A/N the reason for the delay this time? I was unsure about this one. I kept wrestling with myself about it, and I still think it's crap, but I figure I've made you all wait long enough. Sorry.

I think I may wrap this up in a few chapters, I don't feel quite as happy about writing it as I should. Seeing as I'm starting a Narnia fic and rewriting my very first story (Lord of the Rings) I don't want too many projects happening at once.

Forgive the uneventfulness of it, please. And drop me a line after you read! Hardly anybody did that on chapter three! (I appreciate the ones who did, by the way).

x x x

It was already well into the next day when they saw each other again. Timon's head had been wrapped in some sort of bandage, making him look like he was wearing a turban. Hadiya kept a close watch on him, wishing she could have some sort of padding as well. She could feel large, painful areas that she assumed were bruises (it was sometimes hard to tell through her fur).

Every so often Timon would catch one of her glances and raise an eyebrow questioningly, but she would shake her head and give a look that plainly said "don't." They had said very little and were basically just glad to have one another's company and be away from everyone else. It was obvious that Hadiya was worried about him, but Timon was very sure that he was the one that should be worried. She had flinched when he'd touched her as she arrived and he had caught the slight movement. He'd put it together easily and knew that it was the result of leaving her alone with her father. He understood now exactly why she was so angry with him.

But what worried him most was her silence. It wasn't like her. Tentatively he smiled at her, hoping to be reassuring in some way.

"So...you okay?" he asked, figuring that the best way was to just come out with it. She shrugged.

"I guess so."

"You're awfully quiet. Is something wrong?"

"No." she avoided his eyes, looking to the floor instead. Timon got up and laid an arm gingerly across her shoulders.

"Seriously, nobody looks that pathetic when they've been just peachy." he grinned and she returned a small smile. It disappeared when she sighed. "Look, I tried to get Uncle max to go back..."

"You shouldn't have." he furrowed his brow at her, confused. She shrugged his arm off and moved away from him. "I deserved it..."

"No you didn't!" Hadiya was a little startled at the tone of his voice. He sounded so upset. "Hadiya, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Yes I did. I should've been watching more carefully, that's what we're supposed to do..."

"No, that stuff happens to me all the time, it wasn't your fault!" she stared at him in surprise. It seemed unlikely that this should upset him so much when it was her problem, but there was no mistaking that look on his face. He was genuinely worried. "How long has this been going on?"

"Pretty much..." she thought about it for a moment. "As long as I can remember. Usually he doesn't do it to me, though."

"Usually?"

"It's only happened once or twice."

"It shouldn't happen at all. It's wrong, Hadiya! Haven't you told anyone?"

"No." She said quietly. Timon chewed his lip, his arm settling over her shoulders again. She didn't shrug it off this time, but leaned her head on his shoulder. "I hate to say it, but I'm afraid..."

"I'd be worried if you weren't. Well, I'm already worried..."

"Don't be. I'm all right." Timon sighed, noticing that she was sniffling.

"We should really-"

"No!" Hadiya pulled away from him, turning to look him in the face. "We can't! You know what he would do to me? Or worse, he'd think it was mom! What happens to me is nothing compared to what happens to her! Please, please don't tell anyone Timon! Don't say anything!"

"A-alright." she hugged him gratefully. Timon loosed another sigh as she squeezed him.

He really didn't like where all this was going.

x x x

A few hours later, after Hadiya had left to see her mother, Timon sought his Uncle out. Max was enjoying one of his rare moments when he wasn't dealing with the crews or sentries. He groaned when his nephew approached and waved him over.

"Uncle Max, can you do me a favor?"

"If it's got to do with tunnels then forget it."

"It doesn't." said Timon flatly (he always got a little peeved at the subject of tunneling). Sitting next to his uncle, he fell into a brief silence, mulling things over.

"Well?" the older 'kat prompted. Timon looked away from him, a little unsure how much to say. He didn't really know who else he could go to about this. His first choice would've been his father...

"Look, don't say anything to anyone, okay? I...I'm worried about Hadiya." Max nodded.

"I know."

"You do?" Timon asked, looking up in surprise. Max nodded.

"I've been keeping an eye on them."

"Then why-"

"How Habali runs his family is, unfortunately, his business." Max sighed. He didn't like what he thought was going on (and what he thought was very close to the truth). He had long been looking for a reason to intervene. At the moment though, he was a little more worried about his nephew becoming involved. He couldn't help but look down at him fondly. "Look, I know she's your friend. Just...stay away from her if Habali's around, alright?"

"Yeah...sure..." Timon nodded, feeling a little awkward. Max didn't often give him that sort of look, but when he did it was hard to miss.