Her head down, Ruth slipped through the door to the crowded Internet cafe. Barely sparing a glance at those around her, she made her way to the counter and quickly purchased the use of a computer for thirty minutes. Taking the card from the cashier, she made her way to an empty PC at the back of the cafe. Sitting at the PC, she opened up the browser window and quickly logged into the writing site; wanting to focus on something other than the image burned into her mind. Ignoring the icon showing she had mail in her writing inbox, she quickly opened the next writing prompt. Reading through the few words there, she fought back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes again and read it a second time knowing without a doubt she wouldn't have much trouble with this one tonight.

The sun was just dropping behind the horizon as Kayden stepped from the taxi. Leaning in the driver's window, she handed him the fare before turning towards the house. As a cool breeze blew through the air, she pulled the front of her autumn coat tightly around her; wisps of brown hair lifting gently. September was only half way over and already the evenings were chilly. As the car pulled away, she slowly made her way up the front walk. The house was dark and she knew instinctively that the owner wasn't home. Stepping into the walled garden next to the path, she took a seat on the iron bench vowing to wait until he was home. Her mind wandered back to that afternoon as a smile flitted across her lips. They'd worked together for two years now and if she was honest with herself, she'd had a slight crush on him almost since the moment she'd tripped into the conference room that first morning and he'd made an awful joke at her expense. Which really, made her seem like a teenager instead of a grown woman but she couldn't help it. Shaking her head from that thought, she went back to what he'd asked her this afternoon when they'd had a moment alone. He'd seemed nervous as they'd walked down the hall, muted noise of office drones around them and it wasn't until they'd reached an empty stairwell that he'd placed a hand lightly on her arm and asked her to wait a moment. She'd stopped and turned to look at him, cerulean eyes meeting hazel as she waited for him to take a breath.

"Have a coffee with me." he paused a moment, eyes imploring hers as he waited.

"Is that a statement or a question?" she asked shyly, butterflies flapping in her stomach. Before he could answer her question though, she knew her answer. "I'd l..." she was stopped from answering as his cell phone rang and he reached into his coat pocket for it, his disappointment at the interruption on his face.

"What?" he snapped into the phone. He listened for a second before sighing. "Gillien can't this wait? No, I know that security is important but...fine, I'll be there in ten minutes."

Snapping his phone shut, Pierson met her eyes. "I'm sorry...I have to go."

Nodding, she smiled briefly at him before he turned and walked away. She hadn't gotten a chance to give him an answer as he hadn't returned to their office for the rest of the day. Waiting until the others had left, she finally realized he wasn't coming back as the clock crept towards 6.30. Opening her computer, she looked up his home address. Gathering her things, she'd hurried out the door and towards a taxi before she could change her mind. Now she was waiting outside his house. Shivering slightly, she pulled her coat tighter as she heard a taxi pull up. Waiting in the darkness, she hoped it was him and not some nosy neighbor. As the car pulled away, she heard the sound of two people hurrying up the walk. Suddenly they were in her line of vision and she watched as the man she had come to see was shoved roughly against the door as a tall brunette assaulted his mouth with hers, her hands ripping at the tie around his neck. Kayden watched as he pulled his mouth away from the woman's and turned to the door keys in his hand. "Not here." he said, his voice hoarse.

The woman wrapped her arms around his back and pressed her mouth against his neck, her hands sliding down the front of his chest. "Bed."

Opening the door, he turned back to the woman. "No Gillien." Grabbing her arm, he pulled her into his front hall. Kayden watched as he pushed her against the wall and heard his answer as he shut the door. "Wall - you'll never share my bed again."

Neither saw the woman sitting in the darkness, stomach in her throat as she didn't fight back the tears falling from her eyes.

Hitting publish, Ruth watched as an hour glass turned on the screen. It took a moment for the piece to filter through cyberspace and as she was waiting, she rubbed a weary hand across her red eyes, wiping away the tears that had fallen from her eyes. Shaking she logged off the site; not having the strength to read any of the messages she had received on her last piece. Tonight had been the worst night she'd had in as long as she could remember and all she wanted to do at this point was go home, sink into a hot tub of bubbles with a glass of wine and cry her eyes out. Brushing another set of tears from her eyes, she jumped as she felt a hand on her elbow. Turning quickly, she met the concerned green eyes of a man she'd never seen before.

"I'm sorry for prying but are you okay?"

His voice was deep and filled with the same concern she saw in his eyes.

"Just having a shitty day. I'll be fine once I get home and have a glass of wine."

Watching her for a moment, he nodded before offering her a slight smile. "It might seem a bit presumptuous of me but perhaps you would allow me to purchase you a tea? I know it's not wine but getting drunk has never solved anything in my experience."

She thought for a moment and almost took up his offer before she shook her head. "I'm sorry, I can't. It really wouldn't be fair to you. I won't be the best company tonight."

Reaching into his suit pocket, he pulled out a card and handed it to her. "I've seen you in here a few times and have to admit that I've wanted to ask you out a few times but never had the courage. Maybe later when you've had time to work through whatever is going on, you might take me up on the offer?"

Taking the card from him, Ruth looked at it before sliding it into her bag. "I...I'd like that."

Smiling, the man lifted her hand and pressed a light kiss against the back. "I'm Peter by the way."

"Jamie." she said, blushing.

The man stood and helped her from her chair. Reaching to the table, he picked up her bag and handed it to her. "No you're not but I'm not going to push you tonight. After all, if I was a beautiful woman, I wouldn't give my real name to a strange man I've just met either."

The comment made her laugh though it sounded slightly strangled from the tears she'd been shedding through the night.

"At least allow me to get you a taxi. It would make me feel marginally better knowing you weren't wandering the streets upset."

Hesitating a minute, she nodded. Taking her elbow, he led her from the cafe. Neither noticed the man in the corner watching them as he pulled out a cell phone and placed a call. Standing, he walked to the door as he waited for the call to connect. As he stopped by the door, watching the two people on the street, he heard the voice on the other end answer.

"There's been a development with Athena. She arrived visibly upset and just left with an unknown man."


Thank you all for your reviews on the last piece. They made me smile. Hope this one doesn't disappoint too much. Poor Ruth, having to see Harry with Juliet. Today's writing prompt was use a picture to write the feelings that the image prompts in ten minutes and only ten minutes. While I didn't have an actual picture, a song I was listening to put this image in my head and it just wouldn't go away. So I just wrote about it instead. The name of the song is "My Own Hands to Hold" and is by Sara Haze.