A/N: I told someone I would put it here if there were quotes to be found in this chapter - and there are! There are two. See the ending A/N for details about that!
Rated M for sensuality. There's no sex or implied sex, though.

February 28

How Tom could work such long days confounded her. Her average hours at school were seven to five when it was all counted out. This was so far beyond that, that Cassandra couldn't even comprehend it. Not for the first time she wished she wore a watch. They had arrived on set before five in the morning. More than twelve hours later, Tom was finally being stripped of his costuming in one of the trailers where he would change after a shower.

For her part Cassandra was still content to linger out of the way and watch the going ons of the vicinity. It had been a long day… a very long day. Her figure had drooped with fatigue nearly two hours ago. A kindly assistant that Cass had found herself talking to earlier in the day had guided the American to an empty seat. The metal of the chair however, didn't help in the efforts of staying warm.

Despite the layers that she had conscientiously dressed in nothing could keep the cold at bay. Not after more than twelve hours standing in the cold. Not for the first time Cassie found herself lamenting the restrictions of her healing leg. Had it not been for the ginger skin there she would have been able to pace, restore circulation more readily. Instead the woman was stuck sitting passively. To make it sound as a trial, however, would have been misleading.

Cassandra Moore had been enthralled with the workings of the day. Various groups of people traveled to various locations. Sometimes Tom was involved. Others, he wasn't. The opportunity to hear the lines delivered with such conviction, though, was beyond moving.

It took Cass to a different place, a different world. Even without the polish of post production, she could see the story.

Talent of such measure left her without words. Waiting while Tom had been appropriated by wardrobe, she let her mind wander back to all of the things she had seen over the course of the day. On her feet now, the woman crossed her arms over her abdomen to contain her body heat more effectively inside of her coat.

A familiarly built figure pressed against her back. As Tom's arms wrapped around her waist, his nose pressed lightly into the crook of her neck where a gentle kiss was laid.

He was so warm. Easing back into the heat the man provided Cassandra's eyes sank shut in a quiet measure of bliss. While she didn't groan, it was a near thing. Indeed, the sound made wasn't hers. He made a noise in the back of his throat, arms locking more firmly around her as he pulled her more closely against him.

"God, you are absolutely frozen."

Hearing the words so close to her ear, feeling the warm air breathed over the sensitive shell, Cass shivered slightly. Resting her gloved hands over his arms, she tilted her head back on her shoulder to smile at him lightly. In the dim light after sunset he could see the red of her nose and cheeks. Despite the chill however the woman seemed lively, lightened in a way she hadn't been before. In fact, Cassandra merely laughed at him.

"Cold," she corrected with a grin. "Not frozen. I'm still capable of identifying the fact that my feet are cold. At the point I can't feel them anymore we've got a problem… Tom, have you ever been to the northern States in winter? This is nothing. I promise."

He shook his head with a rueful laugh. "Done in again." Pressing his nose into the crook of her neck once more, the man exhaled slowly. The sharp contrast of cold to warm caused Cass to shudder in pleasure. It was a silky, decadent thing to feel. The light brush of his facial hair against the thin skin only enhanced the feelings of sensitivity.

"Come, my Lady," Tom remarked, finally releasing his hold from around her waist. Instead, he took hold of one of her hands. "The sooner we get back the sooner we can get you warmed up."

There was the weight of an unspoken promise there. Uncertain if she wanted to venture down such a perilous road of thought, Cassie merely waved her free hand airily.

"I was thinking about that," she replied distractedly as he tugged her over the darkening field towards the parking lot. "Lady? If we're being correct I'd far more likely to be a harlot.. Let's face it, I enjoy pants far too much."

In retrospect perhaps that wasn't the best way to change the topic to something safer. However, Cassandra couldn't take the words back. She let her features shift into a more confident expression, the quietly feminine smile a sly grin of humor that no man could comprehend.

"That sounds a dangerous thing to agree to." Humor was light in his tone. "Should I find that I concur, then I've just done you grievous insult yet, to disagree would make me a cad. Cry peace, my lady, and have done with your treachery!"

