Chapter 4 - A Storm and a Jungle
Sailing during nice weather felt like vacation on the cloud, when a storm came, it was hell. And one very bad hell the sailors encountered when they were passing somewhere near the North-West of African coast. The sky was black even though it was afternoon time, the tropical rain bombarded them heavily, the waves were wild, untamed and it was a matter of time when the ship would turn upside down or break or something else of similar destruction.
Jerry and Sam tried to hoist the sails to catch the right wind and get the vessel away from the rumbling waters, alas the storm was too large and with thunders roaring around it was hard to hear each other.
Elain instructed the male crew to take the position with the oars and told Oliver to keep equal fast pace while the women were setting the sails according to the wind which was changing direction rapidly.
"Uncle Poseidon, I am really sorry someone pissed you off so much," Gail murmured under her nose praying to her favourite god while holding the sails in the wind. "But could you hold on for a moment, get us out of here and then feel free to release Kraken?"
Another rough power yanked out the rope of the blonde's hands. She cursed the action and praised her gloves which prevent a badly burn. Suddenly a giant wave appeared behind the ship and was hovering over. The sailors dropped their mouths with terrified expression and rapidly beating hearts.
Fortunately the superintendent turned the ship on the left to be the sideway with the wave as the vessel was sliding while the huge mass of water kept rolling.
The captain called for her daughter to take the helm and stay on the course. "I will do the sails; it will be faster than shouting orders in this noise," she explained and hurried to the front.
Gail watched her mother to point to the sails on the right and gesticulated to Traci and Holly the next moves. As they all three were holding the ropes of only a few small sails to keep the ship moving faster but also in the course. The blonde tried her best to hold the shaking wheel in her hands the way her mother told her. Maybe she should start working her push-ups more often. Her arms hurt and were weakening with every ramble and powerful wind which hit the ship attempting to set it different way.
Also thunderbolts surrounded them and Gail was happy to be hidden in the wave, but the sound almost made her deaf.
"Really? Brothers' fight right now?" the young woman frowned and commented bitterly. "Could Zeus choose a different time and place? Maybe somewhere in deserted waters?"
As her response was one lighting which found its way to their ship and hit the right pole. The very one the three other women were hoisting sails on.
The time slowed down as Gail's heart stopped beating. She watched the large piece of wood break and fall down.
Elaine kicked Traci in the guts sending her away to the ground and stopping against the wooden railing of the ship. Next she caught Holly from behind, spinning them around and away from the falling danger.
The blonde took a few rapid hurtful breaths into her chest until her mind reminded her that all three women were alive. The moment of her lost focus and eased grip made the helm rotate several time, which brought her to her own task of keeping the course. With a great force and every bit of her power she managed to turn the wheel back to its almost original position.
"Holly!" the captain practically shouted into the healer's ear, placing her hands on each shoulder shaking with the stunned woman in front of her. "I am sorry, my dear, but you need to postpone the stress for later. We still have a work to do to stay alive." The brunette blinked a few times. A huge pole was falling on her a few moments ago. She quickly glanced at her comrade, who used her right hand to pull herself back on her feet. "Traci, are you alright?" asked the older lady.
"Yes, Madam," the dark skinned woman breathed heavily, coughing several times to get her breathing even. "Thanks for pushing me away."
"Alright, girls, let's set the sails to get out of here," the superintendent took another set of ropes of other sails and let the cloths down. "And people were wondering why I require so many sails," she commented and handed over the ropes to manage the right course.
They were getting at the skirt of the storm. It was not smooth run away; nevertheless they were slowly reaching their goal. There was a powerful shake of the ship as if they were hit with something, or they hit something.
"GAIL!" shouted the captain looking over her shoulder at her daughter. "I told you to keep the course!"
"I am trying, Mother, but the damn helm is spinning like a fortune wheel."
"That's 30 more push-ups for you per day, young lady. Now set the South-East closer to the land!"
Finally they got away from the roaring mess and the wave, much smaller by now, just dropped down on the deck. If the sailors thought they were wet from the rain, they were now completely soaked. Breathing heavily they looked back at the dark cloud and storm they had just escaped.
Generally the waves should be just smooth rocking ones, yet it seemed they were getting bigger; or worse, the ship was sinking.
The redhead woman went to the falling door and opened it. "Oliver," she called down, "we are out of the storm, but we hit some rocks. Check the bottom and lower deck; we have a hole in the hull. And remove the necessary food to the upper deck."
