A Home That Far

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Author Note:

AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!! Ladies and gents, i am finally back.

my machine went into the shop and got totally upgraded. i'm back, faster, and better than before. i'm typing my fingers off to try and catch up on what i've written by hand, believe me, i've MISSED MY COMPUTER!!!!!!!!!!! :((

enjoy the new chapter all.
Jem.
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A Home That Far
Chapter 15 Bonds

It had been two days before Kale opened her eyes again. Duncan didn't dare take her back to the Palace of Eternia, he hadn't been informed of Summers' condition, the last thing he wanted was to be carrying Kale to her room and have him suddenly turn up screaming at them. No, Kale would recover in peace and quiet. So far no one knew where King Karnaves' village was. All that Jean Summers knew was that it was on the opposite side of Lake Azra. But Karnaves and his people built their homes so well into the trees, all you could really see were the city gates, and even then you could miss them if you didn't watch were you were going.

Duncan stayed at Kale's side sense the moment he lay her in the bed. Only twice did he leave her side, but never far, and not for long. Until now, she hadn't shown any signs of waking up, nor of her condition before the episode with Summers, at the Avion camp.

Slowly she turned her head to him, a gentle smile across her bruised and swollen lips. Many of the wounds she'd suffered as a dragon, disappeared. He wasn't sure why or how, only glad that they had. The left side of her back however was badly bruised, and her chest from collarbone to pelvis showed a red blistering burn, the only wounds that would be in the same place, had she been human.

She tried to move, but the pain shot through her back, and her breath caught in her throat. "Easy Kale," he said, gently stroking her hair. "You've been through quite a bit."

"Not...T'near's treatments...again?" she asked, a slight giggle to her voice.

"No. Not yet anyway. You know, he's going to wonder about me taking you away all the time, and bringing you back wounded."

"Not...your fault."

"I know."

"Duncan? What...happened?"

"Don't you remember?" She shook her head. "Ok. What do you remember?" She thought for a moment, her eyes searching the ceiling, as she sorted through her clouded memories. Suddenly she blushed, bright red, the most natural color he'd seen on her face sense he'd met her. She looked him up and down, and laughed slightly, before the pain in her chest made her stop. "Ok, I can guess what that was all about." He too gave an embarrassing chuckle, as he looked over his shoulder, as though to be sure no one was listening. "What about after?"

Again she searched her memories, though she was sure something happened, she couldn't make out the images. Bewildered, she looked to Duncan, and shook her head. "Flashes, disjointed...nothing clear...What happened?"

Duncan rubbed his hand around the back of his neck, trying to ease the tense muscles that held his head aloft his body. "You got mad at Summers," he said. "And he got hurt. You then took off, and we had to go and find you."

Kale couldn't believe that she'd be able to injure Scott. Through out her training, she'd never been able to even mess up his hair. She hated his training sessions. He always insisted that she not use her powers.

Then she realized. She could hurt Scott, if she changed. Quickly she searched Duncan's troubled expression. "What...animal, did I become?" she asked.

"That's not..."

"Yes, it is! What animal?"

"Calm down. It won't do you any good to get all worked up."

"DUNCAN!"

"Ok...ok. You turned into the dragon again. Though he deserved your wrath, perhaps not the wound, after all he did slug you pretty hard."

"He hit me?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Then he deserved what he got...everyone knows, not to tick me off...when I'm..."

"I'll make sure the key people in the palace know that. I'll tell them personally, discreetly. Ok?"

"Ok."

"Why don't you get some sleep? You're fighting to stay awake again."

"Hold my...hand, please?"

"Of course I will. Get some rest now."

Duncan emerged from the tiny structure, carrying the tray of empty dishes, and used towels. Kale had drifted off to sleep again, the pain from her wounds taking its toll on her.

He handed the tray to the woman outside, thanking her for the meal, then spotted King Karnaves, and headed in his direction.

The young king was busy giving a lecture on winter to a group of children, once in a while gaining a few giggles, or gasps from the youngsters. At the end, the children cheered, as the king dismissed them, the teacher not sure what to say, as the village offspring scattered around the snow covered buildings.

"Not to worry I'Esha," he said, patting her hand. "They are young. They should be allowed to play."

"Yes, sire. Thank you again for coming."

"It was my pleasure." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and headed over to Duncan. Duncan bowed in greeting. "Good afternoon Man at Arms. How is your lady fairing?"

