At long last, here is the fifth chapter. Reviews are loved and adored!

Chapter Five – Like Medicine

Third Company of the King's Own, Dom included, arrived just in time for supper. Kel sat across from Owen and next to Seaver, leaving only one place left open near her. To her embarrassment and dismay, Neal tried to take that seat. "Neal, I've told you this before!" Kel hissed. "Yuki wants you to sit by her. You're going to have to sit with her all the time once you're married, so you might as well get used to it."

Neal made a face. "Don't remind me." He looked at her pleadingly. "Why can't I just sit with my best friend for once? Why do I repel you so?"

"You of all people should know."

Neal folded his arms across his chest and looked down at her mockingly. "You just don't want me sitting there because that seat is reserved for your precious Dom!"

Kel tried not to glare at him, but she couldn't help it. "Well maybe it is then. I don't see why you're so bothered by it."

Owen looked at Kel and Neal curiously. "What's gotten into you two? You never fight with each other."

"I'd better leave," Neal said, heaving a dramatic sigh. "I'm obviously not wanted here. I don't understand what Dom has that I don't, but suit yourself, Kel." He walked away. Kel avoided the eyes of Owen and her other friends. "I suppose I'm just not in the best of moods today, and Neal was stupid enough to provoke me."

"Has Sir Meathead been harassing you then?" a voice said behind her. "I'll have to have a talk with him about that."

Kel turned around and looked up into those familiar gorgeous blue eyes. Her pulse quickened and all the thoughts she had of Neal were instantly forgotten. "Hello, Dom."

"Do you mind if I sit here?" Dom pointed at the seat next to her. Kel nodded a little too eagerly and Dom sat down. Owen looked at Merric and rolled his eyes. Kel gave Owen a warning look.

"So, did you miss me?" Dom asked.

"Oh yes, I was absolutely pining away for you," Kel said sarcastically. "I was about ready to commit suicide while being separated from you."

"Well that's good to know," Dom said. "So, how has the Meathead been doing?"

Kel didn't answer at first. His question had unnerved her a little bit. She thought about Neal's recent odd behavior and how he kept following her and popping unexpectedly, and how he kissed her. Especially how he kissed her. "Well, um, he's been different."

"Different? What do you mean?"

Did she say that out loud? She only intended on thinking it, but it had just come out of her mouth before she could stop it. "Oh, I don't know. Just a little strange lately." She tried her hardest to stop the warm flush that was coming over her face, but the harder she tried not to, the redder she blushed.

"Is something the matter?" Dom asked.

Kel shook her head fiercely. "No! Nothing at all."

"Your face is bright red, Kel," Seaver pointed out. Kel was tempted to kick him in the shin but managed to control herself.

"So, Kel, what have you been doing lately?" Dom asked, tactfully changing the subject. Kel was able to talk to him easily and no further mishaps occurred. When the meal was over, Kel got out of her seat and started to walk away. She could hear someone walking behind her and she picked up her pace. She knew it was Neal again, and that he would get her alone with him in some secluded area and would kiss her like he usually did. She couldn't allow that happen anymore.

"Kel?"

She stopped walking and looked over her shoulder. To her slight surprise, it was Dom who was following her, and not Neal. "Do you mind if I walk with you?" he asked.

"Oh, sure." She adjusted her pace so that it was the same as his and they walked out of the great hall together. Dom didn't know why, but seeing Kel again seemed more enjoyable than usual. Of course, she was his friend and he had missed her when they were separated, but now that he was with her again, he never realized exactly how much he had missed her. And since when did she look so good in a dress?

"I thought I would find you two together," a voice drawled.

Kel, in her surprise at who had spoken, tightly grabbed a hold of Dom's hand. She suddenly realized what she had done and she hastily let go of his hand in embarrassment. Dom couldn't explain why, but he rather regretted her letting him go. He almost wished she would grab hold of him again.

"Neal, can't you just leave me alone for once?" Kel demanded.

Neal smiled. "Well of course not. You know that."

"Well I would appreciate it if you left me alone now," Kel said firmly.

"Oh really? Why? I think I had better stay as a chaperone then, in case you two get a little carried away."

