“Fire & Ice: A Love Story”, Ch. 36: Tuesday’s Journey to Safety Continues, 7/16/12 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #232)
An Original Story Copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace
(all rights reserved)
[I will illustrate my story with images of actors representing my ‘dream cast’–including Richard Armitage and Anne Hathaway for the lead characters of Thomas and Caroline, respectively, as noted in the image credits. There are also images of Brian Protheroe for Martin, Mary McDonnell for Mary, Seth Green for Todd, Raven Symone for Fiona, and Logan Lerman for Allen. The images representing Trevor are stock photos from MS Office Clip Art.]
[(1) Fire & Ice story logo left]
Author’s Mature Content Note: “Fire & Ice” is a romantic thriller. As such there will be some passages in this story involving heartfelt love scenes and some passages involving intrigue and some violence. I will label those chapters accordingly. If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings I provide, then please don’t read those chapters. This is my disclaimer.
Author’s Story Recap: Thomas and Caroline helped their little son Trevor adapt to being on a train trip. Though Caroline had schooled Trevor in a pretend game of aliases in case they had to go into hiding, he is still only not quite 3.5 years old. So, they decide to spend most of their time in their cabin so as not to draw attention to themselves. Meanwhile, Thomas’ and Caroline’s Division colleagues began their task of investigating the murders to see if they are related to recent projects they had been working on the last six months–in addition to activating their own family safety protocols. Because if this threat is related to one of their projects, then none of them are safe.
“Fire & Ice”, Chapter 36: Tuesday Morning Breakfast on the Train [R rated]
The ‘Johnson Family’—Thomas/Kevin, Caroline/Julia, and Trevor/Billy—all troop to breakfast on the train rushing to the Northwest from Chicago. Thomas and Caroline hope that they can keep Trevor occupied with his breakfast while they are out in the public space so that he doesn’t blow their cover. After all, Trevor is only not quite three and a half years old—and Thomas and Caroline want Trevor to live a long and happy life, to at least see his eighty third birthday and beyond. This is life and death—literally for four people so far, maybe six if Foster and Wendt are dead, too. And Thomas and Caroline don’t want that death toll to increase, for their family or others.
Julia/Caroline: “Billy, let’s sit in the corner by the window so we can see everything.” Of course, Caroline wants a good view of the dining car and the people in it.
Billy/Trevor: “Yes, Mommy! It’s fun to be on a train.”
Kevin/Thomas: “Yes it is. I don’t know about you, but I want some pancakes!”
Billy/Trevor: “Me, too!” He claps his hand gleefully. [(2) right]
Julia/Caroline: “Me, three.”
So, they place their orders and watch the countryside speed past them–with Trevor’s little nose stuck firmly against the window glass, as if to better see what is rushing past them. Thomas and Caroline also gaze out the window, but they each take turns nonchalantly looking around the dining car at the other patrons–wondering if any of them are agents following them that they need to be worried about. There are a few other couples with kids like themselves that they rule out. But a few of the couples and the few solitary folks in the car catch their eye. There is one fellow in particular that seems to glance their way every so often. He seems older, in his sixties maybe, balding and with a slight paunch–not in tip top condition that an active field agent would be in. It could be simple curiosity on this man’s part–or it could be something much more sinister. Thomas and Caroline have to view everyone with suspicion at the moment–even their server who took their breakfast orders. She is an early twenty something woman who seems ill prepared for her waitressing duties–dropping things, not attending to people wanting more coffee, and such. And that also concerns Thomas and Caroline–in case her ineptness is due to her being an undercover agent. But if the man and the server are agents, are they here to help Thomas and Caroline, or to hurt them?
The server brings their breakfasts and then dashes off to attend to another table. Then Thomas and Caroline chat while they eat. And, it’s easy for Trevor to remember their aliases, since he still calls his Mommy and Daddy, Mommy and Daddy. But Thomas and Caroline discreetly scan the room and the other patrons. They have to assume that anyone could be a danger to them—no matter how benign they look. Caroline and Thomas are old undercover field operative pros—and their skills and expertise will serve them well at this desperate time.
