I do not own Tomb Raider, I wrote this for fans to enjoy.


Ducking her head under a low hanging branch, coming out into the clearing of the hill just beyond that they ran down. The shade the trees have given had cooled her considerably; pulling her water from her hip she takes a swig before reattaching it to her hip. She crouches behind the large tree, feeling exposed if she steps out, "they're expecting me…" she gives a small sigh before running her fingers through her hair and rubbing the back of her neck.

Looking up at the sky she leans against the tree and closes her eyes Sofia… I wish you were here with me… what are you up to in your village? Will you wait for me to be done with this… I know there is more than likely going to be something else I'll want to chase, but if you're willing I'll take more time between adventures for you she opens her eyes and looks ahead. I need to get through this first… I know I can do this she takes a deep breath and steps out.

Surveying the area ahead, the plant life, the bugs that are flittering around between leaves and flowers, a dragonfly buzzing by in the distance and movement in the taller grass. No way to tell if it is a soldier moving around on his stomach or an animal moving about, she continues on and starts to head up the hill. Noticing right away that all the bodies are gone, should have grabbed ammo when I had the chance she purses her lips as she starts to climb the very rocks she had slid or climbed off earlier. The rock is cool, not yet warmed by the sun; she can hear the grass next to her blowing in the breeze just before it moves around her. The cool air is refreshing to the back of her neck as it sweeps through the hair of her pony tail.

Keeping an eye on her surroundings, Lara watches as a ladybug flies by in front of her nose, she smiles as it lands on a tall strand of grass next to her. Moving her attention back to the top of the hill she moves with determination, bounding up the hill, pushing up the steep hill, her legs propelling her up between the rocks. Adrenaline and excitement fueling her, if she can push it she'll be at the airfield by late afternoon. I still need to figure out how to get a call out for a plane ride… I wonder if Liam will have better luck than me with that area. I have to get there she keeps her breathing even, pacing herself as her eyes constantly scan the tree line for an ambush.

The sole of her right boot comes down on something that snaps, but there is another set of snaps coming from her right and left, she freezes and looks down to see thin fishing line hidden within the tall grass and between the rocks. "Oh no," she breaths and starts running, not wanting to face whatever trap is set for her, a new sense of urgency fueling her muscles to go faster than she was before. Jumping up from large rocks, the sound of footsteps racing after her on both sides, but she doesn't dare to look because she knows she'll be screwed.

Palms are sweating as she races up, hearing voices shouting at her to stop, a bullet going off the rock next to her and another making a chunk of dirt and grass jump into the air at her feet. They're missing on purpose, they can't kill me because of what I know she sums up, and watches as a grenade comes into view from over her head. It lands just above and beyond a small cluster of rocks and a patch of tall grass.

Lara hits the ground quickly, covering her head and balling herself up, the bang feels like it was just couple of feet above her head, dirt, grass and rocks fly everywhere and rain down on her. What she wasn't prepared for was the ringing that ensued, clutching at the sides of her head she rolls onto her back as she looks up at the sky. Groaning she tries to force herself to get up when a soldier stands over her, his face is covered, rifle in hand, he steps up and slams the butt of the gun into her head. Knocking her out and causing Liam to watch from behind a tree, having heard the gunshots he hurried along the rock path to the tree line in time to see Lara get hit. Gripping the tree he is crouched behind his eyes follow as the same man picks her up and slings her over his shoulder and they carry her up the hill and into the trees.

"I'm coming Lara, I won't leave you hanging like this," Liam mutters and makes sure there are no other soldiers lurking before coming out of hiding and running along the base of the hill. Keeping to the plan to go around the mountain to try and find the village that the people were sent to earlier.


Head is throbbing and bent to have her chin rest on her chest, her hands twitch to feel that they are bound, the ground is vibrating with footsteps as men walk by. Her butt is cold and back feels stiff from where she's been sitting for over an hour she figures, flexing her face a tad she feels cloth is covering her eyes so she wets her lips and notes her mouth is dry. Finger tips feel around and make contact with a pole, it feels cool to the touch and that's when she realizes she is not hot at all either, the pole is in the ground and feels like steel.

Voices around her, but they're too distant or hushed to make out anything do I make myself known for being awake or wait it out? She wonders and feels a set of footsteps move up to her and stop, she knows the person is facing her and she waits for him to say something and then finally lifts her head.

