Chapter 10

My heart stopped before it started to beat wildly again. Quickly, I looked around for any kind of weapon – or at least something that I could use to defend myself. Of course I found nothing. I glanced back at the two masked figures, bracing myself. Well, then I just had to fight with what I had. My hands and the training Ric and the Merry Men have given me the past two years. I knew my chances were pretty much nonexistent – I mean I couldn't even stand or move without having black dots dancing in front of my eyes. But I'd be damned to go down without a fight.

The two men stepped inside and let the flap fall close behind them and I blanched by sudden images of them raping me here in the dim light of the tent. Still, I gulped my fear down and looked at them, bracing myself for what was to come, hoping I wasn't looking as scared as I felt. Surprisingly though the two didn't attack me. What were they waiting for? After another minute passed I squinted my eyes at them, now better able to see them after the light blinding me from the opening was gone and I got readjusted to the dim light in here. The two men didn't look like they would rape me any moment now. In fact, they looked like they were waiting – but for what? And why would they be masked if they didn't want to hurt me? I looked at the masks again, frowning.

Hmm. Actually, these didn't look so much like masks. I should know. I guess it's safe to say that after the years as a bounty hunter I was an expert on masks. No, they looked more like – veils.

My eyes widened and I looked around the tent again. Let's see: Sahara. Well furnished tent. Men with veils and – my eyes slid to the hilt of a sword on their backs – swords. One of my favorite authors as a child had been Frederica de Cesco. So it finally clicked. Tuaregs. Or some other nomad people of the desert. Though I thought they had died out. Well, apparently not. Now, I just had to find a way to communicate with these men and find out on which side they were. I hoped to God they were on mine.

"Hey," I said, giving them a bright smile.

Either they were deaf or ignoring me. I bet they weren't deaf. "Do you speak English?" I tried again, to no avail.

I cracked my brain to try to remember what de Cesco had written about their men, if they generally ignored strangers addressing them. Or perhaps only women? Maybe they were in some way like these clowns before the Buckingham Palace and weren't allowed to acknowledge that they were breathing, let alone that someone was speaking to them.

Hmm. In either case, how the hell was I supposed to get some information out of them? Like where I could find someone who I was able to speak to? Or where I was? Or why I was here and what they wanted to do with me now? If I remember correctly and de Cesco hadn't lied they weren't cannibals so I was pretty sure I would not end in some boiling can. But most important I needed to find a phone to let Ric know that I was alive. And I needed to hear his voice.

Fighting back the sudden sting in my eyes I looked back to the two men. "Look, if you can't talk to me fine. But can't you bring someone in here who can? And if that person speaks English all the better. Just please, help me in some way here."

As if an answer to my pleading the flap was thrown back again and a whirlwind in blue veil like clothes whirled in and stopped right in front of me. It was a woman and she didn't wear a veil to conceal her face. I guessed her around the age of my mother, some of her black hair already showing a tendency to grey and wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. And she smiled! I let out a relieved sigh. Finally some good sign.

She started to talk quickly in a foreign language. Damn! Never be happy too fast! At my frustrated sigh she stopped her flow and looked with a cocked head at me. After a moment she spoke again, in a different language and slower this time. I still saw black at my chance to communicate with her, but at least I recognized the language this time. French. Ugh. I hated French back in school! Frowning, I tried to remember what I needed to say. I shook my head. "Pardon, mais… je ne… comprend pas. Je… suis Américaine. USA. English," I said, hoping to make her understand.

Again she interrupted herself and looked at me. "I fear… my English is a bit rusty."

Delighted I smiled at her. YES! "Don't worry. Sounds good enough for me. I'm Stephanie. Stephanie Manoso," I said slowly, holding out my hand.

She looked at it for a moment before she took the hand with a smile. "I'm Andais." Then she frowned. "You should not try to get up. The sun hurt you much. Hurt ankle. Concussion. You need to lie some more days."

Well, she won't hear a protest as soon as I had a chance to contact Ric. "Thank you, Andais, but it's ok for right now. I need to know a few things. What day it is, how did I come here, oh, and I really need a phone."

Andais frowned at my words, concentrated. Guess I was a little too fast. Finally she shook her head. "No phones here. Our scouts found you in the desert, three days ago. Nearly dead. They brought you here, to me. I'm a doctor. I nursed you. Wasn't sure you'd make it. High fever."

I remembered the feeling of burning and freezing, remembered my strange dreams about Ric and Dad, Ric calling for me, Dad ordering me to hold on. Probably that had been the fever.

