Here you have it; I'm soooo sorry for the delay. If you know how unlucky I am you wouldn't even read this story, afraid that it was contagious. Well the story and everything I've written (which were about 20-30 pages of things that would happen in the next couple of chapters) were deleted, don't ask me how. My dad, who's a computer geek, couldn't even find the backup that Word normally makes for these kinds of situations. Anyhow, I have crisis with some of my friends, everybody is leaving me, I can't find my MP3-player (which I'm addicted to) and I'm sure that even my dog hates me. Life's great huh?
Well, when all that was over and done with, all I need is telling you that if you haven't figured out that I don't own anything resembling the Predators you haven't been paying enough attention. Now go read the damn story, that's what you came to do right…?
Chapter 9 – Fire and Ice
"Max?" Toh asked gentle as he stroked her hand that lay on his chest with his. He had seen her zoom out and as she didn't response his questions he was starting to get worried.
A couple of blinked, moistening her eyes in the process, before looking up and locking her eyes with his.
"Huh?"
Toh couldn't help a little smile creeping upon his mandibles. "You disappeared for a minute." He said; continued stroking her hand.
"Oh, sorry." She could already feel the heat stroking her cheeks and the fact that she had zoomed out like that was not helping either.
"Don't be, I know that you have a hard time." He replied referring to them being together. At least hoping that they soon would be. Holding her like he did in the moment made him want to have her in full. Have her care for him as he cared for her.
A little puzzled she furrowed her brows. How could he know, yes she had told him a little about her past but still, he didn't know about Frank did he?
"I need time Toh, to think, to gather all the mess that my brain is creating at the moment." She sighed; focusing her eyes on Toh's large scar he had across his torso. Her hand enfolded with Toh's lay just beside it.
"Tell me about your scar Toh." She said curios before direct her eyes to his once more. At first she thought he would deny it as she knew how it was to talk about old scars, but seeing the soft and yet proud expression on his face she couldn't suppress a small giggle. She loved it when he looked at her that way, like he would tell her everything about himself if she just asked. That he was proud of telling her about it and that made her in a brief moment wonder if it would be so bad if she told him her secrets.
He guided her hand to trail the scar. "It was on my chiva, my first hunt to be blooded. The first kainda Amedha had been somewhat easy; don't tell that to my trainer though, he would probably tell me that I'm just saying that because I was scared out of my loincloth." He chuckled, knowing that his old trainer wasn't one you bragged in front of. She gave him a soft smile as well that told him that she had caught the small joke.
"I was the only one that killed two but unlike the first hard meat, this one gave up a fight, the scar was made from its talon right before I ended its life." He said proud, capturing Max's attention completely.
Max could just listen to his story while having locked her eyes with his. His every word made her want to hear more and though she didn't know why she felt like she wanted to stay there in his arms she didn't mind in that moment.
A small knock on the door interrupted that thought though and they both turned their eyes to the door.
"Wake up Aunt Max, Uncle Toh. It's snowing!" Josephine's voice called from the other side of the door before hearing he run away laughing a high girly laugh.
"She surely know how to get others attention." Toh chuckled before looking back down at Max. A big mischievous smile was plastered on her face and a glint was playing in her eyes.
Before the male could think one single thought, Max was out of his arms and threw random clothes on her form. "Catch me if you can!" She giggled while she gave him a daring look. Catching her challenge Toh leapt from the bed not caring with clothes but simply bolted right after her as she disappeared through the door.
"Come and get me, show me how good a hunter you are." Max called leading them through the door and out into the back yard, making sure that Toh followed her. She took a big handful of snow between her bare hands, having too much fun to think that it was cold that she was standing in the snow with only a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt over her t-shirt that she had slept in and bare feet.
Toh ran out the door cringing a bit by the cold as he only had a loincloth on him but wasn't giving the chance to go back in before he was hit with something white, soft and very cold in his face.
"What, are you afraid of a little snow?" Max laughed seeing that Toh already had a handful of snow between his hands.
"You better run woman." He too laughed.
"Oh yeah? What'd you do about it if I don't?" She asked but was have to duck an object that had been sent from the male. Smirking Max started to rise again from her crouching position. "If that's the best you can… yelp!"
