Passing Of Time

[Just filling in some of the time jump area and then getting caught up]

It had all been perfect. The last few weeks. 

Things around the med center had slowed down some. The worse of the
Hellspawn attacks had come to and end and no new ones had been found.

Ash's little kitty, Abby smiled at her nick name for him, had proven to be 
a big help in that area. For the cat had a un-natural ability to spot the
hated things before much damage could be done to their human hosts.

At home things couldn't have been better. 

And it was all because of Marcus. 

The longer they were together, the more deeply in love she fell. The man was
everything she'd ever dreamed of... and more. 

For theirs was a mating born of trust and respect. He never once made her
feel like she wasn't important or her work didn't mean half as much as his,
being a dragonrider. Like someone else she could have mentioned, but instead
pushed the man's memory to the back of her mind. 

Her days were spent helping those who where in need of her services, his
were spent in training for the time he would join with a Wing and take his
place among the defenders of the lands. 

Though she knew about the extra training he and Vortex  were receiving, he
never tried to make much of it.

But at night, that was the time she had come to treasure the most. At night
when they were both home and alone. At night when he made sweet passionate
love to her. 

She never in her wildest dreams could have ever imagined the feelings she
felt when his hands touched her body. The joy that sung throughout her soul
when he would finally move to part her legs and become one with her.

What a gift he had given her. His heart. His soul. And in return, she to
him. She couldn't remember what her life had been like without him in it.
Didn't want to. 

His courage, devotion and support, opened up new parts of her, and showed
her things about herself she had never known. It was for all these things
and much, much more that helped her love for him grew stronger everyday.

In the short time since they had found each other, he had become her best
friend, her lover, the second half of her soul. Yes the Gods had smiled down
on her the day they had brought Marcus into her live. 

She wouldn't disappoint them, and make them regret their favor. As he
supported her in her dreams and live chosen work, she could do no less but
to support him in his?

"Abby! A rider's bring in a small child who caught in a landslide," a voice
behind her broke in to her musings. 
"I was going to give him to your mother, but today's her day off. So you're it."

"Coming," she said and followed the nurse out of her office and down the
hall out the main door to the small green where Sabbith and Sundellath were
landing. 

"We were flying patrols when we Sabbith saw something from the air and we
discovered it was a man waving to get our attentions," Tera told Abby after
dismounting from her dragon and coming to stand next to the healer as she
helped orderly take the child from Kay. 

"Who is he? How did this happen?" Abby began asking question as they began
to wheel the boy inside. 

"His father said his name was Jal, and that they had been out climbing rocks
when the slide happened," Tera told her and saw Abby turn to look at Kay for
conformation. "Jal was trapped before his father could get to him."

"Where's the father," the healer asked.

"He wanted to come but had no one else to stay with his other three kids, so
we promised to get his son here for help and then go back for him after he'd
had time to get the others back to their mother."

Abby nodded and turned to the boy who was starting to move around some as
they moved him from the stretcher to the examining table.

"Jal... I'm Abby," she told him, wanting to keep him calm. "You've had a
nasty spill, but I'm going to help fix you up and make you better."

The boy on the table looked around at the faces of those in the room. Faces
he didn't recognize and began to squirm about. His fear was evident to
everyone in the room.

"It's okay Jal. We're only going to help you," Abby tried again, but the boy
just wouldn't be calmed. She finally had to ask the nurse to get something
to calm him so that she could look at his injuries. 

"Why don't you two wait outside," she told them, signing her words so Kay
would understand. "I'll let you know what's happening when I'm through."

-------------- 

"Well that's one lucky boy in there," she told them sometime later. "Nothing
was broken, but he's going to be a little black and blue for a while, as
well as a bit sore. I would like for you to tell his father that I'd like to
keep him here over night just to keep an eye on him."

Abby looked down the hall and spotted Libby coming out of the room Sandor
has been assigned to. 

"Libby if you've a moment?" she called out and the woman came towards them.
"I've an injured child in here who I'll need moved to a room for the night.
Nothing is really wrong with him, but I'd like for checks to be made on him
form time to time."

"Oh poor dear," the woman murmured. "I'll see to it right away."

Abby smiled at Kay, and Tera as the women walked off to see about finding
the boy a room. 

"Lovely woman," she told them. "I don't know what this place would do
without her."

"Fall apart," Tera spoke and signed. 

In the time she and Kay had been partners, signing everything she spoke when
he was around, had become second nature.

*Well be best go back and see if the boys mother came home,* Kay signed, and
him and Tera made their good-byes.

Trap
******

"Hush love, you have to keep your voice down. Blaze is in the next room and
it wouldn't do for him to hear you speaking about Ophelia in this way!"
Danielle scolded her mate after another one of his out bursts.

