Snow Storm

Roy shifted restlessly in bed. It had been hours since he first attempted to get some much-needed sleep. The last Movie he had made lasted four months and short of a few hours, most of it had been spent awake and active throughout.

Exhaustion hit immediately upon his return home but He had promised his mother to visit once he finished the movie. He literally dragged himself home, stripping off pieces of clothing discarded haphazardly throughout his home en route to the bedroom.

His usual ritual of a nice hot shower followed by a large cup of hot chocolate before retiring was waylaid by an urgent need to either lay down or fall down. That was hours ago.....restless tossing and turning caused frustration...the gentle fluffing of pillows transforming into a closed fisted beating of the defenseless pillow. Exasperated he finally flung himself onto his back, arm lying across his eyes, willing himself to relax.

Gradually tense muscles began to loosen as his breathing began its descent to a slow even pace. Eyelids became weighted as the beginnings of slumber made its entrance. Balancing precariously between the fine line of conscious and unconscious came the vague sensation of a sudden chill.

He felt as if he were drifting......feeling strangely at ease with this unusual sensation. Peace.....He felt it envelop him almost to the point of euphoria. Balancing on the outskirts of his awareness was an odor, not unpleasant but indiscernible. A slightly electric feeling overcame him as the hairs on his body stood upright......skin rippling with bumps in reaction to the now freezing atmosphere. A sound permeated the air and suddenly he became uneasy....it was an ugly menacing sound......one that immediately dissolved the euphoric feeling. He struggled to awaken in response to an abrupt insight of foreboding.

His heart raced, forcing blood to his temples....a pounding echo reverberating to the tune of its beat. Now freezing temperatures caused rapid breaths intertwined with a forceful shudder.

His breath escaped him in visible puffs of steam....warm air meeting cold. suddenly a wave of nausea overcame him, so strong he felt the bile rise up into his throat. Frozen in terror his heart nearly stopped when the phone rang.

Shakily he made his way to the bathroom and adjusted the water temperature on the shower. A sudden wave of nausea overcame him and this time unable to push it down went to his knees, retching into the porcelain bowl. After what seemed like an eternity he rose to splash water on his face, catching his image in the mirror. He stared into the green eyes reflected there and saw something.....something he had never seen there before.......fear.

Roy spent 6 hours beside his father's bed trying to understand why his father had decided to go skiing tonight. He stood and looked at his sister on the chair beside him.

Roy looked at his sister and shook his head. "I'll stay a while longer." Taking his sister's hand he smiled weakly and sat back, watching his father resting as comfortably as his broken leg and hip could allow. Resting his head back against the chair he relaxed, trying to understand the nightmare he had experienced earlier. He Never noticed when his eyelids drifted closed and his body slumped, his arms crossed over his chest he quickly spiraled into sleep.

Someone was calling him, The voice had a languid, muffled quality to it, as if the person was shouting into the wind. Roy did not know what the voice was saying but he wished that the person would shut up. His mind was wrapped in layers of thick, soft wool, sheltering him from pain and his nightmares. suddenly a sharp stab of pain cursed through his temple and made him jerk awake with a gasp.

Roy blinked several times trying to focus. "I don't know." he mumbled. His tongue felt strangely tick and slow, forcing him to concentrate as he formed the words. "is he awake yet?"

Roxanne and Rodrick nodded and kissed him goodnight. after several minutes of speaking with his father Roy exited the room and slowly walked to the truck and drove home.

He entered the house, once again forgoing his usual pre-sleep ritual for the instant gratification of slumber. He lay back sighing deeply, letting his body unwind naturally.

The combination of the soft breeze through an open window and the crisp cool sheet caressing bare skin setting the stage for sensation's slide into oblivion.....All thoughts fading away.

He tossed onto his side, pulling the pillow sideways to support his head while hugging it to his chest. With a deep sigh, relaxation settled in quickly and once again sleep claimed him.

