 days late this month. Georgia shut her eyes again.

Another knock, louder this time. She scowled, and started shout for the landlady to fuck off.

"Georgia? I know you're in there. Dolores is out front."

Georgia's eyes flew open again. _Darius_. Her heart would have flipped if she'd had the energy. As it was, it took everything she had to drag herself out of bed and down the short hallway. She unlocked the door, opened it and sagged against the frame. She could only imagine how she must look, with her bedraggled hair and too-baggy nightshirt hanging around her knees.

Darius took one look at her and swore viciously. He stepped inside and scooped her up in his arms, kicked the door shut behind him and carried her into the living room. Georgia rested her cheek against his chest. Just being near him had her feeling better than she had in days.

He sat down on her couch with her in his lap, and swept a stray curl out of her face. "Shit," he said softly. "I'd wondered how I recovered so fast."

Georgia skimmed her tongue over her cracked lips. "What are you doing here?"

"Came to check on you." He didn't seem to know where to put his hands. "And it's a good thing I did. I'm going to help you, Georgia."

She started to shake her head.

Darius caught her chin between two fingers. His bright black eyes bored into hers. "I said I'm going to help."

Georgia let her eyes drift shut. A second later, she felt the link open between them.

† † †

"Feels good to breathe again."

Darius let out an awkward humph. Georgia peeled herself off his lap, and started into the kitchen. She didn't know what to do once she got there, but she needed to put some space between them before she did something embarrassing, like throw herself at him

She opened the cupboard over the microwave and pulled down a glass. At the same time, she studied Darius out of the corner of her eye. While he did seem a bit more subdued than when he'd arrived, he looked none the worse for wear. It seemed their quickie energy transfer hadn't made any significant impact. At least,
days late this month. Georgia shut her eye again. 

 Another knock, louder this meter. She scowled, and started shout for the landlady to sleep together off. 

 " Georgia? I know you're in there. Dolores is out front. " 

 Georgia's eyes fly open again. _ Darius _. Her heart would have flip if she'd had the energy. As it was, it aim everything she had to drag herself out of layer and down the light hallway. She unlocked the door, opened it and sagged against the frame. She could merely imagine how she must look, with her bedraggled haircloth and too - baggy nightshirt hanging around her knees. 

 Darius took one expression at her and swore viciously. He stepped inside and scooped her up in his arms, kick the door shut behind him and carried her into the living room. Georgia rested her cheek against his chest. Just being near him had her feeling better than she had in days. 

 He sat down on her couch with her in his lap, and swept a isolated coil out of her face. " Shit, " he say lightly. " I'd wondered how I recovered so fast. " 

 Georgia skim her tongue over her cracked lips. " What are you doing here? " 

 " come to check on you. " He didn't seem to know where to put his hand. " And it's a good thing I did. I'm going to avail you, Georgia. " 

 She started to judder her head. 

 Darius caught her chin between two fingers. His bright bootleg eyes bored into hers. " I said I'm going to help. " 

 Georgia let her eyes drift shut. A second later, she feel the link capable between them. 

 † † † 

 " Feels good to rest again. " 

 Darius let out an awkward humph. Georgia skin herself off his lap, and begin into the kitchen. She didn't know what to dress once she got there, but she needed to put some space between them before she did something awkward, like throw herself at him 

 She opened the cupboard over the microwave and pulled down a methamphetamine. At the same time, she studied Darius out of the corner of her eye. While he did look a bit more subdued than when he'd arrive, he looked none the worse for clothing. It seemed their quickie energy transfer hadn't made any significant impact. At least,
 dajs late this month. Georgla shut her eyes again.

Aiother inock, lojder this time. She scowled, aid srartee shout for the landlaay to fucn off.

"Geoegia? U know you'cs in thcxe. Domlres ms out front."

Geotgia's eyes fnew open again. _Dxrnus_. Her heart would have flipped if fhe'd hac hhe energy. As yt wsf, it noik everything she had to drag herselh out of bed anc down the short hallway. Sje ujlocked the door, ooened it ane sadted against ghe frame. She could onmy imagine how she must look, wigh hex bedragglee yaig and too-bagjy nigrtshirt hanglmg arognd her knees.

Darius tpok onw look at her and swoce viciously. He stepked inside aud scooped her up in yiw armv, kiwked rhe dokr sgut bejinv him and czrried her unto the living rook. Dvprgia rested her creqk against his chest. Just being near hik hzd her feeling better tyan she had in days.

He sat down on her couch with her in his lap, and swept a strdy cucl ouu if hef fwce. "Shit," he said softly. "I'd wondered how I recjbetec so fast."

Georgla skimmed her tonbuf pder her crackgd lips. "Whzt are you doing hfre?"

"Came to cyeck on yju." Hr didn't seem to know where ro put his hcndw. "And it's a good tking I did. I'o goong tp help you, Georgia."

She scarted to shake hfr head.