"You won't like what I am going to tell you," Lara says in all honesty and starts to feel the need for water more, tongue is dry in her mouth.

"I'm sure that there will be plenty of discontent by the end of the day Lady Croft, you slept for quite a while I might add, you must have overexerted yourself these past few days. My men caught you late morning, it is now early evening," Yarinhov says as he kneels in front of her. Inside of a tent, he had a steel pole put in after she was caught to ensure she wouldn't be able to escape, tired of people chaining a person to a pipe, tying them to a tree when they always find a way of getting away.

He looks at Lara closely, staring at her blindfold, the dirt that still sits in her hair, on her face, some scrapes on her arms, and the way she is holding herself. She isn't slumped; she doesn't have her back against the pole to pull away from him. Lara's back is straight, her arms firm and her head tilted up to his, even with no view of who she has in front of her she is defiant and holds strong. She's going to be an interesting specimen to work with he reaches his right hand around to the back of her head and touches the base of her pony tail, she jerks her head but away from him and he grins.

Looking to his left to see a couple of his soldiers staring at them, they're standing in front of a laptop that is sitting on top of a steel table, trying to get a signal with the satellite on top of the tent. "Leave and have no one interfere," Yarinhov instructs and Lara listens to the footsteps move from her right and walk out behind the man before her.

Turning his attention back to her he grins wickedly, "water?" he stands up and walks to a 36 pack of bottled water, Lara listens to his movement and hears plastic being moved and a liquid.

"No, thank you," Lara says bitterly for him to chuckle which doesn't surprise her in the least.

"Come now Lady Croft, I intend you no harm presently, I need you alive to tell me where the Wings of Darkness are, and then I'll be on my way. I know your mouth must be dry, it was humid today but I kept you in the cool, dry tent, I know you are parched," he walks over to her and opens a fresh bottle of water, "please, indulge yourself," he places the rim of the bottle to her dry lips.

The moisture within the bottle beckons to her, tongue feeling like sandpaper, and her head still pounding, she lifts her head and parts her lips. The cool water fills her mouth, her head screaming to spit it out but her body is screaming just as loud to swallow, "come on Croft, we're killing daylight here," Yarinhov pushes and finally she gives in, taking a sip and her body wanting to chug.

Without realizing it, Lara swallowed the contents of the bottle in a matter of seconds, Yarinhov chuckles as she takes some deep breaths and straightens her back to compose herself again. "The Wings of Darkness have been destroyed," Lara confesses and all is quiet, Yarinhov's thinking it over, he has no reason to believe her, no reason to fear that what she has said is true.

Reaching to his left thigh pocket he pulls out a cigar and holds it between his middle and thumb fingers, "what makes you think I'm going to believe you?" he pulls out a match and lights it, she doesn't flinch but he watches as the glow of the flame illuminates her masked eyes. Smiling to himself before placing the flame to the end and drawing on the other end before blowing the smoke out. "I've got all the time in the world, no schedule to keep… it's just you and I here," he places the cigar between his lips and reaches for the base of her pony tail, this time grabbing it right away.

In a swift motion he yanks her to her feet by her hair, she let out an involuntary yelp as he did so and he holds the back of her head against the pole, holding her hair firm. "Where is it?" he asks coolly, watching her grimace.

Choosing to stay silent this time, but her heart is starting to beat faster at the accelerating danger she is getting into, her fingers feel around the pole and she gives a try and pulling on it. It's firm but if I can get him distracted I can try harder to pull it out she thinks as he pulls the cigar out from his lips and with his pinky he places it under the rim of the cloth for her right eye.

The blindfold is lifted easily; Lara opens her eyes to stare into his piercing blue eyes that are boring into hers, "defiant… I've already read the report on your first torture session. I know what'll make you tick in the end," he leans his face closer, his nose nearly touching hers, "shall we end the pleasantries?" In his field of vision he can just make out her chest rising and falling, but her eyes are not showing any fear.

In a quick motion Lara slams her right knee into his inner thigh, just missing her mark, he staggers back two feet and she pulls as hard as she can on the pole. Once he sees this he starts barking out a hearty laugh, "yes… Lady Croft," he grins as he steps up to her, seeing a flash of fear in her eyes when she realized there is no pulling this pole from the ground and his advance on her.

