It had been a long, crazy four days-four days’ worth of worry, frustration and uncertainty.  Raith sat in a small secluded tech office and tried to focus on combing through the last week’s satellite surveillance images from the expanse.  It was a task that was normally monitored in real time, but he’d needed an excuse to be alone but also be somewhat productive.  So here he sat, clicking though hundreds, thousands, of still image captures from dozens of satellites scattered across varying distances of space, trying to keep his mind off the myriad of events that had transpired since the night he’d been forced to save a mad woman with a death wish…

Sarhea had still not awakened from her ordeal, and he had no idea what he was going to do once she did.  Every time he’d tried to sit and ponder his options, a near skull splitting migraine would instantly come upon him and nothing would bring him relief until he’d stopped thinking…It had to be the doing of those creatures, those elusive serpents he’d not seen since that night.  It seemed they were refusing to let him make any decisions, pass any judgment on her, until he had a chance to speak with her.  He was beginning to gain an understanding of why she had fled from them…

Hopefully Aleena’s reports were correct.  Sarhea was quickly healing, and in fact, the Kalatian had recently reported that the only remaining injury with any substantial healing left to do was the gash on her arm.  She expected Sarhea to awaken at any time; that event couldn’t come soon enough.  Even now, he could sense an odd energetic presence and knew those odd beasts were nearby, watching and waiting.  If nothing else, he needed to ask Sarhea what those things really were and how the heck he could make them leave him alone…

Pain flared across his palm and up his arm as Raith started to brace his forehead against his hand.  Shit…he’d forgotten about the burns again…This was another reason he needed Sarhea to hurry up and wake; he had to rid himself of her cursed daggers.  That night, after retrieving his abandoned glider and cleansing the glider bay of all remaining evidence, he’d finally gone back to his apartment for some rest.  That’s when he discovered he still had the daggers shoved in his belt; he’d meant to leave them with Aleena.  When he’d tried to take them up and set them on his small table, searing pain had flared in his hands and up his arms, causing him to fling the blades to the ground.  He briefly remembered pain earlier that night, but the creatures had made it go away.  It seemed that without their intervention, what Sarhea had said was true; no one could handle the daggers but her.  His badly burned palms were evidence of such truth.  He’d tried to recover the weapons off his floor using several methods, including layer upon layer of cloth, but the only thing that had eventually worked was scooping them into an old stone box he’d recovered from the remains of Keylar City.

The beginnings of another splitting headache were starting to throb in his temples.  At this point, he did not know whether it was caused by the energy creatures or if it was a simple stress induced headache.  To be safe, he attempted to focus his thoughts on other issues.  It was not long before the buzz of the sat-com on his hip made him jump.  His narrowed eyes fell to the infuriating device.  Could he find no moment of peace?  He growled under his breath as he finally reached for the annoying device.

“Raith speaking,” he snapped with a little more frustration than intended.

“Well, if this is the greeting I get…” came a familiar voice.

Raith cringed when he recognized Aleena’s voice.  He sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair.

“Aleena…forgive me-it has been a long day,” he muttered and closed his eyes.

“I see,” came the curt reply.  “I was calling you to tell you Sarhea has awakened.”

Raith’s eyes flew open as he quickly sat up.  Finally some good news….

“She is?  Am I able to speak with her?”

“I suppose, if you keep it civil and calm.  She is groggy and sore and definitely should not be stressed right now.  In fact, I also have a request of my own.”

Raith arched a brow at the reply.  Aleena’s tone hinted that he might not like what she was about to say.  “What request is that?” he finally asked.

“I wanted to see if there was any way you could bring Finny with you.”

“Finny?”

“I’m pretty sure you have strong feelings concerning the issue, but Sarhea’s going to need that boy’s help to get through this.  I don’t know how or why, but that boy has strange healing talents of his own.  He has the ability to bring peace to her heart and mind, and from my observations so far, she is going to need both.”

