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Post by sanne on Oct 29, 2008 6:55:14 GMT -10
A lot of clarification from both sides.........Tension building.......Do I sense a "bonus-chap" coming up by the time all the talking is done......... ;D ;D Sandra
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Post by lucymalta on Oct 29, 2008 9:40:41 GMT -10
Sorry to be late.... REALLY busy day... So... Will Dino give up? Not on your life.... Enjoy Lucy Chapter 24 Dino heaved a sigh of relief, Gaby was still moving, seeing her making her way towards the horses, he froze in place. Praying that she would not take Bianca, the only horse he had the confidence to sit on, he waited… Just a little longer… Gaby crouched over the tree root, feeling for the knot with her hands and slowly working it undone… Smiling thankfully to herself she lifted the rein and was just about to swing on to the horse when she sensed movement behind her and was enveloped in two strong arms. Pressure on her wrist caused her to drop the rein, but it didn’t stop her from struggling to get away from Dino who was holding onto her as if his life depended on it. He was careful not to give Gaby room to manoeuvre as he knew then she would use her Martial Arts ability to get away. Tightening his grip, he pulled her away from the horses, even though he knew he was probably hurting her a little. A little pain now was nothing to how she had been hurting over the last few months and it was his fault. The further he moved away, the more Gaby struggled, but now Dino finally had her in his arms, he was not going to let go. He could feel her fingernails scraping at the back of his hand as she tried to pry his fingers off her body. Dino locked his grip around her and pulled her more tightly to his chest so he could whisper in her ear, if he spoke slowly and quietly, he might just get her to calm down a little. “Gaby… Please…” The struggles increased for a moment before she answered him, not shouting or crying out, but quietly and full of bitterness and pain, “Let me go Dino… Leave me alone…” “No…” Dino heard the half sob of frustration, as she struggled a bit more, “Dino… Please let me go…” “No… Nearly three years ago, I promised that I would always be here for you… That I would never let you go… I’m not going back on that promise…” Still struggling, Gaby’s voice dripped with bitterness and pain, “So why did you push me away…? Why were you so angry with me…?” Dino sighed, “I didn’t mean to… Gaby, please can we talk about this without you fighting me?” Gaby paused in her struggle, dropping her head, “I tried to talk to you… You shut me out…” “I know… I’m sorry… I didn’t realize…” Dino could feel the tension through Gaby’s body as she struggled with herself to make a decision. “Please Gaby… I love you… I don’t want to lose you…” Tears came to Gaby’s eyes; Dino had never actually expressed his love for her verbally before… A glance or a touch, or the expression on his face yes, but he had never actually said anything… until now. She sighed and stopped her fight for a moment, feeling Dino relax his arms, but he did not let her go. However, the feeling was different, instead of being constrained, she now felt secure… protected… It was a moment or two before she realized that Dino was gently caressing her hip with a thumb, it was something he always did when they were curled up together on the sofa… The memory gave her a brief surge of optimism… Could they get through this? “Gaby?” His voice was soft, gentle and Gaby’s heart ached at the sound of it. “Ok… I’m listening…” Dino sighed with relief and released her. Offering a hand, which she took slowly, he led her to the edge of the river where they could sit down more comfortably and took a few moments to light a small fire so they could see each other better. Taking a deep breath, he wondered where to begin. Talking about his feelings was not easy for him, he had always been a man of action until he went into K&R – but negotiating was nothing compared with this. He needed to win Gaby back, all he had for the moment was a tentative truce… Gaby looked at him carefully, saw the emotions flowing across his face, never had she seen him like this. As she watched, she saw him take a deep breath, obviously unsure where to start. “Gaby… may I ask you something?”
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Post by sanne on Oct 29, 2008 9:50:20 GMT -10
Oh my.......is he going to use Ortega's "trick" on Gaby? Well, at least they're talking............wondering what they both have to say to each other..... Sandra
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Post by jessica on Oct 29, 2008 12:06:22 GMT -10
Hmm I wonder what he wants to ask her...and Dino....you never told her that you love her after all that time?? Jeez...that's really hard....no surprise that she was so unsure...
