Disclaimer: I do not own the Mighty Ducks, or any of the characters. However I do own my characters Lis, Stealth, and Crystal. So please do not sue me.

Chapter Eight

Soon Lis had brought Duke to the infirmary; and while Trent looked at Duke's eye, Lis explained what had happened.

"He's probably trying to gain leadership," Trent told her, "He was Stealth's second choice, but Duke was chosen instead. Ever since, he's been after Duke, and his life if it's necessary for him to gain that title."

Duke frowned, not wanting to add his reason of why Stealth had chosen him instead.

"I think I know why Duke was chosen instead," Lis said suddenly.

The two men looked at her confused as she continued, "Duke is so much kinder, and he looks out for others. He knows what it means to be a leader; while Falcone doesn't have what it takes; bravery, intelligence, and a good heart."

Duke smiled; she was such a sweetheart to him, and she made him feel so much better.

"That's really kind of ya hun'," Duke said to her with a sweet boyish smile spreading over his beak.

Lis couldn't help but blush; and for a moment she basked in the brief warmth of his affection. Not forcing herself to turn away this time.

"Well, I'll have to make a mechanical eye for you so you can see; but for now the bandage will stop the bleeding," Trent told them.

"What about Lis? Ya haven't checked her yet," Duke pointed out.

"Duke, I'm fine," Lis insisted, but Trent put a bandage over the scar anyway.

"I can't give you stitches, for it is too close to your eye; so it will probably leave a mark. Other than that, you're fine," Trent stated.

Lis nodded, "Thanks."

"Well, I think you two should get some rest; I'll come in tomorrow with your replacement eye," Trent assured Duke, who was now leaning back against the head board of his temporary bed.

With that Trent left them.

Duke looked over at Lis when he noticed the concerned expression over her face.

"What's wrong Lis?" He asked.

She lowered her head as she spoke quietly, "I feel terrible. You got hurt 'cause of me. I couldn't even help you fight him. It's my fault that you've lost half of your eye sight."

"Lis, it isn't your fault Angel. Falcone would have come after me one anyway," Duke tried to convince her, but to no avail.

She just looked away from him in reply.

"Lis," Duke said gently as he sat up and turned while he placed his bare feet upon the cold metal floor.

Then Duke stood up and walked over to Lis. Once he was standing before her, he placed one of his dark hands beneath her delicate chin. He slowly turned her head so that her eyes were gazing up at his. She flinched when she was reminded of the bandage over his right eye; not because of how he looked, but because she knew she had been the cause of his injury. Though she didn't look away from him. His other charcoal gray hand was firmly grasping her right arm. Her back was against the door as he stood before her. The stern, and yet, passionate expression over his face made her realize how weak she was under his strength and charm. He was so much more than a thief to her; instead he was a man, a man of great strength and courage. He was one of intelligence, in mind and conscience. He knew he could charm any girl and make her his if he ever wanted to. He could make any woman feel like she was the most beautiful and luckiest girl in the world, just by a brush of his affection. Duke could steal the heart of anyone he wanted with a simple smile or kiss upon the cheek. Lis knew she couldn't break away from his powerful enchantment that he had used upon her. She was very aware of him standing before her and gazing down at her with a look that made her so vulnerable around him.

The warmth of his body was intense and strong, and made her feel like she was in a sauna. Lis was even more aware of the love she felt for Duke growing stronger than she could control. She was frightened, and yet felt safe at the same time with him standing before her.

"Duke?" Lis quested shakily as she looked up at him, feeling his strength over taking her.

"Lis, it isn't your fault for what happened to me; understand? I protected ya 'cause I care about ya a whole lot sweetheart! I got hurt for doin' what I knew was right!" Duke said firmly as he lifted his hand to her face so he could gently brush away a strand of hair away from her right eye.

Then he bent his head down, longing for his mouth to close over her's this time, but she turned her head away and he ended up kissing her cheek instead.

He stood straight up now in confusion and humiliation. What had he done wrong? He looked at her with hurt spreading over his face, and she couldn't bare to face him. She had turned away, feeling as though he were only trying to make her feel better, and nothing more. She felt as though she didn't deserve his affection, and didn't want to get hurt in the end. If she truly loved him, she wouldn't have let him get hurt because of her. She would have protected him just as he had done for her! She wasn't worthy of his emotions; and she knew it with all the agony in her heart that was now breaking.

With that she pulled away from him quickly, and left the infirmary; leaving him there bewildered and aching deep within.

Lis was heading to her bedroom, when Crystal found her.

