Thanks to everyone who's reading and enjoying!

--

Alex wriggled a little, reaching over to shut the alarm clock. Rupert had insisted they set it over getting a wakeup call. Then she'd fallen asleep in his arms and it seemed as if neither of them had moved the entire night. She was sticky and sore and needed to use the bathroom, but she was afraid to get too far away from him. She had to admit that he'd made her feel safer.

He had promised, as he fell asleep, that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Could she count on that? She wanted to but what did she really know about him? They'd picked each other up in a bar. At the time she'd believed him, believed his story, his excuse. He'd seemed honest. She laughed. Honest in the way you can only be if you're naked in the dark with a complete stranger after having failed to perform sexually. Yes, she did believe that part of his story. But the rest? Logically she couldn't. He had to be crazy. But she'd seen them too. And they'd disappeared when he shot them. Just…incinerated. There weren't weapons that made humans disappear like that. At least not ones that you carried around in your coat. What had he called them? Kronons? Walking wormholes? It wasn't possible.

"Rupert?" She moved, sitting up next to him as his hand slid down her side, over her waist.

His eyes opened, blinking. "Is everything alright? Alex?" He found her hand, squeezed it.

"Yes. Everything's alright. Um, it's late. Should we get up? I don't know what your plans for me are today."

His plans for her. He looked into her eyes until she blushed and looked away. He'd love to have plans for her. He knew it wasn't possible. That it would never be possible.

"I have to make some phone calls, make sure everything is set. We'll get you on your way home today." He tilted her chin up and smiled. "Why don't you get showered and dressed and I'll make the calls." He resisted kissing her. "It'll be fine, really."

He was still sitting in the bed, talking on the phone when Alex came out of the shower. His eyes followed her bathrobe clad body across the small room, watching her grip the collar high around her neck. He shouldn't want her. He had a job to finish.

"Alex I called room service. I thought you might want to eat in the room." He frowned at the confused look on her face. "I can cancel it. We can go downstairs if you want."

"No, no. Room service is good." She was nervous about being alone with him. What would they talk about? But she was more afraid to leave.

"Ok." He stood up, pulling on pants in the process. "I'm going to shower. Just sign it to the room." He took a step toward the bathroom.

"Oh."

She looked smaller all of a sudden. "What's wrong?"

"It's a bit embarrassing, but, um, would you mind waiting until they get here? I'm really not sure I could answer the door."

She was staring at her hands, fiddling in her lap. She'd been so brave yesterday, when it had all been happening. Now she just looked lost.

"OK. Sure." He moved around to the other side of the bed and sat facing her, their feet almost touching on the floor. "Your flight is at 6:00 tonight. On Delta. I'll take you to the airport and get you to security. I can't go any further, sorry."

Alex nodded. "Of course."

"Alex. You really will be ok with the pager. You'll get back home and in a week you'll be so used to it that you won't notice. Odds are good that nothing is going to find you there anyway. I mean, nothing had happened before, right?" He was teasing her foot with his, hoping to get her to smile just a little when breakfast arrived.

Once she was settled Rupert shut himself in the bathroom, promising not to lock the door in case of further trouble. But he knew there wouldn't be any. As he let the hot water stream over his body, carefully soaping his tired flesh, he wondered what it was that drew him to this woman. Sure, she was attractive, but he met attractive women all the time. The fantasy was more than enough. She needed his help. OK, but he never took advantage that way before. And it wasn't as if it had never been offered. He always said no. He didn't want that kind of a connection with anyone. The times that he did seek out women it was for one thing, and they both knew it. Saving her life shouldn't have complicated it. No, he was sure that wasn't it. What if he just liked her?

He was still wondering when he reached between his legs. Half hard (as he was every morning in the shower) he stroked himself a few times, aching to finish before he realized he'd started. Stopping suddenly, he quickly rinsed off, blasting himself with cold water before shutting it off. He didn't want that this morning.

