his hands over his face. As soon as they got news of his arrest, or took the guy down themselves, Kelden was going to ask her out on an official date. She was welcome to turn him down, but he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t try after she was no longer his ward. The hard part was the time between now and then with things heating up like they had tonight. The sound of the door opening broke him out of his thoughts and he waved back at June as she headed past him to go upstairs.

“Hey, welcome back,” he said to Drake as his partner came into the living room a few short moments later. “I’ll take first shift if you want to get some sleep,” he offered but Drake looked pretty awake. He seemed like he wanted to talk and Kelden sat up looking at him with concern. “What’s up?” He asked. Did he have news about that psycho?

@ Lost Oceans
Drake walked back and smiled as she pecked his lips goodnight. He whispered a goodnight and then sighed watching her go up the stairs. He ran a hand though his hair and went inside seeing Kelden. He sighed and sank into the couch too. He offered first shift and he grinned. "Thanks but we need to talk Kell..." he ran a hand through his hair as Kelden sat up looking at him with concern. "The Chief called. They want to all us. They don't think the girls are in danger anymore and they are getting nowhere on the case." he ran a hand through his hair. "I said I have more intel but Kell... I don't think it's enough. I think unless Hazel comes forth with more information that leads to a stronger case against this guy and shows what we know that he isn't going to let them go..." he rubbed his face. "And then... Kell June kissed me and I kissed back." he said letting everything gush out.

"I won't tell you it won't affect me and I wouldn't blame you if we let them reassign us or even if we made certain they were put under someone else's protection because if it came to Hazel or June..." he ran a hand through his hair. "I can't honestly say I would pick the one that needed it first. Kell I told June I would tell you and we would talk about the options." he said. "She's a serious one for me." he said not saying what he already knew, she was the one for him.

Drake looked at his partner. He knew he threw a lot at him today and it was his choice to decide what he was going to do about it. They were partners though and that meant something. They had each others back through gun fights and family fights. They had their fair share of life together in the past few years and were friends now too, closer in some ways than normal friends. That happened when you were in arms together.

---

Hazel heard June come up and go to bed and bit her lip needing to talk to someone. She slipped out of her room and knocked on June's door glad she had locked it like Hazel had told her to always do. Hazel bit her lip and waited until June let her in. She crawled into the bed with June and sat on the edge against the wall so her feet dangled off. She looked at June and knew something happened. "What is going on?" she asked smiling. Her friend looked confused and yet happy and Hazel had a guess why.

June had been telling her like a month ago how she was falling for Drake and with how much time they had been spending together it would only be a natural conclusion that something more had happened. June was the kind that wanted to fall in love, Hazel wasn't. Hazel was just the kind that didn't want to get hurt anymore because her heart couldn't take anymore scaring. Hazel ran a hand through her hair as June started to spill.

As June told all the little details Hazel thought about her night knowing how similar it could have gone and how much she had hoped it would have but knew that it was important that it hadn't. Hazel wanted to kiss Kelden but she just couldn't. She couldn't put herself out there like that. June was the bravest woman she knew in so many ways. "Wow June... I am sure that Drake will come up with something and Kelden isn't going to try to separate you two. I just know it." she said. "Besides if it is an issue we can just switch body guards and there won't be an issue." she said. "Less time together and there are less opportunities to make out..." she bit her lip and looked down not wanting to rain on June's parade but she couldn't hide her feelings to June.