A/N: I am so sorry for the delay! I've been busy and not at home! I hope you like the chapter to make up for it!

Chapter Four: Skipping Stones & Hammered Hands

'"I'm fine," Kel said, pulling her hand away. She was almost immune to Dom by now. When her attraction to him surfaced, she made herself think of Cleon..."

-Tamora Pierce, Squire

She missed him so much.

But she'd be seeing him again soon. A few days ago Lord Raoul had decided to depart from Bay Cove, where he and Third Company had been called to aid after the horrible earthquake the town had suffered. Without anything to keep them busy any longer, Raoul had decided to finally rejoin the Progress- though reluctantly.

First they had stopped to rest a week in Corus. Kel had been restless the whole time, itching to catch up with the Progress- and Cleon. Apparently it showed.

Third Company had just set up camp for the night along the road, on their way to join up with the Progress, and Kel had decided to take Peachblossom for a stroll to a nearby river. Now, Kel was sitting with her back against a big tree, listening to her horse lapping water into his mouth as her mind wandered to Cleon.

As she got lost in her thoughts, she began to pick up small stones and throw them distractedly into the water. She continued to do so until the sight of her own hand caught her attention. Pulling both hands up to look at them properly, Kel rolled her eyes. Her fingers were bruised and the blood underneath her nails was dried- which made it look even worse than it was.

Kel laughed at her foolish pride. She wasn't a carpenter, yet she still insisted on doing it, even after others advised her to do the things she was good at.

Immediately Kel thought of Dom. He had advised her to hunt instead of kill herself with a hammer. The recollection made her flush, and it wasn't exactly because he had poked fun at her carpentry skills- or lack thereof. He was actually quite sweet about it. But what had really stuck in Kel's memory was the way he had held her hands in his. She had been the one to pull away, out of his gentle hold.

Standing up, she walked to the river's edge, picked up some more stones and started skipping them across the surface. She cleared her mind as she focused on the task at hand.

Kel had probably thrown a dozen rocks when she suddenly saw another rock skip next to the one she had just thrown. Turning, she was surprised to see Dom standing to her right.

"When did you get here?" she asked.

"I've been here for a few minutes. Tell me, is it your goal to throw every rock back into the river? If so, I'll tell milord to continue after the Progress without you. We'll pick you up when it's over," he said casually.

Even the mention of being left behind created a panic within her. "Oh no, that wouldn't be necessary," she replied quickly.

Dom gave her an amused look, "Are you saying that you actually want to rejoin the Progress? I mean its fun for a few days, but after awhile…"

"Well, it depends. On the Progress you get to catch up with family, and friends, and lo…others," she quickly corrected herself. But by the knowing look Dom suddenly gave her, she knew he had caught her slip-up.

"Missing your sweetheart, I take it?" he asked, giving her a wink.

"No I'm not," said Kel, flustered to find another answer.

Dom smiled, "Well okay, then you're the most determined rock thrower I've ever seen."

"I bet I'm better than you," Kel replied, anything to get off the subject of sweethearts.

Undoubtedly realizing this, he grinned and told her quietly, "I hate to tell you, Kel, but you're looking at the rock-skipping champion of Masbolle. I spent much of my childhood skipping rocks."

Kel laughed and Dom smiled. "And I spent most of mine learning the glaive," Kel retorted.

"Well some people get all the luck," joked Dom. "If we're attacked then I'll depend on you to save me. My parents didn't have the courtesy to send me to the Yamani Islands."

Smiling, Kel told him, "I don't think you would've enjoyed it very much."

"Why not?" he questioned as he watched her pick up a stone.

"Let's just say they're not the type to pass their time skipping stones." They watched as her rock skipped three times across the water.

"Then they obviously don't know what they're missing," Dom replied. He then picked up his own stone. It skipped only twice.

"Champion, huh?" Kel teased.

Dom, with his hands on his hips, turned and smiled at Kel. "The rocks are lighter at Masbolle," he decided simply.

They both laughed. Then Kel asked him about his home as they continued to throw rocks.

"Oh it's beautiful and big, but there's only so much you can do there. I joined the Own so I could get out of there," he answered.

Seeing the curious look Kel gave him, he chuckled, "Don't get me wrong. I love my home. My family lives comfortably and my father is a fair, easy-going man, but me, I like adventure and traveling."

"Is that why you joined the Own?" Kel asked.

"For the most part," Dom replied as he threw a stone. "I mean, my home is wonderful, but I don't need a lot of things to live. I actually prefer a simple life, as long as I'm happy. And the Own was the perfect opportunity for that. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah I do," she responded truthfully. "I live a life far from glamorous- as do you. But then again, we both chose it. And it is the simple things in life that help me through."

"Like teasing Meathead," Dom offered, grinning.

Laughing Kel said, "Exactly."

Then simultaneously they both stooped down to pick up another stone. They reached for the same one. Kel practically jumped when she felt Dom's warm hand instead of a cold stone.

Both surprised, they glanced up at each other and smiled awkwardly, for their faces were inches apart and they were both very aware of that fact.

As if running on the same thoughts, they both straightened up. Using one of her hands to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, Kel started to say, "Well, apparently we both-"

But was cut off when Dom suddenly reached out and took that hand. Kel's heart started to pound. Just being close to Dom still did maddening things to her, and now he was holding her hand. She was suddenly grateful for all her Yamani training.

