SECOND CHANCES
Writer's Notes: This is a work of pure fiction. Scotch for the win! This story is now totally AU. The rating for this chapter is M. If you are not into that type of story, get out now.
Big thanks to all of those who have read, favorited and followed this story and my other stories! This is for all of you! Keep the comments coming, they keep me writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Last Ship or any of its characters and those others that were mentioned here.
Reference: See previous chapters.
Cast: See previous chapters.
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CHAPTER 5 - REVELATIONS
Tom woke up to a bright morning in DC. Although he was looking forward to seeing Rachel later in the day, he knows that he has to first attend to his meeting with the defense commanders in the capital.
He also has plans for Rachel when she arrives but he knows that in order to accomplish them, he has to have Sophie's assistance on the side.
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Sophie left Tom to his own devices and told him that she'd see him later at the airfield to wait for Rachel's flight to arrive. She personally cannot wait to see both of their faces when they see each other again.
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Tom and Sophie were sitting in the waiting area of the airfield-cum-airport. They have received an update that Rachel's flight will be arriving on schedule that afternoon. It was an hour before sunset and Tom was watching the skies pensively. Sophie was sitting and reading some files from her tablet.
"I can hear you thinking from here, Chander…" she said without looking up to him.
"That bad, huh?" he lips tilted to one side in a humorless smile.
"Yep…care to share your thoughts?" Sophie prodded.
He took a deep breath before beginning, "It's been nearly two years, Sophie. We've been apart longer than we've been together, even counting from her Day 1 in the ship. Honestly, I'm scared…."
"Of what?" she frowned at him.
"Of whether she still has feelings for me…if she still loves me….or if she still remembers her promise of a second chance to me. Granted that I know she still remembers it, I wonder if it will be out of obligation that she will fulfill that promise more than anything else," he said earnestly at her.
"Do you love her?" she asked.
"With all my heart!" he declared.
"Well, I cannot speak for my friend, but if you really love her, you have to have faith in your love and in her promise. You have to take that risk. You're a naval captain, risk is part of your life on a daily basis. No pain, no gain, buddy," she assured him. "Besides, you've faced fiercer enemies than Rachel, she's a teddy bear compared to them!"
He scoffed at her, "My enemies, I can predict and analyze, but your little teddy bear is an elusive enigma that I can hardly read at times."
"That's true."
Meanwhile, Tom's attention was caught by the activity on the runway with the mobile air stair positioning itself in an area just opposite their waiting doors. Sophie stood up beside him and said, "The plane has landed. She's here."
At those words, Tom felt his heartbeat accelerate. His palms started to feel sweaty and he can feel his pulses throbbing. He saw the plane as it taxied towards their location. The mobile air stair positioned itself by the plane's doors. The doors opened after a few minutes and several soldiers came out and waited below the stairs with two of them rushing to open the door to their waiting area. A handful of people came out of the plane as well.
"Those are other doctors and medical personnel that travel with Rachel," Sophie softly told him as if reading his mind and answering his question.
When he thought that his heart was about to shatter in pieces with the waiting, he finally saw her emerge from the plane. Her trusty brown sling bag on one of her side as she held on to the railing.
Rachel….
Tom was drinking her in. Her hair was shorter than the last time he saw her. Her brown locks reaching just her shoulders. She was in her staple of fitted jeans with fitted long sleeves shirt that clung to all her curves like second skin. Tom felt himself walking towards the stairs. He saw Rachel stop mid-level and look back towards the plane's doors, as if calling to someone. And then he saw a man step out and walk towards her. It was the guy from Deer Park, her doctor-friend.
Tom reached the bottom of the stairs when he saw Jack walk down towards Rachel and put his hand on her shoulder. The two of them were still talking with each other and failed to see him. Tom saw all of this and could not help but feel jealousy wash over him at their actuations. He felt rather than saw Sophie stand beside him.
"Rachel!" he rasped from below.
He saw her whip her head towards the direction of his voice and saw her eyes widen with surprise. It didn't go unnoticed to him that the man's hand fell from her shoulder as well.