"Good afternoon your majesty. Kale is doing better. She woke up for a short while this morning. She drank some tea, and soup broth, and went back to sleep."

"That's wonderful," he said, directing him to his common hut. Inside, the floor was covered in bamboo railed flooring with stretched fur rugs. At the center, nearer to the back wall however, was an elegantly hand tied bamboo chair, covered in fine furs. This was the cat like King's throne. "How is she fairing where her wounds are concerned?"

"She is in considerable discomfort, but all things considered, she is doing well."

"The ointments are working then?"

"Yes sire, they are."

"Good...then please tell me, what has you so worried?"

Duncan moved to the audience stool, placed by one of the stewards. The king noticed how reluctant the master was to speak, nodding his thanks to the young steward. Karnaves clapped his hands, and waved his staff away, assured that they would keep others away while the he and Duncan spoke privately. Duncan sighed in relief, before he answered.

"Thank you. You are correct. I am worried. Kale's present state is stable, and she should recover quickly, with rest. But...it is her state prior to her ordeal that concerns me the most."

"Oh?"

"It's a delicate matter, your highness. I'd rather not go into detail. But it would be best, if I could get her back to the palace, as soon ossiossible."

"I see...by the look on your face, that's not an option you'd like to explore."

"You're very perceptive, majesty. I'd rather not return with her just yet. She's not ready, I'm not willing, nor are her people going to understand."

"I'm not sure that I do either."

"I'm sorry, I know I'm being cryptic, especially in light of what you and your people have done to help her but..."

"It's a delicate matter?"

"Yes sir."

"I see...then permit me to guess. She is young...can change into animals, most recently a dragon."

"Yes..."

"Then I assume she follows the strongest biological processes of the more dominant animal?"

"Something like that, sire."

"I see. And she's chosen you?" Duncan nodded, "and her people are trying to keep you two apart?" again he nodded. Karnaves rose and went to a small chest at the wall behind his throne. He took something out and returned to Duncan. "Before I give you this...I must ask you something...and you must answer honestly."

"I would never..."

"I know Duncan. But what I will ask may be difficult for you to answer. Are you prepared?"

"Ask your question."

"Very well. You have known this girl for sometime, you've been her friend, her guide, protector, and rescuer. She has turned to you, rather than her people, in her time of need, and you agreed to help her. My question is a simple one, but not so simple is the answer. Duncan...do you love this girl?"

He'd been ready to answer about anything that Karnaves could ask, about the consequences of his being with Kale. He was prepared to swear to stay at her side no matter what happened. But this one thing, that one word, he was unprepared for. He knew he felt strongly for her. His heart caught in his throat each time she smiled at him. All she had to do was step into a room with him, and his day seemed to brighten. If she had to give him a negative answer, for whatever the reason, he was devastated. He hated it with a passion he never knew he had, when her people tried to keep them apart. And when he held her, his world was complete, and he never wanted to let her go.

But did he love her? He certainly enjoyed his time with her. He'd do anything to keep her from harm. He craved her body to be close to his, and was thrilled beyond belief when she wanted him.

But did he love her? The question indeed was very simple, but the answer wasn't easy, just as King Karnaves had warned.

Did he love her? He searched his mind and heart, long and hard, but the answer was not there. To love someone, to him, meant that one's whole life revolved around her. When they loved, and made love, it was with all their hearts and souls. But what he felt with Kale...was nowhere near that magnitude. He suddenly felt very sick. A familiar feeling that creped in like an old familiar friend, returning from a long absence. How could he do what he did, and was about to do, when he didn't love her?

Disappointed with himself, he looked Karnaves in the eye. "No," he said sadly. "I feel strongly for her yes. Do I love her? No..."

Karnaves nodded, and handed him a key, on the end of a red ribbon. Bewildered Duncan took it. "It is the key to my private retreat, deep in the forest. It is quiet, out of the way, and very private. I will have you and Kale moved there this afternoon."

"But your highness. I don't love her. Why give me a place where I can be alone with her?"

"Because you are unsure. You took too long to answer. A man who felt no strong emotion for her, would have never answered, or lie, and say yes. A man who knew he loved her, would have said so proudly, without hesitation, and more likely would have challenged the reason for me asking.

"But you, my friend, you feel for her yes, but you are unsure just how strongly you feel. There are those who wish to separate you from her, and you fear you may never know your true feelings for her. So you challenge them.

