A/N: I promised Baby Kitty (love ya girl!) that I would try to get a chapter up this week. Since it took me all week, it's a nice long one. Oh, yeah - haven't done the disclaimer in a while, but I'm sure that everyone knows by now that I don't own any of this. If I did, I might be tempted to loan some of them out to some select people! ;)

ZEDD

In less than five minutes the boy is sound asleep, his even breathing interrupted by a quiet mumble every now and than, but nothing that seems to be causing him any distress.

Watching him for a few more minutes, just enjoying the sight of his for once peaceful face, I take my time studying him trying my best to erase the image of his vulnerable, naked form sitting in the bath, hands held in his lap in a far too innocent attempt to cover himself from my view. Still uncertain as to why he felt the need to do it in the first place though, I really wish he would relax with me, I've done nothing to hurt him or suggest that I'm about to force him to service me, so why be so shy?

Shaking the thought aside for the moment it occurs to me that we haven't rewrapped his ribs and Pina hasn't treated him. I frown, unsure of what to do. If I wake him he might not get back to sleep as easily and if I call Pina and ask her to tend to him while he rests, the chance is high she'll startle him awake, which would definitely not go over well; not that many things have today where either one of them are concerned.

My thoughts return to his earlier comment that she didn't know that her comments would upset him. I groan quietly as I realize that I haven't told them all I've learned about what happened to him, though to be fair Pina has neglected to do the same for me. Still though a meeting is definitely in order first thing in the morning. Sighing, I rise from the chair and head for my room, though not before making certain he's covered up tightly, warm and content under his blankets as the last thing I want is for him to get chilled and sick as a result.

Leaving his bedroom door open halfway in case he's in need of me or Pina at some point in the night I head for my room, stopping short inside my doorway as I see Pina and Dar sitting in chairs by the window. Well, I suppose the meeting will be tonight. "I didn't expect to find you two in here."

Dar raises a brow at this statement, no doubt looking as annoyed as he is due to my earlier argument with his mate. "Please tell me you aren't serious."

"With all that we apparently need to know and you didn't expect us? I didn't realize you thought we were that stupid and callous." Tone biting, Pina's obviously still irritated with me for telling her how to do her job and snapping at her. Wonderful.

Sighing, I respond in a half apologetic, half weary manner. "Thomas has already taken me to task for jumping on you the way I did, Pina. I am sorry for snapping at you - I was just worried about him."

Looking a bit surprised, but recovering quickly, she cocks a brow of her own appearing thoughtful for a moment before answering. "He did? Well he'll be getting an extra dessert tomorrow." I'm sure.

"Anyways, what he said made me realize that not only is there much that you don't know, there is a fair bit that none of us know. With that in mind, I was thinking that I should tell you what I know and, if you feel it's appropriate, you can tell us what you know."

I hold my breath as I wait for her answer, knowing full well that he has told her things that he hasn't told me. Knowledge that while I understand, I do not very much like. Relief floods through me as she nods. I kick off my boots and sit cross-legged on the bed. As usual for our meetings, my companions have paper and pen close to hand. We discovered long ago that it's much easier to make notes about things that we need to know or want to say without interrupting whoever is talking at the time.

"As we all know, Thomas was injured in battle. When I finally arrived on the planet, I located the female and children. They informed me that he was in a rehabilitation facility. The female, by the way, has taken up the mantle of the Black Ranger." I see Pina frown and scribble something on the paper before her before I continue.

"I located the facility and went there with full intention of just seeing him first. When I stepped out of the ship, the smell of fear and pain was so overwhelming, I nearly choked. I made my way inside and was told that Thomas was refusing to see anyone. This didn't ring true as the female had said that they couldn't see him, not that he wouldn't. I suddenly heard the sounds of a struggle nearby and the stink of fear got even stronger. I knew that something was very wrong and I forced my way through a locked door into the holding area where the patients were kept. There I found Thomas being beaten by three males as they were talking about raping him. He was so heavily drugged he couldn't have done anything about it if I'd not showed up, and from the looks of him when I found him, the beatings were clearly a regular occurrence."

Taking a breath and calming myself, I continue. "I teleported him back to the ship, treated his wounds and let him sleep. A while later, the computer informed me that Thomas was having a nightmare. I checked on him as he woke up. He finally told me that his nightmare involved those - creatures - force feeding him on the claim that he wasn't doing it right." Pina's quiet gasp seems to echo in the loud room.

