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by Alyse(alyse@unconsciousmind.co.uk)
and Teri (teri@unconsciousmind.co.uk)
Part 3
~*~
Summary: The Bridge is the first story in the Warchild series, based upon the characters in the TV Show, Space: Above and Beyond. When McQueen and Commodore Ross decide that Cooper Hawkes needs a teacher if he's ever to move through the ranks, they couldn't have anticipated the intrigue into which the young man would be plunged, the strange and often deadly characters he would meet on the way or the fact that he'd fall in love.
Rating: NC17, m/f interaction, Cooper Hawkes/f
~*~
A sentry stood guard by the door and held out his weapon to stop the man who tried to push past him. "I'm sorry, sir, you're not allowed in there."
Bernard Gibson pushed by anyway, opening the hatch to see his daughter in the tight grip of a tall, young Marine. When Cooper saw the door opening he thrust Madi behind him, putting himself between her and anyone coming into the room. Peeking around him to see the problem, Madi sobbed in relief and rushed into her father's arms.
"Dad!. I was worried about you. I was afraid Jenkins had done something to you as well."
"Madi? What's going on in here? Commodore Ross told me to come here. I heard on the way here that you'd been shot!"
"I'm fine, Dad. It's Jenkins I'm afraid. He tried to kill us. I think he was insane or something." Madi's mind was already rushing ahead, thinking of what to say to McQueen.
"Us?"
"Cooper and me." Madi glanced over to where Hawkes stood warily eyeing her father. She held her hand out to him and he finally took it and let her pull him over to them. "Dad, this is Cooper Hawkes. Cooper, my father, Bernard Gibson. I'm sorry you had to meet each other under such horrifying circumstances."
"Sir." Cooper nodded in Bernard Gibson's direction and held out his right hand. Bernard stared at him for what seemed like an eternity before he held out his own. "Hawkes." Madi thought they looked like two watchful lions circling each other and a smile touched her mouth. She'd never have believed she'd see her father doing something so primitive as defending his territory.
At that moment the door crashed open and McQueen swung into the room. Cooper snapped to attention, saluting his commanding officer. "At ease, Hawkes." McQueen took in the body in the pool of blood and sarcastically wondered why he wasn't surprised to see Madi Gibson. "Lieutenant, tell me in twenty words or less what happened here."
~*~
May/2064 This video property of US Marine Corps
State your name please.
I've done this twice already.
State your name please.
Madison Gibson. Madi.
Tell me what happened.
I *told* you what happened.
Tell me *again*.
*No*.
Why did you kill Jenkins? Lt. Hawkes was attempting to disarm him.
I was afraid he would get the pistol up and shoot Cooper or a ricochet might hit one of us. Jenkins kept pulling the trigger. He was incredibly strong, like he was on drugs or something. It just happened in the heat of the moment.
Why were you there?
I told you.
Tell me *again*.
*No*.
You do realize we could have you arrested?
For protecting myself against a jealously insane stalker who tried to kill not only me, but a decorated war hero as well? Why don't you do that, Colonel? I'm sure your superior officers would love seeing *that* news-video played back on Earth.
Tell me about the knife.
I confiscated it from a student several years ago. I carry it for protection.
Why did you attempt to use it on Cooper?
He scared me. I had no idea who was behind me.
Where did you learn fighting tactics?
I wouldn't go so far as to call those *tactics*, Colonel. I work in a rough area of the city; teachers regularly take self-defense classes offered by the school. I surprised myself with what I remembered. I think Cooper was just thrown off guard by the simplicity of the moves.
And it was just an accident that you put that knife in the perfect spot to cause instant death?
I prefer the word 'luck' but you may call it an accident if you wish.
Are you sorry Jenkins is dead?
No. I'm sorry his mental illness went undetected but I'm not sorry he's dead. He tried to kill Cooper.
You're referring to Lt. Cooper Hawkes?
Yes.
You killed him to protect Lt. Hawkes?
Yes, and myself of course.
Ms. Gibson, would you lie to protect Lt. Hawkes?
I would die for him. I wouldn't think twice about lying to protect him.
Who are you Madi? What are you *really* doing here?
I'm a teacher on Earth. I'm in space to visit my father.
A teacher that carries a knife and knows how to kill a man with one blow?
The education system is not what it once was, Colonel.
Who are you working for?
I work for a state-run orphanage and group home for the children of InVitro unions.
Is Cooper the key? Is that why you've insinuated your way into his life? His emotions?
You're insulting Cooper, Colonel McQueen.
We played right into your hands didn't we Gibson? How easy you must have thought all of us. Did you accomplish your objectives on this mission?
Well, I would have like to have finished Dickens but…things kept getting in the way.
Don't mess with me, Gibson.
I would like to go now Colonel. I'm exhausted and I want to shower the feel of Jenkins off me.
I know you're lying Madi. I *will* find out why. You'll be sorry if you're involved in anything that injures or endangers Hawkes. I'll be watching you until you take your last step off the Saratoga. I should have listened to my first instincts and never let you within shouting distance of him.
Watch away, Colonel McQueen. May I go now?
Yes, you're dismissed.
Thank you.
TC McQueen backed the video up once more and played through it again. Examining every facet of Madi Gibson's face and body language. She looked rumpled and weary yet she'd sat up straight and answered each question. Well the first two times, then she had become increasingly cranky and unfortunately the camera operator hadn't arrived until the third round to tape the interview. McQueen had to truthfully say it was sheer fatigue that made Madi so uncooperative on the video. While exhaustion was a useful and accepted interrogation tool in the military, Gibson was a civilian and exempt from such tricks. At least for now.
She was lying. He could feel it but for the life of him he didn't know why and he couldn't prove it. Her story was plausible. Unusual but plausible. Hawkes' deposition before the inquiry panel matched hers in every detail, though he had had never seen Jenkins and he'd been confused about the nature of the attack. Yes, Madi had warned him earlier to watch out for Jenkins because he was Aerotech. Cooper confirmed that Jenkins had been a total mental case and he was emphatically convinced that the scientist would have killed them both. Though an investigation would take place, McQueen knew with the war raging and everyone busy the case would be settled quickly and quietly. That suited him fine. He certainly didn't want Hawkes involved in a trial.
McQueen was more worried about the missing puzzle pieces. Alarm bells were going off in his head and something was definitely off kilter. Madi Gibson looked like she'd have trouble mashing a spider yet she'd killed a man today then sat through the questioning as cool as a cucumber.
Sometimes, rarely anymore, some odd twist of natural-born behavior occurred in his life the he couldn't quite grasp. This was such an occurrence, such a paradox. He would solve it though and he knew when he did that Madi Gibson would be square in the middle of it. For her sake he hoped she was as innocent as she claimed.
~*~
"Well, Lucas, what do you have to report? I presume you do have something to report? I can't imagine that you'd risk coming here unless you did." The elder man's eyebrows lowered as he considered the man in front of him.
