Author's Note: In response to the feedback [thanks btw!] :: Yes, we seem to have developed a place for vomiting through-out the story. Then again, we decided that Al from 'Quantum Leap' and Vanessa from 'Austin Powers' were the proud parents of BwoC's Merton and Becky. We're an eclectic writing team ;)

Author's Note # 2: If you really want to thank me and Bunny for the story I wouldn't mind you guys working on she Trex fics of your own. *hint, hint* :)

This was my turn:

**

Trudy held a towel to her head, the cool water not really helping her since she didn't feel ill anymore. She tossed it on the table in front of her and sighed.

"You're sure you're alright?" Lex asked with an uncertain eye. She nodded miserably with her embarrassment; at least she didn't puke on him or his brother. A tiny consolation, but a consolation just the same.

"Do you want me to wet it again?" KC fidgeted as he pointed to the table, and before Trudy could respond he took the towel and headed for the bucket of water. She smiled faintly after him, he had a lot of bravado for his young age, but he was still just a child when he was unsure or scared. Now, after the virus, it was hard to think of anyone like that.

"Hope I don't get a hold of whatever you ate, I'd be pretty hard pressed trying to direct my puke away from most of the people around here," Lex joshed.

"I still have to clean it up." Trudy made a disgusted face and rubbed her eyes.

"Naw, we'll have Salene do it, it'll be a nice little treat."

That, at least, made Trudy smile a little, Salene apparently was having a flashback to the ruler-welding teachers in her old school.

"Reminds me of *my* old school," Trudy voice aloud, giggling a bit. Her jovial attitude upped some at the fact that her stomach didn't stir when she did it. Her eyes moved to Lex who hadn't cracked a smile.

"If I'd known it was that bad I wouldn't have held back from hitting Ryan, or considered sending KC back."

"Ryan? Was he there when Salene did it?" Trudy wondered. That'd be surprising since Ryan was always thinking what was best for the little ones.

"I didn't ask, wasn't really caring at the moment."

KC came back in, handing over the cooled fabric and, although she didn't need it, Trudy took it gratefully and held it to her forehead.

"I should be treating you," she said gently holding his hand, palm up.

"I didn't barf," KC chirped. Trudy tilted her head and laid the cloth over his skin, giving him a wink as Lex watched quietly.

**

"Lex? LEX?"

"I'm listening," he growled. "You two are the ones with your attention permanently fused on each other."

Amber blew out a breath of annoyance and took a seat in from of him. "We have some new plans."

"Great," he complained, "when you're not busy shacking up you're making strategies without me. I'd suggest embarking on a threesome so that I'm in the loop but I don't find Bray near as attractive as, well, any female on the entire _planet_."

"Can you just listen?" Bray complained, folding his arms.

"Fine, what?"

"What is with you? You've been quiet for days." Amber eyed him with a raised brow.

What was it? Three days ago he'd saw his brother's hand, decided he didn't need to go to school which brought another confrontation with Ryan that nearly came to blows before Salene stepped in and apologized, admitting she was wrong. KC still wasn't going back, but the subject was dropped for now and Ryan was busy nursing his girlfriend's whining guilt.

Next was Bray's orders to bring more people on his team, a sure sign something was going down that the Tribal Co-leaders weren't sharing with him. It was making increasingly aggravated the longer they took to clue him in.

Then there was Trudy; he could hardly stand her, like always. She always had a remark that matched his; it annoyed the hell out of him when he lost the upper hand in anything. But she wasn't truly a gorgon with a pretty face and a hot body, she'd been nice to KC, and he'd responded to it. That was rare. And during late morning he'd walked past the bathroom to hear her heaving again. With the absence of medication, getting anything past a cold was not as easy to deal with as it used to be.

"Can we stick to the subject?" Lex bit out.

"Fine," Amber snapped. "Being nice to you is like hand feeding a piranha."

