Sister Game

-She shouldn't have. But she did, and wether you like it or not, you're involved.- Logan/Hit a sister back

Summary: What if Tinga survived her treatment and was still alive? M/L, T/C, cure for the virus eventually.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em.

Spoilers/Timeframe: Radar Love

A/N: I'm using an Dutch song which I translated into English. It fits this chapter perfectly, and I hope you like it! And, yes, the M/L will come, but let's focus on Tinga and Charlie a little more before I attempt an post-virus chapter aiight? I'm pretty much having an muse, and I'll tell you, I'm going to write till it dies. It's so much fun to write T/C, since their relationship hasn't really been explored on the show, now I'm making it up!

Still lookin' for a beta, leave it in the review if you want to.

~*~ Means Flashback.

Things in italics are thoughts, and if they're in between ~*~ it's an flashback.

~~~~~~~~ Means scene change.

Chapter #2 - Sorting it all out

Charlie closed his eyes, then opened them again. They weren't betraying him. There, sitting in the window, was Tinga, her long hair tied into an ponytail swinging down her back. It was as if she'd dropped out of the sky, like an ray of sun.

Their eyes locked for an moment, and an smile crept upon Charlie's face. He jumped up, nearly tripping over his own feet.

Tinga jumped into the room, her heart pounding loudly. She was home, after two long months. Two months of tracking, hoping and praying. Praying for this moment.

As Charlie's lips locked with hers, the rest of the world was forgotten. It was only them, no one else involved.

In one second, sunlight came through the clouds.

As they pulled apart, they both looked at each other in amazement. Finally Charlie spoke.

"How?" Was all he could get out.

"I don't know Charlie, I don't know..." Tinga answered.

"But the phone call, you were...-"

"-Dead? I was supposed to be but, some one got my heart working again, and the rest is all fog." Fog I want to clear.

"Mommy!" As if Case just noticed, he jumped out of his bed, the wood cracking under the impact. Tinga kneeled, holding her arms open. Case ran into them, and she pulled him into an big hug.

"You're okay." It was an whisper, but it was all she could do to soothe the nerve-eating feeling that had been there ever since she'd left him behind with Charlie. She looked up to Charlie, tears wetting the corners of her eyes.

"I missed you so much, don't you dare to disappear on me like that again!" Her voice didn't hold any trace of anger, it was more an mix between joy and sadness.

"Blame it on your family, they feigned all the ID's, and thought of the names."

"Alan Ating, why do I get the idea you made up your own last name?" Tinga asked, standing up.

"How about we discuss this all over some ice cream?" Just like the old days.

Tinga seemed to be remembering this too. The ice-cream tradition had started long ago, before Case was even born.

~*~

"Can you now explain me why you disappeared for 3 weeks, without even leaving any trace?" Charlie asked Tinga. They were sharing an box of Chocolate ice cream, both taking turns to dig their spoons into it.

"I told you, I had an family emergency." Tinga was hoping she didn't sound to desperate, hoping he would believe.

"But why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't have time, I had to get there pronto." Her inner voice was begging him to believe her. His eyes told her he didn't, but he didn't push any more. It had happened before, that she'd disappeared without leaving anything behind to tell him. And they always made up over ice-cream.

~*~

"Ice cream?" Case asked, excited.

"No hun, you got to go to bed, you've been staying up way to long." How did I live without this? Tinga asked herself, as she helped her son into bed. After giving him an kiss, she looked at Charlie.

"Let's grab an box, shall we?

One second with you is more beautiful than an decade alone.

They both sat on the couch, eating the box of ice-cream in silence. Finally, Charlie came up with an question.

"You said they got your heart working again, but I mean, you were never dead." Tinga's eyes filled with tears, as she remembered the day she died.

~*~

It was all pressing against her. And still she managed to breath. Her sight was foggy, she could barely make out the movement going on below her.

And suddenly, all the pressure was gone, she was falling. Arms around her, making her shake. Sobs filled the silence.

