Chapter 10: Tension

Kelly woke up early and glanced out the window. She had no idea what time it was. Damn James for crushing my phone. I know it had a bug but come on. They're not cheap you know. Yawning and walking into the bathroom, she picked up the toothbrush. This is all kinds of gross but I guess I don't have a choice. Yay for survival. Hope I don't get a disease. After brushing her teeth and running the comb through her tangled hair, she peeked out to see if James was awake.

He stood by the window, pulling his t-shirt over his head. She smiled as he rubbed a hand through his shorter hair. Slowly she snuck back to the room and put on her shirt and jeans, leaving the bloody fleece on the floor. She hissed when the shirt struck her arm and slowly she lifted up the little bit of sleeve to see it. Although the bullet grazed her, she saw that there was still a half inch incision which clotted thanks to her holding it in the car. From behind she heard, "You better clean that."

Looking up, Kelly saw James standing in the doorway. "Thanks. I know I should but gunshot wound care is a little outside of my expertise."

"Come here," he said and she walked over to him. He looked at her before down at the wound, gently touching it. Hissing again quickly and grimacing, she looked up at him, "Will it hurt like this for awhile?"

James merely nodded, before leading her to the bathroom. Leaning against the sink, he got the rag wet and soaped up then stood there waiting. "What?" she asked then once she realized raised her eyebrows, "Really? You can't do it with my shirt on? It's a short sleeve for cryin' out loud."

Rolling her eyes, Kelly lifted her shirt over her head, with a little help from James. Gritting her teeth as he cleaned it she said, "Thank you, by the way, for pushing me out of the way. Pretty sure that bullet would've gone in my chest otherwise."

His eyes didn't leave her wound as he said, "I need you alive."

Turning her head to look at the wall, she sighed, "Right. I'm your way of remembering."

After a few more minutes of silence, he stepped back. "You're done."

Glancing down at the bandage then back to him she replied, "Thanks."

She slid back on her shirt with his help then said, "So what are we going to do? There's no Wi-Fi here so I can't Google any more of your past and all my notes are back in D.C."

James was quiet a moment then said, "We wait."

Kelly replied sarcastically, "Color me excited," sighing she said, "I'm going to at least something out of the mass quantities of food…Do you eat? I mean I'm sure you did at one point but if they froze you between missions…"

His lips curled into a half smile, stunning her because she'd never seen him do it since they met. "I eat."

"Good," she answered with a smile, "And you'll have to deal with whatever I make. So I hope you like hotdogs and mac and cheese."

Kelly walked passed him still grinning as she headed to the kitchen. Grabbing two saucepans, she turned around to put them on the stove and almost dropped them when she saw him standing there. Shaking her head and moving around him she said, "It's not polite to sneak up on people you know."

After James said nothing she said, "How about you tell me more about Hydra. It might be a good idea for me to know more about the organization trying to kill me."

Watching her he answered, "They're the same as they were before. They eliminated threats to their vision of a new world."

Looking at him after putting the water in the saucepans she said, "That's where you came in, huh?"

James merely glanced down for a few moments then back at her. Leaning back against the counter, she said, "I just wish I knew who they've infiltrated. I mean, the news already showed those caught in our own government so who know who else? It's a good thing I don't have many close friends. They might try to kill me."

"I'd stop them" he replied.

Meeting his eyes for a moment then she looked away, focusing on the food. Does he have to make it sound like that? Like I'm more to him than just a way for him to remember? She flashed back to the kiss in alley for a brief second before shaking it off and saying, "Yeah yeah. I know. You have to protect me so I can help get your memories back."

James looked like he was about to say something but didn't. He just stared, causing Kelly to shift her weight. Finishing up the food, she grabbed two bowls out of the cupboard. Serving out the mac then putting the hotdogs on top, she handed him a bowl with a fork. "Here you go."

He glanced at it then her and she rolled her eyes, "Oh shush and eat."

They both went into the main room, James sitting in the armchair and Kelly on the couch. Eating in silence, she avoided looking at him. Instead she stared out the window at the sun rays that shone outside. It made her miss the sun in her apartment. But then again, she missed her apartment in general. She found it her place of solace. She could write there so there was work but then she had her couch, T.V. and everything that could make her feel, well, part of this century.

James watched her, intrigued by the fact she stopped looking at him. Even more puzzling to him was the fact he couldn't stop looking at her. He took in more detail about her that since they met he didn't notice. First, her hair fell in golden waves across her shoulders and spilling down her back. Second, whenever he didn't understand a reference she made, her eyes warmed then rolled before the soft rumble of laughter came from her throat. Third, when he stared at her too long, she constantly shifted her weight or blinked quickly and looked away. Lastly, her smile shone more radiantly then the sun even with two front teeth that stuck out a little further than the others.

Most importantly, James kept thinking back to the alley. He still didn't know why he kissed her only that the thought of her deliberately lying angered him. But when he saw her there, accepting her fate no matter what he did, he just reacted. He didn't even want to remember anything at that moment in time. Pure instinct drove him that day and every day since. Remembering some of the girls from his past, they didn't compare to how the warmth of her body felt against his. He wanted it back.

Kelly glanced back at him and caught his stare. She blinked rapidly and looked away before shaking her head, "Weren't you taught it's rude to stare? I'm trying to eat you know."

Finishing her last bite, she stood and took it to the sink. Why the hell does he keep staring at me? Shit, do I have hot dog in my teeth? Gross! He's probably laughing at me, on the inside anyway. Does he know how to laugh? God I need to stop this. Turning around, there James stood, handing her his bowl. "I like what you cook."

Kelly chuckled, "You can thank Kraft; they put it in the box."

"I'm thanking you."

She swallowed hard. His eyes never left hers, reminding her of in the alley. Oh God. He's going to do it isn't he? Seriously how many more memories does he need right now? Can't he process the ones' he's got?

James leaned in but she put her hands up against his chest. "Can we not do that method for a bit?" she asked, glancing away from him for a second, "I know you're just trying to remember and I'm onboard for that it's just…" she glanced from his lips back to his eyes, "too much of it could lead to unwanted and unreciprocated feelings and I just don't want to complicate things. I'm still here to help you but it'd just be better for both of us if we don't, okay?"

He didn't move. "And if it's not just for remembering?"

Kelly swallowed hard again then said, "Then it's still not a good idea. You're emotionally compromised right now. Let's just get you your memories back and then see how things go…okay?"

James didn't answer for a moment. He furrowed his brow then nodded in agreement.

"Good," she said, "So…what now then?"