"Yes, sir." The man waited impatiently for a moment, before his next words broke out of him in an agitated flurry.
"Well, what is it?"
Lucas considered the question for a moment, determining the best response. "There has been, as you said sir, a development. Our operative has taken... steps to remedy the situation."
The elder man's eyebrows lowered even further.
"And?"
"And the situation is stable, for now. Our operative believes that she has neutralized the problem, but I've advised her to be on her guard."
The elder man considered his.... employee was not the correct word. Salvation. Lucas' face gave nothing away, but he was beginning to be able to tell when there was something going on under that placid surface.
"You don't believe that she has ... neutralized the problem?"
Lucas smiled briefly. "Let's just say that you pay me to be careful. And while the situation may be stable on board the Saratoga, our mutual counterpart will not let this matter pass. We need to be vigilant."
The elder man nodded. "What do you intend to do now?"
"My partner is taking steps to hit our opponent where it hurts. In the meantime, I intend to assess the situation aboard the Saratoga myself."
~*~
She watched his face as he took his first bite of the chocolate mousse she'd made especially for him. Well, it wasn't everyday that her lover celebrated his seventh birthday. She was pleased that she'd made the effort when she saw the way that his face lit up. In some ways, in a lot of ways, he was still a big kid. And the way to a kid's heart was definitely chocolate. She had to admit that it was one route to her heart as well. She'd always had a weak spot for sweet things herself. That was probably why she had such a soft spot for him. And ice cream. And him and ice cream.
He scraped the last dregs of the mousse out of his bowl with a happy sigh, and directed one of those shy, sweet smiles at her. It made her go weak at the knees. She smiled back, love shining in her eyes.
'I take it you enjoyed that?'
'Yes.' He paused uncertainly. She waited. She'd found that it was best to wait. Eventually he told her what was on his mind. He continued shyly, 'Did you make it just for me?'
'Do you see anybody else celebrating their birthday, who has a major weakness for chocolate?' she teased. His face lit up even further, and he reached across the table to kiss her. 'How did you manage?' he asked.
'I have my sources,' she laughed, not telling him that she'd spent days tracking down the ingredients, trading whatever she could get her hands on on the Saratoga's black market just to make today as special for him as possible. He deserved it, especially with what had happened recently. She'd been planning it ever since Nathan West had let slip, accidentally on purpose, that Cooper Hawkes would be seven years old on May 15th, 2064. She had a feeling he'd made sure to tell her, to try to head off her anger over the Bacchus debacle, for which he knew she held him personally responsible.
'Besides, whatever trouble I went to, it was worth it. You're worth it.' She emphasised her last point. She knew he was still uncertain about their relationship, still a bit nervous that perhaps she wasn't serious, or would regret becoming involved with a 'dumb tank'. She spent a large proportion of her time reassuring him. Often physically. She allowed herself a small smile at that thought.
He kissed her again. She took advantage of this, slipping her tongue into his mouth. She felt him shiver with desire. She broke contact with him for a second.
'Ready for dessert?' she murmured against his mouth. She felt him smile.
'I thought we'd already had dessert?'
'Honey, you haven't seen anything yet.'
A little while later, they lay together, wrapped in each other's arms in her small bunk. She was quite pleased that it was small. It gave her a good excuse to snuggle up next to him. He was chewing gently on her bottom lip, satiated for the moment.
'Madi?' His voice was low.
'Mmmmm?'
'I love you,' he whispered. He didn't say it very often, so she treasured every time. She hugged him even more tightly against her.
'I know, baby,' she whispered back. 'I love you too. You know that, don't you?' He nodded against the side of her neck.
'I know. It's just nice when you say it.'
He released her, and sat up, running his fingers through his hair, already tousled by their recent activity. 'Got anything to drink?' She nodded sleepily.
'I think there might be something in the fridge,' she added. He smiled at her grandiose name for what was essentially a small ice box in the corner of her quarters. That was the one benefit of her having what were essentially VIP quarters. Two electric rings and an excuse for a fridge. Although that had enabled her to steal him away from the Wildcards for an evening, on the grounds that a meal in her quarters was somewhat more special than the mess. And since he'd never celebrated a birthday, never had a reason to celebrate, they'd agreed, albeit reluctantly. Especially Shane. Madi got the feeling that Shane didn't like her much. Besides the Wildcards had held their celebration for him earlier that evening, all of them using it as an excuse to spoil him rotten, to show him how much they cared, even McQueen.
She was half asleep, dwelling on these thoughts, when he sat back down on the bed. She opened her eyes and rolled on her back to face him.
'I see you found the remains of the chocolate mousse,' she smiled indulgently. He also appeared to have acquired the whipped cream. And a devilish smile. She eyed him warily, wondering what he had planned.
His attention appeared to be focused on the mousse in his hands, but she knew him well enough to know that he was watching her out of the corner of his eyes.
'Kitty?' Oh oh, she was in trouble. He only called her Kitty when he was up to something. 'Where's the rest of my present?' She was puzzled. She'd given him that Pink Floyd c.d. he was so fond of. She couldn't imagine what else he meant. Then she caught sight of the gleam in his eyes, as he raked them up and down her body. Definitely trouble.
'You mean you didn't get me anything else?' His voice dropped seductively. 'I guess I'd better make my own entertainment.' She watched, mesmerised, as he dug his fingers in the remains of the chocolate mousse. She yelped in surprise as he dropped it onto her bare flesh.
'Cooper Hawkes, *what* are you doing?'
'What do you think, Kitty? Making my own entertainment.' Before she could protest anymore, he'd covered her mouth with his, and took her breath away with his kisses. His hands were busy rubbing the cold chocolate into her skin. She had to admit that it was strangely erotic. Perhaps that was just the feel of his hands smoothing over her. Or the heavenly smell of chocolate mixed with the equally heavenly smell of him.
He returned for more chocolate mousse, rubbing it over the rest of her torso. Soon, her body from the neck to the waist in sticky, gooey chocolate. She started to giggle helplessly as he sat back and gave a critical look at his handiwork. He seemed unsatisfied for some reason, and her eyes widened in shock as he reached for the aerosol whipped cream. Her shriek of laughter echoed around the room, as with a serious expression he took hold of the can and neatly topped her off with two swirls of whipped cream. He then took hold of two green cherries, and firmly placed one atop each breast. She must look ridiculous. By now she was laughing helplessly, as he sat back on his heels and examined her critically once more. A slow smile crossed his face.
'Kittybockerglory!' That made her laugh even harder. He watched fascinated, as her laughter made the cherries on her breast quiver. Leaning over her, he caught hold of one of them between his teeth and sucked it into his mouth. The sudden action caused her breath to catch in her throat.
