A/N: Thanks for the reviews, here's the next chapter. What will Kel's reactions be to Dom getting hurt?

Chapter Fourteen: Words Left Unsaid

"Arrows flew in their wake, a dark wave that crested the sheltering rocks. Dom, returning to his post, went down face-first. An arrow was buried in the thick muscle between his neck and shoulder. He grimaced and got to one knee; the man on his far side crawled over to help him up…I'm sorry, Dom, thought Kel, straining her eyes to see the enemy's movements. I'll go all shaky over you when this is over…"

-Tamora Pierce, Squire

That night Kel fell asleep quickly from pure exhaustion. However, she had a restless night. Whatever contraption she and Dom's squad had fought that afternoon haunted her in her dreams. No one had ever seen anything like it before, and Kel was sure it would not be the last.

As she tossed and turned, another image appeared in her mind- that of a wounded Dom, struck down by an arrow much like he had been that afternoon. However, in her dream, he didn't get up. He lay completely still on the ground as she ran over to try to rouse him. He didn't move. She called for help, but it was as if no one could hear her. A battle raged on around her as if she was invisible. She was then trying to move Dom's body when suddenly one of those machines appeared. She found herself weaponless and helpless as its bladed hands reached out for them both.

That's when she woke up, sweating and her breathing rapid. She threw her bedroll off to cool her hot body.

The machine was defeated. Dom was alright. Everything was fine. And although Kel knew this, she had to be reassured so she could go back to sleep with a peaceful mind.

Standing up silently, Kel crept past the snoring men, careful not to wake anyone up. Seeing the movement, one of the men on watch turned to see who she was. Recognizing the man, she waved and signaled and he nodded in return.

Traveling over to where the wounded men laid, Kel slowed her pace. She found Dom quickly, lying on a bedroll with his shoulder and a part of his neck bandaged. His breathing was normal and steady, and the sight of that set Kel instantly at ease.

Although the night was hot, she leaned down and pulled the thin blanket up to cover his bare chest, only leaving the bandaged area exposed. For a second she thought she saw his eyes flutter open, but they were soon closed again.

Straightening back up, she was about to walk away when suddenly a voice said quietly behind her, "He's doin' alrigh' Squire Kel."

Kel whirled around quickly but silently. How long had Wolset been standing there?

"Oh, I know, I was just…awake, so I just came by to check on him and the others," she replied, trying not to appear flustered.

"Aye," said Wolset, nodding his head. "Y' have a bad dream as well?"

Kel nodded. "As tired as I am, I can't seem to go to sleep without dreaming about that thing."

"Same here," he replied, knowing exactly what she was talking about, "tha' thing was nasty."

She again nodded in agreement. Wolset looked down at Dom. "Do y' think he'll agree with y' for makin' me corporal, with all my abidin' ways and charmin' personality?"

Kel grinned, "You're a great fighter and he knows it. I'm sure he'll support my decision."

"Well I guess if someone had t' persuade him, you'd be the one t' do it," he remarked. "G'night my lady."

He turned and started to walk back to his bedroll. Kel watched him, a strange look on her face. What did he mean she'd be the one best able to persuade Dom?

Before she was able to think anymore about it, Kel decided she'd better get back to her own bedroll before she gave herself a headache thinking about it.

Dom woke the next day to a sore shoulder and a pounding body. It took him a moment to recall what had happened the day before. He had been returning to his post when an arrow had struck him deep. Mithros, it hurt!

Daring to move his arm, Dom tried slowly. He grimaced as his shoulder protested. Sighing heavily, he laid still, wondering what had happened after he had gotten shot and taken away. He wondered whether his men were alright, and Lord Raoul, and…Kel.

He had had a dream last night that she had come to check on him, had even pulled his blanket up over him. He wished it hadn't been a dream so that he would be certain she was fine.

Glancing around, Dom spotted Wolset. Trying to wave him over, he was instantly reminded of his hurt shoulder.

Seeing his wave, Wolset approached him. Grinning, he said, "If I was y', I wouldn' try usin' that hand."

"Shut up," said Dom, still wincing from the movement.

"Is tha' any way t' speak to yer corporal?" Wolset asked, grinning mischievously.

"You aren't my corporal, so what's the big deal?" said Dom.

"But I am yer corporal now. As of yesterday," he replied, beaming.

Dom looked up at him, "You are? Who gave you the title? Symric?"

