The stacks and boxes didn't always fit snug to shoulder against each other and so the tent had little alcoves from time
to time in its spacing. Andi stopped when she came to one that gave them both enough space to be comfortable
sitting down and stretching their legs. She looked over her shoulder at Hector with a smile at his diabolic pleasure at
being able to easily distract her. It was true. Her mind did refuse to focus on much more than simply him when he drew
her. She wasn't used to having that problem. And the strange part was, she couldn't say she really minded. She took
a single step backward so that her back rested against his chest and tipped her face to brush a gentle kiss against his
jaw line. She knew the touch should have been light and teasing instead of as gentle and tender as it went. But,
despite the fact she wasn't going to mention it, she knew she was going to lose him soon. And what he'd given her
already was so infinitely precious to her...
"There." She stated with a soft smile. "The closest I'm going to come to 'smacking' you, yeah?" The smile spread. "And
if you don't distract me, which is a terrible thing to do to a doctor anyway, I do have lunch too. Molly supplied it but
since I rescued it from my ravenous fellow workers I think I should get some of the credit for it as well."
She was supposed to have gone back for work. 'Lunch' hadn't been meant to extend to the entire day. And evening.
And night...
Instead she'd spent the entire time in Hector's arms. Just that. For once, they hadn't talked a great deal. Just - held
each other. Been held. Something precious that was about to end.
She shifted. Drew in a deep, slow breath. They should think about sleeping. In something other than the position they
were in. She knew she could catch up tomorrow. But Hector - she'd heard. This was considered a vacation compared
to what they usually did. He might not get a chance to catch up on the sleep they were losing before he had to go out
into - whatever they sent him into next.
She pressed closer, skin around her darkneing eyes tightening at the thought of him and 'whatever'. The same way
her heart tightened in her chest. At least she knew he was safe here. Relatively. Once he was gone...
"Come on," she shifted against him, pulling away enough to meet his eyes. He was sitting with his back against a wall
of the crates, long legs stretched out in front of him and she was curled on her hip next to him. Facing him with her
arms around him and his arms around her. She cupped his face in her hands. Wanting to memorize it in the dim light
her eyes had adjusted to. Wanting to seal away this moment so that, whether she ever saw him again or not, it would
never fade. Whether he ever remembered her or not...
"Bedtime." She supplied, raising her face to press a soft kiss to his forehead. Not wanting to let him go. Not willing to
let him attempt to pass the night in a position that was sure to give him a stiff neck and back tomorrow. Thinking...
thinking she was moving far too fast if she was actually going to carry through with the idea she had. And he might
think less of her for it too. She shifted over onto her knees and then stood up before he could protest that he didn't
need sleep or that right where he was, was fine. Caught his hands in hers with a light tug. Sunrise would come early
tomorrow. "Walk me home?" She asked. Stalling for time.
He was well aware he was stealing moments he probably had no right to in the first place. But it was nearly like it was
taken out of his hands and put in the hands of Fate, something he had never had much faith in. Wasn't his job all
about disproving that again and again? Was this karma getting its own royal payback? Give him this, when he knew
full well he'd have to leave in less than half a day?
It was a blessing and a curse, it really was. The blessing was no one had come looking for them, or if they had, they
hadn't found them. And dually a curse also because it just pounded home the fact that in the morning, 0600, he was
gone and out of here.
"Come on, I was comfortable." He said with his lazy grin as he easily got to his feet with her gentle tugging. "But if you
insist, I'll walk you home." He said, knowing he was chancing that Fate he didn't believe in, in a big time way. He'd have
to watch her walk away again, probably, and it nearly physically pained him. The only reason it didn't, was because, at
the moment, she wasn't.
She stayed close as they walked through the sleeping camp. Stars sharp as pain above and the quiet of a desert
night in a camp that never entirely slept. Would he remember her? The way he did now? Or would she fade like the
stars when the morning came?
They reached her tent much too quickly and that was walking as slowly as possible without actually going backward.
She linked her fingers with his, both hands, and looked up at him. Tell him goodnight. Steal kisses but don't let it get
too desperate or needy. Promise to see him tomorrow before the 'choppers come. Get an address to write to.
