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Learning to Live
Chapter Seven: New Home
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(Knives)
I stepped out of Luke's jeep and found myself under a large awning for a two story building sporting an imitation wood sign naming the place as Morgan's Bakery.
It was just after work, I was unsure about what I would find here at this bakery. The location of the bakery was at the edge of the business district, in the center of the block tucked between four other buildings.
Luke pushed opened the door making a little bell jingle from somewhere in the shop, and called out, "Hey Lily!"
"I'm in the back!" a woman's voice called out from a door leading into the back rooms.
"Right, wait here Joey… I'll talk to her first."
I nodded silently as he disappeared through the door leaving me to stand in the center of the main room of the shop.
Taking that moment, I examined the place. Glass cases lined the walls containing various kinds of breads and pastries. The low counter was decorated with little drawings and scribblings, like those of children.
The large glass windows on the front were colorfully painted with the current sales and offers. It was an intriguing place. It definitely smelled of bread and sugary toppings. And it had a very full feeling to it… not like it was stuffy or anything, but merely… whole.
My mental probes still watching the house suddenly sensed movement; I reached out my mind to the area of movement. Unexpectedly, I actually sensed Kestrel; part of her mind had opened up and was reaching out the same time mine was. For a split second our minds touched and I was shocked to feel the soft familiar force behind the walls she had put up.
Kestrel…? Are you still in there?
A sharp nervous laugh startled me from my thoughts and Kestrel's mind receded behind her walls again and she was gone. I turned my head to see Luke come back into the main room. He gave me a big smile and clapped his hands, "She's alright with it!"
A woman with short, unruly hair and glasses pushed her way past Luke and came to stand in front of me, she jabbed her hand out to shake mine, "If Luke has explained your situation to me correctly, you need someone to watch over your girlfriend while you are at work?"
Hesitantly shaking her hand, I nodded, "Yes."
She smiled, and released my hand "I'm Lillian, by the way."
"Joey."
"Joey…" She tilted her head to the side and a curious look entered her eye.
"What?"
"Do you have a nickname?"
"Huh?"
"Well… No offence… but 'Joey' really doesn't fit you."
I blinked in surprise, "Uh, well..." This was unexpected. I seriously considered telling her my real name. Being called 'Joey' felt too strange. It was like I was taking on the persona of the dead captain, even though he was a long and distance memory.
"You may call me Knives." I finally said.
She nodded, and smiled, "Better. Anyway, Knives, I would be most happy to help you care for your girlfriend. We have lots of space, and really… leaving her alone and helpless like that…"
She left the sentence unsaid, and warmly smiled once more, "So? Shall I get our guest room ready?"
Taking one more look around the bakery and at both Luke and his sister, I nodded. Kestrel needed an atmosphere like this. It was something I couldn't at the moment supply and was being offered to me.
But this "offer" just like it had been with the sheriff… I couldn't let it fall into a debt.
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We arrived back at the old house just as I began sensing movement within the house, if this was triggered by out arrival or not I wasn't sure.
I opened the door to see Kestrel peeking out of her room, the second she saw Luke behind me she popped her head back into the room, disappearing.
Before striding after her, I told Luke what he could load into the jeep and what to leave behind. He nodded, smiling to himself.
Entering the room I found Kestrel at the other side of the room peering out the window, "So. You learned to walk on you own, now?"
She looked at me, blinked then looked quickly away.
Walking around the bed to stand behind her I cupped my hand on her shoulder and drew her towards the door.
Instantly she ducked under my hand and backed away.
"Kestrel, we must go." I said forcefully.
In answer, she stubbornly plopped herself down on the floor.
Crouching down beside her, I shook my head, "We haven't time for this, Kes."
She continued to refuse to look at me. I sighed angrily and reached out to pull her to her feet, but in a shocking abrupt show of agility she avoided my hands and crawled over the bed to the other side of the room.
Standing, a little dumfounded by this, I stared at her. She peered over the bed at me, finally meeting my eyes. There was a tinge of mischievousness in her eyes.
The door behind her opened, making her shriek and jump back over the bed to stand behind me, glaring out from behind me at Luke who had just entered.
Luke stood in the entrance looking a little confused.
I burst out laughing, heartily, and quickly turned around and swept Kestrel up into my arms, she gasped at the sudden height and clutched my neck as if for dear life.
I laughed again, and headed out into the living room, "I'm going to put her in the jeep before we get the rest of the stuff." I said to Luke over my shoulder.
"Alrig--"
Kestrel suddenly making a scream, her body in my arms suddenly tensing up, cut Luke off and she struggled to escape me.
"What th--" Seeing the open front door, something clicked. I closed the door with the tip of my foot and suddenly Kestrel went silent.
"Wha… what was that?" Luke asked, looking absolutely stunned.
"She's afraid of the outside."
"What? It is something like agoraphobia?"
"Must be. I think it's a side effect of the attack on her."
"Well, now what?"
Examining her face closely I got an idea, I hoped it would work. Shifting her position in my arms so that I could touch the back of her head I closed my eyes. I knew what part of the brain to effect so it should be no problem.
Her mind was too preoccupied with her fright to sense my shallow intrusion, suddenly her eyelids flickered and slowly closed.
Luke, who had seen Kestrels eyes close like that, narrowed his own. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She's just asleep."
"What did you do?"
I shook my head dismissively, "Not now, I don't know how long this will last we must hurry."
"Alright…" he said hesitantly.
Quickly I left the house and strapped her into the jeep, and the headed back in to the house to help Luke with what little more we had.
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Lillian was there to meet us at the front of the bakery when we got back about an hour later. Kestrel hadn't woken yet and for that I was glad. The day was just coming to a close and all I wanted was to go to sleep.
"This is her?" Lillian asked, examining the sleeping woman in my arms as I took her out of the jeep.
"Yes."
Suddenly Lillian smiled in greeting, "Well hello there."
I glanced down to see that Kestrel's eyes were no longer closed but staring at Lillian, and looking warily at our surroundings. She looked up at me and her eyes pleaded with me.
"She wants to be inside," I explained to the others.
Lillian nodded, "Well follow me, I'll show you the guest room.
I was lead into the back room and up a set of stairs to the second floor and then to a room, one of four in a hallway. The room itself was plain for the most part, a large master bed in the center of the room, a desk, a low couch and a door off to the side leading to what looked like a bathroom.
"We'll let you get settled in." Lillian smiled and she and Luke left, Luke setting down the three boxes, which held what little belongings we had.
I set Kestrel down on the bed and sat next to her yawning. Looking back at the bed and the couch I sighed. I really didn't relish sleeping on a couch again.
But sleeping in the same bed as Kestrel…? That was even worse, wasn't it?
"Aww, screw it." I said, and flopped my back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. And before I knew it, I was asleep.
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GAH!! Flaming fireballs of the high heavens! I'm sooooooo sorry! "I promise it on Sunday the least" my ass! Jeeze... well fate and other circumstances prevented the update on Sunday, be here it is now. LATE! When can I promise next chapter? I'm not making any promises... 'cause the next week is unwritten just like next chapter! So! I'll get it to you Soon(TM). Three months later... Just kidding.
Heh. No reveiwer responses this time either... too tired. Oh and the Live Journal has two new pics, one of Knives holding Kes in his arms, Cute! XD and one of Luke and his sister Lily.
Thanks to those who did review! You all, I love you so much! -Hugs and cookies for all-
Blu-Chan
DynastyDrummer
Desmonia
Rosebud
sakurasango
