Okay here is another chapter, I meant to get it out quicker but the weather has been so beautiful it has been hard to not be outside. That and unfortunately work has been crazy, but necessary to pay the bills.

Thank you to those who reviewed once again (especially Roni, my faithful reviewer). This part was originally in chapter 7 but it would have been way too long. Hope it is worth the wait!

I also don't own any of these characters (I wish I did)

Ch 8

The first step to my plan was talking to Jaime. Once I grabbed my food from the counter, I placed it beside Burns and excused myself for a moment to talk with Jaime at the other table. I ensured to lower my voice so that no one else could hear us. Once he was on board with my idea I casually went back to my original seat. Luckily anyone who would have questioned my behaviour – those people being Mel and Ian – had not arrived for dinner yet.

Mel and Jared came into the room with a bounce in their step, playfully nudging each other. Ian arrived shortly after, free of purple mud, his dark hair still wet. Pet's body betrayed me as I blushed when he put his arm around me giving me a quick kiss, still thinking of our moment in the hallway. Brandt walked by us at that exact moment – his timing was impeccable today.

"Guess the water wasn't cold enough after all," he smirked. Ian shot back something about Brandt not being able to make anyone blush except Aaron, which confused me. "Yeah well, just keep the groping out of the public areas so I don't have to watch it," Brandt said before walking off flustered.

The whole table had their eyes on me now and I looked down suddenly becoming very intrigued by my food. Jeb cleared his throat and changed the topic to how the repairs were coming along. I kept my head down until I heard the other voices join in the conversation. I finally looked up to join myself but found myself staring into a pair of hazel eyes as they bore into me.

I shook my head at Mel, answering her unasked question. She narrowed her eyes looking between Ian and I. Knowing what she meant I nodded my head slowly agreeing that I would discuss it with him still. As much as we may not be able to read each other's thoughts we still managed these unspoken conversations well.

I stepped into the kitchen and began making the bread once dinner was complete. Everyone was too tired from the repairs earlier in the day to get up so most stayed. Ian sat by the stove and I asked what they wanted to hear about today.

Jaime piped up from the corner of the room. "You haven't told us much about the Fire Planet," he said. "What are the hosts like there?"

"Well I don't know much about them, as I was never on that planet," I began. "So I can only recall from stories I have heard from others..." I trailed off.

"Hey, Burns was from the Fire Planet. Weren't you?" Jeb asked looking towards Burns. He of course knew that answer already. I knew I could count on clever Jeb.

"Yes that was where I was before coming here," Burns stated simply.

"Really," Jaime said excitedly, turning towards where Burns sat. "What was it like? How long were you there? Why did you leave?" Jaime spewed the questions out with such enthusiasm and innocence that Burns would have to answer.

Burns looked at Jaime and started to answer his questions. Everyone in the room turned their attention from me to Burns, although his focus remained on Jaime. Telling him about the Fire Planet's inhabitants, and how the ate the smoke. He explained how he felt about the use of the living flowers as the food source although he wasn't able to put a word to that feeling until he arrived here. Guilt.

Once he had answered Jaime's questions he tentatively looked around the room and saw all eyes on him. He looked towards me but I busied myself with putting the bread in the stove. Luckily it didn't last as Heath – normally the quiet one – caught his attention asking him for more details on the actual planet and what it looked like. Burns looked to him and again answered his questions. As a soul I knew he wouldn't be able to refuse their requests.

Ian turned to me from his spot by the stove and gave me a knowing look. Leaning forward he quietly asked, "Did you have a hand in this?"

"Jaime is just very curious," I said giving him an innocent face. Technically it wasn't a lie. Jaime is a very curious person.

"Okay..." he said back sceptically. "We'll go with that story then."

Trudy had been in the kitchen giving me a hand when she must have overheard us talking. She came up beside me, making me jump a little, and offered to finish the bread.

"As I thank you for getting Heath out of his shell a bit more," she said quietly as she winked at me.

Normally I would have insisted that I continue to work but I was very interested in hearing Burns speak to everyone. For such a tall man he had a very intimate way of speaking and drew in everyone's attention. I walked around the counter and stood in front of where Ian sat. He shifted himself forward so I could stand between his legs and lean back onto his chest.

