The next morning Tess snuck out of Bucky's room as quickly as she could, closing the door quietly behind her. She had offered Bucky a heartfelt goodbye, promising to meet him later; but she had declined his offer of breakfast sex. The Doctor was due on shift in fifteen minutes not allowing her enough time to go home and change, let alone enjoy a post coital romp in the sack. As much as she wanted. She had hoped if she could make it to her office before anyone saw her, she would be able to freshen up. Tessa had always kept some emergency supplies in her desk drawer; Deodorant, dry shampoo and a breath mint. Just the essentials. As the door clicked softly behind her Tessa allowed herself a small smile and sauntered down the hall triumphantly until she heard her name being called.

"Morning Doc!" Came Steve's suggestive tone.

"Er, oh...Morning Cap." Tessa stuttered sheepishly as she hurried off down the hall to the elevator.

The super-soldier watched his colleague as she stepped into the elevator and chose her floor. As the doors slid closed he stared her down deviously and watched as her face flushed under his gaze. Steve was about to shout down the hall to her but was cut off by the Doctor.

"Don't! Shut Up!" She cringed with a wide smirk on her face.

Finally in the safety of her office Tessa attempted to tame her bedroom hair by throwing it into a high ponytail, she sprayed deodorant liberally and popped a couple of breath mints in her mouth. She had just finished shrugging on her doctors coat when a she heard a knock at her office door. Tessa looked coyly, smiled when she saw Natasha on the other side of the glass and beckoned her in with a hand.

"Morning Doc'." The redhead said in a sing song voice.

"Morning Natasha." Tessa replied timidly.

"Did you have fun last night?"

"What do you mean? Who have you been speaking to? Did Steve tell you?" The shocked woman fired back in quick succession.

"Woah, what are you talking about?" Natasha said confused, her hands raised in mock surrender, "You seemed flustered when you left last night, so I rang your bungalow later on and didn't get an answer. Why? What did you do?"

Natasha sat down on the edge of her friends desk and eyed her suspiciously. It was only then that she spotted the same pale green dress Tessa had been wearing the night previous. The Doctor wasn't exactly a fashion guru, but even Natasha had to admit she had never seen her friend wear the same outfit two days in a row, particularly one as casual as that dress to work.

"You hooked up with someone didn't you? You did, I haven't seen you this jumpy since," Romanoff faltered when it dawned on her, "Oh Tessa, please tell me you didn't?"

"I know! Don't!" Tessa brought her hands to her head as she confessed, "What's worse is Steve saw me coming out of his room this morning. I was so embarrassed."

"Wait, What? Who's room? Simon doesn't live here last time I checked."

"Simon? Natasha please give me some credit. I slept with Bucky." She walked around the desk to get closer to her friend, as she whispered her secret.

"With Bucky! What the," Natasha cried loudly.

"Shh, will you keep your voice down. I don't think the whole tower heard you." Tessa closed her office door before leaning onto for support.

"Wait I thought that was against your ethical code?" The redhead asked with air quotes.

"It is. I mean it was. He isn't my patient anymore remember. That changes things."

"I bet it does."

"Okay get your head out of the gutter, Romanoff." The young woman walked back to her desk chair and sat down. She placed her elbows on the table and looked at her friend sincerely.

"What happens now?" Natasha mused.

"See where it goes? I don't know. But if you don't mind, please keep this to yourself?"

"Sure, but I expect much more details tomorrow alright?. I'll see you later."

Natasha left her friend much happier than when she had arrived. She would have been lying if she said she wasn't a little bit concerned about what she had just heard. Bucky didn't have the best track record, particularly when it came to Tessa. However, the former spy was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Tessa was an astute woman and held a keen mind and could certainly handle herself, Natasha wasn't truly worried.

