A/N: Thanks for reviewing, I hope you enjoy the next part.
Chapter 4 – With Every Heartbeat
"Miss Orlova?" The young woman with the posh London accent waited for Linka to nod, then she smiled. "Welcome to England. I'm Reena Patel I was asked to meet you and take you to the flat we've arranged for you."
"Spasiba. I am pleased to meet you Reena, please call me Linka." The Russian's voice was soft and subdued, giving her an air of timidity that she was far from feeling... at least about her job.
Too late to go back now. She told herself.
They got into a big black taxi and her guide began filling her in and though she was listening, old memories still managed to intrude...
The others had been up for a few hours when Gaia called the alert but it was bad timing for Wheeler, who arrived in the crystal chamber dripping wet from the shower, and with only a towel around his lower half. He tried to put his arm around his girlfriend but she ducked away, "I do not want to get wet Yankee, behave."
Normally he would laugh it off and try something else to get her attention but they hadn't spoken since they'd said goodnight the night before and he had woken up worrying that she might have changed her mind, it wouldn't be the first time she'd backtracked though their kiss on the beach had been different to anything that had happened in the past.
Seeing his thoughts reflected in his eyes, Linka sighed softly and slipped her hand inside his, weaving their fingers together and smiling up at him. He grinned back and gave her hand a squeeze to show he understood.
Linka found her eyes drifting away from the screen several times until he caught her looking and winked down at her, but thankfully he didn't tease her further while Gaia was outlining their mission and the blush that covered her cheeks went unremarked. The lovely Russian didn't know why it should be harder now not to stare at him, since he often walked around in little more than he had on at that moment, but she was certainly finding him distracting.
Once they were dismissed, Wheeler released her to run back to his cabin and get dressed while she went with Gi to gather provisions.
"So, you and Wheeler huh?" Not very original of the pretty Asian but she figured that since Linka was her best friend, the information should have been volunteered freely.
"Da." Linka agreed softly, not used to sharing her feelings openly, but finding that she did want someone to confide in. "Do you find it odd? There has always been something there, I just… that is, we have been getting closer lately and I know it might seem a bit sudden but…"
"Sudden?" Gi laughed. "You do know he's been trying to get you to like him since the day we arrived, right?"
The Wind Planeteer chuckled softly. "Da, I meant my giving in to him."
Gi shrugged. "I assumed you'd just come to your senses… do you think it's too soon?"
"Nyet." Linka shifted uncomfortably under her friend's curious gaze. "I would never have been able to refuse him indefinitely, it was going to happen sooner or later."
"But?" When the Russian shook her head, not understanding, Gi said. "It sounded like there should be a 'but' there… Linka if you're not really ready for a relationship, just tell him that. I'm sure he'll wait for you."
Linka looked unhappy. "He would, he said he would, I know he will not pressure me for anything, it is not that." Gi was waiting for an explanation but Linka couldn't tell her, any more than she'd been able to explain it to her boyfriend so she stuck to telling half the truth. "I am not sure that I am ready for a relationship, I am not sure that I will ever feel ready for one, but I know that I want to be with Wheeler so it does not make sense to make him wait just to hear that, does it?"
Gi's grin turned into a shout of laughter and she suddenly put down what she was carrying to give her friend a hug. "You two were meant for each other, I'm just glad you finally decided to take a risk, but Linka, it's not really a risk, he adores you."
The blonde laughed self-consciously and let her friend continue. "You're absolutely right not to wait. I don't mean you shouldn't take things slow but better to work out the whole relationship thing together, you know I don't think Wheeler has any more of a clue in that area than you do, his past 'associations' seem to have been mainly physical."
The geo-cruiser was in sight by this time and Linka asked if they could discuss it later since she would rather the boys weren't included in the conversation. This seemed to please Gi and she instantly changed the topic of conversation to their mission.
Wheeler was waiting for them with the others and the look he gave her sent chills up her spine. She took her usual seat opposite him and when the others began talking together, leant a little closer to say quietly. "We should talk later, but for now can we just keep things professional, we have an alert to focus on."
His whole posture became defensive and she cringed inwardly, never before having considered him to be so insecure. Shaking her head as if to dispel her words she added, "Just for the duration of the alert."
The Fire Planeteer relaxed a little but he still seemed wary and he too kept his voice hushed so that it didn't carry to the others. "You never did tell me what was bothering you…"
They were interrupted before she could answer but when their craft landed and they stood up to disembark, she caught his arm and quickly stretched up to press a kiss to his mouth. "I need this to work Yankee, I just need to be a good Planeteer too…"
"I know, I know." He interrupted her, taking one hand in his. "I get it, and if that's all it is, then I'll behave. I promise. I have grown up a bit, in the last few years."
She nodded. "I know."
"Come on." He tugged on the hand he was holding and led her towards the door, releasing her after he'd helped her down and not making any further attempts to make contact.
Their mission hadn't taken long but as soon as they got back Kwame had dragged Wheeler off to help with his garden, something the American had been promising to do. Gi tried to object saying that he and Linka probably had plans but the Wind Planeteer missed the point and assured her that they didn't, pointing out that she would be busy anyway since it was her turn to cook.
Not easily deterred, the Asian followed her team mate to the kitchen to remonstrate with her. "Linka you do get that you can't just carry on like before, right? You're going to have to act like you're his girlfriend sometime."
