Jae stayed in her room until around noon, and because he didn't have any real work to do until after dinner, Col. Tavington stayed with her, holding her and comforting her until she decided to get up and bathe.
"Jae, are you sure you're going to be all right?" the colonel asked as she numbly uncurled herself from his arms and slid onto the ground, barely able to stand up.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." she replied unconvincingly as she got shakily to her feet, holding onto the colonel's arm for support. "I'm going to the washroom to clean up and then I'll meet you in the banquet hall for dinner."
"You can't even walk, let alone stand." said Col. Tavington in a flat voice.
Jae scowled.
"Yes I can."
"No, you can't."
"Yes, I can." replied Jae, her temper beginning to rise. "And I'm going to have to in order to get to the washroom."
Col. Tavington cocked an eyebrow and then nodded at her, waiting to see if she could get up and actually manage to walk. But just as he thought, the moment she let go of him, she crumpled to the floor, wincing in pain.
What the hell has happened to her?
"Don't even say 'I told you so'." said Jae, anger swirling in her eyes with a mixture of other guarded emotions that the colonel couldn't specifically decipher.
"Jae-"
"Don't!" Jae cried, suddenly bursting into tears all over again. "Just don't!"
Col. Tavington closed his eyes momentarily, shaking his head, as he bent down and wrapped Jae in a protective embrace.
"Let go of me!" she screamed into his chest, beating her fists against him, but he continued to hold her, taking the beating until she had worn herself out and leaned limply against him.
"Dear one, what is wrong?" Col. Tavington asked softly.
"I can't tell you." Jae mumbled softly, burying her face even further in his chest.
"Why not?"
"I just can't. I want to, really, I do. But I just can't."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing..."
"Then what can I do for you?"
Jae looked up at the colonel and was nearly overwhelmed by the concern in his azure eyes, and sighed.
"Just trust me..."
Col. Tavingon nodded, obviously disappointed that that was all she was going to say.
"I do, Jae. We all do. But we don't want you to get hurt."
"It's a little late for that." replied Jae ruefully, laughing humorlessly.
Col. Tavington's eyes narrowed, but he knew she wouldn't tell him what was really going on, no matter how much he asked.
Very well then, if she doesn't want to tell me, then I'll get my answers on my own...