The shop bell jingled as Roman left. He had found the most conservative yet elegant thing for Rachel that he could find: a deep red long sleeved blouse and black women's trousers. And he hadn't even had to pay for it. He had used the coin that Roland had given the man for the mule back in Pricetown. Or more likely, had given Pennywise.

Pennywise had almost regretted killing the man. Almost. But he had served a purpose. Pennywise hadn't eaten in a few weeks. Flesh was flesh in a world like this. All tasteless and underfed. Children from Earth had been the tastiest treats.

At least his mate had one less thing to worry about. Roman sighed. He still remembered that night that she had woken up from that nightmare. She had been scared to death. At least of Pennywise. Although she had always known he and Roman were the same person, she had always trusted Roman best, maybe even loved him more. She couldn't blame him. Roman was human. He was caring. Pennywise wasn't worried about being caring. He was her monster. Her mate. Roman was more for making love. For making a family. Or at least he would have been had he actually been human.

The blood. Pennywise had made countless humans bleed. Had even made Rachel bleed. But seeing her like this this morning. Seeing her sitting in a pool of her own blood, her face in her hands wailing like some forlorn spirit. That image would probably stay with him for the rest of his existence.

He finally made it to the saloon. Rachel was still in bed, sleeping. The gunslinger was sitting in a chair, his head resting on his hand. He regarded Roman with a cool gaze when he walked in.

"How is she?"

"Still sleeping," the gunslinger responded.

"Good. She needs to rest. Get over whatever's causing her to be so sick."

"You don't think it was just because of her losing the baby?"

Roman set the parcel of clothes on top of a short dresser that was to the left against the wall.

"No I don't."

Roland leaned forward, his hands laced in his lap. "You think he did something to her. Something dealing with magic."

It wasn't a question.

Roman took a deep breath. He glanced over at his wife's sleeping form. "I can read her mind like humans breathe. But last night…" He shook his head. "It was like she wasn't even my wife. Even her smell was…different."

"Different from yours?"

Roman coolly regarded the gunslinger. "You think I'm some kind of monster, don't you?"

Roland stood. "I know I watched a girl somehow convince you not to kill a family last night. And I can't help but wonder if she's had to do that before."

She had. Her own cousin. Not that that was any of the gunslinger's business.

"She's a remarkable woman. And actually I have killed in front of her before. Some human scum who was trying to get intimate with her."

Roland's face seemed to soften. "I'm sorry to hear that. It's a shame you couldn't help her this time though."

"The sorcerer will pay. You can bet your guns on that. And as far as me not being here, I don't have to explain myself to you. But I'm here for her now. And you're just going to have to deal with that."

The two men stared each other down. There was a soft knock on the door. Allie came in carrying an armful of clothes.

"If she doesn't like the clothes, I have a couple of dresses that she can try. They're old. And the bodice might be a little loose for her, but it's something."

She held them out to Roman. He took them. "Thank you."

The bartender glanced over at Rachel. "She still sleeping?"

"Yes," Roman replied.

"Good. Let her sleep as long as she needs. I gather she's just been through hell. Can I ask something? How old is she?"

"Nineteen."

A look of shock came over Allie.

"What?" asked Roman.

"Nothing. That's just…young. Would this have been her firstborn?"

"Yes."

Allie gave Roman a sad smile. "Well you have time. You seem to deeply care for her. She's a lucky gal."

Roman raised an eyebrow. Depends on what kind of luck you're talking about, he thought. But then he smiled at Allie.

"Well I hope I'm more than adequate for her. We are married after all."

"Roman?"

He glanced behind him. She was awake. He set Allie's dresses at the foot of the bed and went to his wife's side. She was lying on her back, facing him.

"What is it, baby girl?"

He put his hand on her forehead. It was still warm, but not quite as much as it had been earlier.

"My stomach hurts."

"I know, kitten. I'm so sorry." He caressed her brow. "Are you hot? Cold?"

"I'm a little chilly."

He pulled the covers up under her chin. "Do you need me to get the doctor again?"

Rachel's face scrunched up. She put her hand over her face and started sobbing. "My baby, Roman. My baby."

"Ohhh, sweetheart."

Roman wasn't sure where to put his hands. He needed to hold her. He didn't care that he had an audience. He pulled her covers down and crawled in and put his arms around her. She curled into his chest and bawled. And he held her.

((((()))))

Roland watched with a sorrowful, anger filled heart as Rachel woke up yet again and start crying. His chest tightened as her husband climbed in bed with her. The clown didn't deserve her. And Roland was becoming sick and tired of watching her hurting. Someone had brought this girl to him, that much he was sure of. And if her husband wasn't going to stand up and actually do something to help her, then Roland was going to have to himself.