With a start he awoke.....heart pounding in his chest....... breathing deep and rapid. Accustomed to waking this way on the heels of one of his nightmares, he lay still waiting for the symptoms of terror to fade away. Feeling himself being watched, this time He sat up quickly; looking around the room despite his own screaming thoughts that no one was there. The temperature of the room plunged causing him to shiver uncontrollably.

With sudden force he was slammed back down onto the mattress; the shock of the physical assault causing a sharp intake of breath. Any attempt at movement was now futile; limbs pinned by strong hands. His hands curled into the sheets, fingers clenched into fists grabbing for some control. A feather light sensation made a trail around his neck......slowly becoming more pronounced........gripping now. Panting for breath as the hold around his neck closed ever tighter.....aware only of the pounding in his chest. His limbs jerked in violent spasms, lack of oxygen causing muscles to contract rigidly. He stared at his attacker with the haze of blackness dancing before his eyes, a sudden sense of peace filtering in as the battle became lost. Fleeting thoughts entered his delirium....the last conscious one being *and so it ends*.

A cool breeze wafted through the window bringing with it the early morning sounds of the various birds starting their day. Roy stirred in response, at first leisurely as the rise to consciousness was gentle. The fog of slumber lifted swiftly as memories of his night terror flooded him.......attempts to rationalize immediately winning out to label the experience a nightmare. Being a frequent visitor to the black depths of despair and horror accompanied with sleep, he shrugged off the uneasy feeling and headed to the shower.

The steady stream of water relaxed sore muscles as he stood there letting it pour over his head and body, open to its therapeutic effects. Thoughts of his nightmare tugged repeatedly as he tried to categorize neatly where this recent experience would fit into the reality of his life. Often his nightmares were inner reflections of a recent occurrence...more often than not though; they were a reminder of the problems from his past.

Stepping out of the shower, drying off quickly, he faced the bathroom mirror now covered with steam. He wiped the steam from the mirror and taking razor in hand he prepared to shave......eyes widening at the reflection in the glass. A slightly tremulous hand raised to trace the tender outline of the band of bruises encircling his neck.

There was a knock at the door and he grabbed the bathrobe and wrapped it around his waist. opening the door he found Stefan standing there smiling. as Stefan looked at him he felt a chill going down his spine at his words.

Roy returned to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Stefan's assessment had been on target. The usually bright green eyes had dulled to a somber gray......lids heavier than normal. Smudges of dark circles beneath them were enhanced alarmingly by the ashen hue of his skin. The black collar of his Bathrobe stood in sharp contrast to his pale complexion.

Stefan took a seat on the livingroom couch to wait for Roy to return. as Roy walked in Stefan observed Roy's obvious discomfort. "Roy are you having some trouble sleeping." His lack of response went unnoticed as he continued.... "Are the nightmare's increasing?"

He actually was a bit surprised himself......he wanted......no needed......to talk to someone about this. That these were not his usual nightmares was an understatement....and he would have kept this inside had it not been for the fact that his nighttime turmoil had progressed with physical characteristics.

Stefan watched his struggle with sympathy...... opening up to someone about one's personal intricacies was a difficult task for anyone...... for Roy it was virtually impossible. Noting again his fatigue he thought best that they continue after he got some much-needed rest..... "Roy, we can talk again later.... right now I want you to get some sleep."

Roy felt the warmth flow through his veins, accepted the instant relaxation of his muscles. Lids closed with the sudden weight and just before the blackness claimed him, slightly parted lips murmured.... "No dreams."

Stefan watched his slide into oblivion, remaining there until he was sure deep sleep had been obtained. He had been there for him during some of his more trying times.....The loss of Simé....His battle with alcohol......Celine's departure......... though never really considered himself help. Roy had essentially dealt with these losses in his own way......... Stefan simply observing his repression. He had never considered his emotional repair a healthy one...... knew that his chronic nightmares were a manifestation of his conscious mind's inability to deal with the hardships. He longed to truly help him....to bring forth his fractured psyche and re-assemble the pieces. He stared down at his sleeping friend and wondered if his walls were finally crumbling to the point of non-repair.

