I'd Do It For You

Disclaimer: I make no money from these fics and recognise the sole rights of the original creators to do so.

Summary: Being a Planeteer can be dangerous at times and it's got Linka thinking that maybe life is too short for regrets.

A/N: I thought as Christmas is fast approaching you might be in the mood for some Wheeler/Linka mushiness? It's rated M for references to mild violence and implied intimacy between consenting adults.

As always, thanks to Becks for the help and inspiration.

Chapter One

Linka knew she was going to die.

Her ring was lost and although she'd heard Wheeler call her name a few minutes ago, she'd yet to catch sight of her friends.

The Planeteer was trapped, her back literally up against a wall. She looked into the malevolent gaze of Mame Slaughter and tried not to let her terror show as the barrel of the shotgun bit painfully into her stomach.

"You're dead." The older woman's voice dripped with hatred. In some ways, she was more inhuman than Duke Nukem, the Russian reflected, it was useless to plead with her and Linka was determined not to give her the satisfaction anyway.

The Planeteer's eyes automatically dropped to watch her enemy pull the trigger, but the sound of the door opening made her turn her head to meet her Yankee's gaze in a silent goodbye.

CLICK

Linka gasped and sat up in bed shivering, and desperately tried to find the switch on her bedside lamp.

After what felt like hours, but was in fact only a few minutes, she was startled by a soft knock.

"Babe? You ok?" Wheeler's face appeared around her door, followed by the rest of him. "I saw your light on."

As if his thoughtfulness had robbed her of her last ounce of strength, a loud sob was wrenched from the young woman's body and large tears began to spill over her cheeks.

There wasn't room to run in the Planeteers' cabins but nonetheless Wheeler made it to his friend's side in record time. The American sat on the side of the bed and wrapped Linka in his arms, letting her bury her face in his shoulder, and pressed comforting kisses in her hair. "It's ok Sweetheart, I've got you, you're safe now."

It was sometime before Linka could speak and when at last she did, the first thing on her lips was an apology which Wheeler immediately brushed aside. "You don't have to be strong all the time Babe, you were amazing today but it's not healthy to keep everything bottled up inside."

"You do." She pointed out and then slapped his arm when he responded that he was a guy. "What difference does that make? You still have feelings, da?"

He shrugged, "Sure, but guys handle things differently." He felt her tense with annoyance and sighed, adding softly, "Give me break Babe, you know my Dad had strong ideas about some things."

She did, and Wheeler didn't need to tell her how his father had enforced those ideas when he was drunk either, so she settled for. "You do not have to repeat them though, even if you cannot forget them."

"So what's your excuse?" he asked, giving her a hug to show he wasn't annoyed. "Who are you being strong for?"

Linka shrugged, "Myself, I have never liked to show myself up... Perhaps my family too, but not because they were ever unkind. There was always so much for them to cope with... the communist regime made life hard, working the mine, losing my mother, it all took its toll on my father... and then losing him too. I never wanted to increase their burdens, it would have made them unhappy."

Wheeler pressed another kiss to her head, giving her a squeeze. "Your family were very lucky to have you Babe, but you don't have to deal with stuff alone anymore, and you won't burden me either, I like being needed."

Cuddling him back, the Russian sighed and nuzzled his neck. "I know. I am very lucky too."

Wheeler grinned and lowered his head to return the gesture. They relaxed back into her pillows in a comfortable silence, Wheeler stretching out his legs on top of the bed and Linka curled against his side under the covers, resting her head on his shoulder.

Wheeler had begun to think she'd fallen asleep when she spoke again, this time in a whisper. "She pulled the trigger Yankee... she killed me."

"You're not dead!" he replied in alarm, "Babe you're fine, you're safe..."

"But she shot me!" Linka looked up into his eyes, tears shining in her own. "She meant it Yankee, if Kwame had not unloaded their guns when we first arrived at their camp I would be dead!"

Her tears spilled over and she struggled to control her voice as she continued. "The other eco-villains just want us out of the way, they try to kill us sometimes but they do not really care. And Skumm and the Duke are not even completely human... I am not sure about Doctor Blight either... But the Slaughter's." she swallowed, "They are evil Wheeler, they are the worst of mankind. She wanted me dead, I saw the malice, the pleasure of the kill in her eyes, and she pulled that trigger, and I knew I was dead... for a moment it was over and I did not exist."

Wheeler cupped his friend's face in his hands so that she couldn't look away from his gaze. "Listen to me Linka, You Are Alive, got that? Alive. I don't care what Mame wanted, or how badly she wanted it, she failed. You're safe. Home. With me."