Wolset shook his head. "After you went down, Raoul appointed Kel in charge. She named me corporal after the fighting was done, and after she put me in my place for questioning her command," he said, grinning at the memory.

The sergeant grinned as he pictured Kel shutting up the outspoken Wolset. He wished he could've been there. Thinking of Kel, Dom asked, "Is K- everyone- alright?"

Wolset nodded his head. "All except for Symric. He was killed in the battle by the machine."

Confused, Dom asked, "What machine?"

Giving him all the details from after Dom had been carried away, Wolset described the machine to him as best he could. When he was finished, Dom remained silent, trying to comprehend what he had been told. What was that thing that Wolset had described to him? He knew Raoul must be trying to find out.

Excusing himself to continue with his duties, Wolset left as one of Third Company's healers came to check up on him.

After re-bandaging Dom, he led him to a covered wagon that was transporting the wounded back to the fort. Dom started to protest to be left behind, but soon learned that everyone was going back to the fort except for those on patrol in the nearby town. He did as told, but still insisted he would be able to ride a horse. The healer ignored him.

Once the rest were loaded into the wagon, Raoul led them all back to the fort. Dom looked but wasn't able to see Kel before he was stuffed in the wagon. He relaxed against one of the sides as they made their way back to the fort. Feeling his heavy eyelids closing, he realized that perhaps he wasn't up to horseback riding just yet…

That evening, as soon as she finished with her duties, Kel went to the fort's infirmary to check up on Dom.

When she arrived she ran into one of Third Company's healers. She inquired about Dom.

"He's doing well," he told her, "although he's itching to get out of here. He keeps trying to get up."

Kel grinned and then asked where his bed was. After being pointed in that direction, Kel made her way among the cots, talking a little with the men she passed.

When she made it to Dom's cot, he was already sitting up, and she was met with one of his smiles. "So," he started, a teasing note in his voice, "I heard you promoted Wolset to my corporal when I was gone. Interesting choice."

"He's a good fighter and his loud mouth is great for ordering people around," Kel replied, shrugging. "Do you not agree?"

"Oh, I do," agreed Dom, "I've thought about it many times, it's just that I already had Symric as corporal, but now…"

Smiling sadly, Kel nodded her head, "A good man…"

Mirroring her expression, Dom looked at her and said softly, "Thanks, Kel, for looking after my men. I heard you were great."

Kel waved off the compliment, but Dom could tell she was pleased by it. "You have a great squad, and I've come to check up on their leader. How are you doing?"

"Fine. I'd be doing better if I didn't have to be cooped up in this building all day," said Dom, looking at his surroundings.

Kel smiled. "How's your shoulder?" she asked, nodding at the bandaged wound.

"The healer said the wound is clean and it's healing well, but I won't be able to use it for awhile."

"Does it hurt?"

"Nah, it's just sore," he replied, lying through his teeth. The truth was it hurt terribly, but he didn't want to tell her that. He didn't want her to think he was some weak-bodied chair stuffer. The thought made him smile.

Looking over at the little table Kel stood by, he pointed and asked, "Would you mind pouring me a cup of water?"

As she did, Dom struggled to get out of the bed. When she turned back around, he was standing a few feet behind her.

"Dom!" she cried, taking the glass away from his outstretched hand, "The healer said you shouldn't be getting up!"

"I'm fine," said Dom, chuckling. He felt slightly dizzy, but he had his pride to maintain. "Can I have the water?"

Kel crossed her arms over her chest. "Not until you get back in bed."

He sighed, "Fine, but it's only because I want my water."

As he sat back on his cot and moved to lie down, however, Kel saw his face cringe.

"Doesn't hurt, huh?" Kel asked sarcastically as she stepped forward to help him. "Men and their pride," she muttered as he settled.

"And you wouldn't try to do the same? Get up and walk around?"

"Yes, I would want to, but my mother taught me to follow a healer's orders," Kel told him, handing him his water.

Taking a drink and putting it back on the side table, Dom commented, "Your mother sounds like a powerful woman."

Kel laughed, "Especially when she used to whack us good for fighting the healers. We learned fast."

"Remind me to never get on your mother's bad side," chuckled Dom.

Smiling, Kel looked down at him. Hearing his laughter had her thanking the gods again that he was alive and well.

Seeing the faraway smile on her face as she looked at him, Dom cocked his head slightly to the side and laughed, "Why are you looking at me like that for?"

