allthetrek

[allthetrek]

Stolen Moments

Fandom: LOTR - Rings of Power, Arondir x Female Reader (reader has no distinguishing features), smut & fluff

Synopsis: You are the village’s healer, living in your somewhat isolated home on the edge of town. One evening, you get a surprise visitor…

Warnings: Smut, explicit, 18+, minors DNI!

Words: 1708

The fire crackled in the hearth in front of your reading chair, the flames casting animated shadows around the living room as you flipped through the pages of an old, dusty tome. Your usual routine, reading after the sun went down until you got sleepy. Or sometimes, you would fall asleep in your reading chair, awakened later by the chill of a fire burned low.

Tonight, though, your routine was interrupted by a low, steady knock at the front door. A knock you’d become accustomed to over time… Only one person knocked on your door like that. Like him.

Your breath caught in your throat, and anticipation flooded through you. You hadn’t seen Arondir in weeks. Your encounters were too few and far between, your moments shared never long enough, but it was all you had right now…

You closed the musty pages of your book, placing it on the side table as you walked toward the door. You didn’t need to check out the window to be sure who it was. You could feel him near, like the two of you were magnetized together, belonging to each other…

You opened the door, and there stood Arondir, the dim light from within your home illuminating his tall frame and broad shoulders. His eyes shone in the light, burning into yours, and you stepped aside, letting him step through the threshold.

You bolted the door behind him, turning to greet him, and immediately his hands enveloped yours as he stepped close to you. “Are you alright?” you asked, concerned about his demeanor, and the fact that he was visiting you after dark, a rare occurrence…

“I needed you,” he replied, the dulcet tone of his voice exactly as your remembered, and you were suddenly weak in the knees, your heart beating faster, as you searched his expression, his eyes… There was a loneliness deep in his eyes, his soul, that no one could possibly see but you. Perhaps that was why you were destined to be together. The same thing he recognized in you, that brought you together, and to this moment…

“I’m here, I’ve got you…,” you whispered, your hand coming to his cheek, and he closed his eyes and melted into your touch, his guard coming down, as you continued to palm his cheek, his hand coming to grip your waist, his touch firm but never too tight or commanding…

Arondir’s eyes opened, darting down to your lips and suddenly you had to be closer to him, leaning up and meeting his lips with yours, your arms wrapping around his shoulders as you kissed him passionately, his arms fully enveloping you now, pulling you flush against his chest, his hands stroking along your back as he held you and kissed you, your lips parting, and you could taste him, the sweetness of his mouth and tongue on yours…

Finally you broke apart, breathing heavier, need filling you both, and you began to undo his cloak pin, the fabric slipping off of his shoulders and pooling on the floor. He watched you, studied you, as you undid the buckles of his armor, gently placing the pieces in a pile with his cloak. Finally, you held his gaze as you lifted his undershirt over his head, his arms raising to help you, and you let the fabric fall to the floor.

Arondir stood in front of you, the muscles of his torso and arms rippling in the firelight, your eyes scanning every perfect ridge and valley, and you bit your lip instinctively, unknowingly. He watched you look him over, taking in your beautiful features, the want and lust in your eyes, and he needed more. He needed all of you, his usual Elven restraint warring with the intense attraction he felt for you, the closeness and vulnerability he had only ever been able to find with you…

His fingertips came to you chin, tilting your gaze up to meet his. “Turn around,” he instructed, though his tone was neither urgent nor commanding, and you were only too happy to oblige… You faced the fireplace, waiting for his next ideation, feeling him study you from behind. He always took his time with you…

Arondir slowly undressed you, helping you to remove your shoes, lifting your dress over your head, his fingertips always lightly grazing your skin, sending tingles and shivers through you, until finally you were naked in front of the fire, the warmth of the flames pleasant on your bare skin.

“You are so beautiful,” Arondir whispered in your ear, before leaving gentle, open-mouthed kisses behind your ear, along your neck, shoulders, and again on the other side… His ministrations were slow, calculated, meant for your pleasure, and his fingertips massaged your skin as he traced your figure…

He sucked harder on your neck, the sensation making you moan, and you backed closer into him, feeling a prominent bulge pressing against you. Heat pooled between your legs, and as though he could read your mind, Arondir reached around your waist, his fingertips brushing your sensitive bud, and you widened your stance to give him better access…

His motions were slow and pleasurable, stroking your clit in small, light circles, around your slit, your wetness coating his fingertips as he pleasured you. You closed your eyes, and every breathy moan that escaped your mouth was music to his ears, and he could tell as you approached your climax, breathing hard and chanting his name, and his fingers slipped into you, first one, and then another, thrusting at an even pace and hitting the most exquisite spot, his palm grazing your clit as he fingered you…

Arondir’s other hand gripped your waist, anchoring you in place as you lost all awareness of the world outside of that moment, as ecstasy overwhelmed you, and you came hard, clenching around his fingers, riding them as you got lost in the waves of pleasure coursing through your body…

Finally, you opened your eyes, slowly regaining your senses, and Arondir released you, and you turned to face him, taking his hand as you did so, his fingers still wet with your essence… You lifted his fingers to your mouth, never breaking eye contact as you sucked them off, slowly and with care, and the darkness in his eyes intensified…

Arondir’s hand came up to your jaw, his thumb gently pulling down on your chin, your lips parting, mouth open and his lips came to yours, tongue sliding deliciously into you as he tasted you, tongues and teeth clashing, until finally you broke apart, breathless…

You palmed him through his trousers, feeling his arousal, studying his face as you did so, the slight crease of his brow, the reflection of the fire in the hazel of his irises… You led him to your bedroom, your hands coming to undo his belt, feeling his gaze burning into you as you did so… Foreplay always seemed to be the best part to Arondir, lasting as long as you wanted it to, he seemed to be able to go on forever, loving the way you reacted to him, so responsive, so beautiful, and the way you touched him and pleasured him back… He longed for you always, his secret desires only able to be expressed in these stolen moments together… He would make the most of them…

Tonight was no exception, as he was freed of his clothing, his thick cock bouncing as he climbed on top of you, your legs opening to him, his arms framing you, and he hovered over you for a moment, studying you, anticipating you, until you could bear it no more…

“Please… Arondir…,” you whimpered, needily, and a glimmer of satisfaction passed across his features, and he pressed against your entrance, your hand coming to your core, spreading yourself as he guided his cock into your aching cunt, stretching you and filling you, so full, just as you remembered, as you craved…

