Work Text:
It was late by the time Nat was making her way back to the cabin, slowly making her way through the trees, the snow leaving a light coating on the floor.
She was enjoying the silence that came with snow, that came with being outside in the middle of nowhere alone, while everyone else was probably settling down to sleep.
But she was immediately on edge when she saw the smoldering fire outside, frowning at the sight of Jackie, asleep in a ball on the floor.
Nat rushed over, taking Jackie's face into her hands, she was still breathing at least.
“Jackie,” Nat gently tapped her frozen cheeks, quickly pulling her big jacket off and draping it over Jackie. “Come on, Captain, I need you to open your eyes.”
Jackie did, but only barely, her entire body quaking.
“Jackie? Hey, hi,” Nat noted how blue her lips were. “Hey, Captain. What the fuck are you doing out here?”
Jackie's whole body shivered in Nat's arms; and for a second Nat just looked around, trying to figure out what the fuck was happening, before she sprung into action.
“Alright, cap, let's get you inside.” Nat slung Jackie's arm over her shoulder and managed to heave her to her feet.
“They don't want me in there,” Jackie managed to force her, her jaw chittering.
“You would have died out here tonight, Jackie.” Nat snapped, reaching out for the door knob. “I don't give a fuck what they want.”
Everyone turned to look at them when they stumbled inside, Shauna immediately shooting to her feet at the sight of her best friend, but didn't come any closer when Nat glared at her.
Nat ripped the blanket right off of Van's back and turned to Jackie, wrapping it around her. “Will you be alright on your own?”
Jackie nodded jerkily, pulling the blanket tighter around her.
“Alright, go upstairs, light all the candles, and wrap yourself up.” Nat gave Jackie a little smile, the girl wandering off, almost dazed.
Nat watched her go, running a hand over her face as she tried to process what had just happened.
“What the fuck was that about?”
“There was an argument-” Tai started, but stopped when Nat's eyes cut to her.
“An argument? Are you all fucking stupid?” Nat scowled at the girls around her, pointing at Tai. “She said it, cold enough that dying feels like falling asleep. It was snowing, for fuck sake.”
“She chose to leave,” Shauna said.
“You shut the fuck up,” Nat scoffed, turning her snarl fully on Shauna now, looking at her with pure disgust. “You were going to let her die out there over a petty fucking argument! What kind of best friend-”
Shauna advanced on Nat, who squared her shoulders, a smirk pulling on her lips.
“Give me a reason, Shipman.” Her voice was dangerously low, and she could see the panic in Shauna's face now that she was faced with Nat, who was more than willing to fight her. “I'm not above hitting a pregnant woman.”
Shauna backed off, and Nat looked around the girls, totally bewildered.
“I– what the fuck is going on?” she looked at each of the girls, almost all of them at least having the decency to look ashamed. “Fucking hell.”
Nat grabbed a mug of the awful tea Lottie had taken to making and headed upstairs, rushing to Jackie as she struggled to light the candles.
“I'll get it,” Nat took the lighter from Jackie's ice cold hands, shucking off her zipper and sweatshirt. “Take your wet clothes off, put these on, they're already warm.”
Nat started to light the candles while Jackie got frustrated at her inability to get her frozen hands to cooperate.
“Come here,” Nat stood, placing her warm hands over Jackie's, who stiffened immediately.
Nat gripped the zipper of her jacket, waiting for Jackie to look up at her and nod, before she pulled it down and pushed the jacket off.
She did the same with the zip up hoodie she was wearing, before helping her pull on the sweatshirt and jacket Nat had been wearing.
She pulled the zipper up, watching her hands as they played with the toggle. “You could've died, Jackie.”
“I didn't– it didn't feel like I was.”
“It was freezing,” Nat stressed. “Is that really worth your pride?”
“The baby is Jeff's,”
Nat's mouth was already open to continue scolding Jackie, but the words never came out, her eyebrows raising in surprise. “Oh,”
“Did you know?” Jackie huddled close to the cluster of candles, taking the mug of tea between her hands.
“No, I'm not in the business of knowing really anything about Shauna Shipman.” Nat said honestly. “That's fucked up, Jackie, I'm sorry. But don't go getting yourself killed because of Shauna fucking Shipman.”
