# 23: Distraction

Alex caressed Jen's hair away from her face, as the wind blew around them. The salty air was refreshing and energizing, and just sitting there on the perfectly white sand of that paradisiacal beach was all he needed.

She laughed happily, as she tried to keep her hair away from her mouth. "This is impossible!" she yelled at last and let it go. "I'm going to eat my own hair, and covered

in sand to top it off!"

He laughed along, feeling the happiest he had ever felt. "Maybe you are just looking at the problem in the wrong way. Maybe if you lie down you won't have to eat your hair."

"Or maybe," she began with a mischievous smile on her face as she stood up, "we could go into the water! That way my hair would get wet and it wouldn't fly all over the place!" She grabbed his hand and tried to force him to step up.

"I don't think so!!" he refused. "I don't want to get in the water."

"Oh come on! That's what you brought me to this beach for!"

"If I wanted to go to the water we could have jumped right off from the yacht! We came to the island to lie down on the sand and enjoy having our feet on something that's not always moving."

"Oh come on!" she insisted. "Please," she begged, giving him her best puppy eyes. He shook his head. She pouted and pretended to sniff, letting go of his hand. "I think I'm going in the water by myself then, if you don't want to come," she said quickly and ran towards the water.

"Jennifer, come on! We are supposed to be spending time together! And cuddling!" he offered.

She stopped on the edge of the water and turned to look at him. "You are the one who doesn't want to come." She shrugged. He sighed, deciding to let her have it her way. She smiled brightly when she saw him stand up and walk towards her. "You see?" she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Now we can cuddle and soak in the sea water for a while."

"I guess we can," he said, picking her up and taking her deeper into the sea before dropping her in the cool water. She yelled in surprise when her entire body submerged in the cool water at once. "You like the water? I hear it can get pretty cold this time of the year." Her answer was to splash him across the chest with the freezing water. "Well, that's mature right there!" he said, wrapping his arms around her before she could do it again.

"Would it have killed you to tell me it was freezing cold?" she asked, shivering in his embrace.

"No, but I figured you'd like the surprise," he said with a smile. She was still shivering and gave him a murderous look. "We better get out of here, come on, let's get you dry." He picked her up again and took her out of the water, both of them freezing with the combination of the cold water and the wind.

He laid her down on the sand and handed her a towel. He took one for himself and dried his body quickly. She dried as quickly as she could, but her wet hair kept her cold. "That should teach you a lesson," he said, sitting down next to her and wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Next time I say no, you should listen."

"I can't even think right now," she moaned.

"Well," he said softly, kissing her on the side of the head. "I know a way to warm you up that we could try out."

"Oh, really?" she said, giving him a sideways glance.

"Yes, the downside is sand is likely to get in your hair."

"If you are thinking what I'm thinking then sand is likely to get in my EVERYWHERE," she answered, this time looking at him full in the face.

"It was just a suggestion." He moved in to kiss her and she mirrored his move, giving him a brief but passionate kiss.

"Maybe we should go back to the yacht," she whispered.

"Sound like a good idea," he said back. "I really like that we took this trip. I'm glad we have the chance to spend more time together and sort things out."

"Me too," she admitted, holding his hand as they made their way through the harbor. "I missed you, Alex."

"I missed you too," he said, jumping to the ship. He offered his hand and she took it while she jumped to the ship herself. He welcomed her on board with a hug and a deep kiss. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Alex," she whispered. He pressed his forehead against hers and they just stood there for a while. "Oh Alex..."

"Alex?" He felt a hand on his shoulder, shaking him softly. "Alex?"

"Major Drake, are you still with us?!" A stern voice called him. He blinked twice and looked around guiltily, seeing all four Time Force Rangers, Captain Logan and two members of the High Command somebody probably had introduced while he was mentally traveling in the yacht with Jen. He couldn't believe he had been daydreaming, at work, during such an important meeting.

"I'm sorry, sir, my thoughts wandered," he apologized, throwing a quick glance at Jen, who was looking at him as if it was the first time she had ever seen him. Trip, on the other hand, could hardly contain a smile as he looked at him, and much to his surprise, one of the High Commanders had the same look on her face. Immediately, Alex knew she was a psychic.

"Well, Major Drake, I have nothing against love, and I understand you are tired," she said softly. "But this meeting is important, so if you could reschedule all future yacht trips with Captain Scotts until after we are done, we would really appreciate it."

Jen's surprised look was the last thing he needed. There was no need to make such a big deal, his brain just needed a distraction, and a little daydreaming had never hurt anyone. And now, Jen was smiling as she looked at him as if she had seen him before.