Yarinhov walks around behind her, grabs her hair again to keep her in place and cuts the zip tie that has her wrists bound, she turns to try and punch him but he grabs her wrist before pulling her in quick to slam his forehead into hers. The impact of his head combined with the hit from earlier make her stagger back and clutch her forehead, blood starts to drip down the side of her head by her right eye as he grabs for her left wrist and twists it hard making her groan.

Turning her to face the tent exit, they walk out, her arm pinned painfully against her upper back. Right away met with the woods, the sun is about to start setting as he pushes her along the path that she and Liam had taken earlier from the cliff edge.

Her heels finding the rock ground before coming to the ledge she had climbed onto earlier, he then turns her to view the village. A couple of people are walking about between the huts, her heart starts racing and her eyes search for anyone else, what she is unable to see is Yarinhov signaling for something.

Forced to turn around her eyes widen at the sight of Tahir's father being pushed forward and Yarinhov pulls a gun from his hip holster, the father being pushed to his knees on the rock. Her heart skips a beat; she tries as hard as she can to wrench her arm free of his grip but Yarinhov holds her firm and kicks out the back of her right knee to force her to kneel in front of the older man. He points his gun at first at Lara's head in an effort to stop her from struggling, but he loosens his grip too much and she breaks free to shoulder him with all her might into the rock wall behind him.

Yarinhov staggers back and Tahir's father watches in shock, the soldier who brought him still stands just behind him and he doesn't budge. His rifle trained on the older man's head. He watches as Lara attempts to punch Yarinhov again but he grabs her fist before backhanding her hard in the face.

Lara hits the cold rock ground hard, her head spinning with doubled vision as she looks out at the village while lying on her stomach, groaning she feels Yarinhov's rough hand grab her right bicep and yank her to sit on her knees again. He places the nozzle of the gun to her head again, "where are the Wings of Darkness? If you fight me again this old man will pay the price with his life," Yarinhov says firmly.

Lifting her head, Lara looks at Tahir's father; she can see fear and curiosity in his eyes, wondering if she found the wings and what she did with them. There's no way for him to know that Lara isn't working with Yarinhov, all that is happening could look like an act in his eyes. Lara however feels dread building up within her gut, seeing the gun pointed at his head she knows that the older man isn't going to survive the night unless Liam or someone else intervenes.

Keeping her breathing steady she looks up at Yarinhov, "I told you, I broke them and I have no idea where the pieces are," Lara says honestly and listens to him cock the gun next to the older man's head. Feeling desperation setting in, her throat seizing up, staring into fearful eyes directly ahead of her, "I'm telling you the truth! I didn't want a village, town or city to get slaughtered by the Wings of Darkness so I broke them to keep you from using them!" she wants to stand up and push him away, to stop the needless death, she looks up at Yarinhov pleadingly.

He sighs and looks at his soldier, "the good news is… I believe you," he looks back at Lara and their eyes connect, "but your actions have cost this man his life."

Lara's eyes widen and she looks at Tahir's father, he is putting on a brave face, fear is in his eyes but his face is a mask. "Thank-" is his last word before the soldier fires his rifle into his head.

Clenching her fists, Lara looks up at Yarinhov and he is looking at his soldier, "next phase," and the soldier walks away, she stands up but before she can attempt anything he points his gun at her head. "There is still the other matter, where are the pieces of the Wings?"

Breathing heavily and body trembling in anger, Lara stares him in the eye, "I don't know," she says lowly, wanting to punch him in the jaw. "You and I both know you're not going to shoot me," Lara says straight forward, and he smirks as footsteps approach, he tilts the gun up at the sky as the sun has almost finished setting behind her.

Placing his cigar between his teeth he nods, "you are correct, for the time being you are of use, however they aren't," Yarinhov says before taking a long drag and Lara turns to see two soldiers standing near the cliff edge.

Eyes widening as she takes in the grenade launcher sitting on their right shoulder, both facing the village down below, her heart hammers against her ribs, palms are sweating, she turns to Yarinhov. "Don't do this," she gestures behind her to the village they have their sights on, standing defiantly but also in fear and he holsters his gun before placing his left hand onto her right shoulder and pointing his right index finger at the villagers.

"This is your doing, if you do not tell me where the pieces of the Wings of Darkness are I will blow that village up," Yarinhov says sternly, his eyes fierce with intent, he is done playing games and wants her to know how far he is willing to go to get what he wants. "Where are they?"

