She fit in the moment she entered the apartment.

Racetrack had his Rock & Blues radio station playing on the TV, The Tedeschi Trucks Band playing, and the place smelled warm - popcorn, cookies, that one candle they've never used - 'til now - and marijuana. She dropped her purse on the L couch, the world outside left behind as Jack shut the window, closed the curtains... and she looked about, still barefoot, grinning to herself.

Jack crossed his arms and leaned back on the windowsill, watching her as her eyes passed over the clean-for-once coffee table, the clean rug, the organized TV area -

She knelt in front of the TV to look at the movies, and Jack grinned.

"Aren't ya cold?" Spot asked as he passed to the kitchen. "Jus' climbed up a freakin' metal fire escape."

"She always does that," Jack murmured.

She looked up from the DVD in her hand - 3:10 to Yuma - and smiled at him.

"It is the most natural," she said. She blushed as she looked at him and dropped her eyes, grinning to herself. "I'm good, Spot...but if you guys have any tea - ?"

"Say no more," Spot said, cabinet doors and mugs clinking together.

"Do we have tea," Racetrack said with a chuckle, a cigar hanging from his lips.

The three stooges messed around in the kitchen together, their teasing and cutting up making her laugh as she stood and moved around the couch to David's desk -

Jack's brow furrowed and he pulled out his phone. He texted David over an hour ago, when they'd gotten home and waited for Spot to pull up...

Racetrack came to Jack's side with a beer as Mush brought in a big bowl of popcorn, a plate of cookies, and a bag of M'nM's.

Jack reread the recent text several times…

"'smatt'ah?" Racetrack asked.

"Nothin'," Jack said, distracted. "David went ta Medda's for dinner, said he'd be back later. Kat's with 'em, too."

Racetrack took a drink of his beer as his eyes simultaneously checked his watch. "It's past midnight. Musta been talkin' or somethin'."

"'s what I was thinkin','' Jack said. "But what about, I wonder."

They exchanged a look before they looked up at a noise - Mush had given Tiffany one of his cookies, and the noise she made gave Jack chills on the back of his neck.

"Mmm, Mush these are so good," Tiffany said with eyes closed.

Even Spot was nodding in appreciation as he ate one on the couch. "'ey...these ain't bad, Mushy."

"Raspberry and dark chocolate," Mush said as he opened the bag of M'nM's and dumped them in the wooden bowl over the popcorn. "A great pairing."

"Never met a cookie I didn't like," Tiffany said.

"Nev'ah met any food she didn't like," Jack said.

The guys laughed and she had to join them, her hand covering her full mouth as she tried not to laugh.

"Watch out Mush," Jack said as he moved across the room to sit on the end of the couch against the wall. "Between us an' her, those cookies won't last the movie."

They laughed again and she moved to his side as he set his beer and phone on the desk behind him. She leaned in close, her mouth grazing his left ear as she spoke.

"...or maybe I'll eat you instead."

He felt her grin against his jaw.

"Terrifying and tempting," he replied huskily as she leaned back to look in his eyes, their bodies pressing deliciously against each other.

"Which one am I?"

"Both," he said softly, honestly.

Her eyes slid down to his lips. He saw her throat tighten as she swallowed, blinking as she came back from wherever her thoughts had gone. Her cheeks grew rosy.

They pulled away as the guys came around with four mugs.

"Great night for toddies," Spot said with a grin. "An' I ain't shy with the toddy, if ya know what I'm sayin'."

Tiffany giggled and they got comfy. Spot swiped the chair from the desk and flipped the lights before sitting with his feet propped on the back of the couch.

"I was almost in a movie," Mush said as he cued up the TV. "That day last year down in Times Square -"

"Everyone is almost in a movie in Times Square!" Race shouted as he threw popcorn at Mush. "Play tha real movie, numb nuts."

They laughed and Jack moved his arm over the back of the couch, meeting Spot's gaze coolly. His face sobered a little.

