An Apple A Day Won't Keep The Doctor Away
Chapter Notes
Okay! So here we are, six weeks past the last update! Ouch. But better late than never,
eh? As AgentCorpWeek2020 and my 12 Months of Christmas has me knee-deep in
WIPs, I'm doing my best to allocate mental resources, since I love all my 'verses!
Also, that first line of dialog there? Might be one of my favorite lines of all time.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Sam's POV
"Her limbs are still. Did you break her?"
It's Alex's low chuckle more than Lena's whispered cheekiness that starts to push back the
unfamiliar lethargy of sound sleep.
"She can't be that bad."
"Oh, Alex, you sweet, naive thing. You haven't met Hurricane Sam."
Despite my being brain-dead with a glorious overdose of sleep and sex, that needs some sort of
comeback! Though the guttural zombie noise that escapes me like a deflating balloon isn't what I
had in mind. Still, I'm always happy to earn Lena's adorable giggle.
With a rustle of bedding and the surface shifting beneath me, warmth and heaviness is suddenly
squashing me. I know Lena's weight, her soft hands and lush kisses, but now she has company in
Alex's deliciously different contrast.
Yes, that high-pitched, utterly undignified, girlie noise is me. No, I can't hold it against myself
because the sheer sexy hotness of them all over me is bliss.
While the kisses and touches feel amazing, even my hyperactive engine is low on gas and the
whimper in my throat isn't really encouraging. The horrible snarl of hunger that shakes my bones
nearly drowns me out, eliciting a laugh from Alex.
"Okay, that does it. I win, Lena. You can pout all you want about getting out of this bed and into
clothes, but we all need food better than my snack stash can accommodate."
The bed shakes dramatically as I'm pretty sure Alex somehow climbs over Lena sprawled out
mostly on top of me. Our synced whining becomes yelps as we're both whapped stingingly on the
hip.
Okay, now I'm awake!
Murmuring sulkily, Lena feels me tense and rolls off so I can half fall to the floor getting my limbs
to remember how they work. Alex laughs at my shambling rush, my vision not quite focused, and
the 'attack' becomes a spinning hug.
God, but I like how she can manhandle me so effortlessly.
It's embarrassing as hell, but there's no denying it. Look, I might generally be a top but if my butch
daydream starts bossing me about then I'm not gonna say no. I like those muscles a lil' too much…
As though she can read my dumb, half-asleep face, Alex goes all coy and flirty, whipping out the
sweet calf eyes and a kissable little smile. "I can offer a proper hot meal, depending on leftovers,
and a shower."
That last word, singsonged teasingly, is enough to make me whimper again.
It takes some coordination and much sassy commentary -that I contribute little too as I am still a
zombie- before we're covered enough for a short jaunt to RV than clubhouse. Only, we're in for a
small shock when the front door opens and cold air blasts us.
"I guess you were right about the snow," Lena quips to Alex's amusement.
"Didn't even feel it inside, huh? The bonus of a well-insulated house." There is pure mischief in
Alex's smile as she wraps a gloriously thick arm around each of us to herd us into the ankle deep
snow. "It also doubles as decent soundproofing. Though, I dunno Sam, you might be in for some
tormenting from Lucifer."
I don't even try to stop the rude snort at the teasing. "I can handle that devil."
We stumble our way through ankle deep snow the thirtyish feet to the very dark RV.
"Guess the girls are having a sleepover at Camp Rambeau," I giggle like I'm stoned. Lena just
shoves me at the bedroom where we can grab clean clothes and return to Alex. Who thankfully
catches me tripping down the steps in proof that the whole walking thing hasn't rebooted in my
brain. "My hero."
Some little part of my psyche that loathes any lack of self-control, the potential vulnerability of it,
rages at acting like such a punch-drunk teenager. But Alex's seductive mouth on mine, Lena
nibbling at my ear, is a damn effective 'fuck you' to that part of me.
The workhorse asshole makes me squeal like a little girl by sweeping me off my damn feet,
grinning smugly and stomping down the length of the RV to the clubhouse. While I pride myself
on being towards the toppier end of the spectrum, I can't complain about Alex's assertiveness.
After all, it's what we've lusted after all this time! Y'know, besides the muscles. I'd hate it if I didn't
like it so much, even with Lena snort-laughing at the show.
"You are hilariously unhinged on hunger, endorphins and too much sleep and sex," Alex teases,
easily taking the three steps up to the deck.
"Well, you're not wrong," I agree cheerfully and set Lena off again where she's trying to open the
damn door.