I let myself relax listening to Burns' stories while Ian ran his fingers up and down the sides of my arms, causing me to shiver slightly. I think I actually started to drift off to sleep when Jeb's booming voice broke through the crowd to disburse us. I stretched and walked over to Burns with Ian in tow.

"I hope you don't mind that I talked for so long," he said apologetically. "I didn't want to take your story telling away from you."

"Of course I didn't mind," I said. He smiled back at me. "It was nice to give my voice a rest for a night. You are very good at answering all their questions and with so much detail."

"Well I am sure they would still rather hear it from you."

I was proud of my accomplishment that night and planned on continuing it in the nights that followed. Each night having someone new ask him a few questions. One night Jaime even suggested that we all talk about the Mist Planet as we had each been on it, including Sunny. She didn't say much but I did see a proud smile creep across her face as she was asked.

The next few days were pretty much the same with most people doing repairs throughout the caves during the day. I was stuck doing the dishes, which were at least something to do. Each afternoon I at least had company as Burns seemed to magically appear as soon I was done with the dishes to help carry them back. It was frustrating. On one hand I didn't need the help but on the other I was happy that he seemed to finally be feeling comfortable in our caves.

On the fourth day Burns showed up before I was even done cleaning the dishes saying that they were finally done all the repairs. He offered to help me finish cleaning the dishes but I told him to relax a little bit and that I was just about done. I finished up with the cleaning, placing the final clean dish in the bin that Burns already had in his arms – sneaky buggar - and we walked out into the corridor. As we walked out I ran smack into Ian's chest.

"Hey," Ian exclaimed, grabbing my arms before I fell back. "I was just coming to see if you needed a hand." He looked over at Burns and saw that he was carrying the bin.

"Hey Burns," he said. "I could grab those for you."

"That's okay. I don't mind carrying them for Wanda."

"Not like he has let me carry them any day this week," I said with a roll of my eyes. Sarcasm – another trait courtesy of Mel.

Ian paused, staring at Burns.

"Well I should carry something…"

Suddenly my knees were knocked out from under me and an arm caught my head just before it hit the ground.

"Guess it'll have to be Wanda," Ian said with a smirk.

"Ian!" I exclaimed squirming in his arms.

"Sorry love," he said. "But he beat me to the dishes and I can't walk back with nothing in my arms."

Something in his eyes told me not to argue. He seemed to be struggling with something hidden deep behind the pools fo blue sapphire. So I went with it and wrapped my arms around his neck giving him a quick peck on the cheek. The three of us made our way down the hall, the two guys both with their arms full. Ian arms didn't leave me for the rest of the night.

The next day was the turning of the fields, which didn't take quite as many people as the repairs. This freed up Burns, so we took the dishes to the river to wash together, well I should say Burns carried them to the river and I walked beside him. The only reason he carried the bin was because I was distracted saying goodbye to Ian and he beat me to them. It was starting to bother me that I barely got to lift a finger to do anything once again. He placed the bin down by the edge and we started our chore of washing the dishes. We chatted casually as we completed our job about the other planets, our time here, funny stories we had about our human families. It was an easy afternoon and we were finished in record time so I suggested we head down to the games room and play some soccer. It would be a great way for me to get some exercise so I could strength my body and people in the caves wouldn't have to worry about helping me so much.

I went to pick up the bin and take them back to the kitchen. As I straightened up Burns took hold of the bin. "Let me take those, please."

"No thank you," I said. I could feel the stubbornness I picked up from Mel coming through. "I am not going to get any more capable of doing these things if you keep taking stuff out of my hands." I tightened my grip on the bin.

"Wanda… These are way too heavy," Burns said trying again to pry it out of my hands. "Please let me help."

"I can do it," I said stubbornly once again, definitely a trait I picked up from Melanie. "If it gets to be too much I promise to let you know." I pulled the bin out of his hands, he didn't put up much more resistance. He was a soul after all and not a fighter. As I pulled the bin out of his arms the weight set me off balance slightly and I took a step back. I didn't see the puddle of water behind me that we had created while scrubbing the dishes and with my weight already off balance I couldn't stop myself, and the bin of dishes, from crashing to the muddy floor.

