The morning after their return home from the mountains, Janna stood in front of the dresser that she shared with Ryan and gazed with wonder at the small, velvet-lined box that sat open, exposing the two lovely silver rings sitting side-by-side within. They were inlaid with beautiful turquoise in a stylish zigzag pattern. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about what the rings signified.

They were a physical representation of a love that defied description. As Janna stood there and tried to come up with words to describe what she felt for Ryan, tears began to flow. That was how Ryan found her several minutes later when her workout partner failed to appear when expected.

Warm, strong hands grasped Janna's shoulders as soft lips kissed her hair. The hands then slid down her arms and her mate enveloped her from behind. They stood together then, gazing at their rings, neither of them able to find words for what they were feeling. Fortunately, their link made verbal communication unnecessary. Their emotions were communicated precisely through the energetic bond.

Eventually, Janna broke the silence. "They're beautiful, aren't they, Ryan?" she asked quietly, as if in awe.

"Yes, baby, they are. I feel so lucky that we found them. They're exactly what I'd had in mind."

"Those rings were waiting for us Ryan. That's the way the Universe works. Didn't you get the impression that the craftsman had been expecting us?"

"Yes, I did, actually. The whole thing had a really special feel about it...magical, almost." She was quiet for a moment before adding, "God, Janna, he reminded me of my grandfather. With his intelligent, quiet manner, his way of speaking, his looks. He felt like an old friend, and I felt...I don't know...comfortable there." She turned her face into Janna's temple and kissed her softly. "And being there with my soon-to-be wife made it even more special...extraordinarily special. Beyond words special."

"Fortunately for us, we don't always need words, do we?" Janna wrapped her arms around Ryan's, which were wrapped around her waist and leaned back into her embrace.

"No, we don't, my destiny." She reached out and picked up the ring box. "I can't wait to wear mine, Janna. I've never been into jewelry, but I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to putting this on. It's a declaration of my love for you...one that I'm so proud and happy to make."

The sweet declaration tore a small sob from Janna's throat. "Ryan...that would make a beautiful vow."

Ryan nodded against Janna's head and removed her other arm from her waist and, reaching around Janna, gently picked up the smaller of the two rings. She held it up so that she could read its inscription aloud.

"Janna, my destiny. Love, Ryan."

Janna did likewise with Ryan's ring.

"Ryan, my destiny. Love, Janna."

They both replaced the rings in the box and Ryan set it back on the dresser. Then Janna turned in Ryan's embrace and held her tightly, burying her face in her mate's chest.

"God, Janna...this love between us is unreal. I never, never would have thought it possible to love someone so much."

Janna shook her head, mirroring Ryan's sense of disbelief. "I know, Ryan. But it was destined. Just like the rings say. There was no fighting it. We made the agreement to be mates again before this life began." She pulled back slightly and looked up at her mate with a twinkle in her eye. "Not that we'd try to fight it, as amazingly good as it is."

"We'd be absolute fucking idiots if we did, baby." Ryan grinned and kissed Janna's head again. "I've been called hard-headed in my day, but even I'm not that stubborn."

"Thank the Gods!"

"Come on, my destiny, we were gonna work out before throwing the softball around."

"Let's go. I'll show you how good I am."

"Oh, baby, I know full well how good you are!"

"At softball, honey."

"Oh, right!"

Their cheerful, now routine, banter continued all the way down the stairs and into the exercise room.

"Alright, Janna, nice pick up!" Ryan stood at home plate with the bat resting on her shoulder, pleased beyond words at Janna's skill and proficiency at softball. It meant that they would most likely be able to play together on Ryan's team for the remaining few months of the long season.

The hot August sun beat down on them, but Ryan didn't notice it. She was entirely too enraptured by her mate's grace, agility, and beauty. Also, she found her looking completely adorable in her form-fitting biking shorts, t-shirt and new "Tahoe" cap.

Janna was feeling much the same thing. Ryan displayed an absolute mastery of her sport and a natural leadership ability. I'll bet she ends of coaching one day...she'd better! And Janna knew she would never get enough of seeing Ryan in uniform, be it softball, cop, or otherwise.

