> James sighed. "Fine...I just...can at least persuade him to be a little easier on you...will that work? I have some things that are of enough value that I might even be able to pay him to not be so rough on you..."

Roxy smiled. "No one has ever tried to protect me before. It's alittle strange. Thank you for the thought. But he'll know if the damage he wants inflicted isn't. He always does. The counselors will heal me. They'll tell him if it isn't exactly the way it should be."