The Baines = Simms Experience

by the Nickers in a Knot

Author's Notes: For dossier

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Drinking Song
Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh.
W.B. Yeats

By four in the morning Ryan was heartily regretting his impetuous departure. His jacket was soaked with dew, his teeth were chattering; the autumn night was far too cold to spend in the open air. He'd just look foolish, though, to go back now. Not much of a grand gesture, to slink back to the tent just because he was uncomfortable, because his socks and underwear felt as though someone had melted a snowball into them.

He had been quite pleased earlier with the way he'd taken the news that Wade didn't want to stay with him, that she wasn't in love...

They'd been sitting by the campfire while he outlined the plans he'd made for their life in this new land, this other earth where Quinn and his miraculous *slide* had brought him. She'd put her hand on his arm and said, quite simply, "I'm going on with Quinn and the others, Ryan. You're sweet and generous and funny... but I don't love you."

He shifted stiffly against the log at his back, biting back more tears as he told himself again how foolish he'd been. How blind.

He'd pulled her to him as he stood and said, "I think I understand, Wade. I won't tag along, it would be too painful to hope and it would make us all uncomfortable." His throat was choked, but he summoned a smile. "One day you'll get home, but to me, this is as good a place as another." He leaned down to kiss her tenderly. "Remember me, and thank you."

"Without you, they'd have killed me too, Ryan."

"Then we're quits." He held her hands and let the moment seep into his memory; her pixy face, her lithe, dainty form, her mop of dark hair, the smoke and sparks from the damp logs drifting across the lake like a nebula of stars.

"You go on to bed. I'd like to be alone for a little while."

Here, now, in the chill, he could see that it must have been the situation that had made him fall so hard, so suddenly, for a girl he'd just met. There had been no time for wooing, for preliminaries. That one night, the lottery winner's ball, was all they had; in the morning they'd be dead.

Perhaps if Wade had been a girl from his own culture...

But she wasn't; she didn't have the same conditioning. And if she were, he told himself wryly, they'd both now be dead.

He climbed to his feet, wondering where his night-time trudge through the woods had taken him. He knew he'd never find his way back to the camp until daylight, but if he sat for longer he would get dangerously cold. He couldn't get more lost than he already was by continuing to walk until dawn.

A low mist, like a blanket of snow, formed under the trees as the sky turned dull red some two hours later. Ryan was yawning and his feet, previously numb with cold, were now in agony from blisters caused by the wet that had penetrated the light dress shoes that he had worn since sliding from his own world. The others would be stoking the fire, grilling bacon and sipping coffee soon. Maybe Quinn would be awake at last; his fever had been falling all day yesterday and his wound seemed cleaner, less angry.

Once he got his bearings he would return and say goodbye properly, instead of sulking like a lovelorn idiot.

Searching around, he soon found a clear path and set out in what seemed to be a likely direction, hoping to come to a road where he could find a signpost or someone to ask. After a short time the trees pulled back to form a large, overgrown clearing. In the centre tumbled, mossy walls marked what was once a small hut. The structure was roofless, but a wisp of smoke rose from within. A hunter, maybe a tramp was in occupation - whatever, they'd know the way back to the lake where he'd been camping.

More importantly, Ryan thought, they had a fire. They were warm in there. He hastened forward, laughing at himself a little in relief. He, with seven safaris under his belt, lost in the woods like a Cub Scout. How embarrassing. His stomach growled as he pounded on the warped door. "Hello? Anybody in there?"

At first, the only response was the hush of a crackling radio being turned down. The wail of the guitar cheered him greatly. Wherever he had "slid", at least there was decent music.

Then a voice called out, "Door's open."

The room was small and very smokey, as though the fireplace hadn't been cleaned in years. The furniture, such as it was; a three-legged table and a couple of camp chairs, an old army cot in one corner; seemed heavy with dust. Ryan blinked in the gloom.

"Well, I'll be damned." A figure appeared beside him, dropping a silver foil packet to the floor that Ryan thought might have been field rations.

Then it hit him. "What th-" The shirtless man, standing there in camo pants and combat boots was a dead ringer for his great-great-grandfather Leggunson. Or, to put a finer point on it, himself. Well, maybe himself at twenty-one. And he only *wished* he had been as ripped as this guy, this soldier, by the cut of his hair.

The soldier flashed Ryan a lazy smirk and shoved something that looked like beef jerky between teeth and gum. With his mouth full, he said, " You know, the eggheads back at HQ said they thought everybody must have a double at each A.R. Axis Point - but I sure as hell never thought I'd meet mine."