Stefan shook his head knowing that the voice of his conscience was right. Roy had hidden all his problems from his family, giving them a mask of happiness he did not feel. "what he needs is a good old fashioned vacation in a controlled environment where Doctors can assess his condition and treat it correctly." he mussed, smiling at the thought. "Yeah right." he whispered before serving himself a cup of the strong coffee.

Returning to the living room Stefan sat beside the couch, he once again observed Roy as he slept.....With a measure of guilt he wondered if the true demise of the man he once was had made its entrance....Stefan began to think on the reasons for his nightmares. suddenly it came to him.

Repression.....he was sure that this again was the real problem. he turned Roy's laptop on and searched the Internet for the information. finding it he read the screen and coming across one particular entry he paused to re-read and absorb a rather brief explanation that described Roy

It can lead to an overwhelming feeling of tension and fatigue, because a great deal of an individual's energy is required to accomplish and maintain the expulsion of thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness.......***

He had really known all along that this was what was happening with Roy, but he had always managed to function well and deal with the night terrors that beset him in stages. He would have periods where the nightmares were frequent and intense and then would go in lengthy spans where they would stop. When they had first begun, after the loss of Simé, it was a perfectly normal reaction.

As the years went by they gradually lessened and often would stop completely. Suddenly they would arrive in full force and it was at those times when Stefan would analyze current projects and observe, looking for something that would have provoked their recurrence. There never was anything specific to warrant the resurrection of these night terrors and more concerning was that they erupted with such ferocity.

He always knew when they were back. Roy would be even more withdrawn than he usually was; his eyes held no gleam. His posture emanated exhaustion and though he always managed to do his job well the fervent energy was lost.

Hearing the slight stirrings of the sleeping man on the couch broke his line of thought. He shut off the monitor and sat back in the chair, giving him time to rise from the drug induced sleep.

Roy rose slowly to a seated position. He gazed about his surroundings, still a bit dazed and eyes settling on Stefan brought immediate awareness. He smiled softly and allowed Roy to be the first to speak.

The simple thought that he had actually hit upon the subject of his nightmares flustered him, not to mention how easily he had rendered himself to Stefan's magic sleep potion......and now here he was..... waking up on the couch in his home..... "merde."

Stefan absorbed the various flashes of emotions on his face, He watched as he straightened his sweat shirt and with a soft "thank you." he stood and walked to the kitchen.

Roy strode down the hall. Having had the benefit of a deep, dreamless sleep he felt more like himself and now managed to shrug off with confidence the horrible nightmares of the previous nights. Unconsciously he brought his hand up to his neck, telling himself that the bruises there were actually part of the nightmare......not really there. He lightly palpated the area and feeling soreness beneath his touch confirmed that he could not realistically deny their existence.

A slight wave of anxiety rose in answer to his final deduction....... that he himself had caused the bruising. The simplest human instinct, self-preservation, was suddenly threatened...... for his new found enemy was a formidable one...... one that could essentially destroy the fragile threads that held him together. With a shudder crawling up his spine he prepared to do battle with himself.

With a token of apprehension Roy entered his bedroom that night. The sleep he had was not totally restorative, the after effects of the medication leaving him somewhat weak. Not ready to attempt slumber he proceeded to pour a glass of wine and turn on the stereo. Now ensconced in the comfortable leather chair that remembered his form, he lay his head back willing away the twinges of trepidation. Bringing forth his inner strength he managed to dismiss all thoughts, anxiety fading away. The combination of the soft melody drifting from the stereo and the wine lulled him into gradual tranquility and sleep soon followed.

Although the soft contours of the chair provided comfort he awoke two hours later stiff from remaining in the same position. He rose; stretching limbs, and walked to the stereo to power it off. Remembering the empty wineglass he returned to the small table beside the chair, retrieved it and headed to the kitchen.

