Bruised
A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took so long guys! Again! I just had to change a bunch of stuff around and it took a lot more editing than I anticipated so…I hope it was worth the wait. I really love this chapter so I wanted to get it right. Thanks sososo much to everyone who's reviewing. It makes me so happy to know people are reading this. Also note the very beginning sequence could/should probably be given an M rating for content. I hope you guys enjoy it!
Chapter Eleven – Glitter in the Air
It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run
The breath before the kiss, and the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?
- Glitter in the Air by Pink
…How she went from sitting fully on clothed on his couch nursing a bottle of beer, to half naked with his mouth on her neck was beyond her. What jolted her back to reality was his weight disappearing from on top of her; she mewled as he stood, but his arms slid around her reassuringly as soon as he was off the couch. Her legs and arms wrapped around him, her blue eyes wide and her mouth agape. One arm tightened around her hips while his other palmed the back of her head. As he maneuvered them to the bedroom he kissed her softly, laughing in quiet disbelief against her wet lips that he shouldn't have waited so long…
The whole thing was gut-wrenchingly, achingly slow as they spent what seemed like both way too much and not nearly enough time just kissing on the bed. Her whole body clenched at the way he lifted her enough to unclip her bra and toss it aside before moving to suckle her breasts. Her hand slid into his hair instinctively as he did whatever he was doing to make those sounds come out of her. She tensed when he moved down to her stomach and his fingers slid beneath the waistband of her underwear.
Alex whimpered but nodded when he started to remove them, heart pounding as he completed the task. He smiled a little and kissed the top of her leg before moving inward and kissing the top of her curls. She yelped and her hips flexed in response.
"It's…" she tightened her fingers in his hair. "It's okay you don't have to…" she panted breathlessly.
His dark, serious eyes lifted to meet hers, making her shiver.
"I want to," he teased a finger down her thigh.
She gulped. And she wanted him to. Fuck. He shouldn't be allowed to use those eyes on her.
"No but…" she tried to find her words and he slid back up her body and stared at her intently, curves sealing hers. "Don't…seriously…"
"Only you would ask me not to do that…" he teased good-naturedly and her chest tightened.
"Well…I mean I want you to but…" his hand slid between her legs to tease her as she continued to speak and she whimpered. He groaned and bit his lip, increasing the pressure slightly.
"If you do I won't again." She blurted out quickly.
"What?" he brushed a piece of hair off her forehead and her breath caught in her throat.
"If I…" she flushed bright red, unable to believe she was having this conversation…with him of all people. She lowered her voice to an almost-whisper. "If I…if I …come…now I won't be able to again..."
This time he laughed easily, kissing her insistently and somehow managing to make her not feel completely pathetic.
"I'm serious!" she protested, breaking the kiss. "I can't…more than once…I've tried, it's not…"
He shook his head, the smirk still on his face.
"Well uh…" his nose brushed across her cheek as he continued his carresses. "Why don't you let me see if I can help you out with that…" he grinned arrogantly, pressing his mouth to hers again before sliding down her neck and to her belly button. She groaned and her hips bucked, her body telling her brain to just shut the hell up for once. He found her hand and squeezed, gaze locking on hers again.
"Hey…" He brushed his other thumb across her hipbone tenderly. She sighed.
"You sure you wanna..?"
She blinked hard, but nodded as she quivered from nerves. She was so goddamn useless she couldn't even pull herself together now. His lips replaced his thumb, dark eyes locking on hers again.
"Deep breath, Al. It's just you and me," he promised gently, his own vision clouding when she shook harder at his words. After that he wasted no time settling between her legs and planting small kisses against the inside of her smooth thighs. She squirmed beneath him a second before his lips found her center…
She didn't know what the hell he was doing and frankly she couldn't have cared to take the time to figure it out. He took her to the brink again and again, groaning each time her grip on his hair tightened and she pleaded with him softly to not stop. Her head swam, her vision blurred and she whimpered as he brought her close again and again until he finally took her over the edge. At last, she clenched hard around his fingers, moaning loudly as release flooded through her. She might've even kicked him. It was all a little fuzzy.
