She was going to kill Max the next time she saw him. Had it not been for the fact that Coni had needed her help to keep from hyperventilating; she would have already had it done.

But Coni had been so seized by panic that she had to stay and help him. She wanted him to rest, but he was agitated now. Anxiety and fear combined with dread and worry were swirling around in his head making it impossible for her to leave him alone. If she did leave him alone, he�d probably freak out even worse. And that was the last thing he needed.

�Coni, you need rest.� She scolded once more as he paced, cradling his ribs and worriedly passing his hands through his hair.

�No, I have to� I have to get things done before he comes.� He whispered insistently.

�What things?� She asked, crossing her arms and cocking her head to one side.

He stopped pacing and turned to her, then let his eyes fall to the bloodied shirt, thimble, needle and thread at her feet. Her eyes followed his and she could feel her ire bubbling up inside.

�Oh no you don�t--�

�I have too.�

�That shirt is trashed.� She snapped, as he gingerly walked across the room and towards the heap on the floor.

�It-It�s all I have.� He replied softly.

She winced. It was true. That�s the way it was suppose to be. �But--�

She watched as he stooped over to gather the string, shirt and other things into his arms, but then stopped, as he was about to stand up, as a dizzy spell overcoming him. Slowly, he lowered himself to the floor.

�Are you okay?� She asked worriedly, as she noticed what little color in his cheeks was gone, before he sat down slowly. �Coni?� She drew his name out with slow deliberation as he closed his eyes. �Co-�

�I�m� I�m fine.� He answered after a second.

�I bet you have a concussion.� She concluded, crouching down next to him, her short cropped blonde hair bounced with each movment.

He didn�t respond. There was no need. He knew what a concussion felt like. At least, he should, he had had enough of them in his life to know what they felt like. He didn�t look her in the eye either, which was disconcerting to her, because even before she had been the one person whose eyes he�d meet. She had been the one person that he didn�t have to fear irrationally, breathing didn�t need to be punished, eye contact wasn�t punishable by death.

�He�s expecting me soon.� He mumbled absently as he shakily attempted to put the tattered ends of the shirt together to sew.

�Ooooh, that�s what�s going on.� She realized that the �date with destiny� stuff was Cole�s little innuendo for them sleeping together-- correction-- they weren�t sleeping together. It was more like Cole using Coni as a physical release for all the anger and rage he felt toward Luis. While Coni was now a grown man on the outside, on the inside, she feared, he was still the lost, affection starved, acceptance craving little boy who had never been allowed to age past the emotional age of a six.

She caressed his cheek as he frantically tried to put the shirt back together. She just watched him, caressing his cheek and putting some hair behind his ear, as beads of perspiration appeared on his knit brow.

He wasn�t fazed by her caress, as he was all to used to her brand of affection. Not that he minded. At least with Petra he knew what to expect. She was his friend, for the most part. But her first loyalty was to Cole and only to Cole.

His stomach tightened at the thought.

Cole laughed him. Cole liked to laugh at him.

But not Petra. She had never laughed at him before. At least not to his face.

She was his friend.

Tears stung his eyes.

She was his friend.

Isn�t she? he asked himself as his mixed up emotions swept over him all at once.

When he started rocking she started to worry that he might accidentally stab himself with the needle. Carefully, she took needle away from him.

�Hey--� He whispered weakly.

�Hey, yourself.�

�But, Petra, I have to get it done. I� I�� he looked at her, her face resting amiably on his shoulder, her sharp blue eyes staring at him intently. �I have to get the shirt done so that I can get this one back to Mr. Max.�

�I�ll give him a new one.� She had purposefully not said the word �buy�, because to Coni that would imply that he owed her.

Coni looked down at the shirt and winced. �I need to wash it.� He muttered absently. Petra resigned herself to helping him and assisted him to his feet. He wobbled a little but she kept a hold of him, then led him over to the bed. She sat him down and handed him his tomato soup once more.

He looked down at it awkwardly.

�It�s still warm.�

�But-- I--�

�Amuse me Coni.� She countered.

�But Master--� He caught himself when he noticed her eye brow rise.

A smile curved her lips, but she wasn�t sure that it was such a good thing for him to so easily fall back into the roles they had assumed so long ago.

She wanted to change. She wanted desperately to change something. Anything. She just wasn�t sure if it was right, or okay, or sound, seeing as it were Cole who was the mastermind in all of this. If she tampered with his plans too much it would get her killed. On the other hand, if she let things go, she could easily see Coni burrowing so far into himself that nothing would be able to reach him. That�s how Cole wanted him.