"So you won't infer that I'm a whore but you will accuse me of being deceitful. I see what the measure is."

Tom paused in his stride and stared at her for a long moment. Cassandra's features were stoic, a brow arched in mute censure. Shock had flickered sharply over his expression as he attempted to assess her own measure. When Cass's lips curved up into a smug smile and she laughed, he could only shake his head ruefully. Keeping up with the dry wit as she had done certainly hadn't been what he had expected.

"I see how this is going to go," he replied at last with a laugh.

Cassandra's nonverbal reply was a quiet little smile.

The humor saw them through to the car, where Tom opened the door for her. Sliding into the interior, Cass found that he must have started it earlier for the wash of warm air nearly stole her breath away. Groaning in quiet appreciation she settled back into the plush seat as the man got in on the right and situated himself to begin the drive back to the city. Watching him quietly, she wondered where he found his energy from.

"You astound me," she admitted quietly, humor abating into something more serious. "I've spent the last fourteen hours in your company and never once has your momentum flagged and you've been working. The only expectation anyone had of me was to just show up and I'm still exhausted."

The headlights of the vehicle illuminated the pavement and Tom's eyes didn't drift from the rough country road that wouldn't for some time yet fade into something more maintained. Still, it was apparent that his attention was granted to the blonde by his side. His lips pursed consideringly even as his hands tightened on the wheel.

"I think by some accounts your day has been harder." They were contemplative words. "My job is a blessing. A dream, really. In the course of a day I can read a script, deliver lines and find a story and depth in it that constantly surprises even myself. I have the opportunity to represent a truth of human nature, no matter what scene it is I'm in. But to watch that? To observe that and not be in motion in it? The hours can be long for me, yes, but the staying power required to watch it and not be a part of it is even more demanding I think."

Quiet descended in the cabin of the car. For her part, Cassandra mulled over the words that he had shared with her. Unbeknownst to the woman, her hands curled more tightly over her thighs in her contemplation. It was only when Tom reached over to settle his palm over the glove covering hers that she looked down and realized it. Squeezing it gently though, the man's fingers lifted to brush against the back of her cheek as they had done hours earlier in the light that morning promised.

"Sleep Cassandra," he entreated softly. "I won't mind."

She flashed him a rueful smile. Lifting a hand to cover the fingers that lingered on her face, she squeezed them lightly in return.

"So eager to rid yourself of me," she teased.

"More eager to restore your energy so that I might keep your company a while longer." The correction was easy and made with a laugh.

In the wake of such words Cassie found it easy to let her hands fall to her lap again. The heat of the ventilation system was alluring, tugging her oh so seductively towards the comforts of sleep. Sooner than she realized, she was leaning her head against the window and letting her eyes flutter shut. Quiet music played in the background and only the occasional passing headlights brightened whatever she might have seen behind her eyelids as they remained shut.

Through the darkness Tom glanced over in one of those moments. The headlights cast into sharp relief the bright blonde of her hair and the pale skin of her features. There was something so lovely, so unguarded in her expression that his heart lurched.

So be it, then.

For her part, Cassandra couldn't say what had woken her up. A fair amount of time must have passed since she had initially slept, though. Even without opening her eyes the bright lights of civilization gleamed behind her eyelids. Headlights from cars coming in the opposing direction, streetlamps and storefront lights all added to the light pollution. Taking a few minutes to gather herself, she might have spent several minutes trying to collect herself had Tom not called her name softly.

A warm hand settled over her own, the gentle touch clearly an attempt to coax her into wakefulness. Had she not already been conscious, Cass thought she might have been startled. Instead she simply opened her eyes slowly and turned her attention to him.

"We're close to the city again," he offered quietly in deference to her own sleepy haze. "Would you like me to take you back to Jane's? Or I can offer you dinner at my place."

