| Pez Part 3 still not mine. Top Cow is God, but gets to play with them. Sara Pezzini couldn't help but snuggle deeper into the warmth that was enveloping her. It had been so long since someone had held her, since Conchobar, in fact. This, though, was different. Sara sighed, and ran her fingers along the arm of the person holding her. So different from Conchobar, almost better in a way. More power, for one, and no beer belly. It felt good to pretend that she was the one being protected for once, as opposed to being the protector. Through the haze of her half-dreaming state, Sara felt someone stroke her arm, near the Witchblade. Instead of alarming her, like such a thing usually would, it calmed her, and she slipped back into the world of sleep. Ian Nottingham awoke to the sun shining in his eyes. That alone was enough to tell him something was different. The second thing to alarm him was the fact that his left arm was numb. *Definately not at Vorschlag*, he thought, stirring himself further into conciousness. Finally, his eyes focused enough to take in the woman next to him, and he smiled. Who would have known that his life could change so much in less than a day? Ian thought that he certainly couldn't have. At that particular moment, Sara chose to run her fingers back and forth across his lower arm, and Ian smiled. So beautiful. So, so beautiful. Might as well let her sleep a little longer. Reverently, he stroked her arm as she had stroked his, careful not to wake her. Accidently, his fingers brushed over the Witchblade, and he paused, alarmed. A tendril shot out from the bracelet and wrapped around his first finger, immediately calming him. Ian looked down at the garnet, and, if stones could smile, this one definately would. There were bright, violent colors the one time Irons had coaxed him to place the 'blade on his wrist, and the confused, scared impressions followed by the aloof, almost amused ones confused young Nottingham. This time, Ian sensed acceptance in the Witchblade's assessment of him. Pastel pinks swirled through the the center of the stone before it blanked, then glowed a warm red. Ian smiled down at it, relieved. A buzzing suddenly shattered Ian's sense of peace. Groaning, Ian flailed his right arm around, searching for the alarm clock. So intent was he in his task, in fact, that he didn't even notice the gentle tugging the Witchblade placed on his finger before releasing it. Once, twice, three times Ian hit behind him, finally succeeding in both forcing the alarm off and knocking it to the floor. For a few seconds, there was silence. Then an automatic, female voice stated, "You have two saved messages". Ian, still grumbling, hit the foreward button just as Danny's voice came over the speaker. "Hey, Pez...*click*" The next message, though, caused Ian's breath to catch in his throat. Though tinny and thin, the voice was unmistakably that of Conchobar. Unconciously, he pulled Sara closer, as if to ascertain that it was indeed HIM and not Conchobar who was holding Sara as she slept. ~*~*~*~*~ You lay me down whisper in my ear Well it may be my name you call but it's his name I hear And you promise me through thick and thin, baby Well you told me you love me you told me a lie Cause you love him ~*~*~*~*~ "Ah, Sara," came the dead man's voice, unsteady but certain. "You're already off to work, and, well, I'm not sure why I'm doing this over your blasted answering machine when I could just ask you in person the next time I see you, but at least if I mess up on here, I can erase the message. I want it to be perfect. What I'm trying to ask is, well... I know we've only known one another for a few weeks, but I feel more connected to you than I feel to anyone, even my family, and what I want to know is... will you marry me?" The machine clicked off, and Ian's heart froze in his chest. Then, it began beating again, and bleeding, when Sara whispered one word. "Yes" ~*~*~*~*~ And I'm missing your love every day I'm missing your love every way Though you're here with me I'm still missing your love, baby ~*~*~*~*~ Wrapped up in the security of sleep, Pez didn't even realize what was happening in the outside world. In fact, it seemed to her that for once SHE was in control of her dream, instead of the Witchblade, no matter how strange the dream appeared. *And*, Sara thought, looking about her dream world before focusing on the man in front of her, *It is a very weird dream*. This man was quite handsome, and Sara thought she could recognize him from somewhere, although her mind didn't want to remember where. They were in a swamp... no, a bog somewere, and the man was kneeling before her so all she could see was the dark crown of his head. Calmly, the man lifted his head, and hazel eyes met green ones. This furthered the man's sense of familiarity, but still no match. "Cathain," the man stated, his voice low. "Your lover, Conchobar has been gone all these long months. I know it pains you to think of joining with another man so soon, but you and I are already allies. Perhaps, you would marry me now in a circumstance that would be beneficial to the both of us, and we may become friends later?" *Yes,* thought Sara, seeing this world through Catain's eyes, knowing its history through her memories. *This man IS a friend. He has helped you many times. Just say yes... he isn't offering you the world or anything, but with the Witchblade, you don't need it.