As her mate trotted back to her position at second base, Ryan's thoughts drifted briefly back to the first time she and Janna had thrown the ball around together a few weeks before. She grinned as she remembered her relief at seeing Janna throw the ball for the first time. She repeated the thought again that she had back then, as it pleased her immensely: "She doesn't throw like a girl...thank God!" Her grin widened further as she remembered how their practice session had morphed into a playful wrestling match on the lawn and then into more sensual wrestling and had to be moved quickly into the house.

She was startled out of her delightful reverie when her teammate, Carrie, who was catching for her, snickered and said, "Earth to Ryan!"

Ryan simply turned to her friend and grinned widely, then nodded toward Janna and said, "Can you blame me?"

"Absolutely not, buddy!"

Ryan re focused on the task at hand. She and Janna had arrived for the game an hour early and were working out with some of the other players. It allowed a more extended workout opportunity for Janna than just the two of them working together did. Janna was exhibiting a definite proficiency at the position and a strong grasp of the basics. She looked to be a definite asset to the team, and Ryan was eager for the team manger to arrive and give Janna her informal tryout before the game started.

The ball came back in to the catcher, who tossed it to Ryan. Ryan tossed it up and brought the bat under it gracefully, placing a high fly out to short center. Janna quickly trotted backwards, calling the ball and waving off the advancing center fielder. She deftly made the catch and immediately set herself, making a bull's-eye throw to the catcher at home.

"Jesus...what an arm!" gasped Carrie, at home plate.

"I guess fifteen years of playing rock guitar builds muscle," Ryan offered proudly.

"Well, Ryan, I see she can catch flies and throw line drives, lets see how she handles grounders."

Ryan turned to see the manager, Sharon, leaning against the fence behind her.

"Hi, coach. You want to do the hitting?" Ryan offered her the bat.

Sharon's arms remained crossed in front of her chest and she waved Ryan on. "Nope. You go ahead."

Ryan called the play, "Okay, play's at first" and hit a blistering ground ball to Janna's right, near second base.

Her nimble mate was ready, and dove to her right, stretching out across her body and stopping the ball with her glove, quickly transferring the ball to her throwing hand, then setting herself and making a long throw to first, right on target. Ryan's teammates clapped and yelled encouragement.

The next shot was to Janna's far left and she had to literally dive to make the stop, ending on her stomach in the dirt and completing a shovel toss the remaining few feet to the first baseman. The play was accompanied by whoops and hollers and Ryan grinned unabashedly.

"Beautiful, Janna!" She shook her head in wonder. Her partner was much better than she had dared hope. "Okay, double play!"

She hit a hard, bouncing grounder to the shortstop, who stopped it and made a quick toss to Janna at second, who in turn pivoted gracefully on the bag and made a blistering throw to first.

"Jesus" muttered Sharon. "Okay, I've seen enough defense. Lets see some offense, Janna."

As Janna dutifully trotted in to home plate, kicking up yellow dust as she ran, she smiled and said, "You got it coach."

Sharon walked her star pitcher to the mound. "Okay, Ryan, I want to see some hot stuff. Give her your best. If she can hit you, she can hit anyone in the league." Looking Ryan pointedly in the eye, she added, "I don't want you taking it easy on her because she's your lover."

"No problem, Sharon. She's good." Ryan stared pointedly right back at her.

Ryan took the mound and waited for Janna to step to the plate. As she did, pitcher grinned at batter encouragingly and winked. The batter grinned and waggled her bat, setting herself in her stance. The pitcher hesitated momentarily, distracted by the batter's cute body, but then pulled herself together with a shake of her head, wound up, and made the pitch. Janna swung and missed, unused to the sheer velocity of Ryan's pitching. Undiscouraged, she took a deep breath and set herself again. The pitch was delivered, right down the middle of the strike zone, and when she swung, she caught a piece of it, fouling it down the third base line.

"Okay, babe, you got a piece of it. Just wait on it a bit more," Ryan yelled with encouragement.

"Zamora...are you supposed to talk to the opposing batters?" Her coach yelled out gruffly.

"Chill out, Sharon, for Christ's sake. She hasn't played in fifteen years. Give her a little time to get her swing back." Ryan eyed her coach pointedly with raised eyebrows until Sharon conceded the point by nodding and waving her hand.