He then began to lick the cream away, suckling her breast, nipping and licking his way around her nipple, before finally catching it between his teeth. He held it there, flicking his tongue across it, sending shockwaves of pleasure down her body straight to her groin. Finally he released it, and hearing her sobbing breaths met her eyes for a second, his filled with passion, before returning to his task and licking his way across her body to her other breast.
He didn't neglect her abandoned breast though. His thumb continued to caress it, stroking gently across one nipple, while his mouth ravaged the other.
Filled with passion and desire, she ran her fingers through his hair, twisting her fingers in his locks. One of her thumbs began to brush over his navel, gently stroking it, while her fingers traced their way around the outside of it. She felt him grow harder against her thigh, as his body stiffened against her in pleasure, a low moaning sound forced from his throat. His eyes met hers again, hazy with the lust that she knew was also reflected in hers, before he lowered his head once more and began to lick his way down the rest of her body.
By the time he had removed all of the chocolate to his satisfaction, every nerve ending in her body was screaming with her desire for him. She couldn't believe that they'd made love only a short time before, but here she was, desperate for him again. Desperate for the feel of him against her, the feel of him inside her.
She pulled his head up and kissed him deeply, pouring all of her love for him, all of her need for him into that kiss. His tongue plunged deeply into her mouth, wringing fresh cries of pleasure from her.
'I want you.........I need you now, Cooper,' she whispered into his mouth. That was the only signal he needed, and he reached for the condoms beside the bed.
She cried out softly as she felt him slide into her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she urged him on, deeper. He took her lead, and soon was thrusting hard into her, every stroke drawing a fresh gasp of pleasure from her, from both of them. She met every thrust of his hips with one of her own, and it wasn't long before the shudders of her orgasm shook her body, matched by those in his.
~*~
The ship was looked sleek in the starlight. Sleek and beautiful. Although she knew that it was coming to take her away from Cooper, she had to admire its beauty. So she stood at the porthole, looking out onto the landing pad, her heart counting down the seconds. In less than twelve hours she'd be on the ship, and Cooper Hawkes would be a memory. Her heart twisted with pain at the thought.
It settled onto the pad and the main compartment separated to be lowered into the hanger bay below. She was about to turn and leave, when she felt a tingling sensation start on her scalp. Something elusive, and yet strangely familiar.
So instead of heading back to her quarters, where she'd arranged to meet Cooper when he'd finished his reports she turned and headed towards the hanger.
She knew that it was him before he'd even stepped up to the hatch. She wasn't sure if this was a good or bad sign. Cooper was safe now that Jenkins was dead, wasn't he? She felt fear begin to crawl through her gut.
His face did nothing to reassure her, but then it never did. His expression was as cool and impassive as always. She sensed that he had seen her, but he did nothing to attract attention. He began to weave his way through the maintenance crews, deftly avoiding the cables which hissed their way across the floor. A tall man, good looking but not obviously so. Deceptively young looking, especially dressed as now in a pair of casual trousers and loose shirt. He gave the impression of being a graduate student, or recently qualified tech. Smart looking, quiet, respectable, preppy. Nothing like the determined and occasionally ruthless individual that she knew him to be.
'An old friend of my father's,' she thought. 'Or perhaps a junior on his staff. Aerotech but non threatening.' A story prepared in case someone were to question why a man would get off a shuttle and talk to her first. 'Someone I know vaguely, who has heard about the AI attack, heard about Jenkins, is worried about my father. Perfectly natural that he should speak to me.'
He stood in front of her, smiling slightly, as though he'd heard her thoughts. And perhaps he had. With Lucas you could never tell.
Lucas. She occasionally wondered if this was a first or last name, but had never found the time or perhaps the courage to ask. Lucas, in a way her friend and now her employer for want of a better word.
"Madi?" His voice was melodious. "Judging by the excitement our pilots were showing, I take it that the situation has been dealt with..... expeditiously?" She nodded, her face expressionless, her mind even more so. He smiled slightly. "Good."
McQueen had seen them, was heading their way. 'A friend,' she repeated to herself. 'Non-threatening, safe, trustworthy. Nothing for McQueen to be concerned about. Perfectly natural that he should speak to me.'
Then it hit her. A sharp shooting pain in her head, and a twisting in her gut. She was vaguely aware that Lucas felt it too.
'Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod.' A cry of pain and confusion and fear in her head. Above all fear. And then nothing. Cooper. Oh my god, it was Cooper.
She was hot on Lucas' heels on her way out of the hanger, the cry still fresh in her head, giving her a sense of direction. She tore past McQueen, uncaring when she slammed her hip into the door frame in her rushed swerve to avoid him, ignoring the star burst of pain in her side.
The walls of the corridors sped past her as she ducked and dived to avoid the milling people around her, desperate to keep Lucas in sight. They paused at an intersection. She searched frantically for any signs of where that cry had come from, but could feel nothing. Beside her, Lucas stood, his head cocked, looking for all the world as if he was straining to capture a faint sound, which in a way he was.
"This way," he panted, heading off down a small side corridor. She followed him blindly in her panic, unable to get that cry out of her head. She must have been wrong. How could she have been so wrong. She was so convinced that Jenkins had been the one sent to kill Cooper. And now? Now she wasn't so sure and that fear, the fear that she couldn't sense him anymore because he was dead, gave speed to her feet.
They turned another bend, and in front of her was a tableau she knew that she'd never be able to forget no matter how hard she tried.
Cooper lay stretched out on the hard unforgiving metal floor. She skidded to a halt, freezing on the spot as a new surge of fear filled her. Lucas pushed past her and knelt next to his.....body.
"He's unconscious," he reported. As her knees sagged in relief she turned her attention to the other figure, sitting slumped up against the wall. Her voice, when she spoke, didn't sound like her. It sounded as though it came from a thousand miles away.
"Dad? What did you do?" He didn't answer, and her rage rose up and consumed her. "Tell me!" she screamed.
Someone caught hold of her arms before she could reach him. Her father still refused to look at her. Lucas was still crouched down beside Cooper, his fingers pressed against his throat. She watched, her heart in her mouth, as those long fingers moved up to brush Cooper's hair away from his face. There was a gentleness in his movements that she hadn't suspected that he possessed.
"He's in shock," he said gently. "We need to get him out of here as soon as possible." His voice was equally gentle when he turned to speak to her father.
"Doctor Gibson, what did you give him?" Her father still refused to answer. Still refused to look at any of them.
"Was it Meanies?" a harsh voice next to her ear asked. McQueen. He must have followed them here, his warrior's instinct telling him that something was very wrong. "Did you give him an overdose? Why?"
"It wasn't phylophetamines," Lucas said authoritatively. "Whatever he was given sent him into shock almost immediately."
"Then what was it?" McQueen demanded. "What the hell did you do to him?" He moved towards Gibson, his manner threatening.
"Dad?" she whispered, her heart breaking. "Please?"
He finally looked at her, his eyes red rimmed and his expression terrifying. He looked like a man who was gazing into hell after being an atheist all of his life. His voice was dead.
