Chapter 16: Head Above Water, Part 1
Notes: This chapter will come in two parts due to the fact that I just could not seem to stop writing! Maybe I just don't want the story to end…but it must — so I can go on to do some one-shots in the future.
This chapter is again dedicated to a fantastic group of people who have inspired me, motivated me, and challenged me. Thanks to them, I feel confident that the story I am writing is created out of the love for these characters.
Summary:
PART 1: Frank says goodbye to the river and the jungle for the last time as the trio (plus Proxima) board the train that will take the to the coast and onto the steamer to England. More truths and fun are explored between Frank and Lily as they discuss the path that their relationship has taken. Meanwhile MacGregor is in search of the perfect cocktail.
Inspiration photos:
Train interior
Song Inspiration
Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne
Gotta keep the calm before the storm
I don't want less, I don't want more
Must bar the windows and the doors
To keep me safe, to keep me warm
Yeah, my life is what I'm fighting for
Can't part the sea, can't reach the shore
And my voice becomes the driving force
I won't let this pull me overboard
God, keep my head above water
Don't let me drown, it gets harder
I'll meet you there at the altar
As I fall down to my knees
Don't let me drown, drown, drown
Don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown
So pull me up from down below
'Cause I'm underneath the undertow
Come dry me off and hold me close
I need you now, I need you most
God, keep my head above water
Don't let me drown, it gets harder
I'll meet you there at the altar
As I fall down to my knees
Don't let me drown, drown, drown
Don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown
Don't let me drown, drown, drown
Don't let me, don't let me, don't let me drown (Keep my head above water, above water)
And I can't see in the stormy weather
I can't seem to keep it all together
And I, I can't swim the ocean like this forever
And I can't breathe
God, keep my head above water
I lose my breath at the bottom
Come rescue me, I'll be waiting
I'm too young to fall asleep
God, keep my head above water
Don't let me drown, it gets harder
I'll meet you there at the altar
As I fall down to my knees
Don't let me drown (Don't let me, don't let me drown)
Chapter 16: Head Above Water, Part 1
Frank and Zaqueu walk quickly through the marketplace, dodging merchants, tourists and carts full of live chickens, as they hurry to gather a few items before Frank's departure. They've already managed to drop off his trunk at the train station, and secure a steel cage for Proxima to travel in. Convincing her to get into the cage however, will be an entirely new challenge that Frank was not looking forward to.
They make their way to a small shop in the corner of the market where an older woman sits, knitting under a canopy. Her silver hair glistens in the sunlight that peeks though a hole in the sunshade, and an old dog about the size of a cat sits curled up at her feet.
"Frank!" She shouts, and stands as quickly as her frail body will allow. Two bone-thin arms reach for Frank and wrap around his large torso, pulling him in for a hug.
"Anita, mi bonita! Como você está?" Frank replies happily and leans down to gently return the embrace.
"Better, now that I see your handsome face…" A soft hand cups and then pats his cheek. "Where did you disappear to? Two days ago you gave me these clothes...I made all of the alterations for you. They should fit nicely now."
She hands him a large package of clothing wrapped in cloth and bound with twine. She turns to the end of her small table and lifts the lid off of a wicker basket. She pulls out a tiny velvet satchel. "And here is the other item you requested. It didn't take long at all to complete what you asked." She watches as he opens the ties and peers inside. The lines at his eyes crease as he admires the contents, and the older woman finds herself smiling at his reaction. "I think the recipient will be quite happy indeed."
Frank feels a smile tug at his lips. "I certainly hope so." He pulls the pouch closed and stows it into his pants' pocket. "Thank you for doing this." He leans down to press a kiss to the older woman's cheek and says his goodbyes.
With Zaqueu in tow, Frank starts to head back to the hotel. He notices his young friend breaking into a run to keep up with his large strides, and he slows down slightly so he can keep up.
He checks his pocket watch. Thirty-five minutes until he needs to be at the train station. How did the time fly so quickly?
Anxious energy starts to fill his body and he wonders offhandedly if this is what Lily must feel like all of the time. He realizes that her energy comes from eagerness and excitement, whereas his right now also includes nervousness and unease.
Up until two weeks ago, he'd forgotten what it feels like to be excited about something new. Everyday life had become redundant. Predictable.
Now, as the clock ticks down to his last remaining moments in the Amazon, leading towards something unknown, he feels as if all of his emotions have been rolled into one chaotic ball that burning in the center of his stomach.
"Frank…?" A quiet voice to his left pulls him from his thoughts and he stops mid-stride to face the origin. Two sad green eyes stare up at him. "Is it true? Are you leaving for good?"
Frank can't help but feel his heart clench knowing that these would be the last moments he and his young friend would have together. He feels guilty for not recognizing that fact sooner, his thoughts having been focused so completely on his departure.
He squats down to Zaqueu's level, setting the stack of clothes on the ground beside him.
"It is pal." He places a large hand onto his tiny shoulder and squeezes it gently. "But I want you to know, you've been a great friend." Frank pulls a large envelope from his pocket. The contents clink and rattle together as he hands it to his young friend.
"This is for you and your dad. It's enough to keep you fed through the end of the year."
Zaqueu takes the envelope slowly, turning it over in his hands, but not looking up to meet Frank's eyes.
A large knuckle guides his face upward. "Hey…You know you're the best partner any skipper could ever have?" He meets the young boy's eyes with kindness and affection. "I will always be your friend." He pulls him into a hug and he can feel him wipe his nose along the his shirt at his shoulder. Frank leans back and brings him to arms length once again.
Zaqueu smiles sadly, his eyes filled with tears. "You're going with the Englishwoman and her brother?"
"I am."
Zaqueu wipes a tear from his cheek and takes a heavy breath. "She dresses funny."
Frank grins. "Yah, she does."
Zaqueu blinks, sniffles loudly, and this time, smiles back at Frank. "But she smells nice."
This time Frank laughs. "Yes, also very true." He stands up to his full height, his hand still on the boy's shoulder.
