ninewood: Thank you so very much. Yes, there is heat building. Just wait till you see what happens here (smiles)

A/N: Warning for sexual content, situations, and coarse language. You have been warned. Also, feel free to leave a review, the door is always open.

ooOoo

Sex pleasure in woman is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken- Simone de Beauvoir

Maggie returned to work with the Doctor the next day, regretting that her time off wasn't long enough. Truthfully she wanted nothing more than to stay curled up in bed as long as was humanly possible, but the Brigadier ran a very tight ship, so the phrase went, and as he was her superior, she was obligated to do as he asked.

Neither she nor John had said anything about their living situation. Either way it was none of his business, so long as it did not interfere with their work.

"So Maggie, how are you doing with that vial over there?" the Doctor asked.

"Not too bad, although there doesn't seem to be…" she adjusted the magnification on her microscope. "Wait, wait, I think I found something!"

The Doctor rushed over to the microscope, gently pushing her out of the way to look at the sample himself. "Ah, well done my dear. There is definitely something there."

"What is it?"

"It looks like a common cold germ."

"Germ? Like a little creepy crawly that I can't see?"

"Right, although you can see the effects without a microscope. With the common cold you'll see a runny nose, a cough, sometimes a low-grade fever, but nothing very severe. A few days bed rest and plenty of chicken soup usually puts that right. Simple as that."

"I was usually bled."

"Bled, my dear girl?"

"Yes Doctor, bled. I'm sure you know it was thought to be the cure for everything from a cold to a stroke to a heart attack."

"Yes I did know that, and thank goodness they don't do that anymore."

"Yeah," she picked up a file, went through the papers. "Anyway, what's so important about this little cold germ? We all know how to prevent colds, don't we?"

"I wasn't aware you knew, Maggie."

"I'm smart, remember?" she retorted. "Believe it or not, Doctor, I do listen to you."

"Never said you didn't my dear," he removed the slide containing the cold germ sample and went to put it in the refrigerator. "Now, if you could just clear up that microscope, perhaps you and I could go for a drive."

"A drive?"

"Yes, a drive," he smiled at her, walking out of the laboratory.

ooOoo

Maggie got into the passenger seat of the Doctor's bright yellow car, Bessie. She smiled as they sped along the UNIT HQ grounds,

"So Maggie, what do you think?"

"What do I think about what?"

"I've noticed you and Sergeant Benton getting a little chummy."

"There's nothing to that, Doctor. We live together, that's it. I really don't see the point to your asking."

"So long as it…"

"Doesn't interfere with our work," she finished for him. "Believe me Doctor, it doesn't. Yes, I do enjoy his company, but that's as far as it goes."

"Alright," he nodded, turning a sharp corner and pulling back in front of the HQ. They hopped out, walked back inside to the laboratory, and set back to work. Not another word was said it regard to Maggie's relationship with Sergeant Benton, if there really was one there at all. If she said there wasn't, there was cause to believe her.

"So now that I identified that one cold germ, Doctor, what are we supposed to do with that, or about it, or whatever?"

"Well, if I'm honest, Maggie, that was just a test."

"A test?"

"Yes," he smiled at her. "I wanted to see if you'd been paying attention."

She scoffed. All that just to make sure she'd been paying attention? Why not just ask her if she knew all the parts of the microscope? The first time she'd ever used one she'd been fascinated, wanted to take it apart and put it back together again to see how it worked. While the Doctor hadn't let her do that, he set to teaching her all about how to use it right away. And one of the first samples he'd put on the slide for her to examine had been a louse. She could still remember how horribly fascinating it had been.

"There's no need to scoff, dear girl, I wasn't meaning anything malicious."

"I know, Doctor," she smiled. "Listen, I'm really tired. Do you mind if I go make a cup of tea?"

"Oh no, go right ahead, perhaps you wouldn't mind bringing some for me as well?"

"Sure thing, Doctor," she nodded.

When she walked out of the laboratory, she shook her head. Of course she listened to the Doctor, but truth be told she wished she were back at home with John. He still had another day off, with his rank much higher than hers. Well, she didn't have a rank beyond being the Doctor's assistant, but that was beside the point. She missed him, missed him terribly. There had to be more than just friendship between her and John if she couldn't keep her mind off of him.

Though she seriously doubted John felt the same way, and if he did, she was sure he'd never tell her.

ooOoo

Neither of them said it out loud, but that morning had changed something between them. While they still shared a bedroom as well as a common living space, they stepped around each other whenever they passed in the hallway, pushing each other out of the way in the bathroom. In truth, it seemed as though they were on completely different planets.

