Plain of Sorrows

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: I only own the ghosts. Everything else is just stuff I happen to like to play with.

Rating: PG-13

Author's notes: What am I planning? Only I know...Bwah hahahahahahaha!


Chapter Thirteen

John Danziger was bored.

More than anything, he hated being sick, and unfortunately that was what Adair and the others had classified him. Actually, Julia had been the one to say it first, so he firmly blamed her for being banished to riding again today.

Truth to tell, he wasn't feeling like himself at all. The changes he'd noticed in himself yesterday were still present, and what was really strange was that Julia hadn't seemed to notice. Yes, she'd categorized all his symptoms: the drop in body temperature; the elevated theta waves; the enzyme and hormonal imbalances. But she hadn't said a thing about the headache, the difference in vision, the emotional turmoil.

So, despite her missing half his problems, Julia'd promptly declared him unfit to travel without assistance. And, of course, Devon and Alonzo had backed her up.

What a pain in the ass.

Either he was feeling better today, or he'd just gotten used to feeling rotten. It was probably the latter. Danziger had never been claustrophobic, but there was something about being cooped up in the Trans Rover that was driving him nuttier than he already was.

At least he had True for company, although his daughter was being uncharacteristically silent. There were times when he couldn't get her to shut up without threats of punishment, but for some reason True wasn't saying a thing. They'd been riding for a little over an hour and John had yet to hear a peep from her.

Just who was supposed to be sick, here?

"I give up," he finally said, "why the silent routine?"

He felt his daughter jerk against him. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, I thought you were going to keep my company. What gives, True-girl?"

She didn't say anything for a minute, then finally, "I'm just thinking, Dad."

"Feel like sharing?"

There was that silence again. Just when Danziger didn't think he could handle it any longer, True murmured, "I was just trying to figure out why this…alien…picked you to hurt, that's all."

John hugged her tightly. "She didn't mean to hurt me."

"How do you know?"

"It's…hard to explain," he admitted. "I just know. As to why she picked me, period…I can't tell you. That's something I'm still trying to figure out myself."

More silence. This was starting to get on his last nerve.

"Look, True. I know you're upset by all this – "

"I don't think that covers it, Dad!" she fairly shouted, frustrated and angry. "I don't care what this cat-thing meant to do! All I know is, it's hurt you, and I can't do anything about it!"

"It'll all work out –"

"That's not what you told Devon yesterday!"

John wanted to cringe. He thought she'd been asleep. How could he fix any damage that had caused? "Something's happening," he sighed. "I don't pretend to understand it, but it's affected me in ways I can't explain. All I do know, is that she needs help, and she chose me, but she didn't realize what would happen if she did. I doubt she's even seen a human before."

"Then it shouldn't have done anything!"

"'She,' True…not 'it.'"

"I don't care!" she shouted. "All I care about is you!"

Danziger sat up, grabbing his daughter by the shoulders so he could look her straight in the eye. He didn't like what he saw there. "Let me ask you: if it were Devon – or anyone else in the group – in trouble, you'd want me to help them, wouldn't you? Even if it meant I might get hurt?"

True chewed her lower lip. "Well…I suppose."

"Why does helping a stranger make it any different?"

Her eyes snapped in anger. "Because none of the others would hurt you!"

"Not deliberately, no. And this girl didn't mean to, either."

"How do you know that?"

Shit. How could he explain what he didn't understand himself? "Let me put it another way, okay?"

She nodded.

"Right now, you're upset and angry, right?"

True nodded again.

"Then, how would you feel if…something really bad happened to me?"

"The same, only worse."

"And how would feel if I…died?"

True bit her lip. If she'd listened to the entire conversation yesterday, she would know where he was going. It was obvious she didn't want to answer.

John pressed on. "And what would happen if you needed help, and couldn't speak anyone else's language? And all you could do was show a stranger how you were feeling?" She wouldn't look at him now, which was how Danziger knew he was getting through to her. "That's what's happening here, True. I can't understand her at all, so she has to show me how she's feeling. Unfortunately, when she does show me, it…does things to me. It's not her fault. She didn't know what she was doing, she only knew she needed help and I was there to help her. The problem is, I don't know what's wrong, and every clue I get is one step closer to getting an answer."

"I still wish she hadn't picked you, Dad." Her voice was low, accepting.

"I know." He hugged her.

Okay, maybe he wasn't so bored, after all…

Danziger let the silence reign between them again. He leaned back against the seat, pulling one of the blankets up around him from where it had fallen from his shoulders. He had to admit, their little discussion had tired him out. He wanted to close his eyes, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. Instead, he stared out the windshield. Adair was walking ahead today. He watched her, with his new eyesight; the way she walked, her hips swaying slightly, the wind whipping her brunette hair about her head like a stormcloud. He passed the time somewhat pleasantly in this fashion.

Suddenly she wasn't alone.

It wasn't his cat-girl, although he was certainly of the same race. It was definitely male, judging from the way he carried himself. He was a little taller than Adair, with stark white fur on his exposed back and arms. He didn't have the long tale of hair like his cat did; only a black stripe ran down the back of the head and along his spine. He was dressed only in a pair of brown breeches.

He was reaching up to touch Devon.

And he was very, very angry.