This is a new idea to bring Wheeler and Linka together. A not-so-short one-shot. I think it's kind of like a songfic because... you'll see. I thought it would be nice and funny to write from Linka's point of view and gave it a try. I hope I got it right?! Two songs I heard a while ago gave me the idea and I'm glad I finally got to finish it and share it with you guys. Enjoy it.

Oh and of course I don't own any rights to CP or the characters and just write for fun.

On camping vacation

"Are you serious? Do you really want to spend our vacation together in some forest?" Wheeler asked shocked. "Why not Coney Island or Disney World as far as I'm concerned? Why don't we rent a bungalow somewhere?"

"You're just so upset because you have to go without your computer games and your fast food for a week," I replied.

"Yeah, and the fact that you all seriously want to sleep on the floor for a week, away from any civilization and with all the crawlies."

"We've camped before."

"Yes, because our job required it, but you want to do it voluntarily!"

"Calm down Wheeler. I bet you'll like it."

"Only if you take care of me," he replied with a grin and waggled his eyebrows. I couldn't help but roll my eyes in annoyance. He was acting so childish! If I had known what was about to happen, I would have looked at Gi at that moment and I'm sure I would have seen that glint in her eye that always appeared when she hatched a new idea.

"Damn," Gi grumbled at the overhead locker of the shuttle and we all turned to her in surprise. "Who was responsible for the tents?" she then asked.

"If I remember correctly you," Wheeler replied.

"Oh...then I must have miscounted in the rush." There was something wrong with her embarrassment.

"Where's the problem Gi?" I asked her.

"We're one tent short."

"Then we just have to change the division," Kwame replied with a shrug.

"What do you want to change? We are three boys and three girls," objected Gi's Canadian friend Renée, who had promised us a week's survival adventure vacation.

"I'd love to share a tent with you, babe," Wheeler said now, grinning, and put an arm around me. What a coincidence that we had clarified in advance that Wheeler and I should each have a tent for ourselves and now one was missing. Well arranged Gi!

"And who says it is what I want?!"

"It looks like you have no other choice," Gi objected and could hardly hold back a grin. "Or would you like to share a tent with Wheeler, Renée?" she asked her friend, who didn't have a certain sympathy for Wheeler been hiding since we picked her up, and even now she was eyeing him and seemed seriously considering it. Why should I be jealous? But I didn't have to give her a chance to approach him, did I?! After all, it could be quite uncomfortable for the rest of us if some immoral noises went through the camp at night and kept us from sleeping...

"That's fine," I gave in. "But if you can't control yourself, you sleep outside with the crawling creatures."

"Great, then the problem would be solved," Gi said happily and immediately went back to the luggage when I looked at her in surprise - there was a little too much satisfaction in her voice for me.

"A brilliant acting performance Gi, I congratulate you," I whispered sarcastically to my best friend so far at the campfire in the evening.

"What do you mean?" Bozh moy, how could a human act so innocent?!

"Your performance earlier on the shuttle and the accidentally forgotten fourth tent. I know you haven't forgotten."

"I..."

"WOW!" Reneé whispered at that moment, interrupting Gi. We followed her gaze and saw Wheeler coming towards us with some fish. At first glance there was nothing unusual about him, which explained why Renée was staring at him like that, but then I noticed it too and lowered my eyes, blushing.

"Hey girls, I'll bring you dinner," Wheeler said as he sat down with us and placed the fish on a cloth.

"That's a pretty meager haul," replied Gi, who was the only one who wasn't in any way confused by his sight. "Ma-Ti's well-established, traditional way of fishing isn't that great after all."

"I don't have patience for things like that, Kwame isn't doing too badly and Ma-Ti is always complaining about the low fish population," he explained with a grin.

"Of course, the fish population," Gi replied, rolling her eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Wheeler glancing at me and Renee.

"Hey babe, are you okay?"

"Da, sure, I'm fine," I mumbled without looking up. "But I'd be very grateful if you could put some clothes on."

"Huh? Why? I'm not naked."

