Title: Chasing the Storm
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Thanks to Frogster for the amazing review!
Four chapters left now! :)
With a pounding headache, Kris reluctantly opened her eyes. The wooden ceiling above her spun, as she quickly blinked and cursed under her breath. James had once again allowed for her to consume way too much alcohol, which pissed her off. The last time he hadn't stopped her, she had managed to break into the local church and vomit into a collection plate. Luckily, she was happy that she had a distain toward churches. Otherwise, she would have felt the need to apologize for the bad smell and the tarnished metal.
"James!" Kris managed through her splitting headache. "Get your ass out here or you get nothing for a week, you miserable…" Kris heard the sound of something near her head shutting and she turned her head with the expectation of getting kissing on the forehead. Instead, a bluish-green eyed bastard stared down at her with a smug smile across his face. "What the fuck do you want?" Kris had her teeth clenched tightly together, as Jane slid into the seat next to the bed. It was then, with a panic, that she realized she wasn't in her bed back home or on the ship. She was in Jane's bed and the expression upon his face—the upturned smirk—made her fear the worst.
Had they slept together again?
Her eyes narrowed, as she moved to sit up with the intent of murdering the pirate captain brutally. Her hands itched to go for one of her various weapons when she realized something about her top didn't feel right.
Kris took a small peek toward her chest, which she found to be nearly exposed and her fist connected with Jane's nose. She ignored Jane's cursing, as she blew on her fists and cracked her knuckles. Had Jane's nose become a lot harder to break, considering he wasn't bleeding? Or did she need to work out with the crew more?
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Kris asked in a snarl. Killing headache or not, her fists were ready to punch him again. "Exposing my chest this time is a low blow, you sick asshole." Kris couldn't stop cursing, as sunlight spilled into the room. Of course, Jane was behind the sunlight and if she could have moved without the world spinning, she would have punched him until his nose was completely broken.
"It's not what it looks like." Jane interrupted her internal rant of hatred. He had his hand pressed to his nose, which made her feel a million times better.
"Then what is?" Kris questioned, as she crossed her arms against her chest. Jane's eyes went to her exposed chest and she glared. "You've seen enough of these, so avert your eyes." Jane did so, quickly. "Did you find me drunk and have your wicked way with me?" Jane eyed her in surprise and she continued on. "Just tell the truth, you'll feel better; it's not like this hasn't happened to me before."
Some unnamed emotion flashed across Jane's face, which caused him to lose his smile. She nearly grinned at his reaction; he needed to be knocked down a few pegs.
"I didn't do this!" Jane argued.
Kris glanced around the room. "You're the only one here." She bitterly laughed. "Did one of yours and good old Governor Bertram's buddies come after me on your orders?" Jane looked horrified. "Let me guess. I'm the ship's wench now, yes? When will Mashburn or Rigsby be here to take their turns?" She tried to keep her face free from all expressions, as her eyes darted toward the closed door from Jane's Quarters. "Did you just not get your turn yesterday? Is that why you're here?" Kris felt the burning need to mention Lisbon, because she had felt that he had done this once before with Lisbon, like he had done with her months ago. However, she had no proof and calling Lisbon a whore wasn't something she wanted to do to her best friend.
Before she could say anything else, Jane's voice filled the room. "Who said anything about you being a wench, Kristina?" She hissed angrily. He had no right to use her full name! "What we did weeks ago doesn't make you a wench. It doesn't even change a damned thing between us." Kris couldn't believe that, as the idiot had been catching small glimpses of her breasts. She would have called him out on it, but he continued on, before she could. "I saved your life, Kris. I deserve to be thought of as better than this." Kris looked down at her breasts with a scowl. Obviously, she was still alive and Jane was using his overactive imagination, as he had forced her into having sex with him again. "How much of last night do you remember?"
What kind of a question was that? She glanced up at him with a scowl.