"Kel what did you do to your hand?" he asked concernedly. "I thought Raoul already got Emmet to heal it a while ago." He looked up at her questioningly.

"Um, well he did, but…" She searched for an answer. Should she just come out and say she had been hammering again? What's wrong with me? she thought to herself. Why am I so flustered? He's only holding my hand. Cleon and I have already gone way past that stage!

Looking up from her decently battered hand, Dom smiled, "But you still wanted to try and prove you could use a hammer. Is this proof enough?" he asked, holding up her hand.

"Well I can do it," she replied stubbornly. Then more quietly she added, "I would be great if only my hands didn't get in the way…"

Dom laughed out loud. He had a nice, genuine laugh. "Wait here," he told her, "You need to get that hand fixed."

She tried to protest but Dom wouldn't hear it. He was already heading back to camp.

Sitting on one of the tree's large exposed roots, putting her head in her hand, Kel sighed. Peachblossom snorted in reply. Kel glanced over at him.

"What? It's not like I wanted him to see my hand. I didn't flaunt it in front of him or anything."

Peachblossom made a doubtful sound. Kel just rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he's getting Emmet to help me again." She wondered why she was telling this to her horse.

However, when Dom reappeared a few minutes later, he didn't have Emmet with him. In fact, he was alone.

When he squatted down in front of her and took out some bandages, ointment, and a few other things usually needed for cuts and scars, Kel asked him, "Where's Emmet?"

"He's busy gambling with some of the men," he answered as he laid out the things he needed. "Besides, he didn't want to have to heal your hands again." Dom looked up from his preparations to smile at her.

Kel quickly reminded herself of Cleon.

"But Dom you're not a healer," she reminded him.

He chuckled, "I may not have the Gift, but I've learned many things over the years in the Own- and healing things like this is definitely one of them. Besides, I come from a family of healers. I had to pick up something from them, right?"

As he worked on her hands, Kel admired the way in which he was so gentle. Her hands were almost as rough as his own, yet he handled them as if they were made of the most delicate material. Luckily Dom was too occupied looking at her hand to notice the color that had risen on her face.

Trying to distract herself from her own thoughts and the feel of his touch, Kel asked him, "So did your parents support your decision to join the Own?"

"Well my father would've preferred that I become a knight like him and my older brother, but insanity supposedly does skip a child every so often." He grinned when he heard Kel chuckle quietly.

"And what about your mother?"

"After seeing what happened to Neal's older brothers, she was glad I chose the Own. I just haven't told her there's just as much risk being in the Own as being a knight. She wouldn't hear of it anyway. She's of the stubborn Queenscove line."

Kel smiled. She had always wondered how Neal and Dom were related.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Kel said, "I'm sorry this is taking so much time. A healer could've done it much faster."

"I don't mind," replied Dom, using his teeth to tear off a piece of bandage. "I'm in good company. Now, if I wasn't, then I would be complaining."

Returning his smile, Kel said, "I'm glad then that my battered hand resulted in something good."

Giving her one of his bold grins, he told her, "Maybe you should get your hand smashed more often then."

For a moment they looked at each other, both smiling. Then Peachblossom, ever-so-discreetly, whinnied. Kel looked away as Dom looked back down at her hand.

In a few minutes he finished. "There you are," he said standing up. "As long as you stay fifty feet away from any hammer, you should be fine."

Kel swatted his arm as she too stood up. "Thanks, Dom."

"No problem," he replied, picking up the few things he had brought with him. "I'm going to go get some food. Do you want to join me?"

"I'll be there in a few minutes," she said, motioning to Peachblossom. That would also give her time to recover from being so near to him for so long.

Dom sighed in a very Neal-like fashion, "I don't know how I'll make it without you, Squire Kel."

He smiled when she laughed at him. "So dramatics do run in families. And here I just thought Neal was weird."

Chuckling, Dom said, "He is. I'll see you later, Kel."

When he was gone, Kel grabbed Peachblossom's reigns and started leading him back to camp. She looked at the hand holding the reigns as they walked. He had done a very good job. With the time and care he had taken, it definitely showed. She started to recall the thrilling feeling she had felt around him.

Kel quickly forced her mind to rid her of those thoughts and think of Cleon. That had been happening too much lately. She convinced herself that she was just going through withdrawals- and having a handsome sergeant around did not help.

Walking past a small gathering of men in the camp, Kel spotted Emmet. As she walked by, she stopped and asked him, "Winning any money at least?"

"Yeah, I am," he replied, thinking it a casual question.

"Well then I forgive you for not wanting to see to my hand then," she told him.

Emmet stopped what he was doing and looked up at Kel. He wore a puzzled expression. "What are you talking about? I saw to that weeks ago."

Her face mirrored his. "Didn't…someone come and fetch you to do it today?" She wasn't sure why she didn't say Dom's name.

Emmet shook his head, "No."

He soon returned to his game as Kel stood there, lost in thought. Hadn't Dom said he had tried to get Emmet? But why then did Emmet know nothing about it? Why didn't Dom ask him then?

Not far ahead of her Kel saw Dom walk out of one of the tents. His back was to her as he walked to get some food. Suddenly a pair of bright blue eyes and a bold smile flashed in her mind.

Kel shook her head and patted her stomach. "I need to go eat something," she decided. Or maybe she did need to see a healer.

A/N: As I said before, sorry for the long wait! So Dom wanted to heal Kel's hands, eh? lol. What a sweet guy, with hidden motives lol. Tell me what you thought!