][LAWL][ PRIVATE

[Suzzana]

The kitchen was quiet except for the clattering of dishes and running water. Placing another dish into the rack, Alaira looked back over the opening in the wall with a counter that overlooked into the living room. There lying on her stomach in the next room, a coloring book sat in front with crayons scattered around, a girl of four, with long, straight blond hair and blue eyes, hummed to herself as she picked up a blue crayon and began to color in the sky of a picture. Alaira smiled to herself as she turned back to the dishes. Meagan had his eyes, Dart's wonderful eyes. People always commented on how she looked just like Alaira but had Dart's eyes. A lot had happened over the last five years, what with Alaira becoming pregnant and whatnot, she had dropped working with Auntie May to become a full time mother. She loved it. Although it had been hard at first, she got a hang of it after awhile. After she had left her job, May had provided a place for them to live since she believed that they deserved it and wouldn't be convinced otherwise. It was a beautiful condo that over looked the city. It had three bedrooms, two bathroom, a kitchen, etc.. Smiling to herself, she continued to wash the dinner dishes. Suddenly, the humming stopped, turning to look over into the living room again, the dish she held slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor. There standing in the doorway to the kitchen was a cloaked figure. He looked up at her, a grin spread across his face as his eyes glowed from beneath the brim of his hat. A shadow fell past him and Alaira looked up to see a towering figure. There stood a muscluar man, who almost looked inhuman. Alaira's gaze snapped over to the living room and she almost sighed with relief, Meagan was still there, without a clue. That was a mistake. As she looked back, the smaller figure was gone. Her temper that she had finally gained control over flared as she realized that her daughter was in danger. Kicking off of the counter behind her, she swun her leg around as she launched into the air. But he was ready for her and wrapped a large hand around her ankle and sent her flying down the hallway that lay on the other side of the doorway. Hitting the wall, she staggered to her feet, whipping her hair over her shoulder. That one blow wasn't going to stop her, but her opponent was keen on beating her; he swung his arm, which connected with her sending her down the joining hallway. This time as she hit the wall, the coppery taste of blood filled her mouth. Coughing, blood splattered the wall and floor. Wiping her mouth was the back of her hand, she looked up and saw the other man from before. He raised his arm and a crossbow along with it. Being slowed from the two blows, Alaira didn't move in time as the arrow impaled her shoulder, pinning her to the wall behind. At that moment she realized something: They weren't there to kill her or Meagan, they were there to take Meagan! Struggling to pull the arrow back, pain shot through her hand. Looking down, she saw that the end of the arrow was barbed and had caused deep gashed in her hand. Trying again in vain, she bit down on her lip in pain as she stripped her palm on the barbs. Bitter tears filled her eyes as she cursed to herself. Why hadn't she realized what was happening? Why hadn't she sensed the men? Had she grown soft? Incompetent? She rested her head back against the wall as tears burned down her cheeks as her vision flashed in and out, blood dripping steadily to the floor.

[Glacial_Zero]

After Alaira had quit her job, Dart was given the option of continuing his work, or to follow Alaira and choose a safer line of work. Being the strong-willed man he had always been, Dart chose to follow after Alaira, but only after he had the chance to spend some time in Japan, learning how to do more than just swing his sword and hope it would hit his opponent. These were not the time of the bulky armor and dangerous blades like from Dart's own time, so choosing to adapt to the times, he chose cloth over armor, and put away his blade after returning to L.A. and to Alaira, Dart felt truly strong, but horrible for having left them for a year, even if it was training to protect them. Having taken a job at the museum which he enjoyed so much. Dart returned home only minutes after the intruders had left, and walked in to find Alaira bleeding.
"what happened here!?where is Meagan?!are you alright?!"Dart asked in a hastened and panicked flurry.

[Suzzana]

Alaira looked over at him, blood trickling from her mouth, she seemed to be out of it. "...M...Meagan...?... Meagan!" She seemed to snap out of the daze, but not whole heartedly. Almost as if forgetting her restraint, she moved to step foreward, but gasped in pain as the arrow held her back. "No no no!" She cried out, grasping the arrow in her already tattered hand, trying to rip it out. Her arm was entirely numb at that point. "Meagan! I have to get her away from them! Meagan! Where are you, Baby?!" She called out, in hystrics as she struggled, tears blinding her dark eyes. As she moved, she began to lose blood faster. But she was oblvious to this, her only thoughts on her daughter. Alaira began to cough, her throat scratching. "Dart where is Meagan?" She asked him, her voice burning her throat.

(Edited)

[Glacial_Zero]

pulling Alaira into his arms to restrain her, Dart started to whisper into her ear"calm down, we need to get you to a hospital, it won't do any good for either you or Meagan if you panic, alright?"avoiding the arrow, Dart picked up Alaira and placed her in a chair. Grabbing to clean towels, he tore them into strips and began to wrap up the wounded area. I'm going to call an ambulance, apply pressure to stopp the bleeding, but try to avoid touching the arrow, alright?"

