AN: First fanfic ever. Thanks to SassyJ and Rose Griffes for beta'ing and suggestions.

Chapter 1:

She walked into the bar after a long night of rubbing elbows with all the players in Manhattan. It was twelve-thirty a.m. and she's been up since dawn. Zoe Morgan, professional adjudicator or fixer, discretely uses both her connections to powerful people as well as her plethora of contacts to smooth over problems for corporate clients, public figures, and her own clients.

It had taken her years to cultivate her persona of being a power broker of information. She's a hunter of sorts, training herself to know her quarry every which way. She watched, she observed, she knew her prey inside and out. Zoe was happy with her job, relished being several steps ahead of her prey. She calculates risk everyday and on whether to take it or not. What her clients do with the information, she normally didn't care.

That is, until some soldier in a suit came and saved her from her imminent demise. And in an instant, she started to question the very thing that made her world go round. Knowledge is the key. Control came in a very close second. At what point should she care what that knowledge and control mean? The threat to her life didn't come as a total surprise. In her line of work, it was inevitable. High powered people didn't like to be pushed in a corner. Although always careful, she wasn't invincible, but she sure as hell didn't see herself as a damsel in distress.

Some days, keeping up the façade was difficult. Trying to be steps ahead of anyone and everyone, though enjoyable, can be taxing. Her plan was always to have the upper hand, always have something to trade and always look for an angle. Negotiate for what you want. That was one of the reasons she went to law school. One of the reasons she was able to afford the apartment she lived in. She persevered until she got what she wanted.

She's tired. No, she's exhausted. Too bone weary and stretched to her limit she wanted nothing more than peace, silence, if only for tonight. Needing to wind down before going home, she had impulsively stopped at this bar on her way home. She knew the bartender and its close enough to her apartment.

She can't ignore the phone when it rings. The display reads Unknown Caller. It wasn't her custom to answer blocked calls, but at this time of night, it's probably a crisis, one that she normally would use to the best advantage. With a sigh, she sits at the bar and answers the phone. "Zoe Morgan."

"Zoe . . . "The soft, raspy voice that greeted her was distinctive. It was none other than Rambo.

"John."

"How about I buy you that drink?"

Smiling to herself, she agreed. Curiosity was always her problem, what happened to his date the journalist? What the hell. "Sure. Where - - ?" She starts to ask but is interrupted by the click of the phone indicating that the call had ended. Out of the corner of her eye, she sensed a presence beside her.

"Hello John."

Awhile later, they had their drinks sitting next to each other at the bar. They had talked about anything and everything from politics to the weather but nothing of importance. Nothing personal was discovered by either one of them. Both of them were still playing this song and dance close to the vest.

As she was taking another sip of her drink she asked. "What happened to Maxine?" Thinking about the journalist he was on a "date" with under the guise of protecting her a few days back.

"She dumped me. Said she was married to her job and that I was still hung up on you."

Not expecting that answer, Zoe almost choked on her drink. She caught herself in time and ended up letting out a hoot, yes a hoot, of laughter. "You're hung up on something alright, it just isn't me."

Smirking he just gave her a curious look.

"John, you're a warrior with true devotion. Protecting the weak and innocent is your atonement for past sins, whether they are yours or not. Every time you save a life, you silence the demons and slay your dragons."

"Dragons and demons? This isn't fantasy . . . This is reality."

"I know that John." To soften the blow of the words she's going to tell him, she put her hand on his arm.

"Someone told me once that I should consider a new line of work. I could say the same to you, but knowing what you think about that, I'll just give you some free advice. You can't set yourself off from the things that make life normal. Friends, connections, no one can live without those. Otherwise, you're going to burn out and not care."

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself Zoe?" John asked knowing full well that she was much like he. She had set herself apart from a "normal" life. She and John didn't really have anything that tethered them to the world. No connections, meaningful ones anyway.

With a self-deprecating smile, she shook her head. "I know, pot calling the kettle black right?" She shrugged. "I don't put my life on the line for other people John. I always watch out for myself. I'm no damsel that needs a knight to slay her dragons."

She stood up, signaling that their drink was over. It's late, or rather early in the morning. "Walk me home John." He nodded his agreement, paid their tab, and walked with her out of the bar and into the night.

They walked in companionable silence the one city block to her apartment. When they got to the steps of her apartment building, she took the step above the street and turned to look at John so they were eye to eye. She reached for John's face and placed a tender kiss on his lips. She pulled back a little to gage his reaction. Leaning in to deepen the kiss, she was relieved to find that he was receptive. Taking advantage of his acquiescence, she stroked his lips demanding entry to his mouth. He surrendered, rubbing his tongue against hers as he fought for control, sharing the kiss both had craved. Zoe's arms went up to clasp around John's neck. Her mouth remained anchored to his as she felt rather than heard the wordless murmur of desire in his throat.

Gently, she put a halt to their kisses, Zoe caressed his face. "It doesn't have to be a grand love affair, John." She stated. Not knowing if either of them was the type for grand love affairs. She certainly wasn't. "Sometimes people just want company, someone to pass the time with for a while. A relationship doesn't have to be a lifetime commitment to have value."

She kissed him softly one more time then started to go into her apartment building. "You have my number." She stared meaningfully at him. When . . . if you're ready. She silently added walking into her apartment building.