“I'm just a dead weight,” She said with a sad smile, and Nat moved to huddle close to her, her hands rubbing up and down Jackie's arms.
“You're the heart of this place, without you here.” Nat shook her head, then shrugged. “I think it'd all end up in chaos.”
“You don't think last night was chaos?” Jackie snorted.
“Well, yeah but that was the ‘shrooms.” Nat shrugged. “I've been working on snares with coach, I'm going to test them on rabbits tomorrow.”
Jackie nodded, leaning into the warmth of Nat. “Thank you, Nat.”
“Right place, right time, Taylor.” Nat figured she should probably wrap an arm around Jackie, help her warm up quicker since she was still shaking.
“How are we going to look after a kid out here?”
Nat couldn't not snort, because even faced with the idea of the product of her best friend and boyfriends betrayal, Jackie's first reaction was to nurture. “Fuck if I know, cap. I'm just hoping it doesn't look like Jeff.”
It was a risky joke, but Jackie snorted against her collarbone, her ice cold nose pressed against Nat's pulsepoint.
“Maybe Shauna's genes will be stronger.” Jackie grinned lazily.
“We can only hope.” Nat chuckled.
“Can we sleep?” Jackie yawned.
Nat reclined them back, Jackie still tucked under her arm, even getting herself comfortable against Nat's chest as she pulled the blankets up over them.
–
There was an atmosphere when Nat left to go hunting the following morning, they were all skittish around her, like they were walking on eggshells.
And Nat was glad, she really couldn't stomach the sight of any of them right now.
She was out most of the day, refusing to go back without something to show for it, and when she got back, two small rabbits in hand, the mood in the cabin had lifted.
Jackie was downstairs, wrapped up warm in front of the fire and laughing with Lottie.
They all acted like she was a war hero when they spotted the food, Shauna immediately going to work preparing it.
Nat headed upstairs to change, finding Jackie at the bottom of the ladder on the way down, leaning against the door jam with her arms crossed, little smile on her lips. She was so much like her usual self, but there was also something frail about her.
“You were out there for a while.” Jackie pointed out.
“Yeah, I was setting up the snares and stuff.” Nat said. “Not as easy as coach makes out.”
Jackie snorted, her eyes flickering across Nat, like she was studying her. “I was starting to worry.”
“Oh,” Nat glanced down at her feet, picking at her nails. “Sorry, I wanted to bring something home.”
“It really helped with everyone's shit mood.”
Nat nodded. “Are you okay?”
Jackie nodded, then shrugged. “They apologised.”
Nat nodded, scuffing her toe off the stairs. “Good, that's the least you deserve, really.”
“It was stupid, I shouldn't have gone out there in the first place.” Jackie chuckled, shaking her head.
“I can't blame you, after finding out what Shauna did.” Nat shrugged. “We've only got each other out here, Taylor. Don't go dying on me, alright?”
Nat gave her arm a little squeeze as she passed by her and right out of the cabin, ignoring the looks from all the other girls.
She settled at the edge of the tree line, busying herself with cleaning the gun.
“It's freezing out here,”
Nat tensed at the voice, but didn't look up at Lottie, who was lingering a few feet away.
“Yeah, well, I can't stomach looking at any of you guys right now.” Nat murmured.
“We fucked up,”
“You fucked up?” Nat peered up at Lottie, her tone incredulous. “That isn't just fucking up, Lottie. She could have died, she almost fucking did.”
Lottie at least looked ashamed, her eyes dropping to her feet. “I know.”
“You know?” Nat scowled, gun discarded to her left as she stood. “God, what the fuck were you all thinking?”
“She told Shauna to leave,”
“And do you really think Jackie would let anyone sleep outside, even Shauna fucking Shipman.” Nat scowled. “You all left her out there to freeze.”
Nat let out a huff at Lottie's shameful look.
“Just go inside, Lot.” Nat moved to grab the gun again. “I'm finishing cleaning this then I'll be in.”
Lottie nodded, looking like she was going to say something else but decided against it.
She could feel everyone watching her when she came back inside a few hours later, Van tentatively handing her a slab on wood with some cooked meat on it.
