Chapter 12:: A Thousand Words Left Unheard
Karina held Billy's hand and gently ran her fingers over the bruised skin. Her hand jolted away suddenly as Bart burst into the room.
"Billy! Oh, Billy, WHY?! WHY?!!!" Bart wailed and fell to the ground.
Karina smiled slightly and said quietly, "He's not dead, Bart."
"Oh!" Bart grinned and stood up. "Then this never happened. And let me commend you on getting your butt whipped, albino bow boy."
"That is a lovely thing to say to him." Karina snapped.
"Getting a bit defensive, Karina. I'm just kidding, he's a bit darker than albino." Bart folded his arms and tilted his head to one side.
".I'm sorry." She whispered and looked back at Billy. "It's my fault this is all happening."
"Not again." Bart muttered and rolled his one eye. "Listen, Karina, it's not your fault this all happened."
"YEAH, that's RIGHT!" Brad yelled as he barged in. "It ain't HER fault, Fatima!"
"Brad. lower the decibels." Karina looked briefly to her older brother.
"Yeah, Brad." Kajumei walked into the room slowly and folded her arms.
As soon as Kajumei walked in, Citan followed and tapped his knuckles on the heavy steel door frame.
"I think the only person I authorized to come in was Karina, young ones." He said quietly and rested his head on his shoulder.
"Yeah yeah, only the wife can visit at this point in time!" Jessie barked from behind Citan. "NOW c'mon Hyuga, we're gonna go SPY on Sigurd and Sierra."
"Sounds like fun!" Bart chirped in.
"Sorry Bart, not for your juvenile EYE to see." Jessie poked Bart's shoulder. "If you go with us, you may see something that will probably make you blind."
"LIKE what?" Bart snapped and stomped one foot impatiently.
"You may see the south side of a north going monkey woman." Jessie tapped his head. "Only trained professionals can handle that!"
"Ey! You two gonna go see some fine woman booty?!" Ziggy popped in and grinned at Jessie.
Not many know how it happened, or how he knew, but Rico appeared from around the corner, grabbed Ziggy and knocked him out.
"My job is done. Goodnight." Rico said stiffly as he continued down the hall.
"ANYWAY! Espionage awaits!" Jessie grinned. "C'mon, Hyuga!" He snapped and drug Citan off.
"We'll see you later, Karina, okay?" Kajumei laid a hand on Karina's shoulder.
"Alright."
"Are you okay?" Kajumei said quietly.
"I'm fine, Kaju." Karina smiled a little.
"Night, sis." Brad unfolded his arms and bent over to kiss her cheek.
"Goodnight." Karina nodded and her brother and his girlfriend left the room.
Bart stepped up and tapped her shoulder. "You need anything, Karina?" He murmured.
"No, I'm fine." Karina shook her head.
"OK." Bart shrugged. "Well, try to get some sleep." He said gently as he left the room, dragging Ziggy behind him.
Primera slowly entered the room and stepped up to Karina uncertainly.
"Primera? I thought you were asleep." Karina whispered.
Primera shook her head as if to say 'I couldn't sleep' and sat down next to Karina.
"Is something wrong?" Karina whispered, wincing at what she had said.
Primera looked at her, her eyes begging for an answer to something.
"I swear you brother is going to be fine." Karina whispered and hugged Primera gently. "And I'm so sorry."
Primera shook her head and sat up.
"Please tell me if something's wrong." Karina whispered.
Primera stood up and began to leave. She looked back. "Bi. Biill. Biilll..ll.Billy.. an..and. Kk.. Ka..Karii..Karina. toge..together?" She whispered.
"Primera. You talked." Karina blinked.
Primera smiled softly and left the room.
"You know, Hyuga." Jessie said as the two walked down the hall.
"Yes?" Citan looked at him.
"They had our DNA, from when we were Elements, didn't they?" Jessie asked and paused for a moment.
"It would be pointless to use it even if they did have it, Jessie." Citan muttered. "They probably emptied our DNA out when they got the new Elements, so I wouldn't worry about it."
"Sure, Hyuga. If a young sprightly version of you comes and knocks me out with a 2x4 then I'll know who to kill first." Jessie nodded and the two continued.
Suddenly, Sierra ran by, just barely knocking the two over.
"Whoa! Hey, Sierrrrrrra!!! Did Sigurd say no to you again?! Ha ha!" Jessie shouted.
"Jessiah!" Citan snapped.
"Jeeze, sorry." Jessie shrugged.
They paused outside of Sigurd's door and Jessie turned to Citan.
"Wonder why Sierra WAS running away from Sigurd."
".Sigurd, I believe, has finally found someone and he can't find any way to keep that person from flying away." Citan muttered.
"In english?"
"Sigurd has a problem with women nowadays." Citan said slowly.
"You can say that again.."
"Literally?"
"No."
"Alright then."
Karina looked up and sighed. Her eyes shimmered with tears she couldn't help but shed. "Why did this have to happen.?" She whispered, tightening her grip on Billy's hand. "Why couldn't you just stay back and not try and be a hero.?" She gritted her teeth and clamped her eyes shut, tears slowly seeping out. "I just want to tell you how I feel. Oh Billy."
