Shawn had grabbed him at the last minute, finding the teen struggling towards him.  Whether Danal had wanted to go to him or not, the mindwalker wasn’t sure, but either way, the man was very happy to have his son back.

 Tenderly, Shawn cleaned out Danal’s wounds, scraping the mud and dust off of the youth’s body.  He exchanged the rags the teen wore for a white flight suit, and warm robe.  Sighing, the mindwalker looked down upon him worriedly; he didn’t look indigent anymore, but he was still far too thin.  //Is it really worth all of this, Danny?  All of this suffering, just to stay away from me?//

“I fear the time he’s willing to spend with us will be ephemeral, Shawn.”

 The middle-aged man looked back to see Eric stepping through the door of the medical bay.  Inside he groaned slightly; he didn’t feel like listening to this.

 “He’s been running all of his life,” Eric continued softly.

 Shawn looked up at his elder brother solemnly; his eyes were carrying just a touch of anger.  “There is more to Danny than that.  To deny him of what he deserves would be wrong.”

 Eric softened, resting a hand upon the other man’s shoulder.  “Shawn, I understand how you feel, but Danny’s rejected this life many times.  Perhaps his destiny calls him elsewhere.  I hope that he can stay with us, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up.  We’ve tried these methods before.”

 “He needs us, Eric.  I’m not about to let him down.”

 That said, Shawn sat down by his son’s side.  Soothingly, he stroked the teen’s blond tresses and watched his sleeping form.  “He hasn’t rejected anything yet.  I believe he will turn around.  There are many things he didn’t understand then, that he might now.  I believe in him.”

 “Shawn…”

 “Enough!  Hope is the best aspect I have, and I’m not going to let go of it for cold probability.  Please, just leave it alone.”

 Eric began to speak, but a simple glance from his brother made him keep quiet.  With worried eyes he surveyed him, then hesitatingly gave up.

 Most among the ship worried over Shawn’s emotions.  He was a sensitive person to say the least, and had broken down before in front of them more than once.
“I understand more this time.  He will not run. “

Eric nodded curtly,  “I’ll try to make sure of that.  We’ll all look after him better.  Just make sure that he doesn’t cause too much trouble this time.  The last time Danny was kept here he disassembled the medical droid and hacked into the computers.”

Shawn grimaced, “I’m certain he never meant to disable anything to an inordinate degree.”  He couldn’t help but wince at the pessimistic thoughts he sensed from the many aboard.  No matter how he tried, he wasn’t able to alley the emotions of his crew: especially his brother.

The elder merely snorted at the sentiment.  “I’m sure,” he stated, nodding.
“However, whether he meant to or not, he did it.  … Shawn, you really should get to bed.  I’ll watch over Danal for you.”

 Smiling slightly, the father turned back towards Eric.  “Thank you, I could use the rest.  Make a few more body scans, if you can, I want to make sure that he recovers from his dehydration and bruised bones.”  Standing, he started making his way past his brother, only to turn around once more.  “Be careful when he wakes up, I’m certain he’ll be very shocked.  I’ll be in my quarters if you should need me.”

 The elder brother nodded back, accepting Shawn’s authority with decisions concerning his son.  Still, there was something about Danal that pulled on his senses.  Looking down at the young teenager, Eric sighed, and spoke softly.

 “I hope your father is right about you, kid, but you haven’t given anyone much hope.  He’s trying so hard to help you; you need to understand that.”

 Danal stirred silently, facing his uncle with his eyes still closed.  He struggled against his raiment as it tangled about him, and squinted as he turned into the light of the table beneath him.  His once peaceful expression turned into a sleepy showing of annoyance, and he looked as though he were about to wake up.

 “Rest,” his Uncle stated softly, placing a hand on his forehead.  “You’ve had a rough day… perhaps all will be right in the morning.”

 Pushing the teen back, the elder telepath placed a blanket over his nephew, and paused slightly, looking down at the sleeping figure.//Please…for everyone’s sake…stay//.Sighing, Eric went back to his seat, and continued gazing at Danal.  At an image that reminded him far too much of himself.

 Wincing, Eric shook that thought out of his head…that wasn’t where he felt like going tonight, and it was unlikely that he would ever want to think on it again.  Memories often came to him when he looked at Danal, for both experienced a similar path, but those thoughts would have to wait.