The intensity of the moment left him breathless and seemed to have had the same effect on her. Her lips were slightly parted and her tears had halted, and although her face had a pinker hue than normal, she hadn't become puffy with it, in fact Wheeler thought she looked adorable.

Linka closed her eyes as the American's lips lowered to brush against hers and sighed softly as she melted into his embrace. Her response was inexperienced but genuine, and when she felt his tongue reach out between his parted lips, she opened her own wider to allow him to slip inside.

Each confident move he made stoked the fire inside her, provoking feelings she had not before experienced, her previous tentative encounters not having sparked a desire to take things further. Now though it was only Wheeler's conscience that prevented things from getting out of control.

"God Babe!" he gasped, pushing her away and yet holding her so that she couldn't go too far. "This is..." He swallowed as she turned a wary gaze upon him and then pulled her back down to press several kisses to her forehead before tucking her back into his shoulder. "You're upset, I can't take advantage of you, no matter how much I want to." He blew out a slow breath and muttered, "...and God I want to!"

This last seemed to release Linka's tension because she giggled and relaxed against him. After a few moments she said "At least I feel alive now."

There was a long pause and then they both started laughing, finally able to let go of the horror that had gripped them since before their return to Hope Island.

"You know Babe," Wheeler began, after they'd had time to calm down, "Before today I never knew what a chance I was taking ticking you off so often."

The Russian tilted her head back to look at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

He grinned, "The right hook you gave that heinous bitch, she went out like a light. I'm lucky I don't have a permanent concussion."

Linka blushed slightly at his evident admiration, "I would never hit you… even if I could, which I very much doubt. I took her by surprise because she was distracted when the gun did not go off."

His hand rubbed her arm comfortingly as their conversation led them back over the traumatic event. "I'm glad you took her out Babe," He kissed her temple, "I've always said I'd never hit a woman but…"

"But?" his friend asked softly, knowing it was difficult for him given his background. It wasn't just about admitting his feelings, Wheeler had always been afraid of turning out like his father.

He closed his eyes, wanting to be honest with her, "I was petrified, I've never felt that frightened of anything in my life. I can't close my eyes without seeing that image… her standing over you and…" The American felt again the tightness in his chest as he replayed the scene, until the gentle press of his companions lips on his cheek brought him back to the present. Wheeler gazed down at her, "You looked at me and for a few seconds, I thought the world had come to an end… I couldn't move, but I didn't just want to hurt her Babe, if that gun hadn't been empty she wouldn't have got out of that room alive."

Tears filled Linka's eyes and she reached her arms up around his neck to embrace him. "Do not say that Yankee, I would not ever want you to throw your life away for me."

"Babe, that's the point. If I lost you, it wouldn't have mattered what I did anyway." He held her tightly against him, half afraid she'd think him a monster but needing to confide in her as she had him, "And even when it didn't go off, if you hadn't taken care of her… I don't know, I'm not sure that I could have done anything that would make her understand what that moment felt like, but I sure as hell would have tried!"

Linka pressed kisses to his neck and cheeks, trying to ignore the tears that were spilling out over her own. "It is OK Yankee, it is over. You were right, I am safe and here with you."

The Fire Planeteer curled around her, taking comfort from her presence, and letting her cry for both of them. Linka didn't believe for a second that he could really feel so much for her that he would give up on everything, and she also did not believe that Wheeler would ever surrender to his darker instincts so easily. At that moment however, he clearly did believe it, and she thought that it was a natural reaction to the stress they'd been under.

The Russian was grateful that he had had the courage to get past his own defences to let her see that she really was not alone, and to let her be the friend to him that he had always been for her. "Thank you Yankee. For making it ok for me to show my feelings and for… for everything."

"Shhh Babe." He told her gently, "This is what friends are for."

Later, when things had been quiet for some time, Wheeler stretched and started to pull away, "It's late, I should probably be getting back to my own room."

Linka looked up into his eyes, a shadow of fear returning, "Do not go… please?"

"There's nothing to be afraid of…" He began, but when her eyes darted away in embarrassment he finished with, "But I'd like to stay… it might save us both some nightmares, huh?"

Her eyes met his again and she nodded, indicating that he should get in the bed rather than remain above the covers. "I… I will not mind if you would really prefer to sleep in your own room," she lied, "I will be ok… I do not want to make you uncomfortable."

He grinned, "I'm never gonna prefer to sleep on my own Beautiful, even if I have to behave myself."

Linka cuddled into him as he settled himself beside her, once more enveloping her in a warm embrace and she sounded amused as she responded, "You do have to behave. Good night Yankee."

"G'night Sweetheart." He replied, stifling a yawn before falling straight to sleep.

To be continued…