Chapter 14
Let's get it on!
Paul sat on the most comfortable chair with just the right fluff to help him get over his anger at Steena. He couldn't place why she was acting so unusual, but he felt it had nothing to do with him.
"Gosh, everybody likes me. . ." Paul said to himself. Miki, the cruise ship owner, took a seat next to Paul. As usual she looked as seducing as ever before.
"Hello, you are Paul right?" She asked unsure.
"Yeah." Paul replied in a half grunt.
"You seem to be upset, is everything not to satisfactory?" Miki asked getting defensive.
"Nothing is wrong with the boat, just my relationship." Paul replied whishing he hadn't. Miki nodded understandingly.
"I see this all the time. What she yelling at you about? Money, Horrible Sex." Miki went on getting cruder with each idea she had.
"No, I don't know why she's so angry and lashing out. But I plan to resolve it." Paul said flatly.
"Ya look like you're not from El Nido. Where ya from?" Miki asked politely.
"I come from Marbule and rarely venture out." Paul said carefully. Miki nodded understandingly.
"Ya know, you're kinda cute." Miki said looking at Paul and grinning. Paul glared at her.
"I HAPPEN TO LIKE MY REALTIONSHIP THE WAY IT IS GOING! No matter how bad it is right now. . ." Paul said confidently. Miki looked at her nails and spoke to Paul in a boring tone.
"Got that out of your system?" Paul replied happily,
"Uh. Ya."
"Good, come with me." Miki said helping Paul up and dragging him away by his arm.
~*~
"They're fighting," Lynx said looking at the monitor.
"Yes they are," Fate replied.
"Any idea if this will keep up?" Lynx replied.
"Nope, just know that they're coming here. I see destinies I do not see course of actions," Fate replied.
"Then what good are you?" Lynx asked hotly.
"You don't want to hear your destiny, that's all I'm saying," Fate retorted.
"What's my destiny?" Lynx replied getting agitated.
"Not telling," Fate replied smiling.
"Do I die?" Lynx asked.
"No clues, you just won't like what happens I can guarantee that," Fate replied.
"Well then let's continue to work on our defenses and see if we can't change my destiny," Lynx responded.
"Good plan," Fate replied.
~*~
Steena walked out of her room after a long nap and looked at Paul who was being dragged by Miki.
"Come on, it'll be fun!" Miki said trying to yank Paul into a room.
"I don't want TO!" Paul said yanking Miki into him so they both collapsed. Miki was on top of Paul and began to kiss him slowly.
"This will do." She said unsatisfied. Steena went pale white. She then turned red hot with anger not at Miki, but at Paul. She went up to the two and began yelling.
"PAUL WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" Paul shoved Miki off of him and got up to look at Steena.
"She started-" Paul was cut off by Steena who slapped him.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?" she said starting to fill up with tears. Paul tried to explain before a man dressed in a funny outfit and a blue hat walked up.
"What iz wrong madam?" he said softly. Paul glared at the guy.
"This is none of your concern mister." Paul said hotly. The man looked at Paul confused then thought he saw the big picture.
"You have hurt this beautiful lady's feelings. How could you, you scoundrel?" He said to Paul. Miki backed off with a grin on her face.
"Didn't you just have a French accent a while ago?" Paul said.
"Do not change ze subject!" The man in blue said quickly.
"Who are you?" Paul asked.
"My name is Pierre." He said with pride.
"Dropped your accent again." Paul pointed out.
"Enough! What did you do to zis pretty lady?" Pierre said kissing Steena's hand softly. Paul grew angry at the sight of someone else kissing Steena, no matter where it was.
"Hey, get your disgusting hands off my girlfriend!" Paul said moving in on Pierre.
"He was kissing another girl." Steena said unsure why she just released that information.
"YOU PIG!" Pierre shouted. He took out a glove and hit Paul with all his might. Paul didn't even flinch. Paul looked at Pierre then the glove.
"Are you implying what I think you are?" Paul asked carefully. Pierre nodded.
"Are you a coward and a pig?" Pierre asked laughing. Steena backed off.
"Please Paul, don't." She said quietly. Paul bent down and picked up the glove.
"So I pick this up, and then to accept I slap you back with it?" Pierre nodded. Miki was starting to giggle.
"PAUL, PLEASE?" Steena said beginning to swell with tears again.
