Chapter 3 - 'Ready Captain'
Curled up together, the soft breezes blowing across their spent bodies, the Captain and his Carolyn, reveled in a quiet still moment, just lying simply together, knowing a sense of being one, that they had never been able to experience until this day.
Fingers intertwined, hands joined together, Carolyn had tried to keep her eyes closed, to keep this moment just for the two of them. Despite that desire, her mother's instinct made her peek at the clock. "Daniel," she said in a low voice, as she dipped her head, and kissed his hand. "They'll be wrapping up the picnic soon. Time I think to get ready for the next chapter of 'Guess what happened to the Captain', I think." Stretching behind her, he sighed contentedly, "Surely M'dear, you can find a better title for something this impressive, don't you suppose?" Rolling over so they were nose to nose, she smiled, "I was speaking of the family version of events Daniel. Another time, in a private moment, I may be able to provide a title even you would enthusiastically support, of the, shall we say, more intimate, definitely impressive events today."
He lay watching her scoot off the bed, and in all her glory, began to search for the various articles of clothing that had been flung far and wide around the cabin. "Carolyn, promise me you'll never change in the closet again, will you? This is infinitely preferable." She stopped, laughing to herself and shaking her head gently, "How is this possible? I'm standing here without a stitch on, as are you, I might point out. It all seems so normal, so expected, so. . ." "So right?" he smiled, completing her thoughts. "Exactly sir" she said as she crossed the room in a leap and landed back on the bed beside him.
Grasping her waist, and pulling her close, he kissed her gently and whispered in her ear, "Tell me again, what part was the definitely impressive part?" Gasping as he began to nibble gently down the side of her neck, "Daniel, I'm not telling. Not now. We don't have time." Looking over at the clock, "Not a great deal of time, but enough," he murmured as he rolled her beneath him. "I should. We shouldn't," she began to protest, but wrapping her arms around his neck, the last words she said were, "Oh, never mind."
Resting her head on his chest, nestled in the curve of his arm. She tried to catch her breath. She noticed happily, he was equally overwhelmed, panting for air and clearly satisfied despite the rapid pace they had set. "If you keep tempting me, ok if we keep tempting each other," she admitted watching his disbelieving expression and arched eyebrow. "Yes," she said kissing him quickly, "I cannot just blame you, can I?" "Blame ME, who Madam flung her glorious self through the air a few moments ago, eh? If we are to impart blame, well, then?" "Guilty, I confess. Totally guilty and entirely unrepentant Captain." Hopping off the bed, she bundled up his clothes and tossed them at him. "If we had more time, I'd suggest a shower, but I think we were right to plan on being out of the house before they are back. The kids might not connect the dots, once they learn you have 'settled in' – actually, that's not a bad way to describe things, I think. But Martha, she's always had her suspicions about us, and finding us here, once she knows what happened with you, us together alone . . . it would be almost like having had a movie camera here all afternoon."
"Hum, is that possible today? Now that would make for some interesting private viewing," he leered at her. Bending over she recovered his shoes. She considered throwing them at his head, but settled for an arching toss that landed them by the pillow. "Get dressed Captain, that's an order."
With her own saucy grin, she gathered her clothes, and sticking out her tongue retreated to the closet to dress, even if she didn't close the door for once. She was delighted to find him remaking the bed when she exited, "Thank you," she said stopping and leaning against the closet door. "There isn't any other thing that would convince me more that this is all real. My love, my partner tucking in the covers, hiding our tracks." "For a bit at least," he said fluffing a pillow and putting it in place, "but we do indeed need to architect my 'resurrection' both for the family and then for the world at large. Unfortunately, the Fraternity does not have the ability or reach to put all the pieces in place, for even an unofficial return."
Walking to her side, and holding her close, "however, once we get that established, don't assume bed making is likely to become my regular duty. Well perhaps if we could do it together, especially after we thoroughly destroy it, as we did today. Does that sound acceptable?" Reaching up to kiss him firmly, enthusiastically, she then took his hand, "Come on Daniel, let's make sure they find us outside at least." "A private walk on the beach?" he suggested. Smiling he grasped her hand, and their footsteps sounded in tandem as they went downstairs and out the front door.
