BY Wolfvee

 (Go to Part 1 for Disclaimers)

Melinda Pappas leans against the wall of her lecture hall, a shaky hand over her closed eyes. She breathes in deeply, willing her dizziness to disappear. It was not working as her head continued to throb in pain from her splitting headache.

She should have known better than to skip breakfast. But she had felt the impending headache that morning and what little appetite she had left was chased away by the disappointment of the absence of Janice. She was expecting her arrival this week and everyday, she held the small hope of waking up to find her friend standing at her doorway, wearing that smug and arrogant smile of hers.

She had missed the younger woman beyond words. She had not anticipated the hollow feelings that developed after Janice had dumped her off 3 months ago. Yeah, dumped off in a hotel with a little note that was brief beyond description. Oh, she was angry…no…furious…enraged at being thrown away like some kind of ragged doll; at Janice who apparently do not trust her enough; at herself for caring so much for the archeologist opinion.

Then, the anger faded away and hurt follows.

She refused to believe that Janice had care so little for her after the things they went through together. Thus, she decided to stay put in the hotel longer than intended, hoping for a call…hoping for anything that would indicate that the archeologist did indeed care for her. But after three days of fruitless waiting, her hope turned to despair. There was no news at all. The young woman could have evaporate into vapor for all she knows.

She returns to Southern Carolina, hoping to find some comfort in the place she called home. But the empty feelings in her heart continue to widen, eating away whatever warmth she had left.

Waging a fierce battle between her withering heart and her pride, she was exhausted. Finally, she decided to pull herself together, determined to put Janice out of her mind. If the young woman did not want to contact her, than it's fine with her too. She decided to arm herself with knowledge, strengthened by her pride and dignity, the only emotion she allows herself to feel. She went ahead with her pervious plan of getting a Degree, enrolling herself into the Local University.

With her exquisite features and outstanding work, she stands out like a piece of unique jewelry, attracting the attention of fellow students and lecturers surrounding her. Many tried to befriend her, to pull her into their respective groups, but a nod and a smile was as far as she would go. She wants no attachment and has no desire to make new acquaintances... her passion was all tucked away, reserved for one person only and she was convinced that the one person she could ever loved did not want her. Soon, she was left alone as she was regarded as something of an enigma.

Still, she could not stop the tiny bit of hope that flared every time her phone rang. And each time, when her hope was crashed ruthlessly by the unknown tormentor at the other side of the phone, she would cry herself to sleep.

She was acutely aware that she was overreacting…her level of hurt surpassing the action done against her. She's an adult capable of taking care of herself. Being left behind by another, more ever by a woman who she had only known for a few months, who constantly endangered their lives with crazy acts, should not had left her drained of all emotions…with an empty and dying heart. But that's exactly what happened.

Without a single doubt, she knew with every fibers of her being that she was hopelessly, crazily and totally in loved with Janice Covington. It was not a startling discovered, for she knew deep in her heart that the feelings had developed the very second she laid eyes on the archaeologist. Later on, knowing the deep-seeded love their ancestors shared with each other, the heart-clutching love they had, had castled a new shade of light on her feelings for her tough-looking friend. So… the special bond shared by Xena and Gabrielle had passes down to their descendents…or was it onto one of the descendents? Janice barely seems able to tolerate her at times.

But then again, things had been slightly different between the two women before their unexpected parting. Instead of being her usual tough and heartless act, Janice had been gentle and considerate; spending part of the money earned from the fruitful expedition on a hotel room and a carefully arranged dinner.

Melinda smiled inwardly at the memories of the delightful night they had spent together. Janice had acted shyly around her the whole evening. As the matter in fact, she was almost bashful when she agreed to spent sometime in Southern Carolina before she received her next dig. Then, they spent the rest of the night strolling the beach…talking…gazing the stars. She felt her heart busting with happiness and love for the woman who had arranged all this for her. It was right then that she finally admitted to herself that she madly in love with Janice Covington and wanted nothing more than to spent the rest of her life by the side of the kindest, the most wonderful person she had ever met.