A hard scowl fell across his face.  Raith wanted nothing more than to keep Finny out of this mess, but at the same time, this was an opportunity to make amends.  The boy was still refusing to speak to him.  Any chance to see him, even in Sarhea’s presence, was better than being shut out of his life completely.

“I’ll see what I can do.  Can…can I come now?”

There was hesitance on the other end.  “I suppose I’ll allow that.  Just remember the conditions.  See you soon,” came the blunt reply before the connection went silent.

Raith quickly placed the sat-com back in its holder as he stood.  It was about time for him to finally get some answers.

---

Raith knocked lightly on Aleena’s door.  He couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.  His hands burned just knowing he had those daggers so close, even if it was all in his head, and now that he was standing here, he had no clue just what he was going to say.  He caught the quiet grating of locks releasing just before the door carefully cracked open.  Aleena’s critical gaze peered out at him through the narrow opening before she finally opened the door and stepped out, pulling it mostly shut once more.

“You didn’t bring Finny,” she whispered.

Raith sighed quietly as he adjusted his grip on the stone box at his side.  “Braunt will bring him shortly.  Had I showed up there and tried to bring him, he likely wouldn’t have come.  I figured it would be better if he didn’t know I was here until he arrived,” Raith replied quietly.

Aleena’s gaze softened before her eyes fell to the box.  “What is that?”

Raith scowled as he lifted it before him and held it out to her.  “Those daggers of hers are in here.  Please take it and put it somewhere safe.  Whatever you do, don’t open it or try to hold them,” he grumbled

Aleena arched a brow as she carefully took the box from him and turned back to the door.  The apartment beyond was quiet.  He quickly spotted Sarhea on the sofa with her back to them.  A simple chair sat next to sofa.  Raith scowled lightly as he turned back to Aleena as she shut the door.

“Is she sleeping?” he whispered.

“No, just resting.  You can go over, just remember she’s in a fragile state of mind,” she whispered in reply and carefully set the stone box on a lower shelf next to the door.

The strong hint of concern in Aleena’s hazel eyes worried him, and he was quickly beginning to wonder if this was a good idea.  But he was already here.  He nodded his understanding to Aleena before quietly walking over to where the chair sat.  His mind churned over what he could possibly say to her as he slowly lowered himself to sit.  A hint of familiar prodding caused his eyes to widen and he half expected those creatures to materialize before him.  Nothing happened.  Aleena’s hovering presence finally left as she made her way to the other room, leaving him alone with the seemingly sleeping Sarhea.

“Sarhea?” he called quietly.

There was no response and for a moment, he thought she must have fallen back to sleep.  He did not want to disturb her if she was sleeping, but he felt the prodding again.  His ears swiveled back as he hesitated, waiting for firm instruction, but nothing came.  He finally sighed before carefully reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder.  An odd tingling sensation flared in his chest before racing down his arm, his hand, then finally through into her.  His hand recoiled and he stared at it in confusion.  What the hell was that?

Sarhea slowly began to stir, causing panic to suddenly rise in him.  What was he going to say and would she even speak to him at all?  He half considered leaving before she had a chance to notice his presence and come back when he’d thought things through.  A low moan caused him to hesitate.

“Mmmm…Finny?” came her quiet, drowsy voice.

Raith arched a brow as he stared at the hand still held before him.  She thought he was Finny?   He froze as she slowly turned onto her back, her eyes abruptly widening.  For a brief moment, they could only stare at each other in shock.  It was much too late for him to back away now.  Confused eyes locked onto him as her breath caught sharply, an action that made her quickly grimace in pain.

“Just take it easy there.  No one is here to harm you,” he called quietly.

She stared at him in silence before her eyes widened slightly and she cast a quick glance around the immediate area.  She was looking for someone…someone that wasn’t there.  Raith’s ears swiveled back slightly as he sighed.

“Finny is not here.  It’s just me…and Aleena in the other room.”

