Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) (5 page)

When she woke up Gwen left the medical dome in New
Haven for the technology dome in the Square. She knew that Mairi and Knollig
were in good hands. Amber had arrived with Kniam and a few others. The newborn
sacath were doing great, Tabec had taken to mothering them just as she had with
the triplets. She now had two new cubs? Kits? Sacittens? Pupcath? Anyway, Tabec
had delivered one male, a golden colored replica of his father, and one female.
She was a brindle mix of her father’s golden color and her mothers black. Kniam
had laughed when he told them that Tabec’s nest consisted of their couch, torn
up and piled just so to make a “cave” and a variety of Amber’s favorite gowns
that the sacath had managed to get out of a drawer...along with all of their
bedding. All of those items were easily replaced, it was the thought of the
sacath tearing up Kniam and Amber’s dome that had everyone laughing. Gwen had
promised to go look at the new arrivals later this afternoon. For right now
Mairi didn’t need her, between Amber, Jen, Cat, Callum McPherson and the others
she would have plenty of help. Walking quickly into the technology dome Gwen
went straight back to where she had left off the day prior. She was quickly
engrossed in the data and almost missed when Kneus entered.

“Good Morning.” She smiled at him, “How did you sleep last night?” Her
smile almost faltered when he frowned.

“Well, thank you.” Kneus answered, “How are the twins?” For some reason
she couldn’t say his frown intensified.

She had turned to watch him, “They are doing well.” She got up from her
seat to walk over to a different console and was shocked when Kneus jumped a
few feet back. “Are you okay?” He had turned pale and looked as if he was
starting to shake.

“Yes. I’m fine.” He seemed to compose himself and hurried to add, “I’m
glad the twins are well. Do you think Mairi and Knollig will want visitors this
morning?”

Gwen gave him a skeptical look, he didn’t look fine to her but she was
willing to let the matter drop for now. “They have a few people helping out and
visiting this morning, a better time to check on them might be this afternoon.”

When Kneus went to sit she moved to show him an item on his console that
he might find interesting. Leaning over to point out the data she was suddenly
shoved back when he jumped to his feet.

“What in the world!” Gwen struggled to regain her footing. Kneus’ hand
shot out to grab her and hold her steady. “What is going on with you?” She
couldn’t believe he was so jumpy and out of sorts. He had her really worried
about his odd behavior.

“I am sorry Gwen.” His eyes had turned a smoky purple she had never seen
before. “I would never intentionally cause you harm.”

“I’m okay Kneus, I know you would never hurt someone on purpose it’s not
in your nature.” Gwen hurried to assure him, “Can you tell me what is going
on?” When she saw the shuttered look come over him she decided to take the
direct approach and rushed to say, “I know about the nightmares you are having,
so don’t try to deny that something is bothering you.” His astonished
expression almost made her laugh, if only this were a laughing matter. “Please
let me help you! I can be bound by the old Earth custom of not telling anyone
what you confide in me as a doctor to patient.” Gwen was desperate to get Kneus
to open up to her. She knew that if he didn’t get help soon he might break
mentally. With all the things he had seen on Earth, getting shot on the port
pad and the coma he might have PTSD or something similar.

“I don’t think...” Kneus began to say.

Gwen decided to take off the kid gloves. “If you don’t talk to me Kneus,
I will ask for a joint council meeting to discuss your mental health.” Ignoring
the look of outrage that he gave her Gwen continued, “I know that everyone is
concerned about you, and would listen if I called for a meeting.” The look of
outrage shifted to hurt and Gwen almost gave up this avenue of reaching him,
but she was determined to get Kneus to admit he needed help.

“Please don’t make me go that far Kneus. Tell me what is going on so I
can help you.” She gently placed her hand on his, hoping he wouldn’t pull away.
When he just sat there she gave his fingers a gentle squeeze.

He stared at her hand on his for what felt like forever when his eyes
finally met hers she saw the pain he had been holding back. It stabbed at her
heart to see he was in such misery.

“I will confide in you Gwen but only if you promise you will not tell
either council what we discuss.” Kneus’ voice came out rough with emotion.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone.” Gwen hurried to agree to his condition
for fear he would change his mind.

He sat back into a console chair and pursed his lips. Gwen’s eyes stayed
on them. How many times had she wondered how soft they would feel against hers?
How would they feel moving against her skin? Would they be hot and smooth?
Shaking her head against those thoughts she waited for him to talk.

