Saving Grace

(I was once known to write short fiction…)

A ghost visited me today…and old friend…so I thought I’d share. My goodness I think I wrote this over 20 years ago…kinda sweet to visit Grace and Noah after all this time. I like to think they’re still keeping it romantical…I so hope you enjoy. 💕

---

Saving Grace

He thought he had never seen so much rain. He couldn’t help but marvel at the torrents of water as they sheeted against earth that could not absorb them fast enough. You’d think you’d be used to it by now, he chided himself, but somehow that just hadn’t happened – at least not yet. No, it’s just too impressive. Every time the heavens opened up, he fully expected to see an Ark materialize out of thin air, but it never did. It’s a good thing too, he chuckled to himself, raking his hand through his ebony hair, because no doubt they’d make sure I gathered the animals. That job went with his name – Noah - and because it poured so often he got constantly ribbed about it. Maybe he would put a sign on the door: “All ye who enter here please do so in twos”.

As he looked out at the unfolding drama he also thought how different it was from his home in Tel Aviv. Sure, he often watched the clouds roll in over the patterned tile waterfront and deposit a shower or two. But after a little while it would move off toward neighboring Jaffa, and shafts of sunlight would strike the coast and sea like the hand of God Himself. Bringing himself back to the present, he had to admit that it never failed to move him when the sun finally appeared and filtered down through the forest canopy in Brazil.

His viewpoint was a makeshift cabin in a medical research camp about seventy five miles south of Manaus,

the gateway city to the Amazon River. Almost a year ago, Noah was asked to join a team investigating what looked like an incredible find among the indigenous plants in a village along its banks. Having a long-held interest in flora and its ability to heal, as well as a being a respected specialist in viral medicine, he could hardly refuse.

In fact, since he could remember his parents had told fascinating stories about miraculous plants and flowers and their amazing powers, witnessed during missionary work at another part of the Amazon. It was really no wonder he was here now, although these infernal downpours might make him question it. He was just too inquisitive to consider any option but seeing things through, and the outcome was too potentially rewarding.

About fourteen months ago, a seven-year-old girl in the nearby village had contracted an extremely advanced and baffling case of meningitis, from which she was not expected to recover. Hoping to at least try and keep her comfortable, if this were possible, the village shaman made her a tea out of several roots he knew would ease her pain and help her to rest. He accomplished more than he expected, because she fell into a deep sleep and late the next morning she awoke complaining only that she was very hungry – the first time she had wanted to eat anything in three days. In a few more weeks she was up and about as if nothing had ever happened. Now Elisa was a cherished young friend, and a constant inspiration to Noah and the others in their quest to find out how her miracle recovery happened. Something in the shaman’s concoction allowed a little girl to defeat an unbeatable disease – at least unbeatable in this remote part of the world - and they wanted very much to make sure others could, too.

A hurried knock at the door brought Noah out of his reverie. “Hey, let me in before I drown!” demanded Paul, the British head botanist on the team.

“What are you doing coming over here in this, playing King Lear?” asked Noah, handing him a towel.

“Nice, hit me with a Shakespeare joke when I’m soaking. Care to make another quip about how I should have cracked this investigation months ago because we’re dealing with tea?”

“Nooo, never. Give me a minute, though – I’ll come up with something original” countered Noah, dodging a very wet, heavy towel before retrieving it and launching it back.

“All right, truce, okay Nomi?” laughed Paul, calling Noah by his local nickname. “I did have a point coming here, you know.”

“And that would be?”

“Seems we’re about to have company. BPI is sending a suit from the Manaus field office to check our progress. I think they’re starting to turn the screws on us a bit, myself.”

BPI – Botanic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – was the overseeing entity and sponsor of their research operation, and it looked like they were getting impatient. God, Noah hated it when they interfered like this. It was nerve-wracking having them breathing down his neck, and the last time they sent someone it set them back months. The new testing they had demanded only reinvented the same medical wheel, getting them no farther along after all the delay. And now, being closer than ever to a breakthrough, the thought of a setback was maddening.

“Paul, no…you can’t mean it. They’re going to send us back to the Ice Age this time, and I’m almost there, I know it.”

“Almost there? Tell me, what did you find that I don’t know about?

“Well it’s…it’s more like what we didn’t find….” Noah began excitedly

“I don’t follow…”

“The compounds that don’t work, I mea n. We’ve been testing every damn growing thing in that village and not one has been a solution, right…”

“And this is your good news?” interrupted Paul.

“Yes, just think about it. We’ve been doing it for so long that now we only have a few more left. We’re on a short list – it’s got to be one of these last samples” he explained, handing his colleague a notebook before he returned to his chair.

“I had no idea we down to so few – too busy seeing the trees and not the forest, if you’ll forgive the pun.”

“Sure, forgiven” Noah assured absently. “ Now get BPI off our backs – please.”

“You know I would gladly, but they said the rep is already en route.”

“Now? Nice advance notice…hell, it doesn’t matter, because I won’t let them set us back, Paul – not this time”.

“Granted, but understand that being this close also means you - we – can’t afford to piss them off.”

Noah nodded his agreement. “Are you sure they said en route – they must be totally deranged…” he said, indicating the storm.

“I only know what I heard.”

“Well then, I guess this rep could show up at any moment now.”

As if on cue, headlights appeared and seemed to be heading toward the cabin. A small, well-used utility vehicle stopped to park a few yards away and the driver sprinted toward the door. Noah rose from his chair to open the door for the approaching raincoat-shrouded figure, who entered with a quick thank you. “I cannot believe they would send someone here in this” said an accented feminine voice. “They really should have waited” she continued, throwing off her hood and shaking stray droplets from her honey-blonde hair.

For a fraction of a moment, the three were a tableau. Noah was unable to tear his gaze from the stranger’s green eyes, which made no move to look away, while Paul looked on frozen and unreadable. One thought was unmistakably etched on the two faces riveted to each other: This is the enemy?

“I’m sorry for my entrance, it was a nasty drive.” said the woman, breaking the brief silence. “Hello, I’m Graciela Torres – I usually go by Grace. I’m afraid you get me instead of Senhor Castillo this time”. She extended her hand to Paul, who was nearest.

“Paul Thomas” he responded just a half-beat late, returning her handshake. “It looks like she’s onto us, Nomi” he continued over his shoulder before looking pointedly back at their new arrival. “Indeed you aren’t who we expected, Miss Torres.”

“I don’t doubt it” she smiled warily, and repeated the gesture with Noah.

“Noah Gold – Nomi is what they’ve taken to calling me around here” he explained, raising a comical eyebrow toward Paul. In turn Paul gave him an innocent “what’d I do” shrug.

“I promise I won’t report it to the head office unless you get uncooperative,” Grace responded dryly.

