A/N: Something I came up with after realizing the relationship Gunther has with his father...This is actually my very first fanfic, but the second one to put up here. I am working on this one and Fate of the Red Roses at the same time...

Disclaimer: The characters belong to The Man.

It was nearing midday and Gunther was still in a meeting with Sir Theodore and Sir Ivan.

Jane was hitting the practice dummy that morning when Gunther came to training later than usual with a bit of a limp.

"Playing sick won't get you out of sparring practice today, bog-weevil." Jane shouted as she saw Gunther slowing approaching.

"Mind your own business…" Gunther growled through clenched teeth.

When he got close enough that she could see his black eye and swollen bruised cheek she asked if he had gotten into another bar fight. "Typical, you are just like your father ."

Gunther narrowed his eyes at her and was about to tell her where she could go when Sir Theodore, who had witnessed the entire thing from the balcony, interrupted.

"Gunther, Sir Ivan and myself would like a word with you immediately."

"Coming, Sir Theodore."

"Jane, you may take a break, but I want a word with you too when we are done." Theodore instructed.

"Yes, Sir Theodore." Jane replied.

As Jane put her practice sword away and watched Gunther go into the Knight's Quarters she wondered what was going on. Probably because of all the fights he has gotten into lately…coming to training late and battered almost everyday now. She thought to herself.

Turning around she saw Jester sitting on the swing, and she decided to join him.

"You sure let him have it didn't you?" Jester said as Jane sat down on the other swing.

"Well he deserved it as always! He is in a meeting with Sirs Theodore and Ivan right now! And they want a meeting with me next for who knows what!"

They didn't notice the time pass them by as they sat there talking and Jane listened to Jester play his lute.

Finally at midday Gunther, Sir Ivan and Sir Theodore emerged from the Knight's Quarters. Jane stood and headed to Sir Theodore, her eyes watched Gunther stare blankly at the ground, standing next to Sir Ivan.

"Jane," Sir Theodore said leading her out of earshot of the others. "You need to stop these childish, disrespectful remarks towards your fellow knight. Because that is exactly what he is. He is not your enemy, he is someone you must always trust and count on in peace and war. He also must be able to count on you in the same ways. "

"But Sir Theod-" Jane started to say.

"Listen to me Jane. Gunther is not as evil as you would like to think he is. You both need to learn to confide in each other and not bicker all the time." Sir Theodore continued, "Sir Ivan and I have an urgent errand to run, you and Gunther practice together. Go easy on him Jane, he isn't well today, and those remarks were highly uncalled for. We will be back later today."

"Yes, Sir Theodore." Jane sighed.

"I mean it Jane." Sir Theodore said looking her in the eye. She nodded. "Come, Sir Ivan."

As they both left on their mysterious errand, Jane walked up to Gunther and asked if he knew where their mentors were going.

Gunther just shrugged.

"Care to spar with me?" Jane asked.

"No." And with that Gunther walked away toward the kitchens.

"Wait up Gunther!" Jane shouted, as she jogged to catch up with him. "I am sorry for my comment earlier. I didn't realize you weren't faking.."

"Perhaps you shouldn't judge someone without the whole story Jane." Gunther replied not looking at her.

"Well, if you weren't so closed up all the time maybe I would know the whole story." Jane said in almost a whisper.

Gunther stopped walking and looked at her. Her green eyes were filled with curiosity and worry. His gaze softened as he stared into those eyes he secretly loved for so long. "Why do you care? What do you care if I fail and don't became a Knight?"

"Because, you have worked very hard for this. Even though I don't like to admit it, you deserve this Gunther. You deserve so much better than to be like your father."

She could she him clenching and unclenching his jaw. "Why have you been late and beaten up so often lately?"

"Just forget about it Jane. It is nothing that concerns you." Gunther said walking away.

Jane knew he wanted to be left alone, so she didn't press the issue any longer. Instead she went on patrol with Dragon and told him what happened.

"Just forget about the miserable short-life Jane. He has done nothing but cause you problems from day one." Dragon said after listening to Jane's rant.

"I know Dragon, but Sir Theodore is right, we have to learn to work together."

O~O~O~O~O~O~O

Two days passed and Jane hadn't seen Gunther at all. Not at training, not at lunch either. She also caught herself thinking about him all the time. Not about how she hated him though. Instead, her thoughts were of how she missed his steel grey eyes, his hands. She worried about where he was, if he was ok. Jane thought about these things mostly at night lying in bed. Then she thought about how she told Jester for the final time that they would always be only friends. No more. No less. It was two months ago, at a ball. He asked her to court him. Gunther was there with a pretty girl on his arm and Jane was fiercely jealous, and Gunther saw it. She never saw him with the girl again.

On the third morning of Gunthers absence, Jane was called

into Sir Theodore's office. "Jane, as you know Gunther is missing. You, and Sir Ivan are to go to his father's house to see if he is there. I have a meeting with the King. Take your sword Jane."

"My sword, Sir Theodore?" Jane asked confused. "Why would I need-"

"You leave know Jane." Sir Theodore replied, ignoring her question.

"Yes Sir."

Once they arrived at the house, the merchant came out and said "I told you an hour ago he is not here!"

"Merchant, you are to stay where you are and let us into the house right now by order of King Caradoc!" Sir Ivan demanded.

"Jane, I will hold him here, you go in and find Gunther." Ivan directed Jane

"Right away Sir Ivan." Jane replied, running into the house.

She found Gunther laying on the floor face down at the bottom of the stairs. One arm twisted the wrong way and a pool of blood under his head.

"He is here Sir Ivan!" Jane shouted. "We have to get him back to the castle now!"