Ryan set herself and gazed at Janna, eyebrows raised in encouragement. Janna smiled and nodded, then set herself. The pitch came in, again, in the strike zone and she stretched out and connected with it solidly, sending a line drive just over the shortstop's head.

"Yes!" Ryan jumped up and pumped her fist in the air triumphantly as her mate stood at the plate grinning widely, the bat resting on her shoulder.

The coach yelled from the sideline, "Okay, Norden, show me that wasn't a fluke."

Janna proceeded to do just that, having regained her rhythm and become used to Ryan's pitching, spreading balls all over the field, including one that landed just inside the left field fence.

"Okay, okay, that's enough." Sharon approached Janna with an outstretched hand and added, "Welcome to the team, Norden."

"Thanks, Sharon! I'm glad to be here." Janna smiled warmly at her new coach.

Ryan jogged in from the pitcher's mound and threw her arms around her mate, lifting her triumphantly off the ground. "Great job, baby. I knew you'd do fine!" She refrained from kissing Janna, though she wanted to very badly. The rest of the team approached and congratulated Janna, welcoming her to the team.

Sharon, her manner less brusque now that Janna had proven herself said, "Okay, Janna, we'll need you to start the next game. Come on over to the dugout and fill some forms out for me and you'll be all set."

Ryan walked Janna to the dugout with an arm draped around her shoulders, pride written all over her face. They sat down together and gulped cold water while Janna filled out the player's registration forms.

Ryan felt so happy that she was nearly floating and the feeling continued throughout the entire game, aided by the fact that her mate now sat in the dugout, much closer to her.

Two pairs of watchful eyes kept up a vigil on the two women throughout the game, and the slimy owners tracked them from a distance after the game ended.

As the team sat together in the bleachers after the game, Ryan kept getting an uneasy feeling, accompanied by the prickling sensation at the back of her neck that she associated with danger. Listening to her inner voice and becoming wary, she pulled Janna closer to her side and looked around. She didn't see anything or anyone out of the ordinary, but didn't let her guard down.

She was intelligent enough to realize that as out gay women, she and most of her teammates were targets. Problems in the past with harassment and outright physical abuse were behind the reason that she always carried her service revolver with her to games, securely fastened into it's holster in her locked athletic bag.

The attack on her precious mate further ground the need for safety into her consciousness, so she was not about to dismiss any seemingly out of place feelings she experienced, thereby letting down her guard. She pulled the athletic bag more firmly between her feet and looked around again.

Janna sensed her disquiet and asked with concern, "What is it Ryan?"

"Oh, probably nothing Janna, just an uneasy feeling." She didn't want to alarm Janna, but she didn't want to hide anything from her either, especially if she was in danger. She firmly believed that the better-informed one was about situations and environments, the safer one was. She looked seriously at her mate. "I feel like I'm being watched."

Janna returned the serious gaze. "Listen to your gut, Ryan. It usually speaks the truth."

"Yes, I'm realizing that, babe." She gave Janna a reassuring squeeze and looked around again. She kept her awareness on alert but didn't feel the uneasiness again.

As Billy and Adam, the slimy owners of the watchful eyes, climbed into Billy's beat up car in the complex's parking lot, he said, "Shit, Adam. I swear to God, every time we follow that fuckin' woman she can tell, and she looks around for us. This might not be so easy."

"Come on Billy, they're just a couple of stupid dykes. We won't have any problem with them."

"What are you, a moron? The big one's a cop! I think we're gonna have to maybe get a couple more guys to help."

"Yeah, that might be a good idea. I know a bunch of guys that wouldn't mind helping out."

Billy pulled his rolling piece of shit out of the lot and continued to think aloud. "Okay, yeah, we'll line up some help and do it after a late game here. They usually hang out and bullshit for a while and by the time they leave, there's hardly anyone left around here. That park over there next to the lot is nice and dark too. Yeah, that's the plan." He smiled cruelly as he silently contemplated the beating he would give the uppity women.

Unfortunately, or fortunately for Ryan and Janna, the idiot hadn't a clue as to whom he was dealing with, and would find his task far from easy when it went down.

Warning: This chapter contains a brief description of violence against children and explicit sex.

