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June 12th, 2000 10:05 AM

Katsu knocked at the solid door and was answered by Kenshin's tired voice. Donna opened itquickly and Sanos was pushed through. He had told the two of them to wait outside and to only interfere if they saw blood coming out from under the door. He steered for the bed, one handed.

Teo was stretched out on her back, pale- except for some bruising on her face,- and still. Her right arm was heavily bandaged and folded across her chest, but he could see at least one of the fancy fish just like Ken's tattooed on it. The woman's dark hair was pulled back into a tail over her left shoulder; tubes ran from her left arm to the IV pole by her side. Strips of cloth hung from the bed, most likely what they had used to tie her down earlier. Katsu said Kenshin had torn through two of the gauze strips before he had been pulled away, swearing and trying to claw a nurse's eyes out. Katsu had to apply a chokehold to calm him down enough to listen. He was worried what Teo would do to him for laying hands on Kenshin.

The small figure on a chair to her left had hair as scarlet as sunset spread out across his shoulders like a veil of flame. He held Teo's left hand, stroking his thumb across the knuckles of the limp fingers. He spoke without turning, "What is it, Katsu? I told you, I'm not hungry."

"It's not Katsu, Kenshin."

The man turned. Sanos saw the huge dark circles under tired amethyst eyes, now under sandy brows a little darker than his hair. He was as pale as Teo and he hadn't shaved. His face was scraped and bruised; purple/blue bruises formed a bracelet on both of his wrists. Teo's black pearl ring sat on the thumb of his left hand. He looked absolutely exhausted, only his will was holding him up now.

"What do you want, Sanos? Anything else you'd like to accuse my shinju of? Any crimes against humanity? Kicking kitties? You wouldn't believe me if I said she was innocent. Maybe she could die this time and make you happy."

The words spoken in a tired, sarcastic sort of anger struck Sanos like hammer blows. "I'm so sorry, Ken. I was stupid. And jealous. And afraid of what I didn't understand. Please talk to me; I want to let you know what I meant to do."

"Much the same as some other fools have wanted, I suppose. You were going to be my savior and take me away from an abusive situation. How could I be there willingly? How could a gay man love a woman, a so-called lesbian, so much? Especially one with a taste for domination? I must be a little victim puppet. It's happened before and it only gets fucking stupider each time I hear it. Usually, it's just annoying. This time you were going to be part of her death and disgrace at that lunatic's hands. Because you didn't believe me when I told you how gentle and loving she is to me."

"I can't tell you how sorry…"

"You've already said that. It's a broken record. I have to thank you for your help, if you hadn't grabbed for her, she'd have gone over the edge with that bastard. But don't expect hugs and kisses for being there in the first place."

Sanos looked at the still face. "Is she going to be okay? Was the break that bad?"

"Her shoulder was dislocated, the rotator cuff torn. And the displaced fracture of the collarbone, of course. They had to pin it. The surgeon said it wouldn't have been so severe if her holster hadn't been wrenched around back to the front of her body; that did the most tearing, almost cut some major veins. Good job on your part."

"She told me to do it, Kenshin. She wanted you out of those cuffs so much."

"And nobody can say no to Teo but me, it seems! But who cares if she hurts? She must like it, anyway, huh? That's what people think, that she can have no soft emotions at all. Not that she rides them and holds them in because of what happened to her in this life. She's hard; she's had to be to survive with her mind and soul mostly intact. I said mostly, because there are scars that almost no one but I have ever seen till here in the hospital." His voice was soft and brutally cool. "They looked at me and demanded to know where her scars came from! As if I was responsible! The ones on her back from the beatings when they caught her with another girl, the ones that sent her on the run. The burns and scars from the streets where she worked until Hank picked her up. The injuries from struggling with those who wish to harm others. She's paid for her own sins as well as mine over and over again in pain deep in her heart. And no one knows but me, the one person she trusts not to hurt her. Even though I have, more than once.

And she jumped for Shou because of me- a promise made long ago to never kill in my presence or allow anyone to die from her inaction. That promise almost cost her life and mine." He brushed his free hand through the long red veil of hair. "And the biggest thing she ever asked me for was this. To see my hair as it should be. And I couldn't bring myself to do it until she almost died in front of me."

"Why did you hide it after you were grown? When no one could bring you back?" At least the man was talking, getting rid of some of his frustration, thought Sanos.