"I drank. I ran from Bertram. You drugged me." Kris accused. "You then proceeded to have your way with me, as I'm just your property." Hangovers made her bitchy. While most people could get away with just vomiting and having a horrible headache, she could not—because under normal circumstances, she would have never said anything like that to him. "What would you like me to do next, Captain?" She spit sarcastically. "Get on my knees for you? Open my mouth and take in your…?"
A hand went across her mouth; it was Jane's.
She waited for him to tilt his hand slightly, before her teeth clamped down on the fleshy skin between his pointer finger and the thumb. Jane let out a cry, as he pulled his hand away from her mouth. "Rough enough for you yet, master?"
The room went silent and Kris stood from the bed. Jane cradled his hand and Kris stepped toward the doors from his room, when she heard his voice. "I didn't touch you, someone else did."
"Who?" Kris scoffed. Jane had told enough tall tales that she couldn't believe him, even if he was being completely honest with her. "A ghost?" She had her fingers on the doorknob, as Jane spoke again.
"You were almost raped." Jane sounded angry, which made her roll her eyes. Of course, it had almost happened. Jane had done it, and he just couldn't own up to the lapse in his common sense. "You were drugged by the bartender, you were brought outside the tavern, and you were pushed against a wall. You had a man's hand on your pants when I found you."
Kris remembered her and Jane's tryst months ago; Jane's fingers in her, her back against the wall, and the way he had violated her the first time. She shivered again. Was there something about her that invited unwelcomed touches and advances? Kris had only ever wanted James' touch and the warmth of his body on hers, but that hadn't exactly worked out.
She twisted her head to glance at Jane, who wore a frown. "Red John should have taken me instead; at least I would have been saved from you." Kris knew from the darkness in Jane's eyes that she had just stepped way out of line. Her father had always preached on Red John's commandments for his ship, not that she had ever listened to him though—aside from the line about Red John wanting to save everybody from misfortune. She watched Jane shoot from his chair and run toward her, to which she pulled frantically at the door. She didn't want him touching her again. She didn't want to become the victim again. Jane's loud footsteps reminded her of Timothy Carter's, right before he had forcibly taken her against the wall years ago; his pale hand against her cheek out of anger for disobeying his order to strip.
Kris recoiled, as Jane grabbed ahold of her shoulders. Instead of fighting, she slowly moved her legs apart and ground her hips against his pelvic area; she had her eyes closed, as she felt Jane's hand press against her face.
"What are you doing, Kris?"
She had a million answers for that. It was what Timothy Carter had taught her to do. It was what her father had expected her to do, and she had been doing it to make him hurt her less.
"Giving you want you want." Kris informed him, as her lips inched toward his neck and he pushed back with a frown. "Come on, Captain." Kris tried to still her anger at being pushed back, but the words just wouldn't stop. "Teach me a lesson in respect. You've got me where you want me." Kris grabbed his hand and moved it toward her pants. "I'll even guide you in, until you make me…"
Jane stepped back. "I don't want that from you."
"You wanted it from Lisbon." Kris whispered and Jane said nothing. "You have me at your complete disposal. I'm bowing down to you, like you have always wanted. What more can I do?" Jane remained quiet. "You have nothing to say? That's new." Kris paused to inhale sharply. "Tell me, Patrick, what makes Lisbon so special to you? Is it her eagerness to please you? Or was it the fact that she was at your beck and call? Do this, Lisbon. Do that, Lisbon. Babysit, Lisbon. Red John is mine, Lis..."
Kris heard the loud shatter of glass and she glanced at Jane, who had thrown his hand into the mirror near them both—the white skin of his arm dotted with blood, as he narrowed his eyes.
"Can't handle the truth, can you?" Kris continued, smugly.
"I should have left you in that alleyway." Jane retorted and Kris rolled her eyes. He didn't have it in him. "At least the alleyway rats would have found your body useful for nesting purposes." Kris clenched her fists together; he just couldn't shut up, could he?