A familiar hard glare turned to lock back on him as a brief, tense silence settled between them.

“Commander, what…why are you here?” she growled through another grimace of pain.

He closed his eyes briefly as he tried to keep from shaking his head.  It was a good question that even he didn’t know the answer to.

“I…I just want to make sure you were alright,” he finally muttered.

Raith’s eyes abruptly opened.  Had he really just said that?  He inwardly cringed as Sarhea’s brows scrunched together and she scowled fiercely back at him.  Stupid!  She would never believe such a weak remark!

“Why are you really here?  We both know you don’t care.  You made that perfectly clear the last time I saw you,” she growled.

Raith’s ears lowered further as his biting words flashed through his thoughts.  What she said had been quite true before this whole ordeal; he’d been prepared to take her out the next time he had to deal with her.  This time he didn’t fight the urge to shake his head.  He found himself wishing he could take back most everything he’d said that morning.

Raith sighed heavily as he diverted his gaze and shook his head.

“What was said that day cannot be taken back, as much as I wish it could be.  I let my anger get the better of me and reacted before hearing you out.  I know it is much too late, but for what it’s worth, I am sorry.”  

He hesitated as his brows furrowed with a critical gaze.  He felt Sarhea’s glare boring into him, but he continued to stare at the ground; he needed to finish what he had to say before he lost his nerve.

“I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the mistakes made these past several months.  We are both to blame for the conflict that exists between us, though a larger portion of the blame rests on my shoulders.  I never gave you an opportunity or reason to explain yourself, and I would like to change that, starting now.  But,” he started and hesitated when he caught movement from the corner of his eye.  

Aleena had moved to the edge of the kitchen and was eyeing them critically.

“But if things are to have any chance of change, I am going to need your help.  You are going to have to help me understand why I should give you another chance when you keep claiming you are so dangerous.”  

Raith finally looked up as a low growl rumbled quietly from her throat.  Her blue eyes were dark and narrowed and she glared at him with distaste.  His ears lowered as he sighed in frustration.

“Look, I understand your hesitance, but I…I really would like to put this behind us, to move past this.  Is it too much to ask for even a little understanding?  Isn’t that what you were trying to do that night in the rocks and again the other day?”

Raith heard quick steps as Aleena arrived beside him.  He cast a quick glance up to see her pleading eyes locked on Sarhea.  

“Please, Sarhea.  Please talk to him.  And don’t worry; I’m right here and ready to toss him out if need be,” Aleena said.

Raith shot her a questioning sideways glare, but Aleena’s focus was on Sarhea.  When he turned his gaze back to Sarhea, her glare had faded and was replaced with a conflicted gaze that quickly moved between them both.  She sighed quietly as her resolved faltered and crumbled and turned her gaze back to the ceiling.  Raith waited patiently for any kind of response, but all he got was a weary sigh.  Aleena’s hand fell to his shoulder.  She nodded at him, urging him to continue.  Raith glanced down at his raw palms as he gingerly rubbed them.

“Sarhea,” he started quietly, “can I ask why you fear your abilities so much?  Is it…” he hesitated again as a light scowl crossed his face.  “Is it because of those creatures, those…energy serpents?”

Sarhea’s breath caught sharply, her eyes widened, before her gaze turned back to him.  Real fear radiated from her as she abruptly tried to shove herself upright.  The move drew a sharp yelp from her and Aleena was immediately at her side.  Raith instinctively leaned forward as well to offer any assistance he could.

“Whoa there.  Take it easy,” he called and arched a brow as Sarhea’s frantic, pained gaze darted around the room.  She was looking for them.  “They are not here, as far as I can tell anyway.  I’ve not seen them since that night,” he added softly.

Aleena shot him a worried, questioning glance as she helped ease Sarhea back down.  It was several moments before Sarhea’s conflicted gaze found him again.

“You saw the sentinels?  They drug you into this…why?”

