There were no dreams, but then again this wasn't sleep, it was complete and utter exhaustion. Tarin couldn't move, couldn't open his eyes, and he struggled still internally to cast the spirit from him. It still wasn't working, not completely.

You won't rid yourself of me. The spirit taunted, laying in wait as Lee had broken the contact and moved away from him. Tarin didn't know where she'd gone, but knew it was wishful thinking to hope that she'd actually left the shop. She was still there, somewhere, expecting him to wake up and be himself. She thinks she's done it...and you think because you've managed to grab meager control that I'm just going to go away. You're both so wrong, it was wrong that my life was taken from me. This is a sign, my second chance."

What about my life? Tarin asked, Who gave you permission to take it so that you can have another chance? Tarin could only hope that he was appealing to the spirit's sense of guilt at doiing exactly what had been done to him. "You were obviously built to be a vessel. This is your destiny.

Shit. That didn't going how he'd planned. Not at all. Tarin knew that Lee had drained him to the point where he couldn't ask her to do more, not without possibly asking her to do him real harm.

Doing what he could, Tarin felt for control of his body. The spirit was still weakened and not expecting him to try so soon, while he was so exhausted.

Tarin couldn't manage much, but he forced his eyes open halfway, "Lee..." he felt like he yelled while in reality his voice was just over a whisper, "Didn't work...don't know...."

That was all he could manage...the spirit had redoubled its efforts and Tarin simply didn't have the strength to try again. Luckily, at least Tarin thought luckily, his physical body was simply too tired to be used...at least for the time being."

Though the last few months had been good with how they had kept work and pleasure, the shop and home, very separate, now Lee was wishing they hadn't done quite such a good job at making that separation. Yes, Lee had missed her skirts during the cold, winter months, and was glad that it was starting to warm up enough that she could actually start wearing them again without freezing to death outside, but that didn't mean she was looking forward to spending the whole night sitting around the shop with nothing to change into, no spare pair of lounging pants or running shoes to throw on. Not even so much as a small blanket she could throw over herself to fend off the chill of the shop.

Sighing, Lee climbed to her feet after probably about ten minutes and ran out to the front of the shop to lock the door before returning to the back where she started pacing back and forth. As she stepped off the rug they had under the table, Lee's heels clicked loudly on the wooden floor, only to be muffled again once she turned around and returned.

It couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes since Tarin had fallen unconscious, and Lee already felt like she was going crazy. Not only did she have an insane amount of energy flowing through her body, so much so that her pacing would barely put a dent in it even after a couple hours, but Lee also didn't know what to do. She couldn't simply leave Tarin, she needed to make sure he was alright after having taken so much energy from him, but there was no way for her to know that until he finally woke up.

Luckily, Lee happened to be on the carpet when out of no where she heard Tarin's voice. Though it was a whisper, in the silence of the room, it sounded loud. As she heard those words, Lee stopped dead and stared at Tarin, but he had already passed back out by this point.

Didn't work? Lee wondered. What didn't work? Lee really didn't know what Tarin had meant by that. Maybe he had meant that he hadn't been able to get rid of the spirit before she had drained him so far. Or, Lee realized as she started pacing once more, her eyes on Tarin as she moved, maybe it didn't have anything to do with anything. He did have a tendency to talk and mutter when he dreamed, maybe that was all this had been.

Tarin didn't know where to go from where he was. The fact of the matter was that he was too exhausted to fight anymore for the time being. This had several consequences: he couldn't really let Lee know that "the usual" hadn't worked, the spirit was somehow still clinging to his consciousness, as minute as it was, he couldn't keep the spirit from accessing all the things he'd been hiding, he just couldn't do anything.

Tarin didn't know how long it had been since he'd hit the floor, but he knew that he was in the exact same position he'd been in since he and Lee had been walking down the street after the movie.

Light...there was light, he was apparently waking up. How long had it been? Long enough to come up with an idea? Not really. His eyes opened and Tarin was looking around the shop. "Lee..." he heard his voice say, the spirit was being far more tactful by this point though. "Lee...are you still here?" he said, "I think I'm better...."

