Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 23:10:43 -0700
From: Justin Robinson-Prickett 
To: T.J. Jankun-Kelly 
Cc: Penny Gronbeck 
Subject: Abilities and Liabilities


On the bus ride home, Ivy leans on Damon's shoulder.  She seemed to relax a
little when they left the morgue, but she hasn't spoken.

Damon turns to her, and brushes the hair out of her eyes.  "Don't worry,
Ivy.  I wouldn't let them harm you," he whispers.  He kisses her forehead
softly.

Ivy closes her eyes.  "I know."  She shifts a little, looking up at him. 
"It's just... I can't tell that they're there, except when they touch
me." 
 
Damon's brow furrows a bit.  "I wish I could understand what you're
feeling,
but I don't.  I know the Restless Dead make people... nervous, but they
have
always been kind to me.  They were the only ones who stayed around me
when I
was younger.  In many ways, I was raised by the dead," he whispers, his
voice still distant and calm.

"I can see them, and it is hard to imagine not being able to... Perhaps,
in
time, I can find a way to change the pattern of your mind to perceive
them.
Until then, I'm afraid you'll have to trust me."  He smiles ruefully,
stroking her hair.  "Their patterns are easy for me to understand, and I
am
quite capable of ripping them to pieces.  I don't like to... any more
than
someone would like killing a living person... but I won't let them hurt
you."

Damon kisses her again.  "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Ivy plays with her tongue stud.  "It's not that I'm afraid of getting
hurt, exactly... I know they're not any more likely to do that than the
living are, and I know you won't let that happen, but..."  She pauses,
looking down.  "I'm not used to being afraid of anything.  And.... it
just makes me feel like I'm more of a liability than an asset." 
 
Damon pauses. "A liability?" he asks, incredulously.  "Nothing could be
further from the truth.  Perhaps in certain arenas you are, and perhaps
in
others I am, but that's why we watch out for on another."

He shifts, so he's looking into her eyes, gently touching her cheek.  "We
cover each other's weaknesses and take comfort in the other's strengths. 
I
feel perfectly safe with you, as anything that could have harmed me in
the
material world, you can take care of.  The immaterial... that is my
arena.
You are not, and will never be a liability, even when I have to protect
you
from the unseen.  Even then you remind me that I'm worth loving, and you
give me a reason not to give into my sickness."
 
Ivy puts her hand on his cheek and kisses him.  "I was going to offer to
take ritalin so we could keep going...."  she blushes a little.  "Maybe
we should take a break and then plan some."