Cole wanted him dependant upon his every wish and whim. He wanted him to crave his commands, his insults, and demands. He wanted Coni so isolated and alone that even in a crowded room he would only look for his �master�. He wanted Coni to feel as though there was no hope, there was no good, there was no relief, that everything was pain, hurt, and retribution to him.

�Drink up, I don�t know when I�ll be able to get you something to eat.� She intoned as she gathered some gauss and warm water in basin.

�Thank you,� he whispered, taking a sip of the warm and inviting red liquid.

Petra shrugged. It was hard getting used to hearing �thank you�, Cole never said that. Maybe that�s why I liked Coni more, she thought with a smirk.

�Okay, now just relax,� she warned as she turned around sat behind him.

He tensed, his back becoming rigid and stiff.

�Just relax,� she whispered softly, as she reached out in front of him and unbuttoned his shirt, slid it down off his shoulders and down around his waist. �This might sting a little, okay. But if it hurt, I need you to tell me alright?�

No response.

Duh, he can�t answer questions. she reminded herself harshly.

She winced at the sight of his back, tattered and torn flesh, crisscrossing wounds compounded by abrasive chemicals and large welts on top of that. �Okay,� she breathed out before gently passing the soft cloth over his shoulders, the base of his neck and shoulder blade.

He winced and gasped sharply when she passed the wash cloth in between his shoulder blade once more. She pulled back sharply. �Sorry.� She apologized quickly.

�I-It�s f-fine.�

She rolled her eyes. One of the many things she hated more than anything else was the fact that he had to pretend like nothing hurt. Even when he was basically blinded by the pain, he had to act as though he were okay.

The rest of his back was just as bad and it felt like forever before she could wash without having to dig dirt or little pieces of leather out of the wounds, those were the worst. But Coni had been a much stronger person that she could even pretend to be, as the only sign of weakness he had allowed himself were tears that quietly slipped down his cheek as he sipped his soup, no sobs, no hysterics, just tears.

�There, finito.� She exclaimed, throwing down the wash cloth into the now reddened water. Three water changes and still red, dammit. she cursed inwardly.

He let out an audible sigh of relief and released the tension in his shoulders and back and slouched over considerably. It had been physically exhausting to not cry out. But he knew that Petra wasn�t doing it on purpose, she wasn�t scrubbing to rub the skin off of his back. He knew that, he knew that about her. She wasn�t malicious like Master. Sometimes she liked to pretend that she was cold and heartless, but he knew her better than that.

At least, he used to.

She ran her hands through his hair as a gesture of both intimacy and comfort, it was her own brand of comfort, but to him, it was comfort, nonetheless.

�Sit up Coni.�

He groaned in protest.

�I�m going to wrap your back and your ribs.�

�Why?� he asked softly, in the voice she hated, the voice he had to use.

�To keep your back from getting infected and to keep your ribs from healing all jumbled up.� She explained.

�No, why bother? He�s just going to rip it off the moment he sees me.� He had resigned himself to that fact, and there was little anyone could say to sway him, and for the most part, he was probably right.

Petra frowned, she hated it when he had a point. She knelt down in front of him, lifted his face with her crooked finger and made him look her in the eye. �Amuse me.� She smiled. �Besides, in a week or two,� his face paled, he hadn�t expected to survive that long, let alone Master letting him live that long. But she was talking like it was a definite thing. It was really starting to sink in that he was �home� again.

��You�ll be thanking me.� She had seen the flicker of sadness in his eyes and could only imagine what had gone through his mind. �What�s wrong?� She asked, caressing his cheek.

�I- I�� He let his head drop down once more as he tried to be swallowed alive by the overwhelming feeling of desperation that was washing over him. �I-- I--� he hiccupped. After clearing his throat he tried once more. �I didn�t think he was going to make me live that long. I thought he was just going to finish it.� He whispered mournfully.

Her chest tightened, the sense of revulsion she had been staving off with drugs and ditzy behavior was creeping into her mind full throttle. She lifted his chin again, and wiped away his tears. �It�s going to be okay, you know.� She whispered softly, her steely blue eyes meeting his soft intense brown eyes.

�No it�s not though.� He whispered back, his voice cracking. �I don�t know how much I can take Petra.� He breathed shakily. �I don�t know how much my body can take.�

She pulled him into a hug and let him sob out of all the pain. frustration and fear inside. She ran her hands through his hear and whispered into his ear all of her plans and ideas as he sobbed uncontrollably, but on the inside the fuse had been cut short, very, very short.

