Fearing exposure and the length of travel, Terra did not take Will to a hospital. Instead, she took charge of his recovery while Jed surreptitiously obtained what additional medical supplies they needed.

Layla gave up her bed to Will and Terra, despite their reservations about accepting it. As Terra moved their clothes into the bedroom, she could not help but smile as Layla bounced about like a rubber ball, babbling away on multiple subjects.

This is the real Layla, how she is meant to be.

Terra asked, "Layla, you seem to be happy. How are you coming along?"

A grin popped up on Layla's face as she chattered. "Good. It is so good to see you and Will again. I mean, not with Will gettin' shot and all the blood and stuff, and Jed havin' to fix him up. I hoped you would come by sometime. I was thinkin' about becoming a nurse or something. Do you think I could do that?" Hands shot to her mouth. "Oh, I'm talkin' too much, ain't I?"

Terra laughed. "That's okay, Layla. I think you could be a great nurse. How was the reconciliation with your parents?"

"It was kinda hard coming home at first after all I did, but they still wanted me back." Her eyes rolled up. "They still treat me like a little girl, though."

Terra put her hand on Layla's shoulder. "It may take some time to get back to normal, whatever that may be. But I am optimistic for you all. You have a wonderful family."

Layla's grin faded, and she dipped her head. "Terra, I... I don't know what would have happened to me if you and Will hadn't come along. Don't think I would have lasted much... You didn't have to save me."

"But then you and your family helped save Will's life. Interesting how these things come around."

Layla put back on her big smile as she plopped down on the bed. Terra turned to her, "Do you suppose that you or your mom would show me how to make pancakes?

The next morning, while Will slept, Marn taught Terra the art of pancake making. With a gleam of pride, Terra surprised Will and her hosts with a batch.

Will's jaw dropped, and he blinked in disbelief. "You made these?"

"Yes, well, with Marn's guidance," Terra replied. "I promised you pancakes, didn't I?"

A half grin came to Will's face. "So, is this a sign of commitment?"

"Very much so."

"Well then, let's eat!"

*****

On the morning of the eighth day, Terra deemed Will recovered enough to travel. Terra pulled the truck out of its hiding spot in a shed. She and Will simultaneously wrapped Layla in a tight hug before climbing into the truck and pulling away.

Will surveyed the damage to the truck from within from the passenger seat. Beams of sunlight streaked through holes in the cab roof and windshield cracks diffracted the light in random patterns.

Shaking his head, Will sighed. "Oh, my poor truck." He wrinkled his nose. "And it smells in here."

"Well, you bled all over the seat," Terra huffed. "I cleaned it up as best I could, but the odor may be with us for a long time."

After Terra turned on to the main highway, Will said, "Terra, I've been meaning to ask you something. Jed said you stopped my bleeding before we arrived at Layla's place. How did you do that?"

"Psi-surgery."

"But how? I thought I was invisible in the aura."

"An answered prayer, maybe?" Terra shook her head. "I can't explain it. When you were near death, your aura appeared and I could see you in it. Perhaps you were so weak that you could not suppress it? I just know you would have died if it had not happened. Later, when you were stronger, your aura disappeared again."

"Strange." Will wrinkled his forehead. "Another thing, when I cast the Darkness at the Uprising Council, it seemed much more powerful than usual."

"Oh, I felt that too. It hit me hard. But I have a theory — maybe you Darkness becomes stronger in the presence of stronger Talent."

"Sort of a balance then, like between darkness and light?"

"Perhaps."

The journey back to Freehold was thankfully uneventful, other than the cool rivulets of water that dripped down on them through the roof holes during a brief rain shower. Will sent a message to Ginny as they approached the town, who replied with the all-clear safe word.

Ginny narrowed her eyes as looked up from her desk when Will and Terra entered her office. "Well, look who's back. You took your sweet time."

Will responded with a half-shrug. "There were, umm, complications."

"There always is with you two." Ginny stood up and walked around the desk, and hugged them both, then returned to her chair. "How did the Uprising Council react?"

Terra responded. "They were not receptive, even less than I expected. Will had to do his Darkness thing so we could get out. That part went well."

Ginny cocked an eyebrow. "And what part did not go so well?"

"Well, umm..." Will stammered, leading to an impatient glare from Ginny. "I kinda got shot."

"Kinda?" Ginny jumped up. "Let's see it."

"Really, there's not much to see now. I'm better."

Ginny lifted her head slowly and looked directly into Will's eyes. The skin between her eyebrows creased as she narrowed her eyes to thin slits and tightened her lips. Will held his breath and gulped. Unmoving, her eyes blazed, as if pierced him like a cutting torch through metal. Terra jerked back as though singed by the flash.

Will dropped his eyes and sighed. He pulled up his shirt to reveal his bandaged wound. "Okay. See? Really, it was no big deal."

A steaming indignation rose from Terra's core, and she put her hands on her hips. "No big deal? Will, you damn near died!"

"Why can't you two just avoid serious injury for a change?" Ginny shook her head and blew out an audible breath. "Go have Liz check it out."

Will stood still, wide-eyed, unsure of how to respond.

Ginny turned back to him and glared. "Go now! Or I'll drag you over."

