“Will you talk to me?”, Carmen said quietly, brushing the sponge all over Shane’s collarbone and shoulders.

Shane sighed.

“I guess I should”.

“Right…”, Carmen smiled, “Why did you come here, tonight?”.

Shane blinked thoughtfully.

“I missed you. I needed to see you, to hold you into my arms for a while. And I needed to thank you”.

Carmen’s eyebrows arched in surprise.

“Thank me? Why?”, she asked, under her breath.

Shane moved her long legs into the tub and the water splashed a little. She turned her head completely to Carmen and stared into her eyes.

“Helena told me about Melissa and the report she was intentioned to fill against me”.

She didn’t need to add anything else, actually, but felt like speaking again.

“Thanks for protecting me…”, she muttered huskily, “…Even if I don’t deserve that”.

Carmen ducked her head to a side and watched her, her brows knitted.

“You shouldn’t say so, Shane. You should just realize that if someone loves you and does something for you, probably she means it”.

“And you mean it?”, Shane asked, uselessly, in her endless need of perpetual confirmations, and Carmen giggled gently.

“Well, I’d say that I’m almost entirely positive…”, she trailed off jokingly, and Shane half-smiled.

She stretched out her arms and stroked Carmen’s cheek.

“You are so beautiful…”, she whispered, defeatedly.

”How many sorrows do you try to hide
In a world of illusions that’s covering your mind ?
I’ll show you something good, oh I’ll show you something good.
When you open your mind you’ll discover the sign
That there’s something you’re longing to find…”

“And you deserve all the best”, Carmen replied, honesty shining into her eyes.

Shane remained speechless, and felt torn once again. She withdrew her hand and motioned to get out of the tub.

Carmen stood up and handed her a towel, and sighed when Shane wrapped it around her waist without a word. Shane’s head was bowed again, now, and her lips were pursed. Carmen realized that she was fighting another inner battle, and rested her back against the sink, her arms folded.

“Are you running away once again, Shane?”, she asked, calmly.

Shane threw her a rapid glance that looked shameful and uncomfortable.

“I should go, yeah”.

“Why?”.

Carmen’s voice low, and plain. Her eyes, just intense.