"Do not worry madam, after I defeat zis dog you shall be free from his evil clutches so tha-" Paul slapped Pierre so hard with the glove Pierre sprawled to the floor grabbing the spot where his cheek was hit.
"PAUL YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM!" Steena said bending down to check on Pierre. Pierre was barley even conscience. Miki stopped giggling and looked at Paul in awe.
"You two finish this in Grand Slam." Paul shrugged as he turned around. "I'M MAKING IT ANYTHING GOES!" Miki shouted as Paul turned a corner.
~*~
Patrick walked into the grand slam and looked around. Seeing Steena and Samantha sitting next to each other he took a seat over by them before muttering a hello.
"Being civil today are we?" Samantha asked casually.
"Depends on your definition of civil," Patrick grumbled. The arena went silent as the lights focused on the cage filled with weapons and tables and chairs and brass knuckles and swords and shields, almost anything imaginable of destruction and chaos. Steena looked at Diss and Christy who just entered. Steena leaned over to Patrick.
"Have you seen Paul?" She asked hopefully.
"Not my day to watch him, besides, he's in this match isn't he?" Pierre entered the arena as the announcer listed off a list of accomplishments.
"Number one ranked swordsman in all of Daguerro, First place in sword and Shield competition. Best technique in defense class.." It seemed like an hour before he finished.
"If that's all he's done then Paul might not have a lucky time.." Pat said coldly. Steena looked worried for Paul. The announcer cleared his throat.
"Introducing his opponent, hailing from Marbule. Paul!" The crowd gave a bigger cheer then Pierre's only because Paul's was to the point. Paul entered the arena and looked at everything around him. Both Clone Paul and Shaun entered with Shaun and a girl that Steena couldn't make out in the dark.
"Let's get it on!"
Paul thrusted himself at Pierre who dodged and pointed at Paul so everyone would laugh. Paul got up and laughed himself. Pierre grabbed a sword and began to swing it at Paul. Paul managed to roll under an attack and Jackknife over another. Pierre kicked Paul in the butt and Paul fell over. Pierre pointed to Paul and the crowd laughed.
"This isn't good." Catherine said appearing next to Steena.
"Why?" Steena asked. Patrick yelled for Paul to get up as did the others.
"Paul's an irrational thinker, Pierre's in a CAGED arena. Who do you think is gonna win?" Steena saw the danger Pierre was in instantly.
"PATRICK! WE NEED TO GET PIERRE OUT OF THERE NOW BEFORE PAUL KILLS HIM!" Pat shushed Steena as Paul slowly got up. Pierre dove in with an aerial attack that Paul dodged by sidestepping and grabbing Pierre by the back of the head and the lower back and thrusting him into the cage. Pierre began to easily bleed. Paul picked Pierre up and pointed to the crowd. He then picked Pierre up and tossed him into a chair that collapsed. Paul stalked over to Pierre and hunched over him. Pierre kicked straight up but Paul was ready by squeezing his thighs together catching Pierre's leg between them. Paul placed both hands around Pierre's neck and lifted from the ground into the air so Pierre was dangling for his life. The crowd began to scream as Pat looked at Paul carefully. It looked like he's trying to see into his soul or something. Paul tossed Pierre down and let Pierre try to regain his breath. Paul picked up a table and propped it up. Paul then grabbed Pierre by the head and lifted him up. Pierre was barley standing with his back leaning against the table.
"Oh my god.." Steena said.
Paul lifted up both of Pierre's legs so his body was dangling over Paul's back. Paul then snapped down and Pierre's body went through the table like cutting tissue paper. Pierre was barley moving. Paul bent down to Pierre's level and picked him up with one hand and pointed the crowd before slamming Pierre's bloody face into it. The crowd was going wild as Paul began to toy with Pierre's body by kicking it while circling around it like a vulture. Then Patrick and Shaun both got up with Christy and Samantha.
"SHIT HE'S GONE INSANE!" Shaun shouted. Steena was lost with what was going on as the group ran down to the cage entrance. Paul picked up Pierre's body and tossed it like a rag doll into the cage where Pierre's shirt was ripped apart. Pat began arguing with the owner as the owner who kept shaking his head pointing to the crowd. Shaun then threw the guard away and Patrick melted the chains away. Samantha and Christy were already charging at Paul. Paul saw the two coming and picked up Pierre and tossed him like a stuffed animal into the two girls. Patrick and Shaun entered the arena cautiously as Patrick looked like he was calming him down. Paul began to climb the cage as if trying to escape Shaun and Patrick. Shaun jumped grabbing Paul off the top of the cage and slamming him onto his head where Paul became unconscious.
