The woman had a way of making all his demons hide.  She<span style="font-style: italic">could</span>be terrifying when she wanted to, but she didn't need to scare him into anything.  Her warm embrace was enough to bring him into a bizarre sort of calm.  He took a deep breath and let it sail out of him along with his misgivings.  Setting the glass on the counter, Blake put his hands over hers and held them tightly.  He couldn't explain it to her if he wanted to.  He'd already gone to therapy, he was doing better.  He<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>better now, wasn't he?  So why did he act that way?<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Dunno what happened,"</span>he said,<span style="color: #FF8000">"Maybe I should talk to Dr. Callan again.  Maybe they aren't working."</span>He knew she would understand what he meant.  A month before the move, his doctor prescribed him a new medication, because he believed Blake had less severe circumstances than he'd originally thought.  Years ago, before they discovered it was schizophrenia, he was arrested for stealing a commercial semi full of thongs and other undergarments, and driving it across three territories before abandoning it in the middle of Las Vegas.  All because he believed he was being threatened to do so.<br/><br/>He thought the counseling and medications were enough.  He'd gotten good about it.  He could identify an episode and stop himself, but they had not occurred in months.  Why now?  Was he stressed?  He didn't want to scare Cassandra.  His life in the last year had gotten so beautifully normal, and he was ready to be the husband she always wanted.  He cracked a smile and twisted round in her arms to face her.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"It'll be fine.  I'll take care of it,"</span>he said, kissing her forehead.<span style="color: #FF8000">"Promise."</span><br/><br/>The second moving truck pulled up in front of the house, its rumbling engine winding down like a lion's purr as it stopped in the driveway.  He peered outside the blinders in the kitchen, then back to Cassandra.<span style="color: #FF8000">"I'll handle them.  Go get some kips."</span>