Author's Note: I am just dropping a quick line to let you know that there might be a bit of time between updates. I usually have a story close to finished before I start posting it so there is more than this I've gotten done. I just have to proof read it and make sure that it is flowing the way I wish it too. The reason for the slow updates is that I've just been given a rather challenging trainee at work and will be devoting a lot of my free time to making sure she passes training and gets to keep her job. So this is just an FYI and thanks for reading!


Maggie looked at herself in the full length mirror in her bedroom and nervously smoothed the skirt of her dress down. The vintage black and white knee length formal gown crisscrossed over her breast, tapered at her waist, only to flare out at her hips. With her hair up and her mother's antique choker she looked like a forties movie star about to walk down the red carpet at the Oscars.

"It's just a ball Winnock. It doesn't mean anything. Breathe."

She'd slipped on her open toed heels and promptly stumbled, barely catching herself before she ate carpet. She cursed, a word falling from her lips that Henry and Jasper would be surprised she even knew, much less be willing to utter. The doorbell rang downstairs and a moment later she heard masculine voices in the hall. Plastering a smile on her face she opened her door and started downstairs.

Henry's voice stuttered to an abrupt halt when he saw her. She smiled, feeling shy, and he smiled back. She reached the bottom and stood in front of him. He swallowed convulsively.

"Maggie you look….beautiful."

Her smile widened. She was about say thank you but her father cleared his throat behind her, drawing her attention away from Henry.

"I have to agree. You look beautiful and way too grown up to be my little girl." She turned towards her dad and hugged him.

"Thanks Dad." He sighed and released her. "All right it is nineteen thirty hours and you have a dance to get to." He turned towards Henry and his expression tightened. He walked over and clamped his right hand on the boy's shoulder. Henry tried not to wince but didn't quite succeed.

"Henry I don't have to tell you how miserable I can make your life if my baby girl isn't back in this house precisely and twenty-three hundred hours."

He gave the older man a shaky smile and a firm nod. "Of course Colonel Winnock. I am honored that you've allowed me to escort your daughter this evening. You have my word that I will return her safely to you and we will be on time."

Maggie's father nodded, apparently appeased and released him. Henry reached out his hand to Maggie and she took it, allowing him to pull her to his side. He didn't immediately release her hand, instead she felt his thumb caress her pulse point and she shivered with awareness. She wanted to close her eyes and sigh but she knew that probably wouldn't be such a good idea in front of her father. It also didn't help that Henry looked good…really, really good in black tie formal. He also smelled fantastic, some sort of exotic spice and a scent she recognized as purely Henry; the scent of woods and wind and freedom. He was oblivious to her purely hormonal response to his touch and nearness. In that observant way of his he'd simply noted that she seemed nervous and he was caressing a known pressure point in order to calm her. Finally he stopped, much to her regret and placed the palm of his hand at the small of her back. They headed for the door.

"Bye Dad," Maggie said and Henry echoed. "Have a good evening Colonel Winnock."

They went outside and Henry escorted her to his car. It was an older model Jeep Wrangler that had once been army green but was now a combination of fading paint and white primer. He'd got it for a great price at a government surplus auction and had been fixing it up ever since. Thanks to the combined efforts of him, Maggie, and Jasper it ran great, even if he wouldn't allow her to convert it to running on french fry oil.

He'd put the top on for the evening and Maggie was grateful. She really hadn't wanted to arrive at the dance with the wind blown hair. He smiled at her as he chivalrously opened the passenger door. Normally, this would have rubbed her feminist sensibilities the wrong way, but he looked so hopeful and dare she think it cute, that she couldn't be annoyed with him. She got in the car and Henry closed her in before rounding the front and getting in the driver side. He grinned.

"All right, let's go rub knees with the big heads."

She smirked. "Elbows Henry it's, let's go rub elbows with the big wigs."

He shrugged. "That's what I said." He started the jeep and pulled out of Maggie's driveway. She watched him, trying not to laugh.


