Hey all. I hope everyone is having a great new year so far! Here's the next update; sorry it has taken a while. Work is getting in the way of everything right now, but I will try and post more reguarly.

:-) xxx

Skye:

Two Weeks Later

For the past couple of weeks my life had pretty much been perfect. Since finding out that I hadn't really been anywhere or seen anything, Lucas had decided he was going to show me what I had been missing out on. He had taken me to some really beautiful locations. We'd seen spectacular waterfalls, exotic flowers, incredible wildlife and some shit scary cliffs that you wouldn't want to fall off.

Then at night, we'd return to our little tent. Some nights, we'd sit up talking until the early hours, until there were no words left; other nights, most nights, he'd make love to me, slowly and passionately. I couldn't remember ever feeling more content.

"Hey." I greeted happily as Lucas strolled back into our tent.

He glanced up from the Plex in his hands and smirked at me.

"You're still in bed?"

I threw him a playful scowl.

"Well excuse me for being tired."

Lucas chuckled as he came and sat on the bed next to me. I remained snuggled under the covers, warm and comfortable.

"Hmmm, I guess I did tire you out last night." He teased, smirking.

I giggled and rolled my eyes at him. Then I pushed myself up into a sitting position and looked down at the Plex in his hands.

"What are you up to?" I queried lightly.

Lucas's eyes narrowed and I saw anger bubbling in the emeralds.

"Trying to get a hold of Hooper." He muttered.

I reached out and stroked his stubbled cheek. Instantly Lucas's expression softened.

"I'm guessing he's not picking up." I remarked.

Lucas snorted.

"I don't know what gave you that impression."

I laughed and then leaned in closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder.

"So what are you gunna do?" I asked.

Lucas shook his head; his jaw lightly brushed against the top of my head.

"I'm not sure. There's not a lot I can do really." Lucas sighed. Then he pressed his lips to my hair. "But it is making me feel uneasy." He admitted.

I moved so I could gaze into Lucas's eyes. He smiled as he looked at me.

"They're probably in a no signal zone." I remarked.

Lucas nodded.

"I suppose." He frowned for a moment before shaking his head and then smiling at me, removing all of the worry from his expression. "How are you feeling now?" Lucas asked, tenderly stroking my cheek.

I shrugged. That morning I had woken up feeling awful. My stomach had been churning and I had felt so exhausted.

"Not as bad as I did this morning. I had a nap earlier and that made me feel better." Lucas smiled at me. "It's probably just a sick bug or something."

Lucas nodded.

"Well as long as you don't give me anything you've got. I refuse to become feeble and sick."

I chuckled.

"Guess that means you'd better not kiss me then."

Lucas gazed down at me and smirked. Then he moved his face down to mine and kissed me anyway.

"Your kisses are worth getting ill for." I beamed, feeling warmth creep up into my cheeks. "Do you want me to get you anything?" Lucas inquired softly, caressing my cheek once more. I shook my head. "Are you sure? You've not eaten anything all day."

I sighed.

"I feel if I eat something then I'd probably just go throw it back up anyway." I answered miserably.

Lucas's eyes traced over my face as he analysed me. Concern swirled in the green depths.

"How about some water then?"

Again I shook my head.

"I'm fine. I think I'll just lie back down and rest some more."

Lucas smiled weakly. He looked so worried for me, as if I was about to drop dead. But I was fine really. I figured I'd just picked something up; I hoped it would just be a twenty four hour thing.

"If that's what you want to do." Lucas remarked.

I nodded. I rested my head back on his shoulder. A beam formed on my lips when I felt him nuzzle the top of my hair.

"You can do something for me." I commented.

"Hmmm?"

"You can stop worrying about Hooper and instead come and lie down with me."

I peeked back up at Lucas. He was smirking down at me. His lips pressed against my forehead, lingering against the skin. My eyes drifted close.

"Let me go just go finish something that I started this morning; then I'll come lay with you."

I frowned back at Lucas, my tired eyes forcing themselves open.

"What did you start?"

Lucas smiled at me.

"Nothing too important. It shouldn't take long." He kissed my forehead before standing back up. I sighed as I watched him; then I lied back down on the warm mattress. Lucas smiled warmly at me. He crouched down at the bedside and tenderly stroked my cheek. "I won't be long."

I nodded. Lucas leant forward and kissed me lightly. Then he pulled up the extra blanket he had gotten me that morning, tucking me carefully in. I beamed at him and then watched as he left the tent. I yawned tiredly and allowed my sleepy eyes to flick close.

My final thought was of my mother, remembering how she had also once tucked me in when I had been sick.

