Nate chuckled, " you really think that is going to make a differance? that he heard it from you and not me?"


Scot smiled, " you are beautiful."

"Are you sure your not just saying that cuz I'm in a very nice dress?" she smiled.

"If you took off the very nice dress I would still think that...possibly even more,." he grinned

She just smiled shaking her head. She leaned down and kissed him.

he kissed her back, " was that a good reply?"

"Pretty good"she smiled.

" Well, Dakota, in the morning--I mean, in that part of the morning when the Sun is visible--we can try to find out what, if anything, happened to Nate. Meanwhile, as some of my online acquaintances are fond of saying, I send you a SQUISHY HUG. That's a highly spiritual one, of course."


Danny looked Nate in the eyes--happy to note that the pupils now looked more even. " From things you said while I was waiting with you for the ambulance, I got the impression that you don't expect your father to believe things you tell him. But what the police force tells him, at least is verifiable. If your father has two brain cells to call his own, he knows that unpredictable freak accidents can happen to anyone."

Dakota laughed. "Well thanks for the hug. And I'm sure it won't be hard to find out if anything happened to him, news travels fast on campus."

Nate sighed, " that's not the point officer." he said closing his eyes again, " that isn't the point."


Scott chuckled, " ok."

She just smiled down at him, memorizing his face.

"you tired yet?"

"Okay, cara mia, I 'll come to your dorm early, and we'll have time to inquire about Nate before we go to church."


"Okay, kid, if you care to say what IS the point, at least you have a fair and impartial hearer. And you can call me Danny."

"WHy are you?"she asked.

"Sounds great, see you then," Dakota replied with a grin.