"I gave him anexamylene." It meant nothing to either her or McQueen, but Lucas obviously recognised the name. She heard his breath whistle through his teeth.
"We have to get him out of here," he repeated, a new note of urgency in his voice. "As soon as possible and before he wakes up."
"Will it make him violent?" McQueen wanted to know. "Is it addictive?" Lucas laughed bitterly.
"That, my dear Colonel would be the lesser of two evils. No it won't make him violent. He'll barely be able to function. If we're not careful, he could go into shock again almost immediately, and this time it might kill him."
McQueen was nodding tightly. "I'll call some medics, and we'll get him to sickbay as soon as possible."
"No, Colonel!" Lucas' words brought McQueen to a startled stop. "Sickbay is the last place he needs to be. We need to get him as far away from people, any people, as we can manage. It may not be far enough on a ship like this, but we'll do what we can."
"But if he's in shock..."
"Not that kind of shock. Believe me, Colonel, they won't be able to do him any good and they may do a lot of damage. Place them in their hands and he may never recover." Lucas' words were intense, and despite knowing nothing about this man, McQueen felt an urge to trust him on this. But not too far.
Madi had other matters on her mind. "Why?"
"I had no choice," her father pleaded. "You don't understand, Madi, I had no choice. They said that if I didn't do it that they'd hurt you. I couldn't let them do that. Please, Madi, believe me."
She couldn't look at him anymore, couldn't stand the sight of him. She knelt beside Cooper, tears streaming down her face. Her own father. She'd been convinced that Jenkins had been the assassin and it had been her own father. How could she live with herself if Cooper died, knowing that.
After she turned away, her father continued to beg McQueen to understand. "I had no choice. They threatened to hurt my daughter. Please understand. What would you have done?"
McQueen looked at him coldly. "I don't have any children." Gibson didn't appear to have heard him, or perhaps he knew better than McQueen, because he continued.
"If they'd threatened your child, wouldn't you have chosen him over her?" Unable to stand anymore, McQueen also turned away. But as his eyes fastened on Cooper, he found himself unable to hate Gibson as much as he should have done, would have liked to have done. He couldn't honestly say what he would do in the same situation. He hoped to God that he never had to find out. Sending Cooper into battle every day was hard enough, but a conscious choice like that....
He stood and looked uncertainly at Lucas, his mind racing, trying to think of places away from people, trying hard to figure out why this was so important.
"My quarters," he said eventually. "They're right at the end of the passageway. The next three cabins are unoccupied. It's as much as you're going to get on this ship."
Lucas considered this for a moment, and then nodded. "It will have to do." Together they managed to hoist Cooper up onto McQueen's shoulder, and began to move him to McQueen's quarters. As they left, Gibson made one last plea for understanding.
"They would have hurt her!"
Lucas paused for a moment, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pity and contempt. "And now you have," he said simply. "You've hurt her far more than they could have done. You've hurt the one person in the world she loves more than you." And then he followed Madi and McQueen, leaving Gibson alone with his guilt.
~*~
It took them a while to reach McQueen's quarters. They had to avoid meeting people, afraid of the questions that the sight of Cooper's unconscious body might bring. Eventually though, McQueen laid him gently down on the bunk, his muscles aching. He wasn't light. He smoothed Cooper's hair back in an unconscious imitation of Lucas, his face betraying his worry. Lucas watched him sympathetically.
"He'll be all right, Colonel."
"Are you going to promise me that?" His voice was harsher than he intended, his grief giving it an edge. Lucas smiled faintly.
"If I have to Colonel, if I have to. And Madi will tell you, I'm a man of my word." McQueen glanced at Madi, who was crouched over in the corner of the room, her face twisted in grief. It was unfair to blame her for her father's actions, and yet he did. He wasn't used to feeling this level of grief, this level of pain. And he needed someone to take the blame.
"I think you'd better leave, Miss Gibson." He kept his voice intentionally blank. Her eyes widened in shock. He couldn't expect her to leave. No one could be that unfeeling. She couldn't leave without knowing that he was going to be all right. She looked at Lucas for support. He returned her pleading look calmly.
"He's right Madi, you should leave." Her face twisted again at this fresh betrayal. "Madi," he explained gently, "he's in psychic shock. When he wakes up, he won't be shielded. He needs to be as far away from people and especially strong emotions as possible. You may do him more harm than good." She searched his face desperately for any signs of weakness, but there was none. Defeated, she slumped, tears flowing again. "I promise, I'll tell you as soon as he wakes up. Trust me, Madi." She had no choice. She left, her heart breaking with every step.
"You too, Colonel." He wanted to protest. Goddammit, these were his quarters. Surely he couldn't mean it. "I do mean it Colonel."
"I'm not leaving here until I get an explanation." The tone in his voice was the one that sent the 'Cards scuttling for cover, but it didn't seem to phase this man. Lucas studied his face intently for a moment, and then relented slightly.
"Very well, Colonel you'll get your explanation, but you'll have to leave as soon as Cooper shows signs of waking up. Now what is it you want to know?" He settled back on the bunk, next to Cooper's head, his hand resting on his shoulder. McQueen fought a momentary pang of jealously. There was a simple open affection in the touch, something he'd never felt able to show Cooper, no matter how he felt. Right now he stared at the limp body on the bunk and wondered if this was how you felt if you watched your children hurt.
"What's anexy..."
"Anexamylene? It's an experimental drug that Aerotech are currently working on."
"What does it do?"
"How familiar are you with the workings of the InVitro programme?" McQueen bit back a sardonic laugh.
"You mean, other than being a result of it?" Lucas smiled wryly.
"I meant how familiar are you with the less... public developments?" McQueen shook his head confused. Lucas sighed heavily and continued. "Anexamylene is a drug that is supposed to enhance so called 'psi' powers. It's in its very early experimental stages and hasn't had much success." McQueen snorted.
"If this is the result, I'm not surprised."
"This isn't the normal result, Colonel. Normally test subjects show either no effect or slight headaches. This substance can't give you 'psi' powers, Colonel. It can only release what's already there."
McQueen looked puzzled again. "Where does Cooper come in?"
"About thirty years ago, an brilliant scientist by the name of Richard Noble was obsessed with the idea of creating an advanced race of InVitros, ones with psychic abilities if you like, as well as being smart, quick learners, fast, the ideal black ops soldier in fact. He had limited success. Then twenty six years ago he died and Aerotech inherited the results of his experiments, twelve InVitros. About five of them are now believed to be the result of Noble tampering with his own genome. His and his lover's of the time. The others, well who knows where their genetic material came from. When they grew to adulthood, and were born as it were, Aerotech was rather disappointed to find that none of them showed the slightest psychic ability. Kind of a blow to their hopes as it were. They were, however, still physically suited to black ops work. They did indeed learn fast and were strong, possessing incredible reaction times."