"This way, you will have a quiet place, private and out of the way. You can talk or whatever you wish without interruption, and you can leave whenever you wish.

"A small staff will be staying in a cabin a half mile away. They will bring food for you both, and medicine for her. If you need anything you just have to catch them in the morning."

"But your majesty?"

"I only asked you to answer honestly, and you did. What your answer was had no bearing on weather or not I give you the key." Duncan looked over the gold key in his hand. The ribbon was simple red, and made of a thin strip of cloth, bright red, so as not to be missed. The key was gold, polished to a shine. Weather it was real gold or not, he wasn't' sure. "Go Duncan...she'll need you soon. And I've a feeling her people will be looking for her soon."

Duncan nodded. "Thank you. I'll make good use of my time with her. I promise."

"I know you will."

Jean stroked his hair once more as she waited. They managed to find a specialist with a machine that did a scan of the body, better than a CAT scan or MRI machine. Though she refused to believe the results of the first scan, she demanded a second. She waited now for the results of that test, praying on hope against hope that the first was wrong.

Hank McCoy stepped in the room, followed by professor Xavier and King Randor. None of them looked too optimistic. Jean kissed Scott's cheek and went to meet with the grim trio.

"I'm sorry," Hank said softly, handing Jean the second set of papers and images. Jean quickly went to the head CT scan, looking it over carefully. "The second scans, both of them, confirmed the first. It is a tumour."

Jean put the papers on the table, unable to stand looking at them any longer. "So now what?"

"Well. Conventional treatments are of course out of the question. We are looking into alternative treatments, and I've a line on some specialists that may be able to help."

"Help?! You're talking surgery!"

"At this point, yes. It may be his only hope."

"That's his brain!"

"I know..."

"Do these people even know how?"

"They wont have too."

"HANK!"

"Jean! I can handle this. The sooner I get together with the specialists, the sooner we can get this done."

"What can we do for him till then?"

"Best thing we can do, is keep him sedated. He's undoubtedly in great pain, and because of its position in the brain, his behavior is no doubt being affected. It would be in his best interest to remain asleep."

"Jean. We'll get through this," the professor said.

"Mrs. Summers. I'm very sorry," Randor said, putting his arm about her shoulders. "I promise you. What ever your husband needs, he will get. I will see to that myself."

"Thank you...I'm really sorry...about his conduct sense we got here. I should have guessed something was wrong."

"You couldn't have known," Randor eased. "He's strong, he'll make it through. You'll see."

"We survived so much..." she cried. "We can't end like this...please...help him..."

"We will. I promise, we will. Settling the red haired woman next to her husband's bed, Randor led the pair of men into the hall. "Alright," he said, halting the pair in their tracks. "What is his true condition?"

"I beg your pardon?" Hank asked.

"I, myself, am a husband. If I were wounded as badly as Mr. Summers, I would wish my healers to be gentle with my wife. So...tell me his true condition."

"You'd better tell him Beast," Charles said. "I've a feeling he wont accept doctor patient confidentiality."

"Very well," Beast answered, and showed the head scans to the King. "The tumour is a major problem, but even if we were to remove it, there's no guarantee of a full recovery, or any recovery at all. There was significant bruising to his brain from his head wound. There are no assurances that he'd wake quickly, or at all."

"I see...Hank, what is this clouded area here?"" Randor asked, pointing more to the back of the hon ton the scan."

"That is a bruise. Pressure caused by fluid build up."

"But its at the base of his brain?"

"Yes. I know. He will be lucky to survive, if all else goes well."

"Perhaps...and perhaps luck will need a little help."

The afternoon was cold, but clear, so the trek into the forest was easy to make. The hover sleds skimmed over the snow, arriving at a remote mansion like cottage, deep in the forest.

The provided staff opened the doors, lit the fires, and spread out the warm furs from the vehicles. They stocked the kitchen with small finger foods, and provisions for tea, coffee, and juice. It was only when the attendants went to bring Kale inside, that Duncan made any objections.

Kale was securely wrapped in warm blankets, with enough support through her back that it didn't hurt when she was moved. Gently he lay her down in an oval bed, cushioned by thick furs, deep padding, and soft pillows.

He removed the support ties, and made sure she was laying comfortably, before he left her, sleeping, to secure the doors as the staff and vehicles left.

