Warning: Mild smut ahead. Sexual situations and references. I don't think it would deserve an M rating just yet, though, so this is your warning.

Current song: "Feel the Light" - Jennifer Lopez

Do you remember when we fell under?
Did you expect me to reason with thunder?
I still remember when time was frozen
What seemed forever was just a moment
Hurry up, hurry up
There's no more waiting
We're still worth saving

"Stop hovering, Abby." Connor rolled his eyes. He picked up another bulb and tossed it in the sack. It had been two days since the snake. His entire body was sore and the wound on his arm was still infected. Bacteria in the serpent's saliva, he guessed. He remained feverish and tired, and Abby insisted on staying together until he was fully recovered, refusing to let him fish or hunt. He really couldn't argue. He felt terrible… but that didn't mean he needed Abby's constant mothering. He glanced up, meeting her gaze as she leaned against his spear. Okay, okay… He really didn't mind the attention. But he couldn't make it easy on her. That would just be un-Connor-istic, wouldn't it? "I'm fine." Connor gingerly motioned around them. "Watch for a dinosaur or something and stop eyeing me."

"Be quiet, Connor." The blonde scolded, looking around for any signs of danger. "Just get what we need so we can get back." She kneeled beside him and placed the back of her hand to his forehead. "We need to clean and bandage your arm."

Okay, so maybe it was a little frustrating. "It'll keep."

He pulled away from her, reaching around to grab the spear and pull himself to his feet. Abby let him take it and followed him with a shake of her head. She wouldn't smile even when she knew she had the upper hand. 'Tough guy' mask firmly in place, Connor was heading straight back to camp. There was no doubt the fresh air had done him good, but he needed to rest in order to heal. He knew it just as much as she did. Still, she would let him believe he had won.

They walked, or hobbled in Connor's case, in silence until they reached camp. Connor allowed the bag of roots to deftly fall from his fingertips as he ducked into the cave and disappeared from Abby's view. "Connor?" She leaned the spear against the entryway and moved the bag further inside. She would need to clean and peel those for dinner. "Connor, are you alright?" He was already lying on his back, left arm draped across his eyes. 'Tough guy' mask had fallen off somewhere along the way. Abby smiled sympathetically and sat down next to him. She made quick work of cleaning and redressing his arm, not entirely shocked when he gave her no grief. Packing away what little supplies were left, she returned to his side. "Do you need anything?"

He shook his head, staring at the dancing shadows their small fire made on the ceiling. Abby loved the way the light caught his dark eyes.

"Alright. I'm going to get started on dinner." She smiled and made to stand, gasping when he reached out for her wrist. "Connor?" He was still staring at the ceiling, but began to trace small circles in the palm of her hand with his thumb. "Connor?"

"Why did you kiss me?"

Abby was truly hoping he had forgotten about that, even though she knew the chances were slim. She could blame fever-induced delirium. She didn't realize she was chewing on her lip until she tasted the first droplets of copper on her tongue. "Ow." She brought her free hand up quickly as he looked to her, wiping away the blood.

"Abby?"

"Connor." She whispered from behind her hand. Abby was never good at feelings. She felt them and she showed them, but she could never explain them. She found herself staring in those dark eyes, scared and wordless. "I… I was…" She pulled her hand away from him, not really knowing why. Her heart sank at the hurt immediately reflected in his gaze. She couldn't look at him anymore.

"You were scared, Abby." He answered, softly. "You thought I was…" She heard him swallow and shift onto his side, "you thought you were going to be alone." He was making excuses for her. "I get it." And she was letting him.

She took a shaky breath and nodded, back still turned. "Thanks, Connor." His whispered 'yup' was barely loud enough for her to hear and she stood, grabbed the bag of roots, and quickly exited. This was all be a memory tomorrow and they would get on with surviving.

Abby sat just outside the entrance and began to peel and clean the bulbs. She wasn't exactly feeling hungry and she could bet Connor would only eat a few bites to appease her, but she continued to peel. And peel. And peel. Her movements became more emotional, more erratic as she pretended she didn't feel the tears on her cheeks. She allowed the bulb and knife to fall from her grasp and took her face in her hands. It was eating at her inside. She didn't know if it was love but she knew it wasn't just fear. She knew that if Connor had died, a part of her would have died with him. She knew that her heart had nearly burst when she had kissed him. No, she didn't know if it was love, but she couldn't let him think he didn't mean more to her than company.

She took a breath… and another… steeling her resolve and she stood, spinning to enter their cave and running straight into Connor's chest. That resolve broke immediately and she sobbed, curling her small fists into the front of his dirty shirt. He wrapped his arms around her tiny frame. Abby could feel him shaking. From fever or anxiety, she wasn't sure, but she let him hold her for just a moment longer before pushing away, but just far enough to see him.