"Um.THE WINNER IS PAUL!" Miki said loudly. But something in her tone seemed angry at the victor. Patrick lifted Paul over his shoulders and carried him out as Shaun looked at Pierre. Pierre's body was cold, limp, and almost lifeless. Blood was everywhere, parts of his shirt ripped, and his hat was missing.
"He almost died." Shaun said sadly to Steena as she watched Shaun pass by. Catherine was waiting in her seat with Miguel next to her and Henry the squirrel who was enjoying a walnut.
"Damnit Paul.." Diss muttered.
~*~
Patrick paced back and forth impatiently on the deck of the ship. Steena sat in a chair watching his pacing as were Christy, Diss, and Samantha.
"He went way too far this time," Steena muttered.
"No actually, he kept himself in check. Pretty well I might add," Patrick replied as he stopped his pacing sitting down running his hands through his hair.
"What are you talking about? He nearly tore that man to shreds!" Steena said getting out of the chair yelling at Patrick.
"He's had training to disable, not kill. I'm sure the worst Pierre will walk out with is a broken arm in the very least; most of those wounds were flesh wounds. Nothing I or anyone else hasn't dealt with before," Patrick cut her off sharply. Steena knew he was right but something about what Paul did didn't sit right.
"He seemed at home in there. Why the heck was he using those things so easily? How did he know just what to use when for the greatest effect?" Steena asked. Everyone slowly shrugged except Patrick and Samantha. "You two know something don't you?"
"I know a lot of things, depends on what you want to know," Patrick returned.
"Why was he so comfortable in that cage?" Steena asked quickly.
"Before the invasion he made a living doing fights like that. Those types of fights were really his forte. That's all I'm saying," Patrick returned after a while.
"But if he can't remember his past then why is he acting like he would before it? It doesn't make sense to me," Steena countered.
"Think of it like instinct. You can wipe a person's memory, but the instincts of the life they lived are still there. That's why we weren't worrying, he wasn't fighting so much as putting on a show," Samantha replied for Patrick. Everyone in the room remained silent as she fidgeted uncomfortable.
Shaun finally spoke up," Is there anything else we should know about him?"
"Nope, that was pretty much the bulk, everything else we found out last adventure," Patrick replied chuckling. The other people from earth couldn't help but join in.
"What's so funny?" Steena demanded.
"Sorry, it's just our lives are never stable, we often think of it like an ongoing story, and so we break down our lives into adventures. What's the funny part is the inside joke that goes along with it," Diss explained.
"What? What's the inside joke?" Steena barked.
"If we told you..." Clone Paul began.
"It wouldn't be an inside joke," Shaun finished.
Christy sat in Diss' lap resting her head on his shoulder. "Time for sleep," She yawned. Diss only smiled as he kissed her hugging her close.
"That reminds me. How are you holding up Christy," Patrick asked calmly.
"I'm tired but otherwise I'm fine," She replied. Diss nodded softly.
"How's our child?" Diss asked gently stroking her hair.
She looked up at him and kissed him deeply before replying, "Our child is safe daddy, and his mother wants to go to bed now." Christy yawned again.
Diss nodded, "We're going to bed. I guess we all should while we wait for Paul to wake up."
"Agreed," Shaun replied.
"No arguments here," Clone Paul responded.
Samantha looked at Christy, "Christy, I wanted to talk to you, can we meet tomorrow?"
Christy looked at Diss, then Patrick then back to Samantha, "Yeah, I'll meet you up here after lunch, that sound good?"
"Thanks, I have a couple of things to ask you, girl talk and the like," Samantha said casually.
"Alright, then I'll see you then. For now." She jumped into Diss' arms, "Could you carry me to bed?"
Diss chuckled as he shifted her into a more comfortable position before replying, "Yeah, I can do that. See you guys." And they left.
Clone Paul looked at both Shaun's, "Hit the bar?"
"Yeah we could do that. See you two," Shaun replied as clone Paul and Both Shauns' left.
Patrick moved to get up only to feel a hand gently restrain him. He looked up to see Samantha and gave her a curious look.
"I want to talk to you," She replied softly.
"What do you want to talk about?" Patrick asked sitting back in his chair. Samantha dragged a chair over to him and sat across from him.
"There are a couple of things. First, I need to know why I'm here," She said softly.
