Easy Come, Hard to Go

AN: Alright. So I’m finally back and I hope everyone had an awesome holiday weekend. It
was especially special to me because, including me, my family has served in the military.
I, as a member of the Army National Guard, hold this holiday very near, which is why I was
busy all weekend. Now, about some issues that people have... Yes, I have not only heard
of the book, I own the novel made from the movie. Now, it’s been a while since I’ve read it,
I’ll admit, but here’s where I am coming from. There was no way on Earth I was going to
make Daniel turn out to be a monster. And her mother dying in a fire makes the story plot
a whole lot better. I am in no way dishonoring the book nor the movie. Thanks for the
heads up though. It’s nice to know other people are as involved in this story as I am.
*grins* Of course, I am always involved with him one way or another...

On with the show....

Chapter 18

Jareth and Crystal walked in silence. Sarah, still passed out in Jareth’s arms, breathed in
and out in a steady manor. Things had certainly gotten darker than anyone expected. The
night shrouded the three in a welcomed darkness. Jareth and Crystal, still dressed in
their Underground clothes, didn’t feel like explaining themselves to anyone. And Sarah
was in no condition to deal with anything right now. Just darkness and silence.

“She will be ok, right?” Crystal asked, kicking a stone out of her path.

Jareth’s eyes never wavered from his path he was walking. To tell the truth, he didn't
know if she was going to be ok. He had never seen a novice act like that before. They
were always trained to use their powers. Sarah, on the other hand, just exploded with
hers. She drained her energy so fast, she didn't even know what she was doing.

“She should be. She’s just drained.”

Silence again befriended the three. The brother and sister walking were both occupied
with their own thoughts and ideas. Not even paying attention to where they were walking,
they just walked on an imaginary path to the hospital. Jareth, standing tall even while
holding his fallen maiden, walked with a purpose and that he wouldn’t reveal to anyone
ever. Though his original intentions had been to take Sarah and make her fall in love with
him and them make her life a living hell, he was starting to see that the cold stab she
drove in him was melting away. *I was foolish to think I could even do anything like that. I
knew I loved her. Why was I so blind? I can’t even remember why I thought I would be able
to that.* Though in his heart he knew it was his anger. Anger that festered all her life, him
watching her grow into the beautiful woman she was now. And his fear that he would
never get the chance to sing to her again, never get to hold her another moment. Even
more so, never get to have her as a bride and mother to his children.

Crystal was just thinking about everything. *So many things have happened in this short
time we have been together. Will things work out this way? Poor Max. Overcome by his
anger. And even more, poor Toby and Sarah. I can’t imagine how Sarah must feel about
what she had to do.*

So lost in thought the two were, that they didn’t even notice the police car pull next to
them.

“Excuse me.” The officer slowly creeped beside the two. “Hey buddy!”

Jareth snapped out of his thinking and looked at the officer, his eyes still glazed over in
thought.

“Yes, can I help you?” Jareth asked the bewildered officer.

“Do you three need an ambulance? Is everything ok?”

“As good as I guess it could be.” Crystal answered in the same monotone voice Jareth
was using.

The officer slowed down and pulled his car to the side of the road. He slowly watched the
three make their way past the car and got out following behind them.

“Are you sure everything is ok? She doesn't look so good.” The officer reached out and
started to grab at Sarah.

“Do it and you die.” Jareth pulled Sarah away from the man.

“What did you just say?” The officer stopped walking, and pulled his hand to his holster.

“He said you touch her and both of us will come after you.” Crystal turned around and
looked at the now stopped cop.

“Is that a threat?”

Jareth slowly turned and faced the cop. He was tired not only from the battle, but from
traveling, dealing with his brother, and now he had to deal with this guys shit. “No, I do not
make threats. You can trust what I say. And that is a promise.”

“Alright buddy,” the cop pulled his gun out and brandished it at the fae royalty, “Hands in
the air. Drop the girl to the ground slowly and you follow. You too.”

“Excuse me?” Jareth asked.

“I said drop the girl and hit the ground asshole!”

Jareth rolled his eyes and turned towards Crystal. He had enough of the stuff the
Aboveground had to offer. He was done acting like a mortal. All he wanted to do was get
away. He handed Sarah’s limp body over to Crystal and turned back to the cop.

“I have had enough of this.” Jareth conjured up a crystal and watched the cop’s eyes
grow to the size of saucers.