McQueen found his eyes drawn to the bed. "Cooper," he breathed.
"Indeed. Cooper." Lucas paused, deep in thought. "What they'd assumed, of course, was that these kind of powers were linked to puberty. Anecdotal evidence, although largely discredited, does tend to suggest that these powers show up around then. Therefore, fully grown InVitros, having skipped that troublesome stage while in the tanks, should emerge fully fledged as it were. They had no reason to suppose that these talents would show up any later."
"Is that what happened?" Lucas gazed at him, considering how much to tell him. He decided to tell him as much as he could.
"Almost. It's possible that these talents would have shown up in Cooper sooner or later. I have a feeling that they were already starting to. He has been more receptive to others recently hasn't he? A little more considerate?" McQueen considered this. He had noticed a change in Hawkes, but had put it down to a combination of increased maturity and Madi's influence. The boy was growing up fast.
Lucas echoed his thoughts. "Madi may have been a contributing factor. She is a borderline 'path herself, admittedly very borderline. And sometimes being around someone with a similar talent can trigger a response. In addition, we're beginning to realise that the emergence of this talent may have more to do with emotional than physical maturity."
"Which is why it didn't show up before."
"Correct. Unfortunately the anexamylene appears to have accelerated the process. Instead of developing at his own speed, Cooper has been thrust into his talent full blown. The rush of images, sounds and thoughts in his head must have been overwhelming. He went into shock."
"This psychic shock thing you were talking about?"
"Yes. That's why to was so important to get him away from people. If he woke up into the same chaotic environment the same thing might happen again. At least if he's away from people I might have a chance to shield him."
"Shield him?"
"Block out the noise Colonel and hopefully keep him sane." Lucas sat up sharply. "He's started to come round. I'm afraid you're going to have to leave. I won't be able to shield him from you if you're in the room."
"You mean that you're a ..."
"'Path. Yes, Colonel. I'm sorry, I thought that was clear. Don't worry, it doesn't mean that I can read your mind. It just means that sometimes I can pick up your surface thoughts. Most of the time reading people's expressions is much easier." He smiled gently, and then added with more emphasis. "Please, Colonel. You'll only do him harm if you stay at the moment. Hopefully he'll learn to shield himself before too long."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then, Colonel, he would be better off if Gibson *had* killed him."
~*~
Lucas looked tired, McQueen thought. Lucas. He still wasn't sure if that was a first or last name. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to know. So he asked the question he was more concerned about.
"How is he?"
He was relieved to see Lucas smile slightly. He was even more relieved to here his first words. "He's going to be okay, Colonel." McQueen released the breath he didn't even know he was holding. Lucas was watching him closely, and so he tried to hide the relief that he felt. Rather a wasted effort in front of a 'path like Lucas, he reflected.
Lucas moved away from the door, allowing McQueen access. He hesitated for a moment, unwilling to give the other man the advantage of knowing how desperately he wanted to see his youngest kid, of seeing that he was well with his own eyes.
While he was waging this internal battle, Lucas moved away from the door, leaving it wide open, making it a bit obvious if McQueen walked away. So McQueen gave into temptation and joined him in the room, his quarters.
Cooper was asleep. Lost to the world, he looked even younger than usual, the normal suspicion in his face gone completely. He seemed peaceful, his breathing steady and his body loose. No sign of the tension McQueen had observed earlier and his skin had lost the pallor which had worried him so much. Before he was even aware of what he was doing, his hand had reached out and gently brushed the hair away from Cooper's face. Cooper stirred slightly and rolled over but didn't wake. McQueen shot a guilty look at Lucas, but he appeared absorbed in contemplation of the stars outside of the porthole and McQueen was almost certain that he hadn't seen his lapse. Almost.
He cleared his throat, strangely nervous. "Is he...?"
"He's going to be all right, Colonel," Lucas reassured him. "It's not going to be easy, but he will be all right, eventually."
"What do you mean, eventually?" McQueen demanded, his fears aroused again. Lucas hastened to reassure him once more.
"Colonel, like everything learning how to do this isn't easy. It could be the most difficult thing that Cooper ever learns to do." He paused for a moment, considering the marine in front of him, his face creased with exhaustion. "Shielding takes a great deal of concentration at first, Colonel. It takes lot of energy. You can expect him to sleep a lot and he'll probably get a lot of headaches. It won't be easy for any of you I'm afraid." He paused to sip at the coffee in his hand. "Have you decided how much to tell the other 'Cards?"
"Do I have to tell them anything?"
Lucas smiled, although he was too exhausted for it to mean too much. "Considering that they're going to have to share a wardroom with someone who is going to be cranky, irritable, and occasionally behave irrationally..."
"That's new?" That brought a bigger smile to Lucas' face.
"Maybe not that new, but the headaches and nightmares may be. Plus, they're going to need to give him some space sometimes. He's not going to be able to keep his shields up all of the time, and when he lets them down, he's going to need to be left alone. I need to make sure that they understand that." Lucas' voice dropped slightly. "They're all he's got, Colonel. I don't want them to be alienated because they don't know what's going on, or because he's behaving oddly."
McQueen thought back to Cooper's recent addiction. The 'Cards had stuck with him through that, despite the curses he'd treated them with and the way he'd tried to shut them out when things got really bad. But this.....
"Plus, I understand that this type of ....... phenomena," Lucas said the word with a wry smile, "is not entirely unfamiliar to them. Lieutenant Damphousse...?"
How did he know about that, McQueen wondered.
"Colonel, I know a lot of things," Lucas smiled. His comment gave McQueen a start. Until then, he wasn't sure that this man had been telling the truth. Part of him had thought perhaps he was just deluded, existing in his own little fantasy world. "If Lieutenant Damphousse is gifted, then she could be helpful. Regardless of how little or great her talent, at the minimum she can shield, and that means that at least Cooper will not be on his own when he lets his guard down. He won't be able to shield, but she can."
Lucas examined Colonel McQueen for a moment. "In fact, Colonel, you may not realise it but you also have a natural shield. It doesn't mean that you have talent, but some more... reserved... individuals are capable of shielding. It's an extension of their natural reserve as it were."
"Does that mean that Cooper can come to me when his ... shields ... are down?"
"It's a possibility. We can see how it goes." Lucas gave him another keen look. "It really won't be easy, Colonel. He's going to need a lot of support. A lot of ... attention and reassurance. Are you sure you're up to it?"
McQueen bristled. How dare this interloper suggest that he wouldn't be there for *any* of his kids. Lucas sighed.
"I meant no insult, Colonel. But there's a world of difference between managing a group of competent marines, or even half scared kids and dealing with someone who's half convinced that he's going insane because he can't block the voices out of his mind. Or trying to reassure him when he's throwing up because the pain in his head is so bad. And the medics won't be able to help." Lucas snorted. "In fact I wouldn't let those incompetents within 50 feet of him." It was a sentiment McQueen shared.
