When Time Runs Out

Salone struggled with Artemis, eventually locking her hands close to her body in a bear hug. When finished Artemis had passed out and Penny was sporting bruises on the cheekbone were Artemis had kicked her. Were several bites and scratches that riddled Salone’s arms and she had been unusually quiet. When done Penny patched up Salone, wrapping her hands for they had received the most damage.

Jake had left, for were Salone had a faint idea. Back to Stonehenge; Salone sighed, sitting back on the couch next to the door. From the look on his face when he entered Salone knew she had guessed right. She stood up and grabbed her wallet from the counter, before grabbing Jake’s hand and leading him out the door again.

“Come on, we are going to the store.”

The trip was quick, just picking up some more medical things for Penny, some sleeping pills that Salone knew she was going to need, and cupcake ingredients. It was a small start to repair whatever damage Salone had done to Artemis.

Upon returning she checked on the two, Penny was sitting on a chair, she had fallen asleep. Salone sighed again and returned to the kitchen before starting to make cupcakes. She only seemed to be going through the motions, but her mind was far off most likely scrolling through dragon memories. When they were done she began to frost them.

Artemis was out for quite some time, in fact she was out until around 3 pm the next day. But once she woke she was grumpy. She still felt light headed from the past blood loss and she was hungry. She looked down at her leg with was now wrapped up. She poked her leg lightly and winced. It hurt, a lot. She began to unwrap the bandage but Penny came out of no where and smacked her on the back of the head. She scolded her and said that the smack was for yesterday. Although she didn't remember much after the fight. Her stomached growl and Penny told her to stay in place and she will bring food to her. Something about having to regain all the blood she lost. Artemis looked around confused. She didn't see Salone which made her calm down a bit. But the thought of seen her again made her on edge, but why? Salone was still her friend and the fact that she was now scared of her bugged her just as much.

Within a few moments Penny brought Artemis some food and Artemis devoured it. Penny nodded happily at her appetite and brought more food to her. This time there where two cupcakes with the food and Artemis ate the food but stared at cupcakes. Most likely Salone made them. That thought filled her with fear and happiness. She slowly picked one of them up and took a bite out of it, chewing on it slowly.

Salone sighed and vanished out the door, to find Jake sitting there with a pained and glazed expression on his face.
“How are you doing?” She asked him, when he didn’t respond she sat in front of him. “Jake, what happened? I know you went back.”
Salone waited and gently she touched the side of his face. The two were off in a secluded corner of the suite. He was suffering greatly from this site. It had been filled with anger and hate, at the moment she was also fighting off a wave of depression. “Hey, it’s okay. Jake, I need you to stay here with me okay?”
She slid her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder, “Please… I can’t loose you too. “

Salone’s fingers massaged the back of his neck (ignoring the twinge of pain), trying to distract him from the darkness within that was trying to swallow him up. She would stay like that for as long as he needed her to, cradling him to her in an attempt at comfort for two souls that had been shredded by the day’s events.
**
During this whole thing Penny was sitting in Artemis’ room. Salone had left in search of Jake for various reasons.

“You feel better Artemis?” She asked, counting out two strong pain killers for the shapeshifter. It would make her feel much better but it was going to knock her out after a few hours of being awake. Penny listened to her talk before handing her a drink of water and the pills. “Those are for swallowing whole, they help with the pain.”

Artemis’ leg had been bandaged ankle to knee; very firmly wrapped so moving wouldn’t open up the stitches. Penny was sure she looked a sight with the bruises on her cheekbone but she waited, sitting back in her chair.

Shortly after the food Penny brought two pills in front of her as well as a glass of water. She told Artemis to take the pills and not to bite them. Artemis lifted one to her mouth and licked it. Her face turned green from the taste. But she swallowed both of them after a look from Penny which honestly scared Artemis. At first Artemis face cringed at the taste but then she felt kinda strange. Her head now felt like and her vision blurred in and out. whatever she was given was working fast. Artemis attempt to get up but couldn't even get to the end of the bed before she passed out again.

Salone felt herself relax into Jake’s grip. He seemed to be clinging to her, trying to hold himself here in this state. She rested her cheek on his shoulder and sighed, a long drawn out sigh. Her long blonde hair spilled down her back. Salone let Jake hold her for as long as he needed. They sat like that for several moments before Jake sighed and stood. He wandered off to do whatever he needed to do and Salone in turn cleaned up the cupcake mess.  
After taking a light (emphasis on the word light) nap she walked into Artemis’ room to find her knocked out on pain killers… the poor girl may be loopy in the morning. Salone sighed and sat down in the chair next to Penny, offering up a cupcake. The doctor accepted it before pointing at Jake.
“What is he doing?”
“He is manipulating energy to help Artemis’ leg I am guessing.” Salone said, moving over to sit next to the sleeping Jake.
**
A short time later, a groggy Artemis woke up and was filled in on what had happened.
 ”Jake must actually like you Artemis, he’s been doing this since you passed out.”
That was the point Jake woke up and gave Penny a stink eye. Carefully Salone laid a hand on Jake’s arm and offered a cupcake; Anger deterrent as well as distraction.
“Cupcake?” She asked innocently, flashing a bright smile.

