The shocking sight before me, has me trembling, my legs turn to jelly and I can't form words.

The smoke swivels around the hand exposing more of the figure, when some one pulls me back away from the scene out the back door.

"Who are you? Let me go!" Instantly the arms drop.

"Please Ms Langridge, I'm Viekar, Mr. Fairchilds assistant." A coat is thrown over my shoulders. "Please, ma'am. Let us protect your dignity."

Suddenly we're up in my apartment and I can hear the sound of footsteps moving around downstairs before coming up the stairs.

"Was that Bav?! What was all around him?!" I exclaim, my voice sounding shrill and hysterical.

"My lady, you have had a shock, please, sit down and let me make you some tea." I take another look at Viekar and realize, his eyes are different. So is his body, as I look down I see his feet are hoofs.

"What in the dear sweet Elements!" I say out loud looking him up and down again. Taking some steps back and wringing my hands.

"What are you? Are you Fae?" I ask trying to control my hysterics, as tears continue to fall.

My door opens and shuts again, and some one walks in to come place their arms around me.

"Rakara. It's okay now, he can not hurt you now." I push the hands off me, turning around and looking to run if I can.

It's Bav.

"Bav?" Relief starts to wash over me. "Oh, Bav. He was going to .... He almost...." Tears threaten to drown me, while sobs choke me. I clutch my arms and rub myself, feeling cold and filthy.

"Viekar, you may go back. I will make sure she is alright." Bav dismisses Viekar who bows before disappearing.

I'm crouching into a small ball in the corner, crying my eyes out as I shake in terror replaying the events in my mind.

'I can't believe I let that bastard get the upper hand on me ! I couldn't remember any of my defensive or offensive moves. Oh my Elements.. He almost raped me... if Bav had not of come by....'

The thoughts are destroying me, I'm shivering and feel so cold, my teeth begin to chatter. I try to take a breath, but my air ways are clogged from blood and crying, making me cough to clear them. The pressure making me tense with the pain.

"Rakara, here are some handkerchiefs. Would you care for some tea?" Bav keeps his distance but still is trying to assure me I am taken care of. He sets the handkerchiefs next to me and I snatch them up and crouch back into my ball.

"Rakara, here's your tea. Can you come to the table to drink it? I will keep my distance, do not worry no one will hurt you while I am here. Can you come sit at the table and drink tea with me please?"

"Buc--ket." I feel nauseous, the bile and mucus is trying to work it's way up my throat.

Bav frantically grabs the first thing he sees, a soup pot and puts it next to me as I can't hold my stomachs reaction down any more.

I release my stomach's contents violently, whimpering and shivering as I do so, even though my body sweats profusely.

I feel my stomach muscles screaming in agony from the violent upheaval and groan, wiping my mouth gently as I do so. I make my way to the table and a glass of water is sitting there next to the tea. Bav is a few feet away, keeping a close, concerned eye on me. I rinse my mouth and spit it into the pot, before wiping my face again with a new handkerchief.

I picked up the tea and took a couple of sips, setting it down, I instructed, "Cabinet above the cold box, on the right, bottle, please."

I pour another small cup of tea as he pulls out the crystal decanter and places it in front of me. Pulling out the stop, the thick scent of refined berry wine escapes. Pouring a healthy amount into the cup of tea, I promptly drink it down, and pour another. This one, I sip, warmth spreading back to my limbs as I continue to cry silently, but somewhat under control.

"Rakara, may I sit by you?" Bav asks hesitantly.

I nod, taking another sip of the tea, avoiding his eyes that look so intently at me, full of concern and another emotion.

'Pity maybe? I don't need anyone to pity me.'

"Please stop looking at me like I am a victim and need pity." I mutter out as he takes a seat.

"Rakara! Look at me! I am not looking at you like you need pity! I care about you and you are in need of some medical attention. Your face is starting to swell up." He makes a mirror appear and shows me my face.

"My word, I apologize, you're right. I do need to see a physician. That bastard made me break my nose!" I gingerly touch it, looking at how it will now be crooked.

