grrrrrr, stupid LJ posting our JOINT fic on HER username. I'm Jilly by the way peeps, otherwise known as 'Rogue Wildmage', so yeah, if u lyk this fic- which u prob don't cos even I admit it's kinda wierd- You can check out my fic on that username. Its Kel/Neal aswell, but I'm gonna do a Briar/Sandry one soon to, cos they are so meant to be together....newayz, I'm babbling, I know u all wanna read the fic, so here goes:

Disclaimer: Since this plot is half LJs, she can bash you up if you copy it, cos I can't be bothered. But be warned....she slaps...HARD!!!! Oh, and yeah, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't sue me, cos its not like I have any money, from writing this or anything else.....

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Chapter Two: The Day you went Away

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'Hey, there's not a cloud in the sky, It's as blue as your goodbye, And I thought that it would rain, On the day you went away'

~Wendy Matthews 'The day you went away'

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Pushing Peachblossom into a trot, Kel wondered what exactly had been wrong with Neal lately. He'd been acting so, well, down right wierd really.

'Oh well' Kel reasoned, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her 'it's probably just....the Dom thing'

Kel sighed and lined Peachblossom up facing the target. It wasn't fair. Why did someone so young, so happy with himself and his life, die before he even had a chance to live life to the full? And why did he have to do it in a way so that Neal could blame it on himself?

Kel could still remember when the letter had arrived, by private courier no less, In Neals rooms. The way he'd come bursting through her door, in the middle of the night, such a beautiful night, and yet Kel hadn't been able to sleep. It had been hot, she remebered that, but not unbearably so, just warm enough to be nice, such a sunny day, a great day for doing anything, until Neal had burst in. He'd been crying, Kel had never seen Neal cry before, it was kind of strange really. Cocky, confident Neal, running through the halls bawling. Kel remembered her own suprise clearly,

"Neal?" she'd said, trying not to stare at him to much "Neal, what's up!"

"Gods Kel, didn't they send you one of these bloody letters?" he'd replied, screaming, refusing to look her in the eye.

"No, Neal, I haven't got any letters...should I have?" She'd asked confused, she was half thinking about calling the local mental hospital, and half thinking about giving him an hug, but decided that both would probably be inapporpriate since he was courting one of her close friends.

"YES YOU BLOODY SHOULD HAVE!!! Oh for Gods sake" he'd sobbed "Read mine, then you can blame me to"

Kel just stared at him, openly now although he didn't seeem to care, where was the sarcastic comment? The sly insult? Kel meekly took the letter and.....

Peachblossom suddenly let out a high pitched, glass shattering whinny. Kels mind jerked from her memories and onto the task at hand. Even so, she only just managed to get her lance up high enough in time to avoid a buffeting from the sandbag.

Riding out of the practice ring, she scolded herself, imagine going off in a daze like that while charging? What if she'd done that in a war? What then? She could have injured hundreds of her own men or got herself killed. But then, her brain had seemed to be doing a lot more wandering than usual lately, and quite frankly it scared her, because most of the 'wandering' had occurred in relation to Neal. Not in an unchaste way, but still, it worried her...

Kel sighed and pulled Peachblossom into the stables for his rub down. There was no point in worrying about her own feelings now. She'd just have to find out what was worrying Neal and help him get rid of it, whatever it was. Just like a Best Friend would do.

Note the word 'Friend.'