Kate couldn't help but feel that sense of safety again as he enfolded her in his arms...just held her close, wrapped her up tight against him. It frightened her, to feel that safe....to feel that wanted.

Then all of a sudden his hands were on her legs, hoisting her up to half-pin her to the car, half leave her perched on the edge of the hood, supported less by the car behind her and more by the strength of his grip. The swift action made her supress a squeal of surprise, then laugh as she hid her face against him for a moment. He was going to end up drawing attention to them...but God help her, she didn't care.

For a moment she just held onto him, then drew back to meet his gaze again, losing herself in his eyes.

"Kate, just stay."

Just the word made her want to run...but it hurt, just feeling it. She *wanted* to stay...but just staying this long, seeing Lincoln a second time and holding him this way...she could hear the sirens, feel the blood on her hands...she could see Tom's dead, waxy skin again.

She was poison and she knew it...but Kate didn't think she could survive running again.

"Damn you." she sighed, wrapping her arms around him neck and burying her head against his chest, just holding him close. "Damn you, damn you, *damn* you..."

After a moment, she drew back to look up at him, a small smile tugging at her mouth as she sighed heavily, shutting her eyes as she forced herself to lay her hands against his chest in a gesture to push him away, though she didn't actually push him. "If you don't take a step back, Linc, you're either going to have to finish what you started, or find us a hotel." she finally managed to quip, meeting his gaze.

She couldn't say yes...she couldn't promise him anything...but Kate knew in her heart that she wasn't going anywhere.