I nod in acknowledgement of her shock. "I've also learned that, apparently, obedience was demanded and any disobedience was punished. I think knowledge of the rules was irrelevant and I think that they made up rules to give them freedom to do what they wanted. He has difficulty grasping the idea that he's not going to be punished at every turn. He also revealed a couple of hours ago that the baths were too cold, they were half drowned and molested. Hell only knows what else they did."

Pina clears her throat. I look at her curiously and nod for her to speak. "I - Zedd -" She takes a deep breath and slips into what I call her 'doctor mode'. Sometimes I think the jargon and the manner makes it easier for her to deal with things. "He had another nightmare this afternoon. He told me about it and I asked him if it had really happened, unfortunately he told me that it had. One of the orderlies beat him and forced his organ down Tommy's throat. I imagine it happened more than once for the damage he had sustained before you found him. The only good news is that, apparently, you've already punished the perpetrator."

I get a grip on my temper at this bit of news. Remembering the damage I'd done before I got him out of there, I said, "Please tell me it was the one I did the most damage to."

She grins slightly. "He informs me that you 'broke his wrist and busted his head'. How badly did you hurt him?"

Not badly enough, it seems. "Enough that I'd bet he'll be spending the rest of his life in a place just like that one." Evil grins all around; it seems that we all agree that there is some justice there.

Pina continues, "You and Rita both said that he no longer holds the Black Ranger powers, but my scan shows that he is still a power holder. I haven't been able to determine which one, though." Okay, wasn't expecting that. "His difficulties seem to be mostly with motor skills, perception, and language. Oh, and his memory. Once he's fully clear of the drugs and healed up, we can work on his motor skills. I have no idea what drugs they had him on, but I doubt they were helping him any."

"Agreed." Noticing her fidgeting slightly in her seat looking as if she has more to say but yet not saying it, I give her a little nudge in the right direction. "Is there something more?"

"Well, yes and no." Pausing and still looking to be debating, she finally decides to continue though reluctantly it seems. "It's nothing that has to do with his mental capabilities, but is related to his emotional ones." All right then. "He needs to learn to accept touch again. He's very scared of contact, especially with men. While he'll seem to let me touch him in small doses to comfort or help him, he doesn't seem to even accept that much from you Zedd. At least not from what I've seen both here and on the monitors in the ship." Don't remind me.

Recalling how he pulled away from my hand when I attempted to examine his hair in the bathroom, not to mention his shy and skittish behavior when unclothed I give a nod of agreement. "It's not even touch; he gets physically shaken at the thought of anyone seeing him undressed as well."

Silent up until now, Dar finally releases a snort at the two of us, expression one of disbelief. "Are you both serious? What do you expect? The boy is from a weak, over emotional species which takes the slightest bit of upset to heart. Add in the fact he was raped by at least one male at this facility and how do you think he'll react to touch and vulnerable situations? Especially with a predator like Zedd looking after him. No offence Zedd."

"None taken." And there isn't, he knows perfectly well that I am a predator in my own rights, normally getting what I set my mind to and making no apologies for it.

"Be that as it may Zedd is all we have for an example of a stable safe male right now. He's too afraid of you Dar to even try to get close, me, as I said he'll allow me to touch him and even draw some comfort before pulling away, but he wasn't violated by a woman so that's not going to help the real issue."

"So I have to make him comfortable with my touch."

"Before he gets worse, if it's not helped now he'll only pull into himself more and when it comes time for him to want a relationship of some kind in the future chances are he'll be unable to cope with it." Maybe, maybe not, I suppose it would all depend on if said future relationship would be with a woman or a man.

Frowning as this is definitely going to be easier said then done; I shake my head a bit in response. "But I promised him I wouldn't touch him unless he agreed. He needs to trust in my word."

"You promised you wouldn't touch him sexually. You didn't say anything about hugging him, or offering physical comfort when he's scared or upset." This is true, if you really wish to get technical and sneaky about it, though I'm not sure how much my guest will appreciate that.

Just about to ask her how exactly she expects me to go about this my computer beeps signaling that I have an email. Sighing heavily, I cross the room to my desk frowning as I try to remember even turning the machine on. When I see the email address, my frown only deepens. "And it starts."