"Yah, way better than you!" Zaqueu's grin widens further, teasingly, as Frank's eyebrows fly to the top of his forehead.
"Oh really?" Frank tries to pull him in to ruffle his hair in retaliation for his snarky remark, but he's too quick, and dodges his hand. Frank's other arm darts out quickly, wrapping around his tiny waist, and he picks him up easily along, throwing him over his shoulder, his small head dangling close to the underside of his arm. He reaches down to grab the twine of his packaged clothing, and starts to walk through the courtyard.
"Hey! No fair!" Zaqueu continues to pound his tiny fists against the wall that is Frank's back as he's carried through the entrance of the hotel.
Frank's booming laugh rumbles in his chest. "See how good I smell with your head in my armpit!"
When they reach the main lobby, Frank sets him down gently, and then leans down once more, holding out another envelope. This one is much smaller and doesn't make any noise as Zaqueu grabs it from Frank's outstretched hand.
"I need you to do one more thing for me…can you give this to Felipe and his brothers? They fish off of the south bend of the river near the edge of town. Let them know they can finally take my cabin off of my hands for me."
Zaqueu nods his head and throws his arms around Frank's waist for the last time. Frank feels his little arms squeeze with all of their might, and then suddenly he is pushing away from him and and starts out the door. "Frank…?" He calls over his shoulder.
"Yah?"
"I'll miss you." With that, Zaqueu disappears down the stairs towards the river without waiting for his reply.
"Same here kid." Frank whispers after him. A shuffle of feet nearby alert Frank to the fact that he is not alone, and as he glances to his right, a group of tourists are huddled together, eyeing him suspiciously. He lifts his cap off in greeting, but they look startled and hurry away in a huff and around the corner.
Unbothered by their hasty exit, Frank replaces his hat, and as his arm comes down from up in the air, he takes a sniff of his shirt. Meh…not the best, not the worst. He shrugs his shoulders. He's not looking to impress anyone. The only person whose opinion I care about is…
As if reminded of his impending departure and the woman waiting for him, Frank realizes that he should probably hurry upstairs to clean up.
He lifts an arm to confirm once more, and without hesitating, bounds up the stairs two at a time to the bathroom.
xxxxx
12:05 PM
The deafening blast of the train's horn makes Lily jump, causing her already frazzled nerves to send another spike of unwanted adrenaline and worry into her veins. Fortunately, there's been a delay, and the conductor has informed them that they have until 12:15 PM before the train will depart. It has been over an hour since she left Frank behind at the dock to run off with MacGregor to accomplish a laundry list of items before they would need to make their way to the train station.
MacGregor insisted she return the call from the dean of Cambridge University first and foremost, as that relationship is the one that could lead to her becoming a full time professor, teaching research methodology and exotic botany by the fall. An extremely high honor indeed, as there are little to no female members of staff currently teaching at such a prestigious level. If all goes well, once the petal's abilities are verified, Lily and MacGregor will have their hands full choosing who to work with to develop medicines derived from the magical petal.
All of these successes would thrill any person of science or medicine or anyone whose life's work was about to become a realization. MacGregor is already mulling over scenarios where he and Lily will become the talk of the town, and he will finally be a member of the high society elite, and not the outcasted blemish he seems to have become of late.
Lily on the other hand has only had enough presence of mind to focus on one thing, and it isn't remotely close to their precious petal that is securely tucked away in her satchel; It is the whereabouts of a certain skipper — who is nowhere to be found.
"Relax, he'll be here. I'm sure he's just trying to…make an entrance." MacGregor tries to offer his take on Frank's tardiness, but by the glaring look from his sister, it is of no comfort.
He can feel Lily's nervousness like a tangible force, and as she begins to pace, he too begins to wonder what their large friend may be up to.
"Where could he possibly be? There's literally five minutes left before this train leaves — with or without him." Her hand comes up to block the sunlight as she tries to look through the crowd and past the platform for any sign of Frank. "Do you think something happened?" She sighs heavily, slapping her hands to her sides in a huff. "I hate feeling like a worried hen!"
Sweat begin to prickle across her brow, and she wills herself to relax, not wanting to become a mess right before an eighteen hour train ride. She managed to take the world's quickest bath and was even able to wash her hair, which is now in a tight, damp bun atop her head. Thanks to her dear brother, she has fresh clothing, and the newly acquired blouse she is wearing is silky smooth and soft against her warm skin. When MacGregor presented it to her, she was surprised at her brother's ability to find something quite unique and flattering, considering their location and the options available. Her joy was overshadowed by the fact that her trousers were unsalvageable. The options that remain include a collection of skirts ranging in size and weight, and a pair of white linen trousers that she managed to knick from MacGregor's suitcase, which she wears now.
The conductor passes by her, looking at his pocket watch, and Lily squeezes her eyes shut in frustration. Her pulse is racing, and she can feel the twinge of a headache setting in as she continues to stare at the edge of the platform. For a moment, a mere fleeting second, she almost entertains the idea that Frank has somehow changed his mind and has disappeared into the jungle, but she shakes the thought away, instead deciding to focus on her confidence in him.
He'll be here.
The train lets loose a cloud of steam from the main engine, and the acrid smell of oil and dust fill the air. Lily brings a hand up to her nose to wave away the pungent odor and starts to chew on her thumbnail — a habit she's tried to repress since she was a little girl. She glances in MacGregor's direction to ensure he doesn't see her nervous habit rearing its ugly head.
Another minute passes and as if her brain is trying to distract her, flashes of her and MacGregor's journey over the past few weeks begin to swim through her mind. After her quite daring and scandalous escape from the archives with the arrowhead, their voyage across the Atlantic was filled with anxious anticipation of not knowing what to expect once they were to arrive in Brazil. Flashing forward, not only did they travel into the depths of the Amazon, but they found themselves wrapped up in an adventure that has been quite literally, life changing. Not only for them, but for their wayward skipper as well.
Frank…Her heart begins to pound anew.
From their rocky beginnings, to learning of the curse and his extraordinary story, to finding the Tears of the Moon, Frank Wolff has most certainly become what she now considers an equally important, if not more so, discovery of their expedition.