"I was afraid of being that boy again. The sad little faggot who was his step-dad's plaything, the butt of all the nasty schoolyard jokes. When Teo saved me from being raped again, she took me home. I was exhausted, starving, and a little drunk from some Sambucca she'd poured me. She ran me a tub to wash off the filth and found out my secret. She didn't laugh; she just smiled and told me how surprising and sweet I was. And she meant it. She didn't lay a hand on me; she took care of me and asked for nothing. No one had done that for her, not even Hank. I hid from everyone except her. I just couldn't stop that part of the hiding - that part of the disguise I wore everyday." He leaned down and brushed his cheek against the hand he held. "Now I don't care, as long as I can make her smile. She has a sweet smile when she doesn't think anyone is looking. You heard her real voice last night, when she was talking to that nut to try and get me away. She hides more than I ever did, right out in the open every day."

Sanos sat and watched the man tenderly stroke the woman's hand. They had gone through so much together and still had more to deal with in the future. Kenshin had said that anyone who tried to come between them was a fool. And Dave Sanos was that fool. He'd lost Kenshin before it ever began when he thought that the man wasn't strong, fooled by his tiny size and gentle ways. He was as strong as she, just in a quieter way. But just as fierce. "Would there have been a chance for us, Kenshin, if all this hadn't happened?"

The tired eyes gave him a hard look. "I don't know. She wouldn't have interfered; she doesn't unless I might be hurt. You would have had to understand that she is part of me. That I'm not Little Red Riding Hood and she's not the Wolf. I don't need to be rescued. Hell, I've always thought that maybe Little Red went to Grandma's to find the Wolf! Wolves are exciting and scary, beautiful and protective. And they mate for life. If you could have understood that, we had a chance. I thought about you from the moment we met. But not now. Get away from us Dave. And don't come back."

He stood up and went to the door, opening it on a surprised Katsu and Donna. "Take him back where you found him. I'm done with him." He didn't meet Sanos' eyes as Katsu wheeled him away. Kenshin sat back down and once again picked up Teo's hand. He just stared off at the wall, tears sliding down his cheeks. Then he realized that a thumb was stroking down over his knuckles.

"They're always surprised when my little mouse shows his teeth."

"Makabashira!"

The hazel eyes opened, squinting against the light. "Hello, sweet one. How beautiful you look. A living flame. Come closer."

Kenshin leaned forward so she could brush her hand through his hair, closing his eyes against the gentle touch. She smiled and then her eyes showed her puzzlement. "How long have I been out?"

"Since the roof. Almost two days now. Your shoulder is messed up and your collarbone is broken badly. You are going to get you ass kicked the minute the doctor says okay! What were you thinking? You could have died for that idiot to keep a promise! And taken me with you, I won't live without you!" He pressed his wet cheek into the palm of her hand.

"Please, kobito, have mercy on the injured and stupid. Do you have some water? Mmm. That's good. When did you do this?" she touched his hair again, running the strands through her fingers.

"When you were in surgery, I got a hold of DaiJon. I suffered for you. He made me pull four whole hairs out to match the color! I think he's going to keep them for a memento. Or to sell on E-bay, I don't know. Do you like it, really?"

"It's been my dream for more than twenty years. Thank you for your wonderful gift…Don't cry my love, it's all right. Come here." She lifted her left arm up and over the rail. "You're small enough to fit here against my heart. Come my Genji, you look so tired; I miss you by my side."

Kenshin slid into her arm, careful not to pull any tubes, kicking his sandals off to curl beside her. "I was so frightened."

"As was I. Are you hurt?"

"Just scrapes and bruises. Do you hurt a lot, Shinju-chan?"

"Not with you here. And Sanos?"

"I don't care, he's an asshole!" His head bounced a little as she chuckled. "He must be sore, and he was in a wheelchair. Katsu and Donna brought him here. They're going on my list with the twins for that. Teo - Katsu and Donna know about each other now. I guess they were friends in high school. Will that make a change for them with you?"

"I can't tell you now, nezumo. We have to wait and see. About a lot of things. Where's Shou? … Bellevue's the perfect place for him, I guess. Try and rest now, we're together and that won't change, no matter what." She brushed the top of his head with her lips. "So beautiful! As if the sunset was lying on my breast. Thank you, koi. I love you and that will never change, my Kenshin."

"I'm happy to give you joy, my Teo. I love you and that will never change." He fell silent, listening to the strong steady beat of her heart. She closed her eyes and kept stroking his hair with her hand, long soft strokes – reveling in the soft beauty of its texture. He sighed and finally relaxed.

When two young people came back to the room and peeked in, Kenshin was sound asleep. As was Teo. And they both were smiling.

Be patient - there's more lemon to come!