A/N: I don't own anyone but Alex (Jack argues I don't)

So…Some of you didn't think these two would finally give in. Well I'm just chock full of surprises now aren't I?

If only every shower was like this.

Alex felt the rush of steamy goodness racing down her back as she stood beneath the generous heated jets, not wanting to go anywhere. Her entire body ached from head to toe; the last bits of strength keeping her upright though she felt her muscles wavering from the struggle. Strong hands lavished her body, running hungrily over her wet skin, supporting her exhausted form. Jack felt her lean up against him, pressing their slick bodies tighter together. The tiny twinges didn't escape his mindful fingers. They pressed firmly into the thick knot gathered below her skin; working the blood into the deprived tissue and fibers.

Alex reveled in the attention showered upon her, sighing contently while Jack's hands continued working the coil loose. It was all so surreal for her. She couldn't remember the last time these emotions had visited her heart and mind. All she had known was anger pain and rage. But would this last? Would fate be cruel and shatter this piece of heaven?

Her mind silenced the doubts trickling into her mind, refusing to grant them a single moment.

Jack slid his arms along her sides until they rested around her hips in a loose ring that joined at his interlocking fingers. He had never shared such an intimate setting this way before. But he reveled in it, living for the moment instead of worrying about the future.

"Jack," Alex suddenly twisted around to face the rich soulful chocolate rings. She noticed there was brightness to them where before they had been depraved of any light or life. Alcatraz did that to a man. It sucked his soul like a succubus, leaving behind a cold empty shell that was more dead than alive.

"What's wrong?" The smile that had been present moments before vanished into troubled frown. He felt his heart hammering inside his chest. Was she going to tell him it was a mistake? That she was regretting it? "Alex, you can tell me anything. D-Do you….Are you having doubts?"

"No, no," she collected his hands then placed them on her face. "Why would you think I would have regrets? I don't. I have no regrets about what happened. I wanted it to happen…..with you. Look this," she waved a finger between them. "Is something that's new for both of us but I know that I want this. We're in this together or at least I hope we are."

Jack exhaled and nodded his head very eagerly. As far as he was concerned they had been in it together since the day she snatched him from the cemetery.

"But what is this? I mean…." Alex grew frustrated over her tangled tongue and grew angry at herself. She wasn't good at such intimate words or gestures. No one had reciprocated any affection she had offered growing up except for family who had long passed away. Yet a second chance was standing right before her and her blasted brain and lips refused to move. It wasn't fair!

A finger pressed her lips closed silencing the garbled stream of concerns that rested at the tip of her tongue and lingered for a moment before the solitary digit lifted and drifted away replaced with a wet tender mouth. The kiss slowly deepened between them as he slipped his tongue between her teeth and parted mouth. Jack hummed in pleasure as she lightly raked her nails down his back but slowly withdrew as Alex felt herself begin to shut down.

"Alex," he could sense she was troubled. "Alex what's wrong?"

"I haven't been this close to someone in a very long time."

Alex averted her eyes to their feet feeling embarrassed all of a sudden. She felt like an awkward teenager standing there.

"Hey," Jack suddenly caught the tip of her chin with his thumb and index finger. Confidence lined his eyes which reached in lifting Alex's spirits. "It's alright. You don't have to be afraid any longer. I will not let anyone hurt again. I promise."

A thin but sad smile carved her lips.

"Don't make a promise if you can't keep it."

"Come here," Jack pressed her head against his chest feeling the rest of her body slide along his. A hand glided down her hair relaxing her tense state of mind.

"I'm sorry," she sighed miserably. "I didn't mean to kill the moment."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because," Her hand slipped between them fondling the semi hard flesh. Jack rested his forehead on her shoulder, surrendering his body to her. The blood rushed like a raging torrent through his veins and roared in his ears silencing his own moans and pants. The hot lips of his lover mouthed across his chest and shoulders, leaving random bites on the slightly tan canvas. Her hand curled into a comfortable fist, stroking his now pulsating member. The slick sweeps of skin water and precome was a delicious lather that coated the hypersensitive flesh.