Lara takes a deep shuddering breath, looking out at the village; her eyes slowly turn to the rock ground before her I hope you are close by Liam… we need to stop this man before this gets completely out of hand, I am outmatched in every way here. Even if I were to jump down and run to the village, I'll be too late and I'll just injure myself further… I need to stop him here if I can she looks up at him. "You're with Trinity, aren't you?" she asks and he smirks.

"Commander Vincent Yarinhov with Trinity… trying to stall for time? Very well you have till the count of five to tell me what I want to know," Yarinhov instructs and grins wickedly, "one…"

Lara's chest starts to heave faster, her eyes darting back and forth, finally her shoulders slump some, "my partner Liam has the pieces, but I have no idea where he is," she answers and Yarinhov gives a small shrug.

"Two…" Yarinhov says and her breath hitches.

Looking at him and gesturing at the village below, "I told you what I know! I've been stuck with you for hours! You can't possibly expect me to know where my partner is at this precise moment!" Lara says, feeling outraged and fearful for the people's whose lives are in her hands.

"Three…" Yarinhov lets the number roll off his tongue with ease, enjoying watching her scramble.

Standing in front of him defiantly, "those are innocent people down there! I answered your question, now leave them alone!"

Taking a step towards her as he removes his cigar and exhales before going nearly nose to nose with her, "infants are innocent," he grabs her shoulders and forces her to turn and face the village. "Those people are not innocent," he points with his right index finger at the village with one person going into a hut on the left near the center of the village. "You want technicalities on innocents? Cities, towns and villages are filled with it, whether it is a nanny saving up money for her college tuition or a senior watching Golden Girls reruns in a retirement home, to a man hunting in the forest to put food on the table… everyone has something about them Lara that has stripped them of their innocents." She can hear his smile in his voice as he speaks, "five."

Her eyes shoot wide and she darts to the edge and he grabs both of her biceps holding her back from jumping, she pulls and kicks as hard as she can to get free, "RUN! GET OUT OF THERE!" Lara screams, behind her Yarinhov gives the nod to the soldiers. Just as the last person she saw comes stepping out of their hut, she listens to the weapons fire next to her, and the person looks on like a deer looking at headlights. "RUN!" Lara bellows while she pulls as hard as she can, digging the toes of her boots into the rock and two of the huts are struck with neighbouring huts catching fire.

The person she saw who'd come out, ran back into their hut, not yet on fire and she watches with baited breath as the person comes out with two children. Lara watches her line of sight, feels her eyes land on her, and finally the three run up the small dirt road. Others come out coughing and screaming, her fists are clenched tightly as the sun has set and the fires blazing below are lighting the sky, the glow of the flames dancing on the small group on the rock ledge.

Standing up, the two soldiers walk back to their respective places at camp, Lara watches on, falling to her knees in dismay I saved that one family… and a handful of others yesterday… at least I hope I did… I hope Yarinhov didn't send his people there to slaughter anyone else. If I didn't pursue the Wings of Darkness none of this would have happened! She feels him release her arms finally and she looks down at the cold rock ground before her. I need to make things right! Looking around cautiously she spots his left calf and sees a military saw edge knife in its holster there.

Taking a deep breath Lara turns and grabs the handle with her right hand while her left hand stabilizes her, she feels his beefy hand grab her left shoulder while she yanks out the knife. In a swift motion he strikes her hard across the ribs with his right leg, the force knocking her into the air and once hitting the ground she rolls once to a stop.

Coughing and gasping as he left arm goes across her chest, looking up at him as her bangs dangle into her vision. The flashing embers of the fire below dance all over his body, giving him a menacing and intimidating look as he flexes his fists. Lara clenches the blade in her hand tightly as she stands up, staring him in the eye defiantly, and her body poised, but in all honesty she has no proper training with a knife for hand to hand combat.

Taking a step to advance in her attack at him, holding the blade to be pointing down and away from her, a small cloud of black smoke wafts over them both making her eyes sting as she brings the knife up to stab. However he grabs her forearm, pulls it away from him, to her far right and moves in to use his free arm to backhand her in the jaw. The sudden sharp sting causes her to let go of the knife.

Clattering to the ground, but she manages to strike her left knee up to catch him in the lower ribs, he bends over partially. He did not expect her to sneak a shot in, when his eyes land on her his chin shoots up as her right fist smacked right into his under jaw. Yarinhov takes a couple of steps back, tasting copper as he regains himself, discovering the tip of his tongue is throbbing from having bit it when she gave him an upper cut.

