Hiding a yawn behind his hand, John shuffled in place at the back of the conference room. Anna and Mary held their positions at the lectern as they debriefed their staff on the events in Malaysia and outlined changes to the upcoming schedule. Without the sling Anna moved as is she suffered no injury but John noted the times she winced or when her reach fell just an inch short of where it had before. Each time it tempted him to check the email drop he and Shand constructed but he could not bear for it to be empty… again.

Instead, his fingers almost itching with the effort to keep still, John forced himself to pay attention to the discussion. Each time Anna's eyes met his, he noted the slight twerk of her lips as if she wanted to smile. He did it for her and while each one only lasted a half a second, if that, John almost visibly winced when Branson caught at least two of them. The frown on Branson's face as the muscle in his cheek twitched forced John to hold himself still and swallow to keep from cringing at the possible ramifications of his actions.

Or the inevitable fallout.

As the meeting wrapped John moved, as if to go to Anna's side, but Branson stepped in his path. "A moment, John?"

"I really should-"

"It wasn't a request, John." Branson's voice firmed. "I won't ask the second time."

"Are you really asking this time?"

"I was trying to politely invite you to have a conversation with me but, if I need to be something other than polite, I will be."

There was only a second of hesitation before John nodded and followed Branson from the room. He and Anna shared a quick glance before she returned to her conversation but John caught the flicker of worry pass over her face. But John could only spare a moment to contemplate it before giving Branson his whole focus. Any distractions at this moment could prove as fatal as hesitation while under heavy fire.

It only took Branson a minute to weave into an empty, and smaller, conference room where the decisive snap of the door almost made John jump. "Are you sleeping with her?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you sleeping with the principle?"

"I'm not sure any answer I give to that question is your business."

"I need to know John. Not only as your boss but as your friend." Branson faced John with his arms folded over his chest. "Are you sleeping with Anna Smith?"

"No." John held Branson's gaze. "I'm not sleeping with Anna Smith."

"Have you done anything that would indicate you want to sleep with her?"

"And if I had what would that be to you?" John's jaw tightened and Branson held up his hands as if to hold John back.

"It's not a judgment, John, it's professionalism. The reputation of my company in on the line and if you've done or said anything that might, even in the smallest way, indicate-" Branson paused, "Anything less than professional conduct then we're in deep shit."

"Are we?"

"Yes, John, we are. So," Branson sighed, "Have you done anything that might-"

"I've kissed her on two documented occasions." John stood straighter, "As to my desires… Ms. Smith and I are very clear as to where we stand with one another and what our mutual desires are."

"John." Branson sighed, his forefinger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose so hard his knuckles went white. "If there's been anything you've said that anyone could use to try and press a sexual harassment suit then we're-"

"Perfectly fine." John rolled his shoulders back as Branson blinked skeptically at him. "Ms. Shand's people provided you the logs of when we had the cameras turned off in Ms. Smith's suite so you know the exact dates and times of when Ms. Smith and I kissed while we were in Kuala Lampur."

"It's not…" Branson sighed, "It's not about the kissing, John."

"Then what is it about, Tom?" John kept his body as relaxed as he could manage, a feat he was sure would crumble under any significant pressure. "Whatever I think, is private. What Ms. Smith and I've discussed together is included in my reports only when it's relevant to the mission or pertinent to my job. Everything else is no one's business."

"Except this is my business, John, and I won't lose it because there's a whiff of a memory of any possible shenanigans going on while my people are on duty." Branson's whole form seemed to hollow out when he let out a breath. "It's nothing personal and I'm not trying to be invasive."

"You're not?" John suppressed a snort. "Did you have this same conversation with Talbot or do I get singled out because I requested two moments of privacy?"

"Talbot's worked with me long enough to know the rules and boundaries of this job."

"And I don't?"

"I don't think you've had the chance to absorb them in the same way, no." Branson shook his head, "It's not about you, in the end."

"Feels like it's about me right now."

"It's…" Branson took a breath deep enough to double the size of his chest. "My name's on the door John and I've got to do my due diligence. If I don't then I'm not doing my job. If I don't do my job then there aren't jobs for others."

"I know." John swallowed, "But while this line of questioning isn't personal for you, it might be personal for me and Ms. Smith."

"Might be?"

"We're both interested in where our next steps might go, if we pursue them, and we plan to do so." John swallowed, "When it's not business hours and I'm off-duty."

