Bonding

There were two people who we needed to see because we owed them an apology; Lily, because I had worried her into panic mode and Burns, because Ian had worried him into panic mode. We left Lily's room happy again. We strode silently through the tunnels looking for them. I was glad to have Ian by my side and I was hoping that we would never have an explosive argument like that again.

Ian finally broke the silence. "Wanda. Would you do me a favor?"

"Sure, what?" We were just entering the big cavern and there was a group of people gathered at the far end of the room.

Ian leaned in towards my ear and spoke calmly and softly. "Promise me that you won't spend time alone with Burns?"

I turned abruptly to Ian and answered in a low voice. "I thought we settled all of this?" I started to feel a little queasy.

"We did. I trust you, I do. But I can't help feeling jealous around that guy." It seemed odd to me that he would be jealous after our tearful reunion. But he did state that as his number one fear.

"I really wanted to finish my conversation with him." I said, as if asking for his permission.

"Can't I be a part of that conversation?" he said as if asking for my permission.

"It's just that there are things, emotions really…that…only he and I can understand."

His expression changed to exasperation. "Proving yet again how easy it is to be jealous of him." He lowered his eyes as he shook his head.

"Point taken." I paused. "Okay, I don't mind if you join our conversation but he might mind."

"And if he does?"

"Then you are going to have to overcome the 'green-eyed monster' and trust me." I realized as soon as the words slipped from my mouth that I wanted to take them back. 'Monster' was not the word I should have used. He stepped back with a look of crippling pain. I stepped forward and reached on my tiptoes to put my arms around his neck. I needed to bring him back to reality. "Ian, let it go or tonight I will seduce you while you sleep, and then you won't be able to stop yourself. You'll ruin all your perfect honeymoon plans and you don't want to disappoint Mrs. O'Shea, now do you?" I spoke in my most seductive and flirty voice.

"You're killing me!" he said as the smile returned to his face. He pulled my feet off the floor and planted a loving kiss on my lips. In the background, we heard Kyle let out a "Whoop, whoop, whoop" in approval of our kiss.

The group across the room had all the people that had been involved in our misunderstanding, Burns, Lily, Jeb, Jared and Mel, Kyle and Sunny, and Nate and Jamie were with them as well. Ian slung his arm around my shoulders and guided me towards them.

My eyes first locked on Lily. "I'm so sorry I worried you."

"The 'someone's going to die' seriously freaked me out." She replied still looking leery.

"I know and I'm sorry. It was really meant to get Ian's attention to my frustration."

"It worked." Ian blurted out. He still had his arm around my shoulders and his hand slid up and down my arm as if to sooth me. He dropped his arm and stepped forward towards Burns. "Hey. I'm sorry too about the misunderstanding back there. I just get a little possessive when it comes to Wanda. I've done my time with the sharing thing." He shot a look at Jared and Mel and they both looked at the floor to avoid the pain that suddenly crossed his face.

"So you lovebirds made up." Jeb interjected. "Never would have expected that!" he said stroking his beard.

"Actually, Jeb, you forced my hand." Ian had switched his gaze to Jeb. Jeb looked back at Ian with a knowing look but when he spoke he acted innocent.

"I forced your hand?" he said using his poker face.

Ian turned to me in front of the group and got down on one knee and took my hand. "Wanderer, you are the most beautiful and loving creature in my world and I can't live without you. Will you be my bride?" Even though I had already been through this scene just an hour before, I couldn't help but get emotional all over again. The tears ran down my cheeks as I said "Yes, Ian. I want that more than anything." He stood and took my face in his hands and whispered I love you as he kissed me again. I was starting to feel a little woozy when Jeb cleared his throat quite loudly. I blushed a deep shade of red as I pulled away from Ian's face and saw the crowd trying to not stare at us.

Jamie stepped forward and threw his arms around the both of us. "Cool! Can I be in the wedding?" I hadn't even thought about the actual wedding, just the fact that I was going to be Mrs. Ian O'Shea.

I looked at Ian for approval. "Will there be a real wedding?" I asked him.

"Of course. Anything you want Angel." He replied looking very satisfied.

