K is for...

Kisses

Lexi clamps a hand over her mouth and nose, trying to block out the stench of rotten eggs as she runs up the steps towards the ground floor. There's only a limited amount of time before the gas tank explodes, taking the entire building - and her - up in flames with it. And, given that she's spent the last five minutes trying to navigate her way through the maze of corridors that make up the basement level, that hasn't left her much time to get out.

She had to do it, though. She had to go back in. Destroy the evidence. The last thing they need is that kind of information in the wrong hands. Maybe locking Tom out of the building and sealing the doors so that he couldn't get in and she couldn't get out herself wasn't the smartest idea she's ever had, but it's his own fault. She wasn't going back in there alone, he said - if she was going to her probable death, he was coming too. So, what was she supposed to have done? Put him in danger and let him come anyway? No. That could not be allowed to happen. He's been put in danger by her far too many times.

The air around her is heavy, burning the inside of her nose when she can't help but inhale, making her gag and retch, choking on the very oxygen she breathes to survive as she wrenches the door open that leads to the ground floor, and makes a bee line for the nearest window. The catch on the window frame is old and rusted with age, but, eventually, it breaks away in her hand, and she pushes the window open with a loud creak, pulling herself up onto the window sill, and sliding out of the small gap, feet first. She lands roughly on the ground outside - that's going to leave a nasty bruise, some rational part of her mind thinks, unburdened by the panic consuming the rest of her - gasping for clean air as she pulls herself up off the damp ground and limps as far away from the building as she can. An explosion sounds from somewhere behind her, the impact throwing her forwards, showers of glass raining down upon her like deadly raindrops; she raises her arms weakly to protect her face as she stumbles away.

"Lexi!" There's a shout from somewhere near her, followed by the sound of running footsteps; before her ankle gives away and she trips, sending the concrete ground hurtling towards her face, Tom catches her and gathers her up in his arms, face pressed into her hair.

"Hey," she says weakly.

"Don't ever do that to me again," he mumbles, peppering kisses on the crown of her head.

"You should not have refused to stay behind," she jokes, nudging his shoulder with her nose.

"I thought you weren't going to get out in time. I thought I'd lose you."

"I had to do it, Tom. I had to destroy the files."

"I don't know what I would have done if..." He tails off, not even wanting to put the alternative outcome into words.

"I'm sorry." She pulls back slightly to look into his face. "I did not want you to worry. I do not ever want you to worry about me." She leans forward and presses a long, lingering kiss to his lips.

He gives a shaky half smile. "I always worry about you, love."

Word Count: 583

Yay, kisses :) They should have kissed in every episode. Every episode ever. Would have made everything a whole lot better (for me, anyway).