Where Our Hearts Yearns to be

Chapter 3

"All is a riddle, and the key to a riddle...is another riddle." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mar Sara

The door of Joeyray's bar slammed open with the silhouette of a female hunched over, panting hard. Joeyray's bar was the typical middle-of-the-road bar, not too tame, not too wild. It is dimly lit and music filled the air by the jukebox that was once on the hyperion. Nova entered the lively establishment and scanned the bar until she met the gaze of who she was looking for. As she approached the table, Jim raised his glass of whisky to his lips but was stopped by Nova.

"you know you could have waited for me?" Nova spoke crassly as she was in the process of catching her breath.

"kiddo, Joeyray is open at 12." retorted jim as he moved her hand away from his cup and took a sip.

"Exactly!" Nova said as she sat down across from Jim. "and for the last time, its NOVA, N-O-V-A!, save your pet names for your other girlfriends"

Jim's face darkened at the thought of his Sarah. Nova immediately regretted her words. Silence ensues before the two patrons until an elderly man with gentle smile came by.

"There is only one girl for Jimmy here" said Joeyray as he refilled Jim's glass by which Jim thank the old man.

"What's her name again?" the old bartender muttered to himself.

"Sarah…" whispered Jim

"That's right! Sarah! Girlie, Jimmy is probably the only decent man on this hell hole of a planet." Laughed the old man.

"All the time that he's been here, he had never once paid any attention to the skimpily clad ladies" as he pointed to the lay of the bar.

"The only girl he ever paid any attention to was the picture of his Sarah" blurted out the old man as he pointed to a picture on the wall of Sarah Kerrigan before she was infested.

Nova took a closer look at the picture, her curiosity got the better of her as she was intrigued by Kerrigan's appearance which made the man in front of her, willingly lay down his life and the life of his man for.

Sarah Kerrigan was truly in a class of her own. Her skins appear to be flawless with her red hair that hungs softly at the back of her head in a ponytail. Kerrigan had an astoundingly flawless figure; she had curves in all the right places with her long slender legs and tone arms. What is really stunning about Kerrigan was her eyes…. Those green eyes that pierces into the soul. Even though she was in her formfitting suit in that picture, Nova couldn't take her eyes off of Kerrigan. She was captivated by her simplicity, her beauty and the radiance that she have about her in that picture.

Jim was amused at Nova's reaction as she stared at Sarah's picture. She was deep in thought until Jim spoke up.

"you know, I never knew you swung that way.."joked Raynor "usually Joeyray and I only had to put some deadbeats in their place from staring at her picture for too long, I didn't figure I will have that problem with a girl"

Nova immediately snapped out of it and blushed. "Shut up Jim!"

"don't worry about him lil' lady, Jim is the possessive type." Barked the old man behind the bar as Jim made a grunting noise, "now, what can I get for you?"

Nova smiled and thought to herself, "at least Joeyray is on my side."

Before Nova could make her order, a group of man barged into the bar and surrounded the table that Jim and Nova are sitting at.

Patrons quickly ushered out of the establishment. The once lively bar is now filled with silence beside the music that softly played in the background.

"Your friends?" question Jim as Nova shook her head

"What do you boys want?" Jim said as he took another sip from his cup of whisky.

"Look Raynor, this is none of your business" Spatted one of the man. "we are here for her!"

At this moment, Joeyray got up from behind the bar with a shotgun and shouted "Now, now boys, I don't want any trouble, just turn around and be on your …" before he could finish, one of the man snatched the rifle out of Joeyray's hands and butted him in the face with the rifle.

Nova is mad now. As Jim rushed to the aid of Joeyray who's face is cover with blood from a broken nose. Nova unleashed a powerful telekinetic wave that knocked all of the intruders off their feet. Glass shattering behind Nova as she lift one of the man up by the collar of his shirt.

"What do you guys want from me?" Nova said venomously

Two men had recovered from the shockwave and ran towards Nova ready to tackle her but were repelled by Nova when she raised her hand at them, sending them flying out the door.

Suddenly, Nova felt a sharp pain to the back of her head as one of the men had smashed her with a bottle, shattering the bottle at the back of her head.

Nova glimpsed from the pain and just as the man was about to strike the stunned ghost again. Nova turned her head, preparing for the blow. But it never came.

Jim had grabbed onto the wrist of the assailant to prevent the blow.

"Now, that's no way to treat a lady" said Jim before punching the man in the face. "even if she is a ghost."

Nova clasped the back of her head with her hand as images flashes before her eyes.

Nova's flashbacks~

"It still hurts, doesn't it? Inside, I mean" whispered Nova as she place her hand over Tosh's shoulder.

"I'll be Fine… She caught me by surprise" Tosh turned to Nova. She looked deeply into his eyes.

"You stood up for me" whispered Nova

"Would do it again, too…. "Tosh gently held Nova's hand in his own.

"You are too beautiful…" Tosh stared deeply into her eyes…

"Tosh…?" Nova turned away… "You care too much"

"I have a lot to care about. First time in my life…" Tosh too turned and leaned over the balcony.

"I just don't want you to get hurt." Nova's head sank as she look out the balcony.

"Hurt? You will never hurt me." Tosh said as he turned his face towards Nova.

Nova placed her hand on his cheeks. "You are so Intense! That's what's so good about you ,Tosh" as she continues to stroke his cheeks agin.. "You burn so bright…"

As Tosh turned his face to the touches of Nova, enjoying its gentle caress "Maybe what you're feeling… is the same thing I'm feeling.."

Nova was taken by surprise when Tosh held both her hands in his, with a pink glow to her cheeks and a sheepish smile on her face. "What…?"

