Part 12

That strange beeping was back. Katy frowned and opened her eyes, there were little lights surrounding her like stars, they made the room glow. She couldn't focus on anything, her mind still fogged from whatever Jabal had given her to drink. There was someone sat beside her, she could only see their silhouette in the faint light. Whoever it was, they were slumped forward as if they were sleeping, the features were so familiar, but Katy couldn't place them.

As Katy watched this person, they moved slightly causing their face to tilt towards her. She let out a loud gasp, the beeps in the background sped up. Her mother, the person sat beside her, grumbled in her sleep and moved around a bit more. I'm home! I'm back! Katy tried to sit up, to reach out to her, but found her movements very limited and sluggish. Whatever was in that sleeping draught had severely affected her motor skills.

Her mum stirred and her eyes slid open, slowly at first, but she must have seen that Katy was awake, that she was there, because they suddenly widened and she grasped Katy's hand, Katy tried to respond, to squeeze her mother's hand reassuringly, nothing happened, no reaction. "Baby, can you hear me?" Her voice was hushed, she sounded desperate and lost. Can't she see I'm wide awake?

Katy tried to reply, "M-mum," she stammered, "I'm right here." But her mother looked at her, as if she was still waiting for some kind of answer. Her grip on Katy's hand got tighter, so much so that it should have been painful, all she could feel was a light touch. Tears welled up quickly in her eyes then ran feely down her cheeks. No, no you're not supposed to cry. It broke Katy heart. "Please don't, mum," She was close to tears herself now. "I'm here, I'm home."

Again, there was no sign that her mother had heard her, instead she leaned over the bed and placed her over Katy's middle and pulled her into a hug. "I miss you," She sobbed, the sounds muffled by the blankets that had been pushed into her face, "I miss you, please come back."

Katy was getting more and more freaked out as the seconds ticked by, as her mother continued to cry, as she tried again and again to move, but couldn't. "Please, I'm here," She was almost shouting now, her voice sounded far away even in her own head, "I'm right here, I'm right here!" She squeezed her eyes shut to try and stop her own tears from falling. It was no good.

The air seemed to cool down, everything felt different all of a sudden and her mother was shaking her almost violently, she was shouting at her to wake up. Katy snapped her eyes open. Everything was different. It was still dark, she was still lying on something soft but uncomfortable, but she was back in the bureau and Jabal was leaning over her, Altair stood just behind him. Katy took a deep, shuddering breath as she looked between the two men.

Jabal peered at her, he looked concerned, "Are you okay?" He asked. He helped Katy sit up and offered her a cup of water. She took it and held it close to her chest.

Katy nodded and took a sip, she set the cup down and scrubbed her face with her hands. This is getting too weird. A growl of frustration escaped her and she moved her hands to pull at her hair. I just want to go home. "I'm fine," She whispered, more to herself than to Altair or Jabal, "Just a bad dream."

"If you are sure?" Jabal still seemed worried. Katy nodded again and picked at the hem of the blanket that draped over her knees. "Is there anything I can get for you?" This time Katy shook her head and sighed. Nothing that would help. "Okay," Jabal stood, turned and said something to Altair, who nodded, he never took his eyes off Katy. The men turned as if to return to the other room.

"Wait," Katy blurted out, they both looked back at her, "Why are you being so nice to me?" Before they could reply she went on, "I mean, I'm just some random girl." Her words were rushed, almost tripping over each other, but she needed answers. "You said it yourself," She looked at Altair, "You could've left me to die, why didn't you?" Then to Jabal, "Why are you looking after me?" Then to both, "Please, I just want to understand what the hell is going on."

There was a stunned silence following Katy's outburst, they just stared at her for a couple of seconds before Altair took a step towards her. "I could not let you die for two reasons." He started, his voice smooth and quiet with just a trace of hostility, "One, it is one of the laws I live by, I cannot kill an innocent." Altair took another step towards her, Katy tried to move away from him, fully aware of how dangerous he was. "Two, you know my name," His voice became little more than a whisper, Jabal reached out to place a hand on the Assassin's shoulder, but he shrugged it off, "I intend to find out how."

Katy's bottom lip began to tremble, she knew a threat when she heard one. The Rafik had put himself between herself and the Assassin, not wanting the situation to get out of hand, he placed his palm firmly on Altair's chest to stop his slow advance on Katy. "Please," He tried to reason with Altair, "You are scaring the poor child."

Altair huffed and stepped back again. He looked at Katy one last time then retreated to another pile of cushions on the far side of the room. Jabal left Katy to follow him. "Her fever has gone down and there is no infection." He said to Altair. "Get some rest, clear your head and talk to her in the morning. I did not go through all this trouble just for you to take her life away in a fit of anger."

"I know," Altair said, his voice was strained, conflicted, "I am sorry, after what Talal said-"

But Jabal cut him off, "You cannot trust the words of a snake, which even in death, produces venom." Altair simply nodded, Katy didn't hear what he said next, but Jabal was satisfied by whatever it was and came back over to her. "Try and sleep a bit more, you will feel better when rested."

Try as she might, Katy couldn't get back to sleep, every time she closed her eyes all she could see was her mother's exhausted face, hear her desperate cries of despair, acting like Katy had died. Maybe I am dead in the real world. That terrifying thought had never occurred to her before. No, you're not dead. You would know if you were dead. But- No, now stop. "Shut the fuck up." Katy mumbled to herself and rubbed at her eyes.

These intrusive thoughts that barged their way into her head needed to stop, they had been helpful when she was Talal's prisoner, but now she'd had time to think about it, Katy realised it wasn't completely normal. It was bizarre, sometimes her mind would have a full conversation without any conscious effort from her. Hearing these little voices every now and then was the least of her worries, on top of everything else, it was probably the most sane thing happening to her.

A/N: Not much to say about this one, really, except thank you once again for taking the time to read my story. I hope you're all still enjoying it.
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