"You're right." Kris threw back. "I'm useless and worthless on this ship." Jane opened his mouth to interrupt, but she wouldn't have it. "I should just kill myself to save you the trouble, shouldn't I?"
Jane's face lost all traces of his previous anger. Kris smugly stared on. She had finally beaten him at his own game, and it felt so good.
"Don't do that." Jane stated.
"Why not?" Kris asked. "You sent me to my parents' island in hopes they'd finish me off." In her rational state of mind, she knew he hadn't intended for her parents to try and do anything to her. However, her anger and hangover blinded her. "Come on, Jane. Tell me why I shouldn't shoot myself!" She wanted to bring out one of her guns, but she didn't want to show him where she kept all of her weapons. "It'll only take one bullet and I'd let you shoot it."
"I can't do that." Jane had apparently decided then was a good time to grow a conscience, because any other time, the idea of a conscience would be lost on them all from him.
Kris gritted her teeth in annoyance. "Why the hell not?"
And in one rushed breath, Jane replied. "Because I care more about you than I should, damn it!" And the room fell completely silent.
Craig greeted her with a soft smile, as he stepped back into the dimly lit bedroom with a piece of fruit in his hand. Lisbon held out her smooth and clean hand in order to receive the fruit that he had been so gracious to supply her with.
The moment he put the fruit in her hand, she held the plump strawberry to her mouth and bit down; the sweet, red juice of the still ripening fruit mingled with her tongue. Craig watched her with a trace of amusement on his face, before he joined her on the edge of the bed and took her unoccupied hand.
"Good?" Craig asked and Lisbon nodded. "Do you want anymore?" Her stomach grew excited at the idea of having more food in her system, but she shook her head. Captain Red John had done more than enough for her and she wasn't about to trouble the good captain or his first mate for more, when she certainly didn't deserve it. Craig said nothing for a moment, while his eyes quickly skimmed over her body and she felt heat pooling up in her cheeks. "You look lovely this morning."
"Thank you." Lisbon tried to not show her discomfort in the low cut black dress that she had found on her bed that morning. Craig's eyes lingered on her exposed breasts, which had her wondering if putting on the dress and parading around the Red Rum would be enough to make him say her name.
"Today is a big day," Craig spoke again and she swallowed the last bit of strawberry, as her entire focus went to the first mate, who wore a smile. She briefly remembered when people had called her the first mate and the feeling of pride that had spread throughout her body, but she squashed the tendril of thought; the Red Rum was in better hands with Captain Red John and First Mate O'Laughlin in charge than the Scarlet Oasis was with Captain Jane and First Mate Saffron, and she knew she shouldn't bemoan her position on the ship. Craig continued, "the Captain has requested my presence upon the shore today." Lisbon tried not to frown at his words. Craig had promised a few days ago to teach her the ropes of the Red Rum, but finding the time to do so had been nearly impossible. In the mornings upon the ship, Craig had to delegate orders to the various crew members on deck while tending to her delicate needs; the first mate had been helping her body heal from all of the saving that Jacobs' had given her out of need. In the evenings, Craig took separate dinners with the Captain and herself, making sure she had the one thing she truly needed and wanted; a friend. "This means, somebody else will be teaching you about our ship."
She tensed in apprehension. Somebody else who wasn't Craig O'Laughlin? Her eyes
went to his, only to find that he was kindly smiling at her.
"I won't always be around, due to the Captain's needs." Craig explained, calmly. Even though she knew he couldn't dedicate every moment of his time to her, it still didn't mean she couldn't feel a small amount of jealousy toward the Captain. Her lip trembled. Was he leaving her also? "I'm not leaving you. I'm merely introducing you to somebody else you can trust, in case I'm ever not around you."
