TOMMY

I wake up suddenly, breathing hard. Weird dreams and nightmares blending together in my still sleepy mind, I glance around the room and see a slim, black haired woman leaving her chair by the window and coming over to me. Memory returns slowly as I recognize her. It's Pina, I'm at Zedd's home, and I'm safe...maybe.

Walking quickly but calmly she carefully sits down beside me on the bed when she reaches it, speaking in the same gentle tone she's used since I got here. "It's okay, Tommy. You're safe now, nothing's going to hurt you here." Except maybe your pushed aside boyfriend.

Not looking comforted I'm sure, I nevertheless stay still as she slowly reaches out and gently touches my cheek with her small, soft, pleasantly cool hand. The cool skin feeling very nice on my own hot face I move to lean further into the touch only to have her frown slightly and withdraw her palm all together. What did I do wrong? Maybe she didn't like that, I should have stayed still, but it felt so good.

Getting up fully next, I don't have time to apologize and try to stop her as she quickly crosses to the bathroom, reassuring me as she goes that she's not leaving for good. "I'll be right back."

Disappearing into the room, she returns only a moment later a damp cloth in her hand. Sitting back down on the bed she gently strokes it over my face and the back of my neck being careful not to press too hard on the bruises that are still there. Oh god that feels so good, I'd purr if I thought my throat could handle it. Finishing up and seeming satisfied that I'm cooled down and feeling better, she folds the cloth before setting it aside. "Better?"

I nod and offer her a small smile. I don't know why, but I'm not afraid of her. Maybe it's due to the fact she's been so soft when she speaks and moves, or maybe she reminds me of someone, but whatever it is I know it's important to keep her close with the two men around, promises that they won't harm me there or not. "You came back."

"Of course, I promised I would." Smiling gently she reaches out her hand once more but this time coasts it through my messy hair instead of over my face. "Bad dream?"

Nodding and relaxing under her calming touches I, however, end up tensing once more at her next question.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I bite my lip for a minute as the images from the dream return. Finally, I decide and speak. "Weird dream and then nightmare."

"Okay, so your dream changed. Tell me about the weird part?"

Relieved that it's a question and not a demand, I speak slowly not too worried about sharing that part of it as it was just strange, but not really bad. "I'm in a park with Conner, Ethan, Trent, and Kira. The three boys and I are all practicing different katas. The girl, Kira, is stretching nearby. Suddenly, we're surrounded by about a dozen figures in black with no faces - like they're wearing masks. They seem to be dancing and running around us. Nobody else seems to notice them or think it's strange. The boys keep doing their katas and Kira starts one. Then, out of nowhere, something punches me in the head really hard. Then it changed."

She nods slowly, seeming to not only find it normal, but also understand it all. "What did it change to?"

Suddenly cold, I wrap my arms around myself. "That's the bad part."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but it might help you feel better if you talk about it. Sometimes talking helps." Surprised by this, I look at her uncertain of what to do.

"That's what Zedd said on the ship."

Smiling, she gives a nod. "Sometimes he's pretty smart about things. But don't tell him I said that, it'll only make his ego bigger."

Laughing just a little bit with her, I take a deep breath after a minute before deciding to trust her. "I'm in the rehab place. Big John is in my room and he touches me and I don't like it. I tried to fight back, but he hits me in the head and throws me down on the bed with my head hanging over the foot of it." I close my eyes. "He pushes on my jaw with his thumbs and he has his pants down a-and he forces himself down my throat."

"Is that something that really happened?" Startled by the tone of her voice, I open my eyes. There is a fire in hers and it suddenly reminds me of Hayley when she's ready to fight for someone she cares about. Strangely, I find comfort in that instead of being afraid.

Slowly, I nod and watch the flames climb even higher. She speaks quietly but much more seriously than I've heard her before now. "Does Zedd know?"

Okay, not a question I was expecting. I shake my head, confused about why she would ask that. Why would I tell him? The last thing I want to do is give anybody any ideas. And while he has been nothing but careful and nice with me so far, that doesn't mean that things won't change.

Pina studies me for a long minute before she takes my hands in hers, making me realize that hers are shaking.