"Abby, I didn't mean to make you…"

She stood on her tip-toes and brushed her lips across his, silencing his guilt before he could speak of it. She allowed a hand to travel up to his neck, twisting and curling her fingers in the hair there. When she pulled back, she smiled at his still closed eyes. "Connor, I was afraid…." She kissed him again, "but that's not why I…" and again, "It's not the reason why…"

And this time, he kissed her. Abby's eyes went wide. It was everything she thought a kiss from Connor should be. It was reckless and rough and uncoordinated and it made her weak in the knees. He took her face in his hands as she closed her eyes and returned the eagerness, tongues battling to explore. He pulled away, leaving her breathless and aching for more. When she finally struggled to open her eyes, he was gingerly removing his shirt, revealing the angry bruises and scars he had collected over the past few months. She had seen them all before, but never in this manner. She reached out and allowed her fingertips to brush his chest as he reached for her jacket, pulling it down from her shoulders. She took his lips again as her hands explored his bare stomach, coming to rest on his belt buckle. Abby couldn't stifle the giggle against his lips when he stiffened.

"Connor," she whispered, placing gentle kisses along his jaw, "is this what you want?" She stepped back away from him and grabbed the hem of her shirt, watching him swallow as she pulled up and discarded the fabric. She stepped back toward him, millimeters away from touching, and reached up between them to unsnap her bra fastening. Connor closed his eyes in restraint and Abby laughed again. "I'm serious, Connor. We don't have to. Do you want this?" She made to slide down on strap when his hand caught hers, eyes open and nearly black with desire.

"Do you?" His whispered huskily. Abby was taken aback. The way he was looking at her was mesmerizing. She more than wanted this… she needed it. So, she nodded.

Clothing was quickly discarded and forgotten, the couple entangled in a mess of limbs and skin on their makeshift bed of leaves and vines. Abby dragged her leg up and wrapped it around Connor's thigh, rolling back her head with a moan. She was thoroughly surprised by how skillful the young scientist had turned out to be in the most intimate of areas and would have to remember to ask him about it later. His face was buried against her neck, heavy breathing hot against her skin. Her head was spinning. She slid her nails up his back and shoulders before tangling her fingers in his damp hair. She yanked his head up, a little harder than she really meant to, to capture his lips and shivered when he groaned against her mouth.

She couldn't help but think of the Connor she had first met those few years ago: the one who nearly had a stroke at the site of her in her knickers. The one who would go red-faced at the slightest contact. The one who wouldn't admit to saying "I love you" first. Who was this Connor? This Connor whose fingertips were like an electric current as they brushed over her bare skin. This Connor whose ambitious lips had left hers and were trailing up her jaw, parting for his tongue to glide over her earlobe and down her neck. This Connor that was pulling her apart and putting her back together all at once.

She heard Connor's breathing quicken just as an all too familiar heat began to coil in her belly. She was only vaguely aware of his hand traveling down between them. She wanted to question, but she couldn't think straight. She felt the exact moment he left her, only to use those skilled laboratory fingers to continue to bring her to her peak. She couldn't help but cry out his name as they both reached their apex, reaching down to grab his wrist as her other hand clawed at his hip.

Moments later, he collapsed on top of her, breathing raggedly against her shoulder. Abby closed her eyes and concentrated on his pounding heart. The fog in her head was clearing and it was then that she realized what exactly Connor had done. A condom would have been preferable, but he did what he needed to do given their situation. They would just have to hope his timing was right and that it was enough.

"I love you, Abby."

She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, not yet wiling to allow him to move away. Running her fingers through his sweat-damp hair, she smiled. "I know, Connor." His breathing was gradually slowing, but he was trembling. Maybe the fever or the exertion or both, she didn't know. He turned his head slightly, but still rested on her shoulder. Abby licked her suddenly dry lips. "Me too." She whispered, tracing her fingertips up and down his back. He remained quiet and she wasn't sure he had heard her. As his breathing evened out and the trembling subsided, she would just have to hope that he had. She knew he would want to hear the actual words, but he would never press her for it. She also knew she would want to say them eventually. She just wasn't ready. This was all fresh and new and she needed to adjust.

Abby bit her lip and wiggled her right leg from underneath him, stretching it out to pinch her toes at the foil blanket. After several failed attempts, she finally snagged it and bent her knee to bring it toward them, grabbing it when it was within reach. She carefully draped it over them and settled her arms back around the sleeping Connor. Thankfully, his weight wasn't enough to crush her. She knew she'd have to move eventually lest her arm lose circulation, but for the time being, she just savored the feel of his skin against hers, his breath on her neck, and his now steady heartbeat against her chest.

Just for tonight, she wouldn't worry about what was lurking in the shadows. Or how and when they would get home. Just for tonight, Abby was right where she need to be.

Feel the light, shining in the dark of night
Remember what we forgot
I know it's a long-shot
But we're bringing it all back, bringing it all back

I am seriously considering ending this story here. I need to ponder on it though. Thoughts?