So, here's the next chapter, as promised, before I'm gone for a bit. Thanks for all the awesome reviews, you guys :-)

Disclaimer: There are some bits in here that come from the Host text. About page 261 in the English edition. It all belongs to SM. Also, don't own Star Wars (does Disney technically own it now, or it that not specific enough?)

Right before my very eyes, Jeb's words came to life.

Wanda's informal 'classes' took place each and every night after dinner. She preferred the kitchen, where she would bake bread as she described to us the the majesty of the universe. I chose the hot seat - the warmest section of the counter due to its proximity to the oven - as my assigned placement where I had the flexibility to protect her from any derisive remark or hands that might hit her. However, the necessity of this dwindled past the first week mark. Everyone was used to her. People were starting to accept her. But I sat in the same spot regardless, always ready for any surprise.

By the end of week two, Jeb had me pretty busy on different projects he wanted done around the caves. I spent less time with Wanda, and, at first, I was glad. The guilt had lessened to a prick in my conscious, and I figured there wasn't an urgent need to always been in sight of the soul. She would be safe until my brother and the others returned. But I became very agitated as week three marched on, not having her within hearing distance. Wes teased me, saying I worried over bread I left in the oven. For quite a few days, the only time I ever saw Wanda was during her lessons. Jeb looked at me now with a strange glint in his eyes and would chuckle as he walked away.

Crazy, old man.

Then came week four, and I realized the raiders would be due home soon. They'd no doubt be shocked at the turn of events. Wanda, the soul, was no longer the prisoner. Jeb, Doc, and I discussed the best route of caution to take when dealing with the six men. Hide Wanda with one of the women? Let me hold on to the gun? Force the men to take bathes and immediately go to sleep? We settled on nothing.

And then the day came. The one I'd been dreading for over a month.

"The Return of the Jedi," I said to Jamie. The kid sniggered with a hand cupped over his mouth. On the other side of him walked Wanda, brows scrunched together and lips pursed, an expression about as cute as a kitten. I could tell she wanted to ask what I meant but decided not to.

When we arrived at the kitchen, the room had already filled with most of its usual occupants. Jeb and Doc were absent, had been for a few hours now, and I knew what that had to mean. Soon Jared and the crew would be back in the caves. Soon we'd be back where we started: Wanda's life in jeopardy. I took my usual seat while Wanda began the bread routine, and Jamie shadowed behind her. Heidi had questions about the Dolphins, and Wanda asked Jamie to explain what he could. It was amusing to watch the kid draw pictures in the air as he spoke, face lit up with an endearing enthusiasm. Wanda was amazing with Jamie, and I wondered if she had ever been a mother figure in one of her past lives. Or was it because of the body she wore that she was able to love and take care of him so well? Maybe I'd asked her one day.

"…They aren't as far along as we are, right, Wanda? Because they've never made a spaceship, or like, telephones for communication. Humans were more advanced."

Wanda had a delicate smile on her face as Trudy pulled out a tray of hot rolls and she filled the hot spot with dough balls. I decided I liked the way she smiled. Her lips quirked like she wanted to burst in this wide grin but held back due to shyness.

She heard it when I did.

Echoing in the caves was a cacophony of voices that melded into a verbal mess. Wanda didn't seem to make anything of it and wiped her wet brow with her forearm. Good. Maybe Jeb would lead the raiders away, and we could get her into a safe place.

When Jamie recognized the reason for the commotion, he shot off like a bullet with a "Hey!" into the dark. Wanda took a step after him, a reflex after all these weeks.

"Wait," I said. My current position on the counter let me reach and and touch her wrist. The contact got her attention, and she flinched away. "He'll be back. Tell us more about the Dolphins."

She didn't listen. "What's going on out there?"

I shrugged. The voices were getting louder - nearer. But I couldn't make out individuals. "Who knows? Maybe Jeb…." I let her imagination fill in the rest of the sentence. And it worked. Wanda copied my nonchalant gesture and settled back into the lesson on the Dolphins.

"Six of the nine… grandparents, so to speak, traditionally stay with the larvae through their first stage of development while the three parents work with their six grandparents on a new wing of the family dwelling for the young to inhabit when they are mobile."

I turned my head from Wanda to the kitchen opening as the room quieted. There stood the dirty figure of an exhausted, probably mad, Jared. Jamie clung to his arm, and Jeb stood behind them, eying me with an irritated glance. Soon, Wanda's voice trailed into nothing as she, too, became aware of the newcomers.

"Here we go," I muttered. Jared looked about as happy as Kyle had when I crashed his car years back.

"What is the meaning of this, Jeb?"

"Wanda is teaching us all about the universe," said Jamie. Excitement charged his voice, and he stared up at the man he admired eagerly.

"Wanda?" Jared choked out.

A murmur rose amongst the five behind him, and I was able to make out Kyle near the back. Our eyes met, and he steeled me with a hard glare.

