WARNING: SOME SEMI-GRAPHIC LOVE SCENES AND MENTION OF NON-CON (BUT NOTHING EXPLICIT).

"As we drive along this road called life, sometimes we get a little lost."

Murdock kicked angrily at the ground, pissed at Face for having insisted they camp out for the night. The conman had insisted that there was no way they would find her in the dark, even if she was just right around the corner from them. Murdock wanted to press on and he would do so even if he had to do it without Face's assistance. He wasn't going to give up on Karina. Not now, not ever.

Waiting impatiently for Face to fall asleep, Murdock paced back and forth in front of the small copse of trees they'd taken shelter beneath. He was muttering under his breath to several of his other personalities, growing increasingly agitated with each passing second.

"Murdock, I'm never going to get to sleep with you crunching over the ground like that," Face mumbled from where he leaned against the large trunk of a tree without opening his eyes.

"Excuse me if I don't find it so easy to sleep while Karina is out there God knows where, possibly stumbling upon one of Valisimo's camps and getting herself captured and God knows what else."

Face's eyes narrowed and he shot to his feet like he had firecrackers under his heels. "You think I don't care? That I'm not worried?"

"You sure ain't actin' like it." Murdock sighed, pulled his beloved red ball cap from his head, and ran shaky fingers through his tousled hair. "You do what you want, Facey. I'm goin' to keep lookin' for her. Even if it takes me a week." He started to head off when Face stopped him.

"Wait." Face sighed. "You're right; let's keep going." He joined up with Murdock and matched him stride for stride along the smooth dirt path. "Too bad neither of us thought to bring a damn flashlight."

"We have the light of the moon." Murdock pointed up at the bright luminescent moon. "And we're lucky that it's a full one, too. Easier to see things."

"Whoa, whoa, Murdock, hold on." Face grabbed ahold of Murdock's arm and roughly pulled him to a halt.

"Face, what..." Murdock cut himself off when he followed the direction of Face's pointed index finger. His heart stopped for half a second and then began to pound in relief. Karina was leaning against a large tree trunk, arms wrapped around her middle in an attempt to keep herself warm, eyes closed tightly as she slept surprisingly soundly.

"Thank God," Murdock breathed out, all fear at losing her to Valisimo or a wild animal receding. Releasing a deep heavy breath, Murdock quietly walked forward, removed his jacket to lay it over Karina's shivering arms, and gently lifted her up into his arms, successfully not waking her in the process. She did shift, though, and instinctively leaned into him before settling her head against his shoulder.

"Now we have to remember which way we came from," Face mumbled as he walked alongside the two of them, noting the way Murdock held her tightly, like he would never let her out of his sight again. He probably wouldn't, if he had any say in the matter.

"I know where we came from," Murdock replied, constantly glancing down at the woman in his arms to make sure she didn't up and disappear again. "I have an excellent sense of direction, Faceman; you know that."

The walk back to camp was quiet save for the chirping of crickets and the crunching of leaves beneath their feet. Face was thinking about when they were going to get the hell out of this place and fantasizing about being pardoned on their return to America and possibly given medals of honor while Murdock was just thinking about how close he'd come to seriously losing Karina out here where no one who cared about her would have been able to find her if they hadn't gotten lucky and walked in the right direction in search of her.

They reached the camp after another thirty minutes had passed. Face offered to sit with Murdock for the remainder of the night, but Murdock insisted he'd rather just watch over her by himself. Face promptly left the tent, only slightly offended, and left Murdock to take care of her.

About an hour after Murdock had brought Karina back to camp, she began to stir awake. He was at her side instantly, as though she'd been in a coma and not just simply sleeping. His breath hitched in his throat as he watched her, her arms stretching out above her head automatically, amplifying her generous breasts. An innocent moan escaped her parted lips on a breathy sigh and shot straight to his groin, making Murdock feel like a dirty lech.

When her eyes flew open, she jumped at the sight of Murdock hovering above her and he immediately took it offensively. She was afraid of him; he knew it. She would never let him touch her again.

