The blade stopped just a hairbreadth from Nelson’s chest as both hunter and prey froze in their gripping game of life and death. That had to be a figment of Sydney’s tortured imagination, she was sure. Tears started to fall, and instead of driving the spear into him as she so desperately wanted to, Sydney tossed it aside and pulled back her curled up fist hitting him with devastating precision. Barry was now out for the night, and slowly pushing herself away from him she turned towards the sweet sound of the voice she thought she would never hear again, fully expecting to see nothing but air. What she did see, however, brought her close to something else.
"Sydney, I, I can’t explain it…."
Nigel stood just behind her holding himself around the waist, and struggling to stay on his feet. Sydney instantly sprang to her own, grabbing him just as his knees buckled beneath him. "How…how?" She cried, tucking his head against her breast she fell to the ground with him. "Oh God how…you were dead! I know you were…This just can’t be real!"
"I know…" He tried to look up at her, but the pain was becoming increasingly insistent as the minutes wore on. "I was." He coughed a couple of times and clung to her as tightly as he could. "Syd, I’m never going to leave you like that again, I promise." That was all he could say, and then collapsed completely in her arms. The reunion would have to come later, he was in no shape for anything now.
He looked like hell, his skin was ghastly pale and his pupils had dilated to a frightening degree. Feeling his forehead for a fever she discovered none, then frantically pulled up his shirt to inspect his wounds. Amazingly, the bleeding had stopped, but his flesh was still torn and in great danger of infection if she didn’t get him to a hospital for treatment quickly. Any explanations would have to wait!
After carefully settling Nigel into the car, she popped the trunk and dropped Barry’s comatose body into it, dusting her hands off just before slamming the lid down over HIS head. "There, how do YOU like it, jack ass…"
That was when she spotted something almost as amazing as Nigel’s return… There it was in all its splendour, and bending down she hesitantly lifted Shelagh’s spear into her trembling hands. It was in one piece, there wasn’t a break or splinter on it! How on earth? This night was just getting harder and harder to explain…
* * *
Nigel’s eyes fluttered open slowly, and he tried to focus on the beautiful image not a foot away from his face. Smiling, he knew it was Sydney. He could tell from the sweet scent of her perfume and he reached out for her. "Ooh…Sydney…"
"Don’t try to talk okay, you’re pretty badly beat up and you need to rest." She tried to tell him, but she had been dying to hear his soft, lyrical voice again since that night five days ago. "You’ve been floating in and out of consciousness all week, and I for one am glad to see you’re finally here to stay." Leaning over a little she kissed him on the forehead. "Don’t ever scare me like that again, do you hear me Nigel?"
He really couldn’t move a lot but he could move a little, and dragged his arm over to her, touching her hand. "I hear you, loud and clear." He was more afraid he’d been dreaming the part about Sydney remembering that they were in love and a lump grew in his throat.
"I know this is going to sound really silly, but…really, you died while we kissed, I know you did. How this is possible I can’t even begin to explain. Just as impossible as the spear showing up in one piece." Her voice threatened to break, but she held on.
Nigel sighed. He knew how it was possible. He also knew attempting to tell her the truth would be next to impossible. "I don’t know either Syd, but I do know one thing, and I want you to hear me now."
"I’m listening." Sydney looked longingly at the one she loved, grateful he could still be with her. She never, ever wanted to live through losing him a second time.
He motioned her in closer with his soft hazel eyes. "I love you. I would, did, die for you…" His lip quivered, all but ready lose himself. "And I would do it again and again if it were humanly possible."
Sydney’s breath caught in her throat and tears dribbled down her cheeks. "I, I do love you… I just didn’t realise how much until I thought I’d lost you! Oh Nige, can you ever forgive me?" She got down on her knees beside his bed and took his hands into hers, a desperate, wanton look in her dark amaretto eyes.
Nigel lifted his arm up and brushed her long inky hair from her face, tucking a thick lock of it behind her ear. "After being dragged against my will, and most certainly not in my job description all the time through jungles and deserts filled with gun toting lunatics, pygmies or guerillas, being up to my ass in muck or water, or falling into some rat or spider infested pit… I think I can forgive you anything." He forced himself into a sitting position and caressed her face. "It’s inevitable Syd. You have to love me now. I’m like a bad penny. Try to cast me away and I’ll always turn up in your pocket." His eyes captured her completely, and with some effort he tilted his head to one side, brushing his nose against her cheek before brushing his lips against hers, finally claiming her for himself at long last.
The End