John awoke slowly in bed with the sunshine warming his face. He allowed his eyes to open slowly as he glanced around the room. Victor was gone, and there was no sign of Helena, at least not his Helena. Taking a painful breath, he pushed the covers back. Closing his eyes, he forced himself to sit up on the edge of his bed.
By the time he went to swing one of his legs down, Helena Russell entered his room. Rushing over to him, she eased his leg back on the bed then pulled the covers up giving him a very angry look.
"Just where do you think you were going Com...John" she asked correcting herself as she opened his pajama top to check his chest wound.
"I was just going to sit up for a bit." he said wincing.
Closing his top, she stood over him, arms folded across her chest. "Not a wise idea right now.
Are you in a lot of pain?" she inquired.
John glanced out the window "No," he said in a near whisper.
Helena walked to his side of the bed where he was looking to get his attention. "John, I realize that you may not like me, but..."
John cut her off raising his hand at her. "It's not that Helena, it's just that you are so harsh, in my time you're...well,...never mind, you wouldn't understand." How he wished his Helena was the one looking after his injuries.
Helena set beside him on the edge of his bed, putting her hand on his shoulder. "It's my job to be firm John, in everything I do. Especially when it comes to my patients well being and state of mind. Victor told me he would be back later, so get some rest before he does so."
He watched Helena walk over to a tray, pick up a syringe and fill it with medicine. Walking back to him, she lifted his wrist, rubbed an area for a moment, then injected it into his system. John flinched at the momentary sting. Helena rubbed the area in circles for a few minutes, then put his wrist down.
"What was that for?" he asked watching everything she did.
"It's for pain. I know you wont admit it, but you chest and ribs still hurt, and rest is the best thing for you. I'll be by later to check on you," she told him, then slipped out the door.
John lay there looking up at the tiled ceiling wishing he had his Helena. He couldn't stop his eyes from closing, and for the moment thought Helena might be right. He needed to rest, especially if he was going to formulate a plan to get out of the hospital and find Lauren before the two moons became one.
Lauren was laying stretched out on Lance's bed when he found her. She was on her side, facing away from him, wearing one of his oversized pajama shirts. He studied her for a moment before he joined her. Lance leaned close to kiss her cheek and she turned to face him with a smile.
Softly, he said, "Hope I didn't wake you."
Lauren shook her head. "No, just resting."
Lance reached out to her, brushing her hair back from her eyes, trailing his fingers down her cheek, the side of her neck.
"Your touch is so warm," she whispered.
Lance kissed her lips, slowly loosening the buttons of the shirt she wore, slipping his hand inside. Silent tears fell down her cheeks. He looked down at her with concern.
"Are you alright babe?" he asked.
Lauren nodded. "It's been so long since I've been with you, and I've longed for your touch more than once."
Lance smiled at her, kissing her lips as he did. He fondly remembered the last time they were together before she left for alpha. "Are you afraid?" he asked her.
"No," she answered, shaking her head. "I've never wanted anything more than to be with you again. To feel your touch, your kisses, the touch of you body against mine...make love to me Lance."
Gazing into her eyes, Lance helped Lauren out of the shirt she was wearing, then got undressed himself and stretched out beside her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
One hand explored her naked body. "You look so lovely right now." he whispered. "Until now, I didn't realize just how much I missed you."
Lauren felt her heart pounding, her chest rising and falling with anxious breaths. "Then make love to me Lance.."
Smiling down at her, Lance cradled her head in his hands, kissing her lips, long, gently, then more demanding, as he moved over her.
They made love until they were both exhausted. Lauren lay in Lance's embrace, her head resting against his chest. He stroked her shoulders as she closed her eyes. She stayed that way for several moments, then he kissed her and she opened her eyes, smiling at him.
"Tired?" he asked.
She yawned. "Yeah, I was just enjoying being in your arms just now. You make me feel so safe and warm."
I'm glad you feel that way. I love you babe."
"I love you too Lance...I always have and always will."
Tenderly, Lauren kissed his cheek, then settled comfortably in her arms, her head once again against his chest. Lance held her close watching as she fell asleep, thinking about the conversation they had earlier, If all she said an told him was true, then one thing was clear, Lauren wasn't going anywhere without him...if he only knew how to make that happen. At any rate, he was going to make the most of the time they had left together.
