Chapter 8 - Patience
Taking care of Sludges operation and having him and his men arrested by the local authorities took a few hours, even with Captain Planets help.
By the time they got back to the geocruiser, the five friends were extremely tired. As the most experienced pilot, Gi offered to take the controls, which was fine with Wheeler as sitting opposite Linka at the back of their vehicle would be the closest he'd got to the beautiful Russian since their rescue,
The fire planeteer couldn't take his eyes from his love as she looked out of the window, still radiant in the fading light. Feeling his eyes on her, Linka turned her head and smiled, then noticing his slightly sombre mood, raised her eyebrows in enquiry.
Slouching in his seat so that the others couldn't see him, the fire planeteer mouthed, "I hate this, I want to be with you."
Smiling at his impatience, his Russian girlfriend glanced briefly at the front of the geocruiser and then mouthed back, "You are." as she reached into the neck of her t-shirt and lifted out the stone he'd given her.
If Wheeler's grin had gotten any wider it wouldn't have fit on his face and Linka had to bite her bottom lip to keep from giggling.
The American lent closer and whispered very quietly, "It means more than friendship you know?"
Nodding the wind planeteer replied just as softly, "I have seen them sold in Oceanus. I know that gathering them with the use of vessels has eroded their meaning for some, but at least it is safer." she blushed a little, before adding "I admired them and the vendor explained their history to me but said the meaning really depends on the intentions of the giver now."
Replacing the necklace in its hiding place for now, she added, "It is very romantic, thank you Yankee."
Wheeler grinned, but held her eyes with his, wanting his love to know he was being serious because there was still something he wanted to make clear, "Yeah, well this giver intended the historical meaning." he said in a low voice, causing her to blush again.
Before the Russian could answer, Kwame called out to include them in the general conversation and the moment was lost.
When the planeteers arrived back home they found a message on the kitchen table saying Trish had already retired for the night. Having realised that that meant not being able to be together until the next day, Linka was concerned for her boyfriend's patience but had difficultly restraining her laughter when he announced that he was going to take a shower.
"You should go too." Gi said, drawing a surprised look from her friends and a very embarrassed one from Linka. The water planeteer laughed loudly, "To our bathroom," she clarified, "not with Wheeler! You're a mess from that mine, I just thought you'd like to clean up before dinner."
"Oh! Da." Linka agreed, relieved but still blushing, "That is a good idea, thank you Gi." leaving quickly.
By the time the beautiful Russian had reached the bathrooms however, she'd already decided she preferred the first idea. Grabbing a bath towel quickly, Linka slipped into the boys bathroom, dropped her clothes in a pile next to her Yankee's, and opened the door to the shower cubical, startling it's occupant.
Linka blushed furiously since Wheeler, having recovered from his momentary surprise, was taking full advantage of the opportunity to admire her. He looked amused as well, "You comin' in Babe? Or are you just here to enjoy the view?"
More embarrassed than ever, but deciding it was too late to back out anyway, the beautiful girl stepped into the shower and her boyfriend's waiting arms.
Wheeler had fetched clean clothes from Ma-Ti's room (where he had been keeping his things since Trish moved in,) but Linka had to return to her cabin to dress. Turning in the doorway she asked, "What are you doing?"
"Following you?" the fire planeteer shrugged.
Linka shook her head "Nyet, it would not be right."
Surprised, her companion replied, "What after we just.."
"Bozhe moy! Keep your voice down." the Russian hissed, "You said you would talk to Trish before we made it public."
Wheeler could see her blushing in the light from her room. "So this," he gestured towards the bathroom, "was...?"
"Wonderful!" The beautiful girl replied, her cheeks becoming redder still. Continuing shyly, "I know you wanted to be reassured that I would not change my mind, and I needed to be close to you too. I'm sorry if I've made it harder for us to be apart but it is only one more night, please?"
Wheeler sighed and raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. It's just been difficult these last few months you know? Like, worse than usual because I couldn't even spend time with you, and now... Damn it Lin, I know Trish wont care."
"Do you think it has been any better for me? Knowing I was wrong does not change what I have been feeling." Linka protested.
"I know Babe but," he began.
Linka sighed and interrupted him, "If not for Trish, for me?... I will make it up to you I promise."
Instead of having the desired effect on her boyfriend, her words seemed to disturb him. "Lin, you don't have to make anything up to me. I don't want you to do anything that you don't want to, for any reason... ever!"
