CAROLINE/KARA

As I started to wake, I heard a noise like paper being pulled apart. My face was intensely warm and I realized that was because my pillow was a breathing chest. I sunk deeper into Will's heat and smiled, bringing the earthy rosemary scent that surrounded me deep inside. It was so calming, like right there was a better tranquil place than some sunny sandy beach somewhere. It was delightful.

The paper sound crinkled again and I opened my eyes to see what it was.

William's strong arm was right in my vision and I studied the nice muscles for a moment before my head turned to follow its path above my head. Both William's arms were up and holding a book over me.

My grandfather's healer book.

"Morning, Love," he whispered and then put a thumb between pages and held the book down at the bed, other hand caressing along my arm.

"Good morning."

The daylight shone strong in from the window and as I looked over, I could see green treetops and mountains. It was magnificent. I was so used to gloomy rain and cityscapes that this window scene almost didn't seem real. Like I was looking at some fantastical screen saver instead. It would be like waking up on a vacation every day.

"How'd you sleep?"

I squeezed into him, burying myself in his scent again. "It was great. You?"

"I want to always wake up like this."

I giggled. Then I turned to see the healer book. "What are you reading?"

"I was looking up tokens. Listen to this," he held the book up and began reading.

A token is a small object that lets the healer concentrate their power from the universe around her, not just from within her own self. This allows the healer to heal massive amounts of injuries and never tire. She now is essentially a vessel for the healing energy of the world instead of giving her own personal energy to others.

"What does that mean?"

"It means we need to find you a token so you can stop losing your energy after every heal."

I sat up, dark blanket pooling around my waist and grabbed the book skimming over the words. "What kind of object?"

He sat up after me and looked over my shoulder. "It can be anything that sings to you. Last healers had things like a metal coin, crystal, anklet, or even a bird's egg. Just something you feel connected with that lets you channel the energy."

He flipped the page back and there were several artist renditions of previous healer's tokens. I looked over the skillful pictures.

"Do you have anything like that, that feels personal to you?"

"I don't know. Maybe." I tried to think of my belongings. I didn't have many coming from an apartment and everything that would have been handed down to me as a family heirloom would be at my father's house.

But maybe I did have something.

I touched at the picture of the crystal.

My mind pictured the little chunk of rose quartz I used to keep on my nightstand. I guess it could be a good luck charm? It didn't really have any personal significance to me other than I thought it was pretty and bought it.

"What is it Kara? Did you think of something?"

He must have felt my hope.

"I think so. I had a rock on my nightstand for a long time."

"The pink one?"

I smiled over at him. "You remembered that?"

"I remember everything about you."

I sidled up to him and kissed tenderly at his neck. "Rose quartz is supposed to be the love stone."

He chuckled, wrapping an arm around my back. "Then it worked."

"Do you think it's too big for a token?"

A long breath rushed from him and he looked to the ceiling as if in thought. "I don't think so. It is a little bigger than the other items in the book, but you could still hold it in a pocket or your hand."

"We could always try it? I think it's in my bedroom box."

He slid out of bed and I watched him go.

We had been a little busy the night before, so I hadn't gotten to emptying any of the boxes yet.

He came back in a second later, already ripping off the tape from the top. I leaned up as he set the box in front of me and I started rummaging through it.

Of course the rock was on the very bottom, but I dug around to it easy enough. Bringing it into my palm, I tried to feel the energy of the world coursing through it, but it seemed like any dumb basic stone.

"Nothing?" He asked, feeling me.

I shrugged. "How is it supposed to sing to me?"

He shook his head. "I don't know." He looked over the stone. "It's worth a try though. That's what you thought about when you imagined a token."

I smiled and looked up to him. "That's true." Then I giggled with a tease. "Okay so which of us gets the first cut to try it out?"

His whole face fell in annoyance. "You will not be getting hurt."

My lip jutted out in a pout. "You can't have all the fun. I can stab myself too."

"Kara!" His eyes went wide and then he softened with a slight laugh. "You are going to be the death of me, woman."

I licked my lips and sat up on my knees wrapping my hands around his face. "Can't live with me, can't live without me."

