#fenixtj

"Thanks, Mitra. Constance can fill you in on details, too."

"I shall"

"Thanks again. Call me back if it's anything urgent."

"I shall"

"Ok. Talk to you later." And she ends the call.

And the call ends

And Duff looks at her curious

"What?" Noticing his look over her shoulder where she leans on him.

A bit of a smile "Nothing."

"Hmmph."

"Fine... I'm pleased you're letting someone else handle a part of it, reporting to you, of course, and staying with me. There was a time you'd have been over her shoulder fidgeting"

Jessica stifles a yawn. "I'm too full and too tired....."

"Then sleep against me, Jessica. If you're that tired you won't be good to anyone"

"Mmm....."

"You don't want to move to the bed?"

"mm if you like" he puts a few things away, and ... picks her up

Carefully

"Oh God, Duff, I can walk!" She struggles to get her feet under her. "I'm tired, not dead."

"You, my dear, sometimes fight gestures of romance like a cat fights a bath in a tub" But he does slide her to her feet then takes a kiss

He gets the kiss. "Hmmph."

"One day you're going to want me to carry you and you'll have trained me not to." he warns and guides her to the bed to rest.

"You'll know I'll want you to carry me; I'll be bleeding."

But she guides along as bid.

"Wow... high difficulty level"

A wry look and soon her shoes are off and she's laying down... possibly with him as a pillow if she insists

Well..... she doesn't argue.

Well.. no..and neither does he.

Soon she is drifting in his arms, sleepy, heavy-eyed.

Duff watches her , finding her beautiful,fascinating, and , yes, frustrating.

Must be love he opines wryly to himself to the combination

For Jessica, it must be Zzzzzz......

And she gets some good sleep

-----------------

Jessica wakes up hours later and ends up rushing to the hold

Only to find a redheaded Satyress waiting for her, and being told by Mitra "I'm afraid it has to wait."

"What has to wait??" Jessica is on full alert, and could have done with a shower before leaving but that's life.

"you wanted to know about the Chronos... your John Doe? or ..whatev erhis last name is.. he's a bridge"

That from Mitra who seems excited

And Longfeather is there "I said, I THINK he's a Bridge"

"I just want to know if I can stay here for the summer" The seven year old satyress kicks her hoof

"A bridge? Wait, who are you?" Jessica asks that last of the childling.

"Oh. Uhm. my name is Ariel? I'm from the farm? And I was sent down here because Eleanor needed spring magic to make her hair grow back and it's HORRIBLe to have no hair unless you want no hair right? So I came down and we became friends and we both like princesses and she's very lonely and I'm bored on the farm so the Chief .. that's Clem? Said that if it's okay with you I could stay here for a few months but I have to behave. That way she can have fun and I can not be bored and she won't be lonely see? Only Dame Mitra says this Bridge guy is more important because hs' like half nunnhie half Kithain or something..." She says 'Which sounds important but unless I speak up now I'll lose you for HOUUURS"

Mitra blinks as the child blurts before she can explain the find

John Long feather says "There are dreams of peace and and even dreams of diplomacy.. one relatively new type of Nunnehi is born of dreams of half Native American half Euro encounters... they were to be spokes person dreams.. bridges between cultures. They were very rare.... as trust in that dream eroded... but there are a few. He has rights to walk in both worlds..."

Jessica nods, acknowledging both speakers in turn. "Ariel, if Clem said you can stay, you can stay. For now, I want you to report to Coy or Tito Woden; they'll be responsible for you for the time being. Thank you."

"Mitra, can you tell me what you saw? Or give me Constance's notes, and I'll read while we walk...."

She hands the notes over "She was detailed. Asked a lot of questions."

Jessica reads. "Where is he now?"

"Still soaking in glamour by the bale" Mitra says

'thank you, Chief.. err Jessica" Ariel says and calls out "I CAN STAY!"