"Heard from Boots: they're all next door an' all's good." Spot said low, nodding and cutting his eyes pointedly to Tiffany.

Jack gave a nod and turned back to the TV. He watched for her reaction, but she changed her position against him and he forgot about everything else.

She looked beautiful and perfect with her legs tucked under her and her chest mirroring his...He was thankful for the darkness of the room, and thankful the guys' faces were glued to the screen. Because Jack had to admit, he had a hard time focusing on the opening scene with the brightness of the TV glowing on her white top.

The guys laughed and loved the eighties nostalgia, and they became completely engulfed as the story began. They could understand the hype and her love affair with the film as they drank slowly and passed a joint, all completely relaxed and enjoying themselves, sprawled on the couch like porch cats.

Tiffany laughed with them, enjoying watching their reactions, and Jack set her empty mug on the desk for her. He went to put his arm back on the couch when she reached for his hand, pulling his arm down over her torso as both of her hands intertwined with his fingers, slowly and sensually.

Wesley and Buttercup were making out at the bottom of a steep ass hill, and he thought how it would feel to hold her like that…

He swallowed as her fingers danced with his - intertwining, tracing his palm, his wrist. Her fingers trailed up under the long sleeve of his shirt. He took a long pull of the joint and a long drink of beer, his throat dry as a desert.

She sang along with the ending credit song, and they sat and listened, their eyes awake but heavy in relaxation.

"My childhood was seriously lacking," Racetrack said with a yawn.

"You're officially granted full permission to pick tha movie for movie nights from now on," Spot said as he stood and stretched.

"I knew you guys would love it," Tiffany said with a grin, still snuggled up to Jack's side.

The guys looked at Jack, registered the look on his face, and they jumped up.

"'ey, think we're gonna turn in, Cowboy."

"Yeah! We'll be next door if ya need anything -"

Spot practically pushed Racetrack and Mush out the door, "I call first controller for Mortal Combat -"

"No way, ass wipe, I kicked your ass last time -"

The door shut and their voices moved down the hall, and guys' voices erupted in a muffled jumble through the walls as they entered the apartment next door.

Jack sat still, feeling her body even more acutely against his in the still dimness of the room, Netflix asking them which movie to watch next on the TV screen. It was oddly quiet, and after a long moment he wondered if she nodded off...

But she was wide awake.

She sat up and turned to him, her eyes telling as she leaned into him. Her full lips pressed to his as her hand touched his side.

He moved his hand to hold the side of her face and she deepened the kiss, her hands resting on either side of him as she rested against him. His fingers followed her braided hair down her back. She fit perfectly against him, and he found himself breathing deeply just to feel her body relax against his.

God her lips melded with his like honey. Full and smooth...his hand moved to the back of her head, holding her to him, while the other went to the hourglass curve of her waist. Her hands went to his chest and just the graze of her nails on him made his hands tighten on her.

She broke away, grinning and biting her lip. She took off her sweater and Jack swallowed, feeling warm himself...but she came back to him and he stopped thinking as she moved her body over his, straddling his lap.

With her hands behind his neck, she paused for a moment, reading his face, before settling her weight on him slowly. He knew by the clever grin on her lips that she saw the raw desire he felt, and she took his mouth again. His body reacted to hers instantly, and she moved her hips against him slowly. It was the greatest ache he'd ever felt, and he prayed to every god he knew not to come undone.

He leaned back and tilted his head up to hers as she made love to his face, her body bowing and moving over his, threatening his very existence. His hands traveled from her knees to her hips to her back, feeling the smooth fabric of her tight white turtleneck against her lean body.

She moaned a little and her tongue caressed his in encouragement, her fingers impatient on his neck and shoulders. He sat up and shifted forward, and she inhaled sharply in pleasure and surprise. She moaned again as he ran his hands down her sides, over her ass, and underneath her - and in that moment as her thighs tightened around him, he was suddenly decidedly done with being hesitant.

Cradling her with his hands, he stood up. She held onto his neck and wrapped her legs around him as he carried her across the space to his and David's room, shutting the door behind them with his foot.