"This isn't-" Branson stopped talking as Anna entered the room, closing the door behind her and leaning slightly on it. "Ms. Smith, how nice of you to join us."

"I thought it prudent to do so when it looked like you wanted to rip my excellent bodyguard a new one in one of my conference rooms."

"Would you prefer I rip him a new one in one of my conference rooms or is that not the part of this meeting you're hoping to stop?" Branson and Anna stared one another down a moment before Anna pushed off the door to walk toward them. She only stopped when their trio formed and equilateral triangle.

"Tom, you've worked with me for a while now and so I'd like to think you and I are on the same page about a few things. Not all things, I know, but a few."

"I'd like to think so too." Branson stepped to fully face Anna. "Which is why I'm struggling with what I might be confronting here."

"What's the struggle?"

"You're aware of the non-compete clauses built into our contracts?"

"Of course."

"Just as I'm sure you thoroughly read and recall the non-fraternization policy we do enforce to ensure the professionalism of our security teams?"

"I do." Anna held up a finger, "I also recall the wording being just a tad ambiguous. Specifically, that the phrasing is geared toward discouraging fraternization between the members of the teams themselves… Not necessarily fraternization with the principles your people are protecting."

Branson frowned, "That's being a little liberal with the language, isn't it?"

"Maybe it is." Anna shrugged and held up her hands as if in surrender. "Now, I'm no lawyer and I'm sure you've combed through the details of your document very thoroughly but the utmost principle of your organization is security, yes?"

"Of course."

"Then you can rest assured that Mr. Bates has gone above and beyond the call of duty." Anna massaged at her shoulder and John noted the twinge of concern in Branson's expression at the move. "I'm sure you'd agree that I'm alive because of he and Ms. Shand went to great lengths to keep me that way."

"I do."

"Then," Anna massaged her shoulder a second longer before dropping her arm. "I'm sure whatever worries you have about the possible breach in protocol can be… assuaged."

"It's unprofessional, Anna." Branson spared John a look as he met Anna's gaze again. "Despite what you may think about John, and despite what I think about John, the reputation of my company hangs in the balance here."

Anna frowned, "Why would it?"

"If people suspect that our personal security is, in any way, engaging in romantic relationships that not only puts the principles in danger but also casts doubt on our motives and intentions." Branson sighed, "I'm sure you've heard the phrase 'more secrets are shared through pillow talk than through torture', yes?"

"I have." Anna sighed, "But I don't think you're worried about the amount of discretion Mr. Bates and I would exercise."

"I am, actually." Branson gave a sigh of his own before shifting to bring John into his line of sight again. "But that's not the only thing about this endeavor that bothers me."

"What else could be bothering you?" Anna shrugged, "I've been perfectly clear."

"You have, yes, but I think there's…" Branson sucked at the insides of his cheeks a moment. "I'm worried that this relationship may have something to do with the disappearance of Ms. Shand."

"She's missing?"

"Yes."

"You think…" Anna's eyes narrowed as John forced his face straight. "How could Ms. Shand be missing?"

"I mean she's taken an extended leave of absence and fallen off the face of the bloody earth." Branson eyed John, "Or as close to that kind of thing as someone can get these days."

"Is that a problem?" John swallowed to stop his mouth going dry under Branson's intense stare. "She's her own person and entitled to her privacy."

"It's a problem considering what I know about your visit to Malaysia, the kind of person Ms. Shand is, and the skill set she has at her disposal…" Branson gave John another hard look. "I'm worried it could become something bigger than the trouble of not having my lead security agent available."

"But you don't know anything?" Anna pressed and John bit the back of his jaw to stop audibly sighing in relief as Branson's interrogative expression finally shifted off him. "Other than that she's taken personal leave."

"Not as yet, no."

"Until then," Anna offered a smile that did not reach her eyes. "I guess there's no point in bemoaning the possible results and wasting our time getting our stomach in knots when there's nothing we can do about it."

"Anna…" Branson's lips pursed. "I don't think you realize the seriousness of these events. There's a reason I'm bringing them up and if you don't understand then we might have a problem with our partnership moving forward."

"I do understand and I do sympathize, Tom. Few people want the continued partnership between CS Consulting and Management and Branson Personal Security more than me. However," Anna cut Branson off when he tried to argue. "I can promise you two things here and now."

"Can you?"

"Yes, I can. First," Anna held up the requisite finger. "As long as Mr. Bates is my bodyguard, we'll be the picture of decorum and professionalism in public. You've nothing to worry about in terms of your company's reputation."

