Hey guys, so the next few chapters will be about translating the books, exploring etc, not super action-y, but with other goooood stuff :) I hope you enjoy the chapter. As always, thank you for reading and reviewing! xoxo
Michael and Gabriella pulled the humvee into the garage and began unpacking. Gabriella walked through the house, exploring. –Four bedrooms and six bathrooms though?- she thought to herself wryly, her little house had one small bedroom and bathroom and that felt like a luxury. This felt like, a waste. She took the smallest of the bedrooms and unpacked her bag, shaking out her clothes.
There was a thick layer of dust on the bedroom, so she grabbed a towel from the bathroom adjoining and began to wipe it down, shaking out the sheets on the bed. She took them out to the back patio and laid them over the rail of the deck, hoping the fresh sea air would get rid of the musty smell. She went back inside and wandered until she found Michael's room and saw that he had unpacked but hadn't bothered to clean. Sighing, her inner clean freak took over and she cleaned his room as well, taking his sheets out to the deck.
After finishing up in the bedrooms Gabriella went to the kitchen and unpacked the food supplies. She was excited to see that the stove was gas, it could still work. She turned the switch and after a few clicks, the flame on the burner flared. Grinning in satisfaction she shut off the flame, not wanting to waste the gas. Walking through the house Gabriella opened a thick wooden door and gasped at the sight of a room full of books.
She entered the room quietly, reverently.
She walked around the room, inspecting the spines of the books. She walked over to the ladder leaning against the wall and climbed it, tilting her head to check out the books. She frowned; she couldn't read the language of a few of the books. She pulled one out and opened it, still unable to read them. She pulled five more books out and climbed down the ladder, setting them on the large table that occupied part of the room.
She sat down and stared at the pages, trying to make sense of the language written within the pages. After a time she shut the books and decided that she should try and find Michael, maybe he knew what the books said. Languages were not her forte. She wandered through the upper level of the house and when she couldn't find Michael, she headed downstairs to the finished basement and gym.
She stood in the doorway of the gym, watching as a shirtless Michael moved through a rapid series of sword movements. His body moved with fluid grace, and she was amazed at how strong his slim body appeared. Eventually he spun and noticed her standing in the doorway.
She grinned and waved, "Hey. Nice moves." He nodded to her and moved to set aside his swords, picking up a towel to wipe off his face and chest.
He took a long drink from a bottle of water and then tilted his head, "What is it Gabriella?"
She pointed at the ceiling, "I found something upstairs in the library. Books in a language I can't understand, or identify. I thought maybe you might know what it is." Michael nodded and grabbed his swords, sheathing them at his waist. He pulled on his tshirt and followed Gabriella up the stairs and into the library. He sat down at the desk and began to look over the books, Gabriella standing behind him, waiting for a verdict.
He looked up at her after a long few minutes, "This is angel language."
Gabriella nodded, "Is there any way I can help?"
Michael grinned at her, "Only if you can read or speak angel."
Gabriella smiled softly back at him, "If I could I would understand why you are upset with me."
Michael stared at her for a moment and then shook his head, exasperated. He couldn't tell her the truth. So he told her something that would satisfy her. "I'm sorry for being rude and distant, and for pushing you away. I was worried that Gabriel would find out that you are helping Alex and me, giving him a reason to come after you. I was just trying to limit our interactions."
Gabriella shook her head and snorted in disbelief, "And you thought the best way to do that was to be an ass?"
Michael stared at her, his face blank and then muttered, "I was just trying to protect you."
Gabriella laughed, and ran a hand over her face. "Ok, Michael. I'm tired of being upset with you, and fighting, so all forgiven. In the future, try talking to me though. Ok?"
Michael nodded and turned his attention back to the books in front of him. Gabriella moved to a large leather arm chair across from the table and sat down with a book that had caught her attention earlier. It was about a boy with magic, written by a woman named JK Rowling. It seemed interesting enough. Soon she was engrossed in the book, and the story of young wizard Harry Potter.
At the sounds of her stomach rumbling she looked to her watch and saw it was 7pm, almost 12 hours past the last time they had eaten. She stood, a little unsteady from having sat so long, and from hunger, and looked over to Michael, who was steadily working through the books, translating them.