They were at the turning point of their relationship. The only ingredient that was missing was a bit of confidence and initiative. That was why it hit her so hard when she found her friend gone the next morning without an explanation.

"Miss Pappas?" an uncertain voice intruded her thoughts.

Peeping through her hands, she recognized the assistance lecturer for Research and Statistics. ' John? Or was it Dan?'

"Are you alright? You look terrible." Genuine concern filled his voice. He was even more worried when Mel remained silent, just staring at him. Maybe this was a bad idea after all? He had heard from others that she was strange and didn't like company. "Miss Pappas?" he tried again. This time with a hint of nervousness.

'Charles! That’s it!'

In a low but steady voice, Mel finally answered. " I'm find Charles…thanks. Just dizzy." Sighing in relief when the assistance lecturer did not show any sign that proves her memory wrong.

She straightened herself attempting to walk away. After a few uneven steps, she began to sway visibly as another wave of dizziness hit her. A pair of strong hand reaches out, steadied her by the shoulder.

"Hmm…Miss Pappas, I don't think you should drive in this state…" Looking somewhat unsure, he suggested hesitantly, "If you don't mind, I would be glad to drive you home."

He glanced at her, giving her a shy smile.

Melinda felt herself returning the smile. Assessing her weaken state, she seriously doubted that she could make it to the door without help, nevertheless driving herself safely home. Charles seems like a nice enough person…she really did not have much choice.

As the silent lengthened, Charles became more nervous. He was beginning to think that he had make a fool of himself by suggesting when Mel replied in a quiet voice, " That would be nice. Thank you." He looked up in surprised than in relief before carefully guiding Mel towards his car, parked outside the University.

Another wave of dizziness washed over her. Unconsciously, she rested her throbbing head on the lecturer shoulder as his arm tightens around her, holding her securely against the strong support of his well build body.

Letting out a sigh, she closes her eyes immediately after giving directions to her house. Her only wished now was to get home to her wonderful bed. As the car pull away, she rested her head against the sit, drafting off to sleep, unaware of a pair of eyes staring after her in agony.

"Miss Pappas? We're here." A soft voices call out while a hand shakes her gently. With an effort, Melinda opened her eyes and gave her head a shake. Looking around, she found that she was at the driveway of her house. Charles was already out of the car, opening her door for her. "Here, let me help you out." As Melinda alights down the car unsteadily, Charles instinctually wrapped a protective arm around her. Melinda smiles gratefully at him as they proceeded slowly down her driveway towards her house. Melinda had already spy her housekeeper Rosy rushing anxiously through the door, towards them.

"Missy! Are you all right? What happen?" A series of questions emitted from the housekeeper while she quickly took over the hold of Melinda, eyeing Charles suspiciously.

"It's okay Rosy. It's just a headache." Melinda quickly assured her worried housekeeper. Turning to Charles, she said gratefully, "Thanks Charles, you're a kind man."

"It's nothing, Miss Pappas. I'm glad to be able to help." Sure that Melinda was in good hands, he gave a little bow and turned to leave.

"Wait Charles!" Charles turned around, his eyebrows arched in question. "Please call me Melinda. Miss Pappas sounds too formal." Melinda smiles at the delightful expression that light up his face at the suggestion.

"Well…" A playful look took over the delightful one. "Only if you call me Kelvin. That's my name you know." Kelvin let out a laugh at the surprised and very embarrasses Melinda before he jumped into the car, drove off waving his hand pleasantly.

 "She'll be fine, nothing a good night sleep wouldn't cure."

"Thanks Edward, I own you one." Another feminine voice replied.

Janice distantly heard two voices in conversation. She had a feeling they were talking about her. 'What happened?' she wondered silently. Where was she? Years of practiced survival skills told her to continue feigning sleep until she had things figure out. Tensing and relaxing her various muscles, she checked her body passively and was glad that at least nothing seems to be damaged. Well, the man had said nothing a good night sleep wouldn't cure right? She heard the opening and closing of the door as voices 1 and 2 left the room. Reaching out her senses, she tries to detect for other occupants in the room and found none. Slowly, she opened her eyes, glad at the dimmed-lighted environment.