He pulled back for a few seconds to kiss his way up her leg before he moved in again between her thighs and start flicking his tongue lightly against her yet again. She yelped when he did…trust him to prove a point this way.
When she felt the ache building between her legs again she gasped in surprise. This time he didn't tease her, taunting her only a little before taking her over again. His mouth slid back up her body and he kissed her, his tongue circling hers and his fingers stroking her still as she rode out the aftershocks of her second orgasm in a complete daze. The length of him pressing hard against her leg made her groan again as he did the same, nipping lightly at her mouth.
Emboldened, her hands slid to his boxers, sliding down the front and caressing him gently. He shook his head vigorously against hers, saying he was too close, and for the first time she realized his heart was pounding as much as hers. He disappeared to pull the boxers off and find a condom.
He nibbled across her lips some more as his hand spread her legs and entered her slowly. It'd been ages, but she didn't dwell on any of the discomfort, focusing instead on how he felt settled inside her. As he waited for her to adjust he lifted their entwined hands and kissed the inside of her wrist before moving up her arm, to her shoulder and finally her neck.
"You good?" he whispered gently in her ear before starting to move. He hadn't said one thing intentionally sexy or seductive and she still couldn't get over how turned on she became every time he uttered some disjointed, not remotely poetic phrase in a heavy voice. There was nothing slick about the words he spoke to her, and they made the warmth spread from her core as she tried to match his gentle rhythm.
Suddenly she clammed up, the nerves hitting her abruptly when his speed increased.
"Damn it I'm…I'm sorry…" her palms slid down his shoulders and across the front of his chest, easing his body away from hers to give herself some room to think. She blinked hard. "I'm sorry…I…"
"Wha - ?"
"I'm sorry I'm… I don't know, I'm… I want to I just…"
He stared at her in disbelief for a second before, his mouth forming a small 'o' and making her turn redder. He didn't remain frozen for long though, dipping his head down and pressing his lips to her ear. He gasped when her muscles tightened around him in response and he nuzzled her again.
"You feel good…" he breathed simply, making her whimper and tighten again. Nodding hurriedly, she gulped with overly eagerness.
"You…" she swallowed hard at the lump in her throat and squinted her eyes shut, inhaling deeply. "You feel good too… Fuck, you feel really good…" His breath caught and he gathered her close, starting to resume their pace. The tension started building quickly, and his breath was hot on her neck. His fingers twined with hers against the sheets and after a few minutes his free hand grabbed her leg, tugging it around his hip. Her body started to shake and she simply clung to him as his face buried into her shoulder; the intensity of the pleasure coiling in the pit of her stomach catching her off guard.
"Talk to me, Al..." he growled, teeth grazing her neck before they bit down. She moaned loudly, her head falling back against the pillows and her hair sliding everywhere.
"Al…"
"I'm…I'm almost…" she couldn't finish the sentence as he tilted her hips a final time and she yelped, crying out in release. The feeling of her gripping him was too much and he groaned her name against her as he slammed into her a final time. As they stopped moving, he collapsed against her, quivering slightly.
"Oh my god…" she panted in disbelief, head thrown back against the pillow. She felt him smile against her damp skin as he too gasped for air, his own skin equally damp. When both their breathing finally slowed he lifted his head just enough to kiss her shoulder and then her lips. A hand moved to push sweaty hair out of her eyes.
"You okay?" he exhaled against her. Alex nodded contentedly, her hands rubbing his back without her realizing it. Her head was miraculously clear, and despite how overwhelmed she had felt minutes before she felt relaxed now.
"Uh huh…" she clamped down on her lip. "Are you…I mean…was it okay for…"
Rick's mouth covered hers before she could finish her sentence and the anxiety dissipated instantly when his tongue parted her lips and flicked her own, getting a barely-there moan for his trouble. He was grinning widely when he pulled away and she couldn't help but grin back.
"Not sure…I might have to try it again to be safe…"
Her light laughed echoed throughout the room and she nodded.
"I can deal with that."