Roy heard the sound of screeching tires and looked up, seeing a flash of lights and then sudden darkness he stepped outside into the back porch and searched the darkness until he saw a small light.

His rational mind argued that he was dreaming, trapped in a nightmare. But just as he turned to go back inside he heard a soft voice calling. He turned toward the sound, his heart beat with a pounding ferocity, pumping blood too quickly, head throbbing with the pulsating rush. Green eyes blazed in mixture of confusion and terror.

He stood unmoving, eyes shifting through the darkness to take in the familiar surroundings. A shiver ran through his spine......his body's first indication of the cold temperature of the area.

He stepped off the porch and walked as quickly as he could toward the sound. finding a dark jeep overturned he rushed to the side and opened the door. Breathing quick short breaths he saw a small figure Curling into a protective ball.

He reached in and gathered the small girl into his arms and rushed to the house. laying her limp form on the couch he grabbed the phone. the lights went out and the phone line went dead. "merde" he whispered as he realized another storm had taken the lines down.

Roy looked at the girl laying so still on his couch. Her skin glistened with sweat making the alabaster color all the more pronounced. Her breathing was audibly ragged, short gasps accompanied by a shudder that shook her entire frame. Glassy dark brown eyes met briefly with his and then shifted toward the door. There within their depths he saw a mixture of pain and fear.

Kyry awoke to the darkness of the room illuminated only by the fireplace. She closed her eyes and slowly brought her hand to rest gently over the throbbing ache of her ribs. Sensing his presence she turned her head on the pillow and opened her eyes.....as was expected she came face to face with the man who rescued her.

Kyry closed her eyes. Ordinarily the mere thought of facing an emotional battle made her wish to escape. Long ago she had come to the conclusion that the best way to handle emotions that wreaked havoc with her conscious mind was to seal them off in a hidden place. In her opinion this was a satisfactory solution. Oh, she knew that people viewed her as cold and calculating.....had even overheard several people refer to her as *a whore* so be it. She had in effect shielded those around her from her dark half........protected them as well as herself.

Now.......things had twisted out of her control.......her dark half breaking through the barriers. she had taken the jeep and escaped after the fight she had with Kayla. she needed some fresh air and taking the long route toward Montreal had been perfect until she hit that darn deer.

A sudden wave of guilt washed over her with the knowledge that she would bring this handsome man into this, that he could possibly see a part of her that could destroy them both. His eyes shone with tears threatening to fall......she needed him now more than ever.

"My name is Kyry Baxter, I was driving toward town to escape a fight i had with my sister when a deer jumped in front of the jeep. I swerved and hit a culverant which sent me flying. I don't remember much else."

Without thinking, Roy gathered the girl into his arms and carried her to his bed. laying her down carefully he began to cleanse her cuts and take care of her bruises. Her skin glistened with perspiration and ragged breathing.

He looked at her and smiled, trying hard to not let himself fall for those doe eyes and the softness of her porcelain skin. he had felt the fingers of desire touch him as soon as he looked at her. he wanted to care for her. to give her a reason to smile and laugh. He shook his head.

Roy was tired.....he was confused.....he felt battered.....and the last thing in the world he wanted to do right now was talk. He hesitated.....looking up at her half closed eyes. Part of him wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around this girl and protect her from the evil in the world, fulfilling a need that ached deep inside......the other part of him wanting to seal himself off from her.......from everyone.....from himself.

So, there he kneeled beside the bed. making his decision.......a decision that one way or the other could hold dire consequences. He wasn't ready to open his heart to her......didn't know if he ever would be. The decision made he stood and shook his head.

He wasn't surprised that she reached out and pulled him to lay beside her. her arm wrapped tightly around his chest as she laid her head on his shoulder. she kissed his cheek and closed her eyes immediatly drifting off to sleep. several minutes later he slowly laid her head on the pillow and went to sit in the soft leather chair beside the bed, overcome by fatigue......he slept.

