As feisty as she had been casting spells, she proved no less difficult at close range. Actually, Sabel quickly decided that he much preferred her at long range. It hurt less.

While he was able to avoid the nasty back-snap of her head, he didn't have the concentration available to avoid the kick of her foot. His mouth clamped shut with the pain of her heel connecting with his thigh. That was going to leave a bruise. In response, his grip holding her wrist tightened, determined not to loose her. He took two steps back to brace himself against the pillar, should she decide to try and kick him again, pulling her with him to try to keep her as tight against him, and therefore with as little freedom to move, as possible. His other hand, let go of her shoulder to reach around her neck and connect with the wrist he was holding.

Had it been anyone else, he wouldn't have hesitated to use full pressure to complete the choke hold. As it was, he was more focused on not breaking or twisting her arm too badly, while keeping his head and face out of the way of her wand.

Instead of loosening his grip, her attacks had only caused him to tighter further. Just great.

Admittedly, Lex was relieved he'd avoided the backward headbutt because she was not looking forward to what would have been an unpleasant headache following her through the rest of the day. No thanks, what would no doubt be a nasty shoulder ache later was enough.

Again she tried wiggling, feeling the futility now more than before he'd backed them both up against the wall of the column. There was something about the grip though. If it had been the other way around with her choke holding HIM, she'd had put everything in it until he was forced to inevitably throw or surrender. As it stood, Alexa had no plans at surrender if they continued like this and she probably wasn't strong enough to throw him from behind.

What finally helped her was him abandoning her shoulder to grip her wrist, an act that put his arm in her line of fire. Nothing much to do except CLAMP down on it in a classic Alice Fischer type way. Dirt and sweat were nothing like the sugar she kept on her at all times but desperate times called for desperate measures.

He thought she was going to give up. There was a momentary pause in her struggling that made him think that perhaps they were finally done. He even let out a small breath, bordering on relief. A breath that quickly turned into a yelp of pain.

"MERLIN'S BLOODY BOOTS!"

Uncalled for. Simply uncalled for. But it had the desired effect. At least with the arm in her mouth. That hand let go and the arm let slack, but he wasn't about to try and rip it from her. No, he preferred his sleeve and his skin attached to his body, thanks.

What it did have him doing however, was using more force. He still had her wrist tight in his grip, and he twisted a little more, hoping that the pressure would be enough to cause her to let go of his arm. In addition, he used the position of his arm holding her hand and his weight to try and drive her forward, onto her knees. Hopefully there wasn't anything too significant on the floor in front of them.

His yelp was brilliant satisfaction for her. It told her that in all this, she was doing SOMETHING right so she didn't loosen her clamp, in fact she tightened it in response to the loosening of his hand and the tightening of his own grip on her other arm. It was possible that if he kept twisting he would break her wrist clean off but it didn't motivate her to let go.

For as long as she could, she resisted his push but her knees finally gave way, sending her--and possibly him--hurtling with very little grace or coordination to the ground.

Out of nothing but reflex, Alexa let go of his arm, trying to make the fall less awkward but given that he'd never actually let go of her bet arm and wrist, there was little to be done and she heard the crack before she felt it.

The young woman swore loudly as a sharp jolt of pain ran from the joint of her shoulder throughout the rest of her arm. Lex sucked in a deep breath, muttering little curses but she didn't move an inch.

It.

HURT.

He was trying to think of a way to explain away the bite mark. Either it would be really bruised, or she would at some point actually break the skin and there'd be some good marks. One way or another, Arya would notice and he'd have to come up with some really good reason. Choke-holding a co-worker was not a good reason.

It gave him good distraction from the pain, and an outlet for his frustration besides the girl he was wrestling with. He was trying his darnedest not to do any damage. This was just a duel after all. No sense in --

The lack of gravity was startling even to him, and there was no chance for recovery. Trying to loosen an awkward hold while at the same time trying to cushion or stop such a hard fall just didn't come fast enough in any situation. Most notably in this one.