"I saw what happened to Duke, and Trent told me what happened!" She hissed at the younger girl.

Lis nodded, confirming the information that Crystal had received.

"So it is your fault!" She spat harshly.

Lis looked away sadly; her silent agreement.

"You didn't even try to help Duke fight! It's your fault that he got hurt!" She yelled with wrath in her dark green eyes.

"No!" Lis exclaimed, "I didn't mean for him to get hurt!"

"You're a little brat that should have never come here!" She shouted, "You're useless and you don't belong here! Now Duke's half blind because of you!"

Lis shook her head desperately, "No, I-!"

"Why don't you get out of here before Duke throws you out?! Save yourself the pain that you actually deserve!"

"Leave?!"

"Yeah, just get out if here and don't come back you little brat!"

Lis realized that Crystal was right; especially after turning away when Duke had tried to kiss her earlier. If she had loved him, he would still have his full sight. He wouldn't have to save her all the time if she left him. She would only get in his way of becoming leader. So, as much as it hurt her to go; she left Duke and The Brotherhood Of The Blade behind her.

Duke hadn't slept all night after Lis had left him so coldly when he'd tried to kiss her. His heart ached when he thought of how he had been turned down without a simple word to tell him why. Had he hurt her some how and not realized it? Or was it like when Christina had been with him. Did Lis want more of a future than one with him, a heartless thief? The heart in his chest now shattered like glass while he let that thought overwhelm him, and drown his fragile emotions.

Soon Trent came in with a mechanical eye in his hand.

"Have ya seen Lis?" Duke dared to ask, hiding the agony in his usually strong and cheerful voice.

"She's probably resting, Duke; she went through a lot last night."

Duke nodded, "Yeah; an' she's blamin' herself for what happened. It's not her fault!"

"I know that," Trent said, "but you can check on her after the operation if you like."

Two hours later Duke awoke to find that he could see again. He looked in a nearby mirror to find an eyepatch over the replacement, robotic eye that allowed him to see again.

"Good, you're awake," a familiar voice spoke.

Duke turned to see Stealth sitting in a chair beside Duke's bed. They were still in the infirmary.

"You really can't stay out of trouble can you?" Stealth chuckled.

Though no laughter came from Duke, "Falcone threatened Lis's life."

"And you saved ger," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but now she thinks it's her fault, and it isn't!"

"Duke, I know that, but," he hesitated.

"What is it?" Duke asked.

"She's gone Duke; Lis left a while ago."

"WHAT?!" Duke exclaimed.

"She left, Duke," he repeated slowly and gently.

Duke stood up quickly now, "No! Why would she leave?! She couldn't have-?!"

Stealth looked up at the young thief, "Crystal told me that she was leaving, and I saw her go."

"Why didn't ya stop her?!" Duke demanded in a rising temper that he couldn't stop.

"She wouldn't have listened to me, even if I am the leader; and any threats to her wouldn't have worked because you would have protected her from any of them. The only one she would have stayed here for, is you, Duke."

"Then why didn't she?!" Duke shouted with a great pain stabbing his heart.

"Because of what happened to you on her account. She thinks that if she leaves you, you will no longer get hurt because of her," Stealth told Duke calmly.

"WELL SHE'S WRONG!" Duke snapped.

"Calm down Duke!" Stealth scolded.

"How can I calm down?!" Duke demanded again, "I risked my life for her, an' she thanks me by leavin' me!"

Duke then sat down with his head in his dark hands. He felt a great agony in his hard chest, and it wouldn't go away. It took so much strength and courage for him not let the hot tears in his left eye escape down his cheek.

"Duke, tell me; why does this matter so much? Why did you risk your life for her? Don't fight it anymore," he pleaded softly with a comforting hand on the young thief's shoulder.

"Father," Duke spoke quietly as he looked up at the man who was indeed, his dad, and realized out loud, "I love her."

Once Duke had said that, he got up and started towards the door; but first he looked at his father briefly to find him smiling proudly. Then Duke ran out of the lair, and after Lis.

Else where; Lis was out on the cold streets again, soaked to the skin from the pouring icy rain, starving, and lonely with a broken heart.

"I should have known," Lis thought, "Duke would never feel the same about me, an' even if he did, I don't deserve his affection. I'm just a child that can't protect him. He deserves a woman that will make him happy and keep him safe. Someone I could never be, and something I could never give him; no matter how much I long to. No matter how much I love him."

With that Lis slid to the wet cold concrete and began to cry with an empty, aching feeling replacing her heart