As Tessa leaned back into her leather swivel chair holding onto her chest she tried to compose herself for the second time that morning. As she sat there her mind drifted back to the night before. Her heart began to race as she remembered the way Bucky touched her body so gently, at the time it felt so pure and sinful at the same time. She drew her lip into her mouth relishing the delicious sting of Bucky's teeth on them as he bit her mouth playfully. Tessa sighed contentedly and was pleasantly surprised when the lingering scent of Bucky wafted into her nose. The delightful odour was rapidly vanishing from her skin and the hungry Doctor was looking forward to replacing it later. The brunette snapped herself back to reality, coughed uncomfortably and began shuffling the papers on her desk. Doing anything to stop the perverted thoughts that were filling her head.

The rest of the morning was thankfully uneventful, Tessa was able to concentrate on her work, conduct any meetings over the phone and even allow herself a quick bite to eat. Not willing to risk being caught by more suspicious eyes down in the canteen, the Doctor decided to grab a cup of coffee and undoubtedly stale pastry, that were usually in the break-room. Not the most wholesome lunch, but it prevented any more illicit and unwanted questions about her appearance. On the way back to her office Tessa thought were will was beginning to wane when she sensed the distinct herby, citrusy and pungent scent of Bucky. She was about silently berate herself when she spotted said man knocking on her office door. Damn! She thought. What was he doing here? Why did he have to look to good?

"Bucky?"

The soldier turned at his name and sent Tessa a lopsided smile as he leant on the door frame.

"Morning Doc'! Woah, what did you get up to last night? You look really tired." He mocked.

Tessa looked around nervously praying that no one was around to hear that and replied with a simple and flirtatious, "Shut up."

The brunette unlocked her office and was followed inside by the tall man. Bucky shut the door behind him before checking the coast was clear. Satisfied that there wasn't any around to witness he turned from the door and pulled Tessa towards him by her lab coat. He pressed her slight frame against his bulkier one and whilst cradling her face planted his lips on hers. The normally rational Tessa would have ripped herself away immediately, her professional side taking control, but since she couldn't stop thinking about him, the roused women happily let him kiss her. As they drew apart both Bucky and Tessa let out a shaky, but ecstatic breath.

"So, what time do you finish later?" Bucky said calmly.

"Five. You?"

"Well I'm in between jobs at the moment." He joked.

"Right." Tessa replied apologetically.

"But, I'm hoping after today that might all change."

Bucky confidently went to sit on Tessa's low sofa and slung his arms over the back cushions. Tessa quizzed him with the quirk of an eyebrow.

"It's my last session today."

"Already?"

"Yeah. I didn't think I'd make it, but it will be worth it in the end." Bucky crossed his left heel over his right knee and and sighed happily.

"Well Congratulations!" Tessa offered as she looked at him dearly.

"Hey, don't get my hopes up." The soldier replied standing up from the sofa and crossing the short distance to the Doctor. "It's not a dead cert' yet."

He held Tessa by the elbows as she crossed her arms at her chest.

"What times your appointment?" She asked.

"Any minute now." Bucky said glancing at the large clock by the bookcase.

"Erm, well then shouldn't you be heading up there?"

"No? Simon "informed" me it was going to be here? Didn't you know?"

"No!" Tessa walked indignantly away. She wasn't mad with Bucky, but at the audacity Simon had. Pushing the boundaries of their professional relationship as always.

Tessa sat down at her desk again and began closing down the applications on the screen in a huff. With that there came a short sharp knock at the door and without herald Simon strolled into the office. He looked at the pair in front of him and smiled carefully.

"Simon, what are you doing? You're evicting me from my office?" Tessa was annoyed and didn't care it showed on her voice.

"Yeah, sorry! Mine has been confiscated. I thought you wouldn't mind?" The psychiatrist replied placatingly.

"Fine. Let me grab my stuff."

"Don't worry I'll leave everything where you left it." Simon explained as he glanced towards Bucky.

Tessa caught the man's eye and dared to look at the soldier also, but quickly stared down at her screen to avoid suspicion. She finished closing the files open on the desktop, then grabbed her tablet and handbag and left the room. Bucky offered a small smile before the door closed.