Author's note: This is mainly some sexual tension between Cari and Bishop, and some plot advancement. Enjoy! This has been updated as well, to take out and alter some of the excessive game lines, and to add a bit more to the tension. I did keep the bit with the githyanki priest the same, just because I didn't have the heart to change it, it's so hilarious as it is! I hope it was worth it...

"Would you let me heal that for you, Bishop?" Casavir asked, exasperated.

"Casavir, I'd rather dunk my head in a bucket of searing hot wax, thank you," Bishop said sarcastically.

"I could arrange that, you know."

"Oh ha-ha, paladin, you're so funny. Did that sense of humor come with your vows to Tyr?"

Cari shook her head as she looked down at Neeshka. She was breathing normally and her color was good, but she was still weak from the effects of the spell. Cari's ears perked up as heard the distinct sound of footsteps crashing through the overgrowth back to the campfire.

Three, two, one…

"That man is the most insufferable, unpleasant, egotistical jackass I've ever had the misfortune to have stumbled upon!" Casavir yelled, throwing his arms into the air, "You talk to him, the longer I do the more likely I am to stab him. I'm going to bed," he said, dropping down on his bedroll and pulling the blanket up to his neck, seething.

"Of course, you get your beauty rest," Cari said sarcastically, grabbing a healing kit and ducking as Casavir threw a sock at her head. She smirked to herself as she walked over to where Bishop sat, gingerly touching the bolt that protruded from his shoulder.

"Oh, did the paladin send in reinforcements?" Bishop growled as Cari sat down next to him.

"If by reinforcements, you mean me, then yes," Cari said smoothly. "Now, how's that wound of yours?"

"Tender," he said painfully, "We need to get this out, because I think I'm reacting to the wood."

"I wouldn't be surprised. Can you get your armor off?"

Bishop nodded. "Not without help though," he said, grinning wolfishly.

Cari's lips twitched into a smile. "Alright, let's get this off of you." She and Bishop clumsily worked on the buckles of his leathers, the dim light from the moon and the nearby fire doing little to aid their work. After nearly half a candle they had managed to get his shoulderguards off and Cari sat back on her heels, recognizing defeat. She brushed her long hair off her face.

"This isn't working," she said, examining the buckles on his breastplate, "Let me work alone, I'll finish up."

"A beautiful woman undressing me?" Bishop said seductively, straightening up and slowly pulling his shoulders back, "What's not to like?"

Cari went to work on his buckles, very much aware of the way Bishop was watching her, desire burning in his eyes as she touched his body.

I hope to Cyric he can't tell how nervous I am right now, she thought anxiously.

Her heart raced as she wrapped her arms around his neck, fingering the remaining buckles on his back. She suppressed a shiver as his stubble scraped against her skin. She reached further down and jumped as his good arm wrapped around her waist and nuzzled his cheek against her neck.

Hells, Bishop, you've got an arrow in your shoulder, and everyone's camped ten feet away. Not right now.

Stop teasing me! Or I'll return it, damn it!

Finally loosening the last buckle, Cari slowly pulled the leather away from Bishop's chest, easing it carefully over the bolt. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that he didn't wear anything under his armor, but less pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't a clean through-and-through: the arrowhead was embedded in his shoulder.

"It didn't poke through the other side, Bishop, what-"

"Push it through," he growled.

"What?"

"You'll have to push it through, or else the head will cause more damage on its way out."

"I know, but isn't there any-"

"Push. It. Through."

Cari winced as she looked at the wound. She bit her lip and loosened the strap on her thigh that held the sheath for her dagger.

"Bite on this," she said quietly, holding up the piece of leather. "I don't want you cracking your teeth."

"Ah, you do care. Give it here," he said, taking it from her. "Break off the tail, then put one hand on my chest and push on the bolt. It'll go through. Then pull it out."

Cari nodded as Bishop bit down on the leather strap. She carefully snapped the tail off the bolt and threw it aside. She leaned forward on her knees and gently pressed a hand against his chest, smiling to herself as his soft hair tickled her fingers. She could feel his heartbeat racing against her fingertips.

She gritted her teeth as she pressed her other hand to the now-splintered end of the bolt. "Ready?" she whispered. Bishop nodded, his jaw muscles clenched around the leather strap. "Three, two, one," she said quietly, grimacing as she pushed hard, forcing the bolt through his shoulder.