It was now late night, and Duncan sat leisurely in just his pants, shirt and winter fur cover around his waste, watching the fire burn, as Kale carefully crawled out of bed, and cuddled close to him. "Hey? When did you wake up?" he asked the barely clothed woman.

"A while ago," she answered, threading her arms as best she could, around his waste, resting her head on his abdomen. "I figured sense you wont come to bed, I'd best come to you."

He rested his hand on the back of her head, stroking her hair. There were many questions running through his mind. How much did he care for her? Was he only attracted to her for her appearance? Or did he find something appealing about her ability? Or was she just a convenience for his awakening libido, to exhaust his many years of celibacy? He wasn't sure. How could he do those things to her, till he knew how he felt?

"Is something wrong?" she asked, trying to turn to face him, only ending up turning over on her back, her head lying across his lap.

Duncan smiled slightly, shaking his head. "Nothing you need to worry about." How lovely she looked in that position, so relaxed, so exposed. Why did he suddenly think that?

"Then maybe you can tell me. Where are we?"

He smoothed her hair over her cheek. "King Karnaves' private villa," he answered, feeling the heat in his body beginning to grow. But why? "He thought we could use the time alone. How are you feeling?"

She pulled his hand down between her breasts, pressing his fingers closer to feel her heart pounding within. "It's not going away," she said, releasing his hand, stroking his arm. "I'm sore, I'm tired, I'm hungry, and...I want a bath."

"I think we can take care of that." He reached into a box next to him, and removed a small jar. "The King provided some medicine for you. Turn over. I'll rub this on your back."

"You say the sweetest things," she laughed, rolling off his legs. He pushed her shirt up over her shoulders, exposing the pattern of bruising across her back. It was hard to believe the impact of the grenade on a dragon, that barely scuffed the scales, could turn to such a deep bruise on her.

Gingerly he spread the fruit scented cream over her skin, noting that her skin was beginning to lessen in tension as the swelling beneath subsided.

It wasn't just that though. As he spread the cream, he chanced a gentle caress on her unbruised shoulder, but as soon as he had, he wondered why. Did he feel some kind of affection that prompted him to touch her this way? With answers not swift in revealing themselves, he returned to just spreading the cream over her back.

"mmmm, that's nice. Smells good too," she cooed. As his hand came around her chest, she turned toward him, trying to bring his hand over her breast. He expected her to do that, and pulled back, allowing her to lay flat on her back, her shirt still over her shoulders at the back, pulling her breasts into two tight attractive mounds, teasing his vision, and tugging at the strings of his libido. Disappointed she took his hand in hers, but he refused to let her manipulate where his hand would rest. "Now I know something is wrong. What is it?" He put the jar aside, playing his fingers with hers. "Don't say 'its not you, its me' speech," she warned. "If you do, I'll go find a cave somewhere with a young man whose willing."

"Then I can't say anything," he said. "I'm sorry, but...it is me. And I'm trying to put it right."

She crawled over to him, sitting up and pulling his arm across her shoulders, her shirt working its way back down her back, letting her breasts relax and gently sway before his eyes, with each breath she took, teasing his eyes and libido. "Tell me, please, before this gets worse, and I won't be able to think straight."

Gently he kissed her brow, still wondering why he would. "King Karnaves asked me a simple question, and I was disgusted with my answer. Because what he asked was so simple, and yet I couldn't answer the way I thought I would."

"What did he ask you?"

"He asked, that with our activities over the last week, and all our efforts to be alone...he asked me...if I loved you?"

She splayed her hand over his chest, admiring the taught material of his shirt, and the way it clung to each of his barely tense chest muscles. She shook her head free of her wandering yearnings, and focused on the words forming in her mind. "You're upset...because you couldn't say yes. Aren't you?"

"How did..."

"Duncan...please. You barely know me. I mean, you know about my family, my abilities, and my past. But really, what do you know about me?"

"Well, I know that you can't ride horses...," he laughed, as her fingers made their way to his abdomen, slowly working the end of his shirt out of his pants, where he'd tucked it in, purposely making it difficult for her initiate any kind of private activity. "...and you seem to get inebriated very easily..."

"Oh NO! You remembered that!? Please don't tell anyone...I'll never live it down."

"And..."

"What's my favorite color?"

"White."

"What? Where'd you get that from?" she asked, following him, as he indicated the dinning area.

He pulled a chair out and she straddled it, facing backwards on the chair but not yet sitting down. "Your hair, and the colors of the animals you change into. They're all white."

