(A/N) I know its not necessary to put one at the beginning of each chapter.but I have no life so bare with me. Lara's forgotten who Lara is and has some interesting theories about Alex. ^_^ Oh yes for those who haven't figured already I like A&L opposites attract I guess.

Disclaimer: All right this is getting depressing. I don't own Lara or Alex or Tomb Raider ect.no that belongs to some ass named Adrian Smith.mabey I'll invent a time machine and go back and Smother him on the toilet or something.then I'd be filthy rich. Wait.Toilet.yeah that's just filthy any ways.

Chapter 3: Lost Lovers?

The late morning sunlight filtered into the room. Alex continued to stare out the window tempted to grab and inhale another cigarette in his pocket. The woman that slept behind him in the hospital be looked to vulnerable, so fragile. God, he would have never thought she could ever look such a way, especially pointing an m-16 in your face. He closed his eyes to remember the Lara he liked best, those snug fitting shorts that framed a neat little bottom, the dark and gray colors she wore against her skin as copper as his from work under the sun. She always wore that foolish braid when raiding, never anything but a tight rubber band against those deep raven locks that swept halfway down her back. It was hair a man wanted to run his fingers through possessively. Her face was sharp angled, her mouth full and promising. And her eyes.He remembered them most of all. Full of power, intimidation. Her eyes under dark, arched brows surrounded by lush lashes had been like topaz. Almost reluctantly he turned to look at her now. Her face was all too delicate, pale and clammy, as though the life had been washed right out of it. Her hair was still rich, but it was brushed straight back leaving her face vulnerable. The beauty was still there, but so fragile a man would be afraid to touch. She always made men afraid, Alex mused, its what he loved best. One arm was thrown across her body, and he could see the ringless hand, nails bitten short for agility, the IV still fed into her wrist. It was that sight that caused anger to rush him. It had been a week since she'd disappeared from Gamel near the Russian Poland Boarder, two days since the young American coupe found he collapsed on the side of the road near Kiyev, nearly 200 miles away, yet no one knew what she had been through. She'd been on a raid, Hillary told him that much, after an artifact as usual, priceless, powerful, typical of Lara. She'd called in a few days before she never returned to the hotel she'd been staying at. Said simply she had the Orel and would be heading back in a few days time. She couldn't remember her own name. His brow furrowed in the midst of contemplation and that was how she saw him when she opened her eyes. Lara stared into the grim, furious face, saw the smoldering blue irises, the tight mouth and froze. What was dream what was real? She asked herself as she braced herself. The hospital. She allowed her gaze to leave his only long enough to ensure herself that she was still there. Her fingers tightened on the sheets until they were white, but her voice came calmly. "Who are you?" Alex kept his hands in his pockets. "Alex. Alex West, a friend." Lara relaxed a little. "You know me?" "We met several years ago on a job, I just sorta never went away." A smile crawled over his face but disappeared when her expression stayed constant seriousness. "You're American?" He hesitated a moment, his eyes narrowing, "Yes. You do you know?" "Your voice." Confusion came and went in her eyes. He could almost see her grab on to that one thin tread. "I hear it in your voice. I've been there.Have I been there?" "You've been more places than anyone would see in a life time Lar. You travel.you're a photographer of sorts." "A photographer?" her brow hitched. "Well after a fashion." He knew she thought. He knew but she could only guess. "Nothing." Tears welled up then were vanquished. She was too much her fathers daughter. 'Can you imagine," she began very steadily. "What it is to wake up with nothing? My life is blank pages. I have to wait for others to fill me in, I don't even know how old I am for Christ's sakes...what happened?" "Twenty nine and counting." The flash of impatient spirit took him back a pace. He tried not to smile, tried not to admire it, "Truth is no one knows.but you. And at a moment that isn't really a fall back plan." "It won't come clear." Her fingers reached out and gripped his. HE was taken back a bit, expecting something more like a punch in the arm for being stupidly witty, "You'll remember when you're willing to remember." Easy to say for you." She released his hand. "Something's stolen my life from me Mr. West.What's your place in this?" she demanded suddenly. "Were we lovers?"