Looking around, she confirmed her suspicions. She was indeed in a foreign place. She did not recognize the room at all. She sat up and turns to move out of bed but stopped short to stare as a photograph of the owner of the house stare right back at her.

Memories of the day rushes in, sparing no mercy as pieces of doubts fell into places. Janice found her breath quickened as her body losses its strength and fell back heavily onto the bed. The room began to turn as she stared emptily into space. Tears began to form and flow across her face of their own as she continues to stare into nothing. She felt herself incapable of movements and thoughts as she lay there motionlessly.

Agony and pain hit her wave after wave, determine to break her apart. Finally unable to take the torture anymore, her body reacted. Both her eyes clamped down tightly together; squeezing more of the endless supple of tears hastily across her face as she curled herself into a tight human ball in the middle of the bed. Her body convulsed again and again as she felt her heart shattering into millions of pieces scattering all over the world, letting the world feel her pain and misery.

She willed the bed to open up, to swallow her away, ending her eternal sufferings. But all she felt was the soft touches of the summer breeze that strayed in through the half-opened window, drying her tears as she slowly…painfully regained her awareness of her surrounding. The tears had stopped but the incredible pain was not to be chased away.

Too tired to fight the sudden exhaustion that washed over her, she closed her swollen eyes and let sleep takes over.

 The next time she opened her eyes, it was already dark. Feeling the emptiness in her heart, she sighed deeply and closed her eyes again.

"Don't you think its time to wake up? You've been sleeping for quite a long time." The quietly spoken words sounded impossibly loud in the stilly room.

"Alex." A hoarse voice let out after a few heavy minutes.

The silent stretched as Janice stared aimlessly at the ceiling for the second time of the day while Alex observes her carefully from her armchair at the side of the bed.

"You fainted." Alex said, breaking the silent. Seeing no reaction from her friend, she decided to just keep talking, knowing that Janice was actually taking her word in. "I brought you back, to my house and got a friend to look at you." Pausing, she stood up from the armchair, strides over to the window and pulls back the curtains with beautiful laces sawn onto the edges. The room brightened up by the moon rays that filled the room light a poorly lighted candle, chasing part of the darkness away. Janice flinched as the moonbeams reach her still form. She shifted to her right, into the dimmer part of the room, away from the light.

Sensing her discomfort, Alex promptly ignored it, deciding that a bit of light was good for recovery. "You want something to eat? I have ham sandwiches, soup, cucumbers and tomatoes and some of that fabulous…" she began to list off the food she had prepared.

"No." A low but firmed answer cut off the rest of her sentence.

Taking in the defeated posture of her friend, the dullness of her voice, Alex decided that food could wait. She understands her friend needs to be alone, to tend her wound... her broken heart.

"Okay. I'll be outside. If you need anything, just shout." Giving her friend a reassuring smile as she walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. As soon as her friend left the room, Janice closed her eyes once again. Falling into another dreamless sleep.

 Alex opened her eyes slowly as she try to detach herself from her dreamscape, to return to reality. Bang! Bang! Bang! Wait…that doesn't sound like thunder and…she peeked out from under her blanket…it was not even raining. The sky was clear and the stars were shining brightly. It was a wonderful night, just right for sleeping. Smiling happily, she closed her sleepy eyes, pulled the blanket over her head and sank further into the bed.

Alex eyes spring opened once again. The sleepiness was gone replaced by alertness. That was no work of nature…it was someone trying to… tear her front door down. Janice! God damn it! This is the third time this week! She throws her blanket hastily away and jumped forcefully out of bed. Throwing the door open with more strength than necessary, she stomped into the living room, switching on the light on her way out. Looking out of the curtain, she saw a cab parked in the driveway and a man barely holding up a stumbling form with his arm standing outside her door. He spotted her, waved and pointed frantically at the form that was now sliding onto the doorway.

Recognizing both figures, she sighed deeply and opened the door. A gush a cold air rushes onto her face. The driver tapped his cap slightly and smiles regretfully. "Hie, Miss Walter. I brought Janice back." He explained as Alex stepped aside and let him dragged the unconscious woman into the house.