HELLSHELLSHELLS! Ouch, ouch, OW, ouch, ouch… HELLS THAT HURTS!!

The strap muffled Bishop's scream. His back arched in pain as Cari reached around and pulled the bolt out. She tossed it into the darkness and grabbed her healing kit.

"Here, drink this," she muttered, handing him a healing potion as she quickly wrapped a bandage around his shoulder in an attempt to staunch the bleeding.

Bishop spat out the leather strap and downed the potion in one gulp, spluttering as he swallowed. "Hells, woman! That tasted awful. Did Duncan make that?"

Cari laughed as she tied the bandage tight, returning her hand to his chest so she could check the linen's durability. "You really should let Casavir look at this in the morning, he's a much better healer than I am and you're too good an archer for me to lose."

Aw, a compliment, he thought to himself, how sweet.

Bishop rolled his eyes and looked at his shoulder. "I know, I probably will. I just didn't want the paladin touching my chest," he smirked. Cari gasped as he grabbed her wrist. "And you haven't let me thank you yet," he said suggestively, slowly pulling her hand down his chest, trailing her fingernails along his stomach.

She leaned in as he guided her hand to the waistband of his trousers and eased her fingertips under the fabric. "And how do you intend to thank me?" she breathed, her hair brushing his skin as she pressed her other hand against the powerful muscles of his chest.

"It depends," he said softly, leaning forward, their lips barely an inch apart, "What do you want?" She could see the longing blazing in his wolfish eyes.

Oh, Bishop, I know you'd like to thank me this way, but not yet. You're not getting me yet, especially not in the woods.

Though you're certainly tempting me… she thought, smiling to herself.

Maybe…

Smiling evilly, she stroked the waistband, letting her fingers travel farther down before hesitating. She brushed something thick and warm, and he groaned softly as she felt him stir. Her smile widened.

"What I want is-"

"Cari? Cari, where are you?"

She groaned as Bishop let go of her wrist and smacked his forehead.

Well, that worked too, I guess. The gnome is a form of birth control.

"I'm over here, Grobnar, what's the matter?"

The gnome came crashing through the underbrush, his arms flailing wildly. He stopped dead at the sight of Cari leaning over a half-naked Bishop.

"My, did I interrupt the human mating ritual?"

Bishop let out a low growl as Cari rolled her eyes. "No, Grobnar, it's fine, I was helping Bishop with his wound. What's the matter?"

"There's a spider! A big one!" he said, his eyes wide and fearful.

"You've taken on orcs and goblins before, and now you're afraid of a spider?"

"The orcs and goblins weren't in my bedroll, Cari, you know how I am about things in my bedroll!"

"And you couldn't get Casavir or Khelgar because…?"

"You know how hard they are to wake up, Cari! Please, come kill it, I'm scared."

"Even the gnome has something sharing his bedroll," Bishop muttered, glaring at him.

"Please, Cari, I'm scared!"

"Fine, fine, I'll go take care of it, I need some rest anyway. It's Casavir's turn for the watch," Cari said, sighing. "You'll be fine, right, Bishop?"

"In some ways," he growled, throwing the gnome a dirty look as he leaned back, pulling his blanket over him.

Cari smirked. "You'll be fine, I'm sure. Now, where's this spider?"

Grobnar grabbed her hand and led her back to the campfire. "It's over here, it's huge!"

Bishop rolled his eyes as he drifted off to sleep, the pain in his shoulder a dull ache.

So close! So gods-damned close! She was touching me, by the Hells!

I'm thinking the gnome should join me for some target practice, he thought bitterly, remembering the way her skin felt against his chest, I prefer chasing live targets anyway…

ooooo

Oh, Cyric's blood, Cari thought irritably, Don't these gith have something better to do?

"All right," she muttered under her breath, "Who saw this coming?"

"Me," Bishop and Neeshka whispered.

They had finally made it up to the githyanki base, fighting their way past patrols and scouts and other annoyances, only to be stopped at the entrance by a priest who enjoyed hearing herself talk. She 'claimed' it was because it sweetened the taste of their deaths, but Cari knew she was just a gigantic windbag with a nice katana.

As Cari looked at the gith surrounding her, she noticed that they were predominantly male, save for the priest.