The reticence in Noah’s respectful but measured laugh was not lost on her - she figured she was in for some resistance. She was not in the least surprised. She had read Castillo’s report – all of it many times over – and she could not help thinking that she would be anxious, too, if a project she was working on was disrupted like this. Still, she had a job to do, and she planned on doing it with laser-like focus, even if it might involve re-tests or what seemed to be setbacks. If that’s the case Mr. Gold, she thought, you might have grounds for your concern. She just never thought resistance would come in such a very distracting package.

“I wanted to get here sooner, while we still had some daylight left – this rain really delayed things.” Grace apologized.

“I’m sure you’re anxious to get started.” Paul responded. “We only just learned you were coming, so maybe we can use this evening to just prepare and debrief. I’m sure after that we can develop a satisfactory plan of attack.”

Their meeting took the three, plus a few others who were gathered, well into the night. Nevertheless, the morning found Graciela Torres pouring over a stack of notebooks in the lab before the sun even broke through the canopy. Except for a few nocturnal fauna making their presence known, the silence was quite deep. Soon the first rays were slowly beginning to penetrate and create the rainforest version of a sunrise, and Grace lifted her eyes to look out at the gorgeous spectacle before it vanished. All alone and so quiet, she couldn’t help feeling that it was just for her.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Grace nearly fell out of her chair as the words broke the profound hush. She turned to see Paul Thomas sitting casually near the opposite corner of the room, and let out startled breath.

“Dammit Paul, don’t do that! How long have you been there, anyway?”

“Long enough to know I’d almost forgotten how stunning you are, Gracielita…”

“No – please don’t call me that.” she interjected quietly and rubbed her forehead tiredly. “I thought we had gone through this.”

“Bloody hell we have! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming – I practically broke something pretending not to know you!” Paul shot back fiercely.

“Oh, and it was easy for me? Do you think I wanted Sami Castillo to wake up with the flu yesterday? I did everything I could to have them send someone else, but there was no time! And now I can see that they didn’t, but I had no idea BPI didn’t tell you I was the one coming. Now that the shock is over, let’s just move on…”

“Move on?” Paul fumed, cutting her off. “What, continue to be the deep, dark secret – not anymore, Grace.”

Grace paused, deflated. “Yes, move on.” she replied calmly. ”And Paul, I’m sorry, but we’re not a secret…we’re history. You were committed only to the work – there was no room for me. That’s why I transferred back to Manaus. Like I said, I thought we worked this out. I thought you understood.”

“I thought I understood, too. I really believed we had something, Gracielita – that’s what I understood.”

“Exactly. We had something…something amazing at first, but it’s past tense, Paul. I couldn’t play second to your almighty research. I needed you and you might as well have gone to the other side of the planet. So yes, I escaped. I went 75 miles north and I made myself whole again. It’s taken me almost two years, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let you or anyone else do that to me now, comprendido ya?” Grace exhaled and added quietly, almost as an afterthought, ”Nobody gets in. Nadie.” As an Argentina transplant, she easily reverted to Spanish when tired and agitated; she was both.

“Not even the dashing Noah Gold?” he slipped in bitterly, and regretted it the minute it left his lips. Honestly, he had no desire to pursue the answer, none at all.

“Que?…What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about seeing you when you walked in last night. Did you think I’d miss how you stared craters through each other?”

Grace gaped at Paul incredulously. He really was ‘round the bend, and she had no recollection of any staring. Neither heard footsteps coming toward the door.

“Paul, hablas locura – you are talking absolutely crazy.” She retorted, just as the object of their last exchange appeared in the doorway.

“So what’s new? He always talks crazy.” Noah jibed good-naturedly as he appeared in the doorway, obviously not having caught anything before. “Good morning, colleagues.”

Paul managed a cursory “’Morning, Nomi” and made to leave the office.

“You are in denial, Gracielita.” he said into her ear as he passed by.

Noah looked after the retreating figure of his friend for a moment before he addressed Grace. He hadn’t witnessed much at all, but it wasn’t hard to draw a conclusion from the very little he had.

“You must have had some affect on him – I don’t think I’ve ever seen Paul leave a room in that state.”

“It’s ancient history, I assure you. I’m sorry, it really doesn’t belong in the present, especially here in the…lab.” Noah half bristled-half chuckled at her “and-I-use-the-term-loosely” tone.

“I don’t know what you mean” he deadpanned at her inference. “We have the absolute finest here - grab a beaker, the Dom Perignon is chilling in the fridge with the cultures.” He immediately gave himself a swift mental kick. What on earth was he doing being funny and charming (at least he hoped he was – what was that about?) to a person who no doubt would make his life a chaotic hell?

“Nooo thank you, I’ll pass. The bubbles tickle my nose:” Grace replied, crinkling her nose in demonstration.

Noah thought it was perhaps the most adorable thing he’d seen in a very long time. He savored it – savored the brief-but-mischievous sparkle in those green eyes, and in the back of his mind, just barely detectable, a voice said that, my friend, is why you hope you’re being funny and charming. He promptly told the voice to shut up. So it was cute moment…very cute…so what? He wasn’t very convincing.

“Besides,” she added lifting a pad of her notes, “we could never do these re-tests with champagne in us, right?”

Okay, moment over, lamented Noah. Oh well, it was just a matter of time. “Let me get this straight - you’ve got a list of them already? You don’t waste any time, do you…”

“No, I don’t! Every one of these is necessary and – honestly? - not for you to question.”

“Why the hell not? You’re questioning my work, why can’t I question yours?

“Listen, I’ve already had enough drama for one morning, I don’t mean to start more with you. I’m not judging any of this.” Grace retorted indicating the notebooks in front of her. “I’m just doing my job, by the book…and you know this. Underneath all your concerns about delays and setbacks, you know it.”

Shocked that she had read him so clearly, Noah had no response right away. As unsettling as it was, he found himself overcome with a strange need for payback…no way was she going to get away with that little piece of mind-reading. No, psychoanalysis after less than twelve hours of acquaintance did not sit well with him. Still…as he looked at her - committed, focused, full of fire – something shifted and stirred in some deep, long-neglected place within him. One overriding thought filled his head, and he started to smile. Yeeees, this could be just what I’m looking for. Cliché as it is, say it and not only will I be speaking a truth, but I’ll have my payback.

“You’re gorgeous when you’re angry.”

Grace blinked in utter disbelief, and Noah almost laughed to see the same shock she had dealt him registered in her face now.

“I’m…que dije?” Dammit, she fumed, there’s your Spanish again, Graci – what are you letting him get to you for? “What did you just say?” she translated.

“I said, ‘eres hermosisima cuando se enoja’. ” Noah repeated in Spanish, leaning toward her and riveting his dark-espresso eyes on hers for good measure. After a long, long moment, Noah broke the ensuing silence with a chuckle and took some of the notebooks.

“Come on,” he beckoned with a tilt of his head. “Let’s get the hell out of here and talk about exactly how ‘necessary’ these re-tests are.”