The sharp nip across the hardened nipple made him yelp with a hitched breath. Scraping bone was quickly replaced by soft tender tongue, eagerly soothing the pain. Jack's body was shaking hard, leaning against the pristine fiberglass for support. Her hands were so skilled; finely honed harbingers of pleasure and ecstasy.

"Alex…" He bucked his hips impatiently. "Please….."

She savored in the way her name rolled off his tongue. She felt her body ache as arousal dominated once again.

"What is it you want?" A light scrape of teeth along his earlobe.

"I need you," he panted. Her heart fluttered at those three simple words. Alex nearly broke down at the simple but powerful declaration. Her tears danced with the falling streams, unseen by the partially open gaze. Jack felt the absence around his cock, opening his eyes to see her hands settling on his hips. She was biting on her bottom lip but her eyes were glazed over with lust.

His hands curled in her ass, lifting the smaller body off the basin. Alex locked her legs and tightened her thighs around his waist and arched her back feeling the solid girth filling the cum slick heat. Slow deep thrusts penetrated her over and over, erasing the pained moments of earlier. His eyes rolled back as the massaging heat coated his cock with release and sex. The sensations stimulated the nerves, sending charges of electricity throughout him.

Alex felt the sweet kisses pressed on her skin, outlining her collarbone then neck. It felt right being intertwined with him.

"Alex….."

"Mmm just let it go," she gently urged. Jack felt the tightening at the base of his cock burning harder and brighter, knowing he was getting close. He clamped his hands on her hips, slamming her down as his body thrusted up. Jack was rutting now, unable to restrain instinct any further. Alex palmed the back of his head and draped her other arm across his back and felt her lover spilling inside. She felt him trembling as he rode out the powerful orgasm and ran her hand up and down his spine. The solid thrusts slowed to shallow weaker snapping of his body.

He slowly lowered her down but didn't unlock the circle that embraced her.

"That was hot," she giggled. "But the couch was hotter."

"Hot?" He raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to use slang. I guess I was trying to say that it was incredibly arousing."

"Oh," Jack pushed the damp gathering of strands behind her ear. "It was."

Alex yawned and snuggled against his chest. She was ready to slip beneath the covers.

"I think we should dry off and get under the covers and ignore everything; no Hauser and no 63s."

"I second that," she cracked a smile though he couldn't see it.

Jack slid under the cool sheet and comforter first, scooting back to allow for his lover to join him. The welcomed warmth absorbed against his naked chest and torso. They forwent any clothing, wanting to be as close to one another as they could. She felt his arms circumvent her waist in a protective stance. Alex exhaled and sunk deeper against him, allowing a few daydreams to dance across her mind. Jack could feel her drop as sleep settled in. He wondered if she was able to dream. Dreams had abandoned him ever since waking up in that holding cell. Maybe it was for the best; not to be tormented by ghosts of the past.

Kit Nelson was dead.

Hauser put a bullet between the child killer's eyes. He was doing the world a favor really; something that should've been done back in 1960. Dylan was safe and on the way to be reunited with his mother and brother. Now the FBI agent was in the elevator with the body bag concealing Nelson's chilling corpse hoisted over his shoulder. It was a dead weight he gladly carried.

Beauregard looked up to see his friend unceremoniously dropping the body bag on the table. He retracted the zipper to see the face of Kit Nelson peering through a smile creased his mouth.

"Couldn't have happened to a nicer man."

"I may need a favor from you for a friend," Hauser cryptically responded.

"But of course," Beauregard acquiesced. "But this calls for a small celebration and I have something just for the occasion."

Beauregard fetched the record resting on a table and gingerly put it on the nearby record player. The sweet sounds of I'm In My Wine by Amos Milburn filled the air. The doctor's mood lifted as he lit a Marlboro with jubilation and went about his business. He really did despise Nelson and wouldn't shed a single tear over his demise. A part of him winced internally as Alexandra would've been as equally elated with this. Beauregard wondered where his former assistant was. He had heard about her little expedition regarding Jack Sylvane. He shouldn't be surprised considering she had a weak spot for the inmate. It was sickeningly bittersweet though he viewed all inmates as rats and degenerates.

