***
As Caleb waited for the taxi to come to a halt, he could see Kevan seated in the back, not moving. He pulled opened the door before the cab came to complete stop. He reached in, picking her up in his arms, taking her to the house, leaving Kayne to deal with her bags and the driver. He carried her into his living room, and sitting down in the large lounge chair, with Kevan on his lap.
Caleb stayed silent, holding Kevan while her emotions overwhelmed her, the tears streamed down her cheeks leaving them streaked black from her mascara. Offering her a shoulder to cry on, was all he could do until she was ready. After what seemed to be an eternity, he sensed a change. As he relaxed his hold, she leaned back, looking into his face.
“Kevan?” he tried to ask.
“I don’t want to talk about it!” she told him.
“Alright,” he agreed.
“I have a favour to ask you.”
“Anything,” he told her without hesitation.
“You may regret this.”
“Never.”
“Okay, can I stay here for a couple of days, until I figure out what I’m going to do?”
“Yes,” he stated simply.
“Thank you, hell I’m a mess, gods, I don’t even remember the ride over here … Oh, the driver!” she slapped her forehead.
“Taken care of, don’t worry,” he said.
Kevan sagged, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Caleb shifted the standing up before placing her back on her feet; she blushed as she realized that she had been sitting on his lap, unaware. It had seemed so natural, which was confusing. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”
“I can’t believe she’s acting like this,” Kevan whispered.
Caleb took her hand, leading her up the stairs. He could hear the anger building in her voice, and knew he needed to redirect it before she exploded and did something she was going to regret. “Seeing as you’re here, why don’t we see what kind of training you are going to need?” he pushed her.
“I really don’t want to,” she whined, “I need sweats and a pint of coffee ice cream.”
“I don’t care if you want to or not, you need something physical and coffee ice cream is not the way to deal with your emotions,” he stated. “Why not show me what you can do? You have 10 minutes to get changed, and meet me in the gym.”
“You’re kidding, right? You have a gym here?” she gawked.
“Of course, we need some place to train. It only makes sense that we do it where nobody is going to ask about the weapons that we train with. “It’s safer for everyone this way, too, but you’re wasting time. Bottom of the stairs, turn right at the end of the hall, the last room, and be prepared.”
“What are you, a girl guide?” Kevan teased him.
“What?” he asked confused.
“Oh, nothing. Anyway, I can’t, I don’t have anything to wear.”
“I’ll have Martha bring something.”
“Martha?”
“Yes, my house keeper. Now, are you going to stand there asking questions, or are you going to get moving?”
“But …” she tried to argue.
“Look Kevan, you asked me to show you how to fight, and I agreed, so we do things on my terms, now move that butt.”