Chapter 11
"Gaia?" Linka asked as she entered their main hut, and relaxed a little as the spirit appeared before them. "Has there been any news?"
Wheeler stepped up beside her and put his hand in the small of her back.
Gaia nodded, she looked more in control than the last time they'd seen her. "They have arrived safely in Oceanus. Kwame just called me on the Planet Vision because they've given Ma-Ti some pain medication and it's interfering with his ability to use his ring. He said Pontus is stable and they are doing some scans, but he is still unconscious."
"Do they think he will recover?" Linka asked, her voice less confident than she would have liked. Wheeler slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, offering comfort.
Gaia flickered slightly, "They don't know for sure but he is young and healthy and Kwame said they were optimistic."
"That is good, we will tell Gi's parents that." The Wind Planeteer nodded.
"Please tell Georgie I am sorry I did not step in with them earlier, but she does not know anything about Oceanus and could therefore not give anything away." Gaia said, implying that she felt herself in danger of doing that, which meant she was more upset than she liked to admit.
Wheeler nodded, "Sure thing."
They turned to go but then Linka paused and returned, her face going red, "If it is not too much of a nuisance - as long as Gi's parents are staying here – it would be helpful if I could have some more cupboard space… all Wheeler's things are in my room and I… cannot just have them lying all over the place. It will drive me insane."
"I told you, I'll put them in Ma-Ti's room, you don't have to…" Wheeler tried to help.
She turned on him, "Do you want to live with me or not?"
His jaw dropped and he looked from her to Gaia (who was clearly finding the humour in the situation,) and back again. "Er, yeah?"
"Then let me deal with it." She turned back to Gaia, "He can put it all in Ma-Ti's room if it is not convenient for you, I just thought it would be easier to do it once."
"Of course Linka, it's not a problem." The spirit assured her.
"Thank you." She went a little redder, "A bigger bed might be a good idea as well."
Wheeler grinned and she gave him a look that warned him not to make a joke.
"I understand," Gaia gave them a genuine smile, "and I'm happy for you both."
Georgie looked up and grinned sheepishly at Linka as she entered the kitchen, confessing, "I have no idea what drinks to make."
Linka chuckled and shook her head, "There is no need. I am sorry, I…"
"Nooo, I'm sorry. I should have done something about your room earlier," she shrugged, "it just didn't occur to me until you got back that we'd gone a bit overboard."
"There is no reason you should have. I knew what Wheeler had said to Ma-Ti, it should have occurred to me that whenever the two of them are involved, there is disaster." She shook her head and went to the fridge to find some juice. "I let that Yankee distract me."
Georgie bit her lip and then asked cautiously, "Is that a bad thing?"
The Russian joined her at the table, "The others have been gossiping da?"
"Maybe a little," there was a difference in the way Georgie spoke about things, that Linka couldn't define, but it didn't trigger her defences the way the others did. "But they're rooting for you two, you know?"
Linka played absently with her glass, "I know… I just find the attention a little too much sometimes."
"But you knew Wheeler implied he was staying in your room," Georgie said, "You must have known we'd talk."
The Russian sighed and nodded before meeting her eyes, "I also hinted to Gi that I wanted to be with him, but I did not know then that Pontus would be injured and Gi's wedding postponed."
Georgie stared, "And you can't be together unless they are?"
"What? Nyet, of course we can." Linka laughed shyly, "but you must see that it is not the moment to be telling everyone... although I do not seem to be doing a good job of keeping it to myself either."
"It's fine Linka, you're allowed to be happy. And I'm not going to make a fuss, I promise." She told her, "I won't even tell Kwame if you don't want me to?"
"I would prefer you did not," then she added as an afterthought, "unless he asks you. I do not mean to ask you to lie to him."
Nodding, Georgie said, "Thanks… hey, where is Wheeler anyway? Sorting your room out?"
"Nyet, Gaia is going to give us extra cupboards first, but she said she needs time to convince the wood to grow." Georgie blinked, trying to process what she'd just heard but Linka continued without noticing, explaining the message from Kwame. "Wheeler went to give Gi's parents the update."
They sipped their drinks in silence for a while and then Georgie said, "I kinda hope Kwame does ask about you... it might give him ideas."
Linka's eyes lit with amusement, "Oh?"
"Don't misunderstand me, he's wonderful, and I love that he's a gentlemen." She gave a little helpless shrug, "when he asked me to stay I figured, ok we'll be sharing but there won't be any expectations so it'll be fun, and if things develop it'll be what we both want... then he told me I was sharing with Alda."
Realisation dawned in the Wind Planeteer's eyes, "and then when you objected, he arranged for you to share with me?"
