Nikhil(49)

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"I am taking you to Luol, Mackenzie. I want him to examine you before you rest. You have been through a great deal," Nikhil said leading her to medical.

"I'm fine, Nikhil."

"You have paled, and do not think I haven't notice how your hands are trembling. Luol will reexamine you."

"I can't believe you only have one deep-repair unit on this entire planet."

"That is because we did not think that we would need one when we first arrived," Treyvon told her, quietly moving up behind her. "When we began to discover survivors, I had the one from my ship sent down."

"You have them on your ships?"

"Several, yes."

"Then why not send down the another one?!!" Mac rounded on the General, forcing him to stop or knock her over.

"That would leave my warriors without one, should they need it."

"Aren't they all down here?"

"No. There are those that patrol the area around Pontus, intercepting any ship that might be Ganglian or Zaludian. Our intervention is not always... appreciated."

"Have any of them needed the unit?"

"I... no."

"Then it needs to be brought down," Mac told him. "My friends need treatment."

"They will receive...”

"No! We've been through more than you can imagine, and I won't allow others to be treated first just because you have never encountered us before."

"The others were there longer than you."

"You don't know that for sure! And even if that was true, how long did it take Luol to treat those three Jerboaians?"

"I...”

"Three hours. An hour for each one," Luol said, walking out of medical when he heard the argument going on in the corridor.

"And how long did it take you to treat me?" She turned to face Luol.

"Seven total," Luol admitted.

"So doesn't that tell you something?!!" Mac demanded, swinging back around to Treyvon. "I'm still not sure how long ago we were taken, but I'm starting to get an idea, because of this." She lifted the strand of her hair that held Nikhil's bead.

"What does my bead have to do with how long ago you were taken, Mackenzie?"

"It's not the bead." She turned toward Nikhil. "It's the length of hair it's on."

"I don't understand," Nikhil frowned down at her.

"It's longer."

"Your hair? It continues to grow?"

"Of course!" It was her turn to frown, and she reached out to touch his. "Doesn't yours?"

"No."

"But..."

"Perhaps this would be better not discussed in a corridor," Luol stated as warriors paused around them.

"Agreed," Treyvon said.

"Yes, then you can reexamine Mackenzie."

"Reexamine?" Luol's concerned gaze shot to Mackenzie and he took a step closer to her. "What is wrong, Mackenzie?"

"Nothing. Nikhil is over-reacting. I'm just a little tired."

"Come," Luol gestured to the still open door. "She can lay down on an exam bed, and I will use the portable unit as the deep-repair unit is currently in use."

"I want her in the deep-repair unit!" Nikhil growled, guiding Mackenzie into the room.

"Hard to do when there is only one, and after all... I wasn't held any longer than my friends, now was I?" Her question had all three males looking uncomfortable.

"Mackenzie...” Nikhil growled.

"What?" She turned to gaze up at Nikhil and was surprised to find tears were making him blurry. "I'm not supposed to speak the truth? If the Zaludians hadn't discovered and beaten me, I wouldn't even be here now, would I? You wouldn't even know about me. I wouldn't be your True Mate. I could have died before you thought me worthy of treatment."

Nikhil couldn't stand seeing his True Mate so upset, couldn't stand that he was unable to prevent it, and what he really couldn't stand was that her words were true. Again. Immediately at her side, he swept her up into his arms.

"I don't believe that! I will never believe that! The Goddess guided me to you, and while I will never agree with how she brought you into my life, I'll never regret that you are in it." His words had her sobbing, and he looked to Luol in a panic.

"I could give her a calmer, but her system is already trying to adjust to so much...”

"No...” Mac's voice was muffled against Nikhil's chest. "Just give me a minute."

"You can have all the minutes you need, my Mackenzie," Nikhil reassured her, his arms tightening around her, giving her what comfort he could.

"Nikhil, if you sit, I can scan her while she’s still in your arms," Luol murmured.