Henry stood at the punch table and watched as Maggie laughed at something the representative from MIT said while casting her eyes about. When they landed on him she grinned and he smiled back. Between them a few couples danced, but most of the people there were as Maggie called it, schmoozing. Henry didn't feel like attempting to schmooze. He was perfectly content to watch Maggie.

She really was breathtakingly beautiful.

He took his eyes off her for a moment to glance across the room. Dr. Sorreson was standing in a group near the corner. He knew the old man from his time spent in Oaxaca, Mexico. His parents had been there studying the history and customs of the Zapotec and Mixtec Indians at the cultural center as well as making arrangements to live with and study daily life among one of remaining traditional tribes in the area. They were studying both groups and were going to log differences and similarities.

Henry had always had only minimal interest in the research part of field research. He and Dante had shared what his mom called the heart of an adventurer. He enjoyed immersing himself in other cultures, but where his parents could be perfectly content studying domestic meal patterns for days on end, Henry preferred to get out and explore. He'd stumbled upon Dr. Sorreson, literally; on one of his treks through the mountainous range. The good Doctor had the temperament not to feed Henry to the jaguars when the boy had fallen into one of his cordoned off pits and almost broke a centuries old fertility idol.

Henry approached the group and before he reached them, Sorreson caught sight of him. The Doctor smiled in true pleasure.

"Do my eyes deceive me or am I truly seeing Henry Griffin at a formal function dressed as a gentlemen and not the devilish rapscallion I know him to be?"

Henry crossed the last few feet and held out his hand. Dr. Sorreson may have been in his early seventies but he was still strong. He gripped Henry's hand firmly and shook.

"It's good to see you my boy. How are your parents?"

"They're good, very good in fact. They finally got that grant to study the Inuit tribes in Canada. I might even be able to visit them in the summer since they will be so close to the states."

"Excellent! Ladies and Gentlemen if you will excuse me I would like to catch up with Henry." The group he was with nodded somewhat begrudgingly. To Henry he said. "Come, let us take a stroll. I've something to show you."

He allowed the old man to lead him away but not before checking on Maggie. Dr. Sorreson noticed and a half smile tugged at his lips.

"I assume by that rather protective glance that the beautiful young lady speaking with Alistair is your escort for the evening."

Henry's gaze jerked away and his ears turned red. "Um y-yes." He cleared his throat and more firmly replied. "Yes, Maggie is my date."

The Doctor clapped him on the shoulder. "Well then I will make sure this takes only a moment so that you may return posthaste before that very elegant young lady realizes what an unrepentant savage you are and decides to leave you."

Henry knew the words were said in jest but he couldn't help the tight feeling they caused in his chest. He was an unrepentant savage and Maggie was much too civilized for him. It didn't stop him from wanting her though.

Shaking off his depressing thoughts he followed his old friend. They cut through the crowds and he led Henry to the main display hall. Puzzled, Henry watched as Dr. Sorreson put his finger to his lips to indicate silence, crossed the hall, punched a code into the security lock, and stood before a red cloth draped case expectantly. Henry walked over to him.

"Dr. Sorreson?"

His ancient friend looked like a mischievous little boy as he whispered.

"I found it Henry. After a life time of searching, following obscure clues, I finally found it."

Henry was even more puzzled. "Found what?" Bemused, Sorreson circled the display. "The key to heaven my boy. I've found the key to heaven."

He was just about to pull the cloth off of the displayed when a raised voice from the entrance hall carried.

"You vindictive little bitch! How dare you get me expelled."

Henry froze, he knew that voice. Rage, thick and hot flowed through his veins as he bolted towards the foyer. Dr. Sorreson called for him to come back but he didn't listen.

He ran into the hall and the sight that greeted him made his blood run hot. Maggie was backed against the wall between two display cases while Michael Stansville III attempted to break away from the two security guards holding him back. He quickly crossed over to Maggie and placed himself between her and her ex-boyfriend.

