Being hit by a phaser wasn't something you could just recover from, in fact being hit by a phaser twice while it was on full power was designed to take you out. Period. So it was a testament to Lysander's powers and pure stubbornness that he was alive. He was currently unconscious in the 'patients' room' at the back of Carson's office in the Sanctuary of New Orleans. The tiger had become somewhat of an attraction for the Weres, who had never known anyone to survive an attack like that before.

During one of his bouts of consciousness Lysander remembered waking up, his head killing him, seeing Nyssa watching over him. He smiled stupidly at her and raised his hand to her face - well, he would have. But all motor functions seemed to have gone out of the window - so he settled for just smiling.

I knew you would come.

Then he knew no more of the world. Unfortunately Nyssa did.

"Damn, two shots with a phaser and the tiger is still ticking!" Kyle Peltier whispered with horrified awe as he stared through the open doorway at the couple. Nyssa had not left Lysander's bedside since they had came there three days ago, he had woken up a few times and each had seemed drunkenly happy to see her.

"The guy is a monster," came Justin's equally horrified voice. "I mean what kind of animal survives that. It's not right."

"Either that or he's been blessed by the Gods."

"With he's rep!" said Remi Peltier's voice indignantly, "no way! The guy's a fucking psycho. If the God's have blessed him then the altitude poisoning has finally gotten to everyone on Olympus."

"Yeah, Remi's right. Everyone wants that tiger dead," said Justin, "I mean, he's killed more people then cancer!"

"Or chocolate," muttered Kyle.

Nyssa turned her head surreptitiously and saw all three huddled by the door frame, gawking unabashedly.

"It's in their breed," concluded Remi definitively, "tigers' man. They're all fucking killers."

"Says Mr cute and Cuddly over here," Kyle snorted and there was a sound that Nyssa was sure came from Remi slapping the back of Kyle's head.

"Might be a good thing if he did just die though …" Justin muttered and Nyssa couldn't take it anymore, she turned around and walked towards them so swiftly, all three backed up and nearly tripped over each others feet.

"You sick fucks!" she hissed at them, "he's not a circus attraction! I do not need a running commentary in my ear of how bad he looks from the three stooges, okay? So just mind your business and leave us alone!"

"Where do you get off ordering us about, Arcadian?" Justin snarled at her and Nyssa who would have normally backed down just sneered at him.

"Where are the rules in Sanctuary that says people aren't allowed to be harassed?" Nyssa looked pointedly at Remi, who shrugged.

"Stand down, female," he said disdainfully, "we were just looking at the legendary Arcadian slayer."

Nyssa recognised the malicious jibe for what it was even if it was said rather tonelessly and Nyssa struggled for a come back.

"He's not some merciless killer! He killed because he had to, because he was forced to survive."

"We don't doubt that," Remi growled, "you Arcadians wrote the book on how to fuck up everyone's life."

"Oh, don't be so fucking righteous!" Nyssa shot back, wanting to rip and tear at the bear's gorgeous face. "Your race mutilated my family for nothing when I was ten years old. They raped my mother and forced my father to watch. They killed my seven year old brother in front of my parents before killing my mother then finally my father. So he had to see how he failed to protect his family. If you strike them young, you don't hunt them when they are old."

She saw recognition flare in Remi and Justin's eyes.

"That's the Slayer code, isn't it? That's what they shouted over the body of my defenceless baby brother. So don't tell me about fucked up lives when I have my fucking share of it, Katagaria!"

Nyssa was about to walk back to Lysander's side when she realised she still had too much mad left in her; she spun on her heel and marched back to them. She poked Justin in the chest, and stood bravely in front of him without flinching when he roared at her.

"And another thing. Lysander may be wanted by everyone but he isn't hunting anymore, so -"

"You moron!" Justin cut over her, "You think he is going to give up his revenge? For you? You're not so special, little Arcadian, not so special at all. And he will leave you to find that last sentinel and he'll probably hunt him 'til he dies."

The panther marched away and Kyle biting his lip worriedly backed away slowly behind his brother to avoid Nyssa's vicious glare. Remi was the only one that looked her dead in the eye.

"He won't give it up."

"What would you know?" Nyssa bit out.

"That revenge is the only thing to live for. It moves you more then love or hate, it gives you purpose." He advanced on her like he was about to tear her throat out as he growled the words, Kyle caught hold of his brother's arm and Remi halted, but yanked his arm away from his sibling, turned and stalked off down the hallway. Nyssa was left alone with Lysander once more, and she felt so lonely.

********************

Lysander woke to a strange sensation most humans get after they've smoked a joint, his mouth was dry, he was famished and he was confused. But more then that he reached out for Nyssa, expecting her to be there. She wasn't. Taking a moment to collect himself, he inhaled deeply and took the faint scent of Nyssa into his lungs, she had been here but she wasn't here now.