A most unexpected discovery indeed.
She grins into the hand still perched at her lips, and the tension melts away just slightly as she begins to reflect on their time together. She had no intention of allowing a man in her life in England, let alone on a river in the middle of the Amazon. But as life continues to find ways to surprise her, this four-hundred year old conquistador appeared and threw her for a loop.
She had thought in the beginning that this pull towards him may just be a simple attraction. After all, he is ruggedly handsome and very much unlike any man she'd encountered before in both social and professional settings. She is a woman after all, and despite his ability for being quite uncouth and a swindler in the beginning, the attraction to him continued to grow, much to her chagrin.
It wasn't until their unexpected argument about Frank's reaffirmed decision to rest once the curse was lifted that she realized her attraction to him was more than what it seemed. She revealed her feelings to him that afternoon at La Luna Rota, as best as she could articulate them, offering to him the notion that she could be his one person to care for in this world. And in turn she would do the same for him. She did so willingly, hoping he would understand that he wouldn't be alone any longer.
Thankfully, he did.
As they journeyed back to Porto Velho and then spent the night together in his cabin, Lily realized that she had gained more than she could have hoped on this expedition. She'd forgotten what it was like to want someone, and feel wanted in return.
She tried desperately to not let her emotions get in the way of her original intentions of coming to the Amazon, but as she draws her fingers slowly across her lips, recalling their last kiss at the dock as they parted this morning, she can't help but feel as if things were somehow meant to work out just the way they did.
A sudden commotion at the edge of the platform catches her attention. She hears a woman scream in surprise, and a few more shouts are heard as a clatter of wooden crates hits the ground. MacGregor's attention has been grabbed at this point, and as they both continue to stare in the direction of the noise, a tall figure appears from around the corner.
"There he is!" MacGregor's voice cuts through to her suddenly, and it makes her jump just as the sound of the horn did only moments earlier.
Lily feels relief wash over her as Frank's unmistakeable bald head comes bobbing and weaving through the crowd of people.
"Oh thank God…" Lily exhales and her shoulders sag in relief.
As the last of the people in front of him scatter out of the way of, Frank comes entirely into view and Lily and MacGregor can't help the look of awe that draws their mouths open as they watch him approach in what feels like slow motion.
MacGregor swallows audibly and reaches a hand out blindly to grab at Lily's arm. "Is that the same man you shagged in the jungle?" His comment is followed swiftly by a jab to his gut, and an angry look from his sister.
"MacGregor! I swear I will leave you behind if you keep that up."
"Right. Sorry." He groans, clutching at his side. "I forget how hard you can hit." He mumbles to himself.
Their eyes focus back in on Frank as he approaches with four men trying desperately to maneuver a very large cage containing a very angry Proxima through the crowd and onto the train platform. A rumbling growl can be heard, followed by another scream; this time from a grown man who is seen running away in the opposite direction.
Frank is walking quickly across the platform white a small entourage trailing him as he scans the groups of passengers, looking for a familiar face. Gone is his skipper cap, only to replaced by a soft newsboy cap with darker material which highlights that tanned skin of his fresh and cleanly shaven face. When he finally spots Lily and MacGregor, the grin that spreads across his lips accentuates his strong jawline.
He is wearing a loose fitting white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and from the way it hangs on his muscular arms and shoulders, MacGregor guesses that it is a linen shirt. A dark navy colored waistcoat replaces the old brown one he wore when they first met, and with the buttons fastened, it emphasizes his broad chest and narrow waist. MacGregor smiles in appreciation of Frank's high standards of dress. Perhaps they have more in common than he once thought.
His dark brown trousers are a much different sight than the lighter ones he's worn, and as Lily finds her eyes lingering on the way the new clothing seems to fit his body in all the right places, she feels as if she is seeing him again for the first time. But instead of a ruse of an introduction in the office of a stranger, she's seeing Frank Wolff for the first time, and she can't help but feel a warm pleasant sensation spread throughout her body that has nothing to do with the sun overhead.
The one thing that has stayed the same are his worn leather boots that thud against the wood of the platform as he walks quickly towards them. Just before he is beside them, he says something inaudible into Proxima's cage and she settles with a low growl as Frank pulls the heavy canvas tarp over her cage. The four men beside him breathe a sigh of relief and continue to push her down to the rear of the train.
With a relieved exhale, Frank claps his hands together as he comes to a stop in front of his friends.
"I'm so sorry I'm late! I had a few things to take care of…and Proxima would NOT get into that cage without a chicken and a— " He pauses as he notices Lily's dumbstruck face. "Everything alright?" He glances to her brother who, oddly, has a nearly identical look on his face as well. He raises his eyebrows curiously.
Lily is staring at the way his shirt is hanging open just enough to reveal the peak of his muscular chest, and a much like his red handkerchief he had worn around his neck, a dark blue one is now in its place. Blue is most certainly his color…Wait, did he just ask me something?
"What?" She blurts, blinking rapidly, trying to recall what he'd just asked. Her face shifts from a gawk to a serious one, and she swats him in the arm reflexively, turning the attention back to the fact that he is late.
"Where have you been?!" She shouts as she finally manages to find her words. "Are you trying to give MacGregor a heart attack? He's been worried sick!" She aims for his shoulder again, and he holds up a hand in surrender.
"Hey, whoa there! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make him or anyone worry." He grabs at MacGregor's shoulder and squeezes it just enough to cause the smaller man to wince. He laughs at the grimace on MacGregor's face, but when he looks back at Lily, her arms are crossed and when he tries to meet her eyes, she fiddles with the strap of her bag instead. There is definitely something off about her demeanor, which sends alarm bells off in his head.
MacGregor ducks out from the clamp that is Frank's hand. "Yes well, I think we've all had quite enough excitement for one morning…" At the moment, all he cares about is a cocktail and lunch and he can't be bothered to stand around on the loud, dusty train platform for a moment longer. "…I don't know about the two of you, but I am heading straight for the dining car as soon as this thing pulls out of here. Shall we?" MacGregor dusts off the lapels of his blazer and strides into the train without waiting for either one of them to answer.