Hours had passed. Lee had gotten sick of pacing and had sat down at the table, only to be too restless and start pacing again. Then sat down, then started pacing. Again and again.

Finally, Lee heard Tarin's voice and stopped her pacing, spun to look at him.

A moment later, Lee rushed to Tarin's side, moving faster than would be possible for a normal human, and knelt at Tarin's side though without actually touching him. "I'm here, Tarin," she said softly. "You're better? So it's gone, then? How are you feeling? Is it ok to touch, or not yet?"

The spirit was up and looking around, conscious again and speaking, looking for Lee and watching her as she moved to him. Tarin was still so exhausted, but that was because Lee drained his power, something that the spirit obviously wasn't dependent on. Not like the last time, when draining his energy had taken out the spirit as well. This time, Tarin could still hardly think, let alone fight. With a distinctly sinking feeling, Tarin realized he wasn't going to win...not right now.

The only saving grace was that Tarin knew that the spirit didn't mean Lee any real harm. He knew what had the possibility of happening could hurt her even worse than anything physical could, but knowing Lee she'd want to stay as far away from him as possible. At least for the night. Tarin could only hope that this would hold true.

"Yeah...it's gone Lee..." Tarin heard himself say, struggling to even stay conscious, the lack of energy trying to pull him down into darkness again.

Tarin held on though, bound and determined to make sure that Lee was safe with whoever this guy was. So Tarin waited, and watched, and did everything he could to ignore the fact that the spirit was gloating. I'm glad you've decided to finally give up...I think this is going to be a beautiful partnership. Maybe after long enough I'll allow you certain things....we'll have to see."

Tarin wasn't impressed...not at all. But he kept quiet. There was no point in wasting his strength on petty arguing with this guy.

"I want to go home...Yeah...I'm feeling alright...exhausted, but yeah, it's okay to touch." he heard his voice say, his eyes looking for Lee's as he reached for her.

As she looked at Tarin, kneeling only inches away from him but refusing for the moment to actually touch him, part of Lee was amazed that he was even awake yet. He still looked absolutely exhausted, and yet he was conscious again.

And then Tarin stated the obvious, that he was exhausted, and Lee couldn't help but roll her eyes. At least she couldn't since she was relieved that he was feeling better, that it was safe to touch him, that the spirit was gone. "Well that doesn't surprise me, Tarin," Lee said softly as she gently reached out for Tarin's arm to help him slowly get up. "I don't think I've ever had this much energy. I've almost literally been bouncing off the walls here..."

By this point, Lee had gotten Tarin to his feet, and after she made as sure as she could that he could stand on his own, Lee removed her hands from his arm. "Yeah, let's get home," she said, keeping her eyes on him, ready to jump over if Tarin needed the help, though hoping he wouldn't. She really didn't want to touch him any more than absolutely necessary for at least the next couple hours. "Your bed is much more comfortable than the floor here."

Bed, rest...perfect. Tarin was hopeful that after some real rest he'd be able to put up the kind of fight that was necessary to get this body snatcher away from him. As careful as Lee was being at the moment, Tarin was pretty sure that his other fears were unwarrented. She wasn't going to want to be anywhere near him for hours. Tarin would have grinned if he could have moved his lips when Lee said "Your bed"

The spirit grumbled...Jesus...he could barely stand and all he could think about was using Tarin's body to get Lee in bed. Suddenly Tarin didn't feel so bad about his past exploits into sexual debauchery. This guy was a way bigger perv. I've been dead... came the wry reply. No need to worry though...I'm not that out of practice.

Tarin growled inside his head, his patent jealousy rearing its ugly head at the very thought. Even worse, Tarin knew what that would do to Lee. "I'm sure my bed will be far more comfortable." Tarin's voice acknowledged, bristling slightly at the fact that he was now standing on his own and Lee was keeping her distance.

You stupid pig... Tarin couldn't help but gloat a little, You think after what she just had to do that she's going to be all over you.

The spirit didn't respond, just stumbled slightly as he was walking with Lee towards door then let her have her distance. Tarin was frustrated, this guy was far too intelligent...too good at what he was doing. There had to be a weakness though. There were always weaknesses....he was just so tired...

