"I'll let Da teach you how to hunt for kangaroos." Her lips curved on the edge of a laugh. The laugh that was bubbling
up inside her from the very core of her. Too happy to hold that in. "And I might even try your googly eye gumpo." She
added playfully, dark eyes dancing.
"Try? You're going to help me finish off a pot." He said, noticing she had lost some weight she really couldn't afford to
lose. Five pounds up or down on him didn't make too much of a difference on his frame, but on hers it was far more
noticeable. "And I make big pots of the stuff. I"ll even convert your dad to it. And the kangaroos." He said with a
chuckle.
She pressed her face against him and laughed. Honest and easy. As if it wasn't the first time she had since he'd left
all those months ago.
"The kangaroos will be most impressed." She agreed. Pressing a smiling kiss to his cheek. "So will Da." And she
couldn't tell him how much including her family in his life meant to her. She rested her chin on his shoulder. "He
already figured you out anyway." She added softly.
He looked at her. "Uh oh, should I be scared that the father has me figured out?" Which meant she had mentioned
him to her dad. Which was an oddly...warming...thought. "Did he figure me out for good or for bad?" He asked. "do I
have to challenge him to a kangaroo hunt? Not sure how I'd do with that...."
"Well." She gave it some thought. "If you're going to challenge Da to a kangaroo hunt, first you need to think like a
kangaroo. Lots of big, floppy thoughts now." She couldn't hold in the soft laugh anymore and shook her head. Smiling
up at him before her face softened and she slipped her fingers down his cheek. "Da - Da says he was waiting for me
to mention you before I even started my 'Da, there's this man' bit. He says he could hear you in my voice." Which she
didn't entirely understand. But her Da had. "Mum's the one we actually had to break in gently."
"Musta picked up some of my dialect." He said with a chuckle. "Didn't by chance throw in a y'all in there, did you?
Break mom in gently. Sounds like quite a mother. Let me guess, she hates me instantly because I one, never went to
college, two, am by far not British, and three work for the American military?" He asked in a teasing tone, since her
mother was a school teacher and all.
"Why would I say 'yawl?" Andi asked, going nasal and stretching the word out just enough to make it sound like a
sound a cat would make when its tail was stepped on, eyes dancing even though she managed to keep a straight
face. "We weren't talking about boats." She broke into a quiet laugh then and pressed her face close again, lips
brushing a kiss lightly against his throat. "And you'll find out what Mum thinks soon enough. I asked her to send you a
bit of sand for your nephew. So he could have Zaire as well. If all you get is sand I will be beyond surprised." If he
didn't receive a care package of epic proportions and a immensely long, rambling letter, she would be beyond
surprised in fact. She shifted her face just enough to peer up at Hector from the tops of her eyes, smile softening.
"Besides, Mum likes scruffy, hard working, non-university men. She did follow one all the way into the heart of Africa
after all, you know."
Hector laughed. "It’s a toss up whether that scores points with my sister or not, though." He said. His family knew there
was 'someone' but that was about it. It wouldn't be fair to her to open her up to that sort of scrutiny and cross
examination without her having the ability to defend herself, after all. And what a cross examination it would be!
Sometimes, it seemed, his sisters should all be lawyers, though none of them were. Or politicians in a debate. "I think
I'd like your mother." After all, sending a strange American child sand was quite a thing to do, no matter how
innocuous. His nephew took great pride in his "dirt of the world" collection.
Andi laughed quietly, resting her cheek on Hector's shoulder. Watching his face. He'd come back. Just to see her. And
deep down in her heart... she still wasn't sure why...
"Mum'll probably make it into a project." She offered cheerfully. "See how many different types of soil they can find for
him and send him a write up about where each layer came from and why it’s the way it is. If she's really on a roll he
might get some local stories and folk tales too." Her mum was a teacher after all. It didn't take much to kick her off. "If
you're not careful she'll have the entire class writing to Josh in no time."
It hadn't occurred to her to wonder about how his sister would receive all of this. Now it occurred to her that she
probably should have asked for permission first. Of course if Hector didn't think his sister would want her son receiving
things from a strange woman half a world away all he truly had to do was throw it out once he got it. She'd never know
unless he told her and she honestly hoped he simply wouldn't if that was what he did. The chances of her ever
meeting anyone who would tell her otherwise were probably minuscule.
