DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to The New Adventures of Sinbad - all this recognition goes to the Creater, Ed Naha.

I know it's been awhile! My apologies for the wait. I hope you like this chapter. Thank you for the reviews! I love hearing from you guys!

Chapter 5

Bryn was seated at a small, round, wooden table inside Felix's home. Felix was not lying when he said it wasn't very far. Aunt Meg's home was just further down the road to the left of where his wooden cottage was built. From where Bryn was seated, she watched Felix moving within his small kitchen to add the finishing touches to their breakfast. She offered to help in anyway that she could but he insisted that she stays put.

"Felix, you really didn't have to go to any trouble", Bryn stated. She watched him walk towards her with his hands full. He placed down her plate in front of her and then his. Lastly, a bowl of berries that was nestled in the crook of his arm was place in the middle of the table for them to share. Bryn looked at her plate and saw a slice of fresh bread smeared with goat cheese, a boiled egg cut in half and a couple leaves of arugula. Felix then poured them both a cup of water before sitting down.

"I know it is not much", Felix gestures to her plate, "This is what I usually have in the morning".

Bryn smiled, "This is perfect". While taking a bite of her bread and cheese, she couldn't help but watch Felix.

"What?" Felix noticed that she was staring and felt uncomfortable.

"You just surprised me that's all", Bryn replied after swallowing. "I never pictured you to be so domestic".

Felix laughed, "You are learning that I do more than just hunt and hang around your brother". He took a bite of his whole egg. "I did offer an invitation for him to join us, by the way. I didn't want him to feel left out".

"Judging by his absence, he has declined?" Bryn took a sip of her water. Part of her was a little relieved that all this wasn't just for her.

"No, either he forgot or is still sleeping". Felix responded with a shrug.

"We were a couple of no-shows this morning", Bryn felt bad, she wracked her brain on when he invited her in the first place, "I am sorry I kept you waiting".

"It must run in the family". Felix joked, he then reached for the berries and decided to put a few on her plate. "Don't worry, I forgive you. I can't say the same for Gunnar though", he shook his head while he joked.

Bryn picked up one of the berries and examined it, "Are you sure these berries are okay to eat? Gunnar warned me of some out here isn't safe to eat. I am not familiar with these kinds".

Felix picked one up for himself and plopped one in his mouth. "No worries, these will not bring you any harm, I eat them all the time". He picked up another berry and looked at Bryn with a mischievous smile. "Open your mouth", he ordered.

Bryn laughed at his playfulness, "You're not going to make it in", she opened her mouth for him to toss one. She was right, he missed and the berry bounced right off her nose. She laughed and grabbed one for herself, "My turn".

Felix obliged and opened up. He was surprised when he felt the berry hit his tongue. He commenced eating it. "If I keep trying, It would lead to more of a mess for me to clean up".

To Bryn it felt nice to see this side of Felix. A funny and gentle side. She too returned to meal and wondered what else about Felix that she has not yet learned. She realized their was more depth to him than just being Gunnar's best friend.

Sinbad was in a quiet mood ever since they finished their breakfast; Doubar observed. While Firouz and Rongar made their way to the town market to do some exploring, Doubar decided to join Sinbad to meet with Benson. The hostess at the Inn said Benson lived just outside the town square and that it was a good fifteen minute walk. They were to look for a large home built with stone. They couldn't miss it.

"For a talkative fellow Benson sure likes to live the secluded life", Doubar looked to his brother. "I hope his cargo is light".

Sinbad agreed, "That would be a long haul back to the ship if not". The guys both looked up to the sound of Dermott's call.

"I see we have company", Doubar smiled. He always enjoyed watching that bird fly. Not only was Dermott a good friend to them all; he was also an extra set of eyes from the sky to warn them of any trouble. With him and Bryn being able to communicate telepathically, it made them all feel more comfortable during uncertain times at sea and on land.

"I think he missed The Nomad while we were away. When I went up on deck this morning he was sitting on the rail". Sinbad explained.

"He is probably ready to set sail", Doubar replied, "Capua is beautiful and would be a great place to settle for a little while, but after being here for a over a few weeks I think Dermott craves different sights".

Sinbad laughed, "Maybe he is here with us now just waiting for one of us to get into trouble". He joked and looked at Dermott as he flew ahead of them.