"What?" Dar asks curiously.

"I emailed the female to let her know what Thomas suffered in that place so that they could do something about it."

Pina interrupts. "And for a little revenge, I think."

"That too." Damn insightful woman. "Anyway, I realized that doing so would give them a way to contact me. I was just hoping that they wouldn't."

"Well, any information is good," Dar says reasonably. "Why don't you see what it says before determining that it is just them being irritating?" Because after the day I've had I'm not in the mood.

Sighing and deciding in the end that it will be easier on my ears if I at least check it to satisfy them I open the message and begin to read.

'Zedd,'

'I have gotten some information that might help you to help Tommy. I don't know if you have anyone who is medically inclined, but I hope so. I've acquired his medical records from the clinic - both public and private. Apparently, they were experimenting on some of the patients there. I have attached copies of the records and drugs that they were using in hopes that you can use them.'

'I doubt you will, but please tell Tommy that I'm sorry I sent him there. We're doing what we can to save the other patients - maybe he'd like to know that too. I'll keep you updated.'

'Hayley'

Once I've read the message to myself, I read it aloud for the others making Pina grin tightly.

"Oh good. Either print them or send them to the infirmary computer and I'll look them over. Maybe there's a clue in there that will explain why he still has drugs in his system."

"He does?" I couldn't help but look started at this, as I'd assumed those would have worked their way through by now, especially considering how weak they must be considering what planet they're from. Though on second thought, that might explain a lot with how he's behaving and moving about.

Nodding she continues, "Since I'm a little unfamiliar with Earth medicine, I have no idea what it is or what it does. Once I know that, I should be able to counter the effects." Sounds simple enough, so what is the problem then?

"What's wrong, you've got a look." Knowing perfectly well when something is up, I'm unsurprised as she sighs and seems less than pleased.

"Well despite my uncertainty of Earth medicine, I do know power, and with him still being a power holder, that throws a new little twist into it. The powers should be helping him purge the abnormal substances from his system - especially if they aren't helping him. But as of right now that isn't happening and I don't understand why."

We all fall silent for a minute, contemplating this new information before Dar finally speaks up once more - most likely only putting so much thought into the matter for either his mate or the desire to end the meeting and get some rest. "What if the power has gone dormant?"

Pina considers this for a minute before giving a slow nod. "It would make sense. But that still doesn't tell us what power it is or why it has gone dormant if in fact that is the case."

Well let's think on that shall we. After all we are three intelligent beings; we should be able to figure this out. Taking over this meeting once more I set them off in the correct direction. "Okay, let's do this logically. He had the Green powers, thanks to Rita. We know those powers were fully drained from him."

"Thanks to you." Yes Dar, thanks to me, thank you so much for that reminder. Scowling at his smirk Pina picks it up next before we can get into anything.

"Then there were the White Ranger powers. Those were created by Zordon and thankfully not tied to his life line like the previous one. However due to their lack of bonding to him, those were destroyed with even more ease." Thankfully, I honestly don't think the boy could have handled another set being literally ripped away from him like the Green was.

Dar's turn now, he picks it up. "Next in line were the Red Zeo powers. These were not destroyed but they were fully used thanks to his decision to execute the last of their powers to destroy Serpentara a few years ago. Though even before then he upgraded to fourth set, the Turbo powers."

"These were handed off to someone else though." Shaking her head and nixing that notion Pina has apparently done her homework. "So he can no longer access those."

I finish exasperation over the matter showing clearly in my words, "And we know that the Black powers abandoned him when he was injured and another holds those. So we've basically gone through five sets of powers and none show potential to still reside within him. So the million dollar question becomes children, what's the power?"

We all frown again, no closer to an answer than we were before when Dar takes us both by surprise and stands up suddenly. "I'll be right back." Hurrying out of the room he leaves Pina and me staring after him, rather confused by his sudden departure.

Turning to me the young woman gives a mild shrug. "Bathroom?"

Giving the same look and gesture in return I give my own guess. "Intruder?"

"Left the oven on." Quite possibly.

Still playing our guessing game of sorts, while also trying to return focus onto the real issue at hand, we both look up several minutes later as Dar finally returns shuffling through some papers in his hands as he does. "Ah ha! I knew I'd seen it somewhere." Seen what now? "There was one other set of powers - the powers of the Ninjetti."

