Aljinon, haha, I'll leave the Cpt. Englehorn/Jedi Knights to you, eh? You're review was very funny. Fabala, thank you for keeping with me and reading!

Chapter Six – The Reconciliation

Silas awoke, feeling sore all over his body. The room was dark for day, and when he looked up, there was a face peering over at him. Startled, Silas drew himself up and muttered, "Who are you?" The face looked at him confused and said, "Don't you remember me? I'm that wench who will burn in Hell." She said in a mocking tone. Silas allowed his body to relax some, but still kept a wary eye on her. Why was she still here? While a part of him was glad to see her, another part longed to incapacitate her. "Rachel," he whispered, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." Rachel sat the bowl on the floor next to her.

When she had come in here that morning, she found his canvas mat covered in blood and sweat, probably tears, and all the way across the room. His dresser was in no better condition as it lay broken in half against the opposite wall. His body lay in a sprawled, face down, bloody, heap on the floor, the cilice wrapped far too tight around his leg, and the Discipline confirming her worst fears. As if this weren't enough, he was naked. The last thing she wanted to see at the time was a bloody, naked man with anger issues. Walking over to him, she nudged him with her toe, and clapped her hands. "Hey! Crazy guy, are you okay?" Silas had given a small groan, but she ignored him and went on cleaning up his mess. The dresser, well, he would need a new one, but seeing how he didn't have any other clothes, it seemed just fine. Once she was done cleaning his room, she rolled his large body on to the mat, looking away in disgust, but staring in intrigue. She threw his cloak on top of him and went to fetch a bowl of soup and cold water.

Silas rubbed his head as she told the story, and let out the same groan. So that's why when he sat up he had to grab his cloak. "Are you okay?" Rachel asked again. Silas nodded and motioned for her to turn around. Rachel slid her body around, facing the wall and started talking. "I don't know why I keep coming back here. I could just take up a spot on the corner of a street, but prison was bad enough without having everyone know you got locked up for being a whore." Silas was tying his belt around when he heard prison. "You went to prison?" he asked slowly, as if saying the words would hurt him. Rachel spun around and said casually, "Yeah, ten years." Silas sat down. He had more in common with her than he thought. Ten years! Just as he had done! Both of them were sinners, but Silas was saved now, and hopefully could help her too! Getting excited, Silas sat directly next to her and said, "Thank you for taking care of me. I realize it must have been difficult..." his voice trailed off. He suddenly remembered how Bishop Aringarosa had already saved him after prison.

"Rachel, have you been saved?" he asked, turning to her. She shook her head. "I don't believe in the same things you do." Silas sat shocked. Here she was, working for Opus Dei, and she did not believe it's message? Preposterous! Silas restrained a growling sound that suddenly arouse in his throat. It is not her fault she has been mislead, he thought to his self as she pulled her hair into a bun and stood. "It's been nice talking to you since I didn't get hurt this time. What's your name?" Silas stood. She was leaving already? But he had so much more he wanted to talk about with her! "Silas. You must leave now?" Rachel smiled and nodded her head. "Don't wreck yourself or anything else while I'm gone, Silas." She walked out, leaving an amused, yet lonely Silas to wait for tomorrow.

Rachel skipped out of the Opus Dei building happier than her first day. "So his name was Silas, well, I guess it fits him," she said to herself as she walked back to her apartment. She wasn't living on the grounds, she couldn't handle that, but her apartment was close. She decided to take her usual shortcut, the one that brought her to face Silas yesterday. As she remembered this, she also remembered how innocent and vulnerable he looked when she found him. A sudden pang of regret and feeling hit her like bad heartburn, and she slowed her walking, grasping her chest. What is this? Unsure, she sat on the nearest bench and tried taking deep breaths. Once her breathing was under control, she slowly began walking again. I need to keep him off my mind. No sooner had she thought this, than when she flipped him over and saw his tear-stained face. Grabbing her head, she felt a tear trickle down her face, and in anger, she wiped it away. Why am I feeling sorry for this guy? I barely know him! She began running, and as she did, she could feel a lump arise in her throat, and finally, as she entered her apartment, let all the tears flow.

---

"Silas, you knew this was going to happen. I cannot help you. I knew it was going to happen. The Way is something you choose to follow, and if you want to give it up for a girl, a non-believer, nonetheless, then by all means, go ahead!"

"The way you say it, seems, unsure."

"I am unsure. You are throwing your life away for her."

"The Way is not my life."

"Of course it isn't, all I'm saying is that she's going to make you change some of your habits, even some you like."

"Like praying for forgiveness after each sin?"

"Yes, but I assume you don't have to pray a lot for sins. Or am I wrong?"

"I will be honest with you Father. I have sinned recently, and in a most horrible way, twice!"

"Tell me, what is it that you have done?"

"I slapped the woman, calling her a wench, and I grabbed her the day after and smelled her."

"Silas! You shouldn't hit women and call them wenches, especially if you love them, which you aren't entirely sure about."

"I know, I know! I apologized afterwards. I do love her."

"And you smelled her as an apology? You can't be sure; you've known her for three days now?"

"No, I didn't. It was more like, curiosity. I smelled her out of curiosity. I have another sin I must confess Father. Yes three days."

"What is this? Three days isn't enough to even start dating."

"I broke the dresser."

"It's okay son, I'll order you a new one. And maybe some new clothes. How long have you had that robe?"

"Ever since I first met you."

"That would be quite a while then wouldn't it?"

"Yes Father, it seems forever."

"Indeed it does, indeed it does. I shall also find you some clothes a man your age would wear nowadays."

"Oh you really shouldn't bother..."

"Oh but I am! So you fit in better with the crowd, and have a better chance of wooing this girl."

"Thank you Father."

Silas left Bishop Aringarosa's office, and headed back to his own room. What would it take for Rachel to realize she loved him?