“Good job catching these.” She said with an unsure smile.
“Thanks,” Nat hummed, taking the food and tucking herself away in the corner, only half listening to the nattering around her.
Everyone took note of her not engaging with the group but they left her alone until Jackie sat herself down alongside her, a big blanket wrapped around her.
“Alright, Taylor?” Nat asked, glancing over at the girl, peeling some of the meat she had left off the bone and popping it in her mouth.
“Better now that I've eaten,” Jackie smiled, and Nat was thrown by just how herself Jackie was now, like the brush with death had completely reset her. “Are you okay?”
“About as good as you can be out here,” Nat nodded, letting her head fall back against the wall. “So, I'm going out to check the traps and stuff tomorrow, if you're up for a walk I wouldn't say no to the company.”
Jackie grinned at her, that big happy grin that had always turned Nat to mush, much like it did everyone else. “Yeah, that would be cool.”
Nat can't not smile back, feeling almost shy as her eyes moved to the scraps of meat and bones on the wood. “Cool.”
Jackie just didn't leave her side after that; sitting tight against Nat while everyone ate, wrapping them both up in the blanket when the rest of the group settled down around the fire to chat later that night. Even when they settled down to sleep, she tucked herself close like this was something they had always done.
Nat could see Jackie, even in the darkness off the cabin, the clear night sky giving way for the moon to beam directly through the window and over Jackie.
“This is okay, right?”
“Yeah,” Nat's voice came out gruff, wrapping her arms around her makeshift pillow. “Night, Jack.”
“Night, Nat.”
–
Nat was feeling less tightly wound the following morning, the twisted coil that had been up her spine since she saw Jackie lying there motionless had finally relaxed some.
What did put her a little on edge was how Shauna didn't take her eyes off her and Jackie the entire morning.
Jackie had spent the morning much like she had the night before.
She woke up chittering, which had woken Nat up and in her sleepy haze Nat had simply murmured c'mere as she opened her arms for Jackie to scoot closer.
Jackie did immediately, burying her head against Nat's chest while Nat wrapped herself protectively around her.
“Thanks, Nat.” Jackie muttered in a slow, sleepy tone.
Nat smiled against the top of her head, still half in her dreams.
“Any time, Cap'in.”
She felt Jackie smile against her chest as she tried to somehow get closer to Nat before she relaxed completely against her, both girls slipping back into sleep.
When they woke up a few hours later neither one of them made any attempt to move, there was no breakfast to get up for, and it was cold so they stayed tucked away under the blankets in the corner.
There were some lazy conversations, but mostly Nat just enjoyed the feeling of Jackie's nails tickling her forearm while she snoozed on and off.
She noticed Shauna eyeing them as they stumbled out from under the blankets hours after everyone had been up and about.
Jackie didn't seem to notice, accidently bumping into Nat as they walked toward the water, sleepily rubbing her eyes.
The soft smile Nat gave Jackie when she peered up at her apologetically was entirely involuntary, but the fact Shauna saw it made Nat a little smug.
Then Shauna got to watch the way Jackie's eyes dropped to her feet as she chuckled nervously, leaning into Nat with purpose this time.
Nat decided to be petty, wrapping an arm around Jackie and explaining the plan for later that day.
Jackie didn't seem to mind, staring up at Nat as she leaned into her completely, tucked into Nat in a way Nat had definitely seen Jackie do with Jeff.
Nat didn't let herself think too much into it, her arm tightening around Jackie's shoulder. “You want some of that shitty tea Lot's been making?” Nat muttered against the side of Jackie's head.
Jackie nodded. “Please.”
Nat nodded, giving Jackie a little squeeze before moving over to the fire where Lottie was sitting.
“You both seem close,” Lottie commented carefully. “It wasn't so long ago you were at each others throats.”
“Yeah, well, I don't have the energy for that shit anymore.” Nat hummed.
Lottie nodded, pouring her a mug of what was essential hot water with fragrant leaves in it.
“Thanks, Lot.” Nat gave her a little smile, which seemed to relax Lottie a little, taking the mug and heading over to Jackie. “You good to share?”
