Author's Notes: I'm apologizing in advance for the lack of length in this chapter. When this whole story is finished I think I'm going to re-chapter it, not that it'd do any of you any good since I doubt you'll come back to read the whole story just because it got re-chaptered! LOL!

I'm having trouble writing this story, I know how it's supposed to go, but it's the getting to that point that's hard to write. Also, there' hardly any romance, if at all, in this story so far. I hope to fix that in future chapters. Bear with me people!

Chapter 12

He went back to study the stove more and decided that it should be fairly simple removing the mess of wires and the harnessed energist. The innards suddenly came under intense scrutiny as an idea formed in John's mind.

"Maybe…" John said slowly to himself.

He pushed the stove back into place leaving the panel off. He picked up the screws and set them on the counter where they'll be easy to see and out of the way.

John dusted his hands off only to realize too late as thin, red welts rose where his metal claws scraped against his callused palm. No serious damage was done; he hardly felt a sting.

He let out a small sigh and washed his hands at the kitchen sink. He had discovered a while ago that his metal arm didn't seem to get water damage. This was found out when he and the other men at Mr. Peronel's worked in pouring rain.

After drying his hands on a kitchen towel, John proceeded to search for Sarah's room. He finally located the door to her room at the back of the house. Approaching the door, John gave it a couple knocks.

"Who is it?" asked Sarah's clear voice.

"It's John."

"Just a moment John!"

He heard some shuffling of feet on a wooden floor and some rustling. A click was heard, registering in John's mind as a lock. The door finally opened revealing a Sarah who looked ready for bed. She was wearing an old oversized shirt and a faded pair of loose sleeping pants with a jacket thrown over her shoulders for some modesty.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" apologized John upon seeing her state of dress.

"Oh, not at all. I was actually reading. Was there something you needed?" Sarah asked, a little self-conscious.

"If you're not busy tomorrow would you mind taking me to town? I'm in need of some supplies for the stove and Aunt Rena suggested you as I might as well get a tour of the area."

Sarah's eyebrows pushed together slightly as she thought through tomorrow's schedule. Unbeknownst to her John was gazing at her fondly with softened eyes.

"Well…" she said cautiously as she double checked her mental schedule, her eyes scrunched up towards the ceiling as if it held all the answers, "We'll be checking Mr. Donas and Ganji out and then I'll just have to check on a couple others… I can't get going until eleven. Is that fine?"

"Yes, that's fine. Thank you."

"No problem. Anything else?" Sarah enquired.

"No, no, nothing else."

"We'll need to take the horses so our trip will take up less time. Do you want to meet at the door?"

"That will be fine."

'This is getting a little awkward,' Sarah thought then said, "Well, good night then."

"Good night Sarah," John responded and slowly turned and walked away as Sarah closed her door.

"That was odd," Sarah vocalized quietly to herself. She took her jacket off and hung it in her closet, then walked to her bed and turned off the oil lamp beside it to go to sleep.

John walked to his room with a hand rubbing his face.

'I must be really tired,' John thought as an excuse for why he had acted strangely, almost unresponsive to Sarah those last moments before he walked away.

He closed his door once he was inside and changed into his sleepwear. The room was fairly dark, as the sun had already set, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He walked to the window and opened it to the cold air. The sky was clear, as it often was on cold nights, and what he saw amazed him in its utter natural beauty.

The black velvet of space held thousands, perhaps billions, of twinkling stars visible to the naked eye. They were scattered everywhere as far as he could see and amongst them was the shining, predominately blue and white orb with its own smaller grey sister orbiting it.

John leaned against the windowsill, staring up at the sky and its wonders. How he would love to be amid them in their glory.

'Perhaps you can,' a little voice whispered within him.

He shook his head almost vehemently at the idea. What if he was seen? It's unnatural.

'Then why do you have wings if not to fly?' the voice softly argued.

Why indeed?

John abruptly closed the window, stopping any further argument if only for the moment. He stalked to his bed and tugged the covers away from the bed and slid under them. He felt restless now that he was presented with a temptation by that small urging voice.

"Oof!"

Two small bodies had jumped on John's unprotected stomach almost simultaneously.

"Good morning Mr. John!" Brittany said loudly with a large grin, Lindsey only smiled and had slid beside John on the bed rather than atop him as they had accomplished their goal of waking him.

John playfully hid his face with a pillow.

"Mr. John! We know you're there!" shouted Brittany, grabbing at the pillow.

As soon as the pillow was removed from John's face, he sprung up with a roar. The girls squealed and jumped off the bed. He ran after them, a carefree laugh escaping his lips as he roared again and chased the girls part way down the hall before he caught up with them and swung them up onto his shoulders. The girls laughed and squirmed, trying to escape John's firm grip.

"Did you guys think you could get away with disturbing the Great Dragon's sleep without consequences?" John asked in a deep mock-serious voice.

"Don't eat us!" Brittany squealed out under John's tickling fingers.

"Hmmm, that was an idea…"

"Eek!"

"How will you appease the Great Dragon?" John asked, still in his deep "Great Dragon" voice.

He was walking to the dining room and had brought the girls down into his arms and against his chest.

"Perhaps tickling you will satisfy me!"

"No!" They shrieked, but it was too late.

John balanced the girls on his metal arm and attacked their sides with his free hand. The full out laughing and giggling rang out through the hall.

Author's Notes (again):  I don't remember if I didn't answer any questions or comments for the previous chapter so I'm not putting any here.  *sigh*  Please review!

-LSR_7