"I told you I'm not going to answer that," Patrick responded calmly.
"Please, I need to know why you brought me back. It's been haunting me since we first met up again," She responded softly.
Patrick looked down carefully, "I can't tell you yet. I promise it will come soon. Just give me time to get used to the idea of letting my past go."
Samantha finally moved the chair closer, "Then I need to know something else."
Patrick drew in a quick breath, "And what's that?"
"Do you still love me?" Samantha questioned.
Patrick held his breath for a second before he began to nervously fidget," Sam, you have to understand something. I still love you, but I feel obligated to Christy. I don't want her to think I left her for you because I still love her too."
"Torn between your past and your present," Samantha calmly replied.
"Exactly, I can't seem to make it either way. I feel like I'm a burden to these people, yet I want to keep them safe," Patrick responded.
"Then let go. Don't try to be who you were, be who you are," Samantha replied.
Patrick finally got up, "I need to sleep. I'm still a little groggy."
"Don't you dare change the subject," Samantha snapped. Patrick turned to face her.
"Change the subject? I just made a statement I thought we were done talking," He replied.
"There's still something you can add and you know it," Samantha replied hotly.
"You want to know the truth? I've given up on life; I brought you back because you were taken from this world too early. I brought you back because I felt a debt to you that you should have been able to finish your life. I felt that I was responsible for that damn Aryan slitting your throat," Patrick replied slowly.
"That's why you brought me back? So I could watch you slide into oblivion and live a life without you?" Samantha countered.
"If the shoe fits.." Patrick trailed off.
"Patrick Eric Dissinger, I have only one thing to say to you," Samantha replied getting up and staring him in the face.
"And what's that?" He asked cautiously.
"I love you too much. I can't imagine living without you," She whispered softly. She gently folded her arms around him in a tight embrace. Patrick responded immediately wrapping his arms around her as he felt her tears. He simply ran a hand up and down her back as he carefully moved her head to his shoulder.
After a few minutes of crying she stopped, sniffling. Patrick gently lifted her chin up so he could look into her eyes, "I can't imagine being without you."
She leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against his. It felt like a jolt through both of them as he returned the kiss. The void that once engulfed Patrick was once again filled, and hope burned in him for the first time in awhile.
Let's get it on!
Paul sat on the most comfortable chair with just the right fluff to help him get over his anger at Steena. He couldn't place why she was acting so unusual, but he felt it had nothing to do with him.
"Gosh, everybody likes me. . ." Paul said to himself. Miki, the cruise ship owner, took a seat next to Paul. As usual she looked as seducing as ever before.
"Hello, you are Paul right?" She asked unsure.
"Yeah." Paul replied in a half grunt.
"You seem to be upset, is everything not to satisfactory?" Miki asked getting defensive.
"Nothing is wrong with the boat, just my relationship." Paul replied whishing he hadn't. Miki nodded understandingly.
"I see this all the time. What she yelling at you about? Money, Horrible Sex." Miki went on getting cruder with each idea she had.
"No, I don't know why she's so angry and lashing out. But I plan to resolve it." Paul said flatly.
"Ya look like you're not from El Nido. Where ya from?" Miki asked politely.
"I come from Marbule and rarely venture out." Paul said carefully. Miki nodded understandingly.
"Ya know, you're kinda cute." Miki said looking at Paul and grinning. Paul glared at her.
"I HAPPEN TO LIKE MY REALTIONSHIP THE WAY IT IS GOING! No matter how bad it is right now. . ." Paul said confidently. Miki looked at her nails and spoke to Paul in a boring tone.
"Got that out of your system?" Paul replied happily,
"Uh. Ya."
"Good, come with me." Miki said helping Paul up and dragging him away by his arm.
~*~
"They're fighting," Lynx said looking at the monitor.
"Yes they are," Fate replied.
"Any idea if this will keep up?" Lynx replied.
"Nope, just know that they're coming here. I see destinies I do not see course of actions," Fate replied.
"Then what good are you?" Lynx asked hotly.
"You don't want to hear your destiny, that's all I'm saying," Fate retorted.
"What's my destiny?" Lynx replied getting agitated.
"Not telling," Fate replied smiling.
"Do I die?" Lynx asked.
"No clues, you just won't like what happens I can guarantee that," Fate replied.
"Well then let's continue to work on our defenses and see if we can't change my destiny," Lynx responded.
"Good plan," Fate replied.