I turned back to Jamie. "Then of course you can be in the wedding. Just give me some time to think about this whole thing."

Kyle piped up. "There's never been a wedding since we came to the caverns. It should be quite a party." So much to think about but I could spend all night thinking about that, especially since I had to do something to keep Ian from losing control in our bed. Right now I needed to finish my conversation with Burns.

Jeb regained control of the crowd. "Well. It's not going to happen today. I'm sure everyone has something to do. Tomorrow we'll be working on gettin' those mirrors clean; so everyone skedaddle!" The crowd dispersed.

"Burns?" I called out and instantaneously grabbed Ian's hand to reassure him that my intention was to include him.

Burns stopped and turned. "Yeah?"

I moved forward towards him with Ian in tow. "We never got to finish our conversation and I was hoping…" His eyes darted to my hand wrapped around Ian's. "I was hoping that we could still finish it." He gazed down the hall at Kyle and Sunny as

they disappeared into the darkness.

"Sure, sure." He answered not looking back at me.

"Do you mind if Ian tags along?" He turned back and looked at Ian, whose hand had tightened around mine with no intention of letting go.

"Sure. Where?"

Ian interjected. "Let's go to our room. It's private and there's plenty of light."

Nate followed as well and since Burns didn't stop him I figured he would be okay to join us. My story had already unfolded this morning, so it was my turn to ask Burns the questions. We all sat crossed legged in a square next to the mattress in our room. I felt embarrassed that our room scant as it was; was so messy.

"So, Burns you were about to tell me how you found Nate."

Nate reacted. "Everyone already knows this story."

Burns glared at Nate. "Excuse my friend. He assumes too much."

Burns continued. "I was living alone in the house and some of the people in the town asked me what my calling was. I couldn't tell them I was student and I didn't want to work in the town. I had to think of a calling that would make sense to them. I told them that my human father had killed the souls and the hosts of my mother and sister. I didn't tell them that he took his own life. Instead I told them that he disappeared and for that reason I had chosen to be a Seeker. They had sympathy for me and believed everything I told them. I was able to stay at my home in the mountains for weeks at a time without having to come back to town. They never asked me what I was doing up there. They just assumed I was on the road somewhere looking for humans."

I slipped my hand to the inside of Ian's thigh when I saw him flinch at the word 'Seeker'. Ian was leaning forward, his arms folded tightly across his chest as if trying to hold his emotions in check.

Burns spoke again. "I was living my life in peace. I wasn't content but I did appreciate the beauty of the land. It was months before I met Nate. I would often go on walks through the woods to explore all the plants and creatures that shared my mountain. Then one day I could hear someone yelling. I really wasn't sure where it was coming from and it took me some time to track the sound. I found Nate in an old well that had grown over from years of disuse. He had fallen through and broken his leg. It was a pretty bad break. I told him to hold on and I raced back to the house to get some rope and a tarp. When I got back I could see that he knew I wasn't like him. I fashioned a seat with the rope and the tarp so I could pull him up. I threw down my creation and told him to sit in it. He refused."

Nate spoke up again. "You gotta understand. I had ten other people I had to think about. I couldn't risk them being found. I was weak but I wasn't crazy."

Ian shook his head in agreement and I looked at Burns feeling his frustration.

Burns pressed on. "I knew the only way I was going to get him out of that hole was to do it myself and he was not going to come willingly. I tied the rope around a tree and found a sturdy tree limb that had fallen to the forest floor. It was a struggle but eventually I managed to push it to the edge of the hole. When I pushed it in, it laid at an angle giving me a better footing when I pulled us both out."

Ian shook his head again. "It's a good thing you're such a big guy."

Nate responded as well. "You're telling me. Dragging my unconscious body couldn't have been easy."

"Unconscious?" I interrupted.

Burns responded to my question. "Well yeah. He fought me as soon as my feet touched the ground and so I had to resort to knocking him out. I just kept telling myself that I was saving his life. I hit him in the back of the head with a tree branch and he dropped like a rock."