He shook his head, as if this were the funniest thing in the world, and gestured to the table. "Name's Baines. Lieutenant.Have a seat, buddy."

Stunned, Ryan sat. He did not miss the almost inperceptable motion of the soldier unsnapping the holster of his sidearm though. The instincts sharpened in his safari days were rushing in his blood again. The safaris has been the last places in his universe where you could still get hurt. Unless, of course, you went and pissed off the Lottery Police.

The soldier was still chortling. "So, you got a name? You look cold, want some coffee? You know, you're the first guy I've met here..."

A chipped mug full of steaming, bitter brew was set down in front of Ryan, and Baines went on with the good ol' boy routine, all the time circling him like a wolf. He spoke in casual, rapid-fire questions,not bothering to wait and hear Ryan's replies. It was strictly a distraction mechanism, Ryan thought, like a carny chatting you up while you try to follow the pea under the nutshell.

As Ryan forced himself to finally relax enough to bring the rim of the mug to his lips, he felt the quick kiss of metal against the base of his skull. The soldier's weapon. The voice of the man who had slipped behind him was now cold and deliberate.

"Buddy, I came here to do one thing; hunt and kill the fucking thing that took out most of the guys in my unit. But you - you've got to talk to me a little bit about the nature of coincidence, okay?"

Ryan shuddered, not in fear, but with the most intense surge of adrenalin he had ever known. It had always been his weakness, the love of that buzz. It had driven him to the Lottery in his old life, over and over again. After all, if you didn't play, you couldn't win.

"Well, the first thing you should know about coincidence," Ryan told Baines, "is that I've gone hunting a few times myself."

"Yeah." Baines' tone was seasoned with disbelief. "You certainly look the part." The gun barrel edged downward to run back and forth across the collar of Ryan's thin dress shirt. "What are you doing out here." Metal skimmed cold skin, coming to rest behind Ryan's right ear. In complete contrast, warm breath tickled the left ear. "Who are you? Who do you work for?"

Ryan was more than a little embarrassed by the urges he felt to lean into both the metal stroking his skin, as well as the tickling puff of air. His body betrayed the conflict with a shiver that started at the top of Ryan's spine and travelled quickly down. "Simms, Ryan Simms." He was striving for debonair, but he suspect it had come out as slightly boastful instead. "And I'm not working for anyone."

Concentrating, Ryan made himself take another sip of coffee. "I'm not from around here. and my trip was unplanned." The heat in his belly soothed Ryan's nerves a little. "What sort of animal are you hunting? Because I might be able to help."

"Not likely." Straightening up, Baines moved back into Ryan's line of vision, although he kept the gun at ready. "This fucker ate marines like they were snack food. I don't need a amateur underfoot."

Ryan's brow furrowed and he felt the urge to look over his shoulder, just in case. "Is it some kind of lion or something?" If a creature that dangerous was lurking about then maybe he should try and warn Wade and guys about it. Wade had told him that the worlds they travelled through were all different. It could be that in this one wild animals outnumbered the humans. or maybe dinosaurs still walked the earth.

"Picture your worst nightmare. give it teeth the length of your arm and have it leap out at you when you least expect it." Baines delivered the description in a deadpan tone of voice.

When Ryan let out an astonished breath it brought a satisfied smirk to the soldier's face. The expression provoked Ryan into speaking. "Okay, that's a bit more than I expected, but." He swept a look over the shelter. "Are you taking it on all by yourself? Because that sounds like a damned stupid idea."

The insult was ignored. "If I don't get it I don't know who will. The thing has been lurking around here so far while it gets it's bearings, but as soon as it runs out of racoons and deer to eat it's gonna go looking for something else to eat and there's a fair-sized city that way." Baines gestured with the hand that didn't hold the gun. "By the glow it gives off, I'm guessing at least a hundred thousand people live down there. if not more."

"What city is it?"

Baines glared at Ryan. "You tell me." The counter was abrupt and loaded with overtones Ryan couldn't grasp.

"I don't know. I'm not from around here. Hell." Ryan decided the path of honesty was his best bet. "Not only do I not know what part of the country this is. I'm not even sure what country we're in."

It seemed as if Baines' stare would burn a hole right through Ryan but after a full minute a snicker started to escape the soldier. "I believe you, Simms." Baines finally allowed. "But here's the kick in the head. I don't know either, not for sure." His thumb hooked toward a battered chest near one wall. "I found maps. They're all American but none of them have 'you are here' stamped on 'em, so that makes it a bit of a puzzle." His jaw tightened then released with a sigh. "I was on a mission but something happened. Something weird, and considering the shit I've been seeing lately, that's saying something."

