The celebration for Jahul went off without a hitch. All three teams from Torkel’s Unit and dozens of other teams came to pay homage to a warrior and a soldier among soldiers. Jahul’s legacy was one of courage, honor and love for justice. The Jutak Commander’s speech moved many to watery gazes.

Afterwards alcohol and food were brought out. Stories of Rydak’s Team Leader’s heroism on former missions, those not classified, were shared and remembered fondly. Rydak stayed out well into the night, needing for once to be around others though he maintained his careful physical distance.

Hours later, he drove to the home of the Alonson’s and made his way up the walk. Every breath was a ragged gasp. She needed to know. Rydak had to explain what to expect so as not to alarm her.

He pushed the door sensor. The patter of her feet reached his ears before the door swung open. Lissi wore a short sleeping gown. Tiny creases lined her cheek from sleep. “Rydak!”

“Sorry. Needed to come.”

“Of course. Torkel called. Maman and Papan are staying with friends.”

He tried to nod but wasn’t sure he managed the gesture. With halting steps, Rydak followed Lissi to a room he knew well. They were almost there when another wave of agony washed over him.

“Rydak! What is happening?”

Teeth chattering, he fell against the door frame of her bedroom. “Empathic crash.”

The gasping pronouncement drained Rydak and he dropped to all four on the floor, half-blocking the door to her bedroom and the hall. Tender hands pressed into his shoulders as Lissi squeezed by him and tried futilely to lift him. Rydak wanted to laugh but the edgier bite of pain was fast approaching. Luck alone got him this far. He heaved himself to his feet and determined to help, Lissi looped her arms about his waist.

“Lean on me,” she whispered as she urged him forward toward her bed where messy sheets trailed to the floor.

At the thought of leaning his weight into her slim form, Rydak’s mouth curved upward. He feigned leaning onto her and a warm feeling unfurled in his chest when she patted his hip.

“I have you. Keep going.”

They stumbled, then staggered until his lower leg hit the bed and Rydak collapsed onto the softness face first. The bed depressed as Lissi joined him. She pulled his feet up boots and all.

“Did you touch someone?”

He closed his eyes, grunting in answer.

“That’s alright. I will help you.” She ran her hands lightly over his hair undoing the band and raking his scalp with her nails. To Rydak’s surprise a blanket of darkness fell over his mind, shielding him from the larger portion of pain.

“Just rest, Rydak.”

He snorted and half rolled to his side, one arm snagging Lissi about the waist as he tugged her down beside him. “I need to vent. Like friends.”

A pause, then a curious lilt to her voice. “Go ahead. I will not tell. Your secrets are safe with me.”

He believed her. If Rydak revealed anything confidential about his work with the Jutaks, Lissi would never tell. But that wasn’t what he wanted to share. “Arak is clumsy.”

Lissi giggled. The sound caused him to smile. Sleep beckoned but without the expected hammerlike blows to his head. Lissi brushed a soothing hand over his shirt clad chest.

“My strong Jutak. I will watch over you as you sleep.”

Unable to prepare her for his pain, unable to believe he was so close to sleep, Rydak parted his lips to explain. Then the world went dark.

Rydak woke to Lissi stroking his hair. No pain. Would he ever get used to it? The lack. The total and utter absence of another’s thoughts and emotions while being touched all over his body. That wasn’t all. Rydak hadn’t experienced the debilitating crash which usually came after his empathy reached critical. Lissi’s touch somehow negated that as well. Now he had even more reason to be thankful.

Propped on a forearm and hair falling about his chest, Lissi gazed down at him. The sun from the partially opened window left stripes over her cheeks but her heart shone as bright in her eyes. Then he remembered the news Torkel had delivered and the reason he’d stayed out late celebrating the life of those he loved.

“My nonja is gone.”

She continued to caress his cheek. “I’m so very sorry, Rydak.”

“I don’t deserve you,” he blurted. He’d held her at arms length for some long.

“Of course, you do. Love is not a scale which needs constant adjusting, Rydak. It doesn’t work that way. Some days it will be unbalanced. At other times, it will seem almost level.”

If he could stay like this forever sheltered in her embrace, he’d be happy for the rest of his life. No fear of painful touches, no worries about invasive thoughts. He stroked Lissi’s hair. “You can’t possibly know what it’s like to have the freedom to touch you as I want. In your arms I find peace and I never want to lose the privilege.”

Lissi eyes welled. “Rydak.”

His name came out on a soft sigh. Removing his gloves and setting them on the table behind him, Rydak clasped her right hand in both his and received a jolt at the nothingness that hit his system. He relaxed further and luxuriated in a pleasure many took for granted. Holding hands with the woman he loved.

Being with Lissi strengthened him. He raised her hand and kissed the back of her fingers smiling when the tips curled inward. A flick of his tongue on her scented skin caused goosebumps to prickle her flesh.

“You once vowed your love would hold true. Now I make a promise to you. A promise I will never break.”

***

Lissi waited, forcing herself to remember to breathe. “Yes?”

“When we are as old and gray as my nonja, I will hold you and kiss you with the same passion I feel in this moment, this second. I promise.”

Lissi wiped at the single tear rolling down her cheek. “I love you so much, Rydak.”

“And I am lucky for it.” Rydak cupped her jaw, tipping her face closer to receive his soft kiss. “Very lucky. I will never forget that.”