"But it almost seems like that. Since when do you wear those...something like that?" Christ, he looked so damn good, too good, especially in those tight pants. I've been physically attracted to him for too long and this didn't make it any easier for me.

"What? Pants?" he asked surprised and looked down at himself. It's much more comfortable and I don't have shorts with me because nobody told me about the lake. Hey, if you're bouncing around on the beach in one of your bikinis, I won't look away either."

"Nyet, of course you don't," I replied sarcastically. "And I'm not hopping around!"

"If you say so," he replied with a mischievous grin - I knew exactly what he was talking about - typical Wheeler. "Then I want to do you the favor," he said and finally disappeared into the tent to change.

"Bozh moy, Yankee. Are you doing this on purpose?!" I asked blushing and turned my face away. He'd waited outside until I'd finished and was in my sleeping bag before he came in and changed - I didn't think he was that decent. He was about to slip into his sleeping bag when I glanced at him. He wore only pants again - blue this time, I registered briefly. It was scary enough how attracted I was to him without needing him to strut his stuff in front of me in those pants that revealed more to my imagination than they hid.

"What are you talking about?"

"You didn't even bring shorts to sleep in? "Did you know about Gi's plan?" A thought that just popped into my head.

"What plan do you mean?!"

"That we would sleep in a tent together. Admit you knew or you wouldn't be putting on these...things."

"Babe, I didn't know, and if I did, I would have thought to the extent of taking something else to swim and sleep with." If I had wanted to show myself like this to you, I would have had a thousand options on the island. I know how quickly something like that can upset you", he replied and patted his pillow.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing," he said, and I saw that he was looking thoughtfully at something in his hand.

"Do you think I'm a prude?!" It's a good thing he couldn't see my thoughts.

"Obviously you're not," he replied, growling.

"What's that supposed to mean now?"

"They just fell out of your pocket," he said, holding out a packet of pills.

"It annoys you that some of my stuff was with yours?" I feigned surprise, hoping he didn't know what it was.

"I know what those pills are. I'm not as stupid as you think, Linka. You only use it to have...it."

"You're jealous because you think I would... just because I'm on the pill?!" Should I laugh or cry about that now? The birth control thing is just a nice side effect." I found his line of thought so funny I couldn't help but say it and he really jumped at it.

"Yes, of course. A very nice side effect. So it's true that you need them for that too."

"Yes," revenge - and I felt sorry the next moment, because a hurt look crossed his face. "One day, maybe," I added, truthfully.

"What's that supposed to mean again?"

"That I don't have anything with any man going on and you would figure that out yourself if you really think about it. When am I going to get off the island alone?!"

He looked at me in silence and seemed to seriously consider my answer.

"I'm sorry babe. You're right. I wasn't thinking, as usual."

"Yes, as usual," I replied. "Goodnight Yankee," I replied, turning my back on him.

"Babe?" he asked hesitantly after a few minutes of silence.

"Hm?"

"Are you really planning to do...it?"

"You don't plan things like that Yankee, it happens eventually with the right person. Sleep now, Wheeler", I replied and turned off the light.

I could feel his eyes on me before I heard him lie down. Did he sleep at all after this conversation had so upset him and probably raised more questions?

The singing of the birds woke me up and I was surprised to find that I hadn't slept as well as I had that night in a long time. Was my vacation really that good?

I opened my eyes and saw Wheeler's face next to mine. He was still sleeping soundly and a slight smile played around the corners of his mouth. Now I was also aware of his arm that he had wrapped around me and how good it felt to be so close to him.

Normally I couldn't find any rest once I woke up, but now I closed my eyes again, wishing I could lie in his arms like this all day, which certainly wasn't a problem from Wheeler's side, where he always slept until noon anyway, if you let him.

I was slowly drifting back to sleep as I felt him stir next to me and slowly pull his arm away. When he had rearranged himself, obviously to snooze for a bit longer, I opened my eyes and caught him watching me.

"I didn't mean to wake you, sorry."