Her lips trembled as she leaned over and rested her forehead on the bed. She sat up and brought his hand to her face and planted a soft kiss on his bruised skin. "I love you." She whispered. His hand moved slightly in her own and she flushed and leaned forward. "Billy." She whispered.
His breathing changed slightly, a sign he was awake. He shifted a little and groaned weakly, his eyes opening barely.
He looked over at Karina slowly and made what seemed to be an attempted smile.
"Hi, Billy." Karina murmured and smiled softly, his hand squeezing hers weakly in response.
"Hey." He managed and smiled a little. "I can see all eight of your eyes, Karina." He muttered, his voice weak and croaky.
Karina giggled slightly. "You're so out of it, still."
".I can't feel below my elbows." He hissed, taking in a sharp breath.
"The pain killers, I suppose." Karina looked away, trying not to remember the blood that had covered the two of them when she had last seen him conscious. She could still feel the blood becoming cold on her skin and staining her clothes. She remembered seeing the blood wash down the drain when she took her shower as soon as they got back. Karina regained that sickening feeling that filled her earlier to the point of throwing up. Her tears falling onto his face and mixing with the blood. Those were the things she saw when she looked into the crystal blue orbs. ~ Please, God, don't let me feel this every time I see him. ~
"Karina." He whispered, his voice cracking. "Don't blame yourself. I know you are."
"Billy. But I."
"It's not your fault." He mumbled. "I'm the one who did it, okay? I wanted to protect you with my life, if necessary." His voice grew weaker.
"Billy. Please, I want you to rest, OK?" Karina mumbled and ran her hand along his forehead.
"Karina-" Billy hissed.
"Shh." Karina shushed him and looked away.
Billy, noticing that Karina was no longer in a talking mood, looked away and sighed. The two sat in silence until Billy finally fell asleep and Karina left the room.
The next morning came quickly seeing as how the group stayed up most of the night and early hours. Erich, of course, was gone again, which was to be expected. Karina, also of course, was in with Billy tending to his every little whim. Brad had gotten up early in order to get started on the repair of the Yggdrasil, Kajumei and Ziggy accompanying him. Sierra was nowhere to be found and hadn't been since she left Sigurd earlier. Citan had locked himself up in his room, everyone assuming he was just doing research. Elly, Emeralda, Chu Chu and Fei were trying to lighten their spirits by playing outside in the fields. Maria, after getting fed up with the heavy curtain of silence, joined with Fei and the others. Rico had gone to workout, and most likely have some time to himself. Primera joined Karina and Billy, along with Jessie. Sigurd was working quietly at the control panel, not speaking to anyone who tried to speak to him. Bart was running around trying to raise the group's morale.
A few weeks passed, Billy slowly recovering from his wound. Citan described it as 'strange' that he was recovering so quickly, but no one worried much about it.
Early one morning Jessie left Billy, Karina and Primera, walking to the Bridge carrying a large object. He walked up to Franz and hooked up some cords and grinned at the worker. "This'll be great, man." He muttered.
"Why did you bring Miss Kajumei's karaoke machine in here, Jessie?" Franz blinked.
"Oh, you'll see!" He winked as Sierra entered the room, from wherever she had been all that time.
"Sigurd." Sierra muttered and Sigurd turned around slowly.
"Yes?" He whispered.
Jessie then turned on the karaoke machine and the music from the song 'If Loving You is Wrong' began to play.
Sierra blinked and looked at Jessie. "Jessiah?"
"Mmmmm!" Jessie nodded and ripped the microphone out of the holder and turned of the intercom to the whole entire ship.
"Oh dear lord no!" Sigurd squeaked.
"If lovin you is wrong, I don't wanna be right!" Jessie belted. The intercom screeched from the microphone.
From the medical bay the sound blasted over the intercom. Billy's eyes widened. "Oh no."
"If being right means being without you, well I'd rather be wrong than right!" He continued.
"OH GOD!" Brad yelled and sat up, his head banging against a metal rod.
"Jeeze, if he's gonna sing he can at least get the words right." Kajumei muttered.
"You mom and daddy say it's a shame, it's a downright disgrace!" Jessie continued.
"SING IT, BROTHA!" Ziggy shouted.
"But as long as I've got you by my side, I don't care what your people think!" His voice bellowed over the intercom.
Bart stopped mid stride and looked up at the ceiling. "Dude. I never thought of doing that!"
"Your friends tell you it's no future in loving a married man-waitaminute. That doesn't work with the mood I wanted to set!" Jessie snapped and his voice echoed over the intercom.
"That boob." Sierra rolled her eyes.
Citan was too busy rolling on the floor laughing to focus on his work.
"Well, anyway, that was Jessie radio, and I'll be back soon and-HEY! Sigurd, let go of the microphone! Dammit I said LET GO!" His voice wavered as Sigurd took the microphone away. "It seems terrorists have taken over the radio station, loyal listeners! Call the cops, call the SWAT team, call that big guy that's related to Billy's Wife who resembles a bouncer, call the A-Team, call anyone! This brave radio announcer shall be heard! OUCH! That hurt, Sigurd, no biting!" His voice cut off.