"Hey Alex ya here?" Doc stepped into the dimly lit safehouse. The main room was empty but he wasn't alarmed. Perhaps she was in the back.

"Alex?" Doc shuffled through the dark unable to see the gathered clothing on the floor. His foot stepped down on underwire but it was unnoticed. The next step he took landed on pile of crumpled jeans and that didn't go by unnoticed.

"What the…." He knelt down to get a better look of what he had stepped on and slowly realized what it was. Women's jeans, size 4, were under the weight of his boot. Doc's eyes flashed wide open as they adjusted to the dark, seeing the legs of a man's pair of jeans, black short sleeved shirt, and boxers nearby.

"Oh….my….god…." his voice squeaked. No one needed to tell him what the scattered clothing signified. Alex and Jack….

"Doc?"

Alex stood in the doorway, fully dressed in a clean pair of jeans and crisp olive shirt.

"Uh Alex, hey….."

Her eyes shifted down to the forgotten pile of clothing and instantly embarrassment settled in.

"I am so sorry," she rushed to gather the offensive clothing up off the floor. "We weren't expecting anyone. Daniel went to the library and…"

"No, it's okay," Doc shook his head. "I didn't realize….."

Alex dropped the pile to the side and dropped down on the couch. Her fingers locked together as she attempted to find the words. Doc offered a sympathetic smile to his friend.

"Look, I'm not going to judge you or Jack okay? It's not my place to do so. So what if you two….you know…."

"Had sex?" She chuckled lightly. "It's alright Doc. You can say it."

"Where is he?"

"Sleeping in my room but I suppose I should say it's our room now. So what brings you by?"

"Oh uh I wanted to tell you that Kit Nelson is dead."

"One less predator for the world to worry about I suppose."

"Well Dylan's home with his mom and brother, alive of course."

"Well that's good considering Hauser had killed the Amber Alert. How did you find him?"

"He had a bunch of checks from a bomb shelter company he worked for and it was discovered there was one shelter outside of town in the woods. Dylan's a smart kid. He smashed the light in the shelter then got out and ran."

Alex just smiled.

"Hauser's still gunning for you two. He doesn't want to believe you and Jack are on his side unofficially."

"It's the whole Tiller thing. He's letting his anger supersede his reasoning skills. He won't believe that Tiller was a monster."

"Alex," Doc was cautious but decided to ask anyways. "What happened to you? What did he do?"

Alex tucked her legs up and hugged them against her chest. She slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Yeah, what did he do?" Jack walked through the hall dressed in loose fitting jeans and white shirt. Doc watched as he slipped behind Alex who released her legs for his arms to take their place. It wasn't possessive in any way but rather affectionate and supportive.

"Hi Jack," Doc gave a short nervous wave.

"Hello Doctor Soto. How long have you been here?"

"He showed up about 10 minutes ago. Kit Nelson's dead."

"Good," Jack snorted. "I heard about what he did to children. What about Madsen?"

"Nothing yet," Doc shook his head. "I'm sorry guys I wish I had better news."

"It's alright," Alex sighed. "He's in hiding. I'm not giving up until we get his journal."

"Alex," Jack slipped a hand along her face bringing her around to his waiting gaze. "What happened to you? Please….."

She swallowed down the hard lump and nodded.

"The night of his birthday and I went to his residence before the dinner."

"Why?" Jack was in shock.

"Because if I didn't give him what he wanted I knew he would make you suffer even more. I couldn't have that on my conscious. He did enough to you because of me."

"Damn it!"

"Are you angry with me?" Alex grimaced and looked away. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.

"Angry? No I'm not angry at you Alex. Tiller put you in that position. He took advantage of you and used me to get to you."

"Alex you don't have to tell us about it if it makes you uncomfortable," Doc was sympathetic to her plight.

"No, I want to tell you. I trust you both."

Jack held her tighter, resting his head on her shoulder. Doc felt as if he had interrupted an intimate moment.