Sabel had enough time to catch himself from falling right on top of her with the hand of the arm she had finally released. But that didn't mean that the majority of his body weight hadn't put pressure where pressure shouldn't have been. He heard and felt the crack at the same time, and in that instant, the duel was over. Completely and totally done. Just. Done.

As quickly as he wanted to release her arm, he didn't want to jar it any more than necessary. Very carefully, he let go and shifted his weight away from her, though he didn't overlook slipping her wand from her hand as he did so. It was a quick two-fold reasoning: so she wouldn't loose it, and so she wouldn't try to attack him, even now.

His eyes skipped over her back as he tucked the wand behind his belt, and he winced. Dung-beetles. He hadn't meant to do that. Really hadn't meant for that to happen.

"Alexa..." putting a hand gently on her back to steady her, Sabel shifted around and crouched in front of her, using his free wand hand to disperse the thick smoke. No sense in forcing her to battle smoke and pain at the same time. "Merlin's beard....I'm sorry." They had gotten carried away. Way too carried away.

While his immediate thought was to cast episkey or brackium emendo, he wasn't sure how bad the break was. He might just make matters worse. There was a reason, he wasn't a healer. He put people in the healer's ward, he didn't help them out of there.

"We need to get you to a healer..."

By this point, nothing existed in the world outside her throbbing arm; not the rubble digging into her knees with her collapsed there, not the smoke, not even Sabel.

Last time she felt anything like this, she'd taken a bludger to the head and the time before that, it was a bludger to the elbow and one shattering her knee. Having gone the last two years of Hogwarts without Quidditch, it was likely she'd forgotten the feeling completely--until now. Right this second she didn't know whether to freeze completely or attempt to move her disfigured arm. Consequently, she stayed put, head facing down and trying her hardest to blink back the little prickles of tears at her eyes. No matter what, she was determined to not let him see her cry. It wasn't something she did and wouldn't start now while he was watching--

dhbsjgfsdywfisdsfdzk

AND TAKING HER WAND.

Lex tried turning to protest but another shot of pain jolted through her entire arm forcing her into stillness once more. Thankfully the smoke had gone because she was now taking deep, shaky breaths, trying to ignore the whole thing.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she became aware of his presence crouching next to her and the hand on her back but that didn't stir any movement either.

"I-I don't need a Healer, j-just gimme my wand back." That was all she could manage between gritted teeth. Somehow, she would have to play this off. It didn't hurt that much, or so she would tell herself until it became real. This doubled as a matter of pride. It was clear she'd lost but she wouldn't lose SO BAD that she had to be carted off to a Healer her very first duel on the job. Absolutely NOT, nomaterhowmuchithurt. Owwww.

As terrible and horrible as he felt, watching Alexa in pain that he had caused, Sabel knew it wouldn't do any good. Sorry wouldn't cut it, but there was no sense in rehashing guilt or asking for forgiveness. It was a ship that didn't need to sail right now. At this moment, what she needed was a healer, no matter how much she protested it.

For a moment, he was silent, rubbing her back with his thumb in pointless comfort. He didn't want a hex to the face, if she considered the duel still on, but at the same time he understood where she was coming from. If he was in her spot, he wouldn't want to feel helpless by being disarmed either. He'd want to try and fix things on his own too.

Letting out a small breath, Sabel retrieved her wand and held it out to her. He spoke softly, but firmly, leaving no mistake that his words were orders rather than friendly suggestions. "Whether you heal yourself, or I heal you as much as I'm able, Alexa, we are going to the healers."

Period.

It was too early to say he'd use any means necessary to get her there, and hoped that the inflection in his tone was enough to drive that point home.

"No sense in risking a long-term injury. Not this early in your career." Damien, Van. They were all years older than her and they had signs to show of their hard careers. But that was from the field. A training accident was no good excuse to have such an injury now.

