Chapter Eleven: Shots in the Dark

"Sometimes it's like someone took a knife
baby edgy and dull and cut a six-inch
valley through the middle of my soul"
-Bruce Springsteen

The cigar burned in its ashtray and Janice watched as the smoke disappeared into the lights above. She fumbled with the drink in her hand and had already lost count of how much scotch she had had. She had insisted the bartender leave the bottle within her reach. Seeing the look of anger in her eyes, he gladly complied. The alcohol was beginning to nicely fuzz her brain, just the way she wanted it. She began to wonder if she even had enough money to pay for the drinks she was putting away, but that thought soon left her mind as she focused intently on the glass in her hand.

How could she? Mel was supposed to be with her forever. She wasn't suppose to leave... especially to be wife to a spoiled Southern gentleman. How did all of this happen? Her thoughts swirled as her brain took an alcohol-induced trip down memory lane. She flashed the moment she had laid eyes on Mel. She knew even back then that there was something about the raven-haired Southern belle. Over the past few months, her heart slowly started to grow warm toward her. Until finally, she became the reason she wanted to go on. She was her light in the darkness that was her life. She picked up her cigar and took a puff. But she was going to be with someone else now and there was nothing Janice could do about it. She looked over at the almost empty bottle of scotch and placed the last shot of it in her glass. Laying the now empty bottle on its side, she drank it and slowly let it go down. Maybe it would take some of the memories away with it.

The heavy-set bartender walked over to her and placed his hands on the bar in a questioning manner. "Don't you think you've had enough, little lady?"

Janice looked up and tried to scowl, but it looked more like a smile. "I'll decide when I've had enough. Besides, I haven't even passed out yet."

"Last time I saw a woman this bad, she had serious man trouble," he said mostly to himself. "So what is it? You having trouble with a fella."

"You could say that. How do you get rid of a guy when you don't want him around anymore?"

Bartender leaned back and scratched his head. "I've never come across that problem before. Most woman are looking for love not trying to get rid of it."

"Oh, I'm not trying to get rid of it. I'm trying to save it." Janice tilted her head back and took a deep breath. "I thought bartenders were suppose to solve people's problems."

"Hey, I just serve the drinks." He walked across the bar to a new customer who had just arrived.

Janice stared at the empty bottle of scotch as if it held some answers. Her eyes drifted to the mirror behind the bar. She looked at herself. Her hat hung low around her eyes and her archeologist attire set her apart from the others in the room. She didn't belong in this world, in Mel's world. She didn't belong to the world of southern belles and gentlemen, of large mansions with servants and nicely decorated rooms. She was kidding herself about feeling connected to Mel. She couldn't even understand her world. Charles did. She didn't.

Continuing to stare into the mirror, Janice noticed a large, muscled man get up in the back of the bar. He angrily crossed the room and put his arms around a tall woman. The woman yelled a bit, but her voice died out as she met his eyes. She continued to struggle as he pushed her toward the door and right past Janice. No one seemed to notice this scene. Everyone else was busy staring into their drinks or immersed in conversation. As she walked passed, the woman's eyes met Janice's. They spoke volumes of fear. Janice rose from her chair and followed them toward the door. She tapped the large man on his broad shoulder. "Excuse me, but it looks like this lady doesn't want to go anywhere with you?"

The man slowly turned around and stared down at Janice. "This lady is my wife and I can do whatever I please with her. So run along like a good little girl before I have to hurt you." He turned back around and forcefully grabbed his wife's shoulders. He pushed her forward.

"Excuse me." This time the man turned around with pure anger in his eyes. The whole bar was silent now.

"I don't think you heard me, girl. Mind your business."

"Oh, I heard you." Janice suddenly swung at the taller man and connected with his jaw. She delivered another shot to his chest before she missed with a right jab. The alcohol flowing through her system didn't help matters. The man came angrily at Janice, but she stepped out of the way at the last second. He stumbled a bit. It seemed he had some alcohol working its magic on his body as well. "I think you could do better than that." The man charged again and this time he connected with her shoulders. Janice was knocked to the ground. The man was able to get off two punches to her face before she flipped him over her head with her leg. Janice tasted the blood that was no flowing from her cut lip. The whole bar was on its feet. They were amazed at the sight of this small woman equally matching a man twice her size. Some men in the back were taking bets as to who would come out on top.

