Conan felt dread all the way to his bones, she knew who it was that did this to her and she was afraid. She turned away from him and held her arms carefully around her rib cage. She just stared out the window and her tears slid down her cheeks in silence. Conan gently pulled her back against him and she suddenly turned in his arms and buried her face in his chest.

"Why would he do that? He was so nice to me!" she wailed, clutching him closely.

Conan held her carefully, not knowing what to do next. He was never good at comforting women. He cleared his throat and Ana lurched away from him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Could you bring the guys in, I'd like to take care of this once and for all," she said stiffly, rearranging her clothes.

Conan merely nodded and went to do as she asked, trying to figure out what she was doing. She still hadn't told him who it was and that was bothering him. Conan reached the bottom of the stairs and looked over at his men's' table. They were busy pointing out the faults in alley ways and open market streets. Conan strode over and cleared his throat, squaring his shoulders and standing tall. His men looked up at him with questioning looks and he sighed.

"Ana wants all of you to see her in the room. I would like you to wait outside until I say you can come in for I need to speak with her privately first," he said, his stern scowl enough motivation to get the men off their chairs and standing in a group at the bottom of the stairs.

Conan went back up and entered the room, closing the door behind him. He watched as Ana came up to him with concern in her gentle eyes and he sighed again.

"Ana, will you tell me who it is, please?" he asked, worry furrowing his brow.

"You'll know him soon enough, Conan. Cause you're going to be the one to help me punish him," Ana growled, climbing back into bed and pulling the covers up to her bandaged waist. Her tunic was tied off to the side just under her breasts so that the bandage would not be irritated by the brushing of cloth.

Conan just sighed heavily again and fixed the pillows behind her back, making sure she was comfortable.

"Let them in," she stated quietly, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

Conan nodded and went to the door, ushering the men inside. They all lined up at the foot of the bed and waited for Conan to take a position next to Ana's bed. He crossed his arms over his wide chest and looked down at Ana for orders. The men seemed shocked that she was commanding Conan like he was her pet, but then again, she did save his life even though she had been upset with him.

"As you all know. Conan was attacked by a thief late into the night three days ago. But it was no thief, it was a rogue. And I know exactly who it is. When I call your name, please step forward and I will tell you what to do. Please follow my instructions carefully and all should go well," Ana said, folding her hands on her lap.

Conan's gaze went to the line of men and caught a glimpse of the rogue, Mija, fidget uncomfortably. He did have this air of being guilty surrounding him, but he couldn't just take his gut, Ana was the one who saw the attacker's face, she had all the power in her hands.

"Kurzon, please step forward,"

Kurzon took a step forward, his shoulders squared and his back straight.

"I need you to come and stand at this side of the bed please," she said, patting that space to her left.

Kurzon did her bidding with a small smile, patting her shoulder gently when he came to her side.

"Thebious, please step forward,"

Thebious stepped forward, his hands on his hips, and a huge smile plastered to his handsome face.

"I need you to sit here," she said, patting the place by her feet.

Thebious sat on the bed at her feet and his smile only grew bigger. She turned to Conan and reached for him. He leaned down, his scowl fierce and everyone could tell that he was not pleased. Ana whispered in his ear and he growled when she gently pulled him to sit behind her so that she was more comfortable. His arms wrapped around her and she shifted on the bed.

"Biton, please step forward,"

The smaller of the thieves stepped forward, his expressionless face staying the same.

"I need you to stand where Conan just was, please," she said, giving him the tiniest of smiles.

Biton gave her a curt nod and went to stand where she asked.

"Hasnon, please step forward,"

Hasnon, the last of the thieves stepped forward, his black eyes holding many questions.

"I need you to take a seat at the end of the bed for me please," she said.

Hasnon sat where she specified and Conan finally saw what she was doing. She was forming a shield out of the men, the faster towards the front, and the most trusted at her back. Conan's arms tightened around her protectively and Kurzon knew what was coming next for he took a step closer to Ana.

"Mija, please step forward,"

Mija took a step forward, his hands wringing themselves and his black eyes analyzing every opening and escape route.

"Men, this is the man who tried to kill Conan, and he attacked me," she said, reaching forward to still the men as they were about to get up.

"I do not wish to be unfair in this trial. Mija, do you admit to such acts?" she growled, her glare strong enough to make the others avoid her gaze.

"If you had been asleep I would have succeeded. Damn you, woman. I'll get you for this," Mija snarled, taking a step back.

Ana snapped her fingers and Hasnon was the first to reach him. The two fell to the floor and Hasnon had Mija pinned within seconds. The other men stayed by her side when Conan slid out from behind her, careful of her injury. Conan looked at Kurzon, and received a curt nod of approval. Conan gently pushed Hasnon out of the way and dragged Mija out of the room and down the back stairs and to the alley behind the tavern. Once Conan was gone, the men gathered around Ana and they praised her for her resourcefulness. She just thanked them all and asked them to sit on the bed with her and fill her in on everything that had happened while she was resting.

Conan returned to Ana once Mija was disposed of. He had entered the room and the men were telling her stories of their patrols of the streets and the funny mishaps that they had gotten themselves into and he heard her laugh for the first time in more than a week. Her smile was brighter, her energy renewed. She was something else, and Conan wanted to possess her and only her. No other woman would make his heart twist painfully, no other woman could stand against him and still fight when injured as seriously as she had been. The men paused when they noticed that Conan had entered, but continued when he took a seat behind Ana. He remained quiet, lost in his thoughts.

He didn't notice the men leave, giving Ana and him the privacy that she wanted. She was in Conan's debt again. He was staring blankly at the bed sheets when he felt Ana reach up over her shoulder and stroke his cheeks with her hands. He sighed in content and turned his head so that he was nuzzling her hair. She giggled softly and carefully turned around in his arms so that she could face him.

"Thank you, Conan, for helping me. I am in your debt," she whispered, leaning against him.

"No, it is I who is in your debt. You saved my life, I am yours to command until the debt is repaid," he whispered, gently crushing her to his front.

Ana giggled again and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Is that so? Well, first off, I need a kiss from the man who owes me," she whispered, her gentle eyes sparing with desire.

Conan grinned and molded his mouth to hers in a hungry kiss. She tasted like the sweet fruit she had been given early in the morning, and her lips were so soft against his. He pulled back and just looked at her. He enjoyed her smile and the sparkle in her bright eyes. She slowly climbed out of his embrace and laid down on her good side and then looked at Conan with a small smile. He smiled back and laid down behind her and pulled her close. They both needed rest and Conan was more than willing to close his eyes for a few hours and hold the woman he knew was his.