Treya has been released from Paladin hospital the day before, Dr. Hancock giving her as clean a bill of health as possible. Her fever has broken and other than her interesting new ability, there hadn't been a real reason to keep her for longer. She wasn't carrying a virus or bacteria. She wasn't infectious. What was happening to her was on a molecular level.
Jack hadn't left her side and even now, he was asleep beside her in her bed. Her back was against his chest; his arm draped around her waist. Even Charger was there, sleeping at the foot of her bed.
As it had been from the time she'd been in the Hall of Knowledge, she slept deeply; barely moving and dreaming continuously.
Katreya felt like she was flying. Below her was a lush landscape filled with brilliant green foliage. There were many streams and lakes . . The world she was seeing was filled with beauty and it took her breath away.
In time she began seeing well manicured towns and cities that added to the natural setting, rather than taking away from it.
Suddenly, she heard a voice echo through her mind. It was a voice she'd heard before.
"You have been given a great responsibility, Katreya Junipher. You are to be the teacher and the rebirth of our people . . . As you learn of us, and of our gifts and knowledge, you will have to remember that great power can corrupt the heart and soul. You must keep your heart pure, with the best of intentions. Embrace love. If you follow the path, all will be revealed . . "
Suddenly, she was before a temple. Something inside was glowing brightly. As she drew closer the light shot out from the temple, encompassing her body.
Her eye suddenly opened, being jarred out of sleep by the dream, as she had often been the last couple of days. At her movement, Jack's eyes opened and his arm tightened around her gently.
"Are you all right?" he asked with concern.
She rolled over to face him in the dark and to assuage his concerns. "I'm fine," she replied.
"Another dream?" he asked.
She nodded. "They're preparing me . . ."
"Now, see . . . that's what I don't like. Preparing you for what, a sacrifice?" Jack said, his voice echoing his mistrust of the events and what the Arterians really wanted with her.
She smiled softly and caressed his face. "They're preparing me for the Temple of Light."
He sighed. "I'm just not sure I like this . . . I'm worried about you."
Tenderly, she kissed him. "I'm fine, really . . ." she said, trying to reassure him. "In fact, I was told to embrace love." There was a mischievous glint in her brown eyes as she gazed at him.
"Oh really?" he replied, caressing her face.
"Yeah . . ." she replied.
Immediately, he moved closer to her and kissed her. "Like that?"
She kissed him in return. Charger sensing the movement on the bed, turned to watch for a moment. Then, he got up and stepped to the floor, curling up there and going back to sleep.
"You sure you're up for more?" Jack asked softly, pausing in his kisses, to roll her onto her back. His eyes reflected his worries and concerns as he gazed at her.
"I'm up for that and more," Katreya replied, running her fingers through his hair and gently pulling him down to her for another scorching kiss.
Treya stood on the balcony of her apartment looking out over Serenity City as the sky brightened from purple into an orangish-pink. It brightened with each passing moment as the sun rose behind her.
She sipped at the cup of tea she held firmly in her hands and sighed. Her mind was never quiet now. Images came to her unbidden as well as pieces of history about the Arterians that she couldn't piece together yet. And at the same time her empathic and telepathic abilities were stronger than they had ever been before. She could sense everyone on her floor and hear their thoughts as if they were in her room. It took a tremendous amount of effort to block everyone out . . . everyone except Jack. She treasured their connection too much. But sometimes, when she couldn't block them out, as had happened the day before, she would get completely overwhelmed.
Though he hadn't said it, she knew he loved her. She could sense his feelings and knew his thoughts. They weren't so different from her own, and his greatest fear was losing her.
Her greatest fear was losing her brother Michael; because she couldn't see her life with Jack in it . . . She felt he would always be there. She had never felt this way for anyone before. She truly loved him.
Suddenly, an image came to her . . . one of stepping off a ledge into thin air. Knowing this was something for the temple tasks, she went to grab her PADD off the table to take note of it. . As she drew near the table, the PADD flew into her hand. Though this had happened several times since she'd woken up in the hospital it never failed to startle her.
Quickly she took down the notes from the vision and watched as the PADD flew back down to the table where it had originally been. It still unsettled her.
Replicating a fresh cup of tea, she returned to the balcony, leaning against the edge. She sipped the warm tea trying to settle her own nerves. Suddenly an arm went around her waist from behind. She had felt Jack the moment he'd stirred so his touch hadn't taken her by surprise. And it was certainly welcomed.
"What's on your mind?" he asked. "Because I know that stance of yours by now."
She sighed, turning to face him. "I'm just not use to my new abilities . . They're getting stronger." She replied, explaining what had happened with the PADD.
He pulled her into his arms and didn't say a thing. He knew she'd know his thoughts and feelings on the matter without him having to say a word. But he knew what she needed from him as well. She needed assurance that he was there for her and that she could lean on his strength. He was worried for her. There was no doubt about it . . . But his love for her grew stronger every passing day and he didn't want to leave her. Not for a moment.
"You have a cargo run, don't you?" she said softly.
"Yeah," he replied. "I have to keep the bills paid." He smiled. "But I want you to come with me . . ."
She smiled and kissed him tenderly. "When do we have to leave?" she asked.
"Oh, I think we have enough time for more pleasurable activities first," he smirked.
With that, he kissed her again, scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to the bed.
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