"Captain Chandler!" Rachel exclaimed with surprise written all over her face. She continued her trip down the stairs and two steps before reaching the ground, Tom went up to meet her.
Sophie heard Tom whisper beside her, "Captain Chandler, my ass!" before she saw him take two steps forward and haul Rachel to him in a lip-lock. She never thought she'd see the day when the cool and controlled navy officer lose his cool upon seeing her friend. The couple was locked in a tight embrace in their own little world. Their positions on the stairs made them stand shoulder to shoulder in height. The Captain has his hands in a tight embrace of Rachel's nape and lower back. Her whole body was flushed against his, with no chance of sunlight coming between them while her hands were both tangled in his silver-grays. The kiss was going on and on and there was no break in sight for them until Jack made a louder-than-normal coughing sound above them. This startled Rachel.
"I would have wanted you both to carry on with your reunion but there are other people who need to disembark from the plane, you know," Jack said in a teasing manner to the entwined couple. He saw Rachel flush and Tom threw him a look before carrying Rachel from the plane.
He heard his friend squeak a protest to her new form of transport before looking at Sophie who was smiling at the couple's antics. Sophie shrugged at his querying look.
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To say that Rachel was surprised to see Tom at the bottom of the stairs was an understatement that she has not yet been able to have her brain wrap around. She was trying to process the meaning of his presence there when her breathing was interrupted by his mouth on hers. Before she knew it, his warm soft lips were on hers and his tongue seeking entrance to entangle with hers. She felt his warm, strong hands behind her nape and at her lower back, bringing her flush to his hard body. With pleasure tingling all over her, as his tongue caressed hers, her fingers twined themselves in his hair. Hair that she missed running her fingers through and mussing their perfect waves.
It was a delectable melding of their mouths. A kiss that promises to keep on going and being more. It was wet, hot and deep. A perfect welcome-home greeting.
She thought she heard somebody speaking behind her before she felt her world tilting and suddenly, she found herself in Tom's strong arms being carried towards the building. She was just coming to herself and the questions starting to enter her mushy brain before she felt solid ground beneath her feet again. Tom has sequestered them in a small holding room.
"Rachel! I missed you so much, honey!" Tom whispered to her. He buried his face by her neck and he enveloped her again in his warmth. Rachel returned his embrace.
"Tom…this is a surprise!" she laughed lightly. "You're a long way home from Florida! When did the James arrive?"
Tom disentangled himself for a bit, but cupped her face in one of his palms while embracing her with the other. She saw his eyes going over her face as if taking stock of everything before meeting her golden ones.
"The James is not here, honey. It's just me," he whispered lovingly to her, "I made a promise to you, remember?"
Rachel stared at him quietly, her mouth forming a small "oh" in response to his revelation. After a few seconds of silence, she smiled at him softly.
"It's been nearly two years, I didn't think," she started softly.
"Didn't think, what, honey?" he cajoled her quietly.
"I didn't think you'd still be coming," she finished.
Tom was shocked to hear those words coming from her. For her to doubt his promise. He saw her looking intently at him. He opened his mouth to start explaining himself when he felt her forefinger on his lips.
"You can explain later, Tom, I think it will be better if we continue this discussion somewhere else," she told him. She reached up and placed a swift and soft kiss to his lips before taking his hand and leading him to the door.
Tom took hold of Rachel's hand and walked with her. He also took her sling bag despite her protests and slung it to his shoulder. Then, he hugged her to his side as they walked outside the building.
"I hope you don't mind, honey, but Sophie lent me your car to use. I was hoping that you'd be inviting me to your place as the place where I am staying is not conducive to what I have in mind," he suggestively said to her with twinkling eyes.
Rachel smiled at him and replied, "Yes, of course, you're more than welcome to my place. I just hope you won't mind the clutter."
