A:N: Sorry for the long gap... you know how real life can be. Thanks for bearing with me.
You can thank the UK weather for this update though, I can't remember the last time it snowed in March!
Chapter 3
After passing through a denser area of forest, they emerged at the top of an incline and the sled was turned sideways so that they all had the same view.
The trees below them stretched into the distance and circled a large lake, but it was the sky that made the passengers gasp. Ribbons of green illuminated the heavens, their undulations occasionally revealing other colours including vivid purples and reds.
"It is the Aurora Borealis," Linka whispered to her companion, with awe, "The Northern Lights."
"Yeah, I know" he whispered back, "I'm not that dumb, Babe."
"I am sorry! I did not mean to..." she began in alarm, turning to meet his eyes only to see that he was laughing. His grin widened and as he gave her a squeeze, received a playful elbow in the ribs. Linka rolled her eyes, "Take your photographs."
"Huh?" he blinked and then remembered his camera, "Oh yeah!"
Linka sat up as her companion released her, retrieving the gadget and beginning to play with the settings before snapping off a few shots. He checked the results, adjusted it again and took some more. She watched him at first but her attention was soon drawn back to the heavens, fascinated by the exquisite natural phenomenon.
Even knowing the science behind the spectacle couldn't ruin its magic. Although, the Russian was silently relieved that Wheeler had cut her off the way he had, before she'd been able to explain that the activity occurs when solar gases react with Earth's magnetic fields creating charged particles which then collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the upper atmosphere.
She seemed to absorb any information she found interesting and sometimes felt impelled to repeat it, which was not always appreciated. It was not, as someone had once suggested, a need to show how intelligent she was, but a strong desire to share knowledge. Wheeler usually listened to her even when he didn't understand a word of it and she knew he hadn't meant to stop her then either, he had just been teasing, but it was a habit she wanted more control over and the reminder had been timely.
"We are ready to continue?" their guide asked eventually, "You can see as well from below."
They all agreed and settled themselves once more in the warmth of the blankets. Linka didn't see the brief worried glance her friend gave her as he waited to see whether the mood had been broken, but when she leant back against him without prompting and accepted his arms around her again, he relaxed.
The sled navigated its way down a narrow slope and after a brief trip through more trees, emerged in a clearing next to a wooden cabin. A fire had been built outside, with logs for them to sit on spaced around it.
"Oscar!" A man stood up from the far side of the fire and came to greet them. Their guide introduced him as Leo and recommended they go with him to warm themselves while he tended to the huskies.
The two other passengers began questioning Leo about his work and the local area as he handed out warm drinks and food, but Linka sat quietly next to Wheeler while he looked at the pictures he'd taken. The American only stopped what he was doing to thank Leo and take his refreshments, but then joined the others' conversation.
Linka sipped the drink she'd been given, savouring its warm spicy flavour but her attention was on her companion. She felt drawn to him, wanting to move closer, to feel the contact she'd been avoiding for so long. The distance between them now (small though it was) seemed wrong somehow… would he mind if I leant against him? Would he want me to? Is that being clingy?
She felt very much out of her depth, not at all sure what to do next but still irrationally needing Wheeler to acknowledge her in some way.
The dogs finished their drinks and when one of the girls asked if she could make a fuss of them, Linka rose to join them.
"Hey Babe," The Fire Planeteer's voice delayed her and she looked down at him only to find him pointing his camera up at her, "Smile?"
She laughed and pulled her hat off, shaking out her curls, "Like this?"
He stared at her, lips slightly parted as he tried to take in the picture before him. He murmured a low, "Wow," making her laugh again. Fumbling slightly with the camera, he managed to take a few photos before she decided she'd had enough.
Replacing her hat, her cheeks still burning a little from the attention, though she'd craved it, Linka made her way over to the huskies. She was glad to hug them and bury her face their fur, giggling at the affectionate way they returned her love. It is so much easier with animals, she reflected.