The easiest answer would have been to go back to her friend's. It was the comfortable one. Tom had given her so much today already. More than sharing his day, he had shown her a part of himself. Cassie exhaled quietly, using the seconds to buy time to think. Could she do the same? Did she dare?

Her lips curved in a rueful smile. "Be still, my heart." Her tone was teasing, her expression carefully lighthearted. "Dinner sounds lovely, though. Something quiet.. it's been a while. It would be nice."

In all the hours that they had spent together Cassandra realized that they had not ever truly been alone. Only in the contained environment of a car did they share proximity without prying eyes. Even the museums they walked through or the monuments they looked at had been in the public eye. Even today when they had been away from what might have been considered the public, he had been working. Was this truly the first opportunity they might have?

Cass rather thought it was – and, it seemed, was willing to give it a chance. That mattered all the more.

The option that Cassandra had selected seemed to please Tom. He gave her an easy smile, bringing the car about to a section of the city that she didn't recognize so well. Perhaps it was unsurprising she thought ruefully. It would have been audacious to believe she would manage to become familiar with the entire geography of London so soon.

Parking was a more interesting affair, as he pulled the car into a parking garage that seemed affiliated with one of the high rise complexes nearby. There was an open space for him, from which they made their way into the lobby of the apartment building. Remaining quiet seemed the smarter decision, Cass thought. Even though nothing was excessively over the top there was something subtly lush and elegant about the building.

It was a first class location, without a doubt.

Feeling somewhat ratty in her now muddy boots and bundle of layers the American glanced uneasily at the quietly opulent walls, reflective metal gleaming her image back at her. It only solidified what she knew. The braid she had put her hair into hours ago had frizzed leaving it looking untended and uncared for. Cold still chased a ruddy flush into her nose and cheeks but somewhere along the line a smear of mud had been brushed on the edge of her face.

Her clothes themselves were equally a disaster. A brief bout of light rain had soaked through the denim, leaving the long hems susceptible to picking up debris from the field. The winter coat, and many of the layers beneath it, were also a lost cause. Cassie swallowed uncomfortably at the picture.

Beside her, freshly washed and in clean clothes Tom presented his normal, effortlessly elegant appearance. The juxtaposition they made together was discomforting. As if sensing her unease however, Tom glanced down at her and grabbed one of her hands in his. Squeezing it lightly he tugged her closer to his side. Walking might have been awkward had he not adjusted his stride to hers. The hand holding hers was on his far side, permitting the arm closest to her to wrap around her waist.

Holding her tightly to him Tom made the walk to the elevators in short time. It certainly didn't hurt that both individuals merely had to unfurl the long length of their legs to cross the space.

Once sequestered into the more private space of the lift, Cass glanced uneasily at the row of buttons. "That was…" She paused, wondering what could possibly be used to describe what happened. "Special?"

Tom laughed, hugging her tightly with one arm. Leaning down, he made to press his lips against her cheek.

"You're still frozen," he remarked, startled. The long drive in the car with the heater on should have seen to it. Cass only shrugged prosaically at the comment. "Well," Tom continued, "once we get in I'll see to it that we get you something dry to wear."

It was an appealing thought. For her part Cassandra certainly wouldn't turn down clothing that wasn't muddy or damp. The ding of the lift preceded the opening of the doors. His arm around her back gently urged her forward as Cass stepped off. The hall split into several different directions though, and within a matter of seconds she realized the building was larger than she had anticipated. Understanding her confusion Tom chuckled and took the lead, although even while he let go of his arm around her waist, he maintained the hold on her hand.

Stopping in front of a door, it was short work with a key for the apartment to be unlocked to them both. Switching a light on by the side, he gently ushered her in.

Letting her eyes adjust to the change in light Cass took the time to take in the surroundings she found herself ensconced in. It was not a barren place to live. That was the first revelation that came to the woman. While the bright colors and accents were kept to a minimum there was something unapologetically masculine about the interior. A leather couch over a neutral carpeting seemed to cement that conclusion. Peeling her eyes away from the relatively tidy set of rooms, Cassandra glanced up at Tom who seemed to be watching her in an attempt to gauge her reaction.