"Unless you walked through a hole in time and space, I've got you beat," Ryan's laugh dried up when Baines just continued to stare at him. "This is too." Ryan began, "Too crazy."

"Makes me think I should have paid attention in science class even after they taught us how to build explosives and level cities. Fuck." Baines shook his head. "This is tech stuff. I'm demolitions." A breath blew out. "Well at least you didn't tell me you had the same name as me."

After a long pause, Baines holstered his gun. "I don't have a whole lot of time. I was just going to eat then head out. The fucker I'm hunting is drifting further south with every pass. I need to take another run at it. If you feel like dying horribly, you're welcome to come along."

Ryan's brow creased as he considered his options. Wade and the guys might vanish any time now. They might even be gone by now. The city Baines spoke off wasn't going anywhere. Monster or no, that place was likely Ryan's best bet for a destination in this new world. "I'm on borrowed time as it is. Sure, count me in."

Baines gave him a long look from beneath thick lashes, and then nodded. "You might find that you like borrowed time, once it's too late. I know that I did." He tossed Ryan a packet of field rations and sat back down to attend to his own.

Catching the package easily, Ryan sat back on a corner of the cot and tore open the wrapper with sharp white teeth. "So tell me about this creature you're after. What is it? The Creature from the Black Lagoon or something?"

"Have you seen that movie, Alien?" Baines' voice was soft, his delivery bland, but there was something in the set of his shoulders that made Ryan feel nervous. He nodded in answer although Baines was not actually looking at him. "Well, take that thing, add acid saliva and a tendency to survive major explosions, and you've got my critter. I call him Godzilla, because somehow it makes the thing less scary."

The quiet words made Ryan frown. His instincts told him that this man was a yo-yo, and that he should cut and run, get out now before he got sucked into some sort of demented game of hide and seek, but there was an obvious tension about Baines, and a careful competence that gave the lie to the sci-fi fest he was attempting to convey to Ryan.

Without even realizing how it had happened, he had made the decision to stay and play games with his new companion. Now, all he needed was a gun, a few knives, and if he could find a flamethrower, he'd take that too. Clearing his throat, he leant forward.

"Hey, kiddo, do we have any weapons I might use? I hate when Godzilla attacks me and I'm fresh out of bullets." He indicated his lack of weaponry with a self deprecating smile.

Bullets aren't going to help, you know." Baines grinned at him, suddenly looking much younger than he had, and then tossed him an Uzi. "Here; knock yourself out. When you're ready, we'll go try and grab ourselves a critter."

~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~

Ok, so maybe picking up my pseudo big brother wasnt a mistake after all. He moves well enough, quiet and fast, even though hes got the wrong shoes for walking all day long. Hell, it isnt just the shoes. Ryans got none of the gear or the tude but hes holding the gun like he knows how to use it and hes got a knack for tracking.

Baines hated to admit it, but the fact was that it hadnt been far from camp when Ryan had taken the lead. Broken branches, overturned rocks and the placement of stool meant more to Ryan than they did to Baines. The soldier wouldve followed, more or less, the same course as Ryan had-south and east-but hed have been totally stumped by the meadow that swept before them. Ryan had been crouched, motionless, squinting into the fading sunlight for longer than Baines liked to stop. The fact that their quarry would have to travel miles out of its way to stay under cover to circle back behind them was of little comfort.

Well be exposed if we go out there. Vulnerable. But if we stick to the trees, we may never overtake the fucker. Fuck.

This way. As he spoke, Ryan stood and moved into the tall grass, loping along to the right at a half trot.

West? Why would it go west all the sudden? Grumbling, Baines took off after Ryan, repeating his question when hed overtaken the older man.

Water.

Water? Are you sure?

Ryan shrugged. Water or something else it needs quicker than another meal. Smiling, Ryan gestured to the meadow spreading out to their left. Theres probably better eating that way.

It struck Baines that what hed feared should apply to Godzilla as well. But itd be exposed out there, Ryan.

You think it cares?

It did before.

Where?

Where I first saw it-in a scientific research facility.

Nodding to himself, Ryan slowed his pace a little. Predators act differently in enclosed spaces. This might not be Godzillas natural habitat but its wide open. Hell be more comfortable here.

Not wanting to think about a comfortable, confident creature with huge ass teeth, Baines asked, How far behind are we?

Too far to catch him today. With a puzzled frown, Ryan turned to Baines. You think hes a he?