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The drive from the airfield to Rachel's place took a good few minutes. While in the car, Tom couldn't seem to stop touching Rachel. He got hold of her left hand in his, holding or kissing it while driving. On the passenger's side, Rachel sat sideways towards Tom, drinking him in. Smiling at the smile she sees on his lips and noting that he cannot keep his hands or eyes off her.
She thought that his stubble made him look more attractive and added to his inherent alpha male persona. Although he looked thinner, all she felt during their embrace was his muscular chest and she cannot wait to discover how they felt to her touch once again. And finally, she was pleased with her handiwork on his hair. Gone was the clean-and-neat style, replaced by his waves all over the place, made askew by her hands earlier.
Rachel was surprised to note that Tom didn't ask for her keys when he opened her car door and led her towards her house. She thought that Sophie may have had a hand in this considering that her best friend holds her duplicates. When Tom opened the door and ushered her in, she saw that her dim lights were opened and the aroma of delicious food was pervading the air. She heard the door lock behind them and turned to Tom.
He has discarded his coat and placed it by the rack behind him and made a motion to help her out of her own coat. After he has placed it behind him, he turned to her.
"Welcome home, baby!" he lovingly said while drawing her to him again. Tom hugged Rachel to him. His hands sweeping from her hair to her back. Rachel hugged him to her as well. She breathed in his scent.
"I have missed you, Tom!" she declared. She felt his lips on her neck, traveling to her ear, towards her face. He placed kisses on her face and she tried capturing his lips with her own. When he still continued pressing kisses to her face and evaded her lips, Rachel wove her fingers to his head and brought him down to hers.
Tom would have let the kiss Rachel initiated go on and on but he did not want to waste his surprise for her. Although he knows that Rachel can feel his arousal for her with the way that their bodies have been pressed together, he felt that giving in to their desires right now may not be something that she is ready for. Maybe later, but right now, they have to get rid of some issues first and let nature take its course.
Tom broke off from their torrid kiss. Both of them breathing heavy, their skin flushed with mutual arousal.
"Come on, babe, let's have some dinner first before we proceed to dessert," he whispered raggedly. "Do you need to change first?"
Rachel nodded and he let her go to her room while he proceeded to the kitchen. When Rachel came back, she saw her table prepared for two.
"What's this?" she asked. Tom turned to her and saw that she has changed into a short blue dress. It barely reached her knees and he can see swathes of her skin from the V-neck to the sleeveless arms.
"My welcome home dinner for you. I asked Sophie if I can prepare some dinner for us tonight and she kindly let me have the run of your house for the day. Come sit down while I take out the food from the oven."
"Did you prepare all of these?" she asked in wonderment, following his every move in her kitchen. "I don't think I have ever used this kitchen as much as you have."
"Yes, I did. I do have some culinary skills, you know," he winked at her. "Just my mom's mashed potato recipe, I grilled some salmon and steak for us. And later, while you're having your tea, we'll share some cake."
After Tom has laid out the food he has prepared on the table, their dinner was a light-hearted affair. They updated themselves with their lives, with the going-ons of the people they mutually know. As if by design, they evaded the foremost topic on both of their minds as to what his presence in DC means to them.
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Despite Rachel's protestations, Tom managed to convince her to wait for him before her fireplace while he loaded the dishwasher and prepared their dessert. When Tom brought in the cakes, coffee for him and tea for her, Rachel has started a fire in the fireplace. It lent warmth to her living room that was made colder by the autumn season.
Tom placed their dessert at a small table near the couch. He sat down on the carpeted floor next by Rachel's feet as she sat on the couch. He poured tea for Rachel and handed her cup. Rachel smelled her teacup before taking a sip.
"Hmmm…..this isn't from my tea stock, Captain," she murmured.
Tom took his time sipping his coffee while looking at her reaction to her tea. "No, baby, I brought that tea for Ashley to give to you."
She smiled one of her brilliant smiles at him, "She did? What a sweet, sweet girl!"
Tom returned her smile and handed her his table, "Here, the kids have a sent a message for you."
