Almost two and a half weeks had past since Jaya had seen Serenity and it had been a long and painful two and half weeks. As she got her clearance to land, even in the middle of the night, she was thankful to finally be back. She needed to rest... in her own bed. Her body still hadn't healed.
With all the energy she could muster, she grabbed her bag and headed out of the shuttle. She got a ride home and within minutes she was walking into her house. She practically dropped the bag by the door as she entered.
She made her way to the bedroom, on her way grabbing a pain reliever and some water. She swallowed it down and then began striping her clothes off, trying to strip away the last two weeks in the process.
An angry red mark blazed across the left side of her chest and under her arm. She wanted to take a shower, but just didn't have the energy. She didn't even have the strength to go check the comm.
As she drifted into a fitful sleep, she thought of better times before it had all fallen apart.
An update on the ruckus on Timinarus III. Another political figure was assassinated by the Black Tiger. It took place on September 4th. It is also believed that the Dark Shadow was present as well. As the investigation has progressed it has been revealed that marks from both assassins were found near the scene. One has to wonder if this isn't a turf war between assassins.
"It gets worse and worse," one of Tyran's clients said. "Well as long as they don't come here."
"Yeah. I know." Tyran was not so certain that paradise would stay paradise. He hadn't heard from Jaya again after the message he had refused to accept, and did his best to forget she existed. It had been fun, while it lasted, he thought.
He put away the last of the glasses and let the last customer out. Then he went to his apartment to read. Sleep not finding him.
Jaya awoke a few hours later. The pain wasn't the worst she'd ever had, but it was bad enough. She took more pain relievers, not paying too much attention to how many or which ones, or even the time from when she had taken the last ones. She only wanted the pain to stop and she wanted to sleep.
But as the medication hit her system, she knew something wasn't right. She could feel it working through her like a tranq. It wasn't a good sign. The thought dawned on her a little too late that the medication she had been taking was one she was supposed to be careful with. Too much didn't react well in her system. In fact, it could kill her. It was part of being Tanzaran.
Getting a bit delirious, she went to her personal communicator. She contacted Tyran. She had to tell him... she had to tell him at least how she felt and how sorry she was. Sorry she couldn't be what he needed. She had to tell him before it was too late.
Tyran heard his comm system go off. He reached for the button from his bed. "Tyran."
"I'm sorry..." Jaya said. She didn't sound like herself. "I love you so much... but I'm sorry... So sorry..."
"Jaya? Are you alright?" His voice was filled with worry. "Where are you?"
"I'm... back... I just had to tell you... Sorry... So sorry..." her voice faded as she lost consciousness, the channel staying open.
"DAMN!" He jumped up and tapped another button, the one used by a doctor he knew. The man often came to treat the wounded after bar fights. "Dominic, pick up," he grumbled.
"Hello?" the older man answered.
"Dom, this is Tyran, I need your help for an emergency. You live close to Portfield Acres right?"
"Yes, a few blocks over," he replied. "What is it? You sound almost frantic."
"Jaya! She called me; sounded like she was drunk. Something's wrong, I feel it!"
"She's Tanzaran, right?" Dominic asked, grabbing his med kit, making sure he had what he might need within.
"Yes, she lives at 2823 Portfield Acres. I'll meet you there!" He closed the connection and ran out.
Jaya was unconscious on the floor and barely breathing by the time Dominic reached her.
Scanning her, he found recent trauma to her chest and a great deal of pain medication in her system. Much more than a Tanzaran could handle. Immediately, he administered the medication to neutralize the pain killers she'd taken and then set about trying to repair what he could of her.
Tyran opened the door and entered. "Dom! Jaya!" He yelled in panic.
"She'll be all right," Dominic assured Tyran. "Here, help me get her into bed. She'll probably be more comfortable in there when she wakes up."
Tyran nodded and helped his friend. "Thank god she'll be alright."
"Yes. She took too many pain relievers. They're almost on the level as tranquilizers, at least in a Tanzaran's system. My best guess is she wasn't paying attention to how many she took. I suspect she was in a lot of pain. I've repaired what I can, but she's still going to be sore for a few days."
"She was wounded?" He asked baffled. "I better stay with her. I can sleep on the couch. Thank you for your help, my friend."
"Glad I could help," he said. "Just monitor her medication. It is curious though. It looked like she took a phaser rifle shot to her chest. I'm surprised she's not dead."
"I don't know, Dom. You know, I even don't know if she wants to see me, and if this is doing her any good. The last time we saw each other we broke up fighting."
"Well, obviously you care about her," he replied. "And how did you know she was back? She told you, didn't she? Obviously she cares for you as well. If I were you, I would say stay. Take care of her. Maybe it will heal you both. But I do wonder why a young lady would get shot in the chest like that."
"So do I, Dom. But please, don't tell this to anyone. Do me that favor," Tyran said sighing.
Dominic looked at him and then at Jaya and nodded. "I'll keep it quiet. I know you have your reasons. Let me know if she needs me again."
"Yes, Dominic, I will. Thank you." He said sighing. "I'll let you out." He did and went to the couch, after making sure Jaya was asleep.
A few hours past, before Jaya opened her eyes and looked around. She hadn't remembered being in bed. The ache in her chest was still there, though not as bad as before. At least she was breathing easier. Suddenly, she felt a presence in the house. She reached over into her nightstand for a knife. Quietly as possible and with effort, she got up from the bed and went to the hall, peering around the corner. Suddenly she saw Tyran. The knife dropped from her hand, the tip embedding itself in the floor, making it stand on end.
"Tyran..." she said weakly with surprise. She leaned against the corner to hold herself up as her knees suddenly wanted to buckle.
"Jaya! What are you doing out of bed?" He ran to her, and immediately supported her, guiding her back to bed. "I got you a doctor, and I was here in a jiffy when you needed me. You scared me!"
"Sorry..." she replied softly as she settled back in bed, grimacing in pain as she shifted herself around a bit. "I remember calling you," she said softly. "I guess I sounded pretty delirious. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just... I wanted to tell you I was sorry. I guess I knew I wasn't doing so well."
"Dom said you were hit in your chest. That it was a phaser blast. He treated your wounds, and he was surprised you weren't dead." The worry in his eyes was evident.
She nodded. "I took a blast from a phaser rifle. Went straight through my protective gear like it almost wasn't there. But I guess it stopped the blast from killing me," she said softly without thinking. "I still hurt. It's not as bad though."
"Why did you wear that gear? Why have you been shot at?"
"I know you want answers," she said then paused, not knowing what to say. He deserved to know. If only she could tell him. "Why do you think I was shot at?" Her green eyes met his.
"Why does a Black Tiger get shot at? Well maybe because someone thought she was in the way?"
"You think I'm the Black Tiger?" she asked softly and seriously, though her eyes never left him.
"Yes." His eyes locked with hers. "For me that's obvious."
"If you were right, would it change anything?" she asked. "Between us?"
"No, it wouldn't change my love for you. It will however change if you don't tell me the truth."
She sighed. "You know the truth," she said as her eyes closed. "I'm so tired..."
"Sleep," he said caressing her face. "Dom promised me not to tell anyone he treated you. If you'd like, I can sleep here."
She smiled gently as she looked back at him. "So you can love an assassin?" she asked.
"Yes, I can, as long as she tells me the truth. Because I know being a cold blooded person... it's not you."
She reached out and caressed his face, careful not to aggravate the muscles in her chest. "Sleep here. I'll feel better with you beside me."
"Alright." He smiled tenderly and kissed her. Then he got into the bed, and snuggled against her. Soon both were fast asleep.
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