Thanks for all the reviews and disclaimers to Kudos as always.
It is very cold and she is tired.
'Sleep' he taps out on her hand, he moves from the bed and she feels his hand slide down her leg and lift her feet, gently swinging them on to the bed. She lies on her uninjured side facing the wall, but her right hand trails behind her seeking his. This time she says nothing but simply pulls him to come with her. He understands and she feels his body lie down besides her, curled against her, giving her his warmth. His arm winds over her shoulders, carefully avoiding her injured right side and their hands, which are now rarely apart, find each other once more.
They are still.
And then they sleep.
She groans as she wakes, her side is sore and one arm numb.
He is awake.
'Pain?'
'Bit,' she taps back.
She wonders what he knows, why he is here, if he has any connection to Albany or the Chinese.
'R u 5?' she finally asks.
He hesitates a second.
'6' is his answer.
Ruth doesn't want to mention Albany.
'Did they say anything?' is what she taps after some time.
'They r Russian.'
This is news to her, she heard only an English accent when she was questioned, the rest had been silent.
She wants to ask him more but she wants to hear his voice, see his face.
'What did they ask?" he taps.
'Nothing I knew answer to,' and she leaves it at that. She moves uncomfortably and she knows that he has moved from the bed. She gets up and stretches her back, careful of the pain in her side. She cannot feel him close. She is in a cold, dark, silent world once more. The need for his nearness suddenly feels overwhelming. She reaches out an arm and feels around her, there is only empty space. She can't call out. She steps forward, arms searching the space for him. Nothing. She feels panic rise within her, a panic she knows is irrational. Then she finds a plastic suit and a strong chest and arms grip hers and she knows she is no longer alone. He seems to understand the loss she has suddenly felt overwhelmed by and his arms wind around her and hers around him. His right hand reaches the back of her head and he cradles it pressing her to him. She feels herself comforted. She feels protected, she feels a need for him and because of it she feels guilt. But the way his arms hold her, the way his hand strokes her back,, she is losing herself. Her hands, with almost a will of their own slide across his shoulders, exploring his back. Her right is moving, moving around him and seeking out the zip of his suit. She yearns for the warm familiarity of his chest. She pulls at the zip.
And then the door opens and noise and pain erupt.
Hands grab her from him and her back hits the door, she hears the voices, he was right they are Russian. She instinctively tries to call out to him but the gag stops her. Blindly she is pushed staggering from the room and she hears a grunt and a moan from behind her as a Russian voice cries "make him talk , now." And then she hears gunfire and then the world becomes even blacker than it was as she slips into unconsciousness.