Rinn sat at a table with Jan to keep distracted. All her thoughts fell to Ian. That wasn't uncommon but this feeling of longing was. She wanted to be by his side, now more than ever.

Till now, everything between her and Ian'd been...complicated. Maybe it was being around each other daily but now with him out of sight, she'd do anything to avoid thinking about the pit in her stomach. Even watch Harris fumble around in the distance only to spill Val's drink on her.

Jan was the first to snort out a laugh. "This is brutal."

"I didn't want to say anything..." Rinn admitted. "But...it's kinda cute, too. Isn't it?"

When Harris hurried to find a napkin to clean up the table, he made the mistake of bringing it to Val's chest. She raised an eyebrow at him and he froze.

The chaos after that was cringeworthy.

"Christ," Rinn marveled.

Jan was nearly in tears. "Oh man. I'm gonna have to train him."

Rinn watched on in sick fascination. "You know, one would never believe this guy's got any coordination. Poor Val."

"Poor Val my ass. Poor me. I've gotta work with that lovesick moron."

"Lovesick?" Rinn waited then smiled at the shrug. "Good to know."

Val had to stand when the food fell on her in Harris's valiant effort to correct his mistakes.

She towered over him—hell, she towered over Rinn who was already considered a giant by many. Rinn loved Ian for being taller than her, but Harris and Val were something else.

"How you figure that goes down?" Rinn wondered.

Jan leaned in close. "Hmm?" She scrutinized the couple in question and asked, "You mean the height difference? I think it's amazing. Especially how he looks larger than life and then this giant comes and he's all smitten."

Rinn fought back a laugh. Eventually, it happened—her mind went to a strange place. "But the logistics..."

"What logistics? Just lay down and they'll be fine. Besides," Jan muttered, picking up her glass. "It's a common rumor around the division that Val will have no further concerns. Apparently, he's well-equip to climb her summit."

Sitting up in record time, Rinn asked, "What? You've...wait, what?"

Lips to her glass, Jan mumbled, "Everything's co-ed but me look? Not on your life. Because my husband is a darling but he's also lethal. Besides, I'm more than happy with my miserable E beau, thank you."

They both fell silent then snorted out a laugh.

That one aspect of Harris didn't matter. Rinn was even sure it didn't matter to Val. So why did Rinn suddenly feel warm at the thought of them. The way Harris suffered the humiliation of trying to clean off a woman he couldn't touch for morality's sake was...strange.

She felt sorry for them for a moment, but then happy that they at least had one another. Val never complained about the carnage. A time or two, when she peered down at Harris who was frantic in his efforts, she looked at peace.

"What's so funny?"

Jan jumped but Rinn turned to smile wide. "Ian!"

Ian's face looked gray from fatigue but he was standing upright at least, not hunching over.

Rinn waited for a warmer greeting but he said nothing else. Therefore, she stood and shared her good news.

"You won't believe it. You won't believe who I met," she gushed.

Once Ian's right eyebrow rose in anticipation, Rinn announced Harris's name.

She waited, grinning wide.

Ian blinked at her. "What?"

"H—Harris. I said he's here." She extended her arms this time for effect. Nothing. Not even a slight response. When she relaxed, she was more than disappointed. "Aren't you excited?"

For a long minute, Ian only watched her. Finally, he said, "You're screaming like some schoolgirl about some other guy. I'm not co-signing that."

Rinn's heart plummeted.

He didn't have to say it so grimly.

At her silence, he glanced past her to Harris then back again. "Besides, I work with crooks. The name Harris doesn't elicit joy to me. In fact, it threatens my bladder control."

Jan scoffed. "Oh, there's a long line of people like that."

Ian, though not at all his usual cheerful self, did seem more at ease. Rinn tested the waters by teasing, "Don't suppose you've got a diskette I can use to get an autograph?" When Ian's lips tightened into a line, Rinn tugged at her new dress and grinned. "I considered letting him sign my chest, but I don't know if he'd make it that far."

Jan laughed. "He's a Traditionalist, I don't think he'd make it past an ankle!"

Letting out a sigh, Ian said to Jan, "Hey cop. Give us a walk."

Two blue eyes blinked at him from below the blond hair. After a long minute, Jan understood and got to her feet. "Hmp. If I wanted to be someplace I was unwanted, I'd go visit my mother." She gave Rinn a wave. "I see that you also have your own personal madman."

Rinn tried to apologize but the woman left before she had the chance. Her eyes settled on Ian's miserable face again.

"Why'd you do that?" Rinn asked, "It's been ages since I'd had a friend."

Ian stared her down and finished her sentence, "Other than me."

He sounded jealous but that was nothing like him. For a split second, Rinn had trouble reconciling that familiar voice to this unfamiliar persona.

"I'll—I'll get you some grub," Ian said. "Just sit tight. And don't go flashing nobody your tits."

The last line made Rinn smile; it put her at ease.

Five minutes later, a feast rested before her. Ian sounded winded when he sat. A time or two, he clutched his stomach and hunched but counteracted his movements when he saw her watching him.