Rupert wrapped a towel around his waist, running another one over his head a few times. Maybe she'd see him again. He was going to be in London in a few months. He could call her. Catching a look at his reflection in the too large hotel bathroom mirror he cursed to himself. "Fucking idiot" he mumbled shaking his head. You're too old, overweight…she'd needed something to hang onto. You were there. That's as far as it went. As far as it should go. Put her on a plane, send her home. Never see her again. Better for everyone.

--

"Coffee?"

They'd managed to snag a small table at the airport Starbucks and had about another hour before Alex had to make her way through security. The morning had been uncomfortable, neither of them able or willing to say much. Rupert assumed she had either run out of questions, or was horrified at what she'd done.

"OK. Just a small one. Milk, please."

Alex watched him stroll to the counter. He had long legs. She hadn't noticed that before. With a sigh she turned and stared out the window at the few airport shops that sat outside security. He couldn't go through with her, but he'd agreed to wait until she had to board the plane. She should have more questions, she should talk to him. He'd been so nice to her, so careful. But all she could do was wonder when the last 36 hours would seem like a dream.

"Here you go." He set the cup in front of her, popping the lid on his own very large coffee.

"That looks awfully big." Small talk. She could do small talk.

He smiled. "Yeah, well. We all have our vices."

"So, does your job ever bring you to London?"

She looked up at him, directly into his eyes for the first time that day. Rupert stuttered. "I, um," he looked away. "I don't know. It's possible. I have a godson, he lives in London. I'm overdue for a visit." Eighteen years overdue, he thought suddenly.

"You should visit him, then." Alex drank her coffee.

"Maybe." He looked at his watch. "We should get you through security. Your flight will board soon." Rupert slammed the rest of his coffee, snapping the lid back on the empty cup before disposing of their trash and walking her to the security line.

"Alex, you really will be OK." He really hoped that was true.

"Rupert, thank you for saving my life."

He shrugged. He wanted to go with her. "You'd do the same for me." He smiled, but his heart wasn't in it.

"I would." Putting one hand on his cheek she pulled him close, kissing him slowly, welcoming his tongue as it slid over hers. "Good bye."

--

June 2008

"Luke! Just where do you think you're going?" He hooked Mina's hand into his arm as they walked away from the concert hall. "You've got work to do!"

"Oh come on Galvin! Just one night off."

Ruby stood next to him, pleading look on her face. "Please?"

"No. Not tonight. However you may go wherever you want, Ruby." Rupert flashed a smile in her direction. She scowled back, following Luke in the direction of Mina's car.

"Too bad she won't go wherever I want" Mina hissed under her breath.

"Be nice, Mina" Rupert murmured, too low for the teenagers to hear. "If she's with us at least we know she's not getting into any trouble that might distract Luke."

Mina shrugged. "I suppose, I just wish that –"

"Rupert?"

He turned around – it couldn't be….

"Alex?" He dropped Mina's arm. She was at the car anyway. "What are you doing here?" She walked across the street to where he was standing.

"Me? I live here. What are you doing here? In London I mean."

It had taken him a minute to realize it, but she wasn't alone. A girl who must have been her daughter and a much older man were standing where Alex had been on the other side of the street. Huh. Maybe he wasn't such a long shot.

"I, uh, I'm here to spend some time with my godson, Luke. I told you about him." He bent down and looked in the car. "Luke Rutherford, Alex Drake." Alex nodded as Luke threw a bored wave. "That is his friend Ruby sitting next to him and this is Mina Harker." He stood up again. "Were you at the concert?" He purposely shut the door to keep their conversation private.

"Yes, yes I was. With my daughter, Molly and her godfather, Evan. Well, he's my godfather too, actually. Raised me, um, after my parents died."

"Oh, yeah. Oh." He swallowed. He should get in the car.

"So are you in London for long?"

"I don't know, yet. Could be a few months. Spend some time with Luke. It's overdue." He was finding it hard not to stare at her. "How've you been? Any trouble?"

"No, uh no, nothing." Evan called from across the street. "Ah, yes. Molly will be getting a bit impatient."

"Of course." He smiled understandingly.