"I can help you with those. If you'll allow me?" Bav gingerly reaches his hands out towards me, asking with his hesitant hands if it's alright to touch me.

"If you can make my nose straight again, I would appreciate it." I huff.

"No need to get cynical with me, I am trying to help." He takes me face in his hands and gently touches it. He snaps some hand cloths and a bowl of water.

"I'm going to clean the blood off first, then I'll fix it."

"Do what ever you need to." I say closing my eyes and clenching my jaw in preparation, only to have it hurt to bad. I instead clench my hands into fists, they can handle the pain in them.

Bav was very careful, gently dabbing the soaked cloth around my nose, mouth, chin. I avoided his gaze for the most part, thinking to myself.

'Will he think differently of me now? Will he think I am soiled and no longer want me?'

I looked into his black eyes, searching them as they were focused on cleaning my lower jaw. His eyes glanced up catching my own and he weakly smiled, gently caressing my cheek with his thumb.

"Almost done, are you experiencing a lot of pain still?"

"Doh." My nose has swollen shut, and I know my left eye will be following suit soon.

"I'm going to set your nose back. It's going to hurt, and it's going to start bleed again, so I need you to hold this cloth under your chin. Okay?" He checks me making sure I am ready.

Nodding to him, I lift the cloth under my chin.

"On Three, one, two.."

*CRACK*

My eyes water, "OUCH!" escapes me and blood flows but not like when I broke it. I lift the cloth up and a warm glowing light begins to emit from Bav's hands. I lean back but his hands follow.

"Bav?" I lean farther back in my chair but he stands to follow my face. "What are you doing?" I start to panic, ready to push him away when his hands drop heavy next to his sides.

"There all done." He sits and shoves the mirror towards me and I'm at a loss for words.

My eyes are normal, my nose is no longer swollen, the cuts around my lips from being slapped are gone too! I take the cloth and wipe little bits of blood off and my skin looks like nothing happened.

I look at my hands and see they still have the bruising and swelling showing up, but Bav quickly takes my hands in his and smiles at me.

"I can handle those too. Is there anywhere else that you are hurt?"

"I... I.. don't know. He rip.... ripped my clothes." I hold my arms up to show the jacket Viekar had slipped backwards on me earlier, like it was not obvious.

"Alright, come, let me help you find some clothes, and if you need help or healing, I will be right outside the door." He holds his hand out for me to take and I do so moving carefully, in case I am injured in other areas.

"Bav... Where is he? Where is Mr Wheelwright?"

"He's somewhere he can not hurt you, or anyone else for that matter."

"What was the dark swirling mass around you earlier?" I ask as he sets me down and opens my armoire.

He pauses and sighs, "I think you will look lovely in this pale blue dress."

He brings it out and lay it on the bed.

"Bav, please don't ignore my question." I grab his hand before he walks away.

"Get dressed first, then I will tell you." He walks out and I stand taking off the coat.

I look down at my dress which is no better than rags in the front now, exposing one of my breasts.

The memory of Mr Wheelwright's mouth on it, makes me sob and I rush to the faucet and begin scrubbing my breast on my skin, little bruises from him sucking on my skin are visible and I cry out.

"Bav! Bav!"

He rushes in to see me scrubbing the bruising on my exposed breast like I want to remove my skin.

"Kara! No, stop! You'll hurt yourself" He comes over and takes my hands in his.

Through my tears and sobs I muster, "Get him off of me! Please!"

"I will, I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable." He places his hand on my chest and the glow quickly erases them.

"I can still feel him!" I cry rubbing my skin some more, anything to get rid of the feel of his mouth on me.

Bav pulls me against him, so I just fall apart in his arms. He holds me while I just sob, soothing me with soft words and whispers.

I can't tell how long we stayed like that, but he held me all the while. I must have been slipping from fatigue in his hands. Next thing I know, I'm being laid down on the bed.

Shooting up like a rocket, I narrowly miss breaking Bav's nose. I look down and realize I'm still in my ripped up attire.