"You've a lovely place," she offered quietly.

While it might have been one of those occasionally half hearted niceties it was clear from the earnestness in her voice that Cassie meant it. Hanging his own coat on a rack by the door, the man offered a hand out to take hers. Shrugging it off, she handed it to him with a shy smile.

"Thanks," he replied easily. "Though I suppose I can give you the tour after.. You still look chilled. It's a plague on my conscience that I'm dry and warm and you've been in discomfort for so long." His admission was rueful, eyes attempting to seek a forgiveness that Cass wondered if he would ever realize, he never needed to ask for.

To such an end she laughed lightly, resting a hand on his forearm. "Think nothing of it," she attempted to insist.

He was having none of it. "Anything of my sisters' that they might have left here-" and there, Cassandra attempted to get her mind caught up, for it had stopped at the mention of sisters, "would likely be too short. They're rather shorter than you I'm afraid. Would you mind terribly if you had to wear something of mine?"

Cassie lifted a brow in quiet censure. He was already being gracious, to think that she would turn up her nose at any article of clothing he was kind enough to provide was absurd. "Only if you don't mind a bit of mud on it. I'm sorry to say that I seem to have collected some dirt throughout the day.. I apologize about that, preemptively. I really don't want to track mud through your lovely home."

He grinned. While Tom had been gracious enough not to pay overmuch attention to it, it had been impossible to ignore the fact that Cassandra had lost something of her polished presentation over the course of the day.

"I can offer you a shower first," he volunteered with a grin.

Cassie laughed. "Warm and clean. And dinner. This is clearly working out wonderfully in my favor."

"Whatever my Lady would desire," Tom retorted with an easy chuckle.

Navigating down the hall to the door that he had pointed out, Cassandra turned into a bathroom that was even more unapologetically masculine than the rest of the apartment. There were no indications of a feminine presence: no makeup or loose strands of long hair. It lacked the flowery scents that accompanied feminine soaps and perfumes. She shut her eyes, inhaling deeply.

There was only Tom.

Glancing at the rack where an unused towel hung, the woman bit her lip uneasily. He had mentioned that he would lean in and leave the clothes on the countertop. She looked to the shower, the textured glass leaving it opaque and challenging to see through other than a simple silhouette. Bowing her head, the courage and bravado that had bolstered Cass to this point seemed to flee.

In its place was left a cold, uncertain young woman. What could she do?

The answer was straightforward enough. She could – and did – lean over to turn on the hot water, giving it a moment to run warm enough that she could step under it. Carefully shucking the layers of clothes that she had peeled on that morning and picking off the gauze and tape that covered the grafts and pitching that in the trash bin, Cassie stepped into the shower.

Immediately the bite of hot water against chilled flesh made her tense. Sliding the glass door shut behind her, Cassandra shuddered as the sensation slowly warmed her skin. Shutting her eyes and tilting her head back so the spray could fall on her face, the woman luxuriated in the heat for a moment.

Her eyes remained shut though as she leaned against the porcelain back of the shower. What was she doing? Lifting a hand to slick back her hair Cass sighed softly. The sound was muted by the fall of the water.

"If I could but know his heart," she intoned quietly, "everything would become easy." There was no better way to say it than that.. but then, wasn't that what this was? Growing.. coming to see him as he was? Damn.

She had no idea.

Trying to sort that out would only take an eternity and, when the hot water was running, it was time that she didn't have. Making note to beg his pardon for the use of his shampoo later, Cass lathered her hair with the soap that reminded her so very much of his smell.

Rinsing it out took significantly less time despite the length and thickness of her hair. It would have been easy to stand and wish after, for a measure of her own shower supplies. Without anything to condition it she was relatively certain that her hair would be a fright later. That was a battle she could stand to face, though. If nothing else putting it back into a braid would always suffice.