"I knew this room was yours," she said in a moment of catching her breath, her beautiful face close to his. Her body was warm against his torso.

"How's that?" he asked, trying to keep his breathing steady.

"It smells like you," she said huskily, her eyes dropping to his lips.

Could his heart beat any faster? "'s that good?"

"Yes," she giggled as he knelt down to lower her onto his bed.

He felt like he would throw up or fly away or all of the above: seeing her in his messy bed made him forget himself - like a desire, a contentment, he'd never felt before.

Not like back then, when neither of them would give in -

"You should take your shoes off too," she said with a sly grin. "Stay a while."

He stopped thinking again and kicked off his work boots, still looking at her. She stared back, waiting and watching him, her elbows propping her up. He took a breath, as if he were on a high dive over an ocean, and crawled slowly onto the bed and up her body.

He felt her anticipation as he dropped his head, his nose almost grazing her stomach and breasts as he met her eyes and lowered himself over her slowly. Her eyes closed as he kissed her, his entire body resting on hers gently.

But she wanted all of his weight, as if she wanted to drag him beneath the surface and fall deeper. Her arms wrapped around him and she bent a leg to cradle him against her. He snaked his hands under her, holding her to him. Their lips moved together faster, their breath grew shallow, and their hands began exploring each other more.

Hers went under his shirt to his back and he groaned as her nails dug into him gently, her lips grinning against his before she pressed on his lower back. He responded in kind with his hips.

He touched her firmly...she didn't want to be gentle but he wanted to move slowly. He moved his hand underneath her until he felt the curve of her amazing ass, the back of her thigh...he held her to him tightly, and she rose to meet him, her expression almost in anguish.

"Jack," she moaned before meeting his lips again, her body rising beneath him like the roll of a wave.

He felt he would go right through her if he held or kissed her any harder. His thumb grazed the side of her breast and she made a noise -

Fuck.

He rose up on his knees, his shadow blocking her figure from the light of the window, and in one swift motion he took off his shirt and threw it onto the floor. He felt lightheaded, and the cool air on his hot skin was relief. But the way she looked at him made him warm again.

She pulled him down to her side, rolling him onto his back as she hovered over him. She kissed his mouth slowly now, her hands wandering over his skin, his muscles. He felt hot as a burning coal and he closed his eyes as her mouth moved down to his jaw, his neck, his chest. Her full lips pressed to his skin so soft and slow it made him ache and throb.

She straddled him and sat up straight, her perfect figure highlighted by the streetlamp light through the window. He tightened his jaw almost painfully as he watched her hands go to the waist of her jeans.

"Ya don't hafta do that," his voice was fast, low, and thick.

She looked at him for a moment, his words catching her off guard... but then she smiled and giggled warmly, lowering back down to him.

"But what if I wanna?" she teased, her lips close to his.

Before he could say another word, she sat up again and held his gaze as she pulled her top up and over her head, her braids swaying as she dropped the shirt on the ground.

He couldn't make out details, but he saw her. And when she lowered herself back to him, her full bare breasts pressed against him and he felt like a live wire.

His hands went to her sides as she kissed him and his thumbs grazed the mounds of her. Her breath hitched and he moved to pull her down to his side, shifting onto his left elbow as his hand splayed between her shoulder blades, his right hand on her waist. His arms didn't shake as he held her half off the mattress, holding her to him. For such a strong body as hers, she lay relaxed in his arms, her limbs soft and open to him.

Her eyes flared excitedly, longingly, and her body shifted beneath him. But he held her still as his gaze followed the chill bumps down her neck to her collarbone...to the beautiful fullness of her breasts and taut nipples, all highlighted by the bathroom nightlight. She shifted enticingly under his heavy gaze, and when he dropped his head, hers tilted back into his pillow, arching to him.

He took her with his tongue, his lips molding to her as if he were kissing her mouth, and she gasped, moaned, tangled and tightened her fingers in his hair, held him to her.