"You did not," I replied, smiling – as so often, I found it better to pretend I hadn't noticed. "Good morning."

"Morning," he replied with a smile as the zipper was already unzipped.

"Good morning you two," Gi called happily and made a face for a moment. Obviously she was expecting to see something else than the two of us with some space between us and each in our own sleeping bag. "Did you sleep well?"

"Until you came in, yes," Wheeler replied.

"We've been up since a few minutes," I said, glaring at him.

"A bit of guilt can't hurt her, babe." Which he was right about.

"You would have to do something else to get me a bad conscience because I disturbed you. Breakfast will definitely be ready soon. That's all I wanted to tell you."

"What time is it?"

"Almost nine thirty."

"Bozh moy," I replied in surprise when Wheeler peeled himself out of his sleeping bag.

"Keep cool babe. We're on vacation." Little did he know my reaction wasn't referring to the time of day.

Wheeler disappeared for a swim in the lake while I marveled at how much weaker-willed I seemed to be in the morning. It wouldn't have taken much if Gi hadn't been there, and I would have grabbed him and...

"So, nothing happened?" Gi pulled me out of my thoughts with a grin when Wheeler had disappeared.

"Absolutely nothing and now mind your own business Gi. I want to change."

"Well, we still have 6 nights to go through," she replied optimistically and disappeared.

"What are you planning to do, Renée?" Gi asked her friend as she returned with a guitar to the campfire where we had all gathered for dinner.

"A real camping trip also includes nice campfire music," she replied with a grin and Wheeler rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Are you gonna bring us some country crap now?"

"Why not?" she replied and started playing Country Roads and soon we all sang along - except for Wheeler, of course. It went on song for song like that, only Wheeler held back. For him these were childish things he couldn't do anything with it. Especially when I suggested 'Yankee Doodle' - to add a little salt to the wound, I have to admit - and everyone cheered enthusiastically when Renée started it, his good mood was completely over.

"Now don't be such a grouchy Yankee. Otherwise you're always up for any nonsense," I said, laughing, when the song was over.

"This is so childish. We did that at summer camp when we were 10 years old."

"Oh yes, and you're usually so grown up, right Wheeler," Gi replied with a grin.

"You went to summer camp? Really like you know it from the movies?" I asked in surprise. I always thought that the first time he saw a real forest was when he was a Planeteer - as a New Yorker?!

"Sure, with all the trimmings. I used to be a boy scout too, but they kicked me out when the cookie sales dropped drastically," he replied with a grin.

"Why do I still have to wonder about you despite everything?!"

"Because I'm an amazing guy." Oh yes, you really are.

"In your dreams, Yankee." And in mine!

"Hey Wheeler, do you want me to teach you how to play the guitar? Women love men who bring them a love song," said Reneé, who sat at his side and immediately slid a little closer to him. Grrr...

Wheeler gave me a thoughtful look and seemed to be struggling with himself. Surely he was just considering turning his advances to Reneé, who certainly didn't turn him down like I always did - and I didn't even know why I did it.

"May I," he just asked and Reneé shrugged her shoulders before handing him the guitar. He stroked the sides once before plucking at each one.

"Great Yankee. You already know the scale." He gave me an icy look - why did I always have to be so mean?

But suddenly he started playing, and not just banging away, he was playing a real melody, his fingers moving as if they knew exactly what they were doing; and as much as I listened he didn't miss a note - he could play, all these years he'd fooled us in thinking he wasn't musical and he could play the guitar like a young god.

There you are with your perfect way huh?! He sang? Bozh moy and how!

You've got that little shine in your eyes What a voice he had!

To hear one word would make my day And he looked me in the eye the whole time.

But there is no room for me in your life No more doubt that he really meant me.

Oh you've got me down on my knees and he meant any word, what he was singing.

Oh and in my mind I can see

How perfect everything could be Da, me too.

But you won't give us a try Aww Yankee, you've no idea.

If I could change your mind

How would you want me

Would you say you need me Of course!

Cause I need you now Oh you sweet Yankee.

I try to move on but your perfect way What?!

