The characters and setting are owned by the Sci-Fi channel and L. Frank Baum.

I want to express my gratitude to those who responded to the third chapter. I especially want to thank…

MythStarBlackDragon (Maria) – I agree he should have told Cain, but I have to throw in some twists :) and safarigirl83 – thanks for the input on the ending…the "agree to disagree" is one of my favorite lines so far.

And to those of you who said they love this fic, love the plot line and can't wait for more…here is the fourth installment. I know it is a short one, but the next will be a nail biter. Hope you enjoy.

Let me know what you think.

As always, thank you for reading!

Chapter 4: Reunion

Many thoughts ran through DG's head as she stared out the window of her bed chamber, much like she had done the night she had left. The view did not hold the same beauty and tranquility for her as it had a month ago. It wasn't because the snow had melted leaving the ground dark and muddy, or the overcast day that made the area seem shadowed and detached. It was her eyes that had changed; had seen too much, had felt too much. Zero and Cain made certain of that.

DG was still dressed in her worn and dirty night clothes, weary and somewhat dizzy at the just completed journey. It had taken her and Jeb four days longer than normal to reach Finaqua, and as usual, she was to blame. The first couple days of travel she was able to keep up with Jeb's pace, but as the days wore on it got more difficult. Longer were their rests and shorter were their jaunts. This last day had seen twelve hours of fitful sleep and only four of walking, and still she was wiped out. The maze had been a sight for sore eyes, quite literally, and the grounds when they reached the other side washed relief over both of them.

Upon entering the palace, two guards visibly blanched at the sight, more than likely hers, not his. Jeb stood straight and tall, doing a remarkable impression of his father, and told the men to tell the royal family that their daughter was back. If their expressions had seemed startled at their arrival, it was nothing compared to the look of sheer astonishment at his statement. Quietly and hesitantly they explained that the Queen and Ahamo had taken Az to the Other Side in order to see, as they put it, a "special-aste," to help her get better. According to the guards they were also hoping to find DG since, upon seeing the travel storm, they assumed she returned to her other home.

It had been a crushing blow that they weren't there to comfort or fawn over her injuries, as childish as it sounded. Jeb had tried to place a consoling hand on her shoulder but she backed away, still not allowing anyone physical contact.

"I'll be escorting the Princess to her room," Jeb had declared, allowing no room for an argument. "Have the person in charge report there at once. Tell them Princess DG has returned." With that the two of them walked on through the long corridors to her quarters. Since then she had been staring despondently out the window.

The door swinging open only to slam brutally into the wall, imbedding the handle in the process, broke her out of her self-pity. Emerging from the hall was the man she had been running from. Groaning inwardly she watched as Cain crossed the room at an astounding speed. DG noted that he wore his usual garments, hat included, and still seemed larger than life. However, there was an ashen quality to his face that was just discernable around his furious expression.

"What the hell did you th…" he was practically screaming and then cutoff short when he had crossed enough of the distance to get a proper look at her. The ashen quality increased tenfold in a matter of seconds. She watched him swallow, open and close his mouth several times but never managed to finish his question.

Cain could have been a statue standing there in the middle of her room were it not for the heaving of his chest. His eyes grazed over her, taking in her injuries and worn condition. They lingered on her misshapen arm for many moments. This jaw visibly tightened as his gaze moved to the swollen and bruised left side of her face for which she could still not open her eye.

Calming herself, reciting over and over in her head that she had to remain collected, she spoke. "Please finish your question, Mr. Cain." Her voice was strong, but it was definitely constricted. The formal name made Cain's eyebrows knit but he said nothing, did nothing, so she continued. "I believe you were going to ask me why I left?" she paused, waiting for a response that didn't come. "I planned to go back home," she snorted slightly. "Didn't work out too well, did it?" laying her left hand gently on the side of her mangled face and then dropping it down to her side.

"This is your home," was the quiet, commanding response from Cain.

"You are mistaken," she said sadly. They stared at each other for a moment before DG turned away to face the window again. "It turns out I have no home," sighed DG.

She could feel more than hear his approach as the hairs on the back of her neck tingled and started to stand on end. When his hand came down on her good shoulder she recoiled so quickly that she slammed her broken arm into the windowsill. Releasing a strangled cry, she closed her eyes tight at the contact and grabbed her useless arm to try to ease the excruciating pain.

Back pressed against the cool glass her eye fluttered open only to see Cain reaching out for her again. "NO!" she near bellowed, sliding to the right along the window then the wall. "Don't," it was much quieter.

Turning on her heel she retreated to the bathroom, tears flowing freely down her cheeks from both pain and embarrassment. DG had seen the look of worry and alarm on Cain's face at her outburst. This wasn't how they had planned it. She just couldn't seem to overcome the fear of being touched, by anyone, not even Cain.