Disclaimer: Not mine. sigh

A/N: Ok, I'm adding an author's note at the beginning for this chapter due to the fact that most of you will kill me for not giving you this info. The stuff between chapter 12 and this one is located in the story The Teenage Mage by Tempest2004, in chapters 8 and 9. We did a cross-over and she got to write the fun stuff (can you hear the jealousy in my voice?) So if you want to know what in the he! Khyrran and Kamara are talking about in this first part… go read her work (and not just chapter 8 & 9… it's an amazing story. If not you will be lost in future chapters, cuz I'm darn well gonna a return the favor.)

On with the show….

13. Survival

Mankato, Somewhere over the North Pole of the Moon

Late September, 1996

"You do realize that not a single thing that you saw, heard or did there can ever be mentioned here?" Kamara said.

Khyrran stood before her and the entire assembly of Overseers, including Gagon. She hadn't been back in this dimension for a full ten minutes and she was already in trouble. "I'm not completely stupid, Kamara."

"In full assembly, you will watch your tongue, your Highness." The way Kamara said the title made it very much an insult.

"As you wish, milady," Khyrran knew she was in trouble, deep trouble. Kamara only used formal titles when she was royally pissed off. "May I address the assembly?" Kamara gave a slight nod of her head. "I am aware of the duties asked to me as the Guardian of Time."

"Good. Then this shouldn't be an issue."

"No, milady, it won't be." Kamara waved her hand and the assembly dispersed. Khyrran sighed as she turned to go.

"You were not dismissed." Kamara, Idan, and Gagon watched as Khyrran's shoulders dropped. The young Guardian took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and turned to face them.

"Yes?" The tone surrounding that single word held so much emotion from hatred, to anger, to anguish, to pure exhaustion.

'Idan, do you have to send her now? Can this not wait?', Kamara thought.

'If the time vortex goes haywire…', Gagon warned, having been included in the conversation.

'I would have to agree with Gagon. Especially since the arrival of the vortex coincides with a dimensional crossing', Idan replied.

Kamara gave slight nod of her head, indicating that she understood. Khyrran still stood in her military like position. "Relax, Khyrran. It's only us."

She relaxed, barely. "You know, Mara, your emotional shifts are getting to be a pain in the ass. By the way, Kent got the same lecture right?"

Gagon laughed. "I like her. She's got spunk. Like Athelean. That girl was a handful."

"So's this one," Anthanasuis commented as he reentered the Great Hall.

Kamara whirled to face her predecessor. "You need to leave. Now."

"You wouldn't be keeping secrets from us, would you, Kamara?"

"I am conducting a meeting with my Guardian, Anthanasuis. Please leave." Anthanasuis glared at her and disappeared through the gate leading to Mann'ahoia.

Kamara shook her head. Turning back to Khyrran, she said, "Kent has no memory of the incident. This is just a scouting mission. Just after your return, a time vortex opened up in Typge. Idan cannot find the origin and we aren't sure what, if anything came out. Since you are the Guardian of Time…"

"… I get to go find out," the teenager replied. "Can I jump for joy now?"

"It won't take long Khyrran," Gagon said before Kamara could lose her temper. "Look, we know you're exhausted."

"I'm not exhausted, Gagon. I am physically, emotionally and psychologically drained. I know that you know what went on there. Do you have any clue how painful it was to have to take out someone who looked exactly like my brother?"

"It was supposed to be hard, Khyrran. You were chosen over all the others because you are still naïve to the world of corruption and hatred. You…"

"Wait, back that up. I am not naïve to the world of corruption and hatred. If I were I wouldn't know what it was like to have someone want you dead because your mother was a whore," she said in a deadly whisper. Khyrran closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "Look, I'm going to go fix the stupid time flux then going home and taking a week off. And I really don't want to hear about my duties," she claimed, looking right at Kamara. "The Queens know what they're doing. If they didn't, you wouldn't have let them become my council."

The three Overseers watched the girl walk over to the gate to Mann'ahoia and step through. "Yep, just like Athelean," Gagon repeated.

Typge, Mann'ahoia…

Khyrran stood looking at the time vortex in front of her. Deep purple in color, it swirled like the boom tube thing that Darkseid had used to travel between the planets. She called Orela's time staff to her hands. Reaching into the pouch that came with the staff, she pulled out a small vial of light blue powder. Sprinkling the powder on the small hour glass that sat on top of the staff, Khyrran began to chant a spell that would seal the vortex.