It’s got to be this heat…why else would I be giving in on any of this? It was around midday, and Grace couldn’t figure out how she was now involved in a full-fledged negotiation. Mr. Gold thinks this is some kind of democracy, and I’m playing right into his hands, she thought, thoroughly irritated with herself. Of course, it’s wasn’t hard to feel irritated in the oppressive noon swelter, but still…

A rustle of papers made Grace look up from her reading, as Noah set his down and stretched languidly. Transfixed, she could not take her eyes off him. Concentrating so hard on the notebooks, she hadn’t noticed that in the extreme heat, Noah had undone his cotton shirt. Now as he stretched it fell away to reveal the toned muscles of his chest and taut stomach working under what had to be the most inviting bronzed skin she had ever seen. Her mind totally betrayed her by accepting the invitation, and filled with images of touching the satiny expanse – sensing it under her fingertips, delighting in its warmth, its texture…its response. A glistening bead of moisture traveled down Noah’s torso, practically sending Grace over the proverbial edge. Madre de dios, socorro, she pleaded for celestial help, este tipo…this guy…is some kind of wicked sexy.

Not wanting to get caught staring, Grace lowered her eyes and pretended to rub a twinge from her neck – actually, it was feeling a little stiff, anyway.

“Maybe it’s time to take a break…,” Noah suggested. Apparently, the movement had captured his attention.

“What…oh no, that’s ok – I’m just a little achy from poring over all this stuff. How are you holding up?”

“Fine…hot, but fine,” he chuckled. You have nooo idea, mister, thought Grace.

“Yeah…me, too.” She said with a tiny sigh. As she looked down at her papers once again, Noah smiled and arched an eyebrow at her, but didn’t speak a word.

A few minutes later, as they were going over some recent data, Noah noticed Grace’s eyes dart ever so briefly to the space behind him.

“What?”

“Oh, I’m sorry – just thought I saw a bird,” She answered, grinning. “Where were we…?”

“It was the sample for…” Now he felt a tug on his hair. It had grown quite long, and he had caught it up in a leather cord. “Heeey, what’s going on?”, he laughed, turning but still not able to see his invisible “attacker”.

‘I told you, I thought I saw a little bird,” joked Grace, still grinning – almost laughing now, but not looking up from her work. Noah felt another tug, and this time he wheeled around faster, eliciting a shriek and huge giggle from his small assailant.

“Tio Nomi!”

“Elisa! Bom dia, ninha, how are you today?” He exclaimed, scooping her up onto his lap, and throwing a mock-glare at Grace. ”A bird, huh?”

“She swore me to absolute secrecy,” she responded with a wink to Elisa.

“Lady is very pretty…what is her…nome?”

“Why thank you. My name? It’s Grace – and you are Elisa, nao?

“Sim…I mean, yes, that is my…name.“ she said triumphantly.

“When did you get to be so smart?” said Noah.

“Always,” she answered matter-of-factly, making both adults chuckle.

“And modest, too,” added Noah with a nod, as Elisa continued to play with his hair. She giggled even more as it came out of the leather cord and went every which way.

Again Grace found herself riveted, entranced and conflicted at the scene she beheld. It’s something new, something…deeper… every moment – do I laugh, or cry at how exquisite this is…or find a way to get him alone? She smiled and let a slow breath. She was fairly sure she’d need to summon a lot more celestial help before this was all over. But for now, she laughed at the little bit of havoc Elisa was creating.

“You know, I can help you with that if you want – it must be so warm in this climate.” Grace mused aloud to Noah.

“Thank you…help me with what?”

“Your hair – I used to cut hair - I still do for friends back in Manaus.”

“A hidden talent, I’m impressed, “ Noah smiled, and after a moment of deliberation he decided. “Okay, I don’t see a reason not to. We’ll work it in later, then.”

“Terrific, I’ll hold you to it…muito bem (very good),” she added in Portuguese, giving Elisa a little tickle. “You’ll still have plenty to play with.”

“Okay,” she agreed reluctantly, as warily as possible for eight years old.

For herself, she liked things the way they were, but she wanted to believe the pretty lady. Besides, she was very proud to have learned “okay”. To Elisa it was like a magic word in English and made her feel like a native speaker. Soon the precocious visitor had to rejoin her family for lunch before school began again that afternoon. (It was a realization of one of the dreams present since the first missionaries that small classrooms were established here and there throughout the area.) They said their good-byes and she wriggled from Noah’s lap and skipped off to her parents and siblings.

“So now you know why I do this,” Noah said simply. Looking out after the departing child, Grace smiled a Mona Lisa smile.

“I think I have a vague idea, yes.”

After a silence, the two heard a figure approaching – Paul coming to call them back to the lab. It was time to put all the meeting and negotiation time to work. He tried to bear it deep, but as necessary as it was, he was, of course, none too thrilled to have them in any kind of proximity. And it didn’t help that as he came upon them he saw something in his apparently ex-love just now…a blurring of the edges, a softness that he’d swear he hadn’t seen before. This could get so bloody complicated, he thought, and that’s the last thing we need.

“Hey Paul, you just missed Elisa,” greeted Noah, gathering up their work in anticipation of going back with him.

“Oh, I did? How’s she doing – I haven’t seen her since last week.”

“Very well and very brilliant, precocious as ever. Charmed the hell out of our visitor,” he chided, indicating Grace.

“She sure did.” Grace grinned. “So are we going back, then?” she continued, standing to leave.

She was facing Noah as she stood, and was suddenly struck hard by the last thing she wanted or expected. When she looked at him the world fell away for just a split second. Not really aware of what was gripping her, she approached him slowly, oblivious to anyone or anything else. She lifted her hand and drew her fingers gently through the hair at Noah’s temple, coaxing it back and letting its silken touch register against them.

“Yeah, “ she began, smiling into the very depths of his dark eyes, “this I can definitely work with.”

Talk about denial…back in the “office”, Paul Thomas suddenly found himself trying to pull it around him like a well-loved blanket. But no, he couldn’t convince himself he was imagining things. From the beginning, and through the small steps they all managed this afternoon, something was there and it wasn’t going away. If anything, there was no doubt in his mind after Grace’s tiny but obvious indiscretion, that “something” could grow and choke the life out of their mission. And so close to the answers…you told me so yourself, Nomi…damn it all. And you…how could you muddy the waters just when we were finishing the cleanup? Throw you a few curves in the right places and your convictions go out the window? Well, on the upside he was dead on – he saw this trouble coming from moment one.

Once again right on cue, as she was with her arrival, Grace came into view just outside; trouble had arrived – at least one half of it. She caught his eye and covered the few steps back to the tiny building.

“I know that look, Paul,” she said as she approached the doorway.

“Good, then I won’t have to explain.” he replied factually. He sat down, motioning for her to do the same. He looked at her intently, making sure she was totally following him. “What are you doing, Grace?”

“My job.”

“I’ve got to hand it to you – you say that like you really believe it.”

Grace’s eyes fixed on him in disbelief and raw anger. Obviously this had been brewing with him for awhile. “If you’ve got an accusation to make then make it – and deal with the consequences. I’m not playing this game.”