Martha shook her head as she took the last bit of the picnic gear out of the car and dumped it on the roadside in front of the house. "I'll never get all the sand out of here," she muttered to herself. Looking up she called over to the children, "I need help getting all of this in the house, come on you two!" Frustrated that Jonathan and Candi either chose to ignore her, or were unwilling to hear her, she dropped the picnic basket and walked over to the wall where they were sitting, staring down. "Jonathan, we're seeing the same thing, right?" Candi said in an excited whisper, "Oh yeah, we are!" he said jumping quickly off the wall. "See what?" Martha asked in a serious tone. "THAT!" Jonathan and Candi shouted together, pointing down at a couple on the beach. "What's so exciting about two people on the beach, you see people walking hand in hand all the-" She stood, mouth open, realizing that the couple they were all watching, the couple walking hands clasped together were clearly the Captain and Mrs. Muir. "Hot Dog!" Jonathan shouted happily. "Oh boy, I can't wait. . .," said Candi as she scrambled off the wall. Moving quicker than they expected, Martha plucked Jonathan in mid-step by the collar and grabbed Candi's arm just before she started down the path to the beach. "Hold on you two," she warned, "I don't have a clue what is going on, but I think it's clear none of us are invited down there, are we?"
"Aww, come on Martha, please?" Jonathan begged. "We've hoped for the Captain to be human, to be one of us, we HAVE to find out what's going on, please?" "Nonsense," Martha said squashing his hopes, "No doubt we'll find out soon enough, but you help me take all of this into the house now, and make sure you get Scruffy inside too." Despondent, but obeying, the children picked up the bags of food and sporting equipment and slowly made their way up the walkway into the house. Martha took a final look over the wall, and a warm smile crossed her face, as she watched the Captain wrap Mrs. Muir in a close embrace. "About time," she nodded to herself as she grabbed the last basket and followed the children into the house.
The last of the bags unloaded in the laundry room, the children stood in the kitchen with pleading faces. "Martha, please Martha we HAVE to know, we just have too, PLEASE?" "I give," the housekeeper smiled in defeat, "I imagine they have to be expecting you at some point. Just make sure you bring them back in one piece. I admit to wondering what's going on myself." Realizing they had shot out of hearing range long before she had finished, she sighed, and went back to put away the picnic gear, almost sorry she wasn't young enough to be dashing down to the beach with them.
The sky was filling with the first rosy fingers of sunset when the children could be seen tearing down the path to the beach. Carolyn turned, nudged him and pointed up, "Prepare yourself Daniel, they're coming." Smiling down at her, "And you, are you ready for all this means as well?" "Everything changes now, doesn't it?" she said, grasping his hand loosely "It does my dear, and as we've said on and off today, not all of it will be easy, and there will be difficult times no doubt, but I'm set if you are." Squeezing his hand as the children's racing footsteps grew closer and she could see their delighted faces, "Ready Captain."
In tandem Jonathan and Candi slowed and stood as they reached the pair, "Hey, is it true, really true?" Candi spoke first. Smiling widely, the Captain dropped down and balanced on one knee, holding his arms out wide, "We have some news – come hear!" Even braced for the onslaught, he nearly was toppled by the children who flew into his arms. Grasping him around the neck, the two of them hung onto him in happy disbelief. "You're real? You're really, truly real?" Jonathan asked. Returning the hugs, Daniel glanced up at Carolyn, not surprised to see tears in her eyes. Stepping back a bit, Candi looked intently, "Captain, we've hoped and prayed the longest time you could be human with us, is that what's going on?" "Not exactly, M'dear, but let's head back to the house, and tell you the whole story with everyone together, all right?" Beaming, Candi ran to her mother with a joyous hug, "Mom, did you hear that? He called me M'dear, just like he calls you!"
Standing up, and taking Jonathan by the hand, the Captain looked again at Carolyn. Her face, intently focused on Candi had an expression he found impossible to interpret. She looked up aware he was about to ask something, softly shook her head and put a finger to her lips. Nodding once, he could hold his questions for a bit, as she asked. "Come on you lot," the Captain called, "let's head home."
Chapter 4 'Claymore? Must we?' in progress