Yeah well not such an action packed chapter... but it kind of serves as... well heck i dont know, just read it okay?! heh! let me know what u think ;)

LK

Chapter 26: Family

She was strapped on the sacrificial rock but this time her eyes weren't covered. She could clearly see the cave as Kris had described it to her, the goat woman leaning over her. Kris' wide blue eyes stared at her from over the goat's shoulder as she reached for something out of sight. Then Kris was completely hidden behind the woman. Something really bright approached.

The goat woman grabbed her shirt with her left hand and Sabrina was unable to move and stop her, as her hands were completely immobilized. She ripped the first button opened and bared her chest as she lowered the hot branding iron over her. When she pressed it against the bare flesh the horrible sound it made was drowned in the endless chanting of the women behind her. Sabrina's wordless scream was not.

Without realising it she swum to the surface of coherent thought as the dream faded away. The scream she was hearing was her own, but it sounded more like like a groan than a scream anymore. Her right hand had instinctively shot up to touch the cut on her chest, covered in bandages. A hand briefly touched her shoulder and it made her turn around and face Kelly. She seemed like she had just woke and her hair was in the worst shape Sabrina had ever seen it. Mocking Kelly about afro hair was the least of her concerns at the moment though.

She waited a few seconds to find her normal rate of breathing then turned back to Kelly. She realised she was sitting up on her bed but couldn't remember how she got there. She gave Kelly a look that showed her question.

''You passed out. Kris helped me get you there.'' Kelly frowned. ''You haven't been eating again and you were exhausted.'' She put her hand over Sabrina's that was still clutching her chest. ''You're having nightmares about the sorority ritual.''

Sabrina almost tried to deny it but it was no use. The involuntary move of her hand had given her away. Her shoulders dropped in defeat. ''Did you spend the night here?''

''Mmmhmmm?'' came a voice on her left. Sabrina opened her eyes wide and turned to see who was talking, only to find Kris sleeping curled in a ball next to her.

''What the hell is this, pajama party?'' She half laughed and poked Kris who muttered a protest and put her pillow over her head.

She looked outside the window. It was still dark. She lied back onto the bed and Kelly remained sitting. ''Are you okay?'' She quietly asked.

Sabrina realised that for the first time in weeks she wasn't consumed by wishing for the drug. ''I think I'm better.'' She replied honestly. ''It's getting better.''

She lied back next to her. ''Are you mad that I told Kris?'' She looked up the shadows that covered the ceiling in the semi dark.

Sabrina shook her head but realised Kelly might not be able to see her in the dark. ''Thank you, Kelly.''

''You're quiting the fights, Bri. You need to. Kris will take your place and find the Aryan, sine she's not in the cult, sorority or whatever the hell this group is.'' She changed the subject rather abruptly.

Sabrina pulled a blanket that was balled around her feet up her chest to shield her from the desert night cold. ''I have, by regulation, to do today's fight. Give 24 hour notice before a change of representatives.''

''And after this fight?''

''I'll give Kris my place.'' She remained silent for a minute. ''She deserves it.''

'' 'It' ?''

Sabrina closed her eyes. ''My trust. Our trust. You were right. I was a bit reluctant to let her try on her own. I wasn't sure she'd be okay. I was afraid she'd get hurt and it would affect the team.''

''Does your new view of things have anything to do with the ritual?''

''As a matter of fact yes. Kris showed me she was strong. I'm sorry I had to see her prove it to me. I'm sorry I didn't have faith in her from the start. She... deserves to be trusted. And... me and Kris, we're gonna have a talk when this is over.'' She frowned deeply and nodded but this time more to herself than to Kelly. ''I have to apologise to her. For not trusting her to take care of herself. If she had messed up in the ritual it could have cost me my life. Maybe her life as well.''

''So you're not upset she carved a swastika on you.'' Kelly said softly.

''No. If she refused to... I might be dead right now. I know that the situation hurt her as much as it hurt me. I stupidly let my guard down and got taken. It wasn't Kris who was the liability, it was me. I was... blinded by my own ego... my need to do everything on my own.'' She bit her lowed lip, desperately needing not to let the tears flow once again.

''Wow! Where is Sabrina Duncan and what have you done to her?'' Kelly muttered in a light hearted tone. She couldn't believe that Sabrina was admitting, finally admitting of being a hardheaded stubborn mule. Well, with nicer words, of course.

''I promise to try... show more faith in you guys. I trust you with my life, and you know that. If you still... want to let me be in the team... I promise to... try harder.'' Sleep was slowly coming back to her and she was just deciding to take the morning off class.

Kelly was taken aback. ''Let... you?''

''I... it would be understandable if you two thought I wasn't competent enough... or safe enough to be around... to depend on... for this kind of work.'' Her heart thudded against her chest, waiting for Kelly's answer on her greatest fear.

''Stop it Bri.'' Despite the dark she wished she could look into Sabrina's eyes right now. ''We are going to support you through this. And you're going to beat it. We're not going to find a replacement for you. We're going to help. And before you ask, I talked to Kris. She feels exactly the same way. You are a part of us, our family okay? '' She searched for her friend's hand and squeezed it. She found her cold and shaky and moved closer to keep her warm. ''Now you need to sleep. We have informed your classes that you won't be teaching in the morning. Kris will stay with you.''

''Thank you...'' Sabrina said, so quietly that she wasn't sure Kelly heard but she had. And she was smiling.

The next time she woke she was overwhelmed by a sense of warmth and the smell of shampoo. A heavy blanket was pressing against her body, making her feel safe. She didn't want to open her eyes just yet. Soon she realised that someones hair was brushing against her cheek. Hmm... bubble gum scented shampoo... yep that was Kris. Which meant it was already morning and Kelly had left for work and Kris, the little opportunist, had skipped her classes and was peacefully asleep next to her.

She briefly thought back to last night and she had a small flash of puppies sleeping in a bundle, trying to make the small puppy in the middle happy. Well, in this case she seemed to be the small sad puppy and the other two angels had been doing everything they could to make her feel safe, protected. Maybe even loved in a way. In an odd way she felt comfortable where she was lying. In an odd way she felt she belonged.

Wait, why was she thinking about puppies? She chuckled and she drifted back into a pleasant sleep.