"You need to go home, Michael and leave Maggie alone." His voice was calm and steady, muted in the way of someone in the throes of a rage so deep that they were exerting every once of control they possessed to keep it leashed. He knew that if he didn't he would end up mauling the other teenager.

Michael sneered. "Well, well, if it isn't everyone's favorite savage, Henry Griffin." He tilted his head to address Maggie. "I bet you're not a frigid bitch with Griffin. Just a bitch in heat. Probably can't get enough of him. How do you keep the animal leashed? I bet you suck his coc…"

Whatever else Michael was going to say was lost as Henry roared in rage. It seemed to happen in slow motion. He pulled his fist back and swung with every ounce of force he had. His knuckles caught the other boy's chin causing Michael's head to snap back with a crack. Stansville went limp and the security guards lowered him to the floor. Henry didn't even notice the blood dripping off of his knuckles.

Maggie made a choked sound and he went to pull her into his arms, but she backed away. The horror in her expression cut him to the quick and her refusal to accept comfort from him caused his chest to ache. Maggie looked away from him, humiliated and embarrassed.

An enraged female voice echoed across the room. "I demand someone detain that hoodlum. He has assaulted my nephew. Someone hold him while I ring the police."

Crisp and British, Henry would have known the voice anywhere. "Dr. Riker?" A stylishly dressed, well kept woman in her fifties walked towards them, her high heals clacking against the tile floor. She scowled at Henry.

"I always knew you were dangerous Mr. Griffin. What Dr. Sorreson saw in you, I shall never know. Guards, I demand you detain him, now."

The two guards in question, Davey and Ike; had worked for Smithson for years. They were ex-military, not known to take anybody's crap, and knew both Maggie and her dad. They both crossed their arms and refused to move, their eyes shining on Henry with approval.

Beyond angry, Dr. Riker looked at them and scowled. "Well? What are you waiting for? Do your duty or I will call the real authorities."

Ike replied. "With all due respect ma'am your nephew provoked Griffin into striking him. He might of even swung first. I don't know, it happened so fast. So if you call the police, might be that me and Davey saw something completely different than what you're thinking you saw. Be your word against both of ours."

She bristled. "Young man, there are dozens of witnesses. You can't possible believe you will get away with lying for this miscreant. I have friends on the museum board. I will have you both dismissed."

The guard pushed his hat up and gave her an indulgent smile. "Now, now, nobody said anything about lying. I'm just saying that in these situations where it happens so fast that sometimes what you think you saw you didn't see. Everyone around here though heard your nephew bad mouthing Miss Winnock ma'am, and well I reckon that any man wouldn't tolerate that kinda talk in front of a lady."

She turned red with indignation. "That trollop is no lady. I demand satisfaction. If you will not do anything about this…this atrocity then I have no choice but to rectify the situation. I am calling the police."

Ike's ice blue eyes went chilly and he was about to retort when a crash sounded. A few moments later Dr. Sorreson stumbled in.

"It's gone. It's gone," he choked, clutching at his chest. He took two more steps and collapsed.

"Dr. Sorreson!" Henry yelled and raced to his friend's side. He dropped to his knees next to the older man. "Somebody call an ambulance!"

He laid the old man flat, tilted his head back, and put his ear next to his mouth to see if he was breathing. He felt and heard nothing. Henry quickly pinched the nose shut, sealed his mouth over the other man's, and blew two breaths. He then started chest compressions.

"One, two, three, four, five…." He counted out loud until he reached thirty, only to blow two more breaths. He continued on, oblivious to how much time had passed, until two uniformed paramedics, a male and a female, arrived at the scene. They came in, pushed him aside, and took over. He stood there, feeling numb while they worked. He almost jumped when he felt long slim fingers entwine with his. He looked up and saw Maggie at his side. Her compassion almost unmanned him. She gently squeezed his hand and he squeezed back, glad that she was not longer recoiling from him.

The paramedics worked and after a few more minutes, stopped.

The dark haired female looked up; regret twisting her pretty features. "I'm sorry, he's gone."