Soft gentle hands roamed over his face.......passing smoothly to shoulders and chest. Roy's moan in response to the sensuality of the touch brought him up from the depths of slumber. He opened his eyes, immediately scanning his surroundings, locking his eyes with Kyry's he sighed.

Roy stood and pulled Kyry up, he kneeled beside her and gathered her into his arms. He laid her gently on the bed and kissed her lips softly. he held himself above her watching her. "Her eyes are faceted jewels full of bright reflections. A man could lose his soul in eyes like that. " he wistfully thought.

He closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her once again. He felt her thin, lithe body against his. He sensed her response to him and smiled. a tremor flowed through her and into him. In his memory's eye he saw her sparkling eyes and pale skin and that soft mouth that he couldn't see without wanting to kiss. he felt her moan with pain and shudder as his body covered hers and he moved away. Kyry protested but he caressed her cheek and pulled her into his arms. " Sleep Mon petit" he whispered as he kissed her temple and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Roy woke to find himself alone in bed. rubbing his eyes with his hands in a childish manner he could still not get rid off he sat up. Kyry stood in the doorway watching him sleep when his eyes opened and searched for her. she was about to walk to him when she saw him sit up and begin to rub his eyes the way a child would. Her heart contracted with the pure tenderness of his gesture.

Roy felt her prescense and looked up, locking his deep green eyes with her dark brown ones, he smiled. " good morning, how are you feeling?" he moved to get out of bed and heard her giggle. he looked up and found her covering her mouth with her hand. wondering why she laughed he began to stand and felt the covers grace his bare skin. " when did i undress?" he asked himself as he wrapped the sheet over his hips before standing.

Kyry turned and left the room, lightly limping to the kitchen. There she began to search for the proper food to make breakfast. she found bagels, milk, coffee and juice, then she opened the fridge and found eggs, bacon and cheese. she took the ingredients and began to make breakfast.

Roy stood under the hot spray of the shower wondering why his emotions were so out of control. " you almost took her last night! she is injured and you almost ravished her? what a help you are." he berated himself as he washed his body.

" God but how beautiful she is, her name fits her perfectly *Kyry* her hair is so bright red and those dark eyes? she is like a fairy princess. " god the porcelain skin felt so soft beneath his fingers. Roy shook his head and turned the water off. taking a towel he dried himself and proceeded to change into his jeans and sweater.

Walking to the kitchen he smelled the delicious aroma of breakfast been made and flushed. " she is injured and you don't even offer her food? Maman would beat you for showing such ungentlemantly characteristics." he quickened his step toward the kitchen and entered slowly. Watching her he remembered the words Don had said over a year ago as he watched a young girl fixing breakfast for them at the reservation.

" You must always treat a woman with gentleness and care, remember that the perfect woman is out there waiting for you. watch her cook and clean and you'll find out if she is right for you." he shook his head as he smiled wondering how Don had gotten so smart.

Kyry heard him walk in and looked up and smiled at him. she found that he had a far away look in his eyes and wondered why, she walked toward him with a plate of freshly cooked food and gently took his hand.

Roy jumped as Kyry touched his hand, flushing in embarrasment he lowered his eyes and accepted the plate she offered. walking to the table he took a seat and waited for her to sit down.

Kyry took her plate and sat down opposite him on the large kitchen table. watching him as he slowly ate she wondered who he was and why he lived so isolated from the world. she knew he was not married or lived with anyone. she had looked around the farm house while he still slept and had found nothing that showed a woman's influence in the decor.

Roy looked up as Kyry stood and walked to the sink to wash her plate, he stood and took her hand. " Please take a seat allow me to wash the dishes, you've done so much today." he caressed her cheek and softly forced her to sit down at the table. taking his plate he began to wash the breakfast dishes, once in a while turning and smiling at her.