"I'm sorry I've ruined our date night..." Tarin heard his voice saying as they exited the shop out onto the street, "I'll have to make it up to you. Things were going so well with the movie."

Damn...another point to the spirit. Tarin was sure going to have his hands full...but for now, he was going to rest.

Lee's eyes shot to Tarin's as she heard him grumble after she had mentioned 'his bed'. "What?" Lee asked, her voice a little sharper than it had been just moments earlier. "You really think I'm going to let you try and stay up when you're this exhausted?" If he knew her, he should know that, right?

Tarin stumbled on his first couple steps, and Lee stood by him, ready to catch and steady him if he got any worse, but not actually touching him until she needed to. Luckily, it didn't come to that, and as Tarin appeared to gain his balance better, she flicked the lights off in the back of the shop as Tarin made his way into the front room, Lee followed him, easily catching up even moving at a normal pace. Within moments, they were at the door, and Lee unlocked it before opening the door; if Tarin was having trouble simply trying to walk, there was absolutely no way Lee was going to expect him to open the door, whether for himself or for her.

As they were stepping out into the night air, Tarin's words surprised Lee. "It's not your fault," Lee said softly as she paused to lock the shop up behind them. "But what-" Lee cut herself off as she turned back toward Tarin and started slowly walking in the direction of their apartment. Though she wanted to know what this particular spirit had wanted, especially now, it was not a great idea to be asking while they were out on the street. Maybe when they got home she'd ask again.

Tarin could feel himself shrug, "I can see the wisdom in your thinking..." his voice said, and Tarin couldn't help but think that he'd never speak so formally. "I'm just sorry to lose the rest of the night with you."

Lee grabbed the door before the spirit could make Tarin do it and he sighed, another chance for her to realize their plan hadn't worked....down the drain.

Now that they had left the shop, Tarin concentrated on keeping himself well hidden within his mind. If the spirit thought he was incoherent then he wouldn't bother him too much. They were making their way down the street now and Tarin could fee the spirit rejoice at the feel of the air on his skin and the exuberance it was feeling at "being alive" again.

"Hmmm?" Tarin's voice said at Lee's bit off question as they walked down the street. "It's such a beautiful night." he said cheerily when it didn't seem like she was going to answer. Again, Tarin hoped Lee would find this odd, it was still quite chilly out to him. "And you're beautiful tonight." He added with a glance in Lee's direction that made Tarin grumble to himself.

"Are you sure we have to go directly to sleep once we've reached home?"

Lee looked at Tarin with a slightly confused expression on her face as he responded her her admonition. How he was speaking was a little odd, not quite him somehow, but then again Lee realized that Tarin always acted weird after a merge. Whether he withdrew and kept everything to himself, got angry, or ran off to Maine without telling her, there had always been some sort of strange behaviour after a merge. This must be what it was going to be this time.

The walk was mostly quiet, Lee not sure what she really could say, and not wanting to further strain Tarin with idle chatter. Or at least it was quiet until she had started to ask the question, a question Tarin apparently wanted to hear the rest of. But rather than answer, rather than ask the rest of the question, Lee simply shook her head; she was not about to ask that out here, even if Tarin pushed her to.

But Tarin's next comments when she didn't speak caused the previously confused expression to change to one of slight concern as she turned her head to look over at him. Yes, Tarin normally acted odd after a merge, but not cheerful. Never cheerful. He hated and feared this aspect of his powers to much to be able to be cheerful about it, or right after it happened. So what's going on, Lee wondered.

But as she was pondering this, and before she was able to say anything else, Tarin continued, and Lee couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine at his words. Anyone else that might have overheard Tarin wouldn't have thought anything of them. It was a very normal question to ask, really, and that's what drew Lee's attention to it.

"I won't be sleeping," Lee whispered. Tarin, of all people, should know that, especially after what had just happened, what she had just done to him. "But I did want to ask you something first."

Lee was confused, frankly Tarin was getting sick and tired of being an observer in his own body. She was starting to figure it out though, and that made him happy, much to the despair and anger of the spirit inside of him. The spirit was raging, taunting, but Tarin was too tired or too set on his current course of (dis)action to hear it.

