Face The Music by Underlined Twice

Chapter 3

Jono woke to a world of pure white. He had been here before, he knew, and sat up quickly with a look of horror in his eyes. He was in a morgue again.

Recalling what had happened, he looked around for Paige. If she were dead, she would be in here. He could hardly bear to think of it. Calling on all the courage he had, he lifted the sheet on the corpse next to him. When he saw the face beneath it, he flung the offending fabric off of Paige's body. Her adamantium skin was trying to come off, but without her to peel it away, it was hanging to her. Something wrenched inside of Jono and made him want to cry. With a heavy heart, he reached up with weak arms and began to remove Paige's husk for her. He gently pulled melted metal from her face and revealed a perfectly unharmed, human skin beneath it.

(I'm so sorry, Paige,) he said with all the grief of the world in his voice. Jono then collapsed onto the floor and buried his face in his hands.

"Go 'way," came a mutter from above him and the shuffling of movement. Jono's head shot up like a bullet and he sprang to his feet.

(Paige?) he said, barely believing it to be possible.

She made an indistinguishable noise and opened one eye. "Oh, hello, Jono!" She yawned and opened both eyes, blinking furiously. "I just had the strangest dream ever. You were in it, too." Jono stared. "What?" Paige sat up and looked around. "Oh my. Is this a mo—" she wasn't able to get another word out because Jono gathered her up in a bone-crushing embrace.

(I am so, unbelievably sorry,) he said softly. (I promise you, I will never attempt anything like that again.)

Paige smiled and hugged him back fiercely. She was still a bit groggy, but she always got a little disoriented when she didn't shed a skin that was ready to come off. All that mattered now was Jono.

Keeping her hands on his shoulders, Paige pulled back slightly from the embrace. "I still love you," she said with a slight smile, guessing correctly about his insecurities.

(The feeling's mutual, luv,) he said tenderly and brushed his fingertips through her hair. Paige made a small noise of pleasure at the sensation. Jono mentally laughed. (I had forgotten how much you like that,) he said with a smile in his voice.

She smiled up at him seductively. "There are certain things that I haven't forgotten, you know," she whispered in his ear and brushed her lips against the bit of skin next to it. Jono didn't remember how she had discovered that spot, but he did know that he never wanted her to stop. His body trembled slightly as she placed a more lingering kiss on his temple.

(Bloody hell, I love you, Paige,) Jono said reverently and slowly slid one hand down the curves of her torso. Paige, in turn, grazed her fingertips over the waistband of his trousers. Then, Jono paused.

"What's wrong?" Paige asked with a cheeky grin. "Don't want our first time to be in a morgue?"

Jono was silent and serious. Then, he said, (I just really wish I could kiss you right now.)

"I don't," Paige said remorselessly. Jono's eyes met hers with confusion. "You know that thing you used to do, when you thought I was asleep?" She brought his hand up to caress one side of her face. Jono would have blushed, but he simply nodded instead. "That means more to me than any kiss ever could." Paige wasn't embarrassed to tell him this. It was what she missed most about them being together as a couple, rather than just friends. Jono stared at her for a moment. Then she sensed something from him that she hadn't felt in several years: pure happiness. He was practically beaming.

"Now, where were we?" Paige smiled slowly and began to kiss his naked shoulder. Jono slid one hand through her hair and the other crept up the bottom of her shirt. Just then, a horrified shriek came from behind them. They sprang apart and stared at the doorway. There was a traumatized coroner, with one hand on her heart.

Paige blushed slightly and bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Sorry, ma'am," she said. "We hate to tell you this, but we're not dead." That earned another strangled cry out of the poor woman.

"Doctor Bennett!" Came a voice from behind the coroner. "What's happening?" Another doctor, followed by several people came into the room. He then saw Paige and Jono. "Oh, I say!"

"Hello, Paige, Jono," said a familiar voice as the Professor was wheeled into the room by Scott.

(Oh, bloody hell,) Jono said.

"No kidding," Paige agreed weakly.

Jono turned to face Paige, then caressed her face like before. (Let's go face the music, luv.)

THE END

Note: This is just a raging plot bunny that forced its way out at three in the morning. It doesn't mean I've stopped writing Base Noir. Reviews would be greatly appreciated, though. Subtle hint, you know.