Janice knew she had left her gun at home on the nightstand. If she had her trusty six-shooter, this fight would be over in a few seconds, but no such luck. She connected with a series of punches to the jaw, but he wouldn't go down. Suddenly, two other men charged Janice from behind. She sensed their presence too late and was knocked forward on her hands and knees. The large man was able to get off one hard kick with his booted foot to her midsection before Janice was able to get out of the way. Three against one, Janice thought to herself, nothing made her adrenaline pump like an old-fashioned bar room brawl. Janice rolled to her feet and promptly kicked one of the men who tackled her and punched the other one squarely in the jaw. The large man charged again, but she simply got out of the way and let him fall on top of a wooden table, smashing it upon his fall. Janice then turned her attention to the two other men and signaled at them to give her their best shot. They charged at once and she was able to deliver two swift kicks one landing on one man's face, knocking him out, and the other landing squarely in the man's private parts. Janice promptly kneed him in the face and turned around to find the large man coming out her with a large piece of wood from the broken table. He swung it wildly and connected with Janice's right arm, but she immediately spin-kicked the piece of wood out of the man's hands and finally, Janice charged the tall man with all her strength knocking him to the ground. She hit him two more times directly in the face, resulting in a very bloody nose. He now looked dazed. She then lifted up his head. She looked into his eyes and said, "you'd better learn how to treat a lady." And she let go of it and let it fall with a hard thud against the bar room floor. She rose from the ground looking down at her now passed out opponents.

The woman looked at Janice and then at her husband lying on the floor. She said nothing, but she smiled slightly at Janice. She walked over her husband's unconscious and bloody body and proceeded out of the door.

Janice reached for a napkin on the bar and wiped the blood from her lip. She held the right side of her body and winced. She wondered if the kick the man gave her cracked a rib. She inhaled deeply to see if she had a sharp pain, but was relieved when it just proved to be a little tender. The bartender walked over and looked at her curiously. "That was pretty damn brave. Alan, over there," he motioned with his head at the man now lying on his floor, "treats his wife pretty bad. No one has ever had the guts to stand up to him before because of his two other buddies over there. Maybe she's left him for good this time. Pretty damn brave." He repeated as he walked away. "Stupid, but brave."

Janice smiled slightly. Her jaw was becoming sore and she just knew her right eye was going to be black and blue in the morning, but the pain was minimal. The bottle of scotch made sure of that. She motioned for another drink from the bartender. The whole bar stared at her now with a mixture of awe and fear. All the men however, looked upon her with a touch of admiration in their eyes. The bartender handed her a glass of scotch. "I think you earned this one. It's on the house."

Janice took the drink in her hand and raised it in a mock toast. "Cheers," she said everyone in the bar. As that drink went down, the room began to spin. The taste of blood in her mouth began to unsettle her stomach. She grabbed on to the bar and steadied herself, but the effort was futile. "Oh shit," was the last thing she said before everything went black.

Chapter Twelve: All For the Best

"Loving you
isn't the right thing to do
how can I ever change things
that I feel
If I could
maybe I'd give you my world
How can I
when you won't take it from me."
-Lindsey Buckingham