Kel couldn't believe he had said that. She normally didn't become horribly angry, but now she was so mad at Neal that she wanted to just rip him to pieces. She glanced at Dom, who had a confused look on his face. "Well your mind is most definitely in the sewers, Meathead," he said to Neal.

"Thanks a lot," Neal said. "I still think I had better come along though, just to make sure Kel doesn't physically violate you. There are probably a number of things she's been longing to do to you for quite some time."

"What?" Kel and Dom said at the exact same time. Dom's tone was simply puzzled, and Kel's tone was furious.

"Neal, I can't believe you," Kel said, her voice as cold as ice. "Why would you say something like that? You know perfectly well that I am not that kind of person."

He reached over and patted on the shoulder, making her shiver slightly. "Oh, I was only teasing, my dear Kel. I know the love you have for Dom is tender and pure, and not lustful and immoral."

Dom looked at Kel, and then at Neal, and then at Kel again. "Love?"

"Neal doesn't have any idea what he's talking about," Kel said quickly. "Just ignore him."

But Dom wasn't so ready to just ignore it all. He looked into Kel's eyes. "Kel, what is he talking about?"

Kel couldn't look at him. If she looked into his blue eyes, she would spill out everything and would make a complete of fool of herself. She couldn't let that happen. "Don't listen to anything Neal says. He's only trying to aggravate me. He's been doing a very good job of it lately." She glared at Neal.

Neal swept an extravagant bow. "I try my hardest, milady."

Dom didn't say anything, but he continued to look at Kel carefully. Could she possibly have feelings for him? She was denying it, but what if it was only denial? And how did he feel about Kel? Thoughts and feelings whirled around in his head and it impossible to make any sense of what was going on in his mind. The whole thing had him confused beyond belief. Perhaps he should get away from Kel and Neal for now, so he could be alone and sort things out.

"Um, I think my Lord Raoul wanted me to meet him after supper," he lied. "I completely forgot all about it until now. I'll see you two later." He walked away, leaving Kel and Neal alone.

"What a pity. You've scared off the love of your life," Neal said. "I suppose I'll have to fill in for him while he's away."

Kel took a step away from him. "I don't think so."

"You don't have to think anything." He moved towards her and grabbed a hold of her hand. She didn't try to pull away. Whenever he touched her, she found herself unable to move. By the time she regained her senses, it was always too late. Neal pulled her with him into a deep niche that was cut into the wall. It was meant for a statue to be placed there, but the niche had been forgotten and no statue stood there. Nobody was around; the hall they were in was usually vacant during that time. Neal knew this well, and saw it all as an opportunity that he could not pass up.

He tenderly pushed Kel's hair out of her face and pressed his lips to hers. "Last time I felt this was only this morning," he whispered. "But I've missed it terribly." He kissed her again. Kel shivered and kissed him back, without knowing what she was doing. They were both making a horrible mistake. But if it was such a mistake, then why did it feel so wonderful?

"Why do you keep doing this, Neal?" she asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "Some things don't need answers. I just know that when I kiss you, I feel better than I've ever felt in my entire life. You're like medicine. When I feel lost and confused, you make me all better. I don't guilty during these times."

"But you feel guilty afterwards?"

"It's a satisfying kind of guilt," he explained. "What I do with you at times like these is an act of defiance. Because of you, I feel able to rebel and do whatever I want."

So this isn't about love, Kel thought. She didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Well of course I'm relieved! she told herself firmly. But if it was such good news, then why did she feel such an ache in her heart? She was being ridiculous. She tried to think of Dom and what it would be like to be loved by him, but all thoughts of Dom were driven away when Neal kissed her again.

"Perhaps we should go somewhere a little more private," he decided. "And someplace with a lot more room."

Kel froze. "What do you mean, Neal?"

He ran a hand down her side; his fingers feeling like the legs of a spider. He looked at her and his eyes were like green fire burning passionately. Kel shook her head fiercely. "Stop it, Neal." She stepped out of the niche. "I had better be going to my rooms now. I'm very tired and you're robbing me of my sleep." She started to walk away but then looked back at him. "And you're not coming with me. I sleep alone every night, and I will continue to do so. Good night, Neal." Without another word to him, she walked away, leaving Neal feeling more puzzled with himself than ever before.