Derik didn't get a chance to say anything as Ashley walked up to us with Ricky close behind her. She had a concerned look in her eye as she grabbed hold of one of my hands. Making me look at her, "David mentioned you haven't been feeling well and that you should rest."

Grateful for her interference, I allowed her to lead the way. Derik didn't move a muscle, but I could feel his eyes watching me. Sending chills down my spine. Ricky stayed behind to give Derik some orders. Or, maybe it was to scold him for not taking better care of Ashley and Jack. What ever the reason was, we didn't stay long enough as Ashley led me down the hallway. I didn't even bother to ask her what was going on.

Instead I allowed her to pull me down the hallways, past the stairs and to a section of the house that I haven't been to yet. All of the hallways all looked the same, but this one felt different. There was a vibe to it that made something in me hum. Ashley gave me a knowing smile from over her shoulder as we stopped in front of a door in the far end.

"You feel it don't you?" she said, "Its the gene calling out. Your senses are tuned in with Gene V and unknowingly you can sense when your soulmate's belongings are near by."

"That is a bit weird," I couldn't help but point out. Making her let out a small laugh as she opened the door.

My thoughts on Gene V being weird instantly faded as I looked into the room. The walls were a dark maroon while the carpet was dark stained hardwood floors. Even though the space was small, it was still able to hold a king size bed, a large flat screen TV with a black couch in front of it. A guitar rested on a stand by the bed as if it was highly treasured. The more I looked around, the more I learned who's room she led me to.

Hearing footsteps coming up behind us, I turned toward the sound as if I knew exactly who was on their way to join us, "You told her to take me to your room?"

With a shrug of his shoulders, he responded, "I figured it would the safest place away from Derik until you were ready to talk to him."

A small smile played on my lips at the thoughtfulness behind David's actions. It still took my by surprise sometimes. Especially after how I've treated him when we first met. Turnin towards Ashley, I told her, "Thanks, Ashley. But I need to talk to David alone."

I wasn't sure what was running through her head as she gave me a knowing smile before heading off down the hall. David shook his head as he walked past me into the room. Debating if being in a bedroom alone was a good idea, I entered and closed the door behind me. David went straight to the couch in the room and sat down with a small groan. Reminding me that he was still healing from Donny's attack on him.

Concerned for him, I walked up to him to see if he was okay. With a reassuring smile, David asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

Unsure how to answer, I sat down on the arm of the couch farthest away from him. Even though I was slowly coming to accepting my feelings for him; I still didn't feel it appropriate to be close to him. The only times he has been close to me was when he felt like I was in need of comfort through the tough times I had with Derik. Making me realize all over again that I made the wrong choice.

"How long?" I heard myself ask, "How long have you loved me and why even me in the first place?"

David leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees. His eyes facing the floor as he thought of the best way to answer me. The small frown on his face was the big giveaway as he scanned through his thoughts.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally answered, "I'm not sure when it was that I fell in love with you. To be honest, I was skeptical at first." He leaned back with the frown still on his face, "I was fifteen in Seadonna years when Gene V came to life, telling me that my soulmate was around. That was the year you were born and I remember looking down at you questioning if my feelings were right."

He then turned and looked at me with a serious look, "For ten years I fought that feeling. Fell in love with a normal girl from school. Only to find out that while watching over you from the shadows, the feeling never went away. Realizing that it was love I was feeling towards my soulmate."

As those words slowly sank in, I could feel something towards him. I'm pretty sure it was the feeling he was talking about. But if he could fight it for ten years, so could I. Sadly the small turn of my stomach reminded me on what fighting those feelings had led me to. It led me to something that I was trying so hard to escape.

The sudden loud knock on David's door made me jump from the couch. It was as if someone was trying to punch the door down with how loud it was. David got up and told me to stay where I was as he slowly walked towards the door. The knocking continued, making my heart race. Scaring me even more.

There was so much anger behind each knock. I could only imagine who was behind that door and I'm sure that the moment that he opened it, Derik was going to plow right through. Demanding answers and accusing me of messing around with David. He was the only one I could think of to have that much anger right now since I have blown him off since he got here.

When David opened the door, it wasn't Derik. It was Erik with a panicked look on his face. Putting David on guard, "What's wrong, Erik?"

"He's crashing," he said in almost a whisper. In an instant, David was out of the

door and running down the hall. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. Then as if a light bulb went off in my head, I ran after David towards Jack's room.

