On past and future
By Carla
DISCLAIMER
Challenger, Marguerite, Roxton, Malone and Veronica belong to Telescene, not to me. No infraction to their rights meant, I'm just having a little fun. I own nothing but the story.
Chapter IX
He opened his eyes slowly. He couldn't feel his body at all, just an intense sensation of pain burning him alive. He wanted to scream, but he had no strength even for that. Breathing was harder than it use to be. All he could see where her beautiful eyes staring back at him.
"Hey." Marguerite whispered when Keith opened his eyes, trying to smile reassuringly at him.
"Hey." He knew his voice was just like her whisper. He knew he was dying.
"We got you back at the treehouse. Challenger used some of his plants on you."
"So the 'Quest for the Plant' had some use at the end." This time he was trying to smile. He could see the sadness on her face and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Keith..."
"I knew you would cry for me." Marguerite couldn't help herself anymore and she started crying openly, taking his hand in hers and kissing it.
"Don't leave me," she muttered.
"I don't want to."
"Keith, you're my best friend. Please don't die on me."
"You'll be okay gorgeous, I know it." Keith looked at her, thankful for the last chance to say good-bye to the woman he had grown up with. It he had to die, he was happy he could see her once again.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I know you darling. He'll take care of you."
"Who?"
"Who do you think?"
"Even now you want to mess with me?" she tried to sound playful.
"I mean it. I'm glad you're not alone. You scared?"
"I've never been this scared in my life. I have told him everything, about the jewels, the Germans and our marriage, everything..."
"And?"
"And we're working on it."
"Good. If you are too scared I can always make some deathbed wish about you not dating him..."
"I think I want to take the risk this time."
"That's my girl... ouch!" Keith felt the sudden pressure on his back, he could see the blood all over the sheets and Marguerite's worried expression.
"Keith! I should get Challenger!" she turned to leave but felt the soft pressure of his hand in her wrist. He had managed to move to keep her in the room.
"What for? Some extra minutes? I'll rather end this here, alone, with you."
"You're not dying Keith!" Tears were falling from her beautiful eyes again.
"Let's be real Maggie... I guess you won't be needing that divorce anymore..."
"Don't say that!" she said, throwing herself over his chest, trying not to hurt his back or his side.
"I don't want to die Maggie, but I can't do a thing about it."
"Keith..."
"Come on. I want to say something before time cuts me short. Just listen, okay?" Marguerite nodded, but she couldn't help but notice that it was getting increasingly hard for him to breath and keep talking "All the stuff we did, the kind of people we became... I wouldn't change a moment of it because we did it together, you know? You're the only person who has truly cared for me in my life, we were cut the same, you and I. I think we were lucky that we ran into each other. And Maggie, while I know you hate hearing this... I do love you, and I'm damn proud to be your husband."
She wasn't sure if the knot in her throat would allow her to speak. She didn't know how to say good-bye to the one person she had always wanted in her life, but she knew she would regret it more if she didn't say the things she wanted him to know.
"God Lawrence... I love you too. You're the best husband I've had so far!" she failed miserably at smiling at her own joke "I've had a lonely life Keith, never trusting anyone... but you. My parents' abandonment, the moving from school to school, to never be liked or loved... it would've driven me crazy if you hadn't been there for me. The moments I've had with you Keith... I will remember them forever, I will always have you in my heart. I'm glad we met each other again, and I'm damn proud of having been your wife."
"Good."
"Yes."
"Maggie... can I have that deathbed wish now?" He couldn't help the tears coming down his cheeks any more than she could. It suited them, the final good-bye, their last breath together.
"Sure."
"Kiss me... for old time's sake..." She felt her own life escaping her body. She couldn't believe that she was saying her last good-bye to the man laying in front of her. She wanted to take him in her arms and protect him from the death, so he could stay with her. But she knew that you just have to play the cards life deals to you. She closed her eyes as she lowered her mouth to his. They kissed each other tenderly, saying all the things words would never be able to express. She wasn't sure how long they kissed, until she broke it slowly once she was sure he was gone.
When she stepped out of her room, where Keith's body was, all eyes fixed on her at once. With a mere glance at her, everyone knew that Keith was dead. They didn't know what to say, maybe there weren't any words to be said. Everyone just said something like 'I'm sorry'. Marguerite noticed Malone and Veronica went to the balcony to get some air, and Challenger walked ceremoniously to Marguerite's room to decide what to do with Keith's body.