"Oh my." Karina whispered and looked back at Billy and began giggling at the mortified expression on his face.
"One more thing to tell my psychiatrist." He muttered and clenched his hand.
"Oh, Billy, don't you think you're overreacting just a little?" Karina smiled and sat down next to his bed.
"No." Billy said bluntly and smiled softly, trying not to show the pain of his wound. His eyes squinting in pain gave him away though, and Karina's face almost immediately became drawn and weak again. "No, Karina. No." He whispered. "Please. It's not."
"Why did it have to happen.?" Karina whispered and stood up.
"Karina please, not while Primera's in here." Billy whispered.
Primera, as if to hex Billy, left the room quietly.
"But Billy." Karina looked at him, her eyes desperate.
"Karina, just accept this, OK?" Billy gritted his teeth and looked away.
"I." Karina folded her hands and looked away. "Of course." She smiled weakly and turned to leave, as Bart entered the room.
"Hey, Karina, what's up?" Bart grinned and blinked when Karina just walked past him, not even acknowledging his presence. "Sheesh, something wrong with her?"
"Karina won't stop blaming herself for what happened." Billy muttered and looked down, his eyes growing darker.
"Man, that sucks, that girl really likes taking the blame, doesn't she.?" Bart muttered and sat down.
"There's something inside her. Something she won't tell me. It's keeping her like this, I know it." Billy looked down. "I just want her to." Billy bit his bottom lip and shook his head. "There must be a thousand things I wanna tell her deep inside, but I just can't do it. So what does it matter.?"
"Man." Bart shook his head and rocked back and forth in the chair.
"Bart. It's just that. I feel something for her that. I've never felt before." Billy whispered, a blush creeping up his face.
"Oh?" Bart said sarcastically.
"Shut up." Billy groaned.
"Don't worry, buddy!!" Bart grinned and stood up. "I'll handle it!" He laughed and ran out of the room.
"Oh no."
Bart ran down the hall and burst into Karina's room and grinned. "Who wants to give Billy his sponge bath?!" He sang.
"Bart!" Karina looked up and blushed.
"C'mon now, we don't want Billy getting all moldy and stinky, me especially!" Bart grinned. "El nurse don't wanna give sponge baths and I'm sure you don't want her to do it, either!"
"But Bart." Karina stood up and blushed. "Wouldn't that be rather. improper.?"
"Like you haven't seen a nude guy before?" Bart grinned.
"Well, Ziggy has needed sponge baths before, but I mostly just saw him tearing off his clothes and begging Brad to let Kajumei or me to 'lathe' him." Karina laughed softly.
"'Lathe'?" Bart blinked.
"Lay and bathe." Karina sighed. "It still haunts me sometimes.. I just see little Ziggy's dancing around naked singing 'Lathe me, lathe me!'" Karina shivered.
"Come on, Karina, give Billy his bathy-wathy! It'll provide me with humorous stories, and lighten your spirits!"
"Why would giving Billy a sponge bath lighten your spirits?" Karina blinked.
"Duh, cuz when you look down when your bathing him you'll see something that'll make you burst our laughing." Bart grinned.
"Bart!" Karina flushed and threw a pillow at him.
"Aw, man, will you do it?" Bart grinned.
".I.. I. Suppose." Karina bit her bottom lip.
Moments later Karina was in Billy's room, the young Black blushing furiously.
"No way!" Billy screeched.
"Um." Karina blushed. "But you kinda need to bathe, Billy."
"I don't offend quite yet!" blushed brighter.
"It's been three weeks since you had a good bath!" Karina snapped.
"Yeah well, it's been such a long time because my last bath my dad gave me and he tried to kill me! I've been bathing myself and I'm doing just fine!"
"Billy, you're going to grow a mold."
"I will not!!"
"Billy, you're gonna start to smell!"
"If I can walk I can bathe myself!"
"Oh, please, would you take yourself seriously?" Karina snapped.
"I'm perfectly capable of cleaning myself!"
"Oh yeah?" Karina snapped and poked his tummy softly.
"ARRGH!" Billy screamed and grabbed his stomach, making that little sound from the game, you know, the one he makes when he gets hurt that sounds kinda like 'hyoorp'. "What'd you do that for?!" He whined.
"You need to be catered." Karina smiled.
"DO NOT!"
"I promise I won't look at anything private!!" Karina said quietly.
"STILL!" Billy whined.
"Ugh, Billy, don't be a sissy! I've seen naked men before." Karina blinked and shuddered. "Against my will, but still I've seen naked men before." She smiled and made a grab for the sheets. "Now let's get that hospital gown off and get you squeaky clean!"
"Nooooo!" Billy squealed and pulled away as quickly as he could without hurting himself.
"Billy, stop squirming!" Karina hissed and jumped behind him, reaching for the laces.
"I feel like a porn star!!" Billy cried. "And you're the evil nurse!"