As Roy looked up he saw that the snow storm had arrived and gasped. the ground was covered by at least 12 inches of snow. he looked at her and sighed. walking toward her he took a seat beside her and explained. " Kyry we won't be able to leave the house today, the storm arrived last night and we are snowed in for now"

" could you get my purse from the jeep? " he smiled and nodded. opening a door to the side of the kitchen Kyry watched Roy don a heavy jacket and gloves. he opened the door and told her to stay inside as he went to her car. a few minutes later she watched Roy walking back to the house with a backpack flung over one shoulder. He deposited the backpack beside her and took the jacket and gloves off.

Three days later Roy decided to go and see if his neighbor's CB radio worked. he walked about a mile down the snow covered road when he heard the screeching of tires behind him. he turned in time to see the truck slam against the pole and then swerve directly at him. he jumped away and into the ditch just in time to see the truck fly over his head. he felt the pain and dizziness as his head hit a rock and darkness surrounded him.

He entered his house several hours later.....walking through the darkened rooms....no need for light. Each step brought shards of pain vibrating through his head. His whole body glistened with sweat, soaking the hair at the nape of his neck. It was impossible to breathe......each effort causing a resonating gurgle. Navigating the few steps to his bedroom had proven to be a feat not easily accomplished. He stumbled......going down. He lay there unable to stop himself from moaning with the added agony.

Dragging himself up he leaned heavily against the wall, sliding his body along its smooth support to rise up. Making it into the room he went straight to the bed...sitting gently...slowly...knowing any additional movement would surely be his undoing. He lay back into the soft comforter giving himself a minute before attempting to pull himself up to sitting......finally coming to lean against the headboard. Still fully clothed he reached into his jacket, removing his keys. He raised his hand to touch his tender temple and then let his arm fall back to the mattress. He felt his strength wane......fought with everything he had the darkness which seduced him.

Feeling a prickle of awareness rush across his skin, He opened his eyes searching for Kyry. finding her standing at the door watching him with terror shining in her eyes. She slowly took a step toward him and flinched as Roy moved, moaning loudly he tried to pull himself up higher on the bed.

Through the silence his fine tuned senses heard the distinct sound of footfall. His eyes shifted in the direction of the sound. His strength fading further still. He knew there wasn't much time.....could feel that he would succumb to his injuries soon.

" Kyry....I was Injured, need......a doctor please. " he whispered as Kyry stood beside the bed. His hand noticeably trembling. she took his hand and gently kissed his bleeding knuckles. she could see that he was in pain, but she also saw fear and resignation.

Roy's only response was to close his eyes briefly, open them again and stare back. Kyry was actually quite pleased to see that despite all that had happened, he was still a bit shy.

Roy closed his eyes. He had to think. His mind went over in detail the events of that night...*which night?*... he hadn't asked how long he had been unconsciouss. He remembered the truck rushing at him and himself landing hard and painfully on his side and head......keeping himself alive. Why? He couldn't be sure whether he had sensed the impending need Kyry had for him. It didn't matter now. He shifted his weight in the bed and felt the searing pain of his injuries.

His forehead furrowed in stress......his eyes although closed had fluttered consistently.......seeing something that was his alone to see. She held him tightly as he slept once again. What he needed was there in his eyes......... a plea for something even he didn't understand. He needed a friend.

No words were spoken. She cringed at the soft groan of pain escaping his lips as she gently pulled him down onto her breasts. His eyes closed briefly in response to the sharp jabbing ache and Slowly his eyes opened, green orbs that reflected defeat......shining with pools of tears. He rolled onto his side, slightly trembling arms wrapping around himself in an attempt to provide his own haven of security.

Kyry felt as if her heart was being torn from her chest. With freely flowing tears she tightened her hold around his back, forming her body around his. She gently brushed her fingers through his damp curls. She didn't know what was happening......couldn't fathom what had caused this man who personified all that was strength to shatter before her very eyes. Right now it didn't matter.

She felt his hand engulf hers. She held him tighter........trying desperately to absorb some of the anguish that tortured him........something she knew he could not share.