Jess
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Post by margaret1234 on Oct 29, 2008 12:55:20 GMT -10
Mmmm......didn't tell her he loved her before..........I wonder why not. Probably because deep down he felt he would betray Cass. But, now it sounds like Ortega has helped him let go of Cass and thus realise he does love Gaby and can finally tell her so. But, I also wonder what he is about to ask her.
Margaret
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Post by NV Oracle on Oct 29, 2008 16:47:15 GMT -10
Yeah, what is he going to ask her?
Great job, Lucy. Can't wait to see where you take it next.
Your friend, NV Oracle
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Post by hypergolic on Oct 29, 2008 22:32:15 GMT -10
Woo! It was Gaby! Yay! *happy dance* I loved the challenge scene, the emotion when she realises it's Dino that she's dancing with was... “…had to talk to her, make her understand that it was not her similarities to Cass that made him love her, but the differences.” – That is such a beautiful statement Lucy. I’m more inclined to be sympathetic to Gaby. Yes, Dino’s had trouble working out his feelings, but he’s been a bit of a git to be honest. Gaby trying to live up to Cass’s memory wasn’t exactly for her own peace of mind; it was only ever a way of making Dino happy. I understand Gaby’s unwillingness to talk, her desire to be left alone to think. Perhaps she was afraid that he’s decided he doesn’t care for her any more and talking to him would be the end of their relationship – she was scared to face that. If you thought that was about to happen with someone you loved with all your heart then wouldn't you want to put off the inevitable for as long as possible? I would (but then I'm into denial). The thought is already in her mind, but to actually hear those words spoken aloud would be tough. Plus there are things in her past that are painful – kissing her on the hand means one thing for Dino, but another altogether for Gaby. Will we find out what bad memories that intimate contact has dredged up? Ooh, I’m sooo hooked with this fic… Hype ;D
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Post by lucymalta on Oct 30, 2008 1:58:47 GMT -10
So - you guys are hooked on this fic... (Maybe the fact that I ALWAYS have someone sitting on my tail that gave it away... : So... What does Dino want to know....? and why does a kiss on the back of a hand scare Gaby.....? If it were me... I'd be a puddle on the floor........ Enjoy Lucy Chapter 25 The question took Gaby by surprise, but she nodded her head in response, curious to see what he wanted to know. “Before me… How many men did you actually have a long term relationship with…?” Gaby was stunned, it was not what she expected, or wanted, to hear. She was about to move away, her anger beginning to rise as she thought that Dino sought to blame her for their split. Looking at his face however made her stay in her place, Dino’s eyes were sad, holding her, watching her for a reaction, almost pleading for an answer. “From the age of 16 I had three boyfriends… Two were just the usual teenage thing – a couple of kisses and cuddles… The third was at university for about a year, until…” Gaby stopped abruptly, not wanting to continue. “Until…?” Gaby shook her head and turned from him, Dino caught her hand, pulled her back slowly. Seeing the fear and pain in her eyes he had an idea about what she didn’t want to say. “Gaby please talk to me, I don’t want to make the mistake of not listening to you again.” Gaby released a soft sob, glancing up she saw the concern in his eyes. Saw that he realized that this was not associated with him, but that he was still there for her. Dino remained silent waiting for an answer, feeling her tremble a little he turned slightly to sit opposite her, clasping each of her hands in his. Lifting one hand toward his lips he was startled by Gaby’s terrified tone of voice, “Dino don’t… Please.” The look of dread on her face gave him an idea… “Gaby, why is it a problem?” Gaby shook her head, “Just don’t… ok…” Releasing a hand, he placed a finger under her chin and lifted it gently, “Gaby… What happened…?” Gaby began to sob a little more. “I can’t…” Dino sighed and dropped his head, making her stomach turn over, he looked so sad. Gaby bit her lip, if they were going to fix this, she needed to talk to him. “It was how it started…” Dino looked up, he had barely heard what Gaby had said, so quiet was the whisper. “How what started…?” Gaby took a deep breath, and told him about the relationship she had had at university. How she’d started dating a fellow student, “He seemed really nice, and everything was slow with him – he never pushed me to meet up with