A/N: So, I know it's been a while, thanks to all the die-hards that are still with me…sorry it's taken so long to update; I've just been HELLA busy (no, I won't ever write or say "hella" again). Unfortunately, I have to go back to school on Monday, so it'll take a while to update again. If you get the chance, I would appreciate it if you took a look at chapter two again – I changed it up a wink, so if I could get some honest opinions on it that would be cool. And now, here is the long-awaited (gods, I hope so) CHAPTER TRES!!!

Chapter Three

My explanation was highly anti-climactic: Jesse didn't sweep me into his arms out of fear for my safety or anything. He just made the mirror rattle a bit, until he finally cooled off. We'll ignore the fact that he only cooled off because he disappeared, probably to go tell Father D. about the whole thing. Do I come off as the unreliable type, or something? Because it's like every time some little thing happens, Jesse's off telling Father Dom about it. Gawd.

I was just getting ready to hop in the shower when Dopey stopped short of breaking down the door to get my attention – he had learned the hard way what happens when he opens my door without knocking first.

"Suze!" he yelled like there was a brick wall instead of a flimsy old door standing between us. "Suze! Dinner! Hurry up!" I've found that it's easier for Dopey to get his point across through short exclamations rather than complete sentences. Poor guy.

"Okay," I called in a perfectly normal, inside voice. I turned off the shower with regret – doubtless I smelled like mulch. And God knows what I looked like (I had carefully avoided looking into all mirrors). You know, if there even is a god. Because in my current state, I was seriously beginning to doubt it. I sighed – something I seemed to be doing a lot lately – and headed out the door, carefully shutting it behind me.

Mom was entirely too happy to see me as I took my seat at the table, gushing about the latest gossip from her Martha Stewart decorating buddies. I kept my face politely interested and tried not to vomit when Doc passed me the platter of homemade pizza slices. Normally I wouldn't have been at all adverse to pizza, but it's swimsuit season pretty much year round here, so I was being careful. Besides, how was I going to wear my new Stewart Weitzmans if I was too fat to fit into my skirt?

"Susie, honey," my mother's voice interrupted my musings. "Aren't you hungry, sweetie?" I looked at my plate – it was empty. Since I felt more like taking a shower than eating anything in my disgusting state, I shook my head.

"Not really, Mom. I'm just really tired." And I wasn't even lying this time. The look of concern on my mother's face deepened as she took in my disheveled appearance for the first time. Or maybe it was disgust. I did smell pretty raunchy, I admit.

"Well, why don't you just go take a shower and get some sleep then? You have to be well enough to go shopping tomorrow, remember." Ugh. Shopping with my mother. The very thought made what little food I had eaten that day sit like lead in my stomach.

"Okay," I said, now more glad than ever that I was excused. I took my plate into the kitchen and put it back in the cupboard, since it was still clean, then trudged slowly up to my room.

ζ

I had just stepped out of the shower and was pulling back the sheets on my bed when there was a quiet knock on the door. I sighed and called, "Come in." Doc opened the door as little as possible and slid into my room.

"Are you…alone?" he asked, glancing furtively around the room. I nodded heavily, barely able to keep my head from staying down on my chest where it wanted to be. "I just, um, have a question. And then you can sleep," he said quickly, obviously noticing my bobbing head. "On second thought," he added, eyeing me like a specimen that was both fascinating and grotesque, "maybe I'll just ask you tomorrow. Yeah. Um, 'night, Suze…" he finished weakly, sliding back outside. I couldn't even summon the strength to wave.

I attempted to climb into bed the rest of the way – had my bed always been this far above the ground? – and finally gave up, allowing myself to slither onto the floor. I was closing my eyes in defeat when a soft, spectral glow crept under my eyelids, forcing my eyes back open.

"Wha–?" I started. God, I was pathetic. I couldn't even form a complete sentence, much less a word. I was calmly reveling in that fact when I was suddenly – but gently – lifted off the floor and put into bed, at apparently no injury at all to my helper. Why wasn't it that easy for me? I wondered grudgingly, but without real vigor. The last conscious thought I had as my head sank into the pillow wasn't really a thought at all, just recognition as I heard that deep, silky voice that I loved:

"Sleep well, Querida."

A/N: There. There's your moment of lurve. How was it? I know this chapter was kinda shortsie, and I apologize – I had to write this as quickly as possible so I could upload it before I lost power again. Damn storm. Anyway, tell me how it was, pleasey. Thanks ever so!