"Okay," she wiped her eyes.

"You can stop anytime if it gets to be too much."

"Thanks," she whispered. "The night of the birthday party I went to Tiller's residence…."

Tiller's Residence…1960

Alex felt her heart dropping with each rap on the door. She decided on a simple dark blue dress; nothing provocative as she wouldn't give Tiller the pleasure. The night was cool as fog rolled in from the Pacific. She could only hope Tiller wasn't there.

The click of the door lock stabbed that thought dead.

"Alexandra," Tiller was dressed in an expensive suit of charcoal shading. A crisp white shirt peered through the center of the jacket while a plain black tie rested proudly on his chest. The predatory grin shined in the light making her body shiver with fright. "I see you decided to make the correct choice."

She stepped in feeling his body rush behind her then close the door, her only means of escape. The coldness gathered in the pit of her stomach, growing and reaching out like icy tendrils. She fought back the tears fighting to keep a strong front as Tiller circled around taking in his victory. His hands came to rest on her shoulders then slid up and down her slender arms. It was disgusting how he continued to leer at her like a snake would its prey.

"Don't be so sullen," he tipped her chin up. "It darkens that pretty face. You don't want me to be upset on my birthday now do you?"

"No," she shook her head.

"Good," his hand opened and palmed the side of her face and neck. "Because you know what will happen if I'm unhappy."

Alex stared down at the carpet. It was fine strand and thick beneath her heels.

"Alexandra," he whispered in her ear. The hot puff of breath burned against her skin. "I think you know what I want…."

His hands slithered up her sides, taking the skirt in a tight grip, making Alex feel disgusted and unclean. She couldn't move; she was petrified. Tiller had complete control over her now. Whatever he wanted he was going to take from her.

The rough callous hands pushed her over the back of the sofa, leaving her vulnerable and cold.

"Shhhh," the patronizing tone cooed in her ear. "Just relax and soon it will be all over….."

The tears cascaded unabated as one hand slid up her inner thigh…

"That bastard," Jack was shaking hard from anger.

"He pretended like nothing happened the rest of the night." Alex wiped the growing shower of tears with the back of her hand as the old wounds were ripped open with a dull blade.

Doc was heartsick. Tiller was nothing short of a sick son of a bitch. And here was Alex, reliving one of if not the darkest time in her life through the constant stream of tears. He looked up to see her trembling hard in Jack's hold.

"I-I kept quiet after that. Tiller threatened to do something to Jack if I spoke a word of what he did. So I went to the dinner party alone as to not arouse any suspicion from James or any of the others."

"I wish I had done more to him before I plunged that glass in his heart. He should've suffered."

"No," Alex sighed shakily then lightly shook her head. "No, Jack; you would've been no better than him. You're so much better than him. He should've been the one behind bars."

"Alex if you want to stop we'll understand," Doc offered a sympathetic ear.

"No," she swallowed the growing mass in her throat. "Doc you need to know this. Someone has to know the truth."

"Alex, what are you saying?" Jack shifted around but never once letting his arms slip away from her waist. He was greeted with a heavy solemn stare that made his stomach flip.

"If anything happens, no one will know what happened. Hauser won't hear us out; Doc wants to know. He deserves to know."

"That's not what I meant." His jaw tightened and lips pressed into a thin line.

"What if we don't make it?"

"Don't say that," he choked. "I can't believe you would think that!"

Jack grappled the sides of her face within his calloused by gentle hands. Panic was simmering below the surface, cracking through the rich mocha eyes.

"The Alex I know wouldn't give up like this!"

"I'm not giving up Jack. I'm," she shook her head and sniffled. "I'm preparing for the possibility that we wind up on slabs. We can't ignore that. I'm going to fight with everything I have; even if it means giving up the very air I breathe."

She succeeded in breaking a weak smile across her lips. Jack couldn't but help to smile back but went one step further with a reassuring kiss to the lips.

"You're not doing it alone."

"I didn't expect to," she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Uh guys," Doc cleared his throat. He didn't want to break the tender interlude but he remembered something he had uncovered. "I did find something that you might find interesting."

