A/N: A little more than fluff, with an alternate universe thrown in for good measure. Please Review.

Alex stretched, rolling her shoulders, then relaxing.

"Hey, Lex," Jimmy nodded to her from behind the bar, sliding a shot towards her. "Guy over there bought you a drink."

"Mm." She took it without looking over, and downed the shot, sliding the glass back. "Thanks."

"When you gettin' off tonight?"

"Past your bedtime, Jimmy." She smirked, and he laughed.

The bar was dark, and smoky. The thump of the sound system vibrated through her. She was tired. She sat down in a booth, and looked over the files. The stapler, paperwork, and ashtray of cigarette butts generally deterred all but the most persistant and stupid of men.

"Hey," She didn't look up. "Excuse me? Hi?"

"Yes?" She glanced up at a guy, maybe mid-thirties, baby face, dark hair. He carried himself like he was a lot bigger than he was.

"I bought you a drink... I was hoping I might get to talk to you a little bit."

"I didn't realize your gifts came with strings attatched."

"No strings." He smiled patiently, and slid into the booth facing her.

"Then you won't mind if I work." She smiled and looked down at her papers, ignoring him.

"What are you working on?" He reached for a paper. Without looking up, she laid her hand firmly on the sheet. "You really are a tough one,"

"Look, I pay the waitresses to put up with men like you so that I don't have to. Go bother one of them." She met his eyes.

"You're a little bitch, aren't you. Thinking you're so much better because you manage a dive bar."

She stared at him.

"Someone should teach you a lesson in respect."

"Jimmy!" She pointed at the man sitting across from her, and Jimmy was suddenly hauling him out of his seat.

"Alright, pal, it's time for you to go home and sleep it off."

"Get your hands off me!" The smaller man squirmed out of his grasp, brushing off his suit. He stumbled backwards towards the door. "You're a fucking bitch. You think you're too good for guys like me? Huh?" He was shouting, but walking himself out.

"Here, babe." Jimmy handed her a cold beer, and sat down.

"Seriously, is it a full moon tonight?" She shook her head and laughed ruefully, rubbing her eyes.

"You're gonna go blind trying to do this shit out here. It's too dark."

"Yeah, I know. I wanted to just go over the numbers real quick."

"Real quick? You've set up a mini office." He picked up her stapler, and examined it. "Where's the coffee maker?"

"Ha ha, you're very funny."

"C'mon Lex, go home. You aren't scheduled to close tonight anyway. You can't keep pulling shifts like this."

"It's my bar."

"What about sleeping? Do you sleep?"

"No." She smiled. "Okay. You win. I'll pack it up."

"That's a girl." He stood up and returned to his post behind the bar.

She out the back door and into the parking lot. She jumped as hands roughly grabbed her arms and pushed her against the building.

"Maybe now you'll listen." He hissed.

"What the fuck is your problem?" She kneed the guy, and when his grip on her arms slackened, she punched him. Her punch in and of itself might not have done much damage, save for the key ring around her middle finger. Keys leave a mark.

"Fucking bitch!" He squealed.

Suddenly, two larger hands whisked him off the ground, and shook him slightly.

"Apologize."

"W-what?" The smaller man stuttered.

Alex stared. A big man was holding her would-be attacker an inch or two off the ground.

"I said, 'apologize' .. or don't you know what that means?" He wasn't yelling. In fact, he seemed quite calm.

"I'm s-sorry. I'm sorry."

"Not to me, moron, to her." He shoved the guy down, and vaguely in her direction. He tripped, and looked up at her.

"I'm sorry."

"Now get the fuck out of here before she decides to finish you off." He turned, a cigarette hanging from his mouth, and a lighter cupped in his hands.

"This night just gets weirder and weirder."

"Yeah, well, I was just walking back from the store, and I see some dipshit suit trying to mess with a woman? I mean, not that he was succeeding, but that's just fucked up."

"Well, thanks. I doubt I would have gotten an apology from him."

"No problem." He shrugged slightly. "This your car?"

"No, actually. I don't have one."

"Why are you in a parking lot, then? Isn't that like, the first rule of self-defense?"

"I never took a self-defense class."

"You're shitting me."

"I've got three brothers."

"That explains a lot. But.. why are you out here?"

"My apartment's just over here.. it's a short cut."

"Short cuts at 3 am..."

"I know, I know. Bad idea." She smiled sheepishly, and looked up at him. He was kinda scruffy. A big guy, good jawline, leather jacket, full head of curly hair, and smoking.

"I'm Bobby." He stuck out his hand.

"Alex."

"Listen, I realize we've just met, but since I kind of already know where you live since you just told me, would it be...?"

"You can walk me home."

"I'd never forgive myself if you got jumped by ninjas and I wasn't around to help."

"The way this night is going?" She laughed. "Ninjas would not surprise me."