Eventually he closed his eyes and slept peacefully alongside her.
Lauren woke first the following morning. Her back was to Lance, with his arms wrapped loosely about her waist. She smiled at him, gently easing out of his embrace. Lance stirred and turned onto his back.
Lauren got to her feet, moving quietly about the room, as she searched for some clothes to put on. She finally settled for a pair of shorts and the top part of her swimsuit. Once dressed, she set back down on the edge of the bed. Lance was still asleep which was unusual as he'd always been the one to wake first. There was a tender smile on his lips and Lauren wondered if he was dreaming. Smiling herself, she leaned in close to kiss his cheek, then got to her feet and left him to rest.
Lauren stepped outside to find the sun up and enjoyed the warmth it provided. She descended the stairs and set down in the sand at the waters edge. She glanced back over her shoulder at the house, then stared across the ocean. So many thoughts were running through her mind, especially about Commander Koenig. Her main concern was did he come back in time with her and if so, where was he. Was he alright, was he hurt? She was sure of one thing though, in the end before time corrected itself, he would find her. They had to be together before they returned to alpha.
Wiping at her wet cheeks, she drew her knees up crossing her arms over them, resting her chin as the warm waves splashed over her feet. She closed her eyes, smiling as she remembered the night she just shared with Lance.
When Lance woke, he instinctively reached for Lauren. When he didn't find her, he set up quickly. Panic seized him as he thought he woke from a dream and Lauren wasn't actually with him. Getting to his feet, he reached for his jeans and pulled them on. Opening the sliding glass doors of his room, he glanced outside. His heart slowed when he saw Lauren setting in he sand just a short distance away. He studied her for a moment, wondering what she was thinking about. His heart ached thinking she might be gone from him, providing there was truth in what she told him.
Walking over to the dresser in his room, he opened the top drawer taking out a small, dark blue velvet case. He raised the lid looking at the ring inside and smiled. After a brief moment, he closed it, slipped it inside his pocket then stepped outside to join Lauren.
So caught up in her own thoughts, a moment passed before Lauren realized Lance was standing beside her. She smiled at him as he sat down beside her.
"I was a little worried when I woke up and you weren't near." he told her.
"I'm sorry, I woke before you did and couldn't go back to sleep. I attempted to change the bandage on my shoulder then came out here to think and clear my head."
Lance kissed her cheek, eyeing her shoulder. It was still bruised and the bandage would make do.
He noticed her eyes were red from crying. "What were you thinking about?"
With a shrug, Lauren answered, "Lots of things, you know I used to take all of this for granted. The sun, sky, the ocean and until now I never realized just how much I missed it. After living two years in the cold depths of space, it's like experiencing all of this for the first time."
Lance nodded as he gave her a warm hug. He felt for the tiny case in his pocket then turned to face Lauren.
"Last night, I laid awake for awhile just watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful, so innocent. It made me realize just how much I've missed you. Lauren, I don't know how much time we have together here, but I do know I want to spend every minute of it with you.
When you left for alpha you told me you would be back in three months. In that time, I decided I would do something special for you when you returned. As that stands now, I guess that time will never happen.
This isn't exactly the time or place, or even the situation I had in mind to ask you this, but if I don't do it now, I may never have another chance."
Lauren stared at Lance with curiosity in her eyes., watching in silence as he took the tiny box from his pocket and knelt in front of her.
Opening the box before her, the morning sun glistened on the diamond ring inside. "Lauren Josette Collins, will you marry me." he asked.
She looked down at the ring, then back at Lance. Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged him as tight as she could. "Oh Lance, yes….yes I'll marry you." she cried with delight and kissed him.
Lance smiled, happiness in his eyes and slipped the ring on her finger. "You have just made me so very happy Lauren."
She looked up at him and they got to their feet. "Let's do it now." she told him. "I don't want to wait. I want to marry you before all this ends."
"Okay," Lance nodded. "I think I can get something arranged fairly quick. Lets go back inside so I can make some phone calls."
Lauren smiled and grasped his hand, following his lead as he led her back up the steps. She didn't want to think of anything unpleasant at the moment. She was going to marry the love of her life and for the moment, that was all that mattered.