Doubar chuckled at the idea and they both continued their walk in comfortable silence. For Sinbad, after seeing Dermott, his mind immediately went back to Bryn. While sitting with the crew during breakfast he saw Bryn outside The Tavern and just as he thought; Felix was waiting for her. He watched Felix put his arm around her shoulders when they greeted and for the first time Sinbad felt more protective and possessive of the brunette then ever before. As the Captain of his ship he always felt protective for his crew. He was not a stranger to that. Although, Lately he hasn't seen Bryn as just a crew member. She was more to him than that. He realized it while they were apart and was sure of it when she finally showed up the first night they were in port. He was relieved to see that she was safe and he was happy to just see her smile. He couldn't help but want to be near her and touch her all the time. Her presence lifted his spirits and made him feel at ease. He really missed her.

Judging by the look on Sinbad's face; Doubar knew something was on his brother's mind. Sinbad looked serious and worried.

"What's troubling you, Sinbad", Doubar finally had to ask, "You're looking at your boots as if they carry all the answers in the world".

Sinbad looked up and made eye contact with his brother. He was not surprised that nothing came unnoticed by Doubar. His brother always had a way of reading people. With a sigh he figured Doubar wouldn't believe him if he said it was nothing.

"I was just thinking about Bryn", Sinbad confessed. He didn't know how to explain his thoughts and remained silent.

Doubar nodded knowingly, "And how is Bryn?"

"She seems to be doing just fine here. Her family has been very open and welcoming to her and you could tell they love her." Sinbad replied.

"What I meant to ask was, how are you and Bryn?" Doubar smiled. "It appears you two have something going on?"

"Yes. It's really something she and I need to talk about", Sinbad glanced at his brother, "I know this is our second day back, but did you sense anything off with Felix?"

Doubar thought about it and simply shook his head. If there was something Sinbad didn't feel comfortable about, his instincts were usually right. "What did you see?"

Sinbad spoke of what he saw this morning of Felix walking behind the Tavern and waiting for Bryn. He also spoke of his uncertainty of why Felix wasn't around when they left Bryn with her family in the first place. He wondered where he was coming from.

"We are not one to stay in town for very long, maybe he was just traveling or visiting friends while we were here before". Doubar replied, "He seems to be a nice enough guy but if you seem unsure, I will keep a better eye on him and ask around".

Sinbad patted his brother on the back with a smile, "Thank you".

Doubar sensed there was more to Sinbad's uncertainty about Felix. For the first time in his life Sinbad just might be feeling jealous for a certain woman. He smiled to himself, he didn't want to mention that out loud.

After breakfast Bryn and Felix went there separate ways. Bryn headed off into the direction of where she knew her brother would be. At this time of day he would be further down the woods at a clearing near the river. There, with a help of some friends, he would be cutting down and gathering lumber onto a wagon to be delivered to where his first home was burnt to the ground. He had hopes and plans to rebuild it.

The rain has been clearing up throughout the rest of the morning. Looking up, Bryn could already see some blue sky peeking behind the gray clouds. During her walk she wondered where Dermott was and how the crew were settling. She told herself she would seek them out later in the day. She then thought about the conversation she had with Mira. Doing what she wanted her to do was easier said than done. She really does care for Sinbad; more than she ever thought she would. This kissing that's been happening between them has been happening more often than not. Again, she still had her doubts on how he feels. How could she compare to all the beautiful women surrounding Sinbad from port to port. Those women were true ladies adorned with beautiful jewelry and revealing clothing. Bryn laughed to herself. She thought of what some of the other women would wear that threw themselves at the sailor, she thought there was no way she could pull that off . She was sure the second she yielded her sword when entangled in a fight she would fall out of her dress. Wouldn't that be an interesting defense?

Stopping her amusement she felt a pain in her abdomen. It was so sharp she had to stop. Placing her hand on her stomach she wondered what was going on. She lurched forward when the pain heightened and dropped down to her knees. She felt dizzy. She tried to stand up but failed. Her sight was becoming blurry and she felt suddenly hot. Another pain shot out and the last thing she saw was darkness.