How the fuck should I know? When Ryan clammed up and raced ahead, Baines cursed and followed. Ok, Ryan, whyd you ask?

A he might want to mate. If he found a suitable species, thatd slow him down. Until then, hed be moving faster than we can.

What could mate with ? Baines shivered. I dont think therere reptiles that big in this area.

Something as intense as you described might not be that particular. A warm-blooded mammal might be just the thing for variety.

Jesus, Ryan. Do you have to put pictures like that in my head? Ryan smiled. Baines feet seemed to get tangled up and he fell to the ground, twisting at the last moment to avoid putting most of his weight on his bum knee. Shit!

Stopping a few paces further on, Ryan called, Hey, Baines. You ok?

My egos bruised but I think the rest of me is ok. Christ almighty! Do I look like that when I smile?

Ryan looked from the sun to the distant stand of trees. Good. I think we can make it to those trees before it gets dark.

Baines followed his companions eyes. If we go like hell. Those trees are further than they looks.

You want to camp out here?

Not on your life.

~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~

The fire was small but Ryan didnt mind. It drew he and Baines closer together, making low voiced conversation tolerable. Despite the cold, Ryan had taken off his shoes. His feet were killing him. Blisters, aches and pains wracked them. Much more of this and fallen arches are definitely in my future. Ah, yes, Ryan, but what else might we hope that the future will bring?

Leaning back, Ryan felt safe blushing. Hed caught himself comparing Baines to Wade over the course of the long day of tracking. It was ridiculous, of course, the two had nothing in common, neither the people, nor the circumstances under which hed met them, except for being strange in the extreme.

Let me see your feet, Baines said.

And getting stranger by the second. Why?

Baines held up a small rectangular box. First aid, Ryan. You got an issue with that? Some kind of childhood trauma thing, maybe?

Laughing softly, Ryan whispered, No. Im just not used to tracking Godzilla, so Im a little jumpy.

Yeah, Baines agreed, kneeling next to Ryans right foot, fishing into the first aide kit for antiseptic cream, gauze and tape. Jumpy is normal for this sort of thing.

Im glad that something about this situation is, Ryan said, just to hear something other than the sound of Baines slow, measured breathing. The cream felt good against his skin, a cool to soothe the heat of his blisters. By the time Baines had finished with one foot and started on the other, Ryan was leaning back with his head against his pack and his eyes closed.

You dont look jumpy now.

Ryan opened one eye and was disappointed that Baines face was awash in shadow. His tone had been ambiguous and, without further data, Ryan was at a loss for an appropriate response. Not wanting to come across as a fool or a wimp, Ryan flexed his left foot. Feels better. I think I could run if I had to, now. Thats kind of a relief, you know?

Relief, yeah. Relief is nice.

Tone light, Ryan asked, You in pain, soldier?

Baines worked on Ryans foot in silence for a time. When he applied the last piece of tape, Baines replied, We hiked a good twenty miles today, Ryan. What do you think?

Your knee?

Among other things, yeah.

Ashamed that his feet were feeling human again, Ryan asked, Anything I can do? Baines laughed and Ryan growled, I know as much first aid as you do. Maybe more. Recovering some of his sense of humor, Ryan added, Although we dont seem in much danger of frostbite or tropical diseases here.

Nope. The danger in this place is you.

Stunned, Ryan asked, What?

You heard me.

I heard the words, Baines. I dont know what they mean. If youve got it in your head that Godzilla has manifested as a future you and is waiting for you to fall asleep to have his evening meal, youre nuts!

Maybe that isnt what hes waiting for.

Baines was grinning now. There was no mistaking the flash of white teeth in the darkness. Huh?

Patting Ryan on the knee, Baines stood and stared off into the forest. What does Godzilla want more than his next meal? he whispered.

Ryan shuddered. Not with the cold, or with fear, but with a frisson of anticipatory pleasure. It seemed that Baines was hinting heavily that he felt attracted to him, and he couldn't deny that he, in his turn, felt strongly attracted towards the lone soldier. His initial impression of Baines' sleek, dangerous physique, had been tinged with envy, admiration, and - if he was honest - unadulterated lust. He'd never been one to overlook the physical, or sexual, appeal of the male form, and he certainly couldn't overlook the appeal of Baines' form.

And as crazy as it might sound, he was beginning to feel that this 'chance' meeting was perhaps not quite as random as it first seemed. He'd always had the craving for adventure, hence his safaris, the expeditions, his dicing with death by playing the lottery. Now here was the ultimate buzz - fighting an unknown foe of unimaginable strength and power along with a young, fit, carbon-copy of himself. He found it difficult to see all this as a mere matter of chance.