Jackie nodded, pulling the blanket a little tighter around her.
They sat in silence for a long while, watching as the rest of the girls moved around the old shack.
“Shauna tried to talk to me yesterday.” Jackie murmured, and Nat found herself looking at Shauna, who was sitting with Tia and Van.
“Yeah?” Nat peered down at her, arching a questioning eyebrow. “How'd you feel about that?”
“I don't want to talk to her,” Jackie shrugged. “But we're stuck out here for god knows how long. God, we might never get out, I don't want to spend my time hating someone.”
“That is a mature way of thinking about it,” Nat smiled down at her. “Personally, I'm going to make her time left here a nightmare.”
Jackie laughed, gently punching Nat's shoulder before pointing at her, trying to pull her captain face but failed miserably. “Do not.”
“Well, luckily you aren't the boss of me out here, Captain.” Nat smirked down at her, fully aware of how flirtatious it could come across.
But Jackie didn't back off, if anything she pressed herself closer, jabbing a playful finger into Nat's collarbone. “You'll do as I say or when we get home there won't be a second of practice that you won't be running.”
“Are you threatening me, Jackie Taylor?” Nat tilted her head slightly, the action making Jackie smile.
“That's more of a promise, Scat.” Jackie's eyebrow twitched, Nat's eyes being drawn to the pretty smirk on her lips and fuck, Nat kind of wants to kiss her.
She doesn't, obviously, that would be fucking insane even by Nat's standards.
“That's fine,” Nat shrugged easily. “I've got stamina for days, even as a smoker.”
“I bet,” Jackie grinned cheekily at her, no judgement in her tone, just a bit of flirtatious banter.
Nat chuckled and rolled her eyes, falling back against the wall of the cabin.
Jackie leaned back and into Nat's side, leaning awkwardly against her arm until Nat relented and lifted it for Jackie to tuck herself under.
“For the record,” Nat dipped down to whisper into Jackie's ear. “I don't think Shauna deserves your forgiveness.”
“I haven't forgiven her,” Jackie shook her head, letting the side of it rest against Nat's jaw. “When we're out of here I'm done with her.”
Nat hummed and nodded, letting her cheek rest against the side of Jackie's head. “You deserve so much better than shit like that, Jack.”
“I know,” Jackie had almost been so cocksure of herself; she knew she was pretty, she knew she was smart, she knew she was good on the field.
But there was something in her tone then, something that made Nat frown. “Hey,”
When Jackie didn't look up at her after a few seconds, Nat moved back slightly, using her pointer finger under her chin to force her to.
“What're you thinking?”
“I-” Jackie pulled away and glanced around, spotting Shauna and Tai watching them. “Not here, maybe when we go out to check the traps.”
“Cool, yeah.” Nat nodded.
They headed out just after ten, Nat shouldering the bag and gun, while Jackie argued that she should at least carry something but Nat waved her off.
They walked for a few miles, checking the traps as they went, finding one rabbit out of the three traps they checked.
“What's wrong with me?” Jackie asked out of the blue.
Nat frowned at the sudden question. “Uh, mentally, or-”
Jackie tutted but smiled.
“What?” Nat laughed when Jackie smacked her, trying to glare at Nat but she couldn't fight the lift of her lips. “How the fuck am I supposed to know what you're talking about, Taylor? I'm not a mind reader.”
Jackie chuckled and shook her head, her eyes dropping to her feet as their shoulders bumped together.
“Shauna and Jeff,” She clarified, lifting her eyes to Nat. “You asked what I was thinking earlier; I was wondering what was wrong with me.”
“Wow, hang on.” Nat frowned, gently grabbing Jackie's arm as she stopped, pulling Jackie to a stop with her. “You think this is your fault?”
“Why else would they do it?”
“They're just bad people, Jack.” Nat motioned in the rough direction of the cabin. “Shauna has always been a fucking bitch, and Jeff– well, that guy must be fucking brain dead.”
“The things Shauna said that night I was outside,” Jackie huffed out a humorless little laugh. “She hated me, I could see it.”