"Thank you, Andais and your people, for saving my life. I am very grateful for that," I said earnestly.

She nodded, accepting my thanks.

I tried to think, though the pounding in my head started to increase again. Soon, I really would have to lie down again. So I needed to hurry with finding a way to contact Ric. She had said they didn't have a phone. But perhaps we weren't so far away from one?

Holding up my hand I pointed to the rings Ric had given me. "I'm married. My husband must be out of his mind with fear by now. Please, Andais, I need to let him know that I'm ok. Isn't there a phone nearby to where one of you could bring me? Or perhaps there is someone you know who could let my husband know? Please," I pleaded.

Andais sighed. "I fear not, my child. You must understand. This tribe is one of the last. Our way to live is forbidden for a long time now. Still, we fight to live like our people have since the beginning of time. We are few, we are searched, hunted. It is too much of a risk to go near the border of the desert, near a town," she sighed. "When you are well enough, one of us can bring you near the next town, close enough that you will find your way there safely. But I fear, until then, we can't help you."

My face fell and I could feel tears pooling in the corner of my eyes. I looked away. Sure, I understood their reasons, but… Ric was hurting so much, I could feel it. "How long?" I asked with a croaked voice.

"Two more days certainly. Better a few days more. Depends on how much you heal," Andais answered.

Two or more days? No! I couldn't do this to Ric! There had to be another way! There just had to!

Andais gently put a hand on my cheek, turning my face back to look at hers. She wiped away one of my tears that had escaped my eyes. "I understand your worry for your loved one. Your pain. Your impatience. But trust in the bond you share with your mate. His name is Ric, isn't it?"

I felt my eyes widen and I nodded, unable to speak.

She smiled. "You said his name a few times while the fever raged in your body. It is obvious you share a deep bond. Trust it. He will know you are alive."

I stared into her dark eyes and swallowed in a big gulp. "I'll try," I whispered with a weak smile.

"You're exhausted. Lie down, sleep. The more rest you get the faster you will heal and can go back to your Ric," Andais told me gently but sternly and pressed me to lie back.

Exhaustion griped me, and before I knew it I was asleep.

It took them about four hours until a bigger chopper returned with the cruiser and more provisions. I had held my course towards West, the pulling into that direction getting stronger with each step. I just knew that my Babe was somewhere there in the West.

We hadn't talked much and I was perfectly aware of the constant sad glances Tank and Frank gave me. Clearly, they thought I had gone over the edge in my sorrow. And if my Babe really was dead, they probably would be right. But then again, I wouldn't be here with them in that case, already long gone. Anyway, it didn't matter. My Babe was alive and I was getting closer to her, I felt it. They could think what they wanted. Once I had reached Steph they'd knew the truth anyway. I just felt sad for Frank. It was unimaginable what he had to feel right now, believing that Steph, his child and clearly the true child of his heart on top of that, was dead. I knew what I felt whenever my daughter was in danger and I hadn't had this close relationship with her like Steph had with my father in law. But I had tried to tell him, had done it several times, and still he preferred to doubt me.

It was only hours later until we finally stopped to rest for the night. I thrived to go on, but finally gave in to Frank and Tank who insisted on a rest. And the rational part of me knew they were right. It had gotten too dark, the risk to miss something too great. Not to mention that after this day we each could need some sleep – that is if someone of us actually managed to sleep. I doubted it. I myself was too eager to get to my wife. Frank was too lost in his pain and I was pretty sure he would do nothing more than rest a bit, not willing to risk the chance of a nightmare with us around. And nightmares he will have, that I was certain of. I knew I'll have them. That left Tank. Tank was disciplined enough to perhaps find some sleep. After all he didn't carry any guilt in this affair, wasn't in any way responsible for Steph's abduction. But he did love her and I knew he loved me, like I knew that he probably would lack sleep because he felt like he had to watch over me – and Frank. To make sure we wouldn't try something to end our pain.

Still, a bit rest would serve us all good. We made fire, rolled out our sleeping bags and ate some sandwiches, each of us lost in his own thoughts. Frank held himself a bit away from the rest of us. We let him, though I kept an eye on him. My Babe would never forgive me if something happened to her dad. Like expected Tank had offered to take on the first watch. We let him and too restless to just sit around I soon turned in for the night, fully expecting to have a long night ahead of me.

I was wrong. Within minutes exhaustion overwhelmed me and I was sleeping deeply. And dreaming.

"Ric?"