A quick glance proved that Wheeler's gaze was still locked on her, and despite quickly looking away she was sure he must have seen the way it made her smile. She thought she would never feel the cold again if he kept looking at her like that!
Another moment or two and Wheeler was beside her, thanking the dogs for bringing them out there and sharing in their affection.
When their guide suggested it was time to head back and began calling the dogs to return to their harnesses, it was Linka that noticed that one of them was limping. "Oscar, I think he is hurt." She called with concern.
Leo joined them and the two men examined the dog's paw. They agreed that it would need to be looked after properly and that, Thor would not be able to run back.
"I will fetch my own leader," Leo said, heading towards the cabin. He had a small team, but as he only had himself to transport they could manage with one less. When he returned they had a discussion about what to do with Thor, not being confident that he would ride quietly alone in Leo's sled, and also not wanting to delay taking him back to where they could treat his wound.
The problem was solved by Linka's offering to hold him on her lap, if the team could manage the extra weight, which Oscar assured her with thanks, that they could.
As they set off once more, with Wheeler's arms helping to secure the husky, Linka talked reassuringly to her passenger, kissing his muzzle as he looked round at her and telling him that he would be taken good care of.
"Lucky dog," Wheeler muttered.
"What?" Linka turned her head slightly towards him so that she could hear better.
Shaking his head, "Nothing."
This time softer, she repeated, "What?"
Thor rubbed his head against the Yankee's arm as if he too wanted an answer and it made them both laugh, breaking some of Wheeler's tension.
"I just said he was lucky... to have you to take care of him." He shrugged, "Makes me sorta envious, I guess."
The amusement in Linka's eyes was unguarded as she looked up into his, "Do you want me to rub you behind the ears and tell you that you are beautiful, too?"
He laughed with her... hesitated and then laughed again, bringing his lips close to whisper, "That doesn't sound bad actually, and I can think of other things you could rub."
Her cheeks flushed and her lips pursed together and when she spoke it was to Thor, patting him lovingly. "I think Wheeler needs to clean his mind out, what do you think Baby?"
The husky pressed his head in her hand worshipfully, encouraging her to continue.
"Yeah, probably." Wheeler answered her ruefully, sensing that she was more embarrassed than annoyed for once. At least, she wasn't freezing up or pulling away, but that might have had more to do with the large canine lounging across her. "Seriously though, every time someone is hurting it's obvious how much you care, it takes someone special to break their heart over a stranger like that and I lo..like that about you."
She didn't say anything.
"I guess, I just wish I inspired that kind of feeling in you." He shrugged again.
"You... I...," Linka sighed thinking, it really is easier with animals!
She cast a quick glance around at the others on the sled. The girls were chatting excitedly to each other and there was no sign that their guide was paying attention to anything but their passage.
Taking a deep breath she tried again, her voice hushed as she brought her lips close to her companion's cheek, "I do not like to show my emotions, it is too easy to be caught out, too easy to be wrong. Compassion is not the same as... as other feelings... and our furry friends offer no deception, if you love them they love you back."
"Who deceived you?" She felt him stiffen and his voice, though low, was obviously tightly controlled.
Thor whined, sensing the change in mood and they both automatically sought to soothe him.
At length Linka leant back into Wheeler again, "I did not mean it quite like that... although I suppose Boris would qualify."
"Sorry," he groaned. Reminding her of her cousin was naturally the last thing he wanted to do.
"It is ok... It is more that I tend to think of all the things that could happen, and try to keep ahead of them. I hate being humiliated, and when it happens it just makes me worse."
He didn't answer straight away, and when he did his tone was gentle, as if trying to soften the blow. "You don't just mean the things most people would be embarrassed about do you...? You mean every mistake, like you always take responsibility, but you shut down for a while too."
She nodded.
"Guess we're not that different after all."
Linka looked around, startled by his statement, "but you..." She broke off in confusion.
