I am lightheaded from this explosion of heat that is slowly overtaking my body. "Dana…"

I want her so badly I have to bite down hard on my own lip to keep from leaning over and kissing her. This isn’t the time. She’s confused and emotional and I am needy right now. I haven’t exactly come up with the idea on quite how to spew out everything inside me without pushing her for more than she is ready for.

She removes her fingers from their place on my arm; her expression unreadable.

Oh shit. I’ve hurt her. Damn it. Alice. Why can’t you do anything right?

"I…please, tell me if I’m being a total baby, Al. I mean, be honest, you can tell me no way, but I was thinking." her voice is tinged with fear. "Do you think you could stay with me a little while longer? Just till I get back on my feet. I don’t want to be a pain. It’s just I could really use the company, plus I’m afraid of my mother hiring a nurse or something." she pulls a little face. "It’s totally unfair of me to ask. I know you have your own life, but…"

Something inside of me breaks and damn it, I’m crying before I can help it. I push my face into my hands and cry until my chest aches. And then the next thing I know, she’s taken me in her arms, comforting me and I feel like a big jerk. Dana almost dies and here she is, trying to make me feel better.

Dana lets me cry for what feels like hours before I stop and compose myself enough to speak. "I’m sorry," I begin.

"Nope. No apologizing, remember?" she flashes her gorgeous smile at me and I want to melt. "You earned a meltdown just as much as I have."

That is bullshit, but I don’t say so. She is the one who went thru hell, not me.

"I just want…I just want you to know of course I’ll stay," I struggle to find the words. "I’ll stay for as long as you need me."

In the light of the mid-day sun, Dana’s eyes gleam. "Be careful. I just may take you up on that."