The next update. It's late again. Senseing a pattern are you peoples? What can I say? It's coming. And it is coming out once a week-ish. Which is what I said I would try to do. Don't feel much inspirtion for writing though. Reviews would help with that. I'll keep writing though. I'd hate to be one of those people who leaves a story behind unfinished.

38: Bed Rest

I had been bored as hell. Really. I wasn't allowed to get up, I wasn't allowed to go out. I was only allowed to sit in my little bed in this little room and heal. It wasn't even my room; the one I had been in before all this had happened. No it was some sort of little sick room. For a patient. Meaning I was a patient. I was so bored!

Any one who knows me knows I really can't stand being bored. I'll do anything to get rid of the boredom. I'll talk to myself, out-loud or in my head. I'll rip things to pieces. Once I was very desperate. I tried to make some cookies. They came out of a package. All I had to do was put them in the oven. I swear that's all I did. When the timer went off, I opened the door to take them out of the oven, and they were gone. Not really gone, they were still there, but in the form of ashes. I honestly have no idea how that happened. There wasn't a fire. If there had been I would have noticed it right? Right?

So anyway, I was sitting in my little room feeling bored as hell wondering what to do to not be bored. So I did what I often do; I sung to myself.

It was one of my favorite songs. 'Defying Gravity' from my absolute favorite musical 'Wicked'. I had seen the show on Broadway and loved it. I had met Kristen Chenowith too. She was the funnest person I had ever met. I really loved her. I mean she was so awesome. And talented. She sung, she acted on stage and on film and she was very funny and sweet. Completely down to earth. She was awesome.

So I was just sitting there singing softly to myself, and on impulse I had begun to sew the back of my shirt. The shirt I had been wearing when the nut-job had decided to try and slice me open.

My poor t-shirt would never be perfect and pretty anymore, but at least it was still useable. I could always use it as a night shirt. Call me crazy, but I wasn't real crazy about some of the clothes they had here. It was freakin hot outside so they had thin fabric for the dresses. Lots of the dresses had big slits or no shoulder coverage. Some had no stomach covering either. And I meant it when I said the fabric was thin. It was real thin. Like practically see-through. Now, I'm not really a prude, nor am I a conservative. I wear bikinis sometimes, but I was pretty damn uncomfortable in a dress that you could see through in the right sunlight. It creeped me out, and I wasn't gonna wear something like that. So, like now, I only wore the dresses that had a decent amount of thickness to the fabric, covering over my midriff and no big thigh-high seam splits.

But singing helped. I loved to sing. I loved the way that no matter how you felt at any moment, you could always find a song that mirrored those feelings, and you could pour your whole heart into the song. Showing the depth of your emotions through the lyrics and the music. Any way that you felt could be showed through music. And dancing was great too. Dancing fast or slow to the beat was a refreshing and a heart-felt exercise. You could mirror everything out through your singing and dancing. I really loved it.

Now I know I hate being bored. I know that I'll talk and sing to myself when I am bored.

I also get as embarrassed as hell when I suddenly realize someone has been watching me talk/sing to myself.

"Holy crap where did you come from." I gasped as I looked over at my nurse whom I had suddenly noticed standing right beside me.

She smiled softly, sorry for scaring me. She proceeded to hand over some food for me and began checking the bandages on me. I had lots around my back, some on my head, and around my left ankle. That hurt the most. After all, he had grabbed hold of my ankle and, while gripping it, he had thrown me around like a sack of potatoes.

"You have a lovely voice." the nurse commented as she continued to look me over. I blushed softly and bit my bottom lip. I know. I thought that Yuri was modest for a queen, but I knew that I was modest for a international super-star. I couldn't help it. I liked to sing, that's why I did it. And while I liked the spotlight and didn't mind being under it, I didn't crave it. I didn't need the attention and complements. They still made me feel uncomfortable even after years of receiving them. Not that I didn't like them. I just wasn't always sure what to do or say when I received them.

"Ah, thank you." I murmured in response to the woman's compliment.

"Perhaps when you are feeling well you will sing for their majesties?" the nurse cheerfully said in an off-handed way.

Oh wonderful. Sing for King, Yuri and all their rich pretty people noble subjects. I thought quite un-cheerfully. Suddenly I really didn't feel like singing anymore. It left me with not much to do though. I had finished with the shirt, so what else could I get up to while I was forced to remain in bed?