“Shauna is a jealous bitch,” Nat shook her head. “None of what they did is in any way your fault, Jack. None of this pushing Jeff into Shauna's arms bullshit, or the two of them being drunk. They made a choice-”
“More than once,” Jackie cut in, and Nat honestly isn't sure why she's surprised.
“More than– fuck sake,” Nat shook her head. “Do I still have to be nice to her?”
Jackie laughed, “Yes, please.”
“You have the heart of a saint, Jackie Taylor.” Nat shook her head, continuing their trek into the forest. “People’s actions don’t reflect on you, Jack, it reflects on them. There's nothing wrong with you, you're annoyingly perfect.”
“I'm not perfect,” Jackie disagreed.
“No,” Nat hummed with a nod, a little smile on her lips. “But your imperfections are cute enough they don't piss me off.”
Nat sideyed Jackie, feeling a little smug at the shy smile Jackie had on her lips.
“I think you might be the only one who thinks that.”
“I don't think that's as big of a deal as you think, those guys are losing their minds back there, barely got the capacity to make logical decisions.” Nat shrugged, smiling at Jackie's incredulous look. “Like I'm wrong.”
“No, you aren't.” Jackie snorted, kicking a twig as she walked. “Do you think we'll get out of here?”
Nat let out a long breath then shrugged. “Surely, right? Tai isn't wrong, we're not on an island.”
“But how long can we survive out here?”
“Aw, with me doing the hunting and you sorting out the team activities, we could live out here forever.” Nat grinned over, nudging Jackie's shoulder with her own. “Seriously, though, I think we can survive this if everyone doesn't go crazy first.”
“Yeah, well, that's a ticking time bomb.” Jackie said. “You seem to be handling it better than everyone else.”
“I guess you get good at hiding shit if you do it all the time,” Nat said with a little grin, pulling a frown from Jackie. “I'm fucking drowning like everyone else, Taylor.”
“I don't know if that's comforting or not.” Jackie admitted.
Nat laughed, then shrugged. “It's a shit situation but there's fuck all we can do about it, if I'm going to keep my head above water I can't get too deep in my head, that’s why I try to keep busy.”
Jackie stopped dead suddenly, grabbing Nat’s arm to stop her from walking.
Nat turned to face her, opening her mouth to speak but stopped when Jackie held a finger up, nudging her head to the left.
There was a small clearing, and right in the middle was three deer, a family by the looks of it, standing by the tree line eating leaves.
Nat shifted into hunting mode, slowly manoeuvred them toward a tree, so focused on keeping eyes on the deer that it didn't register with her that she had Jackie fully pressed up against the tree.
The deer remained unaware of their presence, Nat looking to Jackie to tell her to stay quiet but startled when she realised the position they were in, and how Jackie was looking at her with an almost smug smile, head tilted curiously.
Nat opened her mouth to speak, her eyes lingering on Jackie's lips before she stopped herself; food was the priority.
Nat shook her head and brought her finger up to her lips, before slowly moving to raise the gun, training the barrel on the stag.
She took a breath, releasing it slowly as she squeezed the trigger.
The bullet pierced the neck of the stag and they all scattered, the stag barely getting a few feet before collapsing.
Nat huffed out a breath and smiled, lowering the gun when Jackie grabbed her jacket, shaking her slightly. “That was amazing.”
“Fuck, I was so nervous I'd miss.”
“Like you've ever missed,” Jackie scoffed, pulling Nat closer again.
“No,” Nat shook her head smugly, one hand landing on the tree, the other on Jackie's side. “But we really couldn't afford today to be the day I do.”
“We should get that back to camp before something bigger and meaner turns up and steals it.” Jackie said, but made no attempt to push Nat away.
“You gonna be able to carry it all the way back, Cap'in?” Nat smirked down at her, laughing when Jackie glowered at her and shoved her away. “Come on then, Taylor, let's find a stick.”
The shock was clear on everyone's face when Jackie and Nat came stumbling through the trees with a large deer on their shoulders.
There was shouting and screaming around them, so they just dropped the deer and let everyone fuss over it, Shauna immediately cut it open to make sure it was healthy.
Much to their relief it was.
“Where did you find this?” Van asked.
“Jackie spotted it,” Nat said proudly, grinning down at Jackie as she straightened, smile on her lips.