Actually, most of the githyanki I've met are male, I wonder why that is...

"Fine, since I can ask you questions, I've got one for you: why are all the githyanki I've seen men?"

The priest snorted, or did something Cari assumed to be a snort. "Githyanki men typically serve the Lich Queen from the Astral home. Most males are too weak in their mental disciplines to be proper leaders or warriors."

"She may be evil, but she is so right," Neeshka whispered. Cari was just thrilled that Neeshka had recovered. Granted, she was still a little shaky, but a good night's rest seemed to do wonders.

"Tell me about it," Qara muttered as Cari giggled.

"Why, I've never observed that… have I?" Grobnar asked, rather oblivious as Khelgar muttered something that sounded like a mix of dwarven obscenities and battle-cries.

"Well, I say we put that theory to the test… right now," Bishop snarled, fingering the string on his bow.

Cari shook her head. "Men have their… uses," she said smoothly, grinning slightly as the men in her party threw her dirty looks, save for Grobnar.

"Yes, they do. I have been away from the Astral home for some time and have not… indulged myself." Cari had a split second to wipe the look of disgust off her face before the priest spoke again. "Perhaps your human servant, the tall, dark one will suffice. Give him over to me willingly, and I can offer you a faster, painless death," she said, pointing at Bishop.

"You couldn't possibly pay me enough," Bishop spat, glaring at Cari, "And even if you could, I'd need a few kegs of Duncan's ale first,"

She'd better not be thinking what I hope she's not thinking, no way, no way in the Hells… his mind screamed, I know I'm guilty of bedding an ugly wench after a night of heavy drinking, but I don't go for green and splotchy.

"You're not taking Bishop," Cari said firmly, stepping in front of him, her grip tight on her swords.

Bishop grimaced. "Glad we understand each other. I'll never be that desperate," he paused for a moment, thinking. "And if I am, go ahead and kill me."

"I'd be happy to," Casavir muttered, smirking at Bishop.

"Ah, so the Kalach-Cha has a reason for keeping this human servant around. Is this the mate of the Kalach-Cha? If so, kill him now, kill him slowly, as she watches."

"You know, I'm not entirely sure that's going to work," Cari said lightly, drawing her steel, "Because if you touch him or any one of my companions, you're going to find yourselves on the wrong end of a sword."

The priest sneered. "I've lost interest in speaking with you, Kalach-Cha. Slay the Kalach-Cha, for Zeeaire!"

"You know, it would be nice to just talk to them for once, instead of slaughtering them all the time," Cari said sarcastically as she lunged for the priest.

"Aye, lass, but where's the fun in that?" Khelgar yelled, diving headlong into battle.

"Oh Khelgar..." Cari muttered, shaking her head.

ooooo

"Ignore the words of this criminal! They are deceptions…"

If I had a gold piece for every time I heard that, well…

"…she seeks to manipulate you, as our illithid masters once did! Do not allow it!"

Bishop leaned in and Cari shivered as his lips brushed against her ear. "Looks like she lost some face, I think we can safely count on some deflections in case things turn nasty."

She nodded before turning back to Zeeaire. "Listen, I've listened to you ramble now for a good five minutes. I'm ready to face whatever punishment you have for me."

She pretended to listen as Zeeaire attempted to scare her with talk of "dying and being brought back to life and killed again," and Cari rolled her eyes.

"Then take me to the Lich Queen, I'll kill her too," she said lazily, keeping an eye on Shandra in the corner.

If I can distract Zeeaire enough, I can use that stone I got from Mephasm and break that portal, and maybe Shandra can get to safety…

"I am prepared to offer a swift, painless death for you and your companions," Zeeaire spat, "If you will but freely hand over the shards you have taken."

"Funny," Cari snarled, "Because I was about to offer you the same thing." She frowned as Zeeaire laughed and held out her shriveled hand.

"Do you really think you can keep such powerful relics of my people?" Zeeaire said quietly as the shards danced in mid-air in front of Cari. "They do not belong to you. They are ours. But… odd, I have all the ones you carry, yet it seems you still possess one…"

What in the nine Hells…?

Zeeaire threw her arms up in the air and Cari screamed.

Ohgodohgodohgod, that hurts, that hurts, that HURTS!

Her back arched in pain as she was lifted up off the ground, a dull glow emanating from the scar above her left breast.

