Chapter 35:
"Isabella's not waking up!"
His heart nearly stopped right in his chest at the words.
Snake Eyes couldn't believe it and was at Breaker's side in an instant, trying to catch a glimpse of the young woman himself. Scarlet stood off to the side, her eyes observing silently.
The Moroccan was in the middle of gathering Isabella's form in his arms when he felt the presence of his black clad friend beside him. Once he had the young woman secured, Breaker turned about carefully and held her out for Snake Eyes to take.
"Here ."
Snake Eyes quickly moved in, his muscled arms opening wide to receive Isabella before he slid one hand behind her knees while his other came about her waist. Taking her easily, the black ninja cradled the woman's still body close to his chest and allowed his hidden gaze to freely wander over her.
His poor Isabella...
Her lovely eyes, bordered with dark lashes, were closed . Messy, frost-tipped strawberry blonde hair hung in rigid strands, framing her face which looked incredibly pale, and only heightened her now blue-tinted lips.
Shifting her over to one arm, Snake Eyes used his free hand to brush across her cheek before he lowered it down to find the pulsing spot on her neck; thanking God for the faint flutter of life that still moved beneath his fingers. "Oh Isabella..." he thought to himself as his arms clutched her tighter, "...what has happened to you?"
How could such a spirited woman who was always aglow with her vivacity, suddenly be reduced to this delicate shape?
Breaker and Scarlet shared a knowing glance, "Hypothermia..." they announced simultaneously. The computer whiz got to his feet once again only to turn and take off running, "I'm getting a first-aid kit."
Scarlet stepped up beside Snake Eyes, "Make sure it has an IV!" she called after him. Turning her attention on the unconscious woman in the ninja's arms, she reached a hand out and touched the sleeve of Isabella's jacket. It felt icy and stiff.
Drawing in a sharp breath, the redhead pulled away, "She must've been soaked to the bone for a while I'm guessing...it's no wonder that hypothermia had set in so swiftly the second she stepped outside. Isabella had probably been fighting it off long before she met up with us."
Spinning away, Scarlet swiftly followed Breaker's path, "Snake, let's take her to a back room. We've got to get her warm."
He didn't have to be told twice. In a couple of long strides and without taking his gaze off Isabella even for a second, Snake Eyes caught up to the redhead who led the way out of the holding room.
Moments a later, they immediately succeeded in locating a small quarters off to the left.
"This should be sufficient." the redhead spoke as she promptly opened the door. Holding it open, Scarlet ushered Snake Eyes inside first before following right after.
The room was nearly bare minus the few supply boxes stacked in the back corner. "Damn...I thought there'd be something we could put her on..." Scarlet mumbled irritably.
A second passed before the door swung back open, letting Breaker jog inside. In his arms he carried a rather large stack of materials. "I've got the kit!" he announced, signaling to the neon orange box that sat on top, "And.." he went on, ".. I grabbed some old thermal blankets too."
Scarlet immediately perked up, "That'll work." Wasting no time, the redhead snatched the stack of blankets from Breaker, grabbing the first one and shaking it out once before unfolding it and neatly laying it out on the ground.
Looking up at Snake Eyes who stood towering above her squatting form, Scarlet gave him a nod, "Put her here, Snake."
With great reluctance, the tall and well-built ninja dropped to his knees beside the blanket and gently placed Isabella down. With a sigh, he turned his dark head to look over at Scarlet who was positioned directly across from him.
"Breaker prepare the IV..." Scarlet announced, sparing a glance back over her shoulder. Breaker already had the kit open and was pulling out a tangled cord.
"I'm on it." he answered.
Looking back at Snake Eyes, the redhead watched as he reached a gloved hand out and tucked some strands of hair behind Isabella's ear, taking note of his attentiveness as he kneeled beside their comrade. It was a sight in which Scarlet couldn't do anything but smile softly before she cast a glance down on Isabella's form.
Who would've thought that this young woman who they had originally met during such disagreeable circumstances, would have their black clad ninja utterly infatuated.
Scarlet has known Snake for a while, after all. And though they've had their moments of affection between each other in the past, it was never able to compare to the obvious attraction that flew between him and Isabella. They had a chemistry like what flame has with gun powder.