"And in private?"

"That's none of your business." Anna pointed between herself and John. "We're both of sound mind and body in our consent as adults. Should anything happen, we'll be sure to let you know the details that are relevant to our continued partnership."

Branson folded his arms over his chest. "And the second thing?"

"The second thing is, whatever Ms. Shand's doing is also her business." Anna shrugged and then winced slightly. "I'm sure she's just taking a holiday. One to which, I believe, she's entitled."

"You think she's just taken a holiday?"

"I think trying to wrestle meaning from a woman who's locked down tighter than most banks is an exercise in futility. Besides," Anna finally turned to John. "I think you've been silent in all this long enough."

"I wouldn't dare think about interrupting you when you were fighting so valiantly for the cause." John gave her a smile before addressing Branson. "There's nothing to worry about, Tom. Ms. Smith's right, we'll be on our best behavior and we'll give you no reason to worry more than you already do."

"Too late there." Branson shook his head and gathered his things. "But since you're the boss here, Anna, it's your call."

"Mr. Bates stays." Anna folded her arms over her chest, standing taller. "And if that's not alright with you then I'd suggest you fire him so I can hire him."

"Fat chance there." Branson snorted, "John's too good to fire over something like this. Especially when, as you said, he's not technically committed an infraction."

"I won't tell you to 'give it time' because I don't want to add to your inevitable ulcer." Anna extended her hand to Branson, "I do hope I've not given you too much heartburn about all of this."

"You've made me lose a few nights of sleep but you pay me well enough to compensate for most of my worries." Branson took his hand back and shrugged. "I guess we'll see how this all goes, won't we?"

"I guess we will." John watched Branson leave the office then turned to Anna. "That was… Remarkably uncomfortable."

"Agreed. And I was only here for half of it." Anna offered John a real smile. "So, if that's not deflated anything we had going for us, do you have plans this evening?"

"I don't, but I'm a little worried you thought me getting chewed out by my superior would change my desires in the slightest." John risked a step toward Anna but kept their distance professional. "It'd take a lot more than Tom Branson giving me a stern lecture to convince me not to take you to a lovely dinner somewhere."

"Dinner?" Anna pursed her lips into a smile. "That sounds absolutely marvelous."

"Really?"

"Yes. Except," Anna held up a finger and John's forehead furrowed. "I've a meeting tonight that I don't think I should miss."

"It wasn't on the schedule." John pulled out his phone, "Ms. Baxter's been religious in making sure I know your every move."

"Thank goodness for that but it wouldn't be on my schedule." Anna swallowed and John lowered his phone to note the way Anna's hand dry-washed a moment before she tugged at the fingers of her left hand with her right. "It's not a business meeting. It's a… personal… thing."

"Do you want me to-"

"I…" Anna stopped and firmed her stance a moment. "I actually wouldn't mind if you came. It... It's for me but you might… Not to assume but-"

"Ms. Smith," John put out a hand, landing gently on hers as they continued to tug at each other. "I've seen you speak to a hall full of people and endure heavy gunfire without the slightest hint of rattling or buckling under the pressure so I do hope you appreciate why your actions, at this moment, are a bit distressing."

"They… are." Anna seemed to deflate a moment. "It's more that I'm… Not embarrassed, but it's not something many people know about and so it's rather private and I'm trying to find the right words to-"

"And now you're, if you'll pardon my saying so, babbling." John tried to smile but the echoes of distress in Anna's motions stopped him. "If you don't want to tell me then there's no pressure for you to say anything."

"You already know, at least in part, so that's what's the trouble." Anna took a steadying breath, "I have a support group meeting tonight."

John blinked, "You go to a support group?"

Anna nodded, "Auggie and I do. And Peter, when he's in town. It's… It's for a number of things and everyone there has a slightly different reason but we're a pretty tight-knit group now."

"Is it because of…"

"Mumbai?" Anna shook her head, "Well, it wasn't at first. It was helpful, in line with my one-on-one therapy sessions but I was in the support group long before I needed counseling to get over being held hostage."

"If you don't mind me asking," John coughed to clear his throat, "What kind of support group would you and a sixteen-year-old need?"

"Grief counseling." Anna took another breath but her fingers twitched under John's and they twisted to resume tugging and shifting. "I told you my sister passed, yes?"

"I remember."