My heart pounding, I look up, look around me, not daring to hope. "Babe?" I ask, uncertainly, not sure if I'm just hearing what I so desperately want to hear.

"Ric!"

There it is again, the voice of my Babe. But I can't see her.

"Ric, I can't see you! Where are you? Please, Ric, don't leave me alone."

Her voice is so forlorn, there is so much loneliness in it that it tears my heart apart. "Oh, Babe, I'm here. I'm coming, I'm near, Babe." I assure her, desperate to make her pain go away.

She sobs.

Never able to stand that sound I break out into a run. "No, no, no, Babe, no. I'm here. You're not alone. Never."

"S… sorry. I can't help it."

"It's ok. Babe, where are you? Tell me where you are so I can come faster to you," I plead to know.

"I don't know. Somewhere. Anywhere."

A frustrated curse escapes me.

She giggles. "I doubt that's going to help."

I give her no answer, but I smile. Suddenly I feel the world around me shift, get blurry.

"Ric, what's going on?"

She's scared again. So am I. What if I lose her again? Still, she needs me to be confident now so I search for words to calm her.

But before I find them the world around me starts to manifest itself again and suddenly she's there, standing with her back to me, staring into a looming darkness in front of her.

My heart stops.

My breath stops.

For a moment as long as eternity, I'm unable to do anything but drink in her beauty, the peace her presence gives me. Then, with a rush, the world's coming down back to me and I fly to her, ripping her into my arms, to never let go of her again.

"Babe," I moan, my voice hoarse with emotion. With relief. With love.

I hold her, pressed against me so I can hear the reassuring beat of her heart, feel the heavenly touch of her breath. This is where I belong.

Something's happening around us, but I ignore it. I just hold on to my Babe, keeping my wife safe where she belongs: In my arms.

Time slips.

We're not standing anymore, but lying on a beach. My private beach in Cuba as I realize. And we're naked. We're one. Steph's enthralled in passion, her back bowed back, her eyes closed, her lips parted slightly. Dios, she's always beautiful, but like this… never is she as radiating with beauty and love as when she's like this, lost in her passion, passion I bring her, rendering herself completely and trustfully to me and with that, making me hers and hers alone, losing myself in her, drunken with love and desperate with need.

Which reminds me painfully of my hardness, already deeply buried inside my heaven. I need to move, I need to get deeper, need to plunge, need to start the dance to the rhythm or our heart, our craving for each other or I explode. But it is a welcome pain, one I could die for. A moment longer will be meaningless. The need to taste her, to make our melting truly complete is stronger. I lean down, take her lips with my own, let our tongues meet, feel our souls entwining, our hearts meeting in beats, becoming one.

Her eyes flew open, her blue depths drinking me in for the beat of a moment before closing in bliss again, mine following her. Without knowing I have started to move, started to bring us to the perfect moment of existing. What we live for, what we search for all our life. I've found it, finding it each time we make love, each time revealing more realms of happiness I once thought are not possible. Not for me.

I don't know how long it takes us to come to the climax, giving us sweet release. I never know. If it's fast or tormenting slow, it always feels like eternity to me. We meet for a last time and I feel my release, pouring my seed deep in her. I collapse on top of her, spent, not believing that I'll ever be able to move again. Still, my arms enclose her and I turn us around, so she's resting on me, never losing my hold of her.

Never will I make that mistake again. The pain of her being away from me is still raw. The pain of the faint thought of having lost her will stay with me forever. I know that, I accept that – I want it like that. No other way.

"You're crying. Don't. I'm here. I'm safe. Always."

Her whispered words open my eyes to gaze into hers, misty with tears and I smile. "I know. I love you, mi corazòn."

Her smile makes even the sun look dull. "As I love you, cariño."

"Ric!"

"Ric!! Wake up for heaven's sake!"

I didn't want to. Who wants to leave a dream like that?

"Shit, Ric, we could hiss a flag on that hard on of yours. Get up and take care of that before Frank wakes up and sees it."

Especially not being torn away with such a wake-up call.

"Fuck you," I murmured.

"Sorry, as much as I love you, you're too man for me. Now finally get into gear. Or Icewolf will rip into you and you can say your dick goodbye."

Groaning, I sat up and glared at my former best friend. "Now that was just rude."

Tank grinned. "Just the truth man. Or how do you think your father in law will take this?" He asked, waving at the area in question.

Well, thinking about it… I rolled around and got up, grabbed my things and walked stiffly away, Tank's booming laughter following me. He was so going to die for that.