"Would you like to have a coffee some time? I mean of course if you have time?"

He got caught in her eyes. "Yeah. I'd love to."

"Ok, how about Monday?"

"OK, Monday." He couldn't help smiling. Alex gave him her phone number and walked back across the street. He couldn't help staring at her ass.

--

No one said anything as he got into the car, and they drove in silence for a few minutes.

Ruby fidgeted in her seat. "Well if no one else will I'll do it. Who was that Rupert? She looked the real 'jolly hockey-sticks' type"

He stared out the window. "No one. A friend."

"Must be that elusive social life he keeps referring to." Luke sulked. "Let me know when I can have a social life like that, eh?" He ducked when Ruby smacked him on the head.

"Don't be so hard on him Luke" Ruby offered, bursting into a fit of giggling. "Rupert must have needs too."

"I'm pretty sure any discussion of my needs could be saved for a later day." He glared at Ruby.

"Ooh! When would that be?"

"Never."

"Be careful Rupert." Mina offered quietly. She didn't want to stop him from doing what was necessary, but she could worry about it just the same.

"I'm always careful, Mina." He answered, just as quietly.

--

Coffee went well enough that by the time they split up he'd asked her to dinner on Friday night. Activity from the half life had been slow, and Luke had been showing up for his training sessions as scheduled. He could surprise him with a night off. Well Rupert, he thought to himself, it seems you do have needs after all.

Thursday afternoon he was in the stacks with Mina, doing research until Luke showed up for his training, when the phone rang. Looking at the number, he wandered into an aisle of books before he answered.

"I hope you're not calling me to cancel."

Alex's voice crackled through the receiver. They didn't get great reception in the stacks. "No, of course not. I'm looking forward to it."

"Good. So am I."

"I was just wondering if you'd like to come here for dinner? Instead of going out. I can cook."

He paused. "Your place? Is that OK? I mean, is it OK with your daughter?"

"Oh, yes. Molly is going away with a girlfriend and her parents for the weekend. Into the country."

Excellent. "Yeah. OK. What time should I be there?"

"How about eight."

He took her address and hung up, whistling as he wandered back to the worktable.

"Who is she, Rupert?"

"Just someone I met in New York. Before I came over here."

"Don't be silly. I felt your heart rate increase when she called your name. Are you sure you should be seeing so much of her?"

"You're not jealous, are you Mina?"

She scowled. "Of course not. But I don't want to see you hurt more than you already have been. Or to see anyone get hurt. You know that."

"Don't worry. I won't be. And she won't be. I won't let it happen." He stood, wandering over to the coffee machine. Fighting with it for a tiny cup of espresso. "She's a police officer, Mina, and she's careful. When we met she was being chased by those fucking wormholes…"

"Kronons?"

"Yeah. Them." He sat again. He told her how they'd met, carefully leaving out the information he didn't want to share. "We're just catching up. No problems."

"If you insist." She went back to her book, doubtful that he'd shared the whole story.

--

Rupert dismissed a stunned Luke and an ecstatic Ruby at 5:00, giving him some story about having earned it, and went back to his hotel room to shower and change his clothes. He settled on his third attempt, leaving out the tie. He had to admit he was nervous. He couldn't remember the last time he's spent time with the same woman more than once. And her daughter was away. Clearly she had expectations. Or at least she wanted to provide the opportunity for something to happen. He took a deep breath, looking at his reflection in the mirror. Well, he was as ready as he'd ever be.

By eight had parked the car on Alex's tree lined street and was bounding up the steps to knock on her door. He was going for a second time when a car slammed to a stop in front of the house and a flustered Alex rushed out carrying a few bags and a box.

"Shit! I can't believe how bloody late I am! Is it really eight already?"

Rupert laughed, his face splitting into a grin as he reached for her bags. "Yes, it is. Let me get those."

"Shit." She fished in her pocket for the keys and led him into the house. "I got stuck in a stupid bloody meeting about paperwork protocols. On a Friday night! Sometimes the bureaucracy is really more than I can bear."

