Chapter 4

"Don't be ridiculous!" Jac laughed as they made their way along the 5th floor corridor.

"Shhh, be quiet will ya?" whispered Michael as he drunkenly attempted to tip-toe his way towards Serena's room. He looked back and noticed Jac was no longer with him, she was leaning against the wall trying to hold her laughter in, her cheeks turning red with the effort. "Come on!" he beckoned, heading back to get her and stumbling into the wall opposite. Jac, who found it completely hilarious, let out a hysterical laugh.

"Michael...let's go!" she begged as she watched him trying to stand up straight.

"Don't ya wanna know what mom and dad get up to at night...all aloooooone!?" he sniggered as he reached for her hand.

"No! I really don't, this is disgusting!" Jac grabbed his arm to keep him steady, as she herself lost her balance and pulled him down with her to the floor. Michael began laughing uncontrollably at the hard-faced ginger Consultant lying beneath him, fixing him with a drunken glare.

"Get up, you useless American..." she didn't get to finish her sentence as they heard a door open down the corridor and Serena stuck her head out, looking for the source of the commotion. "Ah crap." laughed Jac as Michael turned to look at what had caught her attention. "Busted!" she shouted as she had a giggling fit. Serena marched down the corridor towards them and fixed them with her sternest glare.

"What do you think you are doing!?" she demanded as she watched Jac rolling around giggling helplessly on the floor. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" she pulled her dressing gown tighter around her, feeling a cool breeze.

"Hey...Hey RENA..." slurred Michael from the floor "...nice jammies!" he made to grab at her but she stepped away in time.

"I think it's best you both get to your rooms before Mr. Hanssen sees you like this." Serena warned as she nervously glanced back at her room only to see the door firmly closed. She had left Hanssen sleeping soundly but she was a light sleeper by nature.

"Ooh wouldn't want to disturb Mr. Hanssen!" he scoffed. "Tell me RENA...will he be coming out of his room...or yours?"

"Move it." she barked, kicking Michael.

"Owwww!" he protested as he stood up holding onto Jac. "It was just a joke! Come on Jac...I can tell when I'm not wanted!" he sulked.

"Finally." Serena turned around and headed back to her room, grateful she had had the good sense to put it on the latch before leaving. She stepped inside and closed the door, leaning against it and sighing.

"What was all that about?" mumbled Hanssen as he slowly sat up, running a hand over his face.

"The children decided to get inebriated." she grumbled as she headed to the other side of the bed and sat down. Hanssen was more alert now and made to climb off the bed. "Where are you going?" He turned back to look at her as he picked up his shirt and threw it on.

"I'm sorry, I fell asleep. I'll get back to my room." he said hurriedly attempting to locate his trousers when he felt a hand on his arm and looked down to see Serena staring up at him.

"No you won't." Her voice was deep and filled with a commanding tone. She knelt up and pushed the shirt back off Hanssen's shoulders as he bent and kissed her. He wasn't about to argue.

"THAT..." Jac shouted as they reached Michael's room "...was the WORST idea you have EVER had Spence!" she pushed past him and threw her bag on the floor before collapsing on the bed, lying on her back.

"Come on!" he coaxed "It was funny!" a smile spread across his face.

"Waking Ms. Campbell and proceeding to imply she was shagging Hanssen!? Yeah sooo funny!" she spat sarcastically as she went towards the mini bar and emptied the contents.

"Hey! You know they charge the earth for that stuff!"

"Really? Then I'd better not do this..." she said as she unscrewed the cap of a rather expensive looking wine.

"Ah hey, come on!" Michael complained as she proceeded to down the contents. "At least give me some..." he sighed as he made his way to the bed and took a seat next to Jac. He picked up a bottle of whisky and unscrewed the top before gulping it down. Jac was on her third bottle when she suddenly stood up and answered her phone.

"Hey...yes I'm fine. No...had a bit of trouble with a drunk Michael Spence...No...Yes of course..." she turned at the sound of Michael making kissing noises and threw an empty bottle of Gin at his head.

"Owww." he whispered, rubbing his forehead.

"...What? Yes in Michael's room...Busy drinking the contents of his mini bar actually...Now hold on Maconie...How dare you!?...Same to you!" she threw the phone at her bag and plonked herself down on the bed again.

