Here it is! Chapter six! This is a long one, which is why it took so long to get out. Only one more chapter to go after this, and the conclusion will be there!
Thanks to pixievix (mwahaha, only I know what is to come... actually I haven't quite decided yet... so we'll see!), Val (I love Caitlin's Way, despite the fact that I don't have access to actually watching any episodes any more. All those who want it on DVD please raise their hand! raises handI am determined to finish, I'm not letting my self post anyother storiesuntil I'm done with it!), kelly (I update as quickly and frequently as my schedule allows! Which isn't as much as I'd like since I'm back at school. grumble mumble) and Artemis Moonshine (From what I saw I really liked Eric. He amused me lots. From what I've read on the net -which is alot, considering the scouring I had to do to get ahold of it- Will seems a bit... like he's trying to be a bad boy but doesn't really have it in him. You know what I mean?) for your reviews!
And to all others who read this, PLEASE REVIEW! I am beginning to really enjoy reading reviews, and I have about 14 all together now. Not many compared to some but I'm pleased that people are reading my stuff and enjoying it!
Anyhoo, I'll stop boring you with my prattle and get on with the story, which I decided to have a little fun with. I'm playing with the plot, so expect shocks and such. Or not. -shut up self-
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As Caitlin regained consciousness the first thing she felt was the harsh bite of rope at her wrists. It seemed as if she was viewing everything through a hazy fog, and as her view cleared she felt the pull on her shoulder muscles and realised that her hands were tied behind her back. Her head throbbed, and her forehead felt sticky. She moved her head slightly and a stinging pain flashed along her hairline. Caitlin inhaled sharply, deciding at that moment that moving her head again was a bad idea. Feeling cold air cutting through her clothing Caitlin glanced around where she was. Wooden… wait… log walls, haphazardly placed with gaps between the logs. A couple of things scattered around the small building: old beer cans mainly, a chair and a couple of work tools.
Caitlin pulled forward to try and stand, only to meet strong opposition from behind as she strained against the bulk she was tied to. A faint groan sounded behind her from the bulk and Caitlin grit her teeth to deny the pain racing across her head as she turned to face it.
"Eric?" She whispered, spying the familiar close-cropped hair. A pain-filled mumble was her only reply and Caitlin yanked at Eric's arms again, pulling the now startled boy back into conscious.
"What the…" He gasped blearily. Freezing air flew through the slats between the crudely assembled logs, and sliced across both of the detainees.
"Holy hell it's cold." Whispered Caitlin, shivering and unintentionally shrinking back towards Eric. She felt his body shuddering against her back, and once more grit her teeth as she turned to him.
As Caitlin looked at his shaking form, her mind flashed back to that time in the supply shed, the cold biting into them as snow flew outside in flurrying jets. The little fire all they had to keep them warm.
"Don't tell anyone I cried okay?"
"What happened up there was our thing."
"My dad would kill me if he found out. No pain's too big for a rancher's son."
In her mind Caitlin heard the sound Eric's shoulder had made when she had helped him pop it back into place. The memory sickened her, and she felt a wave of nausea pass over her own, trembling form.
"E... Eric?" She croaked, her voice breaking as she tried to move her numbing lips. She heard before she saw him shift his weight and turn to face her.
"What?" He asked. His eyes didn't meet hers, and Caitlin could see his anger as his jaw muscles spasmed, showing that he was clenching his teeth.
"I wish I hadn't got you into this." She said, searching his face desperately for any sign of emotion other than anger. "You said once the one thing that you ever liked about me was that I fight my own fights, I guess I proved you wrong." She swallowed briefly.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I... I'm sorry." Eric turned away from her.
"Not going soft on me now Seeger?" He whispered. He cleared his throat and spoke up. "I don't want you to just give in. That's not going to help us." Caitlin sighed.
"Eric I'm trying to apologise! You never make anything easy do you?" He smiled, and though she couldn't see him, Caitlin thought she heard the trace of a smile in his voice when he spoke.
"Absolutely not." Caitlin sighed, angrily tugging her arms towards her.
"Hey! That hurt!" Protested Eric as his arms were pulled sharply back with Caitlin's.