It's a dangerous combination...but that's probably why they fit each other so well, Scarlet mused.
"It's alright Snake..." she reassured him, drawing his attention back towards her, "She'll be ok..."
Snake Eyes nodded his dark head in return.
"Ok...now Breaker, give me the scissors from the kit." she ordered as she extended a hand up. When she felt the tool get placed in her open hand, Scarlet immediately went to work.
Starting with the sleeves of Isabella's jacket, Scarlet began cutting the material away till the jacket was in ruins beside its owner. Then bringing the cutters up to the scooping neckline of Isabella's magenta top, she started snipping down the unconscious woman's front.
When a glimpse of a lacey black bra was revealed, Scarlet paused for a moment, remembering there were men in the room and cleared her throat, "Uh...guys.." she addressed calmly. "Her clothes need to come off...all of them."
This was one of those moments when Snake Eyes found himself grateful for wearing his mask and visor as he felt his eyes widen as a burning heat ignited inside him. Flying to his feet, Snake Eyes moved around the blanket and came up alongside Breaker before he placed a hand on the smaller man's shoulder and turned them both about so that they faced away from Scarlet and Isabella.
Scarlet smiled again as she quickly picked up where she had left off. "Aww...so bashful, Snake." she teased while Breaker chuckled.
Snake Eyes rolled his eyes while his arms came up and crossed themselves over his chest in response Bashful is a poor word to describe him; he wasn't bashful at all. He just knew that if Isabella ever found out that he had seen her in her delicates or what's even more, naked, chances are that she'd be extremely displeased.
Plus...the sight of her glorious female body would no doubt haunt his thoughts for a very long time.
It took a few minutes for her to cut the jeans away, but like the jacket and shirt, they wound up in a pile of scraps. Sitting back on her heels, Scarlet put down the scissors and picked up the remaining blankets which she then used to cover up Isabella's indecency.
"Alright...she's good." Scarlet informed.
Snake Eyes sighed quietly before he moved back over and took a seat
"Good..." agreed Breaker as he pivoted around and stepped over to where Scarlet kneeled beside Isabella. "...but we have a problem."
"What's that?"
"We don't have a stand for the IV..."
Scarlet groaned while reaching a hand up to cover her eyes, "Of course we don't." she swore quietly.
Breaker placed a hand upon her shoulder, "I don't think we'll need one right now though."
Scarlet turned her head up and looked the computer whiz in the eye, "We are thousands of miles away from the Pit...if we had been able to get an IV in her now, we'd be able to easily raise her body temperature out this critical level."
"This is true..." Breaker agreed with a slight nod, "...but an IV isn't the only way to quickly raise her temperature."
It took only a second before Scarlet's eyes widened with recognition as she stared up into the Moroccan's face. Breaker smirked in response.
"Body heat." they agreed in unison; in a slow turn of heads, both Scarlet and Breaker fixed their eyes upon Snake Eyes who was just feet away.
The black ninja was already staring back, his eyes going from one to the other. Did they really mean for him to...
"Snake..."
They did.
"It's the only way to warm her up fast enough." Scarlet pushed.
He hesitated for a moment, taking a long minute to look down at pale Isabella's face. This wasn't how he imagined lying with Isabella for the first time...but...
"She needs me..." Snake Eyes' thought to himself. With that in mind, the muscular man reached behind him and removed the sheathed katana upon his back before proceeding down to swiftly unlace his heavy, black boots.
Setting them off to the side, his gloved hands found the hidden zipper on the side of his black body suit just underneath his arm and pulled down.
With the fitted top now loose, Snake Eyes tugged the material up and over his head before discarding it on top of his other possessions, his gloves followed after all the while keeping his mask and visor on.
Dressed now in just his black pants and a simple black muscle shirt, Snake Eyes inched forward and stretched out on the blanket beside Isabella, lying on his side; his bare hand hold of the blanket's corner that was draped over Isabella's body.
Lifting the thick, itchy dark grey wool just a few inches so that the young woman's naked shoulder peaked out, he slid his hand underneath, drawing in a sharp breath of air when his seemingly hot hand met her chilled flesh.
