Chapter thirteen

Being so close to her had renewed his spirit. Last night he had slept next to her, the real her. His body had reacted joyfully, and Clarisse had accepted him into her fully. Taking great care of her delicate condition, Joseph had rocked them both into a blissful sleep.

They both had awakened to the dawning of the sunshine. From the look upon her face, Joseph was satisfied that he fulfilled her every desire, and had loved her like she deserved; like he had always dreamed of loving her. Well maybe that was thinking too much. No way could he have loved her like that out here, in the condition they found themselves in. However he had soothed her mind and body, and she his. It was the best they could have hoped for, and the best their bodies were able to perform at the time.

It was hard getting back to business. Yesterday had ended up so leisurely. 'Hot springs', of all the surprises they could have encountered. Joseph still couldn't believe his luck. So far it had given him all he wished for and more, and now as Joseph looked ahead into the natural world, he was afraid his luck would eventually run out.

He broke out into a hardy laughter. She dropped the bottle from her lips, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Just what is so funny?"

"Seeing you chug a bottle of red wine, my love. You have to admit, it isn't exactly a cup of hot tea."

"I'd love to have one."

"Hum, noted. You can dream of one. If you're ready?" He took the wine bottle, corked it tightly, and placed it securely in his pack.

"As I'll ever be," she replied, half sitting, half leaning on a large, smooth rock edged next the pool they so adored the day before. "Although I hate to leave this place."

"We'll have to come back sometime." He hadn't thought, just spoke his mind. Clarisse gave him an evil glare. "Planned ahead, of course," he added, seeing the look upon her face.

He stretched, pulled on his pack, and scooped her into his arms.

The ground was more firm, and for that Joseph was grateful. Traveling would be somewhat easier on him if he wouldn't be sinking in the mud with every step. However the woods ahead were unmarked, without a path in sight, which meant Joseph would have to make his own. It would be nothing to him if he were by himself, but with her taking up his arms, things would, no doubt, become difficult somewhere along the way.

"Last night meant a lot to me," she said as she became accustomed to being in his arms once again. It had, and Clarisse had never felt better about doing anything in her life as she had about loving him.

"Me too." Joseph took a moment to watch her eyes light up. Inside those windows, joy was dancing, and he had put it there. He couldn't help but feel proud of all things.

Meanwhile, back at the palace:

"Anything new?" Sebastian Motaz burst through the security room door, eager for a morning update. He was less than half an hour from a Parliament meeting, where he had to announce that she was still quite ill, and would not be in attendance. If that were true, he wouldn't have been so worried.

"Their moving again," a voice replied from across the room. A hopeful sigh sounded.

"Someone let Shades know, will you. He's anxious for an update as well. I just came from upstairs, and he looks as if he hasn't slept for days," Sebastian informed them. "I'll check again later, but if anything unusual.." He stopped, bothered by what he was saying, for if anything unusual were to happen, he didn't want to know about it, not after the crash. That had almost gave him a heart attack. "Well, you'll know where I'll be."

"Do you remember much...about the crash?" Joseph had thought of asking her before, but put off the inevitable question until he was sure she could handle it.

"To be honest, I've tried not to."

"You don't have to answer now," Joseph answered quickly.

"No, I probably need to get it out. Besides, as long as you're with me...I'll be fine." She rested her head on his shoulder, still feeling somewhat heavy and a bit sore around her neck. It was time to remember.

"The pilot had announced that we were rerouted, I remember that; due to a storm. I guess either the storm got to us first, or it was much bigger than anyone knew, because we ran right into it. I remember watching the hail pound on the window...and the loud banging it made hitting directly over my head. Shades kept asking if I was alright." 'He better had,' thought Joseph. "Then it was like confusion...a loud cracking, and I heard someone shout 'fire'." She shivered in his arms, still feeling the terror that had overcome her at that one word. "Shades got up and went to the cockpit, and came back and forth...and just kept telling me that everything would be alright. I guess he was wrong. It all happened so fast, Joseph. I didn't even know how close we were to the ground until I saw the treetops, and then we just ran right into them. The next thing I knew, I felt you beside me."

She tightened her hold on him, feeling safe and secure. His expression was one of deep thought; his eyes narrow, and his forehead creased with wrinkles. Right then and there, Clarisse thanked her lucky stars for him. There was no one else in the world like him, no one she would be content with either. It had to be Joseph or no one for her.

"What are you thinking?"

"Just trying to piece it all together."

"It doesn't really matter now, does it?"

"I guess I just want to know."

"You want to make sure no one, no person, is responsible." She looked at him, and noticed his eyes kept straight ahead, away from hers. No, he couldn't look at her and lie. Instead he chose to remain silent, and keep his eyes on the ground ahead. "It was an accident, Joseph. Let it go."

"It was an accident that almost cost me your life!" He had stopped in the midst of his outburst. "I'm sorry," he added, breathing deeply, trying to control himself. "I didn't mean to yell at you."

"No, but you needed to get it out." Her voice was low and soothing to his soul. She was safe, he kept reminding himself.

Onward he trudged, stopping occasionally to fill only their needs. The sky held fast to a bright blue, and the clouds seem to forget their business of making rain. It made it hard on the passage of time, for the sun barely inched its way westward.

Joseph had crossed the gushing stream rather easily, fearing it was flowing too quickly to cross with her in his arms. With a little concentration, and more good luck, he won another round as he sat foot on the other side. It showed a greater promise of easier passage as the woods thinned before them. The small clearings had even given Joseph an extra spring in his step. He couldn't argue with Mother Nature if she chose to help him out.

"You've been awful quiet today." Clarisse finally admitted, wondering what was on his mind. Actually she had almost been afraid to ask. The previous night kept flashing before her, and she was quite afraid things had gone too far, too fast. 'Maybe he regrets it?', had crossed her mind more than once.

"I guess I'm just still worried about you. I think, and I stress think, that we are close to walking out of here. The woods have thinned and the stream has widened and slowed, and the ground is rapidly leveling. I can't be sure of anything though." He finally looked at her. "You need a doctor love, and I don't know how long it will be before I can get you to one."

"Joseph, I'll be fine. There's nothing about me that is life threatening. You're doing your best, and much more. There's nothing else you can do, love." She didn't quite believe his answer. Though part of it was very real, and she knew it, the rest was covering up something he was hiding from her.

His head seem to throb. He knew they would soon reach a place where they could be rescued. There was no doubt to that. It was a relief. She could be taken care of professionally. Her doctor could take care of everything but the lies he had told her.

How could he tell her the truth? How would he tell her the truth? Now he regretted not telling her. She deserved to know, and no one else was more capable to break it to her than he was. Instead he chose to lie, blaming her of all things. She had not been capable of handling the truth, when in reality she was more capable than he had been, and was now. Injuries or no, Joseph had chose to break their unspoken vows of truth and trust again. How long before she would be able to forgive him, this time?