"Jessie called me over an hour ago." He commented with a smile. "Was wonderin' when you two were gointa show up."
"Had to stop at Wal-Mart." Hector said with an easy smile. "So Jessie told us you could hook us up with a cabin?"
"Well, under normal circumstances, I'd be all booked." The old man said with a wink. "But fer you two, I can find
something." He shuffled back into his cabin and produced a key. "Down on the beach there, third one down. Don't
have any of those newfangled gadgets..."
Hector chuckled. "Washing machine, dryer, electric stove..." He supplied for Andi.
"But it’s got your 'lectricity and indoor plumbing." The old man added. "Frigedair should be workin'. Pay up when you
leave."
Hector had noticed the man writing down the license plate on his bike, so he knew he'd get paid and chuckled. "Got it
and thanks."
The old man chuckled as well and gave Hector a wink.
"Jessie said you'd filled up an entire tank so you had to have come a ways. Figured you for close enough to a local
though anyhows. We have a fish fry on Wednesdays so if'n you're still around it’s at seven right here." He waved a
hand. "Now go get out o' them fancy duds you stole from a weddin' and get settled in."
Andi lowered her head and chuckled against the back of Hector's shoulder.
"Shall we claim I snatched some poor unfortunate's groom?" She teased as he started the bike up again. "Just in the
nick of time?"
"Thanks." Hector said to the man and tried not to laugh at Andi's comment as he led her back to the bike. "I don't plan
on being asked any questions. So we'll just settle in for the night."
It was an easy ride to the cabin, so he kept his helmet off. And as promised, it was right on the beach, with the surf
nearly lapping at the front door. The beach itself was part sand, part chewed up gravel and still bore scars from the
recent storms, branches and debris lined the shore and some trees were half down, if they stood at all.
But despite all that, Hector grinned widely. "I like it." He announced.
"Oh." Andi sighed it, an unconscious sound. Tightening her arms around Hector in a hug as she rested her chin
against his shoulder and just took a moment to simply feel the presence of the place. The sun was slowly sinking into
the water and the wide sky that seemed to go on forever was brilliant with colors. So was the water washing so calmly
against the sand. Little birds, ignoring them entirely ran up and down, racing the waves, back and forth and back and
forth. "Perfect," she murmured, smile starting to spread, "oh, Hector. It's perfect."
"Promised you quiet, didn't I?" Hector said with a smile as he held her arms, looking out onto the sea and the sunset.
Then he just closed his eyes and tipped his head back a bit, letting the ocean breeze wash over him. "Definitely
opening the windows tonight." He murmured. "Last time I had ocean air, I was in Kuwait, and we didn't really have a
chance to just kick back."
Andi exhaled contentedly. This was - right where she wanted to be. With Hector relaxed and in her arms and the world
perfect and right around them. She could feel the natural heat from his skin through the front of his shirt where her
hands were resting, feel the steady rhythm of his breathing, the tickle of stray strands of his dark hair against her
cheek. The smell of him and the salt air and the sand. And that glorious sun painting everything in front of them both.
She ducked her chin to press a kiss to the back of his shoulder and then lightly rubbed her cheek against his.
"We can take the time now." She whispered softly. "All week if we want. Leave the windows open and sleep in late and
find something to do with ourselves since we obviously forgot our fishing equipment." She shut her own eyes despite
the sunset and nuzzled her face against his restfully. "As much time as we want for a change..."
"Well, if you want to fish that bad, can always go back to Wal-Mart." Hector teased with a chuckle, which ended in a
contented sigh. "Of course, you'd have to get the keys from me, since I don't plan on going anywhere till Thursday
night at the earliest."
They sat there until the last tendril of sunset disappeared from t he sky. "Come on, let's see if this newfangled indoor
plumbing works."
"Hot running water?" She asked wistfully. Throughly spoiled in that area now and knowing it. Tender she pressed a
kiss to his throat. Slim hands sliding across his chest. "The food will keep." She whispered. Especially since they hadn't
even been sure they're be an ice box and had bought accordingly. She slipped off the bike, hands slipping down his
arms to catch at his hands, long fingers against the inside of his wrists and palms. She offered him a smile as she
backed toward the cabin. Loving the look on his face. The quietness this place offered him. When they cleared the
porch she rested her back against the door and wound her arms around his shoulders. Leaning up to kiss him with a
smile while he tried to work out the keys.
There was nothing like figuring out a strange set of keys and a strange lock (by strange meaning never encountered
this particular set before) while being thoroughly and more than pleasantly distracted. In fact, it was several long
minutes before he found the right key and the lock and slid them together, the door opening unexpectedly as she
leaned against it.
