fanfic_name = Ricks Rain

chapter = 1

author = Adam Scott

Rating = AP

Type = Alternative Universe

fanfic = Chapter 1

Why did I come here? I know she's inside, Claudia told me so. Well it's too late to back out now. I guess I'll knock.

There's no answer, maybe they didn't here me. "Come on it's pouring out here!" I shout.  I'll be lucky if I don't catch a death or cold standing in the rain like this.

Finally, someone is coming to the door. It's her! Why is my heart pounding? She looks like a drowned rat but then again so do I. But that is forgotten when I notice her beautiful green eyes.

She takes my arm and we stroll back out into the rain, this time under an umbrella. We hardly say a word. The silence is awkward, what should I say?  I don't know? My mind is blank. All I can think about are her eyes and how wonderful it feels to have her holding my arm. It just feels right.

"I enjoy walking at night" she says breaking the silence. Hoping that maybe the idle banter will help us both come to grips with what we are feeling. Together, but yet still alone, neither of us willing to admit to each other what it is between us. Is it love? I don't know, I think I have experienced love before or was it just infatuation. All I know is that I have never felt this way before. It's wonderful and frightening at the same time.

We continue walking and chatting but it's late and it's raining. Where can we go? We can't stay out in the rain all night? "My place isn't far from here, but I'm afraid I have nothing to offer" I say hoping that she will make a better suggestion.

"That sounds wonderful, and I have just the thing right here" she says while holding up a small tin of tea. Amazing, is this woman prepared for everything!?

We walked towards my cottage holding hands. This woman, my superior officer, and the person I see day-in and day-out who guides me to and through trouble, wants to be with me. I feel like I'm flying, what has come over me. After the fights we have had and how much of jerk I have been, I'm surprised that she would even look at me let alone talk to me. But here she is holding my hand and smiling at me and we are walking to my place to have tea!?

"Rick", she says, "Rick", a little louder, "isn't that your place there?" I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost passed by my own house. We walk up to the door, by now my hands are shaking from the cold and the unfamiliar feelings and emotions. I fumble with the key trying put it in the lock and drop it. We both bend down to get it. We bump heads and fall onto our rumps. With a startled look we laugh at each other. I grab the key and then we help each other up, pulling each other close.

I wrapped my arm around her waist for support. I could smell her perfume and the faint odor of wine on her breath. I look down at her and her up at me and our eyes lock. I could feel myself falling into the deep pools of emerald green staring back at me. Then our lips touch, ever so gently, neither one of us knew that this was going to happen and neither one of us wanting to rush for fear we may break the spell. We melt into each other, holding each other, breathing each other in. After several moments we reluctantly pull apart. We weren't feeling the cold but we knew we ought to go inside.

While I went searching for clean towels and a change of clothes Lisa prepared the tea. I changed into some sweats and brought Lisa my terry cloth robe. She gave a questioning look, "Your clothes are soaked" I said, "Go take them off and put this on so I can dry them" she still had a look of suspicion so I added "don't worry I will be a perfect gentleman". She smiled at that, took the robe and skipped (yes, skipped) to the bathroom to change.

I took the tea pot and two cups to the living room on a tray with some sugar cookies I had found in the cupboard. Even though I don't have much I can at least be an accommodating host.  Lisa was in the bathroom for a long time it seemed so I went and tapped on the door. "I'll be out in just a minute" she yells and just as I turn from the door I get hit in the back of the head with a pile of wet clothes. "Oh, I'm sorry" she says with a giggle, "I didn't see you there"; "Yeah, right" I reply and grin. She laughs again. "You have a wonderful smile" she say's "I wish I could see it more often"; "Well we'll just have to work on that won't we". Now I'm smiling from ear to ear.

I pick up the clothes from the floor and put them in the dryer. Meanwhile Lisa makes herself comfortable on the couch. I fetched a blanket and tossed it to her. She snuggles up in the blanket and robe and I hand her a cup of tea. "This is what I really needed" she says with sigh "a good laugh, good tea and good company". I hoped that she was referring to me with the latter part of the statement.

We sat there in silence for several moments sipping our tea, contemplating what happened in the doorway, neither one of us knowing what to say. Then I had to break the silence. "Lisa," I said "I want you to know that you are very special to me. I want to know more about you. I feel a connection with you that I can't explain". She looked like she was expecting more but I didn't know what else to say, honestly I just didn't have the guts to say it. My heart was telling me too but my brain was still stuck in first gear, stuck with Minmei.

Then it was Lisa's turn, after a long sip of tea she said "I feel the same way, you are special to me too. I just wish we didn't have so many fights". "I'm sorry about that" I said apologetically, "I guess we just know how to push each others buttons don't we". She nodded her head in agreement and said "maybe we need to learn to push different buttons" followed with a wink. I wasn't sure how to take that. We had a moment there at the door but I was surprised by it and I was assuming that the alcohol was having some effect on her then but not now. So I took a chance, leaning toward her I asked "what buttons would that be Ms. Hayes".

She leaned forward and took my hand, "one thing at a time Rick Hunter" and gave my hand squeeze.  Then she saddled closer to me and laid her head on my shoulder, her soft, long hair falling over my chest. "I just want to sit here and enjoy" she said, interlacing her fingers with mine. So we sat back on the couch. I put my arm around her and she snuggled against me and deeper into the blanket. It was nice to have her next to me it felt like she belonged there.

We reminisced and talked about life, our families and how we felt about the future. We lost all track of time and talked for hours, laughing, crying, sipping tea and munching on cookies. I told her things that even Roy never knew and she did the same. I learned more about her and even myself then I would have ever imagined.

We had both lost so much in our lives because of the war and we were both hurting so much. This night together was a good start on the healing. It was obvious that we needed each other. Why did I never realize that before? She was human and had needs, wants and desires. She had a hard exterior, primed with military protocol, but she was vulnerable on the inside. Her heart was wounded and so was mine. Are we meant to be together? I asked myself. What about Minmie? She still occupies a special place in my heart. Why, I don't know? I haven't seen or heard from her in almost a year. She is too busy with her career I guess.

        I noticed that Lisa had stopped talking and had moved her head to my lap, looking up at me. She is so beautiful; why did I not see it before? "What are you thinking about" she says with an inquisitive tone. "Oh, nothing" I sigh. "Now I know better then that" she say's with a grin. "Well, if you must know, I was thinking just how beautiful you are" I say in a matter of fact tone. She immediately blushed, only enhancing her beauty. "What's a matter?" I say. "Hasn't anyone ever said that to you before?" "They have" she say's distantly and turning her head to look out into the room, "but it has been a very long time". I brush her hair back revealing her ear and delicate jaw line. I spy a tear rolling down her face and reach down to wipe it away. She turns her head back towards me and smiles. "You really think I'm beautiful?" she asks. "Yes, I do" I reply. She rises up and wraps her arms around my neck as if to say thank you. As we sit there holding each other I feel my neck getting wet with tears and I hold her a little tighter.  She starts to sob, all the pain and anguish from her life is pouring out though her tears. I rock her gently, as I would a child, and just let her weep.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = jscott_73ATyahoo.com