Panic Station

Previous: Caress the Trigger

She said what? Girlfriend. Two weeks. No contact. Plenty of video calls. Girlfriend? How? No, don't complain, don't bring it up, just let it sit there. She said girlfriend!

“You're more relaxed. It's better for shooting than being tense. Trust me, Gabi. Three shots.” All quiet, in her ear. The last five words in that commanding tone, but still… Only for her.

She was trying. He held her. He said they'd see no other. As far as society was concerned…she was his girlfriend. They were in a…a…
Hush. Don't force it. He's patient. Feel him holding you. Oh hold, hold hold me close, I've never been this far from home, hold, hold, hold me close…

“Hold me?” She asked, waiting for his reply before firing off three rounds, one right after the other. No tense muscles to resist the light kick of the gun. Three rounds. One right after the other. But not too close. Never too close.

Seeley could never, ever, hold her too close. There was no such thing as -too close- when it came to him holding her.

He was already doing what she asked, why would she ask that? Oh…

“Always.”

He let her body move against him with the recoil, feeling the kick in her arms, her back. Less tense, good.

He stood up and moved away, pulling the target back. Three rounds. Together. You could barely see it was three rounds with how close they were. Bang in the middle of where she’d placed them before. No snatch. Smooth.

“See how much of a difference it makes when you let a master teach you?” That's the word he's been looking for!

He froze momentarily as he realised what he was struggling for was something with a whole different meaning when applied in a certain way from that specific book he'd been reading. And she had called him 'sir' when they'd first met. Did she see that in him?

Pleasedon'tnoticepleasedon'tnoticepleasedon'tnotice.

Please notice me… Please notice Me.

He was strong, solid, he was so…so…there…she came over to him and stood with him, both cold blooded could-be killer and sweetheart who just wanted to live a life where she could fall in love and raise a family…and not have the shadow of her family's ghost hanging over her like a sharpened pendulum on a fraying thread.

I can be both. And that's okay. I can stand here and shoot to kill and still love this man. I can be both. Both…

Master. The word snapped her eyes to his and she stared up at him.

Everything about You is how I want to be…everything about You is so easy to love…Everything about You resonates happiness…I won't settle for less…

She swallowed. She'd learned a lot about Katie's relationship and…

Am I Yours, Seeley Booth?
Do You want to be my Master?

I see you. I see You …

Seeley's smile almost faded, his smouldering gaze almost faltered, he felt a moment of loss. Not the same as the loss of his brothers in arms, but the loss of not knowing your way in the world.

Then, He was there. His eyes were opened to beautiful possibilities, the images in his mind's eye featuring the beautiful woman in front of him. But they were in public, and she was in His care, he couldn't do anything about it.

His care. Capital H. In the middle of a sentence. What does that mean?

He gazed into her eyes, seeing her throat bob as she swallowed, something about him knew…

Something about Him knew what she needed. Him.

Master.

That word again. It settled in his mind as if it had always been there. It was part of his soul. The way he walked. The way he talked. The way he looked at people. The way he chose to protect people who were less capable. The way He was.

Capital H. Get used to it Seeley, it's what You are. Capital Y.

He didn't know what was going through her mind. Only what was going through His. There was an unspoken question in her eyes. Now His eyes were opened, He knew what that question was, what it meant. Even more, he knew how to answer it.

He nodded, barely perceptible to anyone else if they were to see it. But to her, it was His agreement to be what she needed in him.

Gabi didn't know anything. About anything. Only what Katie told her, and while Katie was not one to kiss and tell about her sex life…she did talk about the other aspects of her relationship with Nate. And Gabi wanted to be for Seeley what Katie was for Nate.

She swallowed audibly again. He nodded….did He nod? Yes He did. She was sure of it. And then three very heavy weights crashed on her shoulders and her posture slumped slightly.

There was…no way He could want her. Maybe he could have dealt with who she was…and being a virgin. But…He wouldn't want her.

She was…her.
She was a virgin.
And she knew almost nothing about His world.

Her eyes stared a hole in the floor. He had found Himself. But where did that leave her?

She turned to walk away. The static was getting really…really loud.

Her heart began to pound faster, panic rising, screaming at her to stop moving. To turn around and go back to him. After all, He had nodded. Answered both.

Before she got too far, Seeley placed his hand on her shoulder. A firm grip, but not hard, nor harsh. He was trying to protect her. If she walked, she was no longer under his control.

“Gabi.” Soft. Caring. No pretense of command or control. “Stop.”

His left hand on her right shoulder turned as he walked in front of her. He never let go. His right hand went under her chin and lifted her face to make her look at him. Make her focus. Barely a smile, a hint of smolder. A tiny fraction of fear on his face. He couldn't hide it.

Don't go. I want you to stay. I know it's only been two weeks… Ugh.

“Gabriella, you can't go.” A little firmer. Slipping back into that tone. Hold it together.

“Remember what I said to that guard? As long as you're with me…” What he'd said held a whole new meaning. He wanted her to finish it. He wanted her to admit it. He needed her to admit it. That was a strange thing to experience.

He caught her. She swallowed hard. This…if love had been scary…this…

I want it.
I need it.
I will love it.
I want You.
I need You.
I love You.

Her name. She didn't move. He held her face, tipped her chin. Her eyes met His.

Slight smolder.
Small smile.
Him.
I don't want to go.
I want to stay.

She licked her lips, one of her more vague tells.
Say it.
Say it.

“I am….I am…under Your control…Sir.” She said softly.

There it was. The words he'd spoken to the guard when confronted. The words that meant so much. He didn't even realise until a few moments ago what they meant. Something that was a part of him had said those words, without him realising.

And that word that had started his journey. Brought everything out in him. Made him, Him.

A cold finger ran down his spine unbidden, and he shivered. Now what?

Next: Command and Control