Fic - Lost In The Woods - Part 3
FanFic100 prompt: 022 - Enemies
Pyramid_Dares: Set 2, Level 7 - Haunted
My Tables 'O Links -- Pyramid table, FanFic100 Table
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Dorian/Klaus
Words: 1,166
Summary: Eroica remembers...
By: Margaret Price
Previous Parts: One, Two
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lost In The Woods
Part Three
The Enemy Of My Enemy
“Major, I really don’t think you should lie on this cold floor all night,” Eroica said once he had cleared away the remnants of the meal.
Here it comes, Klaus thought with a groan. “I’m warm enough under all these,” he replied, tugging at the blanket that was wrapped around his shoulders and covered his upper body.
“Don’t you think you’d be more comfortable on the bed?” Dorian asked, adding quickly, “And before you even think it, I have no intention of suggesting that I help keep you warm.”
The Major’s eyes flickered. Then he sighed heavily, admitting, “I don’t think I have the strength to get to it, let alone climb into it.”
“Oh.” Dorian looked at the bed, judging the distance between it and the Major. If he tried to drag him across the rough floor, he might well open his wound again. “Let me check that dressing, then I’ll help you lie down.”
“Fine.” It was clear from the Major’s tone that this was anything but fine.
Dorian moved the lamp closer so he could see what he was doing before pulling the blanket out of the way. The Major felt the cool air of the room rush across his bare skin and gave way to an involuntary shudder. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as the Earl carefully removed the bandages.
“Oh, that looks much better, Major,” Dorian said in a relieved voice.
Klaus opened his eyes and looked down at the gash in his shoulder. He had seen more than his share of nasty injuries and had to admit that this one was not nearly as bad as he had expected. Especially since it had stopped bleeding. The Earl had done an excellent job of cleaning it and his trick with the honey seemed to have worked. There wasn’t nearly as much swelling as he expected. And since he sat up, the feeling had slowly returned to his left hand and arm.
Dorian made quick work of replacing the soiled dressing, which was much easier with the Major awake and able to assist, if only slightly. He gave the officer another dose of the morphine and then helped him to lie down on the rug, placing one pillow beneath his head and another at his left side to keep his shoulder and arm in position.
Klaus closed his eyes, only to open them again when the quilt at his feet was lifted up. “What the hell…?”
“If you’re gonna lie on the floor all night, I’m gonna make sure you stay warm,” the Earl said as he took a blanket that he had folded to form an envelope and tucked the Major’s bare feet inside. “Thank goodness this place has a good supply of blankets,” he said as he pulled the quilt back down again, tucking it under the folded blanket. “There.” He looked up and smiled. “If your feet are warm, you’ll be warm.”
Klaus could think of nothing to say, so he just gave a snort, nodding over to the fire. “So long as that doesn’t go out.”
“Yes, Major,” Dorian said mildly. It was all he could do to hide the amused smirk on his face. He went to the fire, giving it a poke or two before throwing a couple of large logs on the glowing coals. By the time he had pulled the fire screen back into place, the flames were growing brighter. He stepped back, turning to the Major to ask if he approved, only to pause. The officer was already asleep.
Dorian crossed to him and pulled the quilt up over the blanket wrapped around the injured man’s upper body, going on to tuck it around him so he was well swaddled against the cold.
Then Dorian got to his feet, taking the oil lamps to the kitchen table before blowing out the flames. He turned back and stood in the darkness, the only illumination coming from the fire. His eyes fell on the Major in his bundle of blankets, his face illuminated by the firelight. He looked so incredibly peaceful in his sleep.
How do you do it? the Earl found himself wondering, his mind returning to the mission gone wrong. The angry voices calling out in the darkness, demanding that they surrender. The Major’s defiant reply. Suddenly the Earl found himself going from hated enemy to ally. Annoying thief to a trusted second set of eyes.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Was that your thinking, Major?
It had never been more true than that day. As soon as the shooting started, the Major had taken command, firing orders nonstop. Orders Eroica obeyed without question. This was the officer’s area of expertise. The Earl knew that if he so much as paused to argue, they both might die.
While Eroica stashed the small package he had stolen into the backpack, the Major stood guard over him. Protecting the Earl and the vital information in his possession. During this time, Eroica lost track of their enemy’s position. The Major did not, which was how he came to be injured. Eroica had no sooner closed up the backpack and stood up when he was violently shoved aside by the Major. A second later, a shot rang out, the weapon in the Major’s hand firing at the same time.
Only now did Eroica realize that it was not the bullet that had struck the officer but shrapnel from whatever it actually had struck. Either way, the man had saved his life, going down himself in the process. The Earl did not even think. He threw the backpack onto his back, grabbed what he could to staunch the bleeding, hoisted the Major onto his shoulder, and got the hell out of there. They had only just reached the woods when the building exploded into flames.
The sound of the gusting wind driving rain harder onto the cabin roof and windows returned the Earl to reality. Only then did he realize how chilly it was away from the fire. Or was is a chill from his realization of how close they had come to dying that day? He shivered, rubbing his arms to get warm as he moved back into the main room.
He looked down at the injured officer, a bittersweet smile on his face. He knelt down, planting a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Sleep well, my Major,” he said quietly. He made another check to make certain the Major was completely covered. Protected against the cold.
Protected.
You protected me from those assassins. I’ll protect you from the cold, he thought as he crossed to the bed and climbed in. The memories of today will haunt me for some time, but I can live with that. Had you died on my account, then…
I think I should’ve died, too.
He closed his eyes and shivered, letting the sound of the rain and the crackling from the fire lull him to sleep.
