A/N: Again, thank you for the reviews and favourites and follows, I really appreciate it! Here's the final part, I hope it lives up to expectations!
Chapter Three
Finally in the geo-cruiser on their way home, the Planeteers started to relax. "Do you want us to drop you back in Russia, Linka?"
The young woman groaned, "Nyet, thank you but we were mostly done with the decorating. I need to go back for the wedding in a few weeks but they can do without me until then, I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again."
"I wouldn't have minded another night in the bunkhouse." Wheeler teased, making her blush.
The closeness they had felt when they woke up that morning seemed to have evaporated when Linka confronted Shawn (thereby declaring her independence,) and though they had both been wishing for an excuse to feel the other's arms about them again, they didn't know how to bridge the gap.
Dinner was a quiet affair and everyone but Wheeler went to bed early. The wind was blowing up and the temperature dropping and he figured they were in for a tropical storm, but he didn't feel like being shut up in his cabin. Instead he stretched out on the sofa and tried to recall exactly how it felt to have Linka curled up next to him.
"Yankee?"
For a moment he thought his mind had conjured up the soft voice but on opening his eyes he found her standing before him in her night things, looking a little nervous. "Something wrong Babe?"
Linka shook her head, and as he sat up and held an arm out for her, sat close to him, tucking an arm over his waist. "I wanted to thank you, for looking after me."
"You don't need to thank me," he gave her a loving hug, "I'm grateful that you trust me… and that I don't creep you out the way that guy did. I know I might have crossed the line once or twice?"
Looking up at him in surprise, Linka once more shook her head. "Of course I trust you, I feel safe with you… and I am not sure what line you are talking about but if you did, it could not have been anything I objected to."
She lowered her eyes as she said that last, colour coming to her cheeks.
"Good to know." Wheeler smiled and rested his head against hers as she laid it on his shoulder. They were silent for a while but a stiff breeze rattled through the cabin and made Linka shiver. "I guess it's time to batten down the hatches huh?"
"You mean the shutters?" She asked, nodding.
He chuckled and got up, "Yeah."
Immediately missing his warmth, Linka hugged herself but remained where she was until he opened the door, "May I walk to you to your cabin Miss?"
Linka got up and went to him, allowing him to put his arm around her to steady her against the wind. "There is water in the air already, I think this is going to be bad."
"Worried?" He asked.
"Nyet." She was oddly quiet and when they reached her door she opened it and stepped inside without saying anything, but then turned to look at him, still silent.
Wheeler stepped forward into her doorway so that he didn't have to shout, it also brought him close to her so he placed his hands on her hips. "Tell me what's bothering you?"
She shrugged without meeting his eyes but leant against him as another gust of wind brought a light smattering of rain with it.
"We're going to get wet standing here, can I come in a minute?" he asked, hoping she wouldn't send him away.
"Da." Linka stepped away from him, giving him room to close the door, and went to sit on her bed before the last of the light was shut out. "You had better secure it in case the storm gets worse."
He did as she asked and then used his ring to illuminate the room before moving to join her. "Now talk to me."
Linka sighed, "I do not know what is wrong with me, I feel restless. Ever since I got up this morning I have wanted…"
"What?" His expression was of polite concern, clearly not getting where she was going with this.
"To… to be back in that bunk. With you." She looked down at his ring as if fascinated by the soft glow it was giving out.
Wheeler stared at her in amazement, not sure he'd heard her correctly, "Really?" she nodded, "But… I mean I thought when you told Shawn where to go you were back to not needing me anymore?"
Linka cringed slightly, "The two things are not connected… I do not need you to fight my battles, but I loved knowing you were there to protect me. You act differently when I am upset… you are just you, without all the…" She waved her hand aimlessly as she struggled to find the right word and he caught it and held it in his.
"I know what you mean." He said softly. "I don't do it on purpose exactly, I had to learn not to show how I was really feeling back home. I guess I know I don't have to protect myself when you need me, the rest of the time I'm waiting for you to slap me down."
Raising her eyes to meet his she said, "I would not slap you down if you were not acting like a womanising idiot."
He laughed, "That's a bit strong don't you think… idiot maybe, actually I'm not sure that's acting, but a bit of flirting here and there doesn't make me a womaniser… certainly not a successful one."
Linka looked sad, "It feels like it to me when you forget I exist to pursue the latest beautiful girl you meet, and then you expect me not to mind when you try to flirt with me again. As for being an idiot, you are not stupid which just annoys me even more when you act like it."
"I never forget you exist, it's just that sometimes it's felt like flirting with someone else is the only way to get any sort of reaction from you. I'd rather you were angry with me than act like I'm a minor annoyance…" He shrugged.
Her tone suddenly became pleading and her voice rose, though that was mostly because the storm outside was increasing in intensity. "Jason, do you really not understand? When I woke this morning it felt like we were together, a couple, and it was wonderful and it is breaking my heart that it is not real, but it is the one way in which I cannot trust you!"
She broke off and stood, pulling her hand away from his and wrapping her arms around herself as she trembled from the cold. "I should not have started this, I am sorry. You should go to bed before the storm gets any worse."
Wheeler didn't move for a moment but when he did it wasn't towards the door. Stepping up behind Linka he wrapped his arms around her waist and bowed his head to kiss her shoulder. "I want it to be real Babe. What we felt this morning is real, it's the rest that's fake. I'm sorry that I've hurt you, but you can trust me, I swear. Please?"
She moved and for a heart stopping moment he thought she was going to pull away, but then she turned into his arms, wrapping her own around his waist and burying her face in his shoulder. Wheeler tightened his embrace releasing a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
After a while the Russian asked, "Do you want to stay tonight?"
"Yes." He responded, a little too quickly, making her chuckle.
"To sleep." She teased, looking up at him.
Wheeler grinned, "I know. I just don't want to let go of you."
Her smile widened but she pulled away. Moving to the bed and pulling back the covers she got in and looked back to find him hesitating. "Is something wrong Yankee?"
"Noooo… just wondering if I should get undressed or if that would be too weird?"
Linka smiled, "You wander around in just your boxers or shorts all the time, why would it be weird? But you should wear whatever you are comfortable in… except your trainers."
He laughed and stripped down to his underwear before getting into bed beside her. They settled down comfortably in each other's arms, listening to the weather outside, and he let the glow fade from his ring leaving them in darkness.
"Will you go with me to Mishka's wedding?" Linka asked after a while.
"Yeah. If you're sure you want me there?" He cleared his throat, "You know, as your boyfriend."
"Why would I not?" she sounded confused, "It would be odd if my boyfriend did not go with me."
He gave her a hug, "Yeah but it's a family thing and… I don't want to show you up."
There was a moment of silence before she said, "You mean the flirting?"
"No! I promise you I won't flirt with anyone but you. Ever." He paused, "I'm just not sure I know how to behave."
"Just be yourself." She told him, realising that his insecurity in this instance was her own fault, "I will tell you what to expect, but you have nothing to worry about. I am not worried."
He chuckled at the finality in her voice. "Ok."
Again they lapsed into silence while Wheeler's thumb rubbed a soothing pattern on her shoulder.
"Would it make things awkward if I asked you if I can kiss you goodnight?"
Linka smiled, "Da, probably. You should just do it without asking."
The fire ring began to glow again, giving the young pair just enough light to see by. Their lips met at first in a chased and tentative manner but the kiss soon deepened into something more and when at last they parted, feeling much more like a real couple, they settled down into a peaceful slumber, no longer aware of the storm raging without.
The End