Julia/Caroline: “Kevin, Billy is really enjoying our trip on the train to see Grandma. I just hope that the motion of the train doesn’t make him sick after he eats.” The first sentence was a statement designed to misdirect anyone looking for them since both of Thomas and Caroline’s parents are dead. The second sentence reflects Caroline’s actual concerns about Trevor.
Kevin/Thomas: “Yes, it will be good to see Mom again.” He says following her lead. “Billy, you’ll just have to let us know if your tummy gets upset while you’re eating.”
Billy/Trevor: “Yes, Daddy.” Trevor smiles happily enjoying his syrupy pancakes.
Julia/Caroline: “Billy sweetheart, did you sleep well last night?”
Billy/Trevor: “Yes, Mommy. I liked the clickety clack sound like the train makes. It sang me to sleep.” He grins broadly.
Kevin/Thomas: Laughing at his son’s amusing view of things. “Ha ha ha ha ha! Well, that’s good Billy since trains aren’t exactly quiet.”
Billy/Trevor: “How long will it take to get to Grandma’s?”
Of course, Trevor thinks that they are really going to see his grandma he’s so caught up in their play acting. But Caroline and Thomas don’t want to give away their travel itinerary while sitting out in the open in the Dining Car. So, they fudge their answer.
Julia/Caroline: “We’ll have to check the schedule—especially since Grandma said that she could meet us at different stops depending upon if we want to visit her sister, my Aunt Helen first and visit her city’s zoo first.”
Billy/ Trevor: “Ooh, Mommy! I love zoos!” He says excitedly. Though Caroline smiles at him, he is starting to get a bit loud.
Kevin/Thomas: “Well Billy, what’s your favorite animal?” He says also trying to distract Trevor from their travel itinerary.
Billy/Trevor: “I like the kangaroo and the hopping.” Then Trevor/Billy hops in his booster seat as if he was a kangaroo.
Some of the other dining car patrons look over at Trevor and smile–or frown depending up on whether or not they are kid friendly. This attention makes Thomas and Caroline uneasy.
Julia/Caroline: “Now Billy, remember that we need to sit nicely at the table since we’re in public. She admonishes him because she also doesn’t want to draw undue and unwanted attention to themselves with a boisterous child.
Billy/Trevor: “Sorry Mommy. I forgot my manners.” He says pouting because he’s embarrassed.
Kevin/Thomas: “Billy, we know that you’ll be a good boy since you’re so polite most of the time.” Thomas smiles warmly and encouragingly at his son.
Billy/Trevor: “Thanks Daddy!” He says brightening.
The ‘Johnson Family’ goes on to have a good breakfast—and Trevor doesn’t throw up, happily. But, Caroline and Thomas decide to have most of their meals in their private compartment to avoid more of Trevor’s questions and his natural exuberant tendencies as an almost three and a half year old. They don’t want to draw attention to themselves.
***
After lunch and then dinner in their private train compartment–and a full afternoon of taking turns playing games with Trevor to keep him occupied with the other tries to nap–Thomas and Caroline bathe Trevor, read him a bedtime story, and then lay their little son Trevor down to sleep for the night. They realize that though their original tickets are to take them to the West Coast—Seattle Washington—they might need to adjust their destination a bit. But, they don’t want to just disappear from the train because that might cause more interest in them—a missing family. So, they resolve to change their tickets with the help of the conductor—saying that they want to do some site seeing with a relative.
But, tonight, Thomas’ and Caroline’s loving needs for each other are heightened due to the crisis that they’re facing–and they kiss [(3) right] each other with loving aband
on. But kissing is not enough for these newly reconciled lovers of not even a week. So while their little son Trevor sleeps soundly on the bed bench across from them and facing away from them, Thomas and Caroline quietly, discreetly, and longingly make love with each other in their small private train sleeping compartment. They have instrumental music playing softly in the background to mask their voices and their lovemaking—both for Trevor and anyone else who might be listening in from the hallway.
