2 Ethan

He didn't know why, but when Elizabeth pushed him away, he felt a heat in his chest; he longed for her. But Ethan barely knew her.

Then he saw Carter.

Carter is the Captains right hand, a big guy with dark brown hair and dark beady eyes. He usually wears a blue t-shirt and some knee length shorts. Also, very hard to talk to.

Ethan spotted the lady uncomfortably talking to the drunken captain; who even when he's sober, is a dam pervert.

Ethan seemed to comfort her a little though she stared at something about 3 times. Weird. Then she ran away.

She was about to make it off the ship when Carter caught her. He started towards the Captains quarters.

'I have to stop them,' he thought. And he did.

"Hey man, where ya taking the pretty lady?"

"None of your business. Now get out of my way if ya know what's good for ya." Carter grunts.

"Thing is, I don't." This time Carters face started turning red with rage and Ethan figured that he wouldn't get away with this unscathed. Not this time anyway. But the only thing on his mind was getting Elizabeth out of this situation as quickly and safely as possible. She already looks pretty pale.

Carter throws a punch so suddenly that Ethan is lucky to dodge it.

He grins stupidly, "Ya taking the girl to the captain or ya keeping 'er for yerself?" Ethan was taught how to talk normally but he needed to sound like a bastard to get Carters attention, otherwise the plan won't work.

Then Ethan made the mistake at glancing at Elizabeth. Carter throws another swing at him, this time making contact with his forehead.

His knees give in and Ethan collapses. On his knees but still awake, he touches his forehead where Carter hit him.

Blood.

Ethan looks up at Elizabeth. She looks terribly pale but she stood on her own. With all the crew members around them she couldn't have run anyway. He stands up now really worried for her.

Looking back and forth from Carter to Elizabeth and back, Ethan moved slowly away to get Carter farther from her. Ethan was smaller and quicker than him so Ethan would reach Elizabeth before Carter should she collapse. He figured she was using Carter for support because now she was slowly wobbling back and forth.

Ethan's plan worked. Not long after he got Carter away from her, Elizabeth doubled over and collapsed. Ethan dove for her and caught her as her head hit the wooden deck. She'd landed pretty hard.

He scooped her up in his arms and checked her head for injuries. She had a new gash on her forehead and the blood dripped down her cheek. Carter approached them and tried to take her away but, Ethan defiantly stood up and carried her off to his bed. Elizabeth groaned when Ethan set her down.

About 30 minutes later, Elizabeth gasped awake and attempted to sit up.

"Hey, hey slow down."

"What am I doing here? ETHAN!!"

Ethan cringed at her screaming, "That's me." He answers. "You collapsed a few minutes after Carter caught you."

"Wait," she hesitates. "My memory is pretty foggy after you stopped him, but I remember that he hit you pretty hard."

Ethan winces at the thought of the still fresh cut on his head. "I'm fine. What about you? You hit the floor pretty hard."

Elizabeth frowns. "I think Carter is a stronger opponent than the floor."

Ethan chuckles and she grips her stomach as the ship lurches.

"We're still on the ship aren't we?"

He nods. "We were already disembarking when you tried to leave."

"Where?" She sighs. "Where are we going?"

To this Ethan gives her a toothy grin. "'Round the world and back. Should take about 4 years if everything goes smoothly."

"Oh no," she whimpers and stuffs her face into the pillow.

"Hey," he puts an arm around her, "It's gonna be fine. I'm here."

Elizabeth's eyes go wide as she shoots up. "You're here!?" she scolds. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh my gods," Ethan gripes as he looks away from her intense, angry eyes. "Don't look at me like that. Your eyes-"

"My eyes what?" She blows away a lock of red hair to reveal blue - cold blue - eyes.

"Nothing."

"No no! Speak up I insist! First you talk about yourself like it's supposed to comfort me, and now my eyes!" Elizabeth's eyes glow stronger with every word.

"Fine!" Ethan sighs. He stands up and grabs her face. She glared at him. "You're beautiful and your eyes are glowing."