Toh had used the snowball as an act of distracting so he could charge her front on and now they both were grounded. Max on her back in the snow and Toh on top of her; making sure that she couldn't get up or throw him off of her.
"What were you saying?" He asked smirking at her trying to get free from his grip but he was too heavy. She was about to answer when he captured another mischievous glint in her eyes, closely followed by a handful of snow being smacked straight in his face.
Her loud laughter was nothing to the roar he gave her in both shock and excitement of this game. Once more she tried to skim away from him but the fact that she couldn't stop laughing and he had taken the liberty to tickle the young woman she didn't go far.
"No Toh, don't. Stop!" She laughed as he attacked her ribs in another wave of tickling.
"Only if you say that you're my woman." He stopped for a second for her to breath and register his offer.
"What?! Never." She frowned but the face soon turned into a fit of laughter once again. Tears could be seen in the sides of her eyes but she didn't care, it felt good even though she was about to pee in her pant with laughing so hard.
"No, no, I'll never say that… HaHaHa… Oh please Toh stop." He didn't. "Okay. Okay!" She managed out and instantly he stopped waiting for her to say what he wanted to hear. "Come closer." She whispered a little hoarse from the extreme fit of laughter and he did, sliding his head closer to hers. "I'm your woman." She whispered in defeat, too exhausted to do anything than lying there spread out under the bigger male.
This time it was Toh who had the glint in his eyes, making Max a little nervous. Without a word he stood, taking the female with him in his arms.
"Toh what are you doing?" Max asked now more nervous, seeing that he was headed for a big snowdrift. "Toh? I said the words." She giggled as she felt the rush of adrenaline in her veins once more. The excitement was almost killing her.
"I don't think you really meant it." He smirked, giving her an evil glare that ended in a playful hint.
"Come on Toh, I said that I'm your… Agh!" She tried to wriggle herself out of his arms as they stood right in front of the pile but the struggle made the male loose his footing and once again they both fell to the ground, this time Toh landed right beside her; both laughing out loud while they shoved snow over each other. They fought until they both couldn't move because they had laughed so much.
"God I'm cold." Max stated as they lay in - and half-cover by the snow and it was first now Toh noticed that he wasn't just cold but freezing. He looked at Max; she was just lying there, looking up in the air. You could almost see her trace the few clouds, which was decorating the sky, with her eyes. His eyes traced down her body, noticing that due to the cold her nipples were erect and in that instant he forgot all about being cold and the ache from laughing so much. His thought was focused only on her and the wonders her body was doing in that moment, fantasizing about what he would do to her to make her nipples stand up like that.
"You should see yourself." A low half-laughing voice said from the other end of the lawn. Toh secretly cursed Max's brother but forced his, not so innocent, thoughts about his woman back into the dark once more. Lazy they both stood; looking at Ian standing on the porch grinning for all he was worth. "I don't know if you're crazy or just plain stupid, going outside like this." His grinned widened seeing them both shake the remaining snow off.
"Shot up Ian." Max smiled, she was cold but had had a great time, though her sides still hurt a little from the tickle attack, she couldn't think of another time when she had had it this great.
"I love you too sis." The man smiled, before leading them inside and into the warm house. Tina was in the kitchen preparing some breakfast and Josephine sitting in front of a large TV, watching cartoons still in her pajamas.
-
Later that day both Terry and Tanya came for a visit and not long after lunch the males thought learning Toh football was the best idea of the day.
Tanya and Max were currently doing the dishes while Tina was making sure that Josephine received her daily learning lessons; though her young age Ian and Tina had thought that she needed to learn curtain things.
"There's nothing between me and Toh." Max finally said to Tanya, ignoring the look her sister shot to her.
"Yah I can see that." The younger woman teased as Max looked at the now grounded male before she could stop herself. There's nothing between us right? She asked herself. She was so confused about this male, about this man that had made her laugh like she rarely did. That he could make her feel so relaxed and safe in his arms though knowing what and who he was. Why was she so content around him? She had never felt like this about anyone else before and it made her confused and unsure about herself.