"Is there anything else you can do?" Lucas shook his head.
"I can be at the end of a vidphone, Colonel if things get too bad. But the last thing we want to do is to draw Aerotech's or the IVA's attention to Cooper. I can give you some medication to give him if things get too bad. But I warn you now, that I've no idea what it could do to InVitros. It's only been used on natural borns, and precious few of them at that. For all I know, it could be worse for him than meanies. That's why I only suggest you use it if essential."
"Nothing else?"
Lucas' lip quirked up. "You could try alcohol," he suggested. McQueen raised one eyebrow. "It works, Colonel, believe it or not. And a storming hangover is preferable to the alternative."
"Which is?"
"A suicidal marine," Lucas replied softly. That shook McQueen to the core, and his eyes darted to Cooper, reassured when he saw the boy breathing evenly. "I'm not saying that it's going to happen, Colonel. Cooper's tough. Some aren't. And more than one has decided that they couldn't live with this anymore. Most of those were considerably less talented than Cooper." He stretched out, reminding McQueen of a highly bred cat. "It probably won't come to that, Colonel, but just in case it does I've given you those pills."
"What about Gibson?"
"Bernard Gibson? He's no longer a threat, Colonel, but I can't guarantee that there won't be more like him. All I can say is that we'll take whatever steps we can to prevent that."
"We?"
"My partner and I." McQueen looked at him hard, a gaze that Lucas returned steadily. He wasn't saying anymore about his partner.
"I meant Madison Gibson." Could he really not have known that?
"Madi?" Lucas seemed surprised. "Madi has never been a threat to Cooper. On the contrary."
"You sent her." It wasn't a question, but Lucas nodded anyway.
"We knew that someone had been sent to kill him, Colonel. We just didn't know who. Madi was our safeguard in case Cooper was unable to defend himself."
"And she thought that Jenkins was the one."
"It seemed logical, when he attacked them. The irony of course, was that he was just a sad and dangerous man obsessed with Madi." Lucas paused for a moment. "Poor Madi. She'll never forgive him." McQueen didn't have to ask what he meant. She'd never forgive Cooper for her father being pressurised to kill. What natural born could forgive a tank that. He couldn't have been more wrong. Lucas, however was too tired to pick that up. It was all he could do to hold his shields up around both him and Cooper.
"Do you want me to talk to your squad, Colonel?"
"No, I'll do that. Will you let me know when he wakes up?" Lucas nodded, relieved that this man was leaving. He hadn't lied when he'd told him that he had a natural shield. But Lucas was still having difficulty maintaining a shield over two people, even if the other person in the room could shield himself.
~*~
After McQueen had explained the situation to the remaining Wildcards, and answered their disbelieving questions to the best of his ability, he made his way back to his quarters where Cooper was safely ensconced. He was relieved to find Cooper awake this time. Lucas left them alone, after satisfying himself that Cooper was able to cope.
"How are you feeling," he asked softly.
"Okay," Cooper answered uncertainly. He still looked shaky. "What happened?" McQueen told him about Gibson and the drug he'd administered.
"I know that," Cooper replied. "Lucas told me that much. I just......" McQueen understood. Cooper had just wanted it confirmed by someone he really trusted.
"Madi?" Cooper asked. McQueen wasn't looking forward to this.
"She works for Lucas, Cooper," he said as gently as he could. "She was paid to watch you." His heart came as close to breaking as it had in a long time, as he watched the pain and disbelief grow on Cooper's face.
"Cooper," he whispered. "You still have the Wildcards."
It wasn't enough.
~*~
She'd been so worried about him. She'd talked to Lucas, and he'd reassured her that Cooper was going to be all right, but until she saw him, she hadn't been convinced. Her face lit up as soon as she clapped eyes on him.
"Cooper!" He froze. She rushed up to him, wrapping her arms around him in relief. She was completely taken aback when he shook her off. She staggered back, her hands behind her the only thing stopping her from hitting the wall. She reached one hesitant hand out towards him.
"Cooper, baby what's wrong." He just stood and looked at her, shaking. She felt her heart leap to her throat, almost choking her.
"Baby, please tell me." Her eyes filled with tears.
"Don't call me that," he hissed. "Don't ever call me that." She stared at him in shock. "You lied to me." His voice was shaking as well. "You lied to me...."
"Baby..."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" She shrank back against the wall, her hand falling by her side. His voice was disbelieving as he continued. "You lied to me. Everything you said was a lie." He tried to laugh, a travesty of a sound. "You must have thought it was a great game. Lie to the tank, tell him you love him, convince him of it." His voice cracked. "I believed you." She shook her head, her eyes pleading. He wouldn't look at her. "But McQueen told me the truth. You were paid to be with me." He finally looked her straight in the eye. She could see the pain, but seemed helpless to do anything about it. She tried again.
"Cooper, please," she whispered. "I do love you, please believe me. No one paid me for that. To keep you alive, yes, but not anything else."
"Liar." She couldn't stand the pain and contempt in his voice. He continued, his voice wavering between a harsh laugh and a sob. "You know, Jenkins was right Madi. You really are a whore."
And then, with that, he was gone from her life. She stood there in the corridor, numb with disbelief.
Cooper couldn't go to his hiding place. It was full of memories of her. There was another place he knew, smaller, less comfortable but away from prying eyes. He didn't start crying until he reached it, and then he thought he'd never stop.
~*~
Sorrow washed away the numbness. How would she ever convince him if he wouldn't stand and fight. Madi turned and nearly ran over Shane Vansen. She automatically straightened and wiped all the expression of her face. She would die before she let Shane see her cry.
"I knew you'd end up hurting him."
"Shane, he's got it all twisted around and wrong. My job and my feelings for Cooper were two completely different things. Where could he have gotten this idea?"
"He got it from me."
Madi whirled around to see TC McQueen standing in the opening of his cabin. She was so upset she had to think for a second why he was here. Cooper had been staying in his quarters. Jealousy and suspicion rolled over Madi and that made her angry. Angry that she doubted Cooper for a moment. However, she found that she enjoyed the hostility much better than the pain so she let it grow until she was shaking with rage. "What have you *told* him?"
McQueen dismissed Shane with a look. She started to protest until another look from him had her reluctantly moving away - but not before she shot Madi a glance full of hatred and promise. Madi wanted to explain further but she could tell it would do no good and she wouldn't beg for anyone's understanding but Cooper's. Screw Shane Vansen *and* McQueen.
"I told him the truth." He held the hatch open farther and stepped back so Madi could enter his cabin. "Let's discuss this in private, Ms. Gibson." She rushed past him. Another time she would have been fascinated by his quarters and as nosy as Cooper about the books and pictures so carefully placed around the room, now she barely noticed them.
"The *truth*? And what version of the *truth* have you so righteously chosen McQueen? Exactly what in your *truth* has him convinced that I used him so badly that he would call me a whore?" Madi was so furious she could hardly force her words out. She wanted to scream and hit this cold person in front of her who watched her so calmly. She wanted him to at least hurt as much as she hurt.
