River finally had her courage up. She was a little nervous about going to see Danayal - more because she thought he was cute than anything else. Plus, she was going to a place she'd seen, but never been too before and that always made her nervous and she really wanted Danayal's foster father to like her . . . As she approached the door to the bar, she took a breath, fixed her hair using the reflection from the window and finally opened the door and walked in. The lighting was a bit low, but not enough to interfere with her sight. She took in everything and wondered who Tyran was . . . or where Danayal was. There was a blond haired man up by the bar, wiping it down. There were very few patrons since it was so early in the day. Finally, she walked up to the bar.
"Hi," she said with her best smile.
"Hello, what can I do for you?" Tyran asked with a friendly smile.
"I uh . . . I'm looking for . . . uh . . . Danayal," she finally spit out with her smile, though her eyes were a bit apprehensive along with her demeanor.
Tyran looked at her. "And who's looking for Danayal, if I may ask?" She could see a laugh in his eyes, but also caution.
"I-I'm River. River Sage," she replied, almost looking down. "I, uh . . met him in the park a few days ago . . . and . . . Well, he said he worked here and . . . Well . . . I thought I would see if he was here . . ." God, I sound like an idiot, she thought to herself.
"He's in the back, in his room, sulking. But he did tell me about you. Come... he'll be glad to see a friend." Tyran walked to the end of the bar, and opened a small door so she could enter. "Go through that door, then you'll be in my apartment. He's in there somewhere."
"Thanks," she replied with a smile.
"I am pleased to meet you, River. But just to warn you, he's rather cranky, so be careful." He said and opened the door for her, shoving her inside the large living room that looked out on a garden. The door closed behind her.
For a moment, she was startled as she looked around and back at the closed door. Finally, she took a breath and took a few steps in.
"Danayal?" she called out softly. "Danayal?"
Danayal was lying on the couch, in the middle of the room. She could hear someone snore. Danayal hadn't slept much. He felt locked up. Before he'd left security, they had put an armband around his left wrist, holding a tracker. He could not go anywhere without company. If he did, they'd know and take him back to prison.
River went to the couch and looked down at him. Should she wake him, she wondered.
"Danayal?" she said again, touching his shoulder gently.
"Huh what?" He stretched and looked surprised at River. "What are you doing here?" He smiled happy to see her.
Her smile brightened. "I wanted to come see you," she replied.
"Well, now you have. I'm just glad someone wondered why I wasn't in the park like normal when the sun's out."
"Oh well . . . Karissa said she wanted to see how you were doing too . . . She thought you might be sick," she said. "But I beat her to it . . ." Her smile brightened again. "So are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm healthy enough; I have a doctor checking me over every three days..." He said sarcastically.
"Why?" she asked.
He looked at her, and shoved up the sleeve on his vest, so she could see the arm band.
"You're under house arrest?" she said gently, but with surprise. "What happened?" She moved closer to him and took a seat beside him on the couch, completely unafraid; just curious.
"Because I smoked pot, though I am not allowed to have it... I think now you don't want to be my friend anymore, but I just... have to tell it. I was caught here, in the bar, 4 years ago, burglarizing it, for drugs and latinum, I was put in a rehab program, and I'm still not free to do what I want..."
"Well," she replied softly. "You don't really do drugs now, do you?"
"No, but as you see, even if you just do something because people say they like you, which is what I did and I wanted that, I... I was arrested after the picnic."
"I'm sorry that happened . . ." she replied. "But it doesn't mean I don't want to be friends anymore. I think anyone can make a mistake . . . its how you deal with those mistakes that show what kind of person you are . . . and you look like you've turned your life around. At least what I can see . . . You have a good foster father. You don't steal anymore, I'm assuming . . . and I know you work here at the bar . . . I mean, that doesn't sound criminal to me!" Her dark eyes gazed at him.
"I don't steal anymore, and I work, at least next week I will again. I'm locked in here at the moment because of Tyran. He's pretty mad at me, and he lets me know he is ... It's like he doesn't love me anymore, he. he hardly says a word to me."
"I don't know about that . . ." she replied. "If he didn't love you, I think he'd be mad at me coming here . . . Instead, he walked me right in with a smile. Thought a visitor would be good for you." Her own smile brightened.
"That's my foster father and mentor for you, but at least he loves me more than anyone ever has. but he doesn't trust me anymore. That he made very clear in the last few days." He sighed.
