TENTMATES

"Alright, people," Valdoon broadcast as the transports came to a halt. "You know the drill, tents up, inspection in fifteen."

"Dibs on Mendi," said Rhin before Azami could.

"Hey!" said Azami.

"Oh, right, Tes, as if you and Michael could fit in a tent together!" Rhin pointed out. Michael laughed.

"This is true," said Azami. "All right, I get dibs on 23 then!" 23 grinned and shrugged at Valdoon; his usual tentmate for these survival drills.

"Some guys get all the luck," M'Kinzie muttered; no-one was quite certain how facetiously.

The tents were set up in a sheltered cove at the foot of a cliff. The transports were gone and inspection was done. They kept their lamps shielded, electronic use was kept to a minimum, and the talk low, to avoid attracting any Recs. The moon was nearly full, giving enough light to see by even inside the tents. All ten of the current HL-1 unit had been through this drill before, so they spent the evening talking and eating a leisurely dinner of survival rations. They got Rhin to sing a couple of songs, but Valdoon forbade 'The Scotsman" -- saying the noise would attract Recs.

They turned in early; they'd be waking an hour after midnight to get in a five-hour march before the sun rose. They'd camp during the day, and set watches, then move at night to evade the Rec packs.

23 and Azami had set their tent next to Rhin and Michael's; the four called goodnights to each other through the tents' membrane walls.

"'Night, 23," Azami murmured, yawning and rolling her uniform jacket up for a pillow.

"'Night, Azami." There was a long pause, then 23 sat up. "Um, do you think you could...I mean, would you mind working on my back for a bit...if you're not tired?"

"I'm not tired, and I don't mind," she replied, sitting up as well. "Anything in particular sore, or did you just want some attention?" She grinned at him in the dark.

"Up between the shoulder blades is sore, but I never mind the attention either." He laid back down, on his stomach, then had to arch his back and wriggle around some to get his shirt off. He seemed to be having difficulties, so she helped him.

"23, you don't stink!" she said suddenly, sniffing his shirt, which just mostly smelled damp and like detergent, then him, and he smelled like his shirt. 23 burst out laughing.

"Why, thank you, my dear, but is that a typical pick-up line for you, or am I special?"

"Oh, you're special, all right," she purred, lightly rubbing his entire back to get it warmed up before she dug in. "What I meant was that most men would be pretty whiffy by now, and you're not. I suppose your epidermis just doesn't harbor the right kind of bacteria?"

"Ummf. You've been hanging around Tam too long. But you're right; it wouldn't do for a 'superior soldier' to give away his position by being stinky. Ohhhhh, yeah, right there..." She worked her fingertips right into the sore spot. Then she maneuvered so she was squatting over that part of his back, and put the edges of her hands to either side of his spinal column.

"Take a big breath and slowly let it out; as you do that, I'll push down pretty hard, but try to just relax, don't resist," she told him. He complied, and when she compressed him, a deep thock! sounded. 23 groaned in relief.

"I heard that over here!" came Rhin's voice from the next tent. "What are you doing to him, Tes?!"

"Sounds like what you guys do to me," Michael rumbled. From anyone else they would have made comments, but from Michael, even the Twins let that one lie. And adjusting his back did make terrible noises.

"Shut up over there!" someone hissed from another tent nearby. Rhin was about to reply, but Michael got a hand over her mouth in time. She licked his fingers, but he left his hand where it was and gathered her comparatively tiny body into the hollow he made with his.

"Go to sleep," he whispered in her ear.

Yeah, right! With you, like this? I'm supposed to sleep!?! Michael, do you really have no idea what you're doing? She wanted to turn her thoughts into actions, but she could tell he was already slowing his breathing, settling into the night. Aaargh! she shrieked in her mind...

Back in the other tent, Azami continued massaging the area to keep the muscles from cramping up again. "You must be one with the ground," she intoned softly to 23.

"Oh, I am," he wheezed, just as quietly. "I feel much better now. Thank you."

"Can you still wiggle your toes?" Azami asked him, sitting down to one side of him.

"I think...yeah, they're still there."

"Oh good. Now just lie there for a bit and relax."

"Okay."

She chuckled at the tone of his voice; he still sounded like she had irreparably squashed him. She moved toward his feet a little so she could work on his right hand; even if there was no need, hand massages felt good. She wasn't really tired anyway; trying to sleep before the usual time rarely worked out well. She could lay there and 'ohm' until she drifted off, but...

23 wanted to roll over, but he didn't want Azami to stop what she was doing. She was working her way up his wrist and forearm; felt wonderful. But he decided to chance moving and rolled over, proffering his left hand in exchange. Azami smiled and brought his hand into her lap.

As she worked, she considered the size of the tent and the way they were positioned. There wasn't really room for her to scoot up to get at his neck properly, not without having to bend double over him, and that wouldn't do her back any good. Well, she'd have to stop at his shoulder, then. She sighed. Rhin was getting to snuggle up with Michael for the three nights they'd be out here, and while she didn't begrudge Rhin her chance, she still wished she could have been with him, too. Not that 23 was a bad tentmate... Rhin was enjoying getting Michael used to being close to them physically and emotionally, as much as she and Tam were. Azami wondered if it really was going to work with all four of them. She knew she and Rhin didn't mind, growing up as they had, under the influence of the Clan, and Tam seemed to be serious when she said the idea didn't bother her either, but how was Michael coping with this? They were going to have to sit him down and talk about it, soon, no matter how painful it might prove. She let her mind wander; imagining herself touching him the ways she wanted to, letting the heat rise through her...

