His back is to me, so I quickly walk to the bed and lay on the towels, and cover my self with the blankets, leaving my side and back exposed. Bav pulls a pillow down for my head and makes sure I covered.

"Thank you, Bav." I murmur as he begins to pull back. He stops and presses a soft peck on my head.

"'Tis nothing at all." He whispers before sitting and proceeding the process of removing the porcelain fragments from my skin.

Bavs POV-

'Oh my word, she put up one hell of a fight. I could tell from her hands and the shop below that she fought back and tried to run. My poor dear. If only I had been here sooner.... I am going to enjoy draining him of his blood later....'

I'm seething as I scan Rakara's beautiful honeyed umber skin, gently removing the fragments that don't belong there. Every few pieces, she'll let out a whimper, especially when they're stuck or the larger end is under the skin. There is one I have to come back to that is refusing to leave her skin.

'I've got to work on this spell so I can remove the harmful material and heal at the same time. Then she wouldn't have to go through this pain... I wish she had not had to experience this at all.'

As I am working I can't help but notice, she has some scars on her back. There's a few across her shoulder blades and then a larger one that runs parallel  to her spine down her lower back.

"May I ask, where did you get these scars on your shoulder?" I ask her, trying to distract her mind.

"The short ones... I got them when I was a child." She says quietly.

"Did you fall?" I ask just curious.

"No."

"What about the one on your lower back?" I ask seeing that she's avoiding those.

"My father was a drunk." She says releasing a deep breath as she did so.

"Oh.... I'm sorry. I should not have pried." I apologize quickly realizing that I was just bringing up more painful memories.

"It is alright, you were just curious. If the situation was reversed, I would probably have asked the same questions." She twists her head up to glance at me over her shoulder and gives me a weak smile.

"Are you doing alright? Should I let you take a break for a moment?" I ask seeing the weariness around her eyes.

Closing her eyes, she sets her lips in a fine thin line, shaking her head. "No, let's finish this. I'm just feeling weak from hunger right now."

I set the tweezers down and pull put my notepad and pen and write a quick message to Viekar, snapping it to resume the task at hand.

"There's a piece that is stuck that I am going to try to push it out far enough to grab it."

"Just do it, I can bear it." She steels herself, ready for the pain.

I take a deep breath, feel around the area, and push from under it up.

"MMMM..!" She stifles her cry, burying her face in her hands, as the piece starts to come out.

"We're getting somewhere...." I use my nail to nudge the piece out a little farther.

"AHH...!" Her short cry of pain escapes her mouth, just as the piece comes free.

The long thin shard  is about an inch and a half long.

"Got that one. There's one more like this, than we're done. Alright."

"Just hurry, please." She grits out as her skin begins to shine from sweat.

I try to do the same with this other one, but I'm not able to pull it out.

"The tip keeps breaking every time!" I growl in frustration as her whimpers tear me apart.

"... it out." She says something almost inaudible.

"What?"

"Cut it out." She says louder, panting as the layer of sweat builds. "Like a splinter."

With a scalpel in hand now, I make a quick cut, and out it pops. I chunk of porcelain comes out, and I show her the thin edge that was exposed.

"Thank goodness, it's over now right?" She asks me tentatively. I lower my hand and heal her the rest of the way.

"All done." I smile at her and use the cloth to wipe the blood from her skin.

"Thank you Bav." She murmurs as she sits up holding the towel over her modesty.

"Ah! Let me get you your clothes and check on some dinner, I will be in the next room." I snap her clothes and place them on the bed and walk out of the room. In the kitchen, Viekar is setting out some Out-n-In Burgers and fries on a regular plate.

"Hello Viekar, did you handle the authorities here, concerning Mr. Wheelwright? They have the bastard locked, with no chance of getting out, all the evidence, the statement of facts and the non-disclosure agreement and the legal repercussions that will happen if anyone breaches it?" I cut to the chase on what's been going across my mind that last few minutes.

"Yes, sir. They understand and do not wish to have Ms. Langridges reputation tarnished by people spreading false gossip." Viekar holds up the cups in his hands.