"Coming…" Lily shouts after him, and as she turns to board the train, Frank's hand at her elbow holds her back. She turns back to him, finally meeting his eyes.
He tilts his head as if studying her face."You were really worried, weren't you?" He lets go of her elbow. "Did you not think I'd make it?"
Lily takes a step back, feeling her anxiousness return under his scrutiny.
She opens her mouth to reply, but no words come out. Trying again, she inhales a deep breath, "I — was mildly concerned that something…may have happened, causing you to possibly miss the train." She smiles weakly, hoping her voice doesn't give any hints as to the other reason why she was worried. She feels guilty for even letting the sliver of doubt enter her mind, and even if her voice doesn't give it away, she knows her eyes are doing it now.
Frank sighs. He doesn't know how to make it clearer to her — he's not going anywhere —.
Frank removes the space she had created by stepping towards her. His hand reaches out and strong fingers curl behind her neck, pulling her gently to him. Lily's eyes drift closed as his mouth reaches hers, and all of the tension and worry that had inhabited her body seem to disappear with the touch of his lips.
He lingers for a moment, then pulls back slowly. "Well…if you had any doubts, I hope they're gone now." His breath is warm across her cheek, and she feels his hand drop away as she nods her head in response.
Her eyes refocus in on his chest and before she can stop herself, she is running a hand appreciatively over his new shirt and waistcoat. "Well, I must say… you clean up quite nicely." Her words are soft as she reaches up to adjust the handkerchief around his neck. Her fingers brush the skin on his neck, and Frank feels a shiver slide down his back.
Lily inches closer, breathing him in. "And… you smell quite nice." Her eyes gleam with affection, and Frank can't help but smile at her compliment. He could get used to this kind of attention.
"Thank you."
His fingers are playing with the material of her blouse at her elbow. "This is soft. I like it." He leans back gradually to take in the rest of her attire. The dark green blouse is a stark contrast to the soft off-white color of the linen trousers. She's secured a leather belt around the oversized waist in a double knot, and rolled the pant legs up to keep them from dragging on the ground, which leads him to believe these pants must have previously belonged to MacGregor. His eyes travel down to her feet, which are sporting a pair of dark leather sandals. Her toes out in the open makes him smile. He recalls the first time she made herself comfortable on the bow of La Quila, slipping off her boots to let enjoy the air upon her bare feet. He remembers thinking that this woman was quite accustomed to the outdoors — a much different female client than he was used to. She no doubt got the sandals from one of the hand-made shoe vendors in the marketplace, and they suit her well.
"You look quite fetching yourself, Pants." He winks at her and leans in slightly. "While I do enjoy seeing you in a skirt, I did miss the actual pants though…"
Lily grins. "Thank you - and yes, you and me both!"
She is delighted to hear Frank's rumbling laugh, and as much as she wants to continue their reunion, the clang of a bell begins to toll just as the conductor reappears on the platform.
"ALL ABOARD!" The conductor's voice echoes out just as the blast from the train's chimney sends another mountain of steam up into the sky.
All tensions and worries put to rest, Lily and Frank look up at one another once more.
"You ready, Skippy?" She asks eagerly.
"Lead the way." He replies and sweeps his arm out in front of him, gesturing for her to board the train first.
Lily and Frank find MacGregor in one of the first class cabins at the rear of the first passenger car. When they arrive, he's fiddling with the contents of a small leather bag. He glances up as Frank and Lily fill the small doorway. He huffs and closes the latch to his bag, storing it on the luggage rack above him."Well, the good news is we have a gorgeous cabin for the eighteen hour ride to the coast."
"And the bad news?" Lily asks.
He plops himself down on the plush seat and dramatically crosses his legs."We only have one gorgeous cabin for the eighteen hour train ride to the coast."
MacGregor explains that since they had already booked an open ended return ticket, the booking agent only reserved a single cabin. Having assumed that it was just going to be Lily and himself upon the return, it didn't seem that would be an issue. However, when you add a six-foot tall former conquistador to the mix, well then, the first class travel car becomes quite small.
The compartment itself is nicely adorned with plush red velvet bench seating and a high tufted back rest filling both sides of the room. A large window splits the space down the middle, and the sliding wooden door at the entrance can be shut to allow for privacy.
"Oh come now MacGregor, we'll all be fine. There's plenty of room."
Lily slides into the velvet bench across from her brother. Their knees touch, and MacGregor snorts.
Frank ducks his head and enters the cabin, sitting next to Lily. "Look at this way, MacGregor," he grins and puts his boots up on the bench next to him, "You could be riding in the luggage car with Proxima."
MacGregor chuckles. "Yes well, I suppose it is nice compared to a rickety raft held together with twine and floating down the Amazon."
"See? Already looking on the bright side of things." Frank laces his hands across his belly, settling into the seat further. He removes his cap and sets it on the cushion beside him.
There's a clang of metal upon metal followed by the bellow of the train's horn once again. The trio all look at once out the window, and with a groan and a squeal of the driving wheels beginning to turn, the train lurches forward, beginning its journey out of Porto Velho. Frank pulls his feet off of the bench and sits up straight to get a better view. He's told himself not to make a big deal out of this moment; that it's just another day, another adventure. His eyes are naturally drawn to the river, which remains in view as the train tracks run parallel to its path for a few miles. Nonetheless, as the speed starts to increase, and Porto Velho begins to fly by faster and faster, he can feel his heart begin to race while his hands clutch at the soft cushion of his seat.
MacGregor squints out the window, seeing the last of the buildings disappear, and he sits back with a sigh. He feels as though they'd only just arrived moments ago, and now, as they depart from their successful expedition, he can't help but feel connected to the jungle he'd hated since the moment he arrived. His body is nearly healed from the bug bites, rashes, and mysterious bumps, and now, the only reminder he truly has is still his 'mark of a warrior' tattoo across his forehead — which, if he were being completely honest, he has grown to like. He glances at Lily who is also staring out of the window intently, and he wonders if she is feeling the same sense of nostalgia as the city is put behind them and they begin their long journey home.