Lex bared his teeth and clicked them once before Bray spoke. "We've been putting some things into motion, Lex. We asked you to take more deputies on so I'm sure you guessed that something is happening . . . and we've been working with Jack on a few of them."

"Jack? When were you planning on telling me?" Lex's voice rose and he stood abruptly. This had been coming, but having them say it flared him up. An act of disregard on it's own it was enough to piss him off, but combined with everything else-

"Relax, we haven't done anything yet, we wanted you to know before we carried out a plan of action."

"Yeah. I'm sure *one* of you thought that way," he said with a glance to indicate Amber's tendency to push on without always letting the need-to- know people know.

"Lex."

"Enough. I'll get the plans from Jack." He headed for the door swinging it open and then turning to look a last time. "I'd appreciate a heads up next time, a clue to show me and everyone else my post in this tribe isn't just as a fool with a shitty badge."

**

"It's very nice," he heard Trudy's voice say. He walked around the corner to see her patting a cap on KC's head.

"I traded for it with a couple of tapes I found in a box."

"A box?" she questioned with a nudge.

"Seriously," KC answered. "They didn't even belong to anyone."

She smiled at his sincerity as he twisted his hat and displayed the ironed- on 'intimidating' eyes that adorned it. "Very nice."

"Thanks. I'm going to the market again, I could pick you up some apples if you want."

Trudy's eyes lit and she could have sworn her stomach growled. "I'd love some."

"Okay," KC told her, walking down the steps in front of him, pausing for a second before shaking his head. "Nevermind, it's on me."

Lex's boots were heavy as he came forward, thunking on the ground and drawing Trudy's attention. "KC offering to fit the bill, hope you're sufficiently shocked."

Trudy looked to where he left and the corners of her mouth turned slightly. "He's a good kid."

"Yes, he is." Lex responded to it flatly. "I just wish more people would see it, but if they can't - it's their loss."

"What do they know anyway?" Trudy asked sullenly, plopping into a seat.

"Who? The Mallrats?" he asked, picking up her discontentment. She didn't respond so he approached her, taking a chair. "You could at least give me a snappy comeback."

She chuckled a little sadly, "You saw me vomit all over the floor, I'd say that takes the fire out of anything I can come up with."

"Heard it too," he informed her. She looked at him and he continued. "This morning, I was walking pass the--"

"Oh. I'd say sorry that you had to envision that scene in your head but I'm not sure you should try to be a Hearing Tom when someone's in the faculties anyway," she added.

"Are you okay?" he asked seriously.

"I hope so," she breathed out. "I think it's a flu or something, but I don't have a fever, far as I can tell anyway. Probably just a bout of . . . something. Maybe I should see Pride, he could work up some herbal . . .thing," she shrugged. It'd been a few days now that she'd been sick and she wasn't opposed to trying one of Pride's mixed up potions if they would stop the queasiness. It hadn't effected her appetite, but that was a double- edged sword, it just meant she had more to throw up later.

"Pride's a quack with a fetish for roots."

"I'm willing," she shrugged. They were silent for a moment before Lex focused on her and leaned forward.

"What did you mean that the Mallrats don't know anything? I'm not too hot on the leaders lately and I wouldn't mind a bashing."

She smirked and her eyes seemed down as she cleared her throat. "It's . . . with the whole Bray thing . . . Oh, please, Lex, don't look clueless, I know that everyone has been gossiping about it forever now. Poor little Trudy heartsick over Amber and Bray."

"Just thought I'd show some discretion."

She smirked and continued. "I understand that Amber is . invaluable to everyone here, and that doesn't help when you need someone to complain to," she laughed.

"You can complain to me," Lex said, his teeth showing just a little. "As long as I can complain to you."

Trudy smiled widely looking to her tapping fingers, and back to Lex. "I wouldn't be very appreciative if I didn't let you vent in return."

"That's settled then. So, have you seen Bray's puppy dog act under Amber lately?"

"I always knew Amber would have to be on top," Trudy joked. It felt good to be able to actually let out some of the pettiness with someone else.

End Part Five