"Yeah, I know." She said as continued holding onto the door. "Thanks Sam."

Sam disposed Janice onto the couch, straightened up and smiled shyly at Alex. "It's alright Miss Walter. I'm only doing my job." He said bashfully as he walked out of the door.

"Here." Alex pushed a twenty-dollar note into his hand. "Thank you." Sam responded as he tapped his cap again and walked away. Alex closed the door slowly and turned to the lifeless form on the couch and sighed. "What am I going to do with you, Janice Covington?" She asked quietly under her breath, feeling helpless as she watched her friend drink herself away for the pass few days.

She took off Janice hat and boots and covered her with a blanket she took from the guestroom. Gently, she raised her friend head and placed a pillow underneath, arranging her in a comfortable position on the couch. Shaking her head, she stood up, switch off the light and went back into her room. It would be sometime before sleep claimed her again but she needed all the sleep she could get. Dealing with Janice and her job at the same time was taking the tolled on her. Further more, sleep was essential for getting rid of her body toxin and therefore kept those dreadful pimples away. Yeah, all beauties need their sleep.

 "Oh…" Janice groaned in misery. "God! My head is spitting!" She rolled from side to side on the limited space produced by the couch, holding her head with both hands, eyes tightly shut together. Alex wore a bored look on her face as she looked at the display uninterestedly. She leans cozily into the armchair, chewing her sandwich happily, a cup of steaming coffee placed within reached on the table.

"Oh…oh…" Janice opened one eye carefully and peeked at the unaffected Alex. Eye closed quickly again as hazel eyes glared unsympathetically back. Janice decided that more effort was needed. Thus, she increased her volume and began twisting more violently. "Oh God! I'm dying…I'm dying…my head…my poor…poor head…Aw…shit!" However, being too involved in her performance, she forgot the limited space she had and before she knew it, she fell onto the fell with a loud 'thud'. Alex took the last bite of her sandwich and dusted the crumbs away from her well-pressed suit.

"Aw…come on Alex. Give me one of you herb tea! The pain is killing me. Please?" she pleaded. Alex took one long sip of her coffee and said, "No."

"Huh? Why not!" Janice demanded. She needed those wonderful herbs that work like magic.

"Well…first, you broke you promised of not getting yourself drunk again. Secondly, you got worse and drink into wee in the morning, looking for fights and thirdly, you disrupted my beauty sleep, ruining my day…so, nope…no tea for you." She listed out her reasons systematically, devoid of all emotions. Draining her coffee in one large gulp, she stood up and straightens her suit, easing away the crumpled areas. She swings her handbag effortlessly over her shoulder and walked towards the door. "Well, I'm off to work now. Be a good girl and clear up the plates wouldn't you?" she smiled cheerfully and walked out of the house, leaving a stunned looking Janice stammering after her, "But…but…" As the car drove out of the driveway, Janice pulled her head between her legs and groaned loudly in frustration.

Ten minutes later found Janice in the guestroom, smaller than Alex's but well furnished no less, half immerged in the cupboard. "Where is it!" She growled. One cotton shirt flew out of the cupboard.

"Where…the…hell…" Cotton shirt number two flew across the room, "is…my…cigar!"

More furious digging, more clothes throwing.

"No tea!" A pair of pant soar through the air joining the lonely shirt on the floor.

"No Cigar!" Two pair of socks flew in different directions.

"Aww!" She yelled.

Thoroughly frustrated, she jerked the luggage out of the cupboard and forcefully throws it on the bed. It landed with a soft 'thud'; springs opened spilling the remaining contain all over the bed. Panting with anger, Janice stand with hands on the hips, staring at the mess on the bed and hissed. "That will teach you to hid my cigar from me!"

Rubbing her temples, she sat dejectedly onto the floor. Still no sight of her cigars.

Damn! She hit herself on the head. She smoked away the last of the cigars yesterday at the pub. She should have at least one more left if she had not felt generous after too many cheap beers and gave it to the bartender. God…this must be one of those bad luck days.

While she was on the intense quest for her precious cigars, her headache was momentarily forgotten. Now that the mystery of the missing cigars was solved, the hangover returned with a vengeance. "Ooh…my head…" she moaned softly as she slides totally supine onto the floor, holding her head.