As Janna finished a set of leg curls she heard the kitchen door bang open. Surprised, she glanced at her watch and noted that it was only 5:00. Strange...she's rarely home before 6:30 on Mondays. She let the bar slowly come to rest and got up from the seat, grabbing a towel from an overhead bar as she stood up. She dried her face as she walked down the hallway to the kitchen and could hear her mate banging around noisily in there. When she entered the cheery room she was shocked to see Ryan sitting at the kitchen table, an uncapped fifth of Jack Daniels and a shot glass sitting in front of her.

Ryan looked at her coldly, filling Janna's heart with pain, and downed another shot. I knew she was having a bad day. I didn't do enough to try and help her. I was too wrapped up in shopping with my mom and planning the friggin' ceremony. At Janna's pained, crestfallen expression, Ryan's turned from one of ice, to one of pain, and Janna felt a glimpse of the pain and horror in her heart.

Ryan looked down at the shot glass wrapped in her large hand and said apologetically, "I'm not upset with you Janna. I had the fucking shittiest day that I think I've ever had." She poured another shot and downed it, and then another, then leaned back in the chair and threw her head back, blowing out a breath before exploding, "God damn it! God damn those mother fucking, child abusing assholes!" She slammed her fist down onto the table, making the shot glass jump six inches in the air and land on its side. She rubbed a hand through her hair, obviously in agony.

Janna slowly approached her and laid gentle hands on her shoulders. "Tell me about it, Ryan...please." As she reached out and began to soothe her partner's shattered nerves with her physical touch, she also reached out through their bond and sent love and reassurance cascading into her partner's soul.

The ice in Ryan's heart began to melt quickly under the loving barrage and she reached one hand up to link it with Janna's on her shoulder. She shook her head as tears began to track down her cheeks. "Jesus, Janna. Two babies. Two little kids...beaten to death by their so-called mother's methed out boyfriend." She took a deep breath. "John and I got the call...we were the first ones there...we knew right away it was too late. Fucking shit, Janna, they were..." She shuddered and brought her fist down hard on the table again. "Fuck!" she screamed. "I want to kill 'em...both of 'em. The mother never even tried to help. Drugged out, white trash, piece of shit." She glanced back at Janna, her eyes dark and bleak. "I nearly beat the shit out of the fucking prick. The paramedics had to pull me off him."

Janna continued her gentle touch from behind Ryan and leaned down, wrapping her in her arms. "I'm so sorry Ryan...for them and for you. Tell me what I can do." She spoke softly and gently kissed her mate's temple. Ryan closed her eyes and took a breath, exhaling pain and anger and sorrow.

The alcohol coursed through her veins, aided by her anger, and her pounding pulse intensified the effects of Janna's touch. She half turned and pulled Janna down into her arms, crushing her to her chest. Her throbbing pulse seemed to pool in her groin and she sought out Janna's lips, taking them forcefully. Janna gave herself up to her partner willingly, letting her take what she needed, and Ryan's kiss immediately became less demanding.

Ryan stood suddenly, pulling Janna with her and stormed out of the room, pulling her mate by the hand. She led Janna quickly through the house and up the stairs to their bedroom. When they reached the room, she shut the door behind her and wordlessly turned Janna and backed her up against it. She captured Janna's lips again hungrily and thrust a hand up the front of her shirt, roughly fondling a breast. When Janna moaned her consent, Ryan thrust a thigh between her legs, lifting her slightly off the floor, and wrapped her other arm around her waist. They stood there for several minutes, Ryan thrusting against Janna's center with her thigh, kissing her deeply. As Janna began to cry out her pleasure, Ryan stopped suddenly and guided her to the bed, pushing her down on her back.

She looked intensely at Janna and said, "I need you Janna. Right now."

Janna simply nodded her assent and opened her arms to her mate. Ryan fell into them and reached down, removing Janna's shorts and panties, then stepped back from the bed and struggled out of her own clothes, kicking her shoes off against the wall. She leaned down and kissed Janna, much more gently than before, and reached a long arm over to the bedside table, opened the drawer and snagged a leather harness, along with its accompanying hard latex cylinder.

"Is this okay Janna?"

"Yes. Always." Janna quickly shrugged out of her shirt and bra while Ryan prepared herself.

