Dance with Me --Chapter Three

Tonight the med ward was still in contrast to the last few weeks. Hectic was the only way to describe how it had been. People in and out of the ward, teams moving all over needing treatment on the fly, barely time to say 'hello' much less 'good-bye'. But now…a pair of boots walked quietly down the hall so as not to disturb the few patients that were currently sleeping. One room had a faint light emanating from under the door. The boots stopped. A dark form looked in the window.

The small room was crowded with overstuffed chairs, a small table and a desk with a computer, a radio and a kitchenette. Blue white light filled the room and low music could be heard coming from somewhere. I'Lee sat at the desk working on one of her papers, headphones covering her ears. Her head bobbed in time to the music and she closed her eyes, letting the sound wash over her. The small nurse sighed as the song ended and opened her eyes to find her report closed and a message in its place.

Dance with me.

She stared at the monitor. Her heart started to pound as she leaned toward the screen. It didn't look like a regular chat room window. She typed in a response.

What?

A pair of long arms encircled her from behind causing her to jump. Her head hit something solid and a rumbling voice spoke next to her ear, just over the music in the headphones.

"Dance with me."

I'Lee felt herself pulled up from the chair, the arms still holding her tightly. A head rested on hers, listening to the beat of the song as they swayed back and forth for a moment. A hand took hers and gently spun her out and away before drawing her back into the tucked position where she felt safe. Stepping slowly, they moved around the crowded room until they reached the length of the headphone cord. Off they came and to her surprise a pleasant baritone was humming the same song.

Once again, she was spun out and back into a traditional dance position. This time her cheek rested against a soft shirt and she could hear the vibrations in his chest. Smiling to herself, the strawberry blonde followed along, doing various steps to the song. A waltz, a smooth two-step, even a bit of tango ending with a deep dip. Sparkling blue eyes greeted her green ones, both dark by the light of the monitor.

"Miss me?"

She was lifted back up and spun out yet again.

"Like a toothache."

"Mmmmm…" He pulled her back in with a sailor's grace. "That much, your Highness?" He continued to hum, changing tunes effortlessly.

"Yes," came her soft reply. She inhaled and realized just how much she had missed having him around everyday.

Hector let his cheek return to its resting-place on her head. His grip tightened imperceptibly and they slowed to a gentle sway. It surprised him how much the little lady had come to mean to him. He had missed seeing her, even being on the receiving end of her infernal leg poking. Smiling against her hair, the sailor allowed his heart to feel her response to his touch. Her one hand held his tightly while the other snaked up to the back of his shoulder. He adjusted his free hand to rest lightly on her shoulder where he could play with her hair. Her short breath intake spoke volumes. He continued to hum.

I'Lee tried to calm her racing heart. This is not what she needed. Or was it? The thumb rubbing the back of her neck turned her logic off. She leaned a little closer to him and started to hear his heart beating over the rumbling. It was going as fast as hers was. She missed what he said.

"Whatcha workin' on?"

"Hmmmm?"

He pulled on a strand of hair to get her attention. "What were you working on?"

"Oh," the small nurse sighed. "My paper for the treatment of…something or other." She waved a hand around randomly. "This is much better though."

His chuckle sounded deep in her ear. "Much better treatment or much better work?"

"With you, both. I'd rather work on you than that paper any day." She stopped and whispered, "That came out wrong."

She could feel him trying not to laugh.

"Don't be too sure, Princess."

Pulling her hand free from his, she made to hit him but he caught her wrist. He placed a kiss on the palm and wrapped his fingers around hers. He tucked their entwined hands between them and bent to place a second kiss on her hair.

"How much more do you have to do?"

"About an hour or so."

"Want some company? I have to sleep but I can crash on one of these chairs."

She raised her face to his. "You really want to sit in here and sleep on an uncomfortable chair while I type?"

"What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment." He grinned.

"Yes, you are."

"Hey, I resemble that remark…"

She pushed him away at that point. He still had one hand and spun her back, leaving her breathless against his chest. "Hector…" Her voice held a note of warning as she met his eyes. She could see a mix of fear, uncertainty and longing in the blue-black depths, things that were mirrored in her own.

Quickly, he spun her once more, so that her back rested against his chest. "I'Lee, give me a chance to do this right," he whispered against her hair. She nodded. He needed a little more time and she needed breathing room.

Peeking around, she began to move backwards, forcing him to back up as well. When he started to fall, she twisted loose and pinned him into the chair with a palm to the chest. She flipped the lever and the recliner slipped into position, throwing his feet out and causing him to sprawl rather ungracefully. The sailor laughed at her audacity. Aiming an eyebrow in his direction, she fetched a blanket and tucked him in. It was her turn to kiss him on the forehead.

"Sweet dreams, Sailor Boy."

"Only about you." He shifted so he was facing her as she sat at the desk.

Making herself comfortable once again, she went to slide on the headphones when his voice stopped her.

"Please, don't do that. I mean…the music doesn't bother me."

"Okay." She flashed one last smile his direction and opened her document.

dancedance

He knew immediately when she fell asleep staring at the screen. Getting out of the recliner, he picked her up and put her in the chair closest to his. He pushed them together and spread part of the blanket over her before returning to the computer. He saved her work and turned off the monitor. Back in his chair, he took one of her hands and held it as he fell back to sleep.

It was shortly before dawn when he awoke the second time. Almost time to pull out. He knelt next to the nurse's chair. "I'Lee…wake up." He pushed the reddish-blonde strands back from her face. She was resting peacefully but he wanted to say good-bye. "I'Lee…" He tapped her nose and she responded by scratching it. "Hey, your Worship. Wakey-wakey."

She opened her eyes to see the sailor directing his ocean blues at her. "What are you doing in my room?" She had forgotten where she was.

He raised an eyebrow at that. "I have to go."

"Why? It's early. Shift doesn't start until 0700." She raised up on one arm and yawned.

"My unit only had an eight hour stop. I leave in 30. We're back out to another assignment at 0630."

Now, she sat up. "You stayed here with me instead of sleeping, getting ready for a mission? Are you crazy?" Her voice rose with each phrase.

The dark headed man ducked his head to hide his grin. Biting both lips to keep from busting out laughing, he peeked at her. She had narrowed her eyes at him. He held up his hands in surrender. "I must be, your Highness. I only came in to ask you to dance with me." Waggling his eyebrows at her, he winked and backed out the door. There he paused to remove an object from his pocket. "Heads up." He tossed it and disappeared.

Catching it easily, she opened the little package. It was a simple knotted ring in two colors: ocean blue and hunter green. A smile played about her lips. Time indeed…