So that’s what those things were called.  Raith shook his head.

“I’d like to know that as well.  Sarhea, what were those things, and why do you fear them so much?  I admit their influence was quite unnerving, but…” he hesitated when her gaze suddenly darkened and blue fire began to dance in her eyes.  The charged atmosphere caused the fur on the back of his neck to rise once more.

“You are a fool, Commander,” she growled lowly.  “You should have left me to my fate.  I was trying to ensure the safety of this city, trying to distance myself from those I am a danger to.  Those things…the sentinels…they are a big part of why my curse is so dangerous!  They wish to take control of me, and you do not want that to happen!  You should have let me die!” she snapped then grimaced in pain at the exertion.

Raith scowled fiercely as he cast a quick glance at Aleena.  The Kalatian’s gaze was confused and worried as she offered him a quick shrug.  Aleena had let him in on several small things about Sarhea over the past few days, but this one seemed to stump her as well.  But it still did not add up.

“This makes no sense.  If they were out to do as you say, to take control of you…why didn’t they?  Why did they demand my assistance and yes, quite literally force me to go after you?  I would have never found you if it wasn’t for them, but they were afraid-I felt their fear.  And after I found you, and couldn’t stop your bleeding, I got the strong impression they couldn’t help, not directly.  They had me take up your daggers and do that crossing the blade thing…I…” he hesitated when the glare abruptly left her gaze and her eyes widened.

“You…you held my daggers?”

Raith scowled down at her in confusion.  Really?  Of all the things for her to want clarification on, she was most intrigued by his handling of her daggers?

“Yes, and I’ll be the first to say I’ll never try that again.  I don’t know why I was able to handle them that night, but any attempt afterward…well let’s just say I’ll be feeling the heat for quite some time,” he huffed and relaxed heavily back into his chair.  

Sarhea remained silent as she eyed him critically while Aleena’s eyes widened.  The Kalatian abruptly left Sarhea’s side and grabbed one of his wrists.  Before he could recoil, she’d pulled his hand open and was examining the painful burn in his palm.

“What the hell, Raith?  Why didn’t you have this looked at?” she exclaimed.

Raith pulled his hand from her grasp.  “What was I supposed to say?  I burned myself with a pair of daggers?  I didn’t want to add insult to injury,” he grumbled and gingerly rubbed at the dull throbbing pain.

He caught the slight hint of a smirk play at Sarhea’s lips before it faded into a somewhat blank, confused gaze that stared up at the ceiling.  Silence fell over the room.

“I don’t understand,” she finally whispered.

Raith cast a quick concerned gaze to Aleena before sighing quietly.  “I know the feeling,” he started and paused to consider his next move.  “Sarhea, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I cannot begin to know what you are going through, what you have gone through, with your abilities.  I do not understand why you call it a curse, when all I’ve seen are things that have greatly benefitted us.”

He paused when a hint of the previous glare began returning to her expression.  “I cannot know unless you tell us.  Sometimes…sometimes I get the feeling that you can’t because even you do not fully understand what is happening to you.  You don’t understand it so instead you fear it, and you let that fear rule your life.”

Sarhea’s head snapped about.  Her eyes were narrowed dangerously again as she glared at him.

“I actually have to agree with him on that one, Sarhea.”

Both their gazes suddenly turned to Aleena as she knelt.

“I have watched this uncertainty, this fear, eat at you for months, steadily eroding your sanity,” she continued solemnly.

The glare quickly faded from Sarhea’s gaze as she once again cast questioning looks between the two of them.  Raith scowled lightly at his hands as he prepared to continue.

“I know you say you are too dangerous and unpredictable to help us, and after what I experienced with those…sentinels…perhaps I would feel the same in your shoes.  But I’m remembering something that Aleena told me earlier, of how she helps warn you when she notices your energy getting out of hand.  What if there were more of us keeping watch, helping you stay in control until you can figure out how to master this thing?”