“Fuck…,” you whimpered with pleasure, lost in the feeling of him filling you, thrusting slowly, evenly in and out of you, his tip coming almost fully out each time, massaging your entrance with each thrust, then sheathing himself to your hilt… His lips were on yours, kissing you passionately, as you moaned into his mouth, your bodies flush against each other, each of his thrusts grazing your clit with the most incendiary pleasure…

It wasn’t long before you felt your high building, Arondir’s pace quickening, whispers of praise and encouragement escaping his lips, elegant words in Elvish you’d come to recognize…

“That’s it, nîn bain {my beautiful}”

“Let me see you in your bliss”

“Look at me…”

With that request, your eyes burned into his, and you needed more of him, needed his release to fill you, to send you over the edge…

“I need you…,” you begged, in between breathless moans, “Fill me… Please…”, your gazes locked, and he continued to thrust into you, mercilessly now, the room filling with the filthy sounds of him fucking into your drenched pussy… You cried out as you climaxed, your walls clenching tight around his cock, and finally he let himself reach his release, spilling into you, filling you, his thrusts slowing as he rode out his high, his gaze never wavering, his mouth slightly agape as he moaned, low and guttural…

His panting recovered quickly, leaving you still breathless as he lay on top of you for a moment, taking in the blissful, spent expression on your face, the heat radiating from your body, the smell of your arousal… You were the most beautiful sight to behold… Arondir leaned down to kiss you, his lips slowly brushing against yours, tracing the outline of your mouth, the lightness of his touch a stark comparison to the intensity between you just moments before…

You wished you could stay like this forever… That the world outside didn’t exist, that your relationship would not be forbidden, frowned upon, but none of that mattered to either of you anymore. Nothing could keep you apart. For now, you would take any stolen moments you could get together… But one day, it wouldn’t be enough, and woe to anyone who tried to keep two people so in love apart…

***

[allthetrek]

Hi, I just like to say that I think I that your writing is amazing and that you are so talented. It makes my day when I see you on my dashboard 🥺😊

Wow, thank you so much, this made my day! 😊💜 I feel bad sometimes bc im so inconsistent with my writing but I love to share it when I do write! Thank you again for your kind words 💕🙏🏻💕

[allthetrek]

Sunset Motel - Chapter 4 (final): A Really Good Morning

Fandom: Cyberpunk 2077, River Ward x reader as female V

Synopsis: V spends the night at the trailer with River.  

Warnings: Language/profanity, sexual content. 

Chapter 4 of 4

Link (Archive of Our Own): Sunset Motel, Chapter 4: A Really Good Morning

Previous Chapters:

Sunset Motel, Chapter 1: Silica and Despair

Sunset Motel, Chapter 2: Cold Drinks, Warm Hearts

Sunset Motel, Chapter 3: Room One-Oh-Two

Tags: @mrsnegan25​

[allthetrek]

Sunset Motel - Chapter 3: Room One-Oh-Two

Fandom: Cyberpunk 2077, River Ward x reader as female V

Synopsis: River and V get a room at the Sunset Motel. Smut happens.

Warnings: Explicit content, rough sex, language/profanity.

Chapter 3 of ?

Link (Archive of Our Own): Sunset Motel, Chapter 3: Room One-Oh-Two

Previous Chapters:

Sunset Motel, Chapter 1: Silica and Despair

Sunset Motel, Chapter 2: Cold Drinks, Warm Hearts 

* * * * * * * *

Tags: @mrsnegan25​

[allthetrek]

Sunset Motel - Chapter 2: Cold Drinks, Warm Hearts

Fandom: Cyberpunk 2077, River Ward x reader as female V

Synopsis: River meets V at the Sunset Motel for a drink. Things are looking up for V.

Warnings: Slight spoilers for Flying Drugs side-gig. Language/profanity. Adult content.

Chapter 2 of ?

Link (Archive of Our Own): Sunset Motel, Chapter 2: Cold Drinks, Warm Hearts

Previous Chapters:

Sunset Motel, Chapter 1: Silica and Despair

* * * * * * * *

Author Note: Thank you to everyone who has read/liked/reblogged/commented on my work! Really means the world to me and keeps me motivated!

Next chapters planned are: motel smut, comforting bedtime back at the trailer, steamy morning after, then V is off to work again!

Tags: @mrsnegan25​

[allthetrek]

Sunset Motel

Fandom: Cyberpunk 2077, River Ward x reader as female V

Synopsis: Post Mikoshi ending, V is trying to put her life back together. She runs a job out in the desert, then finds herself at the Sunset Motel, wanting some company from her favorite person... Fluff/angst.

Warnings: Slight spoilers for Flying Drugs side-gig. Slight Mikoshi ending spoilers. Language/profanity.

Chapter 1 of ?

Link (Archive of Our Own): Sunset Motel, Chapter 1: Silica and Despair

[allthetrek]

Release

Fandom: Cyberpunk 2077, River Ward x reader as female V

Warnings: possible end-game spoilers, smut.

Synopsis: After Mikoshi, V stays with River as she works through the trauma of everything that happened. V can't sleep, and River helps by listening and then smut.

Link (Archive of Our Own): Release

[allthetrek]

I love all your amazing stories. I have a lot of ideas for Chris, you can do a series that Chris goes along with his woman Y/N in the future. I got this idea when I read my heart is breaking. Chris is with a Trill, how he would behave with her, he know about Y/N planet and her culture. Take care sweetie 💕

Hi, thank you so much!! 😊💜 I love the idea of how he would be with a Trill! And how he could learn about the symbiont Trill relationship and culture first hand, yet they’re a bit mysterious to other cultures and to Starfleet ✨ But he would be open to being with a symbiont and intrigued 🙃

Cheers! 😊💜🖖✨

[allthetrek]

A Night in the Wilderness

The Witcher - Geralt of Rivia X Reader

Geralt and the reader make camp for the night on a mountaintop. Just some feel-good fluff/romance.

The sizzle of rabbit cooking over a makeshift spit makes its way to your eardrums as you gaze from the mountaintop, your back to your campsite, and you take in the sublime colors of the early-autumn sunset. On the breeze, the smell of fat drippings on the fire, mixed with the autumnal scent of dry grass and leaves in decay. Your eyes glaze over as you meditatively take in the expansive view of mountains, valleys, and ancient trails in the distance, all illuminated in golden hues by the setting sun.