~*~
Steena walked out of her room after a long nap and looked at Paul who was being dragged by Miki.
"Come on, it'll be fun!" Miki said trying to yank Paul into a room.
"I don't want TO!" Paul said yanking Miki into him so they both collapsed. Miki was on top of Paul and began to kiss him slowly.
"This will do." She said unsatisfied. Steena went pale white. She then turned red hot with anger not at Miki, but at Paul. She went up to the two and began yelling.
"PAUL WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" Paul shoved Miki off of him and got up to look at Steena.
"She started-" Paul was cut off by Steena who slapped him.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?" she said starting to fill up with tears. Paul tried to explain before a man dressed in a funny outfit and a blue hat walked up.
"What iz wrong madam?" he said softly. Paul glared at the guy.
"This is none of your concern mister." Paul said hotly. The man looked at Paul confused then thought he saw the big picture.
"You have hurt this beautiful lady's feelings. How could you, you scoundrel?" He said to Paul. Miki backed off with a grin on her face.
"Didn't you just have a French accent a while ago?" Paul said.
"Do not change ze subject!" The man in blue said quickly.
"Who are you?" Paul asked.
"My name is Pierre." He said with pride.
"Dropped your accent again." Paul pointed out.
"Enough! What did you do to zis pretty lady?" Pierre said kissing Steena's hand softly. Paul grew angry at the sight of someone else kissing Steena, no matter where it was.
"Hey, get your disgusting hands off my girlfriend!" Paul said moving in on Pierre.
"He was kissing another girl." Steena said unsure why she just released that information.
"YOU PIG!" Pierre shouted. He took out a glove and hit Paul with all his might. Paul didn't even flinch. Paul looked at Pierre then the glove.
"Are you implying what I think you are?" Paul asked carefully. Pierre nodded.
"Are you a coward and a pig?" Pierre asked laughing. Steena backed off.
"Please Paul, don't." She said quietly. Paul bent down and picked up the glove.
"So I pick this up, and then to accept I slap you back with it?" Pierre nodded. Miki was starting to giggle.
"PAUL, PLEASE?" Steena said beginning to swell with tears again.
"Do not worry madam, after I defeat zis dog you shall be free from his evil clutches so tha-" Paul slapped Pierre so hard with the glove Pierre sprawled to the floor grabbing the spot where his cheek was hit.
"PAUL YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM!" Steena said bending down to check on Pierre. Pierre was barley even conscience. Miki stopped giggling and looked at Paul in awe.
"You two finish this in Grand Slam." Paul shrugged as he turned around. "I'M MAKING IT ANYTHING GOES!" Miki shouted as Paul turned a corner.
~*~
Patrick walked into the grand slam and looked around. Seeing Steena and Samantha sitting next to each other he took a seat over by them before muttering a hello.
"Being civil today are we?" Samantha asked casually.
"Depends on your definition of civil," Patrick grumbled. The arena went silent as the lights focused on the cage filled with weapons and tables and chairs and brass knuckles and swords and shields, almost anything imaginable of destruction and chaos. Steena looked at Diss and Christy who just entered. Steena leaned over to Patrick.
"Have you seen Paul?" She asked hopefully.
"Not my day to watch him, besides, he's in this match isn't he?" Pierre entered the arena as the announcer listed off a list of accomplishments.
"Number one ranked swordsman in all of Daguerro, First place in sword and Shield competition. Best technique in defense class.." It seemed like an hour before he finished.
"If that's all he's done then Paul might not have a lucky time.." Pat said coldly. Steena looked worried for Paul. The announcer cleared his throat.
"Introducing his opponent, hailing from Marbule. Paul!" The crowd gave a bigger cheer then Pierre's only because Paul's was to the point. Paul entered the arena and looked at everything around him. Both Clone Paul and Shaun entered with Shaun and a girl that Steena couldn't make out in the dark.
"Let's get it on!"
Paul thrusted himself at Pierre who dodged and pointed at Paul so everyone would laugh. Paul got up and laughed himself. Pierre grabbed a sword and began to swing it at Paul. Paul managed to roll under an attack and Jackknife over another. Pierre kicked Paul in the butt and Paul fell over. Pierre pointed to Paul and the crowd laughed.
"This isn't good." Catherine said appearing next to Steena.
"Why?" Steena asked. Patrick yelled for Paul to get up as did the others.
"Paul's an irrational thinker, Pierre's in a CAGED arena. Who do you think is gonna win?" Steena saw the danger Pierre was in instantly.