Marguerite was too shocked to say or do a thing. She felt Roxton's strong arm around her waist as he led her to his room. There he made her sit on his bed while he closed the door.
She half expected Roxton to say something, anything... All he did was kneel in front of her and kiss her tears away. After that, he simply embraced her. She felt safe in his arms, she knew he would help her get through Keith's loss and anything that may cross their way. Being in his arms she could feel the desire to cry again. She struggled against it, but when she felt his soft kiss in her hair, she couldn't help but cry in his arms.
They decided to have a little service for Keith, just the five of them. They buried his body in the jungle, in a clear spot they found. It was near a little pond, with beautiful flowers around it. Everyone said a few words for Keith before burying the body. Marguerite just said 'I'll miss you'. Once they were done, they headed back to the treehouse, it was a couple of hours away.
They were rather silent during their trek. Roxton was hugging Marguerite the whole time, while she rested her head on his shoulders. Roxton was sure the others had figured by now that they were together, it's not like they were going to make a big announcement, especially at a time like this, when Marguerite was obviously so affected.
Malone was still limping a bit, Veronica was helping him out. Roxton was sure he would appreciate her help more than anyone's else. Challenger went right ahead, lost in his thoughts.
Roxton kept thinking of Summerlee's disappearance. He had felt so guilty about it... part of him also felt guilty for Keith's death. He should have accompanied them to search for Challenger's plants... but he guessed he wouldn't have been able to do a thing. Still, those kind of things just hung in the back of his head. He wondered if Challenger was feeling it too, since it was during his expedition that everything had happened. Probably, everyone was feeling guilty at the moment, thinking about what they could've done or said, that's usually the way when someone died, and in the plateau they were closer than they ever intended, like some sort of family.
He wondered if Marguerite was feeling guilty. She probably was, Keith had been closer to her than to the rest, and he knew how much his death had hurt her. She had refused to cry in front of the explorers, Roxton assumed that she had cried all she could cry last night in his room. After that, she has just fallen asleep over his chest, and he had just stayed awake caressing her ebony curls.
Guilt was the last thing he was allowed to think about right now, since he had the happy obligation of making sure the woman he loved was alright.
By Carla
DISCLAIMER
Challenger, Marguerite, Roxton, Malone and Veronica belong to Telescene, not to me. No infraction to their rights meant, I'm just having a little fun. I own nothing but the story.
Chapter IX
He opened his eyes slowly. He couldn't feel his body at all, just an intense sensation of pain burning him alive. He wanted to scream, but he had no strength even for that. Breathing was harder than it use to be. All he could see where her beautiful eyes staring back at him.
"Hey." Marguerite whispered when Keith opened his eyes, trying to smile reassuringly at him.
"Hey." He knew his voice was just like her whisper. He knew he was dying.
"We got you back at the treehouse. Challenger used some of his plants on you."
"So the 'Quest for the Plant' had some use at the end." This time he was trying to smile. He could see the sadness on her face and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Keith..."
"I knew you would cry for me." Marguerite couldn't help herself anymore and she started crying openly, taking his hand in hers and kissing it.
"Don't leave me," she muttered.
"I don't want to."
"Keith, you're my best friend. Please don't die on me."
"You'll be okay gorgeous, I know it." Keith looked at her, thankful for the last chance to say good-bye to the woman he had grown up with. It he had to die, he was happy he could see her once again.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I know you darling. He'll take care of you."
"Who?"
"Who do you think?"
"Even now you want to mess with me?" she tried to sound playful.
"I mean it. I'm glad you're not alone. You scared?"
"I've never been this scared in my life. I have told him everything, about the jewels, the Germans and our marriage, everything..."
"And?"
"And we're working on it."
"Good. If you are too scared I can always make some deathbed wish about you not dating him..."
"I think I want to take the risk this time."
"That's my girl... ouch!" Keith felt the sudden pressure on his back, he could see the blood all over the sheets and Marguerite's worried expression.
"Keith! I should get Challenger!" she turned to leave but felt the soft pressure of his hand in her wrist. He had managed to move to keep her in the room.
"What for? Some extra minutes? I'll rather end this here, alone, with you."
"You're not dying Keith!" Tears were falling from her beautiful eyes again.
"Let's be real Maggie... I guess you won't be needing that divorce anymore..."
"Don't say that!" she said, throwing herself over his chest, trying not to hurt his back or his side.
