Bandits (21 page)

He figured they would be on this floor, since it was the usual location of those things. He carried her while he looked through all of the rooms he passed on his way down the hall. Her whimpers quieted to a steady snore, and he smiled. He continued down the hallway. The final door on the left said ‘Therapy’, and Daniel knew he’d found the room he was loo
k
ing for.

Daniel shifted Jade when he opened the door, then he looked around briefly. The dim lights of the room lightened slightly and cast a warm yellowish hue on the walls. The cha
m
bers were enclosed in glass, large enough for two or more people. There were massage cases to rub down and heal minor abrasions and bruises. Large comfortable chairs with rounded arms littered the room and sounds of soft music filled his ears. There was a scent of the dicatique flower, known to soothe one to sleep. Daniel was impressed with the amenities his dad had thought to include.

He walked over to the rejuvenating chamber and set the timer for two hours, knowing it would remove Jade’s bruises, cuts, breaks, and muscle damage done by her ordeal. Daniel knew from experience, though, that the one thing it couldn’t erase was the nightmares. He took a deep breath and waited for the frosted glass door to open. Gently, he laid Jade down on the padded bed wit
h
in.

Jade fought in her sleep. “Daniel. No. No. Please, I can’t.”  She held his vest in a vise grip as she pulled, fighting him to stay.

He’d planned on letting her rest and going to another chamber to repair his damage. Relenting to her plea, he sat down beside her. “Jade, listen. I’m right here. I’m not going to leave you.”   He smoothed her hair from her face and then leaned back beside her.

She quieted and curled up beside him. He hugged her close and she snuggled closer. The door to the chamber closed, and soothing dimmed lights surrounded them. The lights transformed into a visual reproduction of the most beautiful beach on Merwin, named Mevania, the Merwin phrase for
Paradise
. The breeze of the warm, salty air blew around them. He felt like they had fallen asleep on sand so soft it felt like lying on clouds. The crash of the waves played like a lullaby and before Daniel knew it, he was asleep.

Faulk was tired and in pain, more pain than he’d been in his entire life. He fought like he’d never fought before to hide it from Daniel. Rubbing his neck, he felt like one big throbbing ache, but being alive felt good. Sitting in the cockpit, watching the ship on its course, he decided to review the navigation system and mappings of their route. He checked the location Daniel gave him one final time in disbelief. The planet Daniel put into the system wasn’t even a known planet. His body ached badly, and it was hard to see clearly through his swollen eyes. “Uh
-um
.” He a
d
justed his neck and sat forward in his seat.

He would get them there, to this place called Purgas. If his Uncle Rayne could get there, then he would make sure he would. He worked the controls effortlessly, and it felt good to go back to what he knew. His trip to Merwin had been the first time in his life he’d made his own decision, and it would be the best thing he’d ever do for his family, for himself. Sadness filled him when he recalled his uncle’s death. He wanted to get to know the man, to talk with him, and convince him to give his relationship with his father a chance. All those years spent in training, he had dreamed of the day he would see his father smile again.

The day his father found the location of Rayne’s home was the happiest day he could remember in his childhood. His father usually had a stern, hard look on his face on most occ
a
sions. Yet, when his father had come home to announce that he’d found Rayne, Faulk had seen the look of pure joy for the first time. His mother, tiny compared to his father, was tossed up in the air and caught like a child. Faulk followed, and for the first time he could remember, his father even kissed him.

As he maneuvered the ship, he reminisced on the ride home from his first trip to Merwin. His father had cried for the first time in front of him. His dad had never lost control before. Later, his mother explained to him that his father had felt like he failed his brother when they were young, and should’ve set out to bring his brother home before he ran away. She explained how his father’s heart was broken for years because of the loss of his brother. His father had always been in politics, but felt that Rayne was worth throwing it away for. Uncle Rayne had tossed the offer to return to Earth in his father’s face.

I’m not going to make the same mistake. I’ll bring this family back together if it’s the last thing I do. They don’t have to live as criminals. I’ll show them there are other ways, even if it means trave
l
ing this road with them for a while.
Faulk closed his eyes at his silent vow.

He loved Daniel and Nickel before he got to Merwin. Now, he didn’t want to live without them in his life. Growing up with only female cousins and siblings made him feel like he was the odd man out. He couldn’t wrestle, fight, and curse around them. With Daniel and Nickel, he could be himself. He felt comfortable in this kinship that only guys seemed to share. It took him seve
n
teen years to find this, and he thought to himself,
there’s no way I’m gonna lose it
.

Buzzing sounded around them. Daniel struggled to open his eyes, gave up and closed them again. Heaviness on his arm made it tingle, and he moved to get comfortable.

“Uh, Daniel? Daniel?” Jade called out sleepily.

Her voice penetrated his foggy brain. Slowly, he opened his eyes again. Memory of bringing her to the rejuvenation chamber played in his mind, and he pulled back his arm when he felt her rise.

“Hey, Jade. You okay?”  His voice was still gruff from the deep sleep. He turned to face her and rested his head on his hand.

Jade pulled her hair back from her face and propped up on her hand to look at him. “Yeah. Sorry about the melt down.” She cleared her throat and continued. “About, well…everything. I shouldn’t have forced you to take me with you. Everything ended up in a mess.” She gazed up at him and frowned. “If I weren’t with you, maybe…maybe you wouldn’t have gotten captured by Haden. Well, I know you wouldn’t have. It’s just that I wanted to prove to myself, to show you and my brothers that I can handle myself. I guess I made myself more of a burden than anything,” Jade said softly.