Lisbon blinked. Trust? Aside from Craig and Captain Red John, she had absolutely no one else left to trust in the world. Craig's proposal of someone else to trust made her weary, but she squashed the ill feeling down; Craig had done everything to help her out at the risk of his own spot on the ship and she shouldn't be so ungrateful.
"He won't hurt you, I promise that." Craig continued on. "He knows what you've been through and he wouldn't go against my orders." Relief flooded her body. If Craig could vouch for his friend and fellow crew member, it meant she was safe. "Okay?" Lisbon opened her mouth to respond, when someone knocked on Craig's door. "Come in!" She watched the door swing open to reveal a well-built redheaded man dressed in all blacks. His face held no smile, as he limped into the room with his cane and took ahold of Craig's hand. "Good morning, Navigator Carter."
Navigator Carter's lips moved into a small smile. "Good morning to you also, First Mate O'Laughlin."
Lisbon watched their interaction, intrigue coloring her face. On the Scarlet Oasis; first name or last name greetings without the officer title were highly encouraged. Jane had been adamantly against his crew bickering over a swabbie status versus a high officer status amongst the crew, which had never made much sense to her. Everybody, in her opinion, needed to know their importance on the crew and not telling them, just caused more problems later on.
"The Captain has requested my presence this morning; something about purchasing his latest glass vial." Navigator Carter seemed taken aback by Craig's comment and Lisbon continued to listen, mainly out of curiosity. Why would an innocuous object, such as a glass vial used for holding liquids or other small items, cause such alarm in both pirates? She wondered if Red John had something planned using the item that neither Craig nor Navigator Carter highly approved of. "While I'm gone, I need you to teach her about our ship." She heard Navigator Carter inhale sharply. "If you hurt her, I will make sure that your last few minutes aboard this god-fearing ship will be spent in agonizing pain."
Lisbon felt her heart swell within her chest. Craig really did care for her, unlike the inbred scum aboard the Scarlet Oasis.
"You have absolutely nothing to fear, First Mate O'Laughlin." Navigator Carter replied after a few moments of silence, before Craig pressed his lips to her forehead and left the room. She smiled through her blurry vision, as Navigator Carter spoke again, "would you like to remain on the bed or…?" Lisbon bit her lip. Craig didn't approve of business being conducted in the bed, but she wanted to stay—she felt safe. "I'll pull you up a chair, okay?" She watched him move a stool from the corner of the room, while limping around with his cane, until he motioned for her to come and sit down on the stool.
She did so, almost painlessly. Craig had been able to coach her legs back into working again, with the use of his miracle plans and prayers, which made her beyond happy.
"My name is Timothy Carter and I've known Craig for about ten years now." Lisbon listened to the redheaded navigator, who spoke with relative ease, as he stood across from her. "I am, of course, an officer upon this beautiful ship. I am in charge of navigation, strategy, and I know the inner workings of this ship better than any of the other officers, aside from First Mate O'Laughlin and Captain Red John." Lisbon couldn't stop the smile upon her lips. Navigator Carter knowing both strategy and navigation made him the best choice for Captain Red John and made him a total nightmare for Jane. Captain Red John had crafted his crew exceptionally well and she felt immensely secured that nobody would remove her from the Red Rum, unless she wanted to leave. "I also have a personal history with two of the members on the Scarlet Oasis," Lisbon cocked her head slightly, confused by his words, "so rest assured, my fair lady, you aren't the only person who holds a strong dislike for Kristina Saffron and her bitch, Patrick Jane." Carter scowled and she nearly scoffed.
Of course, she wasn't the only person who hated either pirate. Craig hated Jane for stealing his fiancée, Grace. Captain Red John hated Jane for using women and cheating on his wife. She hated him for being a manipulative liar. However, nobody had any valid reasons for hating Saffron. Craig disliked her, as did Red John, but neither of them could understand the raw rage that coursed through every fiber of her being. "Introduce yourself to me." Carter perched on the edge of Craig's bed; his black cane next to him.
