Bodie flashed a questioning look at Zayne.

"She knows," Zayne replied with a huff and smile.

"I know what?" she snapped.

"That he has visions," Bodie filled in as Zayne turned away.

"YOU HAD A VISION?! NOW?!"

"Do you have to yell?" Zayne asked annoyingly. "You know I get headaches afterwards."

He began massaging his temples. Ally shot him a look full of daggers driving Bodie to stand between her and Zayne protectively. The young woman's head tilted and one eyebrow raised as if she was daring the detective to stop her. However, Bodie stayed where he was, unwilling to move. With a surrendering side grin, Ally backed away to retrieve a bottle of pain meds from a small drawer.

"If you want to take care of him, be my guest," she offered, throwing Bodie the bottle. "But if I were you, I'd get him to bed as soon as possible. They take a lot out of him. I'm surprised he hasn't thrown up..."

Behind them, Zayne leaned over the kitchen sink and emptied whatever few contents were left in his stomach. Ally immediately rushed into the bathroom, quickly returning to the kitchen with a soaked wash cloth dripping in her hand. Placing it on the back of Zayne's neck, she gently pulled his hair out of his sweaty face while offering soft words of encouragement. She glanced up at Bodie who stood on the other side of the vomiting man supported between them and was relieved to see the detective rubbing calming circles on her friend's back.

When Zayne backed away from the sink, Bodie's eyes widened at how pale the musician was.

"Zayne?"

"Shit!" Ally cursed. "Catch him."

Without hesitating, Bodie reached out and caught Zayne's collapsing body, cradling the musician's now frightfully limp body in his arms.

"Take him to the guest room. Second door on the right. I'll be there in a second."

Bodie felt Ally snatch the medicine bottle from his hand as he awkwardly lifted Zayne off the floor. Carrying the musician bridal style, he made his way to the guest room with careful steps. He placed the piano player gently onto the full mattress, making sure none of Zayne's arms or legs were bent carelessly. With concern carved deeply into his brows, the frantic detective knelt beside the bed and placed two fingers on Zayne's carotid artery to check for a pulse. 

With closed eyes and trembling hands, he concentrated on finding what he hoped was there. It wasn't long before he felt the tiny pulses beneath Zayne's pale, glistening skin, each one resilient and strong, just like the heart beating their rhythm. Only when he was sure Zayne's heart rate was within an acceptable range did Bodie breathe a sigh of relief. Next, he took those same two fingers and tenderly removed the strands of Zayne's hair that were stuck to the frame of his face. Placing the back of his hand to the piano player's forehead, Bodie checked for any sign of a fever. After a few seconds and some additional touches to Zayne's cheeks, he was finally satisfied the musician did not need to be rushed to a hospital. Wiping a hand across his face, he shifted himself onto the edge of the bed. 

Ally entered the darkened room with the washcloth sloshing in a bowl of cold water. Her eyes landed on Zayne before moving over to Bodie. She was still feeling a bit of mistrust towards the detective but her inner voice was telling her to allow him to stay.

"Here," she said quietly, offering Bodie the small square cloth.

"Thank you. How did you know?"

"I've known about his visions since I was eight. Zayne's a year younger than me. The same age as my brother, Devon."

She looked at the sleeping man with love in her heart. It didn't matter if they were not blood related, she cared for Zayne like her own brother. She watched warily as Bodie meticulously wiped the sweat from Zayne's face and felt a twinge of jealousy.

"He's had them that long?" Bodie asked sadly.

His mind flashed back to the night he first saw Zayne. The words of the song the piano player had belted out repeatedly echoed through his head. That night, Zayne had been screaming for help. Bodie wonders if, had he not gone to the The Lotus Club that night, had he not listened to his heart and taken Zayne in his arms, would the man lying on the bed in front of him have made it another day? Would Zayne have gone home and ended his nightmare before the sun came up?

Ally kindly took the washcloth from his shaking hands, drawing Bodie out of his thoughts. She rewet it with fresh cold water before handing it back to him with a caring smile.

"Longer," she continued. "I met him when I was seven. Zayne and Devon were in kindergarten. My brother and I didn't know about his gift when we first met him. We found out accidentally a year later."

Bodie's heart broke for this beautiful man who had suffered more than he ever suspected. How did a child even deal with something like this?

"His visions weren't always this bad," Ally said in a reassuring voice as if she had read Bodie's mind. "They started out as just feelings. He would always tell us he had a bad feeling about something or say things like, 'You're going to pass the test. I just know it.'"

Sitting down on the other side of the bed, Ally took Zayne's hand in her smaller one. She ran her fingers through his messy hair trying to comb out the tangles. Bodie watched her carefully. A sudden touch of jealousy struck his heart and he found himself taking Zayne's other hand in his. He saw Ally's eyes land on their simple bond and felt foolish for his immature reaction. However, he wasn't going to let go of the musician's hand no matter how many ugly looks the woman gave him.

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, Ally turned her attention back to Zayne. A soft and gentle smile unfolded on her pink lips, her eyes filling with a deep concern that worried Bodie.

"As he got older," she began again. "The visions became more like pictures that would flash in front of him. He would know who was calling me before I answered the phone or who was at the door before the person knocked. Eventually, they became more...intense. That's when the nausea and passing out started. It doesn't happen all the time, but it's been happening more frequently."

Ally looked over at Bodie with tear-filled eyes. He could see how much she cared for the man on the bed and he placed his other hand over the one she held Zayne's in.

Her voice cracked. "The visions are becoming too much for him. But he'll never admit it. He never thinks of himself, stupid idiot," she scolded with a trembling smile. "That's how he became involved with the police. He wanted to help find lost kids. But now...now the only visions he has are of this damned psychopath."