He chuckled and leaned forward to give a quick kiss. "No more talk of you hurting yourself."

"Okay," I relented and sat back on my heels. "Then it's time to go to the dungeon!" I put my arm up in the air in some superhero move.

He lifted me clear off the bed and into his arms. "It's time for breakfast."

There was a full cafeteria in a lower level, but most families chose to eat breakfast in their own apartments, so we had an eggs and toast meal before getting ready for the day.

He was anxious as we stepped out onto the dungeon floor, always nervous about me taking on the sick werecreatures, but I was feeling more confident, the rose quartz warming in my palm.

"Maybe the token will help me stay in better control too," I commented.

He gave a nod. "That would be good. Which are we trying today?"

I closed my eyes and let my head tilt to the floor.

Alright Healer person choose the way.

Will's fingertips smoothed over my marks and the healer came upon me like a deep breath of air. She essentially stepped to my side, letting me share control.

I opened my eyes and searched around the room, my sight being clear and easy, surely the gold of my eyes on highlight.

No wolf called to me now more than another so I stepped up to the first door, the Omega woman from Hightop, and squeezed the quartz then let it fall into my pocket. I imagined it as a garden hose. I could use it to flow the energy of the universe into the creature before me.

William grabbed the keys from a nearby guard and let me in.

Speeding to the creature, I had her pinned before she realized the door was open.

My hands held at her face, like I had done to others, one foot trapping her arm off to the side. My eyes closed as the energy started flowing.

William kept up a chant outside the cage to remember to channel the energy from beyond me.

I imagined the stone heating against me, pushing me forward and giving the energy I needed to stay in control. With its help, I could heal all of these creatures today.

I would heal them all today. I wanted to heal them all today.

Faster the energy built within me and faster I pressed it outward into the creature. Her features shifted, pulling back from the wolfen creature and to the thin unconscious woman she was.

I stood but swayed.

William sped to my side and steadied me.

I didn't feel totally drained, but I wasn't sure if I could say the token made any difference.

"Who is she?" I asked trying to push his attention away from my rough breathing, eyes roaming over her native skin and pixie cut black hair.

He shook his head. "I'm not sure. She may have worked in Laundry."

After a moment, he guided us out of the cage, and I stepped to the next taking a deep breath of concentration. I wanted to try again, this time with the stone in my hand.

William moved to put the key in the lock and then face blanked out to watch the back wall for a few seconds. He then stood tall and removed the key, looking back to me. "Let's try another later, shall we?"

He looked me over, "I don't think the quartz worked this time, so why don't we head back to the apartment and let you rest up before the next."

"Is everything okay?" I asked the change of mood.

He nodded. "Eric just needs me to get back to business, Darling."

I jumped in shock, gasping. After a moment, I mumbled, "I still don't like that name."

He shook his head out, "right, sorry. Sweetheart." He handed the key back to the guard and lightened. "Would you like to paint today? You could go to the commissary while I'm at work and when I get back we can start on the front room?"

I smiled at the prospect. "That sounds amazing."

He grabbed my hand, escorting me up the stairs. "The commissary is on the first floor, A Hall. You can get all the brushes and things there too. Just have them put everything on my account."

"Alright. What color should I get?"

We discussed colors all the way back to our place, then he grabbed a few files and headed to go.

I followed him to the door and he turned back and gave me a heavy kiss. "Be back in a couple hours. You can get lunch in the mess hall, second floor A Hall, or there should be sandwich makings in the kitchen."

I giggled at the thought of it all. I felt like the perfect fifties housewife, sending my husband off to work with a kiss at the door. I gave my voice a southern drawl, "should I have dinner on the table when you get home, Sugar?"

He laughed and kissed my cheek. "You unpack or go ahead and start painting and we'll head to dinner together."

"Okay. I love you."

His eyes speared on me and a large grin grew across his face. I realized it was the first time I said it fully and meant it fully. "I love you, Kara." He kissed me again and then walked out the door.

I exhaled at the closed door and then turned around to start work on our home.

Our home.

I still loved the sound of that.