Ryan deftly secured the harness into place around her waist and hips and secured the appendage, her breath catching as it lodged against her anatomy. She leaned down over her mate and with one hand, guided the phallic object into her partner. Janna sucked in a breath and moaned, pulling Ryan firmly against herself and wrapping her legs tightly around her mate as she began to thrust.

With each thrust received by her loving and willing partner, the pent up pain, anger and horror in Ryan's body was slowly released. Janna held her securely and kissed her tenderly. The violence of what Ryan had seen that day was not mirrored in their lovemaking. The anger she wished to impart on the perpetrators of the horrendous crime was not inflicted on her mate. Their mutual love altered the emotion from one of negativity and fear to that of devotion and tenderness. They lost themselves and their pain and horror in the giving of pleasure. In life.

After Ryan had brought about Janna's release, she still needed more. She lay atop her mate, waiting for Janna's breathing to return to normal, then slowly pulled out and lie on her back. Janna sensed Ryan's need and gently reached down and undid the harness, removing it from her partner's body.

"May I use it now, Ryan? I haven't had a lot of practice, but I want to try." Janna's voice was soft and gentle.

Ryan's blood began boiling at the prospect and without a word, she sat up and helped to adjust the harness to her mate's smaller body. With the appliance in place, Janna rose to her knees above Ryan's reclining body. The off-white of the vibrator, which hung below Janna's hips, matched the creamy white color of her abdomen and breasts and at the erotic sight, Ryan was nearly consumed with lust.

She reached up and pulled her mate down on top of her, reaching down at the same time with one hand and guiding the vibrator into her body. Her breath caught as the instrument glided in: she had never ever allowed anyone to enter her in that way before. But at that moment she needed to be taken, gently, by her mate.

As Janna started a slow, rhythmic thrusting, Ryan moaned loudly and arched, wrapping her legs tightly up around Janna's back, the strong muscles in her legs aiding her partner's thrusts. Janna pressed her body firmly against her lover and kissed her deeply, then bent her head to her breasts and tended to them with her lips and tongue.

As the pleasurable sensations built within her own body, Janna found that she had to focus intently on not losing the rhythm that her partner so desperately needed. She remembered her Tantric breathing principles, which served to calm and balance her, also allowing her to enjoy the sensations more fully. Ryan opened her eyes when she felt the change within her mate, and mimicked Janna's actions, synchronizing their breathing.

"Oh, God, baby...yes!" She gasped. Ryan closed her eyes again as a long moan was torn from her throat, the pleasure escalating out of control. She felt too far gone to try the Tantric technique any further and just let the spasms carry her away, the horror of her day dissolving as she left her body, carried on the waves of love delivered by her beloved mate. Janna felt the climax rock her partner's body violently and slowed her strokes, holding her mate tightly and speaking soothing words of love into her ear as the spasms slowed and faded.

Afterward, Janna held Ryan for hours and they talked about everything she had witnessed. Janna soothed her mate with her touch, her words of devotion, her support, and her love. Ryan's tears shifted from those of pain, sorrow and anger to tears of love and gratitude. During the night, when nightmarish images interrupted her dreams, Janna was there to help soothe them away. There was one image, however, that would continue to haunt Ryan for the rest of her life.

The warrior sat astride her horse, surveying the scene before her. With bloodlust coursing through her veins, she raised her sword triumphantly and, filled with a primal joy, she gave her battle cry. Her men, spurred on by her excitement, redoubled their efforts. Their maiming, killing and looting took on a new intensity under the proud gaze of their leader. The warrior watched the carnage, pleased at the control she wielded over her men and at her good fortune at finding the small, but wealthy village.

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she spied a young man rushing toward her with an ax in his upraised hand, a look of sheer hatred haunting his eyes. She smiled with a pure evil intent, knowing she could dispatch him easily and that it would bring her great pleasure to do so. Just before entering within range of her sword, however, he stopped and flung his ax at her. She reacted instantly, so fast were her reflexes that she even had the time to feel a thrill at his surprise maneuver. She vaulted from her horse's back, sword in hand, flipping through the air, and landed in front of the shocked man. The shock barely had the time to reach his brain however, for as she landed, she fixed him with an icy smile and brought her sword to bear, running him through. As he fell to the ground, dead, she laughed with glee and wiped her sword on his pants.