The ship sunk a little more and Holly ran to the side of the vessel hanging over. She would like pretending she was checking the damage while in fact her body was tense and her stomach did some flip and flops.
"Holly?" It was Traci's tender voice. "You did great," she appreciated in a calming manner; she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"About the middle of the chest spine, please." The other sailor removed her hand rubbing gently the requested place.
"Holly, Traci, are you alright?" asked the captain's daughter, running towards them.
"SAILS!" called the superintendent from the helm. "Let's get to the shore before we kiss the seabed."
The three young women nodded and hoisted the sails so the ship started moving again.
Gail stopped her partner by taking her forearm. "Holly, how are you holding up?"
At the touch the healer thought she would jump out of her skin. Subconsciously she started putting distance between herself and her wife and any touch felt like a burn which could make her combust.
She loved the attention from the blonde, just like she loved the warmth of the fire. But when lines were crossed, both were equally danger. One for her body and the other for her mind.
"I am stressed out," the physician replied at the end and slowly pulled out her arm from the hold. "I am going to help the boys with the supplies or whatever is need."
Gail sighed heavily. Her friend was behaving weird since they left Mediterranean Sea. She seemed distant and hardly looked at her these days. Her usual smile and optimism was nowhere to be found and the blonde became worried. Maybe Holly really missed the herb boy or Greek lady.
The young sailor followed her comrade because it was either listen to her mother or pretend to help.
"Sam, how does it look?" she asked when she noticed the said man with a hammer and a plank.
"Like a pool of sea water free of charge," he noted dryly. "We managed to cover the hole as best as we could, however the sooner we get to the shore the better. The leaking is not that heavy now but it needs to be fixed properly."
As if there was not enough exercise for the day, they were wearing buckets of water to be taken from the bottom of the ship. Even Leo obtained a small container to help out.
In the evening they were all hungry and ready to fall asleep from exhaustion. Oliver offered to take the first watch, and keep an eye on the leaking, eventually take out the full bucket they placed under the dripping water. Fortunately only dripping now.
The next morning Holly was already gone, so Gail dressed up, ready to face her mother and hear the song of scolding for losing the course. She knocked and entered the cabin after invitation. She noticed Dov hovering over the map and several books lying around. Her mother sat at a table studying another tome.
"How is the translation going?" asked the blond youngster, mostly to prolong the inevitable than having a real interest.
"It sucks," answered Dov. "The language is older than what I learnt and mix of who-knows-what. Some symbols are Chinese and some may be Japanese." He swept his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. "But there is a pattern. I just need to crack it."
She nodded and looked up at her parent who sat back and drummed her fingers against each other. "How is your exercise going, Darling?" she asked challenging.
"Mother, I have just woken up," groaned the daughter lazily.
"There is no better time than morning."
"Seriously?" Gail frown but the older woman only raised her eyebrows. She sent a quick shot to her comrade who seemed to be deeply involved in the map studying. With a heavy sigh, the blonde went down on the floor and started the push-ups. She knew she can slow down but there was no stopping. The last five were based on her willpower and last bit of strength left.
"Now, walk with me," ordered the parent and they left the cabin, leaving Dov alone. Once outside she headed slowly to the helm. "So what did you learn from your mistake which caused you to hit the rocks?"
"I need to train my muscles?"
"It is easy to keep the wheel in position than losing it and trying to turn it back." Instead of taking over from Oliver, she went to the back of the ship and watched the sea around them. "You need to trust your crew to take care of themselves and each other." She looked her daughter in the eyes. "That was what made you lose your focus. You saw the hinge falling down on us, on Holly."
The other sailor said nothing. She kept her gaze in front of her. After a few moments of silence she replied quietly. "Yes."
"Still you also do need to get physically stronger, so you will keep the extra exercise until I say otherwise. Now go to your wife," she dismissed her child and took over the helm.
Holly was deep in the studying of Chinese medicine. She hoped not only to learn some more about healing but also to find some symbols and their meaning to help Dov with cracking the map.
She heard a soft knock on the door which made her look up and invite the newcomer in.
"Hey," greeted Gail gently, closing the door behind her.
"Hi," replied the healer and returned her gaze back to the tome in front of her. Not that she was able to study anymore as her emotions were running in swirls trough her whole body. She was getting irritated by her friend of unknown reason and she had no idea what to do with that.
"How are you doing?" the sailor asked all concerned.
