Authors Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing. Story based on the Word Of The Month Fire.
This is a slightly updated version.
Sitting here gazing into the campfire I couldn't help but think how strange it is. Throughout my entire life fire, just like this one has always been synonymous with love.
I grew up where there was a campfire every night as people discussed what they had found that day in the dig, what they were hoping to find or just swapped stories. I would cuddle up beside either of my parents, usually my father and listen to everything. Once or twice I would tell what I had found. They would all sit and listen to me with these proud smiles on their faces, not just my parents but also the people they were working with.
I would fall asleep gazing into the flames never once thinking that there would be a day that it and the people I loved wouldn't be there. Then one day it wasn't. The last night I spent with my parents around a campfire was a week before they died. I sat curled up next to my mother while she stroked my hair. Dad was telling a story about when he'd been in college, something my mother didn't think I should be hearing but I didn't move. He made everyone laugh with some of the antics of his friends but all I could hear was the richness of my mother's laughter as she smiled at my father. Then he placed one hand in her hand then placed the other on my head and my whole world consisted of them.
It was many years before I ever saw a campfire like that again. Although this time it was on digs were I was solitary and alone wishing for someone to share things with. Wishing for a love like my parents had or just for a companion who I could talk to about things that weren't connected to work.
When I finally found that I was on a completely different world, literally. We were seated as honoured guests with Kasuf at the other side of the fire watching us, making sure we had everything we wanted and then I saw them. Two beautiful deep brown eyes studying me, the same eyes that I had looked into when given water earlier that day and that I had felt on me every so often during the walk from the mine. I studied the woman who was watching me, trying not to be too obvious about it, my attention only pulled away from her when a platter was set down in front of us.
Later that night, once we had finally managed to communicate, we sat in the cave a torch sitting between us lighting the walls and heating the room. Not exactly a campfire but still fire and love started to grow.
Every night on Abydos we sat next to a campfire. Eating dinner with the family, swapping stories and talking generally. Sha're would rest against my shoulder, her fingers entwined with mine. The times when I was working in the pyramid or the cavern we sat alone beside the fire sometimes talking, sometimes in silence, many times lost in each other's arms.
Comfortable beside a fire, just like when I was a child.
Now, I have a new reassurance next to the fire.
My teammates, my friends, my new family who console me at the loss of my soul mate. During the years when I searched for her they gave me the comfort that I felt I would never achieve again.
Now, so long after Sha're's death I find myself seeking that solace more and more.
Fire, it warms me in more ways than anyone knows. Or maybe it's the people I'm with at the fire but it has always been a part of my life and a part of the love in my life.