Sarhea’s jaw dropped open as if she were about to respond, but then her eyes narrowed and she cast a demanding glare over to Aleena.

“Don’t look at me like that.  I only told him what needed to be said to try and help him understand.  Sarhea, you really need to consider this before this thing gets any further out of control.  You need our help.  And besides, there are quite a few of us now who know your secret,” she said and hesitated with a raised brow.  “And while I’m thinking about it, why didn’t you bring your request to Raith that morning like you had planned?  All of this conflict and injury could have been avoided.”

Raith hung his head at the remark.  Would it have changed anything?  He sighed heavily and shook his head.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I would have responded,” he said quietly.

“That’s why I didn’t ask,” Sarhea muttered bitterly.

He cast a determined glance back up at her.  “I can’t change that now, but I can change how we move forward from here.  Aleena’s right; there is a sizable group of us now who know your secret.  Let’s say you had made your request and I accepted the terms-would things be much different than they are now?  Did you really think you would be able to continue on as if none of this had ever happened?  Your friends would still be wondering why you lied to them and I…”

Raith’s voice trailed off as his ears fell back and he looked at the floor with a regretful sigh.  Yes, the blame for this mess rested on both of them.  He felt a timid had fall to his shoulder.

“Raith…” Aleena started soothingly but hesitated when he shook his head.

“No, this mess is as much my fault as it is anyone else’s,” he mumbled and looked up at both women.  Each wore a similar questioning gaze.

“I will not press you again for your help with the drone issue, but…I need…” Raith hesitated with a scowl before sighing once more.  “No, I would greatly appreciate your help and advice with a more personal matter.  I’ve…”  Raith felt an odd energy beginning to flow around him.  No one’s expressions changed, so he had no clue from where it originated, but it gave him a boost in courage to finish what he had to say.  “I’ve really gone and made a mess of things with our friends.  This whole situation has been handled extremely poorly and I’m not quite sure how to fix it.”

Sarhea’s questioning glare faded as she turned her gaze back to the ceiling.  Before long, a quiet sigh sounded as her uninjured hand came up to cover her eyes.  She silently shook her head before turning a weary gaze back to him.

“I suppose I had a large part in creating this mess.  I should have listened…” she muttered solemnly.

“There have been mistakes made by everyone, but the bigger point is, it’s not too late to correct them.  Perhaps, in the process, your friends can help you as well, help you figure out this thing that plagues you and how to stay in control of it.  There’s a reason our motto has always been strength in unity.”

“Please Sarhea…Let us help you.  We are your friends,” Aleena spoke up from beside him, her pleading eyes locked intently on Sarhea.

Sarhea’s uncertain gaze bounced between the two of them before falling back to him.  Raith could sense the battle raging in her mind.  He sighed quietly and prepared to leave.  This meeting had moved far beyond what he had expected.  

“Do not worry about responding right now.  Continue healing, and when you’re back on your feet, you can consider what was said here today.  Your health is all that you should concern yourself with at the moment,” he added.

A quiet knock abruptly sounded on the door.  Raith’s knowing gaze met Aleena’s as the Kalatian stood.  She nodded in understanding and went to the door.

“Aleena, who’s there?” Sarhea called out nervously as she tried to lift herself up.  She didn’t make it very far before the pain stopped her.

Raith heard quiet voices through the cracked doorway before he sensed Finny’s excited presence.  Sarhea seemed to sense it as well; her eyes widened as hoped entered her weary gaze.

“Finny?  Finny, is that you?” she called.

Raith allowed a weak smile as the sounds of little feet began running their way.

“Sarhea!” the boy called excitedly before he abruptly stopped somewhere behind them.

“Rafe?  No Rafe!” he growled as he came into view.

Raith turned to see the toddler’s narrowed angry eyes.  “Hey there, Finny,” he said and started to reach a hand toward him.