She awoke with a start. She breathed heavily and her body was covered in sweat. A loud thunderstorm passed outside. Lightning brightly illuminated her surroundings for a split second and then the dim light returned. She looked around until her eyes rested on the sarcophagus next her. She crawled over the cold cave ground to the large, beautifully carved box and rested her palm on its surface. "Every night I see it happen. Every morning I wish it were a dream. Xena." She had lost the only person she ever truly loved and now she was truly alone. How could Xena just give up? How could she just leave when there was still some much left to do. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. They were supposed to be together. They had been through so much, and there was still so much they had to go through, but Xena now was somewhere else. She rested her head gently on the carved wood as if it would somehow bring her closer to the woman she loved. She knew she had to move on and put the pieces of her life together, but Xena was her life. She cried again as her sobs echoed through the cave. She slowly began to whisper, "Xena, I thought that we were going to spent the rest of our lives traveling together. It would be you and me forever. No one would separate us. No one would dare try." She smiled slightly. "I never imagined that....that you would leave. Now, I'm so lost. I feel like I'm drifting. It's like apart of me is missing." She gently moved her hand across the sarcophagus. "I don't know what to do now. I know I have to move on. I know you would want me to, but I don't know if I have the strength." She paused a moment and lifted her head from the surface. "I know you can hear me, and I want you to know that I'll never stop thinking about you. And I'll never stop loving you." She wiped the tears from her face and slowly rose to her feet. She walked slowly to the mouth of the cave and stared at the rain falling heavily on the trees. The lightning cracked in the sky above and illuminated the cave once more. She closed her eyes and waited for the sound of the booming thunder.....but it never came.

Janice opened her eyes to silence. The images and sounds of the dream lingered in her mind, but nothing overwhelmed her more than the feelings of loss and sadness. She lifted her head off the pillow, but stopped when a sharp pain ran straight through the left side of her head. She then felt another series of pain shocks around her right eye and jaw. Janice touched the left side of her head and was surprised to find a bandage. As the dream images left, they were replaced by images of what happened in a certain smoky bar. She remembered drinking a whole bottle of something and for some reason she remembered throwing punches at three faceless men, but the circumstances of this fight were still a little vague.

She looked around the still dark room. How the hell did she get back here last night? The last thing Janice remembered was hitting the floor of said-smoky bar after having a glass of liquor. Judging by the gray sky outside, it had to be a little before sunrise. Suddenly, Janice became aware of a certain weight on her left arm and on the left side of the bed. She reached over and touched the source of the weight with her right hand. She felt fingers. As she moved slowly around, she felt hair. With considerable effort and an accompanying throbbing sensation in her right arm, Janice quickly reached for the night light on the right side of her bed. She looked over to see Mel's head resting on the bed and a hand resting on her left arm. Mel had pulled up a chair next to Janice's bed and seemed to have fallen asleep watching her. Janice touched the side of Mel's face with her hand. She gently moved all the hair away from her face and watched as Mel slowly breathed in and out. Mel's gentleness, even in sleep, was enough to make Janice's heart slowly melt. She stared for a couple of more minutes and decided it was best to wake her up. Her sleep position didn't look all too comfortable. "Mel...Mel, wake up." She placed her hand over Mel's and squeezed it. "Mel, come on."

She slowly stirred. She moved her head and opened her eyes while she slowly stretched her arms. "Janice, you're up." She yawned once more and then the look of sleep was replaced by a look of genuine concern. "Are you okay? I was so worried about you last night. Why didn't you tell anyone you were going out?"

"I didn't think anyone would notice I was gone," she said softly.

"Of course I noticed. I thought...I thought something happened to you." Mel reached out and touched the side of Janice's face. Janice flinched as fingers gently touched her black and blue eye. "I'm sorry."

She gently pushed Mel's probing fingers away. "It's okay. I'm okay. Just a really bad..." She tried to lift her head out off the pillow again, but the pain forced her to put it back down. "Hangover. I'll live. I'm sorry I ran off, but...I just need some time alone to think."

"You call getting inebriated thinking," Mel said sounding like a concerned and disappointed mother.

"Listen, I don't have to explain myself to you all right." Janice softened her tone a little. "I just need to get away from..."

"Me?" Mel said questioningly.

"No, from the world. I needed to forget who I was for a while." Janice noticed Mel looking at her face. "Do I look as bad as I feel?"

"What happened to you last night?"

"I...I'm not sure, but looks like I got into some kind of fight." Janice's mind flashed to the night before. She saw herself hitting a bigger man and getting hit herself. "Let's just hope I won," she said as she gingerly touched her jaw and eye. "How did I got back here? I must have been pretty out of it."