Between the crashing of the dishes and shattering of the glasses was a blood curdling scream. At first I didn't recognize it, but I quickly realized it was me.

I could hear more dishes breaking as Burns lifted the bin off of me and flung it across the room. He reached his arm under my back and gentle propped me up so I was sitting on the ground. I felt numb. We surveyed my body to see any damage. My legs would definitely be bruised by tonight and had a few scrapes across them that I knew Ian would not be too happy about. I felt the back on my head with my right arm and could feel a bump starting to form under my hair. That I may be able to hide from him for a while, I thought.

I heard Burns gasp and that was when I looked at my left arm, I forgot it was even there. Almost like it was numb and I couldn't feel it, which is probably why I was so shocked with what I saw.

A long triangular shard of one of the plates was sticking out of my arm just below the wrist. I could tell it had gone in too deep but I wondered why I didn't feel the pain.

"I am sorry Wanda," he said reaching towards my arm and then pulling back. "I should have taken them from you. You must be in so much pain…let me get you to Doc."

"Please don't blame yourself Burns," I said. "This was my clumsy fault… and actually I don't really feel anything…" Maybe I was in shock.

"Your body must be in shock," he stated, almost reading my mind. "Can you move your fingers?"

I tried to move them but nothing happened. I must have lost a connection when I fell. I stretched out my feelers to see if I was missing a connection to the body but everything was the same as before. "No I can't, and I checked my connections…everything seems okay."

I touched the piece of plate in my arm. "It must be blocking my movements…" Out of instinct I took hold of the plate. My body was rejecting this foreign object and it needed to be removed. I could see Burns reaching out to stop me but my movement was too quick. Once I had a grip on the plate I yanked it out of my arm in one movement.

Burns looked at me with shock. "Wanda! What did you do that for?" He lunge for my arm and tried to cover the gash with both hands, but it was too late. The blood flowed from my arm at an alarming rate taking with it the numbness of my shock. He squeezed my arm, mumbling something to himself. I felt my head getting dizzy and felt like it may just float away.

"I'm sorry..." I managed to get out before I fell back to the floor.

"Wanderer! You have to stay awake! Stay with me!" Burns looked around frantically. He found what he was looking for and grabbed one of the dish towels from the floor. He quickly wrapped around my forearm and tied it so tightly that it sent a searing pain through my body. I yelled out, echoing in the room. Pet's body had never experienced pain like this. Then it all went black.

I was surrounded by smoke. It was like a heavy fog. I couldn't make out anything but I felt danger around me. I was trying to run from something but I could move my legs, almost like I was rooted to the ground...Where am I? I didn't recognize this planet or the host I was in. I saw a shadow pass through the smoke in front of me and I froze. I wasn't sure what it was, but I somehow knew it was the end for me.

That was when the smoke cleared slightly like it was being sucked away. With the clearing I was able to focus a few feet in front of me know. That was when the shadow reappeared directly in my path. Although I had never actually seen one I knew this was a Fire Taster. I heard a strange grumble and then I saw the flames come towards me. They started to engulf my body. I could feel the heat traveling up my body from my feet through my legs, my torso, my chest and my arms. It lingered at my arms and flames seemed to somehow increase, the burning intensifying. I cried out in pain. "Please Stop! It burns! Please stop Burns Living Flowers!"

"Wanda?" The shadow spoke to me. How did he know me?...How did I know him?

"Wanda?" He was calling to me.

The smoke lifted and a bright light filled my line of sight. The burning pain remained. My senses were cloudy but I could smell a familiar musty odour.

"Wanda? Please answer me." The Fire Taster was calling me once more but I could no longer see him. I no longer felt like I was rooted to the ground but like I was floating... no that was not quite right. I felt like I was being carried. I fluttered my eyelids almost able to open them once again...

"Wanderer, can you hear me?"

I opened my eyes and looked up. I heard ringing in my ears as I tried to focus. Reflective eyes looked down at me. I realized I was in Burns' arms and he was crushing me into his chest right where my body burned. My left arm was wedged between the two of us. I felt like I was going to float away again.