In the midst of my unconsciousness, I became aware of someone slipping under the sleeping bag with me. The body was cool as if they had just come from outside. I felt the back of two rough fingers delicately stroke my cheek and I managed a small smile in response.

Lips gently pressed against my forehead and then an arm protectively encased me. Another tired smile formed on my lips, but I couldn't make my eyes open. Fatigue had completely claimed me; I could break out of my unconscious state. So I simply breathed his name, letting him know that I knew it was him.

Lucas kissed my forehead once more, before he settled beside me.

Mira:

Mira winced as Hooper mercilessly bumped along the rocky surface, sending agonising twinges from her wounds swirling around her chest. Carter sat in the back, and Mira could feel his concerned eyes fixed on her. Hooper whistled merrily, acting like he was oblivious to the involuntary flinches that escaped Mira.

"How much further?" Carter growled, unable to stand seeing Mira in pain.

Hooper shrugged innocently.

"We're about ten klicks West of where the camp is." Hooper glanced back at Carter and grinned sweetly. "Why? Need a toilet stop? I did tell you to go before getting in the rover."

Mira didn't have to see Carter to know he was glaring. Hooper chuckled to himself and began whistling once more. She forced herself to keep her eyes straight ahead and away from Carter.

She began going over the plan again in her head. Her task was to get Skye and get out. Hooper wanted as much distance between Lucas and Skye as possible. Mira hated herself for betraying her old ally like the way she was; but she reminded herself that Lucas had betrayed her first. The moment he had chosen his play thing over their mission was the moment their alliance had broken.

She knew she owed him nothing; she knew he hated her. Yet still she couldn't stop herself from wishing there was another way in which they could work together like they once had. They'd always worked well together; as if they had been fighting alongside one another for years. In a weird way, she missed that. She wouldn't go as far as saying they had been friends; but they had both respected one another.

Mira had been the only one who Lucas had confided in with his true motives of destroying Terra Nova. Everyone believed that he only wanted to kill his father; but she knew the truth. It was that knowledge that made Mira sure she'd be able to convince Lucas to open the fracture; she knew how desperately he wanted to get back to the future so he could collect his...'reward'.

"You're not having second thoughts over there, are you?" Mira jumped when Hooper spoke to her and glanced in his direction. He was observing her carefully, frowning inquisitively. "Because I'm sure you're aware what I'll do to people who go back on their word; and you did give me your word that you would help me."

Mira frowned uneasily at him. She couldn't remember ever feeling more like a prisoner; and yet Hooper had assured her that they were partners.

"I'll do whatever it takes to see my daughter." Mira remarked, neither confirming nor denying Hooper's suspicions.

Skye:

"Lucas?" I murmured as I felt him getting out of bed.

My tired eyes blinked open into a tight squint. Even the dull light seemed too bright for my eyes to handle. Lucas's blurry figure appeared in my eye line. He leant down and kissed my temple before whispering in my ear.

"I'll be back in a minute."

I nodded sleepily before fidgeting around as I got comfy once more. I was asleep again before Lucas had even left the room.

Lucas:

I left Skye quietly sleeping and walked out into the early morning dusk. My eyes squinted as I looked around the area. I had been almost certain that I had heard rovers. I frowned as I observed the seemingly normal day.

Nothing seemed out of place. I held my breath as I intently listened to the sounds around me. I heard leaves rustling to my right and the water from the lake lapping to my left. Three Pterodactyls were swooping over the lake as they hunted for fish; their squawks could be heard as they skimmed the water with their wings. In the distance, I heard a Brachiosaurus calling out to its herd.

I sighed to myself. Skye was right; I was being paranoid. Sending one last look across the camp, I went to turn back into the tent so I could be with my Bucket. But I paused when I thought I heard yet again the purring of engines. I listened as the gentle wind whistled past me bringing with it the revving of a rover.

Frowning I looked back around. I could see our rovers where we had parked them. Quickly I counted how many were present; twelve. That was how many we were supposed to have. Hooper and taken the other fourteen with him.

My eyes flicked back out to the trees that surrounded our camp. I couldn't see any indication of rovers and I couldn't think who'd be driving that close to us without alerting the soldiers on patrol; unless it was Hooper. But I reasoned it couldn't be him. I'd finally managed to get into contact with him before I had gone to bed with Skye. He had told me he was in the Badlands looking for the Sixers.

My skipped a beat as I wondered if it was Mira. I couldn't remember if the Sixers had rovers anymore or not. But I wasn't going to take the risk that it was them. I darted back into my tent and went straight over to the sleeping girl.

