Her muscles ache from the encounter in the camp and her hunched over posture in the admin tent, the hours of sitting and typing finally getting the best of her. Lifting her arms up in a stretch she groans, slumping down in her chair to stare at the work before her. Her mind was blank, the words struggling to come to her now that she'd poured herself out so fully onto paper for the last few hours.
A walk. She needed a walk.
Locking her computer and getting to her feet, Anne escapes from the admin tent and starts her regular route towards the edge of the fence. Often times back home when the writing stalled and her thoughts turned to mush she would venture out into the wild, slipping through blooming fields or orchestratic forests for a change of scenery. They were the places where she felt uncaged, like the person she was meant to be where all her imaginings and dreams could finally come to fruition.
While she couldn't have the freedom here that she craved from back home, she found herself willing to make due as she wandered along the edge of the orange fencing and tried to lose herself in the wilderness just outside their camp. It was peaceful here, the sounds of the trees and the distant rumble of life nearby kept her company as the sun dipped lower on the horizon.
Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew she was missing dinner as she tucked herself into the corner of the fence, surrounded on two sides by nature and the feeling of calmness that that brought. She didn't care in the least about the rumble in her belly - snacks could be found later - but this moment of stillness could disappear at any time and she didn't want to miss it.
"I thought I might find you here," Gilbert says quietly, drawing her gaze up to him with a soft smile. "The girls said you like to come out here when you can't write. Figured that's why you didn't come to dinner."
"Mmm, true," she replies and lifts a hand to grip his fingers, tugging them gently to bring him down beside her. He takes her hands in his lap and runs his thumbs over her marks, careful to keep his touch light.
"Any particular reason for escaping?" He asks, shifting to glance at her as her detainment in the camp hovers at the back of his consciousness. He wouldn't prod it, he'd decided that afternoon, but instead he'd watch for the signs that maybe it was still affecting her, just in case.
"My mind is toast. I've been at it for most of the last 24. I needed a break," she admits with a yawn, leaning against his shoulder.
"If you wanted to catch a nap, I could keep watch for a bit," he offers. With a grin she shifts until she's spread out across the grass, her head in his lap. His fingers drift into her hair, pulling it out of its bun and running through it gently enough to lull her to sleep.
When she wakes later the sun is fully set and beams of spotlight cut through the trees to dapple the ground around her. Above her Gilbert snores softly, his too-tall frame leaning back into the fence webbing. In a moment of quiet curiosity she lifts her fingers to graze the stubble on his chin her eyes watching as he sighs and captures her hand in his grasp, holding it tight to his chest.
"Maybe we should head to bed," he rasps, slowly coming around to the world of the living. Anne sits up beside him and pulls her hair over her shoulder, watching as his head rolls towards her. "You look lovely in this light, Anne-girl. Almost like I'm still dreaming."
"Lucky for you, this is real life," she counters playfully and then leans forward to capture his lips with hers. When she pulls back he lets her go with a groan, his eyelids heavy with sleep and want. "Come on, Gil. Let's go build a nest to hide in until tomorrow. We'll start fresh then."
He trails behind her silently, his fingers linked with hers as she leads them back to his tent. Inside she chuckles, feeling him come up against her back.
"I see you didn't bother to put your bed back together," she says as he closes the zip behind them and discards his scrub top. She mirrors his action, stripping down to her underwear and then spreading out on the sheets across the tent floor.
"Why would I when I had such hopes?" He counters and settles down beside her, his gaze slipping over her appreciatively. Her breath catches as his palm rests on her hip, the warmth spreading out from his touch.
"What do you plan on doing when you get back home?" She asks as the quiet floats around them, his thumb circling and soothing her as she cuddles closer.
"The first thing? Probably collapsing into my bed in my apartment. Maybe eating a salad. Oh, a caesar salad, with real bacon. And a beer. Definitely that," he laughs and watches as she closes her eyes, imagining it.
"That would be good. Although I think I'd want some of Marilla's plum puffs first."
"I've never had them but I bet they're good, based on the look that just came over your face." She groans and covers her face, relenting when he tugs her hand away. "Tell me more about home for you. What awaits you on that Island when you get back?"