She shifted restlessly against him before she realized it and relaxed again. Wishing, for just a brief moment, that Suz
wasn't so critical so she could ask for advice. It wasn't as if she was exactly the kind of girl you brought home to meet
the family. Unless you were trying to show how open minded you were or how cosmopolitan. Suz, with all her
experience, could have probably picked this entirely confusing tangle going on inside Andi apart and explained it all
away. She rested a slim hand over Hector's heart. Feeling the warm, steady beat, reassuring against her palm. Shut
her eyes.
Reminding herself that you couldn't always have what you wanted. It was important to simply appreciate what you did
have now. While you had it.
"And you will like Mum. She's already adopted you. Anyone that is precious to me is important to her." Her parents
trusted her judgement even as much as what she was doing for the first time made them nervous for her. Hector,
whether he was aware of it or not, had suddenly become the subject of a great deal of covering prayer in that section
of Zaire. Because if she - if she thought she might be in love with him - then her parents automatically opened their
hearts to him as well. Because he was obviously very worth loving. She spread her fingers to press her palm closer
against his heart. Trying very hard to only think about the immediate and not all the questions that wanted to intrude
and bring their 'what ifs' with them. "So I should warn you that Mum will automatically assume you're not eating enough
and send you things to make up for it. Da won't send you anything because its his job to pretend to be intimidating
and distant. But you should be able to pick out what he's told Mum to add after a while." She smiled softly against him
but didn't open her eyes. "I'm afraid I've subjected to you my family's affection. And I don't know if I should apologize or
simply try not to laugh at you once it starts rolling in."
"Well, the food I can share with the rest of the chalk easy enough, its what we do anyway." He said with a chuckle.
"And Josh will like that, broaden his horizons a bit, since let's face it, the only perspective he has is mine, and the
military side of it is never as interesting. And he's probably sick of writing to me and the guys anyway. Besides, those
letters from the kids I probably don't have to give back for rewrites due to language."
"So how about a deal? You take me to Zaire to see the kangaroos, and I'll take you to the States to taste some real
sun tea and gumbo?" He was probably pushing it there, but he could see the sunrise starting to break the horizon,
which meant it was soon time for him to head back.
Her heart gave an unsteady kick at his suggestion and then squeezed tight enough to physically hurt. She wasn't sure
exactly what that suggestion meant. Or how serious he was. Careful she pulled back a bit from him. Not out of his
arms but enough to rest her hands on his chest and meet his eyes. Her own dark and vulnerable as they searched his.
"Why would you want to do that?" She asked softly. Not questioning that he had every right to her family and her
world. But... "Why would you want to bring me home with you?"
"Because one sunrise and maybe breakfast isn't enough." He said honestly. "Besides, I want to show you my world.
My real world...not...this." Meaning the whole Delta thing. Though most of the time it was his real world, though he
liked to fall back on the South when he was tired or just needed a break.
There were a lot of assumptions she could make. A lot of things she could read into his words. And she didn't dare.
Didn't dare trust in anything more than exactly what she had right now and didn't dare let herself start hoping or
believing in anything in her future. She had to take him very strictly literally. Because - wanting more than what you
had... it hurt too much when nothing ever came through.
But her heart still hurt.
"I would like that." She stated carefully. Picking her words. Not trusting anything beyond this moment. Not going to ask
for promises he might decide not to keep. And trying very hard to not shut the door on the possibility of it either. It
wasn't an exactly easy balance. But if she leaned to far either way she could lose what she did have in overreaching
for something more.
She didn't trust 'something more' a great deal.
Still watching his face, she shifted. Not willing to push and perhaps lose. She leaned forward to rest her forehead
against his.
"Only breakfast?" She asked.
"This time." Hector said, a promise in his words. "Unlike most jobs, if I don't show up for mine, I can be arrested." He
pointed out, the whole absent without leave concept. "We'll have others. Maybe next time you'll come see me. The
base isn't that far, Mike knows the way I'm sure. Gotta introduce you to barbecue somehow."
"Yeah?" Andi asked. Pleased with the thought. And more than willing to let the worries and uncertainty slide. She
raised one of her hands to cup his cheek. Smiling. "You wouldn't mind?"
"Nope." He said with a grin as he moved some hair off her shoulder. "Besides, I've made that my new mission, getting
you to eat." Since he could tell she hadn't been. And she hadn't been that fond of eating anyway to begin with, he had
noticed.
She responded automatically to the brush of his fingers, softening and angling her cheek to brush it lightly against the
back of his hand. Eyes pleased and happy as she gave a quiet laugh.
"I'm sure the tax payers in your country are thrilled that's the way your special training is being applied." She teased.
