Author's note: There is supposed to be more humor in this chapter than seriousness, I hope it shows through. I have rewritten bits of this chapter, because I'm uncomfortable with how many lines from the game I had used. So, for my own comfort, I changed it. Enjoy!

Cari shifted restlessly in her sleep.

Her dreams tempted her, tormented her. Dreams about the sultry, yet furtive looks she threw Bishop across the common room, thoughts about the lustful glances she'd receive in return… Dreams about how he would always seem to be waiting outside the Flagon's bath whenever she emerged, her skin glistening, a towel barely covering her lithe body. Dreams about how he always stood close to the door, so she could get right up against him and brush her breasts tantalizingly against his chest…

Dreams about how he would grab her waist to slide by her in the kitchen and lightly grind his hips against hers, his touch blazing hot… about how she would occasionally come to eat in just her smallclothes, loving the look of longing in his eyes...

Her imagination took over. She was standing in front of him, his hands on her hips and her arms around his shoulders. His eyes smoldered in the torchlight of her room.

'Well now,' she whispered, her lips a mere breath from his, 'It's wonderful to know you've been pining for me all this time, but what are you going to do about it?'

'This,' he growled, pulling her hips towards his and kissing her hungrily, fervently, his hands roaming all over her back, caressing her neck, twisting in her hair…

He pulled away. 'What are we waiting for?' he breathed, claiming her lips once more, his kiss savage, intense…

Wait a minute, she thought, her mind conscious again, Bishop sounded like Duncan.

Oh, Hells…

Wait… no that is Duncan.

Her eyes flew open at the sound of her uncle pounding on her door.

"Lass, get up, we're under attack, grab a weapon and-arrg!"

"Duncan!" Her heart pounded in her ears as she scrambled out of bed, grabbed her swords, and raced out the door, her long hair flying behind her like a war banner.

Duncan had drawn away two githyanki, holding them at bay by punching out at them and then ducking to avoid their swords. One had its weapon raised to bring it down on his head.

Where in the Hells is she? he thought as he dropped to the floor, She should be up by now! I kind of need her-

He gasped as the githyanki in front of him suddenly stopped mid-swing. The tip of a silver blade poked through the gith's chest for a few seconds before it disappeared, causing the gith to crumple in a heap at Duncan's feet.

"Nice to see ya, lass!" he shouted as the other gith roared in anger and swung his sword at Cari.

"Good to see you too, Duncan!" she yelled, dodging the blow from the gith and removing his head from his shoulders in one smooth swing. She heard Grobnar scream and bolted to the common room, with Duncan on her heels.

"Lass, couldn't you have taken the time to at least put on some actual clothes?" Duncan barked at her as her short, silk nightgown fluttered about her legs. "Or at least some shoes?"

"Oh, do forgive me, Uncle," she said sarcastically, "I was too busy saving your behind from githyanki, I completely forgot to put on pants!" She jumped up and kicked another gith square in the chest, knocking him flat on his back before driving her swords into his chest.

Duncan was thoroughly relieved to discover she was wearing smallclothes.

Khelgar paused briefly in his attempt to dislodge his axe from the back of another fallen githyanki, who lay sprawled across a table. "Duncan's right, lass, you should at least be decent for a fight. Is that what you always sleep in?"

Cari screamed in frustration as she sliced into the stomach of the gith in front of her. "Don't you have anything better to do than to lecture me about my clothing choices?"

"She's right, you know," Neeshka said, driving her daggers into the throat of the gith who had just attempted to slit hers, "We do have more pressing matters than the amount of skin Cari's showing at the moment."

"Thank you!" Cari yelled. She yelped as an arrow whizzed over her head, and she whipped around as another one zipped over her shoulder. She grinned as she saw a githyanki standing nearby fall to the ground, arrows sticking out of his skull and neck.

Bishop drew another arrow and scanned the room, looking for more githyanki. A vicious smile spread across his lips as he spotted one just behind Duncan.

I could probably kill him now and claim it was an accident…he thought cruelly. That would take care of everything…

If you hadn't just showed off for Cari by barely missing her... his voice of reason replied.

He had faltered when she ran in the room. She had distracted him so much he had nearly planted an arrow in the gnome's ass. As if her skimpy nightgown wasn't enough to distract him, her long, dark hair was loose and unruly, matching the wild light that blazed in her eyes. He had never seen her use her weapons before, save for the time she had pinned him to the table, and he had to admit, she was skilled with her blades, gracefully slashing and stabbing with them as if they weighed nothing.

You know, he thought, in the midst of battle, she really looks like some agent of Death./i.

Huh, who'd've thought that Duncan's little niece was as fierce as she is. I like a woman who can handle herself, even with the paladin always butting in.

Ugh, the paladin...

Just then, Casavir strode into the room, sword in hand and wearing his short, linen smallclothes. He stopped dead at the sight of Cari fighting in her nightgown, and a deep flush rose in his cheeks. "Milady, I believe it is far more prudent to fight in armor, rather than that, that, silk thing you're wearing now."