Only time would tell how long it would take before the fuse would be lit and the dynamite ready to explode.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

�SILENCE!!!� the voice rang off the cave walls and reverberated down the tunnels.

�Uh oh.� Fernando winced.

Both he and Courtney looked toward the entrance of the cave where a tall imposing figure stood carrying something in his arms.

Fernando winced, realizing what--or who-- he was carrying before he was within clear view. �Oh Poppy.� He moaned rising to his feet.

The figure was surrounded by light, obscuring his face and body until he was close enough that his body blocked the light.

�Oh Poppy--� he moaned again walking towards him and taking the small red headed boy from his arms. �What happened?�

He was a tall scruffy brown haired man with a distinguished beard, calming eyes and a peaceful presence. �Whenever Kristina ran out, so did he.�

�He�s not--�

The older man shook his head, his shaggy hair catching the light. �He needs help.�

�Well can�t we--�

�No, it has to be someone--� he glanced at Courtney then settled his eyes on the battered little boy his son had just laid next to Kristina.�-- that he knows.�

�Me?� Courtney asked. �He barely knows me. His mother and--�

�Oh, he knows who you are.� The man intoned, sounding very sure of himself.

�How? AJ and I were married six months before his abduction and Carly wasn�t even speaking to AJ until the day after--� She noticed that they were both giving her weird looks. �Did I say something wrong?�

�No, no, that�s not it all. It�s just that, he DOES know you.� Fernando explained in his overexcited manner.

She shook her head, still not understanding. �How?�

�Kristina!� They both exclaimed at once.

Courtney raised an eyebrow.

�You see, Kristina is a very special person. She knew things, felt things, understood things, waaay before her time.� Fernando explained. �And-and when she helped Michael she couldn�t help but ease his fears about his parents by-- you know-- showing him that they were okay.�

The elder man nodded. �She was able to gently tell him that you loved his father and that his father loved you. And it was as plain as the nose on his face that you were kind, generous, friendly supportive and loving.�

�But what does any of that have to do with me helping him?�

He stroked his beard as he explained. �Kristina was able to help him, in ways that were both physically and emotionally helpful, but almost to the point where she exhausted herself--�

�But doesn�t that mean that you can help her?�

�Duh, of course not.� Came the voice of a blonde that walked in from a side entrance. She saw Kristina and Michael and gasped. �Awww, what happened?�

�Kristina went into overload and--and Michael�s body couldn�t take it on himself without her.� Fernando explained excitedly.

The young blonde clucked over the two, but seemed to care more than she liked to admit. She brushed the hair off Michael�s forehead and caressed his cheek before rising to her feet. �What happens now, Poppy?�

�I was just trying to explain to Courtney why we can�t help him.�

The girl sighed heavily. �Let me try.� She walked over to Courtney and offered her arm. �Let�s go on a walk.�

�Okay.� She agreed but was feeling hesitant as the girl didn�t seem to be very friendly.

Outside of the cave was a beautiful beach with a picturesque ocean lapping at it�s shore line.

�This is going to be hard to believe, because, even for me, someone that�s here and been here for a while, it�s still hard to grasp, but things-- things are never quite what they seem.� She explained as they walked along the wave beaten surf.

�I�m beginning to get that.� Courtney nodded. �Can I ask a question first?�

�Sure�

�What�s your name.�

They stopped walking abruptly. The girl laughed out loud. �I�m sorry.� She giggled. �We�re dead, I thought you knew.� She let out a belly laugh before calming herself.

�You�re new, aren�t you?� She asked seriously upon recognizing the perplexed look upon Courtney�s face. �Okay,� she let out slowly as they started to walk once more. �You�re dead, right?�

�Yeah.�

�When?�

�WHAT?�

�When. did. you. die?� She asked slowly.

�Last night.�

�Dang, that is new. Well, I�m just going to explain this to you in the most simplistic way possible. We�re dead. There is no such thing as time to us. Nor are there lies, deceit, immorality, ignorance-- you name it, we don�t have it. Everything here is perfect. You are now, everything you wanted to be before. You, in an essence, are perfect. There�s nothing you don�t know, except when it comes to mortals, because of that whole �free will� thing.�

�Then why don�t I know your name?�

She chuckled once more, before stopping, turning to her. �Stop, think, look at me.�

Courtney turned at looked her in the eye.

