Smoke and Blood

Dean flashed a charming smile, "I hope to become friends." He shook hands with both of them, "Jadyn, I am to be helping you while I'm here. With the children

-----

"We can always use extra hands around here." She smiled. "Excuse me but Channing and I have to store this."

Dean smiled at her and turned back to Emilie, "You cannot make me leave. Get used to me."

Emilie rolled her eyes, "Well at least you plan on making yourself useful."

*&*

Channing and Jadyn walked into the kitchen and finally put down all the food. "You know you were only assigned to bring me to the market, you don't have to help me anymore if you don't want to." She said.

Dean sighed, "Why are you acting like this?"

*-*

Channing smiled, "My manners are better than that."

"This isn't a vacation or publicity stunt for me." Emilie said simply, "This is a wartorn place, it's sad and full of death."

"I know that."

*&*

"I guess there is something to be said for southern gentlemen." Jadyn smiled.

"How'd you know I'm from the south?" Channing asked.

"Your accent. I was born in raised in New York City it stuck out like a sore thumb." She said, putting some of the rice in a jar.

Channing smiled, "What can I do to help right now?"

-*-

Emilie nodded, "Good."

"You can hand me that big pot up there that I can't reach." She smiled.

*&*

"You know I'm actually a very nice individual with good intentions." Dean murmured.

Channing smiled and did as he was asked, "Why are you here? I'm here because I haven't got a choice. What about you?

-*-

"Prove it." Emilie snapped as she walked away to yell at one of the privates.

"I was enrolled in NYU right after high school. I came here on aide trip with a professor and other students. They left, I stayed. The previous director of the orphanage had been killed...road side bomb. I couldn't just let the children live on the streets." Jadyn said, "School wasn't really for me anyway."

(*(

Dean sighed and looked around, taking in the place.

He started walking away and hadn't managed to get more than 20 feet before Emilie was yelling at him again.

"You can't leave this camp without armor or guns!" She yelled in annoyance as she jogged to catch up with him. Dean looked back and realized that the orphanage was almost out of sight.

*-*

"Oh,you're better than most people."

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wander so far." He said.

*&*

Jadyn shrugged, "It was slightly selfish also. My parents had recently passed away and being home was hard. My brother visits time to time but hasn't come in the past year due to the heightened danger."

"So, can we talk now and you not yell at me? Since none of your men will hear?" Dean asked pleadingly.

"What could you possibly have to say, Dean Cain. One of my men died protecting you last time you came. And you messed me up by coming. You conviced me that you loved me. You suck."

*-*

Channing nodded, "Yes, that must be hard for you."

"I do love you." He stated.

*&*

"Not as hard as what you men must go through or these poor children." Jadyn said, "You must miss your parents, siblings, friends, wife or girlfriend."

Channing smiled, "I've only got my mom, dad and siblings."

//-//

Emilie looked at him and sighed, "And that's why you never contacted my and I saw your picture with other women for a long time."

"Oh I just assumed...I mean you're well hands- nevermind." Jadyn stirred the rice.

*&*

"I didn't say I didn't mess up. I just said I love you." Dean said.

Emilie rolled her eyes, "I don't think I can do this again Dean. I think you should leave. Go to a diffrent orphanage or something."

Dean stepped toward her and took one of her hands in his, "I'm not asking you to. We can start over. Or I can just pretend like I don't love you."

*-*

"What?" Channing asked sweetly.

"I don't think we can do that."

*&*

Jadyn blushed and just admitted what she was going to say, "Well, you're very handsome. I just assumed you had a girlfriend."

"No. I don't want to date someone and have her fall in love with me and then I die. So, I don't usually...well, you know...talk and stuff like I am with you." Channing replied.

-//

Dean looked at her expectantly, "What? The pretend I don't love you thing or the start over thing?"

"Well, I'm sure the hometown girls are very upset about that." She smiled weakly. Adul would be arriving very soon.

*&*

"Probably both." Emilie admitted.

Channing shrugged, "Doubtful."

*-*

Dean looked as if he was trying to think of something else to say, "What if we start where we left off?"

Emilie sighed, "I don't know."

Adul walked into the kitchen.

&*&*


"Please..."

Channing's grin disappeared.

*-*

Dean kissed her sweetly and Emilie sighed before kissing back.

"Tatum, why don't you go see if Emilie needs you for something?" Jadyn said. She had too much pride for him to be around when Adul was there.

*&*

She knew she loved him.

He sighed and then did as she requested.

*-*

"Dean, I'm still really pissed at you though." Emilie added after the kiss was over.

"So you were busy before..." Adul started as he walked over to her.

"Yeah. Sorry." Jadyn said, putting away the last of the food.

*&*

"I'll have to work on getting you to forgive me..." He smiled.