"Well, a man came and knocked on the door around one in the morning. He deposited you on my doorstep saying that you had passed out in his bar. He tried to ask you were you lived when you came to, but all you said was my name. Luckily, he knew of me and well, I think you can figure out the rest."

"I'm sorry. I must have been a real bloody mess. Well, looks like I'm two for two." Mel regarded her questioningly. "I've passed out on your threshold twice." She smiled slightly. "So did you stitch me up?" she said running a hand over the bandage on her head.

"Well, at least you didn't resist. I know if you were conscious you probably would have insisted that you do the handiwork yourself." Mel reached out and touched the bandage. "I just cleaned it off. It wasn't that deep. The bartender said you knocked your head on the bar when you passed out. Must have been one wild night."

"I'm just glad you weren't around. I can be quiet a handful when I get drunk."

"I pretty sure the guys you got into the fight with can attest to that one."

Janice leaned back as some of memories of last night were starting to make their way back to her mind. She looked over at Mel when she realized why she had gone out drinking in the first place. "I....thanks again," she managed to say. "You didn't have to stay here. I've been drunk before and like I said it's not a pretty sight."

"Hey, I think I've seen you worse." She smiled slightly as she reached for a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin on the nightstand. "Here, take two of these. I can only imagine what that head of yours is feeling right about now. Just don't ever come into my house bleeding again."

"Hey, I'll do my best, but I'm not making any promises."
============================
Janice looked at herself in the mirror again. Her face looked like freshly tenderized piece of meat. Her right eye was swollen and various shades of blue and purple, and her lower lip had a gash right across it, but nothing could compare to the massive headache that made itself known every time she moved. Janice unbuttoned her shirt and slipped off her right arm. She was relieved to find only a small, but still unwelcome blue and blue mark from her arm's connection with a large piece of wood. She then slipped off her shirt completely to take a look at her very tender midsection. Mental note, she thought to herself, get out of the way when a large man is about to kick you with his equally large foot. She removed the bandage over her left forehead, and Mel was right, it wasn't that deep. This one shouldn't leave a scar, she thought to herself. All and all, not a bad showing for a fight....well, considering I was drunk at the time. She felt disappointed when she realized she had been unconscious while Melinda was attending to her wounds. She placed the ice pack back on her eye and headed downstairs.

Breakfast was already on the table. She could hear Mel's voice coming from the kitchen. She winced at the loud sound of silverware hitting the marble kitchen floor. Mel pushed through the kitchen door. "Janice, I didn't expect you would be joining me for breakfast."

"Do you mind not talking so loud? I can hear you just fine if you whisper."

"Enjoying a nice hangover I see. Here, I made this. This was Grandpa Pappas' guaranteed cure for a hangover." Mel set a tall glass of gooey looking red liquid on the table.

Janice reached for the glass and took a sip. She coughed as it hit her throat. "What the hell is in this?"

"Well, tomato juice, raw egg whites, some hot..."

"Wait, maybe it's better that I don't know."

"Well, if you go out drinking, you have to be prepared to pay the price."

"Oh, I'm paying...double." She took the ice pack off her eye and set it on the table. She saw Mel cringe at the sight of her face. "Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks. It'll heal in a couple of days."

"Why are you always getting into mess like these, Janice?"

"What can I say, I'm a magnet for trouble." Janice watched as Mel started to eat her breakfast. She couldn't really stomach food at the moment.

"Have you given any thought to what we are going to do about funding for the dig? I can only imagine that you want to get back to Greece as soon as possible."

"Yeah." Janice noticed Mel used the word "you" instead of "we" in her last sentence. "I was thinking about possibly trying to get a private sponsor. I'm sure they're some rich folks around who are interested in sponsoring a dig."

"Janice, you know that I have more than enough money to sponsor a dig and I would love to..."

"No, I'm not taking your money Mel."

"Why not? I want to help and we are partners after all."

"I can't let you do that. You helping me translate the scrolls is more than enough in this partnership."

"I can't understand why you're being so stubborn."

