Now that was easier than he thought it was gonna be to get her in his room, but s till: there's somethin' a little tense about this whole thing. What the hell's on that tape?

He needs to know. It's sure got her rattled.

The ride up to the fourth floor is equally quiet; this ain't the time for no idle flirtation. He ain't gonna put no moves on her or nothin'. Once they're in the elevator, he rests his hand on her shoulder, but that's it. It's a move he could use on any friend and it wouldn't mean much more, except... it does. This thing they got is the one thing he don't want to lose. Tape's a tape, but there's only one Freckles.

And if he doesn't stop actin' like a damn lovesick puppy, he ain't never gonna get nowhere. Wasn't no damn boy scout who survived a plane crash and gettin' shot on a raft and tortured by a member of the Republican Guard and captured by Others. He wasn't no sorry predictable romantic.

No, he's got to be true to himself. As they leave the elevator and get to the door, he slides the key in, holds it open for her.

"Ladies first."

Already, a little bit of a plan's forming. He can't help it: that's what he does and it's who he is, and she knew that gettin' into this whole thing together.