Kezi took off his boots and socks, allowing her to slowly inch Jordan's pants off so she could clean his gash. She left his underpants on because they were still in decent shape...and that the idea of him naked was uncomfortable to her, something she wasn't going to admit out loud.

The wound had started to drain, which Kezi helped by retrieving leaves she kept in her bag. Her war experiences had made her feel that carrying them around would be useful since they could draw out any type of venom and most types of infection. In this case, such was true.

She took a bottle of water and poured it over the wound. Jordan came to about this time. He opened his eyes and immediately looked down at the source of pain. He saw Kezi tending to his leg.

"Kezi?" he choked out. She looked up at his face. He tried to move, but it caused him a lot of pain. Kezi got the other water bottle and the pack of jerky. She came over next to him and tilted the bottle so he could drink. Then she tried to get him to eat some jerky.

"I'm not really hungry, Kez...Honest." he said. Kezi takes this in and then felt his head. He had a horrible fever. Kezi grew worried; they both must've been out for at least a couple of days...a bad infection must've set in his leg.

"We need to get some food in you." Kezi tried telling him gently. He still shook his head and wrinkled his nose at the food. The best she was able to do was get him to eat a few crackers. She tightly wrapped his leg in the bandage as he ate. She made him drink the entire bottle of water. The other one was empty; Kezi knew she needed to go find some water. Immediately.

"Hey." Kezi said to Jordan, who'd closed his eyes. He opened them at the sound of her voice. "I have to go find some water."

"Okay." he answered. Then he tried to stand up. She pushed him back down .

"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed.

"I'm going with you." he answered.

"No...you are NOT."

"Why?"

"Do you not know your leg is cut? BADLY?"

"You can't go alone." His face grew worried. "You don't know what's out there."

"Well, you can't lose any more blood. And I can't let you get dehydrated. Your fever is burning up what little water you've gotten into your system."

Jordan grew frustrated, but it pleased Kezi; he couldn't argue her logic. He surrendered. "Fine...Just...don't go TOO far. You hear?"

"Of course. Ya know, I'm a lot more durable than you give me credit for." Kezi picked up the two empty bottles and the bottle of iodine and started to walk away.

"Hey." Jordan called after her. She turned around.

Jordan grinned and said, "Remember. I'll be waiting for you."

Kezi smiled back and disappeared.

Jordan grew anxious when Kezi had been gone for a few hours. He was tempted to take off after her, but it would only piss her off. Besides, he had to agree with her; she WAS a lot more durable than she appeared. Still...Jordan wasn't fond of the idea of her by herself out there. After all, she was so tiny...

He was startled when he heard shuffling feet. Kezi came into view; she looked exhausted and dehydrated herself. She practically collapsed next to him.

"Kezi?" he said anxiously. "Kez?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Worry." she said. She sat up and grinned as she held up the two bottles, both filled with water.

Jordan smiled back. "What's wrong?" he asked her.

"I'm just tired...it was a long walk. But when your leg is better, it'll be easy for you to get to." Her hand went to his forehead. She frowned. Then she ripped a piece of cloth off of her jeans and wet it with the cold water. She placed it on his head.

"You're burning up...despite the fact it's cold down here." she said. Kezi got the sleeping bag and helped Jordan climb into it. "Get some sleep." she said.

Jordan grabbed her wrist and said, "Climb in."

She stayed where she was until Jordan said, "C'mon. I'm hot in here. If you're cold, I could warm you up. And you could cool me down."

No response. Jordan grew frustrated with her stubbornness. "C'mon. I'm not going to do anything to you." Then just to see her reaction, he added, "Not unless you want me to."

Despite how sick he felt, he chuckled when he saw her red face. She turned away from him.

"I was kidding."

"I know." After a few minutes, she said, "I might fall asleep. I can't do that right now."

"Why not? You need sleep, too."

"I can't with you so sick. I-"

"You're not a robot. Get in and sleep before I drag you in."

Kezi didn't move for a while. Jordan was just as stubborn and refused to lay down and sleep. Finally, she gave in to the cold. "Move over. I'm freezing."

She slid in easily next to him. He could feel her cold body next to his. Trying to make her comfortable, he pulled off her shoes and socks. He felt her frigid bare feet press against his legs. She moved closer to him, which startled him; he was used to her being more reserved with him being the one coming to her. Now she was coming closer to him.

They laid there for a long time, Jordan not wanting to sleep until her eyes shut, Kezi just trying to assure herself that sleep wouldn't hurt. When both finally drifted off to sleep, Kezi started dreaming about old events. Not enjoying the unpleasant scenes, she started groaning in her sleep.

The day her father had crashed that shuttle was one of the hardest days to relive. She had effectively managed to suppress the memory...but not completely able to erase it. It arose now as she tried to fight seeing it.

"Mommy...I can't see." Kezi complained as she stood next to the tall woman whose swollen belly announced she was days away from giving birth.

Leah held her daughter's hand and said, "I'd give you a piggy back baby..."

"That's okay, Mommy. I want my little sister to be alright."

Leah laughed. "Remember...it might be a little brother."

The eight-year-old girl shook her head. "No. It's my baby sister."

Keni came over and yanked his twin sister by her arm. "C'mon! I found a place where we can see."

The little girl quickly followed her brother as he led her to the spot. They reached it just in time to see the shuttle begin to lift off. The twins cheered.

"Bye, Daddy!" Kezi called even though she knew he wouldn't hear her. "We love you!"

"See you soon!" Keni yelled.

Suddenly the airborne ship exploded. The two children merely stood and watched it go down for a few moments. Then their mother's voice came into hearing.

"Keni?! Kezi?! Where are you?!" she shouted. Keni ran to her while all Kezi could do as she watched the ship fall down to the ground in flames.

"Daddy..."

Jordan woke up when he heard Kezi groaning. He looked to see if something was bothering her. When he saw nothing, he realized what was going on. Her groans turned into shouting. He sat up and knelt over her.

"Kezi? Kezi! Wake up!"

Her eyes snapped open as her screaming abruptly stopped. She glanced around herself until she finally rested her eyes on Jordan's face. All she could do was stare at him. She heard a ripping sound and felt herself shake. Jordan was gentle as he pulled her to him and said, "It's alright. It was just a nightmare, Kezi. It'll be okay."

He said this over and over until Kezi comprehended why he was saying this. She realized the tearing sound was coming from her...she was sobbing uncontrollably.