The smell of your dinner pulls you from your trance, the emptiness in your stomach suddenly more apparent, and you allow yourself a few last appreciative glances at the world above and below you, loving the feeling of being so high up, so secluded, so seemingly safe for a peaceful night with your beloved travelling companion.

Speaking of your companion… You turn and walk over to the fire, where Geralt is just pulling a haunch of rabbit off the spit. You smile at him, receiving one in return, and the two of you sit on the worn stones near the fire, enjoying the rabbit that Geralt hunted earlier and some slightly stale bread leftover from the Inn the two of you departed from this morning. Your body feels heavy, weary from the long day of travel, but the food perks you up as you feel your strength returning and a warmth in your core.

You and Geralt are comfortable in silence, though sometimes you have frank and lively conversations. Tonight, though, the long day has you just enjoying your dinner and each other’s company. Geralt is lost in his thoughts, presently comparing the long nights he used to spend alone, before he met you. He’ll never admit it, but those nights were pure torment to him at times. All he’s been through, the things that haunt him, and he’d convinced himself he could never be loved. That he’d always be alone.

But here you are, next to him, and he glances over at you, comfortably seated with your leg resting lightly against his outer thigh, so at peace in his presence. You’ve become more than a travelling companion to him. More than a lover, even. You’re his best friend, and the only person he feels he can truly count on.

You feel his amber eyes on you and turn to catch his gaze, and the look in his eyes is one you know is reserved for you, and only you. Love, adoration, and appreciation, and you smile warmly at him, which sends pangs of heat coursing through him, hotter than the emanations of the fire in front of you both.

You finish eating and share some wine from a flask. The fire burns low, the glowing embers crackling occasionally, releasing showers of sparks into the cool evening air. The sun has set now, and stars are beginning to sparkle along the onyx canvas above you. There’s no moon tonight, and the ominous blackness of the night only seems manageable with Geralt at your side, his heightened senses and experience in the wilderness crucial to your survival. However, your mountaintop campsite is shielded by eroded rock deposits, and removed from the main trails, and you both feel fairly secure to spend the night here.

Geralt checks the horses as you amble back to your lookout spot, seeing that the scenic view has dissolved into the shadowy abyss of nightfall, and your gaze turns to the emerging constellations above you, with more twinkling dots appearing by the minute. You hear the crunch of Geralt’s careful footsteps behind you, then his strong arms come around your waist, crossing over your core as he pulls you securely into his sturdy form. You ease your back into his torso, your hands resting along his arms, your fingertips absentmindedly tracing along the leather of his light armor.

You sigh lightly as he holds you, your breath almost inaudible as it’s picked up by the breeze and carried off into the night, but Geralt’s heightened awareness hears every breath you take, every beat of your heart, and every satisfied sigh that he elicits from you. His lips twitch into a contented smile, though only the night can see it, as you both stand in near-darkness, but for the stars above and the last dying embers of the nearby fire.

Geralt nuzzles into your neck, his lips finding your soft flesh, and he kisses you, working his way up to the spot behind your ear, where his heated breath sends shivers down your spine. You quiver in his arms, partly from his teasing breaths but partly from the chill of the night. Geralt knows this, and for a moment he holds you ever tighter, as though he wishes to hold you here in his arms for the rest of his immortal life. Finally, though, he reluctantly untangles his arms from your waist, his hands coming to your outer arms and shoulders and he strokes his palms up and down soothingly.

“Let’s get you to bed, hmm?” he growls into your ear, his deep voice breaking the silence of the night.

The two of you lay your bedrolls beside each other, throwing a thick, woolen blanket over top of them for extra warmth. It would be dangerous to have a fire at night and give away your location to predators, so instead you’ve prepared for chilly nights in the wilderness, and soon your travels will take you to warmer climates.

You climb into your bedroll, finding yourself nestled between the ancient stone barrier and your Witcher, who climbs into his bedding next to you, his swords and dagger nearby in case of danger. Geralt lies on his back, the only comfortable way to sleep in his armor, and you turn on your side towards him, propping yourself up on your arm as you lean over to kiss him goodnight. Your lips find his instinctively in the darkness, and his mouth opens to you with inviting warmth, his hand coming to your cheek as he pulls you into a deep, longing kiss, as though he could never get enough of your lips on his, your sweet taste, or your tongue sparring gently with his. You moan softly into his mouth, and his grip on your jawline intensifies for an almost imperceptible moment as his body reacts to the sound of your pleasure.

Finally, you break off from each other, your breathing slightly ragged, and you give him one last sweet peck on the lips and whisper “Goodnight”. “Mmm,” is your response, and you lie on your side, your hand finding his under the woolen blanket, and you allow yourself to slowly relax into the peaceful night, feeling safe and protected with Geralt, as he feels understood and accepted by your presence, each of you fulfilling each other in ways you’d only wished and dreamed could be possible.

A fitful sleep overtakes you, and soon you’ll wake up to the first light of dawn, finding Geralt in place beside you, right where he belongs.

* * * * * * * *

GIF: Netflix via Giphy

[allthetrek]

Hi! I just wanted to say I absolutely adore your stories. They're so beautifully written and such a joy to read. 😊 Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Aw! Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your kind words :) You as well! <3

[allthetrek]

Hi, am a new follower. I love, love your writing. Thank you for sharing your stories. Hope you're doing well and staying safe. 😊

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the feedback :) You as well! Cheers <3

[allthetrek]

A Stranding, A Crash Landing - Chapter 13 (Final Chapter)

Chapter 1: Going Down Swinging

Chapter 2: The Man Beneath the Uniform

Chapter 3: Call Me Christopher

Chapter 4: Pale Blue Dots

Chapter 5: Liquid Gold

Chapter 6: Omega

Chapter 7: Dark Skies

Chapter 8: Morning Blues

Chapter 9: A Change of Scenery

Chapter 10: While You Were Sleeping

Chapter 11: Not Your Captain

Chapter 12: A Piece of the Universe

Chapter 13: A Certain Future

Captain Pike and the reader get stranded on a Class L planet. With no guarantee of rescue, they must adapt to life together in their new environment. Eventually, formalities and professional boundaries fall away, leaving room for a more personal connection to flourish. (Action/adventure, romance)

You rest your forearms on the metal guardrail on the terrace outside of the Starfleet Command administration building, taking in the beautiful day back on Earth. It’s summertime in San Francisco, and the air is pleasantly warm and a bit humid. The manicured grounds of Command HQ sprawl out before you: trees, benches, walkways, exotic plants, and fountains. You’ve finished being questioned by the investigation panel, and now you’re waiting for Chris to finish his session.