MADRID, SPAIN
Madrid Airport was particularly busy for a weekday morning, but that only made it easier to blend in. The rest of the drive in Sangala had been squishy to say the least, and Tony had been in pain the entire way. He'd lain half on Michelle sprawled out across the bench, his feet on the ground. Her cool fingers had stroked his sweaty hair, soothing him as best she could in the sweltering heat and reaffirming her presence whenever the pain got worse. Between Michelle and Rick they'd got him into the airport without incidence and the flight out of Sangala had been uneventful. He was stiff and squirmed a little during but, as Jack reminded them repeatedly, it could've been a lot worse.
And now they waited for their flights back to the States. Tony, Michelle, Rick and Alex would be leaving first and Jack had insisted he and Chase wait with them in case anything changed. With Tony incapacitated, he wasn't taking any chances.
During the car ride Tony had confessed Karen's findings on Warrington and that they needed someone in San Francisco. Jack had volunteered readily and Alex had looked unimpressed when he said she wasn't to go with him. She wasn't in any condition to be wasting her energy on a task like this that could, for all they knew, be an ambush.
"It's just gonna be you and Karen, Jack?" Tony had checked from his reclined position.
"I'm not dragging anyone else into this. If this thing is a trap we can't predict what's going to happen and I can't ask anyone else to - "
"I'll go with you," Chase declared softly from the passenger seat. Alex, who was sandwiched between him and Jack, stared.
"Don't be an idiot."
"He needs help."
"I don't need help, Chase." Jack protested as Alex interjected:
"Just go back home, alright? It's danger - "
"I got nowhere to go right now, Al. I can't go back to London right now after what happened and I'm not…" he trailed off, angling his head towards the backseat. Alex flinched a little. He wasn't going to make Rick be the one to leave again with Jack.
"I still think you should just…lie low or something. I don't want you to - "
"I know it's been a while, but I do know what I'm doing here, Al," Chase remarked flatly. "Though I appreciate the concern…"
Spain had been a logical choice for their layover. With Tony and Rick both speaking the language fluently and Jack and Chase understanding enough to get by they were able to disappear into the fray, and even make casual inquiries about the airport security. Rick had taken Michelle with him to purchase the tickets and check-in, much to Tony's chagrin. Despite the fact that he'd just been shot, he didn't like being sidelined even when something that simple.
And now they waited for their flight to be called. Rick paced casually down the row of seats, glancing at the faces of the other passengers of the plane. No one looked suspicious, but that didn't make him feel any better. Mandy would have looked anything but suspicious to anyone who didn't know who she was. Tony had draped across some chairs, his head pillowed on Michelle's lap again as he fought off sleep until they were safely en route. Jack lingered in the background, checking the board for any changes in either of the flights. In the row opposite Tony and Michelle sat Alex and Chase. Alex looked a little on edge, but every few minutes Chase would rub her thigh and they would converse in low tones meant for no one else to hear. He tweaked her cheek whenever she smiled at something, the affection apparent in his expression.
"Attention passengers, United Airlines Flight 7889 direct flight from Madrid to JFK is now boarding rows one through ten."
"Better get ready," Rick reminded them. Tony sat up wearily as Michelle gathered their passports and Alex rose to her feet. Chase did the same, studying her carefully as she shouldered her bag.
"You don't have to do this Chase," she reminded him.
Chase nodded gruffly. "Yeah I do. Jack needs help, even if he won't admit it. It'll be fine."
"I just uh…" she clamped down on her lip, glancing around quickly as some passengers started to line up to board.
"I'll be careful." He insisted, cutting off what she was about to say. "And I'll be there to make sure Jack doesn't get sidetracked…" he nudged her playfully in the shoulder. "You be good; enjoy your mini vacation…"
Alex laughed wryly. All it would take was one person noticing her when she landed in the US for this entire thing to go up in flames. It was anything but a vacation.
"I'll try."
Hearing the next rows of flights called Alex exhaled softly and leaned in to peck Chase on his cheek. His arms closed around her and they embraced tightly, her standing on toes to get better height.
After a minute he released her reluctantly and cupped her cheek, fingertips rough against her smooth skin.
"I'll see you in a few days," he promised, easing her in the direction of the rest of her party with a reassuring nod. Before Alex knew it she was following Tony down the gangway and onto the plane.
