Chapter Sixteen: A Pleasant Distraction

She couldn't keep her smile in.

Marla McGivers was holding onto the stone railing because she wanted to. She didn't need it for support. She was feeling out the gray smooth surface looking down at the cars that skated by below her. Everything inside was sick and decaying. She took her first breath of fresh air with relief. The pain was gone. She could feel her body begin to relax at that thought as her mind still reeled with the knowledge of what was to come.

Her eyes closed as she squeezed the surface recalling the conversation she had had with Khan. Her words always seemed to get to him, no matter how hard he tried to not show it on his features, Marla could see his wheels begin to turn. Despite not truthfully knowing an augment until the day she had been introduced to John Harrison, the historian was well versed enough to know what she could on their habits and desires. The woman now merely had the pleasure of becoming incredibly close to one, close enough to know the right words to say.

"Big boom, then?" She had squeezed out the words when Khan had been finished admiring her naked form.

She was putting on the clothes he had brought for her facing the wall. He had demanded she turn from him. Marla may have seen his fist clench when she had done as he wished. The woman felt smug in the fact that the superior man was letting his wants and needs intermingle.

"Yes," He breathed out. "As much chaos as possible."

She bit her lip snapping her bra straps in place before throwing on the blouse. Her pants were already loose fitting around her waist. She hated being slim in that moment. She felt unhealthy and wrong in her healed skin. Marla knew it would take her a while to become the curvy woman she had been prior to the "malfunction" on the Reliant.

"Hmm." She hummed the noise pulling down her shirt a bit. Something clattered to the floor. Her father's ring had slipped from her finger. She bent down picking up the clunky piece of metal. "Nail those bastards." She repeated her father's words wholly letting them play in her head.

"Something inside the building would do." Khan started. "It'd be ideal to activate a device from a distance." Marla pinched the ring between her fingers examining and remembering the ring. He had this when they found him the day he went rambling. Marla didn't have that memory, but recalled the pictures. She also recalled they had never found the supposed bomb. Her father may have been off, but he was not a liar.

"Khan," Her head turned for the moment seeing he had fully dressed himself as well. She showed him the ring lifting it up to the buzzing light. "Take a look at this."

He stepped forward smacking combat boots to floor. He reached out covering her small hand with his large one. He smoothed his fingers and palms to cover hers pinching the ring as she did. She let him take it as he held it higher to the light and closer to his face. He examined the object closely. She watched his eyes study the metal thing, twisting it to see every space the thing had. His lips twitched lightly.

"How long have you had this?" His voice seemed a lingering sound of pride toward the object.

"Since you requested my assistance." He stepped closer to her as he spoke, but soon passed her in favor of a lab station. "It was my father's. He . . . gave it to me." Khan was at the desk properly examining the product.

"Your father." He breathed out letting his eyes work over the surface getting in closer as he sat eagerly in the chair.

"Yes," She scratched her arm where redness no longer burned her. She liked the feeling of rough raw flesh. "Told me to nail those bastards when he did."

"Were you aware," Marla could tell he was finding it more and more difficult to keep his composure around her. He was truthfully shocked by the device. "That this is a bomb?"

"No," Marla smiled watching as Khan's pale blue eyes held her in her place. "But I suppose it makes sense now." Her eyes shifted to the ring. "He did have it when he made claims about blowing Starfleet to pieces." She smiled remembering her father looking away from her companion. "Said I should finish what he started."

"We can." She let her eyes go to his once more. The sound of the we was still shocking to her.

She had fought for her position at his side yet she still didn't feel the strength overwhelming her. Marla felt that she no longer had to fight anymore, she was strong. She needed to remember what Marcus had done to her even if she had been cured. Her mother was still dead. Khan had still been imprisoned. Seventy-two remarkable beings were still being used as a war tactic.

"It's quite a simple device in use" Khan remarked placing it in his hand. His chin lifted as he held the ring at eye level. "Add water and it expands, explodes. It's a very complex thing to build without the proper knowledge. Your father is certainly a brilliant man, Dr. McGivers." She smiled softly feeling the compliment, but not confident in it.

"You two would really get along well." She mused with almost a chuckle. She thought her father's ramblings would make complete sense to the augment. Khan seemed to ignore her in that moment.

