He knew he was in trouble from her very first serve. The game quickly became intense as they both worked hard to meet each other stroke per stroke. When she suddenly lobbed the ball at him hard, his eyebrows shot up.

"What the hell is this?"

"What," she asked as she reached across to meet a corner shot with her backhand.

"You didn't tell me you're a ping pong shark!"

"I am not," she defended.

"Then what do you call this?"

"A friendly game of ping pong James. Should I remind you this was your idea?"

His laughter was cut short as he dove and missed a shot. They played for another 45 minutes, but both continued to tie up the game. And since they kept raising the number of matches there seemed to be no end in sight.

"James I'm getting tired. Can I just let you win so we can be done?"

"No, you better not let me win."

He could see she really was getting tired, but wasn't taking her focus off the ball. She was like a competitive yet whiney machine.

"Fine, how about we call it a tie?," he offered.

"Oh thank God," she said while swiping the ball out of the air and ending the game. He laughed at how quickly she gave up. She walked over and joined him in leaning up against the table. She was surprised when she glanced over and found him intently staring at her.

"What?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering where you learned to play ping pong so well."

"Camp. Well, and my sister and I would always play at our grandparents house. Why, where did you learn to play?"

"Prison," he deadpanned.

She laughed. "Well, it's basically the same thing. Although we might have done more arts and crafts at camp. And sisters are definitely more cutthroat than inmates."

It was his turn to laugh. "I don't know, I sure did a lot of arts and crafts. I made a birdhouse once."

"You did," she asked as though it was the sweetest thing she ever heard.

"Yeah and a lot of license plates too."

"We didn't make any of those at camp," she said with a quirked eyebrow. She reached over, winding her arms around his waist.

"It's kind of funny isn't it," he said, pulling her closer so she could rest her head on his shoulder.

"What is?"

"This. You and Me. We ain't exactly a match made in heaven are we? You; a fancy doctor who went to summer camp…and me; the common criminal who ain't been to camp a day in his life."

He couldn't see the pained expression on her face when he said it. She pulled back, searching his eyes and saw he wasn't joking.

"That's not who we are here."

"What do ya mean?"

"Well here, you're head of security and I'm the mechanic."

He winced a little before smiling at her. "You know what I mean. You read my file."

She reached up to hold his face, trying to make him understand. "James that was a file, not you. That's not what I see when I look at you."

He stood silent, clearly not expecting this response. How could she ignore everything she knew about him. He couldn't ignore it himself. He must have given her a look that said he didn't believe her because then she added, "If anything, I see you as an equal. We've got each other's backs. Remember? I just…I see you."

She still held his face, once again searching his eyes, hoping he would understand. Her words hit him at his core and made his eyes water. For the first time in his life someone was looking at him with pride and it wasn't a sham. She wasn't seeing a fake version of himself that he had created. She knew everything about him and yet still wanted him. He cleared his throat, trying to pull himself together. He was determined not to cry. She could tell he was overwhelmed, so instead of talking she pulled him into a slow tender kiss. He kissed her back gently, like it was the first time they ever kissed. As they continued, the tenderness turned more desperate; both now groping at each other. He stopped kissing her long enough to gasp, "I think we should go."

"Why?"

"Cause you said you weren't gonna have sex with me on this table, but if we hurry we can beat Miles and Jin home."

She looked around the rec room and for a moment and considered the idea. She decided there were way too many windows.

"Alright, let's go."

He resisted the urge to scoop her up and carry her; instead opting to pull her by the hand. They practically ran the few yards back. Happy to find the house empty, they started pulling clothes off at the door. By the time they made it to the bed which was still disheveled from this morning, they had each other completely stripped. He stretched out on the bed, pulling her on top of him. They hardly ever released each other's mouth. And without words, they quickly found a rhythm like they had known each other's body forever; neither of them taking long to climax. This fervent love making made this morning seem like a polite conversation. Afterwards he held her; their entangled bodies still dripping with sweat. She relaxed into his side. When their breathing quieted he asked, "So we still calling this a mutual appreciation?"

She laughed, "well I definitely appreciated that."

He pulled her closer so that he could see her face before telling her, "Be sure to tell me when we're calling it what it really is, will ya?"

She met his eyes, trying to decipher the meaning there. "Which is what?"

He looked at her intently, past her eyes and deep into her soul so she might understand. "I don't know if it's mutual, but I love you Blondie."

Her face was full of surprise. She paused, caressing his face gently, before pushing him over and kissing him hard.

"Don't worry. I know it's a little early. You don't have to…"

"I love you James." She interrupted him, leaving no room for confusion.

He pulled her back down to kiss her again before she laid her head on his chest, absentmindedly stroking his shoulder. He held her and shut his eyes before she whispered, "You think they're back?

"I dunno. Doubt it. I never heard anything. Course you weren't exactly being quiet, so if they are back I'm pretty sure they heard everything."

She chuckled into his chest. "Well, you weren't very quiet yourself."

She climbed off of him and sat at the edge of the bed. He admired her back as she tossed her long hair to one side.

Maybe you should go check while I clean up."

"I should go out there like this?," he gestured to his entirely nude body.

"No. Put on some clothes first," she said as she threw his boxers at him.

She stood, not trying to hide her body at all. He sat there watching her as she walked to her dresser, pulled out a long t-shirt, and slipped it on. Then she grabbed a clean pair of underwear, carrying them in her hand. When he made no attempt to get out of the bed she beckoned.

"You coming?"

"Yeah. Should I come back?"

"You weren't planning on it?," she asked seriously.

"I don't know. I didn't know if you wanted me to."

"James, you just told me you love me. I think the least you could do is stay the night."

He laughed as he joined her at the door, pulling her into another kiss and grabbing her still naked ass.

"Sorry, force of habit."

"What? Telling women you love them and leaving?"

"No, just the leaving part. And anyways you told me to leave."

She kissed him again to apologize. "Tell me if the coast is clear…and bring me back some water."

"Yes ma'am."

He cracked the door open and proceeded down the dark hall toward the living room. A few seconds later he popped his head around the corner and whispered "Clear."

"Then why are you whispering?"

"I don't know," he whispered back again.

They both started laughing as she ran to the bathroom.

While standing alone in the darkened kitchen, James thought about everything that had happened today. He was pretty sure he'd never experienced joy like this in his entire life. For a moment a voice inside tried to tell him he didn't deserve it, but he pushed it away. Instead he saw her face again. She sees him and loves him. Those two things meant everything. He stood there thinking about her words long after he had poured the two glasses of water. Then he suddenly realized he didn't know if she meant for him to bring the water to her room or the bathroom. He padded back down the hall and tapped on the bathroom door without opening it.

"Are you coming," she called.

'Oh thank God. She just makes everything easy, including loving her." he thought to himself before joining her.