"Well, he will again, I bet . . ." River said as she impulsively took his hand, then blushed after realizing what she'd done. "I mean, he seems nice and he's just probably disappointed . . . But I bet he understands that people make mistakes . . ."
"If he wouldn't have understood that, I wouldn't be here. He pleaded with the judge to let him take me here, when I was at a trial for what I did... believe me I have committed enough crimes to spend at least 5 years in youth prison and after that 5 more in a penal colony."
She smirked. "Well, that's in your past, right?"
"Very in my past." He said grinning.
"Then why should it matter to me now?" River smiled. "It looks to me like you've changed a lot."
"Yeah, I think I did... but I just don't know. I find it difficult to make friends."
"Well, Danayal Bergan, it can't be that hard for you . . . Because I'm your friend," she said softly with conviction, a soft smile crossed her lips as her eyes met his.
Danayal grinned. "My last name is Bergman, not Bergan."
She laughed. "I meant Bergman . . . Sorry . . . I guess I've just been a little nervous. I get that way sometimes when I'm going somewhere new . "
"Why nervous? Tyran's always friendly to people, and so am I when I'm not convicted to a week in here."
"Well . . . I guess I'm just sort of the nervous type," she smiled. "But you're right. He's really nice and you know what . . . I think you're nice too . ."
Danayal blushed. "So are you. On top of it you're cute... But I still wonder why you like me."
She blushed at his words. "Because you're nice," she replied. "But my very first impression of you too . . . was that . . . well . . . that . . ." She giggled softly. "That you were cute too."
His cheeks got a fierce shade of red, and he looked even cuter that way. "Uh... do you want something to eat or drink?" He choked out. He had no idea how to react.
Her smile got brighter, though she too was blushing furiously. "I'd definitely like something to drink," she replied, her throat having been a bit dry even before she'd arrived.
"What would you like? We have everything in the bar. I have to ask Tyran for it, because when under house arrest, the replicators are offline for me."
"Oh, cherry cola, if it's not too much trouble," she replied. "It's my favorite. That and lemon cola."
"I'll get it, wait..." He got up and disappeared into the bar, to return with a plate of chicken sandwiches, and two colas. "Here, take one of those too if you'd like."
Because Danayal was stressed, he didn't want to eat. Tyran hoped that he would eat now with company. Dr. Dominic Sebastian had already been warned about it. Tyran know it was because Danayal's body wasn't giving him any hunger signs. It was a lingering sign of his previous addiction, and the stress of having been dealt with...
"Thanks," she said grabbing a sandwich and soda. As she took a bite, she noticed that Danayal wasn't eating and stopped. "Aren't you hungry?" she asked, feeling a bit self-conscious.
"Not really..." He said taking a sip from his own drink.
She put the sandwich down and sighed, taking a sip of her soda. "Sorry, I guess I get a little . . . nervous," she said again. "When I'm the only one eating . . . Like I'm being watched. Yeah, yeah, I know . . . I have a lot of hang-ups."
"Alright, if it makes you feel better." He took a sandwich from the plate and started to eat.
She smiled again and took another bite of her sandwich. "They are good," she smiled. "Did you make them?"
"No, Tyran did." He said smiling. "He has them handy in the fridge under the bar. It's a specialty of the house."
"Well, you can tell him I thought they were great!" she smiled, taking another bite. "In fact, I didn't even realize how hungry I was until I saw these. I sort of skipped breakfast."
"I didn't eat much today, but I'm not hungry either." He said sighing. "I'm scared I'll do something wrong and get into trouble."
She gazed at him. "You won't," she said. "What you did to get this house arrest . . . I'm sure you've learned your lesson, right? You're not planning on doing it again, are you?"
"I'm not planning on it. When I smoked that thing, I felt like I was in heaven. I had fun, and forgot about the test; Realizing that made it not worth it."
"Then you've already learned from your mistake . . ." she smiled. "I don't think you'll do anything else wrong . . . Besides, if you want . . . when I'm not watching Luc and Maya, I could always come by and keep you company . . help keep you on the straight and narrow?" she said, a hint of a tease in her last few words.
"I'd like that." He smiled lightly. "After this week's over I can go out again, but only when someone goes with me. I can't go on my own until the end of the month, when I have to go to court. They'll decide if I can go back home or..." He sighed.
"You'll be able to go back home," she said with complete confidence.
"I don't mean here, I mean my own room... It's not much, but at least it's mine. I'm free to do what I want there, to a certain degree that is..."
"Well, as I said, I'm sure you'll be able to go home!" she smiled taking a sip of her soda.