"There is a blind spot in their surveillance… but I dunno"… Tosh whispered to Nova as his face inches closer and closers… all the while looking at her eyes.. "If they catch us…. It's against the rules…"

Nova looked innocently at Tosh.. "We're just talking, Tosh.. We haven't broken any rules… Yet…" as they both close their eyes and lean in for the ….

End of Flashback.

Nova could see Jim talking to the man that she got pinned underneath her. Jim made the gesture for her to let go and she did, still dazed and confused as to what is happening around her. The intruders are gone now, Nova could see Jim turning towards her.. speaking with her but she just couldn't comprehend what he was saying.. all that she could pay attention to was the movement of his lips… the intensity of his eyes as he stared at her…. The sound of his voice and the feel of his hands on her shoulder and he shook her.

"What's going on in there Nova?" Jim shook the ghost, snapping her back into reality.

"Nothing.." Nova turned away from Jim to hide her blush. What is this feeling that she is having? Why the hell is blood rushing to her face? Why does her shoulder feel extremely cold where his hands once were.

"Look, the dominion are not too welcomed around these parts by the locals. You can hardly blame them for what Arturus Mengsk had put them through. When they see a ghost, they think of nukes" Explained Jim. "When we get back, you should change into something else to blend in better."

"You took a shot to the back of the head there, are you sure you are alright?" Jim approached the ghost and was inches from putting his hand on her shoulder.

Nova could feel the electricity of his touch coming and evasively moved to the bleeding bartender behind the counter.

"Are you alright?" Nova helps the old man up

"I've been through worst lil' lady, and it's all worth it" laughed the old man with a wide grin as Nova helped him up. Nova looked at him puzzled until she realized that she was clutching his arm to her chest, she blushed and pushed him off.

"Why are all man so perverted?" yelled Nova at the old barkeep who kept on laughing.

"Lil' lady, please forgive me, we don't get a lot of pretty ladies around these parts, its' hard not to stare" Joeyray slid a cup to where Nova is sitting. "Let me treat you to a drink."

"I will forgive this time….You pig." Nova muttered as she sat down.

Jim twitched at upon hearing those words from Nova. His mind slowly drifted to a time when he met a certain red hair beauty on Antiga Prime.

Jim's memories~

Jim got to the rendezvous with his man as quickly as his legs would carry him.

"No body…" Mike Liberty exclaimed disappointingly, exhausted from the jog

"Don't worry Mike, I am sure the second in command of the Son of Korhal wouldn't let us down" Jim jokes as he pat the disappointed reporter in the back. No sooner than he finished the sentence. A figure zap into existence in front of him and his man and marched directly towards Jim.

The person was wearing the confederate formfitting battlesuits which hugged her curves very nicely. Jim was captured by the sway of her hips as she walked towards him. As her face comes clear, she lifted the visor she was wearing and put it over her head, she pushed a stray of her red velvety soft hair from her gorgeous green orbs and saluted him. She face carries a soft blush probably from the heat of the environment and her lips were full and luscious. Her voice were soft but strong and soothed Raynor deep in his heart when she spoke.

Jim was enticed by this exotic beauty that stood before him. Images of things he wanted to do to her were filling his head…. His hands roaming through the length of her back, her lips pressed steamily onto his…. Her legs wrapped around him as he kissed the curvature of her jaw….their chest pressing together…. Her hair sliding through his fingers as he held her face and get lost into those deep emerald eyes…. The sound of his name escaping her lips as he thrus….."

"Captain Raynor, I have finished scouting out area and… YOU PIG!" shouted Kerrigan at Jim…

Kerrigan was used to man finding her attractive… but this Jim Raynor… his thoughts were soo… graphic…. Vivid… and intriguing…. INTRIGUING? ..

As Sarah came to her senses from her angry out lash at the tall man in front of her.. she could hear him say..

"What? I didn't even say anything to you yet!"

She was compelled by this ex-law enforcement official from a backwater planet. She was surprise that he didn't deny it instead she continued "But you were THINKING it!"

Why is she acting this way? The normally cool, calm and emotionless ghost… felt offended at the thought of things that this man wants to do to her…She's confused.. yet there's a rush of excitement that laid underneath it all… hidden by the anguish she displayed towards him…

"Oh Yeah.. you are a telepath… " muttered Jim with a bitter emotion that Sarah is all too familiar with… but before she could probe him some more.. "Look, lets just get on with this, okay?" barked Jim.

"Right…"

End of Jim's memories…

Jim chuckled as his mind relived the memories of how he and his beloved Sarah first met… Boy did they got off on the wrong foot.

He felt a tug in his chest…a pain… he misses her… he constantly thinks of her…he is always reaching out to her in his thought in hopes that maybe…. She would open the connection between them just to let him know that she is ok…

As he took another swig of the whiskey in his hand…he turned to look at the younger ghost operative beside him who is laughing away with Joeyray… Sighing…. Now he is struck babysitting the babysitter who seems to constantly get herself into trouble….

Jim took another swig… and sighed.. "When will you talk to me Sarah… "

Jim took the bottle of whiskey and chugged the whole bottle as Joeyray and Nova watched on…

Nova bit her lips as she looked at Jim downing the bottle of whiskey..for the second time in her life... she is worried about someone ... "Second?" thought Nova to herself

"did i care about someone before?"... and what's with the images of her and Tosh that she experienced earlier... She doesn't remember everything yet but she clearly could not have feelings for Tosh when she was the one who ended his life...

"could we have been... together..? " sighed Nova as she too.. indulge to the liquid comfort that Joeyray's offering.. but she knows she can't have too many...

Someone's gotta be the safe driver home tonight...

Author's Disclaimer: I do not own starcraft. This story is just a version of how I wanted the Starcraft universe to be after heart of the swarm. Please don't sue me! And please review and let me know how I am doing! Thanks for Reading.