Author's note: I'm surprised no one's come up with this type of story line yet… At least not that I've seen. Please enjoy, it's been a while since I posted a story and I've been really busy with work and such.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea and my own character. Please don't sue. Thank you.
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
/Dreaming/
Flashback
A Love Never Found
Chapter One: Before the Dawn Arrives
The sound of heels on concrete made its way into the air, the noise becoming deafening in the near silence that had resounded until recently. The time was currently 0447, and a lone woman was making her way down the empty hallway near the terminal entrance. The flight was due to arrive at 0500, making her almost ten minutes early. Just the way she liked it. A quick glance at a baggage claim sign told her she was going the right direction as she turned a corner just in time to see a group of people from a different flight grabbing their things and exiting the airport, more than likely looking forward to sleep. Looking around she smiled slightly as she spotted a chair near the entrance, where he would most likely be able to spot her. Taking a seat, she scanned the room of faces, memorizing each one as she passed over them. A gift, and a curse, but he never judged her for it, unlike her superiors. Always going around saying that she had the mind of a computer, honestly, had they nothing better to do than to discuss her skills?
An announcement made its way over the intercom, saying that the flight she was waiting on had just arrived. Looking at her watch she smirked as she saw they had arrived almost five minutes early. It was only a matter of time before the room would be overcome with faces of people, and she would see her dear friend. No, he wasn't a friend. He was more than that, or at least she thought so. Whether he thought the same or not was never quite clear, seeing as how he kept sending the same old signals of chivalry and such. It was alluring to say the least; however she could do without the old gentleman ways sometimes. She was dragged out of her thoughts as the crowd of people made their way into the room, bustling about the baggage claims, an endless array of chatter, breaking the silence that had held her to her thoughts. Getting distracted by a young woman carrying a sleeping toddler, she almost missed the patch of sun-kissed blonde hair of her friend, who grabbed his sea bag and made his way over to her seat.
She smiled as his calming voice reached her ears. "I almost thought I was going to have to take the rocket." Her smile turned into a humorous smirk at the terminology her friend had somewhat gotten used to. "The word is shuttle, and I couldn't do that to you, mostly because then I'd have to hear you complain about how loud it was due to everyone snoring." They both laughed and embraced each other tightly. "It's good to see you again Vanryldess." She shook her head at the pet name that he had given her over the years. "You too Legolas, how was your leave?" She asked as they headed towards the car. "It was alright, a bit too busy for my tastes, but it was, relaxing." He laughed at her scowl as she popped the trunk for his bag. "Oh don't make such faces Varyldess; it's very unbecoming of you." She growled at him and shut the trunk. "I'm allowed to make as many faces as I want, seeing as how you at least got to get out of this cursed state." Opening the door and getting behind the wheel, she turned the car on and waited for the heat to kick on. "It's not that bad-""It. Rains. All. The. Time." She growled out, effectively cutting him off, pronouncing each word as though it was a curse. Legolas laughed and leaned the seat back, appreciating the comfort it offered over the hard seat he had had to endure for five hours. "This is true, but it makes you appreciate the sun more when it smiles upon us." She stuck her tongue out at him and started backing the car out of the lot. "I guess, still sucks to deal with all the time. I honestly don't see how people that live in Rainforests can stand it." Silence was the response she got, and looking over she saw that her elven friend was passed out, eyes glazed over and staring out the window. Smiling gently, she turned the heat on low and started the long drive back to base.
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Fire, fire was everywhere, smoke rising into the night sky as screams fill her head. "Rogers! Get over there and help with the hose line!" "Aye, aye chief!" She was running, legs burning from the scorching heat. "Kassandra! Look out!" Pain, pain everywhere as the ground left her feet, and the flames disappeared to be replaced by water, she couldn't breathe, the waves kept crashing over her as burning planes were jettisoned. "Man overboard!" The shout was swallowed as another wave tossed her around like a sack of potatoes. Struggling to the surface, she had just enough air to shout for help before she was sucked under again. Her strength was fading fast, and it was taking all she had just to keep her eyes open. A distant splash brought her attention to the face inches from hers, fear and panic in those sky-blue eyes that seemed to hold her spellbound, before they started to fade into darkness, and the pressure she had felt from her lungs screaming for air, turned into a little nub in the back of her mind.
