CHAPTER 6

Silver Moon was fast asleep when Ashwin left for work the next morning, and for that he was grateful as he replayed her catty actions and their disastrous conversation in his head. He wasn't normally mean-spirited, but she had pushed him to his limit by acting so out of character. The Silver Moon he used to know would have never done what she'd done last night, nor would she have waited ten years to inform him that he had a child. He sighed and shook his head in an effort to clear it of his troubled thoughts, and after grabbing a much-needed cup of coffee from the hospital cafeteria, he felt well-prepared to face the challenges his day would likely bring. By the time his shift was over, he was more than ready to go upstairs and see Kasey. As usual, the nurse allowed him through the huge double doors into the psychiatric ward, but the sight of Dr. Hall standing at the foot of Kasey's bed was cause for concern as he casually walked into the room. “Good evening, Dr. Hall. How is Kasey doing?”

“Much better, actually. Her vitals are stable, and her pupils are responsive to light. It's safe to say she's simply sleeping now.”

Ashwin's heart jumped into his throat as he hesitantly inquired, “Are you saying that she's out of her catatonic state?”

Dr. Hall sighed. “That's a tough call to make, Dr. Ross, but I would hesitantly—and I mean VERY hesitantly—say yes. She has shown no characteristic symptoms of catatonia all day.”

“Has she opened her eyes?”

“If so, she did it when no one else was in the room with her.”

Ashwin sighed as he glanced down at Kasey's pale but otherwise peaceful face. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing deeply and evenly, as if she were simply sleeping. He sat down in the chair beside the bed and continued to gaze at her as Dr. Hall said, “I'll perform another EEG tomorrow and let you know what the results are.”

Ashwin nodded, not taking his eyes from Kasey's face as he wondered if what the owl had instructed him to do had actually worked. If so—and he had no reason to doubt the creature, as he had trusted its knowledge, wisdom, and advice for the past twenty-two years—then he knew what he had to do next. He kept his intentions a secret from Dr. Hall, though, who would more than likely scoff at his plan since it wasn't considered part of a “normal” medical procedure. He sighed and propped his chin on his palm, although a small smile danced at the corners of his mouth. Such was the life of a Shaman in the twenty-first century.

“Go away,” Kasey grumbled when Ashwin gently shook her shoulder in an attempt to wake her up. Ashwin simply laughed at her response, and in an amused voice he gently inquired, “Why?”

Kasey opened one eye and squinted up at him. “Because I'm sleeping, that's why.”

“How long have you been here?”

“I dunno. Long enough to fall asleep on my rock.”

Ashwin laughed again and teased, “Your rock, huh?”

“Do you see anyone else sleeping on it?”

“Well, no, but--”

“Then it's my rock. Go away.”

“No.”

“But I'm tired, Ashwin. So tired.”

“Why are you tired, sweetheart?”

“I don't know. All I know is, I want to stay on my nice warm rock and sleep. For a long time.”

“Don't you think my bed would be much more comfortable?”

Kasey opened one eye again. “Now you're just teasing me.”

“No, I'm not.”

“You're being a big meanie.”

Ashwin laughed and echoed, “A big meanie, huh? That's a new one on me.”

Kasey sighed and squirmed around on the rock in an attempt to find a comfortable position, but she knew she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep now that Ashwin was here. She slowly sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then glared at Ashwin, who was standing beside her with an amused smile on his face. She sighed and crossed her arms across her chest as she indignantly inquired, “What's so funny?”

“You are.”

“How am I funny?”

Ashwin gave a nonchalant shrug. “I thought you were tired. I thought your rock was all nice and warm and comfortable.”

“It is.”

“So then why aren't you asleep?”

Kasey slowly got off the rock and stood so close to Ashwin that she could feel his body heat. She gazed up into his enigmatic brown eyes and replied, “Because I miss you.”

Ashwin gently pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head as he murmured, “I've missed you too, sweetheart.”

“I want to go home.”

“I thought you liked it here.”

“Well, I do, but--”

“But what?”

Kasey sighed. “That rock hurts my butt.”

Ashwin couldn't help the wild laughter that exploded out of him at her statement, and after wiping tears from his eyes he grew serious again. “You'll be home soon, I promise.”

Kasey sighed as she contemplated what he'd just said. She cocked her head to the side and gazed up at him as she inquired, “Will you rub my butt?”

Ashwin laughed again and said, “I will rub anything you want me to, sweetheart. I thought you already knew that.”

Kasey smiled at his answer, but there was still a trace of sadness in her eyes as she softly inquired, “And why would you be willing to do that?”

Ashwin pinned her with an incredulous look as he replied, “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“I will do that, and anything else you need or want me to do, because I love you, Kasey.”

Tears welled in Kasey's eyes at his tender statement, and in that moment Ashwin partially understood why it had taken Kasey so long to return from the brink. She'd just needed to hear him say it. All things considered, he had no trouble forgiving himself for failing to see that simple fact as he crushed her against his chest and breathed deeply of her soft, silky, sweet-smelling hair.

Ashwin arrived home just in time to see Silver Moon setting the table, and he inwardly groaned when he realized that he was expected to sit down and have a pleasant dinner with this woman as if last night had never happened. Despite the fact that he'd barely eaten all day, he was in no mood for her cooking or any of her questionable ploys to be allowed into his bed. He sighed and wearily placed his keys on the counter, then said, “I'm not really hungry, Silver. I appreciate the effort, but I think I'm just going to shower and call it a night.”

“But Ashwin, I made your favorite!”

Ashwin sighed again as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “Silver, you don't even know what my favorite is anymore.”

A triumphant look crossed Silver Moon's face as she replied, “A thick, juicy rib eye steak cooked to perfection. Medium rare and topped with Portabello mushrooms, just the way you like it. A fresh salad, garlic bread, and your favorite steak sauce and salad dressing on the side.”

Ashwin wearily rubbed his chin as he took in the tempting spread of food before him, but as he glanced across the kitchen, he noticed the bag from Thoroughbred's peeking from the corner of his trash can. Before he could stop himself, he began to laugh heartily, and after a few moments of his deep laughter he said, “That's a good one, Silver. You really had me going there for a minute.”

Silver Moon frowned up at him and inquired, “What are you talking about?”

Ashwin spread his hands in front of him and said, “I know you ordered this from Thoroughbred's. Nice try, but I am definitely not interested.”

“But Ash--”

Ashwin shook his head and said nothing more as he quickly strode toward his bedroom. Moments later he firmly shut and locked the door, then leaned against it and sighed in relief to be away from her. Why on earth had he agreed to let her stay, and how on earth was he going to make her leave without seeming like a total ass? He shook his head and pushed away from the door, then headed straight for the bathroom in the hopes that a long, hot shower would help clear his head. He emerged half an hour later and donned his underwear and pajama bottoms, then climbed into bed and fell fast asleep.