Kassy saw that look on his face, and saw his eyes leave the present. She'd seen him do this before, but never in front of her. It was just something she picked up on. Knowing full well Dima would deny it to high heaven if she asked, Kassy had kept quiet about it.

She was lucky. She didn't remember most of the experience with Slade and Kijani, having been unconscious for most of it. Still, she had nightmares of a sort, her whole body burning with the memory of pain. Sometimes she had to dump ice into her pool just to sleep. She'd never told Dimitri, figuring his memories were far worse. There was no right for her to complain about shapeless night terrors.

This was no time to stay silent, though. Without giving a damn about the consequences, she reached across the table and cupped Dimitri's face in her hands. "You don't have to say anything." She looked him steady in the eyes. [b]"You're here, with me. Not there."[/b] A tiny bit of inner predator showed in her smile. [b]"Also if we ever encounter those two again, I will not hesitate to interrupt one of their minds. I am merciful, not pacifistic." [/b]There was a difference. One was letting a shark eat you without trying to stop it, the other was leaving the shark be unless it tried to eat you, at which point you cut it from gill to tail without guilt.

[b]"You're okay, Dima."[/b] With a definitely wicked grin, she moved and swiftly kissed the tip of his nose, then pulled back before he could get a grip on her.