"It's just a rule I have. I never borrow money from people I care about...friends," she quickly corrected herself. "It just gets messy, causes too many problems." Janice leaned her head back and placed the ice pack over her eye. That was the end of the discussion.
===========================
"Judging by the description of the topography in this scroll, Poteidaia should be somewhere in this twenty mile radius, but since this area here was a river during that period, that means that the village had to be within the confines of this two mile radius." Janice pointed with the tip of her pen at a small section of land in eastern Greece just south of Thrace on the map laid out on the large oak desk. "When I do land surveys, I'll know for sure. And than, it's just a matter of digging."

Mel noticed the slight hint of excitement in Janice's voice as she spoke about the next dig.
"Do you really think they're any more scrolls out there?"

"Like I said, I'm not sure, but this is a good a shot as any of finding out once and for all. Maybe we'll get lucky."

"I thought you didn't believe in luck."

"Hey, it couldn't hurt to think that luck is on my side. Guess your sense of optimism is rubbing off on me." Janice rolled up the map tightly and placed it back on the desk.

Mel watched as Janice settled onto the leather couch with a handful of notes. She slowly took a deep breath and settled onto the couch next to her. Janice looked up briefly and could see Mel was about to say something. She had a feeling she knew exactly what was coming. "Janice, I...you know that Charles and I have been seeing a lot of each other lately, and something happened last night which I think you should know about." Mel swallowed and continued. "He proposed to me last night and I...I'm not sure about all of it."

"I hope you're not asking me what you should do."

"No, but I would like you're opinion."

"Mel, my opinion doesn't matter in all of this. All that matter is how you feel about him." Janice paused trying to choose her words carefully. "Do you love him? Do you want to be his wife?"

"I've known him since we were kids. I trust him completely and I love being around him." Mel looked somewhere past Janice. "Mama always said that I would marry him someday. She believed we were a perfect match. But I know that we were going to...."

Janice put up a hand. "Mel, I don't want to be the one to hold you back." She fought to get the words out. "Don't feel like you owe me anything. I survived before without you and if you decide that this is the future course of your life, then I'll survive again. I can handle being alone, but it would...hurt me too much to know that you might have given up your one shot at happiness because of me. You have to decide what is best for you. And if you love him, then...."

"I should marry him."

Janice looked into Mel's blue eyes. Her heart couldn't believe what she was about to say, but...."yes, then you should marry him."
===========================
Janice slowly walked around the estate grounds. She had lost track of how long she had been outside, but she could see that the sun was starting to disappear below the horizon. She had to get this woman out of her system. This was not at all healthy for her. She knew she had to let Mel go. Mel could never been in love with her because she was in love with someone else. And who was she to stand in the way of true love? Mel would be happy with Charles. He understood in her in ways the Janice couldn't. And he could provide her with a real home, a family. What the hell did she have to offer? Endless traveling, small tents, uncomfortable cots, bad food, and the occasional shoot out with raiders. She stopped at a rose bush and looked around at the rest of the beautiful garden. This is where Mel belonged. She knew that Charles really did love her. He would take care of her in ways she couldn't. Maybe this was all for the best then. These words were her sole comfort.

Chapter Thirteen: For Love and Money

Charles sat intently on the couch. His heart was full of excitement. Even though Melinda had not given him an answer, he knew that it would be yes. He fumbled through his pants pocket and wrapped his fingers tightly around a small velvet box. He slowly opened it. Sitting in this box was his future. The ring shined brightly in the living room light and soon Mel's finger would be wearing his future. He would then have everything in his life that he had always wanted, a successful career, a beautiful wife, and a nice home. He knew Melinda would insist that they live here. He envisioned holding meetings with clients in the study while Melinda sat lovingly by his side. His life would be perfect. He quickly closed the jewelry box upon the opening of the front door. He looked up and his eyes met those of Dr. Covington. Her right eye was black and blue, and there seemed to be a deep cut cross her lips. The gentleman in him forced him to rise from his seat to acknowledge her presence. She merely nodded her head absently. "How are you this evening Dr. Covington?" he said as he stared at her wounds intently.

