A/N: Hello again, my wonderful readers! My last chapter surprised me by how hard it was to piece together, but this one was surprisingly easy. It's mostly a filler, but there's some plot movement on Ryan's end and a slight introduction to a work environment that'll be relevant later. I hope you enjoy!

Altairila: Oh, for sure. I figured it wasn't realistic for them to go through as much as they had and not face some mental consequences. There are too many stories of people going through the worst things imaginable and coming out scott-free. Regardless, while this chapter is a bit of a continuation, it should prove less challenging to read. Also, for some reason I totally thought you said wife lol, my bad! Yeah, I'm in college too.

AdeielSilverbird: Yeah :(. It's ok, they'll work it out.

Chapter 4: Mental Health and Other Inconveniences

Ryan wasn't entirely sure where his feet were taking him, but he knew he had to leave before he broke down completely. Over a rough turn of phrase. What is wrong with me?

He felt himself gravitating toward the fountain, a refuge in the middle of a nearby courtyard. This is where Kaylyn found me. I wonder now if someone else will. The water had turned gold in the sunset, deep shadows and shimmering hues cast about the empty cobblestone streets. The soft bubbling released some of the tension in Ryan's chest, and he sighed.

Home sweet home, I guess.

The stone was cool where he sat, and Ryan shivered, suddenly aware of how unsuited his clothes were to the freezing nighttime temperatures. Deserts are weird, man. He watched a single songbird fly overhead, dropping suddenly into an opening in one of the houses. A nest, probably… It looked a lot like the nest that had been outside his bedroom window back home.

No. Not home. This is. Not there.

How long has it been? Three months? Wait-Ryan sat up suddenly from his hunched position, eyes widening. Three…months…

It would've been my birthday.

He screwed his eyes shut, pained, and felt more tears fall. I turned 15, and I didn't even notice. How did I not notice? How did Kaylyn not?

Maybe she just didn't care enough to.

Shut up, brain. No one asked.

"Hey. You." Ryan jumped, and looked up to see a boy approaching him. He looked rough and unkempt, his hair filthy, his clothing torn. Vaguely, the apprentice registered a small figure tailing behind him.

"M-me?"

The boy laughed. "Do you see anyone else around? You seem like you're having a rough day." He seemed friendly enough, but Ryan wasn't about to take him at face value. He'd heard enough of Kaylyn's stories to be more cautious around strangers than he had been before.

"Yeah, why?"

"My friends and I have a fire going on one of the rooftops. Would you like to join us? We have food and wine." Just then, a small child ran forward, hugging the older boy's legs tightly and peering out from behind him. The two looked almost identical.

"Oh! I'm Ahmad by the way, and this," Ahmad gestured to the figure wrapped around him, "Is my little brother, Rahim. I told him to stay hidden but he never listens."

Ryan thought for a moment, looking between the two of them. The boy's smile was nice, and he seemed genuine. The apprentice sighed, and grinned tiredly. Well, time to do something a bit stupid, I guess.

"Sure. Why not?"

Ahmad chuckled. "Thought so. Don't worry, the others won't mind; I have a habit of taking in strays."

The small waiting room in the healer's house was empty, save for an exhausted assistant shuffling papers in the corner. The smell of herbs and frankincense wafted from the holder, bringing memories from the Assassin's Bureau to the forefront of my mind, and shelves full of bottled remedies lined the walls.

We'd headed from the ring to the house of Al-Mualij as soon as we could, Rashid leaning heavily on his companion, me trailing guiltily behind. I'd cringed at every hiss of pain from my mentor, wishing away the part of my mind that had done that to him. I'm not talking to that stupid Apple until he apologizes.

Still, even I had to admit it wasn't entirely the Apple's fault.

"How are you now, Kay-lyn?" Malik was watching me closely, ignoring the annoyed huffs from the assistant, who no doubt wanted to focus on his tedious work. I shrugged, staring down at my hands.

"I don't know. I still feel…" I trailed off, but I didn't need to finish.

"I understand," The rafiq said softly, "I know there are many things you have endured since arriving in these lands."

I shrugged again, ignoring the spike of anxiety curling in the pit of my stomach. I really didn't want to talk about everything that happened, but I knew that recent events gave me little choice. I'd put an innocent person in harm's way, and for what? "That doesn't excuse me. It doesn't excuse anything."

"You are not to blame, but perhaps…" Malik's voice trailed off, and I glanced at him to see him staring off into space, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"What?"

He shifted back and sighed. "You do need to talk to someone. I do not know who, but this kind of problem should not be left unaddressed. I have…seen such things before." There was a darkness in his eyes, and I supposed that what he'd seen was not pleasant.