"A tiny apartment in a tiny city - Charlottetown. It's perfect for just me but I spend a lot of time not at home if I can help it. Before I came Marilla promised that when I got back I'd go spend some time at the farm - "
"Oh yes, the farm," he interjects, his eyes lighting up. "I was a farmboy myself, you know. Out in Alberta with my Dad."
"And now you're a big city doctor, solving all the ills of the world. How people change!" His laughter fills the space and he shakes his head, a curious look in his eye.
"I'm not, not really. It's a small practice that serves a lot of the immigrant community which I think is why they keep sending me places like this. I've got a good bedside manner with a language barrier, I guess. Tell me more about this magical place."
"The farm. Yes, well. When I was adopted out I had no idea where they were taking me. They lived on this rural farm and it was so beautiful the first time I went there I thought maybe it was heaven. There's this road towards it - the trees border it on both sides and in the spring when it's blooming… I call it the White Way of Delight." Her voice dips as she thinks of home, a faraway look coming to her face.
"And so you'll go there, when you get home?" He prods, his body inching closer to bring her up against his chest. With a yawn and a nod, she twists into his embrace and settles, his mind easing as she relaxes against him.
"Yes. At least for a few days. It'll help me focus better when it's time to actually start writing this thing. Green Gables always did warm me up to telling tales," she whispers dreamily. With a press of his lips to her temple he lets the conversation die out, sleep coming quickly for them.
"I can't believe they let you through the airport with this," Anne sighs, reading through her handful of cards as Diana pours her another drink. Beside her Gilbert leans over her shoulder, sneaking a glance at her cards as Ruby decides on the next hand. "Hey - cheater!" She mumbles and knocks her elbow against his lightly.
"You have to play this one with that card," he says lowly, his hand dropping to her thigh as Ruby sets down a card that reads Money can't buy me love, but it can buy me _.
Anne looks down at the card he's tapped and shoots a surprised look towards him, her mouth agape. "No - that's not even true!"
Somehow the game of Cards Against Humanity had dealt her a powerhand of redheaded cards, the selection coming up more often for her than anyone at the table. Gilbert's instance that she lay down her A redhead whose carpet matches the drapes card makes her cheeks flush and she slips the card under the table towards him, a cackle bursting from her as he tucks it safely in his breast pocket.
"Best place for it," he adds with a crooked smile, his eyes sparkling.
Their last night together had come too quickly for her liking. No sooner had they found an easy rhythm together then they now had to go it alone - Gilbert was heading home and she still had over a week of meetings left with the local organizations before she could wrap up. They'd tried to avoid truly thinking about it and when Billy had suggested that they play cards and have a few drinks Anne had leapt at the opportunity to try to distract her from the impending change.
"Anne - it's your turn to select a card," Diana instructs, her eyes blinking quickly as she looks away from the pair. Anne could sense the woman's emotions hovering just under the surface, threatening to spill over into their game night so she did what she could to rouse the game forward.
"Oh, dear!" Ruby squeals as Diana plays a particularly harsh hand, the nurse's fingers coming up to her lips in surprise. Around the table the group breaks into chaotic laughter, the alcohol and the faux-pas of the card combinations finally breaking the mood.
"You two - you should just go!" Diana whispers conspiratorially as the group breaks for more snacks, her eyes wide as she looks between Anne and where Gilbert stands in the kitchen with Billy.
"We can't! What would everyone think of us?" Anne counters, rolling her eyes as the woman huffs with frustration.
"Alright everyone! I'm taking my game and going to bed. Fred will be calling me soon and you hooligans have liquored me up enough to maybe turn it into a video chat!" Diana calls aloud, her arms spanning the table and sliding the cards towards her. Anne watches as Diana winks towards her and begins to clean up, bidding goodnight to the group and leaving Anne alone at the plastic table.
"Well, that ended quickly," Gilbert states as he settles back into the chair beside her, his arm coming to rest around her shoulders.