The girls were on Jackie immediately, all but gushing over her, so Nat was pushed out.
She smiled at the scene, wandering off toward the cabin to get changed.
The cabin was buzzing that night, the edge the starvation had caused lifting, so they were all sane enough to sit around the fire, laughing and joking.
Jackie had been hanging out with Lottie before they sat down to eat, so Nat was surprised when she sat down right beside her, the rest of the girls creating a crescent around the fire.
“Hey,” She smiled.
“Hi,” Nat chuckled. “I thought you would've been fed up with spending time with me today.”
“I actually missed you being around when I was with Lottie.” Jackie admitted, focusing on the meat she was eating. “You're comforting.”
“Oh,” Nat's eyebrows raised in surprise. “Thanks.”
Jackie chuckled at the reaction, lifting her eyes to Nat.
Nat smiled down at her, enjoying the way the fire made Jackie's green eyes look like they were in flames.
“What?” Jackie breathed, a barely there smile on her lips.
“You've got nice eyes,” Nat admitted, because at this point Jackie had been staring at Nat just as long as Nat had been with her, so she at least wasn't disgusted by the idea of Natalie.
“Oh,” Jackie seemed surprised at first, then a little bashful. “Thank you.”
Seeing Jackie shy made Nat feel a little nervous herself. “Yeah, no. It's cool.”
“He was Nat's boyfriend,”
Nat was pulled out of her and Jackie's little bubble at the sound of her name, turning to Mari who was looking at her expectantly.
“Huh?” Nat frowned.
“Kevyn, he was your boyfriend, right?”
“No,” Nat's face screwed up in disgust.
“Well, that's good news, since she's been sneaking off with Travis.” Shauna cut in, and Nat wound up to start berating Shauna on the fucking audacity of her preaching about cheating.
Then she felt a hand on her leg, under her and Jackie's shared blanket, and she glanced at Jackie while the rest of the group waited for her explosive reaction.
“Yeah, well,” Nat took a breath, turning back to Shauna. “Only scumbags cheat, Shipman. I'm a slut, not a scumbag.”
By Tai's reaction she knew whose baby Shauna was carrying.
Nat could see Shauna burn with shame and anger, but she couldn't say anything without outting herself so she pulled a fake smile on her lips. “That's good.”
Nat just smirked at her while everyone else went back to their conversations, her smirk only growing when Shauna looked hurt at the sight of Jackie leaning into Nat's side. “Behave.”
Nat grinned at the playful warning, gently nudging Jackie's jaw with her shoulder. “I was being perfectly pleasant.”
“You were intimidating her,”
“I was looking at her,” Nat rolled her eyes to look at Jackie.
“You're intimidating,”
“Do I make you nervous, Cap?” Nat grinned at her, her eyebrow arching slightly.
“Sometimes,” Jackie whispered, and something about the way it was said felt a lot like a confession to Nat. “Is that okay?”
Nat nodded, even though she didn't fully understand the question.
Nat and Jackie settled down to sleep in the same quiet corner they had occupied the past few nights, most of the girls crashing out immediately due to the excitement of the day, which Jackie and Nat whispered to each other under the blankets.
Nat was just falling asleep, her face squished against her arm, when Jackie spoke again.
“You said something earlier,” Jackie whispered, Nat just barely registering the words in her sleepy haze.
“Hm,” Nat opened one eye to see Jackie on her side watching her. “Hi,”
“Hey,” Jackie smiled, brushing Nat's hair out of her face. “That guy must be fucking brain dead.”
“Who?” Nat murmured against her arm, her eyes already slipping closed again.
“Jeff,” Jackie said. “That's what you said.”
It took a few seconds for Nat to piece together this conversation in her worn out mind, a frown pulling on her brow when it clicked.
“Yeah?” Nat hummed, opening her eyes and tilting her head more toward Jackie.
“What did you mean?”
“Jeff is never going to find better than you,”
Jackie looked thoughtful for a second. “What about you and Travis?”
“What about him?”
“What? You're saying you didn't do anything on all those hunting trips.” Jackie arched an eyebrow at her.