NEW YORK CITY
Kathryn Gibson wasn't sure what to expect when she pulled back the front door of her posh SoHo apartment. It was late and their doorman was always diligent so the fact that he hadn't called to let her know she had visitors made her suspicious. He called for everyone – even to let her know her parents were on the way up.
Eric, her boyfriend, had bolted awake seconds later and hurried after her. He got to the door just as she checked the peephole. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight, words failing her as a queasy feeling hit her stomach. Eric had just started to ask what was wrong when she heard a voice through the heavy oak.
"Kat, open up…" it was tired and plaintive but she knew that voice anywhere. Without hesitation, she flung the door open and Kathryn came face to face with someone she couldn't possibly have expected…maybe not ever again.
"Oh my god," was all she could manage, failing to notice the other arrivals right away.
"Oh my god, I thought you were dead…" Kathryn trailed off in disbelief, the corners of her eyes prickling. Alex smiled back weakly, looking haggard but still like Alex. Her blond locks were dull and straggly and her face was gaunt and transparently pale, but her icy blue eyes and freckles were still there. A few bags rested on the floor of the hall and she was surrounded by three people, all looking equally haggard.
Without warning Kathryn flung her arms around her friend's shoulders and squeezed tightly. Alex hissed and someone else moved and Kat pulled back immediately looking apologetic.
"What happened?" she cupped her friend's face. "Are you okay? You look like hell. You need to get to the hospital…"
Alex threw a glance over her shoulder before turning back to Kathryn.
"We can't. Look, I'm sorry to put this on you but we need your help…I didn't know where else to go."
Kathryn's gaze drifted into the hall towards the rest of the party and she pursed her lips together, tucking a strand of wispy dark hair behind her ear and glancing at Eric quickly before nodding.
"Yeah…of course…come in."
They were ushered inside quickly and after a round of very brief introductions Alex stepped forwards towards Eric.
"We're gonna need you to play doctor…it's been a rough few days…" she explained with a hint of anxiety behind her eyes. Without a word, Eric held a hand to the small of her back. Alex shook her head. Eric was finishing up his last year of medical school and was the closest they would come to an actual doctor without having to step inside an emergency room. Tony had been fine on the flight over, but once they left the city treatment would be even more difficult to come across without risking being caught. They were better to take the risk now instead of hoping his injury didn't get worse.
"Tony was shot yesterday morning…" she motioned Tony over and pulled up the hem of his shirt, showing the wound.
"The bleeding's mostly stopped on its own but…"
"I'm fine." Tony insisted.
"He lost a lot of blood and he's in pain." Alex ignored him flatly and Eric smirked a little.
"Come sit down…" he ushered Tony towards the spare bedroom. "I'll get my kit and we'll take a look."
Alex inclined her head expectantly and Tony sighed, reluctantly following Eric.
Alex glanced behind her at Michelle and Rick, exhaling softly in relief, before turning back to Kat.
"We need to talk…" she explained hoarsely, folding her arms across her chest.
"Alex, what are you doing here?" Kathryn asked desperately once Michelle had excused herself to follow Tony into the bedroom. Alex sighed at Kat's question and lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry to do this to you - "
"Don't worry about me just…" she shook her head in disbelief, eyes pooling with moisture, "We all thought you were dead. We heard about your dad and we thought…"
Alex hung her head sadly. "I'm sorry."
"But…" Kat shook her head gruffly. "But you're okay, right? Eric will look you over. You can stay as long as you - "
"Are your parents in Switzerland?"
Kathryn looked confused but nodded.
"Yeah…flew out last week. Why - ?"
"I need the keys to the Hamptons and I need to borrow a car."
Kathryn's eyes widened. "What…why can't you - ?"
"We need to lie low for a few days and I can't do that in our place."
Kathryn stared at her. "Lie low from who? Are you in trouble? Who's after you?"
"I can't explain - "
"You can't expect me not to ask questions! You disappeared for almost a year and everyone assumed you were…"
"Kat," Alex's tone was firm. "You have to believe me when I say I'm doing this to protect you. This isn't a game; I've had three attempts on my life that I've known about in the last week - "
"Oh my god…"
"You have to trust me right now."