Karina grinned and leaned forward. "I'll lather you up, then you can lather me up." Karina giggled.
"AH!" Billy screeched.
"Hehe! Billy, I'm joking!" Karina laughed and pushed the gown away and grabbed a wet sponge and squeezed the water out over Billy's head. The Black yelped and turned to her.
"Hey! I wasn't ready!!" Billy cried.
"Stop whining." Karina laughed and grabbed the shampoo.
She continued to bathe him gently, Billy being rather jumpy and difficult to work with, until the intercom came on again, and this time it was Bart.
"This song goes out to all the young men out there who are gonna get some!" Bart's voice was low.
Karina blinked as the music to the song 'Insatiable' began to play. "Oh man, not again." Karina whimpered.
Billy blushed and looked down.
Bart's voice, which didn't really match with the actual song, began: "When moonlight crawls along the street, chasin' away the summer heat." He continued along with the song.
"Now I really feel like I'm in a porn." Billy whined.
A sudden explosion sounded and Bart was cut off.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Brad's voice screamed as the door blasted open.
Ziggy and Kajumei's heads popped in.
Kajumei grinned. "Whoo! Go girl! Get your man!"
"Damn! I wanna go next!" Ziggy grinned and began to unbutton his pants.
Brad grabbed Ziggy by the neck and threw him out into the hall. "Why is my sister in here with sponges, soap, and WHY THE HELL IS BILLY FRIGGIN NUDE?!"
"You must excuse Brad. He tends to become illiterate at times such a this." Kajumei looked down and Brad growled.
"YOU!" Brad pointed at Karina. "OUT!" He pointed at the door. "AND YOU!!!" He pointed back at Billy. "DIE!" Brad screamed and pulled a socket wrench out of his belt.
"Brad!" Karina snapped and grabbed Brad's coat. "I was giving him his sponge bath for lord's sake!
"DAHH!" Brad screamed and ran out of the room.
"Sorry for that..." Kajumei rolled her eyes and left the room. "You two enjoy yourselves."
"I'm so sorry, Billy." Karina looked back at Billy, who was already back in his garment.
"Oh, I assure you, it's all right." Billy stammered. "And uh, thanks for helping me bathe."
"Um. Anytime." Karina blushed and walked out of the room.
Bart walked by and Karina snatched him.
"What?" Bart blinked. "Was singing Insatiable too much?"
"I made a complete fool out of myself!" Karina snapped and began to strangle Bart.
"Hey, how did I know that was gonna happen?" Bart grinned.
"Argh!" Karina blushed, dropped Bart and hurried to her room.
*********
*I expect results, Sierra, and I expect them soon.* The voice snapped from her intercom.
"I know I know, but it's been hard finding the right time." Sierra looked down.
*You've had three weeks.*
"I just need a little more time."
*No! She had better be here before midnight tomorrow, or the deal is off and your little friends will die.* The voice growled and the intercom clicked off.
"Jeeze!" Sierra yelled and leaned back.
"Hey!" Sigurd's voice came from outside.
"Huh?" Sierra blinked and walked out of the cockpit and looked down at Sierra.
"Seems you've stuck around longer than I though, Era." Sigurd said quietly.
"Well, maybe I changed my mind, Sig-man." Sierra snapped and jumped from the cockpit onto the ground next to him.
"I'm hoping you did. It's been nice having you around."
"Really?" Sierra folded her arms. "And here I thought you wanted me out."
"Era." Sigurd took her hand. "Give me one night to convince you to stay here." Sigurd whispered.
"Sig, why are you doing this?" Sierra rolled her eyes.
"Listen, Era. Over the past few weeks I've been thinking about when we were younger. And I really treated you badly then."
"Oh, you do care." Sierra said sarcastically.
"Please, Era, don't be sarcastic about this. I'm serious." Sigurd whispered.
Sierra paused for a moment and smiled. "You're slow about things, Sigsipoo, but OK, whatever floats your boat..."
Sigurd smiled. "Good."
"So, man, had bad luck with Karina?" Bart muttered and sat down.
"She gave me a sponge bath, Bart, that's not exactly the perfect time to grab her and shout 'I love you and I wanna marry you and have children with you!' is it?" Billy shrugged.
"Sounds good to me. Then you're nude and you can get started on that children thing." Bart blinked.
"Ugh." Billy shut his eyes.
"You gotta do it sometime." Bart stood up. "How bout tomorrow night? Full moon, pretty stars, there may be shooting stars, it's too late to do it tonight anyway, plus you, and Karina. Can you say hot passionate night?"
"I agree with the telling her soon, tomorrow even. but not with the hot passionate night thing." Billy snapped. He sat up. "But you're right. the sooner I do it, the better." Billy sighed.
"That's the spirit!" Bart grinned and did a thumbs up. "So, need any help?"
"No!" Billy snapped. "No help from you!"
"Jeeze, sorry!" Bart grinned. "Anyhoo, good luck, buddy."
"Yeah. Good luck. I'm gonna need it." Billy looked down. "A thousand things to tell her." He sighed and sat back. "Great."