"I am well, thank you," the brunette forced her look to stay down as the book was her anchor at the moment.
"It was a pretty bad storm, there is no way you can be well." Gail went around the table and stood next to her partner. She leant her back against the said furniture, griping the edge with her hands. "Plus it is not only the storm. You hardly look at me these days. Holly, what is going on? Could you tell me what I did wrong?"
"It's nothing, Gail," the physician leant back into the backrest and to prove her spouse wrong, she forced herself to look at her face. "You did nothing wrong," she sighed. Of course the blonde did nothing wrong, it was Holly's own feelings which were more than friendly and the situation caused her nerves react funny. She could not make her wife love her more than a friend, and so far Gail had done everything to show her kindness and warmth. This amazing woman who kept her cold appearance, yet the physician was lucky to witness her fondness and grand big soft heart. The brunette rubbed her eyes with her fingers; it was not fair she made her partner feel guilty of nothing. Therefore she found an excuse. "I have spent twenty-three years on the land. I think I may be becoming sea-sick, or home-sick. Victoria was all I knew and now I was thrown in the middle of the sea, quite literary." She looked up and forced a small smile. "But I asked for a change and challenge, even though the sea storm not only wracked the ship but also my nerves."
Gail stood up and pulled the dark hair head onto her abdomen hugging it gently as she kissed the crown and stroked the chestnut coloured mane. "I am sorry. It will be alright."
For a moment Holly was about to pull away, but the touch was so comforting despite her rambling nerves and emotion. Instead she wrapped her own arms around the toned waist and relaxed into the touch.
Due to the storm and the need of heavy repair, they needed to dock as soon as possible before they would become a submarine instead of a ship. They parked at some African shore which looked calm and abandoned. Fortunately they were good with supplies and the place had enough trees to serve their purpose. They used the time of the high tide, their strength and logs to pull the ship on the shore. Then they divided into groups and set off to find and cut some fitting trees to get the wood they needed for temporary fixation.
Life on the sea could be very challenging sometimes and some days were spent with hard work to maintain their vessel as best as possible before it could reach a ship master for a proper repair, which would mean to sail to South Africa where they had very skilled woodworkers due to the position. Yet getting there might take a few weeks.
The main pole was fixed, the side one was exchanged and several planks at the side of the vessel were covered with new ones and rags.
They all deserved a day of rest before going back on the sea.
Gail searched for her partner who disappeared after their lunch time. She looked around the shore, Oliver and Sam played dice, Traci, Leo and Jerry were on the left side alone, Jerry teaching the boy how to throw stones with a piece of stick while Traci was looking for some more small rocks. Dov was explaining something to Chris, using a branch to paint into the send. She expected the healer to be around the boys; nevertheless the brunette was nowhere to be found.
The blond sailor covered her eyes and looked all the way along the shore, until she noticed a figure sitting on some boulders facing the sea on the very right side of them. Gail approached her partner to find out what was wrong with her these days. Surly one sea storm could not put her off and make her take so much distance. Fighting the pirates was worse experience. Maybe she was really home-sick, yet Holly was not a loner type.
The younger of the pair climbed the rocks and sat down next to her partner. "Hey," she greeted softly.
"Gail, hi, what are you doing here?" she gave her a quick glance and looked back in front of her.
"Wondering what you are doing here alone."
"Sorting my thoughts. The sea has a weirdly calming effect when it doesn't try to kill us."
"So you are not sea-sick anymore?"
"No, not really."
She nudged her shoulder. "So what's up? Maybe I can help sorting."
"Gail, I know we tell each other stuff and it's great about us, but with some things I need to deal by myself."
"And sometimes it is good to word them out, get the second opinion." The sailor was very determined to find out what troubled her dearest comrade.
"You… would not be willing to help with this one."
"Holly, you are my best friend, there really are very very few things I would not be willing to help you with."
"It just happened to be one of them," she murmured under her nose barely audible. With a sigh she stood up. "Gail, please, just leave me alone for a bit," she requested and climbed the rocks down, but to the opposite side than the ship and the rest of the crew was resting.
"What was that? It's not just the storm, sea life or being home-sick, is it?" again it was one of those times when the blonde did not give up.
"You know what; let it go, let me go. I am moody and really need some time for myself. I am at the edge of my nerves."
"Holly, what is wrong with you? You are distant with me, you don't really look at me and we have not spared with each other since we left Lesbos. I am pretty sure it is not your bloody time, so talk to me. We always talk."
