Oh...hun...this is so beautiful it hurts. In a good way. wow. This line:
Her admission of relief aboard the Odyssey had been a defensive instinct--an attempt to scare him off, not a show of trust.
What an insight...I hadn't thought of it like that, but you are exactly right. And it makes the little look he gives her when he tells her he was relieved too mean so much more, he knows what she's doing, she can't hide from him anymore can she.
arrgg...I'm slain by how great this is...
Well done! :)

ps. hope I haven't double posted...my computer just had a nervous breakdown...