It hadn’t been as bad as you’d thought it would be. You just told the truth, and the truth speaks for itself. You were thanked for your excellent service and quick instincts in protecting your captain and your cargo. You left the room feeling relieved, like a weight had been lifted.

Finally, you see Chris emerge from the building, dressed in his formal service uniform, as are you. The smile on his face tells you everything went alright. You greet him verbally, and he surprises you with a peck on the lips. He’s obviously disclosed your relationship to Starfleet.

“What do you say we get out of here?” he asks, and you nod, the rest of the beautiful afternoon free for the two of you to spend together and make plans for your future.

“Lunch?” you ask, feeling the emptiness of your stomach now that your anxieties have left your body.

“There’s a great little bistro not far from here,” Chris suggests, and the two of you make your way down the concrete steps of HQ.

“I think I know the one. Nante’s?” you ask, remembering the place from one of your previous visits here.

“That’s it. Best tiramisu in the quadrant,” he asserts, his hand finding yours as you walk off the Starfleet premises and out into the streets of San Francisco.

“I hope you don’t expect me to share,” you tease him.

“I would never make such an assumption,” he quips back with a smile, and the two of you continue to banter and laugh as you make your way to your destination. Everything you’ve been through has built a strong foundation for your relationship, and now the trials and tribulations of “normal” life could never phase your connection. Your love. Whatever the universe has in store for you, you’ll face it, together.

* THE END *

* * * * * * * * * *

Note: Thank you to everyone who read this story! Any feedback would be welcome; I hope you enjoyed it! <3

[allthetrek]

A Stranding, A Crash Landing - Chapter 12

Chapter 1: Going Down Swinging

Chapter 2: The Man Beneath the Uniform

Chapter 3: Call Me Christopher

Chapter 4: Pale Blue Dots

Chapter 5: Liquid Gold

Chapter 6: Omega

Chapter 7: Dark Skies

Chapter 8: Morning Blues

Chapter 9: A Change of Scenery

Chapter 10: While You Were Sleeping

Chapter 11: Not Your Captain

Chapter 12: A Piece of the Universe

Captain Pike and the reader get stranded on a Class L planet. With no guarantee of rescue, they must adapt to life together in their new environment. Eventually, formalities and professional boundaries fall away, leaving room for a more personal connection to flourish. (Action/adventure, romance)

Another beep, and you sit up in bed, reorienting yourself. “Come… Come in,” you state groggily, and the computer picks up your words and opens the door to your quarters. A familiar figure enters, closing the door behind them. It’s Chris, and he approaches you in bed, a warm smile crossing his lips and you leap out of bed and into his outstretched arms.

He holds you tightly, and you hold him back, even squeezing his bad side but he doesn’t seem to be bothered anymore. He’s been regenerated, treated, and is in the clear now.

Finally, you release each other, and you look into his fatigued eyes, seeing nothing but genuine caring and concern. He knows you have questions, and he’s here to ease your troubled mind. He’s just spent hours with Captain Forster getting everything straightened out.

“What happened, Chris?! Why did they interrogate me like that…?!” you breathe to him, your eyes begging the question, pleading for an answer that will explain everything that’s happened since the Venaris took custody of you. Chris looks into your beautiful, innocent eyes, his arms lingering at your waist, holding you there in front of him, protecting you from anyone and anything that would cause you pain.

“I know they were hard on you, [Y/N], and it wasn’t right. The truth is, not everyone involved in the leak that jeopardized our mission has been brought to justice. There was talk that you or I could have been involved. But I set them straight. I told them exactly where they could put their accusations, and that they’d better never question the integrity of one of my officers again. And I’ll tell the same thing to the Starfleet investigation panel when we get to HQ,” Chris explains, the look on his face one of steadfast determination.

You’re silent for a moment, taking in his words, putting the pieces together, and Chris’ palms trace up and down your outer arms, soothing you as you contemplate your situation. You’re relieved. But not everything has been addressed…

“So that’s where we’re going? HQ?” you ask him, and he nods.

“The Venaris will rendezvous with another cruiser, the USS Spartiate. That’ll be our ride back to Earth, to HQ. The Venaris will be joined by several warships as it takes the Omega particle to its final destination. Starfleet isn’t taking any chances this time,” Chris reports, and you nod in acknowledgement, but you’re still not satisfied. There’s a burning question within you, and you’re afraid to ask it.

Chris can see your hesitation. “What is it?” he asks, his voice soft, his heart open to you.

“It’s just… What does this all mean, for us? Will there be… An us?” you ask quietly, your steady words a façade as your insides twist with trepidation and fear. Fear of losing Chris. Of losing this incredible relationship you’ve been building, and a future together you hadn’t had a chance to think about until you were rescued.

Chris stares into you, through you, as though he’s taking in the very essence of your being with his piercing blue eyes. His expression softens, a sweet smile adorning his lips. “Of course there will be. There is, [Y/N]. I love you. Nothing in time or space could keep me from you. You know that, don’t you?” he asks you, his words almost a whisper, but their intensity strikes you and you realize your fears are for naught. Whatever is to come, you will face it together, stay by each other’s side, your lives now intertwined, your souls inseparable. There will always be an “us”.

“Yes. Yes, I know… I love you too,” you whisper in reply, and suddenly Chris’ lips are pressing into yours, his hands coming around your lower back and pulling you into him, deeper into his embrace, his kiss. You kiss him back with such intensity, your senses on fire, your mouth opening to his and you taste each other, desperate for more as though it’s been ages since you shared such close physical passion.

Chris walks you backward and you feel the bed against the back of your calves and knees, and you sit, scooching up on the bed as Chris lowers himself on top of you. Chris kisses your lips, you cheeks, across your jawline, and down the side of your neck, taking in the sensation of your soft skin on his lips, your sweet scent filling his senses. He stops, nuzzling into your neck, and you hold each other, listening to each other’s’ breathing for some time before Chris pulls himself off of you reluctantly.

He gets up and pulls the askew covers further down, and you adjust on the bed, tucking yourself back under the covers and making room for him to join you. He pulls his shoes and shirt off, then crawls under the covers with you, turning off the bedside light and lying on his back. You cuddle up to him, his arm coming around you, pulling you into his chest, and you feel his warmth against your cheek and the sound of his heartbeat beneath your ear.

