A/N: Sorry it has taken so very long to get this chapter up, I not all that happy with it at all but it's better than nothing I guess. Maybe I'll rewrite the entire story someday. It's a little more than sappy… sorry. ( http/www.relichunter.ws )

Chapter Two

Talk To Me

"I'm afraid, Zoé." Sydney paused, "What if he really is in love with me? I don't know if I could deal with that. I just don't understand. What is so special about me? My life and I are a complete mess… Nigel deserves someone better."

"Oh, mon cher enfant, I can't answer your questions; only he can. You must go to him." Sydney paused for a moment looking at her, "Trust me." Zoé added trying to reassure her.

Taking a deep breath, she knew this was going to be hard. Taking a step forward, she looked back at Zoé to make sure she would be doing the 'right' thing. Zoé nodded her head at her, telling her to go, Sydney nodded back. Walking to the stairs she began to ascend up the two flights of stairs to the third floor. Stopping at the second door on the right, she knocked softly and didn't get an answer she sighed knocking a little bit louder. This time she heard the door handle begin to turn and she quickly looked down. Looking back up, she came face to face with Nigel.

"What do you want?" He spat out at her, obviously still angry with her.

"May I come in?" Her voice began to quiver but she quickly cleared her throat, hoping he didn't notice. Nigel moved out from the middle of the doorway, letting go of the door handle walking away. Stepping in, Sydney shut the door behind her; turning toward the room she found Nigel standing in the middle staring at her with his arms crossed defensively in front of him. With his stare Sydney felt the need to retreat back out of the door but she fought the urge and stayed. Quiet for almost a minute, she stared at the floor trying to figure out a 'safe' way to do this. If she said too much and Zoé was wrong she would have a hell of time explaining herself. Finally it came to her; an apology was always the best way to go in situations like this.

"I'm sorry, Nigel. I shouldn't have pulled such a childish prank, but it was just a game."

"A game." Nigel scoffed at her and then barely whispered, "You like playing games don't you."

"No, I don't…" She looked down at her feet again almost in embarrassment, remembering Zoé telling her that she was teasing him.

"Yes, you do. You play them all of the time. Sydney … whether you know it or not, we have been playing a game for over three years and I don't think I can continue them—it has to end here and now with the truth. We are always dancing around our attraction for one another, it's ridiculous—we're adults. And you, always making one sexual innuendo after another, always teasing me by walking around in your underclothes or little nightgowns right in front of me like it is nothing. Of course it is going to affect me Sydney, you are a gorgeous … sexy … and very attractive woman. I mean … good, god, do you know how many cold showers I've had to take over the years due to you? And then earlier with the game, it wasn't making me uncomfortable the way you think. I am certainly not a prude or a virgin, Sydney. It was just the thought of not ever being able to have you but you always dangling it in my face every chance you got. I couldn't take it anymore but I also couldn't … wouldn't, oh what does it matter anymore, I wouldn't tell you because I couldn't chance loosing your friendship. But as I sat up here, I found myself saying 'what the hell, old boy? So what if she turns you down. It'll be worth finally saying how you feel.'" Sydney swallowed hard, taken back by his admission.

"I'm sorry," She whispered. Not certain as to what to say.

"Sorry? Syd, this isn't a time to be sorry it is time for the truth once and for all." Sydney stood there in silence just looking at him, which seemed to irritate him, "You are driving me crazy Sydney … say something, anything."

"I… I don't know what to say… I don't know if I'm ready to deal with this yet …" Her fear overtook her body and she headed for the door, but was stopped by Nigel's hands on her shoulders. He pulled her against him, his arm wrapped around the front of her pinning her own arms down at her side.

"Syd, please stay… I'm sorry." He whispered against her cheek, she could feel herself shaking in his arms; no doubt he could as well. "Don't be scared… I'm not going to hurt you…" He held on to her holding her tight against him.

"Don't be so sure." Sydney stated, causing him to turn her around in his arms.

"Sydney I would never hurt you… not in a million years, not in any way." He brought his hand up to meet the gentle curvature of her jaw line, his fingertips gently brushing against her face. "I love you too much to allow that to happen." She was astounded by his admission and by the courage it took to say those words to another person. She herself hadn't said them in years except once to Nigel but that was only in friendship, not love.

"Nigel, don't say that… you don't, you can't." She looked down at the floor; he lifted her by her chin to look into her face.

"Why can't I love you, Syd?"

"Because you can't… because you love Cate."

"Cate? Sydney, I don't love Cate… you are using cheap excuses. Stop, I'm not stupid. And please don't try to spare my feelings, if you don't feel the same just say so. I'll forget we ever had this conversation."

"I don't know how I feel!" She exploded, backing away from him nearly in a rage. Her voice began to break with the beginning of tears. "I'm so confused…" She ran her hands through her hair and backed into the wall for support, which failed. She felt herself slowly sliding down the wall until she was sitting on the ground. Her head buried in her arms crossed in front of her. She could hear him taking the few steps to her, taking a seat beside her.

