A/N So I am officially back in the States. I meant to have this up much earlier this week but alas wifi is not always kind. I should at this time resume my normal posting schedule. Thank you for all sticking with me and I will warn you of an obnoxiously long A/N (I will put it at the end of next chapter) in which I will tell you a bit of why I have been missing and respond to reviews but as of now I have been traveling for over 24 hours without sleep so you will have to wait a bit longer if you are interested. Anyways on with the story. This is the last interim chapter so i should also resume normal length next week. Onwards march!

June 2013 location, Pakistan city, classified

"Hello? Oh Mrs. Hudson how are you? Oh I am good. Glad to hear you are doing well. No I haven't heard from John. I heard he was pretty serious about some girl. No he isn't gay. I am sure you do. Oh I am just out for a run, good for the lungs they say. Oh it's no problem call any time. Of course. Take care Mrs. Hudson. Alright bye-bye." Noelle hung up the phone and turned to the man beside her.

"Nice chat?" The special forces agent asked sarcastically.

"Oh shut it Mark," she said, "I always answer for that woman. You know that."

"In the middle of a shootout?" He laughed roguishly as he reached around her to send off another shot.

She smirked, "that's the best time!"

With one more shot they made it back onto the cargo plane they had met on nearly a year and a half earlier.

"Wheels up!" Mark shouted to his crew and they held on tight as the plane just cleared the runway.

Noelle turned to the men who stood clapping around them.

"Y'all were late," she mocked disapproval.

"Well we ran into a bit of trouble," Mark tried.

"Yeah" one of the men called, "Danny did with a barmaid in Karachi!"

"Danny!" Noelle laughed, "What have I told you about barmaids? I swear one will be the death of you!"

After a few more lighthearted jabs Noelle was directed to a makeshift bed.

"Settle in, love" Mark told her, "We have a ways ahead of us."

"No complaints here," Noelle yawned, "I could go for putting off paperwork a bit longer."

"How long since you slept last?"

"Maybe two days. As you saw my safe house was compromised but I think that is the last Ill hear from those friends. Quite a relief they can be vindictive. Still holding a grudge nearly a decade old. They'll leave me alone though if they know what's good for them."

"So then where to next?" the man sighed.

"Chile which should clear things up on my end then back in the central theatre for a weapons operation. After that it depends on where Mycroft's men have gotten too but there should only be one or two left."

Mark looked at the woman who placed her head on his shoulder as she attempted to get comfortable, "Maybe I could get a special assignment just for Chile."

"You know they won't give it to you. You don't need to be there for all the fun. Take a day off. Anyways dont worry I'll be fine."

"Like you were in Columbia?" He questioned darkly.

her face grew serious, "Leave well enough alone, Mark. Anyways I am fine now."

"Still having nightmares?"

"Irrelevant."

"Stubborn woman," he grumbled.

"Always," she smiled and he joined her.

"Noelle," he started but she was already asleep.

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June 2013 location classified.

The plane landed with a thump bringing the woman back from the dead apparently.

"Rise and shine, love" Mark smiled at the groggy woman.

"mmmmmmpph" was all he got.

Laughing he pulled her to her feet and grabbed both their bags even with her protesting.

"Don't worry I talked to Sam on our way over the Atlantic. He managed to get you some time to rest before your report. Prepare for the luxury of the CIA stateside safe house until then."

"I hate transatlantic flights," she complained.

" You don't remember the transatlantic flight, love, you just hate jet lag."

"That too," she yawned, "Damn, it's only four here I gotta stay awake a bit longer if I plan on getting any sleep tonight. Care for some caffeine?"

"Technically you know, you aren't supposed to be in public till you report."

"Technically agents aren't. I am not an agent so it doesn't apply."

"Well in that case," Mark rolled his eyes with his typical careless smile, "Coffee or chocolate?"

"I was thinking coffee. The chocolate binge comes later."