Lisbon responded without hesitation. "My name is Teresa Lisbon, sir." Carter nodded.
"I'm sure you're curious on why I have strong feelings of dislike for them, yes?" She nodded, as she wondered how much the man would share with her. "Years ago, I was engaged to be married to a beautiful woman. Kristina's parents liked me, I liked them, and I had thought that Kristina was in love with me." Carter let loose a bark-like laugh and Lisbon wondered what he found so funny. "Two weeks before we were set to be married on Jubilee Island, Kristina and I awoke to red sheets. I rushed her to the doctor, only to learn that my beloved had just had a miscarriage." She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Saffron had a lost a child? With that piece of information, Lisbon had no idea how to feel. Nobody deserved that, not even the harlot that was Kristina Saffron. "Don't pity her." Carter interrupted her thoughts with a harsh smile. "The child wasn't even mine."
The child wasn't his? Lisbon wanted to ask Carter about the child's father, but she knew the dangers in doing so. Craig had warned her about being overly curious about any of the other crew officers; even though, she had a nagging suspicion of who the father was. Years ago, Lisbon remembered from Craig's speech, Saffron and Jane had gotten together on Jubilee Island.
"I don't believe in intercourse until after marriage." Without even saying a name, Carter had proven her suspicion right and she clenched her fists together; it was just another way that those two had ruined the lives of everyone on the Red Rum. "I confronted her about it, we fought, and she stabbed me in the leg." Lisbon realized that the cane he used and the accompanying limp was mostly likely from Saffron's attempt to end his life, as the brunette couldn't own up to her own mistakes. "Don't get angry on my behalf. Patrick Jane and Kristina Saffron will get what they deserve."
They would, she vowed silently.
"This is why First Mate O'Laughlin and I want you to learn these rules." Carter explained, back on the original reason why they both remained across from each other. "If you learn these well enough, you will have already gotten a small amount of revenge on them." Lisbon nodded with a new found source of determination. She would make Craig proud by learning what she needed, while allowing Jane and Saffron to suffer for their actions. "With that being said. I will be teaching you the rules that we, the officers of the Red Rum, follow. You will remember these rules, for they shall save your life." She nodded again in understanding. "There are nine rules. Number one: failure to follow any of these rules will result in your immediate execution by the current captain."
"Captain Red John." Lisbon muttered.
"Yes." Carter gave, before he continued on. "Number two: you shall recite the ship motto when recited to you, verbatim." The Red Rum had a motto? She sat up straighter, as she was impressed by the organization of the ship. Years ago, she had suggested a motto for the Scarlet Oasis, but Jane had turned it down. Carter cleared his throat. "The motto is: omni ope atque opera. Got it?" Lisbon nodded. It was in a different language, but not something she could translate or recognize. "Omni ope atque opera."
"Omni ope atque opera." Lisbon recited and Carter beamed, which made her smile.
"Excellent job!" Carter exclaimed with the clap of his hands. "I can see what First Mate O'Laughlin sees in you." Lisbon felt a blush spread across her cheeks at his compliment. "Number three: you shall follow any order given to you by the officers of the Red Rum, without asking questions." Lisbon nodded; number three sounded simple enough anyway. "Number four: you shall not pull your sword or weapon on any other crew member, unless you are challenging them."
"Challenging?" Lisbon asked.
"If you want my spot on the ship, First Mate O'Laughlin's spot, or the Captain's spot; you will need to challenge us for it." She wondered how many people on the ship had actually challenged another person. "If we die, you become whoever you killed. If you die, however, your story doesn't just end after having a sword driven through your chest." Carter's smile told her everything she needed to know about the next part, but she doubted that she would ever challenge any of them. "Number five: off the ship, all men for themselves." Almost every pirate ship had that concept; it just saved them all from the possibilities of being kidnapped out of spite, by another crew. "Number six: you shall kill without hesitation."