"Ok." I didn't know anyone who had experience with the pain I had been through. Makin was far too innocent, Nadir too gentle, and I doubted my brother could handle the strain of being a teenage therapist. I thought for a moment, then said, "Maybe…maybe I could talk to you?"

"Me?" Malik looked startled. "Why?"

"You say you've seen these things before, and I don't really know anyone else who might understand." Please don't think I'm weird for asking. I know I don't know you all that well.

"I am going back to Jerusalem at some point," The rafiq began, and I felt my heart drop. "However…I do not see any harm in talking while I am here. Perhaps you could help me transcribe things as we do so?"

I grinned at him, my anxiety lessening slightly. "Thank you, Malik."

The door to the treatment room swung open suddenly, and I jumped, looking over to see the healer making his way toward us. He had a kind look on his face, and his smile widened as he saw me.

"Hello, miss. Are you the one waiting for the young man inside?"

I smiled back. He seems nice. "Yes, my friend and I are."

"Could I have your names?" He asked, grabbing a small quill off his assistant's desk. The assistant grumbled something incoherent, and probably derogatory.

"I'm Kaylyn, and this guy-" I replied, gesturing to the rafiq, "Is Malik."

The healer froze and looked at me more closely, head tilted. There was an awkward pause, and I began to wonder whether I'd said something wrong. Then the man's grin grew, and he exclaimed, "Kay-lyn, you say? I believe you are soon to be my new apprentice!"

I blinked, taken aback. Oh. Oh yeah!

I'd been so distracted by Rashid I'd completely forgotten about my impending apprenticeship. I grinned and nodded vigorously, eager to show my enthusiasm. Please like me please like me please like me please-"Oh, yes! It completely slipped my mind, I'm sorry!"

"No need to apologize, child, now then…" The healer turned to Malik, handing over a small slip of paper, "Bring this to your…employer to be filed away, if you will. No payment necessary."

Malik stood and bowed slightly. "It will be done, sir. May we see Rashid?"

"Of course, he is merely gathering his things."

As if summoned by some convenient plot piece, the assassin appeared in the small doorway, fastening the last dagger sheathe to his belt. The assistant let out a small squeak, startled, and the sound of a scratching quill increased exponentially. Rashid looked a bit sheepish as he moved to where we were standing.

"Ready to go?" He asked me. I nodded.

The healer waved to me as we left, and I waved back eagerly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Malik smile.

Ryan…was not entirely sure where he was, but he did know he was laughing,

Ahmad was next to him, doubled over from the hilarity of the situation. Wait. What situation? Ryan snorted and smiled. I don't even know why we're laughing, but still.

They and another boy were stumbling down an alley, with the third clutching an empty bottle in his fist. It had gotten dark quickly, a strong wind blowing through the streets of Masyaf, and Ryan vaguely realized that…shouldn't I be cold? He'd tried to walk straight, but the floor kept moving. "Hey..hey guys, whyyis the flooorrrr…"

"WHAT?" Ahmad shouted.

"What? Why are you-" Ryan struggled to get the words out through bouts of laughter, "WHY ARE WE SHOUTING!"

"BECAUSE WE FUCKIN CAN!" The third boy shouted, and the three of them fell apart, Ahmad falling against a wall and leaning heavily.

"Ias sayin'...the Flooorrrrr is movin'..."

"Yahhhh….." The third one let out a strange sound of affirmation, and Ahmad straightened up, still laughing.

"Ishoud…sleep…" Ryan had no idea what time it was, but he did know he had to get home at some point.

"Wherrree…." The last boy drawled.

"Hommmeeeee…." Ryan's eyes widened at his own voice, remembering the warmth of his "Bed…."

"Fuckin'... I wanna bed!" Ahmad exclaimed, giggling, "You got a family too?"

"Adopted, but yeah. They're…so nice…" Ryan stopped, swaying. "But I suck."

Ahmad opened his mouth to reply, then gasped, closing it with a snap. His eyes were fixed behind the other. Ryan turned, almost falling, and saw a familiar figure standing there, lantern in hand, looking a mixture of angry and alarmed.

Nadir.

Silently, Nadir stepped forward. "Ryan? What…"

"Run," He vaguely heard Ahmad whisper, and the two of them took off, ignoring Ryan's cry of dismay.

"Hey, wherrrryou-"

"Ryan." The soft voice distracted him, and he felt Nadir's hand on his shoulder. "We need to go home. Nafisa and your sister have been very worried."

Home. Where is that, anyway?

A/N: Alright, that's the end of it! There should definitely be more plot movement next chapter. What might Kaylyn encounter, and how will Nadir react to Ryan's little escapade? Stay tuned to find out!