Janice slowly raised her head from the embrace formed by both her arms as the ringing of the phone penetrated her mind. She crawled painfully to the phone, lifted her arm that weight like iron and slowly picked up the phone.

"Yeah?"

"How are you coping darling? Washed the dishes?" Alex clear cheery voice sliced through the air.

"Alex…" Janice glowed under her breath. "No…I did not do the dishes but I took the liberty of dismantling your computer and a few other selves for you…there are far too old…you need some new ones." She snarled.

"Ooh…forever the joker." Alex countered back.

"Agurr" Janice snorted out.

"Janice?"

"What!" She snapped.

"Promised me you wouldn't go to a pub and drink into the night again." The playfulness gone from her voice.

Startled at the sudden change, Janice found herself momentary lost for words. Then, touched at the concerned shown by her friend, she decided to give in. "Okay. I promised that I wouldn't go to a pub and drink into the night again."

Satisfied, Alex smiled and decided to reward her friend with a cup of tea. "Janice…go to the kitchen and at the top second cupboard, you will find a tin can. The tea is in there. Take a punch and add some hot water. Be good and oh…clear up any mess you had made before I come back. Bye."

Melinda sat stiffly in a large cushioned armchair staring at the scrolls spreading all over the study-table in front of her. She had been here for the last one hour but none of the three scrolls mailed three days ago to her house were being translated.

It made no sense at all.

One week ago, she was expecting the arrival of Janice. She waited and waited. Anticipation turns to worry as Janice fails to make an appearance. After three days of torturous waiting with no news at all from her friend, she was nearly ready to make a police report. What if Janice was hurt or met with an accident laying in a remote hospital someway, unable to get to her?

Then, the scrolls arrived with a small note attached to it. Melinda unrolled the crumbled piece of paper she was holding tightly in her right hand and read the few words for the thousand times.

Melinda, I am not able to make it after all. Sorry. I have sent you three photocopies of the Xena scrolls. Please translate them again, as the ones you did previously are lost during the flight to India. Thank you.

She did it again. Why did she always have to come up with things like that? Did I meant so little to her? The note was incredibly short and impersonal. No reason was given. Just an insincere 'Sorry'. Melinda laughed bitterly, crushing the note into a ball and throw it forcefully across the room.

Damn you Janice Covington! She screamed mentally before she laid her head onto the table and began to sob silently.

"Janice Covington! For the last time… LIFT UP YOUR LEGS!!!" Warily, Janice lifted her legs from the floor, rested them on the black-colored couch where she had settle comfortably in with her beer bottle throughout the morning and most probably for the rest of the day.

"Don’t you have something better to do than sleep and drink yourself silly everyday?" her friend scolded gently as she bend down to pick up several empty bottles and disposed them into a large black plastic bag before she resume to her original task of sweeping the floor.

Not expecting an answer, she jumped slightly when Janice suddenly shouted out aloud, "No! This is the only thing I am left with! Can't do without this nowadays!"

To emphasize her point, she raised the bottle high up into the sky as if she was worshipping it before draining down all the contents in one large grope.

"My miserable, pathetic, worthless life… going down the drain… la…tat…" waving her bottle around, she begin to sing the little tune that she composed days ago.

"Ouch!" Jumping up in pain, Janice dropped her now emptied bottle onto the floor and her hands flew automatically toward the redden patch on her head that undoubtedly would develop into a bruise in the near future.

" Alex! Why the hell did you do that for!" Janice cried out as she begins to rub her injured forehead with her thumb in a circular motion.

"Why, to knock some sense into you of course!"

Looking up, she found her long-time friend Alexandria Brown glaring fiercely down at her in a combat pose- leg slightly apart, one hand placed firmly on the hip another holding the bloom tightly. Knowing a lost battle when sees it, Janice swallowed hard and try to escape her predicament by attempting to make a joke.

"Well, now we know that blooms are not only good for sweeping!" she said meekly before letting out a rather forced laugh, hoping that her friend had caught the joke too and let her off.

