"I'd heard about it, but I never had reason to come here before. I've been down Northern Boulevard a time or two, and the big landmark across the road is the fish hatchery. Other than that, I've passed right by this place any number of times without even realizing it. The town is fun, too. They have a lot of little touristy shops."

"Maybe someday I'll have reason to return under better circumstances." He squeezed her hand.

The way he looked at her made her breath catch. Did he mean to imply some future visit with her her? She wasn't sure, but the promise in his eyes made her hope. She settled for a noncommittal answer, just to be on the safe side. She didn't want to look like a fool, after all, just in case they weren't on the same page here.

"That would be nice."

"What would be even nicer right now"-he drew her closer, facing him, bending his head so his forehead touched hers in an intimate caress-"would be if we were back at your place, in that big bed of yours."

"I vote for that." Her voice was breathless as his head dipped lower. His mouth caught hers in a tender caress that made her knees quake. His arms came around her, steadying her and pulling her against his hard body.

In the idyllic setting of the dawn-lit cove with nature all around, he kissed her. For this moment they could comfort each other with hugs, kisses and caresses after the horrors of the night.

"I thought I'd lost you, baby."

Xavier's voice came to her as a rough whisper when he broke the kiss and crushed her to his chest in a warm, wonderful, welcoming hug.

"I'm not that easy to get rid of." She stroked his back, feeling the emotion he tried hard to suppress in the rigidity of his muscles.

"Thank heaven for that." He eased off, letting her go by slow degrees. "This has been one hell of a night."

"You can say that again. I'm just glad Sam survived."

"Yeah, me, too." He tucked her under his arm and they began walking again. "Between you and him, I think I lost a couple of years of my life just in worry."

"You were worried about little old me?"

"Silly, I know." He bussed the crown of her head as they walked along, in no particular hurry to get to the chopper. "Damn, baby. You cut yourself out of a harness; that's going to give me nightmares for the rest of my life."

"Really? Why?" She heard real fear in his voice.

He slowed his steps. "You had to have felt so helpless."

His voice dropped so that she could just barely hear his words.

"I can't even imagine being so totally immobilized and at the mercy of a madman in a fucking operating room. That's a scenario I don't even want to contemplate. It's like something out of a horror movie."

"Xavier, this entire situation is like something out of a horror movie." She tried to cheer him up and it seemed to work.

He gave her a little lift of his mouth that was almost a smile. "I guess you're right." He began walking a little faster. "Let's get Reno to drop us at your station so your chief can see you're okay. Reno can secure the chopper at Brookhaven for the day, and you and I can head back to your place."

"I like the sound of that. So you've been hiding that black helicopter at Brookhaven National Labs? Convenient."

"They've got adequate security for it." He shrugged. "I can't make the boy sleep in the chopper."

Sarah giggled at his ironic tone, as he'd probably expected. His arm tightened around her shoulder for a small moment as they neared the main building. The black helicopter sat on its roof.

"Let's go home."

Matt Sykes had awoken at dawn to a ringing phone. He'd been catching a quick combat nap while he waited to learn the status of his operatives. Like the admiral had admitted to him days ago, Matt wasn't entirely comfortable having sent a woman into a combat situation. Not one where it was more than likely she'd have to go hand to hand with a bunch of face-eating zombies.

Then Sarah had been abducted and now Sam Archer was in critical condition. Or so Matt had learned from his early-morning phone call. The situation kept escalating and he feared it would only get worse before it got better. Worst-case scenario, the whole thing could spiral out of control. Which was why Matt was getting very little sleep lately. The threat of the contagion being sold to enemy powers or terrorists-or released on a wider scale from whatever source-was something that kept him up nights.

As a result, Matt was now in his car, headed for the airstrip before full light. He took to the air less than forty-five minutes later, speeding toward New York.

Beauvoir had managed to pull a rabbit out of his ass, digging up Dr. McCormick and her magic serum. This could be a big break for them...if it worked. Unfortunately, Sam Archer had become their first guinea pig. They claimed he was stable for now. Further testing would be necessary to see if he'd stay that way.

Matt had liked the tall lieutenant. He was gruff, but his loyalty to Beauvoir was clear and unequivocal. If Archer survived this new treatment and turned out to be immune, Matt had just gained another highly skilled operative to send out against the zombies that continued to turn up at Fort Bragg no matter what he did.

They'd vaporized another one last night. By dribs and drabs, the casualties were starting to add up. And as yet, nobody could seem to pinpoint the source of the problem. It was enough to make him want to scream in frustration-or beat the shit out of someone.

Since he couldn't very well do that, Matt resigned himself to working steadily on the problem until they found a solution. The situation at Fort Bragg was under control for the moment. Unfortunately, the investigation was going nowhere fast. Matt hoped the action in New York would provide them with some solid leads.

