Far From Oblivion || One-on-One || Caebeeb and Pirate

[Sure thing.]

The next evening, Rylan was closing her suitcase and zipping it shut. She showered, changing into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt she had set aside. When her hair was dried and pulled into a loose braid, she slipped on a pair of shoes and grabbed her suitcase, heading out the door. After making her way through the winding halls, she finally exited the building and made her way back to the air strips. She headed up to a small plane, Jim straightening up as she walked over. Rather than having her normal chipper small-talk with the man, she merely smiled and loaded her luggage. She entered the plane, falling into her seat. Her heart hammered in her chest at the prospect of seeing Clark. She wasn't sure how to feel. She gave up on trying to figure things out. When the pair had boarded, Jim took off. It was a long flight, and Rylan dozed off for half of it. The other half she spent staring out the window. Jim touched down several hours later, landing on a tiny runway. Rylan got to her feet, stretching out the kinks in her body before she got off the plane. She took her luggage to the sleek navy blue car provided for them, stowing it in the trunk before she got silently into the passenger seat. She'd let Clark drive. She opened the glove box, pulling out their various papers. She handed Clark the directions to the tiny cabin located a few miles out of town, amidst the forest, as well as his new identity. She studied her new persona, glancing over the case files as she sat in silence, busying herself with knowing who she was and what she had to do.

Heath frowned slightly as she pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers. He rolled his eyes as she fretted over him, taking her hands as she pushed him away. He gave her a sly smile, wordlessly pulling her into the small living room. He sat down, pulling her onto his lap. He pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, "I'm sitting. Now stop worrying about me," he murmured. He leaned up to catch her lips once more, his arms encircling her waist as he pulled her flush against him. He wasn't planning on making any quote-on-quote "serious" moves on her. He was just having a bit of fun making out with his partner. His medication had finally kicked in, and the pain was already dissipating. He brushed his lips down her throat, nipping lightly at her collar bone. His hands slipped beneath the back of her shirt, lightly stroking her soft skin as he pulled her closer, his lips capturing hers once more in a heated kiss.

[xD I know, that was funny. I'm a bit amused by this.]

Rylan lifted her head slightly as Clark began to speak, breaking the stiff silence in the car. She furrowed her brow slightly at his words, her eyes focused on the expanse of road before them. She was touched that he'd want it to mean something. She'd never gone further with a guy than kissing, and she probably would have regretted it after the fact. She appreciated that he respected her, but she couldn't let her guard down. "But what happened back at the hotel was perfectly acceptable, then? That wouldn't have meant anything, obviously. Suddenly you have morals about sleeping with me? And you kissing me in the car? That was fine, too?" she asked sharply, her eyes weary. She sighed, realizing that for the hundredth time she was coming across as rough around the edges when he was genuinely attempting to be a good guy. "Look, I'm sorry for jumping you at the Institute. That was wrong of me. It won't happen again. I just...needed someone, I guess," she murmured, gentler this time. They had a job to do and they needed to be professional. She only needed to build the walls around herself a bit higher. As they reached the small cabin, she grabbed her papers and the keys and stepped out of the car. After grabbing her luggage, she headed up to the front door and unlocked it stepping inside. There was a main living/kitchen area, and two doors; one led to the bathroom, and the other led to the bedroom. She carried her luggage into the bedroom, setting it against one wall before she headed into the living room once more, glancing about the cabin.

Heath lowered his hands to grasp her waist, returning her heated kiss. As she pulled away from him, he opened his eyes, gazing at her curiously. He sighed softly as he realized that somewhere in their little make-out session, he had crossed a line. What line? He wasn't sure. She seemed to be enjoying it. He hadn't forced himself on her. So what was the problem? He nodded at her words, releasing her to run off into the kitchen. He pushed himself to his feet and headed into the bedroom, grabbing a t-shirt and pulling it on as he left the room. He knew they probably shouldn't have kissed, but dammit, he just wanted to be happy. They led dangerous lives; any second they could be injured or dead. He only had so much time. He knew that he hadn't known her for long, but she fascinated him. He had his reservations, but he wanted her, even if they shouldn't be together. He headed into the kitchen, giving her a soft smile. He leaned against the counter beside her, watching as she made him something to eat. When she didn't look at him, he frowned slightly, turning his eyes to his feet. "I'm sorry, Sophia. That was inappropriate and unprofessional of me. It won't happen again," he said quietly. He cleared his throat, "I think I'll be good to go tomorrow. We can get back to work," he offered, changing the subject.