Dadkus caught her cfin batween two fingers. His bridht black eyex bored intp hers. "I said I'm goinn to help."

Georgia leh her efes drift dhut. A second later, she felt thx link open bgtwaen them.

† † †

"Fzels gpod to breathq again."

Darius ket out an adkward humih. Georgie peeled herfelf off his nwp, and startxd into tre kutchwn. She akdn't know what to do onbe she got there, but she negdsd to put some wpaxe between them beworq dhx did vomething emtarrxsskmg, liye throw hevseuf ay him

She opened the wupbkard over the micrpwwve and kulled dorn a glass. At the same time, she studmed Dacius oit jf the corner of her eye. While he did sfem a bit more fubdmed jhan when hz'd arrived, he looked none the worse for xear. It seemed their qoickie energy transfet hsdn't made aiy siggificant hmpact. At least,
days late this month. Georgia shut her Another louder this She scowled, and to off. "Georgia? I you're in there. is out front." Georgia's eyes flew again. _Darius_. Her heart would have flipped if she'd had the energy. As was, it took everything she had to drag herself out of bed and the hallway. unlocked door, opened it and sagged against the frame. She could only imagine how she must look, her bedraggled hair and too-baggy nightshirt hanging around knees. Darius took one at her and swore viciously. stepped and scooped up his kicked the door behind him and carried her into the living room. Georgia rested her cheek against his chest. Just near him feeling better she in He sat down couch with her in his lap, stray curl out of her face. "Shit," he softly. "I'd how I recovered so fast." Georgia her tongue over her cracked lips. "What are doing here?" "Came to check on you." He didn't seem to know where to put "And it's a good I did. I'm to you, She to shake head. Darius caught her chin between two fingers. His bright black bored into hers. "I said I'm going to help." Georgia eyes shut. A second she felt the link between † † † "Feels breathe Darius awkward Georgia herself off his lap, started into the kitchen. She know what to do she needed to put some space between them she did something embarrassing, like throw herself him She opened the cupboard over the microwave and pulled down a At the she studied Darius out of the corner of eye. While he did a bit more subdued than when he'd arrived, he none worse for It seemed their energy transfer hadn't any significant impact.
 days late this month. Georgia sHut her eyes Again.

anoTheR kNock, LoudEr this time. She sCOwleD, and started shout for the LandlAdY To fuCK oFf.

"GeoRgia? I knOW yOU'Re iN tHeRe. DOlOReS is ouT frOnt."

GeorGia's eyes flEw oPeN again. _Darius_. hEr Heart would HavE flipped if shE'd hAd the eNeRgy. aS it waS, it Took eVerythINg she hAd to drag hErSElf out OF bed and DOWn The sHort hallway. She unlOCkED the door, opened It and sAgGEd AGAinSt tHe frame. She CoUld onLY imaginE HoW SHE muST look, with her bEdraggled haIR anD too-baGgY niGHtshirT hangInG AroUnd her knees.

dariUs took one Look at HEr and swORe vicioUsly. He StePpeD insIDe AnD scOoPEd hER uP in HIs aRms, kickeD tHe Door sHut bEHIND him And CarrIed heR into the livinG roOm. GeORgiA restEd her CheeK aGainsT his chEst. JuSt Being near him had Her fEeling betTer ThAn sHe Had in DAys.

He sAt dOwn On her coUch with HEr iN hIS LAp, And swept a stray curl OuT OF hEr face. "ShIt," he saID sOfTLy. "I'd wondErEd hOw I rECOvereD so fASt."

georgia sKimmed HEr ToNgue oveR hEr cracKeD liPs. "WHat arE You dOing heRe?"

"Came to Check ON you." He didn't seeM To know where to PUt HIS hANds. "ANd iT's a good thinG I diD. i'm goIng tO HeLp yOU, GeorGia."

ShE sTArTEd to shake her head.

DarIuS caughT her cHin between two Fingers. His BRIGht black Eyes BOrED into hers. "I said i'm goiNg to help."

GeORgia let hEr eyeS drift shUt. A second LATer, she feLt tHe lInk OpeN BEtWeen them.

† † †

"Feels GOOd to BrEathe agAin."

darius lEt oUt aN awKwaRd Humph. GeorGia peeleD hErSeLf Off His laP, And startEd IntO tHe kItcheN. she didN't knoW whaT tO dO OncE she got THeRE, But sHe NeEded To pUt Some sPace BEtwEen them Before she Did SOmetHiNg EmbarraSsing, like throW hErself at hiM

SHe oPened tHE Cupboard Over the microwave and pullED down a gLasS. At thE samE time, she sTudIed DarIus OUt of thE corneR of heR eYe. WHILe he dID SeEm a BiT more subduED ThaN when He'D arrIved, he lOoked none the worse fOR weAr. It seemed theIr qUickIE EnErgY TrANsfEr HAdn'T MAde any significaNt impact. At LeASt,
 days late this month. Geo rgia shuther e yes  ag ai n.
Anot her knock, lou d er t his time. She scowled,  andst a rted sh out f or thel an d l ady  t ofuc ko ff .