"Master Bavarthos, would you like me to put the shakes in a glass or bowl?" Viekar bows to me.

"Glasses, but stick them in the cold box so they're not soup by the time we eat them, please. Any word from my other half?" I ask coldly.

"Yes, he sent a letter saying the shipment of tungsten will arrive on time. He asked if there was anything else he could assist you with, sir."

Clenching my fist, I grumble, "Yeah... take out the thing he seems to idolize so much."

"I will tell him, same as always then, Master Bavarthos. After I finish here, do you require any assistance further tonight?"

"No Viekar, go home and help your mother with your father. Tell them both hello from me."

"Thank you sir, I will. How is Ms. Langridge doing?" Viekar asks as he finishes putting the shakes in glasses and away in the cold box.

"Better than I expected. Still shaken, but she's strong." I begin to pace, thinking of the scene I came in to witness happening to the woman I am starting to care for.

'I such a disaster that my bad aura must have brought this to her. If I had just let her handle it, instead of sticking my two cents in when it wasn't needed, this would not have happened to her!'

"Master Bavarthos? SIR?!" Viekar drags me from my thoughts.

"There's no need to shout Viekar." I tell him looking towards the door to her bedroom.

"Yes, well sir, I've been trying to tell you something."

"Well? Get on with it?" I throw hands out in front of me like I was feeding pigeons in the park.

"Please, do not blame yourself for this matter. I can see it in your eyes, so don't try to justify or deny it. I am more than just your assistant, but also your friend. Do try to be easier on yourself, she'll need some strength herself right now. I shall now take my leave. Good night Master Bavarthos."

Viekar bowed before snapping away, leaving me to take what he said in.

'I know he's right. I know. She was almost raped though! Hell, I'm only half the man I should be.... will she even care to still let me court her when she finds out the truth of me and my messed up family?'

A gentle set of hands settle on my arm, snapping me from the horrible path of terrorizing my conscious.

"Bav? What is this?" Rakara points to the table with the burger and fries, looking more confused than I have ever seen before.

Chuckling, "This my dear, is what they like to call, Out-n-In. It is part of Earth's fast food selections. I think you are going to enjoy it, along with dessert in the cold box." I motion for her to sit and I snap my chair in here, since I remember last time she didn't like anyone touching the other seats.

"Are my seats not comfortable enough for you?" She pauses looking at the chair.

'Oh no, I over thought.'

"No!  Please don't misunderstand! Last time you seemed to not want me .... you know what..." I snap it away. "There it's gone. I misunderstood." I smile at her and she blushes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that just now. You're only trying to help make me relax." She takes her seat, looking ashamed and I feel a twinge of guilt in my heart.

"It's perfectly alright. We are still getting to know one another more intimately. We are bound to have a hiccup or two. I  do not expect that it will be the last going forward, either. It will help us come to understand each others way of thinking and emotions." I try to put her mind at ease and notice tears forming in her eyes.

My heart catches and worry floods my thoughts. "Rakara? Did I say something wrong?"

"No." She mumbles, trying to hold back the tears that break free, leaving two single drops to fall down her cheeks. She takes a deep wavering breath before grasping her napkin, "You are still talking about a future with us. I was not sure after what just happened..... I know I'm being silly and emotional right now, but..."

'This silly gorgeous woman in front of me actually thinks I would leave her because of this?!'

I go and wrap her in a light embrace which she falls into, wrapping her arms around my chest.

"What kind of  person would I be, if I thought any less of you?" I pull away and lift her chin to meet my gaze, "I would be the one that is unworthy of you. You are a brave a fearless woman who I'm guessing was caught by surprise?" She nods looking at me in awe.

"Yes, I was surprised. He struck me so hard and so quickly I was dazed very badly."

"Yet, you still fought back and tried to get away, using whatever was at your disposal. That was very courageous of you and I admire you for it. Now let's eat before the food becomes cold. We can talk on other matters when you feeling up to it."

-Rakara's POV-

'This meal was quite odd. Hamburger? Fries? Shakes?... No, those were delicious..'

"Bav, you said that people line up for these everyday?" I ask him unsure.

"Yes, they do. Why?" He looks at me trying to read my thoughts.

