geeky_agent | (no subject)

"In danger from whom?"

"Elan...Rhalen...," she turns away and closes her eyes. "I'm so scared, Chris."

Knowing what she does now about Chloe's disappearance, Chris is scared too. "If you think he's going to come after you, maybe you should leave the bar. Both you and Nita."

"He...invaded my dream," she pulls down her sweater to reveal a healing bite wound on her neck. "Gave me this and...," she opens her eyes and looks at Chris. "I...think I'm going to."

She winces at the mark and gives Kim a worried look. How do you fight someone who can invade dreams?

Remembering what Kim said earlier Chris says, "I'm guessing your father doesn't know about this. Have you told anyone else? Chase? Nita?"

"Chase...he -- he isn't himself," she wipes away tears, sniffling slightly.

"You can never tell my dad what I'm going to tell you. Ever. You have to promise me that you'll never tell him."

She really doesn't like the sounds of this but her voice is calm when she says, "I won't tell him."

Kim glances at her, pretty sure she's telling the truth. "Chase has these powers and a few days ago we were having an argument and he got upset and...he hurt me."

"He hurt you?" She's not sure what to make of this. On the one hand, she knows Chase loves Kim deeply but, on the other, she's seen Chase when he's very angry.

"What did he do?"

"Yes," she presses her lips together.

"It...something held me against the wall, I couldn't move, and...it was painful," she whispers, looking down. "He said he had no control over the powers and I don't know if I believe him and that scares me."

"Kim," she sighs, "I'm sorry. If you need somewhere to stay, you're free to stay here."

I'm not telling Jack about this. Not yet. Though she does have a half-a-mind to go talk to Chase.

She sniffles, "I thought I could trust him never to hurt me...," her chest aches, but not because of the bruises.

"How did it happen?"

"I was trying to hide the dream from him, what it meant...and we got into this fight..." her words come faster, "and then one moment I was standing and the next I was helpless, and his hands had this strange glow."

Chris frowns. It could have been an accident, she knows, but she doesn't voice that thought. She doesn't want to sound like she's brushing off the problem.

"Is there anything you need?"

"I can't live like this Chris..."

"You shouldn't have to." Chris rubs her hands together, partly out of nerves.

"If or when you decide to leave, will you tell your dad. Leave him a note or something?"

"I will. I don't want him to worry...I make everyone worry enough," she blinks away tears.

"Kim, don't." Chris reaches for some tissues to hand to her. "People worry because they care, it's not really anything you do or don't do."

She takes the tissue and holds it in her hand, but doesn't use it.

"I don't mean to get into these situations, Chris."

"I know you don't."

She can't stop the tears and eventually gives in, covering her face with her hands and leaning over.

Chris puts a hand on Kim shoulder. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No...I'm sorry, I had to tell someone," she says between breaths. "If anything happens to me, tell...tell my dad, tell chase, that it's not their fault..."

She really doesn't like the sound of this. "There's got to be something we can do..."

"Against Rhalen? He's...more powerful than Nita."

"Maybe...Moiraine could help? She's from their world. She fights against them."

"I don't think she's here...." she sniffles again.

I'll have to look for her. I should talk to her anyway.

Chris hugs Kim, albeit awkwardly due to the way they're sitting. "We'll figure something out. We always do."

Kim can't help the way she clings to her, because she can trust Chris, perhaps the only person at the moment she trusts fully.

"I'm so scared."

"I am too," she admits.

She leans against her shoulder, "I just want this to be over."