Lysander leant up and surveyed his surroundings; he could see Carson through the open doorway, frowning down at some file he was reading. There was no one in the room but him, Lysander felt rather disappointed and hurt that Nyssa wasn't there, he could do with some TLC from his beautiful mate.

To hell with the TLC, he thought, he just wanted to hold her again, to see her would be enough even.

Preparing to jump from the table he was laying, Lysander was distracted by something on his paw, when he looked it was a neatly folded piece of paper. It held Nyssa's scent. Flashing himself immediately into human form, Lysander knew he was healed for he felt no pain at all; he grabbed the letter and read.

Dear Lysander,

I know your going to be reading this because you're too stubborn to die. I stayed with you until Carson said you were just sleeping off the anaesthetic.

I really don't know what more there is left to say between us, I don't think it could be expressed in words anyway. I feel for you deeply - no, that's not the truth. I love you deeply - that's the truth. I didn't want a long, drawn out, dramatic scene in front of those assholes at the Sanctuary, so I thought it best to leave without any real goodbye. I'm sorry if that's seems cold - it's a self-preservation thing. I hope you can understand that.

You'll be pleased to know that I'm mastering my powers better, I was practicing while watching over you, I think your presence must have helped. Now I'm rambling. I'm crap at writing letters, so I'll end this one now. My life has never been happier then the time I spent with you, and there will never be anyone else for me.

I hope you find what you're looking for Lysander. I won't say I agree your need for revenge because I don't, but I guess I understand it more, now I've thought about it. I want you to be happy, in any way you can possibly achieve it. Just know that no matter what, you are loved.

Yours (only yours)

Nyssa Castellanos

Lysander didn't realise tears had formed in his eyes until one fell on the page, smearing the ink; his heart was tearing itself completely in two at the thought that he had lost her. Lysander rubbed his forearm over his face, taking the moisture away, he flashed clothes on his body and folded the letter up hastily and shoved it in his pocket.

He needed her back, desperately. She had punched a whole through his heart and left him aching, without her he was barren, a hollowed shell. She was forever fixed to his soul and when he got her back in his arms he would make her believe so, with the ultimate promise and show of commitment. Lysander walked into Carson's office and the hawk looked up, still frowning.

"Something on your mind, tiger?" Carson bit out, "'Cause I'm getting scared with you looking at me like that!"

"Yeah, you sound scared," Lysander said indifferently, he looked up as one of Nicolette Peltier's quads walked past, Lysander couldn't quite hold down a sneer. The bear stiffened and growled, Lysander gave him a droll stare and turned back to Carson.

"Where'd my mate go?"

Carson shrugged. "Do I look like I work for missing persons?" he snapped, and then looked over at the bear. "Guy thinks I'm the fucking yellow pages!"

The bear at the door laughed and Lysander braced himself his hands against the desk and leaned down so his face was inches from Carson's.

"You want to mind yourself with me, boy!" he sneered, his lips peeling back over his teeth, Carson paled slightly. "Because I won't have a second thought about plucking your feathery ass, and roasting it over a fireplace for Christmas! Do we understand each other?"

Carson nodded and Lysander pushed himself away from the desk with a growl that made Carson wince.

He deliberately left Sanctuary in the human manner, making sure everyone could see him and know he was still the bad ass of legend. He moved outside into the sickly hot air when a hand caught his forearm, Lysander turned ready for attack. Kyle Peltier gave a girlish shriek before cowering; Lysander pulled back and watched as the Peltier family, females and mates included rushed to the doorway of the bar. Mama Lo was white with livid fury, she looked as if she were about to charge at him when Kyle waved them back.

"Your mate," Kyle said shakily.

"Yeah?"

"She, err, well, she said she was staying at L'hôtel de château. That she had to pick up stuff from there."

"Thank you, bear. Sorry, but I thought you were going to attack."

Kyle, who had been practically faint with fear when Lysander turned on him, gave Lysander an amused smile.

"No problem, I mean look at me. I can believe that."

Lysander laughed and flashed himself to the entrance of the hotel; Nyssa's scent was strong here.

He followed it to the exact room she had been in and opened the door, he walked in and froze, the sweet, pleasant aroma of chocolate filled the air and Lysander's heart stopped.

She wouldn't! His mind screamed in denial.

He rushed from room to room looking for Nyssa, dreading finding her prone body laying on the floor, he had just finished checking under the bed when he noted that his the mating mark was still on his hand, he almost broke down. Only death could remove it. She was still alive!

"Can I help you, sir?"

