Several nights later, True woke to the sound of many people yelling outside in the street. She ran to the window and craned her neck to see what everyone was looking at. Rhianna ran into the room just as she figured out what was going on.
"The place Lauren is stayin at is on fire!" True threw her clothes on and shoved her way past her cousin. "Ya comin?"
Rhianna, who was already dressed as she had slept herself out, darted after her. When they reached the house they realized there was a big problem. True could see Lauren at the window, smoke and flames all around her.
"Ah fuck!" She turned to Rhianna. "I gotta get up there! I can get the fire under enough control to get her out."
"No True! Remember what happened with Deri!" She took True's hand. "I'll come with you. You can use my energy to keep the fire at bay when yours wanes."
True wanted to argue, but she knew she had to move quickly. "All right, c'mon."
They hurried over to the side of the house and found Vin and Chris attempting to put the fire out with buckets of water. "Ya gotta let me and Rhianna in there. I can get the fire under control an can get Lauren out but Im gonna need her to keep me strong enough."
"No way!"
"Ya aint goin in there!"
"Ya aint gonna get this fire out in time. She's gonna die!"
Vin knew this was true, but he didn't want True to get hurt. He remembered what the girls said about the Elders not wanting them to be together because of what can happen when they combined their powers. Still, he was well aware that the girls were Lauren's only hope. "Okay, but be careful."
True closed her eyes to center herself and took Rhianna's hand. Vin and Chris looked on in wonder when a red glow emanated from their clasped hands. "Stay close an don't let go." At Rhianna's nod, True walked into the building. True pushed the fire away from them making it look like it was bouncing off the air around them. They quickly made their way to Laurens bedroom and found her on the ground. A quick check found she was still breathing.
"I'm gonna have ta carry her out." True said to Rhianna.
"You cannot not levitate her and keep the fire at bay. You will not have enough strength."
"Well, lessen we all wanna die, I'm gonna have ta try." Making sure she had the fire under control, she lifted Lauren from the floor and guided her out of the door and towards the steps. Rhianna felt True's power starting to fail and moved first one hand, then the other to touch her cousin's temples, being sure to never lose contact with her. The red glow grew to encircle all three of them.
True felt more energy surge through her and moved faster, knowing she didn't have long before she passed out. She saw Vin and Chris reaching for Lauren and gave one last powerful shove to push her out the door.
Rhianna saw True stumble and grabbed her. With a strength she didnt know she possessed, she picked True up and dove outside, not releasing her until she hit the ground. She stood up and brushed off her pants, then held out her hand to help True up. When she didn't grasp it, Rhianna looked down.
"Chris! Vin!" She yelled and dropped to her knees beside her cousin, running her hands over True's body. She did not like what she found. "We have to get her up to Nathan's!"
When True woke, she opened her eyes to find Rhianna, Vin and Chris at her bedside. "Don't ya got anythin better ta do then stare at a person while she's tryin ta sleep?"
Rhianna smiled. "Not when that person has been in a coma for 3 days."
"What?" True sat up quickly and the whole world spun. "Ah Shit…I'm gonna…" Rhianna shoved a basin in front of her just as she started to vomit. Once done, she flopped back down against the pillow. "Let me try that again…What?"
"You overexerted yourself saving Lauren from the fire and put yourself in a coma! We have all been worried nigh to death about you!"
"So Lauren's okay? She aint hurt?"
"Nope." Vin answered. "I'm real proud a ya Sunshine." He pulled her into a hug. "But ya ever wear yerself down that much again, I'm gonna wear my belt an hand out on yer backside. Ya hear?"
True smiled meekly. "Yes Sir."
"And if you even do that to me again, after Vin's done with you, I will kill you, then heal you so I can kill you again!" Rhianna took True's hand. "You scared me Ennolid."
True looked up in shock. Rhianna rarely admitted when she was scared. She pulled her cousin into a heartfelt embrace. "I know. I'm sorry Rhi."
The moment was interrupted by a quick knock, then Lauren entered. "True! You are okay!" She hurried to her bedside and gathered her in a hug. "I was so worried!"
