A/N: Please note this story will be OOC and AU. I wanted to explore a more edgy side to Prince Adam/He-Man and Teela. I'm making reference to the Filmation episode entitled "The Search" in this chapter and then again further into the story. Also mentioned briefly are some scenes from "Teela's Triumph".

Chapter 2

"Teela," her father called waking her from her reverie.

Teela looked around her and realized that she had not left the Palace yet. She was still in the conference room, telling her father, the King, and Prince Adam about her decision to deliver the mesotronic bomb. Teela thought and felt as if she had already said her goodbyes to them. She pondered the very strong visceral and physical experience of not being in the room with them and credited it to déjà vu. This was occurring to her more frequently after her stint as covering for the Sorceress when Skeletor had accidently send her to another dimension. Teela was still questioning why the Spirit of Grayskull had summoned her, telling her that only she can take the place of the Sorceress. However, she knew from experience, that when it came to Grayskull many questions were left unanswered. She decided to put this out of body experience behind her, and focus her attention on those present in the conference room.

Teela looked expectantly at them to see if any would oppose her decision. Neither made a move to stop her. She looked imploringly toward Prince Adam, hoping that perhaps he would rise to the occasion and volunteer to accompany her to save Eternia. When Prince Adam looked away from her after quietly asking her not to go, she smirked at him, wondering why she expected him to show any bravery.

The decision made and having said her goodbyes, Teela left the palace. Sure enough within minutes of lift off, her thoughts took on the same path as within her déjà vu. The events that transpired once she landed her Skysled also happened in the exact way that she had envisioned them. Only this time, when she was hit in the head by the rubble from the Goblin Gate, she really did awaken within He-Man's arms his scent overpowering her senses.

Oh that scent. A mixture of sweat, spice, and soap that intoxicated her and made her aware of his raw physical power and virile sexuality. Teela inhaled deeply, opened her eyes and smiled peevishly up to her rescuer. Focusing her aquamarine gaze toward his smiling face she queried, "Ah…He-Man, what are you doing?"

He looked down at her, his blue gaze warm, concerned, and inviting and asked, "Teela, are you alright?" "You hit your head back there, I was worried, and therefore, decided to carry you home," he continued with a hint of a smile tugging at his full sensual lips.

Teela smiled up at him, surprised at the concern he was so openly lavishing on her and stated, "He-Man, I can walk." "Truly, I am fine…"; however, he quickly interrupted her insisting that it was not a problem for him to carry her home.

Knowing how stubborn he could be, especially if he felt any form of responsibility after hurting someone, Teela remained passively in his arms. She thought to herself, "I might as well enjoy this…I don't get to be this close to him often".

She looked around her, noticing that he had already covered a lot of ground; however, it was quickly drawing dark with ominous clouds gathering. Teela asked, "What happened to our Skysleds?"

He-Man responded, "Oh those…they were crushed". "Teela we have no way of returning to the Palace, other than walking", he exclaimed. "I think we may have to camp out tonight."

The prospect of camping overnight out in the wilderness did not phase Teela, she had plenty of experience camping with her father and learning survival techniques when in military school. However, the prospect of needing to be out in the open with a thunderstorm hastily bearing upon them and unleashing it's fury did. Teela dreaded thunderstorms. They were the only thing that scared her. As a child, she would always sneak into Adam's room, cuddle next him, and that would be the only way she could sleep. She looked up at her rescuer and wondered, "Hmm, would he allow me to sleep next to him if necessary, like Adam did?"

She hoped they could find suitable cover from the storm. A shiver ran through her body at the prospect of displaying her fear in front of the most bravest person of her acquaintance. She knew her fear of thunderstorms was silly, but for some unknown subconscious reason, she could not rid herself of it.

He-Man, secretly knowing how much Teela hated/feared thunderstorms, quickened his pace to get them to the Palace faster. He was afraid to run with her in his arms, thinking that the momentum of his speed may somehow exacerbate her head wound. He thought to himself, "The best option for us is to stop, hunt for something to eat, and find suitable shelter."

Perusing the environment, He-Man spotted a cave in the mountains. He knew from previous scouting missions that there was a river nearby affording plenty of fish and fresh water. "Teela,", he called gaining her attention. "I apologize, but it doesn't look like we are going to make it to the Palace tonight", he stated. "I hope you didn't have any big plans tonight cause they will need a rain check", he joked thinking to alleviate the situation.

Teela looked up at him while her jitters multiplied in intensity. Quickly looking away to hide her fear, she bit her lower lip.

Seeing her action, He-Man stared at her pearly teeth biting her plump red lip and wished that he could be those teeth. He thought to himself, "The effects of the Starseed, must not have worn off entirely. All I keep thinking about is how right she feels in my arms and how much I want to hold her into the night. I wonder f she will try to cuddle next to me like when we were children. If she attempts to, should I let her?"