"PATRICK! WE NEED TO GET PIERRE OUT OF THERE NOW BEFORE PAUL KILLS HIM!" Pat shushed Steena as Paul slowly got up. Pierre dove in with an aerial attack that Paul dodged by sidestepping and grabbing Pierre by the back of the head and the lower back and thrusting him into the cage. Pierre began to easily bleed. Paul picked Pierre up and pointed to the crowd. He then picked Pierre up and tossed him into a chair that collapsed. Paul stalked over to Pierre and hunched over him. Pierre kicked straight up but Paul was ready by squeezing his thighs together catching Pierre's leg between them. Paul placed both hands around Pierre's neck and lifted from the ground into the air so Pierre was dangling for his life. The crowd began to scream as Pat looked at Paul carefully. It looked like he's trying to see into his soul or something. Paul tossed Pierre down and let Pierre try to regain his breath. Paul picked up a table and propped it up. Paul then grabbed Pierre by the head and lifted him up. Pierre was barley standing with his back leaning against the table.
"Oh my god.." Steena said.
Paul lifted up both of Pierre's legs so his body was dangling over Paul's back. Paul then snapped down and Pierre's body went through the table like cutting tissue paper. Pierre was barley moving. Paul bent down to Pierre's level and picked him up with one hand and pointed the crowd before slamming Pierre's bloody face into it. The crowd was going wild as Paul began to toy with Pierre's body by kicking it while circling around it like a vulture. Then Patrick and Shaun both got up with Christy and Samantha.
"SHIT HE'S GONE INSANE!" Shaun shouted. Steena was lost with what was going on as the group ran down to the cage entrance. Paul picked up Pierre's body and tossed it like a rag doll into the cage where Pierre's shirt was ripped apart. Pat began arguing with the owner as the owner who kept shaking his head pointing to the crowd. Shaun then threw the guard away and Patrick melted the chains away. Samantha and Christy were already charging at Paul. Paul saw the two coming and picked up Pierre and tossed him like a stuffed animal into the two girls. Patrick and Shaun entered the arena cautiously as Patrick looked like he was calming him down. Paul began to climb the cage as if trying to escape Shaun and Patrick. Shaun jumped grabbing Paul off the top of the cage and slamming him onto his head where Paul became unconscious.
"Um.THE WINNER IS PAUL!" Miki said loudly. But something in her tone seemed angry at the victor. Patrick lifted Paul over his shoulders and carried him out as Shaun looked at Pierre. Pierre's body was cold, limp, and almost lifeless. Blood was everywhere, parts of his shirt ripped, and his hat was missing.
"He almost died." Shaun said sadly to Steena as she watched Shaun pass by. Catherine was waiting in her seat with Miguel next to her and Henry the squirrel who was enjoying a walnut.
"Damnit Paul.." Diss muttered.
~*~
Patrick paced back and forth impatiently on the deck of the ship. Steena sat in a chair watching his pacing as were Christy, Diss, and Samantha.
"He went way too far this time," Steena muttered.
"No actually, he kept himself in check. Pretty well I might add," Patrick replied as he stopped his pacing sitting down running his hands through his hair.
"What are you talking about? He nearly tore that man to shreds!" Steena said getting out of the chair yelling at Patrick.
"He's had training to disable, not kill. I'm sure the worst Pierre will walk out with is a broken arm in the very least; most of those wounds were flesh wounds. Nothing I or anyone else hasn't dealt with before," Patrick cut her off sharply. Steena knew he was right but something about what Paul did didn't sit right.
"He seemed at home in there. Why the heck was he using those things so easily? How did he know just what to use when for the greatest effect?" Steena asked. Everyone slowly shrugged except Patrick and Samantha. "You two know something don't you?"
"I know a lot of things, depends on what you want to know," Patrick returned.
"Why was he so comfortable in that cage?" Steena asked quickly.
"Before the invasion he made a living doing fights like that. Those types of fights were really his forte. That's all I'm saying," Patrick returned after a while.
"But if he can't remember his past then why is he acting like he would before it? It doesn't make sense to me," Steena countered.
"Think of it like instinct. You can wipe a person's memory, but the instincts of the life they lived are still there. That's why we weren't worrying, he wasn't fighting so much as putting on a show," Samantha replied for Patrick. Everyone in the room remained silent as she fidgeted uncomfortable.