Lysander looked up and saw the maid staring at him as if he were insane, holding a broom handle in front of her like a weapon. Lysander scrambled to his feet and the woman backed up a little, Lysander decided not to crowd her but he spoke urgently.

"The woman who was in this room, where is she now?"

"She didn't say."

"Did you see her leave, which way did she go?"

"She said she was going abroad, I don't know if that helps you?"

Lysander cursed and the woman cringed, he marched past her and strode out into the street, he wasn't sure what he was more angry or scared. There was enough chocolate in Nyssa's room to take out the entire Peltier clan, none of it looked like it had been touched but who's to say she didn't take any with her? Her scent was everywhere, as if she was going in all directions. Suddenly the thought struck him, what if she didn't want him to find her?

Lysander felt a surge of anger; she scares him half to death then goes and hides! He was furious.

Lysander growled. He was going to turn her over his knee for this, on the heels of that thought he grinned naughtily and flashed out of New Orleans.

******************************

Nyssa walked through the doors of Iri'ni and stood surveying the miserable sight before her, she would give Rumba one thing in his favour; he knew how to run a bar. Liko, on the other hand, had destroyed what Rumba had built over the centuries, it was almost sad.

Liko was by the pool table, he was playing against Romy, a fat little black woman with dreadlocks and a constant malicious smile. Nyssa came forward and sat at the bar ordering an orange juice, she kept her eyes on Liko in the mirror behind the bar and watched as his head abruptly snapped up as he was about to take his turn.

"I thought I told you never to bring your sorry hide in here again!" He cried over the mellow tunes of the juke box. He threw his cue on the table and marched around so he came up beside Nyssa; Romy appeared on her other side. Nyssa sighed inwardly, here we go again.

She span round on her stool, noticing that all of the customers had taken their drinks and hidden themselves under the table.

Nyssa looked up into Liko's face, in human form he looked like a handsome Porto Rican gentleman, with a neatly trimmed beard and wide brown eyes that always looked a little crazed. Liko and Rumba had actually been twins and the only real difference between them was the scar that ran down the left side of Liko's face and his insatiable appetite for hurting people.

"Wha' gowan, Liko, man?" Nyssa finding herself back on the island realised her accent was thickening and she was talking Little Dina's local patois. Romy, a native of the island, who Nyssa had always fancied as half demon because she was so ugly, made a derogatory noise by pursing her lips and sucking them back against her teeth.

"I be wantin' no trouble here, ya know."

"You hear dat, Liko. She be wantin' no trouble!" Romy screeched and Nyssa winced.

"What are you doing back here, Castellanos? Didn't I make it clear you aren't welcome?"

Nyssa couldn't help what next came out of her mouth, but days of living with a tiger bigger and badder then anything these two could put together just made her braver, or plain stupid.

"Wha' makes you tink I'm afraid of you? You can' do nuttin'!"

"Rah boi, ya hearin' dis gurl! She be in need of some serious beatin's, ya know!"

"I want you outta here, tiger, ya get me?" Liko leaned in close and breathed foul air over Nyssa, who looked him defiantly in the eye.

"No."

Liko laughed and he and Romy made a grab for Nyssa's arms, Nyssa struggled for all of two seconds before they were both thrown against the wall. Nyssa looked down at her hands and up and Liko, suddenly light was blocked out of the doorway and Nyssa turned her heart leaping wildly with joy. The figure in the doorway moved forward and Nyssa almost wilted in disappointment.

"You."

Ash took off his sunglasses and smiled kindly. "Me."

Liko stirred from the corner and stumbled to the bar; he looked at Ash and groaned, Ash whistled low between his teeth.

"You know me, Liko Costa?"

"Yes sir."

"You know who I am, for sure?"

"I do, sir."

"This tiger is under my protection," Liko blanched and Romy was trying to sneak around towards the door, Ash looked over his shoulder at her and Romy cowered in the corner. Ash laughed mirthlessly and smoothly polishing his glasses slipped them on his nose again. "I would seriously suggest you don't fuck with her anymore." Ash tipped his glasses down his nose before leaning towards Liko and adding in a perfect imitation of Liko's voice. "Ya get me?"

Liko nodded and backed away, Ash turned to Nyssa and gave a sigh, he was looking at her like a kindly old grandfather would look at his favoured grandchild.

"Do me one favour, Nyssa?"

"Name it." Ash grinned.

"Stay here," he said and turned to leave the bar, he paused next to a cowering Romy and clucked his tongue. "This where you been hiding, huh? Jaden is pissed at you, demon."

Romy made a high pitched squeak and slumped in the corner in a dead faint, Ash departed and Nyssa turned to the bar, rapping her knuckles on the bar.

"Drink, barman!"