It felt like an eternity before I got to the doors that lead to my best friend's room. Jake was there with Jordan but I ignored them as I tried to get into the room. Boss opened the door to remove David, giving me an opportunity to get into the room. But strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back into the hallway. Leaving me a crying mess as I fought my way back into the room.

The door was closed in all of our faces right when Doc shouted, "Ricky, we are going to need you or we are going to lose him."

I continued to fight against the arms that were holding. The struggle continued until I was whipped around and held in a comforting embrace. That action alone told me how was holding me. He was the only one that comforted me so far and I didn't care if anyone saw the interaction between us. Also he wasn't going to loosen his grip until I calmed down enough.

The moment would have been perfect if it wasn't for the sound of a throat clearing ruining it. Not long after the sound came, a hand grasped my wrist and tore me from David's hold. My eyes landed on the face of a very angry Derik. He paid no attention to me as he wrapped his arm possessively around my waist as he stared down David.

"I'm only being a good friend, Derik," David sounded so defeated and it broke my heart. I wanted to hug him, but Derik's grip only tightened as I tried to move.

Of course, the was also the time when my stomach started to roll. The nausea was strong and I'm sure my face was showing it. Jake quickly ran to a random room and grabbed a small trash can. He got it by me just in time for me to lose whatever was in my stomach. Which wasn't much since food made me feel sicker.

Derik looked at me disgusted as he finally pulled away. Jake crouched down to see if I was okay. Concern was on his face. Making me feel bad that I was taking the attention off of his brother. But I'm sure he was happy for the distraction.

"Look, Leah is tired. Why don't I walk her back to my room so she can rest?" David suggested. Only making Derik more angry.

"Why the hell does it have to be your room?" he snapped back.

"Probably because all of the rooms are being used and you don't have one," Jake pointed out as he handed the trash can to David. He didn't even cringe as he walked off with it to clean it out. Laying a hand on my shoulder. Jake made sure I was okay, "Do you think you can make it without getting sick again?"

My stomach kept turning, making me scared to speak. I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, I was going to puke again. So instead of answering I just shook my head at him. Making him curse. As much as he wanted me to lay down, there wasn't a sure way that I wasn't going to get really sick again on the way there.

Like a miracle, Ricky came out of Jack's room and offered his room, "She can lay down in there. I'm sure she wants to be close to Jack if anything happens."

"Ashley isn't going to mind?" Jake asked as if he was too scared to be hopeful in the situation.

"I don't mind," Ashley said as she came out of Ricky's room. Carrying a small bucket in her hand as she took Jake's place, "Us girls need to stick together in moments like this."

Knowing fully well there was a hidden message in what she said, I followed her into the room as she held the bucket. I was too sick to even question her on it. But it seemed like we were going to be alone in Ricky's room because she wouldn't even let him in. The last thing I saw as Ashley closed the door behind us was the look of betrayal on Ricky's face.

"Sorry, Honey," she yelled as she guided me to the bed in the room. All of her actions reminded me of a mother taking care of their sick child.

I let Ashley have complete control as she layed me down on the bed before running off to the attached bathroom to grab a few things. When she came back, her arms were just full of stuff. She placed everything where they needed to go so that way I didn't have to hunt it down when I needed it.

The small bucket was barely filled with water and rested on the floor just far enough for me to reach if I ever got sick again. Ashley then placed a damp washcloth on the nightstand, explaining it is to be used to wipe off my mouth after I throw up. Then she placed a water bottle on the nightstand so I wouldn't get dehydrated.

"You sure know what you are doing," I pointed out to her as she unwrapped a sucker before handing it to me.

"Suck on this. It will help with the morning sickness," she mentions to my shock, "David can't keep anything from me. Also Amanda was just as sick as you are now when she was pregnant with her oldest."

Looking at Ashley, I wasn't sure if I should be happy that she knew or terrified. I wanted to be terrified because there was a greater chance that Derik could find out. But I was also happy because I at least had someone in my corner other than David. Someone I could talk to about this whole new thing going on in my life.

"I'm not going to tell anyone, Leah. Why else do you think I loved my blabber mouth of a husband out," she said making me smile. I was so glad to have Ashley back in my life. Having her back made me realize how much I really did miss her when I was a kid.

Relaxing on the bed, I felt my body slowly get heavier. My eyes refused to stay open, but I needed to know something in order to put my mind at east, "Is Jack going to be alright?"

"Jackson is going to be fine, but we will be transporting him first thing tomorrow," Ashley responded before sleep took over me completely.