It's a quick, familiar trek to the kitchen where Alex unceremoniously dumps me onto the counter
above the banquette so that she can flick on the lights and raid the fridge. I suppose I should try
and get up, but frankly, it feels like too much damn work. Besides, Lena is gently stroking my
forehead and cheekbones and I'm gonna fall asleep again…
The scent of bread, cold turkey and mayonnaise is like an adrenaline rush and I nearly bite Alex's
hand to get to the sandwich she's waggling at me. It's like the leftovers of the gods, savory and
plentiful. Shockingly, Lena finishes first and that pitiful expression has Alex looking wry and
handing off the last couple of mouthfuls of her own sandwich to go searching for more. Half a
roast chicken, a quart-sized mason jar of meatball soup, enough fruit to fill a bowling ball and a
baggie of chocolate cookies finally sates the three of us.
Well, most of the cookies anyway, because Lena makes a high-pitched noise like an alarmed
Chihuahua when Nia's voice suddenly says wryly, "hungry? That must have been some workout."
I'm too busy coughing up a crumb or twelve to catch Alex's stammering response.
"Alex, it's Wednesday. You know this is video review day and I always make fresh bread and
cinnamon rolls. Frankly, I wasn't expecting you to make it, seeing as you had a long night and all."
There is no mistaking the leering tease in there and, even as I catch my breath, Nia is laughing as
she helps the other two sit me back up to catch my breath.
"Oh, put away the puppy eyes, Lena. They won't be ready for another couple hours. I just came in
to check to see that everything is rising right and, what all the racket was about."
Now I feel bad, joining my lovers in looking pathetic, once again making Nia laugh.
"Oh stop, honestly. Any annoyance you might have caused will be paid in full for the amount of
shit you three are in for."
That gets us moving, cleaning up our mess and racing for an escape.
Alex's POV
Blearily, I hear voices, Ruby calling out, "might not wanna..."
How is her voice carrying through the walls?
Even as my brain wakes up with a blast of adrenaline, the bedroom door thumps open, Kara
yelling, "Alex! You never sleep in late!"
I think most of the four of us in the room make various noises of dismay.
Looking and sounding like a horrified Disney cartoon character, Kara's bulging eyes flicker from
where Sam has raised her head in front of my own panicked vision, and Lena makes a sleepy sound
of amusement and squirms closer to my back.
"I'll… uh… just go," Kara squeaks and nearly trips herself in racing out.
Well, at least the pets are happy, having zipped through the open door to jump on all of us. BP is
terribly unsure of the strangers-ish in my bed, shaking with nerves. So I squirm onto my back and
sit up to focus on my rescue dog, hugging her close to soothe her fears of things changing around
her.
"Shhh, I got you, good girl. Who's the best dog? Yes you are."
"Tossed aside for the dog," Lena more teases than complains and I find myself smiling, even as I
never look away from BP's sweet eyes.
"Better than her being a nervous pisser in bed."
That gets them moving! It's pretty funny, because while I was a city girl before this farm adventure,
being a doctor had rendered me immune to any gross out factor years ago.
"We never did make it to the shower," Lena complains mildly as she and Sam start getting dressed.
It's a disappointment to watch their beautiful skin hidden away once more.
With BP calm and snuggled into the warm covers for the moment, I can take up the small space
beside the bed now freed up with Sam walking out. Normally, I could be fully dressed in a matter
of a few minutes, but Lena is a tickling distraction. In the light of day, I'm not fully certain how to
behave around them.
"Second thoughts?" Lena asks softly and I guess my thoughts were written all over my face.
"Not at all… but now what?"
For all that she was utterly self-assured in seducing me, Lena looks nervous now, distractedly
tracing my abs. The thrill of the touch is threatening to derail my paying attention to the
seriousness of the moment, but I manage. Barely.
"I don't actually know. This is new territory for me and Sam."
The green eyes are soft when she looks up and I smile reflexively.
"But we like you."
"I like you too. Both of you. That can be enough?"
The lilt of question brings on her brilliant smile and a quick smooch before I'm left to hurriedly get
dressed.
"That is more than enough."
We all come together at my front door, a group of amusement and nerves for the shit-storm we're
about to weather. With lots of unsure words rattling around in my head, I forgo them and grip both
lovers to me and squeeze until they giggle breathlessly.
"You guys are great. Thanks. For everything."
"You're welcome," Sam murmurs, rubbing her nose against my ear. "But you're not getting rid of us
yet."
"Nope," Lena agrees.
"Good."
So, braced with hugs and sweet reassurances, we brave the morning. Only we stop in our tracks in
surprise. As does Bissy, who shot out ahead of us.
"I see last night was only a preview. When you said it was going to snow, this is more than
expected."
