Being Rescued

REVIEW: "That doesn't mean I don't love her." Said Patrocles. Achilles shook his head again but this time just left the room. Patrocles sat back into his chair and looked back at Ashley. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze to let her know he was still here, she squeezed his hand back.

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Patrocles smiled as he saw Ashley's eyes flutter open, "Patrocles?"

"I'm right here." He replied relieved. Ashley slowly looked around the room and then a look of realization passed over her face and she began crying. Patrocles became worried he had no idea why Ashley had started crying, "Ashley what is wrong?"

Ashley didn't reply as she let go of his hand and rolled over in the bed so that her back was to him. Patrocles felt a piece of his heart break away when she did that. Patrocles got out of the chair he had been sitting in and walked to the door to leave Ashley alone. Ashley despite the crying saw him leaving and her heart clenched at the thought of being left alone, "Patrocles!"

He turned in a heart beat, "Yes?"

"Please don't leave me." Sobbed Ashley. Patrocles cursed the space between the bed and the door as he walked across it.

He kneeled on the floor by the bed across from Ashley, "What do you need Ashley?"

"You." Whispered Ashley. Patrocles felt as if he could fly to the clouds and back a thousand times right then as he lay down in the bed next to Ashley. Ashley scooted over under the covers and snuggled into Patrocles' chest as he carefully draped a comforting arm over Ashley's side. Briseis walked down the familiar hallways from her childhood that she would soon be leaving and turned down the hallway that Ashley had been placed in. She quietly opened the door to see Patrocles and Ashley lying next to each other with their arms around each other. Briseis smiled and went back into the hallway and turned to see Achilles and her smile dropped. She was currently mad at the warrior for the apparent 'conversation' that Achilles had with Patrocles about Ashley and had spent the last few hours ignoring him. Briseis turned her back to Achilles and started walking down the hallway.

"Briseis come back here you cannot ignore me forever." Said Achilles following her. When Briseis kept walking as if nothing had been said to her Achilles knew that she was extremely angry and he was in a lot of trouble. Achilles caught up with Briseis and grabbed her arm, "Why are you upset?"

"Upset? You think I'm upset? What would make you think that?" snapped Briseis.

Achilles thought it would be wise to close his mouth but he didn't, "You are trying your best to avoid me, why?"

"More like why not you…you…fool!" Briseis yelled.

Briseis took a deep breath trying to calm down, "If I had been in Ashley's place how long would you wait for me?" Achilles wanted to quickly reply 'forever' but Briseis wasn't done.

"I know that I would wait for you for as long as you needed me next to you day and night. Why can't you understand that's what Patrocles wants to do for Ashley? They may not know it yet but they are in love and he should be allowed to wait as long as he needs to for her, without some heartless dumb brute trying to separate them!" by the end Briseis was yelling again and tears of apparent frustration were pouring down her face.

She brought shaky hands over her face for a moment and just stood there taking shaky-uneven breaths. Achilles tried to hug her to him she pulled away and walked down the hall leaving him alone.

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Achilles was sitting in the garden for gods' knew how long replaying what Briseis had said over and over in his head. Something started building up in his stomach and rushed through his body like a brush fire and he knew what it meant to be afraid. Thoughts flew through his head, 'What if she never talked to him again? What if I never saw her again?' That last thought made his stomach heave. Even in his altered state Achilles could hear the steps coming towards him and looked up hoping for Briseis, 'It is only Priam.' Achilles realized what he had just thought and stood for the king of Troy.

"Sit down, sit down." Said Priam waving Achilles back to his seat as he sat next to the great warrior.

Achilles nodded and started to fall back into his thoughts when Priam finally spoke, "You may be pleased to hear that Ashley is awake and talking. Gods be praised and I thank them as well for your cousin willing to sit with her, I know that helped her in some small way."

Achilles said nothing so Priam continued, "I know this is what you were waiting for before you left. What do you plan on saying to Briseis?" Achilles realized that he had never talked to Briseis about what she would do and had just assumed that she would come with him but after what she had said to him Achilles wasn't so sure anymore.

"She will come with you."

Priam's words cut through Achilles' thoughts, "What?"

"I know that she will come with you. You are worried if she will choose you over her family and faith she will choose you." Said Priam.

"How do you know?" asked Achilles.

There was a spark to Priam's eyes, "Stop being angry with Patrocles and go talk with Briseis."

'I am not angry with Patrocles. What does this man know of anything?'

"He chose Ashley over you." Said Priam, "That is why you are angry with him but he doing the same that Briseis will do for you. You must go and talk with her now or she will never go with you."

"Where is she?" asked Achilles.

"Before you go to look for her, do you love her?" asked Priam.

"Without question." Achilles answered immediately.

"Then go to her." Said Priam pointing to an archway leading to the palace. Achilles stood to go through the doorway when the darkness melted away to reveal Briseis.

"How long?" he asked looking into her soft brown eyes.

"Enough." She whispered. Briseis held out her hands and Achilles was by her in a flash holding her to him.

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"Patrocles I can't swim I'm not getting on that chunk of wood! I could fall into the ocean and die!" exclaimed Ashley pointing to the ship.

"I know how to swim and if you do fall then I will jump in after you and save you." Promised Patrocles.

"Promise?" asked Ashley.

"Promise." Confirmed Patrocles nodding.

Ashley got onto the ship and looked around, "This isn't so bad." Ashley gave a nervous smile looking around then the ship jolted into motion and she lost her balance and fell against the mast holding for dear life.

Patrocles laughed and stood next to Ashley, "Are you alright?"

Not letting go of the mast Ashley glared at Patrocles and tried to kick him, "You are evil! How can you make fun of me I've never been human before!"

"Yes you have." Protested Patrocles.

"Yea about two thousand years ago sorry if I don't remember everything!" snapped Ashley.

Patrocles held out his hands, "Walk to me." Ashley slowly let go and carefully walked to Patrocles.

She put her arms around his waist and hugged him, "Promise I'm safe?"

"Forever as long as your in my arms." Answered Patrocles kissing Ashley's forehead, Ashley smiled thinking, 'I feel just like I do when I'm flying.' "I love you." Whispered Patrocles.

Ashley's smile grew even more she took her previous thought back this was much better then flying; "I love you too."

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What do you think?