| Subject: The Gift 4/4 |
Author:
Athena4
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Date Posted: 20:48:48 04/13/01 Fri
In reply to:
Athena4
's message, "The Gift" on 20:39:04 04/13/01 Fri
The night had just barely given way to day when Madeline awoke, a faint beam of sunlight straining through the curtains. She’d slept peacefully, untroubled by her usual dreams, comforted by his arm holding her close.
As her eyelids fluttered open, she found herself alone; a blanket drawn over her body, a robe, her robe tossed carelessly across the end of the bed. Wherever he’d gone, he expected her to join him when she awoke. Stretching beneath the blanket, she took a deep breath, inhaling his scent from the sheets before sitting up to pull on the robe.
With it pulled tightly around her, she descended the staircase, pausing halfway as the smell of breakfast wafted up from the kitchen. A smile crossed her face as she came down the remaining steps. Something else she’d missed.
“It smells wonderful,” she said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his chest. He turned in her arms, pulling her close and kissing her forehead.
“Cheese omelette; with ham and peppers. Your favourite,” he said, stroking her hair with one hand. “Now, if I don’t attend to it, it will burn.” He leaned over and kissed her on the lips before pushing her away gently, turning back towards the stove. “Sit and talk with me. There’s tea seeping on the table.”
Fixing herself a cup of tea, she sat on the island in the centre of the kitchen, adjusting the robe around her legs. She watched him for several minutes as he manoeuvred around the kitchen, admiring the way he worked so effortlessly. Finally, she broke the silence.
“I keep expecting the phone to ring,” she said, looking towards the phone as if saying it aloud would form a curse that would make it ring.
“I spoke to Bernard a couple of hours ago,” he turned, caught sight of her on the island, and smiled broadly. “Everything is fine. The Nepal mission is set to run at 1100. We’ve got some time.”
“Good,” She smiled back, taking a sip of her tea. “I’m enjoying the company.”
“So am I,” he replied, coming forward to stand in front of the island. As he stood before her, she leaned her head against his, draping her arms across his shoulders. His hands came up to touch her arms before he continued. “About last night…”
“Paul – “
Raising his head from hers, he cupped her face with his hands, covering her mouth with his thumbs. “Shut up and let me talk.”
When she remained silent he continued, taking a step closer to her. “I meant it when I said no obligations. But… you can’t deny what we have. Can you?”
Taking his hands in hers, she met his eye. “We can’t be normal, Paul.”
“Who said anything about normal?” he grinned, a twinkle in his eyes. He kissed her lightly on the lips, then pulled back, never loosening his grip on her hands. “I have an idea.”
“Paul – “ she chastised, frowning. He’d said no obligations. She couldn’t commit to anything; he knew that.
“Relax,” he said, sensing her discomfort. “Listen first. I think you’ll agree that my suggestion has merit.”
“All right.”
“Good. Breakfast. Promise me breakfast – every morning.”
Madeline looked at him in confusion. “I think you’ve been inhaling too many fumes from that stove,” she said, jumping down from the island to pace on the far side. “We can’t do this everyday.”
“Not this. I know we can’t do this…” he said sadly, then continued more lightly, turning for a moment to take the pan off the stove. “Business. There’s a conference room, just off the Perch. A little renovation, a couple of computer panels… We’ll meet for breakfast; discuss scheduling, missions; exchange ideas. What do you think?”
Paul had paused on the far side of the island, the pan forgotten on the counter, his eyes seeking hers for an answer. She stopped her pacing across from him, sighing deeply. “I think we’d be asking for trouble.”
Stunned surprised crossed Paul’s face, followed by disappointment. “How so?”
“The temptation. To open things up again…”
He came around the island towards her, leaning against it and piercing her with his eyes. “I’m not asking to open things up. Although, it’s a nice ulterior motive, I admit it,” he smiled, tilting her chin up so their eyes met.
“Business,” he repeated. “If we’re going to run Section as a team, we need to communicate like one. Breakfast every morning will give us a chance to co-ordinate changes, discuss issues. “
“And your ulterior motive?”
“Will be held firmly in check. Madeline, I understand your concerns. I know what, and who, stands in our way. Although I don’t know why. I won’t press you.”
“I wish things could be different,” she said softly, leaning against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
“Maybe someday…” he replied, kissing her forehead. His grip tightened around her for a moment before he released her, tilting his head down to meet her eyes.
“Why don’t we skip breakfast this morning,” he began, taking her hand. “I can think of a few things I’d rather be doing…”
Madeline smiled, looking around at the mess he’d made of his kitchen preparing her meal. “You worked so hard…”
He shrugged, pulling her away from the island towards the doorway. “There’ll be other breakfasts. Right?”
She nodded, following him from the room. They couldn’t be normal. But, for now, they would take what they could get.
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