Tarin knew that the giddy idle chatter of the spirit was going to rub Lee the wrong way. The only thing he was usually ever worried about after a merge was what he'd done to her, what he'd done to others, how he could stop it and how he could keep himself from ever letting it happen again. The last thing he'd ever done was chatter excitedly about how lovely the weather was. Tarin smiled to himself in the prison of his mind, this was going better than it would have if he'd have been fighting this whole time.

The spirit was getting frustrated and he snapped at Lee, "Well if you're not sleeping I don't see why you would expect me to." Tarin actually laughed out loud at this and the spirit snapped at him, Tarin didn't hear though. The spirit really didn't understand what it was Lee did, it wasn't Tarin's fault if he wasn't using the information he'd stolen.

Lee was speaking again, and they were nearly at the apartment. Tarin was feeling excitement and it was slightly energizing. He didn't feel like he was going to simply fade away into nothing anymore, he had a grasp on himself, he could actually feel the amusement at the bad end this bastard spirit was going to meet at Lee's hands.

She asked a question and "Tarin" jerked his head towards her, "What now?"

And here Lee was thinking it was going to be difficult to figure out whether Tarin was still merged or not. But with how he snapped at her, no, not even that, simply just what words he used, Lee knew. This was not Tarin speaking, Tarin knew she wouldn't be able to even force herself to fall asleep tonight.

"Because you're exhausted," Lee snapped back. If whoever this guy was didn't think he needed to be nice, then neither did she. Hadn't he agreed with her idea to get him home and rest, after all? So what was the problem with the fact that she wasn't going to be sleeping as well?

"What do you mean 'what now'?" Lee asked, turning to look at Tarin in return. "I'm not allowed to want to ask you a question before you go to bed?"

By this time, they had reached their building. Again, without waiting for Tarin, Lee reached for her keys and unlocked the door, pulling it open for them. She was already as sure as she could possibly be that the merge hadn't ended, so there really was no point in cluing the spirit in to something that she might need later.

Up the stairs and through the door into the apartment itself, Lee locked the door behind them. But rather than moving further in to the apartment, or going over to sit on the couch, Lee simply turned and looked at Tarin for a few moments. She was going to use this question to figure out for sure what was going on, but she had already figured that out. So she really didn't know what to ask.

"I'm not exhausted..." "Tarin" said, turning to glare at Lee, and surprisingly enough, he wasn't. Somehow the spirit had managed to keep some sort of separation between its life force and Tarin's as Lee had drained him in the shop. The spirit was feeling positively vibrant even if Tarin could hardly move.

"I can't believe you're letting a little glich like this ruin the night." he continued to mutter and Tarin wondered if the spirit had gotten acces to his thoughts and memories after all. If it had, it would have known that he'd never speak to Lee like that, not in a million years. He was way smarter than that.

"I mean, I'm tired of you pestering me..." The spirit snapped again, then paused and thought for a few moments, getting a grip on its irritation at the way Lee was acting, "I'm simply shaken still. I'd much rather go on like things were normal."

Tarin knew that Lee had to know by this point. There was no way she didn't know. The spirit had given itself away on numerous occasions and while Tarin might have felt sorry for the thing under different circumstances, the fact was he wished it as much malice as possible.

"No...you're not. Not if you're going to continue to treat me like I'm a child. You think I can't deal with this? If you're not interested in being with me then hit the road." The spirit thought it had him so pegged, if it hadn't given things away with the million mistakes before, this surely did.

They were in the apartment now and Tarin could hear the misgivings in the spirit's thoughts as Lee locked the door behind them. His back was turned to her and he was already trying to figure out a way to get out. Tarin had to hand it to the guy, physical violence against Lee never even occurred to him as an option, and for a split second he felt some empathy for the spirit again....a split second....because next were ideas that the body he was in was expendable.

Um...eff...Tarin was a little stressed out by this, most recent idea from the spirit was disconcerting to say the least. More and more the spirit was thinking that a running leap through that big window was a good idea. It turned to face Lee and saw the look on her face and the decision was made.

