<strong>Outskirts of Briar Rose</strong><br/><br/>Nick was partly thinking about survival, but he was also considering sex.  He'd tended Marie for days when she was all but sleepwalking.  He'd dressed her, fed her and never done more than admire her body.  Now, things were different.  She was alive.  He'd been thinking about survival before, but him and her and a bed... and he was thinking about other things.  He had no business fucking her.  It would be unprotected sex and this world was no place to bring in a child.  Besides, Marie was damaged goods.  If he started fucking her he would never be rid of her.  Besides she was a rape victim.  Rape probably had a good deal to do with what she didn't remember. He had promises to keep.<br/><br/>He had just removed his armor and was in nothing but his underthings when Marie started thrashing and crying.  She wasn't being that loud, but it wasn't normal.  He rushed to the bed, sat down on it and wrapped his arms around her.  "Shhh, shh, whatever it is, it's ok now.  It's ok."<br/><br/>He was aware of the irony.  It wasn't ok.  Nothing would ever be ok ever again.  They were cold camping in a ruined house because they couldn't dare a fire.  However, Marie didn't need the truth.  She needed comforting lies.