Has got this little child asking why

But this world keeps spinning

As my heart stops beating

Is there still no room inside. How could you…

Oh you've got me down on my knees

Oh and in my mind I can see

How perfect everything could be

But you won't give us a try.

If I could change your mind

How would you want me

Would you say you need me

Cause I need you now

If I could change your mind

How would you hold me

Would you stay forever

Or just leave me here to drown

I knew it was a song by some band. But I felt pushed by him again and above all criticized - he hadn't chosen the song for nothing - and that in front of everyone else, I felt very uncomfortable.

He let the guitar die out before handing it back to Reneé and he stands up.

"I'm going to collect firewood," he murmured and disappeared while all eyes turned to me.

"What?!" I replied snippy. "Should I sing a song now?"

"I think following him would be enough," Gi said, shrugging.

"Yes, and above all, talk to him for a change and don't argue," Ma-Ti objected.

"I don't have to make a fool of myself here because he did it," I replied, got up and disappeared into the tent while Reneè started a new song.

I sat in my tent and listened to her song to the end. It was Not that different by Colin Raye - I knew it all too well because Wheeler had played it on purpose once and we had quite a nasty argument because I felt pushed and misunderstood by him.

When she started a new song, I took heart - it couldn't go on like this. What Wheeler had just done was really a very nice gesture and I loved him so much. I didn't want to fight it any longer and I couldn't either. As he sang the song, I suddenly realized that he would take the stars from the sky for me - and only me - if he could and that was all I needed to know. I thought for a moment about how to act now and then took out my I-Pod to look for a specific song. If Wheeler could communicate with music, I could as well - but I still didn't want to sing.

Wheeler dropped a fair amount of wood next to the fire before looking around in surprise.

"Where is Linka?"

"She said she wanted to go swimming. I'm supposed to tell you that you should urgently look for something in the tent", Gi replied.

Confused, he set off. She must have moved his stuff out of the tent, he thought, but when he reached it there was no sign of it. Perhaps she had sunk them in the lake or blown them on the surrounding trees? He couldn't stop himself from risking a quick look up. Nothing.

He shrugged before opening the tent and turning on the light with his ring. There was an I-Pod on his pillow – Lenka's I-Pod. He took it and saw that a song was displayed and paused. She must have wanted him to listen, so he did. *

It was barely over when he put down the I-Pod and jumped up. He had to find Linka while she was still alone. They finally had to talk.

I had been waiting on the bank, but ended up actually going for a swim when he didn't come. I had been swimming my laps for some time when I finally saw him standing on the shore bathed in moonlight and I slowly swam towards him. What would he say, what was he thinking?

"Hey," Wheeler said when I was only a few meters away from him and I stopped.

"Hey," I replied, embarrassed - why was I so shy all of a sudden? "Would you like to keep me company?" I then asked and almost had to laugh because he nodded furiously and stripped down to his pants. He dove under as soon as he was in the water, only to reappear right in front of me. Luckily I was able to stand there, because the sight of him in the moonlight was simply breathtaking and would have made me forget to move my arms.

"Have you been in..."

"In the tent? Yes. Your I-Pod was on my pillow."

"I know."

"So should I check it out?"

"You didn't?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes, and the first song wasn't bad at all," he replied with a smile.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and had to control myself not to jump out of my skin. I could have imagined that he didn't think along enough that I wanted to say something to him. As I was about to answer him he put his hands on my hips and pulled me closer to him, I looked into his eyes in surprise, saw his smile and immediately forgot what I was about to say. He got it.

"That was a very nice way of telling me how you feel."

"Nice?!" I asked confused, should I laugh or cry about that? "Your manner wasn't too bad either."

"Danger of making a fool out of me isn't bad?"

"Don't talk like that. You have a very beautiful voice and you are certainly not a jerk."

"No, fortunately not," he replied with a grin and kissed me - finally. I slid my hands up his chest and buried them in his hair. As our lips parted, we both breathed heavily and when I placed a hand on his chest I could feel his heart beating as fast as mine.