"Then stop being such an ass and I won't do it again!" Eric's fingers reached around as much as they could in their tied form, and they found Caitlin's. He grabbed hold of her hand tightly.
"Get us out of here Cait." He whispered. Caitlin squeezed his fingers gratefully and didn't detach them as her eyes once again searched the room. As she squinted through the semi-darkness around them her gaze scanned once more to the stack of tools. Caitlin squinted, and with gleeful eyes saw an axe amongst the pile.
"Can you stand up?" She asked the shuddering form behind her.
"If you need it." He replied huskily. Caitlin began to struggle to her feet.
"Stand up then." She ordered him, dragging his arms with hers. She heard the noisy and clumsy scuffing of his boots on the wooden planks beneath them and pressed her back against his.
"Take three steps to the left." She commanded. Simultaneously the pair stepped… in opposite directions. Simultaneously cries of irritation and pain were heard as their combined force tugged on already straining muscles.
"I said left you fucking imbecile!" Yelled Caitlin.
"I thought you meant my left, not your left!" He retorted.
"Why the hell would I say your left when I'm deciding on the directions, that just makes it difficult!" Screamed Caitlin in frustration.
"Well how the hell was I meant to know that?"
"By using that tiny excuse for a brain!"
"You're insufferable!"
"You're an idiot!"
"Blow me."
"Shut up."
"For some strange reason I really want to kiss you right now."
"Me too!"
"Then get these ropes undone!"
"Head to my left!"
They stumbled to Caitlin's left and hurriedly fished the axe from the heap of tools. Eric held it in place as well as he could with limited reaching and gripping capacity, and Caitlin moved her wrists, swiftly and recklessly sawing at the rope, nicking the heel of her hand on the blade. Finally the last tendril was cut through and the two pulled their arms free, immediately turning and grabbing at each other. Frenzied kisses rained upon Caitlin's mouth, her chin and neck. She clasped hold of Eric as hard as she could; pulling him towards her so there was barely an air-pocket between their bodies. Eric's trail of kisses returned to Caitlin's lips and the two caught into a fierce kiss, warming lips pressing hard against cold lips, neither holding back as Caitlin allowed Eric's tongue to slip into her mouth. A mixture of passion, adrenaline and hormones powered the two, and very reluctantly… Caitlin pulled her face away, looking down towards the ground.
"We should get out of here." She whispered, her breathing rapid and impairing the fluency of her speech.
"Yeah that would probably be wise." Whispered Eric, dipping his head under hers and catching her lips with his again. Caitlin's arms slipped up, grasping the back of Eric's neck as he kissed her, and she pulled her head backwards, away from him.
"Go back to the truck." She commanded. Eric leant forward, bending his head and resting his face on her chest, his nose in her neck as he breathed heavily.
"You're coming with me." It was half a question, half an order, and Caitlin shook her head slightly.
"I'm going to get my camera, then I'll come meet you."
"It's too risky."
"Just go." Caitlin released her death-grip on Eric and stepped back when he raised his head. She disentangled his hold on her and widened the gap between them.
"Caitlin…"
"Get going!" Eric stared at Caitlin levelly.
"If you're not at the truck in five minutes I'm coming to get you." He told her. She nodded and turned to go, but Eric grabbed her arm fiercely, spinning her around. He planted a short, hard kiss on her lips and then turned and walked away himself.
Caitlin jogged up the pathway, cautious to not make much noise, but wanting to move as quickly as possible.
She searched the undergrowth at the edge of the clearing, and after much clumsy scrabbling in the dark dirt, her hand rested upon the familiar cold metal and plastic of her camera. Underneath it lay her bag, and she snatched them both up, slinging the bag over one shoulder and cramming her camera into it.
A rustle of clothing sounded out like a klaxon behind Caitlin, and she felt all the tendons and muscles across her body instinctively tighten and lock. As she turned around she knew exactly who would be standing lazily behind her, an arrogant smirk plastered on his face, despite the black eye which marked his defeat at the hands of Eric first time round.
"Stay the fuck away from me." She threatened angrily as he took a step forward.
"I should have expected you'd get out of there. Clever girl ain't you?" Mark smiled languidly at her, an action which only caused Caitlin to want to rip his eyes out.
"Clever enough to know that you're not going to just let me walk away are you?" Mark smiled again.