He took her with his teeth, and she cried out in such a way that almost did it. Her hips rocked up to his and he gripped her just above her thigh.

"Jack."

He looked up at her face as she pulled at him, her hands sliding down his chest to the front of his pants.

He took both of her hands with his free one. "Why don't we jus' enjoy this?"

"I want you," she said, her sultry voice stoking the fire within him. "I want all of you."

He was amazed...A woman so many men desired and wanted access to, and she was here in his old apartment in his messy dingy bed, and she wanted him.

She wasn't even trying to be flirty or teasing or coy. The ache in her eyes almost mirrored the ache he felt in his heart, on bad days. When he remembered…

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I want all of ya too...badly. But you're more to me than that."

Her fingers stopped pulling, her body froze. He froze too.

He met her eyes and they were perplexed, tender, surprised.

He was too; the words tumbled out before he could stop and think. But he meant them, and she saw it.

He brought his free hand up to the side of her face. Both of them half naked and exposed, he felt more intimate in this moment than any before...his thoughts shifted back to her - with all her cute ways and her honest thoughts, her determination and her fire...he wanted her to make the choice.

"I want ya ta know me," he said huskily. "Before ya give yourself to me."

She inhaled slowly, her breasts pressing against him...and she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his face down to hers, kissing him tenderly.

"Are you real?" she asked as they paused to catch their breath.

"You tell me," he said back, his nose close to hers.

She laughed, her perfect white teeth glinting in her sincere relaxed smile. He kissed her again, and soon they fell into a tangle of limbs, their bodies still pressed together. After a while their bodies stilled, and the muffled noises of the world outside brought them back down.

His eyes were closed but he felt her gaze on his face.

"Are ya comfortable?" he murmured. His brain was slowing down, but still fully aware of her bare skin as she shifted under him, and pulled a blanket over them, her head beneath his chin as she laid down with her back against his chest, her hips between his... His arms flexed around her and she made a warm "mmm" sound.

"Yes," she said. "I thought you said you wouldn't be able to sleep next to me…"

"Fuck sleep," he said with a grin.

She giggled. "...you fall asleep looking out the window, don't you?"

"...ya got me figured out."

"Far from it," she murmured.

He heard her say his name, far away… He fell into a strange sleep...for a while there was nothing, then dark indiscernible shapes came, reaching...hands grabbing - reaching for her. She was screaming his name, her voice torn with that horrible fear -

Jack!

He bolted up right, panting and sweating, his eyes wild as he looked around -

"Jack?"

He looked down to his side and saw her propped up on her elbow, her eyes wide and worried as she read his face. The image of her was like water thrown on him, her clean smooth skin soft in the light from the window. He glanced back at the clock on his nightstand - 4 o'clock in the morning.

He dragged a hand over his face and tried to come out of the panic that had seized his body, his head ached, then -

"Fuck," he groaned as he winced.

"Headache?"

"Yeah," he said thickly.

He rose to go to the sink in the bathroom, the water on his face calming as he leaned over the vanity, eyes closed and breath uneven. After a long moment he dried his face and came out to see her sitting up, waiting for him.

His body rose to the occasion again, pressing against the jeans he still wore. But the haunting scream was still in his head, even though she was here now, safe. He felt strange, between two worlds...his memory and the present.

"Come here," she said, holding her hand out to him, the image of her like a dream.

"What time should I take ya home?" he asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her. He hated the question, but he was desperate to distract his thoughts...

She didn't say anything as she knelt behind him and ran her hands down his shoulders, his arms, to his hands. Her bare breasts pressed against his back and he exhaled, closing his eyes. Her hands went up his chest, giving him chills, and she gently pulled him back onto the bed until they were facing each other on his pillow.

She took his hand and held it between them...and she pressed on the pressure point between his thumb and index finger, rolled it in little circles, and soon the pressure in his head released a little...then a little more.

"Sleep, Jack," her low voice hummed in his ear as she held his hand to her.

