She dithered at the water's edge, fussing with her towel and clothes, tucking her socks next to her shoes while Herc and Iolaus simply shucked off their shirts and boots.
"Hey Beck! Turn around, you naughty thing! No looking at the goodies, ya hear?" Iolaus cackled as he yelled.
Obliging quickly, Beck pretended to cover her eyes as well.
"Should I sing a tune as well Sexy? Cover all the noises of beautiful skin in water? Hhhmm?" Laughter floated over water from both sides, not even coming close to covering the slightly censoring "Iolaus!" from Hercules.
"Ah, it's okay Herc, it's just in fun! Isn't it Beck?" He called out over the rushing waters.
"Nope! Fun would be letting me look my fill!" She gigglingly responded, feinting a look over her shoulder. The curse and splash told her Hercules hadn't quite made the safety of the water before her fakeout. Iolaus' belly laugh confirmed it and Beck took the chance to spin sharply around, pretending dismay at the missing of God Butt!
"NNooooo! Not Fair!" She stamped her foot, causing more laughter from Iolaus. Damn, she could listen to that for the rest of eternity!
"Yeah yeah, real funny guys" Hercules groused and splashed Iolaus in retaliation.
Beck settled down on her tree root from the day before. Was it only yesterday? Hell, her life twisted and turned quicker than a snake after a rat at the moment! But her thoughts were drawn away by the sight before her.
NOW she wished she had her damn phone on her! She ALWAYS forgot the damn thing.
In the river before her, two of God's most gorgeous creations were swimming. Even with his muddy yellow/greeny bruises and red stitched wounds, Iolaus was a sight! Like ice cold cola on a boiling hot day. If yesterday had fuelled certain dreams, today blew them into oblivion!
No bandages to cover hair and face this time.
Phooorw.
Beck could literally feel her face glowing red. A few metres away, Hercules was standing in the waist deep water, splashing water on his face. His rippling muscles gleaming in the morning light, sparkling off droplets that danced on silken skin.
Hells Bells! How could the universe expect her to return to her boring, pale world after this golden dream!?
As sexy as Hercules was, Beck found her eyes being drawn back to Iolaus time and again. Something about him simply drew her attention. Perfectly proportioned, golden skinned, muscles rippling *sigh* Beck thought Yup, Her spank bank was certainly refreshed for the next millennia!
Banter played between the three of them, although Beck couldn't tell you afterwards a single word that was said. Hey, no judgements!
It was only when they were making their way out of the water that Iolaus turned to her.
"Beck, you not washing up? Going to be all "looky" no washy huh?" He winked and she forced a chuckle from between numb lips.
"You should know by now Ee-ow-less, I'm all talk, no action!" She joked right back. Well, honestly WAS the best policy!
Being the polite creature that she was *hush!*, she had turned her back as the men dried off and dressed, so she never even got a hint of what was coming!
"I hope you two know just the deprevaaaaaaa!" Her mocking sentence was torn away as she was suddenly grabbed from behind and flung high into the air. Her words morphing into a scream as she gracefully arced over the bank and was cut off as she slammed into and then under the river. Water filled her nose and mouth and she struggled to snort it clear as she broke the surface of the cold water!
Standing on the back, clutching each other, tears *TEARS!* in their eyes as the two men clung together in laughter!
Beck couldn't resist and soon her laughter joined theirs. With only a few jibes from Iolaus about being miserly with HIS show, they turned their backs as well as Beck stripped off the sodden clothes and quickly bathed.
Once washed and dried and heading back to camp, Iolaus carefully slung one arm over Beck's shoulders.
"You know Beck, as much as I joke, I would never want you to feel uncomfortable. You know that, right?"
She looked up from the path and smiled.
"Oh Iolaus hon, I figured that out pretty quick." He hugged her briefly and released her to step up to Herc and clasp his forearm as they made their way back to camp. Beck's smile stayed. She was really enjoying this time. Who knew that Greek times agreed with her? Two firm butts swayed in her vision. Oh yeah, it definitely agreed with her!