"I'm going to get the doctor," he told Allie as he brushed past her.

Allie followed him down the stairs. "Roland, you need to tell me about this girl."

"I don't know much more than you do."

"You said Walter took her. What does that tell you? Why would he bother with someone like her unless he had a purpose?"

"What exactly are you getting at?" Roland whirled around to face Allie.

"He copulated with her. And then she lost her baby. Somethin's not adding up here." Allie put her hands on her waist.

"Maybe his was just too rough with her."

Allie raised an eyebrow. "And I'm sure the fact that she's nineteen years of age doesn't mean anything either right?"

"That's just a coincidence."

"Coincidence is when you have a song stuck in your head and then Sheb plays it on the piano. The fact that this is now the second time that number shows up in this town concerning the Man in Black…" Allie shook her head. "Ain't nothin' good that can come of it, Roland. Nothing."

Roland drew his mouth into a line. The Dark Tower and the Man in Black. Ka had connected Rachel to both. Roland had to protect her. No matter what the cost.

The whole universe just very well may depend on it.


Rachel shivered. She definitely had a fever. Even with the blanket that was covering her and Roman's body warmth, she still couldn't warm up. Roman rubbed her arm and she nestled back against his chest. Her eyes burned. She closed them. It was so quiet and peaceful. She was just about to doze off again when she heard a knock on the door. She didn't even bother to open her eyes. Let Roman bother with whoever it was.

"I'm so sorry for the intrusion, but I came back to see about the girl."

The voice sounded familiar.

"Oh. Someone sent for you?" Roman replied.

"I did."

She definitely knew that voice. Rachel's heart leapt although she couldn't figure out why.

"She has a fever. I keep trying to warm her up, but she just keeps shivering," Roman said.

"Let me see."

That must have been the doctor again. Rachel coughed.

Roman climbed out of bed so that he could let the doctor get to her. Rachel instinctively covered herself back up. Her dress was so tight fitting and the fabric was so light she just as soon have been naked. Maybe that's what Walter wanted. Maybe that was his way of saying 'look at what I have claimed'. Rachel blushed crimson, just adding to the heat that had built up in her face. Pennywise would never have treated her like that. He respected her. Protected her. Or at least he had until last night, which made Rachel wonder just how much power her demon mate actually had in this world.

The doctor sat in the spot Roman had just vacated.

"Are you still feeling any pain?" he asked.

"In my stomach."

"Well that's to be expected." He went to pull back Rachel's sheet, but she stopped him.

"I need to examine you, child."

Rachel threw back the covers to her waist. The doctor started prodding her stomach. She was all too aware of the three pairs of eyes that were watching behind him.

"What are you feeling for?" she asked the doctor.

"To see if you are still bleeding inside." He felt her throat next and then her forehead. "Hmm definitely a fever. I will have to give you something for that. And for the pain. Miss Allie, can you bring me a glass of water?"

Allie left to do as he asked.

Rachel squinted her eyes shut. They burned so badly. She just wanted to sleep. For Roman to get back in bed with her and put his arms around her again. She wished so much that she were back home. Like she should be like Dorothy laying in her bed back in Kansas saying 'I had a dream. And you were there. And you were there'. Allie came back with the glass of water and the doctor opened his little black bag and too out some kind of pouch.

"What is that?" Roman asked.

"Something to help with the pain. It will get her to sleep also."

"Give me that." Roman came and snatched the pouch from the doctor's hand.

Rachel didn't blame him for being paranoid. This wasn't her world they were dealing with. Roman opened the pouch and started examining the contents. Roland joined him.

"Looks like weed," Roland said.

Rachel sat up. "Wait, what?" Weed? Roland smoked pot?

"I don't think he means the kind you're thinking of, kitten," said Roman.

"It's devil's grass," Roland explained.

"Wait, that stuff that grows in desert? I thought it makes people crazy when they ingest it," Rachel said.

"Only if a lot is ingested over a long period of time," said the doctor.

"You're not giving this to my wife," Roman said heatedly.

Rachel flopped back down. She was getting beyond sick and tired of people fighting over what was best for her. This doctor had to know at least somewhat what he was doing. And if it would help her sleep… If it would help her get away from the pain, from the memories, at least for a little while…

"I'll take it."

They all glanced at her.

"I'll take it. Please, I can't take this anymore."