"Gail, please give me some time alone," said the physician through her teeth and went deeper into the jungle.
The slightly shorter of them made a few long steps to catch up with her. She took her hand and spun her around. "I am not leaving you alone in this foreign land. I am staying with you if you like it or not. I am your wife."
"That's it, Gail. Yes, you are and no, you are not," she barked angrily.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, leave me alone to get my crap back together. I don't want to say something I would regret later, so really, just let me go, please." Holly was at the edge of her tears now. If there was one person she absolutely could not talk about her problem, it was her spouse.
"But -"
Before any of them realised what was happening they were both hit in their heads losing consciousness.
When the couple woke up again, they found themselves tied to a pole and a group of about twenty aboriginal people was rushing around them. Even though one girl looked too fair skinned with dark red hair to be aboriginal but behaved like one anyway.
"Just great, Sage. Next time you decide to explore alternative life style, let's group up with more of our people and maybe weapons, just in case," the sailor was really upset and confused. They had a great relationship but Holly shut her out recently of unknown reason.
"If you left me alone, we would not be here. I just needed some time alone," the physician was still defensive and mysterious.
"Alone? You don't go away alone, not in a foreign place. So why the sudden change of you?"
"Gail, I am a woman, I can be moody and I do not want to pass it on you."
The blonde looked around and saw as a grand fire was being made and the people started singing and dancing.
The younger woman remembered when her mother taught her how to behave in stressful situation and how to treat scared people. Her partner was definitely scared, therefore she used softer tone. "Come on, Sage. Tell me what is wrong. If this is our last day alive, I think I deserve to know what I am dying for."
Just as if she was being heard and understood by the aboriginals, they were pulled out on their feet by a couple of what might be guards who dragged them into the middle of a circle and the people started dancing and singing around them.
"Compared to what we are facing now, it is really ridiculous," commented the physician in a tiny voice.
"Maybe we need a good laugh at the end," offered her mate with wide eyes and fast rushing pulse.
"It's my non-existing love and sex life. I am really deprived." Gail was left without any word as she was totally stunned by that admission. "Feel free to laugh," noted the healer dryly.
"Is there someone you like?" asked Gail tentatively at the end as her heart suddenly felt so small and her lungs squeezed that it was hard to breathe.
"Yes," Holly chuckled sadly.
"Why didn't you tell me you fancy someone?" questioned the blonde a bit more brave. "I promised to be your wing-woman. Is it that weed guy from the Bay?"
"No, it is not. And I don't need a wing-woman, Gail. More like someone hit you on the head and open your eyes. Wait, the first part happened twice already however without any effect," she commented cynically.
"What does that mean?"
"It's you, you dumbass."
"What is me?" the younger of them was still confused. How could she miss that her best friend was interested in someone? She was usually very attentive especially to people about who she cared.
"For heaven's sake, Gail. I like you."
"I like you too," she replied automatically still not getting the point.
"I mean in a way of more snogging, less clothes, making you scream my name in pleasure. Or being more polite I should have said, holding hands and watching the sun rise and set, but blame my nerves at this moment for being more descriptive and accurate," Holly was almost at the edge of screaming. For someone so clever, her partner could be really dense.
"Wait, you are in love with me?"
"YES! No. I don't know," the brunette hung her head in defeat.
"What is that supposed to mean?" frowned the younger of them thinking deeply.
"It means that when I asked what love feels like, I usually get a response of love songs and poems making sense, but actually it sounds very pathetic. I have not heard a song or story or read a poem, maybe some of Sappho's were close, anyway whatever could get close to what I feel when I am with you or when I am without you or when you get hurt. Not even when you kiss me and leave me longing for more." She sighed heavily trying to stop her tears before falling. "But it doesn't matter because you will never see me any other way than your close friend; otherwise our marriage would be consumed long time ago and I believe more than once."
"Holly, I… I don't know what to say," the sailor was completely shocked. Since they were back to back, she needed to say something, but the brain was empty.
"Just shut up. At least I may go straight to haven for being a virgin."
"You still no man?" asked the not so aboriginal girl.
The two strangers were both surprised. "Do you speak English?"
"Oh, that is how this words call. I… not use for long." The redhead smiled broadly and she turned back to the healer. "You still child?"
"If you put it this way, it does sound really awkward. But yes, I am," admitted the physician closing her eyes tiredly.