“Fair enough,” Paul responded reasonably, “Let’s not play games. Let’s talk about you and my formerly level headed colleague…and this project being in serious trouble.”

“Is that what all this is about? You think I want to mix a little business with pleasure, is that it, Paul? You couldn’t be farther from right…and above all, how dare you tell me the project’s in trouble. You think I don’t know how important this is?”

“Grace, how many re-tests did you give in on during your negotiations?” he asked quietly.

“Zero. I did not “give in” on one damn re-test. Yes, it’s true – I didn’t want or expect a negotiation, but I was stupid and stubborn. What I did was let go of some very unnecessary re-inventions of the same wheel.”

“Funny, it looks like you, but I’d swear that was Noah Gold talking.”

“That’s because he’s right, Paul! What are you afraid of, that things will become more efficient?

“No, that they’ll become reckless just when we’re about to see daylight.”

“Paul,” she said gently, looking squarely into his eyes “we’re on the same side. Dios mio, just because we aren’t a couple doesn’t mean I don’t care about the work…or about you for that matter.”

Grace concluded with a pal’s tap to his arm, making him chuckle in spite of himself…but she quickly saw another emotion play across his features and she couldn’t quite place it. Paul could read the question in her face.

“I know, Gracielita….I’m sorry, I mean Grace. I just can’t have my ace researcher losing her head.”

“Please…the last thing I want right now is entanglement with anyone or anything. I’m on a get-in-and-get-out mission.” And with that she gathered up some work and said goodbye for the time being, hardly convincing herself or her ex.

“Famous last words…” Paul exhaled as her figure retreated out of sight.

Later, at dinner, Grace’s circle of acquaintances grew as she met more of the team. She could hardly get over the diversity – for every Brazilian there was at least one person from a differing part of the world, let alone just from another part of South America like herself. Their system of communicating was a hodgepodge of languages, signaling and body language that, taken out of context, would seem downright comical, like the floor of a Stock Exchange to the untrained eye. But to her, it was simply the sound of people trying to do good things.

After dinner it was off to her room to finally relax and do some reading. Or maybe not. After about an hour, she felt restless, and besides, she couldn’t shake the twinges in her neck and shoulders from having her head in paperwork all day; it was much better if she moved around a bit. Making herself a little more at home, she went about the last of her unpacking and hands on hips, looked around to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. She grabbed her small suitcase to put it away and she heard a small, dull thud. The culprit item was in one of the outside pockets – a small case. Well, she laughed to herself, I’m glad I left this in here from my last trip…I might’ve had to renege on my offer. Thinking for a moment, she looked

outside to see it was still almost afternoon-bright. She took the case in hand, and set out to keep a promise.

“Perdoar me – onde esta senhor Gold?,” Grace asked an assistant passing by.

“Esta no quarto, creio,” he directed, indicating another small building several yards away.

“He’s in his room over there, then? Thank you - .obrigado.”

A few steps later, she was knocking at his door.

“Hi…are we working late again tonight?” Noah quipped as he answered. Ay mira, look at him, Grace thought despite herself, he certainly knows how to grace a doorway…”

“Oh, no – not at all,” she responded and held up the case she was holding, “I just remembered we have some unfinished business.”

“I’m intrigued…what business is that?” In answer, Grace made a scissors of her fingers and pretended to “cut” her own hair.

“Oh! You’d like a haircut? Okay, no problem…” he joked, grabbing the case from her. She gave a small shriek of surprise and started to laugh.

“I don’t think so, Gold, give me that!” she said, trying unsuccessfully to wrestle it from him.

“No, I definitely do think so, Torres,” he persisted, making Grace laugh even harder as she continued to struggle. Finally she stopped her efforts, allowing both of them to catch their breath…until she decided to tickle him at the base of the ribs and end the battle to her satisfaction.

“There, that’s better,” she beamed, case in hand.

Noah couldn’t stop looking at her just as she was in that instant. Triumphant, laughter still in her eyes…it was a glow impossible to tear himself away from. Grace blushed, almost becoming shy under his gaze, but wanting to return it in kind. Even in her brain’s complete turmoil, she could hear a voice telling her what her ex already seemed to suspect - that a few more moments like this one – maybe not even a few – and she might have to admit to liking this man…very much. But no, not now, she responded fiercely to that voice, no entanglements, remember, tonta? Pull it together and move on.

“Okay, Mr. Rapunzel, so where would you like some of that gorgeous hair to meet its final rest?’

“Final rest? Hey, that isn’t very reassuring,” he parried with a grin. “But come on in and I may let you do this anyway.”

A few minutes later everything was set, and Grace stood in front of her seated “patient”, inspecting and figuring her plan of attack. She got her ideas firmly in mind, but found herself hesitating. He was so impossibly beautiful like this - the definitive, sell-several-million-copies figure of a tall, dark romance cover-hero. Even living in a continent of tall, dark and handsome, she never believed this kind of man existed.

“Everything ok?” Noah asked, seeing her hesitation.

“Sure…I just want to have all my data in order before I proceed.” she said with mock gravity.

“Always the scientist, Torres.”

“That’s me, baby.” she countered. Taking a small vial from the formerly-contested case, she poured several drops into her cupped hand, drawing a questioning glance.

“Why Noah Gold, I do believe you’ve been missing out.” responded Grace as she rubbed the liquid between her hands and stepped behind him.

The next thing he knew, Noah felt the delicious pressure of Grace’s fingers as they massaged and worked some magic, fragrant solution through his hair.

“Mmmmmm…” The tiniest, most reflexive sound of pleasure reached Grace’s ears. Graci, don’t go there…she warned herself, stop thinking what you’re thinking and do it now.

“I’ve gotta say you’re right – if this is what you ladies are used to we are missing out.”

“And so is every woman on the planet right now.” thought Grace as the silky hair glided through her fingers.”

“Pardon?”

“Eh…it’s just a not a very common thing - I was lucky to learn it from some friends back in Argentina.” Grace stumbled. Por dios, did I say that out loud?

“What’s the secret? Come on, tell me…” he teased. Lo que quiere, querido…anything you want, thought Grace before she could banish it.

“Jojoba oil.” she managed to answer as she grabbed a towel to wipe her hands. “With lavender, bergamot…a little lemon verbena to make it good for either men or women.”

“Chemistry.”

Grace turned toward him at hearing the single word. She thought her mind might be playing tricks on her – Noah’s espresso eyes seemed even darker.

“Yes, chemistry.” she answered quietly.

Twenty minutes went by with nothing but the sound of scissors snipping and a little idle chatting. Noah was going slowly mad with the closeness of her. There would be contact, and then none…and then contact again. Every movement he witnessed showed him how appropriately she was named – she truly was grace.