Shaun finally spoke up," Is there anything else we should know about him?"
"Nope, that was pretty much the bulk, everything else we found out last adventure," Patrick replied chuckling. The other people from earth couldn't help but join in.
"What's so funny?" Steena demanded.
"Sorry, it's just our lives are never stable, we often think of it like an ongoing story, and so we break down our lives into adventures. What's the funny part is the inside joke that goes along with it," Diss explained.
"What? What's the inside joke?" Steena barked.
"If we told you..." Clone Paul began.
"It wouldn't be an inside joke," Shaun finished.
Christy sat in Diss' lap resting her head on his shoulder. "Time for sleep," She yawned. Diss only smiled as he kissed her hugging her close.
"That reminds me. How are you holding up Christy," Patrick asked calmly.
"I'm tired but otherwise I'm fine," She replied. Diss nodded softly.
"How's our child?" Diss asked gently stroking her hair.
She looked up at him and kissed him deeply before replying, "Our child is safe daddy, and his mother wants to go to bed now." Christy yawned again.
Diss nodded, "We're going to bed. I guess we all should while we wait for Paul to wake up."
"Agreed," Shaun replied.
"No arguments here," Clone Paul responded.
Samantha looked at Christy, "Christy, I wanted to talk to you, can we meet tomorrow?"
Christy looked at Diss, then Patrick then back to Samantha, "Yeah, I'll meet you up here after lunch, that sound good?"
"Thanks, I have a couple of things to ask you, girl talk and the like," Samantha said casually.
"Alright, then I'll see you then. For now." She jumped into Diss' arms, "Could you carry me to bed?"
Diss chuckled as he shifted her into a more comfortable position before replying, "Yeah, I can do that. See you guys." And they left.
Clone Paul looked at both Shaun's, "Hit the bar?"
"Yeah we could do that. See you two," Shaun replied as clone Paul and Both Shauns' left.
Patrick moved to get up only to feel a hand gently restrain him. He looked up to see Samantha and gave her a curious look.
"I want to talk to you," She replied softly.
"What do you want to talk about?" Patrick asked sitting back in his chair. Samantha dragged a chair over to him and sat across from him.
"There are a couple of things. First, I need to know why I'm here," She said softly.
"I told you I'm not going to answer that," Patrick responded calmly.
"Please, I need to know why you brought me back. It's been haunting me since we first met up again," She responded softly.
Patrick looked down carefully, "I can't tell you yet. I promise it will come soon. Just give me time to get used to the idea of letting my past go."
Samantha finally moved the chair closer, "Then I need to know something else."
Patrick drew in a quick breath, "And what's that?"
"Do you still love me?" Samantha questioned.
Patrick held his breath for a second before he began to nervously fidget," Sam, you have to understand something. I still love you, but I feel obligated to Christy. I don't want her to think I left her for you because I still love her too."
"Torn between your past and your present," Samantha calmly replied.
"Exactly, I can't seem to make it either way. I feel like I'm a burden to these people, yet I want to keep them safe," Patrick responded.
"Then let go. Don't try to be who you were, be who you are," Samantha replied.
Patrick finally got up, "I need to sleep. I'm still a little groggy."
"Don't you dare change the subject," Samantha snapped. Patrick turned to face her.
"Change the subject? I just made a statement I thought we were done talking," He replied.
"There's still something you can add and you know it," Samantha replied hotly.
"You want to know the truth? I've given up on life; I brought you back because you were taken from this world too early. I brought you back because I felt a debt to you that you should have been able to finish your life. I felt that I was responsible for that damn Aryan slitting your throat," Patrick replied slowly.
"That's why you brought me back? So I could watch you slide into oblivion and live a life without you?" Samantha countered.
"If the shoe fits.." Patrick trailed off.
"Patrick Eric Dissinger, I have only one thing to say to you," Samantha replied getting up and staring him in the face.
"And what's that?" He asked cautiously.
"I love you too much. I can't imagine living without you," She whispered softly. She gently folded her arms around him in a tight embrace. Patrick responded immediately wrapping his arms around her as he felt her tears. He simply ran a hand up and down her back as he carefully moved her head to his shoulder.
After a few minutes of crying she stopped, sniffling. Patrick gently lifted her chin up so he could look into her eyes, "I can't imagine being without you."
She leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against his. It felt like a jolt through both of them as he returned the kiss. The void that once engulfed Patrick was once again filled, and hope burned in him for the first time in awhile.