* * *
Continues in Part 4 - Nightmares
Pyramid_Dares: Set 2, Level 7 - Haunted
My Tables 'O Links -- Pyramid table, FanFic100 Table
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Dorian/Klaus
Words: 1,166
Summary: Eroica remembers...
By: Margaret Price
Previous Parts: One, Two
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lost In The Woods
Part Three
The Enemy Of My Enemy
“Major, I really don’t think you should lie on this cold floor all night,” Eroica said once he had cleared away the remnants of the meal.
Here it comes, Klaus thought with a groan. “I’m warm enough under all these,” he replied, tugging at the blanket that was wrapped around his shoulders and covered his upper body.
“Don’t you think you’d be more comfortable on the bed?” Dorian asked, adding quickly, “And before you even think it, I have no intention of suggesting that I help keep you warm.”
The Major’s eyes flickered. Then he sighed heavily, admitting, “I don’t think I have the strength to get to it, let alone climb into it.”
“Oh.” Dorian looked at the bed, judging the distance between it and the Major. If he tried to drag him across the rough floor, he might well open his wound again. “Let me check that dressing, then I’ll help you lie down.”
“Fine.” It was clear from the Major’s tone that this was anything but fine.
Dorian moved the lamp closer so he could see what he was doing before pulling the blanket out of the way. The Major felt the cool air of the room rush across his bare skin and gave way to an involuntary shudder. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as the Earl carefully removed the bandages.
“Oh, that looks much better, Major,” Dorian said in a relieved voice.
Klaus opened his eyes and looked down at the gash in his shoulder. He had seen more than his share of nasty injuries and had to admit that this one was not nearly as bad as he had expected. Especially since it had stopped bleeding. The Earl had done an excellent job of cleaning it and his trick with the honey seemed to have worked. There wasn’t nearly as much swelling as he expected. And since he sat up, the feeling had slowly returned to his left hand and arm.
Dorian made quick work of replacing the soiled dressing, which was much easier with the Major awake and able to assist, if only slightly. He gave the officer another dose of the morphine and then helped him to lie down on the rug, placing one pillow beneath his head and another at his left side to keep his shoulder and arm in position.
Klaus closed his eyes, only to open them again when the quilt at his feet was lifted up. “What the hell…?”
“If you’re gonna lie on the floor all night, I’m gonna make sure you stay warm,” the Earl said as he took a blanket that he had folded to form an envelope and tucked the Major’s bare feet inside. “Thank goodness this place has a good supply of blankets,” he said as he pulled the quilt back down again, tucking it under the folded blanket. “There.” He looked up and smiled. “If your feet are warm, you’ll be warm.”
Klaus could think of nothing to say, so he just gave a snort, nodding over to the fire. “So long as that doesn’t go out.”
“Yes, Major,” Dorian said mildly. It was all he could do to hide the amused smirk on his face. He went to the fire, giving it a poke or two before throwing a couple of large logs on the glowing coals. By the time he had pulled the fire screen back into place, the flames were growing brighter. He stepped back, turning to the Major to ask if he approved, only to pause. The officer was already asleep.
Dorian crossed to him and pulled the quilt up over the blanket wrapped around the injured man’s upper body, going on to tuck it around him so he was well swaddled against the cold.
Then Dorian got to his feet, taking the oil lamps to the kitchen table before blowing out the flames. He turned back and stood in the darkness, the only illumination coming from the fire. His eyes fell on the Major in his bundle of blankets, his face illuminated by the firelight. He looked so incredibly peaceful in his sleep.
How do you do it? the Earl found himself wondering, his mind returning to the mission gone wrong. The angry voices calling out in the darkness, demanding that they surrender. The Major’s defiant reply. Suddenly the Earl found himself going from hated enemy to ally. Annoying thief to a trusted second set of eyes.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Was that your thinking, Major?
It had never been more true than that day. As soon as the shooting started, the Major had taken command, firing orders nonstop. Orders Eroica obeyed without question. This was the officer’s area of expertise. The Earl knew that if he so much as paused to argue, they both might die.
While Eroica stashed the small package he had stolen into the backpack, the Major stood guard over him. Protecting the Earl and the vital information in his possession. During this time, Eroica lost track of their enemy’s position. The Major did not, which was how he came to be injured. Eroica had no sooner closed up the backpack and stood up when he was violently shoved aside by the Major. A second later, a shot rang out, the weapon in the Major’s hand firing at the same time.
Only now did Eroica realize that it was not the bullet that had struck the officer but shrapnel from whatever it actually had struck. Either way, the man had saved his life, going down himself in the process. The Earl did not even think. He threw the backpack onto his back, grabbed what he could to staunch the bleeding, hoisted the Major onto his shoulder, and got the hell out of there. They had only just reached the woods when the building exploded into flames.
The sound of the gusting wind driving rain harder onto the cabin roof and windows returned the Earl to reality. Only then did he realize how chilly it was away from the fire. Or was is a chill from his realization of how close they had come to dying that day? He shivered, rubbing his arms to get warm as he moved back into the main room.
He looked down at the injured officer, a bittersweet smile on his face. He knelt down, planting a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Sleep well, my Major,” he said quietly. He made another check to make certain the Major was completely covered. Protected against the cold.
Protected.
You protected me from those assassins. I’ll protect you from the cold, he thought as he crossed to the bed and climbed in. The memories of today will haunt me for some time, but I can live with that. Had you died on my account, then…
I think I should’ve died, too.
He closed his eyes and shivered, letting the sound of the rain and the crackling from the fire lull him to sleep.
* * *
Continues in Part 4 - Nightmares