 
“I have been experiencing
nightmares. They stared after the attack on Antilles. It is usually the same
theme:
 
Kniam, Knollig, Knaleg and I are
running from some peril. Sometimes we are on Earth, sometimes we are here on
Terraneu. There is always a feeling of imminent danger during the nightmare and
when I am close to discovering the origins of the problem the landscape shifts.
Then I feel cold...no not just cold, I feel
icy
. There is no light, all
around me is complete blackness. Then I hear the warning words Catherine said
the mystery soldier gave. “We are coming.” Once Kneus started talking it poured
out of him like venom being drawn from a wound. “The voice is so evil I get
chills, the hatred and anger pour over me until I feel like I am drowning in
it.” Kneus paused to run his hands through his hair and Gwen could see they
shook slightly. “When I am able to wake up, I am covered in sweat and feel like
I have been tossing and turning all night long and my muscles ache.”

Gwen was in shock. Knowing something was wrong is not the same as hearing
all the details. She tried to gain her composure and quickly asked, “How often
do you have the nightmares?” She tried to make her voice sound clinical, Kneus
needed her to be professional and helpful, not weepy and pathetic.

He paused in thought for a second, “At first they were every few days.
They have increased in frequency over the past weeks and now they are almost
every night.”

“You say the nightmares started after the attack on Antilles?” Gwen was
almost hopeful when she asked, “I know that we have been working hard on
finding answers in the archives. Is it possible that stress is causing your...”
she didn’t finish because he was already shaking his head.

“No. I don’t think it is stress that is causing the nightmares.” Kneus
insisted. “I have been through much more stressful situations than this.”

Gwen sat for as second in thought then she told Kneus, “There is only one
thing I can think of to help you. We have to start with a complete medical
exam.”

Kneus couldn’t believe how talking with Gwen about the nightmares had
lifted such a huge weight off his shoulders. He didn’t know why he felt
comfortable with his decision to confide in her, but it just felt right
somehow. She was a medical professional and had an analytical mind like he did.
He knew that if anyone could put reason into the chaos he had fallen into it
would be Gwen.

“We will run a medical diagnostic on you first to rule out anything
physically wrong with your body.” Gwen made to leave the technology dome for
the medical dome.

“Right now?” Kneus hadn’t expected them to start on his issues immediately.

“There is no time like the present! We need to get some answers for you,
and besides we are getting nowhere fast on the archives.” She smiled at him and
his whole body responded. His heart jumped, his palms sweat and his stomach
rolled almost as if he was going to be sick. If this was how it felt to be
attracted to someone then he wondered at the allure. Then he remembered his
dream from last night. He felt again Gwen’s soft lips on his, her hands in his
hair with her fingernails digging lightly into his skin. He could feel all the
pleasure coming back, until he recalled his hands around her neck. It was like
a bucket of cold water on his growing excitement.

He realized with a start that she was waiting for him at the door. He
hurried over to where she stood. “Thank you for helping me Gwen.” He smiled
tightly and rushed inside the medical dome. “Where were you thinking we should
start?” He asked to break the silence.

“We need to run a full medical scan.” Gwen moved beside him at the
console, “I will need to know how much sun you have been getting. And how much
water you are drinking.” She leaned around him and grabbed a medical gown from
a drawer. “You need to put this on.” Without waiting for him to acknowledge her
request Gwen moved on.

He glanced at the medical gown in his hands, making a note to himself to
ask the fabricators to start making them fully closed in the back! He chanced a
look over his shoulder and saw that Gwen was waiting for him by the medical
unit. They had made curtains around the medical beds for privacy, but the
medical units were still in the open. He knew it would be faster to use the
larger unit instead of asking to use the portable one. Not to mention Gwen was
waiting patiently for him to get undressed. He didn’t want her to think he was
uncooperative. With a sigh he started to get his vest, pants and boots off.
When he bent to take off his boots he thought he heard a sound from behind him,
but when he looked back Gwen was busy inputting information into the console.
Finishing disrobing he hurriedly put on the medical gown. He was surprised
again when Gwen handed him another one.

“I always hand out two of them.” She smiled warmly at him, “Most people
don’t wish to have their backsides hanging out and bare for everyone to see.”