"Hey" she called, waiting for him to look up. "You hungry?" He nodded, and turned back to the books. Sighing she walked out to the kitchen, trying to decide what to make for dinner. Standing in the pantry, she found row after row of soup, pasta that was probably 25 years old, and what looked like lentils. She heard movement behind her and turned, surprised to see Michael behind her.
"Can I help?" he asked softly.
She smiled tiredly at him, "That would be great." She moved aside, making room for him and asked, "Which of these soups seems least gross?" Michael smirked and inspected the cans, finally pointing to chicken noodle. Gabriella grabbed three cans and a pack of noodles. They headed back into the kitchen and poured the soups into the pot they found, adding water from their supplies. Gabriella hoisted herself onto the counter, leaning her head against the cabinet and watched while the soup slowly simmered.
Michael stirred the soup and watched as Gabriella's eyes slid shut, exhaustion overcoming her. He realized she had stayed up all the previous night and had only a few short hours of rest in the humvee while they drove here. She was probably ready to drop. When the soup boiled he stirred in the noodles and waited until the soup was done to grab some bowls and spoon some out for both of them. He rested a hand on her knee, rousting her from her brief nap.
She smiled tiredly at him, "That smells good."
He nodded, "It hopefully won't kill us" he joked.
She laughed and took the bowl he offered. Michael jerked his head, "Come on, let's go sit somewhere more comfortable."
Gabriella slid off of the counter and followed him to the living room, overlooking the patio. They sat on couch, and Gabriella groaned at the feeling of being able to stretch out. She grinned at him, "I'm going to sleep so damn good tonight."
Michael nodded and pointed to his shoulder with his spoon, "My shoulder seems to be just fine, and I have had more rest, so I'll probably be up translating the books."
Gabriella nodded, she had seen his shoulder when he was practicing with his swords and had seen that there seemed to be little discomfort. "I'll remove your stitches in another day or two."
When they had finished their surprisingly tasty dinner, Michael took her bowl and shushed her protestations, "Go get rest." She smiled her thanks and went out to the patio to grab the sheets for hers and Michael's beds. After she had remade both of their beds she stood in her bedroom and wiped down her body with a moist face wipe from the large pack she had brought.
She finally felt at least semi-clean after almost four days with no shower. She slid some fresh underwear and her father's overly large blue cable knit sweater on, hanging to just above her knees. She brushed out her hair and regretted not being able to wash it. In another day she would go get some sea water, boil it and take a bath she decided.
Gabriella wandered back to the library and sat back down in the large leather chair with the book about the magic boy, once again becoming engrossed. Eventually she fell asleep, her feet hanging over the side of the chair, and her head pillowed on one arm. Michael had been cleaning the kitchen and taking inventory of their weapons, making sure they were cleaned and ready for use when he decided to head back to the library and keep working on the translations.
He stopped short when he saw Gabriella asleep in the chair. He stood watching her sleep, her strong features softened by sleep. Her fingers twitched on the book she had fallen asleep holding, and her eyes moved behind her closed lids. He wondered what she was dreaming of. Finally he moved across the room and lifted the book out of her hand and set it on the table. He wrapped an arm under her knees and the other around her back and lifted her, carrying her out of the room and into her bedroom.
When he leaned down to lay her on the bed her eyes fluttered and her hand clung to his shirt. "Michael?" she whispered, her voice hoarse from sleep.
His heart clenched at the sight of her half-awake smile. "Yes?" he breathed on a whisper.
"Will you stay with me? This place creeps me out." Michael hesitated. He wanted nothing more than to lay with her, but he was worried about his own ability to resist the temptation that spending the night next to her would provide. He was weak.
He smiled at her, "Of course", and removed her hand from his shirt. He kicked off his boots and socks and walked around the bed, climbing under the covers, making sure he stayed far away.
Gabriella rolled and snuggled into Michael's chest, finally feeling safe in the overly large house. She sighed when she felt his arm drop across her waist and felt his hand rub her back softly. She once again fell asleep, feeling content and safe. Michael watched as Gabriella fell asleep again, a contented look on her face.
He had been momentarily stunned when she had cuddled up to him, but his body had acted of its own accord, pulling her closer. The light scent of lavender on her skin invaded his nose, relaxing him. Their friendship was being repaired, and for a short time tonight, he could pretend that she was his, and wanted to be with him, and that was why she asked him to stay.
Who knew, maybe someday she would care for him they way he had begun to care for her. Michael eventually fell asleep, a warm feeling of happiness in his chest.