"You don't have to be so strong all of the time, Sydney. It's okay to depend on other people… you can depend on me. I'll always be here for you… no matter what. I really want to talk this out but if don't want to… I can't force you and I certainly won't pressure you."

"No… I want to talk. It's just I don't really know what to say to you. I'm scared Nigel." He began to laugh; Sydney gave him a look, "This isn't funny…" She began to get up, anger written across her face. He grabbed her arm gently pulling her back into a sitting position.

"No… Syd. You misunderstood. I'm probably more terrified… I could still loose so much just by admitting how I feel about you. But the only thing that I will regret loosing is you, nothing else matters."

Sydney quietly melted against his hand, closing her eyes turning into his hand that softly cupped her face. Her eyes were suddenly startled open by his left hand coming up to rest in her hair, and soon after she welcomed his warm gentle lips upon her own in a remarkably sweet kiss. A kiss that she quite rather enjoyed but knew she couldn't let go any further until she figured out how she really felt. It wouldn't help either one of them if things went to far now and couldn't be changed. She took her hand and placed it on his chest tenderly pushing him back breaking the kiss.

"We can't." He looked down at the floor clearly disappointed, "There's still too much to work out. I talked to Zoé before I came up here and she gave me the notion that you might love me but … I really didn't think it was true."

"How could you have not? I have followed you half way around the world on a minute's notice and for what, Sydney? To have the chance to get shot at by some raving lunatic or be kidnapped—hardly. That isn't my idea of fun. It was because of you, I wanted to be there for you. Yes, there are great thrills in finding relics but the greatest thrill is being with you. You're worth more to me than all of the relics we could ever find. Please Sydney, I need an answer. This is absolute torture—for you to finally know that I love you and yet be in such limbo over the whole thing."

"How can such a person as you love me so much …" She whispered more in thought than what she wanted to say but continued, "I have to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel. Not that I've never thought about us together, I have, but only on those late nights when I am all alone or in my dreams. I've always just thought of them as thoughts of loneliness, not love or lust. I've never allowed myself to think of them as anything but, it was forbidden territory … you were—are my assistant. and friend."

"I know, Sydney. I've had those same thoughts, night after night … and eventually my heart won out in the end. The truth won out. Please, Sydney give us at least a chance to find out what we might be."

"I don't know … I don't want to rush into something that could potentially … that will change my life forever because whichever decision I make—it will. If I tell you I love you, what if two months down the road it doesn't work out. If I tell you I don't love you, it will crush you and destroy everything. I have so many confusing thoughts of what love is suppose to be, it has never been easy for me to have. It has never turned out the way I've wanted it to or what I thought I wanted it to. Men have always told me that they have loved me and I began to love them, and then suddenly they were gone after draining me of all I had to give. I don't think I can go through that again … with anyone… I don't know if I can take the chance. I'm not sure if love is worth getting hurt over anymore. It's too hard, Nigel. Why do you think I've had so many meaningless relationships in the past?"

"Sydney…" He said with such sincerity, bringing his right hand back up to her face, brushing back the dark silky strands of her hair that ran errant from the rest, "I would never treat you that way. You have to believe me. I love you, the whole you. You know me, and I hope you know my beliefs … sex isn't what love is about, it's what people in love do—I firmly believe that Syd." Sydney couldn't believe the amount of love shown in his eyes when he looked at her—her of all people. He was such a loving caring man and she was a woman with a chaotic life, without any true commitments to anyone. She barely had a hold of anything except relic hunting and that was because of Nigel, he kept her head on straight and yet now here he was putting his heart out on a limb making her question everything she thought she knew. Why couldn't she just do the same? 'Maybe I should but what if - no! I can't think of what ifs it's not fair to him or me.' She mentally scolded herself, looking back into his waiting eyes.

"Nigel … I'm not sure what to say. My mind keeps telling me 'no, you can't' but my heart keeps telling me 'this is what you've really wanted… forget the would-be consequences.' Nigel, I wish there was an easy answer to all of this—but there isn't. It just is and maybe that's the answer. It must be a leap of faith." Sydney paused for a moment, "I guess I just answered my own question… I want there to be an 'us' Nigel, I want it to work and I think it can or I hope it can. But I am still nervous as hell and very uncertain. Whether or not I'm in love with you will come later I guess. I don't want to rush into anything and make a mistake." A smile came to his face over her indecision and Sydney couldn't help but smile in return, she could never resist that smile. "This is completely crazy…" She whispered as she leaned into him pressing her lips to his in a simple kiss that grew into a breathtaking kiss that made Sydney weak in the knees. She slowly pulled back again, resting her forehead against his. Her arms wrapped up around his elbows and up his back to rest on his shoulders, his arms tangled around her waist.

"But well worth it …" Nigel whispered as he leaned in for another kiss that she willingly gave.