Rylan glanced at Clark, wanting to apologize for her outburst, but deciding against it. It would probably be better if they simply didn't talk to each other. She sighed, about to take a seat at the small table near the kitchen when she heard her phone ring. Surprised that she had a signal out here, she quickly headed to her suitcase and grabbed it, eager to see who was calling. She saw her aunt's name across the screen and she answered it hurriedly, her previous anger at their lack of communication dissipating. "Hi, Aunt Lyn!" she said, sounding abnormally chipper as she walked out of the room and to the front door. She stepped onto the porch and sat down on the steps not wanting to bother Clark with her conversation. "Hey, Rylan," her aunt murmured, sounding strangely distant. Even if they rarely talked, she was usually happy. Rylan frowned, "Is something wrong?" she asked tentatively. She was met with silence before her aunt sighed into the phone, "Your brother got into a car crash late last night," she informed her quietly, her voice strained. Rylan's stomach sank as her aunt spoke. "Is he okay?" she asked quickly, her heart hammering. Her brother was the only one in the entire world who seemed to understand her. He had been plagued with the same nightmares, he flinched away like she did when someone startled him, and he had the same haunting emptiness in his heart. Rylan had always protected him, but now she couldn't. She was too far away and there was nothing she could do and that ripped her apart inside. Her aunt didn't speak for a moment, and Rylan felt tears pricking in her eyes, "Is he okay?" she persisted, her voice shaky as she feared the worst. Her aunt cleared her throat, "They don't think he'll make it through surgery, Ry," she said gently. Rylan let out a choked sob, one hand clutching at her chest while the hand holding her phone fell away from her ear, the device falling into the dirt and leaves. She could feel the tears falling from her eyes and she could hear the distant babble of her aunt's voice as she asked if she was there, but it felt like the earth was falling out from beneath her feet. Eventually both of her arms came to hang limply at her sides as she stared numbly out into the trees, her expression blank. She didn't notice the chill in the air that bit her skin as dawn broke across the horizon.

Heath glanced down at the sandwich that was offered to him, raising his eyes back to her as she said his name. He tilted his head slightly as she stumbled over her words before a smile cracked his lips at her statement. He nodded, nudging her knee with his hand when she finished. "I know how tough it is to be in this business and that's why I don't want to let this go," he murmured as he gestured between them. "I know we don't really know each other, but I like you. I want to give this a shot," he said with a soft smile, a bit proud that he had managed to say something that sounded appropriate. He wasn't very good at expressing his feelings, so the fact that he got out a straight sentence was a small accomplishment for him. He made a face at her, "And again, I'm sorry for what just happened. That was inappropriate," he murmured, feeling a heat crawling up the back of his neck. He reached over and gently took her hand, "Alright. Will you go out to dinner with me tonight, Sophia?" he asked with a chuckle, his eyes searching hers. He wanted to get to know her. He understood her reservations. He had many of his own hesitations, but he was willing to give it a shot if she was. He was tall, muscular, and hard-headed, often getting into fights when he was younger, usually to defend himself. He got the reputation of being a brute. Really, the only thing that softened his appearance where his glasses. He wanted to see if perhaps, just for once, someone might see him as something other than the Beast.

As the chill seeped into her skin, Rylan seemed to finally become aware of the fact that she had been sitting outside for quite some time. She glanced around, her mind still reeling as she tried to come to terms with the news she had received. She grasped at her phone, finally managing to wrap her cold fingers around the device as she shoved herself to her feet. She wiped frantically at her eyes, forcing down her sorrow. She headed into the cabin, her face pale and eyes red. She glanced at Clark's sleeping form before she made her way to the bedroom, dropping her phone into her suitcase while she grabbed a jacket. Tugging on the coat, she walked into the bathroom, rinsing her face off to get rid of the tear trails. She dried off her skin before heading out to Clark. She nudged his shoulder lightly to wake her partner. "We should go scope out the area. They're supposed have some sort of facility out here somewhere," she said, her voice void of emotion, her face blank.