She gazed around at the carnage that surrounded her and breathed deeply of the essence of war, letting it fill her dark soul and plunge her heart further into an icy darkness. As the thrill of the battle captivated her soul, she threw her head back and shrieked her battle cry once again. Her men responded in answer, their war whoops momentarily drowning out the screams and cries of the villagers.

Ryan sat bolt upright, flinging her mate off of herself and nearly off of the bed in the process. She looked around the room in confusion as her heart pounded wildly and sweat dripped from her face.

"Ryan! What's wrong?" Janna's terrified voice broke through her haze and Ryan found her mate's face in the moonlit room.

"A dream" she croaked. "A nightmare." She rubbed her hands through her damp hair. "But it was real."

Ryan hung her head in her hands as the horrible memories battered at her psyche. She shuddered and shivered involuntarily as she tried to comprehend the meaning of the horrendous images. Finally, it came to her with a startling, shattering clarity: she had been a monster. A cruel, bloodthirsty, inhuman monster. She swallowed hard and grimaced as a jolt of pain shot from her belly to her heart.

"Ryan, what is it? What's wrong?" Janna moved closer to her and tried to put an arm around her mate's shoulder, but Ryan winced and shied away from her.

With pain breaking her rough voice, she exclaimed, "No...don't touch me Janna."

Shrinking back as if she'd been hit, Janna sat, shocked by the statement. She swallowed the jolt of pain that had just hit her heart and implored, "Ryan...tell me what's going on...please."

Ryan felt the shocked hurt that her mate was feeling and let it jolt her back to her senses somewhat. She gingerly picked up Janna's hand and said, "I'm sorry, Janna. You didn't do anything wrong. It's me." She closed her eyes and swallowed before continuing. "I had another warrior dream...but it was different this time...I was different." She looked at her mate with dark, pain-filled eyes. "I was evil, Janna. I was murdering people...leading an army that was killing innocent villagers." She swallowed again and shook her head, dislodging tears from her eyes, and Janna felt the horror that filled Ryan's heart for the second time that day.

"Janna...my God...I...I got off on it. The killing gave me pleasure. I killed a man with my sword and felt ecstatic." She buried her face in her hands, momentarily unable to handle what the dream was implying.

Janna wrapped her arms around her partner and pulled her close as the tough cop began to sob. "It's okay, Ryan. We'll figure this out. We'll talk it out. It will be alright." She rocked her mate slowly in her arms, wondering how she could possibly help ease that particular pain. During her own dream journeys into that past life, she had glimpsed some of her warrior's darkness. Though she had never seen any images of brutality on the woman's part, she had sensed that there was an underlying mystery to her.

"Janna, what kind of monster was I?" Ryan whispered.

"You weren't a monster, Ryan. The woman that I loved was warm and loving and protective."

"How could I have been both, Janna?" Ryan raised her head and looked at Janna, confusion coloring her eyes and knitting her brows. "The woman that I was in that dream wasn't capable of loving anything...I know it...I could feel it, Janna. She was filled with hatred and darkness. Consumed by them." Ryan shivered, remembering the uncomfortable, icy cold that had filled her being. Janna wrinkled her brow and shrugged slightly, not having an answer for her mate. She gently brought Ryan's face back to her chest.

As Janna held her and caressed her back gently, Ryan could feel her mate's warmth soothing her soul and realization slowly dawned. "It was you, Janna...you came into her life," she breathed. She looked at her mate, blue eyes wide with wonder. "That has to be it. I know we ended our lives together, I mean, I'm pretty sure...I must have been that way before we met." She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know...God, I can't shake the image of killing that man...of the feeling it gave me. I'm not sure there was any humanity in me."

Janna pulled her face around and gazed at her warmly. "There had to have been a glimmer of humanity, Ryan, for me to think that you were worth loving."

"So, you think that's a possible explanation...that I started out evil and you redeemed me?"

"I think it's possible, yes. I believe that love can conquer anything."

A small smile curved Ryan's lips. "You showed me that earlier tonight, didn't you?"