"Ah...but that's not my favorite color...or lack of color as the case may be." She had been playing with the blanched tufts of hair on either side of her head, when finally she threw her arms around his neck, ensnaring him in her tangled tresses, trying to kiss him, but not succeeding. "My hair is supposed to be a nice soft brown, and I'm supposed to be able to take on the natural colors of all the animals I change into, save the eyes. I think that's how it works. Anyway...since I changed into the horse...all my hair color and most of my natural skin tones, have inexplicably disappeared. All except my eye color."

"Why?" he asked, untying himself and gently forcing her to sit properly. With a playful huff she sat, and Duncan disappeared into the kitchen.

"Not sure..." she said, stretching her body to the euphoric sensation beginning to spread through her. "...Hank is still examining my DNA sample. He thinks that my suspension may have played a roll, and the use of my powers too soon after waking. What are you doing in there?"

"Getting you something to eat," he answered.

"You can cook?"

"Basic things yes, but...nothing," and he produced an elegant platter of cheeses, dips, crackers, and salad pieces. All elegantly laid out that to eat or remove any of it, seemed a shame, for it would destroy its beauty, "...like this."

"Oh my..." she sighed. "I'm almost ashamed to eat it."

"Well, if you feel that way..." he said, removing the tray.

"HEY! Come back here!" she took the tray from him and put it back on the table, taking a long sugar carrot stick, and carefully putting it in her mouth. But rather bite the delectable vegetable, she gently pressed her lips around it, savoring the natural juices she sucked form the tiny root. Duncan shook his head with a smile. He knew what she was trying to do, she couldn't help it really, and truth be admitted, he was enjoying watching her, as she slipped the carrot between her lips, before finally biting the end off. He put his hand over his face as he suppressed a laugh.

When he lowered his hand to speak, Kale was gone. He didn't have to look far. A pair of slender hands trailed up his thighs, reaching for his waste band. "Kale?" The stretchable fabric gave way to her, opening his trousers.

Quickly he stood, which he really should not have done, as his pants quickly met his knees, along with his underwear. "Kale!" he pulled her up by her arms, making sure she met his gaze. "Kale."

With quick breaths she brought herself to her senses. "Sorry..." she gasped. "I kind of lost it."

"No kidding," he said, quickly pulling up his pants. "I thought you were hungry?"

"I am...I think...I don't know..."

"Logan said this wouldn't fully hit for a couple weeks. What happened?"

"The dragon..." she said, as he made her sit at the table once more. "...the dragon, was full of testosterone, he was following females when he went down. I had to increase my own estrogen levels to overpower the testosterone...that's why I went after Stratos they way I did...I'm sorry, I can't help it."

"I know baby, I know." He secured his shirt and pants with his belt, then slid the salad platter to their end of the table. "Come on, eat up. I'll get your bath ready."

"I'm suddenly not very hungry."

"You're hungry. If anything, eat this. I think you called it watermelon. You said it was your favorite, aside from the sugar carrots."

"I'll try."

"Good enough. I'll get the tub ready. Just when you get in, don't turn into a fish."

"I'll try not to," she laughed.

"Ok. Just eat." As she pressed seeds out of a red piece of fruit, Duncan disappeared to a large room decorated with plants and bamboo furniture. In the middle of the room was a deep pool, about four and a half feet at its deepest, and about nine feet square, with rounded corners. The water was already heated. Kept that way since they had arrived. All he really had to do was lay out towels, nightclothes, and switch on the air pumps.

As he watched the millions of bubbles churn the placid surface to a torrent of waves, he found it oddly similar to what was happening to Kale. For a time, she'd be calm, quite controlled and reasonable, while others...out of control, and sometimes dangerous, like a storm tossed sea. He wondered if he could really have a relationship with someone like that. If he could really handle all the high and low points, or would he get lost along the way.

A slender pair of arms came around his waste, as a warm body pressed lusciously against his back. "Thought you were eating?" he asked. She said nothing as she turned him around and kissed him. The sweet taste of the ripe fruit intensified his response, pulling more of the sweet juice from her mouth. Gently she let him go, kissing her way to his ear.

"I'm not hungry for food any more," she whispered.

The words sent a delighted shiver through his body, as he put his arms around her, lifting her off her feet. His mind swam with thoughts and desires of what he wanted to do to her, of how he could play her body, like a musician plays his instrument. But common sense had to prevail. "Sorry about this," he said.

