Something to Think About

[confessorlove]

Title: Something to Think About
Author: confessorlove
Pairing: Cara and Kahlan
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Kahlan gives Cara something to think about and in return Cara lets her know she will always be there for her.
Author's Notes: Written for thelegendland  gift exchange for falcon_horus . Set during "Light".  This is my first C/K fic so I hope I didn't fail also it's unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own. I hate that I ran out of time to send it for beta.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to make them do my bidding.

Ever since Kahlan had taken that sword slice to the leg, Cara had been acting different.  She didn’t know if it was how Richard had told her to protect her while he was gone but she didn’t think it was.  Something had changed in Cara when she got hurt.  She became more protective.  Even though she was trying to hide it, Kahlan could tell that Cara was worried about her.  She was constantly telling her they could stop and rest or at the very least, slow down.  It warmed Kahlan’s heart to see Cara worried about her when only a few months ago she would have never been.  She would have left her behind to fend for herself but now things were different and it hadn’t been until she had gotten hurt that Kahlan realized just how much things had changed.

Kahlan wouldn’t stop and rest no matter how much her leg was hurting her.  Cara knew it was bothering her and it hurt her to see her friend in pain.  She had never admitted it to anyone else but Kahlan was her friend, even if that was all she could ever be.  She knew how the Confessor felt for Richard, she made it quite clear and Cara would never want to get in the way of the happiness of her Lord Rahl.  When she saw Kahlan holding her leg and struggling up the rocky hill she went to her aid.

“Let me help you, Kahlan.”

“I’m fine.”  She kept trudging along, trying to hide how much pain she was in. She didn’t know why but she always felt the need to prove herself around Cara, to show her that Mord’ Sith aren’t the only ones who are strong and can handle themselves.  She would have fooled her too if it wasn’t for the fact she misplaced her foot on the path, twisting her body and sending a jolt of pain through her thigh causing her to cry out.  Cara was at her side and holding her up before she had time to tell her not to.

“I told you that you needed help.”  Cara teased even though the concern was evident in her voice.

“I’m fine, Cara.”  She took another step, pulling herself out of the Mord’Sith’s reach before her hand was on her leg again, holding her wound as her face contorted into a wince of pain.

“Quit being an idiot, Kahlan.  Let me at least look at it.”

Kahlan let out a deep, frustrated sigh as she sat down on a rock and peeled the makeshift bandage away from her wounded thigh.  She hated that Cara was right, but when she saw the red, inflamed wound she knew it needed attention and she shouldn’t have been pushing herself.  Cara had just been looking out for her like Richard told her too, even if it seemed that now that Richard was gone and she had been injured, Cara seemed to care more.  The thought had crossed her mind several times that Cara thought of her as something other than a friend.  She knew how the Mord’Sith were known for their relationships with their sisters and she had wondered if maybe Cara felt like that about her.

“It’s infected.”

Cara’s voice drew her out of her thoughts, letting her push her curiosity about what Cara might truly feel about her to the back of her mind.  She nodded in agreement as Cara continued to speak.

“We have to burn the wound closed.”

“We don’t have time to make a fire.”

Cara got a little gleam in her eyes as she smirked at her.  “We don’t need a fire.”  She rolled her agiel in her hand, taunting Kahlan with what was to come.

“Just do it.”  Kahlan nodded slightly as she leaned back; using her arms to brace herself against the pain she knew was going to come.

Cara smiled slightly as she placed her agiel against Kahlan wound causing the Confessor to grimace.  Kahlan was strong and she never cried out more than a few short little gasps.  Her teeth digging into her lower lip could have had something to do with it.  She could taste the metallic flavor of blood on her tongue from where she had bit her lip and she focused on that instead of this searing pain in her thigh.

Cara couldn’t believe that the Confessor was still conscious.  Her smile just widened, impressed by Kahlan’s strength.  She smirked as she finally pulled the agiel away, leaving Kahlan gasping for breath.  “I’m impressed.  Even the strongest Mord’Sith would have fainted.”

Kahlan smiled weakly but before Cara had even finished speaking her eyes were rolling back into her head as she passed out, collapsing to the ground with a thud.  Cara just shook her head as she put her agiel away before going over to Kahlan, sitting down and pulling her head into her lap.  Even though she had been expecting the Confessor to pass out, it still made her worry.  She didn’t like seeing Kahlan hurt.

Kahlan woke up a little while later, her head in Cara’s lap as she brushed a lock of hair off of her face.  She didn’t think Cara knew she had woken up of she thought for sure she wouldn’t have let her been seen in such a vulnerable position.  “Cara?”

Cara jumped at the sound of Kahlan’s voice.  She hadn’t meant to be caught holding her and taking care of her she just had felt the need to be close to the Confessor while she could.  “You’re awake.  That’s good.”

She could tell that Cara was embarrassed by the whole situation and she wanted to let her know she shouldn’t be.  There is nothing more important than taking care of a friend in need.  “Cara it’s okay.  I’m glad you were taking care of me.”

“I was only doing it because Richard ordered me to look out for you.”

Kahlan almost laughed.  How long was Cara going to keep up this charade?  She had always suspected the Mord’Sith had feelings for her that went beyond friendship and now she was sure.  There was no way that the tender was she had been caring for her was the result of Richard’s orders.  “Just keep telling yourself that, Cara.”

She was speechless.  She had always thought that Kahlan was clueless about her feeling but now she was starting to wonder if she had been wrong. She watched as Kahlan leaned towards her, brushing a lock of hair behind Cara’s ear as she did.  “Kahlan what are you doing?”

Kahlan just smiled at her.  Sometimes she had no idea what was going on in that Confessor’s mind.  “What does it look like?”

Kahlan’s hand brushed along Cara’s cheek as she shook her head.  “I don’t know.”

“Yes you do.  You just never thought I would realize what you thought of me.”

Cara took a moment just to stare at Kahlan, wondering if she had actually heard what she thought she heard.  “And you… you aren’t upset?”

“Why would I be upset?” Kahlan leaned in closer; Cara could feel Kahlan’s warm breath against her ear.  “I never thought of you like that before but maybe someday I will.”

Kahlan pulled away then, standing up and brushing herself off.  She watched Cara just sit on the ground and stare at her for a moment before she finally got up.  “We have to catch up to Zedd.”  Cara marched off in the direction they had been going before stopping and Kahlan watched her for a moment, a smirk etched on her face before following her to find Zedd.  She knew she had given Cara something to think about and even though she was worried about Zedd and Richard, and that made her happier than she had been all day.

XXX

Kahlan had cried for quite a while after they found Zedd’s body.  She was so upset.  It hurt Cara to see her like that.  They had walked most of the night in silence; the only sounds to be heard were that of Kahlan’s tears.  It was near dawn when Cara finally broke the silence that threatened to consume them both. “Kahlan, I’m sorry.”

Kahlan looked at her with puffy red eyes.  “There is nothing to be sorry about.”

Cara placed a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder knowing it was all she could do, she didn’t know how to offer any more comfort.  “I’m sorry for your loss.  I know you loved the Wizard.”

“I still do.”  She wiped her eyes on the back of her sleeve, “I don’t know what to tell Richard.”

“You’ll figure it out.”

“I know I just wish he was here.”

“I know you do but until we get him back you have me.”

Kahlan smiled softly at that.  She knew Cara was there for her and it wasn’t just because of Richard’s orders.  She genuinely cared for her and that lifted her spirits, making her smile in this dark time of her life.  Cara would always be there for her, through thick and thin – no matter what.