Finally, after a month of the same routine, Maggie decided drastic action was needed. It ate at her until finally the two of them had another day off, which, incidentally, coincided with her birthday, the 17th of April.

"We need to talk," she insisted.

ooOoo

John sat down across the table from her. "Fine. Seems like a good idea."

"Never mind good idea, we honestly need to talk."

"Go on, I'm listening," he answered, making an invitation with his fingers.

Maggie leaned back in her chair, clasping the sides of her head as though she had a headache. "Look, we've been dancing around each other for a month, and we're both too stubborn to admit something's wrong. What is it?"

"I don't understand…"

"Yes you do, John, there's so much tension between us I could slice a knife through it,"

"Still, I don't see what that has to do with either of us being stubborn…"

"It has everything to do with us being stubborn," Maggie protested. "Look, I know it happened a month ago, and I never apologized for throwing myself at you, that morning where you said I hadn't wanted a blanket?"

"You don't need to apologize for that," John answered.

"Yes, I do," she insisted. "Because that was the catalyst for this entire month of us not speaking to each other, and that's not good for anyone. If we're not speaking more than we have to, it starts to affect how we work together and our personal relationship, and then everyone gets suspicious. So, again, I must tell you, I'm really sorry."

He smiled, putting his hand over hers. "You don't need to worry about it, Maggie."

She smiled back at him. "You know, I think this is the longest conversation we've had in over a month."

He chuckled gravely.

"And there was one other thing I wanted to ask you." Maggie swallowed, wishing that she had a very large glass of water within her reach. "Is there something I can do in return for you letting me stay here?"

"No," he answered. "I'm more than happy to help a friend, especially when they really need it."

"I know, you've told me that before, but I really do want to pay you back, and I have nothing else…"

Suddenly he realized what she was talking about.

"There's really no need to pay me back…"

"But…"

"I'm very flattered, Maggie, but I don't want you to use it as a way of paying me back for anything."

"Well that's all very well and good, John, but…" she took a deep breath. "There's no politically correct way to say this so I'll just go ahead and say it. I really do like you, and I want to go to bed with you."

John's eyes went wide.

"You're sure, Maggie?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life."

It was John's turn to swallow. "I don't want you to look back on it and regret your decision. I'll ask you again, Maggie, are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes."

He gripped her hand, stood up with her, and led her toward their bedroom. Suddenly that short walk seemed so much longer and less reassuring than it had ever been. She was nervous, absolutely, but at the same time it felt absolutely right.

They sat down on the bed beside one another, John still holding her hands tightly in his. It certainly seemed as though they were each other's lifeline. But it didn't make any sense, why would he be scared of her? Surely he was the more experienced one…

Of course!

He didn't want to rush her, so he was holding her hands, waiting until she told him it was all right for him to continue.

"Would you kiss me?" she asked, sounding braver than she actually felt.

John leaned in, touched his forehead to hers, and softly nipped at her lip. "You know you have the right to say stop."

"I don't want you to stop," she breathed, silently begging him to kiss her again. He obliged, letting go of her hand and running his palm up her thigh, traveling to her waist and making his way to the side of her breast.

She stayed his hand as he removed to cup the flesh, breaking the kiss.

"What is it?"

Maggie cast her eyes toward the floor, suddenly embarrassed.

"You don't need to be embarrassed, Maggie, what is it?" his eyes were full of concern.

"It's just… I've never…"

"Are you scared of what I'll say?"

She nodded. Truth be told she'd always been self conscious in regards to her breasts. She'd always feared that whomever she lay with first would see the scars. After that accident where she'd been trampled by the horses stampeding out of the field at the age of four, the surgeon had had to cut into her chest to relieve the water build up that had settled there, they said. Once it had all been drained it left her with a scar across her left breast, which was where John's hand had drifted.

"They're not normal," she whispered.

"How do you mean? Everyone is different."

She turned her back to him, freeing her hands and bringing her shirt over her head. Once that was out of the way, she gathered her hair to one side, allowing John to unclasp her bra, sliding it down her arms and letting it fall to the bed.

Her arms instinctively went across her chest as she felt John lean forward and place a kiss to her right shoulder.

She felt goose bumps erupt, still not allowing her arms to fall.

"If you don't want me to see, Maggie, I won't look," John reached around and put his hands over hers. "But may I?"

"Um…."

"Just once," he breathed, keeping his hands over hers as he waited for her answer.

She dropped her hands as John's moved to her breasts, softly trailing over her nipples, hardening into peaks at his touch, cupping each gently in his hands, massaging only for a moment.

Maggie moaned, still unsure what to do with her own hands. But… her brain was telling her to reach behind her, and she did, resting her hands on the back of his neck.

"You're perfect, Maggie," he whispered in her ear.

