AN: As advised, sign language is now represented as [square brackets] to make it easier to identify.
Part VII
She quickly found Jesse sitting beneath the dojo, watching the water of the meditation pool. Small flames from floating candles lit his face and cast an orange glow about the whole room. She sat beside him, watching the rippling lights move across his face as he thought. She wasn't sure if he had noticed her but eventually he looked up and smiled.
[Good morning.] He signed.
[What time is it?] She asked. He checked his watch carefully as if he had problems focusing.
[Three O'clock.] He replied. He looked back out at the water, sighing before turning back to the young feral. "It's strange. They seem so much closer when I'm here. Sanctuary is filled with them. No wonder I can't sleep." She didn't bother asking who he was talking about. Questions she wanted to ask lost importance as she saw Jesse's pain, moving closer so she could rest a hand on his shoulder, offering what little assurances she could. He seemed to shake himself out of it after a moment, pulling himself back to the present and turning back to face her. [How are you?] He asked. [How are your eyes?] She frowned.
[I wasn't supposed to expect fast results, but what I see...] She paused, trying to find words adequate to describe it, but he seemed to understand, grinning widely.
[It hasn't been as fast as you think, you've been asleep for longer than you know.] He explained. [You slept for almost three days.] She gaped, confused.
[How?] She asked.
[You were suffering from fatigue. Adam was annoyed that he didn't see it, but he didn't have anything to compare you to, any old records he could look at. I'm surprised you woke up that morning, let alone surviving an hour of training on the dojo. How long did you stay awake with Sharon before Adam arrived?] Eber thought about his question for a moment.
[I didn't sleep after the fight. Sharon was hurt and I was so scared she might leave me and I wouldn't know. I couldn't sleep.]
[Three days ago.] Jesse confirmed.
[The owner came in after a while, he had keys to the room. He said she was screaming and I hadn't realised, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't take her to a hospital. He just kept trying to get to her. I showed him my eyes, when they change colour,] Jesse nodded his understanding. [It was stupid, but I was scared and I didn't have anyone to talk for me. I expected him to run away but he just said something about a Doctor and left. He must have meant Adam, but I didn't know that at the time. I knew Sharon couldn't be moved. I thought that was it, I thought we were going back.]
[Going back?]
[To the place where we were before. Where they did experiments on us. I don't remember much of that place before Sharon and I escaped, but they kept me in the dark and with nobody else, only Sharon sometimes.] She shuddered. [Is Sharon OK?] Jesse smiled at her concern.
[She's fine, she's completely healed now and Adam's been trying to teach her about her,] Jesse paused, as far as he knew there was no sign for what he wanted to say. Eventually he settled on [Gift.] She nodded, reassured. They sat in companionable silence for a while, each thinking their own thoughts.
Eber started as a shadow in the corner of her vision shifted and she looked up. Calling Jesse's attention to the movement both of them stood, moving in silence over to the door that had opened.