Lara opened her eyes uneasily as she felt Sam pull away first. However, as her view came into focus, she saw that Sam's eyelids were still leaning on her eyes like a soft blanket. Lara smiled as she realised what had just happened. How could she have ever been unsure about liking Sam? There was no uncertainty about that kiss- it was unlike anything Lara had ever experienced. It was so much better than any man she had kissed, but she didn't know if that was because Sam is a woman or because Sam is Sam.

"Sam," Lara whispered, encouraging Sam to open her eyes. Neither of them had noticed, but somehow their hands had found each other and were linked in Sam's lap.

"Lara," Sam answered, her eyes now fully open and being absorbed into Lara's dark green tornados. That was the only way to describe her eyes; they dragged you in and kept hold of you until they became interested in something else. That's when they threw you out, only for your mind to think about them continuously as you didn't know whether to run towards them or run away. Just like when observing a tornado, it would depend on what kind of person you are.

Lara giggled.

"Hey, what?" Sam asked self-consciously.

"My name really wasn't made to be said with an American accent."

"Really, Lara? We just... well something just happened between us and that's all you can think about?" Sam groaned fondly.

"Oh my gosh, are you one of those people that can't say certain words?" Lara asked, suddenly wide-eyed and serious.

"What are you talking about?" Sam questioned, equally stern.

"You were going to say 'we just kissed', but you couldn't bring yourself to say it, could you? Oh wow... That's... that's really something, Sam."

"Oh shut up. Yes, I find it a little awkward, you're like my best friend!"

"'Like'?" asked Lara, cocking one brow. "I am your best friend, idiot. Well, I thought I was anyway..."

"You are, of course you are. But in all seriousness we do need to talk about this," Sam stated.

"Talk about what?"

"The fact that we... that we just..."

Lara sniggered.

"Okay the fact that we just kissed!" Sam yelled.

"Alright, alright. What is there to say?" Lara asked.

"There's not necessarily anything to say, but we just have to talk about it."

"Wh-? I... Honestly. You Americans and your 'talking about things'," Lara muttered.

"You know this conversation would go a lot further if you stopped insulting my country," Sam murmured back.

"Oh patriotic American are you? Never seen that one before..."
"Lara!"

"Lara!" Lara mimicked in a rather poor American accent.

"LARA!"

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I know you're right, we do need to talk," Lara agreed.

Sam nodded and looked expectantly at Lara who looked away shyly.

"Hey, it's okay. It's only me, don't get all shy," Sam smiled, reaching out to Lara's chin and using a single finger to turn her head back towards her. They smiled at each other as Sam moved Lara's hair out of her eyes. It took all of Lara's strength- though she didn't know why she felt she had to hold back- not to kiss Sam again.

"Talk to me Lara... I love you."

Lara blushed and looked down at her lap before muttering, "I love you too."

"Uh, sorry what was that? I couldn't understand you through that thick British accent," Sam teased.

Lara shoved her right shoulder and shook her head. She looked down, still smiling, yet there was something sad about that smile. Sam knew straight away.

"You thinking about Roth?"

Lara nodded.

"You really miss him, don't you?"

She nodded again. "Remember that time during training, when we had to run that assault course and Alex pushed you off the scramble net because he knew you were winning?"

Sam smiled. "Like it was yesterday."

"And I got so angry... I completely lost it. I was going to cut the zip wire line that ran over the lake whilst he was on it because I knew he was a shit swimmer. But then you stopped me because you didn't want me to sink to his level. Do you remember that?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well later on I sat with Roth to cool off whilst you trained. And as I sat there, Roth said, 'One day you need to marry that girl'. Obviously I turned to argue with him but he just said, 'Right now you're looking at her like she is the most precious thing in the world. And earlier, there would've been no way I could have stopped you from cutting that wire, no matter what I said. But you did it for Sam. That's because you love her.'"

"Are you serious? Roth said that?" Sam asked, gobsmacked.

"Yes he did. I was completely speechless and I wanted to argue with him but I just couldn't do it. I suppose it's because I knew he was right, somehow. I do love you. But he knew it a long time before I did."

"Typical Roth," smiled Sam. She put an arm round Lara before pulling her in fully for a hug. Lara relaxed into the hug, but suddenly Sam felt her tense up.

"Lara?"

"Ssh! Sam duck down now, quickly," Lara hissed.

"What?" Sam questioned, startled. She curled up on the floor by the pedals.

"There's somebody watching us," Lara whispered, squinting somewhere in the direction of across the road.

"Are you sure?"

"Certain. He has binoculars and he's staring down from the balcony a couple of streets away."

"Don't stare."

"Why not? He's staring at us."

"Yeah but he'll notice."

"Oh shit I think you're right," Lara mumbled. "I think he has noticed, he's putting the binoculars away in a bag."

"Good, he should know he can't just perv on people like that," Sam grumbled, struggling to rise from her position on the floor.

"I know, it's gross."

"Well do we know him? Can you tell who it is?" asked Sam, partially up now.

Lara didn't answer.

"Lara, I said can you te-"

"SHIT, SAM, DRIVE! HE'S GOT A GUN!"