"Trouble in paradise?" winked Michael before handing her a bottle of whisky. "Come on, tell Michael all about it!" he snuggled closer to her as she finished the bottle and shuddered.

"Ugh please." she stuck her hand in his face as he grabbed it with his own, kissing it gently. Jac stared at him as he continued kissing up her arm. She could feel her senses were dulled and was quite enjoying the feeling of his lips on her skin. "Michael." she said suddenly, causing him to pause. "Just do it." she ordered as he swept the bottles to the floor and their lips met with an urgency. Jac pulled off her top and threw it across the room as she set about removing her jeans.

"Hey...let me..." Michael removed her jeans and kissed her stomach, smiling up at her before he moved down.

Serena awoke suddenly in the night, sitting bolt upright, gasping for breath. She'd been dreaming she was being chased by something...a shadow... She noticed she was shaking as she swung her legs off the bed and held on to the edge, focusing on getting her breath under control. She felt a movement behind her followed by an arm wrapping around her shoulders as Hanssen moved to sit next to her. In the dim light emanating from the lamp outside the window, she could see his face etched with concern.

"What's wrong?" he whispered, his hand rubbing her arm.

"Nothing, I'm fine. Just a dream." she said as she calmed herself. She felt Hanssen get up and leave her side, the tap running, before he returned with a glass of water.

"Here. Drink this." he ordered gently as he knelt in front of her. Serena became suddenly conscious of the fact she was very naked. She tried to discreetly cross her arms in front of her chest and Hanssen seemed to understand. He moved over to the wardrobe and fetched her cardigan, gently wrapping it around her shoulders. She smiled gratefully as she sipped her water. Hanssen sat next to her and waited until she spoke.

"It was nothing, really. Just a dream." she reassured him as she put the water on the bedside table.

Hanssen was glad he hadn't left earlier, he wouldn't have liked for her to have awoken, scared, on her own. He climbed back into bed and watched as Serena took off the cardigan, throwing it onto the sofa as she climbed under the sheets and snuggled up to him. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and kissed her forehead. He never would have thought he would have been cuddling and comforting Serena Campbell in the middle of the night, but he also never thought he'd want to.

He lay awake in the dark for a while, listening to her breathing gradually get slower as she fell deeper asleep. Lying here now, holding her, he couldn't understand why he hadn't always been doing it. He realised his feelings for this woman were strong, not only physically, but emotionally. He kissed her head and closed his eyes, falling asleep with the feeling of her warm body pressed against his.

Jac awoke to a bright light streaming through the curtains and shining directly on her face.

"Oh God..." she muttered as she rolled over and came face to face with a sleeping Michael Spence. "Oh God!" she said slightly louder, flinching as he stirred. She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling as last night's antics came back to her. She thought back to when they had gone to Serena's room... "Oh God." she cried as she covered her face with her hands.

"Will you stop saying that!?" murmured a half-asleep Michael Spence from next to her.

"Why!?" she asked herself as she closed her eyes and tried to pretend it hadn't happened until his voice invaded her thoughts.

"Hey I am right here you know. I thought it was pretty great to be honest." he smiled as he saw Jac bristle at his words.

"Yes well...I can't believe we did this." she wrinkled her nose as details from last night came back to her.

"Well bad news honey, it wasn't just once..."

"Ugh shut up!" she said as she covered her face with her hands.

"Sorry cheekbones, but I saw a totally new side to you last night...I think I'm in love..." Michael leant across as if to kiss her as she moved her head away and ducked under the covers.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed as she hid.

"Hey...Jaaaaaac..." called Michael in a sing-song voice as he poked her.

"What!?" she snapped as she re-surfaced and looked at him.

"Don't worry. Last night was great, really great, but not a word of this is leaving this room okay?"

She nodded her head as Michael continued. "I know you're hung up on the Scot and I don't blame you. Nobody else needs to hear about this and we can put it down to a meaningless, drunken night of hot, passionate..."

"Okay I get the picture!" she snapped as she climbed off the bed and headed for the bathroom. As she reached the door, she turned back. "Thanks for saying that." and with that she headed into the bathroom for a shower. Michael leant back against the pillows and understood what a perfect night it had been. Two colleagues, looking for a release had found it together.