The touch.
Just above his heart.
Gentle, almost as the touch of a lover.
A familiarity stirred deep within him and he swore he heard a cry.
Primal.
Raw.
Needing.

She looked at him, silent question filling her eyes but never falling from lips. Alex tried to smile and find the reassuring words.

"You're safe now. They are gone." His voice didn't sound like it normally did. It was heavy and lower, but smooth and soothing and barely heard above the driving rains that came from nowhere.

She felt light, even with his fatigue. A long day of deals, fights and bad blood. Her energizing light had replenished him, but that was fading along with her. Alex's green eyes fell to his bike. His beloved Dyna. He'd ridden in worse storms, but never with a passenger who was unaware. She could easily spill them both. He knew the area, and it wasn't far from his sanctuary. The locals would know by the mural painted on the tank to guard his prized possession. If the demons came back, that would be a different story.

"Taxi!" He called as there just happened to be one passing by. The door pulled open and he placed her inside.

"Hey, I know you." The driver said. "This ride's on the house, I'm goin' home anyway."

"It's a weird request, but I need you to drive her to my place. I'll lead on the bike."

The driver waved his hand at the windshield, as if Alex didn't know he was getting soaked to the bone. "You'll get to lookin' like a drowned rat."

"I'm not leaving my bike here," Alex shoved more cash than necessary toward the other man. His bet on Muggo's loss had made him a nice profit. "Stay close, it's not far." The door was pushed closed, but his hand lingered against the steel, watching her.

Something about her...

Alex pulled the bike in through the large overhead door. Then motioned for the cab to follow him inside. It was a mechanic's shop, and there was more than enough room. Usually the business was a front, but there were a couple of vehicles inside. Favors and cash jobs. The driver rolled down his window as Alex was picking her up as gently as if afraid she would shatter.

"I know it's a weird question, but why not take her to the hospital? Those burns look..." Alex cut him off.

"She's with me, and safe. I've got her."

The cabby bobbed his head nervously. Something about the look in Alex's eyes, there was something there even briefly. "Uh...how much for an oil change sometime soon?"

"Bring 'er by in a couple days. I owe you." Alex said as he hip bumped the door closed. "Go home to your family."

There wasn't another word between them, the driver backed out and the door slid down, sealing the garage from the outside and allowing nothing more but the sound of the storm and her breathing.

He carried her to his room. It wasn't typical biker decorated. There were no posters from men's magazines, no flags of anarchy, just a simple, clean, and nicely arranged room.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but my name is Alex. You're safe here. Your hands are burned, and I'm going to use some of The Witch's salve then wrap them. She does good work. I use this stuff if I burn my hand or arm on a hot exhaust pipe." His voice was not loud. Maybe he was talking more for his own assurances, but he felt it needed to be done. "If you happen to wake up and I'm not here, I am not far. There is a living room, just outside of the door and down the small flight." Alex began to massage the salve into her hands. She twitched, but he knew the cooling would come soon. "I'm going to leave this small bedside light on, there's a bathroom to your left, and..." he paused, looking at her, and studying her face. "That's about it."

He stood and watched her. He swiped his hand across his wet jeans and gently took her glasses off to put on the bedside. The hand returned to wipe the smudge of ash from her cheek. "Rest easy."

It was then that he walked away, pausing at the closet for a pair of sweats and a clean tee. He needed a shower, and sleep.