"You could argue she was going for divine intervention," Anne whispers and lifts her hand in goodnight to the others who slowly drift back towards their tents. Gilbert's fingers play with the hair at the nape of her neck, his gaze locked on the side of her face and nearly burning a mark into her skin. "Tonight was my chance to make friends other than you, Doctor Blythe, and now that chance is gone!"
"Come now, you know you're not here without friends. Diana is particularly loyal, if you ask me. Not many friends would play wingman so boldly." Her eyes glance towards him and her breath catches in her lungs. The look that covers his face is wanting, yes, but underneath it she sees something else that makes her heart skip. Her gaze drops abruptly to the table as the wave of emotion hits her, his hand gentle as he lifts her chin back up to his. "Don't shy away now, Anne-girl. I think we've finally found our familiarity."
His kiss is soft, sweet, and she leans into him as the sounds from the generators and the roadway drift among the quiet evening atmosphere in the camp.
"Must you go?" She whispers when he eventually pulls back, her eyes closed as she rests her head in the crook of his neck.
"I must. But I promise we'll figure it out. We're resourceful and smart and you can talk your way into anything - "
"I cannot, that's a false standard," she sighs, laughter drawing her back to look at him once more. "Can we go to your tent now? I don't want to waste any more time."
Her bold words make him grin and he stands quickly, pulling at her hand to practically drag her across the open space. Once inside the canvas shelter they collide, hands frantic as they strip each other down to nothing. The fever that overtakes them is blinding, their first coupling that month ago a mere shadow as he drags her to the floor and joins them together.
They try to keep quiet - they try to bite their tongues and clap hands over mouths - but it only muffles the exclamations and gasps that fill the tiny space. Hands clasp, hips push, and it's Anne's teeth that draw the first moan as Gilbert's body covers her on their makeshift bed.
"Still biting, eh?" He breathes into her ear as she sits astride him, his fingers bruising her waist.
"Only you," she counters breathily, her pace turning painfully slow as he grumbles into her collar. "What's that?" She chides and he stills her, his hands bracketing her face and drawing her gaze to his.
"I said you don't need to chew your way in," he whispers, watching as her mind struggles with the concept. With a chuckle and a renewed urgency he twists until she's on her back, his hand sliding softly along her jaw. "You already have a place inside me, Anne."
Her lips turn up in a blinding smile then, a bark of laughter bursting from her chest. "And you in me, quite literally," she counters with a roll of her hips.
"Good Lord, you're filthy," Gilbert hisses and reactively pushes himself as deep as he can go, his hand sliding down her calf to lift her leg wider. "But I appreciate it more than you know."
They don't talk after that. Together they chase each other's highs, hands and lips and skin sparking with sensation as they writhe on the tent floor. It's Anne first who claws at the sheets, Gilbert's fingers slipping between her lips as she comes apart around him. He follows soon after, his hips losing their measured strokes as he comes with a quiet cry into her shoulder.
When eventually they come back to earth it's with a playful mood that they clean up one another and finally tuck themselves into the sheets, cuddled together and staving off sleep for as long as they can.
"I'll see you when I get home, right?" Anne asks later, as Gilbert's breathing evens out marking his sleep. She'd tried to ask earlier, had wanted to voice her fear that this was just a fling, but she hadn't had the courage just yet. Now that he was finally asleep she could shake the words loose but it did no good, his returning silence making her kick herself until she was pulled into a restless sleep at his side.
"And today is Doctor Blythe's last day with us. We'd like to extend our deepest thanks to you, Gilbert, for always bringing a joke and a creative solution to the table. We've enjoyed having you here and will be sad to see you go. Your contributions were immeasurable and for that we thank you for giving your time and your skills to this good work," Muriel announces and the table breaks into a round of applause.
Anne tries to hold it together as she claps along, a smile forced to her lips. Gilbert lifts his hand in acknowledgement, his cheeks flushing as he looks around the group.
"It's been a pleasure, really," he answers and shifts his gaze briefly towards Anne. He lets it drop before it becomes obvious, gripping his hands together on the table as the meeting resumes for the day's assignments.
