************

While Frank and Shay were off taking care of business, Jake and Frankie left the group to go for a walk.  Jake had intentions of pushing her about the doctor's visit that morning.  He'd been concerned when they all turned back yesterday because of her paleness and shortness of breath.  He'd also seen her cringing after each shot of the bow this morning at the targets. She was in pain and not letting anyone know about it.

"Frankie?" he whispered.

"Yes darlin'?" she turned and looked at him.  They were down by the lake and completely alone.  Everyone else could have heard him if she were to make him scream, but she highly doubted anyone would come looking.

"I'm worried about you.  Why won't you tell me what the doctor had to say?"

Frankie blinked.  "Well... he... he said..."  how was she going to tell him without 'telling' him?

"What is it?  Nothing's wrong with your health right?" Jake pressed.  Her stuttering sent off alarm bells in his mind.  For a moment, he had flashes of her being in really bad shape and being too stubborn to say anything.

"Calm down Jake." she said firmly.  "No.  I'm in good health, the doctor said everything was fine."

"Sure he did.  Why wouldn't you let me go with you?  Are you hiding anything from me?"

"Jake! What is this?!"  She stepped back from him and glared.  "LOOK!  I'm fine!  I had heart surgery 7 months ago and it's kind of left me with a very low tolerance for thin air such as we are in right now!  I just need to take things slow and get used to the thin air."

"And the cringing in pain at targets?"

"Was pain, flat and simple.  Look, imagine your chest being cut open, your breastbone broken forcibly, a few of your ribs cracked or broken in the process, your chest being pried apart and held that way for a few hours then stitched back together with something like fishing line.  My muscles hurt, Jake.  When you pull and push those muscles, even with therapy, it hurts.  Please Jake, don't make this out to be bigger than it is."  Her eyes held his for a long moment, begging him to trust her.

Jake sighed and gathered her into his arms.  There were times that Frankie reminded him of a little girl who was lost that it broke his heart.  "I'm sorry Francesca." he whispered.  "I'm just worried.  After all that we've been through, we're finally together and happy.  I keep waiting for something to happen and make it go away."

"It won't Jake.  Because nothing can take away what we have.  You know, last night the girls and I were talking while you guys were burning dinner. I'll tell you face to face what I told the other girls.  The most amazing thing in the world to me is that when I'm with you, I don't give a damn about the rest of the world.  All is right as the rain, the earth moves even with just a touch of your hand or a smile.  I cannot, for any reason, imagine what my life would be like without you in it.  I would give up everything, my most intimate passions just to you and you alone."

Jake's eyes welled up with tears and he hugged her fiercely to him.  He knew she was telling the truth, she'd said almost the same thing when she didn't know he was listening in.  To hear what she'd said made all of the anger he felt about her spilling bedroom secrets vanish.  For the first time, he knew what Frank was feeling last night when he looked at Shay. Jake knew that all-encompassing love and trust that no matter what she did or said that might make him angry, he still loved her and wanted her more than the air he breathed.

"Jake..."

"Si Mi Petarde?" he whispered in her ear.

Frankie grinned and stepped back from him.  "Just what did you tell the guys this morning that got you so red in the face?"

Jake's cheeks instantly turned scarlet again and he stuttered over the words.  "I... they.... well.... you and me..."

Frankie giggled and stepped closer, nuzzling his neck.  "They asked you about how you managed to keep me cumming for you all night long?" she whispered.

"uh... uh huh..." he gulped, his hands coming to her elbows slowly.

"And they asked how you have the strength to do that..." came the next whisper, her breath teasing the soft hairs at the nape of his neck.

"S-s-something like that."

Frankie grinned and slid around behind Jake, her arms sliding around his waist and pulling him tight up against her, crushing his back to her breasts as the tip of her tongue ever-so-slightly teased that secret sweet-spot of Jake's on the back of his neck.  "And they asked you to tell your secrets..."

She was rewarded by Jake's whipping around, bending down and hauling her up over his shoulder.  Despite the minor height difference, Jake carried her easily back to the camp and past the gaping onlookers - Frank and Shay included.

Frank and Shay stopped in mid-step out of the trees to see Frankie's derriere bouncing along over Jake's shoulder and heard her giggling loudly as Jake zipped past them all with a piqued but determined look on his face. Both of them stared wide-eyed as they went by, Frankie waving at them like she was Miss America on parade.

As Jake and Frankie entered their tent, all 8 of the gang came together in one large group across the campsite from the tent.  A loud giggle followed by a moaning sound pushed the group back a few steps.

"Fuck me," Shay whispered with a touch of amusement in her voice.  "I think she's just been captured!"

************

It's time around the campfire...and a kid's game leads to a few crimson cheeks.  Truth or Dare anyone?