He eventually unfolded, sitting back as casually as he could manage despite some sort of discomfort.

"Dig in," he said.

Rinn couldn't. It was all sweets, sweets that she'd once loved, but now couldn't bring herself to try.

Their eyes met and she said, "Can we go someplace and talk?"

Ian looked at the table of food between them. "I don't have any good news. So just...just please eat. Let's have that at least."

This meant a lot to him so Rinn focused on the food once more. Finally, she said, "I wish I had something hot to drink."

Not surprising, Ian stood and went in search.

Rinn took the opportunity to rush to Harris who sat, shamefaced, waiting for Val to change and come back.

"I need your help," Rinn told him.

Harris, rubbing his face, looked up at her between his fingers. "Sorry?"

After Rinn led him to her table, she pointed. "This."

For a moment, he said nothing, then he regarded her in confusion. "This is the most expensive set." His voice petered down into a grumble. "I'd know. I just spilled something similar."

He didn't take it seriously but Rinn's pulse quickened. Finally, she said to him, "If I eat any of this, I'm going to die."

The amusement in his eyes said he found a joke but Rinn wasn't smiling.

In time, he asked, "And why do you think I can help you?"

Rinn took a step back. His words confused her, but not for the reasons they should. He'd been right. Everything in her said Harris would be her rescue.

"I...I don't know," she admitted. "I just know you can."

Harris narrowed his eyes at her. "And you know so much about me. I'm not actively doing fights anymore. It's been about five years. Yet you know that, too. Why? Have you seen me fight before?"

A myriad of thoughts rushed at Rinn and she finally settled on one truth. "Yes. I've seen you fight."

Surprise wasn't a word to do the man's expression justice.

"I've seen you fight," Rinn repeated. "It was a private party. You'd just leveled up. And you nearly lost."

This time when Harris watched her it was not in confusion, but rather suspicion.

"I've never lost a fight," he attested.

"No. You didn't lose it. I've said this." Rinn's chest tightened. She fought to make sense of things. "But you've never been out of the Colony, have you?"

Harris affirmed, "Never."

Rinn picked her head up and asked, "Then how come I've seen you fight?"

His hazel eyes scanned her and he opened his mouth to perhaps ask a question of his own but Ian's voice cut him off.

"You lost?"

Harris looked at him then Rinn and said, "Yeah. Maybe." He then walked away.

Ian put the cup down and sat, motioning for Rinn to do the same.

When she lowered herself into her seat, she stared at the table, panicked.

"Ian...?"

Despite their proximity, Ian didn't answer.

Rinn picked her head up and told him, "I think something's wrong with me."

Her fear was genuine but Ian was equally sincere when he said, "Nothing's wrong with you, Rinnie. You've just come out of a deep sleep and you're...you're disoriented."

A tingling sensation came along Rinn's skin. Her heart raced when she asked him, "Then how do you explain this?"

She focused on a group of young men in the distance, moving their hands frantically. When she waved, they slowed in their movements. One waved back. Rinn made several signs to them and within minutes, one put down a second cup of tea before her and walked off.

Ian did nothing to mask his shock when he met her gaze.

"Since when can I do sign language? And a language of a foreign place?" Rinn asked.

His gaze held fear but he tried to play it off. "You're fine. There's a reasonable explanation."

Rinn wanted to trust in those words. "And I shouldn't worry?"

"No."

After letting out a deep breath, she focused on the food and tried to will up some interest in it.

Ian noticed her hesitation. "You don't like it?"

"Hey." Harris returned, a small bowl in his hand. "Can I ask you something weird?"

Ian rose to his feet, towering over him. "Since when does a Traditionalist approach a man's woman directly?"

As impressed as Rinn was with Ian's knowledge of a Colony's culture, she didn't appreciate the bravado.

She reached up to tug Ian back down but told Harris, "Always."

Harris hesitated. Finally, he looked between them and told Rinn, "Say my name one time."

Ian tried to stand again but Rinn held him in place.

The request was strange but what surprised her was that she couldn't honor it. Each attempt she made at saying his name, her throat locked up.

Finally, she managed a, "H—Harris."

His brow furrowed. "One more time," he demanded.

Ian growled, "What the hell is this?"

"H—Harris." Rinn felt proud when the word finally left her.

Instead of relief, Harris regarded her in fear. He was slow to put the bowl down. "Try this. Would that work for you?"

It was a white paste but the bland aroma had Rinn's mouthwatering. "Oh. This is perfect!" She picked up a spoon and within seconds, she polished it off. "Do you have any more?"

Harris nodded slow but told her, "But I don't recommend it too often. It'll mess you up."

A hand grabbed his collar as Ian stood finally. "What'd you just give her?"

Rinn rushed to intercept him. "Ian, please. It's fine."

Harris brushed Ian off. He studied Rinn for a long minute before returning to his table. When he reached Val, now wearing a new dress, he whispered in her ear and nodded back in Rinn's direction.

Ian took note as well. "Let's get you into a private room," he said, taking Rinn by the hand. "Now."