Shore Leave (For hesdead_jim)

[cadet_amara]

Amara could not have been more comfortable. Real sun. Beach. This was the life. She could very easily just lay here forever, baking int he blazing sun. She didn't even mind that the white sand had burned her feet as she made her way to the perfect spot on the beach. The untouched natural dunes behind them and gentle waves before them provided a perfect surroundings for this day, and the clear blue water was calling her, tempting her to cool off among those crashing waves. However, Amara seemed to have lost all will to move as she laid on her beach chair, listening lazily to the waves.Time seemed to stop here. It was truly the perfect spot for shore leave, and she was loving every minute of it.

"I think I'm beachnotized." She admitted, not even bothering to look away from the water. She knew "beachnotized" wasn't a real condition yet, but it certainly was now.

Comments

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

He'd been pleased when Amara had promised him her company during shore leave. Even more so when it was set somewhere as warm as this. Though it wasn't as humid as Georgia, it still felt like a little slice of home when they were relaxing there together. Anything that had him on terra firma with a warm temperature seemed to remind him of home, recently.

He held a book, a real paper book in his hands, flicking through the tattered pages with care. Shorts and a t-shirt, he wore. The closest she would get to him undressing when out on the beach. With a chuckle, he gave her a sideways glance when she spoke. "Might hafta take a few notes. Be impressive to be th' first Doctor with that. I could use you as a subject for a paper."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She was soaking up as much sun as she could in a cheerful looking yellow bikini, relishing the warmth on every inch of skin. Who wanted to wear clothes at the beach?

"Would being a paper subject require moving? Because I don't think I'm going to move again. Ever." She smiled and openned her eyes to look at him and stretched a little. "What are you reading?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Nope. You get ta laze there all you like," he replied with a low chuckle. Another turn of a page and he looked at her over it, then held the book up to showcase the front cover. "Moby Dick. Makes sense, bein' on a beach an' all. A favourite of mine," hence the tattered pages.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"Then that is just fine by me." She yawned, even though she really hadn't done anything all day the sun was yapping her energy.

"Moby Dick. Never read it." Actually she'd only read things that were required for school, if even that. Amara never really developed a love of reading, though right now she was starting to see the appeal.

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"You should do. It's a classic. Not ta say all classics are good, but this one is," he firmly believed that too. It had been a favourite of his father, and that had been why he had first given it a read. A sort of emulation of the man he grew up looking up to with the utmost respect.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She shrugged a little, "I was never much of a reader. Hated it as a kid so I never read anything I didn't have to. Maybe I should give it a try though... might be different if it's just for fun."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"It is," he replied with a nod of his head. "I grew up readin' for fun. S'pose it's each to their own, but it'd be good for you to give it a shot. Might like it now."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"I ought to. It might make me smarter." She laughed a little. "When I misbehaved at one of foster home I was sent to my room and had to read for an hour or two, I think it made me view reading as a punishment. Torture by books." Amara shook her head a little, recalling the number of hours she must have spent sitting staring blankly at various books. "What sorts of books did you read?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Huh, can't imagine usin' readin' as punishment," he commented, surprised they would do that. Great foster home that sounded to be; real education for kids. "Yer smart already, you know."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"I think the goal was to isolate me and make me sit still. I was a very difficult child to handle." She readily admitted that she deserved a lot of the punishments she got. She certainly didn't make it easy on anyone that was for sure. "And I've certainly never been known for academic achievement but thanks." It was sweet of him to say things like that, even if she didn't think it was necessarily true.

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Huh, still..." he couldn't fathom using reading as a punishment, even with her description of why it was used in such a way. He smiled and reached out to touch her arm, a light touch. "I got plenty of books if you ever feel th' need. You don't need ta ask. Apart from this one," he held up the tattered book. "This one belonged to me pops."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She smiled at his touch and reached over to take his hand. "I'll keep that in mind. And I'll probably take you up on that." She paused, examining the tattered book he was holding. "That must be pretty special. Did he like to read too?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Good," he smiled, taking a moment to look down at his book, nodding as he did so. "He did. Think he may be why I like readin' too."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"That must be nice... to have someone who has such a good influence on you." She rolled over on her stomach so her back could get some sun and peered up at him from where her head rested on her arms.

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Mmm, he was," he agreed with a slight nod of his head. He looked down over her back then and paused. "You got sunscreen on yer back?"

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"A little, but not really... think I'll burn?" She never really worried about sunblock too much. It was a good thing she didn't burn easily.

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Better to be safe than sorry," he commented. "I'll put it on yer back," he shifted to settle his book down and to get the sunscreen then. Why yes, he was taking care of her.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She was amused he was taking care of her, but didn't protest, moving her hair aside so he could get her whole back. "So... does this count as my physical? Since you're providing medical care?" She teased.

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

He laughed quietly, shaking his head as he squeezed out some of the sunscreen to run over her back. "Nice try, but no."

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

She shivered a little when he applied the sunscreen. "Damn... there's no getting out of those, is there?"

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Nope, not even for you 'Mara," he replied with a low chuckle. He massaged the cream into her skin, slipping his fingers under the material of her bikini top to make sure everywhere was covered.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"Mmhm..." Any tension in her back left as he massaged the sunblock. This was nice. "You know, I've always been afraid of doctors. Present company excluded of course." She smiled a little. "Though those check-ups always make me nervous. I lose sleep every single time."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"You still worry now?" he asked her curiously. Even with the sunblock massaged in to her skin he let his fingers stroke over her, massaging her gently for the sake of massaging her.

[cadet-amara.livejournal.com]

"Yeah... I get anxious. I know it's stupid and ridiculous but... I can't help it." She sighed contently, enjoying the gentle massage. "And that feels really good."

[hesdead-jim.livejournal.com]

"Why do you?" he asked quietly, purposely slowing his massage to make sure it lasted longer. "Good... I'm jus' gonna keep it up then."