10. Mirren

10

MIRREN

T he snow had finally given way to the familiar hum of the base. The thick layer of frost that had caked the windows was now just a thin veil, the light from the early evening stars spilling through, casting a silver hue on the surrounding wilderness.

Inside the base, Mirren leaned against the doorframe of her quarters, her gaze momentarily fixated on the sight of the last remnants of the storm fading into the distance. She watched the snow that once brutally blinded them now fall more delicately. It felt surreal to be back, to feel warmth seeping into her bones after what felt like days of nothing but cold, dread, and the sharp pull of survival. How odd, she couldn’t help but think, that merely the day before she’d been on the verge of death, fearful she’d lose her life out in the raging storm, and now here she was having survived those horrors.

All thanks to her . No matter how much Sawyer tried to argue, Mirren knew, deep down, she couldn’t have done it without her.

She let out a breath, watching it curl in front of her lips before she turned to the hallway, spotting Sawyer down the corridor. The captain stood tall, as always, though there was a visible weariness in her posture now, her once disciplined, rigid stance softened by exhaustion and relief.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and despite the warmth of the base, Mirren felt her chest tighten, her pulse quicken. They had survived.

Together.

Mirren pushed off the doorframe and walked toward Sawyer, her boots making quiet thuds against the floor. "You look as if you could use some real food," Mirren said, trying to hide the flood of emotions that came rushing to her whenever she was near Sawyer. The woman had become a constant in her thoughts, an anchor, especially in the storm’s darkest moments. It felt strange now to stand side by side without the snow biting at their skin or the terror of not making it out alive hanging over them.

Sawyer chuckled softly, her lips pulling into a half-smile. "I could eat." There was a gentleness in her voice now, a soft cadence that Mirren hadn’t heard before. "I think we both deserve a proper meal after...everything." They had spent the evening prior in the hospital regaining their energy. Now they were both ready to stuff their faces.

Mirren nodded, grateful that the air between them had lightened, even if only slightly. "Dining hall?"

"Dining hall," Sawyer agreed.

The walk to the dining hall was quiet, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt more like a shared moment of peace, a time to gather their thoughts after everything that had happened. As they ducked into corridor after corridor, they received glances from the many men and women who they passed. Not glances of judgement, however, but respect. Pure, unwavering respect. Word had spread fast in this base, and it was clear to the women that people had rather quickly found out about the horrors they’d survived.

When they finally reached the mess hall, it was nearly empty save for a few stragglers finishing their dinners who couldn’t help but look their way for a couple of seconds before returning to what remained of their meals. The low hum of chatter filled the room, along with the clinking of cutlery and the smell of warm food. In the corner, the workers behind the counter packed up the leftovers for the night.

Mirren grabbed a tray and filled it with whatever was left — roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and what looked like some kind of stew. It wasn’t gourmet by any means, but after surviving on rations and adrenaline, it felt like a feast. Sawyer grabbed a tray, as well, her movements slower than usual, fatigue evident in her every step. They sat across from each other at one of the long tables near the back of the hall away from prying eyes.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply ate, savoring the warmth of the food and the simplicity of the moment.

"It still feels strange," Mirren finally said, breaking the silence. She looked up at Sawyer, her fork hovering over her plate. "Being back here. It’s almost as if the storm was a dream...or a nightmare, more like."

Sawyer’s green eyes met hers, and she nodded slowly. "Yeah. It doesn’t feel real, does it? One moment we were out there, thinking we might not make it...and now, we're just here eating dinner." She stabbed a piece of vegetable with her fork but didn’t bring it to her mouth, her gaze distant. "But we did make it."

Mirren set her fork down, her heart pounding slightly. "We did." Her voice softened, and she leaned in slightly. "Because of you, Sawyer. If it hadn’t been for your quick thinking...I don’t know if we would’ve made it."

Sawyer shook her head, brushing off the compliment like she always did. "Stop saying that. It was both of us, Mirren. You kept me going. I don’t think I would’ve had the strength to keep pushing if you hadn’t been there."

Mirren wanted to argue, wanted to insist it was purely the captain, but she instead bit her tongue. She smiled at that, her heart swelling with warmth. "Well, then...I guess we make a good team."

Sawyer’s lips twitched into a smile, and for the first time since the storm, there was a lightness in her expression. "Yeah," she murmured, "we do."

They fell into a comfortable silence again, their conversation trailing off into the gentle rhythm of the dining hall. The weight of their ordeal still lingered, but it felt distant now, like a shadow that could no longer reach them. Mirren glanced at Sawyer’s hand resting on the table, her fingers slightly curled around her spoon.

