The aftermath of September 11, 2001 sent shockwaves worldwide... but even more so throughout the U.S. than anywhere else. There were almost immediate backlashes against Muslims... even ones who'd been living in the country all of their lives! Various Islamic organizations in the U.S. denounced the tragedy as acts of violence perpetrated by evil-minded individuals, but that did little to ease everyone else's minds... all Muslims were being perceived as evil-minded...
Nuri Madani and other young Middle Eastern males around L.A. were being stared at with open fear and hatred by a great number of people... guilty simply because of their race and religion! Most of America was ready to forget that the U.S. Justice system was based on the premise "innocent until proven guilty" and that the forefathers had fled the country of their birth seeking freedom from persecution because of their religious beliefs. And we were still learning the hard way that everyone deserved to be "free"... no matter what their race... and free to express themselves... no matter what their OPINION...
Nuri was forced a few times when confronted with someone who was succumbing irrationally to fear to use his "gift." He stared deeply into their eyes and watched as they calmed down...
This is just your fear talking... you have nothing to fear from him... He is not a threat to you or anyone else... He does not know you but he knows there is goodness in your heart... You do not want to harm him... it is only fear that is clouding your mind... Release your fear... he is not your enemy...
Each one of them had frowned in confusion as they'd apologized for ranting at him. Then they'd thanked him before they'd walked away for understanding that they'd just been using him to vent their fears...
A few nights after 9/11, Nuri was out with Jasmine when three very angry men suddenly confronted them outside of a restaurant. Nuri very quickly looked into their hearts and saw that they were too consumed by anger and hatred... his good intentions would mean nothing to them.
He moved Jasmine behind him to protect her as he said, "Get back inside... and call for help!"
Jasmine saw the angry glares in the men's eyes. "No... I'm not leaving you, Nuri!" She moved back around in front of him and glared up at a man in his late 40's who appeared to be the ringleader. "If these barbarians want to get to you, they'll have to go through me!"
The ringleader sneered nastily, "Well, well... it appears the little cunt has a thing for this towelhead! It'll be my pleasure to go through you, girlie! I'll teach your bastard Muslim boyfriend how we treat enemies on our own soil and then I'll remind your little traitorous cunt how it feels to be fucked by an American!"
Nuri growled angrily and grasped Jasmine's upper arms to push her aside just as the older man lunged toward her. She screamed and threw her hands up and shoved them toward the attacking man's chest... he gasped and collapsed down onto his knees, grasping at his chest and then fell over sideways. He died almost instantly...
Jasmine and Nuri stood still, shaking and looking down at their would-be attacker. Jasmine glanced apprehensively at her hands as she still had them poised defensively in front of her. They moved back when the man's two friends came rushing over and started trying to perform CPR while another bystander called 911 again.
The police arrived first, as an on-looker among the crowd that gathered had already called to report the trouble brewing. When an ambulance arrived, the paramedics determined that the man had died from a heart attack. Witnesses corroborated Jasmine and Nuri's story... the man had approached menacingly and she had only attempted to defend herself.
Sergeant Rickie Estevez arrived as things were winding down when he'd heard the names of the victims of the attempted assault. He took Jasmine and Nuri aside and spoke to them quietly. "Are you sure this is the whole story? Jasmine... honey... I know you have the ability to heal. Is there any way you might have caused his death?"
Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head uncertainly. "I don't know, Uncle Rickie. I... uh... was afraid the man was going to hurt us and when he lunged at me, I just reacted! All I felt was fear for my life and Nuri's and I didn't know what to do! I could feel how evil his thoughts were and it scared me terribly... I didn't mean to kill him if I am the reason he's dead! I swear... I didn't mean to kill him!" she whispered desperately as tears ran down her cheeks.
Nuri pulled her against him and held her as she cried. Rickie patted her shoulder and soothed quietly, "I know you never would've intended that, Jasmine. But we may need to have your Mom and Dad look into this and see if it was possible. This is something that you need to know, sweetie... something about yourself that you may need to learn how to control. You understand?" he asked gently and she nodded her head sadly.
"Oh God, Nuri... WHY?!!! Why did that man have to die?!! I didn't mean to do it... I don't even know HOW!!!" Jasmine cried as she wept uncontrollably in Nuri's arms later that night.
He tightened his hold as he soothed her. "Shhh, my love... you can't blame yourself. We don't know that it WAS you! It may have been strictly natural causes. Let's not think the worst until there is proof otherwise. Besides, I don't want you ever putting yourself in danger again because of me. I swear, Jasmine... I'll wring your neck if you ever do that again!" he grated teasingly as he put his hands around her neck and shook her gently.
She sniffed loudly and stared at him sadly. "Maybe I should be destroyed before I kill again. But I don't think that would work," she said softly, frowning worriedly as her eyes grew distant. "I think my instinctual fear for my life would kick in and I might not be able to control what happens..." She looked up into Nuri's concerned dark brown eyes. "What if fear turns me into some kind of... killing machine?!!"
Nuri could see that she was deathly afraid at the prospect that her "gift" could be a "curse" as well. He cupped her face in his hands as he asked gently, "Would you ever be afraid of me, Jasmine?" Tears leaked from her eyes and she slowly shook her head. He lowered his lips to hers as he murmured, "And you need never be afraid when you're WITH me, either. I'd die before I'd let anything happen to you."
Jasmine whimpered as he kissed her softly, her fears suddenly clarifying. When he lifted his head again, she whispered hoarsely, "That's what I'm most afraid of, Nuri... I can't bear the thought of losing you! I was more afraid of that man killing you than anything he could've done to me! I think I killed him to protect you! What am I going to do, Nuri? I don't know if I can live with this!!!" she cried sickly.
He picked her up in his arms and carried her to his bed, grating forcefully, "Stop this, Jasmine!!! We don't know that you killed that man! And even if you did, it was an accident!!! You said yourself that you didn't mean to!!! Let it go... and just love me, Jasmine!" he whispered as he pushed her dress up and slid her panties off of her legs.