He shifted in his bed uncomfortably, his thoughts preventing him from any sleep. How dare he tell him he couldn't make her happy, that she had insecurities or even know what she needed? Gage was old enough to know what's best for her, but…could he by any misfortune be right? John had been craving to call her, but he feared Nicholas would pick up again, and such a frustration, he knew he couldn't bear. Not when he was two thousand kilometres away. Not when he knew he wouldn't have anything to remedy to the feelings he would be reeling with. Not when he couldn't see Gage.

01: 09 a.m.

(Are you awake? GJ.)

His phone lighted and the text took him by surprise. He looked up at the previous text he'd sent her, text, which she had left unanswered. John locked his phone hastily, putting it back under her pillow.

01:12 a.m.

(Don't ignore me Johnny.)

He looked out at the night sky of Connecticut, seeking advice from a divine force.

01:14 a.m.

(Please Johnny. I need you.)

His eyebrows furrowed, please? She'd never sounded so desperate. Was everything alright? Was she sad or had she been crying? As the questions whirled in his head, and the answer he'd wanted from the divine power finally came without his notice. He dialled her number immediately.

"John." She answered on the first ring; her voice was sore as if she'd been crying; and she hadn't called him Johnny. His heart fell into his stomach.

"I apologize for not replying Johnny." She continued sweetly. Relief washed over him at the annoying sobriquet.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, and you? How was your flight?"

"Very long and your day?"

"Unpleasant." She emphasized on the t, and he was almost happy.

"What did he do?"

"Nicholas can be very…invading sometimes. I've missed you."

He listened attentively his body easing with comfort he hadn't felt since that prick had picked up her phone. Did she know he'd taken her phone? Why hadn't she answered his texts? Was she telling the truth when she said she missed him? A woman like her couldn't be serious…

"Did you miss me?"

"Gage I have to sleep, I have a long day tomorrow. We can talk some other time."

There was a silence at first, he heard her clear her throat then she murmured something that sounded like an "okay" and the line went dead. John locked his phone, now feeling even worse than before. Truthfully, it was difficult to withstand her inexplicableness even five thousand miles away; and there was still the phone call from Jaworski.

Care and attention…

Gage did not need care and attention; what she needed was to pest into his life, force him to cheat on his wife and tip toe her way out as soon as she was done sucking all the blood pumped by his little heart…Like the Succubus that she was. The thought seemed so repulsive, yet it was what happened with every word, every look, and every touch from her, he cheated Liz with all. After all who was she? What did he know about her? How had he even managed to trust her so far? It had even gotten to the point at which he questioned the very ground of his feelings for Elizabeth. John twisted and turned for another hour and woke in a haste; he looked down at his agenda in his phone. Next week, he flied to Los Angeles, then the week after he had a few appearances to make; but on the twenty-third, he was free. He picked his phone from under his pillow, and dialled her number, fuck if it was four in the morning over there.

"John?"

"Yeah."

"Why are you calling me?"

"I was wondering…do you need hum…care and attention?"

"If I need…care and attention? Well…" she chuckled sardonically.

"You know what-Never mind, It's stupid."

"Nothing you say is stupid to me Johnny."

"You say that cuz you haven't seen me drunk!" he chuckled.

"I'd love to though."

"Yes." He said.

"Yes what?"

"Yes, I miss you. You weren't sleeping?"

"I couldn't sleep tonight again."

"Really? Why?"

"Cuz I want to see you and I can't but even if I could, what would I do about it?"

"You could make me breakfast again, and you'd tell me about your crazy childhood and mysterious science teachers."

"Oh really? Please leave Mr Dekker to the past. I'd prefer we talk about you next time."

"Oh my life has been a pale blue Nissan, following the highway of life Miss G. Unlike some people, I'm very conventional."

"Do you have something against unorthodoxy Mister C?"

"Not at all; as a matter of fact, I believe I'm a fan of it."

There was a silence.

"Oh Johnny, what you do to me. Why can't you just be like other men?"

"Says Gage the nonconformist."

"Gage the nonconformist…I think I can deal with that."

"Au plaisir!"

"French? I didn't know you could speak!"

"That's cuz I don't! My abilities are very limited. Do you?"

"Yes, some Spanish and Dutch too."

"I thought you'd dropped out of school…"

"I've been to a lot of places in Europe I had to adapt."

"What else did you have to adapt to?"

"Survival. Diana had left some money so I vagabonded around to find some work."

"Diana?"

"My mother."

"How is she? You never really talked about her before except at the Barbecue."

