Well, here we are. Chapter 10. Sorry that it took me so long, but I've been trying to be patience and wait for my beta reader to fix any grammar issues. Unfortunately, the person doesn't reply any of my mails, just like slump underground. So, I'm publishing last chapters either way, with any mistakes. I'm hoping you'll forgive me.

Chapter 10

Confession

7th October 2011

1:42 AM

"Ouch! That hurts, you know? You promised you'd be delicate!"

Lara was doing all her best to be gentle but her hands were shaking as she was covering Norman's cuts and bruises with iodine. She hated herself for that. She didn't want to cause more pain to him.

"Relax. We're almost done." she tried to console him, focused on the job.

"I hope so." the man laughed bitterly.

They were both sitting on the green sofa in Lara's apartment. The agent's shirt was lying next to them as the girl was disinfecting the upper part of his body. He refused to decontaminate his lower body, saying that "there's nothing to do there" and Miss Croft wasn't going to jawbone him.

After a few minutes the treatment was over. The woman put the bottle back onto the shelf in the bathroom and brought a fresh towel for Norman, so that he could clean himself. The man grabbed the towel and the shirt, then headed for the bathroom. Meanwhile, Lara made some hot coffee for both of them.

As Jayden left the bathroom, fully clothed, a mug of tasty java was awaiting for him. He smirked and sat down next to the young girl. He took a sip.

"Great. As always." the man complimented the drink and continued the activity until the mug was empty.

"Glad you enjoyed that." she smiled.

FBI agent looked at her. "I truly did. I couldn't imagine living in this city without hot coffee." He thought for a minute. "Actually, I couldn't imagine living here at all, even with hot coffee." he chortled, still watching Lara.

The woman was sipping her java slowly and carefully, relishing the drink. When she finished, she put the mug onto the coffee table and sighed, crossing her legs. "What are we going to do now? ARI has been destroyed, we've got no data, Blake's overtaking the case and there are only a few hours left for us to save Shaun Mars." She held her breath. "This is a catastrophe!"

"For once I have to agree with you." Norman said sadly. "This is a disaster."

Miss Croft hid her face in her hands.

"If there's anything that is a true disaster, it's my life."

"Don't be so sure about that. The change is at your fingertips. Literally."

"What do you mean?"

"Open up, Lara. Open up."

"What I do know, though," Jayden said "is that it's my job now."

The woman raised her head and gazed at the man. "What is your job now?"

"The case. I failed. I have to carry responsibility for presumptive death of the kid. I need to finish this on my own."

"No." she said immediately.

"What do you mean?" the agent asked curiously.

"It's still OUR job, OUR case. We'll finish this together." with these words she put her hand on Jayden's palm.

Suddenly the man raised and started to stare at Lara with madness visible in his pale eyes. "You don't understand anything! If I fuck up, I'll get sacked. If WE fuck up, I'll get sacked and you'll get imprisoned! I cannot let this happen!"

"Why?" Now Lara stood up.

For a moment Norman was rendered speechless. "Because!" he finally shouted.

"You mean you're leaving me? After I saved your life twice?"

"From what I heard your life is complicated enough. You need no addict in it." he said blandly, not even looking at the girl.

"How can you know?" she asked calmly.

"I simply do. I am a profiler after all."

Lara bit her lower lip. "You're sure-"

"I won't change my mind, Lara. I'm sorry if I gave you any hopes for... for anything. You're still a stranger to me. I didn't want it to happen like that but there's no other way."

He was almost crying. She could tell by the timbre of his voice. She looked into his eyes. They were full of teardrops. She raised her hand to shave them but Norman seized her hand halfway. Now he was gazing directly into her irises.

Now she couldn't hide that she was crying too.

The woman knew that it would happen. She was ready for this. She was getting ready for this for her whole life.

That moment she simply closed her eyes and didn't care for tears as Norman's lips were kissing hers; first slowly and gently, then more passionately, as he was hurrying for something very special. His mouth was moving lower and lower. Lara closed her eyes and didn't hesitate even for a blink of an eye – how possibly could she? She simply let the man remove her clothing, piece by piece and lead her towards the bed. Actually, she had nothing to say. The decision had been made the first day she met him. She was the one who was supposed to save him. And love was the only salvation for him now. Maybe he was an addict, but even an addict wants to be needed and loved. Norman deserved at least that little. And she was ready to give it to him.

In the next few moments she was lying on her bed, fully naked and she could feel him everywhere: on her lips and tongue, in her hair, finally inside her. They were both crying, finding comfort in somebody else's arms as the only solution to all the pain and evil that had happened in their lives. Strong arms of the man were driving her crazy and his moves were leading towards the inevitable peak.

When Norman finally laid next to her and when she closed her eyes, her head on his chest, she knew that this was the change her double was talking about: it truly was at her fingertips, under her head, deep in her heart.

And it would remain there forever.

If they don't fuck up the case.