“I mean we kissed,” Nat shrugged. “But it didn't feel-”
“Like this?” Jackie supplied when Nat trailed off, and it took entirely too long for Jackie's tentative words to register with Nat in her sleepy state.
“Jackie,” Nat breathed, and before she could even get the chance to get her brain working again there was a scream off to her left.
She scrambled to her feet immediately, the rest of the girls startling awake, on high alert for a few seconds before she realised it was just Lottie having a nightmare.
“Fuck sake, Lot.” Nat huffed, moving to crouch before the girl. “You good, man?”
Lottie swallowed and nodded quickly.
“You wanna go outside and talk about it?”
“Uh,” Lottie looked up at her, slowly nodding her head. “Yes, please. Yeah.”
Nat nodded, helping the girl up and navigating them through the sea of disgruntled girls, grabbing their jackets and a blanket as they went, heading out the door to sit on the porch.
“Was this one of the future telling things or?” Nat asked, sitting down beside Lottie, who had completely folded into herself.
Lottie shook her head. “The plane.”
“Oh,” Nat hummed.
“Do you get them?”
“Yeah,” Nat nodded. “I think we all do.”
“I'm sorry I woke you up, and that we put Jackie's life in danger.” she looked up at Nat with big, sad eyes and Nat couldn't help but melt a little.
“We're cool, Lot. For both of those things.” Nat smiled and gave her shoulder a little squeeze. “Just– we leave here with as much of the team as we can, that's the only way we're gonna win out here.”
Lottie nodded, her arms wrapped around her knees.
Nat sat with Lottie for the last few outs of darkness, both in total silence, before Lottie finally had enough, just as the sun was beginning to rise.
“Thanks, Nat.” Lottie smiled, pulling her in for a hug.
“S'cool, Lot.” Nat awkwardly patted her back. “Try and get a little more sleep.”
Nat sleepily headed over to her spot beside Jackie, who was long asleep, taking off her jacket and climbing under the blanket, turning on her side to face Jackie, who stirred.
Her eyes opened slightly, taking in Nat, and the sun outside. “You just got in?”
Nat couldn't not smile at the sleepy voice, nodding her head. “Yeah, go back to sleep, I'm going to sleep some.”
Jackie nodded sluggishly, shuffling closer to Nat, who laughed and opened up her arms. “You're freezing.”
“Good job I have my own personal heater then.” Nat gently squeezed Jackie.
Jackie chuckled against her collarbone, falling asleep again.
Nat let the warmth of Jackie seep in through her clothes into her bones, letting herself fall asleep.
–
When Nat woke up later that morning she had a faceful of Jackie’s pretty blonde hair, and after a few seconds it dawned on her the position they were in; Nat with her arm wrapped around Jackie, Jackie’s legs were tucked up slightly, which Nat’s legs mirrors, their thighs pressed together.
Maybe she should panic, probably would have if they were back home, but after everything they had been through, cuddling with the girl she might have a crush on (either that or that had been out here too long and Nat was getting desperate, but Travis would be the obvious choice there.).
So, Nat decided to tighten her grip on Jackie, drawing her closer until her back was completely tucked against Nat’s front.
Jackie hummed, her hand moving to Nat’s, her fingers easily sliding through hers, giving them a quick squeeze, leaving her hand there as she fell back asleep, Nat following not long after.
The next time she woke up Jackie’s hair was tickling her nose, prompting Nat to tilt her head away.
Jackie -who was apparently already awake, and apparently also okay with Nat wrapping herself around her in her sleep- shook slightly with a silent chuckle.
“I usually think your hair is pretty but it's really pissing me off right now.” Nat muttered, pressing her face against her makeshift pillow, not letting go of Jackie’s waist until she turned to face Nat.
Even then, Nat only lifted her arm enough for Jackie to move freely before dropping it right back down over her waist.
“Are we still going to check the rest of those traps today?” Jackie asked.
Nat nodded against her pillow.
Jackie chuckled, moving Nat’s tangled hair out of her face, pulling a little hum from Nat. “You not ready to wake up yet?”
Nat shook her head sluggishly, almost passing out completely when Jackie gently scratched her scalp with her short nails.