A tiny hiccup sob slipped through her pressed lips. She placed a tender kiss on Zayne's forehead and then turned towards Bodie, her eyes fierce.

"You'd better take care of him. He deserves the best. And I'm not sure that's you. Yet."

Bodie gave her a half smile. "Does this mean I have a chance?"

Ally loosened up. "There's always a chance. What are your intentions, detective?"

Bodie was caught off guard by the question. He thought for a moment and took a brief look at Zayne before replying, "I want to protect him."

"Is that all?"

Bodie's face turned serious. "For now."

"But you want more from him. Don't you?"

Bodie looked back at Zayne again. His heart dipped in his chest.

"Only if he wants it, too."

"Don't get frustrated," she encouraged with a sigh. "Zayne can be a bit...shall we say...oblivious."

Bodie chuckled. He moved to get up but Ally's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"No. Stay. He'll be out for a few hours." She paused and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "He's been alone for so long. You...you seem good for him."

"How do you know? We just met."

She smirked. "It's the way he talked about you."

"He talked about me?"

Ally giggled. Bodie looked like a little boy who just found out his favorite superhero knew his name.

"Just once," she answered. She wasn't about to divulge anything else without knowing for sure this man would not hurt her best friend.

"Thank you."

"For what?

"For taking care of him."

Ally gave him a sincere smile before taking her leave.

Yeah, she thought. Zayne found a good one this time. Even if he doesn't know it yet.

Bodie turned back to the musician. He listened to the brush of the door on the carpet and the click of the latch as Ally pulled it closed. But his eyes never left Zayne. He watched every rise and fall of the piano player's chest, every flutter of his long eyelashes. Bodie wrapped Zayne's hand in both of his and gave it a little squeeze. But it was not enough. He was still on edge, still looking for proof that the musician was not suffering. Carefully, he slid onto the bed and laid next to Zayne, pulling the sleeping man closer.

What had Zayne seen? Obviously, it couldn't have been anything good if he was working with the cops to hunt down a serial killer. Zayne's ability must have been the reason why Captain Harris and Detective Porter called him into the station that day to look at those damn photos. Bodie's anger about that whole situation still lingered under the surface of his growing affection for the musician.

Were the police using Zayne for his gift or had Zayne agreed to help them willingly? Then again, did the musician have any kind of choice in the matter considering his visions now seemed solely focused on the killer?

This beautiful soul did not deserve this.

But, if Zayne could stop the murders, was it worth the sacrifice? Bodie stroked Zayne's face and was thankful all he saw was peacefulness. He felt a shiver pass through his tired body and realized he still needed his own release. Bodie tried to focus on Zayne, on how soft his skin was and how much he longed to see those gray eyes look at him.

But images of Zayne's blank eyes, of the sick smile that twisted his lips, and of his lifeless body lying in his arms ate away at Bodie's sanity. Like a stealthy predator, the debilitating cold feeling of helplessness returned. It crept its way up his spine and wiggled its way back into his mind.

What if it happened again? What if Zayne had another vision that left him terrified and unconscious? Bodie clung to the musician's warm body. What was he thinking? Of course, it would happen again. He would have to watch Zayne, the man he was falling for like a shooting star, be taken away from him by something he could not stop. Something he could not fight against. Something he could not protect him from.

Bodie became restless. He left the bed and began pacing around the room. His hand rubbed the back of his neck trying to force the images out of his head. But they only buried themselves deeper into his subconscious until they merged with other memories. Echoes of his past overtook him and smothered him until he found it difficult to think rationally.

Bodie drifted erratically around the room.

Please. I don't want to.

It doesn't matter what ya' want, ya' little shit. Didn't yur parents teach ya' that? Now, do it!

I can't. It's too hard.

Ya' can. You've done it before. Do it again! Or ya' know what happens, don't ya', worm?

Taking one last look at Zayne, Bodie took a staggered breath and opened the bedroom door. He had to get out. He had to get away from Zayne and Ally before he lost whatever bit of control he had left. He powered his way down the hallway and back through the living room.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Ally shouted, leaping up from the sofa where she was checking her texts.

She tried to catch Bodie by the arm but he shrugged free and glared at her with a look that startled the shocked woman.

Could she have been wrong about the detective?

"I can't be here right now. Tell him...tell him I'm sorry but I'll...I'll call him later."

"Detective Hale! Get your ass back here!"

Bodie ignored her and reached for the doorknob.

"If you walk out now, I'll never let you near him!" she spat viciously.

He flung the door open and froze. His heart was shattering. Maybe that was for the best. At least Zayne's heart wouldn't break. But, then again....

"We're partners. I'm protecting him."

"Are you protecting him? Or yourself?" she asked defiantly. There was something about the detective that made her heart hurt. "Please," she begged. "Be here when he wakes up."

Bodie let out a deep sigh. "I can't. I promise you, I'm leaving to protect him."

He tried to take a step but something was stopping him from crossing the threshold. His body was shaking. Half of him wanted to stay. The other half needed to leave. He jerked when a gentle hand was placed on his forearm.

"And who's going to protect you, detective? Because I swear to you, if you hurt him, I will hunt you down."

"If I hurt him, I hurt myself," Bodie replied, turning to face the woman who just threatened his life. "That's why I'm leaving. I can't explain right now. I'm asking you to trust me. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You're asking a lot considering we just met."

"Please, let me go," he whispered, his pale gold eyes pleading with her.

Ally released her hold and took a step back. Bodie stepped through the doorway against his heart's wishes.

"He'll be upset when you're not here. I know him," she said in one last effort to make the detective stay.

But Bodie walked out and never looked back.

"I will always be there for you because I know what its like to have no one there for me." -  Unknown