" He burst out laughing, and she with him, but her laughter had a hysterical edge to it that he didn't like." He burst out laughing, and she with him, but her laughter had a hysterical edge to it that he didn't like. He crawled over to the bed and pulled her off it into his arms. She continued laughing for a minute, the laughter melding into tears. He held her against him tightly, and felt his own hysteria edging up into his chest, constricting his throat and making it impossible for him to say anything of comfort. Marcia swallowed hard and took a deep breath, wiping her face with the cloak. "Well, that certainly isn't going to help," she said, her voice only quaking a little. Mike found swallowing difficult, but he managed to say in a trembling voice, "No, I don't suppose it will." Their eyes met and locked. She grabbed him around the neck and pulled him into a fierce kiss. |