Vincent heard her question even as Sheba stayed with her; for the dog now understood Sofie's importance in the house.  Of course, Sheba had no idea the truth of those words, but she would do her duty.  For she was not just trained to help protect, but to comfort as well.  Sometimes Vincent would have to bring home a victim to a terrible crime like rape, and Sheba was trained to make such people feel better...not just keep them safe.  It was almost as important to make sure such people were taken care of emotionally as it was to protect them from harm.  Yet, the question must be answered:  how were they to handle this arrangement?<br/><br/>"As I recall, you work from your laptop.  I will have you set up with the security net here so you can go online, and take care of your job.  This place was wired by the tech department of my unit; so the security software for networks is far more secure than even most of the best services out there.  This should allow you some freedom there without worrying about Rafe being able to hack your system.  The spare room has its own bathroom attached to it, and a double lock on both doors.  As for my own work schedule - it has basically been cleared until Rafe is caught.  The Captain took me off of all the other cases I was on, and had me assigned only to this one now.  So, I am mainly here to protect, and when I am not - I shall be out looking for him.  On those times when I am not here, my partner will be here with Sheba to help protect you.  She is an excellent detective, and she knows her martial arts...not to mention she is almost a better shot than I am.  Her name is Tabitha Reynolds.  The rest...I suppose we shall have learn and adapt together.  The house has an alarm system - just so you know.  I would recommend you not going out without either me or my partner, but if you must...at least take Sheba.  She is registered as a service dog attached to the police department; so she can go anywhere," Vince explained to her...his voice a bit more quiet as he realized the warmth he had been using.<br/><br/>Partly, he was angry at himself for allowing his mental defenses to come down around her, but at the same time...he was just doing his job, and he was good at it...always had been.  In the entire time he had been assigned to protecting witnesses and victims - he had never lost a single one, and each one had gone on to later live decent and almost normal lives.  Still, this was Sofie...not some stranger - though she might as well be.  Whatever friendship they had once was now long gone in the aftermath of his wife's death.  He knew she blamed him for Ana's death, and perhaps she was right.  After all, where had he been when she was being brutally attacked to the point of death?  Where had he been when she was crying out for help?  He, the police officer...the heroic detective, and he had not been there for Ana when she most needed him.  Yes, perhaps Sofie was right to be angry with him.  Wasn't it his fault she wasn't alive now?<br/><br/>Of course, it was just as much Sofie's fault!  She had been the one to marry Rafe.  It had been her unwise choice for such a companion that ended up being cruel and brutal.  He should have been there to protect Ana, but it should never have been necessary to begin with, and that was what made him so angry.  A double-edged fury he could not simply toss aside:  for Sofie...and for himself.<br/><br/>He turned to show Sofie the alarms system even as he punched the code in to secure the house.  Once it was clear she understood how it worked; he turned to enter the living room...motioning her to follow him.  "I'll show you to your room.  The house...well...it is as much your own now as mine," he told her, but for some reason he did not bother to clarify that it was only her house for the moment.  Instead, he didn't bother to qualify such reasoning, but left it at that.  Part of being who he was and what he did was to make sure the victims he brought there felt comfortable.  What better way than to let them know this was home - even if it was a strange place to them.<br/><br/>Vince turned to the spiral staircase on the left, and started up...knowing Sheba would stay with Sofie as he led them to her new room.  The interior of the house was a lot more pleasant than one would have expected from a widowed bachelor.  The living room was arrayed in a pleasant royal blue with white lilies and carnations on the walls for decoration.  Even the carpet was a deep brown to contrast beautifully with the walls, and the furniture matched the room neatly in color scheme and theme.  At the top of the staircase was a single picture of Ana and Vince on their wedding day.  Despite him having just left the military; Vince had been able to wear his dress uniform.  Ana was arrayed all in pure white...radiant as the day he first saw her.  She was so beautiful - the best part of his entire life.  He gulped hard as he came face to face with their wedding picture, and briefly hung his head in sorrow deepest before heading to the left to lead her sister to her room.  He no longer trusted his voice; for a mixture of fury and agony were there waiting under the surface, and unshed tears threatened to destroy his professionalism.<br/><br/>Blinking them back, he opened Sofie's door to show her the new room.  The room was arrayed in gentle green and purple pastels complete with tulips brightly painted on the wall to blend into the scene.  The room was fairly large...containing a queen-sized bed with matching quilt to the wall scheme, a large soft white leather comfy chair, a redwood desk, and a dresser with a vanity mirror.  The bathroom door was attached directly to her room.<br/><br/>"This...this is your's," he indicated quietly...not daring to speak up more for fear his sorrow would be seen - though he doubt he was able to hide it from her.