"She didn't…" Anna's jaw flexed, "Go peacefully."

"You'd mentioned she was in the service. Did she…" John swallowed, "Was she killed in action or wounded or-"

"My sister committed suicide, John." The air left his lungs at the sight of tears cresting Anna's eyes. She wiped hurriedly at them. "There were a number of… issues, she was dealing with. And it got too much for her so she…"

"Ms. Smith," John's hand firmed over hers and held until Anna looked at him. "I'm… there aren't words for how sorry I am for your loss."

"It was eight years ago now and-"

"Doesn't matter." John insisted, gripping her hands a little tighter and squeezing slightly before he released his grip entirely. "It still hurts you."

"Yeah, it does." Anna wiped at her eyes again and gave a little laugh when John offered her a handkerchief. "My hero."

"I'd hoped so, especially after you gave me such a rousing defense earlier." John flexed his jaw, "If it's not an imposition, however, I'd like to come with you."

Anna's fingers froze as she dabbed at the corner of her eye. "You want to?"

"You're not the only one with… Issues that could still stand to be worked through."

"Not that we made our issues any lighter with our recent escapades." Anna went to return the handkerchief. "And I don't think I'd mind your company at all."

"Then it'll be my pleasure. Please," John stopped her giving back the handkerchief. "Keep it, you might need it more than I do."

"Is that so?"

"I've not got makeup to keep pristine." John pointed at his face, "I'm into the natural look and I don't look goo with eyeliner."

"You never know if you've never tried." Anna gave him a small smile. "And I'd like to have you come tonight."

"Your nephew wouldn't think I'm stepping in on his territory would he?"

"I think he'd like having someone else along so I can't interrogate him about school or his football club or his love life." Anna shrugged, "He's a teenager and I'm not as interesting to him as I used to be."

"The challenges of growing up and realizing our relationships change as well." John bit the inside of his cheek, "Something that, given the opportunity, I do hope we'll have the chance to explore further."

Anna eyed him a moment before nodding. "You can still choose the dinner location, if you're interested in tonight, but you should note that any flirting would be best kept to a minimum since there'll be a teenager along."

"I see two possibilities there," John held up his finger. "First, he ignores us entirely or second, he continually makes comments or noises about us."

"The third option is that he abandons us entirely."

"I didn't want to suggest something that might seem like too much to hope for." John smiled with Anna as she gave a snorting laugh. "But if that's what happens then who be we to stop him living his life?"

"You're incorrigible."

"Only off-duty." John checked his watch. "Which I won't be for a few more hours so I'll have to fill my reserves for then."

"I think I liked you better on duty when you hardly spoke a word."

"And I don't think that's true." John crossed the room and opened the door. "I'd hate to think I'm delaying the rest of your day."

"No delay." Anna exited the conference room, John on her heels. "It was actually rather refreshing to tell someone about the group."

"Not something many people know?"

"They, or mostly everyone, knows I did therapy after my personal hostage crisis but no," Anna shook her head. "No one else knows about the group. Excluding Mary, actually."

She stopped, "You don't think that says something about me, do you?"

"I think it says you consider it private and you want to keep it among those you trust with your vulnerabilities." John lowered his voice, "Something for which I'm very grateful. It's… It's a remarkable amount of trust, Ms. Smith, that you've shown me and I promise I won't abuse it."

"You kept me alive in an overturned car, John," Anna shook her head, "I doubt very much you'll be one to betray my trust."

"I'm grateful I've earned your confidence."

"Now you're just fishing for compliments."

"Never did care much for fish." John gave her the slightest of smiles as he took up his post at her door while she went to her desk. "But I'll take whatever compliments you deign to give me, no matter the hardship it is for you"

"It's hardly a hardship to give them." Anna rolled her eyes and picked up her phone as it rang. "Anna Smith."

The rest of the day was almost boring in its routine but John continually found himself sneaking glances at Anna. Either as he listened intently to an argument she made in favor of a potentially divisive financial investment or when talking about future projects and the status of current ones. The more he honed in on her views, the more convinced he was that perhaps he should have paid more attention to the non-fraternization clause in the packet of papers he signed. But then, he realized, he could never have feigned ignorance and it would be an even greater hardship to be near Anna while on duty.

When the day finally did end, Anna making a show of counting down the minutes, John heaved a sigh of relief all his own. "That was torturous."

