Jamie felt like the world was shaking. Someone who seemed so far away was calling his name. The wound in his shoulder was stinging.
The shaking was getting intense.
Jamie opened his eyes. A pair of golden eyes was glaring at him.
“Stop shaking me, Sassenach. My head is spinning.”
Jamie looked around. They were parked outside of a small Inn. There was a small board that said, ‘Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouse.’
“Common.” Claire got out of the car. Jamie’s eyes followed her, his mouth hanging.
Jamie hasn’t met anyone like her. So fierce, and yet there was vulnerability in her eyes.
Carefully, and so slowly, he swung his right leg to the door; his foot was hanging (and swaying) for Claire to see.
Jamie heard her sigh and saw her rolling her eyes. He kept looking at her, thinking she must be the one.
Claire opened the door with his leg still hanging by the door. When she pulled it, his leg stretched out. “Sassenach!!”
With careful touch, Claire helped him put his leg down on the ground. “Thank ye.”
Claire released another sigh but was still patiently waiting for Jamie’s slow exit from the car.
Once he completely got off, he felt a sudden woosh of cold wind to his arse. Goosebumps ran through his skin.
“Oh my god!” Claire exclaimed, turning her back from him. She closed the door and leaned against it to pick up his kilt from the seat. Then she threw his kilt at him.
“Wrapped that thing around you and cover your arse!” Then she walked off from him.
Jamie did as he was told. He followed her (as fast as his wounds let him) inside the Inn while still wrapping the kilt.
“Ye didna have to scream my arse!” Jamie yelled after her.
He followed her on the way to the stairs at the corner of the front desk and greeted the young woman at the reception desk. “How are ye?”
The young woman stared at him, then smiled back. “I’m good, thank ye.”
Jamie slowly climbed the stairs, hissing when his wounded leg stung. His left hand was holding the kilt while his right hand was holding the railing. He was looking down as he watched his steps when a pair of shoes appeared beside his bare feet.
“Let me help you.” His angelic Sassenach whispered.
He let her help him upstairs and guided him to the hallway. Jamie was smiling inside.
They reached the front door. Claire took out her key from her pocket and opened the door. Claire stepped inside the room, not waiting for Jamie.
Jamie stood still, his eyes bulging, looking at Claire, who was standing by the bed, sliding off her coat from his shoulder.
“Are ye mad??” Jamie exclaimed, leaning his head just by the entrance of the door to look at her.
“Ye mad, woman?? I canna go inside with ye.”
“Why not? They don’t have rooms available, and I will not spend another dime on you. I’ve already spent my allowance for this trip to discharge you from the hospital.”
“I have coins in my sporran. Or I can sleep in the hallway. It’s way more comfortable than in prison.” Jamie turned his back and laid the kilt on the ground, exposing his yet again, bared arse.
“Stop yelling, Sassenach.” Jamie hissed.
Claire stomped toward him and carefully pulled him inside the room. She grabbed the kilt from the floor.
“Woman. Claire. I canna be here.”
“Why not?” Claire put her fists on her waist and narrowed her eyes at Jamie.
“Because your reputation will be ruined. You’re unmarried, aye?”
“What are you? Are you living in the 18th century?”
“Well, Jamie. We’re in the 20th century. A woman and a man, even if they’re not married, can sleep in one room. It’s legal. Well, maybe in other places they still not allow it.” Claire murmured the last words.
Can a woman and a man sleep in one room?
20th century? What year is this?
“What year is this, if ye didna mind me asking.”
Jamie feels like fainting. He searched for a nearby chair. He saw an armchair in the corner and slowly approached it. He sat there, his elbows on his legs, his head between his hands.
Jamie knew he was at a different time. He knew he wasn’t living in 1746 anymore. But he did not know that he had gone to the future. It all makes sense now.
He wasn’t stupid. But how?
How did he end up in the future?
Jamie retraces the events step by step in his mind after he fled the war. He was wounded and weak. He saw the hills and stones. He heard loud noises. He was hallucinating from the pain. He fell asleep.
The stones. He was transported to the future by touching the stone.
“Sassenach. I ken what is happening. It makes sense now.”
“What is happening?” Claire asked. Her worries are now clearly shown on her beautiful face.
“Sassenach. I think I travelled to the future.”
“I am James Alexander Malcolm McKenzie Fraser. I was born in 1721.”
AO3 is down, so I'm gonna post here first.
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