The Threads of Life: Chapter eight.

Facing your Fears

A/N: First of all, thanks for the reviews. You can ask questions in your reviews if you want, and I'll answer them here. So far, I've mainly got 'good job,' but that's not a bad thing.... If you read my HP fic, you would have found out that my dad brought my computer, so now I can post stuff a whole month earlier than originally planned! Yay!


On to the story:

This chapter needs a recap:

She practically barreled towards it and dove inside, only to find a very surprised pair of blue eyes looking up at her...

What were the chances? She asked him.

"Well, I needed to find some wood for tent poles for my group," he began. At that, Kel grinned. He noticed, and frowned. "What is it?" he asked. Kel shook her head.

"Nothing, keep going."

"I guess you got lost like I did" Kel said.

"A Sergeant never gets lost, Lady Kel." Suddenly, Kel sobered.

"I'm not a lady, but my mother was..." Dom jumped.

"Kel, I'm sorry – I didn't mean to..." Kel cut him off.

"It's nothing," she said. She turned away and stared at the packed earth, trying not to blink. Her eyes were stinging from tears that had suddenly appeared.

"Kel..." Dom said desperately, "Its not nothing." He reached out and touched her shoulder, vaguely surprised by the feeling he got by touching her. Kel shrugged his hand off, and tried to turn more. Unfortunately, the little alcove was much to small for that.

"Go away Dom, I don't need you." This time, Dom grabbed her shoulder more forcefully and turned her around.

"Kel, you need to talk about this. If you don't right now, then you never will. Just talk, I won't say anything." Kel looked up at the Sergeant, her eyes bright with tears, yet there was a dark shadow hidden in her eyes. She was ashamed by this show of emotion, yet she couldn't help it.

"I-I can't," she began, but was cut off by Dom.

"Yes you can, Kel, I believe in you."

"Y-you do?" she asked, incredulous. Dom nodded. Kel shook her head. "No you don't, you're just saying that to make me feel better."

"No I'm not. It might not sound truthful, but out of all the people I know, you are the one I most believe that can cope with something...like...that." Kel looked up accusingly.

"See?" she said, "even you can't say it. Say it Dom, otherwise I won't." Dom looked away thoughtfully.

"Kel, unless you come to terms with your own loss, I can't say anything. I can help you, but I can't do it for you."

"Then – then I won't do it." Kel choked on those words. Somewhere deep down, she knew she had to admit it – her parents were dead, her brothers dead, her uncles. Suddenly she looked up, her eyes no longer teary. Dom was startled to see fire in those usually calm and dreamy hazel eyes. "But I will get them. Whoever did it is going to pay – with their life." Dom stared at her, shocked. He felt sorry for whoever's fault it was. They were going to pay, he knew. To get her mind of it, he turned to her.

"Kel, you should probably get to sleep. We can find wood once the storm stops." Kel looked up again.

"You don't understand," she said. "None of you understand. I can't sleep. They come...those...things..." Now she wasn't looking at him. She was looking wildly into space, not seeming aware of Dom. She was muttering under her breath as well. Once again, Dom reached over and touched her shoulder, this time rubbing it, trying to calm her down. It seemed to work, as her eyes slowly closed and she leaned her head on his shoulder, asleep. Dom smiled, and closed his own eyes.


A/N: Happy? I would have written more, but I'm not really feeling it right now. Bye! Crystaltambaia

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