"Makes me glad I didn't have to follow through on my threat to hire you myself if you find the work I do so boring." Anna teased, packing away her attaché case with a few folders and files before tucking her laptop away. "But I guess it'd give you something to talk about with Auggie."

"He doesn't like your work?"

"He finds the details of trying to save the world as mind-numbing as most people who realize the real work is done in the nitty-gritty." Anna eased through the door as John opened it for her and hit the button for the lifts before he could. "He respects what I do but he's a man of action, like his parents. Peter can't sit down to save his life and Emma never was one for school. She liked putting things together and figuring out how they worked."

Anna shuffled a moment, her voice lowering. "She wanted to be an electrician, if you can believe it. It fascinated her."

"Why didn't she follow through with it?" John trailed Anna into the lift and managed the button for the garage.

"Because the General wouldn't stand for it." The bitter note in Anna's tone almost gave John a doubletake. "And Emma could never stand up to the General."

"Did you?"

"The General and I fought all the time." Anna shook her head, "She's the reason I left service. That and it was never for me."

"But your sister stayed in?"

Anna nodded, leading the way out to the car. "There's the saying that the same water that boils the egg softens the potato, yeah?"

"I know it." John opened the back door for Anna, holding still as she leaned toward him and met his eyes. "Where you the potato or the egg?"

"My sister committed suicide because she failed to get a promotion." Anna bit at her lower lip. "It was, in the words of the General, another in a long line of failings my sister exhibited in the course of her duties."

John could only stare and try not to drop his jaw as Anna shrugged. "It was the last straw for a woman destroyed by expectations she never wanted to fulfill but had no idea how to refuse. So she took her service weapon and…" Anna's jaw worked a second and she sniffed with a swallow before continuing in a voice that cracked slightly. "The only good thing, to come out of what happened, was that I found her and not Auggie. That her son didn't have to see what happened when his mother died."

"Ms. Smith…" John chewed the inside of his jaw. "I don't know what to say."

"At this point there's nothing to say." Anna put one of her hands of John's on the door. "But I'm grateful you want to say anything at all. It means more than I think you realize. More than… More than words adequately express."

John nodded, "Home first then?"

"No, we'll get Auggie from his practice and then straight on to the group." Anna stopped, unless you'd rather not come."

"I owe you dinner afterward, Ms. Smith." John winked at her, "I think I'd better make sure you don't find a better date."

"Fat chance of that."

Despite traffic, and Auggie running late after his practice, they managed to arrive at the destination on time. John trailed a step behind them as Auggie and Anna chatted with one another on their way into the building. An old community center in London's East End, it echoed an older time in its design and gave John paused as he tried not to focus on the crack in the old tile and linoleum of the floor.

"It's from the sixties." He jumped slightly as two women, both with Scottish accents, appeared at both of his elbows. The younger one, with hipster-framed glasses, spoke again as he settled. "It's been on the register for demolition but the local populace saved it as a historical landmark."

"You'd think they'd get the funding to keep it up to code under conditions like that." John eyed both women. "You come here often?"

"I should hope so, we run the place." The older of the two women extended a hand. "Elsie Hughes, managing director of this community center."

"John." He shook firmly before turning to the other woman. "And you?"

"Shelagh Turner, nurse practitioner and psychology specialist." She shook his hand as well. "My husband's the resident GP and usually leads the discussions."

"Experienced in this sort of thing?"

"He's had his own ups and downs with trauma, yes." Shelagh smiled before directing John into the room where Anna and Auggie already took their seats. "If you'll join us."

John gave her a nod and took the seat Anna saved at her side. He almost echoed the smile she gave him before leaning to whisper in her ear. "I was cornered at the door."

"Cornered?" Anna twisted her neck before shaking her head. "That's Dr. Hughes and Nurse Turner. They're lovely."

"They introduced themselves."

"And they'll probably be expecting you to do the same, since it's your first time here." Anna paused, "Unless that's treading on private territory."

"It'll be fine." John patted his artificial leg. "I've had a bit of practice going round in a circle and discussing parts of myself."

"I look forward to what you'll share then." Anna focused on the dark-haired man who took the empty seat at the completed end of the circle, Nurse Turner at his side.

"Welcome everyone, I'm Doctor Patrick Turner. I can see we've a few new faces here so let's introduce ourselves."

The rest of the evening progressed after the introductions with a few updates from the returning members and scare details from newcomers. A few of them almost seemed antsy about being in the same space as those who shared freely about their particular ailments while others latched on for the hope finally offered to them. It was not until near the end, almost thinking himself forgotten, that John blinked himself to the present when Dr. Hughes called his name.

