A/N: Well, I posted...Sorry for taking so long, not completely happy with this chapter or the title of this chapter, but that's just cuz it's not to the interesting stuff yet. Just NaNoWriMo. As per usual I don't own this world and stuff, everything goes to Tamora Pierce.

Kel was standing alone I the woods outside of New Hope. Sun was streaming through the leaves, warming Kel as well as bringing the look of a stained glass window to the landscape. She heard someone approach her and spun quickly her sword drawn.

"Oh," she said obviously surprised when she saw who it was that had come upon her. "Sorry about that." Kel grinned, "Nice to see you, Dom".

Dom moved closer and lifted his hand up to gently cup her face, Kel sighed and leaned into it. "You know it wasn't nice of you to greet me this way." Dom scolded. "I would have much rather seen you up and about instead of having to sneak in here to see you." This confused Kel, she tried to respond but found that she was unable to speak, which was odd, since she had had no trouble earlier. "Although I can't say I mind too much, you aren't so guarded in you sleep. It helps me understand you." Kel was even more confused, she tried to tell him she was awake, but her voice wasn't working.

Slowly, Dom dropped his hand from her face and turned to walk away. Kel watched him walk away, perplexed by this peculiar conversation.

XXXXXXXX

Kel was still drowsy when she finally did wake up. Yawning and stretching she sat up, glad that she no longer felt any pain in her side. Grinning she turned to see Yuki entering the room with a tray of food.

"Glad to see you're finally awake. I was wondering when you would, you're usually up with the sun." Yuki teased and set down the food. "I would suggest you hurry up and get ready, your refugees are worried, they are incessantly pestering Neal and I about your well-being." Yuki turned and left the room to allow Kel some privacy as she prepared for the day.

Kel scarfed down her food, and rushed to get ready. Yuki's comment made her worry. She was simply positive that something terrible must have happened while she was out of commission. Kel walked out of the building and was greeted by the cheers of everyone in New Hope. Taken aback by the warm greeting she received, Kel stopped, blushing slightly when she noticed Dom standing among the crowd. Her gaze lingered on his face momentarily before she turned to address her people.

"Nice to know that you all missed me." Kel said trying to keep the laughter out of her voice while glancing around the crowd with a wide smile on her face. "I'm just fine as you all can see, thanks to our wonderful healer. If you guys have anything you need to discuss I am now ready for it, as usual. Now be about your business, I sure hope this camp hasn't gone to the dogs in the two days I was out of commission."

"Never!" One man shouted from the mass before her. Kel grinned at that remark.

"Now, I am sure you all have something important to do when not looking after your commander." Kel said, she didn't enjoy being surrounded by so many people. It made her nervous.

The crowd dispersed after she finished talking, going to do whatever they usually do during the week. Dom walked up to Kel, greeting her.

"Dom! It's good to see you!" Kel smiled warmly at her long-time friend and crush. "When did you guys get in? The message I received didn't specify when you guys would arrive – damn it! I forgot to tell Neal and Merric you guys were coming didn't I."

"That's all right, Meathead got along just fine," Dom smiled, his sapphire blue eyes conveyed only a fraction of the worry he actually felt. Kel, however, took what she saw in his eyes as only the concern a friend might show. "Well, with one or two of his famous tantrums. It was fun."

"Nothing more than what I expected from Meathead. Nobody tried to kill him while I was out did they?" Kel asked jokingly, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Not yet, but if they had to deal with him for one more day, it may have happened." Dom replied, smiling, if possible, even wider. His eyes twinkled merrily with withheld laughter

"Speaking of the devil, where is he? Not that I'm looking forward to getting any more to that lecture about keeping myself." Kel said glancing around to avoid staring to deeply into Dom's gorgeous eyes. "Hopefully I'll get to avoid it." Kel added optimistically.

"Why would you want to see him when you've got me?" Dom laughed. "He's in the healer's quarters. I wouldn't count on being able to avoid one of his lectures, with the way he's been carrying on I expect that you're in for it."