She looked into those dark, dark eyes of his. Felt herself softening. Trusting. Her hands moved, tried to offer her
palms despite the fact his own were pressed to them.
"Share with me?" She asked. Offering him a soft smile as she met his eyes. "Just to sleep." The edge of her lips
twitched as she continued to watch him with serious eyes. "Mr. Snuffles can give up his spot for tonight."
Hector chuckled a bit. "That was the deal breaker you know." He teased gently. "Because there's not enough room for
both me and Mr Snuffles. I'd wake up with him trying to suffocate me, I'm sure." But....dangerous ground definitely.
But....a few > more hours without the good bye. But....something to remember. And how, exactly, could he say no to
that one, even if he wanted to? Which he didn't.
"But an offer like that, can't refuse." He said as he disengaged one of his hands to open the door to the tent, letting
the dim light provided by the moon spill into the tent. Had he always been a 'good boy' in his life? Not more than any
other man, really. But she set some boundaries, he'd be more than happy to abide by them.
The bit about Mr. Snuffles' reaction had her giving a quiet laugh. Which helped. A great deal.
Over her head. Or out of her league. Or something of that sort. Because she was missionary's daughter. And took
certain things very seriously. But - she trusted Hector.
And... God... she wanted this.
She kept her hand in his. Led him into the tent and appreciated the fact that he let her lead in the first place. Sat on
the edge of the bed, remembering a line from a movie she'd seen about one of her favorite authors. What the woman
he'd just married had told him when he'd commented on how awkward it was and how he didn't know what to do on
their first night.
'Just do what you usually do to get ready for bed. And when you're done, I'll be here.'
Silly to get advice from a movie. But she'd take it.
So she slipped off her socks and shoes, set Mr. Snuffles on the ground near the foot of the bed and ran her fingers
through her hair because the ponytail had already been taken out earlier. She gave Hector a smile. Thinking... he
probably thought she did this all time considering how quickly she'd suggested it to him. Thinking... it was silly to be
nervous. But she was. She slipped her arms around him and snuggled close. Because - she didn't. Do this. Ever. And
she couldn't - couldn't just lay down, awkwardly wondering how she should shift her body to make room and how close
or far she should be. But she trusted him. Trusted him to know and to show her.
He got ready for sleep in front of thirty odd people every night. Okay, so the thirty odd people were guys, who, like
him, were always more concerned with getting as much sleep as possible before the next assignment. But he took off
his shoes and balled up his socks, tucking them into the shoes and due to habit, lining the shoes up at the side of the
bed, and stripped off his shirt. Less oddly self conscious of his various scars, now that she knew that a lot of them had
benign origins (appendectomy, stupid teenage stuff, etc) and slid under the blankets next to her, aware suddenly, of
exactly how much room he took up in the bed.
So the only solution to that was to hold her as close as possible, which he didn't mind. And she didn't seem to mind
either as she snuggled closer in his embrace.
They managed to sleep, or doze, in between just wordlessly staring at each other, kissing as if air depended on it,
until the space they took up in the bed amounted to the space that a single person would take up. It was magical, and
it was paradise.
Then the loud whirl of the choppers interrupted the early morning hours, and Hector couldn't help it. He sighed.
Andi turned her face to press it into his shoulder. Wanting nothing more than to shake her head and ignore the
sound. And what it meant. But she didn't. Couldn't. Her arms around Hector tightened instinctively and she had to
force herself to relax them again. Even if she didn't let go.
Going. He was leaving now. The way she'd known he would. She was good at goodbyes. Very good. She'd had plenty
of practice.
Didn't want to do it this time.
She pressed her lips together. Shut her eyes. She wasn't going to make this difficult on him. She wasn't. But she didn't
move and she didn't let go.
"I've made you late." She apologized in a muffled whisper.
"They'll get over it." Hector said with a dry chuckle. But when he heard the movements outside, he knew he didn't have
a choice. They were all getting ready to leave and he had to go with him. "Come on, I've made you late too. Like....
hours....late." Meaning the work she had shirked the day before to spend time with him. He pulled his clothes and
shoes back on and waited until she was dressed.