Why did he have to take her wand in the first place? Now it was difficult taking back it where as before it was already in hand. Alexa watched her wand for a moment before easing off her other hand that she'd been using to support her weight to grab at it. Unfortunately the grabbing motion only served to jerk at her busted shoulder causing her to wince and stiffen in pain once more.

She fixed him with a look at what some might consider an ultimatum--because that's what it sounded like. "Raise your wand at me and I'll find a way to kill you in your sleep." So serious. Very serious. 'As much as I am able' sounded like he was shoddy at healing spells and would further ruin her shoulder at which point she didn't know what she would do...first.

So no, he wouldn't be healing her shoulder and she wouldn't be attempting such a feat with her LEFT hand either. Only option left was to leave her the hell alone.

Huh, she liked that option. They should choose that one.

"I've probably had worse. This...is nothing." Dare she try moving again? Nah, she'd just kinda sit slumped over and talk big until it became a reality. "You just worry too much is your problem." Tough Aurors didn't NEED to be rushed to the Healer after their very FIRST training ever. Consequently, Alexa Cambridge did not need to be rushed to a Healer. This would pass, it always did even if she might be forgetting the Healer was usually present on the pitch after every match back at Hogwarts, ahem.

And he thought she was stubborn when she was in good health. Alexa reminded him much of an injured animal backed into a corner, and he had no doubt she would bite his hand if he tried anything. Then again, he'd been bitten before.

Her threat got the faintest of smiles. "I wish you luck in that endeavor. No one has succeeded yet. And believe me, you aren't the first to want to."

She could go ahead and try. Arya wouldn't take to kindly to it, but if it was a week worth of fending off her attacks at night in exchange for getting her patched up, well then he could always sleep on the couch. Or at the office. That wouldn't be a first either.

"Don't care what you have or haven't had before." Not at the moment anyways. "We can do this simply, or we can do it the interesting way." Sure, he felt guilty. Every time she moved and winced, he cringed internally. But she was only making things worse by being so darn stubborn about getting help. He couldn't fault her for not taking him up on his offer to heal her. Really, in a situation like this, he would prefer that a Professional would do it. And she seemed quite alright with biting through the pain. Otherwise, she would have relented by now.

"You have two options. Walk on your own two feet with me, or. I'll carry you." He leveled a look at her. Not the regular 'carry style'. The burlap-sac-over-the-shoulder style. "You pick. I'm not fussed or worried either way."

Of course, of cooourse he wouldn't take her seriously. No one ever did. Lex might have been offended...if she was still 12 but the years had taught her that actions spoke louder than words and people only usually believed you were capable after the deed was done. "I'm the first Alexa Cambridge." And that spoke to a LOT in case he was wondering.

Could be anything from slow poison that would eventually have him die in his sleep or hired help under the record. This was the real world and in some ways she was familiar with the way it worked.

Lex gave no outward response when he repeated his intention to get her to a Healer. How could there be an interesting way? Should she have been intrigued because she kinda was and had to stamp it out immediately.

No Healer, it wasn't happening.

"You forgot the third option; sitting here til I have a mind to move. That, Mr. Dakest, is the one I choose so you can shove off. I think you've done enough damage for one day, don't you?" Perfectly operational arm when she walked into the Atrium this morning and now it was already swelling at the shoulder and throbbing something fierce. He had DEFINITELY done enough and at the moment she wanted him nowhere NEAR her.

Yes, yes she certainly was the first Alexa Cambridge. And no, he probably shouldn't find that amusing or endearing by any length of measurement. So, he swallowed the threatening smile and decided that it was one of those times where silence was best.

His silence didn't last long, however, and he let out a heavy sigh. "I do think I have. And I am sorry." As he had said before. And trying to make up for it, but that was a null statement that was pointless to debate. "However, your hardly doing yourself a world of favors. Being stubborn isn't going to make anything right. In fact, it's only going to make matters worse. You want the use of your arm? The full use of your arm? Then you need to see a healer. Period."