"Are you cold?"

"No, I'm very angry right now that someone would do that to you."

I can feel my lips twitch into a small smile that suddenly blossoms into a grin. "It's okay."

Now her turn to look confused, she shakes her head sternly, protesting as she still doesn't know what I do. "No, it's not. Honey, he had no right to touch you, none at all, and he will pay for it, I swear."

"He already did. Zedd already punished him - he just doesn't know it." Confusion turning into curiosity, she tilts her head but remains silent so I can explain. "When Zedd came for me, there were three guys beating me up. It's a little fuzzy, but I think they were going to do worse than what Big John had been doing. Zedd knocked out two of them, but the third one - Big John - Zedd broke his wrist and busted his head."

Frown turning into a smile, she shakes her head before speaking again. "Well good. Honestly, if he had known what that creature had done to you he would have done far worse than simply breaking one bone and cracking his head open, but at least it's something." Turning serious once more, she tightens her hold on my hands just enough to make certain that I'm listening and understanding what's said next. "Tommy, I want you to know that you are safe here. Nobody, and I mean nobody, will do anything like that to you ever again. Ever. Zedd, Dar, and I won't let it happen. I promise."

I study her for a minute and I have no doubt that if anyone tried it, well, they'd have her to deal with, but as for the other two… "Dar still doesn't like me."

She sighs in a way that lets me know she was hoping I wouldn't bring him up again, but answers me nevertheless. "I was going to wait to go into this with you, but I think maybe you should know for your own good. A long time ago you two didn't get along, not at all." Man, didn't I get along with anybody?

"Like with Zedd?"

"Well yes and no. The difference is you and Zedd became friends, but you and Dar didn't. He needs to learn that he can trust you just like you need to learn that you can trust him. Understand?"

I nod slowly, not understanding fully as she still hasn't told me why we didn't get along, but figuring now probably isn't the time to ask.

Changing the subject before I can, she looks at her watch, mouth turning into a friendly smile once more. "It's almost time to eat. After dinner, we'll go to my infirmary and I'll give you different medicine for your injuries." Wait, what? I think I already got that taken care of by Zedd. And infirmary, that's like hospital right? But I don't want to go to the hospital. Seeing my look of confusion and upset, she's quick to continue. "The medicines Zedd was using on you and your injuries while you were on the ship were okay - the best he had available, really, but here I have more and better choices for treatment."

I take a minute and process this understanding the majority of it, but still not very happy. "Kind of like the difference between a first aid kit and a doctor's office."

"More like the difference between a first aid kit and a hospital. Only the hospital is just a room in the castle and you don't have to stay in it."

"I like that," I admit. "I hate hospitals."

Pina grins widely at this. "You're more like Zedd than I thought. He hates hospitals, too."

Smiling too, but still focused on this infirmary business, I want to make sure I understand right before agreeing to it. "So I only have to go there for medicine?"

"That and your injuries. Any other time of the day you're free to go wherever you like in the castle. I just ask that you not go out into the woods surrounding it alone. It's not dangerous really but it is easy to get lost if you don't know the way around. Oh and also Dar's office, I would greatly advise you to stay out of there." That's probably a good idea.

Just about to tell her I will definitely stay away from his office and room I jump and flinch sharply as a knock at my bedroom door startles me.

Squeezing my hands reassuringly, Pina looks to the door that she must have closed, before calling to whoever is there. "Come in - he's awake."

The door opens and my savior pokes his head in looking as if he's just come out of the shower. "Dinner's ready, Dar says. If I don't get to that roast soon, I'm going to chew my arm off. Are you two coming?"

Rolling her eyes the woman chides him playfully. "You just had a snack two hours ago, I swear you're a bottomless pit Zedd."

Commenting back in a similar manner, he scowls at her playfully. "Which is all the more reason for me to get to the kitchen. And just for your information, a sandwich is barely a snack."

Ignoring him and turning back to me, she gives my hands a gentle tug. "Ready?" My stomach choosing just then to rumble, she giggles sweetly before giving a nod to her own question. "I guess that's a yes."