Looking at him with laughing eyes. "You hardly need to worry, you know. I'm not going to disappear on you." She
touched her nose lightly to his. "I promise."
"Well, if they knew, they certainly wouldn't appreciate our...hunting safaris..." which supplied the main course for the
barbecues, "or a whole bunch of other things. Which is why we're all cloaked in secret." He said with a chuckle, which
faded off with her last statement.
"Going to hold you to that. Because I'm really good at tracking people down too."
'Where would I go, that You could not find me? Or where would I hide that You could not see?'
She cupped his face gently in her hands, shifting to look him in the eyes. There it was again. That - someone that had
left him somewhere in the past. That had left him expecting it from that point on.
Too late. She realized it. So much she still wasn't sure of and she knew it was too late despite that. He had her. For as
long as he wanted her. And no matter where he went or when he left her, she thought a part of her, the heart of her,
might always go with him. Even if he forgot her entirely and she never saw him again. Her thumbs slipped along his
cheeks. Wanting to tell him.
And too afraid and unsure to.
"Then we'll make a deal." She decided softly, eyes watching his shadowy dark ones. As close as they were that
darkness was swallowing. And that was comforting. It gave her a little courage. "You come and find me. Anytime.
Anywhere. For always. Whenever you want. And I promise to never hide from you. No matter what. That when I hear
you call, I'll answer. For always." She softened. Eyes a mix of steady sure and vulnerable as she whispered: "I
promise."
"I'm going to hold you to that." He said, especially the hiding part. His darker sides were perhaps darker than most.
They had to be, to survive in his world. But that made it a lonely world. "Then I promise to always come looking for
you."
After all, he had traveled all this way for one sunrise he could hold onto until the next time. Made everything else worth
it. He'd always have that to hold onto. That was one of his problems, the Marine shrinks kept telling him. He was
constantly leery of reaching out, but when he did, his grip was worse than that of a rabid Rottweiler. He really didn't
like that image, but it was how it was put.
But he was holding onto her, figuratively and literally as he lost himself in those beautiful eyes of hers again and
kissed her, not wanting this moment to end. It was too peaceful.
Always was a very big word. So was promising it.
But before she could do anything other than simply accept it, his mouth covered hers. Sealing both their promises of
'always' into them.
Her arms went around him with a soft welcoming sound and she pulled him close. Fit herself closer. Loving the feel of
him, the encompassing feel of him as she wound slim fingers into his dark, thick hair. Letting all of her slip into that
kiss. All the things she couldn't tell him. All the things she was afraid to. Because - she belonged here. In his arms.
Held safely and tightly and fiercely. Her home had gone from an entire country to a single man. And she'd never
known she belonged anywhere so strongly as she did right now. Here in his arms. Her kiss answered that.
The sun rose around them, and they didn't even notice, though usually across the plains surrounding the camp
sunrises and sunsets were breathtaking phenomenon. But they were rather caught up in each other to notice
anything as ordinary as a sunrise.
He sighed and brushed her hair back from her face. "I have to go." He said and chuckled. "Sam really won't want a
task force of Deltas here to arrest me, no matter how much he doesn't like me!"
She did love his hands. His touch and his fingers in her hair. Reluctant she focused on something other than him long
enough to realize the sun was rising. Why, with him, did she always wish nights would last forever?
"He'd blow blood vessels." She agreed with a smile before curling her fingers in Hector's shirt and pulling him down for
another kiss. "But - you came... I'm so glad you came..."
For her. With all the other choices he'd had. Five days in the wilderness. Just for her. She couldn't put into words how
that made her feel. That he thought she was worth so much. That he thought a few measured hours with her was
worth so much.
That she was worth so much...
It didn't make any sense. And it made her heart hurt it felt so important to her.
She drew away enough to press soft, light kisses to his cheek, his jaw, the corner of his eye where the laugh lines
were.
Smiling as she drew away. "Now you can say I smacked you around." She teased. Standing up with both of her hands
wound in his. "Since I've heard you Garrett men like that kind of thing."
"I'm glad I came too." He said as their fingers intertwined around each others as they stood there. The rest of the
camp was starting to wake up and move around, he could hear that and see it in his peripheral. "Gotta go." He said
reluctantly as he kissed her once more, then slipped into the newly formed shadows. He had spent enough time in this
camp that he new the easiest ways out.
And that was easier, to just...slip out...rather than having to watch each other grow smaller in the distance. He jogged
the few miles to his pick up point.
"You are cutting it close." Al said from behind the wheel as Hector slipped into the all terrain jeep. "Worth it?"
"Absolutely."