"Do you need anything?"
"No. I'll sleep. Eat later." Nikolai pulled the blankets over his shoulder. "Doc, keep her safe for us."
"I'll do my best."
Doc had already packed a duffle bag for the week, and he'd asked Victoria to help the demon pack something for Sofia. Her stuff was already in his truck. He hit the bathroom to clean up and joined the others in the kitchen.
"Hey, Doc. It's supposed to snow again. You know that, right?"
"I looked. Shouldn't be too bad." He grabbed some of the powder he used to make his protein drinks and, not trusting Sofia's parents to have decent tea, threw some of that in his bag as well.
The demon stood. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
He hugged Ed and Allan tightly and gave Ash a quick hug, too. The lesser demon really was trying. "Keep an eye on Nikolai," he ordered Ed and Allan.
"I'll take care of him for you," Allan winked.
Doc cocked an eyebrow and shook his head.
Ed laughed.
Sofia followed Doc out of the house and got in his truck. He fired up the diesel and headed toward the first mountain pass he had to get through before they could swing up into Wyoming and take the interstate down to Sofia's current hometown in Nebraska.
Fortunately, the roads weren't too bad. It hadn't snowed in almost a week, even in the highest peaks, so the first part of the trip went reasonably quickly. They didn't speak. The demon flipped through the radio stations as Doc headed out of the mountains.
The wind kicked up once he hit Wyoming and his first stop for fuel. It was one of the older fuel stops, where the diesel pumps were set up for semis and he had to go pay inside.
When he returned to the truck, Sofia, her eyes now the normal gray with purple highlights from her magic, let herself out of the passenger side and threw herself into his arms.
He crushed her against his chest, inhaling her scent. She smelled like herself again. The demon's sharp petrichor scent still colored it, but she was obviously at least partially back in charge of her body.
"Sofia," he murmured, a few tears pricking at his eyes.
"Almost in the flesh," she replied.
"Well, if you're feeling good enough to joke…" He kissed her, not caring that they might have an audience at the gas station.
She clung, kissing him like she needed his touch more than oxygen, and left him breathless when she finally did come up for air.
Someone cleared their throat. Doc ignored the person filling their truck at the other pump and held the door for Sofia so she could get out of the bitter wind. He filled his truck, keeping alert for trouble. He didn't run across as many issues as he used to for his skin color and long hair, but it still happened now and again.
As soon as the truck was full, he went back inside for his receipt and then they were back on the road. The only thing keeping him from gripping her hand was the wind buffeting the pickup.
"I wish we could have brought everyone." Sofia sounded sad.
Doc glanced at her. "This is going to work."
"Yeah." She frowned. "I'm just glad I get a chance to see the world again."
He clenched his jaw, not about to argue with her at the moment. She had every right to be worried.
"I do not share well." She removed her hand from his arm and grumbled. Clearly, the demon had reasserted control over Sofia's body.
"It's her body."
"I know." Instead of angry, she sounded petulant, and Doc smiled to hear the demon pout, even though it wasn't a laughing matter.
"Kissing humans is weird," she grumbled.
Doc's eyebrows rose. "I see."
"Yes, very strange. Don't do it again."
"My apologies. Sofia wasn't objecting."
"No, and she's positively throwing a tantrum right now." The demon crossed Sofia's arms over her chest.
"And you're not?" Doc had somewhat gotten used to her, but he wanted Sofia back. The mere half hour had not been nearly enough. Maybe this week would be worth it, if he got to spend time with Sofia in the real world.
"Demons don't throw tantrums." Amusement colored her tone, and he could sense Sofia behind some of her words and inflection.
As much as he wanted Sofia back, he hoped they didn't merge too quickly, or they really would lose her for good.
"What is she saying?'
The demon laughed. "That you are an excellent kisser, and I should just get used to it. Oh, now she's embarrassed. Why? I would think it obvious she enjoys kissing you. Humans are very strange."
Doc just shook his head.
∞ ∞ ∞
The demon relinquished control of Sofia when they got near her house. The nine-hour drive was long, but Doc was fairly certain that he was shortly going to wish he were back behind the wheel. It would have been easier in so many ways if either Ed or Allan had been able to come along or go instead.
"This isn't going to be fun," Sofia sighed.
"No. But let's just try to make the best of it. If they ask about your eyes, blame it on a side effect of magic."
"My eyes?"
"They've got some gold in them now from the demon's presence."
"Oh." She sighed, and her shoulders sagged. "Good to know."
"If they ask what I do for a living, I work at the college as an administrator. It's close to the truth."
"What, you don't want me to tell them I'm dating my teacher?" She grinned at him.
"No," he replied emphatically, even though she was teasing him.
"Yeah, me neither."
Being winter, everything was brown, dormant for the season. Snow covered patches of ground, and the gray skies promised more on the way. The weather forecast had steadily been worsening, and Doc wasn't real excited about getting stuck here in a snow storm, but they were starting to talk in feet instead