him, though we saw each other every day. It was as if we were just really good friends more than anything else.” Dino remained silent, afraid to speak in case Gaby stopped talking. Antonio had told him what he knew about the incident, but hearing it from Gaby gave him another perspective. He gently squeezed her hand to encourage her to continue. “After about six months, he got more serious, which I was ok with, but it wasn’t long before he was pushing me for more… I backed off… I didn’t think we were close enough for that… I wasn’t ready, I had never…” The tears started to slide down Gaby’s cheeks as she began to remember what had happened more clearly – she had locked it away for so long. “He stopped pushing so hard, so I began to relax around him again… Then he organized a surprise party for me… It was my 21st… He said we should celebrate it properly…” She went on to tell Dino how the party was held in one of the other student’s lodgings and how many people turned up. How much fun they had, and how much people were drinking… and how at about 3am most people had left. “There was him and a few friends… Only about four or five girls…” Gaby began to shake and Dino quickly pulled her close and held her tightly, understanding that he might not hear much more. His stomach was already sick at the thought of what he knew had happened next, but Gaby wasn’t finished. “I hadn’t drunk very much – I never was a drinker, but around that time someone spiked my drink… I remember him leading me upstairs saying that it was time I had my birthday present… and he and three of his friends had something special lined up for me… He kissed the back of my hands…” Gaby broke down, unable to say anymore and Dino was glad she didn’t, already full of rage at what had been done to her at the hands of four uncaring young men furious that her first time had been so rough and full of terror. They had ruined Gaby’s life completely, though he had to admit that the Artemis organization would probably not have come into existence until Eduardo had returned… and he never would have met her under the same circumstances. Changing position, he wrapped his arms around her and let Gaby cry herself out… By telling him her story, she had renewed her trust in him. Now he would have to do the same.
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Post by jessica on Oct 30, 2008 2:05:32 GMT -10
I so hope that they got what they deserved. If not, I'm sure that Dino will hunt them down. Sorry, but that's all I can think of right now. No one deserves this.. no one. Jess
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Post by pinkyster on Oct 30, 2008 2:09:12 GMT -10
Oh poor Gaby. Glad that Dino was able to get her to open up a little bit about the past, now she can really move forward. So the kiss on the hand was not something between Dino and Gaby but with Gaby's past. So how will Dino get his trust back?
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Post by NV Oracle on Oct 30, 2008 2:52:45 GMT -10
Yeah, and on her 21'st too, that just.......oh. Well, I hope they all got their's in the end. Now, Dino really has his work cut out for him. She has shown him so much trust, but what's he going to do now? Come on, Dino, move it, boyo
Great chapter, Lucy. Very interesting turn. Can't wait to see where you take it next.
Your friend NV Oracle
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Post by sanne on Oct 30, 2008 3:02:53 GMT -10
Don't you dare to betray her trust, Dino.......I'll hunt you down and kill you myself if you do that!! So Gaby didn't have a careful and loving boyfriend, but 1 who only wanted to have some "fun" and let his friends "share" in that....BA***RD.......She's been completely honest with you, Dino.....now it's your turn to tell her everything and nothing but the truth.....ALL of it....... Sandra
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Post by margaret1234 on Oct 30, 2008 3:40:37 GMT -10
So now we know the answer to he kiss on the hand problem....( had to be something in her past).....not nice at all for Gaby. So she was badly hurt in the past but was able to put this behind her when she fell in love with Dino......and unfotunately came back to the forefront of her mind because of the current situation with Dino. But, Dino cannot be blamed for her past. Yes he needs to tell her the whole truth himself now because in the same way Gaby cannot be blamed for the fact that he has not previously been able to let Cass go. However, I still maintain that had Gaby been true to who she is as a person and not tried to be like Cass this problem would never have occurred in the first place. So will he confess all......Lucy is making us wait to find out.
