~ A Damned Lonely Life ~

Macey was still wearing her tattered dress and the coat she'd taken from Alvisi's hideaway.

Weighted with grief and despair, she walked and walked and walked. More passersby, more children, more families, more friends and colleagues and lovers.

These were the people she had sworn to protect.

These were the people of whom she must think...not herself. Not her losses. Not her fears and loneliness.

And that was when she understood what her father had done. Why he'd sent her away. To protect himself as much as to protect her.

Her eyes burned suddenly and she blinked rapidly. If only he were still here...still here, for her to talk to.

Oh, God, she needed someone.

She stopped and looked up. The red and white Tribune sign rose above her, and she blocked the sid couldn't make herself move. How had she ended up here? In all of Chicago, after all the blocks...why here?

"Macey."

She spun, startled. "Grady." And why now?

He took her by the arm before she could turn away. Or maybe she purposely didn't move fast enough. The coat shifted and he saw the front of her-a dress that had once been light blue was now stained mahogany. But she hardly felt the pain anymore.

"My God, you need a doctor. Something. Macey. Let me take you...somewhere." He should have been angry and put off. Furious with her. But his voice sounded tight andewalk, but she devastated. His eyes were a stormy, tortured blue. "Please."

She steeled herself to be cool and remote. But she faltered when she saw the purple and green bruise on his chin. I'm sorry, Grady. "It's nothing. I was on my way-"

"You can't just leave like this. Like you did last night."

Had it only been last night, late yesterday, that she'd been skin to skin with him? Sleeping, innocent, sated in his arms?

"I'm sorry, Grady. I can't...I told you, I can't do this. I shouldn't have..." Stopped here. Waited to see you. Hoped to see you.

Damn me. "I have to go."

"Macey."

"Take care of yourself, Grady. Please take ca savior who carries the deepest taint...-re." She turned and gestured, blinking rapidly. The black automobile that had been following her for blocks pulled up to the curb.