She blushed.

"Can I turn around?" she asked, suddenly wanting more contact than she'd been allowed previously. Something told her she wanted John out of his shirt, it was unfair that he should still be wearing his if he were massaging her bare breasts, though she wouldn't deny it felt wonderful.

Once she had turned around, she set to undoing the buttons on John's shirt. Even with her hands shaking, she wanted him out of the garment as quickly as was humanly possible.

She succeeded, and sat marveling at how well defined he was. She locked eyes with him for only a moment, looking for the reassurance that what she was doing was right.

He nodded.

Maggie leaned in and kissed his chest once. He tasted of salt, sweat, and anticipation, but it wasn't unwelcome. She wanted more, much more, but where to go from here?

His belt! Something in the back of her brain told her to reach for his belt, and when she did, he didn't hesitate in pulling on the leather to release it, and allowing her to set to work on his zipper and buttons.

"Easy Maggie," he closed his eyes for a moment, marveling in the feeling of rough and stiff jeans giving way, leaving him in boxer shorts.

Once Maggie had finished, she sat staring at him, completely unsure of what to do next. Her arms seemed to work on their own, pulling him toward her and allowing him to work on her black cotton pants. She heard herself inhale sharply as his fingers worked around the waistband, sliding them down and off completely, now leaving her in her panties.

She crooked her finger at him twice, laying back on the bed, her brain was telling her this was right. He wouldn't hurt her, and even if he did she wouldn't mind.

Goosebumps erupted across her skin once again as John crawled up the bed, gently placed himself on top of her, kissing her thoroughly. Even when she reached for the waistband on his boxer shorts, he kept his attention focused on her.

When her fingers brushed against him, she gasped.

He stopped once he heard her, looking down to see a slight tinge of fear in her eyes.

"How… how are you going to…"

He smiled at her, explaining carefully that her body would allow him to fit, only if he prepared her properly, if she would allow him to. He reached down, sliding her panties off, and stopping before doing anything else.

"Could I… touch you?" she was almost embarrassed to ask.

"Of course," he whispered, kissing her cheek and rolling over on to his side to allow easier access.

Maggie was sure her clumsy touches and explorations would certainly make her look silly, but she didn't know what else to do. She very lightly ran her fingers along his length, felt his response, and surprised, stopped and stared.

"Is it going to hurt?"

She saw his expression change.

"Maggie, are you…"

She said nothing, closing her eyes and starting to roll over.

"No no, don't worry," he took her in his arms. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, even if it is a little scary the first time. I'm going to be as gentle as I can."

She found herself repeating the question, asking if it would hurt.

"Not if I take the time to prepare you, and even then it'll only be like this," he pinched the fleshy part of her forearm. "And only for a moment or two, it will pass quickly."

Suddenly Maggie Chisholm felt safer than she'd ever felt in John's arms. He was going to make sure she was ready, and wouldn't do anything until she said it was alright. She moaned as John slipped a finger into her, arching as he massaged. This felt much better than what Robbie had done to her. John's touch was soft and reassuring, slow and skilled as her body acclimatized to his fingers.

"Yes…" she breathed, wanting more, arching her hips off the bed. "Yes. More..." she clutched at the bed sheets, needing something to hold on to. "Please… no more waiting."

She felt John place a kiss just above her sex.

"You're sure you're ready?"

She couldn't force herself to form more than two words that sounded odd coming out of her mouth. She was sure she'd say 'yes' and 'more' and perhaps even 'want you'.

Maggie felt John enter her completely, and heard a faint pop.

Her eyes pinched shut. Holy God, even if he had warned her, she wasn't expecting it to pinch that much. He wasn't hurting her, whispering for her to stay still, because it would pass soon.

And he was right. Instead of pain she felt almost pleasantly numb, enjoying the feeling of being so close to John. He was whispering to her, but she wasn't sure what he was saying, it all sounded muffled.

But then he was moving. Maggie felt him rock his hips back and forth gently, filling her completely. There were no words to describe the sensation; it was almost as though she were melting into the mattress, but all she could think about was the coil of heat tightening in her belly.

"John, I can…" and she arched, moaning as the coil in her belly exploded, sending heat from her core right through to her fingertips and toes. Was this what an orgasm was supposed to feel like? Such joy and pleasure and the utter sense of completion? Her legs had turned to jelly, her vision blurry, like she couldn't focus on any one thing, including John.

With electricity still pumping through her veins, she could feel John moving, still rocking gently, until he twitched inside her, utterly lost just as she had been. In truth she'd never seen a man orgasm before, and although it didn't look painful, it certainly sounded like it was.

As they curled up together, she could only whisper "Thank you" before drifting off to sleep.