<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">"I'd like to take a formal statement," Val said, careful not to let too much of his satisfaction show.  "And -- if he hurt you -- I'd like to get a medical exam.  I don't know if he was rough enough to leave marks... I wasn't paying that close attention."  His cheeks pinked slightly.  "Once I figured out what he was doing, I backed off until he left."  He hadn't wanted to watch -- but he'd stayed within screaming distance, just in case.<br/>
<br/>
"And... if you're willing... I'd like to relocate you."  He didn't expect that to be so easy.  "Somewhere that Alex won't look for you.  Maybe put you up in a safehouse for a few days."  Val hunched his shoulders to try and seem less imposing.  "If you don't want to go to a safehouse, I can put you up -- I've got the space."</span></span>