Every since the woman had disagreed with his remedy for helping Sandor try
to dry out, he'd been this way. There had been no improvement in Sandor's
condition as far as he himself could detect. No.. in fact each time he'd
gone by to see the man, he'd been greeted by sarcasm from the man. He blamed
Trap for being where he was, and never failed to let him know.

Several times Trap had even smelt liquor on the mans breath and a search of
the room had come up with bottles of the stuff hidden among the drawers and
closets. 

No one had had any idea how they had gotten there. But Trap knew someone was
bring them in for Sandor couldn't get out of the locked room.

He had an idea about it, but after speaking... if one wanted to call the it
that, to Libby the head nurse, he'd removed her from his list of suspects.
The woman had nothing to gain from keeping Sandor on the juice, and
everything to gain from seeing the man recovered. 

He had no doubts about her feelings for the man, and wondered how his old
friend could be so blind as not to see it for himself.

[Tag Lea....how would Libby feel if she thought Trap had (for a moment)
suspected her of supplying Sandor with liquor?]

"I don't care if Blaze does hear me," Trap paced around he room like a caged
animal. "He already knows how I feel about Ophelia's decision. Look... I
know Sandor and I aren't the best of friends right now and we have a few
problems, but damnit Dallie, I hate seeing him this way and not being able
to do a damn thing about it."

"I know love," she came up to him and wrapped her arms around him. Mostly to
offer what comfort she could, but also to get him to stop his pacing. "Maybe
the two of you just need some time..."

"Time!" he spat out and moved away from her. "Time is what he doesn't need
right now. They gave him time to quit drinking and it hasn't stopped him
yet!  Can't Ophelia see that her solution to this *little* problem isn't
working? Even locked up in the med center hasn't helped him one bit. He's
still getting the drink from somewhere?"

"So maybe instead of yelling at Ophelia, you should be trying to find out
how Sandor is getting the liquor," she said calmly. "Maybe you should put
your tracking skills to good use and find out *who* is slipping him the
bottles and why?"

"Why?" Trap turned to her, he didn't under stand what she was getting at.

"Well lover, think about it. With everyone we know trying to help Sandor
recover from his little fall from grace, 
he's still able to find a drink when he wants one," a patient smile touched
her lips. "So maybe it's time to work on the real problem. Finding out *who*
here doesn't want him to recover. Why else would they be supplying him with
the drink if not to keep him drunk? What reason could they have?"

Trap just stood there staring at her. Then he walked towards her, his green
eyes never leaving hers as he took her in his arms and planted a deep hard
kiss on her lips. 

"You know love," he murmured against her lips. "You're pretty smart."

"I picked you didn't I?" she giggled.

"Yes you did," he agreed and began nibbling on her ear lobe as his hands
began a slow exploration of their own. 

"Ummm... Trap... we can't...Blaze...."

"Is going back to his own apartment as soon as Abby gives the word," he
growled, throwing back his head and looking up at the ceiling while trying
to dampen the arousal his body was feeling at the moment. "And the sooner
the better."

"But love," she teased, moving her body against his. "He is your partner...
and we can't turn him away. Not when he still needs our help."

"Witch," he growled knowing what she was up to with her teasing. His lips
found hers again and this time it was she who had to fight her body's
responses when he suddenly release her. "You know...you're beautiful when
you want me."

"Oh you!!" she swatted his arm and marched past him out into the living
room. A secret smile on her lips for drawling his attention to something
besides his ranting over Ophelia's decision. 

Abby
******

"The boys been deaf every since he was born," the father was telling them
after Kay and Tera had finally brought him to the Warren's medical center.
"We get by the best way we can, but it's hard sometimes not being able to
talk to him and such."

Abby had talked to the man for a while on her own after the riders had
brought him in, then asked Sabbith to have Kay come back when she had found
out the boys problem. 

Though she could tell the man loved his son despite his problem, she knew he
was under a lot of pressure with dealing with not knowing how to deal with him.

they had no signing system worked out so could not speak to the boy, only
show him what needed to be done. Abby wanted Kay to come in to show the man
that there was a remedy. 

"Jaclur. I know you met Kay here when he helped bring your son in," as she
spoke her hands were moving so Kay could understand.

"Aye... a quiet one he is too. Let the other rider, the woman do all the
talking," the man commented, then smiled to show he meant no disrespect. 

"Kay couldn't have spoken to you. He's deaf you see. He can't hear you
speak, or talk to you even if he wanted too." She told the man and then
watched for his reaction. 

"Deaf?" The boys father turned to take a better look at Kay, and then Tera
who was quietly sitting there listening. "But how... he's a dragonrider?"

"Kay can hear his dragon speak to him and can mind talk every other dragon
in the Warren," Abby told him. 

