End of an Era |Ash&Dakota&Audrey|

[Ashley Bates]

That moment before her eyes opened felt like an eternity. Ever since he had received the note announcing Dakota's capture he had only been able to focus on stopping Audrey. If he hadn't done that then everything would have been lost. Now though the only thing on his mind was Dakota and it wasn't until she spoke that he relaxed. She was alive and that was what mattered.

Relief washed over him as he hugged her body closer. "Thank the gods." He said once he was finally sure she was okay. "Dakota, you were kidnapped. I came to rescue you but I thought..." He hesitated not wanting to say what he was thinking. It had been a close thing. He could have lost her and now that he let himself think about the possibility it was a little hard to take. "I thought the girl who had kidnapped you had killed you just to get to me but it's over now. You're safe."

[Dakota King]

She was kidnapped? That would explain the chloroform that was making her brain all foggy. She hugged Ash close, not completely understanding the severity of the situation. At least, not yet. But he came to rescue her? Didn't that mean fighting? How else was he supposed to rescue her?


Dakota woke up a little bit more she she pulled back slightly. Just enough that she could see the wounds on Ash. “Oh my gods,” she said as a wave of adrenaline hit her and completely woke her up as she grabbed one of his arms. “These are deep, Ash. Like they need medical attention now. Who did this to you?” she asked as she looked up at him.

[Ashley Bates]

She was coming to now. She was beginning to understand and with that understanding came the realization he was hurt. Just like he had seen her do a hundred times in the infirmary she switched into doctor mode without a second thought. “The who isn’t important right now. It’s been taken care of. As for these…” He didn’t have to say how bad his injuries were. He knew they were bad and if he knew that then how much worse did they seem to Dakota with all her training. He merely gave a nod that she was right.

“You’ll have to excuse the mess but I submit myself to your capable hands nurse.” He didn’t think he could be stubborn if he had wanted to. The fight had left him drained and he was not so prideful as to fuss at her for being worried when there was obviously something to worry about. He was just happy that Dakota knew a thing or two about battle injuries. “At least I’m fortunate enough to be rescuing the best medic in camp.”

[Dakota King]

He didn't want to tell her who did this to him? He didn't have to. Dakota had a gut feeling who did it and she was pretty sure it was tied to the conspiracy theory he had. Well, it wasn't a conspiracy theory anymore since the Kraken attack. “These are very deep,” she repeated before she grabbed something from her pockets. “You'll be lucky if you don't need stitches.”

She pulled out a piece of ambrosia and moved it towards Ash's mouth. “Eat,” she commanded. “It should help until I can get you someplace where I can patch you up better.” Her face softened as worry set in as she looked at Ash before she added, “Are you going to be okay?”

[Ashley Bates]

Ash allowed Dakota to finish her examination of him without comment and took the news that he would probably need stitches as placidly as ever. Stitches were annoying but all things considered they weren't so bad. His wounds would heal and if it meant that Dakota fussed over him a little more for a while then he thought that he could live with that.

She handed him some ambrosia and Ash obediently took a bite. The taste was delicious and the fire that rushed through his body as he ate served to pep him up a bit. He would be alright, she would realize that in a moment and hopefully that would serve to calm her a bit. Until then it sounded like she needed a little reassurance. "Dakota," He said bringing his hand up to caress her cheek. "I'm okay. The worst is over now and I'm sure you'll have me fixed up in no time. It's over Dakota. We're safe."

[Dakota King]

As Ash took a bite of the ambrosia, Dakota kept an eye on his wounds. They closed up enough that he wouldn't need stitches, but he needed something to keep them closed up. Dakota had just the thing in her room. She didn't want to take Ash to the infirmary. Too many questions would be asked and she wanted him to herself after all that happened.

But he reassured her. It was over. They were safe. Tears watered up in her eyes as she smiled a bit. “I love you,” she said just loud enough that he could hear, like it was a secret between the two of them. A very happy little secret that took her a while to discover herself.

[Ashley Bates]

He was feeling better now that he had the ambrosia in him. He knew that feeling probably wouldn’t last for long but now that the danger had passed he thought that he was okay with that. Dakota seemed to be doing better too after he had reassured her and that was enough to cause him to relax. he was so relaxed in fact that he barely even caught Dakota’s next words.

It took a moment for the words to sink in but as his tired mind latched on to them and comprehension began to dawn he looked at her with a new understanding. It was such a simple statement and yet he had grown accustomed to not expecting it. There it was though and Ash couldn’t have been happier to hear it. In response he leaned forward his caressing hand moving back to support her neck and brought his face inches from hers. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that a long time.” He whispered and finally pressed his lips to hers.

