Wow, thanks so much to everyone who has posted reviews, it is very, very
much appreciated. Because of reviews (and your wishes are my commands) the
following changes have/will be made: I shall correct spellings of
"Eckhardt"; I have explained the earlier "Werner Problem" and the chapters
shall become longer (this one is still a bit short, but as with "Rest –
Interlude" it had to be put in.).
Joining Forces
Chapter 6 – Kurtis Arrives
Lara stood like a deer stuck in headlights. 'What? How? God it's too late at night for this.' Lara was completely bewildered. Kurtis brushed past her and dropped onto a chair, which groaned and sagged even deeper. 'Hey, isn't exactly Croft Manor is it?' He eyed her up and down. 'What's the matter, you look like you've seen a ghost.' Lara shut and locked the door, and sat down opposite him, wrapping her towel extra tightly around her. 'Not to sound rude and I'm thrilled you're alive and everything – but what are you doing here? As you can see you have caught me at a bad time.' 'Oh, I see. Well you go ahead and finish your bath. I'll wait here.' Lara muttered something Kurtis didn't quite catch. 'What?' 'I said make yourself comfortable.' She lied. Then Lara got up traipsed to the bathroom and closed the door. "Why Lord? Why can't you have waited another hour?' Once again she submerged herself.
Lara emerged from the bathroom a short while later, as her bath water had become cold (and the crummy hotel was evidently tight on hot water). To her relief she saw that Kurtis had lay down and fallen sleep on the sofa. She quickly dressed in her white cotton pyjamas and dried her hair. She noticed that he was a heavy sleeper – the hair dryer could have woken the dead. Using this piece of information she crept over to his sleeping form and pulled up his t-shirt up over his shoulders. To her surprise there was not even a scratch on his stomach. She rolled him over slightly and also found nothing on his back, so she pulled back down his top. Walking to the cupboard she found a spare blanket, which she wrapped him in. Then she went over and slipped under the covers of her own bed.
During that night, she dreamt that she was back in the Strahov, re-enacting her battle with Eckhardt. But this time when she found the Chirugai she threw it and it sped through the air, with her following it. It lead her to Kurtis lying bloody on the hard concrete floor. As he saw her he got up and ran, leaving behind him a crimson trail. She found herself unable to follow him, as if she were glued to the spot. The Chirugai then returned to her and she flung out her hand to catch it. 'Ouch!' Lara awoke and massaged her hand, which she had struck against the wall behind her. She quickly remembered the dream and slid out of her warm bed and into the chilly air.
Lara tiptoed to her bag and rummaged around until her hand connected with something smooth, cold and made of metal. She tugged out the pair of handcuffs and made her way across the room to Kurtis. With a satisfying clink the handcuffs locked. Lara returned to her bed safe in the knowledge that he wouldn't be running anywhere.
Joining Forces
Chapter 6 – Kurtis Arrives
Lara stood like a deer stuck in headlights. 'What? How? God it's too late at night for this.' Lara was completely bewildered. Kurtis brushed past her and dropped onto a chair, which groaned and sagged even deeper. 'Hey, isn't exactly Croft Manor is it?' He eyed her up and down. 'What's the matter, you look like you've seen a ghost.' Lara shut and locked the door, and sat down opposite him, wrapping her towel extra tightly around her. 'Not to sound rude and I'm thrilled you're alive and everything – but what are you doing here? As you can see you have caught me at a bad time.' 'Oh, I see. Well you go ahead and finish your bath. I'll wait here.' Lara muttered something Kurtis didn't quite catch. 'What?' 'I said make yourself comfortable.' She lied. Then Lara got up traipsed to the bathroom and closed the door. "Why Lord? Why can't you have waited another hour?' Once again she submerged herself.
Lara emerged from the bathroom a short while later, as her bath water had become cold (and the crummy hotel was evidently tight on hot water). To her relief she saw that Kurtis had lay down and fallen sleep on the sofa. She quickly dressed in her white cotton pyjamas and dried her hair. She noticed that he was a heavy sleeper – the hair dryer could have woken the dead. Using this piece of information she crept over to his sleeping form and pulled up his t-shirt up over his shoulders. To her surprise there was not even a scratch on his stomach. She rolled him over slightly and also found nothing on his back, so she pulled back down his top. Walking to the cupboard she found a spare blanket, which she wrapped him in. Then she went over and slipped under the covers of her own bed.
During that night, she dreamt that she was back in the Strahov, re-enacting her battle with Eckhardt. But this time when she found the Chirugai she threw it and it sped through the air, with her following it. It lead her to Kurtis lying bloody on the hard concrete floor. As he saw her he got up and ran, leaving behind him a crimson trail. She found herself unable to follow him, as if she were glued to the spot. The Chirugai then returned to her and she flung out her hand to catch it. 'Ouch!' Lara awoke and massaged her hand, which she had struck against the wall behind her. She quickly remembered the dream and slid out of her warm bed and into the chilly air.
Lara tiptoed to her bag and rummaged around until her hand connected with something smooth, cold and made of metal. She tugged out the pair of handcuffs and made her way across the room to Kurtis. With a satisfying clink the handcuffs locked. Lara returned to her bed safe in the knowledge that he wouldn't be running anywhere.