Bode was down in a secure storage room in the basement of the Con Camp's admin office.
He'd gotten pretty familiar with the administrative processes while he'd been stuck on desk duty recovering from his injuries, so Cap had given him some extra responsibilities around the office. Bode was taking that as a good sign that Cap was starting to put some trust in him.
He had just finished putting the equipment away, when he heard a female voice call out, "Dad, are you down here?"
It was Gabriella, she saw Bode in the small storage room and headed towards him... inadvertently kicking the small doorstop as she entered the room saying "hey stranger, have you seen my dad arou.."
"Don't let the door close," Bode interrupted, rushing toward her. "It locks from the outside..." he finished just as the heavy security door slammed behind her and he slammed into her.
"Shit. Sorry," Gabriella said biting her bottom lip apologetically.
Bode was so close to her. When he'd run into her, she'd raised her hands instinctively to his chest to stop him. Now her hands were just resting on his pecs and she was frozen. He felt so solid under her hands. Warm, but unyielding muscle under his bright orange t-shirt.
Bode took a step back... which was almost as much space as he could put between them. The room was tiny and it was filled with equipment and files. There was really only 4 square feet for them to move around in.
"Well, I get we'll have lots of time to catch up now," Gabriella joked sheepishly, dropping her hands from his chest.
Bode couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, I guess so," he said with a laugh.
"How are you feeling? Are things healing up okay?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I feel pretty good for the most part. The doc cleared me, so that's the important part. It's been good getting back out with the crew," Bode answered sincerely.
"I think I need to see for myself. You seem like the type who'd say anything to a doctor to get out from behind a desk. Can I see?" Gabriella asked, reaching for the hem of his t-shirt.
Bode didn't answer. Her hands were on his skin lifting up his shirt and his breath got caught in his throat. She inspected him slowly moving in a circle around him while her fingers gingerly traced his scars and where the bruises had been. He shivered at her touch.
It had been a long time. A really long time. Since he'd been alone with a beautiful woman. Since he'd been touched by a beautiful woman. Since he'd been this scared to by a beautiful woman.
She finished encircling him and made it back to face him. She looked up at him and saw the mix of fire and trepidation in his eyes.
Reaching up and touching his face, Gabriella traced his jaw line with her thumb.
He couldn't resist any longer and he let her pull him in for a kiss.
It started so slow. So tender. It had been years since he'd kissed someone. Gabriella pulled him in tight to her. Her hands were... under his shirt... running up his back... under the waistband of his boxers, grabbing his ass cheek and pulling his hips into hers.
He picked her up at her waist and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and could feel the hard length of him through his sweatpants. He pressed her against the smooth hard surface of the security door. Her kisses got deeper and more passionate.
Suddenly, Bode stopped. Pulling back and carefully releasing her back down the the floor.
"I'm sorry, I can't. And, neither can you. Even if it weren't for Jake... or for how much I need your dad not to hate me... You know that we can't. There isn't any future here for you. Not right now at least. You know it. And I know it."
"I'm already half in love with you. More probably. If we go any further, it will break me. I know that it will," Bode said sadly.
"Like you said, "4 years is a long time to wait for your life to begin"... I already see my life moving on without me and I won't let you put your life on pause while you wait for me. I'm not worth it," he finished, his eye glossy with tears he was fighting to hold in.
"I don't believe you. You are worth it," Gabriella said bringing both her hands up to his face... "But I get it. If this is what you want, I'll respect it. If I'm being honest, I don't even know what I want. I just know that I can't get you out of my head."
Bode smiled and said, "Okay, how about this... If in five years time, I'm still on your mind... you call me and say you want this? That's the best I can do. Friends is all I can do for now."
"Bode, I..." Gabriella was interrupted by a voice outside the door.
"Bode are you in there?" Manny yelled through the door.
"Yeah, Cap."
"Okay, just give me a sec to find the spare key," Manny yelled as he ran up the stairs.
Bode and Gabi quickly tried to pull themselves together as they waited for his return.
Gabi kept her eyes locked on Bode. She'd wanted him before, but the vulnerability he'd just showed made him heartbreakingly irresistible.
The door opened. "Mija?" Manny said confused at Gabriella's presence in the small room.
"Sorry dad. I was looking for you.I have some stuff for you from the Fire Chief. When I heard someone down here, I assumed it was you. It's my fault the door closed and we got locked in. Thanks for the rescue," she said innocently.
She looked back at Bode as she followed her dad up the stairs. He gave her a sad smile and turned to lock-up the room.