Daniel studied her face while she spoke, happy the m
a
chine did its job. Her bruises were gone, and her skin looked clear and healthy again. “Look, I’m glad you came. I needed you back there. Don’t waste time on regrets for things we can’t change.” He reached out and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “You were never a burden. You held your own. You’re much stronger than I gave you credit for. What can I say?  I always wanted to look after you, you were like…”

She smiled with understanding. “The sister you always wanted. I know, and you’re like the bro,” Jade replied but was cut off by Daniel’s finger on her lip.

Daniel slowly teased her bottom lip with his thumb while his voice deepened. “Jade, I’m not your brother. I don’t see you like a sister anymore either.” He leaned closer to her. “I admit that for a long time, I didn’t let myself see you as a girl I could have. The only way I could have you was to treat you like a sister. Your brothers would’ve killed me, and so would your dad, but I’ve always loved you. Now, though, that love has changed. I don’t just love you, but I’m
in
love with you. I don’t want you to be my little sister. I want -no I
need
, for you to be –
mine,
my girlfriend… my friend,” he said.

Daniel held his breath, hoping he was right about the way he thought she felt about him. He hoped she still felt just a little of the crush she had on him before he failed to confide in her.

Her eyes fluttered down, and a tear fell. His heart sank, because he knew that when Jade wanted something she didn’t hesitate. Slowly, he dropped his thumb from her lips, as the fear of rejection bubbled in his gut. His hand fell to rest on the cushion beneath them.

“Daniel, I... I love you too, but…,” Jade said, her eyes downcast.

The rejection on her lips felt like a knife to his heart. He didn’t give her a chance to finish before he replied, “It’s okay. I don’t want to rush you,” Daniel whispered.

Jade put her hands up to hold his face steady with her gaze and said, “Listen to me Daniel, and don’t cut me off this time.” She smiled through the tears that slowly ran down her face. “I’m trying to tell you that… that, I’m
in
love with you too. I just never imagined you would feel this way
about me.
You never looked at me like the other boys did. You know, like you thought I was pretty. I tried so hard to get your attention. The way I did it always backfired. Whenever you looked at me, you had a frown, or stern look. I tried to kiss you to make you see me as your equal. Like Deana and the others girls that you flirted with all of the time. And when you rejected me, I just figured I should move on to someone who was really interested in me.”

Daniel couldn’t contain his joy. He felt like he was alive, like he could do anything. He placed his hand on both sides of her face, and tenderly pulled her close to him. His lips gently touched hers. He slowly deepened the kiss, and felt a burst of warmth throughout his entire being. Her hands moved shyly to his waist as he delved inside the warmth of her mouth. He buried his hands in her hair, and pulled back and said huskily, “I was always attracted to you. I just knew I couldn’t have you. Forgive me?” He rubbed the dampness from her cheeks with his thumbs.

“Yes,” she replied.

He hugged her to him snugly. “Do I get to tell Faulk he doesn’t stand a chance?” Daniel laughed.

“Only if I get to punch Deana if she puts her lips on you when we return home,” Jade replied.

“Deal,” Daniel said holding back a laugh.

“Thanks.” Jade twisted to turn off the simulation in the chamber.

“For what?” Daniel said looking puzzled.

“For my first real kiss.” She touched her lips to his softly.

He gently returned her kiss, then pulled away to look down at her. “Anything you want,” he answered.

“Even trusting me to take care of myself?  Telling me your feelings?  Sharing about your problems?” she asked with a slight giggle.

“Whoa! Wait a minute. Uh,” Daniel replied when she punched his stomach.

“Come on,” Jade laughed.

He stood and reached out his hand to help her up. “I’ll try my best. You know it’s hard for me, but you’re worth it. Just give me some time, okay?”

She eyed him slyly.
“
If you say so, I waited this long. B
e
side
s
,
I feel wonderful, like new. What did you do to me?” She stood up and stretched when he reluctantly r
e
leased her hand.

“Kissed you. I have that effect on girls.” He winked at her.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please.”

He chuckled. “I guess the rejuvenating chamber helped a little too.” He stared at her as he fought against the urge to take her back into his arms.

She smirked at him as she watched him rub his hands t
o
gether. The door opened, and she stepped closer to him. He gave up his fight and hugged her to him. Looking down at her, he smiled.

She hugged him back tightly. “Your ego needs shrinking, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that you smiling at me like this feels wonderful.”

“I can’t help it. You make me feel like I
can do anything
.” He squeezed her tightly before letting her go.

She walked out of the rejuvenating chamber. “Well, I be
t
ter go check on Nickel. I’m going to put him in here for a few hours. They roughed him up pretty bad. He’s a strong kid. He wanted me to sing this song to him so he could sleep. He taught me the words and told me he knew my secret.”

He moved past her and out of the room. “What secret?” Daniel asked with a smile. He already knew it, but he wanted her to tell him. There was something about her confiding in him that made him feel special. It always had. Except now, he didn’t feel like another one of her big brothers.

“That I love to sing. I just never did it around anyone b
e
cause, well, you know my brothers. Singing on Merwin is not really a hot trait that’ll earn you respect. My father considered singing a weakness, an artsy pastime that was a waste.” She closed the door to the Therapy room.

“Well, you know, I already heard you singing.” Daniel looked at her with a lopsided grin.

“Really? How?” A slight blush appeared on her cheeks.

“I overheard it when I came to check on you and Nickel. It was beautiful. It touched me, and I couldn’t help remembe
r
ing my mother. Sometimes, I think of her.” Daniel draped an arm around her shoulders and fingered the necklace his mom made for him.

They made it to Nickel’s room and watched him while he still slept. Jade went over to Nickel and wiped a light brown lock of hair from his eyes and kissed him. He reached up to hug her.