I slap myself in the forehead in a gesture that I know must look comical to my companions. "Of course! I had forgotten those."

"They didn't use them much, so it's easy to forget them" Pina says placatingly. She frowns for a minute. "If I remember correctly, that would have been while he was the White Ranger." When Dar nods, she continues. "Okay, so that would have made him the Falcon. It does stand to reason that they'd be dormant. If I remember correctly, Rangers usually only have one set of active powers at a time. The only reason that the Ninjetti powers were active at the same time as the regular powers is because they were meant to enhance what they already had in spite of the fact that they are a set of powers unto themselves."

I nod my head slowly already trying to figure out ways to work this to our and Thomas' advantage. "That's quite possibly true. I think that we could get more information from Rita."

Dar shakes his head, stopping me in mid thought. "The best ones to get the information from are Zordon and Dulcea - the keeper of the Powers. Of course therein lies our problem."

"The keeper of the Powers would never talk to us."

Dar shakes his head. "No and we can't bring her here to talk to your boy either - as she's unable to leave her temple on Phados." My boy? Is that what he's become now? I find that hard to believe considering how reluctant he is to even be in a close vicinity to me.

Knowing the Power Keeper's habits better than I do, along with Thomas' condition it would seem, Pina gives a small sigh of agreement. "And he certainly isn't ready for another trip just yet." No definitely not. However…

My eyes narrow - I'm missing something here. I think back over what Dar has said - along with what he hasn't - before it suddenly clicks. "Wait a minute. How would we get information from Zordon?"

Averting his eyes and apparently realizing he's made a small slip, he clears his throat uneasily before answering. "Not that it's really worth mentioning, but apparently he managed to pull his essence back together a few years ago. He is now fully recovered and living on Eltar."

"Oh, lovely. And you neglected to tell me this when it happened because?"

"Because it would have done nothing but piss you off, which as we all know is bad for business." Kill one contact and hear about it for the rest of your life.

"Fine, so you tactfully neglected to tell me about Zordon's continued living, something that while annoying does not thankfully interfere with anything."

"And could actually help us out" Pina adds calmly and logically.

"I suppose so. Assuming I don't kill him before finding out anything useful." I growl a little under my breath. I really don't want to deal with that goody-goody any more than I do Rita, but I suppose if it's for Thomas I've really no choice in the matter.

Apparently sensing this, Dar speaks again, albeit grudgingly. "Don't worry, I'll talk to him."

Giving a brief nod in gratitude, I start to say something more when I feel my stomach begin to churn unpleasantly. Of course, I can't think of a way that a stomach churning is pleasant, but right now, that's beside the point. The pair are looking at me oddly right before I jump up and barely make it to the bathroom in time for my stomach to void itself. Damn it I really can't much more of this.

"That was not my cooking." Dar's voice coming from the bedroom, I shake my head at his claim to Pina, unable to do much else while still hunched over the commode.

"Perhaps it's the thought of dealing with Zordon again. After all their history…"

Tuning Pina out with great force as I do not want to hear anything about my history with that self sacrificing, know it all, goody-goody idiot, I instead focus on flushing what's left of my dinner before moving to rinse my mouth out in the sink.

"Maybe he just needs a vacation."

"Maybe he needs his colleagues to stop speculating on what he needs." Leaving the bathroom and giving them both a look as I take up my spot once more, noting both of their concerned and slightly smug looks - no need for that little smirk Pina, I rub my eyes wearily.

"So, now do you want to tell me why you were taking the anti-nausea medicine earlier?"

Dar raises an eyebrow at this as I growl at the damn irritating woman. "Obviously, because I've been nauseous." I would have thought that would be obvious.

"When did it start?"

"After I left Rita's." Which is odd because normally it's when I see her that it hits. Deciding to leave my quip for later though, I keep on topic really just needing a solution to this matter. "According to the ship's medical scans, there's nothing wrong with me. The damn thing needs to be fixed."

"I'll check it over first thing in the morning," Dar answers. "But it checked out fine before you left."

Standing, Pina it seems plans to take a more immediate approach. "Come on, let's go to the infirmary. I have more precise equipment there anyway." Oh geez the infirmary? Is that honestly necessary?

