A/N: Thanks for the reviews
Rated M: for mild references to domestic violence and sexual references for intimacy between consenting adults
Chapter Two
Wheeler watched Linka as she laughed with Ma-Ti, teasing the younger boy over something or other as they sat in front of him in the Geo-cruiser on the way to their latest assignment. It was good to see her happy again, he decided.
Even though they'd made up, the last few weeks had been difficult on all of them because she had clearly felt uncomfortable and her cheerfulness was strained. The Russian had refused to put more than sunblock on her head as if covering it would be a sign of weakness, but Wheeler had been glad that the only time they'd been sent away from their Island home it was to somewhere cold enough for them all to be wearing hats, because he was sure she would have been mortified if someone had drawn attention to their lack of hair.
As it happened, Linka's hair was growing back quicker than Wheeler's so while he still had no more than what appeared to be a military style, she had a soft covering that could pass for a fashionable cut. He hadn't been lying when he said she was still beautiful, but the American hoped she wouldn't decide that she liked it shorter because he'd loved those rare occasions when she let her golden curls fall about her shoulders and had longed to reach out and touch them.
Feeling his attention on her, Linka turned her head and smiled at him, making his heart do a little flip in his chest. "Are you ok back there Yankee?"
"Yep, just admiring the view." He grinned, seeing that though she rolled her eyes, her cheeks warmed at the compliment.
The 'cruiser landed a few minutes later and the Planeteers filed out, looking for the woman they were supposed to meet, Ms White, who ran the refuge.
"Welcome to Safe Havens," A plump older woman with a cheerful disposition greeted them, "The children are very excited about meeting some real life heroes."
She ushered them into the building and down a corridor into an office, shooing out the only occupant, a frightened looking teenage girl. "That's Sam, don't worry she's always got that startled rabbit look but she's tougher than she appears. Now," Ms White looked them over, "there's a few protocols I need to go over with you before I introduce you all. Most of the women here, and their children, have suffered from one form of domestic violence or another…"
She went on to give them some do's and don'ts and she even admitted to having been the survivor of a bad marriage herself, which was why she felt qualified to help others through similar ordeals.
Linka sensed Wheeler was becoming very uncomfortable during their induction and automatically moved closer to him so that their arms brushed against one another, letting the contact between them provide him with some comfort as the topic of conversation came dangerously close to his own childhood.
Once the introductions were out of the way, the children themselves, of varying ages and gender, were eager to hear about how the Planeteers fought the bad guys to save the planet. Only one boy, about seven years old, didn't come and join the rest. He sat alone in one corner, his whole concentration on a picture he was drawing.
"George." Ms White explained quietly to Linka as Kwame told a story to the others, "His mother's in hospital, again." She shook her head, "It was only the odd bruise and broken bone before this, or so they tell me."
"Will she be okay?" The Russian asked, genuinely concerned, as she always was.
Safe Havens' caretaker snorted quietly, "If we can convince her not to go back, yes. George on the other hand, he hasn't spoken a word since they brought him here."
Wheeler, who had been close enough to overhear, suddenly pushed himself away from the wall and went to sit down next to George, speaking to him quietly, and apparently taking an interest in his drawing.
"Your young man has a kind heart, there's not that many of them about." Ms White commented cynically, "Won't do much good though, the boy needs to feel safe again."
Linka watched her friend, not bothering to correct the older women about their relationship, "Maybe it will help him to know the sort of man he can be when he grows up."
"Wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy?" She didn't mean to be unkind but whilst she wanted the children to hear the Planeteers message, she'd seen too much human suffering to really be an optimist any more.
The Russian smiled, "Look."
George had looked up into Wheeler's eyes for a little while, and then gone silently back to start a new picture. The American had continued to talk to him quietly though, and this time George replied in an equally hushed tone.
"Well I'll be!" Ms White shook her head, knowing it shouldn't be that simple at all, "He really does have a way with children."
The look in Linka's eyes turned sad but she didn't let the other woman see, wanting to give her a little hope as well, however in the privacy of her mind she couldn't help admit, I think it is just that George recognised whatever he saw in Wheeler's face.
