A/N: Happy New Year!

Sorry that this is running late but as it's still so cold hopefully you're ready to snuggle up with something to read :)

Chapter 2

After they all helped clear away the lunch things, the camp staff brought out a host of craft stuff. They split into three groups; Steve and Melanie overseeing the making of garlands from coloured paper, popcorn and cranberries, Linka and Joe helping the children paint and glitter plastic baubles, leaving Wheeler and Sue to make stockings and Christmas cards.

At first Linka was absorbed with getting the children set up but once they were happily engaged and she started on her own project, she automatically focused on the voice of her fellow Planeteer and his companions.

"I haven't done this since I was in pre-school," Wheeler was saying, adding ruefully, "I wasn't great at it then."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine," Sue replied warmly, "We'll help him, won't we?"

There was a chorus of agreement from the kids that made Linka chuckle softly. She paused in what she was doing to help Harper apply some sparkle to her design and it was several minutes before she was at liberty to listen in again. When she did, she heard giggling.

"What's the alien for?" An incurably honest little boy asked to more laughter, followed by Wheeler's rebuttal, "It's a reindeer!" he laughed with the others, "Ok, maybe I'll leave the stocking making to you guys."

Sue's voice took on an affectionate, flirty tone that had Linka pressing her lips tightly together, "I think it's adorable. You should finish it… or you can help with mine?"

Linka reminded herself that Wheeler hadn't started anything, and that she couldn't really blame Sue for showing an interest either. Still she wished she knew what to do about it, she didn't know the other chaperone's well enough to confide in them and she had no idea whether Wheeler had any interest in them either.

Not that I would say anything if I did know them better. She admitted to herself. It has to be his choice.

"No no, I'm done." Wheeler laughed again, "Looks like they need someone a bit taller to help put the garlands on the tree, that's more my speed."

He moved into her field of vision as he reached the tree and let the children direct him as he lifted the items they'd made and attached them to the greenery. She paused in her work to watch as he bent to take a glittery ball from one of the girls, admiring her work before playing a game of higher and lower until he found the right spot to hang it.

The look in her eyes softened and her lips curled up at the corners. She could still see the teenager she'd first met before most of the children had been born, his love of life, his energy and his kindness were all still there, but it was tempered with patience and a quiet confidence that she hadn't before realised had been lacking. He certainly didn't look like a teenager anymore either, a fact that she had noticed and appreciated for some time.

Linka refocused on her bauble, and the complex design that was slowly taking shape. She put as much care and precision into it as she did everything else, but finally it was done and dry enough to put on the tree. Like the children, she waited to hand it to Wheeler to place it for her.

"That's amazing," Wheeler said, holding the bauble up to study it. "You're really good at this... like… artistic stuff."

Linka shrugged, "My mother used to get us to draw and make things when we were little. I always enjoyed it."

"It shows. You've got great attention to detail, and patience, it looks professional." He enthused.

The Russian reddened, "You do not need to try to flatter me Wheeler... If what I said earlier made you think I was looking for compliments..." She shook her head.

"Hey, no, I got what you were saying earlier." He placed a gentle hand on her arm and drew her further away from the others. "I'm not trying to flatter you Babe, that's making stuff up, I'm just telling it like it is... because I noticed."

His words made her feel warm inside but before Linka could answer, an excited seven year old came running up, calling to Wheeler to admire the Santa he'd made of card and felt, and she saw a second of worry in her friend's eyes at having to leave her before he put his game face on. "That's great buddy! Where should we put it?"

They moved back to the tree and Linka followed, helping to hang more decorations as other children came up to them. When there was finally another lull she said, "They are quicker than I am." He looked at her in surprise as she continued, "what you called attention to detail and patience is usually referred to as overly critical and perfectionism."

She shifted uncomfortably, waiting for him to make the inevitable joke, and determining not to mind.

"Bet your mom never called it that." He said softly, and when she shook her head, "have I ever said something like that?"

Linka looked away and shrugged, not wanting to answer.

He groaned, "I never meant to be mean to you Babe..."

"I did not say you did," she smiled, meeting his eyes again, and irony entering her voice, "or that you did not have cause at the time..."

Wheeler looked like he was struggling to find the right words and was saved by Liam, who came running up with another ornament.

Not sure whether she had made things better or worse, Linka slipped away back to her seat. There were different children to help set up then as they moved around the various groups trying new things and she knew it would keep them busy for a few hours.

After the decorating there were games to play and the children demanded Wheeler play with them, which he did no matter how silly or how noisy. Linka organised and helped the younger, or shyer members take part, never entering into the festivity with the equal abandon of her friend… always slightly in the background or on the side-lines.

