Shae awoke again sometime after the mornings sun had risen above the 
eastern run of the distant mountains. K'tan laid nestled against her 
back. His right arm thrown over her waist, and one leg still entwined 
with hers. 

Shae couldn't remember being any happier then she was right then. But 
then after their love making the night before... and later again... why
shouldn't she be allowed to feel this way. It had been everything she 
had known it would be. And more.

"Good morning," she heard him say and turned in his arms to look up at 
him.

"It is, isn't it," she smiled shyly, and wondered if maybe they could...

<No you may not!> Kaaren's thoughts entered her mind. <You don't have 
much time before you have to meet with your hatch mates for lessons.>

<<Spoil sport,>> Shae snorted then sighed.

"Why the sigh?" he asked, raising up to look down at her. 

"Kaaren just reminded me I have a meeting to go to this morning," she 
told him as she snuggled closer into his warmth. "But I'd much rather 
stay here with you."

K'tan chuckled and moved so they were both siting up.

"Maybe we'd better get dressed before your friend comes out and sees 
us."

"Somehow I don't think she'd be to shocked," Shae winked at him, but 
stood up and headed up the stairs that led out of the sunken living room 
and down the hall towards the bathroom. 

She quickly showered and then slipped quietly into her bedroom, so not 
to wake the girl still sleeping in her bed,  and across the floor to her
closet where she picked out the outfit she'd be wearing that day.

A few minutes later, she left the bedroom, heard the water running in 
the bathroom, and knew K'tan was in there taking a shower, so she 
hurried into the kitchen to make them something to eat.

He came out a few minutes later, just as the coffee was ready, and they 
sat down to eat.

Elswyth came out of the bedroom just as they were finishing and turned 
down Shae's offer to fix something for her before she left for her 
meeting.

"No.. I think I'll leave here shortly myself," the girl told them. "I 
have someone I need to see."

.....................

It was sometime later that day when Shae heard the news about some 
rider name V'rdeen. If she could believe the gossip coming from the
Fireball... then this man was one of those who'd been in Michel's 
apartment that night long ago.

The night this had all begun for her.

Maybe... Just maybe since they knew he was one of the people involved...
then they would see that she couldn't have been!

<<Fireball... where is M'ressan right now?>> she asked her dragon, 
wanting to talk to the man about it and see if maybe with this new
happening, some of the restrictions about her leaving the Warren on 
her own would be lifted.

She found him in his office and started in as soon as she walked in the door.

"No Shae...I'm afraid it doesn't help you much." she heard him say and 
felt her spirits sinking fast.

"But why?" she asked. She didn't understand. She didn't even know the 
rider accused of the crime and told him so. "There's no way anyone can 
say I know him when I don't. So why doesn't he being caught help?"

"Because there was a woman with them that night Scamp," he told her 
sadly. "And so far her identity hasn't been discovered so even with 
V'rdeen under arrest for the crime, I'm afraid it doesn't clear you."

"It's not fair," she muttered sadly. "I didn't do anything... I just 
came here to.."

She caught herself before she could say something she'd regret. She'd 
done that once before with him when he'd come to see her when she'd been
arrested and put in a cell. 

"You just came here to...?" he tried to prompt her, but she wouldn't 
meet his eyes.

"Never mind..." she signed and looked away.

"Scamp..." he called her name softly and she couldn't help but look up 
at him. "Why won't you let someone help you?"

"I don't need anyone's help," she told him, then had to look away. It 
would be so easy to just tell him. But she knew she couldn't. Not him.
"Except to find out who is really to blame for the things I'm being 
accused of."

"Something will turn up. Just don't give up hope," he told her. "But 
in the mean time if you find you need someone to talk to. Please 
remember I am your friend."

"I know you are," her voice whispered softly.

But for how long? How long will you remain my friend after you find 
out that my being here could hurt the woman you love?

Don't give up hope... That's a laugh, she thought. I had some hope 
when I heard the news about V'rdeen ... and look where that got me? 

She got up slowly and thanked him for his time.

"I'm sorry I didn't have any better news for you Young Shae," he said 
and she could hear the sincerity in his voice. "But my offer still 
stands if you need to talk. Or if you decide you want to tell someone 
the real reason you're here. My door will always be open to you."

She could sense something in the meaning of his words, and when she 
looked back at him, she could see he was waiting for something. But
 what?

His eyes held hers and she felt as if he could see right into her mind. 
Felt as if he could read her read all of her secrets and was just waiting
for her to admit to them.

But she knew that wasn't possible. She'd been to careful... hadn't 
she?

"I need to go," she stammered out and then all but ran out of his 
office, and kept right on going even when she heard him calling after 
her. Much longer in his company and she might have finally broken down 
and confessed all. 

She hated lying to him, above all people. He's been so good to her. 
Stood by her even when he knew she hadn't been telling the whole truth 
about why she'd come here. And this was how she was paying him back. 

But she was doing it to protect him... Them. 

Would he believe her if she told him she was doing it so as not to 
cause them any more trouble then she'd already caused just by coming 
here?

Or would he think she was saving that bit of knowledge  to use against 
them at another time?

Damn.

How did her life become so complicated. 

****Submitted by: *****

Shaelesta & Kaaren (the Fireball)
Keldarra Warren

aka 
Barbara