"About wha..." abruptly she was dropped into the water. She splashed around for a bit, then surfaced, her wet clothes clinging to her every curve. “What was that for?!"

"To calm you down," he answered calmly.

"Well it didn't work!" the look on her face was very dark, angry, as she walked away, to the deeper end of the pool.

He'd been trying to keep her form succumbing to the instincts raging within her, but he never expected her to be angry with him. Then again he wouldn't like getting dropped in the water either.

"I'm sorry," he said, sitting down. "I was only trying to help." He watched as she swam around the shallow pool, removing her drenched and encumbering clothing as she went. He figured she didn't stay mad long, as she swam over to him, underwater, then burst to the surface, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pulling him into the pool.

Now both were completely soaked, he looked over to Kale, a broad smile on her face, as she sensually leaned on the edge of the pool, the browning of the skin around her nipples, just breaking the surface of the water, hinting on the delights that they represented, beckoning him to investigate what the water hid from his sight. "Pay back!" she said.

"Yeah, guess you're right," he said, as she paddled closer, and quickly she found her way around his belt, working it free of its clasp, while trying to pull his shirt free of the tight synch he'd made in his clothing. "Kale, no..."

"What's wrong?"

"I told you. I don't love you...I want to be sure, when I'm with you, I want to know its because I love you, not because I..."

"You'll kill me!"

"Don't be so mellow dramatic."

"Mellow Dramatic? Is that what you think?" Quickly she pulled herself from him, stepping back for only a moment, before striking out with her words. "Did Logan tell you everything about the last time this happened?"

"He said that you were with someone, when they learned what was going on..."

"Yeah, a bouncer from a bar. I dragged him away from his work; not lured, not walked; I dragged him! He was twice my weight if not more, and I dragged him down an alley. When they found me, I had half his clothes off, and he was unconscious, with a major concussion. I was totally unreasonable! I fought my own friends! And they were trying to help me! When they got me locked up back at the mansion, they left me alone, for days. I watched the security footage, once I came around. I fought against everything, and everyone to get out. I even tried digging through the concrete and metal. I nearly died of blood loss from wounds I caused myself.

"Then Logan had an idea. He's a master in the martial arts combat techniques of our world. He used that training to get close to me, and that's when the tapes ended. Logan had made an agreement with the professor, that if he could get close to help me, they would turn off the surveillance cameras, 'to preserve my dignity'. I nearly died cause they wanted to wait this out!"

"Kale..."

"Don't you get it!!! I can't wait this out!!! There is NO WAITING!!!"

"Where are you going?!"

Kale picked up a thick towel, and headed out of the room. "To find someone who will help me!"

"KALE! NO!! You'll freeze to death before you get two miles!"

"Better than going through that again! Alone, with no one to help me!"

Duncan came up beside her, pulling the towel from her hands. "You mean to bed you," he said, the sting in his voice was more for himself than for her, but still she slapped him. Hard enough to leave a red imprint of her fingers along his cheekbone.

"I can't help what I am. Nor can I control what happens to me. If you won't help me..."

"I never said I wouldn't!"

"YES YOU DID!"

"I said I wanted to know for sure if I loved you, before we went further with us!"

"You already know the answer to that. You don't..." She staggered back, trying to keep her legs from buckling. Euphoria spreading through her like wild fire. She could feel the heat, the tingling in her body spread faster and faster, like repeated waves on the shore, never ceasing, never letting up, not waiting for the sand to settle before being stirred up again.

Duncan pulled her to him, her naked flesh felt warm, even through his soaked clothing. Perhaps there was no time to wait, perhaps the time to find answers would later come. There would be time for that, when she was more reasonable, more in control of herself. Right now, she needed him. More to the point, she needed what he could give her.

"Answers will come," he said, stroking her hair. "For now, I'll do what needs to be done." She heard something clank to the floor, and when she looked up to him he was removing his shirt.

Afraid that he would change his mind, she kissed him, pulling him to her, pulling at his clothing. Abruptly they dropped to the floor, a heap of heated flesh, and basic desires. Never before had the walls of the private retreat been witness to such acts as that which followed. And if they could talk, they would probably just stand there, gasping, unable to put into words the sight of the two humans, writhing on the floor, screaming for each other, and with each other's ecstasy. Perhaps it is best that walls can't talk, for neither Kale nor Duncan, would want this to be known, when they themselves would prefer to forget.