When they break to head to their stations Anne drags her heels as members of the group bid their goodbyes, one by one giving a shake of the hand or a quick note of thanks to the man beside her.
"They're all quite sad to see you go, Mr Life of the Party," Anne says when they're finally alone, the toes of her shoes nearly touching his. Above her she hears him exhale forcibly, her eyes skirting up to his before looking away again. "I'm going to miss having you around to harass me every day."
His hand brushes against her elbow, his fingers squeezing gently before withdrawing. "Anne-girl," he whispers, desperate to draw her attention up to him. She gives in and meets her gaze with his, a spark lighting between them and giving her pause.
"I should get to work. Are you packing all day?" She queries, her voice shaking. She didn't want to think about this. She wasn't prepared.
"I - yes. My shuttle leaves at five," he replies, a hint of frustration in his voice as she withdraws.
He was leaving. Getting on a plane and flying a world away from her. She didn't want to think about it, not today. She'd think about it tonight, when he was already gone and she could be miserable in her tent alone. That's when she would let her feelings have their way with her. But not now. Not when she still had to get through the rest of the day.
"Okay," she breathes, pressing her hand to her lips and giving him a final look. Without a goodbye she steps back and heads towards the clinic, forcing her mind to her work instead.
The morning moves by in a daze, her mind distracted and unfocused as she sits in on meetings with the other organizations acting in the area.
"Are you going to say goodbye Anne?" Diana breaks into her thoughts, stumbling into the tent with a frown on her face.
"What? What are you talking about?" She counters, confused as the woman steps towards her.
"The shuttle is leaving! Did no one tell you?" Her words jumble together as Anne drops her clipboard and pushes past her, rushing towards the clinic entrance and falling into the roadway as the security guard hurries towards her.
She looks up frantically, eyes wide as she takes in the grate of the van next to her face.
"What are you doing?" The security guard chastises, yanking at her arm and pulling her to her feet.
"I needed to catch the - "
"Are you alright?" Gilbert asks from behind her, his hands on her shoulders turning her around to face him. Concern mixes with a bittersweet happiness as his hands brush her hair and her cheek, checking her over with careful movements. "You nearly got yourself killed, bursting through the gate like that."
"You said your shuttle left at five!" Anne whispers, her eyes never leaving his and her voice cracking. "I thought I had more time."
"They changed the schedule because of the flights. I only found out like half an hour ago and I wasn't done packing. I didn't - I'm sorry, I didn't have time," he replies, his own voice hollow.
"Sorry Doc - we've gotta get on the road." The driver says from across the hood of the van. Anne's expression tightens as she draws her emotions into her chest and holds on for dear life. Before her Gilbert grips her shirt in his fist, holding tightly to her as he exhales shakily.
"This isn't goodbye, Anne with an E," Gilbert breathes, his eyes searching. "Finish your work here. Come back home. We'll figure it out from there, okay?"
"I don't want you to go," she murmurs and he laughs, his thumb brushing along her cheek affectionately.
"I don't want to leave either. But I have to. I'll see you soon, Anne-girl," he adds and pulls her into his embrace, his arms wrapping tightly around her in a bone-crushing hug. When he draws back she has to wipe away the stray tear that got away from her, a forced smile on her lips.
He doesn't say anything more as he slides into the back seat, his eyes focused on hers until he closes the door with a soft click.
Gilbert's shuttle disappears through the throngs of people and soon she can no longer see him and she's left with the security guard at her side, his quiet presence keeping her company until she turns back into the clinic and steels herself for the next few hours.
When evening comes Diana and Ruby keep her mind occupied throughout dinner, dragging her to the lounge for board games that the team has made a competition out of. She tries to enjoy it, forcing herself to smile and play along, but when it's finally time to turn in she does so with a feeling of relief.
Entering her small space after her shower she tidies up and then sits heavily on the cot, breathing through the emotions that wreck havoc inside of her. No longer able to fight them off she lays down, her hands curling under the pillow and coming up against something foreign.
Her hands shake as she opens the envelope, the letters in Gilbert's tight script spilling onto her lap as she laughs through her tears.
