"I'm pleasantly surprised that you wanted to implement your research at our hospital, Miss Jackson," the director said, adjusting the lapels of her suit jacket, which was slightly oversized for her. Rey could read her like a book, the way she could with a lot of people – as though it was were some sort of gift or something. The director was trying hard to be impressive, to be taken seriously, which made it no surprise that she agreed to a doctoral student coming in and doing work at her hospital – for the slight chance it gave for being known for something. She was short woman with large spectacles and a Cheshire Cat grin that peered out on occasion, who carried herself with an air of respectability that seemed ill-fit to her stature.

"My father was born here," Rey shrugged. "So, it seemed like a good place to start."

"So your father's a local!" the director said with a broad, genuinely friendly grin. "I'm an Orderly Falls girl myself, put down roots here and everything. Maybe I'd know him!"

"I… I don't think you would," Rey said with a nervous, dismissive laugh, an uncomfortable smile rising onto her face that made her eyes go into a slight squint. "But Miss Kanata, I'm very much looking forward to my work here. I promise, you won't regret giving me this opportunity!"

Director Kanata gave Rey a slightly questioning, perhaps mildly pitying smile, before rising to her feet and stepping around the desk. "I know I won't regret it – I never regret any opportunity to bring the best and the brightest to our facility. Here, let me show you to your office."

Her office. Rey's posture unconsciously straightened up to full height when it really settled that she was going to have an office – like a real somebody. A part of her didn't believe it, and a part of her thought that it was about time. There was an uncharacteristic bounce to her step as she followed Director Kanata down to her office. The corridor leading to the small hospital's administration office passed by the waiting area of the emergency department, where the sound of murmuring and shuffling, thudding footsteps caught Rey's attention. She peered in passing around the corner and again caught sight of the leather-clad men she had seen on bikes the previous day. Almost immediately as she glanced over, the tallest among them, the man clad in all-black, standing against the wall with his arms crossed, turned to look at her. His eyes squinted almost imperceptibly, but Rey wasn't able to see him react any further before she had passed the corridor.

"Don't mind them. The Dark Siders are hanging around the emergency room nearly every other week. Taking turns getting shot at, I'm sure," Kanata said vaguely as they continued down an adjacent hallway. "Nothing but trouble – I'd stay away from them. You have a bright future at our hospital, don't bother with them."

"Mm." Rey made a noncommittal noise. Did people get distracted by these Dark Siders so much in this town that Kanata would think this was a useful piece of advice.

"Here we are," Kanata said as they reached a small door at the end of the hallway. She unlocked it, then handed the key back towards Rey, who took it happily and tucked it away into her laptop bag as they walked into the small office. The first thing Rey noticed was that it had a window. Sure, a small one made only of four panes of glass, each about the size of her hand, but it was a window nonetheless. "I'll let you get settled in. I believe my assistant left a sheet of letter decals for you to put your name on the door."

At this, despite the fact that it was perhaps a very miniscule thing, Rey beamed brightly – the shift in her usually flat expression brought a smile to Kanata's face as well. "Your badge is sufficient to get you onto any unit in our hospital, Miss Jackson. Feel free to shadow the staff and get to know them a little better. I trust you won't disturb them too much," she added with a slightly mischievous grin.

An office, Rey couldn't help but mentally repeat to herself as she put her laptop bag down on the desk once Kanata had left back for her own office. There was a good amount of space, a good amount of light, and most importantly, it was hers. She began rifling through the desk until she came across the envelope that contained the alphabet decals which she proceeded to spread out on the surface of her desk to see if she had the appropriate letters to put her name on the door.

"I haven't seen you in Orderly Falls before."

Rey looked up and unconsciously took a step backward at the sight of the mysterious biker in black from the emergency department. However, despite the fact that she was curious about him, in this instant, she felt more threatened than anything by the fact that he appeared without warning in her newly acquired space. He meandered in, just past the doorway, running a hand through his dark, wavy hair.

"I wasn't under the impression that you owned this town."

"Well, you know now. What's your name, darlin'?"

"Rey. Rey Jackson – nice to put a face to the name, Kylo."

She smirked at the look of surprise that crossed the man's face – the element of surprise was always an asset, especially with types like this who felt the need to control everything. It was, admittedly, nice to one-up him so early in their acquaintance. Rey made a mental note to thank Finn when she saw him next for giving her the tip.

"So you've heard of me. Good," Kylo said, taking a few steps closer into the room. "At least you've been given a proper Orderly Falls welcome."

"Guess I have."

A silence settled between the two, and for a few tense seconds, her eyes met his dark ones – no words, no gestures or expressions. There was simply a prolonged, tangible connection - some kind of force that was drawing the pair to remain in one another's presence, even in the absence of words.