Kat stared at her in shock and clamped down on her lip, glancing at Rick warily.
"I can give you the keys to the Hamptons. Eric's car should be good for you guys."
"Thank you."
"What else?"
"Some clothes maybe…and then you need to get on a plane. Go visit your parents."
"I have a job, Alex!"
"If the people after me find out we're in the States – and they will eventually – they'll start looking for people I might be connected to...and you can't be here when they come."
"They can't prove anything - "
"They can torture you until you tell them where we are and then they will execute you! This isn't time to fuck around. There's no negotiating, or trying to hide the truth because that's not a risk I'm willing to take. You do what I say right now, Kat. You have to trust me."
Kat was shaking slightly and lowered her eyes to her hands. Her voice quivered when she spoke.
"It's really that bad?"
"Yes."
Kat exhaled, clamping down on her lip. Alex ran a hand over her arm.
"Kat, we've been running from these guys for the last week. They'll stop at nothing to find us and if you get in the way I…"
Kat watched her friend's face cloud over with worry and quietly cut her off.
"Okay. Okay. I'll call the airline and then we can see about getting you some clothes…."
Alex squeezed her arm.
"Thank you."
"How's he doing?" Rick poked his head into the bedroom a few minutes later. Tony was sitting upright, looking tired but better than he had been after the plane ride.
"I numbed the area and stitched up the wound. It's healing nicely all things considered; he should be fine in a few days."
Michelle's slightly pallor complexion gave away the fact that she was still worried, but she nodded.
"Thanks. We really appreciate this."
Eric inclined his head dutifully. "There's not much I can do given the circumstances but…"
"You've done a lot," Tony interjected courteously.
Eric glanced out into the hallway and frowned.
"Alex doesn't need me to look at her?"
"She was treated in Tokyo," Michelle explained. "Her side bothers her a bit sometimes; she's got a few stress fractures but there was only so much they could do."
Eric nodded. "Alright. I'm sure you want to be on your way. Just make sure she takes it easy…no heavy lifting."
The smallest of smirks appeared on Rick's lips and he watched Michelle shake her head with an eye roll, sensing where his mind was going. His smirk widened a little and he ran his tongue over his lips.
"Yeah. We'll keep an eye on her," Rick assured Eric as he reached forward to help Tony off the bed. Tony shrugged him off in exasperation, standing on his own and wincing only slightly. Everybody held their breath and Tony just growled he was fine. Rick and Michelle exchanged a look, but said nothing. Instead they all followed Tony back out into the hallway where Alex and Kathryn waited again. Without a word Michelle slid her fingers between Tony's and exhaled softly when he squeezed back. He might claim to not need any help but she could at least keep him close…just in case.
"Alright we got some food and stuff…" Alex explained, indicating to the bags on the floor. "Toothbrushes…toiletries," she felt her pulse starting to normalize a little, knowing Kat would be safe soon enough.
"Some clothes too…we should be good for a few days," she glanced at Eric. "He's okay?"
"I'm fine," Tony interjected.
Eric explained, "We stitched him up, gave him some local. That should last for a few days too and then the worst of the pain should be over with. Lots of rest though, all of you. You look like crap."
"Okay…" Alex fiddled with the sleeve of the sweatshirt she was wearing, glancing around expectantly.
"So…we're good?"
Everyone nodded softly and Alex gulped and turned to Kat as Rick scooped all the bags up easily.
"So you have the flight reservation…"
"Yes."
"You'll call me if you have any problems getting out of the country…"
"Yes, Aly…" Kat's eyes flooded with tears and she clamped down on her lip. Alex pulled her into a tight hug quickly and wiped her eyes.
"It'll be fine, I'll see you soon - "
Kat's whimper cut her off as her friend squeezed her tighter. Alex's words came shakily when she spoke again.
"Thank you, Kat."
The road before them grew darker and emptier as they sped out of the city. The drive ahead would be long considering how tired Rick had looked sitting in the apartment. He seemed more alert now, a cup from Starbucks between them, but Alex knew he was feeling the eighteen hour days and weak attempts at sleep. They both needed to rest, but she wasn't about to pass out and leave him to figure out the drive for himself. She knew the roads like the back of her hand and she also knew he'd appreciate the company, whether he admitted it or not.