He caught her before she fell on her cute little ass onto the floor as the door opened and laughed. "That's what you
get for distracting me!"
She curled her hands in the lapels of his jacket and grinned right back. Body tucked safely against his.
It was a little one room cabin with the bed on one side near a bureau and night stand and the living area/kitchen on
the other side. The bathroom was off to the side in another room near what was either a closet or a breaker room. Or
both. And it was clean. And homey. And comfortable. And just right.
She chuckled as she started to push off his jacket. Leaning up to kiss him again.
"I knew you wouldn't let me fall." She simply answered.
"Never." He said in between kisses as he moved them to where the light was and turned it on, shedding some light on
the room. Neither needed a lot of physical space to be comfortable, their lives had beaten that out of them quickly for
sure! Not that there was ever a lot of distance between them when they were together anyway.
He tossed his jacket once it was off onto a nearby straight back chair. "Might be no reason to get dressed after all."
But clean clothes for the ride home was always good anyway, so it wasn't a complete waste.
Oh. He made something inside her hum, warm and pleased, with his promise of 'never'. Because she believed him.
Absolutely and completely. Smiling, her lips still against his as she answered his kisses with her own, she went to work
on the buttons of his dress shirt. Which wasn't easy because she was distracted and because it was hard to leave the
space between them needed to be able to slip the buttons free.
"I won't tell if you don't." She promised, voice a low mix of laughter and throatiness. She shifted over to one hand on
the buttons so that she could tangle her fingers in his thick hair with the other. Slowly managing to back her way
toward the bathroom and the shower. Hoping it was a very large hot water tank.
He chuckled against her lips and helped with his shirt as much as he could as they went into the small bathroom, which
only had a stand up shower and started running the water as they tossed their clothes outside the door, where they
were least likely to get wet from some water play.
Which was a good thing, because they were too distracted to remember to close the water stained shower door.
Turned out the water heater wasn't all that effective for long, or maybe they just spent 'too long' in there. All Hector
knew was by the time they got around to actually washing, the water was ice cold. Which helped to force them out of
there laughing.
Getting out of the shower and out to the main room was actually a relief of warmth, they'd used all the hot water so
completely. But neither seemed to really mind or be affected by it.
"You are so beautiful." He said, moving wet hair away from her face. "I don't think I told you that today."
It was silly how such simple words could melt her entirely. But they did. Every time. Because he didn't just believe that.
It was actually true when he said it. Her face, and her smile, softened. Somehow went warmer and she reached up to
very gently trace a finger along the side of his own handsome face. Then she cupped a hand over one of his. Turned
her face to press a soft kiss into his palm.
"It's because you make me so happy." She told him. "I've heard women in love glow." She stepped into his arms.
Raised her face. "And I do love you. So much." She pressed a soft kiss to his jaw. "All of you." She added in a murmur.
The bottom of his ear got another soft kiss. "Come to bed?" She asked in a whisper.
"It's definitely been a day." He said, closest he'd come to admitting that today was more or less a disaster no matter
which way you looked at it. Oh well, at least Tyler had gotten baptized without being drowned!
"And you were beautiful on the first day I met you." He said, pulling the blankets back on the bed and climbing into it,
taking her with him every step of the way.
She snuggled in against him, though not so close she still couldn't see his face. Brushed his lips lightly with her
fingertips.
"You have odd taste in women, my love." She told him with a soft smile. Gently brushing his wet, curling hair back from
his forehead. Eyes warm with the way she loved him and what he did to her heart. She cupped the side of his face with
her hand and pressed a kiss to his lips. Whispering with a smile: "And you were trouble from the first day I met you
onward."
"Arguing with my taste in women?" He asked with a chuckle. He sat up a bit and reached over her to turn off the
bedside light, the only light in the cabin was proved by the moon reflecting off the water, casting a glow and shadows
over the room.
He sighed and pulled her closer underneath the blankets. "Peace and quiet, just us...now THIS is a vacation."
She sighed out as she relaxed against him, her body fitting itself completely against his as he drew her closer. Lips
curving into a peaceful smile as she tucked her face close to his. Pressing a soft kiss to his throat. She loved the way
he held her, so close and tight. Completely. As if he was afraid she was going to slip away from him. She needed to be
held that way. But... she was also beginning, or rather, continuing, to understand why.
The difference was - she wasn't going anywhere. Ever.
Gentle her hand slipped through his damp hair. Long fingers tracing lightly down his back. Soothing, content moves.
He was precious. Rare. And entirely amazing on so many levels to her. Tender she brushed her hands along his
warm, damp skin.