"Moment in time, moment in space, seal this hole at this very place." She continued the chant and put the vial back. She flipped the staff in the air, caught the end, and swung it like a baseball bat. The hourglass hit the vortex and the anomaly sucked itself closed. Sighing in relief that the ancient magic had worked, Khyrran sent the staff back to Orela. She began to search for whatever came out of the vortex. Having been taught how to track by Devlin, she found footprints that weren't consistent with the tracks from the nearby village. She was knelt on the ground, examining the pattern in the mud when she heard a swoosh behind her. The branch connected with her left temple instead of the back of her head. Khyrran heard the maniacal laughter as darkness claimed her.

The next day…

Metropolis…

"Are you sure you don't want to take some time off?" Clark said to Lois, as she parked her little white convertible at Metropolis International Airport. "This is like the fifth time in the last month, that you've nearly been killed."

"It happens. I can't let that low life Julian Frey, take my stories. Perry gave him too many as is. Besides the Air Force One piece was the best I'd written in a while."

Clark sighed as he got out of the car. "Let it never be said that you take death lying down."

"Smallville, I don't take anything lying down."

They got out of the car and joined the throng of media people waiting for the infamous billionaire to exit the plane. Deciding a change of topic would be best, "I hear Wayne's deal with Lex Corp. could run into the billions. He's a high roller."

"I hear he's nothing but Gotham trash; rich, spoiled and…absolutely gorgeous."

The dark haired, blue-eyed billionaire stepped off the plane to calls of "Mr. Wayne, Mr. Wayne. What brings you to Metropolis? How long will you stay?"

Lois spun to look at Clark. "Quick, is my hair straight?"

Clark never got the chance to answer as Bruce Wayne walked up behind her. "Excuse me, aren't you the famous Lois Lane?"

She gasped, turned, ran into his chest and dropped everything in her hands. "Me? Famous? Well hardly. I mean, uh, this is Clark Kent," she stuttered.

"Mr. Wayne," Clark said sticking out his hand. The playboy ignored him and knelt to help Lois collect her belongings.

"I read all about your adventures on Air Force One. You're quite the news maker."

"No more than you. Which brings up the question why you're in town?"

"Mr. Wayne, your car," a voice announced. They looked to see Mercy Graves, Luthor's go-get-it girl standing with the customary limo.

He looked back at Lois. "Maybe we can discuss it over dinner, if you're available?"

"Totally. I… I… I mean I think so, let me check my calendar…uh, yes."

"Great, I'll pick you up at eight," he said, sauntering off towards the limo.

Clark rolled his eyes as Lois sighed.

Later that day…

Typge, Mann'ahoia…

Khyrran woke up with a throbbing headache. She reached up to rub her head… or tried to. Her hands were strapped down to a table. And now that she had noticed the table, the cold emanating from the hard slab, began seeping into her bones. She struggled against the bonds and was rewarded with nothing for her efforts, except the echo of the deranged laughter resounding in her ears. Which turned out not to be an echo. Khyrran watched as a figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Well, I must say that for the Guardian of Mann'ahoia, you were entirely too easy to catch," he said, the light fully exposing him. He was wearing what looked like chain mail and an overcoat of deep red. A snake graced the front of the overcoat.

"Who are you?" Khyrran asked.

"Did your predecessors not tell you of me? I am Zaddock, the…"

"…idiot who thought he could take over Mann'ahoia. I know who you are. And I also know that Helanna gave her life to capture you."

"So you have heard of me," he preened.

"No, not at all. I just know all that stuff because I can read minds," she said, sarcastically. His eyes narrowed as she continued. "So, what's with the table, because if you wanted my attention a simple 'Hey you' would have worked."

Zaddock grinned, a hideous display of certain evil. "I want Mann'ahoia."

"No." Zaddock looked taken aback at the harsh emotion accompanying the word. He opened his mouth and Khyrran beat him to it. "No."

"Tisk, tisk, your highness. You didn't even wait to see what I was going to ask. I don't want to take Mann'ahoia away from you." Khyrran raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I do want Mann'ahoia. But I have had 1000 years to think about how to do this. Brute force didn't work last time, so I do believe that I am going to do it legally. You, my dear, are going to marry me."