"Suicide…when I was sixteen. I can barely remember how she looked; she was a hottie though. The men paraded at home."

"You don't seem to have a problem talking about her."

"Not at all. What I really have a problem with is you not in my bed Johnny. That's my real problem."

"Then why don't you quit it?...And hunt down someone else?"

"I have a feeling deep inside me. You see John-you don't really but- when I see you I…I'm helpless. You…you make me so… wet!"

"Even right now, speaking to you over the phone…I…Oh John, this is unbearable. But you asked for time, the least I can do is give you that. But please tell me if it's as bad for you as it is for me."

"Gage I can't tell you…"

"Just one word John; I need to know. Tell me; or else…"

"Else?"

"Or else we're both wasting our time."

The last time words had made his pend on the ends of his ears was…It was never. His ears ached and reddened with heat. He did not want her our of his life, and certainly did not want to be another married, glorious conquest on her table, but…

"Its worse for me Gage. I want you all the time; everywhere. I'd fuck you anytime, and anywhere; but…its wrong…It's not who I am. I'm not even sure who I am anymore. I hate you for it, I hate you for doing this to me; making me doubt, and question my entire life while yours remains completely unaltered. To you…this is just…routine!"

He breathed, conscious he'd just poured out his soul to the one person he shouldn't have. He boiled with anger and frustration like a wolf fighting against his will in front of a prey, half dead.

"Since I've met you John, my life has been anything but unaltered."

Lies.

She still strolled around, heart as hard as a block, diamond eyes shimmering with fluid silver.

"Look, you're very different from all the men I've known. You want to know…me and I find it very perturbing. I'm not used to be so scrutinized, but I have to bear it because what I'm asking in exchange is nothing comparable John. I am well aware what we're doing could ruin your life!"

"Yes, my life; not yours. I'd rather you had something to loose in this too."

"I've already endangered more than I should have Johnny." She chuckled. "If I'd played by my usual rules, you'd know nothing but that I am Gage Jansen."

"Glad to know you're going easy on me."

"I'm trying."

There was a light silence, both voices sighed on the other ends of the line at the same time.

"I'll make you a promise."

"I thought you didn't make promises cuz you can't keep them."

"I'll try for this one."

"I'm all ears."

"I promise I'll tell you anything you'd like to know about me."

"But…"

"But-of course- Well actually when…we finally have sex."

"I look forward to it."

"Me too Johnny."

"Not that!"

"Oh?"

"I look forward to you telling me about yourself smart one."

"It's two sides of the same coin baby." She laughed, her mood obviously lighter.

"Can we at least agree on a date?" she continued, her voice higher and perkier.

"No, its not an appointment marked on my agenda! You'll have to wait."

"I'd like to be on your agenda everyday Johnny. Where are you staying?"

"Hotel Zero Degrees, but I'll fly to L.A soon, then I should be back the day of your exhibition hopefully."

"Now that I have you on my agenda, I don't even look forward to it."

"Don't be stupid!"

"You'd be surprised to see artist don't make the difference between personal and professional."

"Debauches."

"And proud."

"Gage, are you a woman? If you are, are you mad? And if not, are you a devil? I can never understand you."

"Oh…" she said sweetly on the other end of the line. "…Wuthering Heights; very nicely adapted, but I don't see myself as Heathcliff." She said and he laughed.

"And who are you Johnny? Mr Darcy? Perseus? Mr Rochester? Rhett Butler? Or Romeo?"

"Oh hell no. I'm way cooler than them, and I don't think any of them would do what I'm doing right now."

"Then you're Hester Prynne; from Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter!" she giggled loudly. He grunted loudly; not pleased to be compared to a woman; but after all, the radicals of the sixteenth century could have tattooed an A on his chest with a hot iron, he'd probably still see Gage.

"What are you thinking about?" she whispered.

"I can't find a heroin that suits your character Gage, none from the books I've read at least. You're quite a rarity."

"That's cuz I am no heroin Johnny. You're the main character, I write the scenarios." She said, and he chuckled again.

The night ceased and the morning slowly came, the light replacing the darkness. It was almost completely day when they stopped talking over the phone. John began his day, following his usual routine; gym, appointment at the HQs, meeting with members of the staff; then there was a signing at a mall, then a photo shoot for Summerslam. As he came back from the gym, he received a call from Liz, he hadn't called her since he'd left her at the Airport, and his chest began to weight again. He left her a message on her voicemail.

"Lizzie, I'm sorry I haven't called before. I had a meeting with Vince and when I came back at the hotel I went to sleep. I hope you're not mad, how's my woman doing? How's the baby shower coming along? Call me back. I love you."