"I've been better," she said removing her hat from her head. He could tell that she didn't want to engage in any sort of conversation. "Where's Mel?"

"She's upstairs getting dressed I suppose." Charles waited for Janice to say something else, but when no other remarks seemed forthcoming, he sat back down on the sofa and said, "you don't care very much about me do you?"

"Why should what I think about you matter? You're Mel's friend, not mine."

"You seem to despise me. Why?"

Janice moved toward him. "I don't despise anyone I don't know. And I don't know you, but I don't want to get to know you. I'm indifferent to you." Janice turned around and slowly began to walk away.

"Dr. Covington, I've always wanted to ask you one thing," he said as he rose again. Janice paused as she waited to hear what Charles had to say. "I've spent many a night wondering why you keep company with Melinda." Janice turned around to face the taller man. "I wonder if it might at all have to do something with the fact that she is wealthy, and that maybe you were trying to pull some sort of scheme over on her. Melinda can sometimes be blinded to people she calls friends." Janice began to seethe with angry, but she let the man continue with his words. " She seems to think of you as some great heroine...noble and brave. But do you know what I see when I look at you?"

"No, but I have a feeling you are going to tell me anyway," she said as she put her hands on her hips.

"I see someone who tries to keep everyone away, at arms length, but you keep Melinda around."

"Well, I guess we all see what we want to see, but I keep Melinda around because she is my friend."

"That's what I thought too when I first met you, but there is something else, isn't there? I've known Melinda longer than you have. And I know what she is like. She's fragile and I know that she must be a liability more than an asset on digs, but yet you still insist that she travel with you."

"If you have a point Lombard, I'd like to hear it sometime soon."

"My point, Dr. Covington. I think you know what my point is." Charles looked down and paused. He wanted to choose his words carefully. "The truth is you are in love with her aren't you? And you keep her close because that is the only way you can have her."

"Lombard, you are full of it. Melinda has changed since the last time you saw her. She's not some fragile southern belle anymore, and she's damn good at what she does. And that, bottom line, is why I insist she come on digs with me. "

"Dr. Covington, I know the truth as much as you would like to deny it. I can see the way you look at her. The look in your eyes when she enters the room speaks volumes. But you see, she is not at all like you and your kind."

"My kind." Janice slowly approached the dark-haired man. "And what exactly is my kind?"

"I don't think I need to tell you, but perhaps you should know that Melinda is normal. I asked her to marry me last night." Charles looked at the smaller woman approaching him. He fished in his pockets and brought out the small box. "And she has excepted my offer. You see, Dr. Covington, she is going to be my wife." He opened the box and let the ring deliver a message. "And there is nothing you can do about it." Charles knew that Melinda had not excepted his offer, but it was only a matter of time before she did. "Melinda belongs to me. She always has and she always will. You can't fight destiny, Dr. Covington."

Janice looked at the taller man with nothing but anger in her eyes. "Let me tell you something Lombard, Melinda belongs to no one but herself."

"Of course," Charles said briefly. "But, now that Melinda is going to be staying here, I don't think there is any reason for you to stay around here, do you? You told me yourself that you are a "hands-on" archeologist. I'm prepared to sponsor your precious dig, Dr. Covington, provided that you leave here immediately. I mean, I don't want to cause you any undue pain. I know how I would feel in your position. So..." Charles reached into his coat pocket and brought out a checkbook. "How does ten thousand sound? I know that this was twice as much as the University was offering you."

"That is a lot of money."

"I knew you would see things my way." Charles put the checkbook up against the wall and wrote hurriedly in black ink. He handed the check to Janice who had an odd smile on her face. "So, I believe you have some packing to do."

"Yes, I do." Janice quickly wrapped her strong fingers around the taller man's neck and slammed him up against the wall with a hard thump. Charles was surprised by Janice's strength. He tried in vain to get her hand away from his throat, but that resulted in her tightening her grip. "Lombard, let's get one thing straight. I am leaving, but not because of you and certainly not because of this." She brought the check up to his eye level, crumbled it into a little ball, and unceremoniously threw it aside . "You can't buy me off. I'm leaving because Mel has chosen another life....a life with you. And I respect her enough to respect her decision." Charles stopped trying to release her strong grip. "But listen to me..." she brought her face close to his. "If you ever hurt her at all, in any way, I'll come back and kill you. You got that." Charles nodded slightly. Janice released her grip, and he gasped for air as he slid down the wall.

