Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Xena's POV

Ama looked at me with heartache in her eyes, her hand gently reaching toward my face. "X, I can't imagine what you went through, she said softly, ber voice trembling with emotion. "But if you want to tell me anything, I'm always here. I'll always be your friend."

Her words hit me like a warm wave, washing over the cold numbness that had settled in my chest. Without thinking, I reached out with my right hand and pulled her into a gentle embrace.

"I love you, sis," I whispered against her shoulder.

I heard Ama's soft crying, the sound both heartbreaking and healing at the same time. Her tears weren't out of pity-they were tears of love, of shared pain.

'You're ugly when you cry," I said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I want to take a shower. Can you help me?"

Ama pulled back from our embrace, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. A genuine smile spread across her face as she nodded. 'Of course."

She took my right arm gently, supporting me as we walked to the adjacent room. Her movements were careful but not overly cautious-she treated me like 1 was still me, just temporarily fragile, not like I was made of glass.

The bathroom was spacious and clean, with a large walk-in shower that would make everything easier. Ama turned on the water, testing the temperature with her hand before adjusting it to the perfect warmth.

"Let me help you with your clothes,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact but gentle.

I nodded. Ama worked slowly and carefully, helping me out of them. When she saw the full extent of my injuries-the bruises that had faded to yellow and green, the bandages covering various cuts, and most prominently, the stark white cast ending in nothing where my left hand should be-she drew in a sharp breath.

"Oh, Xena,” she whispered, but there was no pity in her voice, only love and determination.

She helped me into the shower, staying close enough to support me but giving me space to feel the warm water on my skin.

'I can wash your hair," Ama offered, reaching for the shampoo.

"Please," I said, closing my eyes as she began working the shampoo through my hair with gentle fingers. The massage felt amazing, and for a moment, I could almost forget about everything that had happened.

As she rinsed my hair, Ama's voice grew thoughtful. "You know, I've been thinking about your hand," she said carefully.

My body tensed immediately. "Ama-

'No, listen to me,' she interrupted gently but firmly. "Remember when we were kids, and you broke your leg trying to jump that ridiculous gap buildings?"

I couldn't help but smile slightly at the memory. "I was showing off for that boy... what was his name?"

en the

'Marcus! You were so determined to prove you could do anything he could do, only better." Ama laughed softly as she began washing my back with a soft cloth. "And when you broke your leg, you were furious. You kept saying your life was over, that you'd never be able to do anything athletic again."

'I was being dramatic," I said, but I could see where she was going with this.

"You were. But you know what happened? Two months later, you were not only walking again, you were doing backflips off the diving board at the pool. You came back stronger and more determined than ever." Her voice grew passionate as she spoke. “That's who you are, Xena. You don't let anything keep you down for long."

As she continued washing me, being extra careful around my injuries, Ama's voice took on that encouraging tone I remembered from our childhood. "This is different, I know. Losing your hand... it's not something that just heals. But you're the smartest, most resourceful person I know. Remember when you rebuilt that entire motorcycle engine with parts you scavenged from a junkyard? Or when you figured out how to hack into the school's computer system just to prove you could?"

I found myself listening intently, her words starting to chip away at the despair that had been growing in my chest.

"You're going to adapt," she continued with absolute certainty. "You're going to find new ways to do the things you love. And anyone who underestimates you because of this is going to get a very rude awakening."

"But the shop... my bikes... I started to protest.

'Will all be there waiting for you when you're ready. And if you need to modify how you do things, so what? You're Xena fucking Harris-sorry, Xena fucking Nash now." She grinned at her correction. 'You've never done anything the conventional way anyway."

Her words were starting to work their magic, the way they always had when we were growing up. Ama had this gift for seeing the strength in people when they couldn't see it themselves.

'Remember when you taught yourself to fight left-handed just because you were bored?" she asked as she helped me rinse off. "You spent three months practicing until you were as good with your left hand as your right. You said you wanted to be prepared for anything."

The irony wasn't lost on me, and I let out a bitter laugh. "Lot of good that did me."

"Are you kidding? You survived. You killed two enemies and escaped from a heavily fortified compound. You saved William's life. That's not the work of someone who's been defeated-that's the work of a fucking warrior."

As she helped me step out of the shower and wrapped a fluffy towel around me, I felt something shift inside me. The crushing despair was still there, but it

was no longer the only thing I could feel.noveldrama

"Actually," Ama said, her voice suddenly excited, "I know about a research team that's working on neural-controlled prosthetics. They're developing artificial limbs that can be controlled by thoughts, using nerve signals. I could help you get a spot in their program."

My heart skipped a beat. "Are you serious?"

*Completely serious. Dr. Williams has been working on this project for years. They've had incredible success with their test subjects. The prosthetics can do almost everything a real hand can do, and some things even better." Her enthusiasm was infectious. "I could make some calls, pull some strings. You'd be perfect for the program-young, strong, determined. They'd be lucky to have you." For the first time since I'd woken up in the hospital, I felt a spark of genuine hope. "Ama, that would be... that would be incredible."

'Consider it done," she said with a grin, helping me into a soft robe. "I'm calling Dr. Williams tomorrow."

I pulled her into another hug with my good arm, feeling tears of gratitude instead

of despair. "Thank you. For everything. For believing in me when I can't believe in myself."

"That's what family does," she said simply.

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