It Was A Dream, Just A Dream 2: Alternate Version
Title: It Was A Dream, Just A Dream 2: Alternate Version
Author: Sass Chikamori
E-mail: [email protected]
Rating: PG-13
Classification: Romance
Summary: Animal has a nightmare; his wife comforts him.
Disclaimer: Jordan Parker & Meg Austin belong to JAG & Donald P. Bellisario. No infringement is intended.
NOTE: This is an alternate version of the story written by my husband.
CHIKAMORI RESIDENCE
RANDOLPH STREET N
ARLINGTON, VA
2300 EST
Animal rolled over in his sleep. Yawning, he reached over and embraced his wife. His wife of four years. The alarm clock rang, rudely awakening him from a slumber, which felt far earlier than usual. He got up groggily and padded off to the washroom to shower and shave. After changing into his flight-suit, and grabbing his flight helmet and gear bag, he headed downstairs.
His wife stood at the kitchen counter, her back to him. Animal smiled to himself as he walked up behind Liandra, slipped his arms around her and gave her a kiss. The woman in his arms turned around . . .�Jordan!� Animal gasped, his arms falling away from her. �What are you doing in mine and my wife�s home?�
Jordan looked at Animal like a deer caught in headlights. �Animal, honey, what�s wrong?� she asked, concerned.
�You�re not my wife,� Animal stammered, backing away from Jordan as if she had the plague.
�Yes, I am, sweetheart,� she said in a placating voice, walking toward him, her arms outstretched.
The front door of the Chikamori home swung open, slamming itself against the wall. �No, I AM HIS WIFE,� a furious vision in dress whites screamed. �MEG!� both Animal and Jordan exclaimed in shock.
�That�s right, Missy, Meg. Meg Austin-Chikamori, Hugo�s true wife.� Meg drew something from her matching white coat. A sword. Ceremonial, the kind used in Navy weddings, from the looks of it. Pointing the sword at Jordan, Meg slowly advanced on her.
Speaking to Animal, Meg said, �Go on upstairs, darling. I�ll take care of this little imposter and join you shortly.� She bestowed on him a sultry, sensual smile, then turned her attention to Jordan. �Take that, you husband-stealer!�
Animal shuddered, feeling sick all over. �Yeah, I�ll go upstairs,� he mumbled under his breath. �Go upstairs and get back in bed. Then get out on the other side. Maybe I can start this day all over again.�
Walking slowly up the winding staircase, he dropped his flight helmet and bag on the top landing. As he entered the bedroom, he divested himself of his flightsuit and boots. As his boots came off, Animal kicked them across the room, where they hit the wall with a resounding thud. Smiling, he crawled back onto his side of the bed he shared with his wife.
�Let�s just hope it�s the right wife this time,� he thought to himself as he curled up next to the dark shape in his bed. Sliding an arm around her, Animal felt his wife grip his hand. �Goodnight, sweetheart,� Jordan said to him.
�AAAHHH!� Animal screamed, bolting straight up in bed.
Turning on the bedside lamp, Liandra Gracen Chikamori scooted over next to her husband, a worried frown creasing her brow.
�Honey, what�s wrong?� She reached up to lovingly caress his face. �Tell me.�
Animal�s breathing was ragged. Liandra, a nurse�s daughter, grabbed her husband�s wrist. His pulse was racing.
Taking her husband�s face in her hands, Liandra turned to face Animal. �Talk to me, sweetheart, you�re scaring me.�
Animal slid his arms around his wife and pulled her over closer to him. Liandra, cuddled so close to her husband, could hear and feel the erratic beating of his heart. With his continued silence, Liandra thought her own heartbeat deviating from normal.
She nearly screamed with relief when she felt her husband�s chest rise and fall beneath her cheek. Deep breath, baby, that�s good.
Taking one more deep breath, Animal smiled at his wife as he kissed her tenderly. Liandra gasped in surprise as he deepened the kiss and gently pushed her back onto their bed.
Losing herself for a moment in the myriad of delicious sensations her husband�s touch made her feel, she moaned softly. Liandra slid her head backwards as Animal�s lips began a methodical exploration of her body. When his tongue traced over her sensitive ribcage, her senses came rushing back. Oh, no, you don�t. You�re not going to distract me like this. You are going to tell me what you were dreaming about, mister, or else.
Reluctantly she pushed her husband away and sat up. �Animal, I want to know what you were dreaming about. Whatever it was made you wake up screaming. In the entire three years we have been married, I have never known you to do that. Please, my love,� Liandra gently touched his cheek, �tell me what happened in your mind.�
Sighing, Animal raked his hand through hair before snatching his wife and pulling her onto his lap. �Animal,� she growled warningly.
�What?� he asked, laughing. �Since when is it a crime to want you near me?�
�All right,� Liandra conceded. �But you talk to me. Save the seduction for later. Got that?�
�You promise?� her husband asked, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
�Only if you start talking.� Her face was set in a �brook no argument� expression that Animal didn�t dare cross.
Animal let out a ragged breath. �Lia, honey, it was weird. I woke up for work like usual, got up, showered, dressed and came downstairs. I saw you in the kitchen, so I snuck up behind you and slid my arms around you to kiss you. When you turned around, you weren�t you. The woman in my arms was Jordan.�
�JORDAN???� Lia shrieked.
Animal hurriedly set his hands on her shoulders, soothingly massaging her neck and upper back. �Relax, honey, it was just a dream. Actually, more like a nightmare. That wasn�t all,� he told her with a grimace.
�Go on,� she urged him gently.
�Meg came crashing through the front door, carrying a ceremonial sword. She told me to go upstairs and then she attacked Jordan. I went upstairs with the intent of getting back in bed and coming out on the other side, hopefully starting the day over again. I came in our room, got undressed, climbed in bed, beside you, or so I thought. All I saw in the dark was a small lump on your side of the bed, and I incorrectly assumed it was you. Anyway, I slid my arm around whoever it was, and she squeezed my hand and said, �Goodnight, sweetheart� but it was Jordan�s voice. Then I woke up.�
Liandra wrapped both her arms around her husband�s neck and kissed his nose. �Want me to kiss it and make it all go away?� she asked playfully.
Animal�s face lit up. �Please,� he said with a smile.
Laughing, Liandra said, �Honey, you don�t have to beg.� Then Lia finished what her husband had started only moments before.
LATER
Liandra and Animal lay contently curled up in one another�s arms. Animal reached over and lovingly touched his wife�s face. �I love you, Liandra.�
Turning over to face him, Liandra gazed at him adoringly. �I love you, too, Hugo.� Resting her palm on his cheek, she kissed his lips.
Liandra said, �Answer me something, honey.�
�Sure, babe,� Animal replied. �What?�
�Do you think either Meg or Jordan could love you like I do?�
�Never,� Animal stated emphatically as he wrapped his arms around his dear wife. �Now go to sleep. I promise I won�t wake you up anymore.�
�Okay.� Liandra curled up next to the love of her life and closed her eyes. Take that, you husband-stealers, she thought to herself with a smug smile. Take that.
THE END.