Shutting the water off, Cass's arm crept out from the warmer interior of the shower to secure the towel that she had left hanging in reach. Even before exiting to the bathroom at large she tried to rub off the water that she might otherwise have tracked out. Wringing her hair out a final time the woman wrapped the damp towel around her torso as she carefully stepped out of the shower.

True to his word at some point Tom must have cracked open the bathroom door to put clothes on the counter. Cassandra forcibly warded off the embarrassment that fought to creep into her consciousness. He would have been a gentleman about it, she told herself. He could have just reached in and put them there without even opening the door to his eyesight.

The t-shirt was large enough that she knew it would work. The sweatpants would be nothing short of comedic, dragging the ground at the hems. Her problem would be underthings. Glancing distastefully at the neat pile of clothes she had worn earlier in the day Cass only sighed. She could stomach putting the bra back on. The rest.. well. She'd simply appropriate his clothing and return it when she had laundered them.

Letting the towel slip to her hips it was an easy enough affair to get her bra on over the slightly damp skin. The navy t-shirt would have been next to pull on had the door of the bathroom not creaked open behind her.

A muted squeak was all the surprise Cassandra was capable of vocalizing. Hauling the towel up under her arms again, she clutched the cloth to her as she spun around to stare at Tom's surprised expression. Clearly, walking in on a not quite dressed houseguest had not been the plan.

Her eyes were wide in surprise as her mind reeled, attempting to come up with some prevarication, some polite nonsense to spit out in an attempt to smooth over what was now certain to be a horrendously awkward encounter. Any attempt was stayed however as Tom reached out, his palm settling lightly in the crook of her neck His thumb traced down the tendon lightly, warm touch inviting.

Despite the lack of intent, he wouldn't necessarily apologize – not for this. Not for what this might be.

"If you ever looked at me once with what I know is in you," he breathed softly, bending down so the words were whispered ever so lightly against her cheek, "I would be your slave."

Cassandra flushed hotly with the realization that he had heard her own confession despite the water running. She tried to avert her eyes, tried to turn away but the firm touch of his thumb – now under her chin – kept her from disappearing from his attention so easily.

She could only look up at him, heartbreakingly transparent. "You heard that."

His smile was not a playful one, not the broad grin the public saw. It was smaller, more earnest in its measure. "The BBC arguably gave me my start. I have an ear for it," he replied dryly. It might have been a normal conversation, were she not in a bra and a towel and pulled up closely against him, his other arm creeping around her back to hold her close.

"It's true, Cassie. Let me see all that you are – the virtue and the vitality, yes.. but the frailty and your fallibility. What I see of you already, already means the world to me. Let me see you."

Cassandra shut her eyes, attempting to process all that she had learned. Pulling herself up onto her toes as one of her arms reached around to lock itself about his waist, she pressed her cheek against his.

"I won't say that I know how," she admitted, her voice trembling with the thick emotion behind it. "But if you can show me, I'm willing to try."

Tom turned his face to catch her lips with his. It was, comparatively, a chaste kiss and one that he separated from relatively quickly. "I could ask nothing more of you, darling. I want nothing more."

No, Cass thought as she settled back to the ground, pulled tightly against him. He asked for nothing more than the very matter of what she was. It was so simple, because it was everything.. but it was everything she was not certain she knew how to give.

A/N: I just want to sit down and say - thank you. In my wildest dreams I couldn't have hoped for such recognition about a story. I've never written something that was as viewed as this, or that has garnered so much response. It's trite, and I know I repeat this frequently but I hope you all believe me when I say how much it means to me. Thank you so very, very much. It means so much to me.

Now! About those quotes! ;D There are, as I said, two of them in here and I did not mark them, as I did the last time! If you found both, excellent! If you only found one, that works too. If you did, or believe you did, send me a message with what the quotes were & where they were from (Author/Book). The first few people to do so will be offered various prizes, depending on whether or not they found both or only one, or if they're the first or second or so on to find them.
Things such as story spoilers, cameos or plot input are up for grabs!

..and yes. Next chapter is going to be whatever form of sensual interaction between them I'm capable of writing. We'll see how it turns out.