A/N: Happy Boxing Day!

Chapter Seven

Several weeks after the balloon trip and Linka had become a regular night time visitor in the Fire Planeteer's cabin. He never knew when she was going to appear but he made sure she always felt welcome and late at night, after she had fallen asleep in his arms, he could believe that they were a couple and that everything would work out.

Linka was certainly not looking for another relationship, and if Wheeler had known how content she was in his company he might have pushed things further.

One evening after a particularly soul destroying mission, the five friends sat around their television set, pretending to watch a film together but very much alone with their own thoughts. One by one they disappeared off to bed, leaving only Wheeler and Linka in their common room.

"Staying up late?" Wheeler asked, noting that it was past her usual time.

The Russian shrugged, "I do not want to close my eyes, I do not know what I might see."

"Come here," He held out his hand and she got up to take it, joining him on the sofa and cuddling into his side, desperately needing the contact. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"We are all feeling the same Yankee, we failed. There is nothing to say." She sighed as he hugged her tightly, admitting that his presence helped.

Wheeler kissed her hair, "We didn't fail Babe, it all happened before even Gaia knew about it. We did everything we could to help."

"But it was too late, we could not fix it, we could not heal those poor people or bring back their loved ones..." Her voice was choked with emotion, "What good are we doing? We are fighting a losing battle..."

"It seems like it sometimes but things are changing... I know after what we saw today it all seems pretty hopeless but it would be much worse without us, believe me." He'd seen how much worse it could be first hand in fact. "And we did make a difference to those people Babe, however small."

She didn't reply but tightened her grip on him, letting her grief pour out with her tears.

Wheeler hated how much things like that hurt his friend, they did all feel bad but she seemed to always take it to heart. At least she's letting me be there for her this time...

"We should get some sleep," Linka told him at last, somewhat reluctantly. She'd cried herself out and exhaustion was taking over but she still didn't want to be alone.

"Sleep with me tonight, it'll help us both." He told her softly.

Linka shook her head and pulled away, "I am too tired Yankee, and I just do not… you always make me feel so good but I do not want to feel like that tonight, it would be wrong."

Wheeler winced, "I didn't mean that. You asked me to stay with you after… Mame. I just thought…" He shook his head, "Shouldn't our 'agreement' make it easier to be there for each other, not harder?"

She smiled shyly and nodded, "If you are sure, then da, I would like your company tonight. Spasiba."

He looked pleased, "I'll clear up in here then and meet you in my room?"

"I will not be long." Linka leant towards him and kissed his cheek gently before heading to her cabin to get ready for bed.

When the Russian entered her friend's cabin a short while later, the light was on but it was empty. Assuming that Wheeler was in the bathroom, she pulled back the covers on his bed and climbed inside, picking up a comic that he had resting on his bedside cabinet to flick through while she waited.

It wasn't long before he joined her, "Fan of the X-Men?"

"Da, it presents an interesting exploration of a sociological problem." She put the comic back as he was waiting to turn the light off.

"Seriously?" Making his way back to the bed, and getting in beside her, "You're analysing a cartoon?"

Linka shifted into his waiting arms and they snuggled down beneath the covers, "I could, but I was not. I just wanted to see if Rogue and Gambit get together."

"Girls!" He huffed, "There's all the action, and the danger, good versus evil, cool super powers… even that socio stuff and all you care about is the romance."

"You do not like the romance?" She asked. "Would you not like to see them finally able to admit their true feelings for each other, and have a real relationship?"

He shrugged, "Sure, I guess. I'm just more about the action." Adding silently, Except when it comes to you, I wouldn't mind a little romance then!

"Boys!" She teased in return, but her heart was heavy. How true…

"G'night Babe." He kissed her forehead, "And remember, I'm right here if you need me."

"I am here for you too Yankee. Goodnight." Linka closed her eyes and let herself drift off into a welcome slumber.

It took Wheeler longer to find his own repose, but he finally did, taking comfort from her presence, but when he woke late the following morning, she was gone.

The following couple of weeks consisted of one mission after another, though fortunately they were more successful than the last. It did mean however that the Wind and Fire Planeteers didn't have the opportunity or the energy for any liaisons, and no reason to even get together for comfort.

The last to get out of the geo-cruiser, Wheeler caught Linka's wrist in a gentle grasp and held her back. "Got a minute?"

Tired and wanting a shower, the Russian nonetheless gave him a smile and nodded. He led her to his cabin but left her just inside the door to retrieve something from his desk. "I've been wanting to show you this for days, I picked it up when we were in Pittsburgh last week."

It was a leaflet depicting a cowgirl dressed in very small tight denim shorts that allowed her cheeks to show and a tied checked top that barely hid her breasts, posed suggestively against a silver pole.

Linka raised an eyebrow in enquiry.

"It's a country themed bar... actually there's a chain of them and there's even one in cowboy country that's attached to a hotel." He grinned, "Of course we'll have to put up with the music but I can live with that for one night.

