A/N: There's a make out scene in this… and if you think it's rushed, it's because they've been keeping it a secret for a long time.

Chapter 2

I looked through my office, searching for some notes and researching too. It must have been at least 10:00 PM; judging that there isn't any light outside and the streetlamps are on. I rubbed my head. I had a headache for some strange reason. I couldn't help but yawn. I walked over to my couch, and immediately passed out.

I was half-asleep when there was a knock on the door. It startled me out of my sleep. "Come in," I said sleepily. The person opened the door and walked in. I noticed that it was Emmy. "Hello, Emmy." I yawned again. "What are exactly are you doing here?" I rubbed my eyes.

"Hi, Professor. I was just checking up on you. Luke and I are worried."

"Because I didn't come home?"

"Exactly." She smiled slightly.

I stretched. "Emmy, what time is it?" I asked.

"It's past midnight." She looked at her watch. The watch hands glowed.

"Do you know why watch hands glow, Emmy?" I asked. I was wondering if she knew this or not.

"Because of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, Professor. That was easy-peasy. Got anything harder than this?"

"There's a secret message on this letter Clive sent." I got up and walked over to my desk. She walked up next to me. "Shall we examine it together? I'm tired. I would like to go back to sleep."

"I'll stay up and try to solve it, Professor," Emmy offered.

"Emmy, no. I can't let you do that." I crossed my arms.

"Professor, I'm used to this. I studied hard at uni, why do you think I knew what tritium was?"

"Well, if you insist, Emmy…" I handed her the letter. It started to smell funny. "I don't want to keep this letter much longer."

"I see, I mean smell, what you mean." She sniffed the air. Her stomach growled. "Oh."

"Are you a vampire, Emmy?" I joked.

"Um… no Professor," she giggled slightly. "Sometimes weird things make me hungry." She flipped the letter over. "What rises but doesn't set… what's up but not down. What's this supposed to mean?"

"I haven't the foggiest, Emmy. You try it out while I sleep."

"Will do, Professor!"

"Please Emily… you've known me long enough. You can call me Hershel, but only in private, all right?"

"Got it!" she understood. I walked back over to the couch, closing my eyes. I felt something warm against my cheek. She must have kissed me. I feel asleep instantly after that.

I woke up to the sound of birdsong. Rubbing my eyes, I noticed Emmy sleeping, with her head resting on my desk and drool dripping from her mouth. "Emmy…" I shook her away.

"Wha? Huh? Oh… hello, Hershel."

"Emmy. I see you fell asleep at my desk. You must have worked hard."

"I did… and I think I finally figured it out. I spend all night listening to the radio… And I heard CCR's 'Up Around the Bend'. And the song mentions 'up' and 'rising'."

"Emmy… You are a genius. That's perfect." I grinned from ear-to-ear. "Does the song mention anything else?"

"It mentions a river. I'm going to assume the next clue is near the Thames."

"Well… let's go look, Emmy. Let's have breakfast first."

"Already made. I got hungry while I was investigating." She pointed to the box of donuts.

"Thanks, Emmy."

"Oh please, Hershel. You can call me Emily, just like you have the past two days."

I nodded, grabbing a chocolate-covered donut. "Thank you Emily, these are delicious."

"No need to thank me, Hershel. Would you like me to get some orange juice?"

"As long as you don't run into Delmona, I think you'll be all right."

"I guess you don't want me him to find out about us?"

"Puzzle solved, Emmy." I grabbed another donut.

"I'll be back," she said while she opened the door, winking. I ate the second donut quickly. By the time she came back with some orange juice, I had already started a third one.

"My my, Hershel… You look… stressed," she growled, narrowing her eyes. Did I just hear a growl?

"…Emmy. You know a gentleman never does such things in an office. Especially the fact that I'm eating right now."

"Hush," she purred, grabbing the donut in my hand and eating it herself. Obviously, she wasn't scared of germs.

"Emily…"

"Yes?" She looked at me with an innocent look on her face. She finished the donut, licking her fingers.

"That's… not lady-like," I groaned.

"Who the heck's watching?"

"Um… true." I wasn't sure how to respond. She did something I only though Claire would do. She sat on lap, grabbing my shirt. She kissed me. I wasn't sure what to do, really. I decided to kiss her as well. We broke off. "You're… really passionate, Emily."

"So are you… Hershel." She grabbed my shirt again, pulling me to the ground. We toppled over and landed with a loud bang. She seemed unfazed by falling onto the ground.

"Emmy… someone could have heard that."

"I doubt that." She winked. "There's no one in the halls, trust me."

"Wha…"

"It's Sunday, Hershel. Did you forget?"

"Oh… you're right. I guess I did forget," I chuckled nervously. "That means only the janitors should be here." She wrapped her hands around my head and pressed it against her lips.

"This is the best secret ever," she whispered.

"I know… I feel so… un-gentlemanly. Emmy, your methods may be unorthodox, but this feels right. Like we were made for each other."

"I feel naughty too." She winked, taking off my jacket. "Do something."

"Um… right." I felt my cheeks get hot. I decided to unbutton her shirt, exposing her chest to me. "Now do something to me." She growled and took my shirt off. I was about to touch her, when there was a knock on the door. "Damn," I hissed. "Hide behind the couch." She nodded, and quickly hid behind the couch.

I grabbed from weights off my desk, and pretended to be lifting them. I quickly put my shirt on, although it was askew. I opened the door. It was Rosa, of course. "Professor, you have some…" She stopped when she noticed my shirt was on backwards.

"Sorry Rosa, been exercising," I said nonchalantly.

"I know what you two are up to." She winked. "You two have fallen in love, and you're taking your relationship to the next step. I congratulate you, especially the fact that you lost your dear Claire."

"Um… thanks, Rosa," I uttered, flattered. I blushed slightly.

"It's all right. I won't tell Delmona. It's none of his business anyway. You have a letter. It's from Flora."

"Thanks, Rosa."

"I have to go now, you two have fun." She grinned, turning around and walking away. I shut the door and opened the letter. I sat down on the couch. Emmy sat next to me.

"Dear Professor,

I'm in a bit of a bind. Well, you see, I cooked something disgusting.

Now I'm sick… I'm afraid I'm going to die. Will I, Professor? I'm too sick to move.

I'm writing this in the form of a letter because I think someone's watching me. They could easily tap into my phoneline. Please help. I'm scared. I've been too paranoid to do my work.

Signed,

Flora.

P.S. I've been seeing masked men around my dorm."

"Flora's in trouble, Hershel."

"I figured…" I narrowed my eyes. "Put some clothes on. We're getting Luke and going straight to Oxford. The River can wait, for all I care." She buttoned her shirt and put her jacket on.

"Let's go, Professor."

"Luke...?" I called, looking for him around my house. "Where could he be?"

"He was studying for a big test when I left… I thought he'd be okay on his own. He can usually take care of himself."

"Next time, don't do that…" I hissed. "He might be kidnapped. Let's go and look for him…"

A/N: TBC, of course.