Will had never liked politicians, or fancy parties. The people at these things just seemed so fake – talking about this new piece of art, or that bottle of wine they'd acquired. He knew Magnus was incredibly well off, but she didn't flaunt it like these people. He'd also never seen so many false smiles in his life. Well, the ones the men were all giving Magnus were real… it was funny, really. He'd always known that she was an attractive woman, but had never really thought about how an average, random man would percieve her. He'd always seen her interacting with people from the Sanctuary Network, people who knew about her special gift, her amazing intelligence, and her fierce dedication to her work. They respected and looked up to her. The people here just knew her for her perfectly executed act. It was very odd trying to think of her as a lascivious cougar type…

After an hour or two of getting used to the role of boy-toy, he started getting antsy, which had led to his name-complaining again. Didn't they have an important mission to complete? Why were they just dancing and drinking wine? He was about to ask his escort when she leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"We can't just run off together after having just arrived. We need to let people know we are in fact here for the revelry. After enough time has passed, and enough alchohol has been consumed, people will be much more ammenable to the idea of us needing to be alone for a while."

Will nodded, "Of course. Sorry if I'm being antsy, I just… don't like these kind of functions."

She nodded her agreement.

"They are a rather special bunch."

It took a few more dances for Magnus to decide enough time had passed to make their escape. She twirled her way expertly across the floor to where Ambassador Hess was fetching a refill on his brandy.

"Geoffrey dear," she said softly, leaning in towards the man and laying her hand on his shoulder. He twirled around so fast he slopped some of his beverage on himself, thankfully missing any of Magnus' dress.

"Helen," he replied, with a dopey smile on his face. Will could only imagine how many glasses he'd had by now. Magnus leaned in so close to the man that Will could barely make out what she said next.

"Is there a billiards room anywhere nearby?" she whispered conspiratorially. She already knew, of course, the easiest way to get to the study with their target computers, as well as a few side routes, if needed, but no one besides Will knew that.

The Ambassador nearly choked on his drink.

"The Billiards…Helen! You are, quite simply, a fiend!" he said, in wonderment. He glanced over at Will, and shook his head.

"You are a lucky man, my friend. I hope you realize how lucky…" He quickly and quietly relayed the directions to the billiards room, and watched in longing as the woman of his dreams walked away with another man in tow.

Once they'd made it down the first hallway, in the complete opposite way Geoffrey had directed them, Will let his curiosity win.

"The Billiards Room?" he queried.

Helen smirked. "It's Helen of Devonshire's favourite place to take her young friends when she can't wait till they get home."

Will tried not to think of Helen lying on her back atop the rich, dark green of a pool table. He took a deep breath before speaking again.

"You really do have this whole other identity thing down pat."

"Perhaps I could have a career in acting one day. Everyone certainly believes everything I say."

"Well, you have a very commanding persona."

She gave him a funny look.

"I'll take that as a compliment. But hush now, we're about to enter the areas where we are really not meant to be."

Will silently let her take the lead; they hadn't really talked about what to do if they ran into a guard on the way, but he assumed she had a plan… And a back up plan. Or three. They successfully navigated their way through the tastefully decorated hallways to the Senator's main study. Will was starting to believe they'd really done it that easily, when he heard footsteps coming down the corridor towards them.

"Magnus!" he hissed, "somebody's coming!"

She swiftly dealt with the lock on the sliding doors of the study, and silently opened them, hoping to make it inside and close the doors by the time the person who was surely a security guard made it.

"Magnus, he's almost here!"

Or maybe not…Magnus' mind raced - What could they possibly be doing here that wouldn't seem suspicious?

In her many years, the doctor had come to realize that in certain situations, you just need to follow your pure, base instincts. She grabbed Will by the neck, crushed her lips against his, and threw herself backwards against the side of the door frame.


Well? Shorter but sweeter? Let me know via that wonderful little "Review" button down below!!!!