"Yeah, I hope. I want believe it." He took another sandwich.
"You should believe it," she smiled as she sat a little closer to him.
His smile perked up again.
Suddenly the door opened, and Dom walked inside. It was again time for him to test Danayal and give him a medical examination.
"Hello, Danayal . . . oh!" he said seeing River. "Well, good day, miss . . Tyran didn't mention you had a visitor."
"Yeah, this is my friend River, River, Dominic... Dr. Dominic.."
"Hi, Dr. Sebastian," River smiled.
"Hello there, River. I don't believe I've seen you in some time . . "
"Not since the beginning of the year when I had Tarvin Fever," she smiled.
"Well, you look quite well now," he smiled. "Though I dare say your friend doesn't . . . Danayal, you look thinner than the last time I saw you . . are you not eating?"
River glanced at him. She thought he'd looked a little thinner than before, but she was more concerned with cheering him up. She took another bite of her sandwich and nodded toward Danayal motioning to his sandwich, trying to get him to take another bite.
"I'm fine, Dom." He mumbled, not touching the food. He'd lived on fruit juice since his arrest took place.
"No, apparently you're not," Dominic replied as he scanned Dan. "You've lost too much weight in the last four days. Haven't you been eating anything??" Dominic was clearly concerned.
"I did eat!" He lied; he didn't know Tyran had voiced his concerns already to the good doctor.
"Don't lie to me, Danayal. You're already in enough trouble," he said firmly.
"Well . . . I know he took a couple of bites of a sandwich while he's been with me . . ."
"And I bet that's all he's eaten," he said eyeing the young man.
Danayal stared at the ground. "I'm not hungry, alright!"
"We'll have to do something about that, right now," he said. "Or else I'll have to put you in the hospital . . . until you do start eating."
"I am not going to ANY hospital! No way, you know what hospital they'll put me in, don't you?" He said panicking.
"Then the easy way to avoid that is to start eating," he replied.
"What if . . . what if I could somehow help?" River offered.
"How?" Dominic asked.
"Well, I could make Danayal a deal? If he starts eating regularly, I'll come and visit him every day . . ." she smiled. "I might even be able to bring the twins."
Danayal looked at her, and then at Dom. "Alright, you win."
"So you'll eat then? Three meals a day?" River asked, as her dark eyes sparkled.
"Three meals? Do I have to? And how much, how large do those meals have to be?" He planned on three sandwiches and some milk spread over the whole day.
"They have to be good meals, Danayal," Dom said. "All the food groups. Decent portions . . ."
"And you'll have to have food around anyway if I bring the twins to see you!" she smiled. "You can eat with them too! Though they can be a bit messy!" she laughed.
"Mind you, this is not my place, but Tyran's." He sighed, decent meals for him were small meals, bits and pieces. Dom would have to give him a list that someone could check over, at least that was what Tyran had asked for.
"Don't worry, as long as you've agreed to eat, Tyran will get your meals for you," Dom said. "He wanted a menu and I've already handed him one with some vitamin packed food. Also, I'm prescribing a multi vitamin every day."
"I hate those things, I won't take them! They make me nauseas!" He protested.
"I have a liquid supplement that has no taste, but can be put into a cup of juice or milk . . . In fact, something rich in vitamin C would be best . . maybe a glass of orange juice."
"I have to take that stuff too . . ." River said softly.
"Why, River?" Danayal asked with surprise.
"My body doesn't seem to want to absorb as much of the vitamins from the foods I eat as it should. So if I don't take the vitamins I get sick . . "
"That's from the fever I treated you for . . . Nasty complication," he said. "But it could have been worse."
"I see I get a choice. I'll eat, and I'll take the vitamins. I don't want to end in a confined room in the prison hospital."
River took his hand and squeezed it. "I'll be here for you . . ." she said softly.
"I'll eat, but I'm only doing it for you." He took the rest of his sandwich and ate it.
She smiled. "Thank you . . ." she said. Impulsively, she leaned over and kissed his cheek and then began blushing again . . . This time a bright red.
So was Danayal. He felt deadly shy, and at the same time in heaven, until he saw Dom take out the materials for blood and urine tests, to see how much of the pot was left in his system. The last time he hadn't been satisfied with the results. It was breaking down too slow...
"All right," Dominic said. "Time for your tests, dear boy. Do you want River here with you, or would you prefer she leave for this?"