"Is there anything you'd like to share with us, John? You've been quiet for the entire session." The borderline paradox between the level of examination in her gaze matched only by the intensity of her sincerity.

John shuffled in his seat and cleared his throat. "I've not shared anything for a long time because, I think, I'm mostly better than I was the last time I was in a place like this."

"Would you mind sharing with us about that?" Dr. Turner leaned forward a little in his chair. "I'm sure there are some here who'd like to know there's a place of peace waiting for them at the end of their struggles."

John gave a little smile, "I'm not sure there's an end to my struggles but there is a… A peace to knowing you can fight the battle. But…" He cleared his throat, shifting again in his chair as if he could suddenly detect every uncomfortable ridge in the metal seat. "But I think the thing that took me the longest to get over was the idea that I'd never get the closure I wanted so I'd have to settle for the closure I got."

"What does that mean?" A woman across the circle from him, her voice gravely and her clothes ratty, spoke up.

"It means that we'll not get the catharsis we want." John paused, "We're all hoping for closure. We want someone to apologize the way we've imagined they would or we want the world to realize what it did to us and give us back equal to what it stole. But that'll never happen. We'll never get what we want the exact way we want it so we've got to deal with what we have and confront the real possibility that we might be disappointed now but we don't need to be disappointed forever."

He glanced at Anna, "I think we've got to realize that sometimes life has something better in mind for us than we had for ourselves."

"Thank you for that John." Dr. Hughes clapped her hands together, "And, on that lovely note, I'd say we should adjourn for the evening."

Everyone stood, some milling their way to the refreshment table while John and Anna occupied themselves with folding up the chairs. As John grabbed for one he noticed Anna staring at him and rolled his shoulders to try and distract himself from potentially blushing. "May I help you, Ms. Smith?"

"I just wanted to say I thought your 'share' was rather beautiful." Anna grabbed her own chair. "You are good at this."

"As I said before," John stacked the chairs against the wall. "I've been in a few circles like this one. I know what it's like to be somewhere and be looking for relief and hope you can find it."

"How'd you end up in therapy?" John turned to see Auggie handing him a few more chairs. "Did you lose someone?"

"I got divorced but that's not really the same thing." John set the chairs on their rack and stepped to the side to allow others to do the same. "No, I lost my right leg in the service and I spent a lot of time angry in therapy before I realized I didn't need to be angry."

"Really?" Auggie's eyebrows rose and then his eyes widened when John showed him part of his prosthetic with a lift of his trouser leg. "Cool. Like a real-live Cyborg."

"Sure… I think." John frowned and tried to get a hint from Anna but she could only shrug her confusion. "What about you? Do you think this helps?"

"It's mostly for the habit now but…" Auggie shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. "It was good for me. Better than the therapy sessions they tried to force me into with my dad and Anna. They didn't get it."

"Everyone's a little different with their pain." John nodded and checked his watch, "I'd better get you both home before the next shift arrives."

"And here I thought you'd promised us dinner." Anna teased as they made their way out the doors.

"I'm sure there's a drive-thru somewhere we can use." John barely avoided the elbow Anna tried to dig into his side. "Which one's your poison?"

Their drive back, with Auggie in the front seat destroying three different containers of chips, left John almost laughing to himself. And even when Auggie gave him a wave on his way to the lifts, holding a fourth container, John could not stop himself imagining that he once might have had a life where it would have been his child eating their way through two bags of fast food. But he shook himself and waited for Anna to leave the car before escorting her to the lift.

They greeted the night guard and rode up to Anna's floor in almost silence. A silence, John mused to himself, without the pressure of speech. A comfortable moment where no words were needed if there were none to be shared. A silence broken when the doors opened and John walked Anna to her door.

She turned then, her hands on the handle of her attaché case, and gave John a hint of a smile. "Would you like to come in, John?"

"I don't think I should."

Anna's eyes widened, "If you're worried about Auggie then you should know that buying him that many chips made you a god in his eyes so you don't have to-"

"That's not what I mean." John ran a hand over his hair, scratching absently at the back of his neck. "I've a feeling that, if I go in, I might be tempted to take things further."

"What if that's what I want?" Anna stepped closer to him. "It's what I'm willing to risk the wrath of Tom Branson for."