Well I can get grumpy. I thought to myself. Sick people are allowed to be grumpy and pain in the butts right? I sighed. I couldn't just randomly try to bother other people. It wasn't their fault I was on bed rest. Even if I had been in NY General Hospital I still would have had to stay in bed for a while.

But I would have books to read and TV to watch.

Since when do I watch TV? I'm too busy and too jumpy for that lately.

So I'm going to argue with myself now?

What else can I do?

I sighed. Dear God, please send me something to do. Please?

After three weeks I was ready to kill something. Preferably the doctor who had kept me on bed-rest for three weeks. Yuri came to visit me a lot. She was fun to talk with and kept me company pretty well, but she had work to do and wasn't able to come much. Hadi came sometimes too. I was beginning to think that Hadi liked me a little and wasn't just checking up on me like she said. In my opinion, she's nicer than her twin sisters. As far as I know those two still hate me, but hey, you can't please everyone.

I had another visitor during the 3 weeks. I was very surprised when General kept coming to see me. He didn't come everyday or every other day, but he was there somewhat often. I don't know why he came. All we did was bicker with each other. He's just the kind of arrogant playboy jerk that I can't stand, and he constantly tells me how annoying he finds me. So why did he keep coming to see me? I don't know. After three weeks though I am able the remember his name. It's Ramses. But I still call him General cause it bothers him so much.

King had sent Ilvani back to Hattusa to watch things there while King himself stayed here in Byblos. From what Yuri said he had decided to stay for a while so he could keep an eye on the rebuilding of Byblos and to make sure there weren't more unhappy people trying to start a rebellion.

I'd gotten the whole story during the first week. Yuri had told me all about why the rebellion had apparently started. I had to say that as far as rebellion goes, I wasn't sure if what I thought of this one.

Sure they had all lost their jobs, but it sounded like they had never been good at their jobs. They were called an army, but mostly they were bullies who picked on people when the rotten evil queen told them too. Still, without their jobs what could they do? They needed money for food and places to live, and when there are hundreds of people all looking for a job at once it's difficult to find something.

That's what happening in America now too. Well, not now now. 3,000 years from now now.

I really need to stop thinking. All I do is confuse myself.

That's when another confusing person came in to...well did he come here to keep me company or to see who would win the next round?

"I thought that I told you that if you ever came back here I would claw your eyes out." I said crossly as the resident Egyptian general sat in the chair next to my bed.

He smirked at me arrogantly while his strange eyes twinkled with mischief.

"I believe my response was to tell you that you were behaving very deplorably for a woman." Ramses said still smirking.

"Well shall I get on my knees and grovel? Is that lady-like behavior here? Or shall I simply remain quiet, meek, docile and a million other insanely annoying things that are supposed to be lady-like?" I snapped loudly. As cute as he was—and he was cute believe me—but he quite usually annoyed the hell out of me. Such an arrogant jerk really. A real sexist pig.

And I hate that.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Aren't we vile today." he remarked lightly.

"Well you're here aren't you? What else could today be."

Ooh, Burn! His smirk dimmed a little at my insult.

Haha, Me-1; him? A big fat 0!

"And I brought you good news today." he said with a fake sigh.

Call me a cat, but I saw a fish dangling over my here. Should I take the bait or not?

Damn. I'm so bored.

"What good news?" I asked lightly trying to sound like I didn't hate him.

"I can't remember now. I'm too heartbroken. I have after all, just been told that my presence is vile to such a beautiful woman." he said sadly.

I rolled my eyes. If I had a hundred eyes every single one of them would be rolling. I'd also look pretty creepy. But talk about fake. I doubted anything I ever said could break this jerk's heart; he was too selfish to be affected by other people like that. And he knew that I didn't like having him around cause all we did was fight and bait each other like this. Besides, me beautiful? I know I'm not, and he has taken the opportunity of telling me I'm a plain unattractive woman plenty of times.

"You selfish pig what good news?" I demanded loudly.

"Ah, more insult. The good news fades further from my mind."

He was smirking again. Stupid idiot. But there was no way that I was gonna apologize. Hell would freeze first! And then the devil would hand out candy and take kids ice-skating. All that, before I told this jerk I was sorry for 'insulting' him when as far as I'm concerned everything I had said was true.

"Remind me to cook something sweet for you when I can get up again." I said with fake kindness.

"No thank you. I've heard all about your disaster in the kitchens. I do wonder how a woman can be such failure at her job."

