#fenixtj

A pause "Again?"

"Not the first time you've gone rogue. Not by a long shot."

"I'm not one of your vassals, Jessica " He reminnds "So how can I go rogue?"

"I told you what my plan was. Instead of working with me, you hared off and did your own thing. Wasting resources and time. And, you know, the whole moral thing."

"If you had told me you intended to interrogate her I wouldn't have. You didn't tell me your plan."

She walks a bit, struggling with something, then stops and looks dead at him. "I need a break, Duff.From us."

"I..." He stops "Jessica. I came o apologize but I honestly don't recall you telling me WHY you wanted her spared. I.."

"Should I have to tell you?"

"I can't do this right now. Ican't be your lover -and- run this place."

"Jessica.. you want a break from us. But sometimes, with you in my arms, you're still not with me. You need a break? Was it EVER ..." A deep breath, "Fine. this is not how I wanted to spend the day before Beltaine.... I apologized, but you're under no obligation to forgive me. But Jessica? I think sometimes you use Duty to drive me away.. no, not just me. You hold every possible chance at love back behind Duty. It's the only time I see your courage fail"

Her eyes darken but she says politely, "Thank you for the insight."

"You don't mean that" He observes, "Or at least... you mean more than just that" A sigh "I love you, Ocean Eyes. I hope the break is short lived... I'll be fine. But I will miss those moments when the barrier was down, when you sighed happily and openly at my touch, and how we'd talk openly about our days and our dreams. I hope they're not gone for ever. You know where to find me." And he walks off

Jessica watches him a moment, grim, and cotinues on patrol.

And all over the county, the light seems just a bit dimmer, annd it starts to rain

(End Scene)