Karina held Billy's hand and gently ran her fingers over the bruised skin. Her hand jolted away suddenly as Bart burst into the room.
"Billy! Oh, Billy, WHY?! WHY?!!!" Bart wailed and fell to the ground.
Karina smiled slightly and said quietly, "He's not dead, Bart."
"Oh!" Bart grinned and stood up. "Then this never happened. And let me commend you on getting your butt whipped, albino bow boy."
"That is a lovely thing to say to him." Karina snapped.
"Getting a bit defensive, Karina. I'm just kidding, he's a bit darker than albino." Bart folded his arms and tilted his head to one side.
".I'm sorry." She whispered and looked back at Billy. "It's my fault this is all happening."
"Not again." Bart muttered and rolled his one eye. "Listen, Karina, it's not your fault this all happened."
"YEAH, that's RIGHT!" Brad yelled as he barged in. "It ain't HER fault, Fatima!"
"Brad. lower the decibels." Karina looked briefly to her older brother.
"Yeah, Brad." Kajumei walked into the room slowly and folded her arms.
As soon as Kajumei walked in, Citan followed and tapped his knuckles on the heavy steel door frame.
"I think the only person I authorized to come in was Karina, young ones." He said quietly and rested his head on his shoulder.
"Yeah yeah, only the wife can visit at this point in time!" Jessie barked from behind Citan. "NOW c'mon Hyuga, we're gonna go SPY on Sigurd and Sierra."
"Sounds like fun!" Bart chirped in.
"Sorry Bart, not for your juvenile EYE to see." Jessie poked Bart's shoulder. "If you go with us, you may see something that will probably make you blind."
"LIKE what?" Bart snapped and stomped one foot impatiently.
"You may see the south side of a north going monkey woman." Jessie tapped his head. "Only trained professionals can handle that!"
"Ey! You two gonna go see some fine woman booty?!" Ziggy popped in and grinned at Jessie.
Not many know how it happened, or how he knew, but Rico appeared from around the corner, grabbed Ziggy and knocked him out.
"My job is done. Goodnight." Rico said stiffly as he continued down the hall.
"ANYWAY! Espionage awaits!" Jessie grinned. "C'mon, Hyuga!" He snapped and drug Citan off.
"We'll see you later, Karina, okay?" Kajumei laid a hand on Karina's shoulder.
"Alright."
"Are you okay?" Kajumei said quietly.
"I'm fine, Kaju." Karina smiled a little.
"Night, sis." Brad unfolded his arms and bent over to kiss her cheek.
"Goodnight." Karina nodded and her brother and his girlfriend left the room.
Bart stepped up and tapped her shoulder. "You need anything, Karina?" He murmured.
"No, I'm fine." Karina shook her head.
"OK." Bart shrugged. "Well, try to get some sleep." He said gently as he left the room, dragging Ziggy behind him.
Primera slowly entered the room and stepped up to Karina uncertainly.
"Primera? I thought you were asleep." Karina whispered.
Primera shook her head as if to say 'I couldn't sleep' and sat down next to Karina.
"Is something wrong?" Karina whispered, wincing at what she had said.
Primera looked at her, her eyes begging for an answer to something.
"I swear you brother is going to be fine." Karina whispered and hugged Primera gently. "And I'm so sorry."
Primera shook her head and sat up.
"Please tell me if something's wrong." Karina whispered.
Primera stood up and began to leave. She looked back. "Bi. Biill. Biilll..ll.Billy.. an..and. Kk.. Ka..Karii..Karina. toge..together?" She whispered.
"Primera. You talked." Karina blinked.
Primera smiled softly and left the room.
"You know, Hyuga." Jessie said as the two walked down the hall.
"Yes?" Citan looked at him.
"They had our DNA, from when we were Elements, didn't they?" Jessie asked and paused for a moment.
"It would be pointless to use it even if they did have it, Jessie." Citan muttered. "They probably emptied our DNA out when they got the new Elements, so I wouldn't worry about it."
"Sure, Hyuga. If a young sprightly version of you comes and knocks me out with a 2x4 then I'll know who to kill first." Jessie nodded and the two continued.
Suddenly, Sierra ran by, just barely knocking the two over.
"Whoa! Hey, Sierrrrrrra!!! Did Sigurd say no to you again?! Ha ha!" Jessie shouted.
"Jessiah!" Citan snapped.
"Jeeze, sorry." Jessie shrugged.
They paused outside of Sigurd's door and Jessie turned to Citan.
"Wonder why Sierra WAS running away from Sigurd."
".Sigurd, I believe, has finally found someone and he can't find any way to keep that person from flying away." Citan muttered.
"In english?"
"Sigurd has a problem with women nowadays." Citan said slowly.
"You can say that again.."
"Literally?"
"No."
"Alright then."
Karina looked up and sighed. Her eyes shimmered with tears she couldn't help but shed. "Why did this have to happen.?" She whispered, tightening her grip on Billy's hand. "Why couldn't you just stay back and not try and be a hero.?" She gritted her teeth and clamped her eyes shut, tears slowly seeping out. "I just want to tell you how I feel. Oh Billy."