Artemis had the strangest dream. She was floating in a strange blue light. She could move around just fine it it, no hurt leg or anything. She just floated around in the light but didn't really go anywhere. With a huge yawn Artemis woke. It was the next morning. The Sun was high in the sky but it was still before 12. Artemis didn't notice it at first, but her leg didn't hurt. She reached under the covers and poked her leg. No pain. Artemis tore the bandages off confused and stared at her leg, which was in perfect condition. She poked her leg again and then she heard Penny.

Artemis looked at Jake confused but then her face twisted into a twisted smile. She had to guess what Jake was 'doing' was fixing her leg but she could have fun with this. Artemis crawled on the bed in front of Jake. On her hands and knees she looked at Jake with seductive look on her face. "Doing huh?" said Artemis. "If from what I have heard from ahead in human jungles that's another word for mating right? But isn't you mate Salone? Don't humans usually stick to one mate? I haven't had more then one mate at one time, and I never had one of the same gender, but I wouldn't mind to try." Had Artemis taken the joke a bit to far, possibly. But to her she wanted to see the look on Jake's face, and on Salone's face to an extent.

Salone blinked at this situation, well then… this was going to be interesting. Penny took the extra cupcake and munched on it, clearly amused by this situation.

“Eh…” Salone was only capable of making that noise at the moment. She scooted away from Artemis’ weird flirting game to sit next to Penny on the floor. Salone took one look at Artemis and guess that is what she called her seductive look. The young time collector shut her eyes for a few moments…  this was so weird. She wasn’t mad at Artemis... mainly amused. Watching the reactions flash across Jake’s face was amusing as well as he tried to figure out this situation.

However at Artemis’ more than one mate comment Salone made a face… this was like a bad case of polygamy or something out of a romance novel… Wordlessly Jake passed Penny the medallion who in turn passed it to her. Salone took it in her hands and felt a familiar warms flood the back of her mind… Jake.

Salone, don’t freak out…but I just have to do this…I’m sorry, she keeps putting me in situations to make me feel wrong, out of place, and totally odd…I’m so sorry…I hope you can forgive me…but this is my one chance to flip it around. Salone…I love you….But this HAS to happen.

Salone squeaked at what happened next, Jake kissed Artemis. She sat there stunned for a few moments as Penny made a sarcastic Penny comment before it all sank in.

When everyone looked at her… this entire situation struck her as hilarious. So she started to laugh, a good, deep laugh. She rocked back and forth and it took her several minutes to stop. When she did she only saw Jake’s facial expression before she started laughing again… this entire situation was so… strange!

However, she would have to talk to Jake later at saying that he loved her… at that though her heart did a happy little flip before Salone started laughing all over again.

Well... that didn't go the way she expected. She had expected Jake to act surprise or something. Instead he kissed her, or she thought that was the word for it. She wasn't used to the whole concept of kissing. Hell, that was just her first kiss. But Jake didn't hold back at all, and did he just put his tongue in her mouth? What ever the reason he did it, she ended up doing the same, even though she didn't mean to. Once Jake pulled away Artemis had a stunned look on her face, and was slightly blushing. However it was for less then a few seconds, she snapped out of it quickly. She tried to make a sarcastic comment but no words left her mouth. Her mouth she stayed open for a few seconds before she closed it.

Instead Penny followed up with the sarcastic comment for her. Jake just simply walked back to Salone. Artemis was still on all four on the bed and she bit her lower lip slightly. She didn't want to show she was defeated. But then Salone started to laugh, and Artemis couldn't help but break into a smile and laugh as well. What just happened was so weird.

Salone leaned her head on Penny’s leg, still laughing slightly.
She smiled at Jake, “It isn’t that hard to make me laugh… it’s just that this situation is even more amusing than one would think.”

For the rest of the day the four individuals packed up their stuff and cleaned wounds. Salone had her bandages changed on her hands and wrists, Penny had tried to coax her to eat a few times but her desire for food seemed to have vanished into thin air. Her mind was still a dark whirl of strange memories; often Penny would catch Salone staring out into space or out a window, her brow crinkled.

The end of the day found the group lounging one more by the pool, Salone in her swimsuit and Penny sitting on a chair. Salone was stretched out next to the pool, seeming lazy were as Penny was reading a novel.

The rest of the day was pretty chill. After they all had a good laugh everyone began to pack up. Artemis packed light, bring only what she was carrying on her. So she was pretty much watching Salone and Penny pack. Through out the day she couldn't help but look at Jake, usually throw the corner of her eye. From what she could tell from watching everyone that this seemed like the last day here. She just lounged around and ate. But by the end of the day the group had found themselves lounging by the pool.

Artemis let out a yawn, she was in wolf form and lying by Salone's feet. She couldn't help but give Jake some quick looks, she didn't know why though. She stood up and shifted. She walked around and stretched. "This is our last night is it not? Don't normal humans do stuff." Artemis walked to the small end of the pool and sniffed the water. It still smelled funny so she walked away.

Salone’s eye snapped open and she fixed him with a brown eye, as if she was knew exactly what he was thinking with the cooking and the daughters…. Oh wait… she kinda did. She made an amused noise and buried her head in the crook of her arm, before pointing at Artemis and Penny.

“Humans, decide.” Salone would much rather take a nap than do anything; even if it did give her nightmares. That caused Penny to sigh, Salone never ever used to want to take naps… or be sleepy in the day for that matter.

“Our flight is tomorrow morning, we can do something today if we wish or stay here and do whatever we please.” Penny needed to do something fun to get her mind out of its darkest recesses. She looked at Artemis, maybe the group could go look at some local thing… like sight see or boating… or something…