"We are almost at Docs office," He said to me. For the first time I noticed that we were moving. "Just hold on for a minute more."

I tried my hardest to stay alert. Everything was happening in a blur, images were flashing before me. I felt my body being moved and felt something hard beneath me. I saw Docs face in front of mine, he looked panicked. I could hear them discussing things but I couldn't speak for myself. I felt heavy now, like a weight was pushing me down. They were talking over each other and I was able to make out three voices; Burns, Doc and Candy.

"What happened to her?"

"I am so sorry...?

"I need more bandages!"

"Where is the heal? – No, the deep heal!"

"It is all out!"

"How is it out?"

"More bandages then!"

"She looks like she is in pain..."

"Crap I forgot!" I felt a square being placed on my tongue. The burning pain started to fade but the weight still remained and my head was still too cloudy.

"Why won't it stop?"

"It's too deep – give me all the heal we have, maybe it will work the same as the deep heal if I use all of it..."

"She's losing consciousness again."

"Use the Awake." I felt a strip on my tongue once again.

My head started to clear and I was able to focus on the room.I could feel my hair clinging to my damp forehead and was able to recognize the hard surface I was on as Doc's desk. I looked to my right and Burns was standing beside my head holding my shoulder to the desk with one hand and the other was one my head. He looked scared and pained. I looked down from his face and noticed his shirt – it was covered in blood.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, trying to sit up a bit but he held me down.

"I am fine Wanda..." he said apologetically. "I am so sorry."

Where did all the blood come from? I was trying to remember what was going on. I looked over to the other side of my where Doc and Candy stood. They were moving quickly working on my arm. Candy was standing in my way so I could not make out what they were doing.

"I don't know what else I can do. It seems to have slowed a bit... she needs more help than I can offer"

"She's lost too much blood... And I think she has damaged the tendon..." Doc was speaking to Candy. "Get me more bandages."

"Wanda? Can you move your fingers?"

I managed to shake my head no

Candy moved to get more across the room and I was able to see what Doc was working on. He looked like Burns did; frightened and covered in blood. Also like Burns it was not his blood. It was mine. I looked down my arm starting at the shoulder, my pale skin looked even lighter with a sickly greyish tone to it. My eyes traveled further to where Doc was putting pressure on a blood soaked bandage. Candy arrived at his side with a fresh one. He put this one on my arm, discarding the used one to a tray beside him where it landed on a pile of similar looking cloths.

Seeing that made my head feel light again. I wave of nausea washed over me and I had to look away. The room started to spin and I tried to focus on one spot. I tried to look at Burns again but even he was starting to go blurry. I remembered Pet having problems with seeing her own blood. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay alert much longer.

"I am sorry Wanda," he apologized again. "It was all my fault, I nev-"

He was cut off by a booming voice coming from the hallway. "What did you do to her?"

Ian was here. How did he know I was here? I tried to look towards him but I was unable to move my head once again and the ringing returned once again. My head was still turned towards Burns when I saw a flash of movement in front of me, so fast that I couldn't make it out visually, but I recognized thwack of someone getting hit. It was not the first time I heard this sound and was also not the first time I had caused it. It was a misunderstanding that I had to correct.

I heard Burns moan now across the room.

"Ian!" Doc cried out.

"Ian..." I was barely able to whisper.

I felt a large hand wrap around my small on squeezing it. My line of sight was now filled with a familiar image. My favourite colour met my eyes and was what I needed to see. "Burns didn't..."

I had no energy left to finish my statement. I wanted to defend Burns but my fragile body couldn't handle it. I closed my eyes and let myself fade away. I felt like I was floating through different layers of colourful clouds. It was tranquil falling through each layer of clouds and then into a deep pool of deep sapphire.

Everything went away.

I felt the familiar feeling of being cradled as I bounced around. I knew I was in Ian's embrace this time. I wasn't able to fully open my eyes yet, the lids felt like they weighed 50 pounds each and I was too weak to lift them. I tried to move my limbs but Ian's arms were wrapped around me too tightly. I remembered why I was so weak. Doc had mentioned to them that I lost too much blood - the I remembered it all now…seeing it on the tray, soaking through my shirt and onto Burns'. My injured arm automatically flinched at the recall of it all and I was overcome with an excruciating burning in my arm. My breath caught at the pain and a low moan came out of my throat.