"James!" She sat up, but instead of pulling back away from him as he'd expected, she leaned in and gently ran the tips of her fingers down his stubbled cheek and over his chin. "Are you okay? Are you feeling better?"

Heart melting at the sweet concern lacing Karina's words, Murdock hesitantly reached up to cover her hand with his. "I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about."

Her eyes drew together in confusion. "Why would you be worried about me?"

"Because I hit you and then you ran off and I'm sorry I frightened you. I'm sorry I hurt you. Please don't hate me. Those kinds of flashback hallucinations don't happen very often and I..."

Karina placed her index finger against his lips to quiet him. "James, it's not your fault. None of it was your fault. I knew better than to approach you from behind with no warning. That's a surefire way to get attacked from a person who's been tortured and doesn't like to be broached from behind and, again, it's not your fault," she amended when he opened his mouth to apologize again. "And I don't know why I ran; I shouldn't have. You won't believe how angry I was with myself for getting lost, especially knowing what kind of danger I'd be in if anyone outside of this camp found me."

"So, you're not...not scared of me?"

Karina's eyes widened and then her entire expression softened with love. "Why the hell would I be scared of you?"

"Because..." Anxious, Murdock reached up and nervously rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand. "Because I hit you."

"No. You didn't hit me; you hit the men in the past who were hurting you. You think I don't get that? Or that I don't understand that? I must say, that's kind of insulting, James."

Murdock blanched. "I didn't mean to insult you."

Shaking her head fondly, Karina scooted forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. He hesitated only half a second before his own arms fell around her and he squeezed her tightly to his chest. "You didn't really insult me," she insisted as she cuddled up into him. He was far more comfortable than the damn cot they resided on. "I just don't want you to think I don't get it; because I do."

Murdock sighed and didn't respond, instead pressing a loving kiss to the top of her head and tightening his already tight hold around her. He so longed to say the words to her, but he was still gun shy about love. Michelle had really done a number on him. Karina had repaired most of the damage done, but he was still apprehensive in regards to loving the fairer sex.

"If it makes you feel better, I promise not to run off again," Karina muttered when Murdock remained quiet.

Murdock chuckled and tilted her chin up. He gently caressed her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb before bringing her face up to caress her lips with his. She whimpered softly, inciting him to deepen the kiss and roll her onto her back, falling over her with his entire body. She arched up into his chest as his tongue probed at her lips, begging for entrance.

Karina moaned into Murdock's mouth and parted her lips, running her fingers through his tousled hair when his tongue darted past her full lips to stroke lightly over her own. She moaned again and pressed her tongue forcefully against his before drawing it deeper into her mouth. Murdock growled and pressed her down as far into the cot as he could, parting her legs and forcing her to feel his desire against her inner thigh.

Smirking into the pilot's mouth, Karina wrapped her lips around Murdock's tongue and sucked, even as she trailed her right hand over his hard shoulder and down his spine, relishing the feel of hard corded muscle beneath her touch. He groaned and thrust against her sensitive core, causing her to buck up against him and wrap her legs tightly around his waist.

Murdock couldn't wait anymore; he needed her. Needed her almost more than he needed oxygen to breathe. He dipped his fingers into the waistband of the cotton shorts she wore, teasingly sliding the tips of his fingers over the sensitive flesh. She shuddered beneath him, breath catching in her throat when he began to press light loving kisses along her jawline.

His name escaped her lips on a breathy sigh and it sent tingles throughout his entire body. He pressed his fingers against her entryway and felt her instinctively tighten in response. He groaned against her throat and pressed them into the deep, clutching depths, enjoying the slick velvet heat as it encased his fingers. She moaned beneath him and lowered her hips downwards to pull those digits deeper into her body.

Murdock obligingly quirked his fingers as he reached down with his free hand to begin undoing his own pants, which were tight against his erection, making it almost painful. The minute his zipper was pulled down and his cock was free to the air, he breathed in a deep sigh of relief.