"It was good, but there was so much oil. They feel heavy in my stomach and it needed some more vegetables. The shakes were delicious, the strawberry and chocolate are my favorite.  Why do they eat this everyday like that? Is it free?" I ask him puzzled.

Bav laughs, his eyes twinkling at me. "No, they don't eat it everyday. It is just so popular for a fast food chain that different people line up everyday when they want to eat it. It's not free but it is reasonably priced as far as convenience food is concerned."

"Oh. Alright, I was misunderstanding what you divulged about the food. My apologies."

"None, needed."

"So Bav, are you going to answer my questions from earlier?" I ask him knowing I am not going to let him skirt around the answers.

He takes a deep breath and gets serious, " Which ones would you like answered first?"

"Viekar is he a fae?"

"Viekar, no... He's a Satyr, but he's also my assistant and friend."

Nodding, I continue, "Where is Mr. Wheelwright?"

"In a cell, awaiting his trial, with no hope for bail or a way to slip through a legal loophole. I already gave the officers the evidence, other than your ripped clothes, with explicit instructions to not let out any information regarding his imprisonment. Plus a bill for the damaged items in your shop, clothes, and compensation for the mental and physical grievances you have suffered. Your identity is being concealed for your safety, so there is nothing to worry about."

My jaw hits the floor, "How are you able to do that? When did you do this? What evidence could you provide?" I baffled at his words.

He removes a brooch from his coat lapels and snaps a funny metal book to us. Lifting the top part of the metal book, a light emits from the top half.

"My word!" I exclaim not understanding what is on this lighted area. "Is that another language? Is this some kind of technological device?" I am amazed at it's strange but exciting looks.

"This is called a Laptop. It can hold more information than your shop filled with books, can access a wider range of information when there's a connection for it, among many other things."

He puts the little brooch into a hole and moves his fingers over the bottom portion before the screen changes to black. Suddenly, it comes to life showing my shop a mess, and I can hear my screams in the back for help. The camera is shaky as it moves in to the kitchen back and pauses, seeing Mr. Wheelwright moving his prick closer to my ripped clothes as I try to fight him off. Next, Bav's voice is heard as he rips him off of me. I see the fear in Mr. Wheelwrights face, but I don't see the smoke.

'Was I imagining it?'

"Where's the smoke?" I ask him.

"That doesn't show up on video, only the actual eye can perceive it."

"What is it?"

"My dead spaces occupants." He says flatly.

"What?"

'Dead space occupants?'

"They are a part of me, but they will not harm you. They only come out when I am in danger or enraged." He informs me and I just nod.

'He doesn't want to tell me anything more than that, fine. I didn't want to go into details about my scars either.'

"Since you gave the officers the ... what you just showed me, won't they know it was me? It does not take a genius to put two and two together. How else would I receive reparations other wise?"

"Do not fret. Anyone with half a brain will keep your identity secret or be instructed to if they want to keep their positions. My supply of Tungsten is too valuable to not keep my wishes met." Bav's eyes grow cold as he looks off into nothing.

'Tungsten?! Oh my goodness, this is turning to be more complicated then I thought. I can not tell the Cogs that he supplies Tungsten to the government. They'll want me to take advantage of him.'

"Rakara?" Bav waves his hand in front of my face and I'm snapped from my thoughts.

"Sorry, Bav. I am still rather tired from earlier."

'I do feel tired.'

"You're right, here let me help you to bed before I leave." He helps me stand, only for me to grip onto his arm like I was falling.

"You're going to leave? I don't think... I ..." I can't help the overwhelming amount of fear that wells up inside of me, as I begin to panic.

"Rakara, take a deep breath. I will stay."

I was breathing like I had ran a marathon and was becoming lightheaded. However, the anxiety and pounding of my heart were over coming me.

"I'm sorry...I ...I.." Attempting to calm down, I can't seem to form a sentence.

Bav, taking my shaking, cold, clammy hands in his warm and steady ones making my gaze meet his,  "Rakara, I'm not leaving you alone. You can breathe and settle those nerves. I promise, even if you don't want me to leave tomorrow, I will stay here with you."