After all, both of them had been sucked here from their own parallel worlds. What were the odds? If there was such a thing as one power, one supreme being, in control of the vastness of the universe, then it seemed to Ryan that they were fond of the odd practical joke. To fling both him and Baines together, engaged in their favourite activity - pursing danger - and to add in the illicit joy of a possible liaison with their own double, the whole thing was just crazy enough to be an enormous cosmic joke.

He supposed that most guys had a bit of a narcissistic streak, and he didn't mind admitting that the thought of him and Baines 'going at it' together was pretty hot. Perhaps Baines was right in a way. He might be the danger to Baines, clearly though Baines was equally a danger to him. Whatever the case, they'd be crazy if they allowed their obvious attraction to distract them when they might meet up with Baines' 'Godzilla' at any moment.

He sighed heavily. He was too tired to puzzle all this out right now. The emotional roller coaster of the last couple of days, together with the exertion of tracking Baines' monster, was catching up with him. He could really use some sleep, but if Baines had been hunting this creature alone, even for one day, he'd need some downtime soon. On the other hand they really needed to keep watch in case their quarry doubled back and caught them on the hop.

He got up and went to stand beside Baines who was still staring out into the darkness beyond their fire.

"I hate to break it to you Baines, but I think the danger here is you." He said.

Baines lowered his head, eyes closed. "Shit!" He said, with feeling.

"Uhhuh." Ryan agreed. "Still we do have this hunt to deal with, and I can keep a lid on it until the timing is better. How 'bout you?" He said with a friendly leer.

Baines shuddered visibly and let out a heavy whuff of breath.

"Sure." He said, his voice tight and strained. "What else is the right hand for right? Not as though I'm not well acquainted with it after all."

He sounded bitter.

Ryan was surprised.

"You must have had a pretty busy love life in your own world though?"

Baines snorted. "Huh, no. Not for lack of trying, mind." He grimaced.

"The unit I was with were good guys, the best to guard your back bar none. But they were homophobic to the core. Womanizers to a man, hard workers. hard drinkers and chased tail like there was no tomorrow, and god forbid any 'faggot' be included in their circle. You know how it is in the military."

Ryan nodded, he knew only too well.

"Well I needed to command their respect to be able to command them. It was obvious I couldn't do that and be open about my sexuality - so I went all out on the womanizing front . Tried to outdo them at their own game. Trouble was, even if I did get a girl interested, there was no way I could actually follow through. Women just don't do it for me. Still, I managed to gain a reputation as being very much the ladies' man, and of course I had to work even harder to maintain it." He said, ruefully.

Ryan looked at him sympathetically.

"So how long since you actually got laid?" He asked.

Baines screwed his eyes shut.

"Two years." He mumbled.

Ryan was astounded. "Shit!" He said.

"Uhhuh." Baines agreed. His shoulders slumped wearily.

Ryan put out a hand and placed it on the soldier's back.

"You need to relax guy," he said, "you did a great job on my feet, let me give you a neck and shoulder rub, try to relieve the tension a little. Then you should sleep. I'll take first watch."

Baines nodded.

"OK, I'll admit I could use both the massage and the sleep, but you've got to promise to wake me if 'Godzilla' comes anywhere within sniffing distance."

"Cross my heart." Ryan said solemnly.

Baines sat on the ground, Ryan on a log behind him massaging his neck and shoulders. The deep warmth that suffused Baines' muscles as Ryan's hands worked their magic gave him a delicious feeling of lassitude and security. He began to feel gloriously mellow, all the tension left him, as if he was a puppet who's strings had suddenly been cut. A wonderful lethargy overtook hm and very soon his breathing deepened and he was fast asleep.

Ryan couldn't resist placing a little kiss on the nape of the soldier's neck before making hm comfortable near the fire. Baines looked ridiculously young in his repose. Ryan felt a wash of emotion he could barely identify. This boy, this man, was everything he could want in a partner. He was strong, resilient, and open. He couldn't imagine what it must have taken for his companion to admit his lack of recent sexual activity to another man. Nor could he imagine what it must be like to have to go without sex for two years. That situation would change very soon if he had anything to do with it.

Covering Baines' sleeping form with a blanket he sat facing out from the fire, the weapon Baines had given him at the ready. He stood watch over his sleeping mate. He smiled. His life had certainly taken an interesting turn over that last forty-eight hours. Perhaps winning the lottery would prove to have been a good thing after all.

~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~

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