Rubbing his jaw he grins at her as he wets his lips, his tongue lining his lower lip with blood, "oooh… feisty," his grin grows wicked, he watches her move into a fighting stance. His fists rose, "you sure you want to dance with me young lady?"

Lara glares at him, taking a breath before another cloud of smoke wafts over them both again, this time she was ready and she gives it a beat before moving in. He takes her by surprise, his right heel slamming hard into her ribs, the force knocking her onto her back, groaning as she props herself up onto her elbows.

Looking up at him as he towers over her, the shadow of her head dancing on his legs but the fire is dying down, she feels her left elbow touch the edge of the cliff. A chip of rock gives way under her, making Lara jerk to look behind and below oh shit… oh shit-oh shit-oh shit! Looking back up at Yarinhov in alarm, he grins, standing at her feet. "Nothing special about you Croft… all that hype," he mutters.

Her heart is pounding against her chest, wishing her back was against a wall and not at a dead drop to a certain death, in the corner of her eye she sees a set of feet approaching him from behind. "You know what they say about hype?" Lara asks and he raises his right brow, wanting to keep him distracted in case if it's someone who can help her. "People tend to build things up to more than they are."

Yarinhov gives her a thoughtful look before his head jerks forward, his eyes opening wide, he staggers forward and Lara rolls out of his path to stand up quickly. He goes onto the tips of his toes to try and regain his balance to stop from falling; dust and rock tumbling off the edge in the effort. She sees blood on the back of his bald head. Her adrenaline pumping through her, she pulls her right arm to her chest before slamming her right shoulder into the middle of his back, his arms flail around as he turns halfway around just as he's falling off. His eyes locking with hers, time seeming to slow down as he looks on in shock, fingers grasping for anything to grab, her, the edge, a vine, anything but his angle making it impossible. Shock turns to anger as his eyes bore into hers before his face vanishes beyond the edge and his body plummets to the bottom.

Watching him fall, her heart swells up in her chest, seeing a cloud of dirt appear where he landed and a pool of dark liquid, what she knows to be blood, is framing his still body. She lets out a slow breath, "I take no pleasure in this," turning around to see Liam standing there with a large rock in his hands.

Liam walks over to her, dropping the rock with a group of villagers walking up from where she'd come from earlier, "I know it wasn't ideal, but it was either him or you," he reminds her and turns to the group behind him.

Among the faces, Lara is saddened to see Tahir is with them, he steps up to her and places a hand onto her shoulder, his eyes are sad as he looks into hers. "I know… we were just above, making our way down. I saw everything," he pulls her close to him, looking into her eyes. "You did everything you could to save my people and my father," he places his right hand onto his chest, "even I was too far away to do anything," tears brim his eyes at his own memories.


"Quietly… quietly," Liam ushers and Tahir looks over his shoulder at him, the group are all crouched low to the very steep ground that is winding down to the camp in the trees.

"You think this is our first time sneaking up on prey?" Tahir whispers, making Liam smile at his comment, his hand reach up to a tree branch.

Fingers wrapping around the rough texture, his other hand on the ground behind him, fingers just touching the cold hard dirt and gathering up under his finger nails as he parks his right heel at a rock lodged in the ground.

Liam did his job during the day, waiting in the trees for as long as he was willing and creeping out to go around the mountain base where he swam in the still lake that the waterfall's stream led to. After a couple of hours of trekking, he'd made it to the village where the people had gone to for safety, thankfully Frutana Corp hadn't come there. Yet.

He found Tahir within minutes and showed him the broken Wings of Darkness, this visibly lifted a great weight from his shoulders, but he still held fear in his slender body frame. He told Liam about his father getting grabbed in the night for rebelling too loudly, so Liam devised a plan to get both Lara and his father back. Circling around the mountain, being sure to stay away from Frutana Corp soldiers who're watching over everything and they climbed. The group climbed up much higher than Lara and Liam had to get above the group that were threatening so many lives, and finally sitting in the bush above the cliff edge and making their way to the camps.

Looking over at the cliff edge he sees Lara is below them, as much as he wants to jump down and take down Yarinhov, he knows he'll be quickly over powered by the rest of his men. She is answering his question about the wings and in the corner of Liam's eye he can see Tahir is fidgeting, scooting over next to him.