"I wouldn't call you that, Gibson. A whore doesn't have an ulterior motive. It's just cut and dried - sex for money. I'd call you a parasite. You attached yourself to Hawkes for your own gain and like most parasites you've wounded your host. It's too late to cry now, Madi."
"I saved his life, Colonel. What kind of parasite does that? I've watched over him since the day I arrived on this ship. I was in a nurse's uniform protecting him when he was in detox and coveralls watching his back in the hangar bay and rubber gloves cleaning his wardroom to keep an eye on him. And you were right, I did jump at the chance to be closer to him -to be able to concentrate on his protection without having to be concerned about some odd cover was wonderful.
But your implication that I manipulated his feelings is hitting below the belt, McQueen. You don't *know* me. You don't *know* what I feel for him. I *never* lied to Cooper. I would have died in his place and you've told him I was only with him for *money*? What kind of father does that? Is this what you think love is?"
"I'm not his father." But McQueen suddenly remembered Bernard Gibson and he knew he *would* sacrifice Madi to protect Cooper and he was ashamed. However his pride wouldn't let him back down. "Are you saying you didn't get paid to be with him?"
Madi was actually surprised she could feel more anger. "I'm saying I was doing my job, Colonel and I got too close to the subject. *That* has nothing to do with getting paid. You know what you problem is McQueen? You can't understand that there's enough love in Cooper for everyone. He worships you and you're the closest thing he'll ever have to a father whether you want the job or not; but you have to learn that just because he loves me doesn't mean he loves you or the 5-8 *any* less. You're so scared and jealous that you won't let yourself see what our relationship means to him. Well, you've got him back for now. Enjoy it, Colonel…it won't last."
"What's that supposed to mean, Gibson?"
"It means that I'm not giving him up and I'm telling you fair and square right now. If it's a fight you want you've picked the right person. I intend to get him back and if you get in my way you're going to be the one hurt. Your lack of trust in Cooper will be your downfall, McQueen."
"I trust Hawkes where it counts, Gibson - on the battlefield or in his Hammerhead and he'll be fine once you're off this ship and out of his life."
"That's just it Colonel, I will never be out of his life. That's the *truth* you're hiding in your heart. Consider yourself forewarned, McQueen. He loves us both but he'll choose *me* if you force him to make that decision. It will kill him, but he *will* choose to be with me."
"Get off this ship, Gibson and forget about Hawkes. His family is here and he won't remember your name in a week."
"You're no better than my father, McQueen," Madi told him as she left and she enjoyed the pain that crossed his face.
~*~
It was raining. The streets were wet and slick, glistening in yellow glow cast by the street lights. It was late and eerily silent. For some reason, this made June Maddox very nervous.
She was reaching into her handbag for the keys to her car as she turned the corner to where it was parked. That meant that she didn't immediately notice the small figure seated on the bonnet. When she did glance up, her instant reaction was to wonder where this child had come from, and how it had got past the security which should have been in place in the governmental car park. She didn't like children much. They were nuisances at best and downright hostile at worst. Her face fixed in a determined and angry grimace. God help this one if it had done anything more than sit on the bonnet. No juvenile delinquent could mess with her and escape intact.
She hoisted her bag back onto her shoulder and marched towards the car. At this distance, in this poor lighting, she couldn't tell if the child was male or female. Long hair, but what did that say these days? She wasn't too concerned which it was. It was far too small to give her any trouble no matter which sex. No more than thirteen or fourteen at the most.
Her confidence was misplaced. As she moved closer, her mouth already starting to form the angry words, the figure turned at look at her. 'Yellow eyes,' she thought incoherently. 'It's got yellow eyes.' Some small part of her mind tried to rationalise this as an effect of the yellow lighting, but some deeper, older part, the part that remembered what it meant to be prey, knew differently.
A soft, singsong voice reached her ears. "I've been waiting for you." The statement sounded mild enough, but, oh God, the tone. The tone reminded her of sharp knives and sharper teeth, and sent fear racing through her body. And then the thing was moving towards her, impossibly fast.
The security guards didn't even hear her scream.
~*~
Lucas tapped on the hatch of the guest wardroom. "Madi, we've got thirty minutes until boarding. Are you ready?"
Her voice came to him muffled and indistinct through the metal but he captured the thought perfectly. "Go away, Lucas. I'm not budging a *toe* off this rust bucket until I've seen Cooper."
Lucas sighed and went in. Madi sat with her legs crossed Indian-style in the middle of the bed. Her eyes were watery with incensed tears and her nose looked like Rudolph's. Madi didn't cry prettily. "You know, Lucas, the social concept inherent to the locking of doors implies that the occupants behind those doors wish *not* to be disturbed." She spoiled her sarcastic tirade by blowing her nose quite loudly.
Lucas, paying no attention to her, simply walked to the closet, retrieved her suitcase, and started throwing clothes into it. That got her off the bed. "Stop that! They just delivered those things this morning from the laundry. Lucas, you're going to get them all wrinkled." Men. As bad as she felt, the last thing she wanted to do was iron when she got home. Madi pushed him out of the way and started putting the clothes in herself, forcefully, but not wrinkling them. Lucas tried not to smile. Madi looked sad but he knew she was more angry than anything. She wasn't one to wallow in tears and self-pity and he had timed his visit to her realization that mourning was, in fact, quite boring. She preferred fighting.
He moved over and started gathering odds and ends from around the room and throwing them into the hat-box thing that Madi always carried. Madi looked up from emptying a drawer full of underwear into her case to see him looking at a compact disk. It reminded her so much of Cooper that she felt an actual pain in her stomach. *Get away from those!* she screamed in her mind. Lucas seemed impervious to her thoughts though and Madi turned away huffily for some more clothes. Sometimes she liked to test Lucas. She had a theory about his special talent that no one spoke of - but when her thoughts were so clear and he didn't respond she always relaxed a little. She was too private to want someone tripping through her head.
"Madi, if you don't walk out of here on your own, McQueen will have you carried out. Do you want that? In fact, from the look of him I'd say he's absolutely giddy with anticipation over the event."
Madi had found one of Cooper's T-shirts half under the bed. She put it to her nose and inhaled his scent that clung to the material. A new wave of fury and sadness rolled over her. She quickly folded the shirt and put it in her suitcase, trying to concentrate on Lucas' words.
"Yeah, well, fuck McQueen," Madi groused. Cooper probably would be before she got back to Earth. Madi instantly hated herself for having such traitorous thoughts. Cooper loved her. If she caught him having sex and ice cream with anyone else she'd kill him herself. Madi thought of his cold, ice cream covered finger sliding into her and his tongue following it and her knees went weak. How was she going to live without him?