Nate nodded in agreement and then spoke. "When I woke up I was in his bed which he had moved to the root cellar and he was nowhere to be found. I knew I couldn't run. The door was locked anyway. I was trapped like a rat. I was waiting for the enemy to return with an army of parasites ready to change me into one of them. There wasn't even anything in the room to kill myself with. Burns was good. He had thought of everything."

Burns smiled at him. "Lucky for you!"

Nate put his hand on Burns' shoulder. "Lucky for me."

I was getting impatient. "Where did you go?"

"I knew that Nate was hurt badly and in a lot of pain. I went into town to the hospital and told them that I was headed out on a dangerous mission in the mountains and that I needed supplies in case I was hurt and unable to return to be treated. The healer was most helpful. He gave me an assortment of hospital supplies."

I was familiar with these items. "Let me guess. He gave you 'No Pain, Clean, Heal, and Deep Clean.'"

"Exactly. He gave me "Smooth" as well. I came back to the house and Nate had positioned himself behind the door in an attempt to escape. He knocked me to the floor but he didn't get far."

"I didn't even make it up the steps of the root cellar." Nate said dismally.

"Well, you were in a ton of pain and you hadn't eaten in two days." Burns replied in Nate's defense. "Anyway, I dragged him back to the room and I tried to reason with him. I told him I had no weapons and that I had no intentions on turning him in. I told him that I could heal his injuries and that he needed to trust me. I told him that a soul had to be inserted surgically and I would do nothing that would require a scalpel. I offered him the 'No Pain' and at first he refused. I explained that even if what I was giving him killed him, whoever he was trying to protect would be safe. He finally took the 'No Pain'."

Nate had been waiting for his chance to speak. "It was awesome! If my leg had not been so mangled that it would not hold me up I would have run out of there at that moment."

Burns looked at Nate in surprise. "And I thought you trusted me." He shook his head.

"What?" Nate retorted his face twisted into a grin and his hands held out palms up.

Burns continued. "I used the 'Clean, Heal, Deep Clean, and Smooth' to repair his leg. When I was done I held the door open and invited him to leave, but he didn't go."

Nate explained. "I was afraid that if I went I would be leading a pack of them right to my family. So, I stayed. I figured I would wait until the right opportunity presented itself. I considered killing Burns but for all I knew there were Seekers hiding in wait. I couldn't take that chance. I could kill myself now that I was healed but I didn't want to die especially if there was a chance this guy over here was telling the truth."

"He stayed with me for weeks. We even went for walks together."

I couldn't help but giggle. "Aw, how romantic, I teased."

Nate suddenly shoved Burns' shoulder in the same playful way that Kyle and Ian had done and Burns ended up lying on his side. "No way!" Nate bellowed.

The boys regained their composure and Nate spoke. "Burns never asked me about who I might be protecting. He just seemed to be enjoying my company. I knew my family had probably assumed the worst. One night I decided to take a chance. I left in the middle of the night and wandered off into the woods. I didn't go in the direction of my family. I stayed in the woods for two days watching, waiting, for any sign of a Seeker. Finally, I went to a place where I knew my family would see me. I let them see that I had no scar on my neck and I went to them using what we call the emergency back door. I told them what had happened. We hunkered down for two weeks watching for Seekers. They never came and we were in desperate need of supplies. I decided to go back to Burns. I'm not sure why exactly. I can't explain it other than that he saved me from dying in that hole and then he healed my broken body. As I approached the house the shades were down and the word "NO" was written on them. There was an unfamiliar car in front of the house. I waited in the shadows of the forest. Eventually, two people, a man and a woman exited the house and got into the car and drove off. When they left, Burns put the shades up and came out onto the front porch and sat in a chair and began to read.

"He warned you." Ian said unfolding his arms for the first time. He reached to my hand still buried under his folded leg and pulled my hand out and held it between his two hands. "How did you know this wasn't a ploy to gain your trust?"

"Ian!" I stared at him incredulously.

Nate answered Ian. "Exactly! At what point did you put your trust in Wanda?"

Ian thought about this for a minute. "I don't know if there was a precise moment. It started for me when she put herself between Kyle and Jared."

Nate snapped back. "Isn't that when you tried to strangle her?"

Ian closed his eyes and pulled my hand to his face and whispered, "Yes." And then with anguish in his voice he added, "I'm so sorry my darling angel."