"All I wanted was a kiss." Caitlin shuddered.
"Tough shit." She replied.
"Come on Caitlin. Just one kiss." Caitlin remembered the last time he had tried to kiss her, and ran her tongue over the still tender scab on her lip from where he had bit her. A light seemed to switch on in Caitlin's mind. Pay back time. She thought.
"Okay," Shock flitted across Mark's face, but he quickly controlled it. He walked up to her, until he was inches from her. He was taller than Caitlin by at least four inches, and she lifted her head so she could look into his face.
"Okay what?" He asked tentatively, though his voice still held a hard edge.
"One kiss. Then you let me leave. Deal?" Mark rolled his shoulders back languorously.
"Sure thing." He smiled. "You get the hell out of here afterwards. Got me?"
Caitlin nodded and boldly stepped over to Mark. With one hand she grabbed the back of his head and she raised herself up, his head ducked and she kissed him. The kiss was not passionate, and it caused no stirrings in her stomach as the kisses with Eric had done. It was strong and slightly violent, and before Mark could pull back, Caitlin repaid him for his antics first time round. She bit down hard on his lip. She tasted blood again, this time his and not her own, and he yelped. He started mumbling angrily, trying to pull away. Caitlin's grip on his head prevented this though, and he flailed, thrashing out at her. So intent on causing him the pain she had felt, Caitlin did not hear the pick-up truck rumbling along the woodchip drive.
Eric viewed the scene through his windshield in disbelief. This disbelief was quickly replaced by rage, and he climbed out of the cabin, slamming the door hard behind him. He crossed over, and just as Caitlin released Mark he grabbed his shoulder and swung him around.
"What the fuck is going on?" He yelled furiously. Mark had finger pressed on his bleeding lip and lunged towards Caitlin in anger. Eric grabbed him again and swung his clenched fist upwards. He caught Mark square in the jaw, and his head snapped back, sending him down onto the floor.
"Eric let's go!" Shouted Caitlin, seeing lights switching on behind dimmed windows. With one last look at Mark, Eric sprinted to the truck, Caitlin hot on his heels.Once both were inside and secured with their seatbelts, Eric forced the truck into gear and slammed his foot down on the accelerator. The truck shot forwards like a rocket, and they were back on the mountain road.
Eric wouldn't look at Caitlin, his stomach felt knotted to the point of pain, and all over seeing her kiss Mark.
As Eric drove the tension between them at first upset Caitlin, but the longer she watched his jaw muscle clench angrily, the angrier she also began to feel.
"Eric…"
"I don't want to hear it Caitlin."
"Please let me explain." Eric's voice raised angrily, and the truck swerved dangerously across the icy mountain road.
"I don't want to hear your excuses, or explanations, or whatever the hell you want to call them." Fear replaced the anger in Caitlin's eyes as the car once more lurched hazardously across the road. The muscle in Eric's forearm twitched violently, and the truck swung around a turn, the wheels screeching in protest as black skid marks scarred the previously clean surface.
"Are you trying to kill us?" Screamed Caitlin, holding on to her seat with rapidly whitening knuckles. Eric pointedly ignored her, focusing his attention on the road before them.
"Eric pull over!" She yelled as she stared in disbelief and horror at his stony expression. His insides writhed in turmoil. He felt part angry at Mark for being such an overwhelming asshole, and part angry at Caitlin for actually having the nerve to kiss the guy and not seem to even fight back after what he had done. But he felt mostly angry at himself for caring so much. He thought he was stronger and better than that. Evidently he had misjudged himself, and that angered Eric more. He jerked the steering wheel, sending the vehicle tearing around another turn. Caitlin's cries barely registered in his mind. That is until…
"Eric please! You're scaring me! You're going to get us killed!" Eric tore his eyes away from the road and looked over to Caitlin. Her face was white with fear, and her lips were trembling. Her eyes looked wet, though no tears yet escaped them and Eric knew none would. Though his anger softened, he realised that it did with irritation, and furiously yanked the wheel to the left, sending the truck hurtling into the undergrowth at the side of the road. He pressed the brakes violently and the truck lurched to a stop. Caitlin grabbed at the dashboard in front of her, stopping her head from hitting it as she was flung forwards. She didn't release it as she stared at the dark area beneath her face where her feet were shrouded by black. Caitlin was hyperventilating. Eric cleared his throat nervously as he began to fully understand how badly he had frightened her. She looked over to him, her rapid breathing slowly, but very little.