Taking care, Snake Eyes scooped his arm underneath her neck till her head rested comfortably in the crook of his elbow. Then keeping his eyes locked on her face, he used his other hand to raise the blanket once more, higher this time so that he could slip underneath.
Once he had the blanket draped securely over himself, Snake Eyes reached for Isabella, his hand grazing over a round hip which he found was not completely as bare as he thought considering his fingers brushed across cool lace before resting on top of her flat stomach. He shifted her slightly, turning her on her side so that he could fully settle himself behind her, creating a snug cocoon with his much larger build.
Snake Eyes' body felt like it could've been on fire compared to how chilly Isabella felt in his arms. But even when her chill began seeping into him, the man without so much as a shudder, held on tighter to the young woman and made sure he was pressing as much of himself as he could into her as he willed his body to pour his heat into her frame and share his abundance of warmth; not even caring the slightest as he lost track of time.
Hours flew by, feeling like mere minutes as he remained lying alongside her; both Breaker and Scarlet had long since left the room quietly, leaving them completely alone.
With a quiet sigh, Snake Eyes leaned his head down and nuzzled his masked face into the gentle curve of Isabella's neck. Hearing her breaths come more even now, deeper too, the black ninja found himself perfectly content in just listening to the faint sounds as his hidden eyes roamed freely across her sleeping form.
Her body had warmed enough that color was starting to return to her skin.
"Another good sign..." Snake Eyes noted to himself as he allowed his eyes to close for a moment as he continued to relish the wonderful sensation of having this woman's body against his.
Suddenly, Isabella gently shifted for the first time in her position lying on her side; it was a very slight movement, but the little wiggle was enough for Snake Eyes as his eyes snapped back open. "Bella?"
Being careful as he propped himself up on his elbow, Snake Eyes stared down into her face; her eyes were still closed, her face relaxed.
She was still asleep.
Smiling to himself, Snake Eyes reached a hand out and tenderly brushed his knuckles down her soft cheek.
The light touch stirred the woman again; her brows furrowed and lips, which were no longer blue, pursed for a second as she moved herself from her side to her back before falling still once more.
Shaking his head softly with amusement, Snake Eyes found himself reaching a hand up to the base of his neck where his fingers found themselves slipping beneath the ends of his mask before he tugged the black material up.
"That reminds me..."
When the mask came off, he tossed it aside without a second glance before he moved in, his towering build leaning over Isabella's form.
Tucking a hand beneath her head, Snake Eyes lifted her up ever so slightly. The young woman's lips parted gently as she drew in another steady breath.
God, she was so lovely.
His eyes took in everything from her face to the succulent looking pair of pink lips that were holding his attention, "And this time...no interruptions."
Dipping his head down, Snake Eyes felt Isabella's breath against his face for but a moment before the black ninja finally claimed her mouth in a sweet kiss.
In a dreamy haze, Isabella grew aware of the pair of soft, warm lips that were coaxing her own in such a magnificent manner. She couldn't recall a time of ever being kissed quite like this. It was tender...yet possessive.
Willing herself, the young woman opened her eyes which still felt far too heavy for her liking and caught sight of a man's silhouette hovering above her.
He had a strong jawline and blurry chiseled features with light bronzed skin. Golden brown hair sat on his head; it was sharply trimmed in a military fashion that Isabella was accustomed to seeing on her Marines. But this wasn't a Marine she knew...or any man for that matter.
She would've remembered a man like this...
Could she be dreaming?
...or was she dead?
Isabella wiggled her fingers down at her side. "I feel real enough." she spoke inside her mind. Though she had to admit something about her did feel incredibly different.
And lord knows, he felt real too. She couldn't stop feeling because of him.
Sensing her scrutiny, the man finally pulled away taking his lips back as he opened his eyes and met Isabella's weary gaze.
Oh my...
Isabella felt all the breath leave her body as she found herself staring into two deep pools of rich blue.
She had never seen these eyes before...but something about them felt so strangely familiar. The intensity they held...their focus...
Clearly, this man was an angel of some sort because for whatever reason, Isabella found herself starting to smile for no apparent reason.
Her blue-eyed angel. She rather like the idea as her eyes fluttered closed, finding herself being once again pulled back under into a deep and pleasant slumber.