"But... how does he speak to the humans around here?" he asked and looked at
Kay, not with revolution in his eyes, but a curious respect. "I mean if he
can't hear them?"

Kay reached for his ever present slate and began to write something. Then
handed it to the man to read. 

*I read their lips, and they can talk to me using a hand languages. Each
movement is for a different word.*

The man read it and then looked at Abby, motioning to her hands. "Is that
what you're doing when you move your hands. Talking to him? And he
understands you?"

Abby had been repeating the mans words for Kay even as Jaclur spoke his
question. 

"Yes it is. It's Kay's way of talking and we've all learned it so we can
communicate with him."

They could see the man was thinking it over, and gave him the time he needed. 

"Can... maybe you teach me how to speak to my son?" he asked Kay. "Can you
help me learn how to do what you do so my son can have a life when he grows
up and isn't depended on others to help him out all the time. "I'm more then
willing to learn anything I can to help him."

[Tag Kris... ]

Abby left them then and finished making her rounds. She knew Kay and Tera
would try to help the man and his son out and didn't really need her for
anything more.

Besides, she was wanting to get off on time tonight to get ready for the
dinner with her family. Tonight would be the first time they would all meet
together. 

A new bard was in the Warren for a few nights and they had made plans to go
hear him play. Also if they were lucky maybe Tera and Danielle would get up
and sing a few songs. 

It was a real treat to hear those tow signing together. Their voices
complemented each other like no other singers she'd ever heard before. No
one in the Warren missed the two of them, if it was known they would be
performing in the hall. 

She finished her work and headed home. Tonight was going to be special.
Though they'd had dinner with her parents before, and even with Ga'brin and
Tera... Marcus had never been treated to the whole family before at one
time.....

[a few days later]

Trap
*****

<<Diemis would you find out where Beryth's rider is?>> trap was angry after
witnessing the scene in Sandor's room. 

He'd come by to check up on him and repeat his offer to listen if the man
wanted to talk, but something had clued him in that something was wrong the
minute he'd walked in the room. 

"Oh what's this?" Sandor had quipped as he stood across the room glaring
back at Trap. "The hero offering his help to the poor drunk?"

The tall blond could tell right away that the other man was well into his
cups. What happened next caught him off guard as a glass was hurled across
the room, hitting him in the side of the head before he could think to get
out of the way.  

"Well you can go to hell Trap!! I don't need your pity!!" 

Other things began to fly around the room as Sandor began tearing it up. The
door opened and Libby, with and orderly ducked as a flying object came her way. 

"What did you say to him?" she demanded of Trap who was pushing her back out
of the room and out of the danger zone.

"I didn't say a damn thing to him!" he protested. "He started it as soon as
I walked in the door. And another thing! The man is drunk again. I thought
you were keeping a better eye on him!"

Abby came down the hall just then and wanted to know what in the hell was
going on. Inside the room they had just left, objects could be heard hitting
the walls. 

"What did you do to set him off?" she turned to Trap, fire dancing in her eyes.

"Nothing!" he commented angrily. "I walked in and found him that way."

"Well I'm sure your visit didn't help much!" Libby snapped. "You're not
helping him so why don't you just stay away from him?"

"And let you work your magic on him?" Trap snorted. "I've seen the find job
you've been doing around here to help him."

Abby moved to stand between them.

"Cut it out you two!" she snapped. "Neither of you if helping the situation
right now! Stop blaming each other. 

She turned to Libby. "Go find a couple of the biggest orderlies we have, and
get him calmed down."

She turned next to Trap, who was standing there steaming. 

"For the time being I think it would be better if you didn't come around
here to see him," she held up her hand when he would have protested. "I know
you're his friend Trap. But you're presence isn't helping him right now.
Give it some time."

Libby showed up then with the two big orderlies and Trap stood there as they
entered the room. Then turned and headed out of the hall.

<Beryth's riser is in her office and will see you now,> Diemis told his
rider who was heading that way anyway.

He didn't even stop to knock on the door when he reached it but walked on in.

"My idea to help him wasn't good enough for you," he started in. "No... you
had to do things your way and now look at the mess he's in!. He's NOT
getting any better where he is lady, and something is going to have to be
done before he hurts himself or others."

"You're talking about Sandor, I assume?" Ophelia asked as she sat looking a
bit to calm behind her desk. 

Trap wasn't fooled by her demeanor. He knew she was upset by his walking in
and verbally attacking her. But at the moment he didn't care. 

"Yes I'm talking about Sandor, who at this very moment is in the med center
you sent him too tearing up his room while drunk as a loser of a queen
mating flight! Something *HAS* to be done!!"

This last said in a pleading voice. 

"Please something has to be done. Sandor can't go on this way. He has to
much life in him to destroy it this way, and to much to give to this Warren.
You have to help him!!"