Soon enough she had finished, and gathered the paper that had lain between the clippings and the rug beneath them. Tossing it away Grace surveyed her work, smiling at him reassuringly. She ducked behind him to gently brush the tiny stray hairs from his neck and he froze, his eyes sliding closed as she blew the remainder away. This time when she stepped away, a kind yet iron grip on her wrist held her back. She did not move, but although she felt his eyes searing her body, she could not face him, either.

“Not so fast, Torres.”

“Noah, I…”

“What?” he asked into the silence that followed. “Are you going to tell me you haven’t been feeling what I have since you first got here?” He lowered his voice to a suggestive velvet whisper. ”Can you honestly say the same things haven’t been filling your mind for the last half hour?” He pulled her to him, his free hand closing around her waist, grazing her stomach…lighting the match. It flared to life as he whispered into her ear: “Would it make you blush to tell me?”

“Oh no…not now…it’s all I can think about,” she barely managed to speak.

Dazed, Grace felt the muscles of his chest against her back as he held her so closely – she thought she could even sense his heart beating against her through the thin expanses of material that separated them. His hands were relentless, claiming her, teasing her intimately as if he knew things about her body that even she didn’t know…things that begged only for his touch. The match was dropped…fire.

“Go ahead and say it, amor, what are you thinking?” His full, soft lips sought the nape of her neck. ”What do you want?”

“I want you.” she replied fiercely, turning to face him “I can’t fool myself anymore. I want this beautiful face – I want to find out if this tickles or burns,” she continued, caressing Noah’s light beard as he smiled at her. “I want this perfect body, and I want to know what it likes. I want these hands because they can heal…and because they’re driving me out of my mind. And most of all, I want this heart. I mean, you’ve stolen mine, Gold, so it’s only fair…”

“That works out pretty well, because you stole mine first – “

“Don’t be so sure, mocoso.” Grace jibed, unsuccessfully trying to step out of range.

“Who are you callin’ a brat?” laughed Noah as held her wriggling form. “And what took you so long then?” Grace stilled and answered him.

“Because I promised myself – I promised all of us – no complications, no entanglements. Suddenly I don’t feel that way anymore.”

“No entanglements? Those are what keep us alive and awake. Like right now, for example…I’m thinking of the entanglement of my hands in your hair when I kiss you.”

“Oh…now see, I have no problem with that at all...”

Grace thought she had been kissed before, but this proved her wrong. At first there were two pairs of lips, coyly taunting and getting to know each other, delighting in pure exquisite sensation. Then there was a deepening…the sensations grew and there was a searching – a need. And lastly, there was a finding – a connection to another soul that transforms two into one.

Grace’s legs went unsteady and Noah sank with her to their knees, still not breaking their kiss. Grace wanted the barrier of cotton that stood between her and Noah’s heated skin gone, and with a few deft moves, it was. Almost at the same time she felt the same being done to her. This was discovery, and every sense was heightened. The slightest pressure on the skin, every temperature and texture…every sigh or moan or cry out…every sweet taste, every scent…each sensation given and received was a gift, and each gift made them want so much more.

When they did finally part Grace was the first to notice that, contrary to how it seemed to her, time had indeed passed.

“Noah look, the sun is going down.”

He looked at the sunset, and then back at the woman finally in his arms.

“Almost as beautiful as you are. Now where were we….”

It was sweetest kind of standoff. Once such a sacred connection was made neither party very much wanted to separate. Their bodies cooled, their hearts slowed, and breathing regulated toward normal, but the link was there – to the point where if they did not detect the other somewhere along their body they might go momentarily and quietly insane. There was only right now, totally free of yesterday’s concerns or tomorrow’s deep unknown. Who knows how long they simply lay there on Noah’s small cot, almost forehead to forehead, legs intertwined, the glow of a pair of lanterns they hardly remembered lighting flickering along their still-glistening skin. When they spoke it was in low tones and half-whispers. They barely disturbed the silence that descended with nightfall.

Grace studied every plane and curve of Noah’s face, delicate shivers racing through her as he traced lacy, unpredictable patterns along her back and shoulders. It was all she could do to keep still beneath his skillful touch.

“What are you painting there, Picasso?” she teased.

“I’m following the lantern light.”

“Mmmm, ok…could you follow it a little higher…oh yes, right there is good…” she gasped as his fingers responded, using a little more pressure this time, kneading just below the nape of her neck.

Noah chuckled. “They’ve gotten you turning entirely too soft up there in the big city – is that neck ache still bothering you?”

“Just a little. You do tend to – uh – make me forget all about it though.” Grace shifted her body to hover just over his. “Besides, I’m very very grateful.”

She trailed her lips ever so lightly across Noah’s chest, scattering kisses here and there like Morse code. Of course, the message would be easy to decipher: SOS…SOS…Woman down…Do not send assistance…

Does not wish rescue. What was it – how could she feel like this? Because, god help her, his skin was even more than she had imagined…imagined over those notebooks that right this moment were all but forgotten? Because his touch freed her? Because of what she saw in his eyes….aaaaah yes, that was it. That was all she needed to know, and she had felt herself falling. And she was through trying to stop it.

Well, at least she could see the situation and slide firmly into the driver’s seat. She continued her assault, worshipping his shoulder, across the clavicle to his tender throat, breaking only to then brush his temple and eyelids with kisses before finally, deliberately descending upon his succulent lips. This she had wanted to save, and she was perfectly in control…that is, until he began to kiss her in return. Then she found very quickly that she wasn’t in control at all. And who cared? Not her. Ay dios mio…aire, quien lo necesita – who needs air? Not me!, she cried within herself. Oh my god, the colors…they’re so beautiful! Crimson and gold and pure white flashed behind her closed eyes and she knew. She was not the least bit in charge – she could no more control what she was feeling now than lighting, or thunder…electricity or fire. And it seemed they were all coursing rampantly though her body and soul at once. Her eyes flew open and a tiny cry escaped as Noah drew back breathlessly, just a little.

“You didn’t think I’d be grateful, too? What am I going to do with you, Torres?” he grinned. Grace positively giggled and said something he couldn’t quite make out against his shoulder.

“What was that?” he asked, and his grin widened as she whispered the answer into his ear:

“Anything and everything, mi alma.”

The next day brought the sun once again, and the reality of work to be done, back to the camp. Noah stopped to go over some results with one of the other virologists on his way to join Grace, Paul and the other “usual suspects” as they all called each other. He found them each hard at work as usual. As usual…funny how those two words seemed so completely alien today. All around him life was going on as usual, and yet, hadn’t everything changed? Thankfully, although the world inside him was certainly different this morning, and he imagined it was for Grace, too, things in the lab felt absolutely the same. Maybe…blessedly, they wouldn’t have to deal with the fallout just now, without having discussed or even considered it.

“Hey Nomi, didn’t see you at breakfast – how goes it?” inquired Paul. Ok, good…nice, normal start, thought Noah.

“Morning, Paul. Stopped to compare some results with Ruben on my way here. Our re-tests so far validated the first round, so all seems in order. Score one for the good guys.”