"You okay?" Karina rasped out at his deep-throated groan.

"I'm fine; just needed to get the pressure off."

As he spoke, Murdock purposely twisted his wrist to wring a frustrated cry of ecstasy from Karina. He grinned and did it repeatedly until she shuddered in utter pleasure, juices sliding down her thighs to coat his fingers.

He didn't give her any chance to settle down as he practically ripped her shorts and panties from her body before settling himself between her thighs, hard tip gently parting her wet, swollen flesh. She made a whimpering noise of some sort and lifted her hips to take him in; he didn't disappoint, sliding in ever-so-slowly until he bottomed out, unable to push in any deeper.

"So good," he murmured against her neck. "I can't get enough of you, baby."

"Me either," Karina rasped back, combing her fingers gently through his always ruffled hair.

That was exactly what Murdock needed to hear and he pulled back, groaning in time with Karina as her slick inner muscles sucked at his retreating dick. He slammed back in, nearly breaking the cot with the force of the movement. Karina cried out beneath him and raked her nails down his biceps and then back up to his shoulders, pulling him as close to her as she possibly could.

This was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Feeling Murdock so deep inside her, his body pushing into hers with all the energy he had-and he had a whole hell of a lot of energy. The stubble of his chin scraped across her creamy flesh as he took a pert nipple into his mouth and lavished it with loving attention. His hands-oh, his hands!-traced the sides of her body with a gentle touch that left her trembling and burning with an insatiable thirst that only he could quench; but that thirst would soon be reignited the minute she'd stare into those wild eyes.

Her legs tightened around his flanks as she began to arch upwards, meeting him thrust for thrust. His moan was muffled as he practically suffocated himself in her bountiful breasts. She laughed breathlessly at the sight and jammed her hips up hard, feeling the tip of his cock striking the sensitive flesh inside of her that caused her to wail loudly and dig her nails into his shoulders.

Murdock increased the speed of his thrusts while she rode out the effects of orgasm, grunting heavily as he stared down at her in wonder. She was always beautiful, but in the throes of ecstasy she was even more so. Her swollen red lips parted as she emitted gasps and moans of pleasure; eyes squeezed tightly shut; breasts thrust forward to chafe against his furred chest; legs trembling as they held him tightly in place against her.

"Oh, Karina," Murdock grunted, feeling the orgasm only seconds away. He waited until she clenched down around him once more, crying out his name as her back arched and her trembling hands dug into the skin of his back, before he let himself go. He grunted loudly and buried his face into the crook of her neck, stilling inside her until the pleasurable convulsions that wracked both their bodies ceased.

Murdock lay atop her for several minutes, fingers lightly caressing the side of her neck as he breathed her in, enjoying every moment he had with her. He had always liked sex, sure, but he'd never been as desperate for it as Face always was. If a woman happened to glance his way-which wasn't often-he'd woo her and take her to bed. But with this woman...all day, every day, a fierce hunger burned through his blood to have her and even when he did, it was never enough. The satiation would last minutes only and then he hungered for her once more. Was it always like that for people who were in love? Did she feel that same hunger when she wasn't with him?

Murdock grunted heavily as he slowly began to withdraw from the warm heat of her body. Karina whined sleepily in protest and he smiled, leaning up to brush damp locks of hair off of her forehead and pressed a gentle kiss to her pouty, swollen lips. She returned his smile and collapsed against his sweaty chest once he was flat on his back, still slightly raspy as he stared up at the top of the tent. He wrapped his arm around her waist as she cuddled into him.

Karina chewed on her lower lip as she caressed Murdock's lightly furred chest with the tips of her fingers.

"What are you thinkin' about, baby?" Murdock asked as he began to trail his own fingers along her smooth spinal column.

"What happened to you? In the past. What happened?" Karina blurted out. She'd been trying to come up with a subtle way to phrase the question. Clearly she'd succeeded at that.

Murdock sighed and fought against his automatic instincts to put up his usual crazy front. That would only postpone the inevitable anyhow and make her curiosity ratchet up several notches.