Back at camp, Hercules dropped the bucket of freshwater and disappeared back into the forest. He was heading down river to catch up with the traders and let them know what was happening. Apparently the boys had discussed it this morning while she slept. Iolaus was feeling up to heading on with their journey and they were meeting some guy in some unpronounceable greek named town and were already quite late.
Beck felt a stab of despair at the thought of these two welcomingly friendly people leaving. She was, for all intents and purposes, trapped in the past, with only 2 people she knew and no way home. She could feel the worry starting to rise in her throat.
Logically she KNEW that they hadn't planned on staying. But in true Becky style, she had ignored the thought whenever it raised its ugly nasty little head. Now... well now it was staring her right in her face.
She couldn't leave. The portal might reopen! There hadn't been any reported missing people from her area of the park, so it wasn't as though it was a regular thing. Who knew how long it would be until she got the chance to get back again? Crap! Beck chewed her fingernails, stress making her stomach cramp. Oh god!
She jumped a mile when she felt a hand on her shoulder!
"Jeeesuz dude!" She swore loudly, clutching at her throat as she gasped. He looked at her concerned.
"I spoke your name several times Beck, you okay?"
She waved him away.
"yeah hon, just peachy. Thinking things, that's all"
"Ah, 'things' huh?" He eyed her knowingly.
"Shut up Iolaus" She muttered, only half jokingly as she hung up the damp towels and wet clothes. But she could feel him staring. Without turning, she snapped at him."Enough with the eye torture dude! It's fucking creepy!"
She turned slightly when she heard shuffling and watched as he lowered himself to his spot by the fire. Knowing that she watched, in that totally creepy way, he patted the sleeping bag beside him.
"Beck, wanna talk?"
Silence grew as she studied the dripping clothes. But her fear outweighed her usual privacy.
Sighing deeply, she did as he asked and sank down next to him, her eyes on the flickering fire.
"Spill it" He whispered softly and shoulder bumped her.
Another sigh left her lips and to her absolute Horror, she felt tears. Okay WTF? She thought to herself. Cut this shit out and don't be such a freaken princess!
Iolaus was content to wait her out and dammit, she knew it. All his 'hunters tricks' told her that waiting was simply another tool in his weapon stash.
"Honestly Iolaus? What am I doing here? I mean, what the hell? And home? How the hell to get HOME?" She felt the tears escape her control and slide down her cheeks. "It was all fun and shit for the first few days. You know, the adventure of it all, then you showed up and I dealt with that. Then Herc and you guys are just so nice and now you're leaving and I haven't seen a SIGN of that goddamn portal, I don't even know if it WILL be back and what if I'm stuck here and I'm TOTALLY useless..." She could feel the panic taking over. Her breath started to snag in her throat and she knew that a panic attack was imminent!
Beck felt her head being gently forced between her knees and a calm voice telling her to breathe. It was several minutes before she had her wayward breathing under control again, but the tears, the goddamn tears continued to slowly wind down her face. She looked at Iolaus in despair. "God Iolaus, what do I DO?"
His only response was to wrap his arms around her and pull her tight.
When her tears dried and she felt more in control, she shrugged herself from the hero's arms. She patted his cheek ruefully.
"Sorry Gorgeous, that wasn't fair. My problems shouldn't be dumped on you" He grabbed her hand and held it on tight as he looked her in the eye.
"Beck, if you can't share a problem with a friend, then who can you?" She smiled weakly and he raised her hand and kissed the back of it. "Look, when Herc gets back, we'll all talk it over and we'll figure something out, I promise."
Beck could tell from the sincerity that he truly meant it. And she knew from his and Herc's stories that was exactly what heroes did. Helped people.
But in the privacy of her mind, she knew that she didn't count. She didn't really belong here. Who knew how long she would be stuck in the past? Beck couldn't rely on Iolaus and Herc to look after her forever. They had real destinies! Real heroes didn't worry about strangers they just met and how they survived everyday life. They did the big battles, the saving of villages from bandits and virgins from monsters. Not how some fat chick from the future was going to eat next week or buy clothes.
She would deal somehow. She had been on her own since she was 15, she would cope in 600AD!