�What do you THINK my name is?�

She hesitated before answering. �Antoinette?�

Antoinette clapped her hands and laughed heartily. �You got it!!! Now, tell me, what was that bearded guys name.�

She closed her eyes and concentrated for a second. �Humberto?�

Antoinette slapped her arm playfully. �You�re getting it!�

Courtney held her head in her hands and shook it slowly. �I-- It�s�

�It�s weird. I�ll give you that, but you get used to it after a while.�

�But I thought everything was perfect in heaven?�

Antoinette let out a snort. �You think this is heaven?! HA!� She laughed. �That�s a good one.� She snickered and started to walk off.

�WAIT!� She called out.

�Yes?�

�If this isn�t heaven--� She paused. �Is this purgatory?�

�Didn�t you and Kristina already HAVE this conversation??�

�Yes, but--�

�No, she was right, you WERE in heaven, but then you came here.�

Courtney waited expectantly. �And here <I>is</I>--�

�No where.�

Courtney dropped her head back in exasperation.

�Listen, I get it. I died. Car went boom. I didn�t survive. I promised to help Kristina with Zander and Michael and they need our help.�

�Your help. Singular.�

�But- But.�

�But nothing. Kristina, she�s going to be okay, but--� she shook her head. �It�s going to a while before she�s back in running order and until then the people she was watching over need someone, i.e. you, to watch out over them.�

Courtney wrung her hands. �But will I have enough time--�

�HELLO!� She snapped her fingers in front of her face. �Space time continuum has no affect what-so-ever for us.� She rolled her eyes.

Courtney back away, hurt.

�Yeah, jus� cause we�s dead don� mean we don� feel.�

Courtney looked at her sharply, her face paled, her eyes widened.

�HALLE-FREAKING-LUIA! SOMEONE BOUGHT HER A CLUE!!!� Antoinette hollered to the heavens.

�You-- you know--�

�I didn�t just know her, I was her sister.�

�But she never talks about her family. I mean, not to AJ, or me or Carly-- Eduardo--�

Antoinette rolled her eyes to the side of her head and just looked at her out of the corner of her eye.

Courtney gasped. �REALLY?�

She nodded, tears filling her eyes.

�And those two--�

�Poppy and Ferdy, her adoptive father and sibling.�

Courtney shook her head. �This is getting too weird.�

She let out another snort. �Yeah, well, you try waking up dead one day with your father, mother, and all but two of your siblings and be told by the Almighty Jehovah that your mission, until you can rest in peace, is to protect the remaining members of your family, and not be a little cynical about it.� She quipped dryly.

**********

Faith watched Fowler as he slept. Sometimes she could see it in his face, sometimes in his actions, he still cared. She cared too. It was just scary sometimes to know what lengths they were capable of going to get the things they needed.

Miles was coming across the tarmac looking smug, as was the norm.

�Where�s your little brother Milesy?� She taunted..

He shut his cell phone as he strode towards them. �Not that it�s any of your business, but he had to go back home and WE have something to pick up before we go back home.�

Her face turned red and she stood up. �You little asshole, I was told we were going there so that I could help keep Coni from getting a serious infection because of Cole�s own arrogance, and now we�re running ERRANDS?!?!� She spat impatiently.

�Tut tut,� he smiled, tapping her cheek, �you�re so HOT when you get pissed off.� He turned to leave and she almost jumped on his back but Fowler grabbed her around the waist and restrained her.

�LET ME GO!�

�Only if you promise not to go after him.�

�WHY! He DESERVES it!�

�Yeah, but does Coni deserve what he�ll get once Miles tells Cole you pummeled him?�

She relaxed in his arms and he sat down carefully on the couch, still wincing in pain. �One day,� she whispered into his neck. �I�m going to make that little bastard pay.�

Fowler chuckled. �Get in line, honey, get. in. line.�

*******

Petra slowly laid Coni down on the bed and carefully covered him with the sheets. She wasn�t sure if it was the wrapping of the ribs and the back or the cleaning of the wounds, but between the two he was exhausted and in a great deal of pain. She caressed his cheek and whispered. �I can�t stop everything, but I can do a little. I hope it�s enough. And I hope, that one day, maybe 30-40 years from now, you can look back and say. �Yeah, she was a crazy bitch, but she tried dammit. She tried.��

She glanced at the clock. It was barely 6:45 and she knew that come 7o�clock that Cole was going to show up and mess it all up again.

He whimpered in his sleep, his head thrashing side to side.

�Ssssh, Coni, ssssh, rest baby boy, you�re going to need all the rest you can get.� She whispered before kissing his cheek. He calmed down, his body relaxing even more.

She looked at her picture of Raul on her end table and picked it up caressing the frame as it was the closest she could get to the real thing. �I hope it�s enough baby, because I don�t know what else to do.