-
It had been two days now; Toh and Ian was down in the lab, finishing the project, while Max and Tina was playing with Josephine. Max absolutely adored the little girl and just couldn't get enough of her. It had seemed that the big male too had found a liking to the little fireball but he was too proud to tell anyone that just yet.
She and Toh hadn't done much together than working with Ian on the last knots of problems concerning the nanobots, talking casual along with Ian and Tina and sleep in the same bed. Toh hadn't even tried to touch her, sleep close to her; nothing and it was making her crazy. Sure she had always made it clear for the yautja that she was off limit but when he finally acted upon her whishes she felt empty and sad. She had even caught herself in crawling closer up to the male that night. He had been asleep but after an hour without feeling a bit tired, she scooted up to him to savor his warmth that radiated from him. She fell asleep the moment she rested her head close to his shoulder, as one hand rested on his upper arm and the other under her head.
Toh hadn't really been asleep and through the semi-sleep he felt her move and the small touch between the two of them made his heart almost burst through his chest from both pride and happiness.
-
A soft whimper disturbed his sleep and soon he opened his eyes thinking that Max once again had had a nightmare, but looking down at the female, he found her lying content with her head now resting on his shoulder and her hands clutching his arm, sleeping.
The sound caught his ears once more and now, more awake he could hear that it came from outside their room. Hating that he had to let his female go from the touch he gentle lay her down on her pillow and still a little groggy walked out of the room.
The small cry grew as the male stepped into the living room. It was the little pup, Josephine, and following the sound he found a hidden form, behind one of the couches and the wall. The whimper had subdued a little, probably because she could hear him as the floorboards creaked under his weight. He kneeled in front of her; not knowing what to do with her he petted her head through the blanket that she had hid under. She started to sniffle just before the small whimper started again.
Frustrated he scooted the bundle up into his arms.
"Don't cry little one." He cooed, giving a couple of purrs for her. For a second he was sure the pup only would cry even louder as her whole frame stiffened but then she relaxed and the hem of the blanket slid off of her head, revealing a head full of messy blond hair and wet green eyes.
Not knowing what to do now he just sat there, looking down at the little girl. She sniffed as couple of times as she too watched him in return; her tear that had covered her face started to dry out. The only thing Toh could think of was going to someone who knew something, anything, about small discontented pups.
"What?" Her voice was hoarse as the sleep hadn't really left her yet, but feeling a hand shake her one more time made her open her eyes, seeing Toh sitting with something that looked like a rolled up blanket in one arm and the other on her shoulder.
"I need your help." He said; bending down to brush his mandibles across her cheek.
"Can't it wait to tomorrow?" She asked as his gesture made her just want to curl up to him and stay there forever but in that same moment two small arms launched around her, followed by a small body. Looking down she saw evidence that it were her nice that had her trapped under the blanket that Toh had held only a second ago.
"Hey sweetie what are you doing out of bed in the middle of the night?" She asked in concern as she wrapped her arms around the girl, searching for an answer in the male's eyes, but the complete lost look she found made her soften even more. He simply didn't know anything about children.
"I had a bad dream:" The girl whimpered into Max's shoulder, one of her hands had released the woman and had found the male's hand to hold. Looking down at the little pup he was more lost. Why did he always feel so uncertain with himself when a female cried? He gave the tiny hand a reassuring squeeze and in response she tugged him closer.
"Oh sweetie, it was just a dream. Don't worry we're all here to protect you." Max replied; seeing how Toh had his battle with himself; if he should draw away from Josephine or just comply her request of wanting him near. The woman made his decision for him as she tugged him down to lie beside them. After the sudden shock, the male snuggled closer, draping his arm around them both before the two females drifted off to sleep. Toh on the other hand just couldn't make that happen as he lay there looking at his woman and the small pup.
-
"How do you feel?"
"Can you understand what we're saying?"
"God I'm going to kick Ian's ass if this doesn't work."
" Hey!"
Tanya, Ian, Tina, Toh and Max stood around Terry, who just had been injected with the new nanobots.
