Set in that vague time after Sam was first rescued and before she's taken while Lara was going after Alex

It's cold. Like it shouldn't really be cold, right? But it's still cold, and I swear I can hear the wolves howling in the distance. Lara once told me that wolves are creatures that aren't really super aggressive and the media is lying to me, but that thought doesn't really offer me any comfort right now.

The only warmth is the dessicated remains of a jacket. We don't even have a fire going right now for fear of attracting attention.

I can see Lara's silhouette from here. Even with just her shadow against the stars I can tell how tense she is. The way she holds her bow, her shoulders pulled back… I can imagine the white of her knuckles as she grips it.

I'm pretty sure she tore apart this island just to get to me, which is, well, crazy. I mean if you really think about it and I can't even imagine what that's doing to her right now.

Before I can think about getting up and going to her, Jonah relieves her of her watch, and she makes a beeline for me. Which is kind of nice since the doc keeps looking at me and I'm really not feeling that.

And then Lara is there, close enough to touch, to smell. I wrinkle my nose. "You need a bath."

"You think you don't reek?"

She settles in next to me, then behind me, body forming to my own and her arm looping around my waist and I'm finally warm again. "I smell like a daisy."

Lara's laugh is gentle against my ear but ends on an almost hysterical note. We haven't exactly had much reason to laugh the past couple of days. Nearly being burned to death is a surefire way to kill any chuckles and hahas.

So I press back against her, and she tightens her grip around me and I think back to this… there was a time, a couple of months ago, around the holidays. The heater broke and Lara kept me warm just like this.

Her nose nuzzles at the back of my neck and I wonder what it would be like to like, kiss her.

Instead, I whisper, "I thought I stink."

Lara's fingers dig into my stomach. "You smell like you, Sam."

I roll over, burying my face in her chest and pulling as close to her as I can. If I could crawl inside her, I would. "I just wanna go home!"

"I know love," she says, her voice soothing in my ear.

And I'm scared, I'm so fucking terrified it hurts and I tell her that but she's silent for a moment, her hand rubbing comforting circles into my back.

I almost think she's not going to say anything when she does, "I know. I'm a little scared too. But I promise you that I'll always protect you, Sam. I'll always have your back."

I believe it. Lara always keeps her promises. So I believe it, and I'm still scared but it's a little better, because I know that Lara will always be there.

I can't imagine a world without her in my life. "We'll get off this island, right?"

"Yeah." Lara's nose is in my hair and maybe I'm imagining it but she holds me tighter. "I'll get us all home."

"Lara?"

"Yes, Sam?"

I think I love you "I really, really need a burger."