He rose from the embrace of slumber. He didn't want to wake.....his sleep deeper than it had been in a very long time. He fought it.....his groggy mind resisting the persistent tug of wakefulness. Losing the battle his eyes fluttered open. His gaze wandered over the darkened surroundings trying desperately to acclimate himself.

He turned his head to take in the sleeping form lying on the opposite side of the bed....red hair fanning out over the pillow.....features even more angelic in sleep. He remembered how tightly she had held him.....remembered feeling secure in her arms.

Her warmth.....not just of body but of soul....had wrapped around him. He struggled.....trying desperately for some of that warmth to flow past his barriers...to find a home somewhere within himself. Whether he succeeded or not he didn't know. What he did know was that he had fallen asleep with a lightness of heart that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Slowly, mindful not to wake the pain in his ribs, he inched himself closer to the sleeping girl. He needed to touch her.....wanted to wrap himself around her and feel again the salvation of her soul.

Searing pain jabbing through him like a knife. Shallow breathing coming in desperate gasps. His head pounded with the sound of his heartbeat.....now arrhythmic in frantic gallops.......He was losing the battle.....he turned his head and gazing at her peaceful form brought a flood of understanding. He fought harder......reaching out to touch her hand lying softly on her pillow. His whole body shaking in physical agony. The strain was overwhelming.

Coming to terms with defeat he closed his eyes. His trembling hand once again extended to make contact with the physical embodiment of an untouched soul. He brought himself closer to Kyry folding her into his arms. He knew now that there was really only one true way to rise above the darkness. This time Kyry had provided the essence of light.......but he would have to find it somewhere within himself. He sighed deeply wondering if it was too late.

She woke; arms wrapped around her pillow. Her gaze went to the now unoccupied side of the bed, the impressions of his body still patterned in the sheets. Immediately the worry and the fear nagged at her. She had expected to wake up to find a sleeping Roy lying peacefully beside her.....thought that what she gave was what he needed. Fearing she had been tragically mistaken caused a sudden surge of guilt. Finding him gone would not have set her into quite a dither.

Roy looked at her and sighed. shaking his head he whispered. " It's too much, just know that you helped me greatly last night." he smiled and his sight returned outside.

Kyry sat quietly, intently listening to Roy's description of his sudden and intense emotional decline. She was horrified when Roy described his self-inflicted physical injuries......tears running in tracks down her face. Her heart broke with the realization that he was truly a lost soul.

She never realized that Roy thought so little of himself. Now, after seeing him last night, and then this morning sitting there like a lost man, she saw that he was tormented by his own persecution. That he had been existing with this horrible sensory overload was beyond her comprehension. Roy saw in himself only pain.....and he had never been given the opportunity to prove otherwise.

"I can't really say..... I have several theories but it would take extensive therapy and hours lost to find the reasons for my nightmares and pain." he sighed and lowered his gaze to his hands.

Kyry looked at his dejected posture and rushed to his side. taking his face between her hads she kissed his lips and softly asked. " are you afraid for your life?"

Kyry felt Roy's muscles go lax and realized he had again passed out. she sat beside him holding him tightly in her embrace until he regained his senses. She knew he must have suffered a serious concussion to continue to pass out this way and felt her heart constrict fiercely with worry.

He reached out and cupped her face, gently rubbing his thumb over the dampness on her cheek...... "The dreams make me weak Kyry, In my line of work i can't be weak or sick."

Kyry held him as his eyes grew heavy and then fluttered closed, his body slumping forward. She sat holding his limp form, rocking him slowly, sobs wracking her entire frame.

Several hours later, she decided that the cold floor would harm him even more than if she dragged him back to his bed. taking a deep breath she gently lifted him into a sitting position and wrapping her arms around his chest, she ignored the pain filled graon that emerged from his pale lips and carefully dragged him to the bedroom where she slowly and with great effort lifted him into bed. Kyry stood beside the bed, gazing down at the sleeping man, the lights of the oil lamps illuminating the dark hollows beneath his eyes. He lay perfectly still, deep slow breathing barely causing the rise and fall of his chest. Kyry lifted his hand into hers.