Her lips trembled as she leaned over and rested her forehead on the bed. She sat up and brought his hand to her face and planted a soft kiss on his bruised skin. "I love you." She whispered. His hand moved slightly in her own and she flushed and leaned forward. "Billy." She whispered.
His breathing changed slightly, a sign he was awake. He shifted a little and groaned weakly, his eyes opening barely.
He looked over at Karina slowly and made what seemed to be an attempted smile.
"Hi, Billy." Karina murmured and smiled softly, his hand squeezing hers weakly in response.
"Hey." He managed and smiled a little. "I can see all eight of your eyes, Karina." He muttered, his voice weak and croaky.
Karina giggled slightly. "You're so out of it, still."
".I can't feel below my elbows." He hissed, taking in a sharp breath.
"The pain killers, I suppose." Karina looked away, trying not to remember the blood that had covered the two of them when she had last seen him conscious. She could still feel the blood becoming cold on her skin and staining her clothes. She remembered seeing the blood wash down the drain when she took her shower as soon as they got back. Karina regained that sickening feeling that filled her earlier to the point of throwing up. Her tears falling onto his face and mixing with the blood. Those were the things she saw when she looked into the crystal blue orbs. ~ Please, God, don't let me feel this every time I see him. ~
"Karina." He whispered, his voice cracking. "Don't blame yourself. I know you are."
"Billy. But I."
"It's not your fault." He mumbled. "I'm the one who did it, okay? I wanted to protect you with my life, if necessary." His voice grew weaker.
"Billy. Please, I want you to rest, OK?" Karina mumbled and ran her hand along his forehead.
"Karina-" Billy hissed.
"Shh." Karina shushed him and looked away.
Billy, noticing that Karina was no longer in a talking mood, looked away and sighed. The two sat in silence until Billy finally fell asleep and Karina left the room.
The next morning came quickly seeing as how the group stayed up most of the night and early hours. Erich, of course, was gone again, which was to be expected. Karina, also of course, was in with Billy tending to his every little whim. Brad had gotten up early in order to get started on the repair of the Yggdrasil, Kajumei and Ziggy accompanying him. Sierra was nowhere to be found and hadn't been since she left Sigurd earlier. Citan had locked himself up in his room, everyone assuming he was just doing research. Elly, Emeralda, Chu Chu and Fei were trying to lighten their spirits by playing outside in the fields. Maria, after getting fed up with the heavy curtain of silence, joined with Fei and the others. Rico had gone to workout, and most likely have some time to himself. Primera joined Karina and Billy, along with Jessie. Sigurd was working quietly at the control panel, not speaking to anyone who tried to speak to him. Bart was running around trying to raise the group's morale.
A few weeks passed, Billy slowly recovering from his wound. Citan described it as 'strange' that he was recovering so quickly, but no one worried much about it.
Early one morning Jessie left Billy, Karina and Primera, walking to the Bridge carrying a large object. He walked up to Franz and hooked up some cords and grinned at the worker. "This'll be great, man." He muttered.
"Why did you bring Miss Kajumei's karaoke machine in here, Jessie?" Franz blinked.
"Oh, you'll see!" He winked as Sierra entered the room, from wherever she had been all that time.
"Sigurd." Sierra muttered and Sigurd turned around slowly.
"Yes?" He whispered.
Jessie then turned on the karaoke machine and the music from the song 'If Loving You is Wrong' began to play.
Sierra blinked and looked at Jessie. "Jessiah?"
"Mmmmm!" Jessie nodded and ripped the microphone out of the holder and turned of the intercom to the whole entire ship.
"Oh dear lord no!" Sigurd squeaked.
"If lovin you is wrong, I don't wanna be right!" Jessie belted. The intercom screeched from the microphone.
From the medical bay the sound blasted over the intercom. Billy's eyes widened. "Oh no."
"If being right means being without you, well I'd rather be wrong than right!" He continued.
"OH GOD!" Brad yelled and sat up, his head banging against a metal rod.
"Jeeze, if he's gonna sing he can at least get the words right." Kajumei muttered.
"You mom and daddy say it's a shame, it's a downright disgrace!" Jessie continued.
"SING IT, BROTHA!" Ziggy shouted.
"But as long as I've got you by my side, I don't care what your people think!" His voice bellowed over the intercom.
Bart stopped mid stride and looked up at the ceiling. "Dude. I never thought of doing that!"
"Your friends tell you it's no future in loving a married man-waitaminute. That doesn't work with the mood I wanted to set!" Jessie snapped and his voice echoed over the intercom.
"That boob." Sierra rolled her eyes.
Citan was too busy rolling on the floor laughing to focus on his work.
"Well, anyway, that was Jessie radio, and I'll be back soon and-HEY! Sigurd, let go of the microphone! Dammit I said LET GO!" His voice wavered as Sigurd took the microphone away. "It seems terrorists have taken over the radio station, loyal listeners! Call the cops, call the SWAT team, call that big guy that's related to Billy's Wife who resembles a bouncer, call the A-Team, call anyone! This brave radio announcer shall be heard! OUCH! That hurt, Sigurd, no biting!" His voice cut off.