"You know I'm feeling a bit better now, so perhaps-"

"Infirmary, now Zedd." Damn pushy woman.

Knowing arguing with her is pointless, as I will never hear the end of it, I sigh and follow her to the door. "Fine, but you come anywhere near me with an injection gun and you'll be treating Thomas from your new living quarters in the woods."

Shaking her head and smiling in a far too amused manner, her next words bring a growl from me. "Honestly how many times have you been stabbed, shot, and broken, and out of all of it you're still afraid of a little injection gun." Bite me.

"Look here woman, I-" Once we enter the hallway, the three of us freeze, having caught some small noise that says that all is not well in our world. I hold my breath as I wait to hear it again and I know the others are doing the same. When I hear it again, I know that sound and throw myself toward Thomas' door, barely realizing that Pina is a mere two steps behind me.

As my eyes adjust to the dimmer light, I realize that - unhappily - I was right and Thomas is held in the grip of another nightmare. Is this poor boy ever going to be able to get a peaceful bit of rest? If this keeps up he's going to start being afraid to go to sleep.

Standing in the doorway and watching him in concern I hear someone suck in a breath and remember that this is the first time Dar has seen Thomas stuck in a dream. I'm not that surprised when I hear him say quietly, "I'll leave this to you two. I have some calls to make." Well good - perhaps now he realizes just how serious the problem really is. It's just too bad it had to be at Thomas' expense.

I nod briefly and return my attention to the figure on the bed. Unsure what to do, I decide to go with what has worked before. "Thomas, wake up. It's only a dream."

When this doesn't work, Pina swiftly crosses over to the bed. She sits on the edge, every muscle tense and gently touches his brow. "Tommy, you're safe now. It's not real anymore. Wake up now." Frowning as she gets no more than further whimpering and thrashing in response, she tries again, hand moving to his arm to give it a light shake. "Tommy wake up, it's not real, none of it's real."

Slightly louder tone seeming to have reached him what happens next startles us both. Bolting up and recoiling from her hand, faster than I've seen him move since I found him, he rolls out of bed on the opposite side and backs into the corner. Adrenaline must be fueling him and he'll feel his ribs again when it fades, but for now his sole focus is still locked onto whatever it is he was previously dreaming of.

I cringe inside and talk softly, reaching out to him with nothing but my voice. "Thomas, it was a dream. Whatever it was is not happening. You are at my home and you are safe. No one has hurt you here nor will they."

I know he's still partly caught in the dream at what he says next, but it breaks my heart just the same. "You're lying. You're going to hurt me, too. They didn't start the first day either. You're just like them, you pretend, but it's lies."

I glance at Pina helplessly, unsure how to reassure him while also defending the fact that while I do tend to lie it is done to always serve a purpose of some kind. Most recently to benefit him, as I'm certain informing him of our true past history as well as who I, Dar, and Pina really are would only further hurt him in the long run.

She, however, has her attention firmly focused on the boy. Slowly walking around the bed, hands out her tone is nothing but gentle as she begins speaking to him once more. "Tommy, I've promised that no one will hurt you here and I meant it."

"So did Hayley - she promised that it was the best thing for me, but she lied too."

Pina shakes her head. "No, she didn't. She was wrong, but she didn't lie. She didn't know that they were going to hurt you. I swear to you, she would have never sent you there if she knew what that place was really like. She does now and she's doing all she can to punish those people and save the other patients."

The grip of the dream is finally fading and he seems a little less certain in his convictions. "She is?"

I nod firmly, moving beside my friend and doing my best to ignore his flinch of response. "I just got an email from her and she said that she is. She is still your friend. She made an error in judgment and is trying to make amends." Realizing that, once more, I've talked over his head, I try again. "She knows she screwed up and she's trying to fix it."

"Really?"

I'm trying desperately not to fly into a rage. I haven't seen the boy this uncertain since the Green powers were being stolen from him and - for some reason - it's irritating the hell out of me. "If you don't believe me, Pina and I can show you the email she sent."

His eyes narrow once more and I'm lost for what I've said now. "You know I can't read it. You'll trick me like the one doctor did." What now? All right that's definitely something that will have to be brought up later. For right now though-

"Pina will read it to you. You trust her, right?"