I felt the air rushing by me now – Ian must have picked up his pace at the sound of me. "Shh…it will be okay Wanderer," he whispered. "I won't let anything else happen to you."

I could smell the fresh air against my face. We were outside. Why were we outside? Did they want to get rid of me? Were they sending me away? But Ian was with me… of course he was with me. He wouldn't stay behind without me.

"Wh-where a-are we go-go-ing?" I stuttered out. I was finally able to open my heavy eyelids and I looked up searching Ian's face. His skin was pulled tight across his face, his mouth was in a tight line and I could see his temple pulsing as he clenched his jaw. His eyes were staring straight ahead, unblinking.

"We are taking you to a healer." The voice came from beside us but I could not turn my head to see the face. "They are better equipped to deal with the extend of your injury… I am so sorry… we couldn't give you any more no pain in case the healers wondered where we got it…I am so sorry."

I knew this was Burns' voice now. The constant pulsing in my head made his voice sound distant and muffled but I knew it was my friend. But why was he taking the blame for my accident? It was my fault.

"Do-Don't be so-sorry! I a-am Fi-ine." I said bouncing in Ian's arms. I was not fine…I knew that. This pain was worse than when I almost took Mel's arm off. "It was my fault...Not yours." I was still looking at Ian's face. He looked like he was made of stone.

"I can see the jeep ahead!" Burns cried out.

The stone cracked on Ian's face and he looked down at me for the first time in what felt like forever. His eyes looked into mine. They were darker that usually, more like midnight, and they burned with intensity. I wanted to reach up and touch his face but the pain made me cringe and I felt the moisture coming to my eyes. The stone was back on his face as we approached the Jeep.

"Burns get the keys out of my pocket," Ian demanded. I looked at him disapproving. "Please." He added.

Burns came over a grabbed the keys from Ian's pocket trying not to disturb me.

"Now take the tarp at the back on the Jeep and lower it so it drags on the ground," he instructed.

Burns went to the back of the Jeep and did as he was directed. Once done he came over and reached is arms out as if he was trying to take me from Ian. Ian gripped me tighter, increasing my pain slightly again causing me to moan. "Let me take her," Burns tried.

"I don't think so. Get in the driver's seat….please."

"But I don't know where we are," Burns pleaded, still holding his arms out.

"If you think I am letting her out of my arms right now, you are crazy," Ian explained as he carefully slid into the passenger seat with me curled in his lap. "I can direct you fine from here."

Burns reluctantly took the driver's seat and Ian guided him from the desert to the road. Once we were on the pavement Burns seemed to feel more comfortable behind the wheel and Ian stopped giving directions. His burning eyes were now fixated on me. His mouth would open like he wanted to say something but then he would stop and continue to just gaze at me.

"I am fine Ian."

He took a deep breath and finally spoke. "You know you are a bad liar…" he squeezed his eyes closed for a moment, composing himself. "I can clearly see you are in pain. You are just saying that to make me...and Burns feel better. Please tell the truth…"

I just shook my head ever so slightly to not make the pain worse, but the longer we drove the more I hurt. I tried to hide it as best as I could but every slight bump in the road made me cringe.

"Please…Wanderer…"

I didn't want Ian to feel worse, but I didn't know how much longer I could hold this in. My body felt like it was burning all over at one moment and then like I had jumped into a frozen lake the next. I shivered in Ian's arms.

"It hurts…" I let the tears fill my eyes and I buried my head in Ian's chest. I cried into his t-shirt.

He ran his hand through my hair to try to soothe me. "That okay, let it out…" he quietly said to me. "We are almost there and the pain will be gone before you know it." He was trying to reassure us both.

Between the pain and Ian's soothing reassurances I gave in and let the darkness take me once more.

My body jerked as the Jeep came to an abrupt stop. I don't think I was fully conscious; I felt like I was in the place between awake and sleep. Everything sounded like it was under water.