Chris’ fingers trace lightly along your arm as you relax into him, darkness enveloping you as you close your eyes.

“Everything is going to be okay,” he whispers, and you feel him kiss the top of your head, and you sigh into his embrace.

Soon, sleep overtakes your exhausted body and mind…

***

You awake late in the morning, turning over and finding your bed empty. Chris had gotten up before you, and hadn’t wanted to wake you. You trace your hand across the spot where he’d rested last night, memories of his comforting presence bringing a smile to your lips and you turn on your back, just breathing for a few moments, taking in the comfortable bed and the new day. You already feel more hopeful, more content, your worries now mostly at ease. You can handle the Starfleet investigation. You have nothing to hide. Chris is certain he won’t face repercussions for disclosing Omega to you, and he’s told you to tell the truth to the panel. You both will. It’s who you are, and it’s the right thing to do.

You get ready for the day and make your way to the Venaris mess hall, where you replicate a supplement shake for breakfast and sit down at one of the chrome tables facing a window. You watch the stars pass by at warp, their mesmerizing trails hypnotizing you as you drink your shake and tune out your surroundings.

“Good morning,” an amiable, familiar voice jolts you from your trance and you turn your head to see Chris. He’s looking well rested and almost chipper today, and he joins you as you finish your breakfast. You chat for a bit, not discussing anything of much substance as there are unfamiliar ears around you. You’re still not overly comfortable on the Venaris. It’s not Enterprise. It’s not home.

“There’s something I think you’ll want to see,” Chris tells you, his voice low and full of intrigue. You smile at him and agree, and you stand, grabbing your glass as Chris pushes in his chair and yours. You drop the glass in the replication receptacle on your way out of the mess hall, and follow Chris down the winding corridors of the ship until you reach one of the science bays. The doors hiss open, and Chris gestures for you to enter first, and you comply.

Right away you notice a familiar containment pod in the center of the room, several conduits and monitors hooked up to it. Personnel greet you and the Captain as you walk around the bay, coming to an electron microscope at a workstation near the pod. Chris pulls out the chrome desk chair with white padding at the station, and you take his cue and sit down, noticing the look of enjoyment on his face. What’s going on?

He gently pushes the wheeled chair forward, until you’re face to face with the viewing end of the microscope. You peer in, and nothing can prepare you for the beauty of what you see.

It’s Omega. Viewed at the subatomic level, it’s the Omega particle, and it’s beautiful. It’s power, it’s intricacy, it’s… Perfection. It’s just perfection, like nothing you’ve ever seen or imagined. You’re filled with awe and you stare into the microscope for what could be seconds, minutes, you don’t know. Chris lets you take as long as you’d like. After everything you’ve been through together, and with this particle, he wanted you to see it. To be a part of this. Protocol be damned…

You don’t know what will become of the particle. It may be safely destroyed by Federation scientists, or possibly remain in suspended animation until they know more about it. It’s not up to you to decide, and you’re not even supposed to know it exists. But you do, and you can’t help but wonder… For now, though, you just look at it. At this incredible piece of the universe, that so few beings have ever laid eyes upon. But you have, and you’ll never forget it.

[allthetrek]

A Stranding, A Crash Landing - Chapter 11

Chapter 1: Going Down Swinging

Chapter 2: The Man Beneath the Uniform

Chapter 3: Call Me Christopher

Chapter 4: Pale Blue Dots

Chapter 5: Liquid Gold

Chapter 6: Omega

Chapter 7: Dark Skies

Chapter 8: Morning Blues

Chapter 9: A Change of Scenery

Chapter 10: While You Were Sleeping

Chapter 11: Not Your Captain

Captain Pike and the reader get stranded on a Class L planet. With no guarantee of rescue, they must adapt to life together in their new environment. Eventually, formalities and professional boundaries fall away, leaving room for a more personal connection to flourish. (Action/adventure, romance)

You’re taken to the bridge deck and shown to the Captain’s ready room. Large metal doors react to your presence, hissing open and you tentatively step inside his domain. Your security escort remains outside the doors, and you walk almost autonomously through the room, approaching a stern-looking, middle-aged man with thinning, grey-black hair. The poor man’s Captain Pike. You can’t help but compare any other fleet captain with your own, and few could ever match Pike’s morality, honor, intellect, compassion, or good looks.

The man is behind a chrome desk, devoid of anything except a large viewscreen which he deactivates, hiding whatever he was working on from your curious gaze. You concentrate on maintaining the most confident, collected expression you can muster, yet inside you’re on red alert. Your peripheral vision takes in the ready room, which is sterile and dominated by chrome surfaces and uncomfortable looking furniture.

“Lieutenant [Y/L/N]. We meet at last. I’m Captain Forster of the USS Venaris. I can’t tell you how relieved we were to find you and your captain,” he states, coming around his desk and outstretching his hand. You return his gesture, shaking his hand, and something in his grip lets you know he is not someone to be trifled with.

“Thank you, Captain. I’m also… Relieved,” you state, and he gestures for you to take a seat. You comply, and you sit across from each other on grey chairs with cushioning as hard as rock. Captain Forster leans back in the chair, bracing himself on the chair’s arms, sizing you up. This isn’t going to go well for you…

***

The next hour is a whirlwind of information and inquiries, and you try your best to keep up but Captain Forster is a master interrogator. His questions seem standard, yet you can tell there’s more going on than he’s letting on. You try to ask what happened after you and Captain Pike had picked up the containment pod from the research station, and he allows you some information. You start piecing things together.

There was a leak in Starfleet, and someone on the station had sold you out to a criminal organization. A terrorist group, intent on destroying the Federation and all it stands for. The informant was apprehended, and is currently on a penal planet, awaiting a trial that will take far too long to commence. The system is flawed, and there is corruption, subterfuge, and suffering. But you truly believe in the Federation. In Starfleet. In what it stands for, what it is at its best. It’s not just an ideal. It’s a reality, and people like you bring it ever-closer to the prosperous, flourishing alliance of multiple races and cultures that it will be one day.

“I’ll ask you again, Lieutenant, what is in the containment pod?” Captain Forster reiterates, his brow furrowed, the look on his face dangerous, testing. You’re positive he knows about Omega. All fleet captains are briefed on the particle, the Omega Directive, Chris told you that much. You’re perceptive enough to know that Forster suspects you have knowledge of Omega, too, and he’s trying to trip you up.

