Jujube rode along side of Ruechari. Several times stealing a glance her way. The dark stranger rode ahead of them leading the way.

"Would you please stop?" Ruechari asked when she felt Jujube's piercing gaze for the third time.

"I'm worried about you."

"Well, don't be. I'm fine."

"That's not how it looked back there."

Just at the mention of what almost happened, Ruechari looked away. She was weak. Jujube was right. She almost succumbed to the vampires mind tricks and she felt ashamed how easily she was manipulated.

"That's why we are going to see Geronimo."

"You really think he can help?"

"He has before."

But Jujube could see the worry written clearly on her face. He wished there was more that he could do.

The stranger slowed his horse down and he wore a broad smile. "See as I said, 'Just follow the signs.'" He pointed to the signs leading to Wild Bill's Wild West Show. They've set up just outside of town. We'll be there by nightfall.

Ruechari nodded. Van Helsing seriously thought the news would have brought her out of her sullen mood. He trotted his horse to the other side of her. "Look, what happened back there...it wasn't your fault."

"Isn't it? I'm Shaman of the West and I've spent the last year playing house trying to fit into my old life, or ... she thought of Billy... trying to start a new one instead of just accepting that this is who I am. I should have been training, learning how to use my powers instead I've become weak."

Van Helsing's eyes widened. "Whoa, you always this hard on yourself? Take it from someone who knows, Rue. The saying 'the good guys always win' doesn't apply to every fight. We win because we continue to battle, and don't relent in what we know to be right, but it's rare we come out unscathed. It's part of the job description."

"You have a family Mr. Van Helsing?"

"Family? Um...no."

"Do you have friends?"

"Friends? Well...no not exactly... I?

"Why?" Ruechari asked but Van Helsing was pretty sure she was leading him to the answer. He wondered how it was he came under this scrutiny, but he knew only the truth would suffice.

"I've out lived them all."

That wasn't exactly the answer Ruechari expected to hear. Her look was intense. "I doubt I'll have that luxury, but my greatest fear is that it will still come to pass, through my own negligence. Having friends or family just gives the bad guys a target. Destroy them and you destroy me."

"So the option is..."

"Go it alone."

Van Helsing looked over to Jujube. "How is that working out for you?"

Jujube smiled. Ruechari frowned. "It's a work in progress."

"We'll while you're debating whether or not you need friends...may I point out one simple fact, were here."

Ruechari seen the tents set up. Her heart leapt at the sight. She set off in a gallop in search of Geronimo.

She found him sitting outside of his teepee. He smiled, when he laid eyes on her. "Hello Child, you been neglect in staying in touch." His smile turned to concern when he had seen only Van Helsing and the brave with her.

Rue jumped from the saddle and let Six Star roam.

"Where's Doc?"

"He took off most likely to Crimsondale."

The lines in Geronimo's face creased even further. "Then he is already lost."

Van Helsing nodded in agreement. Ruechari knelt before Geronimo. "I need your help." Geronimo nodded and he took her into his tent. When Jujube went to follow the Chief held up his hand to stop him. "Only Ruechari, goes past this point," and he drew a line in the dirt.

"But what if...? I'm only here because..." Seeing Geronimo's unrelenting gaze he yelled in frustration and stormed off.

"See he doesn't get into any trouble," Geronimo said to Van Helsing.

"Me but I'm no babysitter. I did what you asked I grabbed her...now..."

Again with the gaze and Van Helsing stormed off after Jujube with the same dramatic flare.

Geronimo was grinning when he entered the tent but his smile waivered when he took in the sight before him. Her aura was tainted, he'd seen it, her light now swirled with dark.

"Want to tell me about it?"

"I almost let him get me. I almost let Drake win."

"That wasn't what I was asking about?"

Ruechari looked at him in confusion.

"Billy? Why isn't he with you?"

"I made him protector of BG."

"So, you nailed his boots to the floor?"

"I didn't want him to follow. I thought... well I thought I'd become too concerned about him and would be afraid to do what I may need to do."

"You fear he will be used against you."

"He already was today, but I also fear that should it come down to my life being forfeit Billy would try and stop it. He would get in the way of me doing what I must."

"He is your other half Ruechari. A soul can't be whole when it's split in two."

Ruechari looked away.

"I'm surprised he hasn't made more advancement with you. I'd have expected him to propose by now."

Ruechari scoffed at this and Geronimo, raised and eyebrow at her.

"You need him Ruechari."

She remembered her grandmother's spirit saying something similarly, but she was resolute.

"No, you're wrong... my love for him is a weak point for me. Drake's already exploited me because of it. I need to be strong and I need you to help me."

"Funny that in the same breathe you claim being alone the best way to be strong and in that same breath ask me for help."

Ruechari watched as he pulled a loose thread from a blanket he had near by. He cut it off. "One thread easily unravels, it takes several woven tightly together to make something, to be strong."

Ruechari collapsed to the floor and wound her arms around her knees. "I can't. I've lost so much already. My parents, my grandparents, my tribe, my place in life or at least the one I thought I was meant to have... my soul."

That last confession was what concerned Geronimo most. "I thought as much, the Wraith?"

Ruechari's eyes looked at him filled with fear. "I battle him nearly every day. He almost over took me but Thingamajig managed to banish him...deeper within me but I... I still feel his presence."

Geronimo sat beside her. Wrapping an arm around her in a most protective way.

"I will train you. I will show you how to protect yourself from Drake and his mind games. You will need to end this. I know you are willing to die but are you prepared to take a life?"

The look Ruechari gave him... he knew they had much work to do.