Cari snorted in disgust.

Not now, Casavir, she thought angrily, a little busy at the moment!

"You really should go change into your leathers, we have this under control."

Cari stopped and stared at him. "Casavir, are you serious? You do realize that I pretty much rolled out of bed and started fighting? Says the man in his smallclothes?"

"Yes, it is rather obvious that you were sleep-"

"Casavir, I was sleeping. Besides, your snoring scared most of the enemy out here, they thought we had a dire bear locked up!"

He chuckled, carefully avoiding looking at her body. "Sorry if my snoring is so loud, but at least it kept the githyanki away from the customers. And be thankful I have on my smallclothes. If I came out in what I sleep in…" he shrugged, shook his head, and then drove his sword into the chest the last gith.

"Ooh, ooh, if I came out in what I sleep in, I'd be in this wonderfully warm red one-piece set of pajamas that keep me so cozy when it's cold!" Grobnar interjected, happily searching the bodies for anything useful.

"Do they come with their own butt-flap in the back?" Qara muttered under her breath, brushing soot off her dressing gown.

"Now that the battle's over, should I change?" Cari said aggressively, her swords sticking out as she put her hands on her hips, "Or is everyone going to continue to tell me my nightgown's too short?"

"That's not what's important right now, Cari. That lass, Shandra, she's gone!" Duncan said, his voice breaking in panic, "The githyanki took her!"

"Well then," Bishop said derisively, "You'd best get going if you have any hopes of tracking them down, because I surely won't."

Cari had rarely seen him out of his leather armor, and whenever he was, he usually wore a simple dark tunic and linens, but now, as he stood over the body of a fallen githyanki, wearing only his trousers, sweat and scars shining in the torchlight, she had to admit... she was impressed.

She watched the way the muscles in his back flexed as he leaned down to examine the remains. "Ah, look, a piece of Duskwood," he drawled, picking up a small twig from the gith's boot. He took a deep breath in, letting the scent of the sprig fill his senses. "That's Luskan wood."

"Wouldn't that be your area of expertise, Bishop?" Duncan asked, squaring his shoulders and glaring at him.

"Yes, it is," Bishop said coldly, straightening up and throwing the piece of Duskwood aside, "But you forget something important. I don't care. I'm not running into Luskan territory after some pathetic farmgirl who can't even take care of herself, and I'm certainly not going with a woman who doesn't have enough sense to dress properly."

Oh, really now? Cari thought. Fine, be an ass.

Her hands fell to the hilts of her swords. "It would be such a shame to mar that handsome face of yours, ranger," she snarled, "So perhaps you should cooperate."

"Oh," Bishop smirked, secretly enjoying her spirit, her fire, "The woman hears no and she threatens me. Happens all the time. I'm used to it. In any case, you're both dumb and deaf if you don't get it by now: it is not my problem."

Cari had rarely exchanged words with Bishop since she had pinned him to the table, but she had to admit, she found his aggressive demeanor... exciting. She liked the way his eyes lingered on the small slit in her skirt, how they traveled up her body to her breasts, how she could nearly see him thinking about how he'd slip the straps off her shoulders.

Part of her hoped that he couldn't tell that she was eyeing him as well, but the other part of her knew that he did, and that he liked it. She enjoyed drinking in the sight of his body, all lean, powerful muscle, and she especially liked the dusting of dark hair that rippled over his impressive chest and stomach, drawing her eyes down to the waistband of his trousers, which, sadly, prevented her from seeing anything else.

"Well, not bad, eh?" Neeshka whispered in her ear.

"What do you mean?" Cari mumbled, watching the staring contest going on between her uncle and Bishop, who had reluctantly lifted his gaze from her breasts.

"Told you he looked good," Neeshka sighed, swishing her tail excitedly.

"Yeah he does… you were right. How did you find that out, by the way?"

"You really should tell your uncle that the lock on the bath's broken."

Ah, saw that one coming.

Duncan cleared his throat and sighed heavily.

"You will be helping them Bishop," he said firmly, "Whether you like it or not."

"What could you possibly say that could-?"

Oh, my… Cari thought excitedly as she watched her uncle fold his arms over his chest and give Bishop a look of deepest loathing, Duncan's angry…

Bishop set his jaw, eyes blazing in anger. "So, now you call it due, do you? Is that it?"

"You won't go after Shandra willingly. If this is what it takes to get you to go, then so be it."

"Fine," Bishop spat furiously, "You old fool. You wasted it, but that's fine by me. At least I'll be rid of you."

Duncan sighed. "If that's what it takes, Bishop."

Bishop nodded, letting his lip curl into a snarl, as though eager to say something venomous, but instead, he turned to Cari, deciding to not bother with Duncan another moment. "All right, go get your things, we're heading into Luskan territory." He chuckled suggestively. "I'll let you go change into your armor… unless you plan on seducing the enemy into cooperating."

Cari smirked and walked forward, letting the thin silk that covered her breasts graze against his skin. "I'd have done it to you, but Duncan got there first," she murmured, winking. "Negotiating works far better than threats, anyway. It's a shame, too, because I'm quite… vigorous when it comes to negotiating."