"Oh my." Karina whispered and looked back at Billy and began giggling at the mortified expression on his face.
"One more thing to tell my psychiatrist." He muttered and clenched his hand.
"Oh, Billy, don't you think you're overreacting just a little?" Karina smiled and sat down next to his bed.
"No." Billy said bluntly and smiled softly, trying not to show the pain of his wound. His eyes squinting in pain gave him away though, and Karina's face almost immediately became drawn and weak again. "No, Karina. No." He whispered. "Please. It's not."
"Why did it have to happen.?" Karina whispered and stood up.
"Karina please, not while Primera's in here." Billy whispered.
Primera, as if to hex Billy, left the room quietly.
"But Billy." Karina looked at him, her eyes desperate.
"Karina, just accept this, OK?" Billy gritted his teeth and looked away.
"I." Karina folded her hands and looked away. "Of course." She smiled weakly and turned to leave, as Bart entered the room.
"Hey, Karina, what's up?" Bart grinned and blinked when Karina just walked past him, not even acknowledging his presence. "Sheesh, something wrong with her?"
"Karina won't stop blaming herself for what happened." Billy muttered and looked down, his eyes growing darker.
"Man, that sucks, that girl really likes taking the blame, doesn't she.?" Bart muttered and sat down.
"There's something inside her. Something she won't tell me. It's keeping her like this, I know it." Billy looked down. "I just want her to." Billy bit his bottom lip and shook his head. "There must be a thousand things I wanna tell her deep inside, but I just can't do it. So what does it matter.?"
"Man." Bart shook his head and rocked back and forth in the chair.
"Bart. It's just that. I feel something for her that. I've never felt before." Billy whispered, a blush creeping up his face.
"Oh?" Bart said sarcastically.
"Shut up." Billy groaned.
"Don't worry, buddy!!" Bart grinned and stood up. "I'll handle it!" He laughed and ran out of the room.
"Oh no."
Bart ran down the hall and burst into Karina's room and grinned. "Who wants to give Billy his sponge bath?!" He sang.
"Bart!" Karina looked up and blushed.
"C'mon now, we don't want Billy getting all moldy and stinky, me especially!" Bart grinned. "El nurse don't wanna give sponge baths and I'm sure you don't want her to do it, either!"
"But Bart." Karina stood up and blushed. "Wouldn't that be rather. improper.?"
"Like you haven't seen a nude guy before?" Bart grinned.
"Well, Ziggy has needed sponge baths before, but I mostly just saw him tearing off his clothes and begging Brad to let Kajumei or me to 'lathe' him." Karina laughed softly.
"'Lathe'?" Bart blinked.
"Lay and bathe." Karina sighed. "It still haunts me sometimes.. I just see little Ziggy's dancing around naked singing 'Lathe me, lathe me!'" Karina shivered.
"Come on, Karina, give Billy his bathy-wathy! It'll provide me with humorous stories, and lighten your spirits!"
"Why would giving Billy a sponge bath lighten your spirits?" Karina blinked.
"Duh, cuz when you look down when your bathing him you'll see something that'll make you burst our laughing." Bart grinned.
"Bart!" Karina flushed and threw a pillow at him.
"Aw, man, will you do it?" Bart grinned.
".I.. I. Suppose." Karina bit her bottom lip.
Moments later Karina was in Billy's room, the young Black blushing furiously.
"No way!" Billy screeched.
"Um." Karina blushed. "But you kinda need to bathe, Billy."
"I don't offend quite yet!" blushed brighter.
"It's been three weeks since you had a good bath!" Karina snapped.
"Yeah well, it's been such a long time because my last bath my dad gave me and he tried to kill me! I've been bathing myself and I'm doing just fine!"
"Billy, you're going to grow a mold."
"I will not!!"
"Billy, you're gonna start to smell!"
"If I can walk I can bathe myself!"
"Oh, please, would you take yourself seriously?" Karina snapped.
"I'm perfectly capable of cleaning myself!"
"Oh yeah?" Karina snapped and poked his tummy softly.
"ARRGH!" Billy screamed and grabbed his stomach, making that little sound from the game, you know, the one he makes when he gets hurt that sounds kinda like 'hyoorp'. "What'd you do that for?!" He whined.
"You need to be catered." Karina smiled.
"DO NOT!"
"I promise I won't look at anything private!!" Karina said quietly.
"STILL!" Billy whined.
"Ugh, Billy, don't be a sissy! I've seen naked men before." Karina blinked and shuddered. "Against my will, but still I've seen naked men before." She smiled and made a grab for the sheets. "Now let's get that hospital gown off and get you squeaky clean!"
"Nooooo!" Billy squealed and pulled away as quickly as he could without hurting himself.
"Billy, stop squirming!" Karina hissed and jumped behind him, reaching for the laces.
"I feel like a porn star!!" Billy cried. "And you're the evil nurse!"