I turned to him grabbing his chin with my free hand and trying to capture his eyes in mine. "Hey, we're all here happy and healthy. I don't want to dwell on the negative only the positive. Okay?" He still didn't open his eyes. I moved his chin back and forth letting him know I was expecting an answer. "Okay?" He finally opened his eyes and I stared at them with reassuring intensity.

"Okay." He whispered.

I pulled his arm up and over my shoulders so I could lean into his chest and our fingers were still intertwined. It was my turn to speak. "So, Nate, you made a decision to trust Burns?"

Nate looked uncomfortable at the reactions his words had caused. He would

probably be on his best behavior now. "I did. I brought him to our hideout and a friendship was born."

"Wow. It seems we both have fascinating stories." I said looking off into space trying to reel in all of the details. "Burns can I ask you a personal question?"

Burns looked at me with suspicion. "Sure, hasn't everything we've said here been personal?"

"This is different. It's not about the past. It's about the present. About your emotions." I felt Ian tense expecting me to ask a direct question about his feelings for me. Ian was not prepared to deal with this question. "It's about Sunny." Ian straightened up and let his arm drop from my shoulders. He was puzzled.

"I noticed that you seem to be very ..." I chose my words carefully, "Aware of Sunny's presence whenever you are in the same room together. Do you have a thing for her?" Ian looked shocked.

"Wanda, you are very observant." He smiled sheepishly.

"Well it kept me alive for many months."

"Can you tell me; what is the status of the relationship between Sunny and Kyle?"

I looked at Ian for an answer. Ian looked up surprised. "Why do you ask me?"

"You are his brother." I reminded him.

"Hell I don't know. Kyle is nothing like me. I fell in love Wanda for who she is inside. Sunny walks around in Jodie's body. I don't honestly know what he's thinking." He paused. "Plus Sunny is always with him. When would I ever get the chance to even ask him?"

"Maybe I can help. Tomorrow I'll see if she would like to bathe when I do. I'll tell her I want to spend some 'girl time' with her. That will give you the time to talk to Kyle. Don't tell him Burns is interested though. Just feel him out. Ask him if another guy was interested in her if he would take it personally. You know … see if he holds any jealousy."

"I hate doing that crap. Can't someone else be your patsy?" Ian muttered.

"Absolutely not. First of all, you are his brother and he will be honest with you. Second of all, you can relate. After all aren't you engaged to a 'soul'? And third …" He didn't let me finish.

"Okay, okay. I guess I can take one for the team."

"Thank you." I turned and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"So …" Ian spoke. "Anyone up for a game of soccer?"

I looked at Ian remembering how incredible I was when I was in Mel's body. As a male/female team we were unstoppable. "Not in this body!" I moaned.

"Come on, give it a try. If you really suck, you can be my cheerleader." He grinned.

"Thanks a bunch" I said sarcastically.

The four of us got up and ventured off towards the game room. We found several people in there lounging and talking.

Nate announced "Warning. We are here to take over the game room. Join us or move to the stands."

"What's your game? Rachel asked. Rachel was one of Nate's people. She was there hanging with Rob and Blake who were also from her clan. Rachel and Rob were definitely a couple. Apparently they had been together for some time. They were comfortable with each other. They didn't seem to have the drama or the need for closeness that Ian and I had. Blake was young, probably about my age. He was Rachel's younger brother and he stayed close to her at all times. Reid, Violetta, and John from our clan had been talking with Rachel's group but they bowed out of the competition. We asked them to let the others know of the game if they ran into them.

"Okay." Nate spoke with authority. "The game is soccer and I call captain."

Ian spoke up. "Captain." He paused a moment before he added, "We need to choose teams. Who chooses first?"

I knew that both captains were itching to choose Burns because of his obvious size so I spoke up. "Nate is a guest in our house so he should have the first pick." Ian looked at me as if I had lost my mind. He sighed and conceded to my wishes.

Of course Nate picked Burns first. Then Ian caught a lucky break. Who walked into the room? None other than the only man who was better at soccer than Ian was. The one man who teamed with Ian could annihilate any team, anywhere, any time. It was Ian's big brother Kyle.