They made their way down to the coffeehouse, Mark steadfastly ignoring the looks his men gave him, Noelle was too tired to notice. They arrived and sat in the corner as was Noelle's habit.

"Noelle," Mark started,"What are you going to do when this is done?"

"I dunno," she yawned sleepily, "I suppose I will go back to teaching. I have missed it you know. Teaching was always my passion, my calling. When I finish with this I won't really have anything stopping me from going back."

Noelle looked off dreamily as if she could imagine herself in the classroom at that moment.

"So you are done then. Really done?"

"Honestly I don't think I will ever be really done. I always will have a foot in. If someone calls I will go but I won't have any threat hanging over my head. No dread that someone will come blazing in my classroom with a bomb or machine gun. Did you know that was one of my worst nightmares? Always worried that my students would somehow be sucked into my other life. It really is no way to live. Now that's gone. I could teach or, I dunno, do public lectures again or..."

"Where will you go?" He asked.

She shrugged, "wherever I want I suppose,"

Mark looked at her seriously, "Would you consider, when this is over that is going back to London? I stay over there a lot you know when I am off duty. We could move forward together?"

Mark held his breath staring at the woman who was taking in his words.

"Mark," she started and his stomach dropped, "I think you are great really, I really do,"

"but," he prodded dejectedly.

"but," she dropped her head, "Mark, Mark I was married before and he died,"

"I know."

"No let me finish. I lost him and it nearly killed me, I, I can't have children. I could never live you that."

"Noelle-"

"No, I am not done. I have nightmares everyday, my body is covered in scars, I have done things I am not proud of, I am, I am broken Mark," her voice was desperate, "and I can't do that to you. You deserve better."

Noelle stood as if to leave and walked quickly out to the street but Mark wasn't going to let her go that easily. he followed her running to block her path.

"What is I don't want something better?" he asked, "What if I just want you?"

"Mark-"

"Nope," he said,"It's my turn. Noelle tell me you can't see it. Tell me you haven't thought about it since the time that we met. Tell me you haven't wanted this sometime since you laid eyes on me. I know I have. Tell me Noelle. Tell me you can't see us happy somewhere in your minds eye and I will walk away. Nothing will change between us and I will just forget about it, with much effort mind you. But please don't tell me you are broken."

She stood gaping at him not knowing what to say. He grabbed her hands.

"That's what I thought. Noelle when I see you I don't see a broken woman. I see a strong woman. Beautiful and charming and amazing. No one is perfect, love, but as far as I can see you are as close as it comes. Please, say something. Anything preferably something to give me hope." He smiled.

Noelle smiled softly at him, "I can see us happy Mark. I just don't know how to get there."

The man smiled, green eyes twinkling with mischief and he knew she saw it, "Small steps, love."

"and your smile tells me you have a step in-" her smile turned into a soft umph as he pulled her hands to draw her closer and pressed his lips to hers. As far as first kisses went they both would agree this was a good one. Noelle stood on his feet to reach his ducked head. Their lips moved softly against each other as if sealing a deal. They could each feel the others smile and for good reason because this simple kiss was filled with promises. A promise to try, a promise to move on, beyond all it was a promise to do both together.

When the kiss finished they pulled apart breathlessly and dropped one of their hands keeping the other entwined. They didn't talk much on the way back to the base as the were content to just share the time in their own thoughts. They entered the base and one of the men catching sight of their entwined hands let out a whoop.

"Danny!," he called, "Looks like you owe me twenty!"

The other man ran out and saw the couple letting out a swear. Mark glared at them.

"You all knew about this?" Noelle laughed.

"Everyone knew about it," the young man said counting his money, "Sorry but we took bets."

"so you bet that we would get together?"

"Yeah and I bet you would smack him at least once," Danny added, "I don't suppose you got one in did you?"

"No," she laughed, "not this time."

Mark gave her a soft shove but she just laughed. It was nice to hear her laugh, all the men thought, it had been fare too long since the woman had truly be happy.

Next time he is back. Where is she? Stay tuned.

and please review? :)