They had met on Friday, three days earlier. It was a chance encounter, but Alex had been captivated first by her smile, and then by the way her eyes sparkled with mischief. They'd both been leaning against the crowded bar waiting to be served, and Alex managed to catch the attention of the barman before the other woman, despite her having been waiting longer.

She leant across the bar and yelled her order into the barman's ear, fighting against the too-loud music being played by the live band. "Four beers, five shots, and whatever she wants," she shouted, gesturing to the blonde standing beside her who was clutching a twenty-dollar bill in her fist.

The barman obliged, standing four longnecks on a tray along with five shots of tequila.

"Tab?" the barman asked.

"Yeah," Alex nodded. "Hers too."

She slid the tray closer to the edge of the bar, removed one of the shots from the tray and placed it in front of the cute blonde who was still waiting patiently, and who, thanks to the music, hadn't been a party to Alex's instruction to the barman.

Alex leant in close and spoke directly into the woman's ear as she nudged the shot glass closer with the tip of a finger.

"An apology, for queue jumping. Enjoy."

Before the woman could respond, Alex had lifted the tray from the bar and was weaving her way through the tables and heading back to her own seat. The woman looked at the barman as he touched her on the arm, trying to catch her attention to take her drinks order.

A little flustered, she managed to stammer out her order, then turned to watch the other woman's retreat, her brow creasing slightly.

The barman placed two glasses of white wine on the tray, then the rest of the bottle.

"Oh no," she started. "Just the two glasses please."

"Take it," he replied. "She won't mind."

She looked confused again and dug in her pocket for more cash. The barman saw this and shook his head, beckoning her closer.

As she leant in the barman shouted. "No charge. It's on Alex."

The blonde clearly didn't understand and was about to speak again when the barman gestured to the tequila still sitting on the countertop.

"Alex," he repeated, by way of explanation.

He watched the penny drop, then moved away to serve the next customer. The blonde looked around again just in time to see Alex place the tray of drinks on the table in front of her. Three other women gave cheers as she did so and all reached toward the tray. Alex glanced back to the bar, then did a double take as she caught sight of the cute blonde looking right at her.

She picked up her glass of tequila and raised it slightly towards the blonde, who smiled as she reached for her own shot and copied the movement. They downed their shots in unison, shared a knowing smile, then both went back to their friends.

An hour later, the band had finished and the blonde and her friend made to leave the bar. As they reached the door, the blonde touched her friend's arm and told her to wait for her outside, she'd just be a minute. She then turned and strode confidently in the direction of Alex's table.

Alex saw her coming, having watched her move from her own table toward the exit. She stood as the blonde got closer and took a step away from the table and her friends, eyes locked with the blue ones that approached.

"I'm Piper," the blonde started. "And you're Alex."

"I am," Alex replied, her lips curling up slightly.

Piper jerked her thumb over her shoulder toward the door. "We're leaving, but I just wanted to say thanks for the drinks."

"Any time," Alex said with a smile.

"Yeah, so… um, thanks."

"Like tomorrow."

"Excuse me?"

"Any time. Like tomorrow for example. I'm happy to buy you another drink tomorrow if you're free."

Piper laughed softly, but shook her head. "I'm sorry, I have plans for tomorrow."

"Sunday then."

She watched as a cloud of something dark flitted over Piper's face, before she shook her head again and the smile was back. "I really can't, I'm sorry. I, ah, travel with work and I fly out zero-six-hundred Monday."

"When you're back then," Alex said, admitting defeat for now. "You'll find me in here most nights. My friend owns this joint and I kinda work here when she needs me. Which is often," she added with a roll of the eyes. "Stop by. I'll be glad to buy you another drink."

Piper smiled. "I will, definitely. Thanks again."

Piper held Alex's eyes for a second longer, then turned on her heel and strode to the exit, not glancing back even once. Alex watched her every step of the way.

"There's something about her…" she said, almost to herself as she retook her seat at the table once the door had closed behind Piper.

"Damn straight there is. Hot blonde chick is immune to the Vause charm offensive! She just totally blew you out!" Nicky laughed and the other two women with them joined in, poking fun at Alex's apparent failure with the woman.