Toh had been quiet most of the morning and now stood waiting for the siblings and Tina to calm down. The little pup was entertained upstairs in front of the TV. The reason why he hadn't said anything was beside lack of sleep, were his thoughts killing him. He didn't know what to do about them either. The way Max had started to soften up toward him had been like heaven but he knew that there were something that held her back and he wanted to take away all her worries and that was what made his head spin. He knew that she never would let him do that kind of thing for her, she were too independent for that and still it looked like she couldn't make it on her own. How could he help without helping?
"You guys sound like I've turned deaf or something." Terry laughed with amusement on the cost of his siblings. "Come one big guy, say something and let's see if Ian is going to get his ass kick by his youngest sister or I'm going to know whenever you and Max are talking behind my back." Terry walked, almost bounced over to the yautja, waiting for him to open his mouth a say something.
"Is this hyper, overexcitement problem something they gave you all as some kind of secret weakness of yours?" Toh asked almost afraid of the answer. The 4 siblings had all at some time been gingerly, laughing and acted like nothing could go wrong just like small pups. He saw the traits in Josephine all the time but he hoped for her sake that she would grow out of it.
Max laughed along Terry, while the remaining two just looked a little lost by the burst out. "Yes, you should be careful it may be contagious." Max joked, giving him a big smile but as soon their eyes met the smile fell a little just before she tear her eyes away.
"Well that tells us that they at least woks, how do you feel?" Ian asked and at that point Max had somehow disappeared without the others to notice it. Toh had however and decided now was the time to be there for his woman even though she didn't want it.
-
Why did her stomach feel like there were thousands of butterflies inside of it whenever she touched, hear or now even saw him? How could she supposed to be and the worst thing were that every time she thought of Toh, thoughts of Frank erupted her mind and made her all empty inside, she just wanted to know why this wonderful feeling could provoke such horrible nightmares that she thought she had forgot ages ago. She wanted to feel those warm safe arms around her, feel the gentle tusks graze her skin, hear his breathing become one with her but every time she thought like this her past came and haunted her. Images of how Frank came to her, the emotions of being scared and confused; the pain that always followed him whenever he were alone with her. The guilt that crept inside of her; she knew deep down that what he did had been wrong but hadn't done anything. She hadn't broken his neck the first time he closed the door to her room and whispered in her ear that it just were a dream before he would turn off the light.
Something circled around her from behind and for a second Max thought that she had been in her room with the light switched off with that heavy breathing Frank always had, due to the 100 cigarettes he smoked a day.
The soft purring brought her back.
Max hadn't noticed that she had started to shake as well as thick tears had rolled from her eyes, clouding her vision. He turned her in his arms before enfolding her completely in his arms. His scent interrupted her senses and a small smile came upon her lips. He had been there to catch her, her self pronounced protector and wannabe-lover. They stood there for what felt like only a minute but in reality more than 30, before Toh dared to look down at her. She looked so fragile and he didn't know what to do to make her smile again. She had at some time wrapped her arms around him and with little movement she too looked up at him while their eyes locked; neither spoke as Toh simply didn't know what to say and Max felt like her throat were burning from trying to keep her cries inside instead of overflow his chest with her tears.
"I'm afraid." She admitted before she could stop herself. Damn why couldn't she just keep her mouth shoot? She didn't need any pity party and the last one she needed to think that she was weak, was from the male in her arms. But it felt so damn good to finally admit it and when she didn't see the pity or repulse in his eyes she relaxed a little.
"I know but what nightmares that haunts you I don't know and of that I am afraid." He said with a calm and deep voice.
Surprised by his words Max searched his eyes for the truth, the hint of a joke or the flicker that told her that he had been lying, but she saw neither. He was afraid, afraid because she was. Before she could think anything of it she reached up, placed a hand upon his cheek and kissed one of his mandibles. It was strange how good it felt, how familiar the feeling of his skin under her lips was. It only lasted a second and before the male could register anything she had left his strong and warm arms and fled once more.
-
Okay if you liked it; review, if you didn't; review anyway but tell me nicely (I don't handle critic very well, one of my many faults.(I'm rambling this time aren't I?))
Oh and before I forget, thank you so much to all my reviewers, I can't say how much it helps to know that someone likes this story.