"What the hell? Why did you stop here?"

"Sorry," Burns replied. "Is she okay?"

There was a pause. "I don't know… that was quite the jolt, but she hasn't opened her eyes." I felt his hand on my cheek. "She is cold still… You never answered my question."

"This is as close as I can get with you out in the open like this."

"Where the hell do you think I am going to go?" Ian voice rose slightly. "This isn't the van, we can't hide in the back!"

"You can."

"No! I am not letting her go!" I felt his arms tighten around me.

"Do you really think she would want you to get taken by seekers as we pull up to the hospital? Do you think that would help her?" Burns actually sounded irritated. "That would kill her Ian."

Burns knew me well for such a short time, but I guess we were so much alike it was easy for him to understand my thought process. I would sooner die here in this Jeep than let Ian be taken away by seekers. I pushed the darkness away and forced my eyes open to look up at him.

"Wanderer… I don't think…" his eyes looked torn.

"Pl-Please." I finally croaked out. My lips were dry and cracked and my mouth felt like it was full of cotton. "Do it… for… me."

He sighed and kissed my forehead. "You know I would do anything for you."

He carefully got us both out of the Jeep and slowly slid me back into the seat by myself. He strapped me in tightly with the seat belt so I didn't have to use my own body to hold myself up. He checked over the bandages on my arm, shaking his head. He looked over at Burns.

"It's seeping through again," he looked at him intensely. "Do you think you can break the speed limit?"

"For her I can."

"Okay. Please keep her safe," he voice was cracking. He looked down at me. "I love you, Wanderer."

I didn't have time to respond because as the words came out of his mouth he jumped into the back of the Jeep and covered himself with the tarp. I looked over at Burns. He was looking back to make sure Ian was fully hidden. He turned his attention back to me and nodded. The gravel kicked up behind the Jeep and we were flying down the pavement once again.

I wouldn't let the darkness take me this time. The pain was next to unbearable and the motion of the car mixed with the cloudiness of my head made me nauseas, but I wanted to be alert in case seekers stopped us. I felt relief wash over me as the healing centre came into view. I knew this nightmare would be over soon. Burns pulled the vehicle into a parking spot towards the back of the lot under the cover of some trees. I looked at the distance from us to the entrance.

"Um…Burns," I hoarsely whispered. "I don't think I can walk that far…Ohhh…"

I was trying to get myself out of my seat belt and the Jeep when I looked at my arm for the first time. The bandages were soaked in Pet's blood…my blood… my head started to spin and the darkness threatened to take over once again. I started to fall out the door getting closer to the concrete when two strong arms caught me and pulled me up. I was being cradled again, but it felt different. Those were not Ian's arms holding me.

"Are you okay Wanda?" Burns asked as he held me. "You almost fainted again."

"I… I just saw my arm…" I looked up at him, afraid to look at myself again.

"I was never going to make you walk to the entrance. I was planning on carrying you the whole time," he explained. I could hear the tarp shifting in the Jeep. "I thought that he would be safer here at teh back of the lot."

"Oh" I looked over into the back of the Jeep. I hated leaving him here so vulnerable. I knew he would be worrying the whole time. I felt the cold ice over my body again and shivered. I would be able to keep myself alert for much longer.

"Let's get you taken healed," Burns said as he started to make his way to the entrance.

"No…wait." I gestured to the Jeep where I could clearly see Ian fidgeting under the tarp, most likely holding himself back from jumping out to come with me.

Once we were beside the back of the Jeep I looked up at Burns. I wanted anyone nearby to have the impression that I was speaking with him and not to the vehicle. I took a deep breath and pulled together all the strength I could to make this come out forceful enough.

"I love you with all of my soul," I said this looking at Burns, which felt odd. The tarp shifted again. "And I need you to promise that no matter what happens. Or how long I take…" I paused for effect. " You. Will. Not. Move. From. Here." The tarp stopped moving and I took this as a promise. "Thank you. I will be back. I won't leave you."

With that my last bit of strength was gone and I feel into the dark again.

Okay so I finally got to a bit of action... I hated making more stuff happen to Wanderer. Read & Review! More to come soon...