You don’t know what to do. What will happen to Chris if they know he told you about Omega? The punishment for its disclosure is dismissal from Starfleet, or worse. This is serious. You can’t lie. But you can’t sell Chris out. You’re so drained, exhausted, you can barely keep yourself upright in the chair… Maybe this was their plan all along. To have you weak, vulnerable…

“Talk to Captain Pike,” you state, your voice unwavering, intentional.

“I asked you a question, Lieutenant,” the captain growls, and you feel the heat in your cheeks again. You’ve had enough. This isn’t right. You have rights.

“Why are interrogating me?!,” you demand, your cool fading with each passing moment. “We followed orders! We kept the pod safe! You have it now, so why are you treating me like a criminal?!”

“These are standard questions, Lieutenant. Nothing personal,” he quips back shortly, and you can tell from his expression he’s pleased to have gotten to you. You yearn for your own Captain, the man you know so well, who would never treat you, or any officer, like this.

“I’m not saying any more right now. You need to talk to Captain Pike,” you tell him, straightening your back, squaring your shoulders slightly, letting him know you will not be pushed around. You’ve been through interrogations before, and have been trained to handle intense scrutiny and dire conditions.

The Captain backs off, calling your security escort back in. He instructs them to show you to your crew quarters, and you get up wearily, refusing to look the man in the eyes as you follow the crewmen out of the ready room and back through the winding corridors of the Venaris.

You’re taken to one of the vacant quarters, which will be yours until you arrive back at… Earth? Will they take you to Earth, to Starfleet Command? Or are they going to throw you in a penal colony, too! The doors to the quarters hiss shut behind you and you’re alone at last. In more ways than one.

Your room is standard and starkly furnished, with a sofa, coffee table, double bed, and night tables. A faux window on one side shows stars outside, but you know it’s just an image on a screen. A tray of cold food rests on the coffee table, and you walk to the sofa, slumping down on it. You have no appetite right now. You feel just awful. For months now you’ve imagined the day you and Chris would be rescued, and hoped so badly it would come. This is nothing like you’d imagined.

You force yourself to get ready for bed, using the bathroom and letting the cleansing acoustic wavelengths of the sonic shower remove any last traces of the planetoid you spent the past few months on. You put on some Starfleet-issue sweatpants and a t-shirt and trudge over to the bed, pulling open the covers and climbing in. The mattress is new and stiff, but much more comfortable than the cot you’ve been sleeping on lately.

You think about turning the lights off, but decide to leave the bedside lamp on, needing comfort in your unfamiliar surroundings. You lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, your heart wrenching as you miss Chris so badly. You cry yourself into an uneasy slumber, passed out from exhaustion for several hours, until a beep at the door prods you awake…

* * * * * * * * * *

[allthetrek]

A Stranding, A Crash Landing - Chapter 10

Chapter 1: Going Down Swinging

Chapter 2: The Man Beneath the Uniform

Chapter 3: Call Me Christopher

Chapter 4: Pale Blue Dots

Chapter 5: Liquid Gold

Chapter 6: Omega

Chapter 7: Dark Skies

Chapter 8: Morning Blues

Chapter 9: A Change of Scenery

Chapter 10: While You Were Sleeping

Captain Pike and the reader get stranded on a Class L planet. With no guarantee of rescue, they must adapt to life together in their new environment. Eventually, formalities and professional boundaries fall away, leaving room for a more personal connection to flourish. (Action/adventure, romance)

You slowly awaken, your senses returning as the familiar acoustic hum of a starship prods you back to reality. It’s just background noise, but it’s been so long since you heard it and it seems so much more vivid to you now. You open your eyes to see that you’re in sick bay, lying on the firm padding of a biobed. The lights above you are dimmed, and you’re dressed in a durable, blue-gray patient’s gown, with a thin grey blanket covering your torso and legs.

You take a breath and sit up slowly, looking around the large, pristine room. The bay is sizeable, with several other biobeds arranged throughout, as well as various pieces of equipment and several large viewscreens and monitors. Your gaze lands across the room, on the biochamber. The door to the chamber is closed, and indicators around it show that someone is inside. Your heart quickens as you guess who’s in there.

You swing your legs over the biobed, about to stand up and literally run to your beloved, but a figure emerges from the medical office near your biobed and stops you in your tracks.

“And where do you think you’re going?” asks the gruff voice of a short, older man with wiry white hair and deep scowl lines between his brows. He’s standing in front of you now, blocking you from getting off of the biobed, and you frown back at him, feeling heat rush to your face and you open your mouth, but no words come out. Instead, the sting of frustrated tears burns your eyes, and your expression is one of defeat as you look at the man in front of you.

The man’s expression softens, and he introduces himself as Dr. Thorpe, chief medical officer of the Venaris. He can see you’ve been through hell, and the abrupt manner of the crewmen that brought you in probably hadn’t helped. They were just following orders. You’re an outsider to them, and can’t be trusted just yet, even if you are Starfleet. The details of their mission had been vague yet urgent, and there was plenty of paranoia and suspicion going around Starfleet after you and Captain Pike had disappeared without a trace. You’d soon find out just how convoluted things had gotten in the fleet after you’d vanished.

“Your Captain is going to be alright,” Dr. Thorpe reassures you, and you feel a weight lift from your being, your body relaxing slightly now that you know Chris is going to be okay. “His condition was dire, but we got to him in time. He’s undergoing treatment now. I was just about to check on him.”

“Thank you,” you breathe to the doctor, so relieved that you’re finally talking to someone who isn’t brushing you off. As it turns out, they had beamed the Captain directly to sick bay, and you were to undergo a debriefing with the captain of the Venaris, but you had collapsed. Exhaustion, dehydration, and an electrolyte imbalance had made you weak, and the transport and unfamiliar surroundings had been too much for your body to handle. But now, you’re safe, and so is Chris.

***

The doctor administers another hypospray to the side of your neck and asks you how you feel. You’re tired, still, but you feel more steady. Nothing a hot meal, a good night’s sleep, and a more certain future can’t help. You still don’t know what is going to become of you, Chris, or the Omega particle. Your mind wanders to the landing party, and how they made out disconnecting the containment pod from your improvised power array. You haven’t ceased to exist yet, so you figure they must have been successful. It may even be on board now. The ship doesn’t feel like it’s at warp, so you must still be above the planetoid.