This was the nice way. The interesting way, was coming if he couldn't pull a thread of sense out of her. Damien would have left him, or pulled him up regardless of the pain it would cause. But he wasn't Damien. As much as he admired the man, he didn't want to be a shadow of him.

Taking his hand back, he rested it on his knee. "But, if you don't want help and want to be stubborn about this, then fine. I won't help. I'll just make sure you get there on both legs."

A few minutes. That's all he would give her. Just a few. It was, after all, a lot to ask of someone to get up right away after something like that. So yes, perhaps he should shove off. Just a little.

Yeah yeah yeah, he was sorry. Maybe if he said it enough her arm would be fine. No? Then his apology meant little more than kneazle dung to her and he could keep it while she psyched herself up. Somehow she would get up and when she did, she'd do proper patrols and if after THAT she felt like she had some time she MIGHT stop in at the Healer's.

Tough Auror. Very tough Auror, he just wasn't seeing that.

Did he think that on a mission you could take a break to see a Healer after a Dark Wizard did a number on you? Him of all people should have known better; he'd been out in the field already SO he should stop preaching to her because he was only holding her back. Endurance building was a legit thing and she might have been doing that right now without even noticing.

Needless to say, Alexa ignored his little speech about needing to get help if she wanted the full use of her arm. Did he think she WOULDN'T know something so obvious?

"I'll get where I want on my legs and without any help from you, yes, that's brilliant." So...why was he still here?

She was being stubborn. Oh so stubborn. And that wasn't just the pain talking. No. That was pure Alexa Cambridge pride.

He didn't say anything. He just watched. One minute, two minutes, five minutes. She could get up whenever she wanted to. She could just accept his apology and ask for help whenever she wanted to. She could go to the healer and get fixed whenever she wanted to. She could stop treating it like it was still a duel whenever she....

Sabel blinked and frowned deeply. Was it pride, or was she trying to prove something? That she could handle it? That she could deal if this was a real life situation? Just as he had done years ago. Just as they had been dueling now, few bars held.

That decided it. If that was the reason, it needed to be broken. And there was only one way to do that.

Shifting his weight, Sabel took hold of her good arm by the elbow and her shoulder and pulled her to his feet as he stood. He did it in the most gentle, slow and measured way possible so as not to jar her, but he made it evident in his grip that he wasn't going to let her go or relent. They were going to stand. And if she fought him, it would be her own darn fault for any pain that resulted.

"On your feet, soldier."

By now the pain had become a numbing one. There was a distinct throbbing at the joint of her shoulder but the nerves there might have been getting duller. Admittedly not a good sign at all but there was no way she would admit that to Mr. Knows Absolutely Everything Ever so Lex continued avoiding his gaze.

Why the persistence? Anyone else might have left her to her own devices--save a select few far too used to her stubborn nature to pay much attention to it--but no, he was insistent on it. So far she thought she'd been doing a good job of not seeming bothered but that wanting to find some place to curl up for a while was coming back and it COULDN'T happen if Sabel was watching.

Merlin, she'd never live it down--she'd never even get to do it because he'd be there TOO nagging her about a Healer. There was no winning and this bothered her.

Having not been looking at him, the moment he took hold of her elbow caught her off guard completely. "Let. Go." She protested, even as he pulled her to her feet. There was a point where she tried yanking away from him but it was short lived before another sharp jolt of pain ran through the busted arm again.

Pulling away clearly wasn't the answer. The young woman scowled up at him. "Let go of me, now." Movement was a horrible thing, it brought the throbbing back just when she thought it was going dull.

He ignored the looks, the protests, the feeble attempt to get away. He had to remind himself it was like dealing with his daughter. If he didn't hold strong, if he yielded, she would continue to test his boundaries. Even if she didn't like it, sometimes things were for her own good. Even if he had been the one to make the mistake, he was responsible for putting it right. No matter the fuss.