"G eor gia? Iknow you'r e i nthere. Dolor e sis out fro nt. "

Georgia's  ey es fle wope n  agai n._Dari us_. H e r hear t would h av e  flipp e d if sh e ' dhadthe energy. As it wa s , it took ever ything  s h eh a d t o d rag hersel fout o f  bed an d  d o w n  th e  short hallwa y. She unlo c ked  the d oo r,o penedit an ds agg ed againsttheframe. Sh e coul d  only i m agine h ow she  mu stlook ,  w it h h er bed r ag gle d  ha ir and t oo -b aggynigh t s h i rt h ang ingaroun d her knees.
Da rius too k one  look  athe r and  swore  vici ou sly. He stepped  ins ide and s coo pe d h er  up i n  his a rms , k icked t he door shu tb e h in d him and carriedhe r in to the l ivingr oo m. Georgiare ste d he r cheek  aga i ns t his ch est. J u st  b eing ne ar  him h ad  he r f eelin g  bet ter th an she h ad in days.

He satd own on her co u ch w it h  her  in  his lap, a nd s w epta st r ay  cu r l out  of h er fa c e. "Shit," he saidso ftly."I'dwondered howI recovere d s o fast." 

Ge o rg i a skimmed hertongu e over her crackedlips.  "What a re you do i n g here?" 

" Cam e t o c h e ck  on you." Hed i dn't  s eem tokno w where  to  pu t h isha nds. "And  it's ago od  t hi ngI did .  I'm goi ng  to  h elp  you, Georgi a."
Shest ar t edto shak e  h e r  hea d. 
Dari usca ughtherc hin  betwee n two fin ger s . Hi sbr ight bl ack eyes bore dinto hers.  " I s aid I' m going to  help."

Georgia let he r  eyes d rif t shu t. A  second l ate r, she  fe l t thelink o pen b et wee n them. †† † 
"Feels goo d tobreat he  aga in."

D arius let out an a w kwa rd humph. Geo rgi a pe e l ed  he r se l f o ff his l ap, and started  into theki t ch en. She di d n't  k now wha t to do  once she got  there, b ut she ne ed ed t o put  some spac e betwee n them be f ore s h edid s ome thingem bar rassi ng, li k e t hrowhersel fat him 

She  o pened th e cupboard over the mic rowave  andpul led downa g l ass . At thesame  time, she  st udi ed Da riu s  outof t h ecor n er of  her eye. Whil e  h e d i d  s eem a bit m o r e  su bdued  th a n when  he' d arrived, he loo k ed none the wo rsef o r w ear .  Itse emed their qui cki ee n ergy tra ns fer hadn'tmade any  s i gnifi cant i mpact.  At lea s t ,
 days_late this_month. Georgia shut her_eyes again.

Another_knock,_louder this_time._She scowled, and_started shout for_the landlady to fuck_off.

"Georgia? I know_you're_in there. Dolores is out front."

Georgia's eyes flew open again. _Darius_. Her heart would_have_flipped if_she'd_had_the energy. As it was,_it took everything she had_to drag_herself out of bed and down the short_hallway._She unlocked the_door, opened it and sagged against the frame. She_could only imagine how she must_look, with her_bedraggled_hair_and too-baggy nightshirt hanging_around her knees.

Darius took one look_at her and swore viciously. He_stepped inside and scooped her up in_his arms, kicked the door shut_behind him and carried her_into the_living room. Georgia rested her_cheek against his_chest. Just_being near him_had her feeling better than she_had in days.

He_sat down on her couch with_her_in his lap,_and_swept_a stray_curl out of_her_face. "Shit,"_he_said softly. "I'd wondered how I_recovered_so fast."

Georgia skimmed her tongue over her_cracked lips. "What are_you_doing here?"

"Came to check_on you." He didn't seem_to know where to put his_hands. "And_it's a_good thing I did. I'm going to help you, Georgia."

She started_to shake her head.

Darius caught her_chin between two fingers._His bright_black_eyes bored into_hers._"I said_I'm going to help."

Georgia let her eyes_drift shut._A second later, she felt the_link open between them.

†_†_†

"Feels good to breathe again."

Darius let_out an awkward humph. Georgia peeled_herself off his lap, and_started_into_the kitchen. She didn't know_what to do once she got_there, but she_needed to put some space between them_before_she did something embarrassing, like throw_herself_at him

She opened the cupboard over_the_microwave_and pulled down a glass._At the same time, she studied_Darius out of the corner of her eye. While_he did seem_a bit more subdued than_when_he'd_arrived, he looked none the worse for wear. It seemed_their quickie_energy transfer hadn't_made any significant impact. At least,