"That man," He said to her lowering the ring to the metal table top. "That man you were speaking with in my absence." His eyes were trained on her once more. She stood up straighter walking carefully toward him, feet bare.

"Thomas?" She wondered looking at placed explosive device. She had conversed with Khan about taking Harewood's key to the room where the tubes were being held. "What about him?"

"He has a child." Marla looked up to him seeing the wheels turn. "You went to see her. She's sick."

"You know this how?" She looked him over as his eyes stayed on her. Her eyes remained judging. "Did you not trust me to follow through?"

"No," His contact with her broke. "I do not trust others to keep you," He was searching for the word. Perhaps a word that would not show something was forming within him. Marla suspected Khan was beginning to build more of a comrade relationship with her. She knew feelings were the enemy of war. "Out of harm's way. I still needed your assistance." She looked him over crossing her arms over her chest.

"Harewood would do anything for his daughter."

Without much discussion the plan had been decided. Marla was standing on the balcony above the underground lab Khan had discovered. It just so happened it was at the same hospital Lucy Harewood was slowly dying in. She knew what they had to do. She was happy to do it too. Saving one life wasn't worth all the death they would soon commit, but it was enough to keep her satisfied.

"Marla?" She smiled when her prey said her name. She turned to see his shock. "Marla, what are you – I thought you -? You died, Marla." He looked her over. "You were dying."

"Obviously not dead, Harewood." She straightened her body to express her new health. "I was saved."

"How?" His eyes looked her over as he came closer. He looked about as if they were to be caught at any moment. He grabbed her arms roughly feeling her skin. "You – you don't even have the scars." He pulled at her sleeves looking over her face. He touched her soft cheeks gently. She leaned into his touch trying to remember the last time someone had held her gently.

"I was promised life in exchange for devotion." She said softly. Harewood was trying to find a flaw on her. Marla was particularly flawless.

"Devotion?" He wondered. "To who, Marla?" She nudged her chin behind Harewood when she saw him.

"I can save her," The words echoed "Like I saved Dr. McGivers."

When Thomas turned to face Khan, Marla smiled. The superior man remained absent of emotion as Thomas looked on. She knew what was to follow. She knew she had to convince this man to commit to putting that ring in a glass, killing himself and whoever remained at Section 31. Chaos would erupt long enough for Khan to get what he needed. In the meantime she'd make the trip to San Francisco. Khan had promised to come up with the paperwork for the trip. Then she would wait to see her next move. They would move with trust in each other from then on.

Marla regretted the separation, but knew it was needed.

"What did you say?"

"Your daughter," His voice was low. "I can save her." It was hopeful before Thomas turned to Marla.

"Who is he?" Of course he would ask this healthy being in front of him. "How did he do this to you?" He searched her face.

"He won't help Lucy unless you promise him something." Marla insisted. Thomas looked Khan over in that moment before getting closer to Marla.

"What did you do Marla?" He wondered in utter horror. "What did you do to - ?"

"Live?" She breathed out with almost a laugh. "I did what I had to." She let her eyes stare into his. "You know she doesn't have long." Harewood swallowed. "She's getting worse. She's small, Thomas. She can't hold on as long as I did, no matter how weak a dose she received from the accident." She tried her best not to sound bitter with the word accident.

"I love Lucy." He insisted. "I love my daughter."

"You'd do anything to save her." Marla held his shoulder bringing him close. He nodded.

"Yes."

"Then you'll do what he asks. To save your daughter." She was doing him a favor. She was saving his life by ending it. Lucy was too far gone. There was no way to get her health at a good level without Khan's blood. Thomas turned to Khan with sullen wide eyes.

"What do I need to do?"

She didn't need Khan for her plan to work.

Marla could have very easily taken Marcus out. He thought she was dying. Perhaps he truthfully believed she was dead. She knew methods of how to kill someone. She clearly could kill someone. She didn't need him to kill Marcus now that she was healthy. Marla McGivers was also not merely fulfilling the bargain. That was clear when Khan began to take his blood.

She watched him move about the room beside the malformed cot she had healed on, wrapping her arms around herself trying to feel herself skin burn against her. She still couldn't believe how good not burning or falling felt. Marla was observing in these small moments where he imagined he was alone. He shoved the blood vial in a container along with the ring. He snapped it closed pausing in that moment.

"This," He breathed out. "Is the last time I will see you."