There had been moments during the storm when she wasn’t sure she’d ever get to see Sawyer again, let alone sit across from her like this in the safety of the base.

But now, here she was. Alive, with Sawyer. The potential of a future together lingering the air.

After a few minutes, Mirren cleared her throat, her thoughts drifting back to their mission. "What do you think the debrief will look like?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation to something practical, though the last thing she wanted to think about was more military protocol.

Sawyer raised an eyebrow, then chuckled, finishing the last of her stew. "Probably lengthy. Command will want to know every detail from the moment we left to the second we got back. They’ll probably grill us about why we didn’t turn back sooner."

Mirren sighed, nodding. "They’ll probably want to dissect everything. I’m not looking forward to explaining how we got caught in the storm."

"You did everything right, Mirren," Sawyer said firmly, her voice dropping an octave. "The storm was unpredictable. No one could’ve seen it coming on that fast. We did the best we could under the circumstances." She forked her food once more. “Believe me, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been caught in a storm I’d predicted to be light. It happens. And you played your role exceptionally well.”

Mirren felt a swell of gratitude at Sawyer’s words. "Thanks," she whispered.

The mess hall had started to empty out, the clattering of trays and utensils growing quieter. Mirren took a deep breath and glanced out one of the small windows, where the night sky was clear, the stars twinkling faintly against the inky darkness. She knew they had more to talk about — not just the mission, but everything that had happened between them during the storm. But for now, it was enough just to be here, to be together.

Sawyer’s voice broke through her thoughts. "You ready to head back?"

Mirren nodded, though her heart picked up speed. She wasn’t sure what would come next, but the prospect of going back to Sawyer’s quarters felt like a natural progression. They had been through so much together, and now, it was as if the storm had left them with something unspoken, something that hung in the air between them waiting to be acknowledged.

"Yeah," Mirren said, standing up and grabbing her tray. "Let’s go."

Mirren followed Sawyer down the long corridor, her heart beating faster with every step they took toward Sawyer’s quarters. The base was eerily quiet at this hour, with most of the soldiers either asleep or keeping to themselves after the day’s events. The heavy atmosphere of the storm had dissipated, but something else lingered in the air — a different kind of tension, one that made Mirren hyper-aware of every movement, of every breath she took.

They reached Sawyer’s door, and for a moment neither of them moved. Sawyer’s hand rested on the doorknob, her posture rigid but not in the way it usually was. There was something raw about the way she stood there, like she was holding herself together by sheer willpower. Mirren felt the same crackling energy building between them, an undercurrent of emotion that had been buried for too long.

Sawyer opened the door, and Mirren stepped inside, feeling the warmth of the room wrap around her. The familiar scent of Sawyer—a mix of leather, pine, and something uniquely her—filled her senses. It grounded her, but only just. Her pulse was still racing, her thoughts tangled in the memory of all they had been through together, all the things left unsaid.

Sawyer shut the door behind them, and the soft click echoed in the small space. They were alone now, truly alone, without the storm or the threat of death to distract them from what was happening between them.

Mirren turned to face Sawyer, her chest tight with anticipation. "Sawyer…" Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with the weight of her unsaid feelings.

Sawyer’s green eyes darkened as they met hers, the intensity in them nearly overwhelming. "I know." Her voice was rough, low, but there was a vulnerability there too, something Mirren had never seen before. "I’ve been trying to hold it back... but I can’t anymore."

The tension in the room was palpable now, like the air itself had thickened with the unspoken desire between them. Mirren stepped closer, her breath catching in her throat. "You don’t have to hold back with me," she whispered, her hand coming up to rest on Sawyer’s chest. She could feel the rapid beat of Sawyer’s heart beneath her palm, mirroring her own racing pulse.

Sawyer’s hand came up to cover Mirren’s, her touch warm and steady despite the storm of emotions swirling between them. "You know, I once thought I could keep this professional, keep my distance. But after everything that’s happened..." Her voice broke slightly, and she took a step closer, her gaze locking onto Mirren’s. "I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to pretend like this doesn’t mean something…incredible. Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before."

Mirren’s breath hitched at the raw honesty in Sawyer’s words. This was the woman who’d led them through the storm, who had been a beacon of strength and control in the worst possible circumstances.

And now, she was standing in front of Mirren, vulnerable and exposed in a way she had never been before. It made Mirren’s heart ache and burn with the intensity of her own feelings.