Lisbon blinked in surprise; most of the killings she had ever done was mainly because of Jane and his stupidity. She had never killed on order before, but if the concept of her doing so made Craig happy, then she'd do it without question.
"Number seven: you shall always speak your mind without fear of consequence." That rule surprised her. How many Captains were willing to allow somebody to speak their minds, especially if the crew member didn't like the way anybody was running the ship? She thought back to Jane, who had believed in never allowing another person to speak their mind, and she shuddered. How had she even gotten suckered into working for him? Jane was a horrible person. "Number eight: you shall always know your place aboard the ship."
Craig and Carter's earlier display of respect made sense. Carter had acknowledged how important Craig was and Craig had acknowledged how important Carter was, by merely just dropping the titles into their conversation. She imagined the two referring to her as Officer Lisbon and it made her smile, as having a title and a ship, would make her feel important once again.
"I'm surprised you have no questions on that one." Carter returned and she eyed him. "Most of our crew members are confused by the odd wording of that phrase."
"You all show respect here," Lisbon said, "navigator Carter." Carter nodded.
"You are intelligent." He complimented her again. "And the last one? Number nine: you shall always wear the given uniform without fuss." His eyes focused on her dress for a moment, before he smiled and nodded. "I see that First Mate O'Laughlin has already been giving you ship appropriate attire. He and the Captain enjoy dressing us all in black, as it promotes uniformity and it allows us to go unseen."
Uncomfortable or not in her attire, Lisbon refused to show how much she hated the dress. If the rule was the wear the given uniform, then she'd always wear the dresses given to her by the Captain, Craig or Carter.
"Do you have any questions?"
"Does Craig truly love me?" It had been the question burning within her mind for days, but it was the one question that she had never felt truly comfortable asking him about. She also wanted to prove to Carter that she understood the disciples of the ship and from Carter's upturned smile, she wondered if he hadn't expected her to grasp the concept of the rules that quickly.
"He does." Carter responded, softly. "He loves you and he will do everything in his power to protect you, whether it be from his own crew or from the Scarlet Oasis." Her heart swelled again at Carter's heart felt words and she glanced toward the bedroom door, suddenly anxious for Craig to return to her. Carter gave her an all-knowing look. "Do you love him?" Lisbon glanced at him in surprise.
"Of course, I do." Lisbon answered, softly. "Craig saved me. Craig has given me back my life, and I can never thank him enough." Carter smiled, before the door to the bedroom opened again to reveal Craig. Her heart hammered in her chest at his slightly disheveled appearance, most likely due to the late August heat.
"I would have been back sooner, Navigator Carter." Craig greeted with a smile. "However, the Captain felt the need to discuss the current happenings onboard the Scarlet Oasis." Lisbon glanced down at her lap; she didn't want to listen to them say anything about her past ship, because she honestly didn't care anymore.
"What about them?" Carter asked.
"Sources upon Governor's Island say that they've been partying at the Jagged Tavern." Craig replied, as he shook his head. "If any of my crew members were missing, I'd be out looking for them." Carter nodded.
"I wouldn't think too much into it, Craig." Carter responded in a whisper. "They gave up on her and it's their loss." Lisbon couldn't help but agree with his words. If the Scarlet Oasis had wanted to find her, they would have found her months ago. "Did the Captain get his vial?" Lisbon glanced up in intrigue.
"Crystal," was all Craig said and Carter made a small grimace. "The Captain has requested your presence in his quarters this evening for dinner. You had best not be late, Navigator Carter." Carter chuckled, as he stood from the bed and placed his cane back on the floor.
"Goodbye, First Mate O'Laughlin." Carter left them both alone. Lisbon glanced up at Craig, who beckoned her from the stool to join him on the bed. She did so with a small smile, as his hand took one of hers.
"Did you learn anything exciting today?" Craig asked and she nodded. "What was it?"
"I learned the rules of the Red Rum today, First…" He had his hand over her mouth with a laugh.