"Her name's Piper," was all Alex said, her eyes drifting back to the exit door as the ribbing and laughter continued around her.

Alex wasn't supposed to work on Saturday, but got the call to say she was needed at seven thirty. Drew had called in sick, they weren't particularly busy, but an extra pair of hands would be good if she didn't mind. She pretended to mind, but really didn't.

At nine twenty she looked over to the door as a raucous crowd burst in, before turning back to serve the next customer. The new crowd took over two tables close to the bar and Alex glanced over as the door opened again. As she looked, two women entered the bar and headed directly for the large group. One of them made eye contact with her and Alex found she couldn't look away.

Piper smiled a half-smile, then joined her friends. It took a couple of minutes for everyone to decide what they were drinking, before two young men left the group and headed to the bar.

For the next hour, Alex served customers, washed glasses and eavesdropped on the conversation going on within Piper's group. Twice more, members of the group attended the bar and bought more drinks, but Piper remained in her seat. More than once when Alex looked over, she found Piper was looking right back at her, but the group had been there almost two hours before Piper took her turn at the bar.

Alex smiled as she approached. "Hey Piper. What can I get you?"

Piper gave the lengthy order and Alex set to work putting it together.

"Having a good night?" Alex asked as she worked.

"Yeah, thanks. You?"

Alex chuckled.

"Oh yeah, I'm just living the dream right here," she said drily.

"What time do you finish?"

Alex glanced at the clock on the wall. "A little over an hour. I knock off at twelve thirty."

"Can I buy you a drink?"

"Now? Or at twelve thirty?"

Piper's cheeks coloured slightly and she looked around at the tables where her friends were seated.

"Better make it now," Alex said before Piper could answer. "You can't exactly ditch them. This is your night after all."

Piper looked back, surprised. "It is?"

Alex paused as she filled a glass with wine, her eyes meeting Piper's. "Isn't it?"

"Well, I mean, yes. But, how did you…?"

"People watching. I do a lot of it." Alex smiled and finished filling the glass.

Piper raised both eyebrows. "Really?"

"Really." Alex leant forward on the bar, and let her eyes drift over to Piper's friends. "The short chick who you arrived with, mousey hair, big laugh…"

"Polly." Piper volunteered.

"You were here with her last night. She's your best friend. Probably since high school, college maybe. At first I thought she might be your girlfriend, but then I realised she's with the tall guy with the accent."

Piper nodded. "Pete."

"The guy with the sweater, looking over at us now, he's into you but you keep him at arm's length. An ex, maybe? Whatever, he wants you, he wants the house in the suburbs and two point four kids, and he'll wait as long as it takes."

"It'll be a long wait."

Alex grinned as she reached for two more drinks. "Your brother will be pleased. He can barely stand to look at him, never mind welcome him into the family."

"My brother?" Piper couldn't hide the surprise in her voice.

"Yeah, stoner dude with the beard. He is your brother, right?"

"Well yeah, but…"

Alex smiled again. "People watching, Pipes. It's an art."

Piper swivelled back on her seat to face Alex again. "Oh, it's Pipes now is it?"

"Yeah, that's what your friends call you and we're friends now aren't we? I mean, you hadn't planned on coming here tonight, but did, just in case I was working. I bought you a drink, you've bought me one, we have plans to meet up when you're back from your trip…"

Piper laughed softly. "I can't argue with that."

Alex slid the tray towards Piper across the countertop, then picked up a glass of wine and raised it towards Piper.

"To new friends," she murmured.

Piper touched her glass to Alex's and repeated the toast as they looked at each other, neither woman quite able to suppress their smiles.

Sunday afternoon, four o'clock. Alex sat alone in one of the semi-circular booths, a cup of black coffee on the table in front of her, a book in her hand. Sundays were always quiet in the bar, Nicky was holding the fort and the two friends were catching up in between customers. Alex was reading whilst waiting for Nicky to return, when she was interrupted by a quiet voice.

"Animal Farm. Makes a change. Everyone seems to read 1984."