“And one for being careful, “ interjected Grace good-naturedly, “See, I told you it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Incorrigible.” chuckled Noah. God, he wanted to kiss her, touch her again. And Grace? He caught her eye and she gave him a knowing half-smile that made him think maybe she was contemplating the same.

But there wasn’t much time to dwell on anything so pleasant as they threw themselves into the morning, and it seemed like the clock went directly from reading 8:30 to 1:00 without any of the hours in between.

Noah looked over at Grace to see her rubbing her neck and shoulder once again.

“Hey Torres, how ya doing over there? You ok?”

“Oh sure, I’m fine. You know how sometimes these things can hang on. I must’ve really wrenched something.” she said with a dismissive, “aw, it’s nothing” chuckle. Noah and the others weren’t so quick to let it go, however.

“Grace, let’s get you some aspirin and you go lie down and let it take hold. And then we’ll see about getting you checked out later this afternoon, okay?”

“Absolutely…go ahead, we’ll be fine here.” added Paul A couple of the assistants chimed in with their agreement as well.

“This is a conspiracy, I’ll have you know, people.” smiled Grace, gratefully. “Okay, okay, I’ll do that, but I’m not quite ready yet. I’ve got just a little more I want to look at now.” She added over the grumble of dissension.

After a few notations, Grace had one more culture she wanted to look at. She drew just the tiniest amount from a small test tube, dropping it painstakingly onto a prepared and waiting slide. She slid it under the microscope and adjusted here and there until the slide was in perfect focus. She looked long and hard at the slide, drew back, and looked at it again. She straightened up slowly.

“You know what co-conspirators, I think I’ll take that advice of yours and have that lie down now – is everybody happy?” she attempted to joke, hoping no one detected her concern.

“Yes, extremely – go, rest, feel better.” shooed Noah, anxious to ease any pain for her and thinking rest would be the best thing. He hated to see the discomfort etched in her beautiful face.

Not very long after she left, Noah looked over to see the slide still under the microscope Grace was using. Thinking to help her out, he went over to remove it and put it away. He lowered his head to the eyepiece, adjusting here and there as Grace did, but for his eye, and he looked at the sharpening image.

“Oh dear God.”

Unheeding of anyone calling after him, he bolted out of the small building and ran at full sprint to Grace’s room. Throwing the unlocked door open, he saw her crumpled on the floor and rushed to sweep her up into his arms and onto her bed.

“Oh God…Torres, can you hear me?”

“Grace?”

“Grace!!!!!”

It would be so much easier to just mentally check out. Leave, go to one’s happy place…adios and sayonara. Anything to keep from the full and paralyzing realization that he was crouched at the bedside of the woman he loved – he was now realizing just how much – desperately checking for signs of life. But Noah never was one to take the easy route.

He grasped her wrist, his fingers positioning themselves…searching…and there it was, the music of a good, strong pulse. He had only to watch the steady rise and fall of her chest to see she was breathing, and he did so right along with her. That’s my girl, Torres, you keep that up. His eyes stung, wanting to well up with tears of relief. His hand swept her face and forehead – my god, you’re burning up! It was all he needed to know now, the final piece. Just outside the open door he could see one of the assistants speaking with another.

“Manuel!” Noah shouted urgently. “Manny, can you come here, please?”

“Sim, Senhor Nomi, venho.” answered the young Brazilian, running to Noah’s side.

“Listen, I need you to get me penicillin and a syringe from the infirmary, and a couple of chemical cold packs.” Manuel was almost back out the door to comply already.

“And Manny?” The assistant stopped at the doorway to look back. “Rapido… por favor? “

Manuel didn’t mind at all – Noah’s eyes had already told him.

Practically colliding with the departing Manuel, Paul had followed not too long after Noah.

“What the hell happened?” he asked, astonished and catching his breath.

“It’s meningitis, Paul.”

“It’s WHAT?”

Noah shook his head in bewilderment – he knew exactly what his colleague meant. “I know, believe me, I don’t understand it either, but there’s no question. We’re looking at a viral case, thank God, but with a major attitude. This was slow, but more acute than I’ve ever seen. Damn, viral doesn’t usually act like this…,” he trailed off, not knowing the answers he desperately wanted.

“Bloody right it doesn’t, but how do you know?”

“Because Grace suspected. I don’t know how, but she must have thought she might be infected. She left a slide in the microscope – the one she was looking at when she left – and when I saw her own name on the label I looked at it. There’s no question.” he repeated.

“Ok, I understand. Right now we only have to worry about arresting the virus and getting plenty of antibiotic into her system to fight it. But this advanced already… Jesus, Noah, I thought we wouldn’t have to see this again, that the last time would be just that…

“Elisa.” Noah interjected, and Paul could almost see the ideas turning in his colleague’s head. “Oh Paul, if she could help herself fight and win, she literally has it in her to help Grace, too. Get her …please? I…I can’t leave.” he pleaded, looking at Grace lying so motionless - so small.

When Paul saw his face as he looked up again, he took a deep breath and nodded just once, slowly. A corner had been turned and there was no going back.

No, this…this can’t be awake. If I were awake I’d be doing something – there’s so much to do and this definitely isn’t accomplishing anything. I was just doing something, though, wasn’t I? I think so…nothing’s exactly crystal clear right now…so strange. Yes – I was right in the middle, but I saw something…

something wrong with…me? Oh god, it was right there under the microscope…I have to tell…I want…I need…

“Noah…” A cool, familiar hand smoothed Grace’s anxious brow.

“Hi, amor, I’ve missed you.” Noah couldn’t remember being more grateful to hear his own name.

“How long…” Her parched throat tried to form the question and she was immediately presented with water. It tasted like salvation itself.

“About eighteen hours.” Noah answered as she sipped. He could see her trying to draw strength and focus…ever the scientist, Torres. He couldn’t help but smile. But Grace was suddenly agitated.

“Noah, it’s meningitis…,” she began. Despite her racing mind, she found she had to take things slowly and paused.

“I know…I saw your slide after you left…shhhhhh, don’t worry about anything.”

“Are you all right?” she interrupted, her eyes suddenly wide with concern. She reached up to caress his face. “Oh Noah, if I’ve hurt you…I didn’t even suspect until after…” One tear, and then another trailed down her flushed cheek.

“I’m fine…ready to kick your gorgeous tuchus if you don’t hush and try to rest.” he soothed, whisking the tear away.

“In your dreams, Gold.”

Noah chuckled. Yeah, that’s my girl all right. “This isn’t a very infectious strain, just aggressive. You’ve still got a hell of fever. We’ve got plenty of penicillin in you but we’re not nearly done.”

“Talk about a walking , talking, motivation to find the answers…” Grace spoke soberly, knowing that although they had slowed its progress tremendously, the battle that was being waged in her body could kill her if not stopped altogether.

“We will, Torres, we will – but you are not walking anywhere.”