Her Yankee had been unusually quiet on the way home and Linka had a pretty good idea why. She longed to hug him and tell him that it was ok now, but somehow that didn't seem possible. She was still worrying about him when she went to bed leaving him and Kwame to their late night movie.
"Get outta here, you worthless brat, or I'll teach you a lesson you won't soon forget!"
Linka sat up with a start – not recognising the voice that was yelling just outside her bedroom door, or the woman's sobs that followed it – and her heart was beating fast as she tried to get her bearings in the dark.
The next moment her door burst open, pouring in electric light as if she were the one on the outside, and a small boy with red hair, ran into the room, closing the door behind him and leaning back against it as if trying to shut out any monsters that might be following him.
Moonlight gradually lit the room, shadows lengthened, and the figure that was leaning against Linka's door slowly resolved itself into that of the fire planeteer, although he was still breathing hard like a small terrified child.
"Yankee?" Linka spoke softly as she slipped from her bed and he didn't resist as she stepped up to wrap her arms around him. "It is over, lyubov, you are safe now."
In the back of her mind she knew that what she experienced couldn't really be happening and she told herself that it was a product of her concern for her team mate. That didn't prevent her from offering what comfort she could though.
Wheeler remained stiff in her arms for only a moment before bending slightly to gather her up and bury his face in her neck. She knew he was crying, something he never did normally, and she tightened her grip, "It is ok, it is only a bad dream, LyubImoy."
"I'm sorry," He whispered after a few moments, shifting uncomfortably. "You shouldn't have to deal with that."
"It is not your fault, besides, I want to look after you, as you look after me." Linka assured him.
They stood in each other's embrace for a while, enjoying their closeness and the peace it brought. Linka closed her eyes and lay her head on his shoulder and when a gentle melody started in the background, they both found themselves swaying to it.
The music got louder and Linka opened her eyes to find herself in a brightly lit ball room. Her clothes had changed too from the t-shirt and shorts she usually wore to bed, to an Elizabethan style ball gown. She looked at Wheeler and giggled at his equally historical but not quite matching apparel… in fact it was very attractive but seemed strangely out of place on her 20th century street smart guy.
"Don't laugh!" He moaned, "I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
"This is odd…" Linka couldn't imagine where the imagery had come from for a moment but then her partner reminded her.
"Nah, it's from that film you made me watch." He pulled a face.
She chuckled, "Oh, da, you are right."
"I know I'm right, just don't expect me to start singing." He seemed much happier now, despite his forced change in clothing.
They were still swaying in each other's arms, oblivious of the fact it was totally inappropriate for the music and era, and that the only other people present were the musicians. "Thanks for sticking by me today Babe, I couldn't say anything but I knew you were there."
"I will always be there Yankee, I promise." She replied confidently.
Wheeler gave her a grateful look but it was tinged with sadness, "Too bad this is my dream, I'd like so much for that to be true."
Linka smirked, "It is lucky that it is my dream then."
"Reeeaaally?" The American obviously took her statement as a challenge because one second he is giving her a mischievous look and the next they're in a bedroom and he's pushing her back onto a four poster bed, "Still think it's your dream?"
"Definitely," Linka met his gaze with a challenge of her own and when he didn't hesitate, submitted graciously to his kiss.
Wheeler pressed her into the bed, using his weight to trap her there as he continued to assault her mouth. Linka hummed with pleasure, revelling in the taste of him and running her fingers down his chest attempting to free it from the shirt that this time, hadn't just disappeared.
Their lips parted and Wheeler began to trail kisses down her neck and over her chest where the low cut of her dress allowed him access. His hands slid over the smooth lines of her costume but the skill he had displayed in their first encounter seemed to have evaporated and after a while he let out an exasperated sigh. "How the hell do you get into these things?!"
"Why?" She teased, "Do you want to try it on?"
"No, I want to get you out of it." He replied un-phased, sitting back on his haunches to let her sit up.
"That is a relief." Turning so that her back was to him, Linka reached over her head to pull her long golden hair over her shoulders, revealing the laces that were holding her bodice on.