"I would never argue with you, my love." She murmured softly. Lips twitching. "When it came to your taste in women."
She pressed a kiss to the edge of his jaw. "Or your choice in vacations." She added with a peaceful sigh. The sound of
the waves on the shore crept quietly in through the open windows, washing peacefully across the floor. Somehow she
melted into him even more. Eyes drowsy and content as she watched him. Her precious, wonderful, handsome man.
Gentle, she tucked the damp curls of his dark hair back from his face, touch soft and lingering. Wanting to tell him how
proud she was of him. Of what he'd done with his life and how he'd handled himself today. But she didn't want to
disturb him or his peace. It could wait. He'd been wounded today. Old wounds reopened and new ones inflicted.
Tonight he just needed to rest.
And be loved.
And she could give him both.
He fell asleep that way, falling asleep with her tight in his arms, seemingly holding onto him as tight as he was holding
her. It was peaceful. And quiet. And restful.
For a while.
But even Andi couldn't chase away the nightmares that always followed on the heels of a big meeting with his father. It
was jumbled together. His childhood, his job, his life. All in his mind, making no sense, but in dreams made perfect
sense.
He was walking through what appeared to be a jungle, in full gear, M-16 strapped to his side, the rest of his chalk
beside him. But no one talked, not even Swanson. They just marched, like dutiful soldiers.
He didn't know what they were marching toward, but whatever it was, it was pretty important. Then the jungle cleared to
show a burned down village and Swanson lit a cigarette off one of the still embering timbers.
"Had to burn it down to save it, Sergeant." He announced with a jaunty salute as Hector walked past to see what was
left.
"You're supposed to be in Africa." He said, when he saw Andi, holding the corpse of a burned baby.
She smiled sadly at him. "Wherever you go, I go, remember?" She said and handed him the baby. "It's okay, it's your
job. I almost understand."
"Andi..."
"It's okay. Really." She said with a bright smile as she pulled out a needle. "Now this will only hurt for a minute..."
"What are you doing?" Then the scene changed again and he was in a hospital gown, trolling the halls, sterile white
halls. White walls, white floor, bright white lights. Nothing had color, not even shadows. And the baby, still burned, but
playing, was in the middle of the hall way.
"Hey." He said, kneeling down beside the baby. "What are you doing here, buddy?"
And blue eyes looked at him from the burned face. His father's eyes. "Knew you had it in you, you fucking bastard."
The baby said, in his father's voice. "Can run and hide all you want, but it's in you."
Hector backed up against the wall, covering his ears with his hands, which came off in his hands. He dropped them in
horror as the baby laughed his father's laughed.
"You can still hear me, can't you?" He mocked. "I'm what's in you. All this is in you."
And he was back in the burned village, except it wasn't burned. It was burning. And Andi stood in the middle of a fire,
just staring at him with her dark eyes, expressionless. Just staring. He grabbed a water pail to go put out the fire, to get
her out, but she disappeared.
And he woke up.
Nothing like in the movies. He didn't shoot upright dripping cold sweat. He just took a sharp inhale of breath and
opened his eyes. Having to place where he was. Where was he? Oh yeah. He saw Andi there beside him and
breathed a sigh of relief and moved to settle back down.
But something was warm. And sticky. A metallic smell was replacing the smell of the ocean. Heart thudding in his ears,
he pulled the blanket back to see that he was covered in blood. But it wasn't his blood. It was hers.
"Andi!" He said and started shaking her, the blood was pouring out of holes, holes all over her as lifeless eyes slid
back into her head and her mouth went slack.
He shot straight up in the bed, breathing hard.
She had woken up confused from images of the tall African grass moving in the wind to the feeling of something
wrong. Blinked and tried to sit up before realizing she was with Hector, in his arms. And his hands were tight on her,
fingers gripping desperately. It woke her up the rest of the way and she could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest,
the tight lines on his face in the moonlight, the sweat on his skin.
"Hector." She shifted to give herself a bit of room. So she could sit up at least but his arms were locked tight and his
hands wouldn't let go. And then he just - suddenly relaxed. Which honestly bothered her more than the tension. She
shifted over and turned on the bedside light, not about to let him keep dreaming whatever he was. But just as the light
switched on, Hector sat bolt upright in bed with a sound like a drowning man coming up for air.
Andi knew that sound. She'd heard herself make it before. Its cause might be different but the source was the same.
And it ran a sharp, harsh pain down through her heart that he would have to go through that.
"Hector." Her voice was soft and she moved next to him, resting a hand on his back and the other over his heart. "Just
a dream, my love." She cupped his face gently in her hands then. Concerned eyes on his face. "It’s over now, Hector.
Just a dream. I promise."