"How ya doin' Michelle?" Rick murmured softly after a short glance in the rearview mirror.
"Mhmm…" They heard Michelle's contented sigh. Alex twisted around in her seat and a smile spread across her lips. Michelle'd been dozing in and out of consciousness for the last little while, but as roomy as the back seat of the SUV was, she didn't look very comfortable. Tony, instead of dropping his head against a window, had opted to cuddle against Michelle's chest.
"Here…" Alex grabbed a jacket from the floor and handed it to Michelle, who used it to cushion her shoulders against the door. Michelle smiled softly, fingers smoothing across Tony's back. He groaned a little in his sleep and pressed closer to her, arms curling impossibly tighter around her waist.
Turning back to Rick, Alex snickered a little.
"Let us know when you can't breathe anymore, Michelle," Alex teased.
"Nah, she can breathe," Rick added. "I lived with them for a few months remember? This is just normal behavior for Tony Almeida…the cuddler."
Michelle laughed tiredly in response.
"Don't spread it around," she breathed quietly.
Rick grinned in response.
After that they fell into silence again. Michelle curled her fingers into Tony's hair, dropping a soft kiss to the top of his head. Settling back against the door she let her own eyes close, enjoying the feeling of his weight against her more than she could possibly describe. After the last twenty-four hours she didn't care about whether or not her back was aggravated. She just liked having him close. The comfort of his body heat and the gentle hum of the car were enough to lull her into a light sleep as they sped along into the night.
Rick's hand adjusted on the steering wheel and he stretched a bit in his seat, stealing an occasional glance in Alex's direction. When he spoke his voice was low.
"You should sleep a bit," he told her softly.
"Sick of my charming company already?"
Sliding out his hand, he rubbed her leg, a soft look on his face. He fiddled with the vents on the car.
"You warm enough?"
"Mhm…"
"You look tired."
"So do you…we can sleep when we get there. It's not that bad of a drive without traffic."
Considering her proposal he smiled a little and found her hand in her lap. Without taking his eyes off the road, her brought her fingers to his lips.
"Alright..." he agreed. "Sleep when we get there."
Alex's heart pounded furiously in her chest at his words and his gesture, wondering what, if any, implications her sleep-deprived brain was to draw from his words. The plane from Madrid had her seated beside Rick but neither of them had slept much. At one point he'd got up for their bags, finding a sweatshirt of his (her favorite, incidentally), helping her tug it over her head and explaining softly she'd looked cold. His scent had been inexplicably soothing to her addled nerves and she relaxed a little bit more. Having him close tended to do that, even when they weren't touching.
Yawning she glanced back out the window, letting him keep a hold on her hand for a few minutes. She'd worry about it what the handholding was supposed to mean later.
The Gibson's bungalow in the Southampton was spectacular in décor and beachfront property, but small compared to the surrounding properties. Kat stayed with friends now when she went up and they'd turned one of the bedrooms into an office as soon as she'd graduated college.
Now in the dark it was still recognizable to Alex. Flicking on as few lights as possible she led everyone towards the landing off the den as Rick dropped their bags beside the couch. A groggy Tony stumbled behind them, blinking the sleep from his eyes and looking around in mild confusion.
"I was out a while?"
Alex rolled her eyes. "Just as soon as we put the car in gear. We're just happy you didn't smother Michelle with all the cuddling."
Tony made a face. "I don't cuddle, Alex."
Snickers filled the silent room and Tony's eyes narrowed.
"Michelle knows I don't cuddle…"
Something between a yelp and a giggle escaped Michelle's throat and she shook her head, bringing her fingers to her mouth. Tony's nostrils flared.
"For someone who doesn't cuddle, you do a pretty good job of it every night…" Michelle cooed patronizingly. Tony growled something under his breath and more quiet laughs filled the room
"Yeah, yeah, you're all hilarious," he growled again, but his hand had dropped to Michelle's back, massaging gently. He'd realized when he came to that Michelle's shoulders and neck would probably be achy from the cramped position he'd unknowingly forced her into.
