Finley strolled over to the liquor cab and poured himself a ss of red wine. Just as he took a sip, Ronald emerged from the lounge. Finley couldn''t help but cough as Ronald shot him a disapproving nce. "What''s got into you? Seen a ghost or something?"


    Finley patted his chest. "You, uh, you were fast."


    Ronald was left speechless.


    Nearby, Idris was busy working on hisptop. He overheard Finley''sment and quietly decided it was time to relocate to another lounge area.


    He had figured it out by now - keeping his distance from someone like Finley was a smart move. Get too close, and you might end up in a messy situation.


    As Idris moved away, Finley realized he might have spoken too hastily. "I didn''t mean - well, you know..."


    He had heard some noisesing from the lounge earlier and had wisely decided to make himself scarce. But he''d barely had time to enjoy his wine before Ronald approached.


    "Do we have any more of those ointment around for there?"


    Finley was puzzled. "Huh?"


    Ronald exined, "It''s a bit severe."


    The poor girl had been quite distressed during the examination, and he hadn''t anticipated causing such a fuss.


    Finley''s eyes widened in realization. So that was what Ronald and Ste were up to in the lounge; he was checking on Ste''s injury.


    What the...


    Finley almost blurted out something else but caught Ronald''s warning re and swallowed his words. He turned to the first-aid kit, found a couple more meds, and handed them to Ronald. "Use these with what I gave you before." Ronald took the meds and was about to leave when Finley couldn''t help himself. "I get you''re in a hurry, but..."


    Ronald turned back with a frosty look, cutting him off.


    Finley got the message and quickly shut his mouth. "What I''m trying to say is, take it easy on her. Girls are delicate. At least wait until she fully recovers." Ronald gave Finley onest icy nce before exiting without another word.


    Left alone, Finley raised his ss, finishing the wine in one gulp. He couldn''t help but chuckle to himself. "Xander thinks he canpete? Not a chance."


    Ronald had practically wrapped


    Ste in a bubble of protection. Xander wouldn''t stand a chance. Finley recalled the time Xander had tried to take Ste away, and Ronald had looked ready to tear Shawn apart.


    BUMS


    Inside the lounge, Ronald gently coaxed Ste out from under the nkets.


    She resisted, wriggling away. "No, I don''t want to..."


    "It''s just for the injury. No need to be shy," Ronald reassured her.


    Ste was still hesitant. It was embarrassing enough to be injured there, and now he wanted to apply the ointment himself? She felt like she had no privacy left.


    "I can do it myself."


    "You..."


    "Please, I don''t want to."


    Her voice rose in desperation, loud enough that Finley, still savoring his wine outside, nearly dropped his ss.


    ...


    After a couple of hours'' flight, Ste


    was fast asleep on the ne, exhausted. Thankfully, Ronald hadn''t disturbed her this time, only applying the ointment once more while she slumbered. Too tired to protest, she''d felt his gentle touch but


    couldn''t summon the energy to object.


    "Sir, it''s time to wake Ms. Quinn."


    The ne had been on the ground for an hour, and noticing Ste still hadn''t emerged, Idris knew she was still sleeping.


    With their scheduled meeting approaching, they couldn''t afford any more dys.


    Ronald nced at his watch and nodded, rising to head back to the lounge where Ste was still asleep.