When they reached the house, they noticed that the table was set and dinner was already underway. "Hey North. What's up? I figured we'd take dinner since you made lunch."

North smiled. "We're having a bit of a celebration and I wanted to do this. But rest assured, you'll get your turn," she laughed.

"Celebration? What are we celebrating," Travis chimed in, "other than the fact that we are miles and miles and miles away from Operations and Madeline?"

North laughed. "Well, you'll just have to wait and see. It's a surprise."

"A surprise?" Sherry said suspiciously, wandering into the kitchen to see what was going on. "Something you and Egran need to tell us maybe?" she teased.

North laughed. "Oh, not yet. At least not what you're thinking. By the way, where are Nahla and Jace? Don't tell me you lost them already!"

Sherry shook her head. "They wanted some time alone. They went exploring. They should be back soon. And before you ask, Mentz went with them. Do you need my help with anything?"

North shook her head. "No. I've got it covered."

"Okay, then, I'm going upstairs to clean up. I feel a bit grungy after setting up the office. Be back shortly."

Sherry had taken a quick shower and dressed when she heard movement in the room next door. She knocked. "Hey guys. You decent?"

Nahla laughed and called out for her to come in. Sherry walked in and looked around noting that Nahla was alone. "So," she said as she flopped down on the bed, "what were you guys up to?"

Nahla turned red yet again. "Nothing," she said as a smile touched her face.

"Uh huh. And I'm the Easter Bunny," Sherry stated. "Come on, tell your big sis everything."

"Just never you mind," Nahla replied, laughing. "A girl has to have some secrets."

"Yeah, but they're supposed to be secrets from him - not me!" Sherry teased. "Besides, I don't think I've ever seen you blush so much."

Nahla blushed yet again. "Will you stop! I'm gonna become a permanent red blob if you don't knock it off," she moaned.

"Oh, Jace doesn't care for lobsters, huh?" Sherry teased and the next thing she knew a pillow whacked her upside the head. "Hey woman. Just be sure you want to start something before you do that," she warned.

"Oh I'm sure. An old lady like you could never get the better of a young thing like me," Nahla cracked.

"Now you're gonna pay," Sherry warned and rose up from the bed with the pillow at the ready. She aimed it at Nahla who was heading for the door when the door flew open and Jace walked in. He was abruptly greeted with a pillow in the face.

"Oops, sorry Jace. Guess I'll be going," Sherry said and skirted her way around him and out the door.

"Want to tell me what that was all about," Jace asked rubbing his nose. Nahla laughed. "Oh, we were just having a little fun. Sorry she hurt your nose. Want me to kiss it and make it better?"

Jace smiled and grabbed her. "You better believe it." Nahla leaned in and kissed the tip of his nose. "I think she bruised my lips pretty good too," Jace suggested.

Nahla smiled. "Let me see ... I think you're right. Well, we'll just have to fix that now, won't we." They were locked in a passionate kiss when the door to their room opened and Sherry popped her head in. "Uh, sorry to interrupt, but North says dinner's ready. So if you can tear yourselves away from each other, we'd like to eat."

Nahla laughed. "Leave it to you to shove romance aside for food."

"Hey, a girl's gotta keep up her stamina. Especially with all the hunks around here," Sherry winked and then headed down to join the others.

Dinner was a lively affair with everyone relaxed and having a great time. They shared stories, discussed movies and books, anything and everything. Once the meal was over, Petrosian stood up. "I have a small presentation to make," he announced. He pulled a paper of some kind out of his jacket and handed it to Sherry. Opening the paper, Sherry quickly scanned it and then gasped.

"I own it?" she looked up at him in shock.

Petrosian nodded. "Vell, technically Section One owns it, but it is listed in the name of a company owned by Amani Jensen. The resort no longer has any claim to it."

"You own what?" Nahla asked.

Sherry smiled. "This place. I don't believe it. How in the world did you manage that?"

"Let's just say ve gave them an offer they couldn't refuse," he answered and sat down again.

"Limousines, private villas, private jets ... man. How do I sign up for this detail?" Jace joked and the whole group laughed. After chatting for a bit longer, Sherry got up.

"Okay, I've got clean up duty." Travis immediately got up to help. Nahla and Jace helped clear the table as well.

"Egran and I are going out for a while," North announced. Sherry smiled at her winked. "Don't do anything we wouldn't," she teased. North grinned and then took Petrosian's hand as they walked outside together.

Once the table was cleared and all the dishes moved to the kitchen, Sherry turned to Nahla. "Why don't you and Jace take a moonlit stroll? Travis and I can take care of loading and unloading the dishwasher."

Nahla looked to Jace expectantly. "Are you sure?" he asked. Sherry nodded and his grin spread from ear to ear. "Thanks. We will." He took Nahla's hand and led her outside.