I pursed my lips as he went on with the same subject that he loved to bring up everyday.

"After all, you cannot cook. Your stitching is very weak. You have no manners; in fact, you not only lack the proper grace and finesse of a fine woman, but you act as unschooled and uncivilized as the poorest beggar child. You are also rather plain and unattractive. You don't have much to offer as a woman do you?"

Me:1

Him:....more than one. Jackass.

"You son of a—!"

"There you go again. Acting rude and ill-mannered." he said with a sigh.

I clenched my teeth. Why did he come here? Just to bother me? Did he really find it so enjoyable to come here and point all my flaws? I know I'm pretty useless outside a recording or acting studio. Did he have to spend so much time pointing it out for me?

He was smirking at me like he had won. And for the moment he had. I was trying to think up something witty to say that would humiliate him when the door opened and someone else came in.

It was Yuri.

Well this is gonna be interesting.

I hadn't seen them together yet. But I knew their history was all tangled and involved a big love triangle.

I had to sudden urge to want popcorn. Would there be a big scene? Would it be dramatic and loud, or would they both be embarrassed and try to ignore each other?

At first I wanted to see him squirm for once. Let him feel unhappy and messed-up. But then my stupid natural 'nice' instinct kicked in, and I felt bad for him. Poor guy had cared about Yuri; possibly loved her, and she had picked someone else. And now, he had to be here to watch Yuri be in love with someone else. And Kail and Ramses didn't seem to like each other regardless. Add Yuri to that, and it just made everything all weird.

"Hiya Yuri-chan. Whatcha doing?" I asked like a five year old. I was trying to keep things light and fun. Not soap-opera-like.

"I just thought I'd come to see you. The doctor said you could get up now, so I thought you would be happy to exercise a bit." Yuri said with a smile, but I didn't miss the way her eyes kept shifting back toward Ramses. She seemed more than a little surprised that he was here. He, on the other hand, wasn't showing much emotion anymore. Gone was his annoying smirk. He looked like a stone now. Cold and unmovable.

"Hey! So that was the good news! I'm allowed to move, and you didn't tell me?" I snarled to the Egyptian. How dare he?

Without wasting any time I threw all of the covers off of me and sat up. "I've been siting in this bed for weeks! I finally get to move around, and you don't tell me!" I was beyond furious with him.

"Wait a minute..." Ramses stood up trying to warn me, but I wasn't thinking too much right then.

I put my feet on the ground and stood up out of bed on my own for the first time in about three weeks.

Then I fell over.

You see, after not using your legs for so long, they get a little stiff. I really wasn't able to help falling over. Gravity at work.

"Oof!" I gasped softly as I fell into someone. I looked up to see that Ramses had caught me before I hit the floor.

He sighed loudly. "You don't think much before you do things." he said softly. I realized that he was adding onto my list of flaws. Stupid. But he was right. I should have been more careful.

Another thing I unhappily noticed, was that his arms were around me to hold me up. I was leaning against his chest. And he was really strong. There was no baby fat on him at all. It was all muscle.

Wow.

"Well if you had told me before then maybe I would have thought about it first!" I argued back. I shoved against his chest, and he let go. I sat back on the bed quickly before I could fall again. I was blushing a little. From embarrassment, and as much as I would deny it, from being in his arms like that.

Hey its like logic or fate or natural. He's a cute guy. I shouldn't feel bad about being embarrassed to be held by him. It's normal. I was confusing my own mind again. What was my point and how was I trying to get to it? I have no idea anymore.

"You two seem to be...getting along." Yuri mentioned with a small smile. I had almost forgotten she was there. I don't think Ramses had though. He had been tense since she walked in, and he was still tense.

"He comes here all the time to bother me. Honestly. I guess he's bored here in Byblos. Not as bored as me of course." I complained loudly as I rubbed my legs to get the stiffness out of them.

"Ah I see. Well Kail says we'll be going back to Hattusa in another week. I'm sure both of you can find something to do once we get there." Yuri said helpfully. "I just came in to check on you and to remind you not to overdo it Kiara. I'll get going now." she smiled then made a graceful retreat.

Neither Ramses nor I said anything. We just stared at the door that she had closed behind her after she left.

She was uncomfortable around him. And he felt the same around her. He still has feelings for her and she knows it. I glanced over at Ramses quickly. He was still stiff and stone like.