When I came back to the camp, having taking care of my needs, I had also had time to clear my head from my dream and think. So I looked inquiringly at Tank who was making us some coffee, the sweet aroma of it already starting to fill the air and frowned. "How come you're so happy?" I asked, slightly offended. Yesterday, he mourned for Steph and today he was his obnoxious happy self?

Something didn't clasp here. He would never bother me with his dirty humor if he'd still believe that Steph was really dead and I was now losing it over her death. So what had happened to bring this on?

He looked up and his eyes actually shone with happiness. "Lester radioed in at daybreak. He said he found someone who met someone who met another someone who crossed a group of Kel Rela two days ago, their healer nursing a white woman they've found badly hurt in the desert back to health. They claimed she had curly brown hair," he reported with a big, happy grin. "You were right. You really were right. Steph's alive."

Relief rushed over me and I felt my knees give away under me. Sinking to the ground, I closed my eyes and pressed my hands onto my wildly beating heart.

"Shit, Ric, what's wrong?" Tank called out panicked.

I shook my head. Sure, I had felt Steph, felt that my Babe was alive. And this intense dream had washed away the last doubts. Still, to have it confirmed… to hear it out loud… no words could describe how light and relieved and happy that made me feel.

"I'm sorry, I thought…" Tank said desperately, his hands griping my shoulder.

Again I shook my head. "Gracias. Gracias, Dios, gracias," I whispered over and over again.

Tank slipped his arms around me and silently held me while the relief completely overwhelmed me, causing me to break down completely. But in a good way. Thanks to God in the best way a man can break down at all.

Simply holding me, Tank waited until I put myself together again. More or less. I had no idea how long it had taken until I finally raised my face towards him, fully aware that it was wet with my tears of joy and relief and not caring one bit about it, to give him a cocky grin. "Told you so," I told him self assuredly.

Shaking his head, he let me out of his brotherly embrace and stood up. "And you'll never let me forget that one, huh?"

I shrugged. "You can always dream."

"Well, even the bests can be wrong sometime. And just for the record: I was never more relieved to be wrong than now."

Collecting myself I stood up and nodded, wiping my face clean. "So am I," I said quietly and earnestly. Then I frowned. "How badly hurt is she?" I asked worriedly.

Tank sighed and shook his head. "Don't know. But Lester's source said that the healer was optimistic."

Whatever that meant. It was likely that she suffered at least a sun stroke, probably though a heat stroke. And a bad burn if not a heat rash. None of these were to taken lightly. To the contrary, very seriously as these injuries had already killed many people. Fact was that we needed to get to my Babe and get her into a hospital and fast.

But… "I think she's going to be all right," I said quietly.

Looking intensely at me Tank frowned. "That telling your instinct again?"

Slowly I nodded, looking West.

"Then it will be like you say. I'm not stupid enough to doubt that one ever again," Tank said lightly, calming my worries a bit.

I nodded. "You better." With a sigh I tore my eyes away from the West and looked over to Frank who was still sleeping. "He'll be thrilled to hear the happy news," I said.

Tank nodded, back looking after the coffee.

I frowned. "I'm actually surprised he managed to sleep at all. And now he's not waking up to hear that Steph's alive."

"Actually, he didn't," Tank commented dryly.

Turning back to him, I raised an eyebrow. He shrugged. "I slipped him something."

I felt my eyes widen and I looked back to Frank, then at Tank again. "I think you can consider yourself lucky that he wasn't quite himself last night. In fact I would go far, far away the second he begins to stir," I advised him, meaning every word.

"I'm ready to take off at any time. And I'm wearing the vest," Tank solemnly told me.

"Good. You'll need it. Can be any minute now," I said with a last glance towards Frank. "Do we have a location on Steph?" I asked, turning back to business.

Tank shook his head. "Not yet. Lester's on it, as well as the guys on the satellite. Shouldn't take too much longer. I figured we best wait here until we get the coordinates."

My eyes were drawn back West again. "No. As soon as Frank's up we leave," I decided.

I didn't need the coordinates. I knew my Babe was close. And I needed to take my wife into my arms, kiss her and apologize for being such a dickhead and tell her how sorry I was about our fight. I simply needed her. Always would.

TBC!

(Author's Note: Well, well, well - hope you liked this one. Had to change the rating, I think that dream wasn't quite K , huh? Anyway, there's not much left, so stay tuned for the next chapter and yes - they will finally come together again. I think it's safe to spill that secret now. Thanks for the reviews and until soon!)