Dr. McCormick could be key, which was another reason Matt had decided to make another excursion northward. He planned to take control of Sam Archer's recovery and the good doctor as well. By tonight, they'd both be ensconced in a secure hospital lab area at Fort Bragg.

Matt had entertained the idea of sending them both to Quantico, but Matt spent more time at Fort Bragg nowadays and his current problem was centered there. No more zombies had been sighted at Quantico since they'd dealt with the initial infestation months ago.

The scientists who'd been on the original research team had scattered. He found it interesting that not a single one had stayed in the Virginia area. They'd given various forwarding addresses, all of which were being checked out now.

More than one of them was tinkering with their old research. Sellars wasn't alone. Sarah had heard four names. Beauvoir had relayed the information to Matt and they both recognized at least two of them. More than anything, Matt wanted to track down the bastards that would prey on innocent people like this. They were worse than wild animals. They had no regard for human life whatsoever.

He also needed to get a handle on Dr. McCormick. She'd disobeyed orders and continued to work on the zombie technology-developing her serum even after she'd taken a new job. That was probably a good thing in retrospect. However, it was also a big problem. For her.

Matt could easily have her arrested on charges of endangering national security by continuing the research she'd been specifically forbidden by the highest possible authority to pursue. Such actions amounted to treason. If the good doctor wouldn't play along with Matt's plans, he'd pull that out of his pocket and give it a spin. He'd be interested to see what she'd say then.

For now, he'd try the soft approach. If her serum proved viable, it could be a great help to them. It could save a lot of lives. And if Sam Archer made a full recovery, he would want to continue the fight. Matt had no doubt of that whatsoever. Sam had been eager to face the zombies even before he was immune, and Matt couldn't imagine that gung-ho attitude changing now.

Having Sam on the team wouldn't solve the zombie problem at its root, but it would help mitigate the damage the zombies caused. That was a damn good start.

By the time Matt's plane landed on Long Island, a helo had been arranged and was waiting to ferry him to Cold Spring Harbor. They landed on the roof of the main building a few minutes later, and lab security was waiting to escort him. He found himself at the most unlikely laboratory building he'd ever seen. It looked like a gingerbread house from the outside, but inside it was pure twenty-first-century tech. He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen it himself.

Private Lewis Kauffman snapped to attention when Matt entered the building and gave him a quick sitrep.

"Sir, the lieutenant woke up about twenty minutes ago and seemed coherent but weak. He fell back asleep after a few minutes and Dr. McCormick has been with him ever since."

Matt could just see a feminine form wearing a white lab coat through the door to an inner room. She was bending over a bed, taking someone's blood pressure. He couldn't see the occupant of the bed-only his arm-but he assumed it was Sam Archer.

"At ease, Private." Matt kept his voice down, as had the private. The lab had an air of stillness that he was loath to disrupt. "I'd like to see your lieutenant and meet the doctor."

"Yes, sir. Right this way."

Private Kauffman led Matt toward the small room. The woman straightened upon hearing their approach and turned to face Matt.

Matt was utterly charmed by the look of her. He had to take a few seconds to get his head together. She was a beauty, and totally not what he'd been expecting. He'd seen her file photo, but the Coke-bottle glasses were gone and her hair was loose. The girl who had looked like a cute young geek in her photo was in truth a beautiful woman with a wholesome kind of elegance about her.

She stepped back, allowing Matt to view the man in the bed. Matt had to give himself a little shake to get his mind back where it should be-on business. Not on the unexpectedly lovely doctor.

"Ma'am," he acknowledged her in a soft voice, mindful of the sleeping soldier in the bed. "I'm Commander Matt Sykes, U.S. Navy." He held out his hand, unaccountably eager to touch her, even if it was only just a handshake. She had a surprisingly firm grip, though he could feel the fine bones of her much smaller hand in his.

"I'm Sandra McCormick. But you probably already know that." A slight flush touched her features, though she didn't smile.

She seemed nervous and maybe a little indignant. It was an interesting response Matt filed away for further study.

"How is he?" Matt shifted focus to the man in the bed. Sam Archer looked like hell. He had deep, dark circles under his eyes and his face was pale under his tan. He looked utterly wrung out.

"His vitals are strong and when he woke, he seemed coherent, though he wasn't awake long. He survived several rounds of convulsions and a period of very high temperature readings. I won't call it a fever, because it wasn't a typical infection. I believe it was a biochemical reaction taking place as the two foreign agents warred within his bloodstream for dominance. I need to do more testing, but I believe the serum I developed, along with his own body chemistry, won the war. He is beginning to stabilize. The next twenty-four hours should tell us a great deal more."

"Is he stable enough to be moved?"