Khyrran laughed; full bodied, outright laughed. "Yeah right. I am sixteen, bud. That is beyond illegal."

"Since when?" Zaddock questioned. "Most empresses your age had been married for years with at least one child born and another on the way."

"I'm unconventional."

"Then marrying me would keep with that line of thinking."

"Marrying you would be like selling my soul to the dark side and becoming Darth Vader."

"What?"

"Never mind, the analogy is lost on your decrepit mind. Reason number two why I won't marry you."

"You little…"

"That's not going to persuade me to marry you."

"Maybe this will," Zaddock sneered as he pulled out the Sword of Atrox. He slid the blade beneath her chin, the tip pressed against her throat. "What say you now, Empress? And may I remind you that a denial will get you killed."

Khyrran grinned. "Appello curator defluo Mankato." (A/N: Latin for: Come forth my Guardians and be safe at Mankato.)

Zaddock jumped back as the girl began to glow, first black, then white, followed by purple and finally orange. As soon as he saw the orange glow, he knew what had happened. 'The little fool just released the Guardians,' he thought.

"Yep, sucks to be you right about now," Khyrran said, as she lay back on the table.

"You'll never escape me now."

"So?" He simply stared at her. "Was that not part of your plans?"

"I cannot gain the power to access Mann'ahoia, now. My plans are ruined!" he screamed at her.

"I am so sorry." She snorted, "No wait, I'm not."

Zaddock snapped. With a roar, he ripped Khyrran from the table, causing her to cry out in pain. Her wrists were still in the manacles chained to the table. The leather vest she wore was sleeveless and he could see the bruises already beginning to form at her shoulder joints. "Oh yes, little girl. You will pay for denying me my crown!" His maniacal laughter floated through the chamber, echoing off the stone walls and for the first time since accepting her birth right, Khyrran truly knew fear.

Same Night…

Metropolis…

Clark was flying on his nightly patrol, looking for the Joker. Ceaser Carlinie wasn't high on his decent people list but that didn't mean he wanted the mobster to end up a victim of Joker's laughing gas. He was flying over the red light district when people came running and screaming from one of the clubs. Sighing, he flew through the broken sky light and got the shock of his life. Standing near the front doors was Batman.

'Guess he's not an urban legend after all,' Clark thought. He reached over and grabbed the man's hand before he chocked the gangster in his grip to death. "That's enough. I think you got your answer."

Batman's response was to grab Clark's wrist and flip him over his shoulder, into a table half way across the club. Clark stood up and rammed his shoulder into Batman's midsection. He flew into the door. The mobster took off.

"I heard you were crazy, I didn't think you were stupid," Clark said, standing over him. He used his x-ray vision to see who exactly he was dealing with. "Bruce Wayne?"

"You peeked," Batman said, getting to his feet.

"I won't have vigilantism in my town."

"You'll be rid of me as soon as I find the Joker."

"That might not be soon enough."

Batman flung back his cape and held a small piece of Kryptonite to Clark's face. He put up his hand to block the instantaneous effects of the glowing neon green rock.

"It doesn't take much does it?" Batman asked, advancing on the Man of Steel as he backed away from the Kryptonite. "The Joker has twenty pounds more where this came from. Thought you might like to know," he replied, flinging the little evidence bag into the nearest glass of wine. When Clark looked back the Dark Knight was gone.

Later…

Back on Mann'ahoia…

Khyrran sighed as she fought the restraints. Zaddock had finally given up on beating her. Knowing that he was out for revenge and vengeance for his wounded pride, she had refused to cry out. Her continued silence finally pissed him off enough that after a few hours he began promising that it would end if she would consent to give him the crown. She had simply looked at him, arched an eyebrow and yawned. All that did was royally piss him off and send his temper through the roof. The entire right side of her body was a giant bruise from where he had flung her into the wall. Crashing into that wall wouldn't have been so bad if the ancient oak slab hadn't added its weight to the force, since he had picked up the table in the first place.

When even that had failed to elicit a response from her, he had stormed out of the room, leaving her pinned between the wall and the table. It had taken forever for her to wriggle her way out. Still chained to the table, Khyrran fought to either release herself or pull the table around. Her left hand was caught behind her back and was ripping the destroyed muscles of her rotator cuff. She knew that it was going to be a long time before she was capable of wielding a sword again…if she lived to see that.

