"What the hell, Jaxon?" Aurora yelled, yanking the steering wheel as they rounded a corner. They were out of town now, but the road was becoming more winding and serpentine the further out they got. She figured they were heading toward the mountains, though she couldn't see anything in the distance.

"Rory, I hate to break this to you, but I'm kinda running from something." Jaxon mumbled, running his hand down his face and glancing back through the rear window nervously.

"No shit, Sherlock. I gathered that." Aurora hissed, casting a glance at her side mirror. Two glimmering, black specks were visible in the rising sun, a cloud of dust looming behind them. She deduced they were government issued, judging the attire the men chasing Jaxon wore. She cursed and laid into the gas, the motor groaning in protest. "Can you tell me why?"

Jaxon swallowed and cast a sideways glance at her. "I'd rather not. You'll end up not liking the consequences."

"I don't give a rat's ass what I will or won't like," Aurora seethed, nervous sweat dripping down between her bosoms. "Since this is my car, and I'm doing you a solid by helping you, Jaxon Carter you better tell me why the fuck government agents are chasing me right now."

Jaxon's brow furrowed and he sighed. "Rory, it's a long story that we need to save for when we're out of this mess."

"What the f-" He cut her off with a loud, strangled noise.

"They're gaining on you!" He shouted, pointed animatedly toward the direction they fled from.

Aurora gritted her teeth, scenario after scenario running through her mind. There was no way out of this, from what she could see. Their vehicles were faster, since hers was seriously lacking in repairs. With a broken head gasket, there was no way they'd outrun whoever was following them.

"Jaxon, what the hell have you gotten me into?" She growled, spying a break in the road ahead. With any luck, if she took that small dirt path, they'd maybe lose the people tailing them.

"As I said," he drawled, glancing back anxiously "It's a tale that would take a lifeti-"

"Never mind!" Aurora bellowed, yanking the steering wheel sharply to the right. The Impala drifted and spun out, hurtling them northward toward Colorado. Now she could faintly see the purple hues of distant, giant landmarks. Just maybe, if they got lost in the mountain range, they'd be safe for a while.

"Holy shit, woman!" Jaxon yelled as he bounced around in his seat. The terrain was rough and kept sending the car mid-air. "Try to miss some of the damn boulders!" The impala surged through a patch of cacti and sent them flying everywhere. Jaxon's window was open, unfortunately, and a stray cactus arm flew in and slapped him square on the cheek. He howled and spewed a string of curses, wrestling briefly with the offending foliage before tossing it back out.

"Ha!" Aurora laughed bitterly "I'm going to hit every single one on your side, just to get revenge!" She glowered, whipping the car between two large outcrops. "I was perfectly fine until you conned your way into my good graces!"

"Good graces?" Jaxon bellowed, holding onto the door handle for dear life. "When was I ever in your good graces?"

"The split second I picked you up," she growled back, sharply maneuvering her vehicle through another slim opening between some boulders "and that was the first and last time!"

"Well, I never got a warm welcome." He growled back, jamming his cap down onto his head. It kept bouncing off with every bump.

"In your dreams!" Aurora hissed, yanking the wheel back again. The car gave an almighty shudder and puttered to a halt. Steam began billowing out from under the hood. She cursed and beat her fists against the steering wheel in frustration.

"Dammit!" She screamed, flinging open the door. Running a trembling hand through her hair, she quickly analyzed the situation. Whatever agency was tracking Jaxon would have many avenues at their disposal, such as air support. They were sitting ducks in the middle of a desert, with no transportation.

"Rory." Jaxon mumbled, tumbling out of the passenger side. "We have to move."

"I know that." She snapped back, yanking open the rear passenger door. "Grab some of these water bottles and snack bags."

"Fine." He muttered, hanging his head.

That's right, she thought, you should feel guilty. Shaking her head, she quickly grabbed a small fanny pack and shoved in as many waters and snacks as she could. Then she tucked her pistol into her waistband. "Jaxon, grab my shotgun from the truck."

He didn't reply, just simply strode to the rear of the car and did as she asked.

"Let's go." She pointed toward the faint outline of the mountain range. "We have to go that way. Hopefully we can find some shelter."

Jaxon stalked up to her right side and grabbed her arm, though not roughly. He peered up at her through heavy eyelids, his eyes swirling with regret. "Rory, I'm so sor-"

"Save it." She shrugged him off, wiping tendrils of hair from her sweaty face. "Just start running."

And she took off at an easy jog, with him matching her stride all the way.

Later, much later, she didn't know how long they'd been walking. The sun was now in the west, and close to setting, yet the mountains looked no closer than when they'd begun. Her skin was hot and burned, and her stomach was churning with lack of food and water. She'd given most of her water to Jaxon, since he was larger and required more, though in hindsight, that was a mistake. Aurora's vision kept blurring in and out, as if she was trying the wrong prescription glasses. A headache was blooming behind her eyes, and her arms and legs felt heavy and unresponsive.

"Rory?" Jaxon's voice sounded far away, and his face appeared before hers, hazy and distorted.