He looks down at her hand that rests nearest to him and sees it fastened tightly to the edge of the cushion in almost the same fashion as the man next to her. He smiles to himself as he sees them next to one another, their bodies only inches apart as if they'd known each other for a lifetime already. His heart swells with the realization that his sister has found a connection with something beyond the thrill of an expedition, the discover of a new plant species or the next scientific revolution. Her noble heart that is almost always consumed with how to help others has been touched by someone who is equally as stubborn and spirited as she; and even though it may be too soon for either one to admit it, he can already tell that there is a deep bond between them.
Deciding that he could use a bite to eat, as well as allow these two lovebirds some time alone, MacGregor slaps his hands atop his knees and stands up suddenly.
"Well, I'm off to the dining car. See you two in a bit?"
Lily turns away from the window and stares at her brother, surprised by his sudden need to depart. His head nods slightly as his eyes flicker with unspoken words, and she smiles gratefully back at him. "Yes of course. We'll be there in a few. Try not to drink all the wine before we get there?" She adds dryly.
He waves a hand at her dismissively, slips past Frank, and departs, closing the door on his way out.
Frank gets up and moves to where MacGregor was sitting so he can get a better view out of the window. From this vantage point, he is facing the same natural direction that the train is headed, and he feels better watching the scenery pass him this way rather than in reverse. As the train continues to pick up speed, it begins to take on a subtle rocking motion which is almost comforting, and he can't help but be reminded of La Quila and the way she would move as they would glide down the river.
They come upon a wide, resulting in the train turning away from its parallel path alongside the river and Frank watches intently through the window as the Amazon's shimmering water slowly starts to disappear from view. He sucks in a sharp breath and holds it as if anticipating a jungle vine to somehow burst through the glass and yank him back savagely to the banks of the river. Instead, he feels the touch of smooth and strong fingers slide into the hand at his knee, intertwining with his own. The last grip of fear he has remaining within him begins to dissipate as he releases the breath of air. He turns his head to Lily, who has been watching with him as the river leaves their sight and becomes now, only a memory.
Frank sighs, and when Lily meets his eyes, he shares with her a relieved and grateful smile.
She continues to grip his hand tightly, and as she moves her fingers in his grasp, she sees a flash of pain flicker across Frank's face. Curiosity and concern immediately take over and she glances down at their hands. She opens his palm to see his skin is cracked, and the area surrounding it is puffy and red. Her eyebrows cinch in concern, and before she can say a word, he's pulling his hand from her grasp to rub at the injured area with his opposite hand.
"Frank? Are you alright? Let me see…" Lily asks and then is reaching out to drag his hand back into her lap before he can answer.
He doesn't resist her examination; in fact, he finds the way her graceful fingers glide over his much rougher ones quite soothing. "Oh - it's nothing, just a little rope burn. I get it all the time."
Lily rolls her eyes. Always playing the tough man. She's beginning to find his macho routine a bit tiresome. Hopefully he will come to learn that it is alright for others to worry about him. "Right — but before, when you didn't bleed it wasn't a big deal, now it is." She tries to reason with him, but he deflects with a charming smile.
"I thought you were happy about me bleeding." He replies, recalling her excitement at finding his head wound after he'd broken out of the stone in the cave so many days ago. She certainly didn't care about him hurting at that moment, as she poked at his head wound with an exuberant smile.
She lets him go and stands up, pulling down the bag MacGregor had stowed upon their arrival. She plops it down between them and opens the latch. "Well of course I was happy then — it was confirmation of you…" She pauses, searching for the right words, "…being alive…but now, you could run the possibility of an infection if we don't treat those cuts."
She starts rooting through the bag as Frank watches. He glances at the exterior and notices the initials, M.T.H. written inlaid in the leather. "I thought MacGregor lost all of his luggage?"
"Ah yes…but this one was fished out of the river, and somehow made it back to MacGregor when we returned. And don't ask me how…but in the short time while we were gone, he's already managed to fill it with a new set of toiletries and other items I can only assume he acquired from the marketplace." She opens and sniffs the contents of a small metal canister. Satisfied, she waves it in the air with a smile, and moves the bag to the other side of the bench.
"This will due." She scoots closer to him and holds out her hand. "May I?"
He shifts, turning his body away from the window so he is facing her more directly and then returns his right hand to hers. She swirls her fingers into the soft ointment of the container, gathering a generous amount of the salve, and then sets the tin aside. The smell of honey and lavender fill the air as she begins to press it into his skin. Her fingers are firm and strong as she works it into the palm of his hand, taking care to be gentle around the cut directly, but also ensuring that every inch of his skin receives some of the healing balm. The heat of their hands together melts the salve so her fingers glide almost effortlessly over each finger, tendon, and knuckle of his hand.
Frank can feel the tension in his arm relax, and like a cascading affect, the muscles in his shoulders start to release, and he feels himself lean into the soft cushion of the backrest as Lily continues to massage his hand soothingly. He watches her as she concentrates on her task, enjoying the attention she's providing, while also admiring the focused look upon her face, and the rather inviting way she bites her lip as she turns his hand over to work the salve into his forearm. He wonders if she is aware of how arousing that little gesture is. When she looks up suddenly, he laughs subtly at being caught staring.
"You may have a staring problem, Frank." She quips, and continues to massage his hand.
"Ahh well, what can I say?" He holds her eyes. "It's difficult to not look at you all of the time." He says quietly.
Damn. This man really knows how to turn on the charm.
She shakes her head, attempting to reset the playing field, "Oh Lord - You really are a big flirt aren't you? You know you've already won me over, right?" She smiles at him with the clear intent to deliver the same amount of charm, and when she sees him set his jaw, as if preparing to spar, she narrows her eyes in response.
"Oh I did, did I? I couldn't tell." He grumbles as she reaches out for his opposite hand to rub the extra salve into it. She struggles with the reluctant limb, and she knows now he's being difficult on purpose.