"You'll get out of this,' Kamara's voice rang in her head.

'DON'T COME DOWN HERE!'

'We need to get you out of there. You are hurt.'

'It's Zaddock, Mara. If you come down here he will possess you and be given full access to Mankato. From there… Mann'ahoia. He cannot gain control over Mann'ahoia,' her thought "voice" was becoming hysterical and Kamara began to fear for her sanity.

'Khyrran, calm down please. If you don't I WILL be coming down there,' Kamara said sternly. The tone worked and Khyrran settled down. 'We will abide by your wishes, but be warned if it looks like he is going to kill you, one of us will be coming to get you.'

'Mara, you can't, none of you can. I deliberately released the Guardians.'

'I know, but…'

'HE HAS THE SWORD OF ATROX!'

When Kamara didn't respond, Khyrran knew that this was going to be her final fight. The tears welled up and she let them fall. She had to heal enough, physically and emotionally, to be able to cast the spell that would again trap Zaddock in his prison. That meant coping with the dimensional mission upheaval without the benefit of a debriefing or a friend. She sniffled. It was going to be a long night.

Mankato…

Kamara cut the connection to Khyrran and sank to the floor. The Sword of Atrox? Khyrran had specifically told her that. But it was supposed to have been destroyed when Helanna had sacrificed herself to capture Zaddock. Wasn't it?

She jumped to her feet. Idan was supposed to have known that. She left her room, mind not on where she was going, but maintaining a non-detectable connection with Khyrran. She brushed past Mahala and Anthanasuis in the hall, not responding to their hails of concern. Without bothering to knock, she flung open the door to Idan's room and barged in. The purple clad, dark haired man looked at her. She shut the door.

"Khyrran's been captured by Zaddock and he has the Sword of Atrox. Explain. NOW." Her voice was calm and even. But from centuries of working together, Idan could hear the threads of worry, concern, panic and fear in his mother's voice.

"I don't know. But we can't help her and neither can the other Guardians. Death awaits whoever enters that building. We cannot help her. This is something she will have to do on her own."

Later…

Metropolis…

Clark landed on the balcony outside his apartment and sighed. This was not what he had expected when he went out. He changed out of "Superman" as the phone rang. "Hello."

"Hi." Lois. "I just wanted to let you know, I'll be in late tomorrow. I'm having breakfast with Bruce."

Not exactly what he wanted to hear, especially after finding out Bruce's nighttime activities. "Isn't that special?"

"Do I detect a note of disapproval?"

"You were the one who compared him to garbage."

"Well I was wrong." A blinking caught his attention as Lois continued. "He's very thoughtful and much deeper than the gossipmongers would lead you to believe. You'd be surprised."

"Would I now?" Clark asked. The little blinking thing was in the shape of a bat. He picked it up and walked over toward the balcony.

"Well, I'll let you go so you can count sheep or whatever you Kansas boys dream about. Bye." She hung up the phone.

Clark looked out across his city and there about a mile away, sat Lois's breakfast date with a pair of binoculars and smirk on his face. He saluted Clark and disappeared into the night.

"Touché," Clark said as he crushed the little bat.

The next day…

Mann'ahoia…

Khyrran was exhausted. She had shed her tears and worked her way through the emotional upheaval of the past few weeks. The meeting with Darkseid, the Overseers absence, the bastard thing and her so-called-mother's refusal to reveal her father's name were all memories she had to deal with before coming to an emotionally clean slate. She was meditating to keep her peace when the crack of a whip startled her. Khyrran's eyes snapped open to a sight that only came from something out of the horror section of the video store. Zaddock stood before her whip in hand and feral grin on his face.

"Tell me something your highness, do you dance?" He flicked the whip at her, forcing her to her feet. The table and her restraints limited her range of movement. Zaddock's grin became wider. He snapped the whip again, grazing the exposed flesh of her right arm. She cried out in surprise; the amount of pain was unexpected for such a small welt. "Well, the little empress can feel. Shall we continue or will you yield the throne of Mann'ahoia?"

"My answer remains the same."