"Good, much good." She gave them another toothy smile and turned to a man who looked like the oldest of the tribe, definitely the most wrinkled; speaking a weird language again moving her hands around stressing her words. It looked like they were arguing and the crowd stopped singing and went quiet looking from the discussing couple to the strangers.
At the end the old man came to the pair of strangers and let out some sounds.
"He ask if you are… with a man in ceremony," the redhead girl translated.
"Married. Yes, we are married but to each other," confirmed Gail looking straight at the man talking to him. He was the one asking anyway so she tried to show her strength and speak right with him looking in the eyes. "She is my wife."
"And you not… erm…" the girl interpreted but not able to remember the words she circled her left forefinger and thumb while using her right forefinger to go inside and out of that circle.
"Make love. Consume the marriage. Shag. No, not yet."
The old man said something looking at the sky and back to the strangers. He showed his hand to one of their shacks and moved his cane from the east side to above his head and then pointed to himself and about three other people.
"Angry gods if child die for them. You have this night to… shag. Ceremony is sacred, so you shag first. When sun is high and you not shag, you refuse ceremony. So elders take your wife and make her woman, then you die for gods."
Without any more words two guards took them to the far away house made of wood and leaves, they untied their hands and shoved the women in. The entrance was covered only with a piece of thin leather. The pair stayed still and listened around. There were steps heard from the outside as the two aboriginals were passing around the shack.
"Beautiful," noted Holly sarcastically. "So my non-existing sex life with my gorgeous wife turned into a raped one with strangers. And you wonder why I am moody."
The sailor watched her partner pacing but she never gave her a single look since the time they were danced around tied to a pole, therefore she sat down and hugged her knees. "Can we go back to when you said you wanted to hold my hand -"
"No," the brunette interrupted her looking down at the floor defeated with her emotions and will for the third time that evening. "I am not having that conversation again."
"But -"
"Still clothes on?" asked a newcomer from the outside.
Gail was paused again as a voice of the smiley girl was heard. The piece of animal skin moved aside and the local young woman entered with a basket. "Hi," she waved her hand. "I bring food for you."
"Thanks, but I am not hungry," replied the healer in a soft voice.
"Good. I want you help… erm. I want… help you away." She shut her eyes tight. "I am sorry, so so long I hear this words… lan-"
"Language," helped the blonde with vocabulary. She understood how hard it was to remember languages when they were not used on regular basis. "How long?"
The redhead shrugged. "I was four. My father was trader with things. His boat… banged… on wild water. Everyone was dead or died for gods later. I was child I was not good for gods. I know not how much… many rain seasons I am."
Holly looked her up and down. "According to your body structure you are about our age, more like Gail's so you would be 19 or 20."
"Really," she smiled happily. "Gratitude. You good curer."
The physician chuckled. "Thank you. At least I can make you happy on my last night on Earth."
"Oh. No, you not die," the girl said and rapidly started pulling things out of the basket, mostly fruit and a few pieces of meat. Gail took one mango and was about to bite in when it was snatched out of her and. "Don't… ah," the other pair of dark eyes lit in realisation. "This is how you say that… don't eat traps." Gail immediately let go of the said fruit and watched as the petite woman was arranging something on the floor. "Your way away is through here and be careful of mangos-traps," she started describing the way of their escape, painting the trip into the floor and telling them how to avoid danger and pointed the best hiding places.
The night was getting silent and only a few steps were heard from the guards who were pacing around.
"You get ready to be free," said the redhead and pulled something from behind her bandaged bra. "This is weapon from juice from green frogs. You can not move when this touch… touches you."
"Poisonous darts?" wondered the brunette. "But wouldn't you be in trouble for helping us? You are the last one who sees us, they will suspect you and sacrifice you instead of us."
The smaller woman shrugged. "I hope for good star to help me. I am… shag woman for son of leader. I have benefits."
"Are you his wife?"
"No wife, no ceremony. Wes like me because I am different, but I can not be his wife, I am not originally from tribe. I am his shag woman or dead for gods. You two are nice and pretty you must live," she explained briefly. "Ready?"
"Come with us," offered Holly. Her spouse took a breath to say something but shut it after one look from her partner. It was the first time their eyes met for the whole evening and it was a daring one. Holly switched her gaze back to the person who tried to help them. "We don't leave friends behind."
"Friends? I never haved friends? No person want be friend with me."