"I'm guessing you ain't talkin' about my boyhood growth spurts and how high my voice got when I hit puberty?"

Karina shook her head and gently scraped the blunt tips of her nails along his chest. "You know it's not." She was quiet for a moment. "I know you probably hate talking about it-if you ever have-but can you trust me enough to at least slightly talk about Vietnam?"

Sighing again, Murdock pressed her head against his chest to hold her closer. And, maybe, avoid all eye contact. "You know I trust you, baby. The least I can do after what you witnessed today is tell you about Vietnam."

"They tortured you, didn't they?"

"That was the least of what they did."

"What were you doing there?"

"Flyin' in medical supplies. But the engine failed and I had to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the only place I could land was right in the middle of the enemy's camp. They caught me, they threw me into the nastiest, filthiest cell they could find. I thought they would leave me to die, which, to be honest, would have been preferable, but they didn't."

"They came and whipped you, didn't they?" As she voiced the question aloud, she gently reached under Murdock to trace her fingers along the scars that lined his back. "That's what these marks are."

"Yeah. That was one of the last things they did, though. They tried a many number of things to get me to tell them where my team and the nuclear weapons they were searching for were, but nothing could make me talk."

Murdock took a long considerable pause, so Karina asked, "How come you get so jumpy when someone approaches you from behind?" She had a feeling she knew what the answer was, and she dreaded the confirmation, but he had to know he could talk to her, tell her anything, and she would never judge him. Would never leave him for anything that wasn't his fault.

Murdock's face turned ashen and his nails dug painfully into Karina's back. "They..." He swallowed heavily and forced himself to respond. "They took me from behind." He felt her stiffen in his arms and then her hold on him tightened considerably more. "They had me chained to the wall and they would... They kept me chained in that same spot for days at a time. When they didn't have the energy or stamina to go anymore, they'd tossed me back into my dirty, rat-infested cell. Sometimes they would tie me to a table..."

Karina pressed her finger to his lips and tried her damnedest not to cry. He didn't need that right now. "Ssh. You don't have to tell me any more." She leaned up to press a gentle kiss to his lips, conveying without words how much she loved him, no matter what scars-physical or emotional-he possessed.

She pulled back and rested her head on his chest, just above his thundering heart. "Now I know what all of your nightmares were about."

Murdock combed his fingers through her hair, relishing the soft purr-like noise of contentment that fell from her lips. "What were yours about?" he asked in a soft voice, afraid and not wanting to know, but needing to know.

"I'm sure you know they're about when I was taken."

"What didn't you tell us when you told us your story? You said you left chunks out."

"Not much. Just left out more of the graphic torture-a few punches and some bloodletting-that, really, is nothing compared to yours."

"Did they rape you?" Murdock blurted, instantly cursing his own lack of subtlety.

"No," Karina replied softly. "But I'm sure it was on their list of things to do. In fact, I know it was. They made no secret of talking about it within my range of hearing."

Murdock's teeth ground together and he didn't even realize how hard he was squeezing her until she made a soft grunting sound of pain.

"I'm sorry," Murdock apologized, lessening the grip he had but not releasing her entirely. He felt better knowing she was against him, in his arms; feeling her body pressed tightly to his.

"We're certainly a pair, aren't we?" Karina muttered after several minutes of silence.

"We belong together," Murdock automatically replied and he suddenly felt Karina stiffen in his arms. When he glanced down at her, her bluish-gray eyes were full of dozens of mixed emotions.

"We do?"

"Don't we?"

Karina's sudden smile was dazzling and Murdock released the heavy breath he'd been holding in a whoosh of relief. "I think we do." She leaned up to press a kiss to his lips and then slithered down his body as quick as a snake. When the wet heat of her mouth engulfed him in one fell swoop, Murdock jerked with a loud startled cry.

"You should...oh god, baby...warn me before you do that." He whimpered as he arched his back, hands tightening into her hair when he hit the back of her throat.

The rest of the night passed by in a pleasant blur for Murdock.