The doctor hands you some civilian garments to change into, snapping you out of your thoughts. You dare not ask him about your “cargo”, not that he would know anything anyway. You dare not even mention Omega to anyone onboard. You don’t know who you can trust here, and the only person you can count on is currently unconscious and incapacitated.

You’re given some privacy and you change out of your sick-bay garb and into the generic civvies you’ve been provided. The boots they gave you are ill-fitting, squeezing your weary feet as you follow the security personnel out of the sick bay, casting one last glance at the biochamber that Chris is recuperating within.

You’re taken down a winding maze of metallic corridors, and you try to remember the way back to sick-bay, just in case, but you’re soon overwhelmed with the size and unfamiliarity of the Venaris. It’s one of the newest in the fleet, and the Constitution-class schematics have changed since the Enterprise was built. You could find your way around the Enterprise with a blindfold on, but here, you’re lost, vulnerable, and alone.

The farther you walk from sick bay, the more you feel it. But you take a breath, filling yourself with renewed resolve. You’re going to get through this. You’re Starfleet, dammit! You can do this!

* * * * * * * * * *

[allthetrek]

A Stranding, A Crash Landing - Chapter 9

Chapter 1: Going Down Swinging

Chapter 2: The Man Beneath the Uniform

Chapter 3: Call Me Christopher

Chapter 4: Pale Blue Dots

Chapter 5: Liquid Gold

Chapter 6: Omega

Chapter 7: Dark Skies

Chapter 8: Morning Blues

Chapter 9: A Change of Scenery

Captain Pike and the reader get stranded on a Class L planet. With no guarantee of rescue, they must adapt to life together in their new environment. Eventually, formalities and professional boundaries fall away, leaving room for a more personal connection to flourish. (Action/adventure, romance)

You clutch Christopher’s hand as you kneel beside his cot. The dim blue lighting of your marooned science vessel casts ominous shadows around the cabin and illuminates Chris’ pale, worrisome complexion. Perspiration glistens on his face, his body in turmoil as it fights the osteomyelitis that has been progressing over the past several days. You thought those few days after the crash were the worst of your life. You had no idea what was ahead.

The man you love is in dire straits, and there’s nothing you can do but make him comfortable and tell him, with tears in your eyes, how much you love him. The weak smile on his face as he returns your sentiments lets you know how truly he reciprocates your love. And how much it’s tormenting him that he may not make it. But he never gives up hope, and neither do you. This can’t be the end.

*Thud!* A noise, outside. Probably the wind. Another windstorm rolling in for the evening, you’re not certain though. You haven’t even checked the atmospheric sensor data today. You’ve neglected your routine checks, and have barely slept or eaten in two days. You’ve hardly left Chris’ side.

Another noise, this time more… Electronic sounding. You squeeze Chris’ hand and stand up. “I’ll be right back,” you tell him, but you’re not sure he even heard you. He’s barely conscious now, and you give one last worried look toward his listless form before stepping through the ship’s hatch. You look out over the wind-swept, rocky horizon, and the unfamiliar glint of metal reflecting the evening sun catches your eye. You blink a few times, and it’s still there. It’s a small ship, a shuttle. And it looks to be Federation!

Three forms emerge from the shuttle, too far away to identify yet, and they slowly make their way toward your stranded craft. You tentatively take a few steps toward them, and soon they’re close enough to make out the shining beacons of hope on their lapels. The badges of Starfleet. They’ve found you. And just in time.

***

The landing party is from the USS Venaris, a Constitution-class starship tasked with finding your vessel and retrieving you and your cargo. You test them with some questions, standard Starfleet identifiers and a few probing questions to determine if they know the details of your “cargo”. If they do, they’re not letting on. Chances are high that they’ve been kept in the dark, just like you were until the captain filled you in about Omega.

The newcomers explain that the Venaris was unable to raise you on the comm, so they sent a landing party to investigate. Once you deem them legitimate, you show them to Chris and explain his condition. “He needs a doctor! He’s dying!” you plead with them, and they quickly communicate with the Venaris to teleport the two of you immediately.

A wave of relief washes over you that Chris will soon be in a medical bay, being well cared for by some of the best personnel in Starfleet. But your chest tightens with anxiety all of a sudden. The gravity of allowing Omega to be extracted without Chris’ permission dawns on you. Would he trust them with it? You assume that another fleet captain would have jurisdiction over the particle, and that it should be safe to let them proceed. Not that you could stop them. You wish Chris were awake to handle the situation. You’re so exhausted, you can hardly think straight, and it’s all happening so fast…

One of the Venaris crew approaches the containment pod that houses your precious cargo. “Careful! It’s tied into a di-buridium power matrix, we had to modify it!” you yell at him, and all you hear is “Don’t worry, Lieutenant, we’ve got th…”, before his words are cut short by the transporter beam, de-materializing you in a flash of golden light energy.

***

You re-materialize on a transporter pad, your eyes squinting involuntarily as they adjust to the bright, artificial white light of the starship you now find yourself upon. You look around the large, sterile room, suddenly weary of being onboard for some reason. You’ve gotten accustomed to the nameless planetoid you’ve been calling home with Christopher. Day after day you’ve developed a routine with him, your circadian rhythms syncing with the planet’s cycles and rotations, your physiological mechanisms orienting you to its horizon, its atmosphere, its climate.

Now, you breathe the recycled air of the ship, engineered to match the largely oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere of Earth, and you notice how different it smells. Did it always smell like this? Two crewmen approach you, security division from their attire, and they ask you to come with them.

“I… Where is Chris… The Captain, where is Captain Pike?!” you inquire, your voice shriller than you’d have liked, but your head is beginning to spin, the room dissolving, out of focus… You stumble off of the transporter pad and the crewmen take hold of you, easing you down to the cool metal floorplates. The room shifts and tilts in your field of vision, and the last thing you see is the glossy veneer of the crewman’s overshined boots… Then it all goes black.

* * * * * * * * * *

[allthetrek]

A Stranding, A Crash Landing - Chapter 8

Chapter 1: Going Down Swinging

Chapter 2: The Man Beneath the Uniform

Chapter 3: Call Me Christopher

Chapter 4: Pale Blue Dots

Chapter 5: Liquid Gold

Chapter 6: Omega

Chapter 7: Dark Skies

Chapter 8: Morning Blues

Captain Pike and the reader get stranded on a Class L planet. With no guarantee of rescue, they must adapt to life together in their new environment. Eventually, formalities and professional boundaries fall away, leaving room for a more personal connection to flourish. (Action/adventure, romance)

The morning sun slowly increases in intensity as you jog your habitual route around the perimeter of your shipwreck estate. Routine and discipline are vital if you’re going to endure being marooned on this desolate planet, and you’ve become accustomed lately to waking up at sunrise and jogging to the edge of the rocky cliffs that Chris has named “[Y/N]’s Outlook”. He started calling it this after your propensity to go there for hours, sitting and thinking about life, the universe, and everything.