I felt bad for him. That was a problem with me. Even if I hated someone and wanted nothing more for them to get what was coming to them, I'd still end up feeling bad for them when something bad did come to them. And who knows, he was acting like a jerk to me, but maybe he wasn't always a jerk. Maybe before he had his heart broken he was nicer. Not to say that Yuri was at fault either. That's the problem with love. It's no ones fault. It's like an accident. It just happens, and you can't predict it enough to stop it or make it not hurt anyone.

So maybe he's just being bitter and jaded right now. I get that. I'm often quite bitter. Maybe he was taking all that out on me. I didn't appreciate that, but I understand it. I guess.

"Hey." I spoke up trying to get his attention. He had been watching the door with his stone stare, but now he turned to look at me.

I took a deep breath, not quite sure what to say. I'm not always good with my words. A lot of times what I'm trying to say comes out wrong. Well here goes nothing.

"I get that you don't want to be here. I don't really wanna be here either. But you don't have to use me as a scapegoat for your feelings about her." I said looking him straight in the eye.

He blinked at me seeming surprised at what nonsense I was saying. Then he bent down so that he was eye level with me.

"What are you talking about now?" he questioned lightly.

I looked away. His eyes were very intense. "I know you have a thing for her, and I'm sorry it didn't work out. Love sucks. But you don't have to be mad at me all the time when the person you're really mad at is her." I hadn't meant to be accusing. No wait, I had. Sometimes you have to hit people over the head to make them stop and listen to you.

He stared at me for a while longer not really sure what to say. He probably thought I was stupid and annoying and weird. Well I thought those things about myself half the time, so it didn't bother me too much.

I jumped when I felt his hand on the top of my head. "Hey!" I shouted in surprise when he started to mess up my hair and get it all over my face.

"You should be careful with what you say. Especially when you're talking about something you don't know anything about."

His voice was light, almost teasing, but I could hear a very faint bit of bitterness in it. He let go of my hair and strode out of the room with a small wave.

My words had gotten to him.

I bit my lip. I hadn't wanted him to feel bad. I had been trying to say that he didn't have to act like he hated me. He could have just talked to me instead.

I sighed. Hopefully I'll go home soon and leave all this mess behind. And hopefully he'll find someone else to pick on.

"...you don't have to be mad at me all the time when the person you're really mad at is her."

Damn. The little brat was right. Ramses stood in the faint sunlight of late sunset on the top of the palace roof. Kiara's words had bothered him, and he didn't like it.

He'd started going to visit her while she was on bed rest not long after her fever broke. At first he hadn't been sure why he went. He didn't enjoy her company. She was annoying. And as he'd already noticed, she had a way of reminding him too much of Yuri. But he had gone to see her, and they had fought all the time.

He was deliberately cruel with her too. He knew women very well. He knew just how to compliment them and make them feel happy and special. But he had done the opposite with Kiara. He took perverse delight in torturing her and making her feel like less. Why? Why had it pleased him to hurt her?

"...you don't have to use me as a scapegoat for your feelings about her."

Without realizing it, he had been using her to release the pent up anger towards Mursili. And towards Yuri.

That was a strange idea; that he was angry with Yuri. He had never thought that he was. He knew he hated Mursili, but he'd never noticed the resentment he had for Yuri as well. Resentment that she chose someone else over him. Resentment that she seemed so happy when she was with Mursili but had always pointed out to him, Ramses, that she wasn't in his company by choice.

He was angry at her, and he never realized it. And he used Kiara as a means to express the anger. Because, after all, Kiara reminded him of Yuri. So when he was making fun of Kiara, deep down he was mocking Yuri.

But that wasn't the only thing. In a different way, being around Kiara was like being with Yuri. Being with her without Mursili being nearby.

Damn. He felt a headache coming on. Kiara really was an annoyance. He couldn't decide if he went to see her cause he wanted to hurt her in Yuri's stead, or of he wanted to talk with her in Yuri's stead.

But she is annoying. She talks too much, and what she says makes no sense. She's not very pretty, and she really doesn't have any decency.

Ramses sighed. He should ignore the woman and not go to see her anymore.

It's too bad though. As irritating as she is she's the best entertainment around here.

He sighed again. It was just his luck that the only woman around here that wasn't boring was actually an irritating brat he really didn't want anything to do with. He would just have to be bored in Hattusa. There was nothing else interesting going on.