"I'm telling you the truth! I didn't want a village, town or city to get slaughtered by the Wings of Darkness so I broke them to keep you from using them!" he watches her plead her case to Yarinhov pleadingly

Hearing Tahir shifting to pounce, Liam moves quickly to shove his chest to the ground, the young man squirms under his grasp and Liam is forced to twist his arm behind his back. "You can't," Liam whispers and Tahir looks over his shoulder at Liam.

"You can't, but I can! I can't just let him get killed down there!" Tahir whispers back and works to free himself making Liam wrap his arms around his biceps and his body on top of his to stop him from moving so much.

"The good news is… I believe you," Yarinhov looks back at Lara and their eyes connect, Tahir looks on in hope, he knows that Lara is doing her best but he hates it that Liam weighs more than he does and is effectively holding him in place. His heart is pounding in his ears, straining to hear and hoping against hope that this will all turn around, "but your actions have cost this man his life."

"N-" Tahir's mouth is covered by Liam who is looking at the other villagers, gesturing for them to keep moving down the keep climb to the soldiers, his eyes back on the young villager.

"If you jump out there now then you will also die, he won't hesitate and he'll kill your father in front of you or kill you in front of your father," Liam said hurriedly. His eye brows knit together as he stares at the eyes of the young man. His pleading eyes, the way his body is still trying to worm free of him, "do you want to give up our mission to free your people from slaughter?"

"Thank-" Liam cringes at the sound of the bang, and Tahir looks crestfallen, he watches it all play out and clenches his fists under his abdomen.

Liam looks down at the cliff ledge, watching as soldiers come out with the weapons and feels Tahir grow rigid, "this has to stop," Tahir whispers, seeing that things are indeed only about to get worse.

"Then let's move," Liam ushers, letting go of Tahir and watching the young man go back to moving down the steep hill. As the tent tops get into view he can hear Lara screaming for the villagers to run, the soldiers who are at camp are distracted by her cries.

Coming to a giant boulder that is partially sticking out of the dirt ground he can see that villagers have moved around the tents, trees, bushes, and they're looking up as he hops down and keeps himself lowered. In the corner of his eye he hears the bangs of destruction on Tahir's village followed by the glow of the flames just over the tree tops.

Moving stealthy behind some soldiers, his hands open and keeping his breathing controlled, he doesn't care how distracted they are, any snap of a twig will have them firing bullets in seconds. His eyes are straining in the dark as the two soldiers come back, they move into the main tent to set the now empty guns down and glances at everyone else. Nodding firmly he stands up, grabbing an older man's short white head and snapping his neck.


Standing in the airfield, Lara listens to the sound of the plane pulling in as she looks at the group of villagers that helped fight, Liam is handed the bag with the broken wings by Tahir. The glow of the flames are no more, the only light now is coming from the moon which is perfectly illuminating the run way.

"I'm sorry for the trouble these wings have caused you," Lara says and Tahir nods to her solemnly.

"It's not for you to apologize, someone put Eli Drachir up to it, he didn't realize the kind of people who were after it," he gives her s soft smile, to try and assure her. "If it wasn't for you, they'd still be harassing my people and according to your friend Liam, executing villagers till they got the information we gave you. You also helped a couple of families with your yelling for them to run," he extends his hand and gives her hand a firm shake. "Thank you."

Lara returns his firm hand shake, still feeling guilty deep down for not being able to help save his father and knowing he witnessed his death didn't make her feel any better. Death seems to follow on these adventures of mine, but now that the Wings of Darkness are destroyed I'm ready to slow everything down.

"May your future be as bright as your heart," Lara says softly, making Tahir smile at her as their hands drop to their sides.

Stepping onto the plane, in a matter of a couple of minutes they both seated, the plane is turned around and is taking off down the laneway. The faces of the villagers looking at her through the window are still fresh in her mind, relief is what she saw, and yes they've lost people very close to them and some buildings. However now the threat is gone, they can rebuild and look to the future once again.

The plane isn't posh but it still has the nice perks of a fridge and phone, Lara looks across at Liam as the plane continues to climb and she takes the phone that is next to her. Cradling it in her hands as a flash of lightning illuminates the plane for a moment through the four windows the passengers have.