She waited with trepidation for his eyes to open, Reliving Roy's words stabbed at her heart. Everything he said led her to believe that death would be his only release.

His eyes opened again, in response to her voice. She watched as he struggled for clarity. He met her gaze; eyes at first filled with confusion then clearing with awareness.

Still groggy he looked at her wondering what he had ever done to deserve such a perfect angel? he sighed and closed his eyes again as the darkness beckoned him to return.

Roy forced his eyes open, knowing that he was badly injured and required immediate medical help as the weakness reasserted itself into every muscle. with great effort he softly spoke. " There is a farm about a mile away, the old man has a CB radio. go there and get help please"

Roy sighed. " you must, I need Medical treatment." paussing for a few seconds to drag in a shaky breath he continued. "His name is Gerard. Please Kyry go and call for help before it's too late" he coughed and shuddered as a pain shot through his entire body just before his eyes fluttered closed and he once again floated into unconsicousness.

Kyry dressed in his heavy jacket and gloves and walked the mile down the lane toward Roy's neighbor's house. she found that the old man was not there, she left a message begging for him to call 911 and send them to Roy's home for there had been an accident and Roy needed medical attention.

She returned to the house and walked to the bedroom. frowning with worry, she rushed to kneel beside the bed and palpated the strong pulse in Roy's neck; the touch although slight brought him up from slumber. He opened his eyes..... Kyry quite pleased at the clarity in his gaze.

He thought about the answer to her question and realized he really couldn't say..... "Can I get some water?" His throat was parched and his voice croaked in hoarseness.

Kyry glanced at Roy sitting up in the bed, taking note of the return of color to his complexion and the bright green of his eyes. She walked over, saying nothing, she gathered his hand in hers and kissed it softly.

" Roy I went to Gerard's again he wasn't there I again begged him to call 911, if I can walk there maybe I can drive us to the clinic in St. Donat. why don't you let me try."

"the snow is too thick, you could not see the road." he said softly, wondering what would happen to him if he did not get medical attention. he felt stronger, but he worried about the several times he had passed out in recent days.

Roy sat at his desk reading the final draft for LFN. He saved the information on his screen and clicked off the monitor. he stood and limped toward his favorite chair. looking out toward the forest he sat and waited for Kyry to return.

Kyry entered the office and watched him sitting by the window. She smiled, her brown eyes sparkling..... "I spoke to your Maman, she said she would come by tonight and bring Roxane and the kids"

Roy watched her leave and sighed. " God do I truly deserve Kyry? or Am I deluding myself with this fantasy we share?" he closed his eyes and allowed the warmth of the sun to bathe him in it's gentle glow.

Kyry walked to the kitchen and began to fix dinner, several minutes later she heard Roy scream and rushed to his side. Roy's muscular form laid on the chair. his head tossing and turning while yelling. "No! Stop!" Rushing towards the chair she gently shook Roy by the shoulders.

Suddenly, his eyes popped open, and they stared deep into her. His hands grasped her arms. Sweat lightly dripping down his forehead. "You were dreaming Roy." Kyry said as she silently brushed a stray curl from his forehead. Roy took a deep breath and flexed his tight hold on her arms but did not let go completely.

Kyry tried to pull away, but his hands would not allow it. "Please. Don't leave." He whispered moving closer to her. His breath fanned her cheek as he searched her face with his searing gaze. Tilting his head slightly, his lips parted and his eyes locked with Kyry's. She's breathing faster now, and he let go of her arms to pull her into his lap. Kyry could feel the heat radiating from his still slightly sweaty body.

His gaze locked on her lips, and he move even closer. Softly, his lips brushd against Kyry's then the kiss turnd passionate. Silently, he pulled her tighter against him.