 For all of this trouble, you better be right Rayith.

***

 A tousled had emerged slowly in the light, accompanied by a large yawn.  The brightness of the room hurt his eyes, but there was something that kept him from going back to sleep.  Something was nagging at him from the back of his mind, as though his surroundings had suddenly made a great transition.

 Where was the dry, salty smell in the air?  Where was the nearly overbearing warmth?  Where was the sand?

 Ever-so-slowly Danal began opening his sea-green eyes, jerking slightly at the site before him.  As he adjusted to the light, he saw medical tools all around him.  A droid was making slight noises from somewhere behind him, and as he turned he saw his Uncle breathing calmly in his sleep.  He was back…but when did this happen?  // Sand surrounding…hiding…finding.  Dad found me!  But why did he save me?  Why has he brought me here?  Must we go through all of this again?//

 “No…”  Danal whispered, wide-eyed.  Quickly, he jumped off of the medical table, and went to the window only to find that they were well into their course.  Terrasinagua was a long ways away, and there was nothing he could do about it from here.

“Rayith, why did you convince me?  Do you realize what will happen now?  I’m a curse upon these people,” he whispered.

~ You are no curse.  You will be given a second chance ~

“But…”

~ It is as I’ve told you child.  You need them, and they need you.  Shawn has saved you, be glad he was there to do so.  ~

“It would’ve been better if I had died,” Danal murmured, looking out into the vastness of space.  “You don’t understand the truth, Rayith, there’s something inside…”

~ Don’t be foolish.  There is no such quality, and I will no longer listen to you speak of what’s not real. ~

“Rayith…”

The connection was lost as quickly as it had come, and Danal found himself nervous and alone in spirit.  // I know I have to go…I always do eventually.  If I can leave without letting them get attached than maybe it’ll be all right.  I should get out of here before the trouble begins.//

“Ah, Danal.  Glad to see that my favorite patient is awake.  You look health enough.”

The teen turned, nodded, and smiled a very nervous smile.  //Great…it’s the droid I dismantled the last time…// “Nice to see you again too.  Um…sorry about the time that I…”

“No offense taken,” the droid stated quickly, braking the boy’s speech.  “Come on up to the table so I can run a few extra scans.  We did most of these while you were unconscious, but some of them had to be taken when you awoke.”  Pausing to write something on a small notepad, the droid then escorted Danal to the table that he’d been sleeping on.

“How long was I asleep?”  Danal asked quietly, as he walked with the doctor, looking around him in a calculating manner.

“Not too long, actually.  Only two days.  I imagine your last escapade took a lot out of you.”  The droid pressed a few buttons on the opposite wall then lowered a scanning machine.  Looking down at a small data pad, it nodded affirmatively.  “With everything considered, you look quite well.  Apparently, your body has reacted excellently with the potions I concocted.  Consider yourself lucky.”

Danal smiled slightly, giving a curt nod in reply.  Sure…I’m very lucky…
Sitting up, the teen gazed at his Uncle’s sleeping form.  “I suppose I will consider myself lucky.”  Though they’d be luckier if I weren’t on this ship with them.   The elder man’s face was pure and clam, the essence of what Danal wished that he could be.  //If only I weren’t such a curse…//

 “I’ll be going about my other duties now, if you don’t need me for anything.”

 “I’m perfectly fine,” The teen replied with a slightly subdued voice.  “If I feel anything strange, I’ll be sure to tell you.”

 The droid left quickly, leaving Danal to ponder a while.  The teen stared over at his Uncle with a curious expression.  The fact that this man had little faith in him was quite obvious, he remembered sensing it every time he was around.  Even the thoughts within Eric’s dreams betrayed him.

 The boy smiled ruefully, it wasn’t surprising.  He knew no one believed, he heard their thoughts, felt what was in their hearts.  No one believed except the one person that he was going to end up hurting.  Why can’t he just see things the way everyone else does, it would make it so much easier…  //Sighing, Danal hopped off the table, and walked to a seat beside a large porthole.  He reflected solemnly as he stared out into the stars.  It’d make it easier for me to disappear if things were as they used to be.  Why does he care so much?//

 A door opened into the medical bay with a soft noise, making Danal turn to look.  His father walked in with a pleasant smile, and genuine happiness emanating from him.  It seemed strange to the teen that anyone would be happy to see him at this point, and yet Shawn was different from most.