Against his will, he closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.


Earlier that night...

"Are you sure?"

David closed his eyes, dragging his hand over his face for the millionth time.

"David," Medda said almost firmly.

"No," he said thickly, the melting ice tinkling in his glass as he turned it on a marble coaster. "I haven't confirmed it."

But it had been haunting him all day, ever since the previous night in the library.

Every day after hours and hours of reading copy and sending edit after edit to the Deputy Editor, Keith, David packed up his laptop, every notebook, every sticky note, and went to the New York Public Library. Some days he'd leave the office in the early hours of the morning, and he'd grab a bagel and a cup of coffee to wait for the library to open. He'd spend a few hours there before going back to the office, get an hour or two of sleep at his desk, and start all over.

But the library was a place filled with students, teachers, professionals, tourists, and it was one of his favorite places to be alone.

Whether it was a corner on the floor, a desk between shelves, or a reading chair tucked away, he sat for hours. Away from windows.

He never rented a private room, never checked anything out, never used his card - only cash. He narrowed his searches, knew which section he needed to be near so he didn't have to meander, or look lost.

Police records were harder to get a hold of, and he couldn't risk raising any alarms. So he did what he knew he could do best: read and write.

He knew the guys thought he was at work. He didn't correct them. So many nights he stayed at the library as long as he could, even on his day off.

Some nights he wished he could hide and sleep in the library... some nights he didn't want to walk to his car alone.

Certainly not the night before, when he found a photo and an article from 1989.

And he saw a very familiar family name. Hard not to, when it was a legacy that had been created in New York City. But the photo of a young successful business man and his young son grabbed his awareness...

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't want to freak anyone out...because I'll admit, this has me -" he swallowed. "Somewhat spooked."

He looked up at Medda across the table, her fingers intertwined in front of her mouth as she watched him carefully.

"But I had to tell somebody."

Kat reached for his hand...she was forward on her chair at the head of the table, the far away lights of the city reflecting softly on her light blonde hair. He remembered how golden it was on the ends, when it had been long and curly...

"You don't have to do it alone," she said, squeezing his hand in hers.

"You're doing your own research and schoolwork," he said with a tired grin. "Besides, I can't bring myself to put you at risk. Not if Kid Blink is deep in with…" his voice fell with his gaze. "These guys."

He rubbed his eyes again.

"David, stay here tonight," Medda pleaded. She rose from her seat, "I'll make you a brew to help you snooze, and I'll bust out some blankets - these couches are great to sleep on."

He laughed a little, "Probably a good idea...I want to give Jack his privacy."

Medda fell quiet as she filled up the kettle, her head dropping.

"I'm worried about her too," David said.

"They need to know," Medda said as she set the kettle on the stovetop definitively.

"Give me some time," David said. He looked back to Kat, "I need to make sure of this...and give Kid and Tiffany time to... They both might -"

"We don't know when," Kat countered softly. Her eyes dropped to the city behind him. "But I'm glad he's getting time with her. She...really does seem to care for him."

David watched her sadly, his hand tightening on hers.

"I think I'm worried about Kid most of all," he said.

She turned to him, her glassy eyes becoming watery, and David felt as if he had revealed a secret pain, one he tried his best not to think about.

He couldn't look away from her, seeing the sleepless nights in her eyes.

"I brewed tea for three," Medda called warmly as she carried a tea tray to the coffee table between the couches.

"That means you're staying too," she said with a wink at Kat.

Kat smiled a little, and David reached out to catch the tear on her cheek.

"We need to give them some time to wake up," he said again.

After a moment she sighed and nodded.

They drank Medda's calming blend of lavender and chamomile with milk and sunk into the couches as she threw fluffy knit blankets over them and turned off the lights, the only light coming from the stove and the city outside the glass walls.

"David?"

"Hmm?"

"I think…" Kat hesitated a moment. "Jazzi knows."

He'd been turning the same thought over and over in his head...it gave him sickening chills now, despite the warm blanket.

"I think so too."