"I was so hoping you would say that." He approached her slowly, like a predator stalking cornered prey. With the table at her back and nowhere else to go, she was indeed cornered. The whip again cut across her body, but just before it connected, she turned. The leather slid effortlessly off her vest, without leaving a mark.
Zaddock growled in anger. "Oh come now. We can't have that." He reached into his overcoat and pulled out a key. He unshackled her left arm and undid the vest, his knuckles grazing her sports bra.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" The fire illuminating her green eyes was evident.

"Take it off."

"Like hell I will."

The cool slide of the blade against her throat was all it took for her to comply. Khyrran knew from reading Helanna and Phaedra's journals that no other Guardian could capture this nut. Even if they joined forces the others wouldn't be able to amass the power that Khyrran had naturally as a mage. Something about the female psyche made mages more powerful than their male counterparts.

The vest dangled from her right wrist. Zaddock got an amused glint in his eye. "Turn around." Khyrran complied with the order, promising retribution with the glare she cast at him. "Cross your left arm over your right." He rebound her wrist so that she faced the table. The crack of the whip came again and without the ability to see the arc, she had no way to block the incoming pain.

Still she refused to cry out. The one he got for the sneak attack was the only sound of pain she would utter.

Two days later….

Metropolis…

"The senator declined comment," Lois said, finishing her article.

"And not a moment too soon," Bruce said, sweeping in to kiss her cheek.

"Bruce! When did you…"

"About three paragraphs ago. I didn't want to distract you. Ready to do the town?"

"Give me a minute to see the Chief, then I'm all yours." Lois walked over to Clark. "Clark, keep an eye on Bruce will you? I'll be right back."

"Actually Lois…"

"Don't be intimidated. Regal him with madcap tales of the nightlife in Smallville," she said, walking away.

"She never stops does she?" Bruce asked, as he ventured over to Clark's desk.

"Not that I've noticed. Any luck finding the comedian?"

The deepened voice of the Bat came out in the harsh glare of daylight. "Three nights and not so much as a green hear."

"Well, you have been dividing your time between work and Lois."

"Is that a problem?"

"Let's just say I'm concerned. You reputation is… dubious, in and out of costume."

"Don't worry; I'm taking Lois quite seriously. Besides it seems to me you had your chance."

Lois ran up before Clark could respond to that. "So Mr. Wayne, ready to sweep me off my feet?"

"Be seeing you."

Clark's eyes narrowed as he watched them walk away.

Later that day…

Mankato…

"Where is she, Kamara?" Devlin's voice was hard. He was one very pissed off Guardian whose youngest sibling had been missing for almost two weeks. Gail and Howard were no longer buying the whole "She's in Smallville" line anymore. And he was fed up with the non answers that he kept getting.

"She's on a mission, Devlin. She'll…" Kamara began.

"Bullshit."

Kamara stepped back from the Earth Guardian as the glow of his power began to surround his body. It was rare for a Guardian to power up in the presence of the Overseers, even rarer to do it on Mankato.

"Stop it." The words and the blow on the shoulder came from Jason. "She would kick your ass if she knew you were acting like this." Devlin powered down but kept the attitude.

"I'm sorry. I can't give you any information, nor can I tell you the nature of her mission," Kamara said, her tone conveying her regret at not being able to fulfill their request.

"That isn't good enough."

"Unfortunately, I can't give you anything else."

"Fine. But I will find her and when I do, some one will be giving me answers." Devlin turned and stalked out of Mankato. The others followed suite. Idan came to stand behind her. "I hated having to do that."

"You had no choice."

"I agree with Idan, Kamara," Nixi said, coming into the Great Hall. "The loss of all the Guardians would destroy everything that Khyrran has accomplished in her short time as Empress."

"Either way, this is a no win situation," Kamara replied walking out of the room.

That night…

Mann'ahoia…

Zaddock stormed out of the cell that held the Empress. Her refusal to heed his warnings that her pain would continue went unchecked. She remained silent, though her eyes promised retaliation so great that even he could not imagine what she could do to him. The millennium that he spent trapped in the time vortex was enough torment for any being.

"I thought I told you to break her," a voice said from the shadows.

"She is tougher than most I faced, before that stupid wench trapped me," Zaddock replied.

"Then try something else. The child must die," the voice replied.

"It will be done."

Same time…

Metropolis…

Superman landed outside Luthor's complex, the Batwing landing seconds later. "See anything?"

"Luthor's been lining his buildings with lead. Blocks my x-ray vision."

