Chapter 4

MEANWHILE::

"You know its for your own protection, Kat. Its not like I'm doing this because I need to control you."

"But I don't like it."

"Nobody likes it. I'm doing it for your own good. I've seen how you're looking at Mike."****

"But Eric-"

"Its OK Kat." He puts his arm around her shoulders. "Ill stop it when we drop them off at Lyn'knoll. We're getting close."

She pushes his arm off of her, walks over and sits down in a chair with her arms crossed and a shot-down look on her face, almost like she's about to cry.

"You don't understand" she says. "I like him a lot-"

"Mike?" Eric says, surprised.

"No no no, Daniel. We just, I don't know, go together well."

Eric shakes his head. "No, you don't. You're confused. You just think that because you-" He stops, with Kat knowing exactly what he was about to say.

"That's not the reason," Kat explains. "There's something about him. Something else, something I like that you can't understand…"

"What's to understand? He isn't right for you," Eric says in a low tone. Kat protests, but he holds up a hand. "Quiet. Just be quiet."

"You can't tell me what to do!" Kat shouts, standing up quickly. They're silent for a moment before Eric says in a very matter-of-fact tone "Yes I can." Defeated, Kat sinks back down into the chair, her head in her hands. "Why are you doing this? Why to me?"

Eric puts his hands on her shoulders, encouraging her to look up. She doesn't.

"I only want what's best for you," he says soothingly.

"Then let me be with-" She begins, but he shushes her. "I want to protect you," Eric continues. "I want to make sure you're safe and sound, and this is the only way I can." He steps back from her.

"I can protect myself." Kat says in a halfhearted tone. Eric nods. "I believe that. But not enough to let you do it."

"But Eric-"

"But nothing, Kat. I'm just trying to protect you."

She glares at him with the hatred of a thousand Templar. "I'll show you I can protect myself!" Kat shouts as she lunges herself onto Eric.

THUMP

The glasses on the table rattle.

"So, um, I guess that clears everything up... I-I gotta go now." Natani says nervously, as she gets up from the table, almost knocking it over. You sit there awkwardly, blushing, and not looking at anyone until lets-go-have-fun-and-drink-too-much-milk Flora swaggers over to you and clumsily says "Wh-*hiccup* what was you to talking abouut?"

"Um, nothing." You say, quickly averting your eyes from the suddenly nude Flora. "Heh, sorry Daniel" Trace chuckles, as he rushes over "It's time for bed now, Flora. Grab your clothes and lets go to your room."

"But I don' wanna!" She says, almost falling over, but Trace catches her, and carries her down the stairs. "See ya tomorrow, Daniel!" He says over his shoulder as Flora licks his neck.

"Heh, sure." You say nervously.

"Get off me, Kat!"

"NO!" Protests Kat as they roll on the floor.

"I said, get OFF!" Eric shouts as anger rushes through him. He throws Kat off of him and she lands next to the door, hitting the floor. She gets up in a hurry and opens it. She looks over her shoulder at Eric, who's still on the floor looking at her, and she starts to sob quietly as she slams the door behind her and runs down the hall towards the rooms.

Eric sighs as he gets up off the dusty floor. "You've done it now, Eric" He says to himself, brushing off his clothes. He picks his glasses up off the floor. "It'll take weeks to get her calmed down enough for her to even be in the same room as me." Trace opens the door and looks in. "I heard something hit the floor. Is everything ok?"

"Yes," Eric replys, adjusting his glasses. "just tripped and fell is all. I'm alright, thanks for asking."

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow, then. Got to go watch over Flora tonight. She had a bit too much to drink."

"Ok, good night!" Eric says as Trace closes the door. A few minutes later, he hears a muffled "Flora, get off the table, its time for bed." and a loud "NEVER!" followed by a sex-crazed kitty saying "Come an' get me, Tracy!" "No, Flora, get back here!" and loud footsteps running throughout the halls. Eric chuckles. "At least they're having a good time." He says to himself.

You yawn. "I'll just grab another glass and be off to bed." You say to yourself. As you reach the pitcher, Eric pops out of nowhere (as he did when you met him) and you drop your glass on the deck and it shatters. "Sorry about that." He says, looking at the shattered mess of glass. "I'll get Evals to clean that right up."

"Hi, Eric" You say, still standing there, holding your hand like you had a cup in it.

"I need you to talk to Kat for me. Something happened to her, and she's not coming near me. I don't know why."

Still a little in shock, you reply "I-I suppose I could. I was just going to grab some more water and go off to-"

"So you'll talk to her tomorrow?" Eric interrupts. "Great, thanks." He turns away. "Evals!" He shouts, scaring you once again. "Whaddya want?" Evals replies.

"Come over here and pick up this glass before someone steps on it."

"M'kay. Ill be over."

Eric waves a good night and wanders over and starts conversing with Keith and Natani. Disappointed, you turn around and walk down to the kitchen and get a glass of water and walk back to your room, passing a running Trace with an annoyed look on his face. He skids to a halt. "Have you seen Flora anywhere?" he asks, short of breath. "No, I'll tell you if I do." "Ok. Thanks." He replies and runs off down the hall.

When you reach your room, you go in and set your drink down on the dresser, take off your shirt, and lazily throw it onto the floor, climb into bed and pull the blanket over yourself. You start to drift off to sleep when something nibbles your ear. You launch out of bed, hitting your knee on the nightstand trying to light the lantern. Once you get it lit, the panicked look drops off your face when you see Flora laying there on her back pawing at the air. She looks over at you. "Whats wrong, foxy-boy? Did I scare you?"

Panting, still a little startled, both from her and Eric, you say "Half to death... I'm gonna get Trace now."

"Nononoono!" She says, rolling around in the bed, almost falling off. "Don't tell Tracy! We're playing hide and seek!"

"I've got to. He's been looking for you for a while." You open the door to the hall and step out. You hear a sad "Aw, man!" as Flora swaggers out of the room next to you. Just then, Trace turns the corner at the end of the hall. "I knew I heard your voice." He says as he walks towards Flora, who's in the middle of the largest yawn you've ever seen. "C'mon kitty. Time for bed. Thanks, Daniel. Where was she?"

"She was in my bed when I was laying down to go to sleep, and she nibbled on my ear."

"Ha ha ha!" Trace laughs. "Well, good night, Daniel." "Good night, Trace"

"Good night, Danny." Flora says as they walk down the hall. You go back into your room, put out the lantern and go to bed. Just as you get comfortable, you hear loud banging sounds coming from on deck. 'What happened now?' you say to yourself, as the noises continue.

End Chapter 4