Tarin said a little prayer that somehow Lee was going to be able to stop what was happening before it really happened. The spirit was absolutely coursing with energy, but the walk it took towards the windows was calm and measured.

About six feet from the window that overlooked the street, the spirit turned Tarin's head towards Lee. "You were right you know..." it said, and it didn't even really sound like Tarin's voice anymore. Despite the fact that he was exhausted, Tarin had decided that this was a good time to fight, but it felt like he was up against a solid brick wall.

"You were wrong too though..." the spirit went on to say, "I'm not going to give him up. Not to you. I had every bit as much right to live as he does...my loved ones lost...now maybe you can feel my pain..."

That was it, Tarin couldn't stop it no matter how hard he tried, the spirit turned and rushed at the window as fast and as hard as he could, leaping at the last second and crashing through the glass windowpane.

The more that was said, the more outrageous it got. The more unlike Tarin it got. And the more upset Lee got. So upset, actually, that she didn't know what to say in response to everything she was being told.

Actually, in a way, Lee couldn't figure out why these spirits were so stupid. This one in particular. Lee had already figured out about the merge once, and once she did, had drained Tarin's energy to the point that he collapsed into an exhausted heap. Yet, almost everything he was saying at this point was a clue that it wasn't actually Tarin. Didn't the spirit realize that she'd do the same thing again?

At least with how she was being spoken to, it made things easier for Lee. Even after some of the things she had been through in previous merges, she still had a hard time trying to siphon so much from Tarin. If he actually looked different, that would make it easier still, but at least when it didn't sound like him, when she was being told things like to 'hit the road', something that she knew Tarin would never in a million years even think, never mind say to her, it made it that much easier to siphon.

Only one quick look at her. That was all 'Tarin' did once they got into the apartment before he started walking again, further into the room. Before long, he stopped and started speaking, and more than ever it didn't sound like Tarin. "And what gives you the right to decide that we should suffer?" Lee asked in a whisper, not even pretending to be surprised at the revelation that Tarin was still merged.

But before he responded, before Lee was able to say anything else, she saw him start moving again. It took a couple steps before it actually clicked in what he was about to do. "Oh damn!" Lee exclaimed as she realized this, her eyes wide in shock, and rushed forward as well.

Reaching Tarin as he was crashing through the window, Lee shoved her arm out after him, grabbing him by the back of the coat and pulling him back into the apartment. And despite his momentum, Lee easily and quickly pulled him back inside, throwing him down onto the floor and stood in front of the window. "Who the hell are you to decide he shouldn't live simply because you died?" Lee hissed, advancing angrily on the spirit currently occupying Tarin's body.

They were going through the window...they were really going out through the window. Part of Tarin was glad...glad that the spirit hadn't taken its anger out on Lee, but another part of Tarin was absolutely freaking out because they were going through the window.

People had always said that you saw your life flash before your eyes right before you died. Tarin had mused on that adage for years, wondering if it was that imprint that spirits sent him when he created a mental link with them.

So far, there were no flashbacks, only Lee, that was all Tarin could think about, and again he was glad...he knew that she was what he wanted, for sure. She had to be if she was the last thing he saw. Tarin was still struggling, however weakly, against the spirit as he felt the glass resist then shatter against their body. Out they fell and Tarin felt a few cuts open on his face....he FELT. Tarin tried to turn, wrestling with the spirit for control over his body as it fell...maybe, just maybe he could slow the rate of fall.

It turned out there was no need, a hand locked on his jacket and suddenly instead of weightless it was as if Tarin was reversely weighted, flying backwards through the window he'd just crashed through.

The shock of the feeling jolted Tarin's concentrating and he lost his hold on his body again as it hit the floor, so it wasn't him who felt the air whoosh from his lungs at the impact. The spirit was struggling for breath in his body as Lee advanced on them, man was she pissed!

The spirit couldn't talk other than a few gasping words, "Not...giving...up..." it said, using Tarin's body to curl in on itself, looking up at Lee. Come on Lee... Tarin hoped, waiting for what she would do next...hopefully it would work better than the last idea.