La Bodeguita del medio, 02:30 hours.

-"I think you drank more than enough Dubbie. Let me help you with that"- he said throwing the brandy bottle away, that cherry scented alcohol splashed on the floor so it wouldn't poison someone else.

-"Last time I checked I'm not in working hours so I don't have to listen to you, and you are paying for that bottle by the way"- She was already asking for another one, if he didn't leave by the time the overweight waitress deposited on the table there would be a bar fight on the coming.

-"As your boss I concern about how that drug will affect your performance at the plan you worked hard to conceive and as your friend I concern about your overall well being."- He considered her his friend but surprisingly he never called her that way, he wasn't good with overall emotions, he hoped he was. She had built a wall around herself and he had no idea of how to tear it down.

-"Friends know each other, I don't really know you. You were a good boss, the best one I ever had but you keep pushing and you'll regret it"- The whiskey bottle arrived on her table and she reached for it, she eyed him defiantly filling the glass.

-"I saw the death of your future self Dubbie, it makes me sick"- He was still a little nauseous

-"Ah yeah my representation of the Olympic torch, well at least I went with a bang, or flame."-

-"There is nothing funny about burning to death, it must be one of the most painful ways to die and frankly the fact that you did it on purpose puts my gears into grind"-

-"It's my death and I'll mock if I want to"- The whiskey was about to touch her lips, he removed the glass from her hands and again the bottle flew trough the air. She had enough that man was going down. She twisted his arm behind his back and threw him outside the bar, he never fought back Clarence refused to hit a woman unless it was utterly necessary.

Outside of the bar The Middleman ran his hand through his face, giving up was not an option but he didn't know how to get to her.

-"Help me out Ravinne. What would you do?"- He prayed to the sky, she had always been so good with people, so much she got through a thick headed navy seal drop out.

"You gotta give some to get some" She told him almost every day, he remembered the first time he trained with her "And if you want something out of me you better give me a lot from you, now get that pasty keister of the ground and fight"

He sighed and smiled at the sky –"Thank you baby"- And entered the bar.

The bartender didn't care if the bottles were broken as long as they were paid for, she did pay but her wallet suffered and couldn't afford another drink. "He won after all" She thought.

She bumped a large torso on her way out

-"You're like the energizer bunny on steroids you never give up!"- She said exasperated

-"No I'm not, come with me"- he was back in his goofy smile way.

-"No I'm almost out of gas and my wallet is empty thanks to you"-

-"I'll take you; we'll get your car on the morning"-

-"Whatever you're up to I'm not in the mood"- She couldn't let him poke around her heart, if he did she would break down and if that happened she'll never get back up. How badly she wanted to confide in the only person in the universe that might understand how she felt. But she couldn't, if she opened herself all the little horrors inside her would come out and she wouldn't be able to pull them back in. Besides if he knew how many wrong choices she made in the future she would feel humiliated.

-"I insist"- He said with a friendly smile yet determination on his eyes, Subtext: I'm not giving up until you get in the car.

The duck pound, not the best place to be at 03:23 Am

He started out by taking his to his own haven, the place he went to when he needed to think and bought her the greasiest hamburger on the way over, hoping the food might absorbe some of the alcohol.

The place looked peaceful and had a classic beauty that transmitted the same comfort Clarence inspired in her. Two persons sitting in a bench feeding ducks at 3 am, why not?

-"I have a proposition for you, it's true that I never gave much personal information about myself but I did it to protect you, nonetheless you are right. It's not fair that I ask personal questions about your life when I never tell you much about mine"-

-"That is the first reasonable thing you said all day"-

-"So I'm giving you a chance to ask anything you want to know about me and I'll answer with the truth but in response you must answer my questions too, no lies nor tricks"-

Wendy was so tired, of fighting her former boss, of fighting aliens and above all forcing the painful memories down a hidden corner of her mind. Knowing him it must have been so difficult to offer his so well kept secrets, "another sacrifice for the greater good right Clarence? Keep going and one day you'll have nothing more to give." But two can play the "quid pro quo" game, if he wanted to mess with her mind maybe she could mess with him so he can finally go to Bora-Bora and drink milk out of a martini glass by the beach.

-"Fine I'll start with something easy. Why country music?"- She asked nonchalantly

-"I went to Iowa with Ravinne to fight an evil scientist that wanted to turn all water supplies into led; he planned to later on use the philosopher's stone to transform it into gold"-

-"Sheer idiocy in its impracticality"-

-"He was defeated with little effort so we went to celebrate to a country bar nearby and dance by the moonlight until the sun came up, those wailing tunes sounded wonderful back then, even when I was a hard rock fan. I listen to them and I'm back there, the happiest night in my life"-

-"I'm so sorry"- She said sympathetic

-"My turn, who is the man that made you kill yourself with your father's lighter?"-

-"Eagle Eye a.k.a. Ted Tomerson, Fred Frenkel, the list goes on, he changes names like a girls changes clothes that's how he gets below the radar and he strikes when you're not looking. My turn, do you have a family?"-

-"I'm and only child, my parents died of old age about seven years ago within weeks of each other, they were good people. I think I have an uncle somewhere but I never had much contact with my non immediate family. My turn, Is there a way to track him down in the present?"-

-"Yes but I'm not punishing for something he still hasn't done, he is a good man but he had a few traumas and made bad decisions on the way. I have it covered I won't let him become Eagle eye"- She avoided eye contact.