"She... she can stay... if she wants." He hoped she would stay on one hand, but on the other he felt embarrassed about the urine test. Dom had to stay with him at all times so he wouldn't be able to cheat the tests.
She smiled. "I'll stay since it's okay . . ."
"All right," Dominic replied. "Let's take your blood first."
Danayal nodded and shoved up his sleeve. He cooperated all the way, knowing he could get in trouble if he didn't...
Dominic took the sample and put it in the scanner. He looked at the results and nodded. "Well, it's still not completely out of your system or even as down as I would prefer, but it's showing signs of definitely leaving. Needless to say, your levels are a good bit lower . . . I would say by my next visit, the traces, if any will be scant."
River's smile beamed brightly.
"Thank god. I'll never touch drugs again."
"Good to hear, my young friend," Dominic replied with a smile and then handed him the cup for the urine test. "Let's get this over with."
He sighed deep and walked with Dominic to the bathroom, he quickly did what he had to do and handed him the cup.
River had been polite enough to turn her head away. She knew it had to be embarrassing enough to take the tests, but he didn't need a bunch of people watching him pee into a cup. Only the Doctor should do that, she thought. Her cheeks were a bit pink at the thought.
Dominic took the urine, took a sample of it and scanned it.
"Yes, I'd say it's definitely running out of your system . . ." Dominic smiled. He took care of the sampled and washed his hands, then looked to Danayal and to River. "Besides, I bet you'll have no desire for drugs - at least for awhile." He winked at River.
She just smiled.
"Uh, I never had it, I told you a thousand times, I just was not thinking. I only took one of... never mind, no one believes me."
"I do," River replied. "But I think maybe Dominic means you'll have a reason to think before you act now . . ." She smiled softly and turned away, trying to hide the pink of her cheeks.
Danayal blushed. "Uh, yeah, I do have a reason."
"Very good," Dominic replied. "Very good . . . Now you two have fun. I'll see you in a couple of days."
With that Dominic left.
"Well, at least that's over for now," River said, her dark eyes looking at him.
"Yeah, for a few days; I just feel deadly ashamed..."
"That you did the pot?" she asked. "Or the testing?"
"Both." He sighed. "But at least I still have people who care about me."
"You definitely do," she said as she took his hand impulsively once again.
He smiled, suddenly kissing her. He couldn't seem to help it.
River responded . . . This was the first kiss she'd ever really had, and it was certainly the first she had ever really wanted. So many feelings welled up within her and all of them felt wonderful!
Danayal blushed a deep shade of red when he finally broke the kiss. He looked into her eyes, uncertain of how she'd react.
Suddenly, she caressed his face gently. "That was unexpected, but very welcomed . . ." With that, she leaned over and kissed him in turn.
He returned the kiss, melting in her eyes. He never imagined it would be like this.
Finally, as the kiss ended, she looked at him. "Does this mean we're boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Her smile was bright and her eyes sparkled.
"If you want to be; I know I want it..." He smiled and looked more like the handsome young man he was - one with no worries...
Her smile grew and she leaned forward tenderly taking his hand in hers. "Yes, I'd like that very much," she replied and kissed him again, tenderly, allowing her fingers to run through his hair.
He blushed severely, and answered the kiss. It was then the door opened and Tyran walked in. He grinned inwardly as he saw them . . . he liked this!
With a start River and Danayal turned toward the door, both blushing madly.
"Don't look at me like that... I just came to look for the black book. I wasn't planning to disturb you two." He grinned.
River looked from Tyran to Danayal, and back to Tyran. "Well, I . . we . . uh . . . We're . . ." But she was stuttering with her nervousness and couldn't say what she wanted to about them.
"You were getting to know each other better. That's alright. Just be careful when you want to go further than kissing... Danayal..." He looked at the young man who nodded. Tyran had warned him to always use protection.
River blushed again, but smiled and nodded, holding Danayal's hand.
"Good." He picked up the book and walked out again; smiling, happy for Danayal, River would keep him on the straight line easier, he thought.
"I guess this means your foster father's okay with me being here with you?" she asked.
"Yeah, he is..." Danayal said with a soft smile. "I am, in his eyes, wise enough for a girlfriend I guess... but I never had one before."
"Well, I never really had a boyfriend either," she replied, still holding his hand.
"Then I guess we were just waiting for the right person to get to us... and I think we found each other now..." He looked in her eyes. She could see longing in them, but also fear. Danayal didn't feeling safe as long as he was in trouble.
Tenderly she caressed his face. "Everything's going to be okay . . " she said gently.
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