She sighed at her computer screen. She didn't know how she was going to make it without him. He had been her rock, her protector. She also knew he was trouble from the minute she met him.
"Dr. Rogers, I'd like you to meet Professor Nick Cutter, and his lab technology advisor, Stephen Hart."
"Pleasure to meet you both" She had shaken hands with both men before returning to her work. He had just smiled at her. Never taking his eyes off of her for a moment.
From her computer screen, her gaze followed the pages along her desk to a picture, in a wood frame, sitting at the far left corner of the desk. It contained herself and Stephen, sharing a laugh, like they always had. It was one many of the double dates they had had with Nick and Helen. In the photo, they both were laughing, hardly able to contain it and both attempting to look at the camera. He had loved this picture, and had it printed and framed for her. He had one in his office also. 'So when I'm tired or upset from work, I just had to look at this and know that someone special is waiting for me at home'. She smiled to herself as she thought of her comeback when he would say this. 'Poor thing. Hope she knows what she's gotten herself into!' They would chuckle and he would take her into his arms and kiss her, like he had so many times before.
A knock at the door shook her out of her daydream.
"Come on in" she called and continued to search the reservoir of notes that had taken up most of the room on her desk.
"Just thought I'd come and see how you're doing."
Without even a glance upward, she said "I'm not the one to be worrying about sweetheart. And you never come to just check up on me". The man leaned on the door frame.
"You haven't seen me for a week and already you're breaking out the sarcasm. Oh what a lowly life a civil servant has."
She put on the bravest smile she could muster and looked up at him. "Sorry James. You just seem to bring out the worst in me sometimes."
He rolled his eyes. "Glad to see nothing has changed around here." He turned to go, but stopped.
"Is there something else James?"
He turned and looked at her. "Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, his tone compassionate and serene.
She looked at him and gave him a half-smile, "Like I said James, the one to be worried about would be Nick."
He nodded. "Of course. Well, better get back to work. Hopefully the Bobsey twins haven't blown anything up while I'm away."
She giggled to herself. "Connor and Abby have been doing a great job. You should be proud of them."
"Oh" he added. "One more thing. Connor's little contraption has found another anomaly. I want you and Nick to go and take a look. "
"Right way" she said as he disappeared into the hallway. She looked again at the picture. "No rest for the wicked sweetheart. Wish you were here to help us out with it." She rose from her chair and grabbed the leather jacket that had been sitting on the back of it. As she headed for the door, she thought she saw someone's reflection in the mirror as she passed by it. She immediately spun around. Nothing. Just about 20 dead trees piled up on her desk, against the sickly white colour of her office. She never understood why that had been a good choice. She turned back toward the door and headed out into the hallway.
A figured moved from the corner of her office, to behind her chair where she had been sitting. He picked up the picture and looked at it, then his eyes went towards the door, where she had left.
"But I am here"