“What the hell?” The cop yelled as Jareth threw the crystal at him. The cop cringed back
ready for the impact, but opened his eyes when none came. The crystal soared in the air
and landed at the police officer’s feet. It shattered and around the cop formed a bubble.
The officer reached out and touched the glass like substance. Soon, the touching turned
into pounding and then, a few gun shots were heard. But, the fae walking away from the
bloody bubble paid no attention. They had business to attend to. And fae business must
not wait.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Toby had been talking with the doctor for what seemed like forever.

“So where did you rule?”

The doctor looked into Toby’s young eyes and flashed him a smile.

“I ruled a Kingdom centrally located in the Underground.”

“Were you married?”

The doctor stopped and looked at Toby, pain etching the figures in the man’s face.

“Yes, I was. I had a beautiful wife, two sons and one daughter.”

“What happened?” Toby scootched closer to the doctor and looked at him with complete
interest

The man looked at him and smiled. “They are dead.”

“Really? No way! How did they die?” Toby asked, totally oblivious to the way the question
sounded.

“Our kingdom was attacked and they died by the hands of the general. It was a ploy to get
me out of hiding. If I would have been more in tune with my family, I would have been able
to save them.”

Toby smiled and patted the doctor on the shoulder. “It’s ok. I lost my mom. She died in a
fire. And my sister is going to leave too.”

“Really? Why?” The doctor asked, mimicking Toby’s question.

“She’s going to be married to a king in the Underground.”

“Really?” This time, the doc was serious.

“Yeah, his name is Jareth. He kidnapped me when I was younger and fell in love with my
sister. Ever since then, he’s been scheming to get her back. Now, I think they are really in
love. Do you know Jareth?”

The doctor smiled as the memories flooded through his mind. He shook his head and
laughed a little. “Yeah, actually. We were in front of the Seelie Court together a couple
times.”

“For what?”

“Well, lets just say Jareth and I were in a lot of trouble when we were younger. We
couldn’t seem to stay out of it.”

“Indeed Siress, I believe most of the time we were in trouble because you couldn’t keep
your hands to yourself.”

The two on the the hospital bed turned and found the two faes standing in the door way.
Sarah, still unconscious, was laying in Jareth’s arms.

“What happened?” Toby jumped off the bed and walked to Sarah.

“She’s just sleeping Toby, dont worry.” Crystal smiled as she hugged the boy.

“Nice to see you, old friend.” Siress waited for Jareth to finish laying Sarah down and
grabbed his hand and shook it.

“You as well. Nice work on Toby. I was hoping that was you on the board in the hallway.

“He was lucky the cut was clean.”

“The bitch who did it wasn’t.” Crystal chimed in.

“And who would that be?”

“Lielle.” Crystal finished.

“As in Genieve’s daughter?”

“Yeah, and guess who she was with?” Jareth smiled as Siress thought.

“Micheal?”

“Bingo.” Toby smiled.

“That slimy piece of shit is still alive? I thought you would have taken care of him by now.”
Jareth casted his eyes to the floor. Hearing those words and thinking of the pain Sarah
went through made him want to break down and cry. “He’s a lot more powerful than he
used to be. And a lot more cynical.”

“But, he's still an asshole.” Crystal spoke again.

“As always,” Siress agreed, “this is her then?” Siress pointed to Sarah’s body.

“Yeah.” Jareth pulled some of Sarah’s hair from her face.

“She’s one of the more beautiful mortals that I’ve seen.”

“She’s gorgeous.” Jareth corrected his old friend.

Siress smiled and touched Sarah’s forehead. “Gifted she is I sense.”

“More gifted than I ever imagined. Which reminds me. I have a favor to ask of you. Sarah
just gave her father a little gift.” Jareth pulled Siress away from Toby so he could speak a
little more openly. “She made that son of a bitch relive some of her memories.”

“How did she manage to do that?”

“I have no idea. But, while we are gone, I want to make sure nothing to bad happens to
him. Could you keep an eye on him for me? Maybe check on him every so often?”

Siress thought for a second. “I dont know Jareth. I’m pretty busy here at the hospital.”

“Oh come on Siress. You owe me and you can’t deny that.”

Smiling, Siress nodded his head. “Yes, yes I do. I guess, for old times sake.”

“Good.” Jareth said patting him on the back. “Now, I have another favor. I need to know
Sarah’s ok. Do you think you could, ya know, look her over?”

“It would be my pleasure.” Siress smiled and headed for the girls limp body.

Jareth walked to Crystal and Toby.

“Siress is going to check her over before we head out. Why dont you two wait in the
lobby?”

The two nodded and left the room. Jareth turned and helped Siress move Sarah to the
bed in the room.

