Roughly ten minutes later...

"Though I hate to admit it, Lina, I think I greatly overestimated myself." Zelgadiss, halted and bent over slightly, gasping, face registering pain.

Lina frowned and took him by the shoulders. "I know, and I wish you wouldn't. Though, I thought it best we get out of direct heat and find a sheltered area. You agree to that at least, don't you?"

Zelgadiss nodded, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. In fact, his clothing was clinging to him, uncomfortably damp. Odd, I?ve never broken a sweat in this stone body before... What Lina and I theorize, must be true. I guess my curse is fading. Well, at least I hope that's what it is. In other cases, any place but here, he might be rejoicing, but not in this death trap, and not while recovering from injuries. He suddenly realized how lucky he was to have had Lina and the others around, and especially Amelia with her healing spells. Well, they'd all been grateful for that; now he'd have to recover slowly and painfully, just like the average injured person.

Lina passed her hand over his blank face. "Earth to Zel? What's the matter?"

"Huh? Nothing, just the norm; makes you wish Amelia where here, doesn't it?" He frowned.

"Well, yes it does, then she could help mend my cracked rib, or is that broken, well, I don't know..."

"What did you say?" Zel's eyes went wide.

"I said busted rib. Obviously it was injured when you resuscitated me."

Zelgadiss turned his head away.

Lina's eyebrows furrowed and she took his face in her hands and turned him to look at her. "It wasn't your fault. It had to be done. I'd rather be in pain than dead."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Zelgadiss demanded.

"Because, what is there that can be done? To have it mended right, I'd have to be stationary in a bed with a body cast, but since we happen to be in this here desert," she flung her arms around her with dry sarcasm, "there isn't that option, right?"

"True," Zel grumbled. "I don't know how you could keep quiet about it though, it must hurt you, do you deny it?" His own hurts and injuries became secondary on his mind now.

"Just goes to show that woman has a higher tolerance for pain!" She flashed a victory sign and winked. She frowned when Zel didn't respond in the way she wanted him to.

The chimera got down on his knees and took her hands in his. "Don't ever keep anything like that from me again."

Her eyes widened. "Hey, you are not the boss of me! I can chose to do what I wish, I'm Lina Inverse for heaven's sake!"

Zelgadiss smiled slightly. "But you are just as mortal as the rest of us, well, excluding a few people..."

"Yeah, but don't remind me okay?" Lina grinned. "Shall we go? Just a little further, I think there's a cavern up ahead, looks like it anyway."

Zelgadiss nodded and they pressed on, moving in on the mountain rage to the side of them, as the sun rose higher into the clear, cloud-bare sky.

"I could eat a horse!" Lina muttered as she poked at the small camp blaze. "But again, we settle for lizard? Sheesh!"

She heard Zelgadiss snicker in the darkness behind her. "Well, better than nothing."

"Yeah, yeah...damn, now I wish we'd taken that camel with us." Lina tucked her legs under her chin and scowled.

"I don't think he have agreed to come, knowing what was in store for him." Zel carefully scooted next to her, taking great lengths to spare him pain.

Lina cocked her head to the side and glanced at the chimera. "I wasn't meaning that, just that he'd be far more comfortable to rest against than a bunch of rocks..."

"Oh?" Zelgadiss breathed. "Well, then I was going to suggest you may rest your head on my shoulder, but since you say that-"

Lina grabbed him by the arm as fast as lightening as he began to move to the other side of the small cavern, causing him to nearly fall backwards. "Hey, I wasn't talking about you! Even though you're a so called rock golem, you are still more comfortable than... well, than rocks." She mulled around what she'd said in her head for a moment. Hmm, that doesn't make sense.

"I really didn't understand your reasoning just now, but I'll take it as a compliment." He chuckled.

"Besides, you're warm, and it gets so cold in the night." Lina blurted out before she could stop herself. Hey idiot! Keep those thoughts to yourself! Another slip like that and... She slapped her hand over her mouth and tensed.

No reply came, so she pulled at his shirt. "Yes, Lina?"

"I uh, well I wasn't meaning exactly anything...by uh...I-" She replied quickly and uncertainly.

Zelgadiss grinned and placed a finger over her mouth. "Then what are you getting at?"

Lina's face went red, more out of anger than embarrassment. "Hey, are you trying to confuse me? It won't work." She grinned back, eyes narrowed.

"Is that so?" Zelgadiss raised a stony eyebrow and absently ran his hand through her long, fiery tresses, which flashed copper in the blaze.

Lina shuddered involuntarily and suddenly felt that the situation was becoming all together too serious. But her thoughts diminished as he bent over, arced up her neck and their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. If Lina could have blushed every colour of the rainbow, she would have just then. Everything around her seemed to melt away and all she saw now was he; the chimera Zelgadiss, looking the slightest bit apprehensive, with those always-intense eyes piercing into her soul.

Her own inner voice sounded off in her mind, in a short, snappy, electronic tone. Lina, attention to Lina. Are you registering Lina? Lina? Breathe, Lina... She blinked and drew in a deep, jittery breath, realizing in she'd been holding it the whole time through.

Zelgadiss followed her example and let out a gasp, momentarily clutching his side from the sudden intake of air. So they sat there, neither one saying a word. Dang, I can't stand this silence... Zelgadiss gave her an almost forlorn look and then directed his gaze elsewhere. He'd expected Lina to reply in some manner, he'd even have welcomed a blow to the head and a long episode of ranting and ravings: "Hey, what do you think you're up to? You've got a lot of nerve; I never expected this from you Zel, never!" He was suddenly dragged out of his thoughts.

"Zelgadiss, you didn't ask." Lina gave him the slightest hint of growl.

"A-ask?" He leaned away from her.

"Hai!" She crossed her arms and smiled wryly.

"I have to ask permission to kiss you?" Zelgadiss fumbled over the words. "Well, I-I-"

"Well, at least the first time." She spoke softly, in a shy manner.

"Oh..." Zelgadiss gulped. "The-the first time."

Lina nodded and saw he was moving away from her inch by inch, as if she was going to strike out at him. She frowned. "Where you going? Have to be anywhere important?"

"I uh..." He began.

In one swift movement she had him pinned to the ground. "You think you can kiss me and get away with it? Hmm?" A feral light flashed in her eyes, briefly.

Zelgadiss let out a hiss. "Lina, ah.."

"Oh! I'm sorry!" she lifted her weight from his injured side. "I didn't mean to do that."

"Apology accepted."

She rolled to the side of him, feet to the warmth of the campfire. "So, I think we've had enough excitement for one day, right?"

He pulled Lina close to him, raising her up just enough for the sorceress to rest her head on his shoulder. "I don't know about that..."

Lina laughed and fished around for something in her cape, then she clasped her hand to his and cuddled against him, leaving Zelgadiss with a certain item in his grasp. She left her hand on top his own and relaxed. What's this? Oh... He held up his crimson pendant in the light of the fire. "Thanks, Lina."

"Mmm-hmmm," came a muffled reply from the half-dozing redhead.

Zelgadiss pocketed the object and rested his free arm behind his head and slowly let sleep take him, a genuine warm smile spread across his face.

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