"No." Startled that Pina said anything, and even more so that it was a denial for something her new found friend would like, I glance at her again. Though her gaze has not left the former Ranger in the corner as she continues, "Tommy, Zedd will read you the email and I will tell you if he's telling the truth or not. You have to learn to trust him or he won't be able to help you get better. Do you understand?"

Looking between us, he takes a moment to think it over before reluctantly nodding slowly before just as slowly, taking the hand she holds out to him. I'm sure she noticed when he wrapped his other arm around his ribs, but first things first.

I lead them back to my room and cross to the computer, where the message still waits on the screen. She sits him on the bed and crosses to stand behind me. Knowing I don't like anyone standing behind me, she rests one hand on my shoulder and the other on the desk. Old habits die hard, especially in my line of work, and I relax just a bit at knowing where her hands are.

Giving me a knowing smirk, but wisely not vocally addressing my own issues in front of our guest, she gives an encouraging nod. "Read it, please, Zedd."

I read it through once exactly as it is written and then again in simpler terms for him. I fear we may have made an error in judgment ourselves at his next question. "They were experimenting on me?"

Thankfully, Pina fields it. "I don't know yet. I haven't read the files she sent us. She said that some of the patients were being experimented on, that could mean you were or that you weren't. I won't know until I read over what she sends me."

He interrupts her. "But if I was one of them, that might explain why I'm not getting better yet?" Oh yeah, his reasoning skills are still there.

"It might be part of it, but Tommy, some of it is still your original injury. Now, all three of us are going to go to the infirmary. I'm going to be sure that you haven't twisted your ribs and rewrap them and then I'm going to check Zedd over. Then, Zedd will put you back to bed while I look over the files. Now let's go, you two, it's late and I imagine both of you need rest." Thank you mother.

His curious look speaks volumes, but he says nothing as he stands up and follows her out of the room leaving me to sigh heavily as I hit the keys to send the files to her computer, and follow them as well.

I reach the infirmary just as Pina finishes the scan to Thomas' ribs. She addresses us both, relief clear in her voice. "No new damage, fortunately."

Swiftly and efficiently, she wraps his ribs without a word from me - although it's a struggle when I see him wince more than once - before she informs him that she can't give him any more medicine for the pain since he's already on some.

"All right you're all done." Helping him down from the table and swiftly re-buttoning his shirt, she next turns her attention to me. "Let's go, Zedd. On the table."

Frowning, but doing as I'm told, I hop onto the table as she picks up her scanner and recalibrates it for Eltarian physiology.

"Stop squirming." Chiding me for being unable to sit still as I greatly dislike this room and even more so being on the table in it, she begins examining the readings on her device before completing it with a frown. "Huh." Obviously not liking the read out she goes about performing it twice more before finally giving up.

I'm almost amused at the puzzled look on her face. "Nothing, right?"

Lost in thought, she answers absently, "I'll figure it out."

"Can you figure it out without me sitting here?"

"Yes. You're free to go for now. You two go to bed and I'll see you in the morning." Still looking over the device, she shakes her head. "That's the damnedest thing."

Sliding off of the table more than happy to be excused from her puzzle for the night, I move back to where Thomas has waited patiently before gesturing to the door. "Shall we go?"

Eyes holding rather telling uncertainty and fear his gaze travels between the two of us before finally locking on Pina in a pleading manner. "You're not coming?" So much for developing trust.

Glancing up at his tone, she shakes her head slowly looking to be struggling not to comply with what he clearly wants. "No I have some work to finish, but you'll be all right, Zedd will be with you."

Still looking near panicking, he shakes his head smally. "You come too? Please."

Sighing and setting her scanner down, she moves to him calmly, before gently running her hands down his arms in a grounding manner. "Tommy it will be all right. I promise Zedd will take care of you." When it seems he's not going for it she takes a different route. "He didn't hurt you when you were on the ship with him, correct?" A head shake no, good, good. "So there's no reason for him to hurt you now."

Bowing his head in defeat, still shaken from his nightmare most likely, it's clear he realizes he's not going to win this debate.

"Honey, Zedd isn't going to hurt you. Just because he's strong and a little…intimidating, that doesn't mean he's going to do anything bad to you. Not all men are like the ones that hurt you. Okay?"

Biting his lip but nodding slowly he reluctantly lets her pull away from him, before taking a few steps towards me, deciding to at the very least trust what she says if nothing else.