Sam and I can only nod along to Lena's comment. There has to be well over a foot of fluff laid out
as far as the eye can see. Bissy sniffs at it and yowls in complaint.
"You guys can go grab showers and I'll take care of her tiny highness here."
Bissy 'uufs' in that whiny cat way of hers as my big human hands grab her to give her a smooch and
set her on my shoulder. From out in the old garden, the girls have spotted their moms, racing
through the snow to jump on them, Lily chattering up a storm and Ruby sly enough that I'm
cowardly glad not to be over there. Not that I'm going to be spared for long with the way Lucy is
marching over.
I couldn't be any more grateful to be hailed by Maria.
"Middle Danvers! Get your butt over here right now! You missed breakfast and I know your
engine is starved, no matter your raiding the kitchen this morning!"
"Yes, Mom," I mutter and slink off to the clubhouse. Somewhere, Carol is laughing at me, I just
know it.
I'm only moments behind my new lovers, catching the tail end of Lily giddily telling of her
continued adventures with the apple tree. The thought of her exaggerating needing the tractor
bucket to help is gone when I see just how many apples there are.
There are a good dozen buckets full, plus the huge cooler Lucy bought years ago to chill drinks in
hotter weather has been dragged in. It's nearly overflowing in floating apples, the faint smell of
bleach in the air.
"Hope you guys like apples," Nia calls out merrily as she strides in, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Because we have stacks. It turns out there's a whole old grove of these trees speckled among the
firs on the earth berm that dams the pond. Bet they were planted to hold the dirt in place when it
was piled up. I can't believe we missed them. Seems only fair that the tree that tried to take your
head off provides plenty of goodies in penance."
Lena carefully holds in her amusement, even if it requires a hand over her face, but Sam seems torn
for a moment before stooping to pick up one of the red and yellow speckled fruit.
"Well, I was denied my snack yesterday," she says primly and takes a huge bite much to Lena's
noisy delight.
"Are you trying to tell me something, sis?" I ask and Nia looks at me oddly. "You know, 'an apple
a day, keeps the doctor away?'"
I almost don't get breakfast for that.
With some quick scrambled eggs and some sausage saved from the earlier meal in my belly, I'm
off to face the firing squad. Shockingly, everyone is completely chill, though I can sense the evil
brewing in my best friend. The distraction of an overdue job and Kara's continuing embarrassment
keeps the evil at bay for now. Somehow, that doesn't make me feel better.
Normally on a Wednesday, we'd be pulling the pasture-mobiles to a new patch of grass for the
chickens within, but the unexpected snowstorm has changed that. Now, we have to wrangle them
into hastily constructed crates to be carted off to the hoop houses until tomorrow. Tomorrow,
weather willing, we'll cart the whole mess off to a neighbor's to be harvested. The pigs too, which
no one will be overly sorry about. Don't get me wrong, there's a reason we're hiring the task out,
because none of us has the stomach for it, but the pigs have gotten huge and beyond terrifying.
Next time, we're going to be more careful of breed, going for something smaller and easier to
manage.
Eventually there's a smaller pen for the big pigs and we get them moved. In fact, it turns out to be
easy with a bucket of apples as bait, but still nerve-wracking. The text message on the group chat to
head in for an early lunch is welcome.
It also gives Lucy an opening to zing me.
"We'll need to look into upping the soundproofing on the green house."
The deadpan makes me flush, Carol cracking up while Kara and Brainy just look disgusted.
As opening salvos go, it's a pretty harmless one. Which means, of course, that I can't keep my
stupid mouth shut.
"Really? I'll just have to let Maggie know that you're intimating that you thought the soundproofing
was adequate."
Carol actually stops walking she's laughing so hard and the Kara-Brainy duo share a look before
taking off at a brisk jog. Lucy merely narrows her eyes, the shift to 'work shark' Lucy shifting over
her whole frame. Oh boy, I'm in for it now!
Then she shocks the hell out of me. Really, you think I'd know better than to assume anything
about my best friend and her mercurial mood and mind.
Abruptly going completely gentle and not a little vulnerable, she simply asks, "do you know what
you're doing?"
And… I really have no answer.
Lena's POV
Things are unexpectedly tense at the homestead.
It makes me feel bad, which sucks, because last night had been everything I dreamed of. Oh,
there's no doubt that it is universally caused by our little outing last night, the rest of the crew and
Ruby eyeing the three of us with various states of emotion.
When Alex strips off her warm layers on her torso to reveal that Sam and I were not kind to her
skin last night, the way Kara sputters like a cold diesel engine doesn't help any. Though it's a relief
to see how Alex is both awkward and cosmically smug. Carol high-fives her while Lucy can only
stare.