"I'm fine." True stated as she extricated herself from Lauren's arms and settled back against the pillows. She was a little uncomfortable with her teacher's display of affection.
"I do not think I will ever be able to repay you for what you did for me."
"Ah, it wasn't nothin." She replied, noting that Rhianna's part had been removed from the story. "Course, ya can look the other way the next time I get inta trouble, an we'll call it even."
Lauren chuckled. "Deal!"
Later that week
True yawned as she took her seat at the table then mumbled a good morning to Rhianna and Josiah, the only two sitting at the table.
"You all right child?" Josiah asked.
"Yeah, jist tired."
"When arent you?" Rhianna asked. "You are most definetly not a morning person. I would rather wake up a grizzly bear than you!"
True stuck her tongue out at her, then started eating the food Josiah dished on her plate. "Maybe if'n somebody would let me have some coffee I'd wake up." She quipped, giving a pointed look at Josiah.
"I don't think so." He stood and put his hat on. "I've got some things to do at the Church. Vin, Buck, JD and Chris are riding out to Yuma city today, so it's me, Nathan and Ezra for the next few days."
"Why'd they go there?"
"Well, the town donated a plot of land adjacent to the school. The guys are going to get some supplies to build a new home for Lauren."
"Oh, that's nice. Guess she cant live with Mary forever."
"Nope." He dropped a kiss on each girl's head. "I want you home right after school. No playing until your homework is done."
Once he was gone, True grabbed his cup and downed the remaining coffee. Rhianna grinned and filled it up again. At her cousin's questioning glance she smiled. "You will be in a ghastly mood today and I do not feel like dealing with the fall out."
Unfortunately, since it had been a while since True had had coffee, she became a little too awake. Lauren was on strike two already, and it wasn't even noon! As soon as she was released for lunch, True was out the door.
"What is wrong with ya today?" Creed asked. "You're gonna get into trouble if ya don't settle down."
"I dunno. I just hafta move, is all."
"She had coffee today." Rhianna whispered to Creed. "It seems my cousin can no longer tolerate the caffine."
Creed shook his head. "She's gonna get it for sure."
"Nah. Vin an Chris aint in town fer the next few days an 'Siah and Nathan wont do nothing but make me go ta bed early."
"Uh huh." Creed playfully shoved her. "Race ya to the tree?"
"Go!" True yelled and took off. Creed rolled his eyes at Rhianna. "Maybe I can tire her out some."
"Keep dreaming lover boy." She teased. She knew he was sweet on True, only he didn't know it yet.
"Shut up!" He grinned and took off after True. As he started for the tree, he saw True run into Jonathan as she looped around to return.
"Watch where yer goin dip shit." True growled.
"Piss off."
"Ohhh, big words from a little dick." True replied, hoping for a reaction. She had a lot of energy and needed someone to expend it on.
"Bitch, I'm gonna make ya shut yer mouth."
"C'mon then. Its been a while since I got to kick yer ass!"
Jonathan hesitated. He would never admit it, but the girl scared him. She always had this crazed look in her eye when they started with each other. Still, everyone was watching so he couldn't back down without looking like a sissy. He bolstered his courage and gave her a hard push.
"That all ya got? Really?" She giggled and slammed her fist into his gut.
Jonathan doubled over. Before he could retaliate though, Lauren arrived and stood between them.
"What is going on here?"
"I didn't do nothin. She just up an hit me!"
Lauren turned to True. "That true?"
True, still in high spirits, laughed. "Dont ya mean, is that true True?"
Lauren sighed and looked at Martha. She could always count on the child to tell the truth. "Is what Jonathan saying true?"
Martha hated to take Jonathan's side, but she just couldn't lie! "They had words, but Jonathan didn't touch her."
"Thank you Martha." Lauren grabbed Trues arm and pulled her into the school house. "You find yourself a corner." She gave her a little swat to get her moving.
"Aw, man! How long do I gotta stay there?"
"Until I say otherwise. And you can be sure I will be talking to Josiah about this." She smiled at True's shocked expression. "Yes, I know Vin and Chris are out of town. Vin told me to take any problems to Josiah or Nathan."
"Ah hell!" True growled and kicked the wall.
