Chapter 35

„Memories"

He was tossing and turning in his bed trying to find some needed sleep. All he could think about was her laying next to him, feeling her body against his. It left him restless. He turned to his left side – her side – seeing the empty space next to him. "You shouldn't be alone in this bed." He told himself. "Why isn't she here?" He grabbed her pillow and could still smell her scent from last night. As soon as his senses were filled with her smell he felt relaxing a little bit. He thought back to a similar reaction over a decade ago.

Flashback

Tom was walking to his car when he heard a loud voice coming from his right side "Let go of me! Don't!" His head snapped to the side and he tried to see what was going on in the darkness. "Oh come on, don't play hard to get." Tom could hear a male voice. His hackles raised and he ran in the direction of the voices. When he came nearer he could see a man hoovering above a woman. She fought him but was in a disadvantage.

„Hey, let her go." Tom shouted while running towards the couple.

„Oh shit." The guy cursed and let go of the woman under him. He stood up and ran away. Tom came nearer and saw the guy running away. He knew he couldn't reach him any more so he ran to the woman who stood up slowly. Coming nearer to her he recognized her. It was Sasha! „God, Sasha, did something happen to you? Are you alright?" He asked concerned.

Sasha shook her head „I'm okay, Sir", she said with a trembling voice.

„You sure about it?" Tom asked her and helping her to get off the floor. When he saw her shocked face and her eyes wide open, he pulled her towards him and embraced her with a tight hug. She was shaking now but relaxed against him. For the first time since she left the building she felt save. His strength and warm body let her guard down and she began to cry.

„Shush, it's okay, Sasha. You're save now. I don't let anything happen to you. I've got you." Tom tried to calm her. „C'mon, let's get out of here." He said and guided her to his car.

They were at his apartment door when Sasha realized where they were standing. She looked at him with a confused face. „Why am I here?"

Tom looked apologetic „I don't want you to be alone right now. And I don't know if this guy know where you live. So I thought that my place is a safer place than yours at the moment." He opened the door and invited her in.

Guiding her to the sofa she sat down shaking again when the events hid her again. „Do you want something to drink?" Tom asked her gently.

„A cocoa, if you have any." she replied sheepishly.

Tom nodded „A cocoa, that is." he said and went to the kitchen, leaving Sasha on her own in the living room. While he put the milk into the microwave to heat up, he went to his bedroom and got changed into comfortable clothes. He went back to the kitchen and then to Sasha who hasn't changed her position since he let her alone to her thoughts.

When he put down the hot cocoa on the table she began to talk „He knew my name."

„Who?" Tom asked and the moment the word slipped out of his mouth he winced to himself. „God, Chandler, you ass." he thought about himself.

But Sasha answered „The guy. He knew my name."

„Well, what's so .…"

„He knew my real name." Tom looked confused so she continued „Sasha is my nickname."

„Oh," Tom wondered „And what is your real name?"

„Alexandra."

„That doesn't stand in your files." Tom stated, a little bit confused why she hadn't filled out the forms correctly.

"I know. I hate the name. I like Sasha more" She told him shrugging her shoulders. "Will you report this?"

"You using a nickname? No. Sasha suites you." He said with a smile on his face.

"It does?" Smiling back at him

"Yeah, I think so." Staring back at her. He cleared his throat and asked "Do you wanna have something to eat?"

"Oh, no" Sasha stood up abruptly " I should get going. I don't want to be in your way. Thank you for your help."

Tom took her hand in his and argued "Don't, Sasha. Everyone would have come to help you. And you're not in my way. It would be nice to eat with another person than being always alone in the flat. Please stay." He said honestly. "When this guy knew your real name, he might know where you live. So it would be better, if you'll stay here at my place."

Sasha looked at him with concern and then her features softened. She nodded her head and sat down beside him "Okay, I'll stay. Thank you."

Tom grinned at her "So, what do you want to eat? Chinese, Italian?"

"Chinese."

"Okay I'll order something."

After spending the evening chatting about their families, the Navy and some of her tasks, Sasha yawned at some time.

"Well, I'll change the sheets and you can use my bed."

"Oh no. You don't have to do this. The sofa is just fine, Tom. Äh- Sir."