Hopping off the bed and throwing the covers off of me, she points at the floor where a pair of black slippers are sitting. "The floors get pretty cold this time of year and you don't need to get sick. Until I can get you some proper shoes or boots that fit, you can wear those, all right?"

Nodding, I slide my feet into them and follow her to the door where Zedd is waiting.

"Did you sleep well, Thomas?"

"Kinda." Looking at anything but him, not sure what to tell him as I don't really feel as comfortable sharing my dream with him like I did with Pina. I finally open my mouth to answer, but don't have a chance as he cuts in again.

"Did you have another nightmare?"

"Yeah." I don't elaborate, but I catch the two exchanging looks before Pina speaks up.

"I reassured him that he was safe here and whatever happened in his dream absolutely will not happen here." I'm grateful she didn't tell him. I don't know why it's so important that he not know - I mean besides the whole not giving him ideas thing, but it just is. As I'm thinking about this, still trying to figure it out, I almost don't notice that they've stopped by a door and nearly crash into Zedd. They both reach out to steady me and I know I'd be annoyed if I wasn't so embarrassed.

Of course all of that fades quickly at the wonderful smell that wafts through the door. How long has it been since I've actually had a hot meal? I struggle to remember as I follow the pair into the room. All those thoughts leave my head as I catch sight of the laden table. Oh. My. God. A flash of memory returns. I'm much younger and my mom and dad and I are sitting down to a meal much like this one. For some reason, the memory helps me to relax a little more.

"Here Thomas sit by me." Pulling out a chair for me, Zedd takes his seat before I quickly take mine, figuring that Dar will apparently sit on the other side of the table by Pina when he shows up. Good I don't think I'd feel very good about him sitting beside me with all of these sharp forks and knives so close at hand.

Waiting as patiently as I can as my mouth waters, I'm trying to decide if I can get away with no manners due to my head injury when I remember that Zedd has seen me use them before, not to mention holding my spoon and fork right if I really try to now.

About to ask Zedd when Dar will get here my attention is diverted by a door opening and Dar coming in with a platter. The roast is sitting on it and the smell is just heavenly. He sets it down on the one clear spot on the table, takes up a knife and fork, and begins slicing and serving.

Handing the first plate to Pina, who adds to it from the dishes around her, she then hands it to Zedd, all of it done in a way that says they've clearly done this before. Finally Zedd does the same and then hands it to me. Hunger wars with good manners as I wait for the others to fill their plates, really not wanting to be rude to them, especially not when they've been so nice and I'm sort of their guest. Oh but I'm so hungry!

Apparently seeing my struggle Zedd smiles softly before making an encouraging gesture towards my plate. "It's all right, Thomas. You don't have to wait for us. Go ahead and eat."

I glance at Pina for confirmation and when she nods I carefully pick up my fork doing my best to hold it like I've been watching Zedd hold his for the past two days, before stabbing a piece of the roast on my plate. It's so tender that it falls apart and as I put the piece in my mouth I realize that it's a little hotter than I thought, but the heat is welcome. Of course all of these thoughts leave my head the moment the flavor hits. Without thinking, I groan in pleasure and hunch over my plate - manners completely gone I all but inhale the fabulous meal put before me.

It takes no more than five minutes, I'm sure, for me to have licked my plate clean and when I finally raise my head again and look around, Dar and Pina are staring at me in a way that makes me blush slightly.

Not joining in on the staring party however, Zedd continues to eat his own meal before merely asking, "Do you want more?"

Pina finally seems to find her voice as I nod. "By the seven hells, Zedd, didn't you feed the poor boy?"

Zedd looks at her, startled, but still chewing what's in his mouth.

Seeing as he isn't going to be able to talk for a minute and feeling strangely defensive at her accusation of him not feeding me I speak up, although quietly. "Yes, he fed me. But the food on the ship didn't taste this good and the food at the hospital and rehab was never hot."

I flinch when Dar reaches across the table, almost certain he's going to strike me for talking back to his girlfriend, but relax when he only grabs my plate. Without a word, he completely reloads it and sets in back in front of me before turning his attention to his own food. Now that I'm partly satisfied, I can eat more slowly and really enjoy my food much like it seems everyone else is as they eat slowly and begin to talk about things that had happened in the last two days, as well as business.