Finny’s large ears fell flat and his little tail flicked about quickly behind him as he swatted angrily at the hand.  Raith hesitated with a sigh and withdrew his hand.

“Finny, stop.  You can’t treat him like that,” Sarhea called out.

Finny turned a worried gaze to Sarhea as he cautiously maneuvered toward her and just out of Raith’s reach.  He began to climb up onto the couch and toward Sarhea’s lap.

“Wait Finny,” he started in alarm.

“No, it’s alright,” Sarhea whispered as Finny carefully climbed up.

Raith marveled at how the boy seemed to instinctively avoid her injured left side.  He eventually made his way up to lay his little head on her chest and wrapped his arms around her neck.  Raith simply sighed quietly and let them have their moment.  He couldn’t help be feel a little jealous; Finny had stubbornly refused to quit hating him for two weeks now.  He really missed the little guy.  Tears were forming at the edges of Sarhea’s eyes and she held Finny in return.  

“I have missed you Finny, have missed your voice and your hugs,” Sarhea whispered into the boy’s large ear.

Finny slowly lifted his head and gazed down at her.  “Me too.  Where you been?  Rafe,” he started and turned an angry glare back in his direction, “Rafe no let me see you, telled me not to go explore anymore.  Rafe mean,” he spat and quickly glanced away.

Raith couldn’t help but flinch as he hung his head in regret.  Sarhea’s apologetic gaze soon found him and he did his best to force a weak smile.

“Finny, you can’t be mad at Raith.  He is your friend.  You made me make a promise to keep your friend safe, remember?  It’s not his fault…” Sarhea started.

“It was my fault.  I was mad, Finny-mad at her.”

Sarhea’s eyes widened as Finny once again turned to look back at him.

“Why Rafe mad?  Why mad when Sarhea only tires to help?”

“It was my fault too, Finny.  I’m the one who made him angry.  I was stupid,” Sarhea cut in.

Raith arched a brow as Finny turned back to Sarhea with wide, shocked eyes.  

“I made a big mistake and I’m sorry my mistake upset you and made you angry at your friend.”

Poor Finny looked so confused.  His wide hazel eyes darted between the two of them several times before he finally leveled his gaze on Raith.

“Mad no more?  I don’t like mad-it makes me sad,” the boy pouted.

Raith allowed a genuine smile.  “No, I’m not mad anymore.  In fact, you can see Sarhea whenever you like,” he replied.

Sarhea also allowed a wide smile before gingerly pulling Finny into another hug.  “And I’ll try and stop doing stupid things to make him angry,” Sarhea added quietly.

“So does this mean everyone’s friends again?” Aleena asked from behind them.  

Raith allowed a smirk as he cast a glance back at the Kalatian who stood with her hands on her hips and a fierce, questioning glare.  He glanced back to Finny and Sarhea, who also wore smiles.

“Thank goodness.  I was really tired of all this tension,” Aleena spat and turned toward the kitchen.

“So you’re a friend now?” Sarhea asked with a smirk.

“Hard to call you friend or foe when I really don’t know you-the real you.”

“Sarhea is friend, yep!” Finny quipped with a big grin before anyone could react or respond.

“I guess I’ll find out,” he muttered as he leaned over to tussle the boy’s mop of brown hair.  The giggle Finny burst into was music to his ears.

A mischievous glint suddenly flashed in Sarhea’s eyes as she leaned over and whispered into Finny’s large ear.  The boy’s eyes widened as he looked down at her.  Raith arched a brow as she nodded slightly and Finny began to carefully scoot down her good side back to where he’d originally climbed up.

“What are you two up to?” he asked hesitantly.

Both remained silent as Finny carefully climbed back to the floor.  He bashfully walked up to Raith and paused briefly before throwing his little arms up to him.  Raith’s heart nearly leapt into his throat as he quickly reached over and scooped the boy up.  He pulled Finny into a fierce hug as Finny did the same.  All else faded away as he held the toddler close.  How he’d missed this.  It was suddenly quite easy to see how Finny’s presence held a healing affect for Sarhea; he felt the emotional pain of the past weeks fading by the second.  He even had to fight to keep tears from forming in his eyes.

