Head sets on. He sat so still he probably wasn't breathing thru it all. Listening. The tapes whirled around the spool collecting the sound. The gages racing with the intensity of the theme as he watched her.<br/><br/>She played her life out in black and white.  Music filling the room in a way he had never heard from a student. The life of it, images burst into his thoughts. Stunning colors, tragedy, chaos, the profound sense of self loss and then that ever humble theme tickling the ear as if that thread had survived.<br/><br/>And perhaps it had.<br/><br/>He removed the head set finally, reluctantly.  When he was very sure she had played her soul completely and all the music had escaped her fingers. When the air held no more phantom tones of her vibrations.<br/><br/>How she had sang for him. The gift she was.<br/><br/>He stood then. Opening the recording room door quietly. He came to her. His arms out and he gathered her against him. Nuzzling her as he cradled her in his arms. The walk to his room thru the living room in silence. The small cot beside his bed for someone deserving. It had been empty until now. Until she played.<br/><br/>His voice deep from his chest, "A nap now."<br/><br/>And brought her to the soft mattress of the cot. He drew the covers over her. Tucking her in bed without bothering to cuff her ankle.<br/><br/>"Your safe here with me. I must make arrangements with Lady Shaw to make this permanent. The front door will be locked. Only I can enter. No need to trouble yourself. I'll let myself back in."<br/><br/>He brushed her hair gently as  he spoke, "Well have toad in the hole tonight when I return. You can help."<br/><br/><br/>"Sleep," He said and then he was gone.<br/><br/>Just as he told her he left. The front door locking soundly behind him.<br/><br/>