"Couldn't tell? Well, what evidence would you need to set you straight?" Lily continues to smirk at the fact the she's gotten under his skin.
She presses her thumbs into the tight muscle in his forearm, and she can feel the tendons shift under the pressure of her finger. His fist opens, giving her access to the roughened pads of his palm. She is grateful for the distraction of the salve, as it helps her to avoid his eyes. Playful as this may be, she knows already how a verbal sparring session can quickly turn into something else.
Frank can tell she is avoiding his eyes, and he smirks at the top of her head. It's evidence she wants…Ok.
"Actually, I was wrong. I think I have all the evidence I need."
"Oh really? Do tell…" She looks back up at him with a straight face, confident that she's already won this debate.
His relaxed hand comes alive suddenly, grasping her right hand gently. Lily's eyes widen as he takes over the movement of her arm. His other hand joins and suddenly their roles are reversed, whereas Frank is now massaging her slender wrist and forearm; his large, strong fingers mimicking her movements from the way she'd been massaging him. He turns the hand over so her palm is facing up and then pushes the sleeve of her blouse to up to her elbow.
"Well… " He licks his lips and Lily follows his eyes down to her arm where his index and middle fingers begin to slowly drag down the length of her forearm; the salve glistening in the sunlight that is streaming in through the window. He pauses and then brings his eyes up gradually from their hands to her eyes which are watching him intently. "I would think from the way you responded to me this morning… with just the touch of my hands…would be quite enough evidence indeed."
Lily swallows thickly as his unabashed comment immediately sets her neck and chest ablaze with a heated blush. She feels her breath quicken as if he's touching her in the same intimate way he'd done so just hours earlier. She blinks at him, her lips parted slightly as his words sink in.
Ever since their relationship had taken a more intimate turn, she's found it difficult to concentrate on anything else but him — and it's clear that the same goes for Frank. Not that she's complaining…in fact she has never felt so invigorated and alive in her life. The way she yearns for him, even now, is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. She's also come to realize that from the way he looks at her — with such emotion and desire in his eyes, that it is almost overpowering at times. She is not used to such attention nor is she prepared for the fact that she is beginning to crave it.
The moment begins to overwhelm her, and rather than reply to his comment with a snappy retort, she finds herself unsure of how to respond.
"I, um…" She fumbles, and clears her throat, "I think that—that is a very a good example…"
Frank nods slowly. "Good, and I assume that you have…enjoyed, our time together?" He lifts one eyebrow curiously, and Lily feels herself grinning back at him, knowing that now he is just fishing for compliments — and she is more than happy to oblige.
"I have…" She lowers her voice, almost to a sultry whisper, "…so much so, that I feel that I may need you to remind me again of all the ways you've won me over."
Frank feels the familiar heat of desire begin to grow in his belly at her salacious request. The knowledge that she desires him just as much as he for her makes him ache with need, and the urge to arouse her further begins to seep into his veins.
She's acutely aware of the strong grip of his fingers as they curl around her hand and lift it up to his waiting mouth. Without breaking eye contact, he licks his lips and presses a moist kiss to the pulse point at the inside her wrist.
Lily's eyes widen and a puff of air escapes as his mouth lingers against the sensitive skin.
He pulls back slowly and then looks down at where his lips had just been. "Hmm…"
"What?" She replies, albeit a bit breathlessly.
"I just realized I hadn't kissed you there before." He states simply, and then raises her wrist to his mouth once again. This time he bites at the skin, and he can feel her flinch at the feel of his teeth upon her.
Lily's mouth goes dry, and when she feels his teeth scrape across her skin, she feels the desire between her legs begin to pulse causing the muscles in her abdomen to contract oh so perfectly, and before she can stop the words from coming out of her mouth, she replies, "I can think of a few other places you've not yet kissed…"
It's Frank's turn to be surprised as his eyebrows skyrocket to the top of his forehead. His gaze turns serious as he maneuvers her hand around his neck and leans in close to her ear to whisper, "I promise to fix that."
Lily's eyes darken at the thought of all the places his mouth has been so far, but also for the fact that there is one place in particular that she would be more than willing to let his mouth explore. This was bound to happen. Their attraction to one another has grown exponentially in the matter of forty-right hours, and while they both knot that they are not anywhere remotely private, they can't resist the pull towards one another.
Lily hears a low growl emanate from his throat as his arm slides behind her and pulls her to him. It takes only a moment before he is kissing her deeply, breathing in when she does, sharing the same air as if it was made for them and only them. She returns the kiss with equal fervor, and as her mouth opens, his tongue slides across hers insistently. Lily's other arm snakes around his neck, pulling him closer to her in the same way the muscular arms around her waist pull her to him. A moan breaks free of their lips, and neither one is sure who it originated from.
Lily's hands are reaching for the buttons of his waistcoat while his are prepared to pull her blouse out of the waistband of her trousers when the grind of the metal wheels upon the tracks echos into the cabin. The muffled sound of other passengers walking down the hallway combined with the noise of the train interrupts their intimate embrace, and Lily has to push herself away from his mouth reluctantly before things get too out of hand. She sits back, still holding onto his forearms, her chest rising and falling as rapidly as his.
She can see his smile forming, and a laugh bubbles up and out of her mouth almost on instinct, breaking the tension. He joins her, and it feels good to laugh with together, as they fall easily back into a comfortable silence. Even though their passion for one another needs to be placed on hold for now, they both feel relief at allowing their happiness of being together escape through other means.
Lily sighs and presses her hands to her temples and cheeks, willing the flush of her skin to calm. "I, uh…much prefer the privacy of your cabin and the boat to this noisy train."
Frank laughs, and leans into the cushion behind him. "I agree..I agree." He looks over her shoulder as two silhouettes pass by their door. The lines at the corners of his eyes crease. "You said this is an eighteen hour train ride?"
Lily nods. "Yes."
"Then a ten day boat ride back to England?"
"Correct again." She lifts her chin, curiosity piqued.