He gently stroked my cheek while looking at me like it was all a dream, making me smile.

"What's the matter with you Yankee?"

"I can't believe it, it's so...Wow, you really like me," he replied with a grin.

"I don't like you Yankee. I love you", I corrected him and he kissed me again passionately.

"I love you too, for so long," he then whispered against my lips and took possession of them again before I could reply.

I never thought it would be like this. Just kissing him was beautiful and got me so intoxicated that my legs felt weak, butterflies fluttered in my stomach and my blood seemed to rush through my veins like fire. What must it be like when we...

My hands found their own way down to his waist and slipped under the elastic of his pants, but he flinched.

"What are you up to babe?" he asked in surprise.

"What does it look like? I want to be with you."

"Here?"

"The others are on the other side of the lake. I never thought that would bother you."

"It doesn't, but it's...babe, you said yesterday you wanted it someday...with the right one..." I put a finger to his lips, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

"You're the real Yankee, the only one," I replied and kissed him again to convince him of the truth of my words - it worked.

"I just thought..."

"Bozh moy, Yankee. Leave that to the horses, they have bigger heads." Otherwise he was never a friend of big words and now he couldn't keep his mouth shut?! How could one person be so frustrating... - he grinned broadly and kissed me as if he wanted to make me forget everything, it worked - ...wonderful, I ended my train of thought.

He took me in his strong arms and carried me a little way into the forest, constantly busy blowing tender kisses on my cheek and neck before laying me on a moss-padded spot and he was successfully trying to give me the most indescribable and most unforgettable night of my life.

When I opened my eyes I lay in Wheeler's arms and listened to the singing of the birds. Was it all just a dream? I glanced around, noting our sleeping bags spread out over us and the towels in the corner. Wheeler's hand went under my chin and he turned my head so he could kiss me. It wasn't a dream!

"Good morning babe."

"Good morning Yankee."

I snuggled back into his arms and closed my eyes again.

"What were you thinking about?" he then asked me softly and kissed my hair.

"I was afraid for a moment that it was all just a dream."

"It's a dream babe. A dream come true." I could hear his smile, but I was too tired to move and kiss him. We had spent most of the night in the forest and only got dressed and crept back in the early morning after a short but hot swim in the lake. He took it from me by pulling me up a bit and turning my face so we could face each other and he kissed me again.

"I love you," he whispered against my lips.

"And I love you."

"Okay, now I have a guilty conscience." Gi's voice behind us tore us apart and we looked at her in bewilderment because she was crouching in the entrance grinning - because of a guilty conscience. Sure." Well, did you two sleep well?" This suggestive tone. I didn't like her voice and the triumphant look on her face.

"Mind your own business Gi," Wheeler said grumpily, rolling onto his side and burying his face in my neck.

"However. I just wanted to let you know that breakfast is ready and to see if you're okay. We heard strange noises in the evening and Reneè thought it was a rabid animal, but it was too quiet and far away for her to be specific. At least you don't seem you have met it."

"No we're not," Wheeler replied while I tried to hide my fiery red face against his shoulder. "We'll come as soon as we're done."

"Take your time." I heard Gi zip up when Wheeler was already bending over me and grinning incredibly maliciously.

"I should probably go to the doctor and get a rabies shot just to be sure. Otherwise you might infect me."

"You can be such an idiot." I slapped him on the arm angrily. "Imagine Gi coming up with that I...we...my god, is that embarrassing."

"Stop worrying about it. If she had understood, she would have said something. You know her. Better think about how you're going to prevent them from storming our tent in the next half hour because they think the animal is in here." His grin was so suggestive and seductive at the same time that I had to smile too. I shuddered as his lips traveled down my neck.

"Let them think what they want!" I could only sigh before he made me forget everything again.

So this is it. The first song is Boyce Avenue 'If I could change your mind'. The second song that only Wheeler could hear (I wanted to make you curious about it ;) )is

Monrose 'What you don't know'. I think the last one is a German band, but if you're interested, you'll find it on Youtube for sure.