[Suzzana]

"...Take me back to May..." She said quietly as she stared at a blank spot on the wall. She didn't ask, she demanded. Alaira knew that May would know what to do. A few moments later, Alaira burried her face into her hands. "I couldn't protect her... I'm so sorry Dart..." She sobbed as her shoulders fell and rised causing pain to shoot through her body. She felt like she was being punished for thinking that her old life would remain in the past. Why had she been so selfish? Now her baby was gone and she hadn't been able to protect her. What was worse was that she had no idea why this had happened.

[Glacial_Zero]

"Alaira...I can't do that, you need medical help, I can convince her to come to the hospital, but that's it, I'm sorry"Dart said, ignoring her other little comments. Looking back at Alaira as he picked up the phone, and stared at the reciever for a while, he looked at Alaira. "what do you want to see her now of all times for anyway?"

[Suzzana]

Alaira peered back up at him, her eyes had gone emotionless. She said nothing, but stood and took the phone from him and hung it up, wrentching it from the wall and dropping it to the floor. "I'm going to see May." She walked from the room, but instead of turning to leave, she walked down the hallway and into their room. Sliding open the closet door, she carefully dug into the back and pulled out a thin box. Standing back up, stiffly, she opened the box. There sitting in velvet were two sights she hadn't seen in years: Her sais.

[Glacial_Zero]

standing at the door, Dart watched her open the box"you think your in any condition to fight?you think that you can save meagan the way you are. It's reckless and stupid to try this, put your faith in me, and go get medical attention"Dart said bitterly trying to convince her to do the rational thing and worry about getting better. "I know I haven't been strong enough in the past, you always looked out for me, but let me do that for you now, I can fight now, I know a true swordsmanship style, so I'm begging you to go to the hospital..."

[Suzzana]

Alaira closed the box and looked over at him. "You seem to forget that they have a hospital wing there," She said with a soft smile as she walked over to him. "Please..." she said, leaning up against him, resting her head, and closing her eyes. "..Please take me to May..." Her body ached, but the worst damage was her shattered heart. She felt broken. Just knowing that she hadn't been strong enough to protect someone when they truly needed it was killing her faster than any of her bleeding wounds.

[Glacial_Zero]

"as good as they are, and as fast healing as you are, it would take a miracle for you to get better from the wounds anytime soon....but fine, we don't have any leads anyway, maybe they'll leave some sort of clue as to where there are"Dart finally agreed and looked over at the door framepulling it away, it gave rather easily. "a place Meagan would never be able to get at"he said softly as he extracted a long object wrapped in cloth and returned the missing piece of door frame. Grabbing his car keys, Dart helped Alaira outside to the car and helped her into the beck seat. "you should lay down, we'll be there soon"

[Suzzana]

Alaira merely sat in the seat, holding her shoulder to try to stop the bleeding, her gaze cast outside. Tears silently trickled down her cheeks as she clenched the box in her trembling hands. As they pulled up to May's building, Alaira didn't wait for Dart. Letting herself out of the car, she walked in through the front doors and past a shaken clerk who sat at the front desk. "A-Are you-" Her voice was lost as Alaira strode down the hallway. She passed many familiar faces, but she didn't stop to talk. She managed to make it to the elevators, but just as she pushed the button, she felt herself slip to the ground, her lungs burning as she began to cough.

[Glacial_Zero]

Rushing to Alaira's side, Dart looked around at the people"what are you waiting for, get a stretcher, and a doctor!"Dart snapped at the people that were gaping at them. Turning to Alaira just as the elevator doors opened, Dart looked up and saw and empty elevator. "I'm going to get May"he whispered to Alaira as he got into the elevatorand pushed the button, taking Alaira's hand until the doctors reached and the doors closed. Opening once reaching the appropiate floor Dart looked ahead at May's office"I never thought I'd return here..."he muttered before stepping forward and to the solid doors, knowing what awaited on the other side.

[Suzzana]

The doors swung open slowly. May stood with her back to him, looking out the large window at the back of her office. "Welcome back, Dart." She said back to him, her voice surprisingly calm. "Shouldn't you be down there with Alaira?" She asked him as she turned round, grasping her wooden cane between both of her hands. She looked as if she hadn't aged at all in the last five years.

[Glacial_Zero]

"you knew I was here, you know Alaira is downstairs, you obviously know the state she is in, but perhaps you could fill me in as to why she would want to come here after all this time, to see you in this crisis, but none of that is as important as the fact that Alaira wants to see you, right now, but you already knew that, didn't you?"Dart said staring straight at the old woman, his almost dark expression unchangng throughout his speech.

[Suzzana]

"Alaira is broken. Not just physically. She came here because she figures that I will be able to help her like I have in the past. And as to how I knew," She waved her hand and a door at the side of the room opened. An older Maria stepped into the room. "I'm so sorry Dart!" She said, quickly, her face red as if she had been crying. "I only Saw what happened moments before it did. There was nothing I could do." Tears began to fill her big brown eyes as she finished talking.