Sinbad and Doubar were right outside the town square returning from their meeting with Benson. They learned that behind Benson's estate was a hilltop view of a vineyard. Benson gave them a tour and inquired about the cost of transporting wine to nearby ports. His last transport only managed to deliver half of their shipment; which did not fair well with the recipient and the owner. Benson felt he could trust Sinbad and his crew to do the job completely. Sinbad agreed to the transport and made arrangements to pick it up before leaving port in a few weeks. They shook hands and were on their way.

Just as they were entering the town Sinbad felt warmth radiating from his left arm. He recognized it. It was coming from the bracelet he and Bryn shared. He lifted up his arm and it glowed red indicating something was wrong. "Bryn!" He and Doubar exchanged looks. They both looked up when Dermott flew overheard making one call after another. He flew too fast for them to follow but saw that he was headed in the direction of Aunt Meg's.'

The second he saw Sinbad lift up his arm and he saw that glowing bracelet from above, Dermott flew. Something was wrong with Bryn. During his flight he found that connection with her but it only lasted for a few seconds. He heard her painful cries and suddenly she disappeared. Dermott knew she was no longer awake. The only thing he didn't know was exactly where she was. He flew back to where she left her, which was at Felix's home. He peeked through the window and looked at the yard. There was no one at sight. He flew to Aunt Meg's house and looked in the house. Still there was no sight of Bryn. Aunt Meg was with her daughters in the backyard appearing to have no worries in the world. The other close place he decided to look was with Gunnar. Flying towards the river he looked at a path well taken. He could sense she was near. The familiar aroma of lavender was in the air. It was the scent of Bryn's hair. Bryn often bathed with lavender before starting her day on the ship, a habit that stayed with her in Capua. From a distance, he saw it, blue fabric amongst the green trees. He circled around and it was her laying right at the edge of the path. He flew down and rested on her arm. He gently pecked at her shoulder to wake her but she only remained still. At least she was still breathing. Relieved, he flew up in search of Sinbad. He knew he wouldn't be far.

Doubar saw Dermott just as he and Sinbad were about to knock on Aunt Meg's door. Dermott called out to them and flew back in the direction towards Bryn. Sinbad and Doubar got the hint and followed. This time Dermott flew at a slower pace to keep himself in sight. All he had to do was lead them to her. They found her exactly as Dermott left her. The second they saw her; Sinbad and Doubar ran to her side. Sinbad touched her head and gently turned her over. There were no marks of broken skin or other visible injuries.

"I will carry her to Aunt Meg's. Go get Firouz?" Sinbad looked at Doubar. Doubar understood that it was more of an order than a question. He got up and quickened his pace back to town as Sinbad gathered Bryn in his arms. While walking back towards Aunt Meg's home, Sinbad looked up at Dermott and said, "Thank you".

At the doorstep of Aunt Meg's home Sinbad heard a small moan coming from Bryn's lips. He looked down to see her eyes start to open. She was starting to appear confused.

"Sinbad?" Bryn felt groggy and she felt like she was floating. Her eyes finally focused and she realized she was being carried.

"Bryn, you're okay. I'm here", Sinbad stopped, "You took a fall and we are just about to enter your Aunt's house".

Bryn adjusted and indicated she wanted to stand up. Sinbad allowed that but was too concerned to let her go. He was glad he didn't when he felt she still put most of her weight against him. He tightened his arm more around her for support. Aunt Meg must've seen visitors on her porch because the door opened before Sinbad had a chance to knock.

She could not hide her gasp when she saw Bryn's state. She looked weak and was sweating. She stepped aside and gestured toward her couch. "Please sit her down". She then ran to the kitchen to get Bryn some water, "What happened?"

Bryn was about to answer but than that feeling of pain shot through her again. This time it wasn't as harsh. She winced and clutched her stomach. Sinbad touched her again feeling helpless, "What is it, Bryn?"

"My stomach. I keep getting these stabbing pains", She looked at Sinbad, "I don't know what it is".

"Firouz is on his way", Sinbad replied reassuringly while putting a comforting hand on neck.

Aunt Meg handed Bryn the water and quickly did a look over at Bryn, "Sweetie, are you coming down with a fever? You're sweating?"

Bryn shrugged while taking a sip of water, "The pain happened so fast". She paused , she felt another rush of pain and immediately dropped her water. Sinbad sat with her and put a steady arm around her.