Sherry went to find Davenport. "Hey Dav, why don't you go keep an eye on our strolling couples. Take Mentz too if you want. We'll be fine here."

Davenport sighed. Why did he get the feeling she was always trying to get rid of them? "I'll go. Mentz stays. You know better than to think we'd leave you here unguarded."

"Says a lot for me," Travis lamented as he walked up behind her.

"Didn't mean anything by it," Davenport answered. "You're just not a trained cold op."

Sherry turned to Travis. "That's right. Now come on, macho man, let's finish the dishes. I wanna simply veg for the rest of the evening." Travis followed her to the kitchen still feeling somewhat useless.

After a few minutes, Sherry stopped watching him and took his hands in hers. "Don't feel that way, Doc. I know you would die for me if you had to. So do they. But they are here for security, it's their job. Now come on, snap out it."

Travis sighed and then smiled a little. "Okay, since you put it that way. I just don't like having my manhood questioned."

"Oh honey, I don't think you have to worry about that," Sherry said as she winked, drawing finger underneath his chin. Turning her back to him, she continued loading the dishwasher.

Travis smiled to himself as he watched her. He had a feeling that maybe, just maybe he was making some progress. He was beginning to think that he might actually have a chance with her. Maybe the fact that Michael wasn't around every corner was helping uncover her feelings.

Sherry could feel him watching her. She wasn't quite sure why she had said what she did. She didn't usually tease him that way, even if she did mean it. She didn't examine it too closely because she wasn't sure she was ready for what she'd discover if she looked. She turned around and looked at the smile on his face.

"What are you smilin' at?" she asked. Travis shook his head. "Nothing."

Sherry shook her head. "Yeah, well, you're supposed to be helping me with the dishes, not watching me do them. This is an equal opportunity arrangement."

"Oh, sorry," he said, his silly grin staying in place.

"I'll just bet you are," she said as she swatted his behind with the dish towel in her hand.

"Don't start something you're not ready to finish, woman," he warned. He was wondering how far he should push. He didn't want to scare her off just when they were finally making some progress.

"Okay," Sherry held up her hands. "I surrender. You win."

Travis winked. "Now you got the idea."

Sherry laughed. "Dream on, honey. Dream on." Once everything was cleared away, they moved into the living room. Sherry flopped down in the middle of the sofa. She watched Travis, waiting to see what he would do. He was trying to make up his mind when she patted the seat to her left. "Come on, Doc. Have a seat. I promise I won't bite."

Travis sat down beside her and she turned to face him. They sat and talked for a while and then Sherry sighed. "Guess we ought to discuss the schedule. I thought I'd do things pretty much the same as last time -- spend the morning doing whatever we want - exploring, swimming, reading, lazing around, whatever. In the afternoon, it's down to work. I'll need your help the first few days definitely, until I get my questions answered and some things worked out. Then it will probably be on a more sporadic basis. If I don't need your help, you'll be free to do whatever you like."

"And the evenings?" he asked quietly.

She looked into his eyes for a second before glancing away. "Depends. If I hit on a particularly good writing day, I'll probably work straight through. If not, my evenings will be free like the rest of you. You'll be free to do whatever you want in the evenings, provided Davenport and Mentz give the all clear. If they think something's up, they'll confine us all to the house."

Travis nodded. "Sounds fine."

Sherry rolled her head around a few times, trying to ease the tension in her shoulders. It had been a long day and she was beginning to feel it.

"Here," Travis said as he turned her around. "Let me take care of that," and he proceeded to massage her neck and shoulder muscles. It didn't take long until she was feeling completely relaxed. "You're pretty good at that," she said around a yawn. "I may just have to keep you around."

Travis smiled. He would like nothing better. "Why don't you just lean back and rest for a bit."

Sherry thought about it for all of a second and then nodded. She leaned back against him and rested her head on his shoulder. She moved around a few seconds until she got comfortable and then she stilled. "Thanks," she offered so quietly he almost missed it.

He wrapped his left arm around her waist to anchor her and began to stroke her hair with his right hand. In no time at all, she was asleep. He leaned down and kissed her hair. "This is nice," he whispered to himself.

He wasn't sure how long they had been sitting there like that, when he heard the door open. Nahla and Jace came through the door.

"Shhh," Travis nodded his head down toward Sherry.

Nahla and Jace smiled. They were just about to say goodnight when Sherry opened her eyes. She sat still for a moment, getting her bearings. When she realized where she was, she sat up and moved away from Travis. "I must have been more tired than I thought," she muttered.

"Uh huh," Nahla teased. "Well, we're going to call it a night," she continued. "We'll see you in the morning."

Sherry stood up. "I think I will too. It's been a long day. Thanks, Doc. You make a really great pillow," she said to Travis and then kissed his cheek. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," he replied as he watched her walk upstairs. He sat there for a little while longer replaying the day's events in his head, then eventually he retired to his room as well.