Disclaimer: It's a new year, new opportunities…I might get to own something worthwhile by the end of this year. Big dreams people, big dreams. In the meantime though, Fox has everything I want…Drats!!

Author's Note: I have like the best reviewers on the planet, and y'all get to play with Adam once I get my grubby little hands on him. Watch out Fox. To the people who find this fanfic depressing though, lol… well it's purposely placed in angst/drama, I don't do happy fluff cause I go all cheesy when I attempt it. Please believe me, you wouldn't like that at all. That said, I'll try and keep it more balanced. As balanced as I can for a story about a mad woman. So anyway, as a little reward, here's some S/S goodness. I shall do my best to reveal more in the next chapter, this was just to tied everyone over. Ooh, and going to Amsterdam Jan 5th, but I'll post Ch 7 before I go. Thank you again for all the awesome reviews, Adam will reward you accordingly. -

Lost In Babylon

Ch 6

There's something about the way you move
I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing
More subtle than something someone contrives,
Your movements echo that I've seen the real thing

Your biggest fear will be the rescue of you,
It's strange how it turns out that way

Could you show me dear? Something I've not seen?
Something infinitely interesting…

Echo – Incubus

"Early, early, early…" I chant softly, I can't believe this. I can't understand how joyful and light this makes me feel. "He's early, oh god…" I murmur lowly to myself, watching him slide through security checks, and the mandatory pat down. Simply staring at him as he clips his visitor badge to his shirt. Smoothing it down rather self consciously, I want to tell him how handsome he looks. I want to yell at the top of my lungs. Tell all the dim-witted ghouls lined up along the wall, that he came early for me today. His head tilts up a little, and like some pretty dog his hair flops in front of his eyes, making him swish one firm hand along it so I can see them.

Oooh look, they are glowing for me, I smile broadly. I wish the old man was here so I could smirk evilly, and point at him…at how early he is today. How happy he's making me. How happy he looks himself. Sweet giddy sighs escape me as I get up to my feet. The need to dance, to twirl into his arms, is overwhelming in its silliness. Instead I chew nervously on my bottom lip, apprehension trying desperately to creep its way through my joyful stupor. But then he looks up, carefully, like his gaze is slowly pushing all other obstacles out of the way so it could latch onto me. For once I feel omnipotent and his presence seems to draw me in. Before I know it, we are mere inches apart, and the day has purpose at last.

"I'm early." He declares sweetly, and I grin. God, I can actually feel it this time. It's sticky and good, and won't leave my face for anything. "Yeah Cohen, I noticed." I sigh oh so softly, noticing how long his lashes are. How he looks so much better in person than in that tiny photo I've been clinging to. He smiles unexpectedly when I say his name, and I remember how much he likes me doing that, from the last time around. I tell myself this time will be different, that he'll leave with that smile on his face, or maybe a brighter one in its place. Or maybe he won't leave at all…

Forgetting protocol or nervousness, I stand upon my tippy toes and frame his face with my little hands. Idly tracing the shell of his ear with my fingertips, I watch with amazement as his face takes on this splendid innocence. More than surprise, I see anticipation dancing in his eyes and I can't help but smile for the man. I can't help but forget my stark surroundings and do what I've wanted to ever since he came walking through those doors 15 minutes early.

Instinct taking over any good sense I would've had left, it makes me disregard everything and just relish the feel of his shaky breath dancing along my cheek. I want to feel his skin against mine, and the need urges me to press my cheek against his jaw, making me clumsily hug him a little before pulling away again. I want to remember things, heavy things that must have slid right out of me somehow but still lurk around the edges of my brain.

Past chapters of the girl who he knew, whom I knew…

"Thank you for keeping your promise." I whisper softly in spite of my numbing nerves, I look at him again… A little longer this time, silently offering up my gratitude like some succulent fruit for him to feast on. His uneven smile causes my stomach to swirl beautifully, and I can see from his expression he's experiencing similar tornados inside him as well.

The breath backs up in my throat, as I let my eyes take him in, his flustered look making it harder to push the air out again. I close my eyes, hastily licking my lips before pressing them softly against his. His arms fold around my waist, tugging me closer with a need I didn't think he understood. One I hadn't thought I'd recognize. His lips move slowly against mine, tentative yet sensual, and I moan when he kissed the corner of my mouth.

I guide my fingers towards the nape of his neck, dipping into a field of curls. And my skin wants to sing from all the sparkling emotions one simple sigh from him brings on. My blood surges, races in tune with some old familiar song only we seem to know. I part my lips, loving the slowness of it all as he cups my cheek softly.

Droning harsh steps come closer, and I abruptly break our kiss just at the verge of tasting him further. I'm certain he would have had memories hidden in his tongue, but the glowering gaze of my nurse makes me shake any further thoughts from me.

"What do you think you are doing here?" Madam gatekeeper inquires testily, while I tried to keep my own temper at bay by watching the hypnotic jiggle of her double chin. She's closing in on him, trying to make him fidgety and uncomfortable, and my fierceness returns. I will not allow her to put her stubby fat fingers in my soup today, this is for me to savor. I ignore her, turn to the man who makes things worthwhile for me these days, and finger a long lock of my hair.

"You're a good kisser there Cohen," I purse my lips to underline my words, while being inexplicably moved by my own sassiness and ponder the fact of thanking the Doc for switching up my meds today. Seth blushes deeply and it empowers me right on the spot.

Turning to the sheepish looking white coat beside us, I smirk benevolently, loving the control I have over myself. It feels like I've snipped away all the strings that held me, and captivity is no longer my master for a few precious minutes.

"I was just saying hello." That's the end of it, my words announce huskily, and she retreats to her corner while grumbling insults under her breath.

Seth gives me this odd look, one I can't decipher and might not want to really from the feel of it. Instead intrepid tendencies, that I frankly didn't know I possessed, insist on me finding out why he's staring at me so. "What's wrong?" I ask timidly.

He shakes his head, enticing me with his gorgeous burnt mahogany ringlets. "Nothing really," he pauses, revealing that nothing has a different meaning for him. His big smooth hand slides easily along my cheek, and my stomach flutters its way into my head. "I just recognize something."

"Never mind." My curly boy says with a short laugh and a touch of dimple. He's smiling now, maybe he realizes how odd he sounds. Or he's trying to fit in with me, and act a little loonier than usual. What a nice boy, I think to myself and all the voices inside my head grow still, silently agreeing with my conclusion… and I just cover his hand with mine.

"Would you like to go for a walk outside," he seems to catch my fearful expression and quirks his eyebrow a little in offering. "Just until the real visiting hours start. Don't worry, I asked permission, they said it was okay if we kept it to the courtyard."

What a smart boy, what a daring, sweet boy… my head is chock full of whispery praises yet I cannot convince myself as easily as before. I incline my head a little, feeling my bravado waning at the edges but never ever letting on. I refuse to break this spell he's weaving, and instead softly ask if it is cold out there. I really do not like the cold at all, yet he seems to know this already. So smart this boy, and I merely take his arm and let him guide me to wherever he wishes.

I'm certain he'd keep me warm if things got chilly again, if December and all its nightmares tried to push their way inside my already overcrowded head. He'd save me, this Seth Cohen, to him promises mean the world. His arms wrap around me as we step out into the brightness of the day, I'd forgotten about all that light in a way. Seth steadies me, checking my eyes to see if I'm alright. "This is nice," I say a little shakily, and I watch him nod. "Very nice."