What am I even doing i am obsessed with this book.

This is something that I thought up because I can't stop thinking. If I were claire, I would have tried a little harder to escape the MacKenzie clan. This is three little Claire-escape-attempt oneshots, at different stages of Jamie-frustration (because there can always be more hot Jamie frustration). Takes place after an implied first few escape attempts, after they're married. Roughly in chronological order.

—

It was a cold night, one of the colder ones I'd experienced in my time at castle Leoch. The rheumy, tin-man feeling in my joints gave me the fleeting impression that I was covered in a thin layer of frost. Except for the searing stripe of heat across my back, where Jamie's arm was haphazardly slung, that is.

I was careful not to fall entirely asleep on this particular night, as the entire clan, it seemed, was at an impromptu celebration earlier, and most everyone would be passed out drunk by now. I had taken great measures to prepare rations and such in a sad, little rucksack I'd hidden under the bed. It lay there in wait for me, like a skittish wild rabbit, afraid to move for fear of being found. I didn't know what time it was, but Jamie had been soundly sleeping for at least an hour. I paid attention to his breathing until it grew long and deep, plying my drooping eyelids with bits of images and sounds of Frank that I had conjured, so as to keep them from sealing shut for the night.

I had to get back. This wasn't fair to anyone.

Slowly, slowly, I unwound myself from the blankets, and extricated myself from underneath Jamie's searing forearm. That man must constantly run a fever, I swear. Tentatively placing my feet on the squeaky wooden floor, I reached under the bed for my things. Slowly, I began moving towards the door, wrapping a shawl around my shoulders, and carrying my shoes as I'd decided to put them on once I was safely outside. Jamie was a light sleeper. Shoes make noise.

I was almost to the door when I was startled by a sudden low, clear voice.

"I would like it verra much if ye'd stop tryin' to leave me, Claire." it said, a bit patronizing. "Or at least do it in the daylight so as I'm dressed to come after ye. It's no fair in the middle of the night when you've your shift and I canna even see my shoes."

I paused, half startled, half wondering if I should try to fake a need to get some air to cover for myself. Knowing the backlash would be worse if I gave him reason to believe I was actually trying to run away, I took a chance. "Jamie- I… I didn't know you were awake. I just needed… I needed some air. That's all."

"Aye, awake since we lay down. An' I dinna believe ye, Sassenach. You're the worst liar I've e'er met. Christ, I canna even see your face an' I know you're playin' me false!" He sat up on the side of the bed, his feet solidly on the floor. "Listen, lass. I'm going to say this but once, an' if ye don't do as I say, ye won't like what's going to happen." I swallowed. His voice softened a bit. "Come back to bed, Sassenach. You're cold. I'm no going to hurt ye."

He knew exactly which heartstrings to pull. But still, I could not do it. Grateful for the blessed absence of light, and knowing that he could not stop me if he could not see me, I darted for the door. He outran me in two long bounds and pressed the door solidly shut with his back to it, resulting in a thunderclap BANG! as the door met its mark with much more force than was necessary. He held the door shut with his back, grabbed my two hands in one of his, and held my chin in the other. One deep inhale, and he growled, "Try that again, and I'll start tyin' ye to the bed at night."

It was incredibly difficult to challenge him in the dark, but I was grateful that I could not see his eyes, for I knew my resolve would weaken like enamel in acid were I able to.

"You wouldn't."

"Aye! Yes! I would! Make no mistake about that, Sassenach!"

"Where would you sleep, then?" I pressed further, playing the only card I had, fully aware that it was no winner.

"Under ye, I suppose. You do no weigh that much. And that way, I'm sure to wake if ye try something else." I sighed, and tried to lower my head, but Jamie held my chin firm in his hand, even though he couldn't see me. Forcing me to look at him was apparently incredibly important.

"You are cruel. And prideful. And you are hurting me." I tried. He released my hands as though they were made of burning metal and brought both of his to rub his face in the dark. I took a few steps away, careful not to agitate the floorboards.

He sighed and sank back against the door. "Christ. Ye made a promise to me, Claire. What kind o' husband would I be if I let ye break your one promise?" I chose not to answer. He pressed on. "Ye belong to me, Mo Duinne, whether ye like it or no. Ye belong here." I sighed, bringing a hand to my forehead.

"Come here, Sassenach." He ventured. I paused, not quite sure I wanted to. He sighed again. "Where are ye?" I didn't move or say anything. "Mo Duinne, you're no makin' it better. Come here."

I let out the breath I had apparently been holding and shuffled to Jamie. I accidentally-on-purpose stepped on his foot, but it didn't seem to phase him. He laughed, "Right, well, now you'll have to stand on t' other one as well. Make it square." So I stepped on the other, a bit harder this time, testing my boundaries. Apparently, his feet were made of steel, and something as inconsequential as my own bare foot stepping on them had no impact whatsoever. With me standing on both his feet, he wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my head.

It felt like a cage.

A warm cage, though.

He walked us this way over to the bed and lay on his back without freeing me from his arms. I struggled, and his grip tightened like a vise. "I willna have any of that, lass. I can still tie ye to the bed."

I scoffed. "Mean." I said, although I got the feeling that it was more than futile, and that the most likely course of events would entail me spending a night sleeping on Jamie's chest. A Jamie-bed. Or a Jamie-cage, as the case would have it.

He chucked annoyingly. "Yes, Sassenach. I'm verra mean. But at least I'm no wifeless." I could feel his smile.

I suddenly noticed how tired I was, and decided to stop fighting. There was always tomorrow.