Kel sighed, "I guess so. Well, I must make sure that New Hope hasn't completely gone to the dogs while I was out, so we can catch up later?"

"Sure, I'll see you later Kel." Dom watched as Kel walked right back into the building she had just exited to get to work on the multitude of reports that awaited her.

XXXXXXXX

Dom sighed as he walked away from Kel. He had wanted to talk to her more, but things got in the way. He was glad that she was better now. Neal had done a good job of patching her up, but Dom still wished that there wasn't a need for it. Unreasonable as it may seem, he didn't like the thought of Kel endangering herself, even though he knew perfectly well that she could defend herself. She was a knight! She didn't need him worrying over her every time she went into battle or was mildly injured.

Dom wandered through the camp, not really sure where he was headed until he found himself outside of the healer's quarters. Sighing he walked in to find Neal sitting with his feet up on his desk.

"I was trying to take a nap, whoever you are." Neal said irritably, not opening his eyes.

"Is that any way to great your cousin?"

"Oh, it's you." Neal cracked one eye open. "What do you want?"

"Do I have to have a reason to come and see my cousin at work?" Dom asked innocently.

"Lately, I'm beginning to think you do." Neal responded quite seriously to his cousin's banter. "I also have a feeling that reason has to do with a certain someone we know."

"I have no idea what you are talking about cousin, but whatever is going on in that delusional brain of yours I'm happy to stay out of." Dom stated calmly, nothing in his face betrayed what was really going on in his mind. He had a feeling he knew exactly what Neal was talking about, but refused to acknowledge it to his cousin.

"Whatever you say, Dom." Neal sighed. "Well then, if that isn't what you're here for then what is it?"

"Just thought I'd pop in and see what you were up to and if you up for a friendly sparing match to see if you haven't lost all of your training, healer that you are." Dom challenged, grinning, knowing he had succeeded in distracted his cousin from the way this conversation might have gone.

"Now?" Neal exclaimed, exasperated. "Can't you see I've got work to do?"

"So you call napping work now do you?" Said Dom, still determined to make this a light-hearted conversation.

"Shut it." Neal said shortly. "I've hardly had any time to relax these past few days since Kel's been out of commission, so if you don't mind. I fully intend to take a nap right now unless you happen to have some sort of injury or illness that needs attending to."

"All right, all right," Dom shook his head and turned to go. "I can see that I'm not wanted, I'll leave you to your sleep." He left the room and spontaneously decided that he would see if Kel wanted to head on over to the mess hall with him for lunch.

It didn't take him long to walk the short distance between the healer's quarters and the building Kel's office and rooms were in. He walked casually through the front door and down the hallway before stopping in front of Kel's room when he heard voices. He had just decided to leave when he heard Kel speaking. Curious, he ended up staying to listen after all.

"-it was so odd!" Kel mentioned to whomever was in the room with her. "In my dream he was saying the strangest things, Yuki. I know dreams don't usually make much sense, but this one didn't make any sense. It was down right weird."

"Kel, I wouldn't think too much of it, after all it was just a dream." Yuki responded, trying not to let Kel to read too much into this.

"But Dom was saying things that didn't make sense, such as the fact that I'm not as guarded in my sleep!" Kel said a little too loudly.

Dom's eyes widened, his handsome face drained of color as he realized what she was talking about. He quickly stole out of the building, desperate to get away from her. You don't think she? No, she couldn't, she was fast asleep, there is no way she could know that I came to see her last night! Dom's mind was racing; he couldn't believe that Kel had some sort of dream involving what he had whispered to her while she was sleeping.

Desperate for some time to think by himself, he saddled his horse and went for a ride out into the woods surrounding New Hope, ignoring the offers for an armed escort.

A/N: What did you think? I had the beginning in mind when I wrote Dom's creeperness. Please don't kill me for not updating in a while? Please? Is it too much to ask you to review as well? Remember if I die you don't get to know how it ends...and the next chapter has action in it! Oh and if you are wondering why I am not posting, check my profile, which I know none of you did during the month of November. Till next time TouchofGrayce