* "Yes," said Catain. "Yes." ~*~*~*~*~ And when we talk you look into my eyes Well you're talkin to me but baby I can see he's on your mind ~*~*~*~*~ Barely was the word out of her mouth when Ian began moving. First, he gently slid his arm from beneath her, and released her from his hold. Then he swung his legs over the side of the bed, placing both his feet in his boots in one practiced movement. He angrily swooped his black shirt from the floor and pulled it over his head, then snatched his cap from the bedside chest and angrily jammed it over his dark, wavy hair. After a quick assessment of himself, he rose from the bed and made his way to the window. *How could I have been such a fool?* He thought. *Conchobar was her love, her soulmate. I'm just a pale reflection, a substitute. Possibly not even that, but I certainly have the requisite parts!* As he pushed the screen up, though, he hesitated. Turning, he quickly strode back to the bed, and hovered over Sara's sleeping form like a midnight angel. Kneeling down beside her, he gently cupped her cheek in his hand. ~*~*~*~*~ And I'm missing your love every day I'm missing your love every way Though you're here with me Baby, I'm missing your love ~*~*~*~*~ "I... you just need time to be alone with your ghosts, Sara," Ian whispered. "So I'm going to leave you alone for a while... but never doubt my sincerity, Sara. Please. I... I'm not sure if I should be saying this, considering all that's happened to people I care about in the past- you know what that's like- but I'm leaving my heart here with you. Keep it, toss it away, do whatever you wish, but it's yours... until the end of time. You know what? I feel as if I've said all of this before... but I really believe it. Forever... I'm yours, whenever you're ready to have me." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, and another on her cheeks, before rising and sliding back to the opened window. ~*~*~*~*~ Oh and I I reach out for you and you turn away Well it takes all I can do to make it through the day ~*~*~*~*~ What he saw there gave him pause. Sitting on the window sill, in what appeared to be great pain, was Pezzini's partner... Dead Partner. Danny and Ian locked eyes for a minute, and Ian was sure he saw the man mouth the words "It's you" before blinking out. "I'm sorry," Ian whispered to the empty air, "but it isn't. It's never been me. Take care of her for... Conchobar, okay?" With that, he hopped out the window and into the dawn. ~*~*~*~*~ I'm missing your love Oh baby ~*~*~*~*~ Seconds later, Sara's eyes blinked open. At peace for the first time in a long while, she sighed contentedly and rolled over, hoping to back into Ian's solid embrace. Confused when she didn't find him, she called out, "Ian?" *Maybe he's in the shower,* she thought, but when she listened for the sound of running water, there was none. At that instant, Danny 'blinked' in, breating hard and flopping on the bed at Sara's feet. Only slightly alarmed that she didn't feel the bed sink, the live partner turned to look at the dead one. "Hey, partner," she drawled. "You look like shit." "Thanks," Danny retorted, sitting up. "Ah, you don't happen to know where, ah..." "Nottingham? Left only seconds ago." "Oh," Sara sighed. Then, she began crying. "Why couldn't he have stayed until I woke up? Am I really that undesirable, Danny?" "No, no..." her friend soothed, reaching out to touch her hand and then drawing back when he remembered he couldn't. "It's just... well, you were talking in your sleep, and..." "Oh, God," Sara breathed. "I really embarrassed myself, didn't I?" "Hit the answering machine." "Huh?" "Just play your messages." "Danny the only one on there..." "Just hit it! And then foreward one." Sara rolled her eyes, but humored the apparation. After hearing Conchobar's message, her eyes went wide as saucers. "And he..." "Yep." "And... uh... what was I saying in my sleep?" "Yes." "Just 'yes'? But... oh, shit. It wasn't even a reply to Conchobar, but he thought..." Sara trailed off, biting her lower lip. "You got it, Pez," Danny sighed, shifting again and once again disturbing Sara with his weightlessness. "Danny?" "Yeah?" "Do you think you could leave me alone, just for a little while?" "All right, Pez," Danny said, giving Sara a smile before blinking out. "Thanks, partner," Sara sighed, curling up in a little ball, and staring at the wall until it was blurred through her tears. ~*~*~*~*~ And I'm missing your love though you're here with me Baby I'm missing your love |