Stormbound - pt 11 - by Gun Brooke

Gunfire, interspersed by large explosions tore at her eardrums. Izzy continued to direct fire over the radio as her driver maneuvered the Humvee and her sergeant returned fire. Her training kicking in immediately, she knew she had to get what remained of the convoy out of the kill zone or they would all be dead.

"Get us the fuck out of here, O'Brien," she yelled at her driver.

"Roger that, ma'am!"

Suddenly her sergeant was down.

"Damn it!" Pulling the wounded man down into the safety of the Humvee, she quickly jumped up to man the turret. Returning fire, she signaled the others to do the same.

Suddenly the Humvee took on a life of its own. Long before she heard the blast, she felt it, and the vehicle reared like a spooked horse. She felt torn metal from the turret tear into her side, slice her to pieces. Izzy opened her mouth to cry out in fear and pain, but no sound came. She couldn't breathe, couldn't draw enough breath to scream.

“Izzy, sweetie. Izzy, you're dreaming. It's a dream.”

Tiffany's soft voice made Izzy snap her eyes open. It was dark, but enough moonlight streamed through the openings in the blinds for her to make out the outline of Tiffany's shoulder and her array of curls.

“Tiff!” Finally able to breathe, Izzy gasped greedily for air.

“Hey, sweetie. I've got you. You're fine. You're fine.” Murmuring the words repeatedly, Tiffany pulled Izzy onto her shoulder, stroking her back in slow circles.

“Explosions...” Izzy tried to explain.

“Yeah? Sounds like a bad, bad dream.”

“Recurring nightmare. Felt it rip into me.” Shuddering, Izzy allowed Tiffany to soothe her for a moment. It felt so reassuring to have the slender arms around her, and though Tiffany was the petite of the two, Izzy felt oddly safe for a while. Suddenly self-conscious, Izzy pulled back, rubbing her neck. “I'm okay.”

“Sure you are.” Tiffany didn't let her withdraw too much. She sat up next to Izzy, cupping her chin. “You're safe here with me.”

Izzy thought it should've sounded weirder than it did. In fact, Tiffany was the one hiding, on the run from people that were out to get her, and still she maintained that Izzy was safe with her.

“Good that you were here to wake me up.” Izzy didn't explain that normally the horrible nightmares had to run their course since there was no one to wake her up when they hit. She had a feeling Tiffany realized this. She remembered the nightmare Tiffany had suffered through her first night in the cabin. She wasn't alone.

“What time is it?” Izzy asked huskily.

“Eh...” Tiffany glanced over her shoulder at the alarm clock. “3.15 am.”

“I need some water. Can I get you anything?” Izzy crawled out of bed, careful not to crush Tiffany.

“Some water too, please, if you're having some.”

Izzy returned with two glasses of ice cold water from the spring that she got her water from. “Here.”

“Anyway.” Tiffany's teeth gleamed in the moonlight.

They sipped their water, both seeming lost in thought as they sat next to each other on the bed. They had tumbled into bed, tired after the long day in Farlow's Creek, and though Izzy had wanted nothing more than to make love with Tiffany, she had kept a little distance, knowing how tired Tiff was.

Tiffany now placed her glass on the small table next to the bed and crept under the covers again. Slowly Izzy followed her example. Almost afraid to touch Tiffany, for fear of releasing the turbulent feelings she harbored for her, Izzy tried to get comfortable. She felt Tiffany move closer and place an arm around her waist from behind. Holding her breath, Izzy tried to ignore it.

“Izzy?” Tiffany's voice was low, uncertain. “Please, tell me the truth. Have I said or done something to upset you today?”

“No.” Izzy cringed. Great, now I've hurt her. Good job, Izzy.

“You regret us being intimate?”

“No.” God, no.

“Then you must regret letting me see so much of your life, your reality.” Tiffany's voice was tear filled now. Izzy couldn't take it one second longer. She pivoted in bed and pushed Tiffany onto her back in the process.

“Tiffany, it's not that at all. I thought I was giving you space, and rest, by keeping a little distance.”