"Tinga." Maxi, it was Maxi. But then the arms left her. She heard an yell, and then... nothing.

~*~

"They were running tests on me, I don't know what kind, it was all so scary. Sometimes it hurt, and sometimes I felt nothing." Sadness filled her voice as she spoke these words. Charlie sensed her mood change. He lay an arm around her.

"When you told me about... you know, I thought about grabbing Case and leave. But after you went back to that place, I mentally kicked my own ass for thinking such an thought. My life was so... empty without you." Tears slid down his face.

How many times had he hoped Tinga would be knocking on the door? How many nights had he spent watching out of the window, sticking to the thought that she would be standing there, smiling at him?

"I should've told you, but I couldn't. I mean, I did tell you one time, but, you got that look in your eyes..." She trailed of.

"I must say I was freaked out when you told me, it all came so fast... First you disappear, and I get an phone call telling me your name is Tinga..."

"That was Max."Tinga interrupted

".... and then you appear again, and you drop the bomb about some secret government agency, Case gets an high fever and you have to turn yourself in for an cure. And all that time, my mind was an foggy place in my head, not thinking clearly." Charlie continued.

I was scared to love, and my heart was frozen.

But with your arms around my waist, I can take on the world.

"I know... I hate myself for letting you go through so much pain. I was scared to see you again, thinking you would hate me." Tears now made their existence fully known, as they stained her shirt.

"How could I hate you? Penny or Tinga, it doesn't matter, you're still the same person." Tinga looked at him, a spark of hope seen through all the tears.

"Tinga I love you, you know that."

"I... love you too Charlie, but I don't want to bring you in danger by staying with you." Cause I might loose you again.

"I'm also the one to make decisions, and I don't care what dangers are involved, I can't lose you again." My life will be so empty.

"But..." He silenced her with an kiss, tasting the sweet chocolate.

"It's okay..." He whispered.

Dancing on the stars, four seasons in one night.

This is one second without gravity.

Walking on water, seeing sun before it sets.

Flying without it wings.

All for you..

"I want to know if you're sure you want to stay with me, I lied to you." Even thought it was needed I shouldn't have.

"Tinga, I want to stay with you for the rest of my life, through the darkest nights or the biggest fights, I'll never leave your side."

You tell me all your secrets, it's all I want to hear.

They were safe with me, but I share them with you.

My thoughts and my dreams, only focus on you.

I jump into the deep water - laughing, with my eyes closed.

Dancing on the stars, four seasons in one night.

This is one second without gravity.

"But I am an science project, an tool, how can you still love me?" She asked.

"Because you're also an human, my other half." And two halves make one, Case.

They sat there in silence, not even eating ice cream.

Walking on water, seeing sun before it sets.

Flying without it wings.

All for you..

~*~

"Marry me." Tinga jumped up in surprise.

"Wha... What?!" Charlie, despite situation, chuckled.

"I'm asking you to marry me." For a minute she thought her eyes would pop out. He was standing there, holing the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen. She felt like she couldn't say anything.

This is stupid soldier, STUPID, her inner self screamed. Then why was she bringing out this sentence?

"Yes, yes Charlie, I will marry you!"

~*~

Dancing on the stars, four seasons in one night.

This is one second without gravity.

Walking on water, seeing sun before it sets.

Flying without it wings.

All because of you.

"What are you remembering?" Charlie asked.

"The day you proposed to me." Charlie's face brightened.

"Fun?"

"You bet." She yawned, suddenly overcome by the exhaustion of driving non-stop.

"Let's go to bed."

"Do you have an single?"

"No, an double."

"Great." With that, she followed her husband to the room, grinning like an jolly fool.

Life was good.

One second with you is better, then an decade alone.

This is one second without gravity.

I feel safe with you, your arms around my waist.

All for you...

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(A/N: That's like the longest chapter I've ever written!!!)