"I'm just glad you're okay," she replied, still smiling softly, "you had me worried there for awhile."

His smile softened as did the look in his eyes. His heart started to pound. She was worried about him? "Really?" he finally asked, taken aback.

Hearing the surprise in his voice, Kel laughed, "Of course I was, you dolt! Why wouldn't I be?"

"And here I thought you always wanted my job," teased Dom, chuckling. "With me gone, you'd have the perfect opportunity."

"Shut up!" smiled Kel, reaching out to swat his unhurt shoulder.

In an instant, Dom caught her hand and pulled. Laughing, she ended up sitting on the cot beside him, the arm Dom had pulled resting on the opposite side of his body so that she was leaning over him.

Still laughing, they smiled at each other, not yet quite realizing how close they really were.

When their laughter eventually subsided, Kel looked down at Dom. Then in a quieter tone, she said, "I would never want anything to happen to you, Dom."

Dom's smile faded as his eyes searched hers. The sincerity in her voice had his body melting and gave him a sudden urge to reach up and pull her to him. It had almost been a year since that first kiss, and he didn't think he could last another minute.

Reaching his hand up slowly to touch her face, Dom started to say, "Kel, I-"

But he was interrupted by a group of loud men entering the infirmary. He immediately dropped his hand before it reached her, eyeing the men walking into the building.

Looking back at Kel, he smiled at her with false cheer. "Thank you for checking up on me, it really means a lot to me."

"Oh, of course, anytime," she said, too merrily. She quickly left his side and stood up. Dom was already missing the feel of her next to him.

"Um, have a good night's rest. I hope you get better soon," she said, her words tumbling out of her mouth. Then with a sad smile she walked quickly toward the exit.

Dom was so angry with himself that he felt like punching his pillow, hurt shoulder or no. 'Thank you for checking up on me, it really means a lot to me?' Gods! Was there anything more pathetic he could've said to her? The woman he loves just told him how worried she was over him, and that's all he could come up with? Mithros, he must be the most inept man alive!

Seeing the disappointment and small amount of hurt in her eyes as he had said it was enough to make it feel like someone had run him through with a sword.

Not feeling like having any more company, Dom considered feigning sleep as he saw some of his men walking toward him, the same men that had interrupted him earlier.

"How are y' feelin'?" asked one of them as they surrounded his cot.

"Probably much better after a visit from our lovely lady squire," remarked Wolset, grinning mischievously as he sat at the edge of Dom's cot.

Using his foot, Dom kicked him off. "Oh, shut your mouth," he told him crossly.

Rubbing his backside, Wolset looked down at Dom, "Geez, it was jus' a joke."

"Yeah, and not a very good one," their sergeant remarked.

"Wow, wha' medicine do they have tha' turned y' so grumpy?"

Dom's only response was to stare at his glass of water as he took it and held it in his hands. The men looked between each other with perplexed looks and shrugged.

Trying a different approach, Wolset said, "Well, you're lookin' even better than y' did las' night…"

"Oh yeah?" Dom asked distractedly.

Wolset nodded his head, "I'm sure Squire Kel would agree."

Dom stopped staring at his glass and looked up at Wolset questioningly. "What are you talking about?"

"She didn' tell y'?" Judging from the look on Dom's face, Wolset guessed she hadn't. "Las' night I couldn' sleep so I was walkin' around when I saw Squire Kel walkin' over t' where the healers had y'. Wantin' to check up on y' myself, I headed tha' way as well. When I got closer, I saw her pullin' yer blanket up over y'." Smiling favorably, Wolset added, "She's like our Mother Hen, tha' one."

Dom stared at Wolset, his mind reeling. So it hadn't been a dream! Kel really had been there beside him last night!

For a moment he was excited by the news, that his dream had been a reality. But then, recalling his blunder earlier, he almost felt even more like an idiot. Was it possible that Kel really did care for him? He could only hope.

Seeing the mixed emotions on their sergeant's face, the men wished him a quick healing and a good night's rest before exiting the infirmary.

Outside, none of them could help but wonder if Dom's funny mood had anything to do with a certain lady squire…

A/N: Hmm…so the men are catching on, I think. ;D The next chapter will take place like a month after this one, when Dom's shoulder is as good as new. Kel will be leaving with Raoul to go to Corus for her Ordeal. Will Dom finally tell her what he was going to say when he was interrupted? Will the men of the Own help out? You'll find out in the next one! :D