"'Zam?"

Azami froze; what have I been doing!?! She was still just holding his hand in her lap.

23 didn't pull away. The way she'd been caressing his hand and arm for the past several minutes had become decidedly erotic; she obviously knew how sensitive the fingers were on the sides, and at the base of the nails, and the underside of the wrist...He was getting chills, and all she was doing was touching his hand!

"Ohmigods, 23, I..." She was mortally embarrassed, and very angry at herself for losing track of what she was doing; and she did not want, in any way, to hurt Craig.

"You were thinking of Michael?" he murmured, letting a rueful smile color his voice.

"I'm sorry," she whispered fervently. She tilted her head back, so the sudden tears in her eyes would slip down the back of her nose instead of falling where they'd be noticed. This is ridiculous! She sniffed once and squeezed his hand. Then she was going to let go and arrange herself on her side of the tent, apologize again and go to sleep like she was supposed to; she hadn't felt so absurdly childish for decades!

Oh no you don't, 23 thought firmly, sitting up and catching both of her hands in his, making her look at him, their eyes glittering in the dim moonlight. "I understand," he whispered, putting his arms around her and letting her lean against his shoulder; though his head fit more neatly in the hollow of her neck than the other way around. It was a bit odd to realize so emphatically how much bigger she was than he. "I really do understand. And I don't mind." She sighed and relaxed against him. He felt his muscles clench. She had aroused him earlier, and friendly comfort could easily turn into something else under these circumstances, but he wasn't certain she would want that; it could become quite a complication if they didn't handle it just right.

This feels nice, Azami thought, hugging him a little closer. Craig's such a sweetheart. It had been a long time since she had held a man like this; there'd been no-one since Timothy. And Michael, well, it might take a long time before he was comfortable enough with any of them to get really snuggly. She growled at herself for that thought; it felt like a kind of selfish betrayal. But what if Michael didn't even want her? He could just as easily choose Rhin or Tam, or none of them. She growled internally again; playing 'what if' was pointless, a waste of energy at best. Then there were 23's feelings to consider. He knew how she felt about Michael, so was it fair to take advantage of the situation?

"Craig," she whispered, turning her cheek along his forehead.

He smiled, setting his lips against her throat and running his hands over her back. "It's all right," he said softly. He tugged her braid. "Besides, you might scare Michael if you're too...ah...frustrated. I feel it's my duty, as his friend, to...mm...help you let off some steam!"

Azami smothered her laughter by biting her lips, and let 23 pull her into his lap.

The tent was really too small for it, and they had to be as silent as they could; they couldn't even strip down very far, for fear of Valdoon calling an emergency drill, or Recs approaching. But, gods, did Craig wish they could have done this right; a whole night, a soft bed, candlelight, whatever. But they had moonlight; and the residual heat from the day rising up through the ground, merely adding to the heat between them; and her hunger, stirring his own.

After, they tumbled into sleep, not waking until the call came at 0100.

At 0100, they struck camp and began their first march. The moon set but the stars were bright, and 23 had the GPS running. Mendi could see like a cat in the dark, so Valdoon had him take up the rear to keep track of everyone.

Rhin jogged along beside Azami, at first trying to wheedle details of that night's earlier activities out of her, but Azami was doing her inscrutable-Sulu impersonation. Rhin shrugged; they were trying to be quiet on this march, and others might overhear, particularly Michael. If Tes wanted to talk, she knew where to find Rhin... Tamlynn was going to spit titanium when she heard about all the fun she was missing!

Once the sun rose, and the temperature with it, they pitched the tents again and set the watch schedule for three-hour shifts. Azami and 23 were on first, then Rhin and Mendi, then Valdoon and Telasner, et cetera. After their watch, Azami and 23 retired to their tent, intending to catch up on the sleep they'd lost the night before. But 23 thought he ought to repay in kind the backrub she'd given him. 23 had rather nimble fingers, and they were both already hot and sweaty; he found himself nibbling her earlobe, and she was rubbing his thighs in an interesting way...

"EVERYBODY UP! RECS APPROACHNG!" Valdoon shouted. The Colonel strode around, shaking tents. "Fall in, people!" He nodded at Shea and Mendi; the "Recs" were supposed to be coming in from the southwest, the two on current watch were positioned facing that way.

23 jerked up so fast something in his lower back went awry. Azami yanked her undershirt down, tucked it into her uniform trousers, grabbed her belt and jacket and was outside while he was still finding his undershirt and struggling to get it over his head. Well, at least one of them would be out in an unsuspicious amount of time. Valdoon wouldn't be surprised if 23 was a little slow. 23 staggered out of the tent, clutching his back. Tom was rather startled by the glare 23 gave him.

"Something wrong, 23?"

"No," 23 grated through clenched teeth as his back twanged again. "I'm fine!" He assumed his protected scanning position as the others took up the defensive perimeter. Valdoon checked his watch.

"Not bad," he told them. "Let's not get too complacent out here, though; next time I want everybody on station five seconds faster!" There were only a few groans and mutterings as the Colonel gave the stand-down order and everyone but Shea and Mendi -- still on watch -- went back to their tents. Azami had to work on 23's back for half an hour before he could lie down flat, and by the time she'd gotten the worst of the kinks out he was more than half asleep; so they never finished what they'd begun earlier.

The next day, after marching all night with only a handful of stops for food and rest, 23 and Azami pulled lastwatch. They were both asleep almost as soon as they lay down.

At the end of the third day, they rendezvoused with the transports and were taken back to Island City.