It made Tom very happy to see that the cards his children gave to Rachel two years ago still have their honorary places on her refrigerator. He knows that she has not forgotten them. He was watching her face as she watched and listened to the kids' homemade video message for her. At the end of the recording, he can see her smiling with tears in her eyes.
"I miss them, Tom. This was such a nice surprise. Thank you so much," she said sincerely.
"You're welcome, honey. They were so excited to make that message for you. They miss you so much and honestly, they wanted to come with me," he confessed. "But as air transportation is hard to come by, they had to settle with me bringing that message to you."
Rachel nodded and quietly drank her tea. He spoon-fed her the cake despite her protests.
"I want to spoil you, honey! I am pretty sure you're still eating like a bird," he teased her.
After they both finished their warm drinks and sweet dessert, Tom pulled Rachel down from the couch and sat her between his thighs. They were now both facing the fireplace. Tom got his arms around Rachel's middle and Rachel was running her hands along the bare arms surrounding her.
"Nice place you've got here, Rach," he murmured to her hair.
Her living room expanse overlooks the beach on the horizon.
"The sea reminded me of you and the ship," she confessed to him. She turned and looked to his face. "I never imagined that you'd really come here and see me."
Tom sighed and straightened up, still looking into her eyes, he said, "Honey, it breaks my heart to hear you say that you didn't think I'd follow through on my promise. Granted, it took me nearly two years to get here, but here I am. I would have come sooner, but my duties did not allow me and the first chance I got enough leaves to accommodate a flight here, I took my chances."
Rachel saw Tom's eyes were shining with emotions as he said those words to her. She attempted to speak but this time, it was his finger on her lips that stopped her. "Believe me when I say that I am so sorry that I let so much time pass by before coming here. I would like to assure you, though, that my feelings for you have not changed. I love you with all of my being and seeing you again affirmed that my love for you is as strong as before. It overwhelms me, this love that I have for you. You cannot know the power that it wields over me. And I hope, honey," his voice caught before he continued again, "I hope that your second chance for us still stands."
She felt wetness on her cheek and realized that Tom was crying. She turned towards him and brushed away the wetness on his own cheeks, soothing him with her hands.
"Tom, I'm sorry if I doubted your promise. I couldn't help it. I am just being realistic with all the devastation around us, I know that you meant your promise, but I didn't want to pin all my hopes on it. You have to remember that when we parted ways, whether you admit it or not, I know that you weren't ready for us to be out in the open. I don't blame you, not at all. But you also have to see it from my perspective," she explained. "And yes, if you can keep your promise, I can keep mine as well."
"Do you mean that, Rachel? You'll give us a second chance not out of obligation?" he pressed.
"Yes, my darling. Seeing you at the airstrip brought in full force again the love that I have for you. I thought that my feelings have waned, that my heart has forgotten. But, no, my love for you has not waned, your presence just brought it all back again," she professed to him, "I love you, too, Tom."
With that, Tom enveloped Rachel in his arms once again, his lips upon hers, stealing her breath altogether. As their kiss became deeper, the need to further touch skin upon skin mandated their hands to remove the barriers of clothing between them.
Rachel uttered a cry and held on to Tom's head as his lips found her breast and started sucking vigorously while caressing its twin. She realized that he has managed to remove her dress and undies as she felt the carpet on her back. As Tom transferred his mouth and tongue to her other breast, she clawed on his shirt and managed to remove it despite his grunt at being disturbed of his feast.
Tom raised himself and started kissing towards her neck. This gave Rachel the opportunity to unbuckle his belt and unsnap his jeans. Tom moaned into her mouth as she was able to toe-off his pants and her hands caressed his cloth-covered erection.
"Your skin is as soft and sweet as I remember it, honey," he rasped to her ear, his stubble tickling her skin, "do you still taste as good as honey, sweetie?"
Rachel moaned and clutched at Tom's strong arms as she felt his finger at her slit. It stroked her bud in circles before feeling her wetness. Tom felt Rachel's nails dig into his back when his fingers dived into her warmth. He moaned when he felt her wetness on his fingers. He stroked her like a master violinist. At times soft and slow, at times deep and hard, the moans and cries his strokes elicited from Rachel were music to his ears.