"We do. Come with us. Gail's mum has a big ship. We all can leave this place together," the healer tried to convince the talkative girl.
The redhead nodded eagerly and happily. "Come." She peeked out. One guard was standing on the left side of the shack, so she smiled sweetly at him and quickly moved to pinch the dart into his neck; then she sneaked to the other side and repeated her action. She gestured the two strangers to follow her. All went well as they were moving fast to get to the shore. Unfortunately not well enough to leave unnoticed.
The havoc broke behind them and they sped up following the exact path as the small woman had noted before to avoid any traps about which they had been warned.
They heard several night animals and Gail was very unsure of the surroundings looking around carefully. Her senses got confused when she heard a well-known sound in the middle of this jungle.
"A cock, here?" wondered Holly and frowned.
The sailor started smiling. "Sometimes he may be, but it is Sam. It's our signal." She crawled back and sped up towards that sound. They were almost safe.
Contrasting with the half-moon behind them the women noticed two familiar figures.
"Chris!" the physician sighed relived and jumped around the neck of her childhood friend.
The shortest of the women turned back to check the situation behind them. The hunters were getting closer. Not looking ahead she ran into the other guy. "Who is this?" asked Sam catching the girl before she hit the ground.
A roar was heard behind them and they knew they needed to put some distance to be really safe.
"Chipper Chat," introduced Gail roughly. "Let's talk more when we get to the ship." She tuned to the shore and yelled, "Everyone on the board and sails up!". From afar she noticed the rest of her comrades jumping into the sea and swimming to their vessel to get it ready for action.
It was pleasant to see her home, but not so pleasant to hear a dart swishing by her ear.
The crew of 15th got busy to get the ship ready for sailing. Oliver, Jerry and Dov disappeared under the deck for sure to the oars. Fortunately after the repair they needed to test it on the water, so it was back on the sea. However the five people still needed to reach the side and get on the board.
Other darts and arrows were flying around and the situation was not very bright. Fortunately as a response Traci fired back to slow the aboriginals.
Being the fastest, Sam swam to the rope ladder and got on the top; he turned around and started pulling the women up to get them on the board faster as well as Chris who closed the escaping line.
They were breathing heavily not saying a word until they got to the open sea leaving the land and danger far behind them.
Once the situation calmed down, the captain left the helm and approached her crew. "Could you explain what happened there and who this girl is?" she asked switching the gaze between her daughter and her spouse.
"Chloe Preço," introduced herself the redhead for the first time. "Erm… Price."
"Portuguese?" asked the superintendent.
"My father, yes. My mother was from New World."
The older lady nodded in acknowledgement. "Now you two," she looked back at her daughters. "Care to explain?"
Holly stood up still visibly shaking, "It was my fault. I wanted some time alone to think and we got lost. Chloe saved us," she explained briefly. "I accept any punishment in the morning. Now if you excuse me, I would like to lie down." She turned to her best male friend and gesticulated to him to stand up and go with her.
The blond sailor lied down right there on the spot looking at the starry night.
"Gail?" the elder woman called in question.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Seeing that there were no more words to say for the time being, the captain thanked her crew for the late night rushed work and dismissed them.
Once the night was silent again, just then Gail decided to go to her cabin. She was not so surprised to find it empty. Yet her conscious would not give her peace until she made sure her partner was safe. She slowly passed each room looking for the familiar velvet voice which she found in the former Frank's cabin.
"Holly, what happened?" asked Chris tenderly.
"I told her," the questioned woman sobbed.
"Great. Finally."
"I shouldn't have. It didn't go well. I lost my nerves and I really should have kept my mouth shut. I don't know what to do now." The voice was sad with a hint of cry.
"It will be alright. You will figure it out," replied her friend calmly. "Give it some time."
Three nights later and the captain's daughter still found the berth only for herself. They were on one ship, yet her sage managed to avoid her for three days. It made the blonde feel empty. If there was one person with whom she never wanted to screw up, the only person she would take to an abandoned island, it was Holly. The sailor wanted, needed her back but had no idea what to do and how to fix their broken relationship. She needed a serious girl talk. Fortunately there was somebody on whom she could count.
"Traci?" she knocked on the door gently not wanting to wake up the little boy.
The said woman opened the door within a moment. "What's up?" she whispered her question.
"Holly," the younger woman replied briefly.
"I noticed. What went wrong?" she led her friend to the opposite side of her sleeping son, sitting on a small table and offered her chair to the visitor and leant against the cabin wall.