Listening to their conversation but not really having much to add as I don't understand what their business and work is, nor do I really know who Rita or Finster are, I've just about finished my second plate of food when Pina changes the subject to something I am rather interested in. "Dar, did you, by any chance make dessert too?"

I glance up in time to see Dar look offended; though I'm not too certain it's for real. "All this fine food and you want dessert too?"

Turning on a sweet smile and laying her hand on his arm in a gesture that is clearly intimate I have the distinct feeling that she's used these moves more than once to get her way with him. "Of course. After all, what better way to end one of your fabulous meals than with one of your wonderful desserts?"

Dar grumbles a bit, but I can see that he's proud of his skill, not to mention highly swayed by the young woman at his side. Of course if he can turn out meals like this all the time, he has the right to be proud. And Pina, well can anyone really say no to that look? Finally he answers her with a sigh that is clearly mostly for effect. "Turn off the eyes Pina, yes, there is dessert."

Pina smiles brightly, but Zedd groans. "If I had known that, I would have eaten less." Me too. Well, maybe. Possibly. Okay, no I wouldn't have.

Dar rises and begins to collect dishes from the table. Pina and Zedd also stand and begin to gather things. Uncertain if I should help, I start to push my chair back, but the pair shake their heads as Pina speaks up. "Not tonight. You relax and you can help another time."

I glance at Zedd, who nods in agreement. "There's a certain way that Dar likes this done and you don't know it yet. There's no point in irritating him unnecessarily."

I agree with that statement wholeheartedly and scoot my chair back into place watching as the three work with a precision and speed that speaks of years of practice. Finally, Pina and Zedd sit down again and it's only a couple of minutes later that Dar returns with a small cart, handing out the plates and pouring the coffee.

Glancing at me, obviously not sure if I drink coffee or not, he in the end turns to give Zedd a questioning look.

Already taking a sip from his own cup Zedd's response is given without so much as a verbal question being asked. "Yes, he does. Black."

Dar pours me a cup as well and hands it to Zedd to give to me, making me wonder if he will ever learn to like me despite what Pina said earlier.

Still thinking it over I stare at the plate in front of me, wondering now what is on it.

Digging into her own helping, Pina is the first to notice my confusion. "What's wrong, Tommy? Don't you like it?"

"What is it?" I pick up my spoon and poke at the mound of fluffy white stuff on the top. Is this whip cream? Marshmallows? Foam?

I can hear the laughter in her voice as she responds with not so much an answer as a teasing remark. "Well, it's not going to bite you."

For the first time, Dar speaks to me directly, though not in the gentlest or calmest of manners. "It's similar to your Earth dessert of angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream or - what do they call it?" He looks to Zedd for help clearly not about to have me refuse his food based on looks.

Zedd frowns briefly, thinking over just what it could be compared to that I would know. "What - the dessert name? Strawberry shortcake, I believe."

Oh, this I understand.

"Right. So taste it, you should like it well enough even with your human palette."

Knowing not to argue with him I take a mouthful and realize it's closer to angel food cake than shortcake, but I get their point and Dar seems satisfied that I've at least tried it and before eating the majority of my helping.

Soon, all the plates are empty and the cups drained, and I am comfortably full and ready to go to sleep once more.

Smiling at my satisfied look, Pina reaches across the table resting her hand on mine. "Feel better?" At my nod she stands and gives one of her own in response. "Good, now, let's go to the infirmary for your medicine and then you can go to bed."

I sigh, too comfortable to move. "Do we really have to?"

She grins wider. "Yes. You need to take the medicine on a full stomach so it will work better."

I sigh, but get up to follow her knowing if I sit here much longer I'll probably fall asleep at the table. Moving slowly to the door, I pause once I reach it, wanting to say something, but not sure if I should.

Noticing my stop and expression Zedd cocks his head curiously, worry lining his voice. "What is it, Thomas?"

I take a deep breath and look at Dar before gathering my courage. "Thanks." That said I hurry after Pina, not really wanting to wait around for his response or lack of one.