Charles slowly got some air back into his lungs and he looked up at the woman standing over him. "You can't threaten me," he said in between the gasps for precious oxygen.

"Oh, I think I just did." Janice grinned slightly and walked slowly toward the study. She quickened her pace when she heard Mel making her way down the stairs.

Janice sat down in the soft leather seat. The oak desk was still a mess. Papers and opened books were left abandoned on its surface. She opened the top drawer and found the key to the safety deposit box. She knew what she had to do. She opened the box and gathered all the scrolls together. She carefully placed them in her big canvas bag sitting next to the desk and breathed out slowly. She leaned back in the chair and stared at the phone for a few seconds. She finally decided to pick up the receiver. "Operator, can you give me the University of South Carolina? The administration office...the dean...Mr. James Richardson. Yes, I'll hold." She waited patiently for a few minutes. "No answer. Oh, could you patch me through to the dean's home number. This is a University emergency." She tapped her fingers on the desk as she waited. Her eyes rested upon her map still sitting where she left it. She reached over and dropped it into her bag. "Dr. Janice Covington." She waited as the operator patched her through. She heard the distinct Southern accent say her name questioningly. "Sorry to call you at home and so late, but I've reconsidered your offer, sir. How soon can I leave?"

Chapter Fourteen: Running Toward Destiny

The silence of her room was deafening. In complete darkness, Janice lay on her bed and looked out at the dark sky. The front door had slammed shut a long time ago, and with it Mel's future husband walked out of the door. She waited to hear Mel's soft footfall walk across the hall. It was late, and Mel probably thought she was asleep. Janice didn't feel like having a conversation about wedding plans this evening.

She rose from her bed and made her way to the closet door. She had to get out of this house now. The idea of spending the night in the future happy home of Mrs. Charles Lombard was just too much to bear. She grabbed her duffel bag from the closet floor and began to pile what little clothing she owned into it. The dean said he would make arrangements for a flight to Greece first thing in the morning. She could spend the night at the airport. She had spent nights at more uncomfortable places. Maybe it would be easier to leave this way...not having to face Mel's questioning blue eyes. Janice decided she would just leave a note somewhere, but what to say. "I'm in love with you, you're marrying Charles so I'm leaving to make your life and my life easier," just didn't seem the appropriate thing to say. Instead, Janice stared at the piece of paper before her and just started to write:
Mel,
When you read this, I'll be long gone. I know that we're
partners, but I've come to realize that maybe you belong
here. This is where your destiny is. Me, I belong on a dig-site.
I told you I couldn't stay here for long. I'll miss you. Take care
of yourself, and above all, just be happy.

Janice

She placed the paper in her hand and folded it. She took one last look around the room and slowly walked out the door. She placed her bag and backpack at the foot of the stairs and made her way toward Mel's room at the end of the corridor. She waited a moment to listen for any sound coming from the other side of the door, but when only silence greeted her, did she dare grab the handle. She turned on it cautiously and entered Mel's room. She was asleep. The slow in and out of her breathing was the only sound. Janice looked upon her for a brief instant and gently rested the note on the nightstand. "Good-bye, Melinda," she whispered as she turned around toward the darkness of the hallway.

A flash of lightning outside the window suddenly illuminated the darkness of the room. Janice was startled slightly, but she continued to make her way toward the door. She stopped when she heard Mel's voice ask, "Janice, what are you doing here?"

Janice knew there was no running away now. "I just came to say good-bye, Mel."

"Good-bye, what do you mean?"

"I'm leaving...I just need to go."

"But...why? You were just going to leave me without saying anything." Mel rose from her bed. Janice could only stare at the beautiful slight of Mel's black hair falling around her shoulders as her body gently hugged a black slip. "I think I have a right to know where my partner is going."

