"The Aftermath" is the Sequel to "Ann's Decision". Our Heroes must face the many changes, that had happened in the last 30 years. They have to learn new ways of working together and living together. This story is AU but I will try to write Doug, Tony and Ann not too much OOC. As I don't know, where this story will lead me, I can't say how much chapters it will take to finish it. I will try to update as often as possible.
This first chapter is a short one and hopefully you will enjoy this (I promise to write more of Tony in the next chapter) and let me know, what you are thinking.
The morning sun shone through the nearly transparent curtains and a light breeze came from the open window. Dr. Doug Phillips awoke with the feeling of something lying on his chest. He opened his eyes and smiled at the sight of of the wavy mass of hair, that was spread over him like a fan. He ran his hand over it and closed his eyes again. Ann and he had stayed for now eight days in this tropical paradise and only two days remained of their honeymoon. He never thought, that he could live without his work, relaxing in the sun, doing nothing, except swimming, daydreaming, strolling hand in hand with Ann at the beach or through the small town and making love with passion, tenderness and stamina.
He remembered their wedding night. He had carried her over the doorstep of her quarters. But they both were exhausted from the hectic of their homecoming and the events of the day, so that they had snuggled closely together and fallen asleep. He had made amends for it the other morning.
The next days were full of debriefings, interviews and considerations, but the nights were theirs. They shared the overwhelming feelings of need, of desire and for the first time in his life, Doug felt that he belonged to someone.
After the decision to transfer Project Tic Toc to the Colorado Mountains, Senator Partridge and Dr. Marshall urged the Time Travelers to a most needed holiday. Tony, who had shared much time with Althea Waversham, told Doug, that he would stay in the house of the archeologist in New York.
Partridge and Kirk had taken care of the financial situation in the behalf of the three in their absence. So this burden was taken from their shoulders.
Ann and he thought they did not need a vacation, but Partridge ordered them to it.
Ann wanted to fly to the Caribbean and so they went to Curacao and Doug was glad about it now. Sunshine, warmth, white sand and the bluest of seas, which looked like a picture on a postcard, lukewarm water, mild nights and only the two of them. Ten days, in which they talked about the past and the future, about their feelings and their wishes. Sometimes when Doug awoke with Ann in his arms, he believed to dream, and feared to be still in the time vortex. But when Ann kissed him, he knew, the adventure was over, they were back, safe and sound, and they would make a new beginning.
Ann moved in his embrace and her hand slipped over his chest.
Doug turned a little and kissed her.
"Good morning, dearest!"
She smiled and answered with a sleepy voice:
"Mmh, good morning, sweetheart."
She let her lips wander over his collarbone, slipped a bit higher and captured his mouth with hers. After they had kissed for a while, Ann sat up and asked:
"Whats on our agenda today?"
Doug drew her closer.
"Apart from the obvious?"
"Mmh!"
"What do you want to do?"
Mischievously grinning she caressed his shoulders.
"Apart from the obvious?"
She freed herself from his embrace.
"How about breakfast first? And then, if you are willing..."
"I'm always willing, as you should know," he interjected.
Ann chuckled and threw a cushion at Doug's head.
"As I was saying, if you are willing to go shopping with me, I need a new dress and I want to buy some souvenirs. Afterward we could make the boat trip, that you suggested yesterday."
"Sounds good."
"Okay, I only take a shower before breakfast."
Doug grabbed her hand.
"Let's shower together to save time."
With a beaming smile, she threw her arms around Doug.
"As if we would save time, when we shower together."
********************************TT**************** ******************
Angie Malcolm shook her auburn mane, as she entered the restaurant. With one look, she caught sight of Jerry Briggs and Nigel Partridge and went over to the men.
"Hi, what a weather. When the snowing continues, we will have a problem to go to the mountains."
"Hi Angie, we will make it somehow. We have a lot of time. Greetings from Maggie. She said, you shall stop by, when you can spare the time."
"Thanks, Nigel, I will. How is my sister?"
Nigel smiled.
"That she will tell you in person. So, go to her for a cup of coffee."
Jerry gave her the menu.
"Kirk and Dr. Swain will be here shortly. Have you heard something from the honeymooners?"
Angie looked at Jerry with a little bit of pity. He took it hard, that Ann had married Doug.
She gave the waiter her order and turned again to Jerry.
"Ann had called me two days ago. She said, that she and Doug would stay for four days longer."
Kirk and Ray, who had arrived just now, had heard the last sentence.
"Our turtle doves!" sighed Swain.