“I think you’re right, unfortunately.” Grace shut her eyes and sunk back onto the pillow. Everything just took so much effort. “I guess the walking part will have to wait.” She took more of the delicious water. “So what’s the next step – have you contacted Chayo?” Grace referred to the shaman who cured little Elisa.

“Sure, and you know we have all the notes from over a year ago…but I had another idea. We’ve been so busy concentrating on what cured Elisa because that’s so logical, that we’ve lost sight that the secret may be right inside Elisa herself. The antibodies she’s developed…it could be a breakthrough. So we’ve been busy in the past eighteen hours.”

“A vaccine…unbelievable…” She exhaled an amazed breath. “I’ve got to admit I’m jealous – I missed the whole thing.”

Noah shook his head amusedly. “Torres, you’re what’s unbelievable. Besides you haven’t missed everything, and lucky you, you get to be the first one to test and benefit from it.”

“Gold, you are so trying to aggravate me…when I get out of this bed, so help me…”

Noah arched a wicked brow, stopping her cold. Flushed as she was, she could feel more color rising to her cheeks under his suddenly heated gaze. Madre de dios, como lo hace? How does he do that?

“You’d better hurry and get your strength back, then. ” he said, grinning. “You’re gonna need it.”

Later that morning…

Paul Thomas was peering at the umpteenth slide he had prepared – he had lost count forever ago – and could not believe his overtaxed eyes. He sank down onto his chair and leaned back, a seemingly permanent ear-to-ear grin spreading across his face. The creak…creak of the chair drew the attention of Noah and the others.

“You didn’t…,” Noah began. No, it couldn’t be, could it, he thought, amazed that he was containing himself quite well.

“I bloody well did.”

“It’s isolated?”

“Gentlemen, I do believe we have our antibodies.”

“No way…I’ve got to see this…” Noah helped himself to Paul’s microscope. “Oooh yes, that’s beautiful!”

“Isn’t it just?”

“Not bad, plant boy…not bad at all.”

“Excuse me, that’s Dr. Plant Boy to you.” The lab filled with a brief and very welcome sound of laughing, congratulating. relief and a good deal of hope.

“Never give a botanist a PhD…,” Noah laughed. “All right people, let’s build a vaccine, sim? I don’t know about you, but I have the ganas to kick the ass of one very nasty bug.” He found he had no dissenters on that point, and from then on the sound permeating the room was strictly one of determined progress.

*****

Still later…

Grace had drifted away again, but this time only into a dreamless sleep, her body using all it’s energy to do everything it could with the antibiotic it was given. As she started to slowly come awake this time, she again felt a cool touch on her forehead. But this is different, she thought. It was so light, and just a little bit damp – it felt wonderful. Her eyes fluttered open to investigate and she smiled.

“Hello, little bird.” she greeted. Elisa smiled back at her shyly and continued to dab Grace’s forehead.

“Lady feel better?” The little girl asked with such earnestness, and when she extended her arm to touch Grace with the cool cloth, a bandage was clearly visible.

“Muito melhor, ninha…so much better.” Grace assured, fighting back tears she didn’t think Elisa would understand; an overflowing heart is difficult to explain. “You are the best medicine.”

“I am? Verdade?

“Yes really, you are!” Grace chuckled at the wide-eyed wonder only an eight-year-old can muster. “You are so brave, and you know what? You are going to help so many people - did you know that, pajarita?

“Maybe when I’m big…”

“No, right now when you’re little.”

“That’s right, ninha..” Noah’s velvet baritone reached them from just inside the door.

Having entered a few moments before, he had been almost too moved to trust himself to speak, and wouldn’t have interrupted for the wide world. He strode over to where his two ladies were, brushed the cheek of the older with an eloquent caress and knelt in front of the younger.

“Remember yesterday when you were such a brave girl and you let us take some of your blood? I told you it was very important and that it would make Grace feel better, right?” Elisa nodded her agreement. “You see, when you were little and you got sick…you know, last year – of course now you’re all grown up, we all know that…” Elisa giggled at being a grownup – although, true, she was just a baby last year and she had gotten much older since then. “Well, when you got better you made some very powerful medicine inside of you, in your blood. I’ll bet you didn’t know that, huh?”

“Noooo…,” she answered, hanging on every word.

“You sure did. We found it, right there.” He punctuated his sentence with a tickle. Behind the additional giggles, Noah could tell see was trying to process everything she had heard.

“Entao (Then), I must tell Mama and Papi – I do not think they know I have medicine inside me.” The two adults shared a smile, equally under Elisa’s unique spell.

“That’s a wonderful idea, ninha,” Noah responded. Her parents already knew, but he wouldn’t dare to deny her this moment.

“Okay, I go tell them now,” she said giving Grace’s forehead one final dab. “I tell them and come back soon.”

“I’ll be waiting for you, pajarita.” Grace cupped Elisa’s chin and gave her nose a playful tap before she disappeared.

Noah took Elisa’s spot at the side of the small bed, and nothing was spoken for a brief spell – it really didn’t need to be. Grace took Noah’s hand and brushed it with a kiss. She broke contact for a second,

re-establishing it to run her hand along his arm.

“I miss you.”

“I know, amor – it won’t be long now.“ He thought a moment and spoke again. “Okay, scoot over.”

“That way,” he directed, pointing away from him. Shedding his shirt and shoes, he eased onto the bed beside her, spooning her close against him. Grace sighed contentedly and closed her eyes.

“When I get out of this bed….” she whispered before she drifted off.

It was so good…blissful… to be outside. Four walls and no escape had weighed on Grace so much. This was a taste of…freedom. The night was balmy but not entirely breathless – a breeze blew a stray lock of honey-blonde hair across her face to announce itself. A full moon loomed so large it hardly seemed real, and bathed everything in silver. She walked, not knowing or caring where she was going, her bare feet not really feeling the ground but just sensing it beneath them. She was simply glad to be out in the night and alive…and in love. She wished above all that she were sharing this with Noah – but not quite yet, her mind whispered. Like the sunrise her first morning, this moment felt like it was just for her alone .She walked still a little further and…

Shift…

She was in another part of the camp now, closer to the river, which here was calm, shallow and sheltered like a private lagoon. It was nearly impossible to believe this too was the mighty Amazon, but it was. Here the moon made the water a bright mirror. A mad urge to laugh bubbled within her, making her feel almost childlike in the face of such splendor. She ran to the river’s edge and peered in. Was that herself gazing back? No, surely not…it certainly looked like her, but this was a water nymph in gauzy white, her blowing gently about her face in loose waves, as if carried on the water. She was beautiful. And she had to be a part of it all, to melt for a moment into this liquid mirror. She waded in and let the water caress her feet, knees, hips…and then her waist, breasts, shoulders…