"Do I smell a game of soccer?" Kyle bellowed as he joined the group.

Ian grinned from ear to ear. "Hell yeah! It's my turn to pick. Get over here Bro!" I loved watching Ian and Kyle together when they were like this. In my mind I could imagine what it would be like to have two boys full of energy, playing and laughing. A dream. It was a wonderful dream.

Nate chose Rob next. Then Ian chose Blake. The boys were all chosen and that left Rachel, Sunny, and me. Nate chose Rachel. She was much more athletic than me and much more outgoing than Sunny. Ian looked over at the two of us standing sheepishly together.

"Have either one of you ever played before?" Ian asked.

I gave Ian a scowl. "You know I know how to play. I just don't know well this body will play for me."

Sunny piped up. "I'm good. I'll watch. You play Wanda."

Ian took my hand. "I guess you're with me Babe. Try not to trip up Kyle. Okay?"

I stuck my tongue out at him. Kyle came over and patted the top of my head. Ian faded back to the goalie position. Kyle came forward to the point position. Blake and I took the two flank positions and the game was on. Burns got off the first shot because apparently Nate had instructed Rachel to get in Kyle's way as much as possible. Ian caught the ball and saw that Kyle was being double teamed. He called my name and threw the ball in my direction. It landed so close to me. I kept my cool and Blake moved forward on the opposite side of the goal. Nate was trying to play both sides of the goal. I kicked it to Blake and then I charged towards Nate keeping him from the block. Blake smashed it in for the first point.

Ian ran up behind me and lifted me off the ground. "You were awesome Babe!" It was the confidence I needed. I was small but I was quick and they were so busy trying to control Kyle that it gave me opportunities I might not have gotten otherwise. The one time they stopped double teaming Kyle he strong armed his way to the ball, stole it and scored. In the end, the score was close but my boys pulled it off. Even I ended up scoring two goals in the game. I had to admit I had a blast. Ian was beaming like a proud parent.

Nate confessed that it was a good game but said we had the home turf advantage.

Ian teased back. "I'll play you on your turf anytime." It was then that Nate invited all of us to come to their compound in the mountains to meet their clan.

Kyle responded to Nate. "You need to talk to Jeb and Jared. They are considered the leaders of this clan and they would be the ones to make a decision like this."

"I'm hungry." Everyone stopped to look at Sunny who hadn't said much during the entire game. She sat quietly and watched Kyle being mauled by the other team. Only hunger had given her the courage to let her presence be known.

Burns approached her and offered to escort her to the kitchen. I watched Kyle warily. He was self absorbed with Rachel and Rob talking about the sad shape sports was in now that the souls were running things. Sunny called out for Kyle.

Kyle nodded in Sunny's direction. "In a minute," he called back to her.

I stomped over to Sunny. "Come on. You can come with me and Ian and Burns. Kyle will catch up to us later. You need to gain a little independence."

Sunny nodded to me. Ian offered me his arm and I took it. Burns seized the moment and offered Sunny his arm and in a surprise move, she took it. We all moved towards the tunnel and I called back to Kyle over my shoulder. "Sunny will be in the kitchen." We were in the tunnels when I remembered that I had left my clothes, towel, brush, and toothbrush in the bathing room. I needed to go there anyway for other reasons so Ian and I told Sunny and Burns that we would meet them in the kitchen. By the time we got back, Burns and Sunny looked quite cozy in a corner eating and chatting. As I sat down to eat sandwiches and baked beans I realized how much the day had worn me out. I yawned.

"Tired Babe?" Ian had observed my yawn. It was weird he called me 'Babe' during the game. If this was a new nickname I wasn't sure if I liked it. I was trying to get away from being compared to a child.

"Maybe a little nap would help."

Ian chuckled. "It's almost dark. If you fall asleep now, you might as well sleep till morning."

I yawned again.

Just then Jeb came into the kitchen and announced a meeting in the big cavern. We knew this must be to discuss plans for a trip to Nate's mountain clan.