"You just make a good pillow, sweetheart," he told her, the tone of his voice shifting from sarcastic to tender and changing the mood instantaneously. Michelle sidled closer reflexively, her expression softening.
"I noticed," she teased warmly, resting her cheek against his shoulder and indicating she was ready for bed. Tony glanced between everyone, rubbing his cheek.
"Alright…so there's two bedrooms you said?" checked with Alex who nodded in confirmation. She felt Rick's gaze land on her and tensed a little.
"It's uh…you guys should take the master bedroom. It's at the very end of the hall. The couch in here pulls out and there's another couch in the office so…"
Tony nodded, feeling Michelle's fingers close gently around his and squeezing back a little. Alex looked half dead on her feet and stifled another yawn while Rick leaned back against the couch, arms folded expectantly.
"So what are you guys gonna do?"
Even in the darkness Alex's cheeks flamed red. She had no fucking clue what they were going to do but didn't exactly feel like having the conversation in front of Tony and Michelle. She had very little idea as to what was going on with Rick at home and she…she'd been gone for ten months. Having him forgive her was different that having him still…wanting her like that.
"I'll um…" Alex looked to her hands, feeling every pair of eyes on her.
"It's late. I'll probably go to bed soon too."
Tony bit his lip, staring between Rick and Alex and feeling Michelle squeeze his fingers harder. Rick's eyes hadn't left Alex for a good minute and Tony frowned at his brother.
"You're not gonna call work or anything, right?" he checked, missing the exasperated look Rick shot him.
"Nah…I'm just gonna go to bed too."
Tony nodded understandingly, turning back to Alex.
"You're gonna be okay to sleep right?"
"Yeah…" she managed an uneasy smile, remembering the night spent alone in Angie's bed in London.
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"You sure?"
"She's fine, Tony," Rick's voice highlighted his exasperation now. He rolled his eyes at Michelle who sighed appreciatively.
"We're right here if ya need anything - "
"They're fine Tony," Michelle insisted gently, watching Rick stifle a grin across from her. The corners of her lips twitched and Alex kept her eyes on the floor, still mortified.
"You sure?"
Rick almost smacked his own forehead and Michelle sighed again patiently. Leaning in closer to him she pressed a small kiss in the crook of his neck.
"Tony…" she breathed against his skin. He shivered in response and she caressed his arm.
"You need to rest. Let's go to bed, hmm?"
As if a light bulb turned on in his brain Tony snapped out of his sleep-induced daze. Rick had angled his body towards Alex now and she had clamped down on her lip; they hadn't had a minute alone since the outburst that night in Sangala and…
Fine, he was a little slow tonight. So sue him.
"Right, yeah…" he took a step back towards Michelle who was starting to lead him down the hall.
"I guess we'll uh…" he clamped down on his lip, finally cluing into the reason behind Alex's tomato red face. She chanced a look to his eyes and the color deepened.
"We'll see ya in the morning."
"Night…" Rick called after him sarcastically and Tony rolled his eyes as Michelle pulled him towards the bedroom, pausing to grab their bags of clothes. He was never going to hear the end of this.
Exhaustedly, he closed the bedroom door behind them, watching Michelle strip down to her underwear and dig a t-shirt out of her bag. He followed suit, kicking off his pants and lifting his t-shirt over his head just as Michelle tossed her bra in a corner. Both undressed, she pulled him to her, running her fingers along the bandage on his side. Her eyes were serious and she pressed her lips together slightly as her fingers continued their gentle caresses. Tony's hand moved to her face, tilting her chin so her eyes met his. In that moment they hadn't had any time to themselves since Sangala either. He'd known she was worried but somehow he'd pushed it to the back of his mind, focusing instead on how they were all going to get out of this.
"Hey…" he observed the tears pooling in the corners and kissed her softly. "Don't do that…"
She blinked hard, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"I'm okay." He assured her. Michelle nodded quickly, wiping her cheeks as he bent into kiss her again, kissing away the tear streaks.
