As the eerie light of dawn filtered through the gaps in the long curtains, a woman curled up on the left side of a double bed groaned in displeasure, as the sun's rays woke her from her slumber. The woman reached out from under the covers of the bed with a small hand, longing to pull herself into the warm mass beside her, but as the hand travelled to the other side of the bed, the woman found it empty and cold.
The woman sat up, taking in the sudden loss of warmth on her bare skin. She climbed out of the bed, leaving the slightly warm confines of the sheets, padding her way on bare feet to the chair in the corner of the room, picking up her white satin robe. She noted the door was slightly ajar, remembering the sound of it closing the night before as her lover came to bed that night. She walked out into the hallway, fastening the robe as she went with a simple bow. Making her way into the living room, she took in the signs that her bed mate was still in at her apartment. His jacket was hung on one of the many hooks by her front door, his shoes neatly tucked away. A small smile graced her lips as a cool breeze danced across her knees.
As she headed to the balcony, the woman saw his silhouette through the netted curtains. She stopped when she reached the sliding door, he was leaning against the rail, his hands curled around the steel bar, wearing nothing but his blue checked pyjama bottoms, which hung low on his hips.
She walked to him; her hand came and gently touched his back, she saw the muscles tense at the sudden contact, and then relax as he recognised it was her.
"I woke up, and you weren't there." She said simply, her voiced barely above a whisper. She felt his back tense again, tears began to form in her eyes, he was never like this, not with her.
"I kept seeing his face." He whispered in reply. "I kept seeing his hand around your throat, squeezing your life away," he inhaled deeply, trying to find the strength to continue, "holding you over the edge of the Hellicarrier, 30,000 feet between you and the ground." The woman watched as the steel bar beneath his hands bent and crumbled under his angered grip. She pulled at his arm, turning him to look at her, her hands reaching up to cup his cheeks.
"I'm here." She whispered once more, scared that if she spoke any louder he would startle. "I'm right here." Her thumb gently caressed his skin. "You saved me, I'm safe."
"But…" he started.
"No. No 'buts', Steve." She countered. Steve's hands found her waist, pulling her to his chest. Her hands fell to grip his shoulders, his height overpowering her own. Their eyes connected, Steve saw the tears in her eyes, the worry that she felt for him, and so much more. Their locked gaze was intense, powerful emotions began to form between them.
"I can't lose you, Raine." He declared.
"You won't Steve. I'm yours."