"You alright?" He asked gruffly, avoiding eye contact.
"What the hell… is wrong with you?" She gasped between breaths. Eric grit his teeth hard, and finally allowed himself to grind out a reply.
"I was pissed off."
"No shit." Snapped Caitlin. The two sat in a tense silence as Caitlin managed to control her breathing. Finally she looked at Eric, who sat facing out into the tree obscured darkness. She saw the muscle in his jaw twitching again.
"You want to say something to me?"
"No." He replied shortly.
"You obviously want to get something out your system, so go for it. Do it." He looked over at her, his gaze piercing, and focused on her intently. He released a breath he had been holding without realising, and began to speak.
"I just thought you and I had… I don't even know what's happened between us tonight. It was all so sudden and… I like you okay."
"And trying to kill me shows that really well." Said Caitlin, sarcastically.
"I just… I thought you liked me too and then I saw you kissing Mark…"
"That's not what you thought." Cut off Caitlin. Eric continued regardless.
"It just pissed me off you know? I never thought I liked you liked that, and you threw it back in my face…"
"Shut up."
"I mean I just can't believe that you'd do that…"
"Just shut up!"
"He's such a goddamn jerk! And you went and…"
"For christ's sake Eric!"
"And after what he did! You're still totally willing to go and…"
Caitlin did the only thing she could to make him stop talking. She covered his mouth with her own for what could be counted as the fourth time that day.
There was no pause or small beat before a reaction this time. It was automatic. Eric kissed her back hungrily, releasing his anger in a much more satisfying outlet. He reached one hand up, grasping her head by clutching it behind her ear, his thumb tracing her cheekbone, and pulled her face closer.
The kiss was brief, and ended much too soon for either of them. But neither would ever admit it as Caitlin pulled back from him.
"I do like you." She told him, neither blinking as they held eye contact. "And I know this is all happening really quickly, but I don't care. I like it happening this quickly. And the whole thing with kissing Mark was revenge. He bit my lip and burst it when he attacked me, I wanted to return the favour. I want you, not him. I for some reason I'm attracted to you, and I'm not going to ignore it." Relief washed over Eric and he brought his thumb to Caitlin's lips. She kissed it briefly and reached to undo her seatbelt. Eric watched as Caitlin reached over to him, unclasping his seatbelt and pulling it back.
"What are you…" He started. Caitlin cut him off as she raised a hand to his mouth, and he dropped his hand from the side of her face.
"Sshhh." She whispered. Before Eric's stunned eyes she climbed out of her seat and swung a leg to the other side of him, straddling his legs as she knelt over him. The cabin of truck was tall enough so she didn't have to crouch uncomfortably, but her head skimmed the roof slightly and had to be slightly ducked. She leant down and kissed him again, her auburn hair swinging down and brushing his cheeks lightly. He lifted one hand to brush it behind her ear, and with the other he grabbed her waist. She kissed him gently, barely opening either mouth, and Eric dropped his hand from her face and grabbed the other side of her waist. He pulled her down, closer, and began to kiss her back fiercely. She pulled away from him and pushed back one shoulder of her leather jacket.
Eric got the hint and lifted his hands from her waist, pushing the leather jacket of so it fell on the floor of the truck behind her, landing on his feet. She leant down and kissed him again, and this time it was he who pulled away, but only to plant a trail of soft kisses down her neck. He slipped one hand onto her stomach beneath her t-shirt and the cool skin beneath shocked him, his hands, face, all of him feeling burning hot. Caitlin's lips were warm, but her stomach was freezing cold.
"Are you sure about…" He whispered, only to be cut off by Caitlin kissing him again. She pulled back and looked him in the eye.
"Yes." She stated, simply. She grasped the bottom of his sweater and began to tug it up, over his head.
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Ah the power of insinuation. I can't cope with writing full blown smut, so use your imagination!
Hope you liked, and the next chapter will come out asap. And please remember to review! Thankies!