"And we have…how many rooms on the steamer?" He lifts an eyebrow, and she sees the meaning behind his eyes. The reasoning behind his line of questioning is now becoming apparent.
"Three, I believe. As I believe MacGregor was able to secure one cabin for each of us."
A beat.
"And there are locks on the doors?"
She makes no attempt to hide her smile. "Yes.
"Good." He winks at her.
Soon, his eyes are wandering the small compartment once again. He sees Lily's bag sitting across from them and wonders if the petal is inside. He's not seen it since they'd returned from their journey back from La Luna Rota, but is confident Lily is keeping it safe.
Naturally, his eyes come back around and settle on Lily who is staring thoughtfully out the window behind him. He notices for the first time that the tight bun in which her hair has been wrapped in is slightly damp.
He points to the top of her head. "Your hair is still wet." It's not a question but a statement, and he mentally kicks himself for saying something so blatantly obvious. She doesn't notice however, and explains she had time to wash it, but not enough time to have it dry, hence the bun.
Frank starts to reach a hand out but before it reaches her, he pauses, "May I?"
Lily smiles and leans in closer to his outstretched hand.
He pulls a silver pin from her hair and a small elastic band, causing the wet golden locks to tumble down and across her shoulders.
"Well now you've done it. I must look a disaster." She rakes a hand through the damp blonde waves, trying to wrangle them as best as she can.
"You've never looked more beautiful." He says simply, as his hand reaches out to caress the soft pool of hair at her shoulders. She blows a raspberry at him, but is grateful for the sweet compliment.
"May I braid it?" He asks out of nowhere.
Lily can't hide the look of shock upon her face. "Really? You know how?"
He nods and his massive shoulders raise and fall in a shrug. "How hard can it be? I've watched you do it a dozen times." He twirls a finger in the air, motioning for her to turn.
Lily takes a deep breath and rotates her body away from him so she is facing the door, her back to him. Lily can hear him breathing behind her, and as she waits for him to begin, she sits up straight, shoulders back, trying to relax as she anticipates his touch.
Frank claps his hands together. He flexes his injured hand and notices that the salve has already brought the swelling down, and he places that hand on her shoulder. He draws on his memory, recalling the way she would section off her hair before beginning to braid it down her back, and he allows the fingers of his other hand to tangle into her golden locks to do the same.
Strong, agile fingers begin to comb her hair back from her temples gently, and she can feel him begin to gather up sections of her hair and separating them. He hesitates, and she can almost hear him mumbling instructions to himself, which bring a grin to her lips.
"Need help back there?" Her voice is bright and playful.
"Nope, no…I got it." He replies quickly.
After a few failed starts, he finally finds the pattern he'd been searching for, and completes the braid, securing it with the small elastic band around her wrist. He places gentle hands on her shoulders, turning her around to inspect his work.
Lily reaches her hands up to feel at the back of her head. The braid feels tight and together, with only a few loose strands of hair, and as her hand travels down to the end, she pulls it over her shoulder with a grin.
"Well I must say, Frank, you are quite skilled. Not bad at all." She smiles presses a hand to the soft skin of his cheek. "Thank you." She leans in to place a kiss to his lips.
"You are welcome." He grins and leans into her warmth of her hand.
A moment later, the door to their compartment slides open and MacGregor steps into the room with a sigh. "The dining car doesn't open for another hour, but I ran into a lovely couple who shared a glass of wine with me from their own collection and — " He stops talking as he notices the two sets of perturbed eyes staring back at him.
"I've done it again, haven't I? Interrupted a serious moment?"
Frank leans back into the cushion of the seat and sighs heavily, pretending to be annoyed with him. Lily follow suit and slaps her hands atop her legs dramatically.
"For goodness sakes MacGregor… you certainly do have terrible timing." Lily rolls her eyes but the hint of a smile at her lips tells her brother that she is not as serious as she seems.
He squints at her. "You weren't so cross at my timing when I stopped that bus in the nick of time for you to land on as you were hanging out the window of the archives."
Frank blinks and his eyes switch from MacGregor to stare questioningly at Lily. "Wait… what?"
Lily shakes her head. "He's exaggerating." MacGregor narrows his eyes at her.
Within the hour the trio decide to head to the dining car together, enjoying a late lunch and a bottle of wine as the train continues its path across Brazil and to the coast. Afterwards they all go together to check in on Proxima who is ecstatic to see them. They spend about an hour with her, changing out the straw from her cage and making sure she had fresh water. Frank had smuggled his steak from lunch with him and she gobbled it up like it was nothing.
By the time night began to fall, their compartment was bathed in a golden glow from the lamp hanging from the center of their cabin. Lily sits by the window, her feet propped on the cushion in front of her, and using her knees as a table, finds herself immersed in her notebook, scribbling notes and thoughts and ideas regarding the Tears of the Moon. The sun had just dipped beyond the horizon, leaving her squinting at her pages; the light from the lamp above her providing no help. MacGregor, having long since passed out after finishing a half bottle of wine on his own, is stretched out completely on the opposite bench.
Frank, sitting at the end of the same bench as Lily, his back against the wall of the compartment, is encountering a similar problem as the words on the page of the book he has been reading begin to bleed together, making it impossible to continue. Setting the book aside, he yawns and stretches his hands out over his head. As the fatigue begins to set in, Frank only now realizes that finding a comfortable sleeping position may be a bit of a challenge with three grown adults. He looks at the luggage storage above MacGregor and medium sized rectangular hard shell trunk. He retrieves it and places it on the ground between the seats.
"Pardon me…" He says, and motions to Lily's feet.
Lily, watching him closely, lifts her legs a bit higher, and he slides the trunk under the window. Balling up a blanket, he places it where he had been sitting, and then stretches himself out so he is laying diagonally, his back is laying on the bench, and his head is upon the blanket —leaving Lily with the only option of laying between his body and the back of the seat. He lifts his right arm into the air as an invitation. She smiles at his ingenuity, and slides her notebook into her bag, placing it on the floor. She finds her place tucked under his right arm and her head upon his chest.