"Well, there's always the direct approach."

Clark hauled back and let his fist fly. The wall hit the floor with a resounding thud. He swept his arm in an 'after you' gesture. Batman walked by with, "You're learning."

They entered a storage hall of large robots. Suddenly the lights in the cases came on. The robots broke out of the glass and began attacking the pair. The fight had barely begun when the entire building shook.

They took the four robots out, not as easily as they had thought but they were in pieces all the same. A larger one joined in, but with Mercy attached to it they were forced to work as a team to get her off alive.

"Where's Luthor?"

"Joker took him in the Lex-wing. He said he'd make him lose everything he'd ever built."

"Luthor's built half of Metropolis." Clark's tone belied the urgency of his words.

The Granddaddy of all robots came busting through the ceiling. Clark sent Batman after the Joker and took on the monstrosity himself. The only problem was the kryptonite duck taped to the body. He took a nice beating, though nothing worse than fighting with Khyrran. The 'bot made a mistake when it grabbed the door to finish the job. The lead lining blocked the effects of the kryptonite and Clark made short work of the thing.

He flew off to help Batman. He arrived just in time to push the 'wing out of a nose-dive. Inside he could hear the Joker's marble grenades going off.

"It's gonna blow," Batman said. "I'll get Quinn, you take Luthor."

Not pausing he ripped the chair out of the floor and dove through the hole he had made, Batman right behind him.

"Puddin'," he heard Harley cry.

"At this point, he probably is," came Batman's dry response. Clark chuckled as the wing hit the water and exploded. He reached down and grabbed the parachute, flying towards land.

The next day…

Clark waited until Lois has said her good-byes privately. Only after Bruce had walked towards the plane did he reveal himself.

"Come to make sure I'm leaving?"

"Actually, I thought we worked pretty well together. Not that I want to make it a regular event."

"She's all yours now. If you can handle that. But you better be good to her, cuz I know where you live," he said pointing a finger at Clark. He watched the plane take off into the sunset, half expecting Khyrran's voice to come from thin air and spout some witty comment. As he turned to leave, he realized that he hadn't heard from Khyrran since a few days after the Kalibak incident. Clark decided that he was going to pay Devlin a visit that night and their parents could just overlook his visit.

Five days later…

Mann'ahoia…

Three days. Khyrran hadn't seen Zaddock in three days. At least that was what her body was telling her. She shifted against the stone wall. After the whip incident, Zaddock had forgotten to take the keys to her manacles. It took her forever to get the damn things since her arms were crossed over her chest and pinned between her and the table. She finally managed to flip them from the floor where he dropped them to her hands. Khyrran knew that she should be trying to escape but without Inahlia's help, her wounds were slow in healing. As in not at all. The monster would peek in on her every so often; breaking any calming effects she had managed to give herself.

The door to the room opened and Khyrran inwardly flinched as Zaddock walked in. It took almost a full minute for the fact that he wasn't wearing the chain mail to register. And then she caught the look in his eyes. She got to her feet, quickly despite the pain and assumed a fighting stance. She might be down, but as long as she was breathing, she wasn't out of this yet.

Zaddock grinned maliciously, as she stood ready to fight. He moved in. And the battle was over before it began.

Hours later…

'That wasn't so hard,' he thought, locking the door behind him. 'A few more rounds of that and she will be broken enough for my "friend" to finish the job. Too bad I got the good end of the deal.' Zaddock yawned and headed for bed. The last thought before he fell asleep was how unfortunate it was for her that he was the one to draw her purity blood.

A/N: 4,979 words. Makes this my longest chapter ever and the hardest to write. Whoot! Anyway: Superman episodes this chapter -- World's Finest Parts 1 (written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Rich Fogel), 2 (written by Steve Gerber), & 3 (written by Stan Berkowitz), and all three directed by Toshihiko Masuda. I played with the dialogue a little bit in part one where Lois and Clark are arriving at the airport before the real writers' script. Yeah I copy/paste. I'm just playin with what y'all already know about the show. Official countdown to the Justice League appearing in my story: 9 chapters… but some of them will be making an appearance before then so keep a look out. Any questions, comments, concerns, etc from this chapter… please feel free to leave a review (flames too, just be prepared to meet my muse with flaming sword in hand) and I'll respond or email me at oneredneckgoddess () hotmail (dot) com.