Georgie sighed, "Boy can't take a hint." They both laughed and she added, "it really is sweet of him, and it's not like I've been this involved with anyone before... He's special, you know?"
"Da," Linka smiled, thinking of her own someone special, "I do know."
"Hey ladies, have you worked out lunch yet?" Wheeler entered cheerfully.
Rolling her eyes for Georgie to see, Linka looked up at him and said sweetly, "we thought you would make it?"
He looked for a moment like he would kiss her up turned lips and then shrugged and walked over to the fridge, "Sure. Three meat and cheese specials topped with fries and coleslaw, coming right up."
Alarmed Georgie asked, "is he serious?"
"Probably, if we do not stop him," Linka told her, the amusement in her eyes belaying the tone of her voice.
Kwame's girlfriend shot up and went over to join Wheeler, "I'll make my own, thank you."
He laughed and said in a gentle, sincere way, "I'll get it. Don't worry, just tell me what you want?"
After a quick glance at Linka for reassurance, the pretty scientist chose something simple and returned to her seat.
"What about you Babe?" Wheeler asked, "there's not much in the way of salad, or anything else. I might have to do a quick shopping trip."
She said what Georgie was having would be fine and then added, "we were expecting to be eating wedding food for days... I am glad Pontus' family did not bring it anyway but da, I imagine we will not get by on what is in Kwame's garden."
"Kwame picked the cake up yesterday," his girlfriend said sadly, "it's taking up most of the refrigerator."
"It seems in bad taste to eat it, but even if Pontus is already awake, it is unlikely that the wedding will take place before it has to be replaced." The Russian said.
Wheeler brought a plate over for each of the girls. "How about we see if there's a children's home or a refuge on the mainland that'll take it? I can drop it over when I pick up the shopping."
His wife eyed him suspiciously, "That is a good idea... you are being very helpful?"
He sat next to her with his own sandwich, and said innocently, "are you saying I'm not normally?"
"Sometimes," her lips twitched with amusement, "but you do not usually volunteer for everything, what are you up to?"
His look turned sheepish, "keeping out of Gi's parents way? I got a full on interrogation about stuff I don't know, just because I tried to be helpful."
"They are worried, Lyubov." she reached out to place a hand on his arm sympathetically.
"I know, that's why I want to avoid them." He smiled, "I kept my cool so far but it was way harder than I thought and I don't want to push it, you know?"
Nodding affectionately, Linka leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. It was brief and didn't allow him time to respond but it was evidently enough to surprise him.
Wheeler raised his eyebrows in question and then his eyes darted to Georgie and back in a very unsubtle gesture, making both girls dissolve into giggles. "Okaay, not a secret then."
Sensing that he might be in danger of giving too much away, Linka said, "Georgie will not say anything, I just did not see how we could hide the fact that we are back together when we are sharing a room."
"And can't keep your hands off each other," Georgie teased dryly, noting the unconscious way their fingers had become entwined.
Linka blushed and gave a little shrug while Wheeler beamed. He said, "We've been apart a long while, we're just reminding each other that it's real."
"Aww, that's so cute." She burst out laughing at the glare Linka gave her.
They ate in silence for a while and then their guest, somewhat awkwardly, began to ask a question. "Being serious though, you guys probably want some alone time and without Kwame here… I mean I love being with you all but… If you'd rather I went home, I'd understand?"
"Do you want to go home?" Linka asked surprised and a little disappointed.
"It's not that I want to, and I was really hoping we'd get a chance to talk science stuff too. I just don't want to be in the way." She shrugged, "You have enough to deal with."
Linka frowned, "I do not see you as something we have to deal with, you are always welcome here."
Wheeler continued eating his sandwich, apparently undisturbed.
"Are you sure?" Georgie asked, eyeing Wheeler wearily, "You can be honest."
Realising she was looking at him, the American blinked, "I don't mind if you're here?"
His wife rolled her eyes, "Never mind him, I like having you here."
"What? That's what I said." Wheeler protested, making Georgie laugh.
"Thank you, both. I hope you'll at least tell me how I can help out?"
Linka nodded, "We will start by making the Yankee a shopping list, and finding someone who will take the cake. I will get my laptop."
When she'd gone Wheeler surprised the other girl by saying, "I'm glad you're staying Georgie. Linka needs another sane woman around and she seems comfortable with you."
"Thanks… but don't her and Gi get along?"
"Yeah." He shrugged, "But she's going to be focused on Pontus when she gets back… and they're very different. I think it'll be good for both of them."
"Happy to help." She grinned.
To be continued…