"I don't want to die Maggie, but I can't do a thing about it."
"Keith..."
"Come on. I want to say something before time cuts me short. Just listen, okay?" Marguerite nodded, but she couldn't help but notice that it was getting increasingly hard for him to breath and keep talking "All the stuff we did, the kind of people we became... I wouldn't change a moment of it because we did it together, you know? You're the only person who has truly cared for me in my life, we were cut the same, you and I. I think we were lucky that we ran into each other. And Maggie, while I know you hate hearing this... I do love you, and I'm damn proud to be your husband."
She wasn't sure if the knot in her throat would allow her to speak. She didn't know how to say good-bye to the one person she had always wanted in her life, but she knew she would regret it more if she didn't say the things she wanted him to know.
"God Lawrence... I love you too. You're the best husband I've had so far!" she failed miserably at smiling at her own joke "I've had a lonely life Keith, never trusting anyone... but you. My parents' abandonment, the moving from school to school, to never be liked or loved... it would've driven me crazy if you hadn't been there for me. The moments I've had with you Keith... I will remember them forever, I will always have you in my heart. I'm glad we met each other again, and I'm damn proud of having been your wife."
"Good."
"Yes."
"Maggie... can I have that deathbed wish now?" He couldn't help the tears coming down his cheeks any more than she could. It suited them, the final good-bye, their last breath together.
"Sure."
"Kiss me... for old time's sake..." She felt her own life escaping her body. She couldn't believe that she was saying her last good-bye to the man laying in front of her. She wanted to take him in her arms and protect him from the death, so he could stay with her. But she knew that you just have to play the cards life deals to you. She closed her eyes as she lowered her mouth to his. They kissed each other tenderly, saying all the things words would never be able to express. She wasn't sure how long they kissed, until she broke it slowly once she was sure he was gone.
When she stepped out of her room, where Keith's body was, all eyes fixed on her at once. With a mere glance at her, everyone knew that Keith was dead. They didn't know what to say, maybe there weren't any words to be said. Everyone just said something like 'I'm sorry'. Marguerite noticed Malone and Veronica went to the balcony to get some air, and Challenger walked ceremoniously to Marguerite's room to decide what to do with Keith's body.
Marguerite was too shocked to say or do a thing. She felt Roxton's strong arm around her waist as he led her to his room. There he made her sit on his bed while he closed the door.
She half expected Roxton to say something, anything... All he did was kneel in front of her and kiss her tears away. After that, he simply embraced her. She felt safe in his arms, she knew he would help her get through Keith's loss and anything that may cross their way. Being in his arms she could feel the desire to cry again. She struggled against it, but when she felt his soft kiss in her hair, she couldn't help but cry in his arms.
They decided to have a little service for Keith, just the five of them. They buried his body in the jungle, in a clear spot they found. It was near a little pond, with beautiful flowers around it. Everyone said a few words for Keith before burying the body. Marguerite just said 'I'll miss you'. Once they were done, they headed back to the treehouse, it was a couple of hours away.
They were rather silent during their trek. Roxton was hugging Marguerite the whole time, while she rested her head on his shoulders. Roxton was sure the others had figured by now that they were together, it's not like they were going to make a big announcement, especially at a time like this, when Marguerite was obviously so affected.
Malone was still limping a bit, Veronica was helping him out. Roxton was sure he would appreciate her help more than anyone's else. Challenger went right ahead, lost in his thoughts.
Roxton kept thinking of Summerlee's disappearance. He had felt so guilty about it... part of him also felt guilty for Keith's death. He should have accompanied them to search for Challenger's plants... but he guessed he wouldn't have been able to do a thing. Still, those kind of things just hung in the back of his head. He wondered if Challenger was feeling it too, since it was during his expedition that everything had happened. Probably, everyone was feeling guilty at the moment, thinking about what they could've done or said, that's usually the way when someone died, and in the plateau they were closer than they ever intended, like some sort of family.
He wondered if Marguerite was feeling guilty. She probably was, Keith had been closer to her than to the rest, and he knew how much his death had hurt her. She had refused to cry in front of the explorers, Roxton assumed that she had cried all she could cry last night in his room. After that, she has just fallen asleep over his chest, and he had just stayed awake caressing her ebony curls.
Guilt was the last thing he was allowed to think about right now, since he had the happy obligation of making sure the woman he loved was alright.