Her eyes floated up at him as he turned his head slowly, but gently. She nodded placing her hands to her sides. She watched as his body began a slow pivot to face her. His hands had released the important combination on the table.

"Perhaps we will not see each other once this is through."

"It may be best." It was a lie she spoke.

Khan was a fascinating individual. She had studied him through time and now she was witnessing his history continue to unfold and become a part of. She might end up a silent player in the game once the actions started to unravel, but she would make sure he remained unharmed as did his people. It was her duty to keep the past alive as a historian after all. He walked toward her with slow easy steps pressing his chest to hers before looking her in the eye. His eyes were full of wonderment and a certain kind of sadness. His hand lifted to her cheek letting his overworked hand cup her chin and cheek together.

"Lie back." He insisted. She had to make sure the bed was in frame when he had asked. Her brows knitted together uncertain of those words. "This is for you." He said. He moved his legs closer causing her to have no choice, but to fall onto the bed. He shifted above her placing himself firmly as the dominant force, yet Marla could see the creeping emotion in his eyes, the subtle discomfort.

Khan leaned down after he had finished searching her confused expression. He kissed her gently. She felt every crease of in his lips feeling a warm gentleness build within her as he let her guide the intensity of the kiss. The kiss wasn't long like their other ones. It ended as soon as it began. He looked into her eyes before he held her face. Marla closed her eyes falling into his touch, his warmth. She wondered how she could have felt so empty before his touch. She felt his lips once more kiss her paying careful attention to her lower lip.

"What is this for?" She asked when she could meet his gaze once the second kiss was pulled away.

"A reward." He insisted. She shook her head lightly letting her teeth show when she smiled.

"No," She mused rather throaty. "This is a distraction." She reached for his face lightly running her fingers over his cheekbones. "A pleasant one at that, but a distraction," She looked to his eyes raising her brows. "None the less." She kissed him softly feeling Khan deepen the kiss as much as he could.

"This is," He repeated leaning his forehead against. "Your distraction."

The way this time around went wasn't fire and heat. It was a slow burning passion that was careful to hit all the right spots at all the right times. Each article of clothing was removed slowly and only when needed, but each clothing was removed until they were completely free from the restraints of their attire. Each body part acted as it should when needed. Lips met lips more often than not. Each sensitive area of the good doctor's body was dealt with on her own time for her own pleasure. Khan made sure she was comfortable and satisfied.

When it came time for the actual act of sex Marla did her best to try and prolong it. His fingers were too warm for him to end it there. She was becoming increasingly comfortable with the way he felt against her body, bare skinned and lonely. She knew he was searching her for answers to his own burning questions and desires wondering if her smooth skin may in fact be his salvation.

However this time when he entered her it wasn't sudden. It was conscious and slow. His eyes were on her when this happened making sure every emotion that crossed her face was right. He almost seemed smug when her hands clutched his hair at the first hitch of her breath. Khan made each movement precise. Every motion of his hips, hands, lips, and tongue was one that was met with admiration.

She repeated his name on a breathless loop until her throat dried up. Her breath became a raspy gasp of breaths before she bit hard on her lip. She didn't want it to end. With it over he'd be gone as usual. In the past she would have preferred it. In the past she had been fighting her illness long enough to know when not to get hurt. Now she was healthy and full of options.

Her breath caught in her throat when he pushed inside her a little too hard and a little too deep. It was only then that the gentle motions quickened slightly. His lips kissed up from her breasts, nipples, and then against Marla's own lips.

"Marla." It was barely a whisper, barely a breath, but it lingered there in the air between them. He kissed her lips again as the heat between them increased and they finished together.

She swallowed looking toward the table. She couldn't look at him then. Not when he was going to vanish in moments. Marla closed her eyes as he took himself from atop her rolling to the side. She didn't expect anything. Not even a goodbye however she felt a warm embrace. She turned to see that her back was facing Khan's chest. He slowly leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"This is for you." He repeated holding the red head to his body. "You deserve this. Comfort, contact. You deserve this." She slowly felt her walls come down leaning into his chest with complete relaxed release.

Marla knew this wasn't for her. No matter how long he tried to convince himself otherwise she knew, this parting gift was for him. This parting gift was what he needed most of all.

Author's Note: This chapter was so incredibly sweet. And now we get into the plot of the movie :)