Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to put up. I was insanely busy. It's crunch time in school. The one where all the teachers decide to give projects and test all in the same week practically on the same day. And I'm sorry this is so short. The next part will be longer, I promise! (Weekend coming up)
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Guilt is a wasted emotion. Guilt is a wasted emotion. Guilt is a wasted emotion.
Tyr repeated those five words over and over again as he sat in an uncomfortable chair in Med Deck, watching the only occupant of the room sleeping fitfully, tossing and turning in a fever-induced delirium. But, try as hard as he might, another phrase kept adding itself into his mantra.
This is all my fault.
"My father is not a drug addict!"
That assertion was her most frequent. He did not know what nightmares ran through Beka Valentine's head, but he knew he was the cause of them. And it irritated him. It annoyed him that he blamed the illness of a woman he should consider inferior on himself. Tyr began to wish he had gone with the others down to the planet.
On the bed, Beka started thrashing and her eyelids fluttered. "Hot," she mumbled.
Tyr sighed, and got up to get a towel for her foerhead and the meds Trance had said would help. Along with the fever, Beka was severely dehydrated and fatigued. The last two symptoms had been easy enough to deal with, but the fever hadn't broken yet.
"Don't touch me," Beka demanded, eyes open but unfocused.
Tyr sighed again, and spoke to her softly. "Beka, it's okay. I will not hurt you." Not ever again, if I can help it. "Calm down, Beka. This will make you feel better." Surprisingly enough, she quieted down. Even more surprising, she grabbed for his hand.
And the most surprising part of all, he took her hand and held it.
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Beka woke up slowly to a rather large headache and
a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time-someone was holding her hand.
"Woah. Where am I, who are you, and what was I doing last night?"
"You are in Med Deck. You were quite ill."
Ah, Beka, you should have opened your eyes first. "Hell-oo, Tyr. Where's everybody?" Like Trance. Or Harper.
"They went down to get supplies at the nearby planet. Are you feeling better, Beka?" he asked, looking concerned.
"Hell yeah. Except for a humongous headache. Other then that, throw anything at me! I am so ready to be out of here!" Beka said, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Except that, she though ruefully as her legs refused to hold her weight and she found herself in Tyr's arms. Then again, maybe it's not so bad here after all. Woah, what am I thinking, I must still be sick. But she had to admit, she felt nice.
"I don't think so," Tyr said, lifting her back into bed. "You should at least wait until Trance returns."
"Oh, no, I'm fine. Really," Beka tried again, but she didn't insist.
"Would you like something to eat or to drink?" Tyr asked her.
"Umm, I guess. As long it doesn't have cyanide in it. I was just sick, I don't want to try being dead, too," Beka requested, smiling. She got one back.
"I'll cook you something. I'll be back soon," Tyr promised. "If you need anything..."
"I know who to call. Thanks, Tyr," Beka grinned. It was nice to have a big, muscular guy to wait on her.
It wasn't until the door closed behind him that the memorie came flooding back.
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Author's note, part 2: Please, please, pretty please review! The
next part'll be up soon.