"You won’t lose me," Mirren said softly, her hand sliding up to cup Sawyer’s jaw, her thumb brushing over the sharp edge of her cheekbone. "I’m right here. I’ve always been here."

Sawyer’s eyes flickered with something dark and consuming, and in the next breath, she closed the distance between them, her lips crashing against Mirren’s in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was fierce, desperate, as if Sawyer was pouring everything she had into that one moment, into that one kiss.

Mirren responded in kind, her hands tangling in Sawyer’s short hair, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. It was like a dam had broken, all the restraint they had held onto for so long shattering in an instant.

There was no more room for uncertainty or hesitation.

This was real. This was them.

Sawyer’s hands found their way to Mirren’s waist, pulling her flush against her body as the kiss grew more heated, more urgent. Their breaths mingled, and the room seemed to shrink around them as the intensity of the moment consumed everything else. Mirren’s head spun, her body alive with sensation as Sawyer’s lips moved against hers, hot and demanding.

With a low growl, Sawyer broke the kiss, her lips trailing down to Mirren’s jaw, then her throat. Mirren gasped, her head falling back as Sawyer’s mouth found the sensitive skin of her neck, kissing and biting softly, sending shivers down her spine. "Sawyer…" Mirren’s voice was breathless, barely a whisper, but it was enough to spur Sawyer on.

Sawyer’s hands were everywhere now, sliding under Mirren’s shirt, her fingers tracing the curve of her waist, the dip of her spine. The heat of her touch was almost unbearable, setting Mirren’s skin alight with every brush of her fingers. Mirren’s own hands roamed over Sawyer’s back, feeling the taut muscles beneath her uniform, the strength that had carried them both through the storm.

They stumbled toward the bed, their movements clumsy with urgency, and Mirren’s back hit the edge of the mattress. Sawyer paused for a brief moment, her breathing ragged as she looked down at Mirren, her eyes dark with desire but also something deeper, something tender. "I want you," Sawyer whispered, her voice rough with emotion. "I need you."

Mirren’s heart skipped a beat. It was clear to her now that all of Sawyer’s barriers had officially been taken down, all of her walls had crumbled, and the once hardened, stoic captain was now ready to be completely and totally vulnerable with her.

Mirren’s passion grew stronger as she nodded, unable to form words, her body already trembling with anticipation. She pulled Sawyer back down, capturing her lips in another fierce kiss, her hands moving to unbutton Sawyer’s shirt, needing to feel more of her, to be closer.

Sawyer helped her, quickly shrugging off the fabric, and then her hands were on Mirren’s shirt, tugging it over her head with a sense of purpose that made Mirren’s pulse race even faster. The cool air of the room hit her bare skin for a brief moment before Sawyer’s warm hands were on her, sliding up her sides, cupping her breasts through the thin fabric of her bra.

Mirren let out a soft moan as Sawyer’s lips found her throat again, kissing a trail down to her collarbone, then lower. "You’re so beautiful," Sawyer murmured against her skin, her voice husky with desire.

Mirren’s breath came in short, ragged bursts as Sawyer’s hands and lips worked in tandem, sending waves of heat crashing through her body. Every touch, every kiss was electric, and it was all too much, yet not enough at the same time. She wanted more, needed more, and from the way Sawyer’s hands were moving, it was clear she felt the same. Sawyer’s mouth traveled lower, planting heated kisses down Mirren’s throat, then across her chest, while her hands slid up to cup Mirren’s breasts, her thumbs brushing over the sensitive peaks. Mirren’s back arched, her body straining toward Sawyer’s touch, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

“I love you,” Mirren gasped, then immediately her face went red. Sawyer immediately froze, and as she watched her, Mirren suddenly felt anxious, vulnerable, thinking perhaps she’d made the wrong decision to say what she’d just said.

For a moment, a pause that was too long, Sawyer held Mirren’s stare as she pulled away. Then carefully, Sawyer’s lips curled into a smile as she pressed her lips against Mirren’s.

“I love you, too,” Sawyer whispered, then pressed their lips together once more.

This time when Sawyer fucked her, it felt different. Like the raw desperation with which she had received Sawyer was gone and replaced by a feeling of safety and electric satisfaction when Sawyer was inside of her.

“You want more, baby?” Sawyer was on top of her, her weight pinning Mirren down deliciously so. Her fingers were deep inside Mirren and they were looking into each other’s eyes.

Mirren nodded. “I want to take all of you,” she said huskily.

Sawyer nodded. They were on the same page.

“I want to see and feel you take all of me,” Sawyer said, not breaking eye contact for a second.

