“Careful, sweetie,” I said, “You shouldn’t even be up yet. Much less up and walking around.” With my insistent, yet gentle pushing, Lucas settled back down on the bed.

“What about breakfast?” he asked, “What about school?”

“Here’s your breakfast,” I said, “Breakfast in bed. As for school, your parents and doctor’s thought it would be better that you’d stay at home a few days. Don’t worry. I’ll be here, too. You’re not going to be alone.”

“I don’t want you to fall behind because of me, Bea,” Lucas said, “Go on. Get yourself to school, before I chase you there. I don’t want you to fall as behind as you probably will if you stay here every day.”

“Well,” I said, “A day or two wouldn’t hurt. I’ve got a spotless attendance record, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember,” Lucas said with a sigh, “Thanks, Bea. I don’t know how you’ve put up with me the past few days, after the surgery.”

“I love you, that’s how,” I said, “I’ll take any crap you throw at me, and then some. Unless you really want to, you’ll never get rid of me.”

“I’ll never want to,” Lucas said, “I love you more than my own life. I would die for you, you know that?”

“I didn’t know that,” I said, “But I would die for you too.” With that, I gave him a kiss. When I broke the kiss off, he was asleep. I ran my hands gently through his hair. He didn’t even stir. “Poor guy must have been tired,” I murmured softly. I started out of the roo, softly shutting the door behind me.

“Hi Bea.” I jumped when Mrs. Poole came up from behind me in the hallway. “Sorry about that. I was just about to check on him.”

“I was just in there,” I said, “He’s fine, but he’s asleep right now. He needs his rest, you know.”

“You’re right,” she said, “Well, I’m going to go fix some breakfast. What would you like?”

“Nothing in particular,” I said, “Anything would be better than what the school serves us. No offense.”

“None taken,” Miss Poole said, “I can see what Lucas sees in you. You’re pretty, smart, considerate, and everything.”

“Why thank you,” I said, “I’d be happy to look after him for you, if you need to go do some stuff.”

“Oh, would you? I have got to go walking.”

“No problem,” I said.

“You’re a real sweetheart, Bea,” she said, “Don’t let Lucas let you go for anything, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said politely. She gathered her stuff and went out the front door in a hurry. “Boy, she really was in a rush. Good thing I know where the pain pills are, just in case Lucas needs them.” I stepped into the bathroom and took them out of the cabinet. I put it in my shirt pocket. ‘With them there,’ I thought, with a sly smile, ‘There’s no way he could resist taking one.’ I laughed softly at the thought. I went and ate some breakfast.

Will and Feril had been by and gotten some stuff to eat, too. They had gotten it pretty bad by my dad last night, who, drunk, stumbled into the guest room instead of mine, to find Feril and Will making love. My parents thought Feril was me, though I don’t know why they would even act like they care. I’ve been staying here since the day Lucas got home from the hospital, and I stayed in the waiting room the two nights he stayed there. They never noticed before.

“Bea.” Lucas was calling, and it sounded like he was in pain. “Bea.”

“I’m coming, sweetie,” I called. I went into his room to find him on the floor, howling in pain. I rushed to him and helped him back into bed. “What are you, crazy? You shouldn’t be up, sweetheart.”

“My leg,” he said, “It’s starting to swell again.” I could see that it literally was and gave him some of the pain pills. He washed them down with the last of the apple juice I had brought him. His favorite. I brushed his hair back from his face. “Don’t do that. Don’t mother me.”

“I hope to get into practice,” I said, “I’m planning on having kids some day.”

“Well, I won’t be the father,” Lucas said. I sighed.

“Come on, Lucas,” I said, “You don’t really mean that.”

“I don’t know,” I said, “I guess you’re right. I’m just grumpy over being forcefullytaken off active duty. I can’t believe I’m not even on the standby team. Tom’s aken my place on the field.”

“Not as leader,” I said, “Your chosen second in command, T.J., is the leader until you get back on your feet, though no one could take your place in my heart. No one.”