With her head thrashing wildly on the carpet, Rachel's senses were bombarded with Tom. His mouth and tongue were alternately latching on her breasts again, suckling like a greedy babe on her nipples while his fingers continue to dive and stir her depths. She was moaning and crying for him.
"Tom…..ooohhh….please….darling…..please…" she sobbed as she clung on his shoulders.
Tom let go of her nipples before kissing her senseless. His fingers continuing to strum her depths. "Please what, honey? You feel so hot and tight, baby….tell me what you need…." he whispered hotly in her ear.
With those words, Rachel managed to snake one of her hands underneath his tight boxers and got hold of his angry erection. She can feel it burning and throbbing in her hand. She stroked his hardness and freed it from its confines.
"I need you, Tom. I need you inside me," she babbled incoherently.
They both groaned in protest when Tom pulled out his fingers from her center. Rachel shook her head when Tom asked if he needs to put on protection for them. He immediately got rid of his boxers and positioned himself between Rachel's knees. He planted both of Rachel's knees on the floor and opened them wide, she watched him take hold of his hardness but closed her eyes when she felt the head at her entrance. The sensation of his burning flesh entering her wetness brought out a lusty cry from both of them that reverberated in the room. Rachel opened her eyes to see Tom's eyes shut in concentration, his mouth open in ecstasy and the veins on his neck and arms jutting prominently. He stilled for a moment letting her adjust to his size before pulling back and thrusting back in again.
He started shallow thrusts until they became long and deep, with the head remaining inside her when he pulls back. Tom's thrusts accorded Rachel to feel his entire hardness as it pushed and pulled on her flesh.
Tom placed his head by her thrashing head and complimented her, "You feel so hot and tight, baby! I can't get enough of you!" He then peppered her face and neck with kisses and travelled downward to her bosom again. Despite knowing that her nipples were becoming sore from his sucking, Rachel still welcomed his mouth, lips and tongue on them, clutching his head closer and combing her fingers on his hair. Her moans and cries echoing around them.
The flames lent a golden hue to the bodies intertwined on the floor. His muscular frame on top of her sinewy and slender shape, the beginning and ending of both undeterminable with the intermingling of limbs, hands and feet, molded in amorous desire and expression of love but dancing asynchronous to a beat that only they can hear.
"Tom!" Rachel wailed into the night as her body clenched tight in orgasm. That was the only warning Tom got before he felt her body tensing beneath his and white-hot light exploded behind his eyelids when he followed to his peak.
"Rachel!" Tom shouted as Rachel felt his warmth flood her depths and his thrusts became erratic before stilling altogether. Tom slumped on Rachel and the lovers' heavy breaths permeated the room as they tried to still their galloping hearts.
"That was some welcome, Captain!" Rachel said raggedly. She turned her head towards Tom's on her side.
"That was just the appetizer, Doctor," he replied, "We have two years of catch up to fulfill," he gasped.
Tom saw Rachel's golden orbs widen at his words and watched as heated desire glazed them when he moved his lower body that was still joined to hers, on the realization that his hardness has not diminished despite their explosive finish.
The next hours saw the lovers trying every position they can in completing their reunion. Rachel collapsing on Tom's chest after a lusty ride put a temporary end to their activities.
"Enough!" she cried out tiredly underneath his chin where she burrowed herself. "Tom, you're insatiable! We still have tomorrow, I need to rest."
Tom chuckled and soothed her with his hands, "Okay, sweetheart, I'll let you gather your strength and take your temporary surrender. Goodnight, my love."
Rachel murmured her goodnight to him. Tom reached for some throw pillows and put them behind his head. He spread the couch blanket over both of them and settled with Rachel on top of him, in his arms.
With the flames giving off heat and the love of his life on top of him, Tom felt happiness and contentment invade his very being. The feeling of satisfaction and completeness easing him into a dreamless sleep.
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