Still confused she said, "And you have decided that going to one of these bars is something you need to do before you die? Or are you expecting me to dress up in that outfit and pole dance for you?"

The way his eyes trailed over her left no doubt about where his mind was going,"...Actually I just suggested it because they have the mechanical bull rides, but your idea is much better... That's definitely something I want to see before I croak, and it's perfect for your list too... You wanted to be a little naughty, right?"

Linka laughed "Forget it Yankee."

He shrugged it off but he had the look in his eyes that she'd come to understand meant that he hadn't given up, and she was very aware of how hard he was becoming to resist.

In fact Linka had forgotten all about their lists, content as she was with how their relationship had been going, but she didn't mind being reminded, there was only one problem. "I am willing to try the bull riding though as we agreed, but I do not see how we can go away together any time soon without the others knowing about it."

"Does it matter if they know?" He asked with a grimace, having forgotten that she didn't want their friends to know how close their relationship had become.

"Da, of course it matters." The Russian's eyes opened wide, "They will either demand to know what is going on between us or invite themselves along."

At least she wants it to be just the two of us… Wheeler consoled himself. "Ok, I'll think of something."

"Ok, ok," Wheeler sighed, "I'll come for Dad's birthday."

On the planet vision his mother smiled, "It is his fiftieth darling, I just think it would be nice to have a dinner all together. There was a time when I wasn't sure he'd still be here for it."

"I know." The American replied softly, "I'll be there, ok?"

She nodded, "You can bring Linka with you if you like, make it a real family occasion."

Wheeler snorted, "She wouldn't want…" he paused and thought about it. "I guess she might… I'll ask her, but don't get too carried away, we're not a couple and she wouldn't be too happy if she thought I'd told you otherwise."

"I won't do anything to embarrass you darling," His mother smiled knowingly. "I'll see you soon."

"Yeah." Wheeler breathed a heavy sigh as the screen went blank. Although his relationship with his father was much better these days, spending time at home was still at the very bottom of his list of things to do and whilst his mother's invitation to Linka gave him the opportunity he'd been looking for to get her away from the island, he also really didn't want to go on his own.

After checking with Gaia that he and his Russian friend could be spared for a few days, he went to look for Linka. Finding her alone in the kitchen washing up, the Fire Planeteer walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, casually placing a kiss on her neck.

"Yankee!" She pulled away and looked around quickly, "What if someone saw?"

He sighed and gave a shrug before seating himself at the table. "Then they'd have seen me making yet another pass that you brushed off."

Linka shifted uncomfortably, responding to the hurt in his voice, "We have to be careful. We cannot do anything to raise suspicion if we are going to go away together."

Not even I would suspect there was anything going on between us at the moment. Wheeler thought. She still hadn't been to his cabin again and he was beginning to think that the last few weeks had been worse than the years that preceded them. Because now I know what I'm missing.

"I am sorry." His silence disturbed her and it was all she could do to stop herself from walking over to him. She'd missed him a lot and was hoping that they would find another opportunity to spend some time alone together soon.

Wheeler smiled and tilted his head up to look at her, his momentary disappointment gone, "My Mom wants me to have dinner with her and Dad for Dad's Fiftieth, it's next Sunday and you're invited."

"Me?" Though evidently surprised she didn't seem upset so he took that as a good sign.

"Yeah, I told her you aren't my girlfriend but I don't think she believed me," He rubbed the back of his neck trying not to sound too embarrassed, "I guess I've mentioned you a few times and well… she's my mom, she thinks all girls must be crazy for me."

Linka laughed, her cheeks pink, and regarded him affectionately, "Understandable. Do you want me to go with you?"

He forced himself not to wonder about what exactly she meant by 'understandable', "Well I figured this would give us the chance we were looking for to get away for a few days… the others know how I feel about visiting my folks, I don't think they'll give us a hard time."

"Oh." The lovely blond tried not to be disappointed but despite her resolutions to keep things on a 'friends only' basis, she couldn't help wanting more. "Ok."

"What?" Wheeler asked, knowing he'd done something wrong but as usual, not sure what. "I thought you wanted to do the bull thing?"

She nodded and schooled her expression into a happy one, "I do."

"But?"

"You did not answer my question." Meeting his eyes briefly, she looked away again, her cheeks reddening "I know it is a good excuse for our trip but I do not want to be in the way at your family party, our trip can wait."

Wheeler could have kicked himself. He stood up and took a step toward her, and then stopped, remembering her injunction. "Babe there is nowhere I'd want to go that I wouldn't want you to go with me." He shrugged, "The problem isn't you, it's that I don't want to go, but I definitely don't want to go without you. Though I guess I don't much like the idea of you seeing what I came from either."

Linka broke her own rules by stepping forward and reaching up around his neck to hold him close. "It will not change my opinion of you, Yankee, I promise. And I want to go with you."

He hugged her back. "Thanks Babe."

To be continued...