Karina grinned and leaned forward. "I'll lather you up, then you can lather me up." Karina giggled.
"AH!" Billy screeched.
"Hehe! Billy, I'm joking!" Karina laughed and pushed the gown away and grabbed a wet sponge and squeezed the water out over Billy's head. The Black yelped and turned to her.
"Hey! I wasn't ready!!" Billy cried.
"Stop whining." Karina laughed and grabbed the shampoo.
She continued to bathe him gently, Billy being rather jumpy and difficult to work with, until the intercom came on again, and this time it was Bart.
"This song goes out to all the young men out there who are gonna get some!" Bart's voice was low.
Karina blinked as the music to the song 'Insatiable' began to play. "Oh man, not again." Karina whimpered.
Billy blushed and looked down.
Bart's voice, which didn't really match with the actual song, began: "When moonlight crawls along the street, chasin' away the summer heat." He continued along with the song.
"Now I really feel like I'm in a porn." Billy whined.
A sudden explosion sounded and Bart was cut off.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Brad's voice screamed as the door blasted open.
Ziggy and Kajumei's heads popped in.
Kajumei grinned. "Whoo! Go girl! Get your man!"
"Damn! I wanna go next!" Ziggy grinned and began to unbutton his pants.
Brad grabbed Ziggy by the neck and threw him out into the hall. "Why is my sister in here with sponges, soap, and WHY THE HELL IS BILLY FRIGGIN NUDE?!"
"You must excuse Brad. He tends to become illiterate at times such a this." Kajumei looked down and Brad growled.
"YOU!" Brad pointed at Karina. "OUT!" He pointed at the door. "AND YOU!!!" He pointed back at Billy. "DIE!" Brad screamed and pulled a socket wrench out of his belt.
"Brad!" Karina snapped and grabbed Brad's coat. "I was giving him his sponge bath for lord's sake!
"DAHH!" Brad screamed and ran out of the room.
"Sorry for that..." Kajumei rolled her eyes and left the room. "You two enjoy yourselves."
"I'm so sorry, Billy." Karina looked back at Billy, who was already back in his garment.
"Oh, I assure you, it's all right." Billy stammered. "And uh, thanks for helping me bathe."
"Um. Anytime." Karina blushed and walked out of the room.
Bart walked by and Karina snatched him.
"What?" Bart blinked. "Was singing Insatiable too much?"
"I made a complete fool out of myself!" Karina snapped and began to strangle Bart.
"Hey, how did I know that was gonna happen?" Bart grinned.
"Argh!" Karina blushed, dropped Bart and hurried to her room.
*********
*I expect results, Sierra, and I expect them soon.* The voice snapped from her intercom.
"I know I know, but it's been hard finding the right time." Sierra looked down.
*You've had three weeks.*
"I just need a little more time."
*No! She had better be here before midnight tomorrow, or the deal is off and your little friends will die.* The voice growled and the intercom clicked off.
"Jeeze!" Sierra yelled and leaned back.
"Hey!" Sigurd's voice came from outside.
"Huh?" Sierra blinked and walked out of the cockpit and looked down at Sierra.
"Seems you've stuck around longer than I though, Era." Sigurd said quietly.
"Well, maybe I changed my mind, Sig-man." Sierra snapped and jumped from the cockpit onto the ground next to him.
"I'm hoping you did. It's been nice having you around."
"Really?" Sierra folded her arms. "And here I thought you wanted me out."
"Era." Sigurd took her hand. "Give me one night to convince you to stay here." Sigurd whispered.
"Sig, why are you doing this?" Sierra rolled her eyes.
"Listen, Era. Over the past few weeks I've been thinking about when we were younger. And I really treated you badly then."
"Oh, you do care." Sierra said sarcastically.
"Please, Era, don't be sarcastic about this. I'm serious." Sigurd whispered.
Sierra paused for a moment and smiled. "You're slow about things, Sigsipoo, but OK, whatever floats your boat..."
Sigurd smiled. "Good."
"So, man, had bad luck with Karina?" Bart muttered and sat down.
"She gave me a sponge bath, Bart, that's not exactly the perfect time to grab her and shout 'I love you and I wanna marry you and have children with you!' is it?" Billy shrugged.
"Sounds good to me. Then you're nude and you can get started on that children thing." Bart blinked.
"Ugh." Billy shut his eyes.
"You gotta do it sometime." Bart stood up. "How bout tomorrow night? Full moon, pretty stars, there may be shooting stars, it's too late to do it tonight anyway, plus you, and Karina. Can you say hot passionate night?"
"I agree with the telling her soon, tomorrow even. but not with the hot passionate night thing." Billy snapped. He sat up. "But you're right. the sooner I do it, the better." Billy sighed.
"That's the spirit!" Bart grinned and did a thumbs up. "So, need any help?"
"No!" Billy snapped. "No help from you!"
"Jeeze, sorry!" Bart grinned. "Anyhoo, good luck, buddy."
"Yeah. Good luck. I'm gonna need it." Billy looked down. "A thousand things to tell her." He sighed and sat back. "Great."