Looking at her friend still stern expression with her mouth pressed into a thin line; eyebrows squeezed together tightly; eyes sending out darts, she knows that her joke did not have the effect she hoped for.

Still staring, Alex glowed under her breathe, "You promised not to drink again."

Janice greatly felt the need to defend herself against such untruthful accusation.

"Huh…not exactly correct Alex. Hmm…I promised not to go to a pub and drink into the night…But I did not promised not to drink in the house." Janice informed Alex knowingly.

Janice, old gal! You're a genius! Janice silently congratulated herself for her shrewdness and patted herself mentally on the shoulder. She swallowed down her impending characteristic smug smile when she saw her friend's monstrous killer look. She looked down and stared at the carpet beneath her feet, an action that she seems to be doing a lot lately.

"Janice…" Alex sighed deeply as she leans the broom against the couch and sat gently down beside her friend. "Janice, you can't live like that…" and looked sorrowfully into Janice's eyes.

Uh oh. Alarm bells started to ring in her head.

"You can't cooped yourself in the house everyday doing nothing but drinking…wasting her life away." Alex softens her tone and spoke gently as she took one of Janice's hands and holds it sympathetically.

Janice stared down at her captured hand, then looked up, stared blankly at Alex's smiling face and looked down again. This is a trap. It had to be. She was felling into a trap and all she could do now was to stare and swallowed her saliva nervously. Alex did know her well indeed.

"Janice…" Alex cooed. Janice left up her head as Alex continued. "You know what you need?"

Huh? Eyes blinking uncertainly.

"…You need to go out and have fun!"

Huh? Eyes staring in slight shocked.

"Yes! That's it! We're go out today and have some fun!" Alex looked out into space and talked excitedly, her hands waving. A gesture commonly seen when she was excited or nervous.

"Bu…but…I'm not…" Janice protest was cut short as Alex suddenly turned back to her and grabbed both her shoulders roughly.

"It's a deal then." Alex looked straight into her eyes. "I'll buy you some of those smelly cigars…" Alex made a face as if she smelled something bad. "And you go out with me!" Alex dropped her hands from Janice's shoulders, clapped them and giggles uncharacteristically, like a schoolgirl.

Hm…cigars. Maybe it's not such a bad idea after all.

"It's Cuban cigars!" Janice shouted to her friend who was particularly hopping into her room.

Janice sulked and glowed at anyone that dare looked her way as Alex leaded her to a far corner table at the back of the café. She hated café with waiters that wore uniforms with silly bow ties. She would not have agreed to this short shopping trip if not for her precious cigars. She caressed her precious packet she tucked under her arm lovingly. That was the deal - Alex buys her nice Cuban cigars, she spent the afternoon with her. At least her friend had chose a good table. With her back facing the wall and she could see every inch of the café from her sit.

A short stocky waiter left two menus on the table before retracting hastily as Janice stared coldly at him. She saw the no-smoking plastic on the table and toyed with the idea of lighting her cigar here. Would that whiny little man wearing the 'captain' tag dare to stop her? As if sensing he was being watched the captain turned and to his horror saw Janice smiling evilly at him, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. He gulped and looked away, sweating profoundly. Maybe this job was not as safe as he thought. Maybe he should just go back to selling hotdogs on the street.

"Janice…stop scaring the poor man." Alex reprimanded softly. "Look at the way he's sweating…he's going to be dehydrated soon."

Janice chuckled in amusement. "He's a whine." She replied offhandedly. Alex sighed as the captain moved to another section of the room, out of the sight of Janice. Janice raised both of her eyebrows in victory and began to look for another potential victim. This was not too bad after all.

"Janice dear, order anything you fancy, I'm going to the restroom first." Alex handed a menu to Janice before leaving in the direction of the restrooms. Janice screened through the menu uninterestedly. She snorted in disgusted at the choice provided. The strongest thing they have here is coffee with rum! Damn boring. Maybe she should wait for Alex to come back and then convince her what a bad idea this was. She put the menu aside having decided to wait for her friend's return and…

…Was just in time to see Melinda Pappas strolled gracefully through the door.

 To be continue…