“Okay, I’m going to hang out with the girls for a bit.”
“M’kay,” Nat managed to mutter before she passed out again.
The third time she woke up it was later than she had expected to sleep in, and noticeably colder without Jackie asleep beside her.
She finally got herself up just before lunch, she still felt like she could sleep for hours more but knew she shouldn’t, instead heading over to sit down beside Lottie, who was chatting with Jackie and Van.
“Afternoon, sleeping beauty.” Van teased.
“Some of us need our beauty sleep, Van.” Nat shot back, her eyes moving to Jackie, who was tucked into the corner, leaning against the L-shaped wall, watching Nat with a soft smile.
“Jackie said you guys are going back out today?” Lottie asked.
“Yeah, maybe we could try tracking those deer from yesterday while we check the rest of the traps.” Nat shrugged, yawning behind her hand.
“You need to take a day off,” Lottie frowned, placing a hand on Nat’s thigh.
“I will,” Nat promised. “But we don’t want to miss these deer if they’re still in the area, ya know?”
Lottie nodded in understanding. “But after?”
“Yeah, sure.” It was a complete lie, but Nat was sure only Jackie could tell. “After.”
They waited for Nat to wake up and get a little food before setting off again, Jackie snatching up the bag before Nat could, sticking her tongue out and smugly throwing it over her shoulder.
Nat chuckled and held her hands up, throwing the gun over her shoulder and heading toward the door.
They spoke quietly as they moved through the trees, keeping an eye out for any signs of life.
“Why are they so far out?”
“If something gets stuck in the trap and we don’t get to it soon enough it might attract bigger, meaner animals.” Nat grinned over at Jackie. “We don’t want that near our camp.”
“Smart,” Jackie hummed, her eyes dropping to her feet. “So, last night.”
Nat couldn’t not smile at Jackie’s lame attempt at blase. “Yeah?”
“You didn’t answer me,” Jackie walked a little quicker, and Nat had seen this move enough to know what was happening so she stopped walking, Jackie moving to stand in front of her.
“When you asked me if kissing Travis felt like how it feels being with you?” Nat was just teasing her now, and she knew the smile on her face told Jackie as much, Nat stepping closer when Jackie leant back against a nearby tree. “I don’t know, we haven’t kissed.”
Nat continued to slowly move forward, Jackie reaching out when she was close enough and pulling her closer. “Maybe we should change that.”
Nat tilted her head a little at the boldness, pushing herself against Jackie as her hand came up to brace against the tree. “Are you sure?”
“So sure,” Jackie nodded, her arms winding around Nat’s neck, encouraging her to come closer.
So Nat didn’t fight it any longer, slowly pulling closer to Jackie, their noses brushing softly before Jackie couldn’t hold back and tightened her hold on Nat’s neck, drawing their lips together.
Nat hummed at the initial contact, completely melting against Jackie, her hand sliding up Jackie’s back to hold her closer.
“Is this some knight in shining armour shit?” Nat breathed against Jackie’s lips, their foreheads falling together. “‘cause I ain't no knight, Taylor, I just so happened to get to you before you died.”
“I'm not hero worshiping you, Nat.” Jackie chuckled, her hands moving to cup Nat’s cheeks, Nat almost completely sagging against Jackie at being cradled like that. “I guess I'm just realising that you are the best of us.”
Nat scoffed.
“No, you are Nat.” Jackie hummed, surprising Nat by kissing her, something slow and languid that had Nat’s nerves on fire. “You care about and look after everyone. For being such a firecracker everyone seems to relax around you.”
Nat laughed and ducked her head, but Jackie immediately pulled her back up to look at her. “Seriously, Nat, you are alway protecting people, it doesn’t matter who. You stuck up for Ally of all people because they didn’t like what Tai was planning to do.”
Nat rolled her eyes at that, those problems seemed like her whole world back then.
“So, this isn’t some weird I-stopped-you-from-dying kind of obsession?”
“No, Natalie.” Jackie smiled patiently at her, and something eased in Nat’s chest.
“Okay, cool.”
Jackie laughed at her, her head falling back against the tree and Nat couldn’t hold herself back, swooping in to kiss Jackie, surprising her this time.