The earliest moment that Challenger would let the recovering Roxton get out of bed, the harried man was keeping a vigil at the still unconscious Marguerite's bedside. Taking a frail hand in his own, he grasped it tightly to his chest as if his own heartbeat could help strengthen her own. Her cheeks still lacked their rosy tint, but her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm and her pulse throbbed beneath his palms.
He maintained this position for days on end, forgetting to eat except when reminded by one of the other explorers and sleeping only when sheer exhaustion prevented him from doing otherwise. He ignored the companionship of the others who one at a time stayed with him and Marguerite. Roxton's whole focus was on seeing those lovely gray eyes open again with that smile in them that was reserved just for him.
Finally after a week of impatient waiting, all were rewarded by a stirring from Marguerite. Roxton literally jumped up from the chair where he had been about to doze off and called frantically for Challenger.
" She's waking up." Challenger smiled triumphantly after looking over his patient. " I knew she would get through this."
" Stubborn." Ned said with a fond grin on his face that was returned by all but Roxton.
" Marguerite?" John called softly, almost afraid to hope.
" Hmm.." She groaned softly, turning her head slightly so that she was facing him.
" Open your eyes for us, Marguerite." Roxton pleaded gently.
" Hmm- Roxton?" She said softly, her voice crackling from disuse as her eyes fluttered opened, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. A collective sigh of relief went through everyone in the room and Roxton smiled a genuine smile for what seemed the first time in ages.
" Hello." He murmured. " How are you feeling."
" Umm- sore. What happened?"
" Here drink this." Malone interrupted, handing Roxton a glass of water so that he could assist her in drinking it.
" Thank you, that's better. Now would someone please tell me what happened?
____________________________________________________________________
The relationship between the still recovering Marguerite and Roxton in the months to come was undeniably tense. Marguerite had nothing but sympathy for Roxton; having some idea what he must have gone through. He on the other hand, held within him nothing but guilt and avoided conversation with her when at all possible.
Finally Marguerite grew tired of his avoidance and angrily confronted him; forcing him to talk to her.
" Roxton! What is wrong with you lately!" She exploded
" What?" He glanced up, shocked at her outburst.
" You're avoiding my like I have some sort of disease and every time I try and talk to you you make up an excuse to disappear! What is going on?"
" Marguerite, don't." he said casting her a remorseful look.
" Oh I don't think so, John. Not this time."
" I don't want to discuss this with you, Marguerite! I feel bad enough already without you rubbing it in!"
" You honestly think I'd do that?" She said, somewhat hurt.
" You'd have every right."
" Roxton. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known."
" I should have been paying attention!"
" You saved my life!"
" What?"
" Roxton, that raptor was seconds away from making me his next meal. I was so preoccupied with the crystals I had recovered earlier that I didn't even hear it approach. If anyone is to blame here it's me."
" No. I shot blindly-"
" And you hit the raptor! You heard what George said; the bullet bounced off of a tree, you couldn't have possibly anticipated that happening!"
" Marguerite-," he started, surprised to be choaked by tears. " I'm sorry. I'm so, sorry. If I'd lost you-"
" I know. You're forgiven, John. You always were."
The couple carefully embraced for the first time since their ordeal; while unbeknownst to them three smiling faces were looking on with joy. They were finally whole again. The nightmare was over.
The End
What'd you think? ;-) Review? Please?
He maintained this position for days on end, forgetting to eat except when reminded by one of the other explorers and sleeping only when sheer exhaustion prevented him from doing otherwise. He ignored the companionship of the others who one at a time stayed with him and Marguerite. Roxton's whole focus was on seeing those lovely gray eyes open again with that smile in them that was reserved just for him.
Finally after a week of impatient waiting, all were rewarded by a stirring from Marguerite. Roxton literally jumped up from the chair where he had been about to doze off and called frantically for Challenger.
" She's waking up." Challenger smiled triumphantly after looking over his patient. " I knew she would get through this."
" Stubborn." Ned said with a fond grin on his face that was returned by all but Roxton.
" Marguerite?" John called softly, almost afraid to hope.
" Hmm.." She groaned softly, turning her head slightly so that she was facing him.
" Open your eyes for us, Marguerite." Roxton pleaded gently.
" Hmm- Roxton?" She said softly, her voice crackling from disuse as her eyes fluttered opened, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. A collective sigh of relief went through everyone in the room and Roxton smiled a genuine smile for what seemed the first time in ages.
" Hello." He murmured. " How are you feeling."
" Umm- sore. What happened?"
" Here drink this." Malone interrupted, handing Roxton a glass of water so that he could assist her in drinking it.
" Thank you, that's better. Now would someone please tell me what happened?
____________________________________________________________________
The relationship between the still recovering Marguerite and Roxton in the months to come was undeniably tense. Marguerite had nothing but sympathy for Roxton; having some idea what he must have gone through. He on the other hand, held within him nothing but guilt and avoided conversation with her when at all possible.
Finally Marguerite grew tired of his avoidance and angrily confronted him; forcing him to talk to her.
" Roxton! What is wrong with you lately!" She exploded
" What?" He glanced up, shocked at her outburst.
" You're avoiding my like I have some sort of disease and every time I try and talk to you you make up an excuse to disappear! What is going on?"
" Marguerite, don't." he said casting her a remorseful look.
" Oh I don't think so, John. Not this time."
" I don't want to discuss this with you, Marguerite! I feel bad enough already without you rubbing it in!"
" You honestly think I'd do that?" She said, somewhat hurt.
" You'd have every right."
" Roxton. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known."
" I should have been paying attention!"
" You saved my life!"
" What?"
" Roxton, that raptor was seconds away from making me his next meal. I was so preoccupied with the crystals I had recovered earlier that I didn't even hear it approach. If anyone is to blame here it's me."
" No. I shot blindly-"
" And you hit the raptor! You heard what George said; the bullet bounced off of a tree, you couldn't have possibly anticipated that happening!"
" Marguerite-," he started, surprised to be choaked by tears. " I'm sorry. I'm so, sorry. If I'd lost you-"
" I know. You're forgiven, John. You always were."
The couple carefully embraced for the first time since their ordeal; while unbeknownst to them three smiling faces were looking on with joy. They were finally whole again. The nightmare was over.
The End
What'd you think? ;-) Review? Please?