Jaye managed to lose him and deliver the blueprints to Storm Shadow, who had contacted her about the change in plans. She didn't say much, just that she was being followed. She didn't find it necessary to elaborate on who was chasing her. Her instinct told her to keep quiet on it.

As she entered her apartment building after her debriefing at headquarters, she sighed, ready for a relaxing, quiet evening. Her plans included a long soak in the Jacuzzi tub and an up close and personal date with her bed.

She stepped out of the elevator and let out a groan. "Seriously?" she asked aloud, looking at one of the last people she wanted to see right now. "Let me guess – Snake Eyes' gift?"

He didn't move from his position beside her door. He was leaning up against the wall, arms folded, looking quite smug.

She rolled her eyes and unlocked her door. He followed her inside. "Do you mind?" she asked, looking back at him. "I have a date."

His smug look disappeared and he growled, "Not tonight you don't. I suggest you cancel," he demanded, giving her a dark look.

She hid her own smug smile, amused she had struck a chord with him.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked irritably, turning to look at him, crossing her arms. "I don't have the blueprints anymore. What now?"

He smiled, eyeing her. "I can think of a few things," he said suggestively, brows raised.

She snorted. "I'm sure you can, but I'm exhausted and last time we spoke, before today, you were rid of me, remember? So you'll excuse me if I decline," she said coldly, turning away. Damn him for playing with her emotions! she thought. I will not let him see how he still affects me, even today!

She went into her kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. Moving to the bathroom, she began to get ready for her soak in the tub, ignoring the fact that he was following her everywhere. Maybe he'll just go away, she thought, if I ignore him.

She was all too aware he was there and he was as stubborn as she was, so she figured he wasn't going to leave without saying his piece. She just had to wait him out. One of their tempers was bound to flare, they'd fly into one of their infamous arguments, and he'd leave. She figured if she ignored him, then his boiling point would be reached faster.

He watched her, knowing she wanted him gone. He couldn't say why he had waited for her instead of returning to base. Snake Eyes had given him the location of her apartment and given him a look – well, he imagined he gave him that look, even though his mask usually covered his face. Body language, Flint surmised, is probably a more accurate description. He shook his head, realizing that in his distraction, she had slipped by him into her bedroom.

He entered just in time to see her slip out of the tight bodysuit and into a robe. She was trying to ignore the fact that he was there, he knew, one of her things she used to do when they would get into a fight and she would refuse to back down. She was trying to wait him out, he guessed. He almost smiled. Some things never changed, he thought, shaking his head.

The bodysuit had left nothing to the imagination, but he rather liked her better in the big fluffy robe. He recalled another place, another time, when she had been in a similar robe, with a hotel crest on it, as well as some of their activities. He grinned.

Jaye noticed the grin and almost groaned. She didn't trust that grin. Her efforts to ignore him were not working. She was not only mentally aware of his presence, her body was also aware of his presence, and she didn't like not being in control. She sighed, turning towards him.

"Look, I've had a hard day and all I really want is a glass of wine and a bath. It's not too much to ask for, right? Then, I am going to sleep for 12 hours, wake up, and go back to work. You are not on my agenda. You've already told me in no uncertain terms that I work for the enemy, which I don't believe," she shrugged, "but it's whatever you think. You're entitled to it. However, if I don't have my bath, wine, and sleep, I can tell you now that I will become your worst enemy, and you do NOT want that!"

Flint chuckled, took a step forward, and pulled her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head. "You have your bath, wine, and we'll talk and I promise to let you sleep after that, ok? I've seen you at your worst, remember?" he said, chuckling again. "I'll settle down, take advantage of your TV and you let me know when you're ready."

She just looked at him, astonished. It was not exactly the speech she had anticipated. Men were a mystery, she thought, still looking at him. One big giant puzzle with apparently some missing pieces. Hours ago, he had held a gun to her, threatened her, and now here he was trying to be nice, friendly, and possibly romantic. She closed her eyes, shaking her head. She finished off her glass of wine and decided she'd better go get the bottle. She had a feeling she'd need it before the night was over.

She stayed in the tub as long as she could, but knowing he was out there, waiting for her, prevented her from relaxing. Grumbling, she got out, dried off, and threw on a large t-shirt and pajama pants. Barefoot, she padded through her living room where Flint was watching some German game show to the kitchen. She tossed the now empty wine bottle into the recycling bin and rooted through her refrigerator for something to eat. She figured a slight buzz would not help her think too clearly with Flint around and she needed all her wits about her tonight, before she ended up in the same situation as always.

She fixed herself a sandwich and carried it to the living room, settling down on a chair. Flint eyed her sandwich.

"Oh, I figured you would've already helped yourself," she said, noticing his interest in her sandwich. She shrugged. "Go fix something if you want."

Flint nodded, and went into the kitchen. She heard the refrigerator door open, several cabinets rifled through, and the beep of the microwave before he returned with her leftovers from a few nights ago.

He sat across from her and smiled. Taking a bite of his food, he closed his eyes and sighed happily. "I haven't had anything this good for awhile! I always loved how you could cook."

She didn't know what to say. He kept catching her off guard.

"Why are you here?" she asked again, this time in a softer tone.

He looked at her. "Isn't it obvious?"

She sighed. "Last time…"

He interrupted. "Last time, we let our pride and temper get in the way. Why is it so hard to accept that I just want to see you?"

She looked at him, then started counting off reasons with her finger. "Well, one, there's how we left things at the PITT, then Scotland, today with pointing the gun at me…."

He held up a hand. "Okay, I get it! Look," he began, moving over to where she sat, grabbing her hand, "I don't have ready answers for everything. I just know we belong together and my life is miserable without you. At this point, I could care less who you work for or what you do."

She looked at him, puzzled, but didn't withdraw her hand. "So, what was with the attitude earlier if you feel this way?"

He glanced down, embarrassed. "Frustration, I guess."

Jaye sighed. "Look, Dash, I'm in something I can't just leave right now. I have no idea how that affects us, other than living on two different continents. I just…." she paused, not sure how to say what she was feeling.

Flint looked up at her and smiled at the use of his given name. "Allie, then let's just have tonight, ok? Maybe things will look clearer in the morning."

She laughed bitterly at that, knowing that with the morning, life would come hurtling back in their faces. "Tonight? Sure, why not," she said with a smile, knowing the morning would come all too soon.