"Skye!" I roughly shook her awake. Her eyebrows knitted together and she slapped my hand away, keeping her eyes closed. "Skye you need to get up." I instructed. She groaned at me, turning her face further into the pillow. I stroked her hair with my fingers. "Please Bucket...we need to go, now."

She blinked her eyes open and switched her tired gaze to me.

"What's going on?" She queried, yawning.

"I think the Sixers are here." I answered straightforwardly."

She frowned and glanced toward the opening of the tent.

"The Sixers?" She muttered, sounding slightly more alert.

"Yes. C'mon, I'll explain on the way. But we have to go, now."

I turned away from her and began throwing a few necessary items in a backpack.

"Whoa Lucas, calm down." I glanced back at Skye to see that she had sat up in bed. "How do you know it's them?"

"Can you just trust me this one time?" I pleaded with her. Skye stared at me. Her brows were furrowed and she looked completely thrown by my actions. But she swallowed and then nodded anyway. I smiled at her. "Good. Now get up. We need to go."

"Where are we going?" Skye questioned as she got herself out of bed.

"I don't know." I remarked, throwing some bandages and medicines in the rucksack. "Just away from here."

I glanced over at Skye and frowned. She was as pale as death and dark shadows were under her eyes. She didn't look well at all; but she didn't complain. Instead she pulled on some jeans and a shirt.

She was never going to make it. She looked like she was about to collapse. I knew she wasn't going to be able to make it very far. I never should have made my father give her to me. My selfishness could be the end of her.

I swallowed nervously and glanced back at the entrance. I could then distinctively hear the sounds of rovers; they were getting close. My mind quickly began trying to work out an escape route. I looked back at Skye. She wasn't going to be able to travel for long. I knew we had to go someplace we could hide rather than put distance between them and us.

Skye bent down to tie up the laces on her boots and she momentarily froze. Her hand went to her stomach and her eyes bulged as if she were about to be sick.

"Are you okay?" I questioned, staring at her. Skye shook her head. I sighed and approached her cautiously. I helped her stand back upright and supported her weight. Her skin was clammy and her eyes had lost their normal gleam. "We have to run." I stated.

Skye nodded.

"I know. I'll be okay."

I frowned uncertainly at her, but didn't say anymore. I couldn't waste time worrying about her; I had to presume that she knew whether she was alright or not. So instead I crouched down and did up her laces for her. Skye smiled gratefully at me. I gave her a brief, chaste kiss on the forehead before turning back and scooping up my rucksack.

"Wait here." I ordered.

I marched to the entrance and peered out. My eyes narrowed when I saw Hooped. The majority of my soldiers were there to greet him, as if they had known of his arrival. I frowned. He'd told me he was in the Badlands; the lying bastard.

Though at the same time, I couldn't help feel relief that it wasn't the Sixers. Guilt that I had dragged Skye out of bed unnecessarily began swirling in the pit of my stomach. I hoped she'd the funny side of it.

But then all of the air was knocked out from my lungs. I watched as Hooper held the door to the rover he had been travelling in open. The disgusting whore slipped out. My hand twitched, heading toward my gun that rested securely in my holster. I'd kill her. I'd shoot her in the stomach so she wouldn't die immediately. She could slowly wither, feeling the pain that my Bucket had felt.

"Lucas?" I flinched when I heard Skye's voice. She sounded so frail that it broke my heart. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Mira." I hissed.

That was all the answer Skye needed. I heard her gasp behind me, like a terrified child. I glared across at the treacherous woman, visualising her bleeding out in front of me. Then one of the soldiers pointed up at my tent. Both Hooper and Mira glanced over.

I knew they wouldn't be able to see me looking through the small gap, but still I held my breath. Hooper said something and then gestured over at my and Skye's tent. Then I watched as my army turned on me, obeying Hooper's command to probably come and take my Bucket away from me.

Panic seared through me. They'd have to kill me before I let them touch her. I jolted back from the entrance and grabbed Skye's wrist.

"Lucas?" Skye whimpered, sounding terrified then.

I gave her no words of comfort; I simply dragged her to the back of the tent, focusing on getting her to safety. I yanked the knife out that I kept hidden in my boot and began slashing at the material of the tent. Skye sniffed, glancing uneasily back at the entrance.

I ripped the material just enough for us to be able to squeeze through. Grabbing Skye, I pushed her to the slit first, wanting to her to be safe. Skye didn't say anything, she simply wriggled through the slash in the tent; I followed quickly after her.

"What are we gunna do?" She asked as I pulled myself through.

I didn't bother answering her; I simply grabbed her hand in mine and began taking off toward the trees, hearing the sounds of the soldiers behind us shouting that we had escaped.