AN: I don't think I've done a disclaimer in awhile, but the characters aren't mine...even though I wish they were...they all belong to Tamora Pierce, even Dom. :( This applies to all of the chapters, before this one and following this one...And I love you all!

Kel woke up in a cold sweat, she couldn't remember her nightmare, but could tell it had been a bad one. Knowing she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep for awhile, she bulled on breeches and went for a walk around the fort. Kel found a fire tucked away in a corner, kept burning for the men coming off, or going on, sentry duty. She noticed a familiar figure sitting on a log by the fire, hunched in despair. Dom gave her a shaky grin as she approached.

"Couldn't sleep wither?" Kel asked, settling down next to him.

"Damn Wyldon," was the reply, "I hate that...stump." Kel had to fight to keep a straight face.

"You sound just like Neal when you talk like that." Dom looked surprised, and a little hurt.

"Me? Sound like Meathead? Never..." Kel laughed silently and Dom's heart lifted. He loved making her laugh, it was just so damned hard to do with this "test" looming over them. Kel crossed her arms over her chest, and set her head on Dom's shoulder. Any fool could tell something was bothering her.

"Kel, what's wrong?" Dom asked, his concern showing in his voice. Kel sighed.

"It's these dreams. I wake up every night in a cold sweat, so I know they're bad, but I can't for the life of me remember what they're about. It's almost like the dreams I had about Blayce." Dom looked at the head on his shoulder, thinking. "I hope the chamber isn't trying to tell me something."

"Maybe you could ask that girl...what was her name? Irani, the child with the Sight. I bet she would be able to tell you about your dreams." Kel's head lifted and she looked at Dom.

"That's a good idea. I like sleeping," she chuckled, "Why are you out here?"

"Couldn't fall asleep in the first place, so I made myself useful and relieved a guard on sentry duty. I tried falling back asleep but, like you, my dreams were more like nightmares. So, here I am." They sat in silence, Kel's head on Dom's shoulder, their hands entwined. Kel felt safer with Dom near. She knew it was silly, that she was able to protect herself, but a part of her wanted protection. That part had finally calmed down after her nightmares, and she began to fall asleep. As soon as Kel was breathing deeply, and obviously sleeping, Dom stood, cradling her in his arms. Making his was to Kel's room, he swore vehemently, if under his breath, when he discovered that Kel had locked her door. Wondering where he would take her, he slipped quietly to his room. Thankfully, officers occupying rooms when the Own arrived had left, and Dom had gotten a room of his own. Entering it, he laid Kel gently on his bed, wondering where he was going to sleep. Pulling a blanket over Kel, she looked cold, he got into bed beside her.

00000

Kel's eyes opened sleepily, she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before thanks to her nightmare. It took her a few seconds to realize that she was not staring at her own ceiling and that it was not her own arm around her waist.

"Ahhh!" She exclaimed, attempting to jump out of bed, but landing on Dom instead, waking him instantly.

"What?" He asked, still half asleep. Kel was too shocked to speak clearly, she was trying to ask him what was going on but what came out instead was "Wha-whe-wha-wah?" Dom peered at her through one half-open eye.

"If you are attempting to ask why you are in my bed, calm down, get off me, and I'll explain." Kel sheepishly stood up, releasing Dom., and sat on the edge of his bed. Dom swung his legs over and sat next to Kel. "I'm assuming you don't remember what happened last night." Kel gave him a look that was a mixture of horror and puzzlement. "I guess not," Dom answered his own question, "When we were sitting at the fire last night, you fell asleep on my shoulder. I carried you to your room, but it was locked, and I don't have a key. I didn't know of anyplace else to take you, so I took you to my room. I wasn't going to make you sleep on the floor, but I didn't want to, either. Nothing happened." Dom answered Kel's next question based on the look she gave him.

"What about Neal?" she asked after a few seconds of wondering how he knew her so well.

"What about Neal?"

"Hello? No one else knows that nothing happened last night between us," Kel felt a blush rise in her cheeks, and tried to force it away. It didn't work. Dom smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"Then we'll have to make sure they don't think anything else. It's still early, we'll just sneak you out." Dom stood and opened his door to check for people in the hall. "It's clear," he called, and Kel slipped out, returning to her own rooms. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she realized she had some thinking to do. How many other men would have taken advantage of her last night? She was grateful she had Dom to take care of her when she wasn't taking care of herself. She didn't realize it, but when she focused on other people, she tended to neglect her personal health. Sighing, she would be tired after the long ride today, she began to make sure everything she had was ready to go. Remembering that Neal was not a morning person, she headed to his rooms to wake him up and ran into Dom on the way.

"Heading to wake Neal up?" he asked. Kel grinned and nodded. "Milady?" Dom offered his arm, and Kel slapped him lightly.

"I'm no lady."

"In my eyes you are." Dom flirted. Kel placed her hand lightly on Dom's offered arm, and they walked to Neal's rooms together. Knocking on his door, Kel called out his name. The pair didn't hear anything from inside. Dom tried Neal's doorknob, but found it locked. Kel had expected this and brought her hairpins. Neal had been teaching her how to pick locks, and while she wasn't very good yet, she could manage a basic lock with her pins instead of Neal's lock picks. A few minutes and much swearing later, Kel heard the tumblers fall into place and they snuck into Neal's rooms.

"Meathead!" Dom shouted into Neal's ear, making Neal jump and fall out of bed, pulling his blanket with him. His first words were not very proper. Dom cuffed him lightly, "There are ladies present." That brought Neal's eyes open. He looked around the room, finding Kel laughing in the doorway. His eyes narrowed, "I hate you, Kel. I teach you, and this is how you repay me?"

"We're leaving for New Hope at dawn."

"So?"

"Yuki will be there." Neal jumped up.

"Then what are we waiting for, let's go." Kel and Dom left Neal throwing his belongings into his saddlebags.