She settles into his body, bending her right leg over the tops of his and laying her arm across his torso."You make a good pillow." Her voice is slightly muffled as she speaks into the material of her shirt.
"You know, I was almost arrested one time for carrying pillows in the marketplace."
Her head lifts slightly, "What? Why?"
"It's ok, I was just resisting a-rest." Lily smacks him in the stomach for the awful pun, and she feels her head bounce by his self amused laugh.
The rhythmic motion of the train and the soft glow of the evening light eventually lull them both to sleep.
By dawn when the first glow of sunlight begins to light the night sky, Frank is up, slipping himself from Lily's warm body and exiting their compartment, seeking to relieve himself.
After, he makes another visit to Proxima bringing her another snack.
"How you doing girl?" He asks while scratching her ear between the metal of the bars.
She chuffs and presses her head into his palm. Her large paw scrapes at the cold floor of the cage, and Frank frowns.
"I know…I know. But you gotta be patient for a while longer. After this, we have ten days aboard a boat, and as much as I want to let you out of here, there's no way people will be used to seeing a giant jungle cat roaming around on a steamer."
A low growl emanates in her chest and she sits back on her haunches, panting.
"I'll visit you every day. Don't worry." She licks at her paw, unamused by his promise, and mewls into the darkness of the train car. Her bright green eyes stare back at him and he nods as if she is speaking directly to him.
"Yah, I know. Things are definitely never gonna be the same again."
xxxxx
The train station along the coast is a much different sight and atmosphere than Porto Velho. The commotion and movement seem amplified tenfold as hundreds of people mull about the station and along the muddy pathways leading to and from the different ports. Some people have just arrived from the the open seas, whereas others are ready to hop aboard the train to head to new destinations. Either way, Frank can't help but feel overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle and he sticks close to Lily as they exit the train and head toward the luggage car.
"Those there! Thank you!" MacGregor has stepped ahead of them, already instructing the porters which trunks are theirs as well as tipping the steamer's storage master quite generously to ensure the Proxima is well taken care of in the cargo hold of the ship with the other animals. A cacophony of noise erupts from a large chicken coup and Proxima growls at a random porter passing too closely to her cage.
"Well, that went well." MacGregor grumbles and stuffs his arm into his blazer abruptly.
"Did they get everything? It's not like we have as much as we did when we arrived…" She crosses her arms and faces him directly. "And how is it that you've managed to accumulate more luggage than Frank and myself combined…?"
"Just you go and mind our companion over there — leave the luggage to me." Lily turns her head to where Frank has wandered near the edge of the platform and away from them and the train. His eyes are trained up and to the coast, where their ship, The Mauretania is being prepped for launch. Large steel ropes hang from the bow and the stern of the ship, and black steam billows from each of the four chimneys along the center of the ship. They are about a quarter mile away, but even from this distance, Frank feels in awe at the massive size and presence of such a modern vessel.
Lily comes to stand beside him, pulling her sweater around her shoulders a bit tighter as a cool morning breeze rushes across her body. "What do think?" She asks, eyes focused on the ship in the distance along with his.
"She's a lot bigger than the one I arrived on, that's for sure." He lifts his cap from his head, enjoying the wind across his scalp.
"I think you'll also be happy with the fact that it won't take two months to sail across the Atlantic either." She replies, amusement apparent in her voice.
His eyes shift from the steamer to the ocean. The wind at the coast feels stronger and more forceful than anything he can recall along the Amazon. He squints into the distance and along the horizon where the sky meets the sea, watching the waves ebb and flow. The rising sun reflects off of the waves, sending back a blinding light, and he has to blink a few times to get rid of the stars in his eyes.
It dawns on him how much he has forgotten over the centuries. Not just the memories of people or places, but feelings and sensations and all of the unique intensities of the world around him.
Frank closes his eyes and when he inhales, he can taste the salt in the air. A distant memory of months long journey across tumultuous seas aboard Aguirre's massive ship floats to his mind. He frowns at the thought of his comrades and their doomed expedition, but somehow feels a sense of peace at the fact that those memories are now truly laid to rest. The horn of the steamer blows suddenly, reminding him that he is about to travel back across the same ocean he traveled upon all the years ago, and the memory drifts away, like ash from a smothered fire.
He can't help the nerves that begin to make his stomach feel uneasy. He clenches his fist, willing the feeling to go away, frustrated that the thoughts of an unknown future that lay ahead of them are causing this reaction within him. It feels almost as if he is being pulled under the surface of the river by an imaginary current and he is gasping for air, trying to keep his head above water.
The feel of her hand in his has become like an anchor, and as she slides her hand into his again, he opens his eyes to see her staring at him.
He smiles at her gratefully. "I think you may have a staring problem, Pants." His voice is a little shaky, but she chooses to ignore it.
"What can I say — you're pretty easy on the eyes, Skippy." She replies and squeezes his hand as emphasis. She notices how stiff his body is and can't help but react with concern. "Are you alright?"
He nods. "I am now." There is a clarity and a confidence in his voice that gave her pause. It hadn't occurred to her how returning to the ocean would effect him, and now that she hears the confidence in his voice, she can feel her own body relax.
As he stares into the depths of Lily's blue eyes, a breath of air fills his lungs and he leans down to lay a kiss upon her lips; as if that physical connection is the one thing that could save him from the anxiousness that is threatening to pull him under. In an instant he feels the anxiety melt away, only to be replaced by hope and something else he can't find the words to describe.
He pulls his cap onto his head and exhales loudly. "Let's get out of here, shall we?" He turns and tugs on her hand, leading her down the hill towards the ocean.
xxxx
Notes:
Part 2 will be up next week. (Hopefully!)
Thank you for your patience, and reading. I've loved reading your comments and being a part of your enjoyment of these characters and this movie.
I have an epilogue planned after Part 2, then I plan to write some one-shots. I'd like to know what you would like to read in the future - perhaps I can create something based on your suggestions.
But until then…Let me finish this story first!
;-) Staarss (M)