Heath gave her a sheepish smile at the tint on her cheeks, the look slowly fading when she hesitated. He nodded at her words before he turned to the sandwich she had prepared him. Later that day, Heath had changed into a pair of dark jeans and a dark green button-up. He slid on his black boots before he grabbed his black leather jacket and put on his glasses. When he was finished he headed into the living room, grabbing his wallet and the keys. "You ready, Sophia?" he asked as he adjusted his cuffs. "What type of cuisine would you prefer?" he inquired as he ran a hand through his hair, ready to go.

Rylan flinched back as Clark reacted so suddenly, moving away from him as he glared at her. She felt guilty at his question, realizing that he was probably tired, even if she wasn't and wouldn't be able to sleep. She watched as he left the cabin before gathering her papers and following behind him. She slid into the passenger seat, sitting quietly for a moment until she realized that he was waiting for her to give him directions. Her eyes fell to her lap as she stared at the map she was holding. "Uh..." she started, her eyes unable to focus. She shook her head slightly, "I...Maybe we should go later. Sorry I woke you up. You should get some sleep," she said quietly, her eyes still trained down on her lap. She could feel the cracks in her resolve as the emotion slowly built up once more, threatening to break her.

Heath raised his eyebrows as his partner stepped out of the bedroom, a bit stunned by the beauty she seemed to glow with. He took a moment to respond, before he finally nodded his head. "Maybe a bit. Come on, let's go," he chuckled, heading over to take her hand and lead her out of the apartment. "You look beautiful," he murmured as he opened the passenger door for her. When she was in, he made his way around to the driver's seat, starting the car and backing out of the space. He headed into town, casting Sophia a quick glance before he pulled into the parking lot of a small Italian bistro. After he parked, he got out to open her door, offering his hand. He led her inside, requesting a table for two. A waiter came over and led them to a candle-lit table before offering them menus. Heath chuckled slightly when the man had left, a little amused by the ambiance.

[Damn, Clark. xD]

Rylan flinched as Clark cursed and spun the car around despite her words. She swallowed back her emotion, lifting her eyes to gaze out the windshield. She didn't know where to go and she didn't know what to tell him. One thing she did know was that she couldn't handle his anger at her right now. She couldn't take the extra pressure. Turning her head away from him slightly, she sunk lower in the seat and hugged herself tightly, her fingers clawing into her sides and grasping at her jacket. She didn't seem to notice as the road passed by. A tear slipped down her cheek, clinging to the underside of her jaw before it dropped onto her shirt. More followed. She couldn't break. She'd spent years winding herself down tighter and tighter. She'd mastered suppressing the thoughts of her childhood. She'd fought the nightmares that seized her mind when she slept. All her work was falling apart at the seams now. Everything she had fought against was bubbling to the surface. The tape she had put over her wounds was ripping off. She was cracking. It wouldn't be long before she shattered completely and would be forced to pick up the pieces. She would have to fit them together again, as she had done so many times before. The ugly vase that was her life would be recreated, this time with more cracks.

Heath glanced up over his menu, giving Sophia a slight smile at her words. "I saw it while we were out the other day. I figured it was worth a try," he murmured before his eyes fell back to his menu. Heath was self-conscious about very few things, and this wasn't one of them. He didn't notice the ogling or jealous glances. He was perfectly aware of his surroundings, but Sophia had his attention. When the waiter came back, Heath requested water, an arugula salad for his appetizer, and the spinach ravioli with scallops for his main course. After Sophia's order was taken, and the man had left, Heath turned his eyes to his partner. Just because he wasn't self-conscious didn't mean that he wasn't a bit nervous. He gave her a small smile, "Well I don't know where to start," he chuckled. He was having a bit of trouble getting past how beautiful she looked. "I guess I should ask about your interests. What do you like to do? I mean, for fun. And when you have the time," he laughed. Right now, he was happy to have the night to themselves. They would get back on the job tomorrow, when he was, hopefully, feeling better. He gazed at her from across the table, eventually propping his forearms on the table and leaning toward her slightly.

[I figured. xD Jeeze, talk about third-wheeling.}

[I'd say someone needs a nap.]