"Tom is fine. And no. I'll take the sofa, you the bed." Standing up from the sofa, Tom went to his bedroom. Sasha came after him and grabbed his hand.

"Don't please. The sofa is really fine for me." She pleaded with him.

He let out a sight "Okay, then. But let me get you a shirt to wear for the night. This uniform doesn't look comfortable to sleep in." He grabbed a T-Shirt and came back to the living room. "The bathroom is to the left, there are new toothbrushes in the top drawer and towels in the drawer. Help yourself."

"Thank you" Sasha said and grabbed the shirt.

Some time later she came out of the bathroom, only wearing her panties and the shirt Tom gave her. Her hair was hanging loosely around her face. Tom looked her up and thought "God, Chandler what are you doing? She looks so gorgeous. Behave yourself. Don't make a move. She is your subordinate."

Sasha came nearer and was oblivious of the thoughts of her superior officer. Tom shook his head "Here are some blankets. Sometimes the heater is bad and can be off at night."

"Oh don't worry, this will be fine." Sasha smiled at him "And thanks again."

"Sasha, don't thank me every minute. It's okay. Good night, and sleep well."

"You too. Good night." Sasha replied.

Tom went to the bathroom and went through is evening procedure before he got to bed. His thoughts running around his head about the beauty in his living room. He reminded himself over and over again that she was off limits and that he can't make a move on her. She was his subordinate and he was her boss. They could loose too much when they would give into their feelings.

Tom woke up and felt a warm body against his. "What the hell?" he thought. "I haven't took a woman to bed last night, how…?" And then the memories flooded back to his mind. He remembered the attempt raping scene, Sasha's shocked look on her face, her sitting on his sofa with a hot cocoa in her hands, their dinner together in his kitchen, her wearing only her panties and his shirt. Now he could feel her bare feet pressed up against his shin. Suddenly he realized his hand was resting on the lace of her panties. He took his hand back as if he was stung. "Oh god, what had happened last night?" The quick remove of his hand let Sasha moved from her side onto her back. But she remained asleep. Tom looked at her relaxed features. He could see the amount of dark eyelashes, some furrows on her forehead. His eyes wandered down her face and came to a halt at her red lips. They were perfect. What would he give to taste her for only one time. His head went nearer to hers and he would have kissed her then and there if his alarm clock hadn't ring at that moment. He moved back at the same time she opened her eyes and looked at him with wide-opened eyes.

"Good morning. Slept well?" He managed to asked nonchalantly.

"Morning. Yes I did." Sasha responded, her cheeks blushing.

He grinned back at her. "So I see you found your way into my bed."

Sasha's blush deepened more "I'm sorry. I woke up in the middle of the night and it was so cold. So I just wanted to warm me up a little and go back to the sofa. But apparently I fell asleep next to you. I… I'm really sorry about it. Please don't think bad of me." She looked down on her hands.

"Hey" Tom lifted her head so that he could look into her eyes "Don't be. It's okay as long as nobody will ever know about this. Okay?"

"Yes, of course. I won't tell anybody."

"Good. I won't do it either." He paused and looked at the clock again. "Well, we have to be at class in an hour. So you like some breakfast?"

Her eyes lid up and a smile formed on her face "I would like to."

That night when he went to bed the memory of her in his bed didn't let him sleep. He knew that this woman would cause him trouble the moment he laid eyes on her. Her beauty, her smart brain and her agility triggered something in him. He never met a woman before her who challenged him the way she did. It made her even more irresistible. With a sight he rolled to the side and grabbed her pillow. It was still holding the smell of her shampoo. He relaxed immediately and felt himself drifting to sleep.

End of Flashback

So laying in his bed he rolled over to the other side and grabbed his cell "You are one hell of a distraction."

Her answer came straight back "Why?"

"Can't sleep without you at my side."

"Neither do I."

"So, you mind to come over?"

"No. See you in 20."

Putting the phone onto the nightstand Tom chuckled and rolled back to the other side. The anticipation of Sasha coming to him relaxed him more and more. By the time she rushed into his room Tom was fast asleep. So she shed all her clothes except her panties and shirt and climbed into bed next to him. The moment her head hit the pillow she wrapped her arms around him and drifted into sleep with a smile on her face.