Alexa was the same way. Just older and a little bit more dangerous than a toddler.

As it was, she had given in to the one piece of leverage that he had. Her pain. It wasn't a pleasant idea, but it would work.

While he was determined to be firm, he was gentle. He wasn't going to wrestle her again, but he would ask. And he did. Taking first one step and then another, his hold the same. "I'll let you go, eventually."

Be it when she chose to cooperate, or when they got to the healer. One thing was for sure. The Healer was going to have a heck of a time with this one.

Unbelievable.

English was clearly lost on this one because despite her protests he was obviously still determined to get her to a Healer. Seriously? Alexa stayed planted to her spot on the floor, watching what might have been attempts at getting her to move. His first step, then another step, boy he just wasn't getting it--Ow.

The fact his grip hadn't loosened and she hadn't started walking meant that third step caused a tugging motion, one which passed from the good shoulder and shot right into the bad one. Lex sucked in a deep breath, pushing back the yelp that might have come out then reluctantly began walking too. As much as she didn't want to, it was the better option--not because a Healer was a good idea but because there were only so many more stabs of pain she could take before she completely blew whatever little tough cover she had left.

It would be better to walk, save herself the humiliation of it all and keep what little dignity she had left.

Losing the duel, severe injury in said duel, a man pulling on her like she was a child and now walking so painstakingly slow to avoid further provocation of the shoulder that there really wasn't any dignity left in it at all. None. Just a reluctant walk and a sullen expression that would probably plague her for however long Sabel carried this on but there were no longer protests. Lex was resigned to the fact that he was resigned on the matter.

He spoke well, and listened relatively well but right now, he wasn't doing either. He couldn't do either if this was going to get resolved the right way. Which would end up with a healed arm and likely a very tense relationship. But it seemed that things were a cost benifit system. Or was that the barter system? Market maybe?

He'd never been great in social studies or politics. To much pull and give.

Speaking of, Alexa was doing a good job in testing those waters. He didn't like causing anyone pain, least of all someone he wasn't supposed to cause pain, but at the moment, she was doing it to herself. Perhaps that's why she gave in? Had it been anyone else dishing it out, she probably would have fought tooth a nail. Which was fine. This was fine. He could work with this.

Not saying a word, he walked them out of the training area, allowing her to set the pace that was comfortable for her. So long as it wasn't a non-moving pace, she could dictate it. He lessened his grip too, but didn't remove his hands. In the end, he would prefer if he was just supporting her by the time they got to the healing ward, but he wasn't going to hold any expectations.

The training area looked just as he remembered it. Decrepit and falling apart in a million places. It would have been nice to have a change of scenery for this bout, but he supposed that fair was fair. He had duelled one YATI here, now for another.

The memory of his duel with Alexa had him shift against the wall uncomfortably. He had underestimated the girl and her brash drive towards winning. Today, he was holding no similar misgivings with Tyler. The boy was just as stubborn, if in a quieter way. And he would not make the same mistake of not laying out the scenario for the training session. It had been unfair to Alexa not to have done so, and he wouldn't be making that same mistake twice.

Running his fingers along his wand, tucked safely up his sleeve, Sabel let his eyes drift slowly among the shadows, memories playing quietly through his mind as he listened, watched and waited. He had time. He was early.

Tyler had been in here several times, by himself but he wasn't sure what to expect when he trained with another auror. To be on the safe side he slipped in and stayed in the shadows. Would Sabel give him time to prepare or would he attack him right away?

Not wanting to leave it to change Tyler stayed in the shadow and put an echo on his voice, so Sabel wouldn't detect his location when he spoke.

"Relax you look on edge." Tyler spoke from the shadow. He was relieved to see that his charm worked.

He stepped from the shadow with his hand firmly gripping his wand.