"You have a piece of the sword inside you," Zeeaire said quietly, pointing at Cari's chest. Cari clenched her jaw as pain seared through her once more; her feet now far off the ground. Her companions gathered around her as she screamed, in a misture of pain and disgust as she felt the shard pushing against her skin.

"And I shall take it from you, by force!" Zeeaire shrieked, dropping Cari and grabbing her greatsword. "Attack!"

Some of the nearby gith lunged for Cari and her companions, some stayed back. "Bishop, here!" Cari yelled, tossing him the stone Mephasm had left behind.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" he shouted, looking down at the stone, confused.

"Sir Bishop, just throw it at the portal! It'll work, I promise!" Grobnar yelled as he ran around the githyanki's legs, trying to get out a song.

"You'd better hope so, gnome," Bishop muttered, hurling the stone at Zeeaire.

The sword-stalker shrieked as her portal disintegrated around her. "No, the portal… I must kill you quickly, for every moment on this plane will pass like a year!" she screamed, lunging at Cari.

But Cari was ready. She blocked the blow from the other woman's greatsword and swung around, plunging her swords into Zeeaire's neck.

With her portal destroyed, it didn't take long for Cari and her companions to overpower Zeeaire and her githyanki. Soon, Zeeaire lay dying at Cari's feet, her hands clutching the fatal wound in her side.

"You, you think this is over? You are wrong, Kalach-Cha, and I hope the pain you have brought here today is revisited upon you a thousand-fold. You will now face this greater threat, this King of Shadows, alone."

"We could have worked it out, done something, but you kept trying to kill me!" Cari said indignantly.

Zeeaire chuckled feebly as blood dripped from her mouth. "I will see you in death, Kalach-Cha, and I do not think I will have to wait long."

The sword-stalker collapsed, and the shards she had taken from Cari fell out of her bag.

"We could have worked it out, you know," Cari whispered, bending down and picking up the shards, "You're just lucky I didn't snap your neck instead."

"Oi, Cari! I got Shandra out!" Neeshka yelled as she helped Shandra up. Cari and the rest of her companions strode over to them.

"I am getting so sick and tired of you rescuing me," Shandra whined, brushing dirt off her trousers, "Just give me the chance to rescue you, so I can finally pay you back."

"Oh, don't worry, girl, you'll have plenty of time to pay us back," Bishop said suggestively, testing Cari's jealousy "Over and over again, judging by how far we've had to go to rescue you." Cari glared at him.

I'm not liking your tone, ranger, she thought to herself.

"You all put me in danger!" Shandra said defiantly, "I'm not paying you one single coin!"

"Then you'll be paying me another way," Bishop said smoothly, his eyes traveling up and down Shandra's body, "My bedroll's a little cold at night, I'm thinking you can fix that."

Cari barely suppressed the urge to punch his smug, gloating face.

Oh, no, no, no, that just won't do, bad idea.

That bastard, after what happened between us... I can't believe I almost gave in!

Fine! He can do whatever he wants, I don't care!

"How about I light you on fire, Bishop? That'd solve two problems," Neeshka said excitedly, giving Cari a sly pat on the back.

"And how about you watch your tongue before I cut it out, Bishop?" Cari snarled, smirking.

Ah... Cari's jealous. Perfect. Just what I wanted...

"Jealousy's thick in this little band, I see. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about your pretty face, fair leader," Bishop taunted, bowing slightly, a predatory smile on his face, "Perhaps you'd be willing to make a better offer?"

Jackass, utter and absolute jackass. And I thought I was bad.

"I won't have you speaking to her or anyone else that way, Bishop," Casavir growled, "Unless you want to find yourself on the wrong end of a sword."

"Oh, really, what a surprise. How would you feel if I left you here in Luskan territory with your righteousness to keep you company?" Bishop said coldly, "I'm just thinking you haven't gotten any in a while, maybe you should bed the farm girl instead."

"First off, don't talk about Shandra that way," Casavir spat, glaring at Bishop, "Secondly, shut up before I kill you."

"Will you two quit it?" Cari moaned. "Now, I really have no desire to examine these Illefarn frescoes before we leave, so can we just go?"

I swear, it's like keeping an eye on a couple of drunken toddlers! Cari thought angrily. You don't know what's going to come out of their mouths!