"She told me she was in love with me."
"Finally at least one of you had the guts to admit it," Traci crossed her arms on her chest waiting for more information.
"What do you mean?" frowned her comrade. It could be heard as wheels were spinning in her brain to solve a mystery about which her friend knew.
"Oh, come on, Gail. You always stay close to each other; you keep in touch from brief ones to holding hands. And I am pretty sure I saw you making out a few times. What could it mean?" she raised her eyebrows in challenge.
"But it is not what I felt when I was with Nick."
"Is it a bad thing?" Traci asked in much softer voice like speaking to a child which her friend could be sometimes.
The blonde woman sighed, closed her eyes and bent her head backwards. "I don't know."
She let her arms down and squatted down to level with the desperate confused person in front of her. "Gail, I cannot tell you what you are supposed to feel but I can tell you what I see. You were smitten by her since the beginning. You keep distance from people, yet you were drawn to Holly immediately. You never give a crap if you put anybody in shame, sometimes I dare say you even enjoy it, however you were in a rush to correct your mistake and marry her. You do fight for friends, but you would never bond with them. Since you found Holly, you smile more, your eyes are brighter and you are not so mean."
The sitting woman snorted. It was all true. She cared for the healer deeply; she would do things for her without a second thought. "I have it really bad for her. Why haven't I seen it before?"
"People are usually blind to their own subconscious. You were too much of a friend to her to even consider romantic feelings. Anyway what is stopping you now?"
"Fear of messing it up, of hurting her."
"She is hurting already." The dark skinned woman placed her hand on the top of the pale one laying on the table. "Go to her, talk to her and be happy. You deserve it."
Gail did not know what woke her up so early in the morning. Nevertheless she felt the need to get up and have some fresh sea air. It looked like a nice sunny day.
She dressed up, took a piece of apple and went out, stretching her body. She looked around and noticed Holly leaning against the very front. She smiled and approached. "Hi," she greeted gently.
With a startle the healer turned around and taken aback to see who stood behind her, she looked down at her feet and then up to those lovely cerulean eyes. "Hey. I didn't know you would be here."
"Neither would I. But it is a really beautiful morning," she smiled and leant next to her friend. "Holly, I -"
"No, please, let me," the brunette interrupted her. "I am really sorry. Can we forget that conversation?"
"Excuse me?" frowned Gail. She kind of hoped to continue that revelation of feelings, not to forget it.
"It was really ungrateful of me. I deeply apologise. You saved me from a very uncertain and fearful future. You show me the world and I am able to travel to the lands I have only dreamt about. You are doing everything you can to make sure I enjoy this life and you keep me save. It was not right and fair to throw my feelings on you; I should have never word them out. I cannot thank you enough for what you offer me every day. I know I cannot make you feel something you don't feel so I really -"
In a fast motion, Gail cupped her cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss to stop more rambling. The sailor tried to input every emotion she harboured into that kiss even though the physician was passive and gripped the wooden railing like a life-saving ring.
The younger of them slowly pulled away and looked into those chocolate orbs. "Too late for that, Sage. I am already head over heels in love with you."
"You are?"
She nodded eagerly, smiling. "Yes. I apologise for taking me so long. I was blind to my own feelings. I tried to compare my feelings for you to what I felt for Nick whom I know I loved, but those feelings are not possible to compare. I want to do things for you, just to see you smile. To see your eyes sparkle and hear you laugh. If I get zero out of it, it is fine because seeing you happy is enough for me. You make me different, Holly. You have this power to make people better and you deserve to be with someone you truly love."
"I love you, Pirate."
"Good, because I love you too, Sage." Gail slid her hands back, brushing the dark mane from the sides down to the nape. She brought their lips together again. This time there was no pretended practice but a slow kiss full of love, devotion and promise. There were true and honest emotions flowing from one person to the other.
Too soon a sharp whistle echoed from above them which startled Gail enough to bite her wife's lips. "Sorry," she whispered. Then she looked up at the lookout. "What?!" she shouted angrily.
"I really hope this is not another of your friendly kiss or I would have to hit you both with a plank," called Chris.
"No, it's not. And mind your own business, Diaz, or I will shoot you down."
"Good. And by the way, Holly is my business so get used to the protective little brother."
The blonde lady showed him the middle finger and returned to her previous activity of convincing her special someone of her true feelings.
Thank you :)