He had become aware of someone, or something, watching him a few minutes past. While once he would have discounted the feeling as his imagination, or memories slipping into the present, he no longer did. The distinction between the two had been honed in his mind, so that there was rarely any confusion between them. When there was...well, usually the imagination was on account of another presence, and things rarely ended well.

This time however, the watching didn't unnerve him as much as it usually did. His uncomfortableness had faded and he had become rather still. His eyes still watched and moved quietly, but his attention was more focussed. So, when the voice came, he didn't startle.

The words brought a faint smile to his lips. While the YATI were proving to be difficult to mind, and temper in some regards, he had to credit their inventiveness. Deciding not to disappoint, Sabel took his time in trying to place the location of the voice. No sense in having the boy have used the charm for nothing.

When Tyler emerged, Sabel found he was about a block off on his estimation. Not too bad. His smile widened a little as he saw the wand in Tyler's hand. He looked on edge? That was cute.

Pushing away from the wall, Sabel took a few relaxed steps forward. Ground rules first, he reminded himself. He wouldn't bosh this up. He would do it right, and then he would owe Alexa a re-match.

"Good work. I didn't hear you come in." His eyes flicked to the boy's hand again and then back to his eyes. "What type of training were you looking for from me?"

Tyler resisted the urge to smirk. Should he tell the man that he had been exposed to this sort of thing waaay befor ehe graduated Durmstrang? Seven years of combat and three years as the team captain honed his skill well, not to mention being recruited in his sixth year. He didn't figure Sabel could teach him much in ways of physical combat and stealth so wand work.

"I didn't expect you to." He admitted as he relaxed his stance as well.

"I think we could work on some wand work. I'm not bad but I don't think I could do that stuff in my sleep like I probably could with physical combat." So yeah, if Sabel had any tricks up his sleeves that he could teach Tye, he'd be all open for it.

For the briefest of moments, Sabel regretted not starting the training off as he had with Alexa. The kid could be knocked down a peg or two. He had enough self-confidence for the whole department, and Merlin knew it was already bursting at the seams.

He refrained from rising to the bait. It was of no consequence to distinguish between hearing him, and knowing he was there. He had no need to prove himself to the young man. Only to pass on what knowledge he could.

Flicking his wand out, Sabel moved forward to the middle of the opening. "We'll start off in a straight duel then."

r at least as straight as Tyler wanted to make it. He could do what he wished after they started, but it was Sabel's intention to keep him pinned to the spot. What better way to test wand skills, than without cover?

"Do you use one wand, or two?"

Tyler's brows furrowed slightly as he tried to remember the name of that Japanese opponent he faced in his last combat tournament. He never rose to Tyler's baits either and that almost took the fun out of beating him...almost. But Sabel wasn't a 17 year old combat student, he was a seasoned auror. The thought of fighting him almost made him salivate...but they would be dueling..not combat stuff.

Sabel's voice brought him back from his thoughts. He moved to the middle of the room directly across from him.

"Straight duel it is..." Did he look like the two wands sort of guy? He hoped not. "One."

Sabel gave his wand a slight twirl, catching it easily as he glanced around at their surroundings. "You should consider a second. At the very least, as a back-up."

It surprised him that Tyler didn't use or have a second wand. It should have been a suggestion, or even an requirement, in his first year as a YATI. But, better late than never he supposed.

Turning to face his opponent fully, he gave the young man a half bow. It was a pointless gesture in the real world, but he had decided he would do this right. "Let's see what you've got."

Tyler returned Sabel's half bow and got his wand at the ready. Okay he'd see about getting another wand sometime today but he was sure he could survive without a second one. The Yati wouldn't be stubborn about it though.

If aurors had two wands, he'd get a second one.

"Before we start this off Sabel. How about you establish some limits, because I don't want to get carried away. I need a perimeter..guidelines...the works. Also based on the conversation they had the other day it was obvious that what Durmstrangers were comfortable with...others wouldn't be."