Shift…

She felt as Venus as she rose from the water, pure and powerful. She knew her gown had become even more sheer and clung unashamedly to her body, but she felt not one bit self-conscious – quite the opposite. She wrapped her arms around herself – there was a stirring…a presence…and then another pair of arms wrapped around hers. She knew these arms. Not even needing to look behind her, she freed one hand to caress his cheek while she tilted her head back to allow a hungry kiss. Such unimaginable sweetness. Not enough. Not nearly enough. His hands…oh god…they traveled paths that were so secret…they knew…they commanded and immobilized.. Nononono…wait, not yet, she thought, turning in the blessed circle of his arms. Her hands wove themselves into his hair and she raised her face to his and brushed his lips with hers. He moved to capture them, but was denied. She smiled and placed her hand flat against his chest, drawing back for just an instant. This was not Noah the man she stood before but Noah the god. His eyes blazed, fiery black diamonds, and droplets shimmered on his skin like mercury. She traced one of them lovingly as it traveled from his shoulder slowly down his chest, over his abdomen, until it finally disappeared beneath the waist of his drawstring pants, which were made of the same white fabric as her gown. It fueled a flame deep within her to look into the depths of his eyes while she felt the muscles contract under her fingertips one by one. Only then did she seek his lips again…she would not deny him this time. No, it was time to surrender. Her hands ran feather light along his waist as his glided insistently over her shoulders, and white gauzy fabric fell to the ground beneath both of them.

Grace felt a warm prickling sensation on her closed eyelids. No, wait, I don’t want to leave, let me stay just a little while longer, she thought as the sun brought her back to consciousness. The sun?, she suddenly wondered, did I sleep that long? She lay with her eyes closed, letting energy return bit by bit, and a slight breeze cooled her at it evaporated a veneer of sweat that drenched her body.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” said a distinctly British voice. Grace chuckled, still not opening her eyes quite yet.

“Hi Paul.” She turned carefully onto her side to see him. “How did you get this duty?”

“I wanted to check up on you. We have to see if that vaccine works, after all.” He shifted his glance to indicate her IV and the new medication that ran through it. Grace was stunned.

“Already?”

“Already.” Paul smiled. “How do you feel?”

“Not my strongest, but ok. I’m more that glowing here…more like soaked.”

“Really…let me see,” he said putting a hand to her forehead. It was moist, but definitely cool. “Grace, I think your fever’s broken.” He reached for the electronic thermometer and brought it to her ear. With the press of a button he had an answer. “Ninety-nine point 7 – you’re almost there. ”

“Bravo, vaccine!” exclaimed Grace. A moment later, she scanned the room expectantly and Paul answered her before she asked the question out loud.

“He’ll be back any time now, he went to collect someone.”

“Oh, you mean Chayo or Elisa?”

“No, he means me,” answered Sami Castillo,

Samuel Castillo was a fairly imposing figure, standing even a little taller than Noah, who came in behind him. But his manner was quiet and focused – not in the least intimidating unless he needed to be. He smiled gently at Grace as he stood there, but she could see that something disturbed him, bringing him away from Manaus.

“Sami, it’s so good to see you, but you should be recovering – what are you doing here?”

“I’m alright, colega, don’t worry. And thank God, you’ll be well too.” He looked from one pair of eyes to make sure he had everyone’s attention – green…blue…brown. “But I’ve come here to tell you this was no accident. BPI infected us themselves.”

Silence. Everyone had to deal with shock and disbelief and rage in their own way. Minds raced, trying to understand…

“The inoculations…they give us malditas inoculaciones before we leave...” Grace fumed.

Castillo nodded. “Only they gave mine a little too soon, and not a strong enough amount. I got sick too soon and recovered quickly.”

“So they moved to me, and they weren’t going to make the same mistake…but why?”

“You said it yourself – a walking, talking motivation to find the answers, and fast. They couldn’t wait.” This from a third voice, low and menacing. Noah seethed, not able to fathom how people’s lives could be jeopardized and played with this way. How they could almost take the woman he knew he loved away from him. Grace watched him and knew that fury – she felt it as well. She held his eyes and saw the need to strike back, but she had been in Manaus and knew what they were dealing with better than he.

“No, querido…we’re too close to this and not thinking straight.. They are ruthless, and have resources you can’t imagine. We need to plan, to prepare…”

“And meanwhile they get away with this? No!”

“Yes they do, for the moment,” interjected Castillo. “She is right, Noah, we have only scratched the surface of what they are capable of, and we must do this right.”

“Sami, I damn well want a shot at them and I’m going to Manaus.”

“Noah, please – I feel the same as you and I’d love nothing more than to hit them where it counts. But this will turn plenty dangerous if you go in some furious haze…stay with me.” entreated Grace.

Paul spoke, his words firm and tinged with absolute finality. “I’ll go. Castillo and I will make sure they pay for what they did, and you are going are going to stay here with Grace. No questions, no arguments.”

Noah stared at his colleague for an instant. “That’s fine, because I only have one question: why?”

“Why? It’s so obvious…can’t you see?” He shifted his gaze to Grace. “Are you going to answer this or should I do it for you?”

“Well one of you tell me…” Noah looked expectantly from Paul to Grace.

“Because I love you.”

For an instant the world went a little hazy. He swallowed – please tell me she said what I think she said.

“Gold, so help me if you make me say it again…”

Noah did not take his dark eyes away from Grace. “Paul, go ahead and pack…I’m not going anywhere right now.” A tear slid down Grace’s beaming face.

“Too bloody right you’re not.” Paul affirmed quietly. Castillo shook his head and chuckled.

*******

One week later…

It was a precious day away from the lab, and a gorgeous one at that. No breaking news was expected – back in Manaus the two men had gathered a few loyal supporters, and were slowly but inexorably gathering evidence to present against BPI.

Grace sat on the riverbank, watching the glassy water reflect the blues, greens and whites of the daytime sky and trees. She leaned back on her forearms and took a deep breath…so this is what they call a feeling of well-being, she thought. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back so the sun could warm her face. It seemed like she hadn’t that sensation in ages. She heard a slight rustle, and sensed a shadow fall over her.

“My shade and shelter, ” she smiled.

“Any time, Torres,” replied Noah, settling in behind her so she could lean back against him. Being so close after days apart made them both ache.

“I dreamt of this spot a week ago. I can’t believe it actually exists.”

“It is beautiful.”

“If feels like it’s just for us.”

“With most everybody on their day off, it pretty much is.”

Grace shifted position, tucking her legs under her and facing him. “You think so?” she said. She smiled and a wicked glint flashed in her green eyes. Noah saw and opened his mouth to respond, but Grace stopped him by leaning forward with a kiss. Its urgency and need nearly overwhelmed him, but he empathized and returned it in kind.

“Oh it was that kind of dream.”

“Mmm hmmm…” Grace agreed, kissing him again. Her fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt, caressing the satiny warm skin underneath.

“My, aren’t we feeling better…,” Noah laughed.

“Yep,” she replied, easing the shirt from his shoulders. “I’m out of that bed, I’ve got my strength back…and if I’m not mistaken, you’ve got some payback due, Gold…”