Angel
by Katie
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein do not belong to me. Everyone but Kara belongs to Tribune *hiss*, and Kathryn belongs to herself. :D Happy b-day Kath. *hugz* Sorry I'm late!
***
The room was dark. Signifying night, he supposed. He really wouldn't know. Joshua Doors, son of the late and great Jonathan Doors, had not seen the light of day or the dark of night for over a year. He lived in his cell on the Taelon mothership, living only to be tortured by Sandoval.

Sandoval. That man had some serious psychological issues, in Joshua's opinion. He'd heard of the agent before the Taelons came. Well liked, well respected, all American nice guy. His love for his wife was legendary among the DI security guards. after the Taelons, though...his former friends hardly knew him. He became an expert at torture. Joshua could only guess that it filled some sadistic need of his to make others suffer as he had suffered. Or maybe the man was just plain evil. Joshua couldn't care less. After a year of Sandoval's man made hell, it was hard to care about anything at all.

Footsteps. Joshua knew them all too well. They sounded like the drums of death, pounding loud in his brain, addling his senses until he couldn't think, only feel.

He was going back to the torture chamber.
***
Cool. Soothing. Hands, soft like his mother's, petting him, easing his pain with a gentle touch.

A sting.

" OUCH!"

Joshua sat up abruptly, startled into conciousness by a touch to a sensitive spot. He immediately regretted it. The sudden light burned his eyes, and he could feel his sense swimming again. He closed his eyes, willing the pain to go away, to leave him alone.

" Bad idea, cowboy," a voice whispered to him. It was warm with sympathy, and tinged with laughter. Joshua felt hands on his shoulders, gently guiding him back down to a lying position. " Take it easy there. Shhh. Sandoval got you good."

Joshua struggled to open his eyes, wanting to face the voice on equal terms.

" Don't even this about it," the voice said. " You haven't eaten in twenty hours, and dry heaving is NOT a pleasant experiance."

Joshua heeded her advice, and instead opened his mouth to speak. He found he could not, his throat was so dry.

" Hold a sec," the voice said, and Joshua could hear footsteps walking away. He didn't want them to leave. He wanted them back.

As if reading his mind, the footsteps returned, and he felt a strong but gentle arm slide under his head. His head was lifted up, and refreshing water eased his parched throat. " There we go. Not too fast now. There."

When the water was finished, Joshua finally felt able to speak.

" Name?" His voice came out as a harsh whisper.

" Kara," the voice replied. " Volunteer Kara Burns."

Joshua opened his mouth to speak again, but Kara interupted him.

" Hush now. Plenty of time for words later. You need your rest."

Joshua wanted to fight the oblivion dancing at the edge of his conciousness. He wanted to talk more with this Kara. But her words seemed to have a magic effect on him, and despite himself, Joshua slipped off into slumber.
***
It was a never ending cycle. Joshua had become Sandoval's personal punching bag, to be battered and abused whenever something irritated him. Joshua was surprised his body still functioned. Either Sandoval paid more attention to his well being than he thought, or his body was stronger than he thought. Joshua was inclined towards the former. Of course Sandoval would want to preserve his punching bag.

For awhile, Joshua had lost the will to live. He ate mechanically, and very little. He slept constantly, but never rested. He stopped thinking. He didn't live, he existed.

Then came her. His friend in the dark, his angel. she tended his wounds, soothing them with a gentle touch and a soft voice. She brought him his food, and kept him company while he ate. She slipped little books, games, and puzzles into his cell, to give him something to do. Joshua suspected that his guard knew, but as the man didn't have a CVI, he didn't tell anyone. He didn't really care whether or not his prisoner was bored. He just made sure he didn't escape.

Joshua began to dream of being free again. Of seeing Renee, and hearing her laughter. Of breathing real air, and sitting on fresh green grass. Visiting the ocean. Swimming in the lake.

And being with his angel.
***
Finis