"So, you're immortal," Ellis brought up again, "You must have a very interesting list of lovers," she mused.
Jenkins frowned, "It's surprisingly not as long as you'd imagine. Are you going to continue hitting on me, or do we just get straight to it as your generation does?"
Ellis cocked her head to the side, "Straight to the point again. We can do that but I can also be old fashioned. From the way you're talking, you must be experiencing some of the chemistry I have been?"
"I have which is why I'm attempting to help you pursue it. Like I said before, you don't have much time," he replied.
She thought for a moment and decided to test his nonchalant attitude. Ellis moved closer until she was within inches of Jenkins. She ran her hands under his suspenders, up to his shoulders before slipping them off. She moved her attention to his shoulders again before she leaned in, on her tiptoes, ready to kiss him and stopping just centimeters away.
She whispered, "Are you sure this is how you want us to start our love story?"
Jenkins' breath caught, it had been many years since a woman had been this close, "Yes, because it can start like this but move much deeper, if we allow it," he closed the gap, placing his lips to hers.
Ellis' eyes were wide as he kissed her, she thought he was bluffing, but they quickly closed as he hands moved up into the hair on the back of his neck pulling him in closer. She pulled away first, breaking the kiss.
"Do we keep this a secret from the others?" she asked, distracting herself from the vision in her mind of what should be happening next.
He frowned, "Is that really what you want to discuss right now?"
Ellis sighed, "No, but they could come back through those doors anytime, so it kind of matters which way we want to go with this. We just met, how can I even feel things this strong?"
"I think it's just a part of your job description," he replied, "There's no privacy in this Annex so public is the only way, unless you are uncomfortable with that," he revealed, his tone frustrated as his body ached to continue what they were doing.
"Will this be just sex or can we leave the Annex and go on dates?" she asked.
Jenkins shook his head, "Why don't we just see where things go?"
"That's probably smart," she replied, "I don't have a long track history of relationships with too many emotions involved. Work always comes first," she almost lamented moving back toward him.
Jenkins reached down and grasped her cheek before he leaned down and resumed the kiss, his body pressed against hers. One of his hands wandered down to the waistband of her pants, slipping in and traveling lower until he reached her destination and began rubbing. Elli's moaned into his mouth as they moved into the stacks, out of sight in case anyone returned. Getting caught in a kiss was one thing but what they were doing…
A few days passed, along with mission which Ellis always managed to stay out of, when she and Jenkins were in the Annex together. They were doing research but also sending playful glances back and forth.
"We could use that door to go anywhere we want," Ellis began, "Why don't we go enjoy dinner in another city, a beautiful city?"
Jenkins smiled warmly toward her, "Where would you want to go? We could always check on the kids at the science fair," he suggested.
"I'm a kid too," she teased before truly replying, "But what's more important is that you think that's a date, checking on our team in the field?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps if things are going well, we could go to a local restaurant and enjoy a meal together? Is that a satisfying compromise?"
Ellis thought over his proposal and, finally, nodded, "Yes, I don't see why I would try and argue with you. Lead the way," she hopped off her seat and walked toward the door.
Jenkins met her there, where he offered his arm which she gladly took and they made their way through the double doors into the halls of a high school.
"Can I be assigned your guardian so that I don't ever have to leave your side?" Ellis thought outloud as she leaned her head against his arm.
Jenkins smiled, though she couldn't see it, "Immortality doesn't afford me a Guardian unfortunately, but I think you can keep making up excuses to stay behind. It seems to be your specialty," he joked, earning a pinch on his forearm.
He walked them into the school's gym which was now an out of this world science fair with things no high schooler should even be working on. Jenkins got them a soda icee to share and then led her to Ezekiel and Cassandra.
"How are things going?" Jenkins began the conversation with Ezekiel and Cassandra's faces filled with shock.
Ezekiel put his finger in the air, "You're out of the Annex."
"I do have free will," Jenkins reminded them, then leaned his head toward Ellis, "And, she wanted to get out and share a date," he changed the subject, "How are things going here?"
Cassandra didn't answer as she looked around the room, distracted by all the projects but Ezekiel showed Jenkins and Ellis something which meant nothing to Ellis but put Jenkins on the right track.
"There is a cult here somewhere," he began, "Be on the lookout for the power of three." Jenkins shared his thoughts and then looked at Ellis, "I think they have this handled, would you like to leave the high school and see if we can find dinner?"
Ellis smiled brightly, "I thought you'd never ask."
Just as they were at the doors to leave, Ellis' cell phone rang and it was Eve. "Yes?" Ellis answered.
Eve replied, "I need you and Jenkins in the library, now."
Eve's tone was so grave, Ellis couldn't ignore the request. She hung up and broke the news to Jenkins, "We have to go back to the Annex, Eve needs us."
Jenkins sighed, "Perhaps dinner there, just the two of us?" he offered.
Ellis smiled, "We could go to my place, I'd have to get take out because there's never food there but it's a little cozier then our place of business," she added as they reached the doorway in the school that would lead them back to the Annex.
What they found on the other side was Eve and a redhead.
"Who's this?" Ellis asked, "And, how did she get in?"
"She was in charge of the fair," Eve replied, "I don't know who she really is."
The mystery woman turned to face them all, Jenkins backed away, his expression showing him that he knows this woman. "Morgan Le Fay?" he gasped, "You're behind this?"
The woman smiled, "Long time no see," she answered before parting the main table in half and walked right to them. "I am only the creator of the app. My only goal is the reap the benefits of the magic flowback."
"Will you hurt the kids?" Ellis asked, unable to stop from watching the way Jenkins looked at her.
Morgan smiled, wickedly, "I can only answer that by saying you may want to stay in here for the next few minutes."
Eve pulled her gun causing Jenkins to speak, "Shoot her."
"No," Eve replied.
"She is one of the most evil and powerful," Jenkins began to protest but Morgan raised her fingers in the air, uttering the phrase, 'hold your tongue.' Jenkins began choking, unable to breathe while Eve continued to confront her.
Ellis placed her hands on Jenkin's shoulders, wishing to comfort him in some way. He was able to begin catching his breath when Morgan walked back out.
"Are you ok?" Ellis asked, her voice think with concern.
He ignored her worry and looked at Eve, "She has left a trail of death and destruction for one thousand years. You have to stop her at whatever cost," he almost begged. Eve nodded and left.
Ellis looked at Jenkins once more, "Can I get you something to help?"
He shook his head, gripping his throat, his face still red, "It was magic so only time can heal me."
"How did you know her so well?" Ellis followed up, "Old flame from Camelot?"
"What makes you think that?" Jenkins asked.
Ellis laughed, "I'm a detective, I know how to ready people. You want her gone for more then just the things she's done to the world. You don't have to share," she added, "It is none of my business."
Jenkins shook his head, "All you need to know is that she is one of the most evil creatures in this world and I would never let her hurt you, no matter what history she and I might have," he revealed.
Ellis wrapped her arms around him from behind and laid her head against his back, "Let's just hope its finished by dinner time so I can take you home with me."