You slow down as you approach the outlook, walking at an irregular, defeated pace, and you slump your body down onto one of the eroded rocks a safe distance from the edge of the cliff’s overhang. You lean forward, resting your arms on your lap as you catch your breath, bringing your gaze to the horizon and taking in the view. And what a view it is.

A vast expanse of sunbaked, rust-colored rock fills your field of vision, with tall, weather-beaten spires protruding from the ground and reaching into the cloud-dusted sky above. The rising sun melds into the lilac horizon, creating an ombre effect of amber and gold.

It’s contemplatively quiet, with only the whistle of the breeze over your rocky surroundings to disturb your thoughts as you sit and let your body normalize after the intense exercise. Your mouth yearns for water and your tongue instinctively traces over your lips, and you taste the slightly salty essence of perspiration. You sigh, letting the precious, unlabored breath re-energize you, and your mind is clear for several moments as your take in the peace of this place. The emptiness is beautiful, in its own way.

But, inevitably, the reality of your situation dawns on you. Like how Christopher usually comes with you on these morning excursions, but he’s feeling under the weather today. He hasn’t been the same since the two of you landed here. The trauma of the crash left him in a precarious physical state, and though it had seemed that he’d recovered, you still feel uneasy. Your intuition tells you that he needs medical attention, beyond anything you can offer him here.

Your hands trace absentmindedly over your thighs, your unease making you fidgety and uncomfortable. You can’t bear the thought of anything happening to Chris. This time together has brought you so close. You’ve spent every day in each other’s company, getting to know about your past experiences, your hopes and dreams, your deepest fears, and your quirks. Your heart does somersaults every time the man flashes you his sexy, dimpled smile.

“Everything will be okay,” you whisper to yourself, and your words are picked up, syllable by syllable, by the wind, which carries your hopeful intent out into the universe.

You painstakingly peel yourself from your perch on the rock, and take one last look out at the alien expanse before turning and making your way back to your homestead. Your pace gradually quickens, as you long to get back to Christopher and his comforting presence and welcoming embrace.

***

Christopher rests wearily on one of the rocks in front of the ship, watching your sunlit form get ever-smaller as you fade into the distance. Pain radiates from his ribcage, down his spine, reaching his tailbone, and he shifts uncomfortably until he finds the least agonizing position. The crease between his brows deepens as he contemplates his condition, and in his gut he knows that things are taking a problematic turn.

He would never have survived the crash if it weren’t for you. Your care and attention not only nursed him back to health, but have kept him going ever since. Chris’ chest tightens as the image of your beautiful face flashes into his mind’s eye, and the sound of your sweet laughter rings in his ears. No one has ever gotten his humor the way you do, and he loves making you laugh. He loves every sound that comes from your exquisite lips.

Christopher raises his freshly-replicated mug of coffee, black to his lips, savoring the bitter notes and the nutty, roasted smell as the vapor wafts up and into his nostrils. He sits there, slowly sipping the energizing beverage, as the sun rises ever-higher in the sky. He wishes he could be out there with you. He should be. He knows that none of this was his fault, but he can’t help but feel the weight of the situation you’re both in.

He chose you to come on the top-secret, high-stakes mission for the Omega particle. He chose you for your expertise and experience, and your ability to adapt in high-stress situations. You checked all the boxes, and your record was one of the most impressive of all the Enterprise personnel. But there was something else that he couldn’t put his finger on. Not at the time. He just knew it had to be you.

Maybe this was why. Maybe this was the universe’s strange way of showing you to each other. Fate did seem to have a sense of humor. Whatever it was, Chris would never forgive himself if anything happened to you here. Or, if something happened to him, and you were left out here by yourself. “No. That’s not going to happen,” Chris thinks to himself.

He catches a glimmer of movement on the horizon, and he knows it’s you, returning home. Your run seems shorter without him today. He hopes it’s not because you’re worried about him, but he knows it might be.

You approach the ship, and soon Chris can make out your attractive features, and he stands slowly, anticipating your return. You walk up to him, smiling in greeting, out of breath and sweaty, but you’ve never been more beautiful in his eyes. Chris gives you a quick peck on your salty lips, and you sit for a moment, catching your breath before excusing yourself for a quick sonic shower. Chris watches you disappear into the ship, giving you your space and privacy, something he’s always conscious of. Two people spending every moment of every day together could get on each other’s’ nerves, but the two of you have had no issues whatsoever. Your common goal of survival, ample resources to subsist on out here, and mutual respect and care for each other has made you ideal partners in this stranding situation.

***

You enter the compact bathroom of the ship, turning on the sonic shower and listening to the hum of the acoustic inverter change in frequency until you know it’s ready. You step into the cramped chamber, a far cry from the spacious, luxurious sonic showers onboard the Enterprise, and soon the particles of dirt and sweat are being lifted from your physique and sucked into the vents at the chamber’s perimeter. The shower quickly finishes its cycle, the power-saving mode just enough to get you clean, but leaving no time to relax or enjoy the experience. At least you have this much, you think to yourself.

You finish in the bathroom and open the door, coming out into the cabin and pulling on your underwear. Christopher ambles into the ship, hearing that you’re finished, and smiles mischievously as he catches you partially clothed. His strong arms slide around your waist and you feel his torso press into your bare back. You smile and relax into him, your hands meeting his at your waist, and he leans into the crook of your neck, kissing your clean, bare skin slowly and lovingly. He gives you a tight squeeze and then releases you, walking toward the nearby replicator. “Let me get you some breakfast,” he offers, and you finish getting dressed as he taps orders into the outdated machine and waits as it materializes your sustenance.

Soon, you’re back out on your makeshift porch, sipping hot [tea/coffee] and planning your day together. You keep your expression steady as Chris speaks, masking your growing concern at the way he’s guarding his side. You know something is wrong, and it’s only a matter of time before things deteriorate. If you’re ever going to be rescued, it had better be soon.

* * * * * * * * * *