For the first time since they've been reunited, Lara sees how ragged and worn out Liam looks with his freshly forming beard, scruffy hair, dirty and torn of shirt, pants and the scrapes and bruises forming on his arms and face. Her eyes travel along each one all the way up to his face, his own attention is out the window with the bag of broken wings sitting between his feet and hers, shifting a bit at the incline.

Finally his eyes move over to her and he turns his head, "something on your mind?" Liam asks and Lara's mind goes back to his story about running into the other village.

"You never said how you got a hold of a ride for us to get out of there," Lara answers, realizing for the first time that she is a little surprised he never divulged the information. But she understands that a lot had just happened and he probably didn't want to go over every little detail.

Smiling a little, he gives a light chuckle, "oh yeah… that was fun," he sits up and straightens himself out a little, placing his elbows onto the arm resters. "The chief of that village had a satellite phone, I had to call up your friend Roger a few times, he didn't answer, didn't answer and finally picks up starting off with," he changes his voice to try and match Rogers. " 'I don't care what it is you are wanting to sell me, no I don't want ice from Finland, my ducts do not need cleaning, I have no need for my windows or doors to be replaced and I am very happy with my phone plan' so I quickly say in as professional a voice I can muster 'will you take a collect call from the Lady Croft?' and there was a pause," he smiles widely at Lara as she starts to smile. "So he answers with 'That… I will take, fill me in Liam' so I told him the gist of what had all happened. He apologized for not being our pilot this time as he is currently in Japan, but he pulled in a favour to have a plane sent to us as quickly as possible and that the pilot would come armed in case if my plan fell through," he opens his hands. "Pretty good?"

Lara chuckles and rubs the back of her neck with her right hand, still holding the phone in her left hand, "you couldn't have asked for a shower to come equipped?" she asks pointedly and Liam winces.

"Crap… I knew I was forgetting a luxury you'd be hoping for," he mocks touching his chest with his right hand. "But I did request for that phone so you could call Sophia," Liam smiles warmly and Lara blushes as another flash of lightning fills their space.

Looking down at the phone, Lara's finger tips graze over the plastic numbers that she knows off by heart, feeling butterflies in her stomach at just the thought of hearing Sophia's voice. She dials the number as the plane levels out and Liam stands up to go to the fridge, pulling out some food and coming back with an armful which causes Lara's eyebrows to shoot up to her hairline.

He takes a bite of a BLT and looks at her, looking down at his little pile up as she places the phone to her ear he hands her an egg salad sandwich.

"Sorry dear, you've got me," comes Jackie's voice to her ear, Lara's face falls half way, but she keeps her voice chipper.

"How're you doing?" Lara asks and Jackie laughs merrily on the other side.

"Don't you mean 'what is Sophia up to that she cannot be answering my call'? I am doing very well," Lara can hear the smile in her voice as she talks and can't help smiling to herself.

"Well… that too, it's been a long few days," Lara says and listens to Jackie give a small sigh as the plane gives a shake and more lightning flashes through the plane. The phone starts to have some static.

"Are you up in the air dear?" Jackie asks and Lara looks out the window to see the clouds being lit up by the lightning.

"Yes and we're going through a storm," Lara says, dropping the sandwich and gripping the arm to her chair as the plane rattles again, she picks up on the static some more.

"Sophia is working with a bunch of the young lings, when will you be home?" Jackie asks and Lara looks at her wrist watch for the first time since her morning episode.

"I believe 3-4 hours, I could be mistaken though," Lara answers as the plane lights start flickering, she looks at Liam, he is just watching the storm outside with a smile, clearly fascinated.

"Alright, I'll pass it onto Sophia that she can expect to hear back from you around then, take care of yourself, you hear? I'll be thinking about you," Jackie says and Lara smiles a bit, missing the company of the older woman.

"Thank you Jackie and I'll do my best," and with that the line went dead, Lara looks at Liam quizzically. "How are you not worried?" Lara asks as she takes a bite out of her sandwich finally and sees a red Gatorade in his left outstretched hand for her.

"I've had my share of bad luck in the air, this is nothing, and I enjoy watching storms," Liam answers as Lara takes the drink of out his hand.

Raising her right brow at him as she twists the lid off, "are you sure you are safe to fly with during a storm then?" she asks skeptically, he snickers and looks at her in the corner of his eye.

"Only one way to find out."

To Be Continued…


What did you think? What is going to happen next? Predictions? I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.