"Bav, I've got to get rid of these clothes. Please..." I start then catch myself, 'was I really going to ask him to undress me so I can bathe?!'

"Yes, I can help you. I will not look at you, only your bindings."

'He is so calm and collected compared to my maze of emotions and thoughts.'

I clear my throat, "Ech-hm... I'd like to take a bath though."

He stares blankly at me for a moment before his eyes light up.

"I have an idea." He snaps his finger and an ornate, embroidered, wood room divider appears, along with a comfortable chair next to the tub.

"There we go, I'll get the bath water ready. If you would get your more intimate apparel..." He blushes and goes to the tub, which is hidden behind the divider.

I hear the water start and go to grab my intimates and place them on the other side of the screen by the tub.

"I already have a towel, wash cloth and put some scented bath foam and oil into the tub for you." Bav points to the tub, which is filling with with water and bubbles.

"I'll go the the other side, just stand by the edge so I may help you." He took at stance a the corner of one side, his face hidden but his hands visible. I turned so he could help with the knotted ties, and mangled buttons from the encounter. After slipping out of my dress, over petticoat, crinoline, and corset with Bav's help, I thanked him.

"Not a problem. I can sit right here, or I can sit out in the other room. Wherever you will feel the most comfortable with me." 

"Please stay..... " I ask him as I slide into the bath hissing at the spots that I'm aware now are injured. "I'm sorry, you probably have important things you should be doing, but I don't think I could be alone right now." I take the wash cloth and soap and begin to scrub quickly, as not to bother him and keep him from his work.

"Rakara... There is no need to apologize. You are the only thing that matters to me at this moment, and I am grateful that you are allowing me to stay, instead of kicking me out."

I turn in the bath to look at the screen confused, my lips pursed as my ankle twinges from the movement. "Kick you out? Whatever for?" I gasp.

His voice is heavy and I can hear the guilt in his voice. "For not protecting you better, not being here sooner.... If I had been but a minute later..."

"Now, Bav, look I'm still very shaken at the moment, but I know that none of this is any of your fault. It is his and his alone.. OUCH!" I cry out as I scrub pieces of porcelain stuck in my skin.

"What is the matter?" I see Bav's hand around the outer edge of the screen, ready to bolt if I need him.

"I've got some porcelain shards stuck in my side and arm. I can't see them all to remove them..." I twist to get a better look and realize I will need his assistance some more.

"Um... Bav?" I call out meekly.

"Yes?" Bav waits for my request.

"Could you come over here... and help me with the porcelain stuck in my skin? I have some tweezers in my medical basket in the cupboard by the sink."

"No need, I have some. Would you like just the tweezers .. or...?" His voice trails off for me to answer him.

"Please, I will need your help."

'Oh my elements! I'm going to drown myself!'

I let my face dunk under the water with that thought, letting the hot water flush my face. Wiping the bubbles from my face, my first sight is Bav looking away from me, sitting on the chair next to the tub.

"I don't know how you do that, but you sure are lucky." I mumble thinking of how easy life would be if I could do the things he could.

"Luck is a double edged sword sometimes. Now, let me see your arm please."

He holds out his hand and I lift mine for him to begin, bringing more bubbles closer to me.

He is quick and precise, soon healing my arm and I lift my ankle which is slightly swollen for him to look at.

He stands to leave and I clear my throat again. "Ech-hmm.... I still have porcelain in my side."

He turns and stoically asks, "Please show me."

I cover myself up top with the wash cloth and crouch in the water to expose my side riddled with gashes and white chipped cuts.

"This will take a while. Why don't you lie on the bed? That way you can cover yourself and be more comfortable." He says standing and holding the towel out for me to step into, his eyes averted and closed.

I pull the plug and quickly exit the tub taking the towel from him. "I am covered."

Still not looking at me he turns and goes to the other side of the divider.

"I'll lay a towel down so your bed does not become damp."

I peek from behind the divider, watching him lay a few towels down and fixing the blankets for me to cover myself with. Once he's done, I take a deep breath, and come out from behind the divider.