Disclaimer: Not mine

GreenDayfan1: Happy birthday! (It should be Wednesday by the time you read this.) Glad you like it. Andros is cool, I just always love the comic relief, which he was definately not.

Miss Natalya: You're the first person to actually like my cliffhangers. See, Jenny, they're good things. : )

Jenny: Okay, you guessed right again.

DV2: Thank you. : )

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: I love Zhane too. This chapter should be sweeter, though.

Maresia Eterna: Here's more. : )

Chapter 14

His first concsious thought was that he was in pain. Dimly, Andros remembered the confrontation with Arrow at the rebel base, but it seemed more like a nightmare than a reality. Reality hit as he tried to move. Hot, sharp pain shot through his chest, and he fell back against the pillows on the patient bed, concentrating hard on breathing evenly. He closed his eyes against the bright lights of the medical bay, and tried to fall asleep again, where at least he could be comfortable.

"Andros?" he heard someone ask. "Are you awake?"

"Ashley?" he asked. His throat was dry and ached when he talked.

"Yeah, it's me," she said. "Zhane went to get some sleep."

"How long was I out?" Andros asked, his voice hoarse.

"Five days," Ashley said. "Thirsty?"

Andros nodded, his eyes still closed. He heard Ashley walk away from the bed, and he heard the whirring sound of the Synthetron.

"Can you sit up?" Ashley asked, sitting down near him.

He shook his head.

"I'll help you," Ashley offered, and after a moment, Andros nodded. Ashley slipped an arm beneath his shoulders, and gently eased him into a sitting position. After a moment, Andros relaxed, realizing that if he moved slowly, he didn't hurt as much.

"Here," Ashley said, pressing a glass of cold water into his hand. He raised it to his lips and gulped it down. The first few swallows hurt, but soon the liquid slid down his throat smoothly, and he could talk again.

"Deca, can you dim the lights?" he asked.

"Of course," Deca replied.

Andros opened his eyes as the lights went down, and Ashley's face came into focus. She smiled at him, relieved.

"How are you feeling?"

Andros opened his mouth to say "Fine," but he shifted slightly and groaned.

"It hurts," he muttered.

"I know," Ashley said. "While you were out, I talked to Zhane. He thinks that we have some sort of telepathic bond."

She watched his face carefully for any kind of reaction, anger, surprise, anything, but he did nothing to give away what he was feeling.

"Andros?" Ashley asked. "I guess that what I'm trying to say is that I feel whatever you feel."

"I know," Andros said quietly, looking down at his hands. "I feel whatever you feel, too. I've known it for awhile, I guess, but I didn't want to accept it."

"Why?" Ashley asked before she could help herself. "Do I bother you that much?"

Andros shook his head. "You don't bother me. I don't think you ever really did."

"Then why-"

"Because," Andros said softly. "Because as soon as I saw you, I cared about you."

Ashley looked up at him, and Andros almost stopped talking, but he didn't want to be alone anymore. "I was afraid," he muttered. "Afraid that I'd lose you somehow, if I let you get too close."

"Andros," Ashley said softly. He felt her hop up next to him. "Look at me."

When his soft hazel eyes met hers, her nerve almost failed her, but slowly, Ashley leaned in and very gently brushed her lips over his. Tentatively, Andros returned the kiss. He was intending to pull back, but Ashley's arms wrapped themselves around his neck, and he couldn't. Instead, he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her again, a little more sure of himself. As they both pulled back, Andros couldn't help feeling like it was over much too soon.

Andros looked at her shyly. "Ash . . . if you would want to ever go somewhere . . . with me . . . "

"You mean like on a date?" Ashley asked.

Andros nodded, his face slowly turning bright red.

"I'd love that," Ashley said, beaming at him. "Andros?"

He looked at her, and she grinned.

"You're really cute when you're embarassed," she said, and his blush deepened several shades.

"And you're really beautiful," Andros said softly, looking her in the eye. "I always thought so."

Ashley wrapped her arms around his neck again, raising her mouth to his. Her lips were soft and warm, and Andros was unable to resist kissing her a third time. Ashley hugged him as tightly as she dared, not wanting to hurt him. He slipped him arm around her waist, and they sat there together until Andros realized that he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

"Get some rest," Ashley said, helping him lie down again. "I'll come back later."

Andros nodded his head, his eyes already closed. He heard Ashley walk away, and fell asleep almost instantly, with a smile on his face.