"Whatcha got?" Alex plucked the file from his plump outstretched hand.

"Remember how Barclay Finn had the key in his possession? Well he worked for the Broadway Mutual, the monster company that's based here in San Francisco."

She studied the information, slowly and methodically scanning her eyes back then forth. Jack read over her shoulder, taking in the history of his only victim.

"Wait," Alex pointed at the bottom of the file. "This name," she held up the open folder with finger planted over the name Harlan Simmons. "Why is it so familiar?"

"Harlan Simmons was paroled in 1960," Doc went into historian mode. "Somehow he became the CEO of Broadway Mutual. He's a recluse. No one's seen him in years. Your chances of seeing God are higher than seeing Simmons."

"Simmons….Flynn…Key…." Alex shook her head in disbelief. "Simmons knows about the key. Simmons probably wants the key back….."

"Oh no," Doc shook his head. "Alex whatever you're thinking don't."

"He may know something about what happened in 1963 since he was paroled in 60. Does Hauser know about Simmons?"

"No; at least I think he doesn't. I can't be sure."

"Damn it! Where's Daniel when we need him?" The growl rumbled in her throat and chest.

Just then the elevator whined and sprang to life and a few moments later the aforementioned man was pushing the door up and stepping inside.

"Did you miss me?" He beamed from ear to ear.

"We were lost without you," Alex rolled her eyes in a playful gesture. "But we need you to put your research skills to use."

"Oh do I sense a challenge?" The man grinned wider.

"Broadway Mutual and Harlan Simmons," Doc handed the file over. "Barclay Finn worked for Broadway Mutual which explains how he had the key."

"But it doesn't explain how I knew to go there and find it."

"It doesn't explain a lot Jack."

"But now we have a connection between the key and Alcatraz." Doc shed some light on the silver lining in all of this.

"We are now one step ahead of Hauser."

Alex gloated knowing they had one up on the agent. He was going to be so thrilled at that. Oh how she wished she could see the smug expression drop from his face.

"Doc," she suddenly straightened her back liberating the tense fibers with the cracking of bone from head to ass. Doc cringed at the hard crackling sounds but Alex was unaffected. It was relief for her.

"Doc, I'm going to finish telling you. But right now I need to….."

"Don't, just stop right there," he held up a hand. "I'm not pushing. When you're ready tell me but not now."

"Thanks Doc." Alex was thoroughly grateful for having the man in her life. He had evolved from sidekick for Rebecca to a trusted friend of hers and Jack's. She knew he was treading a very thin line and didn't force him to do anything he wasn't willing to do. They were always ready to help when they could even if it meant nothing more than something for his next book which she and Jack suspected he was devising even at that moment as they sat in relative comfort.

"Perhaps I will write it down instead."

"Well I better go," Doc sighed and grabbed his bag. He didn't want to leave but it was necessary.

"Hey Doc," he paused at the doors for the elevator and turned around to see Alex bouncing towards him. "I'm sorry about you seeing….."

"Nope it's alright. No need to elaborate." His face fired into bright red as he hastily entered the elevator and slammed the doors shut.

"What was that about?" Daniel asked with a suspicious smirk.

"Uh nothing really," Alex shrugged.

"Right," her friend wasn't buying her excuse. "I happened to find these over by the table."

He produced a pair of boxers which were gripped lightly by the elastic waistband. Jack's face fell into one of horror with the color draining from his face like water in a sink as Alex gasped.

"Oops," she squeaked. "At least you didn't see anything."

Daniel watched as she turned as red as a chili pepper. It was rather amusing watching her squirm.

"Next time," he thrusted the wrinkled garment in her hands, "Never mind I don't want to know."

"And we won't tell you! Now get your ass over there and find out more about Broadway Mutual and Harlan Simmons."

Daniel sighed and dragged over to the table.

I wasn't about to go further into that dark moment at Tiller's place...I think you all can figure out what happened...

But I did throw in a little more Jax and some fun at poor Doc's expense...