For the first time in a few days, Lucas smiled. “And no one could take yours in my heart,” he said, “I love you more than life itself.”

“And I you,” I said. I was just about to kiss him when my wrist computer chirped. I let out a big sigh of frustration and hit the communications key. “I read you, S-1. What’s up?”

“Virus monster and gigamites in cyber sector five,” Samurai-1 said, “I’ll call Tom and a few of the members at the cabin, since Will, Feril, Cheryl, and T.J. are at school. I don’t want to interrupt them during class, after all.”

“Right,” I said.

“There’s no need,” Lucas said, trying to get up. “I’ll go with her. I’m getting tired of sitting around.”

“I can handle it, sweetie,” I said, “Even if I can’t, Tom and a few of the others will be there to help me take care of it. You just stay right here, where it’s nice and cozy.”

“Don’t do that,” he said, “All right. If you’ll quit mothering me so much, I’ll stay here.”

“It’s a deal,” I said. I hit my main key. “Uplink: Spryte.” I digitized and when the others came into cyberspace, we took care of the virus monster and gigamites easily. I went back to Lucas’s house, while the others returned to the cabin.

“Hi honey,” I said jokingly, “I’m home.”

“Hey, Bea,” Lucas said, “You look about as good as honey.” I blushed. I was still a little bruised from a shot in the ribs during the battle.

“Thanks for lying,” I said, without a trace of sarcasm. “But I know I must look pretty awful. It’s always like that after a battle.” My ribs started acting up some, and I flinched momentarily.

“What’s wrong?” Lucas asked innocently.

“Might have some cracked ribs,” I said, “Nothing to get worried about, though. I’m supposed to be taking care of you, remember?”

“True,” Lucas said, “But you can’t do anything with an injury. Believe me, I would know."

“You would know more than I would,” I admitted, “But the damage really isn’t severe. Not that my parents would notice. Will and Feril had been staying at my house for months, and they never even noticed. The only way they found out was because my father had come in to...” I broke of what I was saying all of a sudden, not wanting to tell him about what my father usually does to me.

“What is it beautiful? What’s wrong?”

“Lucas, you’re not my first time,” I said, “Though you were my first time consensually.”

Lucas caught my meaning immediately. “I’ll kill him,” he said, “No one gets away with treating my girlfriend like that.” All of a sudden, I broke down, crying. He folded me up into his arms. I could tell that his leg started bothering him almost immediately from the odd angle he had put it in, but he obviously ignored the pain. “Sh, it’s all right. Have you told anyone else about this?”

“No,” I sobbed, “He told me that if I did, he would kill me. Lucas, I’m scared.”

“First things first,” Lucas said, “We’ll call Will and Feril after school and tell them that they’ll have to start staying at the cabin. Then, we’re going to the police.”

“The police?” I inquired, “No, we can’t. He’ll come after me. Or, even worse, he’ll come after you. I don’t want you to be hurt over this.”

“I can handle him,” Lucas said, “I was a blue belt when my karate school closed down, and I know I’ve gotten a lot better since. You’ll stay here, and we’ll make your father pay for doing this to you.”

“You wouldn’t get close enough to use martial arts,” I said, “He always keeps a gun on him. I don’t want you to...”

“I can handle him,” Lucas said, “If he comes around, starting problems, my stepdad keeps a bunch of guns that I can get into pretty easily. I’m going to get you out of there, Bea. I promise.”

“Really?” He nodded. “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Lucas said, “Where’s my mom?”

“Out walking,” I said, “She said she’d be back in a little while.” As if reading my mind, we heard the front door open and his mom come in. We called her up to his room and explained everything.

“Oh, you poor dear,” his mom said, “Well, you can stay here, until the police can put your parents in jail.”

“Thanks, Ms. Poole,” I said, “I appreciate this.”

Later that day, we warned Will and Feril not to go into my house and to go to the cabin. They did, and we called the police to get my parents the next day. But when the cops had gotten there, my parents had left.

Part II
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