This time she watched as Sawyer coated the outside of her hand in Mirren’s slick wetness before pressing again at her opening. Mirren tried to relax and open her legs further to allow the ultimate penetration and seconds later she felt Sawyer’s whole hand push slowly inside of her and she held Sawyer’s gaze as Sawyer’s hand opened her wider than ever before.

It hurt, a little, and Mirren yelped.

She felt Sawyer’s penetration pause for a second. “It’s ok, baby, I’ve got you. It will ease, I promise.” Sawyer’s free hand stroked her face tenderly as Mirren felt the pressure pushing into her again and with one last push, the pressure released. She reached her hand down between her own legs to feel Sawyer’s wrist.

“Oh my god. Your whole hand is in me.” Mirren felt a rush of heat flooding though her body from deep inside of her where Sawyer’s hand was stimulating. She felt waves and waves of pleasure and heard herself moan.

Sawyer smiled at her. “Feels good now?” she asked and Mirren nodded ferociously.

“Yes, so good,” Mirren purred.

“Ok, I want you to keep looking into my eyes as I fuck you with my fist.”

Mirren felt herself flooding with arousal and her cheeks beginning to heat up.

She nodded. She couldn’t find any words.

She felt Sawyer’s hand moving deep inside of her, pushing against her G spot. She felt more waves of pleasure building.

“You look so fucking sexy taking all of me, Mirren.” Sawyer stroked her face again, her green eyes hungry yet tender all at the same time.

Mirren felt Sawyer’s hand pulling out slightly and pushing back in, only her body had adjusted this time and the feeling of her pushing back inside was delicious.

“I want you to touch your clit for me, Mirren and come on my hand, looking into my eyes, as I fuck you.”

Mirren felt another bold rush of desire between her legs. She was so utterly turned on, she knew it wouldn’t take much to tip her over the edge.

She could hear her own moans deeper and louder as she felt Sawyer’s fucking increasing in pace. Her body was accepting it easily- no, better than that, her body was loving it.

She kept her gaze fixed on Sawyer’s, her moans were out of control with every thrust and she slid her right hand tentatively down to her clitoris.

The intense pleasure nearly blinded her as she pressed her fingers against her clitoris with beautiful pressure.

Her orgasm began to crash uncontrollably and unstoppably through her entire body over and over again as though it would never stop.

When it finally subsided, Sawyer was still buried deep inside her, her hand still.

“I love you,” Sawyer said.

“I love you, too,” she heard herself gasp, hoarsely.

She felt Sawyer’s hand begin to move as though she might remove herself, but Mirren reached down and gripped her wrist.

“Stay inside me. Please. Just a little longer. I don’t want to feel empty without you, yet.”

Sawyer nodded and Mirren relaxed into the beautiful feeling of fullness created by Sawyer’s hand in her and the lovely weight of Sawyer’s body pressing on top of her.

Afterwards, they lay together in the quiet aftermath of their shared intimacy, the room filled with nothing but the sound of their steady breathing and the soft rustling of blankets. Mirren’s head rested on Sawyer’s chest, the warmth between them in stark contrast to the freezing wilderness just outside.

Neither of them said a word to the other for several minutes, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable—it felt grounding, like a necessary moment to absorb everything that had just passed between them. They enjoyed each other’s presence, the feeling of their tangled bodies, their soft breaths.

Mirren shifted slightly, turning her face toward Sawyer, her voice soft as she said, “Do you think anyone heard us?”

Sawyer let out a low chuckle, running her hand gently down Mirren’s back. “I don’t care,” she said simply, her tone unbothered, carrying with it the confidence and self-assurance Mirren had always admired. But there was a playfulness there, too, a side of Sawyer she hadn’t seen before. “Let them.”

Mirren smirked, her cheeks still flushed from great sex. “I’m sure we’re already the talk of the base,” she murmured. “Two women trapped in a blizzard for days, one a stoic Army Ranger, the other an Air Force meteorologist…it’s a story that practically writes itself.”

Sawyer smiled at that, but there was a softness in her eyes when she met Mirren’s gaze. “It’s not the kind of story I ever imagined for myself,” she admitted. “But I wouldn’t change it.”

There was a depth to Sawyer’s words, a weight that made Mirren’s heart ache in the best way. She reached up to brush a strand of hair away from Sawyer’s face, her fingers lingering on her jaw. “Neither would I.”

For a moment, they lay there simply basking in the warmth of each other’s presence, the unspoken connection between them growing stronger with every second. But eventually, Sawyer shifted, breaking the comfortable silence.