"Me too." John dropped his hand to catch one of Anna's. His fingers moved over her skin before bringing it to his lips to kiss. "But not tonight."

"Because Auggie's home?"

"Part of it." John's thumb stroked over Anna's knuckles. "The other part is… old fashioned, if you want to call it that."

"Old fashioned?" John nodded and Anna snorted. "How old fashioned?"

"The kind of old fashioned where I believe that I owe you a proper dinner and, possibly, dancing before I can consider the next step."

"You dance?"

"A slow shuffle, sure." John grinned at her before bringing his lips to the back of Anna's hand again. "Mostly, Ms. Smith, I believe you deserve to be wooed before I take you up on any offers in your flat."

"Then you're a rare creature." Anna closed the distance further, bending slightly to leave her case on the floor. "And I've got to say…"

Her tongue ran over her bottom lip. "It's possibly one of the most attractive things anyone's ever promised to do to me before."

"Trust me," John leaned down, "I've got other attractive things I can promise to do to you, if you'd like."

"Later." Anna's hand slipped from his grip. "There's a child in the next room."

Before John could respond Anna's hands gripped along his jaw and brought their mouths together. It took John a moment to orient his feet as his hands chose their positions with another second of hesitancy. One went to the back of Anna's neck while the other slid along her hip to her lower back. The same hand he used to hold her to him as John pivoted to put Anna's back against the wall by the door.

She hummed into their kiss and tried pulling John closer as her tongue ran over his bottom lip. It gave him a second to gasp before Anna took her advantage and ran her tongue along the inside of his lips. Sucking hard there had John almost tumbling into her and he only regained his balance by sacrificing his hold at the back of her neck to splay his hand on the wall behind her instead.

The giggle Anna gave as she deepened the kiss raised John's blood and his fingers firmed at her lower back to hold her still as he pressed into her. Using the wall as leverage behind him he seized her moment of surprise and slanted his mouth over hers to return the favor of flavor with his tongue. Anna's moan at that almost seemed a victory, as if she egged him to this moment for the express purpose of gaining their current position, but John did not care. He only gave in all the more.

Even with his eyes shut, John could see every motion they made and he reveled in the slow roll of Anna's hips against him. He even took a small victory in the way Anna sucked hard on his tongue and tightened her fingers in his skin when the hand formerly at her back slid to her ass to lift her enough so his growing arousal pressed lower than her stomach. The move encouraged Anna to wrap her leg at his hip and grind into him until John gripped harder at her ass and his body pressed her back against the wall to return the motion with a gyration of his hips.

Just at the moment when one of Anna's hands left his jaw, scraping down his waistcoat and shirt toward his belt, John broke their kiss. He did not remove Anna's hand, only heaved for breath as he stared into Anna's eyes and appreciated the slight swell of her lips under his ministrations. Shifting his weight away from her and loosening his hold allowed Anna to slip back to the floor. Then his hand, moving off her ass, caught the hand she dared so close to his belt buckle.

"As much as I'd love to see what might happen next," He kissed at her knuckles, "I'd best leave you with a kiss at your door."

"If that's how you kiss women at their door, I'm amazed you even needed to get into the bedroom." Anna teased, going onto her tiptoes to kiss him again but leaving off with the temptations of her tongue. "That was better than some sex I've had."

"I'm happy to oblige." John kissed the back of Anna's hand again. "But next time, perhaps. Most certainly after I've taken you out for dinner."

"I can't wait." Anna aligned herself to him, her hands moving to the back of John's neck to bring their lips together again. "And I'm not sure how healthy it is for you to wait too much longer."

"I can manage."

"'Course you can." Anna winked at him, rolling her hips so John forced his eyes closed instead of rocking his hips back into hers in response. "But you don't have to."

"You've no idea how much I want to take you up on the offer you're implying at this very moment, Ms. Smith, convention be damned."

"I think I've some idea." Anna kissed him again before releasing her hold and stepping back to pick her case up from the floor. "But if I'm out here much longer then I'll never hear the end of it from Auggie and you'll never leave."

"I'm sure I wouldn't." John reached for Anna's hand again and pressed a hard kiss to the back of it. "Goodnight, Ms. Smith."

"Goodnight John." She went through the door and paused a moment to look back at him. "I hope, when you take care of it…"

Her nod toward his trousers almost had John moving his hands to cover himself. "You think of me."

"There's no one else to think about."

"Good." Anna smiled, "Sleep well John."