“Thank you Gwen.” He smiled gratefully and happily took the second gown.
Turning so that it was backward and his backside was indeed covered up.

Walking to the medical unit he said, “Okay. Let’s figure this nightmare
thing out.” Climbing gingerly into the unit he waited for Gwen to close him
inside. The machine did its thing, whirling and clicking as it scanned and
documented his physical state. When it was complete he climbed out and went to
put his clothes back on.

“Hold on please.” Gwen stopped him, “I need you to climb onto the medical
bed.” She waved her hand for him to sit down.

“What?” Kneus looked longingly at his clothes, “Why?”

“I need to examine you.” Gwen said in all seriousness. “Just because you
have superior technology doesn’t mean a hands on exam isn’t going to find
something your machine may overlook.” She patted the bed with her hand and his
eyes flew to her fingers. His mind flew back to the dream and her damn fingers
in his pants. “We have a few minutes until the machine will have its results.
This won’t hurt a bit.” She was smiling widely now, her face beaming with
humor. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He was acting like a big coward,
afraid to have her examine him. She didn’t know about the dream he had or she
might not be smiling so much or standing so close he thought sourly.

Determined to stop acting like a skittish sorrem he marched to the
medical bed and placing two hands on the bed he hoisted himself to sit on the
edge. His long legs almost reached the floor and surprisingly Gwen’s head made
it to chest level. He hadn’t realized she was that tall. The other females were
constantly complaining about the medical beds. Then he remembered that they had
added lifts to the beds when Gwen touched the button and the bed lowered until
they were almost eye-to-eye.

“There, that’s better.” Gwen moved between his knees to gently grab his
head. “Have you been feeling any other symptoms along with the nightmares?
Headaches? Visual disturbances?” She bit her lip in concentration and he
immediately thought of when he had suckled her lip in his dream.

“No.” His voice sounded throaty to his ears and he hoped she didn’t
notice. “No headaches, no visual issues. Everything is fine except for the
nightmares.” He tried to look away but she stopped him.

“Okay track my finger please.” He looked straight at her to see her
finger moving back and forth across his vision. So he did as she asked turning
his head back and forth.

“Just your eyes Kneus.” Gwen laughed and grabbed his head to hold it
steady. The sides of his face flushed with heat at her touch. The very pores of
his skin seemed to open up trying to take in the heat from her hands. She let
go of his head and repeated her test. “Okay, everything is good.” Her fingers
returned to his head and she felt and massaged her way around his scalp. “No
bumps, no damage of any kind I can feel.” She murmured to herself. Kneus closed
his eyes enjoying the feel of her touch. Just because it was clinical for her
didn’t mean it didn’t feel good to him!

“How about sun and water?” Gwen stopped her exam of his head to ask.
While waiting for his answer she moved her hands to his shoulders and continued
pressing and prodding.

“I am in the sun for one, maybe two hours a day.” Kneus admitted, “I have
been drinking about two to three glasses of water a day when I can.”

“Lift your arms please.” She asked and he raised his arms out to his
sides. “Hmmm.” She pressed her fingers into his armpits and he jumped, laughing
at the touch. “Sorry, you are ticklish...I didn’t know.” Gwen apologized.

“I didn’t either.” Kneus smiled, “No one has ever touched me under
there.”

Their eyes met and Kneus could swear you could almost see the unspoken
communication going on between them. Like a vibrant string it thrummed with
energy between them.

Kneus watched Gwen swallow hard and then she licked her lips, “Yes. Well
you know that you need a lot more sun than that. I am going to insist on at
least four to six hours outside.” She moved her hands to his abs and his
muscles jumped. “Also. You need to triple your intake of water. You are
severely dehydrated and I’m surprised you haven’t had worse side effects than
nightmares.” She stopped in thought and her fingers just fluttered along his
abs. He was sure that she wasn’t even aware that she was doing it.

“Uh. Gwen.” His voice sounded a bit throaty and he was sure she couldn’t
miss it.

“Yes?” Her eyes flew up to meet his. How could he have missed how
beautiful she was? Her thick hair curling around her shoulders and down her
back. Her warm purple-brown eyes full of intelligence and compassion. Her full
lips that caught his attention when smiling or pursed in concentration, it
didn’t matter their pink fullness called to him. Her tall frame with its
generous curves that he found perfect.

Not saying anything he looked down his chest to watch her fingers playing
along his abs, then back to her.