..the rest of the story…

One month after the Cradle of Life

The shield hung inside her artifact vault. It was white, with a red cross drawn on it. She rubbed the shields exterior recalling the adventure she and Terry shared to retrieve it.

After the Branson episode, he conveniently had four month's leave from the service so decided to "tag along" on Lara's trip to find the shield.

Lara admitted that he was a handy shot and his association with some "shadowy types" helped get them out of trouble on more than one occasion as their journey took them to the heart of the Levant region. And she admitted that his company was worthwhile for "other" reasons.

Their first kiss came after Lara challenged him for the journal. She threw down a pair of wooden practice kendo blades. Two hours later, after pure exhaustion they collapsed but found energy for another type of "physical activity."

Lara sighed. Despite his brusque manner, she was attracted to him. They were physically equal – though she a bit faster, and he a lot stronger - and more importantly they shared an adventurous, dangerous spirit. And that wasn't something she found easily these days.

She should have known that his checkered past was a clue to the madness that was boiling in him – a man who was tired of being told what to do. In part she agreed with some of his rationale, he has been deployed on some questionable missions. He didn't go into details, but she understood that he had more than once been ordered to perform operations that he didn't agree with - but Lara couldn't help sensing that his anger was more deep-rooted than politics.

But for four months they shared the excitement of the chase and some relaxation as they camped underneath the stars and explored new places together. She mused that they were almost like a young, happy couple on vacation – OK a vacation that included sky diving, racing on camels, tricky motorbike riding and whose main purpose was to tomb raid -- but they dined and even shopped just like any other couple.

At the conclusion of the adventure Terry had to return to duty with the Royal Marines. To her dismay he called her a day later to tell her that he was being deployed to Afghanistan. But before hanging up, Terry said three words that neither of them threw around easily and to Lara's surprise, she felt the same way. Terry didn't wait for her answer –he must have been as shocked about the admission as she was.

One month later it was Hillary who broke the news to her. He slowly handed her the front page of the London Times. A look of remorse showed in his eyes.

Lara remembered giving Hillary a strange look, and almost having to rip the paper from his hands. When she glanced at the top story, it was like a train had hit her.

She remembered seeing the words "treason" and "Colonel Terrence G. Sheridan" and "17 commandos killed, five missing…" she couldn't read anymore. She couldn't breathe. She ran to her phone.

Her lawyers said the trial was swift. He was convicted by a military tribunal and immediately deported to a jail in the depths of Siberia.

"Can I speak with him," she was aware that her voice was quivering.

"I'm afraid that's impossible, Lady Croft…"

And just like that, he was out of her life. The few weeks of betrayal were unbearable. Until finally she woke up one morning, threw a blanket over Galahad's shield and stored it in her vault.

She had made up her mind about Terry Sheridan. He was a bad a man – and furthermore out of her life for good.

Until a month ago when their paths crossed again… the image of Terry's eyes flashed in her mind again. The betrayal and sadness… A pang of remorse coursed through her. She realized that she missed him.

Lara threw the blanket over the shield. She needed a good run.

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I made slight changes in this chapter. I realized that they spent five months together, not a month. Also added perhaps pivotal back story when Terry tells Lara that he loves her, but she doesn't get the chance to say the same. This makes more sense for later in the movie when Terry asks Lara whether he was the love of her life or just another bump in the road.

… no not over, not at all….

Thanks for making it this far! I hope I recapped their relations before cradle of life. We know what happens next… (i.e. the events of the movie….) Up next, some magic!