“Ok, now this is an image I’ll never forget.  Raith, I didn’t know you had any soft spots left,” came Aleena’s voice.

The remark was enough to finally allow him to ease his embrace.

“Ah, but the commander has a few secrets of his own,” came Sarhea’s knowing voice.

“Really?  Now I’m curious.”

“Alright guys, enough,” Raith chided and allowed Finny to slide back to the floor.

The two women grinned at one another before glancing back at him, causing him to furrow a brow.

“I glad we all friends again.  It is way more better,” Finny said as he leaned over to hug Sarhea without thinking.  He bumped her splinted arm, causing her to cringe in pain.  Finny’s ear’s fell flat as his eyes widened.

“Sorry!” he squeaked and leaned into Raith’s legs.

Raith could only watch as she bit back her pain and forced a smile.  She was one tough woman.

“It’s ok.  I’ll be fine,” she finally whispered.

“How you hurt this time?  You help Rafe again?”  Finny asked.

“Actually, I saved her this time,” Raith quickly chimed in.

Finny cocked his little head and shot them both a questioning gaze.  A smile soon spread across his face.

“You protect each other?”

“This time, I guess so,” Sarhea replied.

Finny paused again as a determined glint entered his eyes.  “You keep Rafe safe, yes?”

Sarhea nodded.  “I have never broken my promise.”

“Rafe, you keep Sarhea safe?” Finny asked as he turned his determined hazel eyes to him.

Raith gave him a questioning glance.  Where was the boy headed with this?  He was beginning to feel uncomfortable.

“I did this time,” he finally replied.

“You will do again?”

Raith arched a brow in uncertainty as he cast a quick glance back at Sarhea.  She also appeared uncomfortable, but Finny’s determined eyes demanded an answer.

“If I see her in trouble, I will try my best,” he started hesitantly.

“Promise?”

Sarhea couldn’t suppress a snort as she diverted her gaze.  Raith frowned.  How could he make such a promise?  But then he realized…Sarhea had made the promise…had made it back when he’d actively despised her.  He sighed heavily and started to shake his head.

“Promise Rafe?  I no want you or Sarhea hurt.  Already keep each other safe,” Finny prodded insistently.

How could he turn the determined little boy away?  He allowed a slight smile as he reached over to ruffle Finny’s hair again.

“I promise I’ll try.”

Sarhea shot him a coy smirk as Finny eyed him in thought.  The boy finally nodded his approval.

“Good.  Now all friends and all take care of everyone,” he announced happily.

“Leonians and your promises,” Sarhea muttered quietly.

Raith shot her a scowl, but at the same time, he could see the irony in the comment.  His eyes abruptly widened as Sarhea gingerly began to try and lift herself.  He started to move to assist, but her determined gaze stopped him short.  She closed her eyes and breathed shallow through the pain when she finally positioned herself in a mostly sitting position.

“Sarhea ok?” came Finny’s worried voice.

She smiled down at him.  “Yes, I’m ok,” she said as she slowly raised her injured arm.

Raith’s eyes widened as a blue haze began to wisp off the bandaged palm.  A familiar blue orb began to take shape.  Finny’s eyes also widened in excitement.

“Finny…want to help?” she asked with a hint of anticipation.

A wide grin spread across his face as his little hand came to rest over the glowing orb.  Raith shot them a questioning glance.  Aleena moved back in next to them and knelt with a similar questioning gaze.  Sarhea only smiled knowingly as the light between hers and Finny’s hands grew in intensity until a bright flash was seen.  Then the glow from between their hands remained steady.  Finny grinned as he lifted his hand off hers.