They heard a single knock and saw the front door open. Firouz, Rongar and Doubar walked into Aunt Meg's living room just as Bryn finally relaxed. Sinbad stood up so Firouz could take his place.

"Hey, Bryn", Firouz patted her knee as he sat down and Bryn gave him a weak smile. He noticed how tense she was and the sweat on her brow. He asked her what symptoms that she remembers since waking up and all she could explain was the pain near her abdomen and feeling dizzy. There was a couple questions on his mind but he didn't want to say it in front of the surrounding crew or Aunt Meg. Doubar noticed his hesitance, "What is it, Firouz?"

Firouz sighed and looked at the peering faces of Sinbad, Doubar, Rongar and Aunt Meg. This was a crowded room. He looked again at Aunt Meg, "Is there a room I can examine her in private?"

Aunt Meg looked to Bryn before responding. Bryn nodded her head letting her know she was fine with it.

Bryn slowly stood up with guidance from Firouz and they both made their way into Aunt Meg's bedroom. Meg went to go get a rag to clean up the broken water glass, while Doubar and Rongar sat on the couch with Sinbad. Doubar could tell how worried Sinbad was by the way Sinbad ran his hands through his hair. "She's in good hands", Doubar said to the room.

Firouz helped sit Bryn down on the bed. He was unsure of how to start and started to fumble his words. Bryn placed a hand on his arm. "It's okay, Firouz, you can ask me anything".

"Do you mind unbuttoning your dress so I can look at your stomach? I want to make sure there isn't any sign of bruising". He asked in one breath. He was not use to asking of this from Bryn. Whenever any other crew member felt ill or injured; it was much easier for him to communicate what he needed to do. With Bryn, it was different.

Bryn did as she was asked and managed to hold on to her dress while Firouz did his examination. There was only a hint of redness against her natural skin. He placed his hand on her stomach and it felt warm to the touch. He nodded his head to indicate the he was finished and quickly reverted his gaze.

Once he saw that Bryn was decent he felt a little more relaxed. There was still a few questions on his mind.

"While you've been here in Capua, have you come across any fighting that resulted to any blows to your stomach?" Firouz made eye contact with Bryn and she shook her head. "It is pretty calm here," he stated, "When was the last time you ate?"

"It was a couple hours ago. I had breakfast with Felix", Bryn responded with a wince. Another shot of pain was hitting her. Firouz reached for her just incase she was about to lose her balance. "It's okay. That one wasn't as bad", she assured her friend.

"It's a good sign that the pain is decreasing", Firouz went to his medic bag and began to rummage through it. "Do you remember what you ate?"

Bryn described the meal she and Felix shared and expressed that they ate the same thing. "I questioned the berries but he told me that he eats them all the time".

"If it is something you ate," Firouz held up a vile filled with syrup that had a golden tint to it; like honey. "This will help". He opened up the bedroom door. "I'm going to see if Aunt Meg can start some tea for me to mix this with".

Bryn followed Firouz out of the bedroom and found a seat next to Sinbad. She looked up at him and read the concern in his eyes. "I'm feeling better. It might have been something I ate", Bryn tried to assure the room.

"I want to have a look at those berries Felix fed you!" Firouz called from the kitchen. Bryn bit her lip, just by looking at the look on Sinbad's face, she thought that was a poor choice of words.

Sinbad stood up, "Well okay than…I will go see if I can find Felix". He headed towards the front door but was stopped by Doubar.

Doubar placed his hand on Sinbad's chest to stop him, "No, Sinbad, you stay here with Bryn. Rongar and I will go". Sinbad nodded his head and sat back down.

"Do you have any idea where Felix might be?" Doubar turned to Bryn.

Bryn shook her head, "We went our separate ways after breakfast".

"By this time of day he could be in town or is probably helping Gunnar by the river", Aunt Meg was walking into the room followed by Firouz with tea in hand. Doubar nodded his thank you and he and Rongar left the room.

Bryn was given the tea mixed with Firouz's syrup to sip while Aunt Meg excused herself to check on the girls outside.

"Thank you guys for helping me out", Bryn looked to Firouz than to Sinbad.

"You would've done the same", Firouz replied. "Just take it easy on that tea. That syrup might make you a little sick, but in the end you will feel much better".