unavailable. Nevertheless, at the moment there was nothing she could do. 'I copy that.'
Blair reached for Cameron's arm, gripping her with surprising strength. 'I don't want to go to a hospital. The media will be all over this. My father is in Southeast Asia, and there's no need for him to be disturbed.'
Cameron had no intention of arguing with Blair. Even now, her team was taking the suspect downhill to the lodge. She would question him herself as soon as Blair was taken care of. She had to approach this as if it were an attempt on Blair's life. Because that was all she could assume it was. The time for respecting Blair's wishes was past. This was not something she could compromise about.
Blair watched Cameron's jaw tighten, and she knew there was no room for negotiation. 'At least let me call him and tell him I'm all right, before this is all over the news.'
Cameron nodded. 'Of course.'
**********
Six hours later, Cameron nodded to the agent seated outside Blair Powell's hospital room and gently pushed the door open. She stood for a moment, trying to ascertain in the dim light if Blair were awake.
'Come in.'
Cameron approached the bed, and stood looking down at Blair's pale face. 'Did I wake you?'
'No. I was just lying here plotting my escape.'
Cam laughed with just a hint of sarcasm. 'Why is it that I believe you?'
A faint smile flickered across Blair's full lips. For an instant, her eyes sparkled with a youthful joy that had not been present for many years. 'Perhaps because you're starting to learn my tricks.'
Cameron edged the chair close to the side of the bed and sat, leaning forward so that Blair could see her. Softly she said, 'I doubt very much that I will ever recognize all of your tricks.'
'You might,' Blair whispered, 'if you gave me the chance to teach you.'
It was Cameron's turn to smile. She chose to ignore the remark, instinctively sensing Blair's vulnerability, and recognizing that this was not a time for them to struggle. She stared at Blair's hand, lying motionless on the thin hospital-issue covers. She remembered the grace with which that same hand had moved across the sketch pad, capturing her own likeness with startling perceptiveness. No one since her mother had been able to portray her so accurately. Without meaning to, Cameron gently covered Blair's slender fingers with her own. She had meant to reassure her, and found herself reassured instead.
For a brief moment on the mountainside, she had thought that Blair was injured. Her choking fear was much more than just her concern for the person she guarded. She could not bear the thought of Blair being harmed, and she dared not examine too closely the reasons why.
Cameron cleared her throat, trying to ignore the sudden tingling in her fingers as Blair intertwined her fingers with Cam's. 'Your assailant was a 16 your old boy who decided he was going to ski downhill through the trees from an adjoining trail. He wasn't even supposed to be there, but somehow no one was watching that particular part of the course. He had no idea who you were, and in fact I still don't think he does.'
'So I'm safe for the moment?' Blair asked with just a hint of bitterness.
Cam nodded. 'We've managed to keep this very low profile, and I don't think there's going to be much publication about it in the media.'
Blair sighed gratefully. 'Thank you. I want to get out of here this afternoon and go back to the lodge.'
'Why does that not surprise me either?' Cam said with resignation. 'I've taken the liberty of checking with your physicians, and they told me that if your headache is okay, they'd be willing to discharge you.'
'Good. I feel like I'm in a fish bowl in here.'
Cameron stood, resisting the urge to brush the errant strands of blond hair off Blair's cheek. 'I'll see to the arrangements.'
Cameron was almost to the door before Blair spoke. 'Thank you for protecting me this afternoon,' she said softly. She still felt the unexpected comfort of Cameron's embrace as she had lain in Cam's arms in the snow.
Cameron gripped the handle so hard her fingers ached. For a brief moment, she felt again the sheer terror she had experienced as she watched Blair fall. She could not afford to feel that for her. She could not afford to feel anything for her. In a tone harsher than she intended, she said sharply, 'I was only doing in my job, Ms. Powell.'
Then she was gone, and Blair was alone once more.
'How's your head?' Cam asked as she slipped into the seat next to Blair.
'I'll live,' Blair responded, strangely subdued. In fact, the slightest vertical movement of the aircraft produced a wave of nausea that threatened to overpower her considerable self-control. Fortunately, the skies were clear and the jet streaked toward New York City with very little turbulence. Otherwise, she was very much afraid she would embarrass herself.
It didn't escape Cam's notice that Blair's face was chalk white, and her normally crystal clear blue eyes clouded with pain. Cam inclined her head closer, although the other agents and Diane were 10 rows further