"Oh Andy!" I heard Paige call out. In the corner of my eye, I saw Andy step out from the dirty mob and catch her as she tripped over Wes. She broke into sobs, and her outburst seemed to jolt the rest of the cave dwellers from their stupors. They began to talk in low tones until it rose into a clamor of welcome. But it was the expressions I saw transform their faces that made me do a double take. They looked guilty.

All that hard work for nothing.

"It's going to be okay, Wanda," I said. She glanced back at me, worry crippling her pretty face. I scanned for Kyle's enormous form again and locked on his position, ready to protect Wanda from any force.

Kyle read the determination I put there plainly to see, and his eyes snapped wide. "What the hell people?" He pushed past Jared and stalked toward Wanda."You're letting it tell you lies? Have you all gone crazy? Or did it lead the Seekers here? Are you all parasites now?"

"Easy Kyle," said Walter.

Kyle ignored him, taking deliberate steps toward our innocent soul friend. I jumped off my post and blocked his path. His vivid eyes glowed with rage that, for only a moment, directed on me.

"Things changed while you were gone, brother."

His face fell slack with disbelief. "Did the Seekers come, then, Ian?"

"She's not a danger to us."

Grinding his teeth, Kyle reached into his pocket and whipped out a small flashlight. Behind me, I heard Wanda whisper, "Don't get in his way, Ian." She thought my brother was going to hurt me.

Kyle flicked the white light at my eyes, and I let him conclude his inspection."So, what, then?" he demanded, putting back the flashlight. "You're not a parasite. How did it get to you?"

"Calm down, and we'll tell you all about it."

"No."

The voice came from Jared.

Dread bloomed in my stomach as I flickered my gaze past my furious brother to the man with the vicious - but deadly - scowl. He zeroed in on Wanda, oblivious to the bewildered kid the clung to him. The determination set in his expression could not be mistaken. He had decided. And it wasn't going to be pretty.

"I don't think anyone needs to calm down," said Jared in a tone all too even for what I knew he planned next. "Jeb," he continued, holding a hand out to the old man without looking back at him, "give me the gun."

You could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed. The fury drained in Kyle's face, replaced with a hard mask as he straightened his stance. His eyes told me to step aside, but I remained sold in my place. Behind me, I heard a slight scuffle, and I saw to my astonishment Wanda stepping away from me, giving Jared the all clear to shoot her.

No. In that moment, I lost the war. I may have won over most of the battles, but this had been the fray to count. And I had lost. No.

"Don't happen to have it on me."

Like Jared, I snapped my head to Jeb, trying to assess the situation and at the same time control the wave of relief that threatened to drown me. We still had a chance.

Jared snorted. "Fine." He stepped closer to Wanda. "It will be slower this way, though. It would be more humane if you were to find that gun fast."

I twitched toward my friend, the soul and tried to think of a way to distract her attacker. "Please, Jared, let's talk."

"I think there's been too much talk. Jeb left this up to me, and I've made my decision."

So have I, I thought. I would fight this man to protect the woman who did him no harm. How funny that I would go to such lengths to save a soul from a human - a soul with more sense of humanity than the human.

"What?" Jared bellowed, whirling on Jeb, who must have done something to prick his nerves. "You made the rule, Jeb."

"Well, now, that's true."

Jared faced Wanda again, and he swiped his arm at me. "Ian, get out of the way."

I gathered my fists.

"Well, well, hold on a sec," Jeb went on. "If you recall, the rule was that whoever the body belonged to got to make the decision."

Jared's retort was sharp like a knife. "And?"

"Seems to me like there's someone here with a claim just as strong as yours. Mebbe stronger."

And just like that, all direction dropped to the kid on Jared's arm. Any joy and excitement he felt had given way to horror, leaving him pale and clammy.

"You can't, Jared," Jamie choked. "You wouldn't. Wanda's good. She's my friend! And Mel! What about Mel? You can't kill Mel! Please! You have to -" The kid swallowed his words like poison .

Jeb had a slight grin on his face now, and I knew then our crisis had been averted - for now. "So," the old man drawled, "you can see that Jamie's not in agreement. I figure he's got as much say as you do."

Jared was speechless. His own kind of horror flushed out his face as he stared at Jamie. He hadn't expected this, hadn't thought that we would ever let Jamie grow attached to Melanie's body. "How could you let this happen?" he said quietly.

"There is need for some talk," Jeb replied. "Why don't you take a breather first, though? Maybe you'll feel more up to conversation after a bath."

Jared snapped up at the old man. I felt of twinge of guilt seeing the betrayal clear as day. He'd trusted us, and we hadn't followed through. Despite knowing that our stance was the right one, it couldn't change the streak of brotherhood that ran between us. Sigh.

The unbearable tension lasted another long minute, and then Jared shook Jamie's fingers off his arm.

"Kyle," Jared barked, turning and stalking out of the room.

Kyle grimaced at me, a look that said, We'll talk about this later, and then he followed Jared out. The rest of the raiders followed behind, Paige tucked against Andy's side. And then, to my chagrin, most of the room drained out with them, hanging their heads in shame as if it had been a crime to show a soul even a moment's kindness. That left me, Jeb, Jamie, Trudy, Geoffry, Heath, Lilly, Wes, and Walter with Wanda. Us against team Everybody.