[Dakota King]

It was such a simple statement. Just three words, but those were three words that Dakota was afraid of until now. And yet they flowed off her tongue so easily. Maybe because she really felt it in the moment, especially since she almost lost Ash without knowing it. She watched his face light up as he finally understood what she just said. It was nothing really, but it was so major between the two of them.

She smiled a bit wider as he leaned in and whispered back to her. She knew how he had felt about her for a while and now she finally shared those same feelings back. She didn't say anything back to him, if she wanted say anything back to him, before his lips found hers. This kiss was different from all of the other kisses they had shared. Maybe because it had a deeper connection to it. Dakota smiled against Ash's lips as she kissed him back.

[Ashley Bates]

The kiss lasted for a while. Ash couldn’t really tell how long but then it didn’t really matter. She had said the three words he had been waiting for so long. A confirmation of the feelings that he had for her and the feelings that had caused so much trouble. It wasn’t surprising really. He had known something was there, felt it, but there was something satisfying in hearing her say it after so long and he didn’t want this moment to end.

It did though the kiss coming to an end with a satisfied sigh from him. He pulled away from her looking far more rejuvenated than any ambrosia could have done. “If I had known you wanted a hero so bad I would have tried saving your life sooner.” The corner of his lip curled in a smirk to show that he was making one of his rare jokes but the danger they were in moments before certainly seemed far away now. Face turning slightly serious again he asked. “You’re sure? No second thoughts?”

[Dakota King]

Kissing Ash was always amazing, but this kiss was more than amazing. Dakota couldn't exactly put her finger on it, but no matter what it was still good. And it had to end eventually. Ash pulled away from her lips as she smiled a bit and sighed softly. She opened her eyes to look at him and something was renewed in him. She laughed at his joke as she shook her head. He rarely joked, but it was almost perfect that he cracked one out now.

"Nah," she said as she shook her head slightly. "I've had plenty of time to think about it and no second thoughts." She looked up at him as she smirked a bit. "And I can promise you that. I love you, Ash."

[Ashley Bates]

Ash watched her as she responded. It was happening. What he had been waiting for since that day he had admitted his feelings to her was finally happening and this time Dakota had no second thoughts. She loved him and that was all he needed to hear.

There really wasn’t anything else that needed to be said. The danger was past and the only way that Ash could see this day ending any better was to return to camp with Dakota and to pick up exactly where they had just left off. Or maybe they could hold off on returning. Right now Ash didn’t care. All he wanted was his lips on hers and really there was only one way to express that so he said the first thing that came to his mind and hoped that Dakota got the picture. “Well, if you love me then love me.” He said as that smirk was replaced with a more passionate look. With that he leaned forward going in for another kiss.

[Dakota King]

If she loved him, then love him? That sounded pretty easy to hear, especially with the passionate look that Ash gave her before their lips locked. This kiss was definitely different from any of their previous kisses. There was an extra spark in it. An extra spark and a tug that wanted her to go further. But common sense got the best of her and she had to break away from his lips eventually, even if she really didn't want to.

"Let's go back to my place," she said between breaths as she reluctantly pulled away from his lips. "I can patch you up there without the staring eyes of the infirmary." She looked at him and nodded her head before she reached out to gently tug her arm. In her mind, she was already several steps past her fixing him up, but she had to focus on one step at a time. "Please?"

[Ashley Bates]

It was easy to forget where they were and what he had been doing just moments before with Dakota there to fill his mind with much happier thoughts. Ash had always been impulsive and it was those natural impulses that took control now as he kissed the girl that he had thought he lost. He would have probably been content to go on kissing her but Dakota kept him grounded as she always did and kept things from getting out of hand. She was good at that.

Ash sighed as she pulled away still not content to be done with kissing her just yet but recognizing the wisdom in her words. He did need to get patched up one way or the other but if it was necessary at least it would be in a place they could have a little privacy. He thought he could live with that arrangement.

Nodding Ash slowly got to his feet and held out his hand to her. “Come on. Rusher is waiting for us nearby. We can fly back to camp and then you can make sure that I'm taken care of to your liking.” There was more to it than that. There was the hint that this was more of a temporary cease fire than a permanent laying down of arms. He thought they still had a lot to talk about tonight and hopefully it wouldn’t be the kind of conversation that needed a lot of words. For now though he wanted to return to camp with his lady and make sure that she really was safe. That this really was all over.