"Out of my room, refer to me as sir or First Mate O'Laughlin. In my room, refer to me as Craig." He corrected her with a smile. "You get no points for calling me First Mate O'Laughlin when we're alone, as my title is only for ship business." Lisbon nodded in understanding and he removed his hand from her mouth. "Did Carter teach you our motto?" Lisbon nodded again. "Omni ope atque opera."
Lisbon repeated the motto back to him with a smile. "Omni ope atque opera." Craig clapped his hands together and she smiled brightly; she loved when he was happy. "I also learned Navigator Carter's reason for hating Saffron and Jane." Lisbon stated and Craig lost his smile, which immediately saddened her.
"That was a rough period for him; I didn't actually think he'd survive the days after Kristina left him for Jane." Craig explained. Lisbon wondered if he was thinking about his own past with Grace, and she squeezed his hand in comfort. He squeezed back. "If he didn't have our crew softly after she had stabbed him, he would have died due to the infection in his leg." Lisbon said nothing, as parts of Carter's story still troubled her. "You look troubled, what is it?"
Lisbon bit her lip; she wanted to show him that she could follow the rules, even if the question made her ill and made her sad. "Did Saffron want her child?"
Craig glanced at her. "From what Carter has told me, Kristina didn't want her child." Lisbon's throat tightened and she felt Craig's arms move around her. "Hush," he whispered with his lips against her hair, "I know it isn't easy…"
"I can't have children." Lisbon interrupted, softly and Craig grew silent. "It isn't easy to imagine her not wanting her child, not without wanting to strangle her anyway."
"You can't have children?" Craig sounded surprised. "Have you always been like that or is it a recent injury?"
Lisbon tensed; she knew she had to answer him, but it didn't make her memories any easier. "It's a recent injury. A year or so ago, something happened and I found out my ability to bare children was no longer there." Her vision was blurry, yet Craig continued to hold her tight. "I had been aboard the Scarlet Oasis. Saffron had done something disrespectful to Jane and he went to drink it off." She felt Craig nod against her. "I cornered him about his behavior and he didn't like that." She shrugged, the memory of his fingers buried within her, made her want to run. "He tried to have his way with me, I refused, and he raptured something within me with his fingers." She felt Craig tense against her and she trembled. Was he angry with her? Was he going to kill her for allowing something like that to happen? "I bled for days," she continued on out of a nervous habit, "until Saffron encouraged a visit to the doctor. Nobody else knows."
Lisbon tried not to cry. Saffron's friendly behavior and concern had been on the behalf of her lover and not because she actually cared about anybody but herself. Craig remained silent, until he drew her closer in his embrace.
"You didn't deserve that, nobody does!" Craig sounded angry, which made her nervous. "If I get my hands on him, his throat will be overflowing with his worthless blood." Craig tensed again. Was he going to strike her for allowing him to hurt her? She braced herself for the hit with the closing of her eyes, but it never came.
Instead, she felt Craig pull from their embrace to push her backwards on the soft bed. When she opened her eyes, her blurry vision was met by Craig's handsome face. "Do you trust me?" He whispered into her ear and she wondered how she could not. Craig had done so much for her and she had yet to do anything for him.
"Yes." Lisbon whispered and before she could say or think anything else, he had his lips upon hers. Her heart fluttered at the intoxication that his body was causing pressed against hers, while her hands rested on the sides of his face.
"You're beautiful." Craig said, after he pulled away from her with a smile. "Why they didn't want you aboard the Scarlet Oasis, I'll never understand. You're perfect to me." She felt herself blushing and he chuckled, while he pressed his lips against her forehead. "I love you." Lisbon said nothing in response, as her fingers went for the buttons across his chest.
Actions, she remembered, spoke a lot louder than words.
And when it came to her burning love for Craig O'Laughlin, she felt it was in her best interest to show and not tell that she loved him too.