“Space?” Tiffany sounded like she thought Izzy had lost her very last marble. “Why would I need space?”

“Because you looked so tired when we got back from Farlow's Creek. You were pale and trembling, and...” And all I could think of was how much I wanted to tear your clothes off.

“Ah. So you were being noble.” Tiffany's tone changed from hurt and confused, to incredulous.

“I wouldn't go that far,” Izzy muttered.

“You're actually very sweet in a slightly bewildering way,” Tiffany said softly, snuggling closer with her arm around Izzy's waist. “You were right in the sense that I was tired for a while after we got back home.”

She calls the cabin home. Izzy knew better than to read anything in particular into Tiff's words, but she couldn't forbid her heart from racing.

“That said, I quickly recovered, and after dinner, I was ready to tear your clothes off with my teeth.”

“Teeth?” Izzy blinked. It was impossible to play possum when Tiffany said things like that.

“Absolutely. I tried my best to seduce you subtly, but the more I tried, the more distant you felt. Wouldn't you call that bewildering?”

“Yes. I would.” Cursing herself for complicating matters, Izzy pulled Tiffany close into her arms. “I'm sorry.”

“Oh, this is heavenly. No need to apologize.” Tiffany actually purred. “Mm.”

“I was trying to be gentle with you, but all I could think of was how you feel naked underneath me.” Izzy felt her cheeks warm at her own words. She wasn't used to sexy pillow-talk. “

“Izzy...” Offering her lips, Tiffany wrapped her arms around Izzy's neck as they kissed, long, deep kisses.

These kisses were the best of all. Izzy tasted the sweetness of Tiffany, something she doubted she'd ever grow tired of. Tiffany held a special allure, something that transcended beyond simple physical attraction. No matter how Izzy tried to contain it, it overflowed and it was impossible to resist.

“Tiffany...Tiff...” Izzy wasn't sure what she meant to say, other than to explain how she felt. “You're so beautiful, inside and out. I know full well I don't deserve how you reciprocate, but, oh God, I'm so glad you do.”

“Hey, sweetie.” Tiffany caught Izzy's chin again, much like she had before. She brushed her small thumb across Izzy's lower lip in another familiar caress. “Not that I wouldn't benefit from being a bit taller, but don't put me on a pedestal. I'm no more beautiful than you. To me you're stunning, absolutely gorgeous. The scar on your cheek only emphasizes that.” She leaned forward and kissed her way along the jagged scar. She continued onto Izzy's eyelids, the tip of her nose, and then her chin. She chuckled when Izzy moaned in frustration. “I seemed to have missed a spot. Oh, that's right, this one.” She kissed Izzy, over and over, until her head spun.

I've got to find my bearings. If I don't, I'll...”Oh, God.” Izzy sat up so fast in bed, she nearly sent Tiffany tumbling to the floor. “I'm a fucking idiot.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Tiffany sounded genuinely afraid now, and Izzy's stomach turned when she realized Tiffany had every reason to.

“I'm an idiot,” Izzy repeated. “I can't believe I didn't think of that. Get dressed, Tiffany. Time to don the Gore-Tex again. We have to head out.”

“Why? Whatever for?” Tiffany tugged at Izzy's arm as she tried to leave the bed. “Stop it. I'm not going anywhere until you explain what in the world you're talking about.”

“I've wasted valuable time by being a moron. I was so sure I helped you cover your tracks when in fact, they could be right outside the door any moment.” Urgency made Izzy's voice cold and calculating. “So move, Tiffany. I'll gather our gear.”

“Izzy, please.” Tiffany sobbed. “Please...”

Izzy relented, unable to take it when Tiffany cried. “Shh. Don't cry.” She pulled Tiffany into a tight embrace. “I'm not going crazy all of a sudden. It's a real threat. I forgot about the Car-Tracking System that rental companies almost always use. If that survived your crash, your pursuers will be able to track you through the rental company via a GPS signal.”

“Oh, goodness.” Tiffany clung to Izzy. “I have to leave.”

“Correction, Tiff.” Izzy spoke slowly, making sure Tiffany knew she meant every word. “We have to leave.”

Continued in part 12