The wind planeteer couldn't help chuckling a little, "What is it you think I do not want to do LyubOv' moyA?" she asked saucily.
"Careful Beautiful," he laughed, "I may forget you want me to behave myself!"
Laughing with him, Linka stepped back, "I will not be long, see you in the kitchen." and with that she closed the door.
Wheeler had deliberately sat on the other side of the dinner table whilst he was angry with the wind planeteer, and he figured she'd tell him off for changing again before he spoke to Trish, so they ended up with Gi sitting between them. In spite of the distance they had to maintain, the new couple were both in good spirits and their mood proved to be infectious. The evening passed by quickly and it seemed like no time before Linka rose to get ready for bed, though it was no earlier than usual.
Gi followed the Russian out of the Common room to get some drinks, but first the water planeteer caught up with her friend to ask a question. "Linka, am I imagining it or is something different between you and Wheeler?"
Looking uncomfortable the blond replied quietly, "Nyet, you are not imagining it... We talked while we were in the mine... Things are better now." Linka really didn't want to lie to her friend.
Gi smiled, "I'm glad. When you two are unhappy we all are." The pretty Asian looked uncomfortable, obviously wanting to say something else.
Linka smiled with resignation "What is it Gi?"
"He loves you not Trish. I know what he did was bad, but... whatever you've agreed, you're feelings for each other aren't going to go away." The water planeteer answered, not sure how to say what she wanted to. "Can't you forgive him?"
Linka was touched by her friends concern, even if she disagreed, If he'd been with her it would never have been alright. "Gi, when you really love someone you just don't want to be with anyone else, but Wheeler and I have worked everything out, you do not need to worry, I promise. Look, it is late and it has been a long day, I will tell you anything you want to know tomorrow, but now I want to go to bed, okay?" the Russian pleaded.
The Asian girl nodded sadly, "Sure Linka."
The wind planeteer felt a bit guilty for putting her friend off, but she knew Gi would never be able to keep the news to herself and she really didn't want Trish to be the last one to find out because despite what Wheeler said, she was sure the American girl must still have feelings for him.
Wheeler was the last to get ready for bed as usual. When he came out of the bathroom he was surprised to see a light coming from Linka's room. Looking around to check that the others had retired for the night, the American headed to his girlfriends cabin and lifted his hand to knock, then thinking better of it, he simply turned the handle of the door and slipped inside.
The beautiful Russian was laying in bed, fast asleep with a book in her hand. Wheeler gazed at her for a few moments with a soppy grin on his face, then he moved to her side and gently removed the novel, putting her book mark in where she'd been holding it and put it on her bedside cabinet. The American then turned the bedside light off and leant down to kiss her forehead. "Night Lin."
As he stood to leave, Wheeler heard Linka's voice answer him, "Good night Yankee." and he turned to see her smiling at him in the moonlight.
Returning to her side and dropping down to his knees beside her, the fire planeteer placed a gentle kiss on her lips, "I didn't mean to disturb you. I saw your light on, I just came to tuck you in."
The Russians smile grew, "Does that mean you do not want to stay?" she teased sleepily.
"What happened to behaving ourselves?" he asked against her lips after another gentle kiss.
Raising a hand to stroke his hair, Linka replied, "I am too tired to do anything but behave, Lyobov Moya, but you can sleep where you like." Then she rolled away, leaving enough room for him to get in behind her if he wanted to.
Grinning, the fire planeteer manoeuvred himself into the bed, fitting his form to hers and offering one arm for her to lay on, while he wrapped the other around her waist. Wheeler kissed his partners cheek and lay his head against hers, having the satisfaction of her slipping her hand into his and holding his arm in place. "I love you Lin."
"I love you too Joey." She replied, knowing the outcome.
Startled by the use of his first name, "Hey! What did you call me?" he began to tickle her.
Wriggling around in his arms, she did her best to retaliate and found herself being kissed quite ruthlessly for her efforts. Returning her lovers embrace with equal enthusiasm, Linka was quite breathless when they separated, but still managed to say, "If that is what happens, I think I will call you by your first name all the time."
"You know I kinda like it when you say it." Wheeler pulled her against him, "but I'm happy to oblige." He kissed her again, more softly this time and this time when they parted, they snuggled down together for the first peaceful nights sleep either had had in months.
