The dark haired woman looked into the grim mans face; she noted the lines that had been formed over the years and in particularly the ones that were set deep in a permanent frown.  Briefly she thought back to the sidewalk and its lines.  They both have the characteristic of age and of a harsh reality.  I manage; he deserves more than I have.

You know that I know.  He stated simply.

Yes.

It doesnt bother me, I think that you being a woman provides him some sort of motherly comfort, rather he is aware of it or not.  Looking in to her emerald eyes, he tenderly took her hand and removed the beaten book.  Gently he brought her fingers up to his lips and lightly kissed it, tears falling freely.  I can never show you the gratitude I have, but I promise after all this  The old man motioned toward the book.  I will be there for you when you need it the most.  He released the shaking hand and set back in his seat his eyes focused out the window and neither spoke for the rest of the way.

The limousine made its way up the circular driveway stopping in front of a number of steps that led to the old Hollywood mansion.  Shane quickly relieved herself from the confines of the car and swiftly took the steps two at a time.  She nodded to the small plump maid as she made her way down the increasingly familiar corridors toward the room that would hold her for the next four hours.  Stopping in front of the massive mahogany doors she gripped them and pushed them into their respective walls.  She turned her attention to the large room; bookshelves lined the walls reaching to the top of the twelve foot ceiling.  She took a deep breath in and smelled the worn pages and the leather bound books of the various adventures that graced the shelves, as well as the unmistakable smell of death.  She grimaced slightly but quickly replaced it with a small grin and made her way to the hospital bed in the center of the room.  A small frail figure was swallowed up by the bed and the various machines and tubes that kept his weary body alive.