AN: Sorry for the long update, too much work and not enough time. Thank you for the reviews!

Chapter Eight

Tristen brushed her hair through one last time and tossed the brush onto her bed. Doing a quick final check in the mirror she left her room. Cam was waiting for her in the main room.

Without saying anything he offered his hand and she took it.

She fiddled nervously with the fork by her plate. How would she tell him?

'Is something wrong?' asked Cam putting down the menu.

Tristen took a deep breath.

'There's something I have to tell you,'

'What is it?,'

'Tomorrow I'm going to absorb the Life Force powers,' her voice was fairly steady as she said it but inside she felt sick.

Cam looked at her in horror.

'Are you crazy? You'll be killed!' he said trying to keep his voice down.

'No, what's driving me crazy is constantly fighting for my life!' countered Tristen desperately hoping that he would understand.

'You can't do it!' declared Cam banging his fist down on the table and making her jump.

'Why not! Do you think I'm not strong enough is that it?'

'Yes,' Cam answered too quickly.

'I thought you would understand,' said Tristen quietly standing up and walking out of the restaurant.

Cam watched her go, trying to comprehend what she was about to do, what risks she was about to take. The first time she had come to ninja ops, her father had wanted to pass on the Life Force powers to her. Tristen's mother didn't know anything about them and it had stayed that way. Cam remembered how she had trained with his father for hours, learning to use them. When she left to return home Cam had missed her company dreadfully. The next time she had come to Ninja Ops she had been fifteen. The same bounty hunters that had killed her mother and were now hunting her had just killed her father. Instead of grieving she had trained endlessly perfecting her powers and fighting ability till she almost matched Sensei. Cam knew she was strong enough and he should trust her to do it but he was thinking with his heart now and he didn't want to lose her.

He pushed his chair away from the table and hurried out after her.

Tristen slammed her door shut making the walls vibrate slightly. She kicked off her shoes angrily and sat down heavily on the bed her back to the wall. Calming herself down she found her anger overtaken by immense fear and sadness. Unable to stop the tears, she let them fall.

Cam knocked on her door but got no answer. Carefully he pushed it open. Tristen was lying curled up on the farthest side of the bed with her back to him. Cam stepped forward and shut the door behind him.

'Do you think I want to do this?' she asked, her voice dry from crying.

Cam perched on the other side of the bed.

'I'm sorry,' he said hanging his head. She sat up and turned to face him.

'Cam I'm scared,'

Cam reached out for her and pulled her to his chest.

'I am too,' he said stroking her hair.

She tilted her face towards him smiling.

'Don't be, not tonight,' she said before kissing him.

Cam leant forward deepening the kiss, slowly they both moved further onto the bed...