"Make mistakes all the time?" He agreed with a laugh, "I don't sweat the small stuff... But I might be guilty of acting like things don't matter much to me, you know, when they really do."
He gave her an embarrassed squeeze and she smiled, letting them both lapse into silence as they thought over what they'd learned.
Their goodbyes had been necessarily short, even with Thor and it hadn't taken them long to find Lucas and settle back in his snowmobile either.
Wheeler had pushed his luck by draping an arm over the back of the Russian's seat and letting it drop down until he was gently cradling her against him. Her cheeks were rosy and she neither made eye contact nor commented, but she didn't push him away either.
The American's head was reeling, not just from the things she'd said but from the things she'd left unsaid, things he couldn't help wondering if she was implying. He'd never felt so unsure with a girl before. Damn, now she's got me thinking of all the ways it could go wrong!
They thanked the caretaker for the ride and wandered back towards the cabins, coming to a stop by Linka's door.
"I had a great time tonight," Wheeler told her, "Thanks for setting it up… and for all of it really. Sorry I was such a grouch to start with."
She shrugged, seemingly unusually shy, "I had a great time too. I am glad that you came with me."
"Babe?" Her eyes met his with a warmth he'd never seen before but as he leant in, intending to make the evening a little more perfect, she gave a small gasp and took half a step back.
Feeling some of the crushing humiliation she had been talking about so recently, Wheeler tried to apologise, "I guess I misunderstood, sorry if…"
"Nyet, do not," she breathed, "you did not do anything wrong. It is just that if we do that then this is no longer just two friends enjoying some time together, it is… it would be… a date, and that is not a line we should cross lightly because it is not so easy to go back."
Wheeler sighed and shook his head, unable to look at her as he replied, "Honestly Linka, I crossed that line years ago where you're concerned, and you're right, I can't go back." He looked into her eyes again as he continued, "If it's not what you want then I'll back off. If it is what you want and you just don't trust me then I guess I'll keep trying to convince you, but I need some kind of clue here because at this point I just don't know if it's all wishful thinking and I'm reading way too much into what you've been saying."
The snow hushed surroundings seemed to make the wait for her answer even longer but finally she said, "You should never doubt yourself, you have good instincts Yankee."
He was watching her closely, still trying to work out what was going on in her head. He inched forward and gently placed his hands on her hips, "Well, my instinct is telling me we could have something special."
Linka rested her hands lightly on his chest and the American wasn't sure if she was seeking contact or putting up a barrier. "The others..."
"Would be happy for us. You're overthinking this Beautiful." Wheeler pulled her closer, wrapping his arms comfortably around her waist.
She nodded, "I do not know what to do."
"Sure you do," he replied, deliberately misunderstanding, "you've kissed me before."
"That was an ending, but this is starting something..." Her eyes were pleading with him for, he realised, reassurance.
"Trust me," he told her, and then, "please?"
Drawn in by the earnestness of his voice, instead of answering Linka leant into him, lifting her face to his.
Wheeler had tried to remember every second of their first kiss but she'd taken him by surprise and he'd barely begun to respond when she pulled away. This was different and he didn't waste a second.
From the moment their lips met Wheeler was overwhelmed with sensations; the warmth of her skin, the softness of her lips and the sweet taste of her mixed with the strawberry flavour she used over her lips to protect them from the cold.
It felt amazing to have her pressed up against him, accepting or even welcoming his presence into her personal space... Although had he been able to consider it, he might have realised that she'd never really objected to him getting close, until he drew attention to it.
The kiss lingered and deepened by mutual consent, neither aware of anything but each other.
When at last they gently disengaged, it was not without nuzzles and smaller briefer displays of affection. Their 'goodnights' were almost shy and had a hint of reluctance but finally, Linka let herself into her room and Wheeler headed to his.
It said much for their state of minds that they didn't notice it was snowing.
To be continued...