Author's Note: This chapter is pretty short, but I'm planning a pretty big chapter soon so I've been working on that! Thank you to everyone for the reviews, you guys really keep me motivated :) Enjoy!
The door to Skye's cabin swung open with so much force that it hit the wall behind it, the lock hanging off the wood. Skye whirled around and her eyes widened as Lucas stormed into the kitchen. She raced over to the other end of the island counter until it was between them, her eyes searching for a defense weapon. Lucas raised an eyebrow over the counter, folding his arms across his chest.
"Did you just break my door open?" asked Skye disbelievingly, her eyebrows threatening to disappear into her hairline. Lucas's eyes narrowed and he quickly darted to the left, trying to catch Skye, but Skye skidded to her left to counter his move.
"Bucket…" Lucas splayed his hands out flat on the counter, exasperated. "I just want to talk to you."
"Then you can talk to me from there," snapped Skye, staying on the top of her toes in case Lucas tried to run for her again. Lucas smirked slightly.
"Scared, Bucket?" Lucas raised and lowered an eyebrow seductively, leaning over the counter until he reached the middle. Skye stepped back and crossed her arms.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't be," replied Skye, pressing her lips together. Lucas's eyes softened slightly, but Skye didn't budge.
"Isn't it obvious?" said Lucas mockingly, leaning his face into his hands. Skye rolled her eyes, waiting for an answer. "Because I love you."
Skye could hear her heart beating in her ears as Lucas's words registered in her mind. She had suspected many times that he loved her, but he had never said it out loud. Just in case Lucas was using it to get to her, Skye decided to play it safe. "Don't say something you're going to regret."
"You think I'll regret admitting that I love you?" asked Lucas, frowning slightly. Skye swallowed, watching Lucas suspiciously.
"I think… that you're jumping to conclusions," said Skye carefully, touching her tongue to her lower lip. "You're convinced that whatever you feel for me is love. But if you really did love me, then that conversation outside wouldn't have even happened. And my door wouldn't be broken right now."
"My father has nothing to do with how I feel about you," growled Lucas, lifting himself off the counter. He looked back at the door warily. "And I'll fix the door."
Skye sighed, relaxing slightly. "Fixing your relationship with Commander Taylor is more important than fixing that door."
"STOP calling him Commander," hissed Lucas, rounding the counter again. Skye mimed the movement, distancing herself from Lucas again. "And I already told you. The relationship between my father and me is damaged beyond repair."
Skye, trusting her instincts, took the opportunity to dart for the door. Just as her hand grabbed the doorframe, Lucas snatched her from behind and backed her up against the counter, the length of his body touching hers. With a rush of courage, Skye swung at Lucas with a tightly folded fist.
Lucas grabbed Skye's fist just before it collided into his face, his expression hard. Skye's mouth dropped open slightly at her own daringness. Lucas lowered Skye's fist, his hand still clenched around it. "Did you just try to hit me?"
Skye gaped slightly, but recovered after a few moments. "Well, you broke my door."
The expression on Lucas's face scared Skye slightly, and she inched back against the counter as far as she could go. Lucas suddenly let go of Skye's hand, stepping away from her. He looked down at the counter again, his furious expression melting away. "I'll fix the door."
Without another word, Lucas set off to Skye's cupboards, pulling a screwdriver out of a drawer Skye had never even noticed. He knelt down beside the door and began to work at the screws, driving them back into the wood. Skye watched Lucas work from her spot near the counter in silence, waiting for him to say something. When he remained quiet, Skye walked over to the door and sat down on the ground, leaning against the doorframe. She watched Lucas's eyes for a few moments, waiting for him to look up. "I'm sorry that I tried to punch you."
Lucas kept working on the screws without even glancing up at Skye. After a few minutes of silence, Skye huffed exasperatedly and got up to leave. "I don't even know why I try with you."
Just as Skye began to walk away, Lucas reached up and snatched Skye's wrist, holding her back. He set the screwdriver down slowly and rose to his feet, his eyes meeting Skye's. Lucas's mouth tilted into his trademark smirk, making Skye narrow her eyes. "You try because you know that you love me too."
Skye knew doubtlessly that she loved Lucas, but that wasn't going to stop her from objecting. Skye opened her mouth to protest, but Lucas cut her off, leaning in so close that his lips were brushing against hers. "Do you hear that? Every time I come near you, your heart takes off. And back in the fort, that wasn't just for Wash. You know you want me just as much as I want you."
Skye tried to pull away, wishing that her heart would stop racing so fast. Lucas pressed his lips ever so slightly against Skye's, getting the reaction he wanted. "Do you deny it, Bucket?"
"Yes!" snapped Skye, a little too quickly. Lucas pulled his lips away, and Skye grimaced in spite of herself. With a victorious grin, Lucas leaned in all the way and kissed Skye like he had in the fort, giving her everything he had. His arms wrapped around Skye's waist, and Skye brought her hands up to hold his shoulders.
"Ugh, fine, you win," mumbled Skye as she pulled away to catch her breath. She looked up at Lucas through her dark eyelashes, a smile spreading across her face. She stood on her toes and brought Lucas's face closer, pressing her lips against his again. Skye pulled away the slightest bit, letting her lips brush Lucas's but leaving enough room for her to speak. "So… do you think maybe you could work on fixing things with Command – "
"Don't push it, Bucket," growled Lucas, more longing than angry. Skye rolled her eyes and peered around Lucas to inspect the door.
"You done with that door yet, handyman?" asked Skye, pointing at the door. Lucas waved the door away airily, leaning in again.
"Later, later," muttered Lucas as he took Skye's face in his hands, leaning in hungrily. Skye pulled away, escaping his grip. She picked the screwdriver up off the floor and handed it to Lucas.
"The only thing you're screwing today is that door, brother," said Skye, her mouth tilting into a smirk to match Lucas's. Lucas raised an eyebrow at Skye's innuendo, but obediently set to work on the door again.
Skye slid into one of the barstools at the counter, watching Lucas carefully. Skye had decided to make Lucas and Taylor work things out the moment she realized that she loved Lucas, but she had never expected it to be this hard. In Lucas's words, the relationship was damaged. But Skye knew more than anyone that relationships could be fixed, no matter how broken they were. And she was determined to fix this one.
I'm so excited for the upcoming chapters! The one after the next, to be specific. Till next time! :)