Acheron

'You are one very lucky woman. But for your friend getting you here as quickly as he did, you wouldn't have made it. Your spleen was severely damaged in your wreck.'

Tory was still amazed by what Ash had done for her. Kim had told her that he'd been in bad shape himself and that he'd been over-wrought when she'd died in his arms. Tenderness for him overwhelmed her.

When the bike had gone down, she remembered him reaching to protect her. He'd tried to keep her near him, but the force of the crash had separated them.

She grimaced as the doctor touched a tender spot on her abdomen.

He pulled back with an incredulous look. 'You're healing unbelievably fast.'

'Good genes and lots of vitamins.'

He laughed at her. 'You keep this up and we'll have you out of here in about three days.'

Ash cleared his throat. 'Is there any chance she can leave sooner?'

Tory caught Ash's meaning. 'Yeah, I can't really afford to be out of commission too long.'

'Honey,' the doctor said in a strained tone, 'you died. You might want to think about that for a minute and let it digest. You're really lucky you're still with us so let me watch over you for a few days before we turn you loose, okay?'

It was hard to argue when he put it like that. 'All right. Thanks, doctor.'

He inclined his head before he left them alone.

Tory looked over at Ash who was standing back with that stoicism he wore like a force field to keep the rest of the world away. She knew how hard she'd hit the ground and it wouldn't have been a bit softer for him. Yet he'd dragged himself to his feet and then carried her. His strength mystified her. 'How did you get me here?'

'I have my evil Jedi ways,' he said in a flat, even tone. 'The Force is strong with this one.'

She laughed again. He could be so charming when he wanted to. And so sweet. 'Well if the doc won't release me, what do we do?'

He shrugged while keeping his arms crossed. 'We keep an eye out for our new friends and make sure they don't decide to finish the job they started.'

She nodded. 'They think I have the journal, don't they?'

'Would be my guess. Either that or they're just really bored and thought knocking us around would alleviate it.'

'Speaking of boredom… what am I going to do while I'm locked in here?'

'Wanna read some manga?'

She grimaced at him. 'Are you serious?'

He nodded. 'It's like crack. Once you start, you have to keep reading. I have some Priest, Hellsing and Trinity Blood issues handy. Interested?'

'Actually, I'd like to read the journal we found. Someone who's really tall and male hasn't finished teaching me Atlantean.'

'It's not in Atlantean. It's Greek.'

'So say you.'

Groaning, Ash shrugged his backpack off his shoulder and manifested the journal inside it. One of the reasons he always kept a backpack with him was so that he could teleport things that he needed without arousing mortal suspicions. Since no one knew what was in his pack, they didn't know when he used his powers to get something he needed or wanted.

It also held the things that meant the most to him and kept them from harm. Ryssa's three journals that he'd found after Didymos had been destroyed, her hair comb and Simi's teething toy that Savitar had given him for her when she'd been a toddler. Her baby fang marks were forever etched into the wood. The backpack also held his mother's medallion wrapped in one of the black scarves that Simi had brought back from one of her many visits to Kalosis.

And Nick's soul that he'd traded to Artemis, that Artemis had then given to Acheron.

He pulled out Ryssa's journal and handed it to Tory. 'Can you read it without your glasses?'

She sighed irritably. 'Not a single word. I hate being blind. Any chance I can talk you into going to my house and getting my spare pair?'

'I can't leave you unattended. You know that.'

'Then will you read it to me?'

Ash looked down at the leather as a sharp pain pierced his chest. It was hard to read Ryssa's words because with each one, he saw her clearly in his mind and heard her sweet, calm voice speaking to him.

And it cut him deep in his heart.

Tory touched his arm again. 'Please, Achimou?'

A muscle worked in his jaw as her tender voice worked magic on his resolve. 'You are the only being who's ever called me that.'

'Well I'd call you babycakes, but I think that might offend you even more.'

He smiled. 'All right, stop the torture. I'll read.'

Tory watched the blurry shadow that was Ash as he took a seat near her bed and opened the book. When he started reading, she closed her eyes and listened to the deep resonant tone of his voice. From the ease with which he translated as he read, one would have thought it was written in English. He didn't even hesitate with the words.

'Today I spoke to my father about visiting Atlantis.'

Tory straightened up in the bed. 'Atlantis?'

Ash cringed as he realized what he'd said. He'd actually forgotten he was reading to an outsider. Tory had become such a part of him that he actually wanted to confide in her. 'Yeah, that's what it says.'

'See! I told you it was real!'

He had to calm her down. 'It doesn't mean anything. For all you know this is an ancient Bridget Jones's Diary.'

She scoffed. 'They didn't have novels back then.'

'History says they didn't have books, yet what's this thing in my hand? It's square, bound paper that's been written on. Looks like a book to me.'

'Thank you, Captain Sarcasm. How nice of you to join us again. Can we get back to the story?'

'Just don't throw another hammer at me,' he mumbled under his breath before he returned to the book. 'Today I spoke to my father about visiting Atlantis and as usual it made him angry. Our negotiations with them aren't going well. Uncle sent word that war could break out again at any moment. But I don't understand why it's too dangerous for me to visit there while my brother and uncle live there. Surely it's not safe for…' Ash paused as he saw his name mentioned, 'my brother. I can't stand not seeing him. The letters he sends aren't enough for me. I want-' Ash choked on the words on the page as pain hit him hard in his chest.-my brother home with me. Someone needs to make sure Acheron is kept safe from harm and though Uncle swears he's fine, I wish I could make sure of it for myself.

'She wants what?' Tory prompted.

'My eyes are hurting,' he lied. 'I think it's the lighting. Can we pick this up later?'

Tory frowned at the odd note in his voice. It sounded like he was choking on tears, but that didn't make sense. 'If you wish.'

'Cool. I'll just return it to my backpack.' He got up and rustled around in it.

'Ash?' she asked after a couple of seconds.

'What?'

'Did anyone call my family?'

'I don't know. You want me to ask?'

'Please. I don't want my family invading when I feel fine. Especially not while we have insane people chasing us. I would die if one of them got caught in the crossfire.'

'Okay. I'll go get Kim and find out. If you need anyone…' He put the hospital buzzer in her hand. 'I know you can't see well so if you get scared at all, buzz the nurse and I'll be right back.'

His concern touched her. 'Got it.'

Tory sat in the silence, processing everything that'd happened today. The things she'd learned and those she