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Gasping for air, hands on her knees, Kassandra fought to keep her breakfast down as cars sped by along the road. It had come almost out of nowhere this time, making it hard for her to safely pull over before losing control of herself. Swallowing the panic she could feel rising up through her chest, she took deep breaths, steadying herself against the car, calming herself slowly. She hoped that Legolas was still blissfully passed out; so that she wouldn't have to endure the questioning gaze he would give her. Wouldn't have to answer the concerned voice with lies of how she was alright. She looked over and was relieved to see that he was still out cold, his breath fogging up the window a little bit from where he was laying. She had no doubt that he would be supportive, as he always was, but she didn't want him to think she was broken. That her memorization skills had taken a toll for the worse and were now a weapon against her own self, World War Three in the making. It never ceased to amaze her just how real they were, how the adrenaline got to kicking when she had a flashback. Yet, though she could physically feel the pain, could see the horror, there was nothing wrong. No one saw what she did; no damage was physically done to her body. It was all in her mind, she was a nutcase finally coming out of the shell of somewhat normalcy.
Shaking her head slowly, Kassandra walked back around the car, and quietly slid into the driver's seat. No use dwelling on it, her mission was simple. Pick up Legolas from the airport, drive him back to base, go do reveille, and then hopefully go to bed. 'Just think on that Kassandra, you'll be fine in no time.' She waited till it was safe to go, before she hopped back onto the highway, catching up with traffic quickly. Getting lost in her thoughts, Kassandra didn't notice how the sky-blue eyes of her friend weren't glazed anymore, and how they had been watching her the entire time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Legolas)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About ten or so minutes away from base, Legolas stretched out, yawning silently before setting the chair upright again. "Well, good morning sleeping beauty." He smiled at the young woman beside him. "Last I checked I was not a princess needing a kiss to be awoken." She laughed, bringing calm over his nerves. "Maybe not, but you sure slept a long time. Had me worried I was going to have to grab your id myself." He laughed softly, grabbing his wallet to pull out his id. "Here you go." Her soft fingers brushed over his, making him breathe a bit harder. She had been in his mind since the first moment they had met. Just two years ago, when he had been awoken by the commanding officer from the hibernation stasis he had been put in for the voyage to the Undying Lands. Needless to say his surprise had been great. Her face had been in the background, just behind the officer's that had awoken him, standing at the ready in case something had gone wrong. Her reddish-blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, bringing her face up in age just slightly. Her hazel-blue eyes full of life, with a wisdom to them in age beyond her years. She was not skinny by any means, but she had the fullness to show that she was more muscle than fat, mainly showing around the thigh area. Her height was more than a normal human should be, she looked to come to his shoulders, maybe a bit over. Her voice, like a soft chime on a windy day, had been the thing to soothe his anger. She had compassion behind that warrior like façade she placed herself into, ever the one to not show her emotions if she could avoid it.
Vanryldess. The word had been the first thing to come across his mind when they had made their introductions. It fit her well, and though she had not the slightest clue as to what it meant, he hoped that one day, he would be able to not only tell her, but to show her. That thought in itself, made him smile during the worst times. "-las. Hey! Legolas!" Coming out of his thoughts, he looked over to see her handing him his id card. "Hey sleepy head, I'm running late for colors, come on." He nodded and took the card, jumping out to grab his bag. "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." She grinned and started walking briskly to the quarterdeck. "Alright, but hurry up, I want to be able to head back to the barracks as soon as possible." He shook his head as he watched her enter the door, and disappear behind the lights. "How much longer will you keep it from me I wonder?" He sighed before closing the car door, and headed into the building.