Right before they exited the tent, while still in the dark sanctuary away from everyone else, he paused. And pulled her
to him and kissed her with every feeling he had just pouring into it before they finally had to go face the day and the
separation. That was just something private he didn't want to share with onlookers.
She'd only had to pull on socks and shoes, running long fingers through her hair as she stood up. Not thinking. Very,
very carefully not thinking. If she didn't think, she could do this. Properly. The way he deserved. She even stifled the
urge to make the bed, knowing that was stalling.
So she made it as far as the door just fine. And then he pulled her to him. And drowned her.
...oh God... she made the sound as he poured into her. Heart and mind melted together and swept away. Even the
palms of the hands she raised to press him closer, tangle in his dark, dark hair tingled and her whole body melted into
his. All she'd gained, all she was going to lose, all the laughter and the hidden tears, and the joy, the unexpected joy
and freedom he'd given her, it swept through her. Matched and met and melted with his own until she lost the edges of
herself that defined her as separate from him. Lost them and didn't even care.
Too fast. Too soon.
Too late...
The low sound of despair that escaped her was swallowed in that kiss. She thought her heart might have been lost
along with it. Too soon. Too late.
The need for air finally had their mouths parting. Absolutely lost, Andi rested her forehead against his. Lips parted as
she tried to remember how to breath. For the moment, her knees were absolutely useless and her hands were clawed
as much to keep her upright as to stay as close to him as she could. She was aware, in the vague part of her brain
that wasn't - quite- tipped completely, that now was where she was supposed to insert a chirpy commented.
Damned if she could think of one...
All that slipped from her in a whisper was his name. Just that. And it held all the other words she couldn't say.
"Hector..."
Hector smiled a bit at that. "You know...that's the first time you've said my name the entire time I've been here." He
said. The seconds were ticking by and he tried his best to ignore them, until he couldn’t. He kissed her once more
softly, then led her out of the tent toward the center of the camp where the choppers waiting. They were loading
Clancy up, medical staff supplied as requested, and things were moving about at a highly efficient speed. Too efficient
at the moment.
And they were being stared at. By the people in the know...Swanson, Mike, Suzette. He half waved to them as they got
to the group.
"Ready, Garrett?" One of the pilots called out.
"Took the liberty of packing for you." Swanson said and headed into the chopper.
"Ready." Hector said, though when he looked at Andi, his dark eyes told a different story.
But the moment they'd been putting off and denying couldn't be denied or avoided anymore, as Hector climbed into
the chopper to return to his base.
Her eyes were dry. They were always dry. She never cried. But her eyes were impossibly dark when they met Hector's.
As they watched him climb with familiar ease into the helicopter. She was aware of the others that had loaded and
were stabilizing and locking everything down but her eyes were only for the dark haired Delta. Face still and calmly
expressionless. Eyes dark past midnight.
When the choppers lifted, so did her face. Eyes narrowing against the wind and the sand but never lightening or
leaving the helicopter. Watching until it had turned overhead and rushed forward to meet the horizon and the rising
sun. Watching its dark shape blur against the edge of the growing light.
Another day was starting. Another night was ending. Andi waited until the rising sun hurt her eyes and every other
shape in the sky was long, long gone. Then, still expressionless, she turned back to the camp, blinking against the
afterimage the sun had left across her vision.
Saw Molly looking like she was going to cry. Suzette looking quiet and sympathetic and worried. Mike looking
understanding but offering no sympathy or pity.
"Only easy day was yesterday." He murmured. Meeting her eyes as if he was giving her the secret to life. Andi nodded.
"I'm behind on my reports." She stated mildly, turning to face Suz, her features emotionless and calm. "Catch me up
on what I missed."
Hector looked out the helicopter until he couldn't see her anymore as they headed back toward base.
"Don't look back, man." Swanson said from across him.
"I'm not." Hector said over the racket of the helicopter, but his face clearly said he wasn't talking about that subject
anymore. And certainly not in a place where he had to shout.
"Hope you boys are ready to get back to work." The pilot said. "Word is to get you rested, fed and showered and
ready."
"I'm ready now." Hector said. Anything to get his mind off what he nearly had.