Nottingham stood in his alcove in waiting position, facing the window and studying the circle of light on the floor that he was in the exact middle of. Irons was finishing up an hour long call to a man named Raines in some place called Blue Cove, Delaware. Evidently Raines was having trouble bringing in a man named Jarod in whom the Centre, one of Irons' many worldwide holdings, had invested a lot of time and money.

For a fleeting instant Nottingham wondered if he would be called in to catch the man, not wanting to be sent away from Mac for any amount of time. When Irons finally hung up, Nottingham waited for his boss to speak, knowing that he would already have heard about Nottingham's shopping trip with his "wife".

"So, Nottingham, I hear you made a new friend."

Nottingham remained silent, knowing that the remark had been completely rhetorical.

"It's about time you showed some interest in the opposite sex, though I can't think what possessed you to pick a homeless woman." Nottingham didn't correct him, after all, for now Mac didn't have a home. "I have no objection to your exploring that side of life on your own time, but if I feel she is taking you away from your other duties, she will be dealt with. Am I making myself clear?"

"Perfectly, sir," Nottingham answered through clenched teeth. The thought of Irons hurting Mac wasn't one he could stand to dwell on.

"Good. As there is nothing in the upcoming week, after tomorrow night, that will require your watchful eye, perhaps you can get her out of your system during that time."

Keeping his head down, Nottingham headed out of the office.

"Ian." Irons' voice stopped him. He half turned toward his master. Irons threw a small box at him and he caught it in one hand. Condoms. "I don't have to tell you what would happen to any child that resulted from this experience."

With that, Irons sat down at his chess board, dismissing Nottingham. He knew all right. He pondered his upbringing on his way to the parking garage. He would never put any child through that, much less one that came from him and Mac. But Mac didn't even have enough time left to have a child. Needing to know more about the circumstances of her arrival in this time, Nottingham sped back toward the loft.

He was more than halfway there when a flashing red light and a siren made him study the car behind him. The blue compact car that Sara Pezzini and her partner used while on duty was behind him, but the blonde former surfing champion was the only one in it.

Nottingham pulled the car over and cut the engine. Leaning over to the glove box, he pulled out registration, a license and insurance papers that proclaimed him to be Jonathan Waters. When Jake McCartey tapped on his window, he rolled it down and handed over the information.

"Sir, you were going forty-five miles an hour, this is a ... " Jake trailed off as he looked at him. "Didn't I see you earlier today with a young woman at the precinct?"

"My girlfriend," Nottingham supplied. "I was on my way to see her and I guess I wasn't watching my speed."

Jake grinned cockily and handed back Jonathan Waters' information.

"Hey man, I know how that is," he remarked with a far off look in his eye. "I'll let you go with a warning this time, Mr. Waters, but watch your speedometer next time."

"Thank you, Officer, I appreciate that," Nottingham said truthfully.

"Actually, it's Detective, but they had a shortage in patrolmen this evening and ... what am I still boring you for?" Jake patted the hood of the car and took a step back. "Get home to your woman."

Nottingham gave Jake a mock salute and pulled away, making sure to observe the speed limit the rest of the way home. He hoped his woman would still be there.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He found her asleep in his bed. She was on the side of the bed he always slept on, a small smile on her face as she slept. Nottingham felt his own lips curl up in a slight smile. She slept as if she had every right to be there, as if she belonged there. He was quickly coming to realize that she did. Whatever twist of fate had brought her to him, he was convinced that with him was exactly where she was meant to be.

Knowing from observing her earlier that she had been exhausted, he let her sleep, moving silently through the loft, putting away her clothes in his closet, the first section of his weapon room on the right side of the loft. When he was done, she was still sleeping soundly. He stood studying her for a few minutes before taking a shower and pulling on a pair of sweat pants. He usually slept in the nude, but he didn't want to frighten her.

He slipped into the right side of the bed and held his breath as she rolled over towards him in her sleep, mumbling something in a language that was foreign to him. He frowned; he knew quite a few. He'd have to ask her how many languages she spoke when she woke up. Since he wasn't really tired, he lay on his side and watched her sleep. She looked like an angel. His angel. Angel. A much better name than Mac, and something he could put on papers to give her identification while she was here. He'd call his contacts first thing in the morning. She'd have to have ID to get into the club tomorrow night.

For a moment he was worried. Sara would be sure to see them. He never failed to be seen by her when he wasn't hiding, and if he was going to dance with his Angel like he wanted, there was no way he could hide. But if he had judged Jake's actions earlier the right way, maybe her own new found happiness would make Sara a little more lenient toward him. They would deal with the problem if it came up. Finally beginning to feel tired, Nottingham let his eyes drift shut and fell into the half-sleep he had allowed himself since he was around eleven.