 “You’re awake!”  the man stated with a breath of relief, “I’m glad that you’re all right.”  He started walking towards Danal, smiling lovingly.  “The medical droid just called a little while ago.  How do you feel?”

 The pure love in Shawn’s eyes was almost more than Danal could take.  He couldn’t help but wince.  //After all that I’ve done…how can you still give me such looks?//

 “I’m all right,” he stated softly, “I haven’t felt any pain.”

   Shawn kneeled down beside him, and took his hand gently.  “I’m glad for that.”  He smiled softly, “I’m glad you decided to come back to me.”

 Danal looked down, avoiding his eyes at all costs.  “I…I’m glad I did too.  At least I got out of that storm.”  His voice became soft, almost silent.  “Still… why did you come after me?”

 The man’s eyebrows rose in gentle surprise, “Danny, I think you know the answer to that.”  Shawn moved to sit on the cushion beside the teen, and gently forced him to look into his eyes.  “I think you also understand why you must remain; why I need you.”

 There was a knowing smile on Danal’s face as he shook his head.  “You shouldn’t have searched,” he stated simply, turning his head to look out at the nebulas and stars once again.

 Shawn sighed inwardly.  //Why must you be so difficult…?  I wouldn’t hurt you. // He watched as his brother woke up, and started walking out of the room.  ~ I know what I’m doing Eric, don’t worry. ~  Turning back to his son, the mindwalker cleared his throat, and placed a hand on the teen’s shoulder.

 “Why shouldn’t I have gone after you?” he inquired, penetrating the teen with his wise eyes.

 Snorting, Danal crossed his arms, his eyes still concentrated on the star clusters that surrounded the ship.  “You know why, father, after months of tracking me down, you’ve gained nothing.”

 “Haven’t I?”  Shawn asked, raising an elegant eyebrow.  His voice was soft and soothing, his eyes ever gentle.  “I’ve gained you Danny,” he continued, cupping his son’s chin in his hand.  “You and your siblings mean everything to me.  Everything.”

 Danal slumped a bit.  The words sounded so good to his ears, but they were also bitter.  “You wouldn’t think that about me after a while.”  He sighed deeply, feeling frustrated, “Even if I stayed nothing good would come of it.  Don’t you see that?  I’m a disease not a blessing.”

 Heaving a controlled sigh, Shawn turned his son’s face to meet his own, firmly holding his gaze.  “Despite what you may think, I feel the good in you, Danny.  You’ve grown so much.”

 “It doesn’t change what I am,” the teen stated firmly, in a broken voice.

 Danal cringed as he said this, but he meant it all the same.  Can’t you see I’m trying to save you?  Steadily he looked up into Shawn’s green eyes showing the confidence he had within his words.  Tears flowed down his checks, and Danal cursed his weakness.  //Hurry, just go and leave me behind before I hurt you again.//

 The teen’s eyes widened as he found himself in a tight embrace.  Relaxing hesitatingly, he allowed himself to return it carefully.  //Last time, Dad, then just let me go.  Forget about me.//   “Father…”

 “Hush,” Shawn said, silencing him with a soft word.  He stoked the boy’s hair with a gentle hand, calming him.  “I won’t listen to you degrade yourself this way,” he continued, moving a hand to cup the teen’s chin.  “I will never give up on you.”

 The man stayed there for a while, waiting until Danal’s sobs quieted.  Slowly, he began to move away, kissing him on the forehead.  “When we get back to Telethia, we’ll talk more on this.  I’ll have something to show you.  Until then, D220 the medical droid will take care of you.  Get some rest.

 “I take it I’m to stay in here?”  Danal asked dryly, crossing his arms.

 Shawn turned towards him;  “I’ll come back in a few hours.  Uncle Eric should come by as well.”  He smiled softly, “Don’t worry, you won’t be stuck here completely alone.”

 Danal nodded curtly, saying nothing.  Part of him wished that his father would stay, though another part was looking forward to the solitude.

 Shawn got up from the seat, and walked a few meters towards the door before turning around.  “Son?”  He watched Danal silently until he received eye contact.  “I love you,” he continued.

 That being said, the mindwalker turned and walked out the door to his new task.  With a flow of brown robes, the teen was alone with the droid.

 //So it begins again… you try much too hard, father.  You can’t fix what’s shattered...//