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

<<You can't go home in this mood!> Diemis told him after leaving the
Warrenlady's office. <I will not take you home to make everyone else there
upset. Especially Violet's rider. Or Violet.> 

Trap knew his friend was right. 

Turning he decided to go speak to his father for a while until he settled down. 

The talk helped. His father had a way about him the seemed to make some
sense out of the strangest things. 

Trap was in a much better mood as he stopped and picked a beautiful white
rose from the garden before heading home.

It was a easier frame of mind who touched down on the ledge outside their
apartment by the time he got home, and was glad a few minutes later when
Danielle all but threw herself in his arms when he walked in the door. 

"Wow, what did I do to deserve this kind of greeting?" he smiled, wrapping
his arms around her and ending his statement with a kiss.

"I missed you" Danielle said.

"And I you, my sweet Dallie" Trap lightly kissed her lips again and then
showed her the single white rose he had found for her.

"Its beautiful!" she exclaimed, bringing it to her nose and inhaling deeply.
She then turned to Blaze and showed it to him.

Blaze had been looking at them darkly when suddenly the attention was
focused on him and he had to recover quickly. "Yes, its beautiful."

Danielle walked into the kitchen and pulled a vase from the cupboard to
place it in. She then walked back out.

"You two keep each other company. I forgot the barries for dessert and need
to go get them. The chicken is cooking in the oven." She leaned down and
kissed Trap and then called Violet up to the ledge.

After she was gone, he stood up and headed for the bedroom. 

"I'll be back in a few," he told Blaze. "I've a need to wash the afternoon
off my sorry hide."

Blaze watched him as he went, the look on his face went from friendly to
evil as he got up and after making sure the door was closed and the water
running, let himself out the front door and into the alcove when they stored
their dragons saddles. 

After making sure he couldn't been seen by the dragon's sunning themselves
in what was left of the evening sun, he went to work.

A few well placed slashes with his knife and he went back inside. The cuts
he made wouldn't be detected until it was to late.

To late for Trap.

Buy the time the tall blond rider made in back into the living room, Blaze
had his elation's under control. He was sitting in the far seat pretending
to be reading a book he'd found on the couples book shelf.  

"Good book?" Trap asked, as he made his way into the kitchen and got himself
a glass of wine. 

"Not bad," Blaze answered and then set the book down. "But I've read it
before a few years ago. I got one in my apartment that I've been reading,
but it'll have to wait until Abby says I can go home before I can get back
to it."

"Should be tomorrow," Trap nodded his head. He was trying hard not to let
his friend know how relieved he was on that count. As much as he liked the
man, Trap still wanted him back in his own place. 

Not being able to make love with his mate was getting to him. 

"No offense my friend, I mean I've loved staying here with you two waiting
on me hand and foot," Blaze grinned. "But I'm sure you and Danielle will be
as thrilled to have the place to yourself again. Just as I'll enjoy being
back in my own space."

"Well now that you mention it," Trap grinned and saw his partners lips curve
up in a smile. "Hey if you really want that book I can have Diemis take me
on over to your apartment and get it for you right now."

Blaze waved him off. "Na... I can wait until tomorrow. It'll give me
something to look forward to since I won't be having any more of Dallie's
home cooked meals."

"Hey, you're welcome here any time you want to come up for a meal," Trap
told him. "Both Dallie and I want you to think of this as your home away
from home."

"Just so long as I don't make a habit of staying to late huh?" he gave his
friend a wink. Inside he was thinking that if all went well he wouldn't have
to worry about the nights. Trap would be in no shape to enjoy them.... 

Abby
******

"well I can't believe Danielle apologized to you, but it's wonderful," Abby
commented after Marcus had returned h0me and told her the news. "I mean it
doesn't fit the girl I know, but maybe she's growing up at last."

"You don't like her?" her make asked. 

"Well I don't really know her all that well to say yes or no," Abby
admitted. "I do know that she's Tera's best friend so she can't be as bad as
some of the rumors would have her being. And Trap is obviously besotted by
her. So the rumors about her finally settling down must be true. Maybe
that's what it took to bring her around."

She remembered the problems Marcus had had with the girl when he had first
arrived in Telnor, and was glad they were working on a way to settle their
differences. She also remembered how Danielle had been the first one to get
to Marcus the day he had joined with Vortex.

There was a bond between them now. A bond she knew she shouldn't worry
about. He loved her and had shown her his love every night and day. 

"Maybe," Marcus agreed then pulled her closer. 

The two of them then shared a little of their own closeness.

[Rob... please... add anything else you want to their talk... Abby knows...
she has nothing to worry about :)]

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

Tera & Sundellath
Traplin & Diemis
Blaze...(with Kat)
Telnor Warren

aka 
Barbara