Bishop arched an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling into a seductive half-smile. "I'm sure," he grinned, inwardly savoring the warmth of her body so close to his, "Perhaps we could have worked something out." He gently brushed a finger down the hollow of her throat, not missing her sharp sigh of pleasure, the soft sound sending a wonderful shiver up his spine. "You'd find that I can be quite… demanding. I'm not an easy man to please, are you sure you would have been up to the task?"

Oh, that's not fair... Cari thought, her desires starting to overwhelm her, Challenging me like that...

Slipping the tip of her tongue between her lips, she let her gaze fall briefly to the waistband of his trousers before snapping them back up to his eyes, eyes of intense, piercing amber. "You wouldn't have been disappointed, I'll tell you that," she purred, giving him her most alluring, enticing smile. She stepped even closer to him and pressed her belly against his, so he could feel the heat of her skin. "Perhaps we could-"

"Cari," Duncan interrupted, scowling, the warning obvious in his voice, "Perhaps it would be best if you just put on your armor now." He advanced on them and Cari quickly took a step back, startled by the look of fury on his face. "The longer you wait, the more danger Shandra will be in. I have called my debt due. There is nothing you can do to change my mind. Now go get dressed."

"Your smelly, drunken uncle is right, Cari," Bishop said scathingly, silently seething at Duncan's interruption, "For once. Leather does tend to stop weapons better than silk, so it'd be better if you changed."

Cari rolled her eyes and shook her head, angry with herself that she had come so close to giving in. "All right, give me ten minutes. I'll be back."

"Don't keep me waiting," Bishop chuckled, narrowing his eyes at Duncan, "Or I just might change my mind."

She turned on her heel and flipped her long hair over her shoulder, brushing it against his bare chest. "You won't, but I'll be back."

Bishop watched as the muscles in her long, lean legs rippled under her pale skin, and he couldn't help but smile to himself.

Hells, he thought, I can't wait to have those legs wrapped around my waist...

Bet she's flexible, too... Flexible's always good...

Suddenly, Grobnar turned and looked at Bishop, his face an odd mask of innocence and confusion.

Oh, damn! A panicked voice said in his head, Did I say that out loud?

"Err, Sir Bishop, is it? Did you just say something about Cari's legs?"

Oh, fuck...

"I don't know what you're talking about, gnome."

"I'm fairly sure I heard you say something about Cari's legs and your waist, Sir Bishop."

Bishop could feel Duncan's eyes burning a hole in the back of his head. He turned in time to see Duncan stomp off towards Cari's room.

Damn it, Duncan…

"No, Grobnar," Bishop hissed, grinding his teeth in irritation, "I said nothing of the sort, now drop it."

"All right," Grobnar said happily, slipping back into his usual pleasantly-oblivious state of consciousness.

Bishop shook his head as he walked back to his room to put on his own armor, Karnwyr at his side.

Damn temptress, he muttered to himself, a reluctant, shuddering moan passing through his clenched teeth as he stepped through his door, I can't believe I let it get so out of hand. She's not supposed to be in control! I can't let that happen again...

She has to want me... I have to bide my time, and then make my move...

Why Bish talk of black-furred female like big, fat deer? Karnwyr asked Bishop, cocking his furry head to one side as he settled down on the rug beside Bishop's bed. Bish looking for mate? I not sure black-furred female make good mate.

Bishop looked down at his animal companion as he slipped into his leathers.

Why not? He sent back. Cari's pretty enough.

She smell like Jaral, Karnwyr thought, his face scrunched in displeasure, Cat who live with elf nearby.

Bishop adjusted the worn buckles on his armor, loosening them a bit around his shoulders.

Damn having broad shoulders. Anyway… Karnwyr, you don't like her because she smells like Sand's cat?

Yes, Bish, she smell like cat. Karnwyr sniffed, as though being a cat were some dangerous, unwanted affliction.

Did you ever stop to think she just spends a lot of time with Sand? Bishop replied. I've seen him make her potions, and I know for a fact that she sneaks his ale purgatives in without Duncan knowing.

No, I no know that, Karnwyr grumbled, still not liking that she smelled like cat, But I guess that fine. She also smell like you, so I guess that fine too.

She smells like me? Bishop thought, pulling the door open and ushering Karnwyr out towards the common room.

Yes, Bish, Cari smell like you. She smell like blood and sweat and salt too.

I smell like blood and sweat? And salt? He said, indignant, I bathe, you know.

Bish, yes, you wash, but that your scent. And she smell like you.

Funny, I always thought she smelled like vanilla and cinnamon.

Well, that too, Karnwyr thought, shaking his furry head.

Bishop sighed to himself as he walked back to the common room, and he rolled his eyes as he spotted Grobnar gleefully bouncing in place, crossbow in one hand and an apple in the other, singing a song about Whitethistle.

Oh, lovely, he thought sarcastically, This bodes well for the trip...

I can't wait.