"Whew!" I breathed when we could no longer hear the sounds of retreat. "That was close. Nice thinking, Jeb."

"Inspiration in desperation. But we're not out of the woods yet."

"Don't I know it!" I had been the first one to say that, right? "You didn't leave the gun anywhere obvious, did you?"

"Nope. I figured this might be comin' on soon."

"That's something, at least." Would've been nice to be a part of this plan, especially since me and Doc went out of our way to try and safe-proof Wanda for this nasty weather.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Wanda move for the first time. She went to Jamie, and the two embraced. The kid trembled like a leaf in her arms. They were turned in such a way that I was able to make out a slice of Wanda's terrified expression. The way she held the boy like he was her own flesh - and, technically, he was - touched me. Warmth bloomed in my chest, and I gravitated toward them with purpose.

I thumped Jamie on the back. "Don't agonize over it, kid. You're not in this alone."

"They're just shocked, that's all," said Trudy to the side. "Once we get a chance to explain, they'll see reason."

Wes scoffed. "See reason? Kyle?"

"We knew this was coming," muttered Jeb. "Just got to weather it. Storms pass."

"Maybe you ought to find that gun," said Lilly. "Tonight might be a long one. Wanda can stay up with Heidi and me-"

I interjected. "I think it might be better to keep her somewhere else." Lilly and Heidi were in the same hall as me and Kyle - as Jared. "Maybe in the southern tunnels? I'll keep an eye on her. Jeb, wanna lend me a hand?"

"They wouldn't look for her with me."

"I'll tag along with you, Ian. There's six of them."

Amongst our bantering, we missed the change in Wanda. She buried herself deeper into Jamie's hair, wincing and sucking up quick, panicked breaths. "No," she choked out. "No. That's not right. You shouldn't fight with each other. You all belong here. You belong together. Not fighting, not because of me." She untangled Jamie's arms from her waist and spoke to him directly. "I just need a minute to myself. I need to be alone." Then she addressed Jeb, her voice surprisingly diplomatic. "And you should have a chance to discuss this without me listening. It's not fair - having to discuss strategy in front of the enemy."

No, Wanda, I wanted to say.

"Don't be like that," said Jeb.

But she was adamant. "Let me have some time to think, Jeb." She stepped away from Jamie the moment I stepped forward. Forgetting she hated my touch, just wanting her to know she wasn't as alone as she thought, I placed a hand on her shoulder. I ignored it when she cringe away and said, "It's not a good idea for you to be wandering around by yourself."

Wanda leaned toward me, spoke too low for the others to hear. "Why prolong the inevitable? Will it get easier of harder for him?"

She stunned me. I couldn't stop her when she sprinted out the kitchen. Jamie called after her, and someone behind me shushed him quiet. My hand dropped to my side, and I had yet to take my eyes off her trail. She wants to die, reverberated through my mind in an echo.

Who are you to deny her wishes? a voice not unlike my brother's snarled. No more babysitting for you. Problem solved. You can't feel guilty about a death she wanted.

"Ian?"

I glanced down when Jamie touched my arm. One long look at his agony-ridden face was enough to answer the questions in my head. "Don't worry, kid. I'm not gonna let her die."


"I know you know what part is coming up next."

Wanda avoids my gaze, curling up in the sheets at my side. Her hand splays over my stomach, teasing the bits of hair there. The ticklish touch of her fingertips distracts me a moment, and I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

"Aren't you going to argue?" I demand. "Won't you say otherwise?"

Knowing better than to respond directly, my soul retracts her hand and replaces it with her soft head. I stare at the back of her golden curls for a long minute, gnawing my bottom lip as I turn over the discussion in my head. Jeb had stopped me from following Wanda that night, saying there were some other matters he needed me to attend to. He explained that, while on the raid, Jared had returned with bodies for Doc to study. It sickened me that Jared seemed to be on a renewed warpath to figuring out our dilemma. How many more nights would Doc suffer with the nightmares and the guilt every time he'd fail in extracting a soul? I had no hope he'd figure anything out this round.

Finally, Wanda brakes the wall to her thoughts, flipping her head so that she faces me. "I don't want you to talk about it if you don't want to."

I groan and roll off our mattress. I grab my discarded sweat pants and tug them on as I stood. Wanda lays where I left her, wrapped in a white cocoon, her big eyes wide with worry. I close my own, so I can't see the shock of her expression. "Sometimes, Wanda-" I cut off with a hiss, stuffing my hands through my hair. Sometimes, Wanda, you can be so dense and blind. But I can't say that to her. I don't really believe it. That's not how she acts. But I am human, and I am angry.

"Where are you going? Ian?" She calls out to me as I reach for the exit.

"I'll be back," I say. "I just need to take a walk."

Sorry for leaving it like that. Ian just kinda... got frustrated. It's kinda hard to explain beyond the fact he's got some things he's still got to deal with, and, at the moment, he didn't want Wanda telling him to just do what he wanted.

So yeah... review?