"I know." She sniffled a little, brushing her thumb across his skin. "I know you are sweetheart, it's just…" she sighed a little as his hand brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's my fault. If you hadn't had to push me out of the way…"
"Michelle…" he kinked an eyebrow and half his mouth curved upward. "Of all the things I've ever done to try and protect you, pushing you out of range of a bullet seems like the most logical one…"
This got a weak laugh and she pressed her mouth to his.
"I love you so much, Tony…" She tilted her forehead against his. "And I just wish this was done…"
Tony's face looked pained and he cut off her softly.
"C'mon…" he tugged her towards the mattress. "Let's get some rest."
She agreed readily, wiping her eyes a final time and watching him toss throw pillows to the floor and pull back the duvet. He moved a little slower than usual, but for the most part he seemed himself again. Sliding against the cool, soft sheets, her head hit the indescribably comfortable pillow and she exhaled contentedly. Tony's warm body pressed against hers from behind and his arm circled her waist. Tears threatened her again as his lips pressed into the back of her neck and his face nuzzled her skin.
"Not a cuddler, hmm?" she tried to mask the emotion in her voice, but knew it was probably a lost cause. He chuckled softly against her skin, tightening his hold as he slid his nose down her cheek.
"For you, sweetheart, I make an exception."
Left alone now, words failed both Alex and Rick for a few minutes. There had definitely been presumptions made as they bade Tony and Michelle good night but…dealing if it was a different situation. Rick's face was serious as he focused from her, straightening up and stepping away from the couch.
He rubbed his opposite cheek and glanced around at their surroundings.
"What do you uh…I mean I can sleep on the pullout or…"
"I um…" she shifted her weight uncomfortably on her feet. "Look, this is…I don't know where I'm gonna be in a few days…"
"Al…" he reached out a hand, stepping forward. His eyes softened.
"Or if I'm even gonna be alive and you shouldn't…I mean…considering what's happened it's hard enough being around you like this and saying goodbye…" her eyes watered and his stomach clenched at the expression on her face. He stepped even closer, itching to touch her.
"And it's been a while so I don't know what you have going on at home or anything and I don't want to get in the middle of that when I might not even be…"
"Al…"
"So maybe…I just think it's better if we just don't…I mean…I get it…I just showed up and this isn't - "
"I love you," he blurted it out abruptly, causing her breath to catch in her throat. She gulped hard and pursed her lips together staring at him in disbelief.
"You…um…what?"
A small smile touched his lips and he closed the distance between them quickly, cupping her face in his hands and pressing their mouths together. Despite the chasteness of the kiss, she inhaled sharply and stared at him in disbelief.
He shook his head with serious eyes, keeping her face close to his and brushing his thumbs across her cheeks.
"I love you," he repeated. His head tilted to the side and he brushed some hair back behind her ear. "That never changed, Al".
She whimpered a little and melded flush against him when his mouth landed on hers again, pressing insistently back against his kiss and feeling his tongue touch her bottom lip. She tightened her fingers against his t-shirt, her lungs burning and her limbs quivering. The kiss was wet and salty and she realized she was crying…again. When she'd turned into such a suck she had no idea.
"You're…I'm…I'm sorry I fucked this up so bad," she stumbled over her words. "I really didn't want to bring you into this - "
Again he kissed her and her body reciprocated eagerly on it's own. Her hands moved to his face and brushed the pads of her thumbs across his coarse stubble.
"I want to be in this," he breathed, keeping her close. "I don't care what happened or why you did it but I want to be in this no matter how bad it gets… Alright?"
The tip of his nose bumped hers gently before their lips touched again.
"I can't sleep anymore." She choked out, pulling back and wiping her eyes gruffly. "I'm tired and I haven't slept properly since…since I left and it got even worse when we went to China and I'm just…I'm just so tired…" the tears started to fall down her cheeks and she buried her face into his shoulder. His arms closed around and his chin came to rest against her temple. He kissed her hair.
"We'll fix that now…hmm?"
She lifted her head to smile weakly.
"I love you," he insisted.
Her bottom lip quivered, but she nodded and tightened her arms around him.
"I love you too…" she sighed. He grinned and kissed the corner of her mouth.
"C'mon…" he pulled back to find her fingers, tugging her down the hall.
"Let's go to bed."