"Ready?" Getting a nod, I lead the way back to the rooms, I'm lost in thought myself. Until a small voice behind me breaks though.

"I'm sorry, Zedd." What now?

Turning to the young man following me, I ask, "What for?"

"For what I said after I woke up and for…not really trusting you so much. I'm really sorry." Voice still small, I know that he's waiting to see if he'll be punished. I only wish I knew how to help him see the truth.

"I believe I told you before, Thomas, that I will not get angry with you over every little thing. I said that and I meant it. You were still being affected by your nightmare - I understand that. It's happened to me too." I could kiss my muse who, it seems, has gotten me out of trouble once more.

"It has?" Uncertainly laces his voice, but also just the slightest bit of hope.

I continue walking as I answer him honestly. "Oh, yes. One time I was hurt very badly and I had horrible nightmares afterwards. Dar and Pina took care of me and I said awful things to them while I was recovering. If I remember correctly, I even accused Pina of trying to 'finish me off' when she was just trying to give me something for the pain." Did I ever apologize to them for that time period? Or did it just get let go, that matter that we all know is there but no one ever speaks of.

From the corner of my eye, I see him grin slightly. "Did you really?"

"Yes, I did. And they forgave me as I forgive you." Seeing his shoulders slump in relief, I thank whoever might be listening as I continue as gently as I know how. "As for not trusting me, you were hurt very badly Thomas, and by men that I'm sure were - how did Pina put it? - intimidating like I am. It's natural you'd be a little unsure of me."

I lead the boy back to bed and get him in and well covered. A memory from many years ago flashes across my mind and I can't help but let my next words slip out unchecked. "May pleasant dreams fill your sleep and you awake ready for the new day." At his curious look, I explain, "Someone used to say that to me many long years ago and it often helped. Good night Thomas."

Without another word, I head for the door barely hearing his response of, "Good night, Zedd," before I pull his door half way closed and head to my own room.

I change for bed, only realizing that my normal practice of sleeping nude would not be prudent if my Ranger has another nightmare after my clothes are off, before turning to the closet and finding something suitable to wear. Dressed once more - how inconvenient will that become each night? - I turn off the light and settle into bed.

Almost asleep I suddenly tense, ready to fight if necessary as a small sound catches my ear in the otherwise still room.

"Zedd?"

A voice I'm not expecting at all relaxes me once more and I quickly sit up and turn on the bedside light before looking at Thomas, who is hovering in the doorway. "Thomas? What's wrong?" He couldn't have had another nightmare that fast. He just got put down.

"I-" Clearly at a loss for words, he finally admits reluctantly, "I don't want to be alone."

I bite my lip, unsure what to do about such a matter. Do I offer to sit with him again? Should I call Pina? What does he want exactly? Deciding to go with the safest way first, I know if he says yes I'm going to be quite tired in the morning. "Do you want me to sit with you until you fall asleep again?"

"No." Shaking his head and looking very uncertain, he continues softly. "I…I don't want to sleep alone." All right.

Treading carefully still lost for what exactly to do here, I decide the best method is once more honesty. "I'm not sure what you want, Thomas. We both need our sleep and I greatly doubt you wish to share a bed." Although I do admit I find it a little insulting that he wouldn't want to have sex with me, I can certainly understand why he'd be a little reluctant just now, but really am I that unappealing to him?

He shrugs, uncertain himself. "I just know that I don't want to be alone. Please?"

Unable to deny such a pitiful if not slightly - dare I say - cute request, I think it over for a moment before going with the only solution I can now think of. "Well, my bed is much bigger than yours. Why don't you lay down on that side and we'll see how that works? I will not touch you in any sexual way, as I promised before, but I will be close enough so that if you do have another nightmare I'll be able to wake you up sooner. Sound good?"

He nods after taking a minute to consider it himself and I reach across and pull the covers back so that he can climb into bed, ever thankful that I had chosen to wear something after all. Once he settles in, I turn off the light once more before turning my back to him. "Good night, Thomas."

Waiting a breath and getting nothing in return I'm puzzled by his lack of response, until I realize that he is breathing slowly and evenly - and is sound asleep. Smiling briefly as I realize that exhaustion has overtaken him, I close my eyes as well and am soon asleep.