Later, he met with Randy and Stephen to catch breakfast in the Hotel's restaurant. Stephen was talking about another one of his crazy ex-girlfriends who'd tried to hack his Twitter account and posted a few indecent shots of him. The waiter came by to take their orders.

"Bread, an omelette without the yolk, some ham, Dutch breakfast cake if you have it and Lipton lemon Tea." He answered. Faces turned on him, and whispers ceased to leave space for silence and blank expressions.

"What?"

"Dutch. Breakfast…Cake?" Randy cocked his head to the side. John nodded simply and Randy rolled his eyes.

"It's mouth-watering, you should try." He said, patting his shoulder.

"I didn't know Liz could bake a cake." He snorted.

"I didn't know Liz knew wher ya kitchen was fella!" Stephen retorted, chuckling in mockery.

"Guys, its my wife! C'mon! Not everyone is married to Chef Samantha." He pointed to Randy, and then he turned to Stephen. "And when you marry Margaret Psycho…Don't invite me."

"I was just sayin'…" he defended grinning under his red moustache. John's phone vibrated in his pocket and he first thought it was Liz calling him then he noticed it was an incoming call from Gage. On his phone he'd replaced the initials GJ by…well…Succubus. If by any misfortune, someone came across this, would it raise any suspicion?

"Guys, I'll be right back." He stood from the table and moved the men's room and picked up.

"Hey."

"Hey Johnny."

OOO

Five minutes later, John finally emerged from the bathroom and resumed his position at the table with his two friends. They both looked at him questioningly, supposedly hoping for an explanation, but Randy was the first to speak up.

"How's Liz?" he asked knowingly, an eyebrow raised over his cocky expression as if he knew he hadn't been talking to Liz.

"She's fine. Amanda's making a baby shower soon; it's keeping her busy."

"And, why doesn't she come on the road with us sometime? She must feel lonely." He pushed.

"I'll ask her; but you know she's friends with Sam right?" John retorted. Randy wouldn't want any of this dirty business come up to Sam's ears. He only grunted as a response and the waiter came with their breakfast. They ate in silence, except when Randy began bothering him about Liz and how their marriage was coming along, and if Liz had plans of having children, etc. They left the hotel restaurant when they were done, and walked back to their rooms; the elevator dropped Stephen on his floor and they both proceeded to their own floor.

"She's starting to eat you up John."

"I don't see what you're talking about." He replied, and they walked out of the elevator.

"Don't bullshit me; you never leave when Liz calls, you eat Dutch cake now and we know Liz can't cook to save her life. What? Do you like her? Did you fuck her?"

"Look…Gage is a good friend; that's all. Nothing's happened with her." He replied, as they strolled to his room.

"A friend? You gawked her all day the other day! You should watch out , at least hold it down when you're around Liz. Thank "

"I've got it Randy!" John snorted, rolling his eyes.

"Just saying…from the guy who's been there. It's a dangerous game; that broad is nothing good."

"She's not a broad; you don't know her!"

"Oh! Because you think you know her? You know how it is with them; big star, get him into your bed then next day, you're on TMZ and your wife is filling for Divorce."

"She's not after fame or money; she has plenty on her own."

"Its worse then." He grunted and John frowned. "Generally, there's two kinds of women, the gold diggers and the ones after fame, then there are the ones that only want to fuck your life up."

Randy retreated his key card and opened the door to his room. He turned before closing his door.

"I know you'd never hurt Liz, you've always done what's right. I know I'm not on the good side of the line to tell you this but…" he paused. "That girl…she's dangerous. Stay away from her." He said, and closed his door.

John sighed; would he ever get a break from this? He didn't want to think about it; he didn't want to think of the consequences, or if she was dangerous or not. Gage was only harmful to his mental stability, not for his marriage or his image. But what if someone knew…

He couldn't bring himself to envisage his family's reactions. His Dad would be outraged, his mother, deeply disappointed, and his brothers; well they'd have his back at least. John slammed his door and locked it; exasperated. He sat on his bed, and put his head in his hands. His nerves all retreated to the back of his neck and his head began to ache. His phone rang this time, playing Come Away with me of Norah Jones. Then another call came in at the same time when he was about to pick up.

Lizzie girl.

Succubus.

He grinned down at his phone, his mind debating in a fraction of a second on which he should pick up. He frowned deeply as the song continued to play and he was left to choose. He was probably making a huge deal out if this; was it a sign? A divine mediation, forcing him to make a stand? He sighed and took one of the calls and put the phone at his ear.

"Hey." He said.