We arrived at the big cavern and most of the inhabitants were settling in on the floor. We waited another five minutes and then Jeb called the meeting to order. Nate was standing at the center of the circle with Jeb. The seven other people from Nate's clan were seated together off to one side.

Jeb cleared his throat. "Now you all have met Nate here and his family. He's told us of his home in the mountains and he assures us that it is safe from Seekers. They have

invited us to come to see their set up and meet the rest of their clan members. I am looking for volunteers but I am only going to allow six of you to go. As much as I

would like to be one of those six people, I will wait until I am sure my family is safe. Who of you would like to be considered for this trip?"

I would guess twelve to fourteen hands shot up. Among those I could see clearly were Kyle, Jared, Mel, Brandt, Aaron, Jamie, Lily, Trudy, and me. Ian's hand did not go up until he realized that my hand was up. Jeb noticed his hesitance at putting up his hand.

"I need all of you with your hands up to please move to the center of the circle. Nate, do you have any specific requests on who you would like as your guests?"

Nate refrained from answering until he could get Burns to come up. They discussed the subject quietly before Nate turned to address the crowd. "Well, Wanda is an anomaly like Burns. I am sure she will prove to be quite interesting as well as a treasure trove of information for my clan. Jared is quite comfortable with travel and he is considered one of the leaders, so he will represent your clan well."

Ian dropped his head and muttered "great" with pure sarcasm.

Jeb addressed Jared first. "Jared, your hand was up. Do you wish to make this trip?"

Jared stood up pulling Melanie to her feet with him. "Yes. I would like to make this trip but you know I will not go without Mel."

Jeb nodded his head. "What about Jamie?"

"Jamie is too young. He can go on the next trip if all is proven safe. He will be safe here with you and Doc."

"Wanda, you also had your hand up. Do you wish to make this trip?"

I stood up just as Jared had done dragging Ian with me. "Yes, I would like to make this trip as well."

Jeb shifted his gaze to Ian as he spoke. "Ian. I noticed that you didn't put your hand up until Wanda's hand was raised. Do you want to make this trip?"

Ian shuffled his feet and looked down before raising his head to face Jeb. "Honestly, I would prefer it if Wanda and I stayed here."

"Ian! No! This is such an opportunity!" I pleaded.

Jeb turned his attention to Kyle. "Kyle, you raised your hand but you know that Sunny is not proven yet and so you cannot take her. How would you feel about accompanying Wanda on this trip?"

Kyle did not get the chance to answer. "NO" Ian blurted out. "Wanda will not be going anywhere without me!"

"Then do you deny your future wife the chance to take this trip?"

I bit my lip and stared at the floor. I couldn't look at him. I knew this decision was based solely on the jealousy he harbored for Burns. "Fine … I wish to make this trip." He sounded defeated. I glanced up at Mel and we both were grinning like Cheshire cats. I wanted to throw my arms around Ian but I was trying to keep the business mood this meeting had taken on.

Jeb turned back to Kyle. "I'm sorry Kyle but I can't have all three of you going. It would leave us without our three strongest men." Kyle nodded in agreement. "Trudy,

although you raised your hand, I see that Geoffrey did not. Would you be willing to take this trip without him?"

Trudy shook her head. "No, I would not."

"That leaves you, Lily. Do you still wish to make this trip?"

"I have no one to answer to. I'm good to go." I was happy Lily was going.

Aaron and Brandt had to make a decision as to which one would go. In the end it was decided that Aaron would come with us. So, the line up was Jared, Mel, Ian, me, Aaron, and Lily. We would leave tomorrow night at sundown.

Jeb called the meeting adjourned and told us all to get some sleep. My bed was definitely calling me. Everyone began to exit except for the six of us and Nate's crew. They were all talking excitedly over each other including Ian who moments before had been dead set on not going. I, on the other hand, was quiet. I had my arm around Ian's waist and Ian had his arm wrapped around my shoulders. My head was slowly fading into his armpit as my shoulders melted into his body. I closed my eyes. I could still hear the din of chatter but I was fading fast. In a repeat of last night, Ian scooped me up into his arms, said our good nights, and whisked me off to our bed. I remember him whispering in my ear "Sleep well, my Love," and the tender brush of his lips on mine. Then I was gone.