"I make it a point to keep an eye on everyone that comes in and outta my town," Kylo said, turning the chair in front of Rey's desk so that the back faced forward and he straddled it with his gangly legs. "So I knew when you came, and I'll know when you leave."

"I don't plan on leaving any time soon," Rey said with a deceptively sweet but clearly mischievous smile, tilting her head to one side. "So I'm sure I'll be seeing you around, Kylo."

"Yes," he said, getting up smoothly, despite having only been seated for a few seconds. "Yes, you will."

And he strode out of the room, shutting the door behind him. It was only after he was gone that Rey realized that her heart was beating a little faster than it had been before he arrived. Perhaps, she mused, Kanata was right about the Dark Siders being a very preoccupying distraction.

Still, work came first. Rey took to putting the letters decals up to spell out her name on the clouded glass pane of her office door. She moved around a couple of the empty cabinets and bookshelves to her liking, then gave herself a brief tour of some of the units, careful not to interrupt any of their business. She was used to computer labs and research facilities, many of which lacked this component actual care for actual people. She was out of her element here – even with the sterile smell of her surroundings, something about the staff of the small-town hospital exuded great warmth that Rey knew would take some getting used to.

The cold, disconnected feel of city, the fast-paced hum of cars and passersby, had always been something of a shield for Rey, and here in Orderly Falls, that shield was gone.

After some minor dusting and space planning, as well as jotting down a few notes for herself what things from home she would bring to her office the next day, she realized that it was five o'clock – end of the business day. It was difficult to tell, because the doctors and nurses seemed to operate on a completely different schedule, as though time simply ran differently when people's lives depended on you. There was something both fascinating and terrifying about the idea.

She pulled her bag back over her shoulder and shuffled around in her bag for her phone – her car was still at Poe's shop and Finn had been planning on giving her a ride home. A glance at her text messages, however, confirmed that plans had changed. Profusely apologetic, Finn had sent her several messages saying first that he, being the new guy, had been pulled into extra paperwork filing duties around the office but that he would try to get out of them, then that he might not get out of them, then that it looked like he was going to be stuck for a good while.

Rey groaned slightly. She could walk – Orderly Falls was a small town, and it was a feasible option, but she had hardly worn appropriate footwear for it, due to her damned desire to make a good first impression. What a day, she thought in disappointment, to decide to forego dressing for comfort.

"You don't have anyone to take you home."

Rey flinched slightly and turned around to see Kylo standing behind her, a motorcycle helmet tucked under one arm, his riding glasses hanging at the collar of his shirt. "I know you don't have a car."

"I don't need a ride."

"So I'm right," Kylo said, raising his eyebrows. "You don't have one."

"No, I don't."

"You do now," he said, his tone of voice leaving no room for question. "Follow me, I'll take you home."

Almost as though entranced, Rey followed despite the fact that her more logical side told her to follow Kanata's advice. Hadn't she said to steer clear of Kylo and the other Dark Siders? Yet even as she thought these things to herself, she moved as though outside of her own control. She was strapping on the spare helmet and fastening her bag down. She was on the back of his back, wrapping her arms around his waist. As they sped down the road, she found herself holding a little more tightly to keep her balance, and subsequently noting that he smelled of leather, aftershave, and only lightly of menthol cigarettes.

Then, it was only after they had pulled to a stop in her driveway that she realized she hadn't told him a single direction to her residence at any point during their drive. The slightly puzzled expression on her face as she removed her helmet and ran a hand through her slightly flattened-out hair brought a smirk the Kylo's face as she moved in closer to her, leaning in so that his face was only inches from hers. He froze there for a breath moment, and Rey could slightly feel the contrast between his warm breath and the cool air of the growing evening. Then, he reached out and gently pulled the spare helmet from Rey's hands.

"I told you," he said in a coarse voice, practically purring in her ear in a low baritone that was nearly a hum. "I keep an eye on everyone who comes in and out of my town. And I'm keeping an eye on you, Rey Jackson."

And as he strode off and his bike roared away down the street, Rey cursed under breath. This time, Kylo was the one who'd had the element of surprise. This, if nothing else, confirmed Director Kanata's statement: the Dark Siders were nothing but trouble.

A/N

Short chapter, but didn't want to leave anyone hanging!

Holy cow. First, I want to say thank you for all of your support in the time since I last updated either of my stories. The well-wishes and messages have been great! I haven't gotten a chance to respond because a full time job plus full time grad school gives me precious few hours for writing, but just know that I am so grateful and inspired by all of the kind words you all have sent my way.

Since a couple people have been concerned, I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that I'm just slow due to school and work, because I'm finally getting some of the heavy work on my thesis started, and that has to take the front seat for now. Updates will, admittedly, be a little bit slow sometimes, but they will keep coming! I wanted to at least get this one posted so I could add this note and keep you in the loop!

Anyway, until the next update, cheers!