As Will walked out with Terra on his arm, Ginny mumbled, "Men..."

Once outside, Terra let out the giggle she had suppressed. "You bad boy. So was that her infamous stare?"

"That was it. Truly a primal force."

"Even I felt it, and it was not even directed at me."

Liz met them the moment they walked into the clinic. Ginny must have called ahead.

Turning toward a treatment room, Liz wiggled her index finger. "Come on Will. Up on my table and take your shirt off. Got shot, huh?"

Will huffed. "Why is everyone ganging up on me?"

He perched himself on the end of the examination bed and winced as he pulled his shirt over his head. As he did, Zoe walked in with a tray of bandages and a smirk.

Will rolled his eyes. "Not you too, Zoe."

Liz pulled off the bandages and examined the wounds, trailing a gloved finger across them. "Good job with the sutures, Terra."

"It wasn't me," Terra replied. "The local vet sewed him up."

Zoe chuckled. "So, did he get a muzzle?"

Terra told the story of Will's injury as Liz completed her examination and Zoe bandaged the wounds, noticeably annoying Will that he was the subject of discussion without his input. Liz ordered diagnostic imaging and wrote a prescription for more antibiotics.

Zoe snickered as she led him to the imaging lab. "Come on, tough guy."

Once Will disappeared, Liz directed Terra to a chair and sat down next to her. "Will appears to be healing well. That must have been quite an ordeal. How are you faring, Terra?"

Terra looked down and wrapped her arms around herself. "It was so frightening. I almost lost him."

Liz lifted an eyebrow. "I take it you two are a couple now?"

Heat came to Terra's cheeks. "Yes. I've fallen hard for him and I think he has for me."

A warm smile came to Liz. "'Bout time. He is lucky to have you."

Terra dipped her head. "I'm not so sure. I can't imagine being without him now, but my presence puts him in danger. You just saw what can happen near me."

Liz took up Terra's hand. "Terra, these are difficult times. Let Will choose."

I know. Don't regret love.

*****

Over the next several weeks, Will and Terra settled into a new routine. Ginny assured them that the unofficial agreement that kept Dynasty officials out of Freehold was back in place, but they all agreed it wise to keep a low profile. Will resumed his engineering work part-time, but now limited public exposure and communicated through his apprentice, Jay. Terra performed psi-surgery at the hospital when requested by Liz but usually did so only late in the evenings.

Will moved out of his apartment and rented a cottage at the edge of town. It lay at the end of a winding road, partially obscured by a grove of trees, providing a peaceful ambiance that appealed to them, seemingly set apart from the concerns of the world.

Terra snuggled up to Will in bed one night as they discussed the activities of the day. "I ran into Moya earlier today. She said there is some kind of town festival this weekend?"

"Yes. The town has an October-fest every year. It is quite a big deal for Freehold."

"Well, Moya asked if we would like to join her and Jay. I could be your date. Maybe we could get out for one evening?"

He grinned. "A date? That sounds kind of serious."

"You've already eaten my pancakes. It is too late to back out now."

Will and Terra walked hand-in-hand, weaving through the crowd. Colorful banners, music, dancing, and the pleasant smells of roasting food filled the town center. Under a large pole tent, they spotted the other half of their double date. Jay and Moya sat on a picnic table bench close together, his arm encircling her.

As Jay rose to accept an animated handshake, Will joked, "It seems Moya is still putting up with you. How did you fool her?"

Jay responded with a laugh. "Must be my charm and good looks. I see you snagged a hot chick too."

Will gulped as he noticed the narrowed-eye expressions on the women's faces. "Umm, we are so fortunate to have such beautiful women with us."

Terra leaned to kiss Will on the cheek. "Nice recovery."

Over mugs of sweet cider, they discussed recent events in the town and laughed at jokes. But eventually, the conversation turned technical. Jay pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, then drew a water pipe system sketch while Will made comments.

Moya frowned and motioned Terra to her side. "I wish they would leave work at work. They should pay attention to us."

A sly smile came to Terra. "I have an idea. Let's get some of those popsicles over there."

Moya narrowed her eyes. "How are popsicles going to get our men back?"

"It's not the popsicles, it's how you eat them."

A grin grew on Moya's face as the realization took hold. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

After retrieving two frozen treats from a nearby chiller, the women sat across from the men, making a sensuous display of eating popsicles. With deliberate slowness, they slid the treats in and out of their mouths, and made long licks over their length. Tongues extended to scoop up the sweet colored liquid that escaped across their lips. All the while, they kept smoldering eyes on their men.

Jay was the first to notice. He froze, wide-eyed at the spectacle. When Will detected Jay was not listening to him, he looked over at the women, becoming entranced as well.

The women giggled as they finished the popsicles, slowing licking the remains from the now barren sticks.

Moya licked her lips. "So, would you guys like to discuss work, or would you rather dance with your dates?"

The men glanced at each other and sighed in defeat. The women grinned at each other as John and Will led them to the dance floor. Will took Terra in his arms and they swayed to the music.

She whispered in his ear. "Now isn't this more fun than water piping design?"

Terra grinned as Will whispered back. "You don't play fair."