Th'rin
***
<<shortly after surgery - Day 9>>

Th'rin had just barely had time to wash up after surgery and change his
clothes when he heard there was a problem with his patient. "How could
there be a problem .." he started to ask, after all she should only just be
waking up from the medication he'd used to put her to sleep.

The sound of things flying around in the recovery room brought him up short
and he sprinted in the direction of the commotion.

>"What's the matter?" Th'rin asked, sifting through the frantic nurses that
>were trying to calm the enraged patient. That was when he saw her, chest
>bared, stitches where a once voluptuous breast used to be nestled next to
>it's twin. He hadn't meant for her to find out this way.

>"Oh gods, Lisha..." the healer began.

>"You *PROMISED*!" she raved hysterically. "You *LIED*!!!"

>"Lisha... please listen... I did everything I could. There was no other way."

>"You said there were drugs... herbal remedies..."

>"They wouldn't have been effective. It had spread too far. Now that the
>breast is removed, we can maybe use those to prevent a recurrence."

>"Look at me! Look at what you did to me!" she wept accusingly, "I'm not a
>woman, I'm a MONSTER!!!"

"Lisha, please .." Th'rin started but Lisha was raving in her fury.

"Leave me alone! Go away!"

"Lisha it would have killed you!" Th'rin shouted at her.

She stopped and looked at him with the coldest eyes he'd ever seen. "I'd
rather be dead! Now .. GO .. AWAY!"

Th'rin nodded, and motioned to the nurses, "Lisha I want you to go back to
your room. They'll help you back."

"I don't need any help!" Lisha screamed. The nurses moved around to
surround her and she swung at them, "Leave me alone!"

Two of them got a hold on her arms and Th'rin moved in with an inhalant
which he put to her nose. She struggled briefly but the medication quickly
took effect, and soon she collapsed in the arms of the nurses holding her.

"Get her to her room. Please remove all sharp objects and but a watch on
her door."

They nodded and did as he asked. When they were gone Th'rin collapsed into
a chair, dropping his head into his hands.

"Th'rin?" he turned to see Clarissa coming in.

"I thought you'd gone already?" he asked.

"I was going to but I heard about what happened and wanted to make sure you
were all right."

"I'll be fine." He groaned.

"You did the right thing, Th'rin. She couldn't have survived .."

He nodded silently. "I know that as a healer .. but .."

"It'll be all right .."  She rubbed his back comfortingly. "Why don't you
call Xanthia in early and go home for while .. I'm sure she won't mind, and
I can come in early tonight for her."

"No, you've already stayed late .."

"Hey it's part of my job." She smiled, "Come on .. Let's get you out of here."

He was about to protest again, but she stopped him, "Things will be fine
for a few moments until Xanthia can get here. And don't argue.. remember
you're healer knows best."

"Since when did you become *my* healer?" he asked looking at her gratefully.

She grinned, "Since a few minutes ago .."

***

Th'rin sat with Areena on the ledge of the apartment he shared with
Merissa. His eyes were closed as he listened to the sound of her breathing
and the beating of her heart. It calmed him as he tried to unwind from his
mixed up feelings about Lisha and what he had done to her. It was indeed
necessary to her survival .. but he had promised her .. and he had broken
his promised.

And then there was Merissa .. gods, if anything happened to her ..

<Areena ask Cricket if word has come about Merissa ..>

<Chrysthal and her rider are back in the warren, Th'rin.>

<They are?> Th'rin's head shot up, <Why didn't you tell me?>

<You were worried about your patient .. and she's safe so ..>

<Where is she? Call Chrysthal to come home.>

<Chrysthal says that she will bring her rider home when she wakes up.>

Th'rin frowned, <Wakes up? What are you talking about? Where is she?>

<Wintermoon's apartment.>

<WHAT!?>

<Th'rin? What's wrong?>

<What the hell is she doing sleeping in Oldreth's apartment!>

Areena cocked her head, <You know how tired you human's get after mating.>

Th'rin's head spun and he felt his body go numb .. mating .. Gods no! Not
Merissa .. she wouldn't .. she couldn't ..

He stood, resolutely, <Take me there ..>

<Where?>

<To Wintermoon's apartment!>

Areena shrugged, <Okay .. But why are you upset?>

<Now Areena!>

***

The man with the sandy brown hair, and hazel eyes stood there .. staring.
All at once, wanting to run away, but unable to move. It was true ..

He stared at his beautiful Merissa laying there in the arms of that
barbarian .. both of them naked .. sleeping peacefully. How could she .. a
sob escaped his lips and the man stirred, suddenly wide awake and on alert.
He saw Th'rin .. saw his pain filled eyes as the healer looked back.

Oldreth nudged Merissa, who stirred and smiled up at him. Then followed his
eyes to her mate. Her eyes widened and she grabbed the blanket's covering
herself, "Th'rin!"

Her voice broke him out of his trance and he began to shake, "How could you
.." his voice was barely a whisper.

"Th'rin ..I .." she mumbled.

"How could you!" he said louder. His hurt was turning to anger, "I loved
you, Merissa! I loved you and you betrayed me!"

"You can't betray something that isn't there." Oldreth said softly, "She
wouldn't have come to me otherwise."

Th'rin turned hardened eyes on the junior queenrider, "Shut up! What do you
know!"

Oldreth glared at Th'rin, "I know that she does not belong to you, healer."

Th'rin shook his head. "You stay out of this. This is between me and
Merissa! She's my mate! Not yours!"

Merissa grabbed Oldreth, "I .. I have to go. Th'rin and I need to talk."

To both of their surprise, Oldreth nodded, "Very well. I will be here if
you need me." He pulled her close and Th'rin saw red as he kissed her
passionately.

Merissa pulled back, nervously looked up at Th'rin.

Th'rin turned his angry eyes from her and stormed out of the junior
queenrider's bedroom, meeting Areena on the ledge, and heading back to
their apartment.

***

Th'rin was ready for her when she arrived on the ledge.  He'd steeled
himself against the misery he was feeling. He kept seeing Merissa in that
man's arms .. kissing him! He was torn between disbelief and anger.

She slid from her dragon and turned to look at him, "Th'rin .."

"I just want to know where we stand, Merissa?"

"What?"

"Where do we stand?" He shook his head, "I would have never thought that
you .. And with HIM! I just don't understand it."

"Let me explain .."

"Do you want me to move out? Is that it? Aren't you happy with me. What
about Oberon .. I thought we were a family .."

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena
***
NPRG: Well Arlene .. can she explain <G>

I'll be working on another post in the morning :) Got more stuff to deal
with :)

Kristen
------------------------------------
Kristen & Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm