Blind Faith A"( MF rom )[1/2] Section A: Christine Kent toyed with the strings of her dressing gown, a frown puckering her lips and forehead. She'd heard steps moving past her room, and had hoped someone would stop in to wheel her somewhere more exciting, but no one had come in. Her hands fell from her lap to the heavy wheels of her chair, and she clenched the tires angrily. She knew from her hesitant experiments that she could move the chair herself if she tried, but without her sight she couldn't see where to go and was more likely to fall down the stairs than anything else. She groaned in frustration. It was all so stupid and annoying. She had been traveling home for the holidays when her classes ended just after Thanksgiving, two weeks before. Her roommate had driven, since she lived only an hour beyond Chris's home. It had started to storm, and was getting late as they approached Chris's home. And only a few blocks from home, some fool, who had apparently begun partying early, had run a red light, skidded on the soft, wet snow, and run headlong into the passenger's side of the car Chris was in. When she awoke it was two days later. She was told Leigh had been treated for bruises and released. But Chris's seatbelt had been defective, sending her forward and sideways, into the central mirror and dashboard, knocking her head violently. Broken glass had injured her eyes. A heavy sliver of mirrored glass had lodged in her right eye, and it had taken the surgeons several hours to repair the damage. Although it had missed the delicate cornea, it was assumed she had lost her sight on that side. What a Christmas present. Chris sighed, knowing that by going over it again and again in her mind she was only getting herself into a worse mood. Even realizing that the man who had done the deed had been so pickled in alcohol that the police had immediately carted him away did her heart no good. And the longer she sat alone, the more depressed she got. "Chris?" a hesitant voice called from the doorway. She turned her chair slightly so she faced the doorway, a slight smile lighting her face. "Adam?" Her brother moved quickly into the room to envelop her in a hug. "God, Chris, you're a sight for sore eyes!" His voice trailed off and an uncomfortable silence descended. Chris giggled nervously. "Hey, Kent, aren't you going to introduce me?" a strange voice called. Footsteps moved close, and she heard Adam stand and move slightly away from her. "Chris, this is my friend Jonathin." A strong hand found hers and grasped it warmly. "Pleased to meet you," Jonathin greeted her. His voice was deep, as if it had echoed from a very large chest. She imagined this stranger as being very broad shouldered. Chris smiled. "I'm sorry I can't stand, but they seem to think I should stay confined to this silly chair until my head recovers." She gestured futilely towards the door. "They also seem to think to keep me trapped in here until that day. " She turned her face to her brother, and he could imagine her sad puppy eyes gleaming at him as she said, "Adam, *please* take me downstairs!" Adam chuckled as strong arms lifted her from the chair and a deep voice rumbled, "Your wish is my command, dear lady." As she felt Jonathin lift her, she automatically leaned against his chest - which was broad, though not as much as she had expected. She felt the motion as Jonathin nodded and said, "Get the chair, Kent, and we'll trot this girl downstairs and outside to get some sun on her face!" "Yes, sir!" Adam laughed. Chris nestled against Jonathin's body, enjoying the feel of him warm against her. She had been ignored by her family for so long since she had come home from the hospital a few days before. They either smothered her with worry and affection until she wanted to scream, or they tiptoed around afraid to say a word for fear she'd drop further into depression. It was such a relief to have people treat her *normally*! She felt the chill as they stepped outside, and laughed to feel snowflakes falling across her nose. "You forgot my jacket!" she laughed. "Do you want me to catch my death of cold and give everyone something else to worry about?" As Jonathin lowered her to the ground, she felt something placed about her shoulders, and heard Adam's voice saying, "Don't worry, kid, your big brother remembered the little details, even if this lummox didn't." Jonathin chuckled good-naturedly, and the two enjoyed easy banter while Chris just enjoyed being outside. One hand in front of her, she hesitantly moved to the side, trying to find the porch rail in a space where there was no danger of her tripping down the stairs. Her hand was too high, and when her legs struck the railing she made a startled sound at the pain. But then she just leaned on the railing, her head thrown back, her tongue out to catch elusive snowflakes on its tip. Soon, her mother called them in to dinner, and with Jonathin on one arm and Adam on the other, Chris walked for the first time to the dinner table. "Chris?" Her mother sounded surprised as she entered the dining room. "Are you sure you want to... I mean, with the bandages ... even your other eye... The voice trailed off. Chris's hands clenched against her escorts' arms. "I realize that the bandages make it impossible for me to see from either eye, mother, but I'm tired of being tucked away in my room like I'm something to be ashamed of. I want to eat at the table. I'll work something out." Her voice was stiff and stilted, and full of raw pain. She felt the pain of tears starting. It angered her to be without both eyes, but the surgeon had explained that the second eye had been scratched slightly, and needed time to heal as well. Leaving her without either for the time being. She sat in the chair the guys guided her to, and placed her hands on the table, hesitantly touching the fork and plate. She moved her hand slowly forward, fingertips on the table, until she touched the base of her glass. She lifted it to her lips, sipping at the water, then slowly placed it back on the table, smiling broadly when she accomplished it without spilling. She heard the dinner chatter begin as the others seated themselves, and then the dishes being passed around so each could fill their plates. "Do you like green beans?" a low voice asked from her left. She shook her head. "Only slightly," she answered, just as softly. She heard the scrape of a fork in a bowl, and then a brush of motion in front of her. "Then only a few on your plate, " the voice said, and she finally realized that it was Jonathin to her left. He continued to fill her plate as each item was passed to him, before passing the bowls on to her brother on her right. When done he told her, "Your ham is at the top of the plate, at 12 o'clock. Squash is at about 7 o'clock, and its the orange squishy kind, not summer squash. A roll is next to your plate, to the left. And about five green beans are at 5 o'clock. The ham's cut already, so you shouldn't have any problem." Chris turned a grateful smile to him. "Thanks." "No problem," he returned. "My mom's blind, so I was brought up with it." _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Later, in her room and already tucked into bed by her mother, Chris heard her doorknob turn and soft footsteps enter the room. "Who is it?" she called quietly. "Just me, " Adam answered. She felt him sit on the bed next to her. "I just wanted a chance to say hi, and to say how sorry I felt. It looks like mom and dad have been giving you a hard time." Chris shrugged. "They just don't know how to deal with it." Adam's voice was rough as he said, "I know, but they shouldn't *blame* you for it. That's stupid." He laughed shortly. "I guess its a good thing I asked Jonathin home for the holidays though, eh? Never would've expected held end up being so needed here." Chris smiled. "It's wonderful having both of you here. You treat me like I'm human." Adam touched the bandages about her head with gentle fingers. "How long till this comes off?" "Two weeks. Just in time for Christmas." Chris smiled bitterly. Adam reached out to hold her, and she felt warm in her brother's comforting embrace. Then he pushed her back and tucked her in, like he used to do when they were younger. Dropping a kiss on her forehead he whispered, "Sweet dreams, little sis." _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Over the next week, Adam and Jonathin did everything they could to make Chris feel as alive as possible. They took her out in the old sleigh, hooked up to a borrowed pair of horses, and drove around the Connecticut countryside wrapped in warm wool blankets. Chris snuggled between them, enjoying the ride as they traded jokes. Slowly she came to know Jonathin's voice, instantly recognizing his step or her brother's when they came upon her. By guiding her about the house, they helped her learn her way enough so she could walk down the stairs by herself without fear of falling. Even her mother finally relaxed and allowed her to take care of herself. It was only two days until Christmas, and the guys had gone to buy a tree, so Chris made her way into her father's den, where a fire was burning in the fireplace. Her father had let the fire to burn while he went with Adam and Jonathin to find a tree, and Chris welcomed the warmth as she knelt in front of the hearth. She heard footsteps behind her, and asked, "Who is it?" "It's me," Jonathin replied, dropping to sit next to her. "Kent and your dad are bringing the tree in, and I was only getting in the way. So I thought I'd take a look about for you." Chris smiled. "You found me." Jonathin was silent for a while. "You see the doctor tomorrow, don't you?" Chris nodded. "I might even be able to see by Christmas," she said softly. Sighing, she added, "I might even get to see what you look like before you go back to school with Adam." She felt his hand over hers, lifting her hand until it lay against his cheek. Instinctively, her hand moved from his cheek to touch his forehead, moving over his brow, sliding down his nose - feeling the slight bend of a broken nose as she did so, feathering across his wide lips, exploring the curve of his chin. With her hands she explored his face, knowing that she would recognize him again if she could only touch him. Her hand snaked back until it tangled in his rough, slightly curly hair. "What color is it?" she asked softly. "Black," he said, his voice hoarse. Her fingertips traveled slowly back to his eyebrows, dropping lightly over his closed eyes. "And your eyes?" "Brown... " Her fingers again touched the bump in his nose. "What happened here?" "I broke it, skiing. My collarbone too, and one leg." She felt his smile against her fingertips as they brushed his lips. "It was a pretty bad accident." Her fingertips tingled as his tongue snaked out to lick his dry lips, touching her lightly by accident. Before she could draw away, she felt his hand on her cheek, drawing her face closer to his as his lips moved to hers. His lips were slightly moist, and hard against hers. She responded to the kiss, her lips parting, her body relaxing. Her hands clasped at the back of his neck, and she felt his lips move from hers to trace the curve of her chin and neck. At the sound of footsteps in the hall, Jonathin drew back, and Chris blushed. The footsteps came quickly into the room. "Hiding in the warmth, eh Jonathin?" Adam's cheerful voice inquired. "Figures. You always were one to get out of work." Chris was still close enough to feel Jonathin's shrug. figure you two had it well in hand." He stood, and clasped Chris's hand in his to draw her to her feet as well. "Shall we go guide the decorators?" he asked cheerfully, tucking her arm around his as he led her from the room. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ As she sat in the waiting room, Chris thought about Jonathin. She was amazed at how attracted she was to him, even though he was little more than a stranger still. He had found her alone once more, sitting out in the backyard last evening, and again he had kissed her. Chris had loved the feel of his lips on hers, and his tongue caressing her lips under his. His hands had held her close, and she had felt the tautness of his body as he whispered soft words against her neck, his lips moving with feathered touches to kiss the hollow at the base of her neck. Her breath had grown short, and her hands had grasped his head, pulling him back to her so she could feel his lips on her again. But again, with the unerring instinct of a protective older brother, Adam had come out into the backyard, carrying lemonade and dessert for each of them, and Chris had unwillingly drawn back from Jonathin's arms. As he had sat next to her, she could feel his tension, and his hands brushed hers lightly when he helped her find her glass after misplacing it. "Miss Kent?" an older woman's voice called. "Here," Chris said softly, struggling to her feet. She turned in the direction of the voice and felt someone standing in front of her. Capable hands took her arm and led her into a room, pressing her down into a chair. "Wait here until the doctor comes." Chris's mind wandered again back to Jonathin. She hoped she would soon be able to get rid of these stupid bandages and actually see the man. After all the time they had spent together, she half feared she was falling in love with him, and she didn't want to give in to her feelings until she could see his face, and read his emotions. She didn't want him to toy with her, but she was afraid because there was so much that could happen without her seeing it now. Now, more than ever, she desperately wanted her vision back. The doctor's voice interrupted her thoughts, and she blushed fiercely. She felt hands against the bandage, and then they were gone. Her eyes fluttered open in surprise, to be greeted by only darkness. "I had to turn the lights out," the doctor explained, his voice soothing. "I'm going to fit a patch over your right eye, but your left should be healed enough that you can start to spend some time without the patch there. Chris felt him slide something around her head, then felt the snug patch in place over her right eye. He fitted something like a mask over both eyes. "You can't go directly to bright light," the doctor cautioned. "A few hours each day, and in dim light, until your eye adjusts. It's been weakened severely." Chris nodded, excited to have even some small amount of sight back. She listened carefully as her doctor cautioned her not to wear herself out, to avoid tears, and that if she needed to go anywhere with bright light to be sure and wear dark glasses. Chris readily agreed to it all, anything for her sight. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Chris sat on the edge of her bed, waiting for her parents to bring up Adam and Jonathin. They had already turned out the lights and drawn the curtains, leaving only the dim light of the hallway to lend what little light there was in the room. She toyed with the string on her mask, anxious to remove it. "Chris?" Adam called as he entered the room. She heard the click of the light switch, then heard her parent's turn them off again. There was a movement next to her, and a body sat on the bed. "So, what's the big surprise?" Jonathin's voice rumbled. Before they could guess, Chris had the mask off, and was blinking in the dim light, trying to see with her left eye. Her parents stood by the door, smiling widely. Adam had stopped while walking toward her, and simply stood, staring. She turned to the man next to her. Jonathin looked surprised, but not as surprised as she as she stared at him. His hair was curly and dark, and his eyes brown. But there the match with what she had imagined ended. His face was not handsome - strongly built, yes, but not handsome in the classic sense. He was dark skinned, and his nose was severely crooked, more than Chris had thought when she had explored his face with her hands. It lent his face and odd look, taking away what appeal his face might have had with its unusualness. Across one cheek he had a slight scar. His chest and arms were broad, as Chris well knew. The rest of his body was rather pleasing too, but she found her eyes drawn back to his unusual face, and was troubled to know that her expression showed her surprise. There was a hurt expression on Jonathin's face, and he stood slowly. "Congratulations on having your sight back, Chris, " he said softly, gently touching her shoulder. As he left the room he told Adam that he'd be out back if anyone was looking. Chris watched as Jonathin left the room, limping slightly - something she hadn't noticed when he had carried her. Her mother's pleased chatter quickly distracted Chris from her wondering about Jonathin, and the hours before she had to return to the darkness passed quickly.