Linka sighed. "In the first place Gi, I am not going to encourage Wheeler break promises or use our relationship to shirk his responsibilities. Secondly, if this is going to work it needs to fit in with our lives here, not rearrange them. And thirdly… I have no idea how to act like someone's girlfriend, but I was actually hoping that this might be a start."
Gi looked down at what her friend was doing and then gave Linka a blank look.
"Spaghetti"
"Spaghetti?" The pretty Asian seemed even more confused.
"Wheeler's favourite." Linka explained.
"Are you sure?" Gi asked, sounding sceptical. "He usually pulls faces when we have it…"
The Russian laughed. "Da, because he loves the dish as it is traditionally made and we always make healthy substitutes. He says that pasta made with brown flour tastes grainy and garlic bread made with 'the bread with the bits in' makes him choke."
Beginning her preparations she continued explaining. "Do you remember the last time we were in Italy, before the conference, and we split up to look for Sludge's operations? We were meant to meet up for dinner and Ma-Ti called to say you were held up and would meet us later so we found this little restaurant and Wheeler insisted we had spaghetti so that I would know how it was 'supposed to taste.'"
Gi laughed. "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach huh?"
A slight blush stole across Linka's cheeks. "I just want him to know that I pay as much attention to what he likes as he pays to me, he is always doing little things to make me smile." She chuckled, "Even when he is doing big things to make me yell at him."
"You want any help?" Gi offered, still smiling. "Or should the rest of us make ourselves scarce?"
Linka shook her head. "I am going to make it all from scratch, just the way he likes it, and I would prefer to do it by myself, but I will make enough for everybody."
Later, when they all filed in and took their seats, Wheeler wrinkled up his nose as he usually did but when he tasted the first bite the handsome American looked up in surprise, to find that Linka was watching him and waiting for his reaction. "You actually went and bought the proper stuff?"
He took another mouthful as if to make sure.
The Russian laughed but it was Gi who answered him. "No, she made it herself! I wouldn't have even known where to start."
"It's perfect and you're amazing." Wheeler told her quietly, leaning over intending to kiss her but pausing and casting a quick glance in the direction of their friends.
Linka solved his dilemma by closing the remaining distance herself, and then teasing him gently "We are not on a mission now Yankee."
The next few weeks went by in a happy blur. Once Wheeler had gotten used to the idea that he had a warm and loving partner to come home to, he'd had no problem with her 'keep it professional' rule while they were on alerts, though he still took every opportunity to tease her verbally, just as he always had done.
Sticking his surf board in the sand, the red head ran up the beach into the shade and dropped down over his girlfriend's legs, leaning forward to bring their lips together. "You should come and catch a few waves Babe, it's glorious out there."
"I would rather watch." She let her eyes trail over his firm torso as he sat back on his heels. "But maybe I will join you for a swim later."
He shrugged and moved to sit beside her, offering her an arm and kissing her head when she leant into him. "Have you decided where we should go on our date yet?"
Linka hesitated. "I am not bothered Yankee, and we have been so busy lately it is nice to just relax."
"You do want to go out with me right?" He asked. "As in on an actual date, I mean I know it's not compulsory but couples usually do spend time together."
"We do spend time together." She looked up at him, "Like now, this could be a date."
Wheeler frowned. "Yeah, it could be but it's not. This is normal for us and dates are supposed to be… I don't know, special."
"Being with you is special." She reached up to kiss him but when they parted he continued, clearly not going to be distracted.
"I'm serious Linka, I know we've had a lot of Planeteer stuff going on since we got together, but it's almost like you don't want anyone to see us."
The Russian's stomach rumbled with silent worry as he came dangerously close to the truth. "The others see us together all the time."
"They don't count." He swallowed and asked the question that had been bothering him for some time. "Are you ashamed of me?"
"What? Nyet! Why would you think something like that?" She sat up straight, turning towards him so that she could see him better."
Wheeler relaxed a little, her reaction to the suggestion being plain enough, but still said. "I don't know, why won't you be with me off the Island?"
She frowned. "I thought you were okay with us not being all over each other during alerts?"
"I am, that's not what I'm talking about." He sighed. "Forget it. It's not worth arguing about."
Feeling very guilty, Linka thought rapidly trying to find a compromise. "How about you surprise me? Pick something you think we will both enjoy but do not tell me where we are going." That way I cannot tell anyone else and no one will have a reason to be annoyed about it. She finished silently.
"You sure you'd be okay with that?" He asked warily, still not sure he understood her reluctance.
Linka nodded. "Yankee, I love spending time with you, I am happy just being with you and I do not care who knows it, I was just trying to keep you to myself."
He looked worried again, which had not been her intention. "You don't need to keep me to yourself, I'm not going to go off with some stranger if that's what you think? I know I did flirt a bit in the past but that was before we were together, and most of the time I was just trying to make you jealous."
She shook her head quickly, the last thing she had wanted was to make him feel guilty. "I know that and I trust you. Completely. It just seemed to me that we needed to be together for a while before we add any outside pressures, to get used to us. But I am not embarrassed and you are right, we should start spending more time together away from the Island, like a normal couple. I do want that."
"Ok." After the briefest hesitation he kissed her lips and pulled her back against him. "I'll find something fun for us to do, and don't worry, it'll still be just us."