Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: I can't explain it without giving stuff away! JUST READ IT! haha.
This Time
"What a bunch of BS!" Wheeler says in frustration as the Planeteers exit the conference room of the Arizona State Police barracks.
"Shh, Wheeler. Calm down. She will hear you," Linka whispers.
"Oh come on Babe, don't tell me you believe that crap?"
"Nyet, of course not, but there is no need to insult the woman. She IS trying to help."
"Do you have a better solution Wheeler?" Kwame asks.
"Well…no. But a psychic? There's a freakin' nuke hidden somewhere in the Colorado River. If it blows, not only will it give the Grand Canyon a face-lift, it'll kill hundreds, if not thousands of people and animals, and contaminate the water supply and land." Wheeler says.
"And do not forget the Indian tribes that live at the bottom of the canyon. The Havasupai would be wiped out," Ma-Ti adds.
"So don't you think we should be out there with Cap, searching full force for this bomb?" Wheeler asks.
"It is too dangerous," Gi says. "The best thing we can do now is evacuate the Indian tribes and tourists. If a psychic can help pinpoint the location of the bomb, then we can call Cap and have it taken care of instead of risking our lives by wondering around aimlessly. It's not like the Grand Canyon is small."
"Besides, the officers have used her before when tourists have gone missing in the canyon and she has led the search and rescue team to the missing person," Kwame says.
"Big deal. There's family members that are narrowing down the search by saying where they last saw the person. Then there's search and rescue dogs that sniff out the scent and find the person," Wheeler says.
"Just give it a chance Wheeler," Ma-Ti urges.
"I guess it is better than nothing," Linka concedes.
The group of Planeteers help themselves to the beverages made available to them and are standing around waiting for further instructions from the police. Kwame, Gi, and Ma-Ti are discussing the case, but a disbelieving Wheeler and Linka are keeping their distance. Their attention is drawn to the door when a middle-aged woman with brown hair with a touch of grey exits, followed by an officer.
"Can I get you a cup of coffee Sandi?" the officer asks.
"A water would be better. I want to get a good night's sleep. My visions are strongest when I'm asleep."
"I have visions too when I sleep," Wheeler whispers to Linka. "I just call 'em dreams."
Linka chuckles.
"You're skeptical," Sandi says.
"Wow…she's good," Wheeler says sarcastically. "What gave it away? The heavy sighing or the rolling of the eyes?"
"Wheeler, be nice," Linka urges softly to him.
"It's ok. Everyone is entitled to their opinion…but perhaps in the future, you and your boyfriend should be left out of the room when I'm trying to get a feeling. The negative energy blocks the other energies."
"AH-HA! Some psychic. I'm not her boyfriend," Wheeler states.
"Really? That's weird. I see a very strong connection between you. Were you ever in a relationship?"
"Nyet. We are just friends."
"Yep. Just friends. All we've ever been is just friends."
"No, there's more there. You've been together before," Sandi says.
The others' curiosity is peeked. Was there something Wheeler and Linka were not telling them?
"What?!" Linka asks, shocked at what is being implied.
"Trust me lady. We've never been together…I think I'd remember that," Wheeler sighs.
"Not if it happened in a different life," Sandi says.
"You mean like reincarnation? Gimme a break!" he says, rolling his eyes.
"I take it you do not believe in it?" Sandi asks.
"That surprises you?"
"I would think that you would want to believe…if it meant that there was a possibility that you and she share a past."
"I'm more interested in the possibility of a future with her than I am the past," he says under his breath. "I'm outta here. I'm heading back to the camp ground to get some shut eye," he says to the group.
Linka raises her eyebrow and is curious as to what Sandi is getting at. The only past the she and Wheeler share is the last few years as Planeteers.
"Perhaps we should all go back to camp and rest," Kwame suggests. "It has been a long and grueling day."
When they arrive back at the came, Kwame gets a fire going while Gi and Ma-Ti prepare dinner.
"Where is Wheeler?" Linka asks.
"He went into the tent when we first got back and I have not seen him since," Ma-Ti replies.
She walks over to group's large tent.
"Wheeler?"
"Yeah?"
She pulls the flap back and sticks her head in to see that he is sprawled out on top of his sleeping bag as he stares at the ceiling with his hands folded under his head. She takes note that he has laid out his sleeping bag next to her things.
"Dinner is ready," she says.
"I'm not hungry."
"Are you feeling ok?" she jokes.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just really tired. I think I'm just gonna go to sleep.
"Oh. Ok. Do you want me to at least bring you something in case you wake up hungry later?" she offers.
"Nah. But thanks anyways Babe."
"You are welcome. Goodnight."
"G'night."
The others were also surprised when Linka reported back to them that Wheeler was skipping dinner and going to bed. After picking at her own dinner and also retiring early, Linka settles into her own sleeping bag and stares blankly at the ceiling. How are they supposed to sleep when there is a bomb threat at the Grand Canyon and their only hope to find it is a psychic? She feels so helpless. It is a feeling she does not like and is not used to.
She rolls onto her side and looks over at Wheeler who is asleep, but not peacefully. His brow is creased, his lips are tightly pressed together. It is not how he normally sleeps. Usually, his face is relaxed, his lips are parted, the bottom one sticking out slightly…not that she looks…much, but the few times he has fallen asleep on the couch or in the Geo Cruiser and she'd just happened to look in his direction, she's seen how he normally sleeps. She wonders what's on his mind. Is it a dream that is the cause for his troubled look? Is it the bomb threat? The unconventional use of a psychic on a mission? She shares the same concerns.
She props herself up on her elbows and listens outside. The others are still quietly chatting by the campfire. She rolls over onto her side to face Wheeler. She doesn't know what compels her to do it, but she tentatively reaches out and touches his cheek, running a soothing hand down his jaw and brushes her thumb across his lips. He nuzzles her palm, but remains asleep.
"Sssh, relax Yankee. Everything will be ok."
She places a chaste kiss on his furrowed brow and his expression immediately changes. The wrinkles on his forehead are gone, his lips relax and part.
Linka also feels much more relaxed. She feels like she's ready to sleep, so she closes her eyes and lays on her side, opening them one last time to check on Wheeler before closing them and falling asleep.
To Be Continued...