"I tried to baby, yeah." She pulled Ryan into a tight embrace. "God, I love you Ryan. Try not to let the dream bother you too much. I have no doubt that you became a wonderful human being at some point in that life...I've felt that. I know it without a doubt."

"Yeah, but Janna, what does it mean for me now? Is that darkness still in me?" She took a deep breath and let it out. "I've known, at times, that I'm capable of great violence, but I've always kept myself in check. I think the aikido has helped a lot with that. But, lately... earlier today with that scumbag and a few weeks ago when that jerk taunted you at the ballpark, I barely controlled myself. Actually, I think that I might have killed that guy today...he's lucky the paramedics and John were there."

She pulled back from her mate and faced her. "That's not good, Janna. I can't be that way and still be a good cop. I can't be having violent outbursts or impulses like that."

"Ryan, maybe that's why you had the dream: to remind you that you can control it. Dreams happen for a reason, even if they're not symbolic. I think the message of that dream is that you can overcome whatever darkness may exist in your soul. Ryan, we're all a combination of light and dark. You know that...we've discussed it."

She leaned forward and kissed her mate, then gazed at her seriously. "I have no doubts whatsoever about the composition of your soul, Ryan. You are an incredibly good, warm human being. It's natural to have anger at times; to lash out...it's human. I have no doubt that you can control your impulses. And, frankly, I don't blame you one bit for hauling off on the guy. Lets face it baby; any animal that kills kids deserves whatever punishment you can level on him, as far as I'm concerned."

Ryan reached forward and brought Janna's head to her chest, then lay back down. As they wrapped themselves around each other, Ryan said, "Help me get through the rest of the night Janna."

"With pleasure, my destiny."

The full moon looked upon her friends with empathy and sent an extra measure of healing energy to them within her silvery light.

Ryan entered the kitchen and set her bag on the countertop. A delicious aroma was wafting from the oven and she tiptoed over and had a peek. Oh, yeah...chilies rellenos. My wife is a goddess! As the thought of her mate brought a smile to her lips, she realized that she could hear a pounding beat emanating from the back of the house. Smiling widely, she walked down the hallway towards the darkroom. The music was pulsating so loudly there that the framed photos on the wall were dancing to the beat.

She stopped at the closed door and shook her head, grinning, as she knocked. She had quickly learned never to enter the room unannounced after doing so the first time and flooding the room with white light, ruining several photos in the process. Her knock went unanswered, so she banged harder, at which the decibel level of the music instantly dropped ten or twenty points and the door opened.

Her mate's face greeted her, smiling somewhat sheepishly. "Hi, sweetheart. I'm sorry, I lost track of time." Her brows suddenly contorted in worry and she exclaimed, "Oh, crap...dinner!" and started to race from the room.

Ryan gently caught her by the arm and laughed. "It's okay, baby. I checked it. There's still ten minutes on the timer." She pulled her mate into a hug and relished the contact, running her hands along Janna's back. "Mm...I've needed this all day."

Janna responded to the touch by wrapping herself tightly around her mate. "Me too. I felt your tension today. Did you get my care package?"

"I did...thank you very much. I think you sent me two of them, didn't you?"

"Yep! Glad they helped, love. I felt the energy come right back from you too...along with that great jolt of Ryan-love. I will never get tired of that feeling."

"You'd better not."

"Count on it." She stretched up and kissed Ryan's lips, lingering there until they both had to part for air. She stepped back and looked at her lover coyly. "There'll be more of that later. Come here...I want to show you something."

Ryan, still stunned from the kiss, dumbly followed her, a silly grin plastered on her face. Janna switched on the room light and led her to the worktable in the center of the room. On it sat a very large, 18x20 print that consisted of a collage of images from their mountain trip.

"See what I've been working on? I'm thinking of doing it in a nice matte and frame and putting it over the couch in the living room. What do you think?"

Ryan stared at the image, dumbfounded. "Janna...how...how did you do this?"

"It's a composite image. I exposed each image separately on the same sheet of photo paper." She looked at Ryan expectantly. "Do you like it honey...if not..."

"My God, Janna...it's stunning! I love it, baby." She looked at Janna with eyes full of pride. "It's incredible...you are so talented, Janna."

