Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the characters of Isabelle and Anna Duncan.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited this story! I'm absolutely stunned by all the positive comments.
I'm so sorry for the delay in updates, it's been a manic few weeks.
Hopefully this chapter will make up for the wait
As always let me know what you think, Is Chuck straying to far out of character?
Chapter 7.
Chuck felt his heart twist, as Anna slipped an arm under his jacket and returned his hug. He'd passed the Kwoon enroute to Loccent trying to locate his old man when he'd intially witnessed the pathetic excuse for recruits hoping to become Anna's co-pilot.
Anna too had seemed frustrated, easily dropping the men on their respective asses without any effort. That had made him grin, watching the confidence slide to surprise on their faces. What had they expected really? They saw a pretty little sheila and just assumed she was helpless?
Admittedly he'd thought that, the first time he'd clapped eyes on her. He'd soon realised she was far from helpless, afterall she was one half of the team piloting the British Jaeger Ebony Siren.
On his way back from Loccent he'd purposely swung by the Kwoon in the hopes of taking Anna out into the city for breakfast, he felt caged in and frustrated being stuck at the Shatterdome. He reckoned Anna felt the same and the smile she'd given him when she realised he was watching her train, had spurred him on. He just hadn't expected to find her on the verge of tears, when he came back. He hadn't expected the sudden rush of protectiveness to surge through him, either. He hated the fact she could make him feel. He, Chuck Hansen, didn't feel anything beyond a one night stand with a woman. He didn't need to, he and the women that had graced his bed were content to scratch a mutual itch.
Well, he had been, before Anna that is. Now the thought of anyone else in his bed, other than Anna, made him feel oddly cold. What really should have frightened him was that it wasn't just a physical attraction, though God knew he wanted her. He wanted know her, learn all the small things that made her, her. He wanted that as much as he wanted to take her back to bed and trace every inch of her with his hands and mouth, to feel her slender legs wrapped high around his ribs as he made love to her again. Made love… That right there made him realise something had changed. With any other woman they'd have fucked to dawn, but with Anna it was love-making.
She shifted against him, tucking her head against his shoulder and released a soft sigh.
"I was actually coming to see if you wanted to go out for breakfast?" He murmured gently.
She raised her head and glanced at him in surprise, "Breakfast?"
He smiled slightly when she didn't pull away and nodded, "Yeah."
Before she could say anything else her stomach growled its approval, "I like that idea," she admitted with a small grin, before reaching a hand to absently wipe at her eyes. "Can I get cleaned up first?" She queried, finally pulling out of his embrace.
"I don't reckon you need to, but sure," Chuck gave her a slow approving sweep before his gaze caught hers and he smirked. "You've got ten minutes."
"Ten minutes, really," Anna fixed him a sharp glare. "Fifteen minutes."
"Ten," Chuck reiterated, folding his arms over his chest. "and to make sure you're not late, I'll even help you scrub your back in the shower."
His smile widen as he watched the blush roll over her cheeks and her breath hitch in her throat. He re-closed the gap between them, with one small stride and he dipped his head to hold her gaze and whispered, "I know what you're thinking…No I'm not joking."
In response Anna made to take a step back, in an attempt to reinstate the distance between them.
Chuck snaked his arm around her waist, "Stop running away." He told her quietly his own blue eyes locking with hers.
Holding his gaze for a moment, Anna took a deep breath and shook her head. "I'm not running away, but I can't do this."
"Can't do what?" He asked with a small frown.
"I can't do casual, I…"
"What makes you think this would be casual?" Immediately Chuck understood she didn't trust him but like every problem and obstacle he'd ever come across, he began to form a plan on how to overcome it. Anna didn't answer him and it struck him that actually they both knew she didn't need to. For once his reputation had him at a disadvantage, well he'd change that.
His mouth slanted over hers in a slow, languid kiss that left Anna feeling completely helpless. He'd gone from caring, to gentle teasing and then skilful seduction, quick enough to make her head spin.
She whimpered in regret when he finally broke their kiss and she released a shaky breath as he rested his forehead against hers. "Oh God, this is such a bad idea," she admitted in a soft whisper, as she let her eyes drift shut secretly enjoying the heat offered by his body pressed against hers.
Gentle fingers brushed against her cheek, sliding along her jaw and into her hair. "I reckon this is probably one of my best ideas," Chuck mused huskily, his breathing slightly ragged.
Opening her eyes, Anna realised she had fisted his thin top in her right hand. Instantly she let go and made to move away. This time he let her go and offered her a heated smile, "You've got fifteen minutes, sweetheart. Don't be late or I'll be coming in to get you."
As Anna made her way back to her small room, her heart pounded in her chest. What was she doing? The rush of adrenaline and anticipation still hummed in her system as she replayed Chuck's heated threat. Or was it a promise?
"You've got fifteen minutes, sweetheart. Don't be late or I'll be coming in to get you."
Her mind instantly warned her about playing with fire.
Entering her small, sparse room Anna shut the door and headed into the even smaller adjoining room that served as a very basic 'en suite', consisting of a plain white toilet, matching sink and narrow shower stall.
Stripping quickly, Anna winced at the dull ache in her right shoulder. She'd definitely pushed the injury to the limits over the last few days with the near constant training. Using the mirror above the sink to look at the bandages, Anna rolled the shoulder experimentally the ache remained a dull pain. The Doctors had told her the burns were minor, so it stood to reason that perhaps she no longer needed to keep it covered. Again using the mirror as a guide, Anna pulled at the micro tape used to hold the wrappings in place and tentatively began to remove the bandages, slowly revealing just how bad her burns were. With a small sigh of relief, Anna dropped the bandages into the small bin and examined the injury. The area from the top of her shoulder to her shoulder-blade, resembled a pink and raw looking cobweb.
Pouting slightly, Anna rolled her shoulder again now the bandages with off. A niggling sting pinched the area and she felt her muscles twitch in complaint. "Yeah that's definitely tender." She muttered before turning her attention to her bandaged left hand. Imagining her fingers would be painted with the same angry cobweb styled burns and undoubtedly in worse condition, than her shoulder.
With a sigh she reached into the tiny cabinet under the sink and fished out a battered, long forgotten box of do it yourself hair dye. Something she'd bought and never used, not that she wanted it now, merely the plastic gloves in the box.
Sitting on the massive left foot of Eureka Striker, Chuck threw the tennis ball again for Max, watching as the enthusiastic Bulldog charged across the at his watch, Chuck felt his mouth twitch in a half-smile. It had been sixteen minutes since Anna had left him to get cleaned up, "I warned you, darlin'."
Just as he was about to move, Max barrelled across the hanger straight towards Marshal Pentecost, Mako Mori and another man.
"Oi, Max no drooling over Miss Mori." Herc reprimanded.
His Father was already moving to greet the new comer, that on a second glance Chuck realised was none other than Raleigh Beckett. Now there's a way to ruin a man's good mood.
He couldn't make out exactly what his old man was saying, but he assumed it was an introduction, as Herc jerked a thumb in his direction. Raleigh's sharp blue eyes, locked on him and Chuck felt a sneer pull at his mouth. A washed out pilot and an obsolete Jaeger, the saving grace of the programme.
Rising to his feet, he flicked a disinterested glance at his father, and strode from the Hanger, feeling a small childish rush of satisfaction as the heavy door swung closed behind him with a resounding metallic boom.