Kirk took a seat and smiled.
"They have earned this holiday."
Nigel nodded and said:
"What is it with Tony? Is he still in New York?"
Now it was Angie's turn to smile.
"Yes, he is! Althea is very happy about it. Oh, I nearly forgot it. As you know, Ann's diary vanished, after the three were back. Althea and I have it scanned and saved on PC. And there it isn't vanished. Althea has taken a disc with the data to New York. She want it printed and we will give it to Ann and Doug on their first anniversary.. I had thought, we can give it to them when they are back, but Althea said, she need it for more information for her excavation expedition.
Do you know, that her mentor's name is Geoffrey Ballard? And that was the name of the Duke in this diary."
Swain shook his head.
"We should leave the past to the past. We have more important things to accomplish.
General, can you explain, why the whole Tic Toc construction shall move to the Colorado Mountains?"
"Since it isn't a secret anymore, is it superfluous to stay under the desert. The place in the Mountains was a former training area of the army. There is a place, where we could fit the whole tunnel construction into the rock mass."
Kirk himself wasn't convinced of this idea, but he had his orders.
Nigel Partridge, gave Jerry some print outs with calculations.
"I have to go, I have a meeting with the construction management. I will be very glad, when Dr. Phillips is back and he will take over. Jerry, we meet tomorrow morning, okay?"
Dr. Briggs agreed to it and turned to Angie.
"Have you plans for tonight?"
Dr. Malcolm looked at him with surprise.
"Not yet!"
Jerry hesitated for a second.
"Would you like to watch a movie? We could go to the cinema."
Ray smirked at Kirk and the two took their leave.
With a curious glance at Jerry, asked Angie:
"What kind of movie you have in mind?"
"They showing a western and an adventure film. But if you want to see a romantic movie, I'm sure, we will find one."
Dr.. Malcolm shook her head.
"I like western movies. Can we meet at the cinema, Jerry? Then I have time for a visit with my older sister Maggie."
Jerry smiled.
"Of course. I'm pleased, Angie."
"Me, too, Jerry, Until later!"
*******************************TT***************** ********************
On the last day of their honeymoon, they sat at the beach and watched the sunset.
Ann leaned her head against Doug's shoulder.
"I wish, we could stay here."
He put his arm around her waist and drew her closer.
"Me too, Ann. I promise, we will come back to this place. And we are together. And we are not alone, old and new friends are with us. We don't need to live under the desert any more. We can buy a house, if you want. And I will never leave you again."
He kissed her tenderly.
She snuggled in his embrace.
"You have said this before. On the morning of the day, when you followed Tony. Don't get me wrong, I know you had to do it. But I don't know, if I could live through this experience again."
"I don't believe that Tony or me would go into the time vortex willingly without being sure, that we can come back, if we want it."
Ann stood up and drew Doug with her.
"Can we take a walk along the beach?"
"Sure, if you want to."
Hand in hand they ambled through the sand.
"What Tony has actually told you?" asked Ann after a while.
Doug laughed lightly.
"He is still in New York. It's the first time, he didn't speak about our project, and his ideas for it. He told me about the things he had experienced with Althea."
Ann grinned from ear to ear.
"But surely not about all his experiences with Althea?"
"No," Doug kissed his wife, " of course not. But I had also a phone call from Ray. The preparations for moving the most important parts of the time tunnel are coming on nicely. All we have to do, when we come back, is to head to Colorado. I had thought, we take my car and driving to Colorado Springs. In this way, we have still a little time for us."
"Your car? You mean the Cadillac?"
"Yes, it has survived and Nigel had promised, he would bring it to a car mechanic, who he knows."
"Okay, Doug. And what will we do in Colorado Springs? I had thought, we would stay first in Arizona?"
Doug caressed her bare shoulders.
"No, we go to Colorado and oversee the fitting of the tunnel. And we will set up the new control center. And because Tony told me, he will remain with Althea until January 31. we have much work to do."
"Do you think, that Tony and Althea will stay together?"
"I'm not really an expert for matters of the heart, Ann."
Ann nudged his side.
"So you told me. But if you want to hear it, or not. For me you are the most romantic man in the world."
Doug stopped walking and took his wife in his arms.
"For you I can be all, what you want me to be. Have I told you, how much I love you," he whispered in her ear.
Ann kissed him fiercely.
"No, but I know it nonetheless because you show it each day to me."
She kissed him again.
"And Doug, I love you more than I can tell."
As they sat on the plane the next afternoon, both were tired but very happy and full of zest for action.
TBC...