After Thomas and Caroline get reach for bed, they are laying together naked under the covers on their twin sized pull out sleeper bed.
Thomas: Whispering out of necessity and not just desire. “Oh my love, …” Thomas kisses and caresses Caroline tenderly and using endearments rather than names lest they forget and someone is listening at their door. “I’ve missed not being able to hold you in my arms. Make love with me, my darling.”
Caroline: “Dearest, …” She says also using endearments. “I’ve missed being able to lay in your arms. Make love with me.” She says longingly, lustfully, and lovingly as she kisses and caresses Thomas.
Thomas kisses and caresses all of Caroline—her lips, her eyes, her cheeks, her neck, her breasts, her hips, and her back. Caroline sighs with these intimacies and she also kisses and caresses Thomas—his lips, his cheeks, his eyes, his neck, his chest, and his abdomen. Thomas and Caroline are locked in an embrace of kissing each other with adoring abandon. When their sensual pleasures need their release, Thomas moves on top of Caroline and they join their bodies together. Again, and again, and again, and again, Thomas and Caroline’s bodies move in rhythmic harmony with each other until their pleasures reach a perfect rapturous bliss as their mutual ecstasies tremble through their bodies again, and again, and again, and again. Both of them breathe deeply as they try to stifle their cries of joy in their lovemaking. But, their joy cannot be contained and they each sigh deeply as they rapture together—trying to muffle their joyful cries with more kissing. Happily, little Trevor still sleeps.
Caroline: “Aahh!” She sighs while wrapping her arms and legs around Thomas’ body as he is still joined with her body.
Thomas: “Hahh!” He sighs wrapping his arms around Caroline’s back as he lays on top of her briefly after their rapture.
Thomas and Caroline lay together cuddling and kissing each other lovingly for some time after their lovemaking—delighting in their nakedness and this small tenderness that they are sharing amidst a whirlwind of death, fear, and uncertainty. Their sole goal is to preserve their family—to keep they and their son, Trevor, safe from harm. And, tonight, their lovemaking reminds them of the beauty of their love. It also strengthens their loving bond with each other and their son.
As, Caroline drifts off to sleep—while Thomas stays awake to keep watch—she dreams of a time when they can be a normal family with normal, everyday lives not threatened by intrigue and death. Thomas, too, has this same lovely dream. But, for now, he stays awake for the first half of the night to watch over his family and keep him safe. Then, around 3:00am, he wakens Caroline from her slumber, and she keeps watch so that Thomas can sleep a little bit. Caroline and Thomas each need their rest if they are to keep themselves and Trevor alive. The stakes can’t be any higher than that, and they both know it.
To be continued with Chapter 37
References
(1) Fire & Ice Story Logo is a composite of MSOffice Clip Art images:
fire (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=fire&ctt=1#ai:MP900438774|mt:2| ); block of ice (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=ice&ctt=1#ai:MP900402236|mt:2| ); and a heart (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=heart&ctt=1#ai:MP900399589|mt:2| ), 5/13/12grati
(2) Image representing Trevor Thomas Walters Kane is a stock photo of a young boy with pumpkins found at MS Office Clip Art at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=boy&ctt=1#ai:MP900178919|mt:2|
(3) Image representing Thomas Kane and Caroline Walters kissing is that of Richard Armitage portraying John Porter and Shelly Conn
portraying Danni in Chris Ryan’s Strike Back Series 1 (2010 on Sky 1), episode 5 (pix 34) was found at http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/StrikeBack/album/series1/Episode5/slides/ep5_034.html
Previous “Fire & Ice” Story Link
Something About Love (A) 
Hi Grati,
Nice romantic interlude through the storm!
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Hi Fabi,
Thanks for your nice note!
Sometimes in our lives–when fear, sadness, and uncertainty overwhelm us–cherishing our lover is the only balm that makes life worth living. For a brief space in time in our lover’s arms, all is well and right and true in our world. And our love strengthens us so that we can go on to face and endure any adversity that may come our way. That is the power of love–to comfort, to heal, and to strengthen.
Cheers! Grati ;->
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