"Mel, I just can't stay here anymore. I need to leave...it's just too hard to stay...to be here."

"Is it me? Did I do something wrong?"

"No. No, you didn't. But I think its better if we dissolve this partnership. Mel, you belong here. Not on some dangerous dig-site with bad food and uncomfortable cots. You're too good for that. You're too good for me. There are people that care about you here. You can get married, start a family..."

Mel abruptly cut her off. "Why are you saying all this?"

"Because I think everything that could make you happy is here and not in Greece. And I want you to be happy" Janice hesitantly reached out and touched Mel's face with her fingers. The urge to remember what it felt like to have her skin touch her's overwhelmed her. "That's all I've ever wanted." Her fingers lingered for a few heartbeats around Mel's lips, but then she began to pull them away.

Mel had never felt such intensity wash over her in her life. Her pulse raced as Janice's fingers slowly moved toward her lips. She closed her eyes slightly wanting to enjoy the sensation that Janice's hand brought out in her, but then the fingers slowly pulled away. Mel reached out and grabbed Janice's hand. She held it in place near her lips. Another lightning bolt ripped through the sky and illuminated the dark room. For the first time, Janice could see the look in Mel's eyes....sheer, intense desire.

Janice placed a thumb over Mel's lower lip. She was rocked by the sensation of Mel's lips touching her skin. She gently wrapped her other hand around Mel's waist and slowly brought her closer. There was no resistance. They locked eyes for moments. Janice knew she could never love anyone the way she loved Mel at this moment. She then leaned in slowly and saw as Mel's eyes closed waiting for the kiss she knew was coming. Her lips closed around Mel's and the instant their lips met, the world around them seemed to disappear. Mel's lips slowly parted as the kiss became more intense. Janice quickly moved her hand from her face to her neck pressing into her. Janice's lips moved to Mel's neck. Reflexively, she arched her neck to give Janice's lips better access. She moaned slightly as she moved down to the base of Mel's neck. Janice then realized that they were slowly moving toward the bed, but she didn't break contact. Her lips found their way back to Mel's lips and hungrily devoured them. She fell forward onto the bed. She heard Mel moan again. Janice's mind flashed to Charles opening the small velvet box. "You see, Dr. Covington, she going to be my wife." She quickly pulled away and looked down at Mel's face. "I can't do this," she said as she caught her breath. "I can't..." Janice rose from atop Mel's body and hurriedly made her way toward the door.

Overwhelming emotions filled her body...pain and anger intermingled with love and desire. She heard as Mel called to her, but she ignored the urge to look back. She couldn't ruin her life. Mel meant too much to her to have her give up her one shot at happiness. How could she do this? How could she take advantage of Mel? She quickly gathered her bags in her hand and ran toward the door. The rumble of thunder greeted her as she opened the door. Halfway down the driveway, the rain began to pour from the sky. Janice placed her hat on her head and turned up her collar. Before the South Carolina mansion disappeared completely from view, she looked at it once more. She walked backwards as she said to no one in particular, "I love you, Mel."

She had been walking for a little more than twenty minutes and not one car had passed on the main road. Her pants stuck to her like a second set of skin and her hat dripped with water. The wind began to pick up as she saw headlights approach from the distance. She squinted slightly making sure the approaching car was not Mel's. It was a large truck. She quickly put up her thumb and waved with her other arm. The truck slowed down and stopped infront of her. A large man with white hair and a graybeard looked across to Janice. "What in gods name are you doing out here in this rain, girl?"

"I need a lift to the airport. You heading in that direction."

"Sure, hop in. I'll have you there in a few minutes."

Janice quickly jumped into the front sit and breathed a sigh of relief to be out of the pouring rain. "Thanks for stopping."

"Anytime. I hope ya don't get sick. Looks like you've been out all night."

"I never get sick. I'll be fine."

"If you say so." The large man looked over at her and saw the two bags in her hand. He smiled slightly to himself. "Who you running from?"

Janice looked over at him. "Destiny."