“Come on,” she said, her voice low but firm. “Let’s go outside.”

Mirren blinked, slightly surprised by the suggestion. “Now? I know the storm has died down, but it’s still freezing out there.”

Sawyer’s grin was mischievous as she rolls out of bed, already reaching for her heavy coat. “Exactly. It’s beautiful. And besides.” She raised her brows. “It’s not as if we’re strangers to this kind of weather, right?”

Mirren watched her for a second, bemused, before sighing and following her lead. “You’re impossible,” she said with a shake of her head, though her smile betrayed her affection. “All right. Let’s go. I can’t say I won’t get a bit of PTSD from this, though,” she teased.

As she pulled on her own coat and boots, she realized part of her was excited by the idea. The thought of stepping out into the cold, crisp night air with Sawyer by her side felt right—like a perfect way to seal the moment they’d just shared.

Once they’d both bundled up, they quietly slipped out of Sawyer’s quarters and made their way to the roof of the base. The stars stretched endlessly above them, brighter and clearer than they’d ever been, framed by the snowy landscape that stretched as far as the eye could see. The chill in the air was biting, but there was something exhilarating about it, too—about being out in the open after everything they’d been through.

Mirren shivered slightly as they stepped onto the roof, but it wasn’t from the cold. The beauty of the night took her breath away. “Wow,” she murmured, staring up at the sky in awe. “It’s…incredible.”

Sawyer stood beside her, looking up at the stars with a quiet sense of reverence. “It’s why I love this place,” she said softly. “The wilderness. The cold. It makes you feel…small, but in a good way. Like you’re part of something bigger.”

Mirren turned her gaze to Sawyer, studying her profile in the dim light. There was something about the way Sawyer spoke—about the way she looked at the world—that was so different from anyone else Mirren had ever known. It’s what had drawn her to Sawyer in the first place, she realized. The strength, the resilience, the quiet intensity that lay beneath the surface.

“Do you think you’ll stay here?” Mirren asked after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper. “In Alaska, I mean. After all this?”

Sawyer was silent for a long time, her gaze still fixed on the stars. “I don’t know,” she admitted eventually. “I used to think this was it. The wilderness, the missions—it felt like my whole world. But now…”

She glanced at Mirren, and there was something vulnerable in her expression, something raw and real that Mirren hadn’t expected to see. “Now, I think maybe there’s more out there for me. More than just the next mission.”

Mirren’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart pumped fiercely in her chest, blood rushing through her veins. She took a small step closer to Sawyer, her hand finding its way to hers. “You’re not alone anymore,” she said softly. “We can figure it out together. Whatever that looks like.”

Sawyer’s grip tightened on her hand, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the gentle rustling of the wind through the snow and the steady rhythm of their breathing.

“Together,” Sawyer echoed after a beat, as if the word felt unfamiliar on her tongue but not unwelcome. She turned to face Mirren fully, her green eyes bright in the starlight. “I like the sound of that.”

Mirren smiled, her heart swelling with warmth despite the cold surrounding them. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”

They stood there for a while longer, hand in hand, staring up at the stars and the vast expanse of the wilderness around them. It felt like a moment out of time—a pause, a brief respite from the chaos of their lives, where the future appeared wide open and full of possibilities.

Eventually, Sawyer broke the silence, her voice low but steady. “What do you want, Mirren? For the future.”

Mirren blinked, taken aback by the question. “What do I want?”

Sawyer nodded, her gaze steady. “Yeah. What are your dreams?”

Mirren let out a soft laugh, glancing back up at the sky. “I guess I never really thought about it before. I’ve always been so focused on my work, on getting through the next storm, the next forecast. But now…I don’t know. Maybe I want a little more than that.”

Sawyer raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

Mirren paused, considering her words carefully. “I want a life,” she said slowly. “A real one. With you. Really…that’s all I want. All I care about right now.”

Sawyer’s expression softened, and she stepped closer, her hand gently cupping Mirren’s cheek. “You have no idea how much I want that, too,” she whispered.

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the weight of everything unspoken hanging in the air between them. And then, without another word, Sawyer leaned down and kissed Mirren softly, the cold forgotten as their lips met in a tender, lingering embrace.

The night stretched on around them, vast and full of stars, but for now, all that mattered was the warmth they’d found in each other.

“I love you, Mirren,” Sawyer said as she peered deep into Mirren’s gaze, causing the younger woman to smile widely.

“I love you too, Sawyer,” Mirren said softly in response.