Rylan flinched at his sharp tone, a heated emotion filling her. She sat quietly for a moment after he parked the car and went about working off his rage. When he kicked the tire, she got out of the car, unable to suppress her anger any longer. She slammed the door forcefully as he began to storm off down the road. She bent down and picked up a small rock, heaving it angrily at her partner. She watched as it tapped his back uselessly before falling to the ground. "Why am I crying?! Why?!" she yelled after him, grateful that they were still on a deserted stretch of road, "My brother just died! Sorry I'm a little frazzled!" She clenched her fists at her side, "Jesus, go take your God damn nap! Sorry I woke you!" she spat before she threw her hands in the air, her anger masking her pain, forcing it from her mind. She turned, walking the opposite way he had, her legs carrying her briskly along the side of the road. She inhaled the sweet fresh air, trying to push away her thoughts and clear her mind. Kicking at a rock as she went, she wiped at the tear stains on her cheeks with the backs of her hands.

Heath smiled warmly at her answer, "I like both of those things," he said with a chuckle. He cleared his throat slightly when she asked about him, glancing down at the table briefly. He shrugged his shoulder, "There's not much to tell." He lifted his eyes back to hers, "I had a normal childhood, though I was bullied a lot. Right around high school I started sticking up for myself. I got a bad reputation because of it, but it didn't bother me much. My high school sweetheart didn't --" he cut himself off, realizing that he shouldn't be talking about his past relationships. Feeling a heat crawling up the back of his neck, he gave her an easy, sheepish smile. "I have two older sisters. My family's pretty modest. My parents are the best anyone could ask for." He reached over to lightly place his hand over hers, "I'm not a very interesting person," he said with a slight laugh. "How'd you get into this line of work?" he asked carefully, aware of the patrons around them.

[I know. They're totally blowing their cover. xD}

Rylan ignored Clark as he called after her, holding on to a few quickly dissipating threads of anger. She needed something other than pain and sorrow. She had just set her mind on walking back to the cabin when she felt him pulling her to a stop. She didn't want his apology, or his sympathy. She wanted, needed, anger. Something to cover up what was hard to deal with. She wanted to push him away and spit curses at him. She wanted to put on her tough face and tell him she was fine. But she couldn't. Surprising herself, she found her arms winding around him, returning his hug as she buried her face in his chest. His embrace was comforting and she allowed herself to be held. She felt a few sparse tears trickle from her eyes, but she was too numb to actually notice them.

Heath grinned at her words, "Oh I don't know. I'd say Hollywood missed out." At her question, he gave a slight shrug. "I got into fights a lot. And I'm pretty good at winning them," he said with a sheepish smirk. He glanced up as the waiter brought their drinks and his appetizer, which was shortly followed by their entrees. A few bites into his meal, he glanced up at his partner, "How do you like it?" he murmured as he cut into a scallop. When the waiter came to check on them, Heath requested a slice of tiramisu for them to split after their meals. When the man had left again, Heath turned his gaze back to Sophia, "Thanks for agreeing to tonight," he said genuinely.

Rylan lifted her tired eyes, slightly startled as he pushed her away. The feel of his strong arms around her had been completely comforting and she wished he would simply hold her again. Pushing down such foolish desires, she gave a slight nod at his words. "Yeah," she breathed, pulling out of his reach to walk quietly back to the car. She slipped into the passenger seat, feeling jumbled. She was a bit embarrassed that Clark had seen her crying, but it was a slight feeling compared to everything else swirling in her mind. When her partner got in, she gave him a small smile, "Thanks, Clark. Sorry about all this. It was pretty pointless," she said with a watery chuckle. She buckled up, focusing her eyes out the front window, glancing around. She had to remember that there was a job to be done. Her issues would have to be stored away for some other day when she had time to deal with them. She cleared her throat slightly, "I really don't know where to start. The mission objective this time was a bit vague. Do you have any ideas?"

Heath noticed someone approaching his partner just a moment too late. He started to open his mouth and warn her, halfway between standing from his chair and sitting. At the sharp metallic click of the gun, he slowly lowered himself back into a sitting positions. Adrenaline coursed through him as Edwards very openly threatened his partner. This whole night was a stupid idea. He was always so stupid! They should have just stayed home and he should have taken her out some other time. He had vowed to protect her and yet here they were. Clenching his jaw at the short conversation, Heath got abruptly to his feet as Edwards oh so politely requested that they leave. He evaluated all of the possible ways to get out of the situation, but he realized they would all put his partner in danger. The simple look Sophia gave him nearly broke his heart. How had he failed her again, and so soon? He cautiously followed the pair, stepping outside. "Put the gun down. You don't want to cause a scene," he hissed as the door closed behind him. His eyes flickered momentarily to Sophia before turning back to Edwards.