Alex looked up and tried to hide her surprise at seeing Piper standing in front of her. Piper, wearing grey sweatpants and a white tank that revealed the straps of her sports bra. Piper, whose hair was tied back, other than the damp wisps that had wriggled free and clung to her neck. Piper, whose face and neck and upper torso was covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

Alex wet her lips then swallowed before formulating a reply.

"Sometimes it feels like we're living in a dystopian nightmare, I don't need to read about one too."

"Wow, cheerful."

Alex shook her head and allowed herself a smile. She patted the seat beside her. "Come, sit."

Piper sat.

"I wasn't expecting to see you today."

"I can leave if you want me to…"

"You know I don't."

Piper smiled and looked away.

"Can I get you a drink?"

Piper seemed to consider this for a moment, then shook her head. "I really can't stay. I was just out for a run, and…"

"Water, then?"

Piper paused and looked at Alex, allowing her eyes to drink in the sight of the woman before her, they came to rest on her full lips which parted as she watched and the tip of Alex's tongue made an appearance as she wet them.

"I…ah, I c-can't."

Alex's lips formed a smirk at Piper's obvious distraction and she leant back against the bench seat.

Piper dragged her eyes away and focused on the woman working behind the bar. She took a steadying breath and spoke into the air, deliberately not looking at Alex.

"There's something about you," she started. "I don't know what it is, I can't explain it…"

Alex held her breath, waiting for Piper to continue. She watched a mixture of emotions paint Piper's face as she struggled to find the words to convey what she meant. Then she decided to help her out.

"But it's like there's a connection. Like I'm drawn to you and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Yes!" Piper exclaimed, turning to face Alex once more. "Yes, that's exactly it."

The two women sat in silence for several long seconds. Alex moved slightly closer to Piper on the seat and Piper didn't move away.

"But I'm going away tomorrow." She looked up at the clock and frowned. "I should be finishing my packing."

"We'll catch up when you get back though, right?" Alex reached out and gently touched Piper's forearm with a fingertip. "Right?"

Piper nodded silently, but the frown remained in place. She watched Alex's fingertip draw small circles on her forearm and couldn't help the goosebumps that appeared.

"I gotta go," she murmured, eyes still fixed on Alex's finger.

"Stay. Just a few minutes." Alex's voice was soft, almost pleading.

"I wish I could." Piper looked up and for a moment, just looked at the other woman silently. Her eyes moved quickly over Alex's face, almost studying her. "Really, I wish I could, but I honestly can't."

Alex nodded, accepting Piper's statement. "Okay. When're you back?"

Alex saw the wry smile that ghosted Piper's lips, then watched as it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.

"When I can," she replied, her voice quiet. "As soon as I can."

She stood then, abruptly, taking Alex by surprise.

"I have to go, Alex, but… it was good meeting you and…"

"Pipes, wait…" Alex reached out for Piper's wrist, but she shook her head and took a step back, out of Alex's reach.

"I gotta go."

It was Alex's turn to frown and she slowly rose to her feet. "What? What am I missing here?"

Piper wet her lips and stuck her hand into her pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. She placed it on the table and pushed it towards Alex with one finger.

"I, um, I'd like it if you used this." Her eyes met Alex's and she just looked for a moment before adding, "Please."

"What…"

"See ya Alex. Take care." Piper turned and started to walk away.

"Piper… Piper wait!"

But Piper didn't wait. She strode to the doorway with purpose.

"Piper!" Alex called again.

The door closed and the last sight Alex caught of Piper was her turning right and setting off at a run.

"Y'okay Stretch?"

Alex frowned and turned her head to look at her friend who had appeared next to her, having watched their interaction from the bar.

"Charm still deserted you, huh?"

Alex shook her head, still frowning. "I don't know what… it's… she…" Her voice trailed off and she looked back to the door again.

"What's this?" Nicky swiped the folded piece of paper from the table and unfolded it.

It only took a moment for her to read the note. "Woah, fuck."

"What?" Alex looked at her friend and took the piece of paper that was offered. Her eyes widened in surprise and she sat heavily on the bench seat behind her.

She looked down at the note again. It was brief, but explained everything. Three lines in neatly printed block handwriting.

CPT PIPER CHAPMAN
PSC 802 BOX 4190
APO AE 09391-9928