Raith was baffled at what was revealed.  The orb’s form was no longer that of a festering ball of blue haze.  In its place sat what appeared to be a ball of transparent blue glass.  Even Sarhea seemed baffled.

“Well this is new,” she mused.

“How…what…Did Finny do that?”

“I helped!” Finny announced proudly.

“Yes you did,” Sarhea whispered with a smile before turning her gaze back to him.  “Remember when you asked if all my kind can control energy?  Well, the answer was and still is no.  But that does not mean that only my kind is capable.  I have learned over the years that any creature has the potential, they only have to be in tune with the energy around them.  Finny is one such potentially gifted individual.”

So many questions suddenly demanded to be asked, but Raith held them back.  There would be time for questions later.  One, however, had to be asked.

“What exactly is that for?”

Sarhea allowed a knowing smirk.  “It’s a peace offering.  Aleena, would you join us?”

Without word, Aleena scooted in closer to their small group.

“With this offering, we seal the promises made and the understandings gained.  It is a pact of friendship, or potential friendship,” she said with a quick glance tossed at him.  “This is my kind’s way of making a promise.”

Finny took the lead and placed his little hand over the orb.  A quick glance to Aleena spurred the Kalatian to add her hand to the top of the forming stack.  Now all gazes fell to him.

“Come on, Rafe,” Finny prodded patiently.

One glance at the smiling child’s bright eyes melted away his hesitance, and he added his hand to the top of the stack.  Sarhea finished it off with her uninjured hand.  She closed her eyes as a concentrated expression fell over her features.  A building heat was felt from the stack of hands, but it was not an unpleasant heat.  A familiar tingling sensation swelled in his chest before moving into and down his arm and through into the stack.  The blue glow suddenly intensified until Sarhea’s top hand erupted in blue-white flames.

Raith and Aleena both flinched at the onset of the new display.  As quickly as it appeared, it faded and the energy rushed back into his hand, up his arm and quickly over his entire body.  It was nearly as overwhelming as the time she’d given him a similar offering after Lyle’s death.  He had to struggle to keep from slipping out of his chair.

Sarhea’s eyes opened and she removed her hand from over his.  The rest of them slowly followed suit.  Raith felt an odd but familiar sensation in his palms and he looked down to see the red blisters fading.  He shot Sarhea a questioning glance to which she simply smiled knowingly.

“There may have been a little extra something in there,” she whispered.

“You should have.  Aleena said doing that delays your healing.

“What-what did she do?” Aleena demanded from her place on the floor.

“I spared just a little healing to a friend in thanks,” she mused absently.  “Now if you all don’t mind, I think I’m ready for a little rest,” Sarhea added with a weary smile.

Raith slowly moved to stand and he had to use the back of the chair to brace himself up on sluggish limbs.  He slowly placed a hand on Finny’s shoulder.  Finny quickly lifted his arms causing Raith to smile warmly as he bent to pick him up.  Instant peace and contentment washed over him as Finny’s arms came around his neck.  Sarhea wore a pleased smile as his gaze fell to her once more.

“Thank you,” he whispered as he held Finny close.  “Thank you for everything.”

She simply nodded as he dipped his head in respect to both women before turning to leave.

“Commander Raith?”

Raith paused to look back at Sarhea.

“I don’t need to wait until I’m healed to answer your earlier question.  I will help you,” she said quietly.

His eyes widened.

“I’ve come to the realization that perhaps it is time for me to let others in and not try to handle this all on my own.  I cannot guarantee I’ll know what will happen as it all depends on how everything plays out.  But I will do everything I can,” she continued.

Raith’s pulse began to race as excitement and hope flooded over him.  It was all he could do to contain his emotions.  

“That-that’s all I have ever asked,” he finally managed to reply.

She smirked knowingly as she nodded her understanding.  “We can discuss it further…later.”

Raith nodded before turning and heading to the door.  He cast one last excited glance back at the two women before opening the door and leaving the apartment.