“What did you have in mind?”

Jareth thought for a second and then replied, “A thorough evaluation. I want to know
anything that’s wrong. Including stuff about herself.”

“Herself?” Siress asked.

Jareth rocked back and forth uneasily. “You know. Like if her womanly features are ok.”

“Oh, right.” Siress nodded and looked at Jareth. “You know she needs to be naked for
that?”

“Yes. Which is why I am staying in here with you.” Jareth smiled and moved to the bed to
start stripping Sarah down.

“What’s wrong Jareth? No trust between friends?”

Jareth smiled. “Old habits die hard.”

Both men laughed a hearty laugh at the last comment made, but all joy left the room as
the clothing was peeled away from Sarah’s body.

“My god.” Siress awed at the scaring from where the tattoo was supposed to be on Sarah’
s side.

“My brother,” Jareth cursed himself in his mind, “that asshole. She did her best.”

“Who did?”

Jareth hanged his head and let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “He took her
from me. Made Lielle look like her. I,” Jareth’s voice stung with pain, “had sex with the
imposter. By the time my mother found her, she was beaten, abused, and marked. She did
all she could to heal her. I see the ink let go, but not the impression.”

Siress reached out and held his friend’s shoulder. “Let’s get this over with.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Soon, Sarah’s naked body lay on the bed. After the blood tests were sent down to the lab,
Siress moved over her top half, looking at Jareth for permission. Jareth nodded and
watched as the friend, he valued very highly, touch and feel the love of his life breasts.

“No lumps. Everything feels normal.” Siress listened to her breathing. “Steady breaths.”

He pushed on her stomach, felt her ribs, and listened to her bowls. “Everything feels and
sounds healthy up here.” He went to her legs and bent her knees, mashed the muscle
with his hands and examined her feet. “Normal. All of it.”

Jareth watched as he pulled stirrups out from under the bed and paused.

“Alright. Now for the pelvic exam. Will you help me get her legs in to the stirrups?”

Jareth walked to the bedside and took her left leg and placed it in the cold metal. Siress
walked up t her top half and slid her down so when he placed her other leg in the stirrup,
she was exposed so even Jareth blushed a little.

“Let’s hurry. She wakes up and she's like this, I will not be alive much longer.”

Siress smiled and put on gloves. He reached for a metal tool and put lubrication on his
fingers. He dipped his fingers inside Sarah and pulled them out only to replace them with
the metal tool. He twisted the crank until she was opened far enough for him to access
her comfortably. Jareth watched as his two fingers entered her and his wrist moved.

“Her ovaries are in tact. No lumps from what I can feel.”

Jareth saw her stomach move. “What was that?”

“My fingers.” Siress repeated the motion and Sarah’s stomach lifted again. He reached
for a swab and swabbed Sarah.

“These will only take a sec.” Siress winked and turned from Sarah, releasing the metal
tool and taking her legs down. Jareth cleaned Sarah up and put her clothes back on.

“Well, there is good news and bad news.” Siress came back.

“The good?”

“No diseases. Her blood tests came back negative for HIV and her iron level is great.”

“The bad?”

“Well, I hope you know how to use a tampon, because her period is starting.”

“What?” Jareth asked looking at Sarah as the blood began to seep through her pants.

“Your sure that’s what it is?” Jareth asked looking completely lost.

Siress smiled. “I had two woman once, remember? She’s just starting. And it looks like
she’s a heavy bleeder.”

Jareth watched in horror as the blood began to soak through on the table. “What do I
do?”

Siress crossed over to the sink and pulled out a wash cloth. He walked to Sarah and
pulled down her pants and the thong she had on. He snapped his fingers and the blood
stains were gone. He cleaned Sarah up and then pulled a tampon out of his pocket.

“This is how you put in a tampon.” He unwrapped the plastic applicator and inserted the
tube in her. “When it’s in to the grip thingy here,” he let Jareth look at where his thumb
and forefinger were, “you push in the the littler end and take out the applicator.”

“What about the string?” Jareth pointed to the string hanging out of her.

“That’s so when I get up, I can hang your ass!”

Jareth backed up as Sarah sat up and covered herself with the blanket.

“What the fuck are you doing putting a tampon in me and who the hell is he?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Right so there you go. Our poor king, not knowing
what kind of things us women go through. Do you think
he can handle Sarah when she’s ragging? I don’t know. I cant
even picture him changing a diaper. But, I think he will have to get
used to the idea...*hint hint*. Thanks to all those who have reviewed.
It makes all the difference.