Margaret
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Post by lucymalta on Oct 30, 2008 3:44:51 GMT -10
Nothing is that easy Margaret.... Time for Dino to open up... at least a little... Enjoy Lucy Chapter 26 It was a while before Gaby stopped crying. Dino had pulled her close, her head tucked into his neck for comfort. As she became quieter, he gently leaned his head on hers and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. She stiffened a little, but began to relax almost immediately, as she let out a sigh Dino took a deep breath, he still needed some answers to confirm some thoughts he had, but first… “You poor baby… If that’s what happened to you your first…” Dino paused, “No wonder you became so distrustful of everyone. It’s a wonder you ended up with me…” Gaby pulled away a little, a curious expression on her face, blinking away the tears in her eyes, she voiced her question, “But I’ve always trusted you… Almost from the first day we met… Why would you say that?” Dino gave a half smile, “because you never really knew me Gaby… What you saw was a man broken by tragedy, a man who barely did enough to live. I have to admit there were times I considered ending it all, but I couldn’t, I don’t know why. Then I met you… and you helped me to see that I needed to live again.” “Gaby, my first wife and I were very close, but when I joined the Delta Force, she became afraid… Afraid that I would get hurt… Killed even, but it was my job, what I had signed up to do… Looking back – I have to admit, I enjoyed it, I felt I was making a difference, even if it was a small one.” “Some of the things I saw shocked me and over time, I began to change. I had to hide away my feelings, become cold otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to cope. Unfortunately it made me cold to everyone, slowly I began to lose my friends, my family stopped visiting because they didn’t like the change in my character – I can’t say I blame them.” “Carol and I started having bad fights – she wanted me to leave the Army, I wanted to stay. In the end she threatened to walk out on me if I didn’t change my job. At the time I still loved her – I didn’t want her to leave, so I did as she asked…” Gaby listened, entranced. Dino had never spoken about his first marriage and all Jackie had known was that the break up had not been pleasant so she had decided never to ask him about it. “What did you do?” Dino gave a half chuckle, half sigh… “I joined Luthan Risk…” Gaby’s eyes opened wide as Dino continued, “at first Carol was happy – we had a nice house in London and she liked the fact that I was helping people. What she didn’t know was that I was also doing the extractions…” Gaby gave a quiet chuckle, “I bet that landed you in trouble when she found out…” Dino gave her a soft smile, “Yeah well… To cut a long story short, we had a terrible fight about it. She didn’t even give me the chance to explain… When I came home after the next job, she had left… I was furious, the divorce came through shortly after – she got herself a really hot attorney and the two of them really did me over. I was left with barely the clothes I was wearing.” He smiled to himself, “That was when Terry helped me out, as a result we’ve been friends ever since. He was also newly divorced and the two of us hung out together, with one difference… Terry left the girls alone, didn’t want to get burned again… Me – I went the opposite way, I was bitter, I wanted revenge against all women… I did to them what Carol had done to me…” Gaby wanted to interrupt, but Dino stopped her with a finger on her lips. “Gaby, at times I was no better than the four young men that hurt you… I would use a woman for my own needs and then drop her completely. If I saw her in a bar the next day, I would ignore her, happy to see the pain I caused.” Gaby found her voice, “What changed?” Dino sighed, “Terry sorted me out a bit… and I had a rough job… I nearly lost my life. It made me take a new look at things, I left Luthan Risk and went freelance… Then Terry left and we started up on our own. Unfortunately I had built up a bit of a habit where the girls were concerned though… It was a while before I broke that…” Gaby dropped her head, “Cass…” Dino nodded, “First she was just an acquaintance at Luthan Risk, then I managed to poach her from the New York office when Terry and I opened up… She was always around… Helped me out… One day I realized that there was something going on and I challenged her… She totally flipped me out… After that, all I wanted was her…” Dino fell silent, Gaby knew the rest of the story and he didn’t feel like talking about it again. Partly, because the memories of that day still hurt, but mainly because he didn’t want to hurt Gaby anymore than he already had. But there was more that he needed to tell her, or did he? Telling her about the girl from Patrick’s bar would definitely hurt her and he didn’t want to risk losing her again, but at the same time he wanted to be honest with Gaby or his conscious would never let him forget.
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Post by sanne on Oct 30, 2008 4:21:17 GMT -10
A rough life, Dino.........but still.......be TOTALLY honest now......it will be rewarded....... Sandra
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