I notice Sam avoids that sharp-eyed lawyer glare as well.
Lunch is the usual sumptuous affair, albeit one with an excess of apples. There are muffins and
traditional crepes and applesauce is simmering away in several pots at the stove, there are four pies
in the oven and a whole haunch of pig is slow cooking in the outdoor woodstove with an equal
amount of the fruit. There are four buckets of scraps and rejected fruit ready to be taken out to the
animals and it seems like Nia has only made a dent in the mass.
Sam is looking a little sulky at the running gag of the apples, until Lily brings her a cloudy cup
nearly overflowing with freshly-squeezed juice.
"Me and Ruby helped Maria with a neat machine that smooshes all the apples into a gross mess
and squeezes out all the juice! Taste!"
The look on Sam's face, not to mention the low sound she makes, is far too reminiscent of last
night. By the way Alex freezes and stares, she felt that same jolt.
I choose to ignore the deepening speculation on Ruby's face as she brings me a glass and down the
whole thing. While it was meant to help cool me off, it's also obscenely delicious.
Pitchers and pitchers of the stuff come out for the whole gang, some with slush still floating on the
top.
"It's just nice, clean snow," Maria says with amusement as she plunks down a white bucket of the
fresh powder from outside. Everyone is delighted, the awkwardness forgotten, as bowls and spoons
are brought to the table and we all get the strangest snowcones of our lives.
With lunch over, we are drafted into 'The Great Chicken Hunt'. The girls are delighted, including
Sam, but I'm not so sure about this. As I remember from the videos, there are several small flocks
loose around the farm, having broken away to do their own thing. But winter is here and they need
to be put in the hoop coop once more.
Easier said than done.
While the damn birds might not be dangerous like their enormous cousins, they are shockingly fast
and can fly for short distances! Falling into a soggy patch of pasture -which at least thankfully
seemed to be poop free- has me perching on the railing to watch and cheer on the troops.
At least the locals loosen up and become their noisy, gregarious selves once more. They even
continue to try and keep the cussing down. Though when Lucy lets loose after nearly getting
spurred in the face by an angry rooster, I can't hold it against her.
Several times Alex is laughing too hard to even walk, much less give chase, and I'm not doing
much better. Between Sam's hamming it up as she races around like a maniac and Lily's
disorganized chaos, how could we resist? At least they finally wear out the chickens enough to be
herded into a roughly-constructed trap of tattered greenhouse plastic.
There are several of the big roosters and they are put in ramshackle cages of wire and plywood.
The hens from each flock are housed separately, but left together. When Lily asks why, Alex looks
pained, but is gently honest.
"Well, we don't keep roosters here. Not just because they're annoyingly noisy, but because they get
aggressive as they get older. So, they'll go with the meat birds tomorrow."
It dampens the free-spirited romp in the snow, but even Lily nods in acknowledgement. My girls
are so smart and adapt so well. Even past the shock of reminder where meat really comes from.
The rest of the day is spent at the aviary and building winter shelters for the hordes of cats Alex
lays claim to but none of us have seen. Then again, we haven't seen most of the cats we know exist
either.
Alex goes above and beyond to keep the girls occupied, getting Lily to sing along with a
surprisingly good knowledge of Disney songs and finding tasks and conversation ideas for Ruby.
Sam and I are pretty much on our own, Alex's studiously near-avoiding us understandable in the
group setting. Still, the lack of her stings a little bit. Even as the farm crew radiates a tangible sense
of silent warning.
The protectiveness is sweet and disconcerting as a glare.
After a dinner rushed through by most of the farm crew, Kara and Maria join us for a video
conference with Winn to go over what he has for the upcoming video. He's done a great job of
keeping our presence discrete, never a really good look at any of the four of us.
"There's plenty of footage I didn't use if maybe you'd like a video scrapbook at the end of your
visit," he offers cheerfully and I have to object at least a little.
"You don't need to put out any extra effort for us, Winn."
His smile is wry. "I think for what you did, we can put out a little extra effort, Lena. How about a
short, school-skewed version and then something longer and funner for just the fam?"
The girl's excitement is answer enough.
That settled, we head out to our temporary home to chill for a bit. It's not just me that looks
longingly at the homey little house with its green steel siding and warm light, Sam lingers at the
steps of the RV too. But tonight is for our daughters, left behind last time it was dark. For all that
we want to carry on with the fascinating woman hard at work somewhere out there in the night, we
hold hands and head in to be good moms.
But, falling asleep that night, wrapped up in Sam's familiar arms, I can't help but miss Alex's body
twined with ours.