There was no more chance for private speech, even at dinner when they were again set at opposite ends of the table, but he'd look for her occasionally and she made sure to smile at him to let him know that she was enjoying his antics and each time she was rewarded either with a grin or a wink.

When Wheeler finally made it back to the main room after telling no less than three bedtime stories to the boys about the Planeteer's adventures, he found Linka apparently getting ready to depart.

"Oh," She smiled, "I was just going to check your cabin."

"Sorry… I got kinda drawn in." He said taking his coat and scarf off.

The Russian nodded, "I am not surprised, you are better at storytelling than I am, although the girls asked lots of questions so I do not think they were bored at least."

"I'm sure they weren't, we have different styles that's all. So, what are we going to do now? You said meet you back here with my camera so I'm guessing you had something in mind?" He held up the new digital device they'd got him for his birthday. It was smaller and more convenient to carry than his old analogue camera, and easier to check on the results but Wheeler couldn't help feeling that they'd yet to make one that could compare to the picture quality… of course he hadn't told his friends that and it did make it easy to take photos on missions.

Before she could answer one of the camp caretakers, Lucas, entered, "Are you two ready?"

"Da," Linka answered quickly, stepping forward and quickly doing up her warm outdoor wear, "Bundle up Yankee, we do not want to be late."

Wheeler did as he was told, although he followed them out still trying to match up the buttons so that he didn't keep them waiting, "You still haven't told me what we're doing?"

His friend gave him a saucy look, "Nyet, I have not."

Lucas laughed at her response and led them over to his passenger snow mobile. He'd disengaged the passenger carriage that ran on ski's behind the engine, but there were still three seats behind his where the Planeteer's could sit side by side. They had a light dusting of snow so Wheeler brushed them off quickly before Linka could sit down.

"Spasiba." She made no comment when he took the middle seat rather than leave a space between them and he took that as a good sign.

The moon was out and it was a clear night so it wasn't that hard to see the snow covered landscape but Wheeler couldn't help feeling that they were still missing something as it rushed by, he would have liked to have seen it in daylight and had the time to stop and admire... or at least photograph it. He wasn't very poetic but he knew beauty when he saw it.

His gaze followed his train of thought as it naturally drifted back to Linka and he relaxed as he watched her take in the scenery, her eyes alight with excitement. I wish she'd look at me like that! He thought with irony.

They slowed as they reached the closest town several minutes later and Lucas found an appropriate place to park. He pointed down what looked to be a lighted main road, "You cannot miss it. I will be in there, keeping warm."

'There' looked like a local bar to Wheeler and he wondered if there was an alcohol limit for a snowmobile. He wasn't really worried though, as both he and Linka were capable of driving them back if necessary.

After thanking the caretaker, Linka told her friend to hurry as she didn't want to be late and together they took the route that had been pointed out to them. It didn't take him more than a few steps down the road to guess that they were headed for a big sled with a team of huskies and a man who was just doing final checks to the harnesses.

"Welcome," Their guide called cheerfully, gesturing them towards the sled and the other two waiting passengers, both excited young women who looked like they were dying to make a fuss of the dogs. "Young man, you are the tallest, you sit at the back, yes?"

"Sure," Wheeler stepped into the sled and sat down on the blanketed seat, letting the guide put another blanket over his legs but reaching out to help steady Linka as sat in front of him. There wasn't much room so they were quite close together and his legs had to fit either side of her, but as she leant back against him he figured she didn't mind.

As the others seated themselves in a similar manner, he bent close to his friend's ear to ask, "Cold?"

She began to shake her head, glanced round at him and then lowered her eyes, "Da."

Linka was lying. In that moment he had absolutely no doubt of it and he silently crowed with triumph, (not even Wheeler was stupid enough to show it out loud.) He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tighter against him, widening the gap in front of her so that despite the limited space they were back to being two groups. She lifted her blanket over his arms and then slid hers beneath it as well to hold his in place.

Wheeler suddenly decided that the trip was worth it, whatever he was called on to do or however little time they had alone together, - though it really hadn't been that bad so far- this moment would make it all worthwhile.

Their guide stood up behind them and began to mush his team. There were twelve dogs if Wheeler had counted correctly and they headed out into the heavily wooded Lapland at a comfortable pace. They'd soon left the town behind, entering into the kind of peace it was hard to find.

The lovely Russian sighed softly and Wheeler kissed the side of her head without thinking about it, resting his cheek there as they passed lakes and trees framed by mountains in the distance.

To be continued…