The doctor looked to Roman for approval. Roman nodded. The doctor dropped the fine dark substance into the glass of water and stirred it up. He gave it to Rachel. She sat up and drank it. It tasted bitter, like how she imagined leaves would taste. Definitely not something she would request at a coffee shop. She laid back down and closed her eyes.

((((()))))

"That should help her. If she has any more problems, please come and get me," said the doctor.

"Thank you," said Roland.

Roman shot Roland a heated look. The gunslinger sure was going out of his way to take care of Rachel. Roman thought it was time he and the gunslinger had a little chat.

"You should all probably let her rest. But someone will need to stay with her. Just in case," said the doctor.

"I will," said Roman. He and Roland shared a glance. Roman narrowed his eyes at him.

The doctor left. Allie followed. Roman walked out also.

"I thought you were staying with her," came Roland's voice.

Roman whipped around. He stared down the gunslinger. "You just love being her hero, don't you?"

"Someone needs to be. She needed help. I got it for her."

"And I am grateful for that. But it's the idea of it." Roman crossed his arms over his chest. "The idea that you've…taken this role of protector so much to heart."

"I found her in the desert. She would have died if it wasn't for me."

"True. But you forget she has someone else now. Someone who's been there for her, taking care of her."

"And look what she has been through in just one day."

Roman glared at the gunslinger. He hated that Roland was right. The Man in Black had caught him off guard. Subdued him way to easily. The sad part was, even if Pennywise had been around, what good would he have been able to do? He needed to rest. And he needed to feed.

"I have some things to take care of," he told Roland. "That means you get to play protector while I'm gone." He stepped up to Roland. "But you just make damn sure that's all you play at. I don't want to have to kill you. As much as I hate to admit it, she needs you. Just remember, anything you do with her while I'm gone…Anything…I will know about it."

And with that, Roman stalked off.


She was flying. The landscape of rocky hills and trees zipped past her as she beat her mighty wings. Soon she came upon a canyon. A large, odd shaped structure stood before her. It was like flat topped pyramid, but looked more like something from a sci-fi movie, all metal, more like a building. She hovered at a safe distance from it. As she watched, she heard a loud rumbling noise. With an explosion, a large beam of light, like the ray guns from Ghostbusters, only a million times bigger, shot out of the pyramid into the sky.

Rachel stared up. And up. She knew exactly what the beam was going for.

The Tower. He was trying to bring down the Tower.

((((()))))

Rachel's bed was shaking. Her whole room was shaking. She sat up. Her room was empty.

"Roman? Roman!"

Roland came in.

"What's happening, Roland?" Rachel cried out.

He rushed to her side.

"Is it an earthquake? What do I do?"

He stooped down, put his arm protectively around her. "It's okay. It'll pass."

Rachel clutched at his chest and he pulled her into his embrace. Where was Roman? Did he leave her again? Was the building going to collapse onto them? After a minute, the shaking stopped.

Roland pulled away so that he could look at her. "Are you okay?"

Rachel nodded. "What was that?"

"Just an earthquake. We have them sometimes in Mid-World."

Roland stood. Rachel shot him a dubious look. Should she tell him about her dream? She was sick and tired of not having anyone to open up to. And she already knew she could trust Roland with her life.

"How long have you been having these earthquakes for?"

"Not too long. Why?"

Rachel sighed. She turned away. Roland crouched down again.

"What's wrong?"

"I think Walter's trying to bring down the Tower."

Now it was Roland's turn to shift uncomfortably. "What makes you say that?"

"Because I saw something. I had a dream."

"When?"

"Just now. Right as the earthquake was happening."

He placed his hand lightly on her back. "What did you see? You can tell me."

"There was this pyramid. It had a flat top. It was in this canyon." She waved her hands about as she talked. "Then there was this beam. This really huge, ginormous beam that just shot up out of it."

"In a canyon, you say?"

"Yes."

Roland sighed. "And you saw this?"

"Um…I don't think I just saw it."

Roland furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"I think I was actually there somehow. But what really doesn't make sense…is that I flew."

"Flew?"

Rachel took a deep breath. Now he was really going to think she was crazy, but she still had to tell him.

"I think I had some kind of out of body experience again."

Roland removed his hand. "What do you mean? You've done this before?"

Rachel started messing with her sheets. "Yes. But it was different this time."

"Different how?"

Rachel met him with as steady of a gaze as she could give him. "Because I had wings."

Roland stared at her.

Rachel's heart was pounding. "And there's something else too."

Roland gave her a nod. "Go on."

Rachel swallowed. She had to tell him. Had to. "I've been in the Tower. I've been in the Dark Tower, Roland."