Even as he undid the ties and helped her out of her restrictive clothing, the handsome young man brushed against her at every opportunity, letting her feel his touch getting ever closer to the smooth skin beneath. Finally the last of her protection was removed and Linka found herself once again laying between his legs as he knelt over her, admiring what he had revealed.
"You really are beautiful Babe," He told her, leaning down to pick up where he left off earlier.
This time he was no gentle lover, urging his sweetheart to part with her favours, he took her with the wild passion of a man denied for too long… but there was no drawing back on her side. Whether it was over more quickly because of the violence of the encounter or whether it lasted longer because of their genuine need for each other, Linka couldn't say. When their senses exploded together she had been sure that she couldn't take any more, and equally sure that she didn't want him to stop… either way the scene faded into blackness and a deep sleep.
When she awoke, Linka was once again back in her room with the sun shining through the windows. Like the first time she'd experienced such a vivid dream there was little evidence of her passion, but this time she could feel his absence.
"Bozhe'moy!" she whispered aloud, just to make sure she was really awake, but the rest of her thought was private. How can I remember what it feels like when I have never… in my dream we fit so perfectly too… but it is just a dream!
All the time she was in the bathroom she was reminding herself that it hadn't happened, and that in fact if it ever did happen it would probably be awkward, messy and most likely painful, and then she would never be able to look at Wheeler in the face again. Of course it would be hard enough to look at him at all without thinking about him naked… a line of thought that caused her to forgo wearing her ring in case Ma-Ti picked up on her impure imaginings.
"Morning Linka, sleep well?" Gi asked politely as she entered the kitchen, and when she hesitated, "Is something wrong?"
The Russian shook her head but her eyes filled with tears and Gi was beside her in a moment ready to offer her a hug and lead her to a chair, both of which she declined. "What is it?"
"I am so embarrassed." Linka covered her face with her hands, "Can we go shopping or something? Before the boys get up… anything to avoid them for a while."
"Ok…" Gi looked worried but made haste to collect some money and go with Linka to the Geo-Cruiser. Once they were in the air she said, "Are you going to tell me what this is all about now?"
Linka shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I had a dream."
"A nightmare?" Gi put the autopilot on and turned in her seat, concern on her face. "Something to do with Safe Havens maybe?"
"Nyet… nyet…" The first part of the dream had been but she didn't want to bring up Wheeler's past, it felt like a betrayal somehow. "It started a little oddly, but mostly it was good." She licked her dry lips, "Very good."
A slow smile crept over Gi's lips, "Oh that sort of dream."
The way the Asian girl spoke made Linka laugh, a mix of understanding and a conspiratorial anticipation of gossip… suddenly it didn't feel quite so bad.
"Da… it is the second time it has happened." Her face flushed red. "It was not so bad the first time but this morning I am finding it difficult to separate reality and fantasy."
Gi's eyes lit up, "It was that good?"
Again her friend's reaction made her chuckle, "Da, it really was." She closed her eyes and leant back in her seat. "I am not afraid in the dreams. It all seems so natural I can be myself and last night we just… let go."
"Who's 'we'?" Her friend asked, getting to the point.
Linka opened her eyes and turned her head to look at the Water Planeteer. "Wheeler."
"Seriously?" Gi squealed, "Oh wow! Linka you have to tell him!"
"Nyet!" Linka was horrified, "And you cannot either, promise me?!"
Gi sighed, "But if you like him, and he's crazy about you, and he is Linka…"
The lovely blond smiled shyly, "I do not think the best way to start a meaningful relationship is to tell the other person that you are having hot and steamy dreams about them and cannot stop thinking about them naked."
Her friend giggled, "Ok, you've got me there, no wonder you wanted to get off the island before he woke up."
"Actually it was more Ma-Ti I was afraid of… I know he is not a child any more but I do not think he should be exposed to those sorts of images."
"Good grief Linka, what were you doing in those dreams?"
Both girls started laughing then and their good humour lasted the whole day, though Linka could have done without some of Gi's shopping suggestions.
To be continued…