Janna beamed at her mate. "Thanks!" She leaned over the photo and pointed to an image. "This is my favorite." It was a picture of the two of them standing in front of the American River. They stood arm-in-arm, both grinning widely. Their love for each other was obvious: it lit their faces and practically glowed in a halo around them.

In the upper right corner of the photo was an image of the full moon, on the left was a shot of Lover's Leap, and there were various other shots from locations they had visited, all combined artistically to flow together as one, with the image of the two of them and the river in the center. The resulting image was breathtakingly beautiful and conveyed, somehow, the true meaning of the trip for them.

"Janna, honey, this is so incredibly good...I can't believe it. I've never seen anything like it." She turned proud eyes on her partner again and added, "You are truly an artist, Janna." Another thought struck her and she added, "Will you do something like this from our commitment ceremony? That would be so special."

"I'd love to Ryan. That's a wonderful idea." Her cute, coy look returned and she said, "I'm working on another one too. Wanna see?"

"Sure!"

Janna led her around to the other side of the table, where she had laid out a handful of 4x6 prints. They were all shots of Ryan in vastly different poses and states of dress. The cop's jaw dropped open as she stared at them. "So this is why you've been following me around with a camera lately?" She looked at Janna expectantly.

"Yep! I hope you don't mind, Ryan...you just make such a gorgeous subject. You really could have been a model, you know."

Ryan burst into laughter. "Oh, yeah, right...I can just see that...me, prancing around and looking pretty."

"I didn't say you should be one, only that you could be. You're easily beautiful enough."

"Give me a break, baby, I am not." She threw an arm around her mate's shoulders.

"Ryan Zamora, you most certainly are. Do you ever look in the mirror?" She placed an indignant hand on her waist.

"Jesus, you look cute when you do that!"

"Don't change the subject! Here, this is one of my favorites." It was a shot of her beautiful partner in her swimsuit, lounging seductively on the beach at Lake Tahoe. "And here...I think this is my very favorite." She pointed to a picture of Ryan sitting relaxed against a fence at the softball field. Her usually ever-present sunglasses were missing, so her brilliant blue eyes were the focal point of the image. They seemed to glow from within, radiating the love she felt for the photographer.

"I remember when you took that last week. You looked so god damned cute in those biking shorts. That's lust you see there in my eyes." She grinned at her mate and pulled her closer.

"Yes, I recognize the emotion honey...I see it quite often, you know." Janna returned the grin. "Ooh, lets go...dinner's about ready."

They walked arm-in-arm to the kitchen, both hungry and ready to consume a delicious Mexican meal.

Janna set her fork down and sipped from her bottle of Foster's. "So, honey, was it really rough today...after yesterday? You felt very upset several times." She grasped Ryan's hand with her free one and rubbed it gently.

Ryan sighed. "It was, yeah. We got called into the big guy's office...because of the condition of the prick when we brought him in. Apparently, the paramedics couldn't say how he'd been injured and neither could the booking Sergeant or any of the other cops on the case, so it fell on us. He knew, of course, that it had to have been us...or one of us...and he said he didn't blame us...but it's his job, you know? To make sure we stay in line. John tried to claim responsibility, but it was all my doing, and I said as much. I guess the perp isn't saying anything at all."

"So, that means, what?"

"Possible disciplinary action of some sort. The Lt. said he'd keep it under wraps as much as he can, but it may come down on me. It's possible that nothing will come of it, because of the nature of the guy's crime...he said the department's behind me 1000%, and that a bunch of people have actually recommended me for a commendation." She took another bite of chili and shrugged. "I know I was wrong, so I'm ready to take whatever punishment they think I deserve." She looked pointedly at Janna and added, "I can't go around making my own rules just because I get pissed off at a perp. That'd make me a lousy cop." She picked up her Corona and took a large swig.

Janna continued caressing her hand. "Is that all?" She knew it wasn't, but wanted to give her partner the opportunity to offer the information.

"No...um...we had to go back to the scene for a while. That was tough." Her eyes misted and she cleared her throat. "That's when the energy you sent really helped me, Janna. It got me through it in one piece. You're a Godsend, my love." She leaned over and stole a kiss. "Mmm, love those rellenos."

"Lets share some more then."