Behind her the book Lucas had been holding crashed to the floor. Madi whirled around to see what the noise was. "Lucas are you all right? You look kind of flushed. You're not getting sick are you?"
"No, I'm fine Madi," Lucas managed to get out past the constriction in his throat. "Just exhausted from all this excitement." Ice cream?
"Well as soon as we get home you need to go see Thursday and let her pamper you a little. You're probably working too hard."
"Good idea." He might even take along a gallon of chocolate almond he thought with a wicked smile. Madi was full of surprises. Still waters.
He found a pad of paper and a pen in the box and handed them to Madi. "Here, write Cooper a note and tell him you'll write and explain everything later. This whole situation has turned into a major clusterfuck, Madi, and we need to go home and let the dust settle.
"You're exhausted, I'm exhausted, Cooper's a mess. Think what's been dumped on him this past month, a natural-born would be institutionalized." He lifted her chin with his finger and looked into her blue-green eyes, swimming with tears. "If you love him, Madi, you need to give him time to heal. He'll bounce back a stronger person for this. Fire tempers steel. Now let's go."
"I don't have to do what you say, Lucas," Madi bluffed, but he could tell he'd won.
"Yes, you do. I haven't signed your paycheck." He stopped the next words out of her mouth. "And yes, you are going to take that check. And you are going to go back and start adoption procedures for Reece *and* the twins. And you are going to be okay, Madi. You're strong. It's one of the things he loves so much about you." He wiped away the tears that ran down her cheeks with the back of his hand and pressed a brotherly kiss to her forehead.
"Now," Lucas began brusquely, "Write this note and then go put some makeup on to cover that nose before you blind the crewmen. I'm going to take the note down to Paul Wang, who does believe you by the way, and ask him to give it to Cooper. Any questions?"
"Does Thursday know how lucky she is to have you?" Madi asked through her tears.
"I'm sure she doesn't appreciate me nearly enough." Madi scratched a short note and handed it to Lucas. "See you in ten at the boarding gate?" She nodded.
"Lucas?" He turned back from opening the hatch. "I'm glad you came. How did you know we'd all need you so badly?"
"I'm psychic," he said with a smile and he was gone.
~*~
She sat on the shuttle that was taking her away from Cooper, trying desperately hard not to cry. That had to be a way to see him. There had to be. She couldn't just let him out of her life altogether. She may never see him again.
Lucas reached out and squeezed her hand comfortingly. It was all he could do as the flight crew made their preparations to depart.
~*~
EPILOGUE
She watched as the water streamed over the planes of his back. God, he was so beautiful. She could watch him for hours, that beautiful body, the way he moved, as sure-footed as a cat. Eyes traced the outlines of his torso, sliding over the shape of his shoulders, down that powerful back to that narrow waist and hips. Over those tight buttocks. Powerful legs next, and down to trim calves. She could feel herself becoming aroused.
Steam filled the air, as she slipped off her robe, letting it pool about her feet on the floor. She locked the door to the shower room behind her and stepped into the stream, joining him. He didn't appear startled. He must have known that she was watching him. She let her hands trace the outline of his shoulder blades, luxuriating in the feel of his satin skin under her palms. She couldn't get over how smooth he was. Like a Greek statue. Like a Greek god.
She picked up the soap, lathering it between her palms, and then smoothing the bubbles over his back, and down to his waist. He braced his hands against the wall, lost in the feel of her stroking his back, the skin twitching where she touched.
She wrapped her arms around him, smoothing them over his chest and stomach, the soap making them glide easily over the planes of his body. She avoided the place she knew he wanted to her to touch the most. There would be time for that later. Right now, it was enough to feel the rest of him. To savour this. Who knew if she would ever have this chance again.
He arched his back, as he felt her hands sliding over his body, pressing back against her, feeling her breasts against his back, the nipples hard little pebbles. He reached around and grasped hold of her buttocks, pulling her closer to him, sliding his hands over smooth flesh.
She gave into temptation, and pressed her mouth against the hot omphalos on the back of his neck. She felt him buck against her, as she sucked and nibbled it, running her tongue over it back and forth. The gasping sounds he was now making were incredibly erotic, and she could feel the wetness between her thighs.
Now the only thing holding him upright were his hands pressed against the wall. His knees had gone weak, a direct result of the feelings she was causing. He gasped again, as she continued to suck on his neck while her hand moved downwards to clasp his erection, sliding her fingers up and down the length of it.
She stopped when she felt that he was close to the edge, wanting to prolong the experience. Her hands returned to roaming over the rest of his body, occasionally returning to stroke his cock, while her mouth roamed over his back and neck, now and then brushing his navel. Every time she did that, he jerked against her.
He turned around, and captured her mouth with his, his tongue conquering their depths. Now it was his turn, as he slid soapy hands over her body, paying special attention on her breasts and buttocks. By now, she was as aroused as he was. Each time his tongue flicked over her iron hard nipple, it drew a fresh gasp of pleasure from her. His mouth followed the contours of her body, flicking lightly over her belly button, her stomach, and then into the area between her thighs. He used his hands to part her thighs to allow him greater access, and now it was her turn to use the wall as support, its cool an erotic contrast to the heat of the water, and the heat his tongue was generating.
He flicked his mouth over her vulva and around her clitoris, then used his fingers to part the entrance to her vagina. She cried out as she felt his tongue plunder her depths, thrusting in and out in a rhythm older than time. She wound her hands in his hair, holding him there, as she climaxed, the hot wetness of her juices filling his mouth.
Satiated she released him, and he stood, pressing hot passionate kisses against her mouth. He reached for the condom she'd had the foresight to bring into the shower with her, where it lay in the soap dish. She helped him roll it down his length, and then he was finally inside her, filling her, making her complete.
He placed his hands under her buttocks, lifting her, and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, thankful that he was so strong. She'd never had a lover who could make love to her standing up before.
Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, her thumb stroking the navel there in time to the strokes he was filling her with. Her back was pressed up against the wall, the water running over her face, and over his body. The only sounds were the running of the water and the sound of them breathing, panting with pleasure.
She felt the familiar feelings of an impending orgasm fill her. He was growing harder within her, his thrusts becoming more brutal and deeper, showing her that he was close to the edge too.
He thrust again, hard, and again harder. She felt herself break into a thousand pieces, soaring away. She was dimly aware that she'd cried out.
He heard the cry as she came, and that sound enabled him to let go. He'd been holding on so tightly, wanting her to climax again before he did. He thrust once more, and then felt the waves of pleasure rush through him, forcing his cry to mingle with hers.
They held each other tight for several precious seconds, and then her legs released their hold around his waist and she placed her feet on the floor. She felt a momentary loss as he withdrew from her, but that passed as she felt him wrap his arms even tighter around her, and he finally spoke, whispering her name in her ear.
"Shane."
She felt his tears against her neck, almost as hot as the shower itself, and felt his body shake. And knew that he was missing Madi, crying for her.
THE END