-"Dark side of the moon Dubbie! What could turn a good man into that monster?"-

-"After the alien invasion paranormal creatures were the least of people's problems. If you think crime is an issue now, imagine what would happen if a catastrophe destroyed all sense of order and authority. Many victims entered the body counts and most of them were caused not by the aliens but by the chaos that erupted after the invasion ended. He got obsessed with making the world a safer place even if it meant he had to take over it. At first he was a hero, using his many skills to bring order back. No one knew he had gone bonkers until it was too late, no even my future self, until he had complete control."- She drew a shaky breath –"You know Clarence all you need to turn a hero into a monster is a huge power and a little push, that's all"-

-"I refuse to believe that"-

-"Let me remind you that in some parallel universe I'm an evil megalomaniac myself. Would you kill me so I don't turn like her?"-

-"You basically have the fate of world in your hands and all those traumas you have faced are destroying your soul but you are as close to become a villain as I am of becoming a member of the Russian ballet"-

They talked until the sun drag from the horizon, by then her head nestled in his broad shoulder and she dozed, he told her about his past and she told him about her future. Shortly after her arrival to the future she destroyed Eagle Eye but at a great expense, to make things worse he had many allies and sympathizers that wanted revenge and she had been constantly attacked by random acts of violence. When she told him about Lacey's fate all he asked her is:

-"So she did love him, did he love her back? Do you think he deserves her?"-

-"He will love her until the day he dies, hopefully not by the hands of a megalomaniac"-

She laughed and cried at the same time.

-"Why did this Eagle Eye killed him?"-

-"He is the one that discovered his true evil plan, until then everyone believed he was doing a wonderful job as the new leader of the states. He was a journalist and made an article about the rehabilitation camps, future version of prison. The inmates came in all crooked and came out completely reformed, it wasn't an effective program they were being brainwashed and manipulated. Wendell saw his true intentions, to extend that brainwashing not only to criminals but also to regular citizens to prevent riots, misdemeanours and above all uprisings or revolutions. Wendell barely managed to send the information to Lacey before he was killed, my future version realized too late of Eagle Eye's intentions, she knew it was only a matter of time until he tried to take over the world so she went abroad hoping to gather up enough resources to bring him down"-

-"Where did she go?"- He said while gently caressing her back

-"London, she figured an ocean might be enough of a barrier to keep the organization safe"-

-"I though I heard a little cockney accent on your voice, sounds distinguished"- Clarence gave her a half smile.

-"Shut up"- She punched him in the arm

A weight was slowly lifting from her shoulders, a ghost of a smile in her lips "So Clarence knows I (bleep) up as a Middlewoman, no biggie, I'll prove him I can do better"

When her eyelids became heavy he escorted her to his car, she fell asleep shortly after sitting on the passenger's side, he didn't wake her up. Her sublet was an option but might raise a lot of questions so he took her to his own chambers at the HQ.

He laid her on his bed; she whispered a few inaudible words and tried to curl by his side.

In spite of his best efforts and his own private confessions he never got direct information of Eagle Eye's true identity, only her oath that she would prevent him from becoming evil.

He sat by her side, watching her sleep, after the inappropriate behaviour he had towards her in the gym he decided not to sleep by her side but not leaving her alone either.

He was trying in vain to put his mind in order between all the information Wendy provided, her fragile state of mind and of course the inexplicable attraction he felt towards her. He believed part of his love for Lacey was destroyed at the same time her own love was taken away; far from being comforting that was a deeper aggravation. Those emotions were his to have regardless of his beloved's reciprocity, he could have lived on loving Lacey and being happy to see her safe even if that meant she would never love him back, but the amulet ripped those feelings from his chest leaving him empty and hollow. Clarence wanted that passion back, to love ant to loose is better to never loved at all, he had kept himself numb from emotions for years and now that he was reminded how passion was like he didn't want to go back to those cold years. In his despair the male hormones found another deposit for those primal needs in a beautiful woman that understood him like nobody else would ever do, someone who was strong and frail at the same time.

Could he afford to woo his partner knowing that not only she is in a good relation with another man but also is now in a delicate emotional crisis? She would be his if he wanted, the way she kissed him a few hours ago proved it. He was determined and skilful in ways she didn't yet know and when his mind is set he doesn't stop until he accomplishes his goal. But is it worth the risk?

Those musings were interrupted by her screams, she fought invisible enemies in the bed and the utter horror on her face was more congruent with a night terror than a nightmare, he said soothing words to her and when her body begun to relax he caressed her hair until she fell into a peaceful sleep.

Although the night, her nightmares were frequent, it was easier for him to lay by her side and soothe her as soon as those bad dreams begun. Eventually the nightmares stopped and she curled by his side, sheltered by his large strong frame.

They slept all morning, her floral perfume brought pleasant memories to Clarence, and it had been so long since he had a woman asleep in his arms. He had forgotten how cold and lonely his bed had been, he had no intention of crossing any line but he would have been blessed if he could share his bed with her every night, only sleep nothing else.

Ida saw the two primates spooning in the dark room, she shook her head in annoyance for she knew that soon there would be human pheromones and god knows what else polluting the headquarters. It wouldn't be long until those two get going at it like chimps on Viagra. –"Damn those meatbags"- She scoffed.