The doctor bit her lip, in the most endearing way, as she thought through Matt's question.

"I believe so. As long as we take certain precautions and the end result is a bed in a hospital or secure lab facility."

Matt decided to test the waters and see how she'd react to his plans. "I'd hoped to move him-and you, Doctor-to Fort Bragg. I have a chopper waiting to take you to the airport and a plane ready to take you both down to North Carolina. How does that sound?"

Her gaze clashed with his in a subtle test of power. "I'd have to make preparations to move him and pack the necessary instruments and supplies should we encounter problems en route. I'd also like to get my clothes and other things from my place."

So then. She was willing to follow his lead. To a point. "That can be arranged."

"If I get a vote, I'd rather go back to Bragg, sir." Sam's weak voice came from the bed, surprising them all.

"Sam." Matt rushed to his bedside. "How are you doing, Lieutenant?"

"I'm all right, sir."

"Tell the truth, soldier. You look like hell."

That startled a cough out of him that turned to a chuckle as Dr. McCormick poured a glass of water on the nightstand at the other side of the twin bed.

"Yes, sir. I feel about as good as I look, I guess."

"Can you be more specific?" McCormick asked gently, flicking a button that raised the head of Sam's bed.

"Sorry, Doc. It's an all-over kind of ache. Nothing hurts worse than anything else. It just all hurts."

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant." The doctor had a suspicious wet sparkle in her eyes as she offered the glass of water, complete with a flexible straw in it, to her patient.

"Not your fault. In fact, from what Lew told me the last time I woke up, your research saved my life. You have my thanks, ma'am."

"You're welcome, Lieutenant."

She turned away after Sam had downed half the glass of water and stopped drinking. Only Matt saw her surreptitiously wipe her cheek and the tear that had fallen down its soft curve.

Matt thought about her reaction. She probably felt guilty. That was good. Matt could capitalize on her feelings of guilt if she began to give him trouble.

He'd prefer that she go along with him quietly, of course, but he wasn't above manipulating her-or anyone, for that matter-to get what he needed. This mission was too important. Too many lives were on the line. Matt had to be ruthless in his pursuit of the bastards that had unleashed this contagion on unsuspecting populations of innocent civilians.

"No trouble remembering anything, Sam?" Matt asked, trying to gauge for himself the man's mental acuity. He'd leave the real testing to the scientists, but he wanted to get a read on Sam before they went any further. "Do you know what day it is?"

Sam dutifully recited the date, much to Matt's relief. He could see relief on the doctor's face, too. She'd be a terrible poker player, he thought. He could see every emotion in those lovely eyes of hers.

Sam fell back asleep a short while later. They left Lew Kauffman watching him while Matt asked Dr. McCormick to accompany him into the outer lab so they could talk.

"Please prepare what you need for travel, Doctor," Matt said crisply when they'd stepped out of the small bedroom. "I'd like to leave within the hour, if possible."

"It may take longer to get everything I need." He liked the fire in her eyes as she challenged him.

"Make whatever preparations you need, ma'am, but be quick about it. Dr. Sellars may know where to find you."

Her face paled as his words sank in. "You think we're in danger here?"

Matt refused to pull any punches or sugarcoat the truth. "You could be. He's already abducted one woman. Sellars is dangerous, and I'd prefer to have both you and Sam someplace where we can protect you."

"I'll be ready as soon as possible."

The harsh truth seemed to ease some of her resistance. Good, Matt thought, she was a sensible woman at heart. He could work with that.

"Private Kauffman and I can help you. It's been a while, but I think I still remember how to follow orders. Tell us what to pack and we'll give you a hand."

Finally, she seemed to thaw. A tiny smile quirked just one corner of her mouth. She soon put Matt and Lew to work packing supplies and a few small instruments. They were ready within forty-five minutes, and meanwhile Sam had woken again and was able to get into a wheelchair with their help. He stayed awake longer this time and conversed with them as they wheeled him to the helo with an escort of lab security guards.

Matt didn't breathe easy until they were all on the plane, in the air, headed for Fort Bragg.

Chapter Fourteen

After a brief stop at the police station in Stony Brook to assure Sarah's chief she was all right, one of her fellow officers dropped Sarah and Xavier back at her house. It seemed like ages since she'd left the house the night before.

"It's good to be home." Sarah dragged herself through her front door and paused in the entry.

Xavier came up behind her, closing and locking the door behind them. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her into his embrace. Her back was warmed by his muscular chest, making her feel safe and cocooned in his strength.

One of his hands slid down over her abdomen and into the loose waist of the scrubs.

"Oh, baby, if I'd known you were going commando under there..." He trailed off as his fingers combed through her curls and slid into her warm heat.

"What? What would you have done, Xavier?" Her voice was breathless as he rubbed her clit.