"Jax?" She croaked, and her foot caught on a rock. She tumbled, collapsing onto the rocky path. A rock jutted sharply into her knee, and she cried out as the skin split, though her raspy voice was lost on the wind.

"Aurora, take my hand." Jaxon grabbed her fingers and tugged gently, easing her up from the ground. Her body refused to respond, and she was vaguely aware of strong arms lifting her up, pulling her into a very firm, hard chest. The warmth felt shocking against her skin, and she realized she must be running a fever.

"You're in no shape to keep going," she could hear Jaxon's low voice rumble in his chest "but we have to keep moving. I'll find us shelter, just hang on for me."

His voice was so desperate, so pleading that she caved in. She had no other choice but to hold onto hope that all was not lost. "Ok, Jax." She breathed against his collarbone. "I give in."

She sensed, rather than saw, his chiding smile. "Aw, sweetheart, I've been waitin' to hear you say that."

Aurora woke to find herself snuggled up on a hard, warm surface. She noticed that she'd been covered with some kind of fabric and forced herself to open an eyelid. She could see that they were now in a cave and a small fire was burning toward the back wall. What she was laying on, however, wasn't the rocky ground but Jaxon's ripped, shirtless torso. His soft flannel was covering her shivering body. Her eyes bugged as she observed his incredibly toned, unbelievably sexy abs.

With a horror she couldn't explain, her hand seemed to drift of its own accord and tentatively stroked the muscles near his treasure trail in bewilderment. Her fingers continued downward, much to her own shock, and fingered the waistband of his jeans.

A low, guttural sound met her ears, and Jaxon uttered "Keep going and see what happens, baby girl."

Aurora immediately sat upright, her cheeks tinging pink, and she tentatively cast a glance at him. Jaxon's lips were upturned in a teasing smirk, and his clear sky-blue eyes were watching her with childish delight.

"Continue, darlin'. I did save your life." Jaxon teased, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back into his embrace.

"What? What are you talking about?" Aurora mumbled, her head spinning from the smoke that filled the cave.

"You almost died." Jaxon murmured, shifting his weight and sitting upright against the cave wall. He pulled her into his lap and settled her there, and she didn't protest. Perhaps because she was so weary, or maybe because it had been so long that she felt any sort of human touch. Aurora didn't know, but she allowed it, nonetheless.

"I didn't die-"

"I said almost." Jaxon scowled, running a hand through his already tousled hair. "It's my fault. I'm such a damn fool."

Aurora had no energy left in her body to negate him. "It's okay." She mumbled, laying back down on his chest. "I'm okay."

Jaxon hissed in discontent. "You're not. I screwed things up and got you into this mess." He stroked her cheek with a rough, calloused hand. "I am so sorry." He pulled her even deeper into his embrace. He smelled of smoke and an earthy cologne that engulfed her so completely she felt at ease.

"How did I get here?" Aurora whispered, her breath caressing his face.

Jaxon groaned, shifting his weight under her body. "I just picked you up and carried you for a mile or so." He admitted, scratching his head sheepishly.

"A mile!" Aurora gasped, jerking back. "What the hell happened?"

"You fainted." Jaxon rumbled, his accent low and enticing in her ears. "I had to keep going, and I couldn't just leave you there...so that's how you ended up in my arms." He grinned cheekily.

"Hmm." Aurora sighed, hugging him closer and breathing in his intoxicating scent. "I'm glad you did."

Jaxon chuckled lowly. "I'll be glad when you stop touching down there..."

Aurora jerked back slightly, her face reddening with embarrassment: her fingers were still absentmindedly fluttering over his belt line. "Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry!"

"Don't be." Jaxon grinned, "I like it." Neither spoke for several minutes, then Jaxon continued. "You know how I said you're not my type?"

Aurora vaguely recalled what he said the night before. "Yeah?"

"Well," he continued, pulling her closer, his nose nuzzling her neck affectionately, "I lied. You are a hell of a woman, Aurora."

Aurora's brain was struggling to wrap her mind around what he was saying. The only thing her fevered subconscious could focus on was the flames flickering before them. "You made a fire?"

Jaxon tipped his head toward her. "Yeah, I know how to do that. What, you thought I was just a pretty face?

Aurora laughed, but it came out as a gravelly cough. "Well, I-"

"I'll tell you something about me." Jaxon rumbled, smoothing her hair down over her back. "Once upon a time, I was a marine. I do have some survival skills."

"That's where those tattoos are from." She mused, chuckling into his pectorals. "Very sexy."

"Aw, girl, don't make me blush." Jaxon teased, and she thought she felt his lips brushing her forehead.

"Jaxon?" Aurora mumbled, snuggling deeper into his warmth. She didn't care that he was practically a stranger, and half naked, nor was she upset that she liked the contact with his hot, fragrant skin. She was so consumed by her fever that his confession went in one ear and out the other.

"Yeah, baby girl?" He rumbled, his chest rising and falling with every breath.

"Thank you for saving me." She sighed, inadvertently caressing his cheek with her trembling hand. She still seemed to have no control over her own limbs.

"Only for you, sweetheart." Jaxon breathed, planting a chaste kiss on her forehead. She snuggled into his warmth, his legs strong and muscular as she nestled between them.