"That's one of the benefits of my line of work. Very few people to be accountable to."

"I'm sorry Rupert. I made a mess of the whole evening before you even got here." She frowned.

"Tell you what Alex. I'll go out and get a pizza and some beer, and you can get cleaned up. How does that sound?"

"I was going to cook." Her face twisted into a disappointed pout.

"You can make it up to me later. Just tell me where to get the pizza."

--

While he was gone Alex showered and changed her clothes. After deciding that dressing up to stay home and eat pizza was pathetic, and possibly obvious, she settled on grey trousers and a blood red oxford shirt she only wore if she was going out after work. She didn't want to seem like she was trying too hard. Although trying for what she still wasn't certain. Just the night? She wasn't even sure he was that interested. Longer term? It seemed so unlikely. She certainly found him attractive, but the rest?

There was that whole demon hunting thing. She looked in the mirror, shaking her head as she put on mascara and lipstick. As her New York experience got further away she found it harder to believe. But there was no way she was letting go of that pager. Possibly forever.

Still, she couldn't help but be attracted to him. There was something compelling in the way he was in complete control over one part of himself and had seemingly no control over the other. She laughed, no different from other men in that area, she supposed. But he was different.

She'd managed to set out plates and glasses before he arrived. Reaching for the pizza when she opened the door, she led him her into the dining room.

"I went for the veggie special, it that alright?"

"Perfect."

He sat at the table as she opened the box, each of them reaching for a slice. He watched her as she poured her beer into a glass. "You look more relaxed."

"Yes, thanks." She smiled. "Managed to get reasonably cleaned up."

"Nah, you look great." He chewed and watched her, wondering which one of them would make the first move.

"I'm surprised you're not working. You know, demon chasing or whatever you call it."

He chuckled. "I often am on Friday night. Most nights actually. It's usually a lot of night work. Still, not too many half lives causing trouble at the moment. And Luke has been whining for a night off for weeks. Seemed like a good time." He drained his beer bottle and opened another. He couldn't remember the last time he'd actually been this eager. He hoped he could just enjoy it.

"Can I ask you a question? About this time travel…stuff?"

"Go ahead. But I'm not sure I can tell you much. I've never actually done it." He smiled, leaning on the table and looking at her.

"What happens? Where do you go? I mean, I don't understand how you can be in two times at the same, well, time. It seems impossible." She was shaking her head.

Rupert leaned back, inhaling contemplatively before he answered. "I'm not sure it's that simple. You know, there's no reason to believe that if you were sent back in time it would be along the same timeline as the one you're in. That, if you never returned you would simply cross your own, original time. You could be along a completely different path, with completely different people. No one knows for sure." He shrugged. "You must watch Doctor Who, I'm sure he's covered this." He grinned, enjoying making her laugh. Truth was he had no idea what would happen.

"Assuming I'm willing to accept the idea that there are different timelines running along at the same, uh, time" she paused, shaking her head at the complicated nature of it all, "Assuming that, does waking from your demon induced coma inevitably mean that you cease to exist in the other time? I mean, it wouldn't have to, would it?"

He paused before answering. "I don't know. I guess it's possible that you could be medically revived without impacting the supernatural cause of your accident. The two actions may not affect each other." He drained the second beer. "Like I said, it's all really guesswork. And I'm not a physicist. So I can't speak about the quantum nature of any of it."

He watched as Alex considered what he'd said, holding his gaze until she spoke again. "Sam Tyler. He was certain that he had left that existence behind, that he had returned to the present. So certain he committed suicide." Rupert nodded, not sure where she was going. "What if he never left that – time. What if he woke with the memories, but never really left? What if his suicide, motivated by his desire to return, was just that, suicide? Could he have existed in both times without knowing it?"

"I don't know how to answer that. From what I know, and have read, anything is possible, as we simply haven't spoken to enough people who've undergone this experience to have any real idea what happens. What the outcome might be. Most of the time, people who have been sent through their personal wormholes simply remain in a coma until they die. There have been a few instances where people have woken, with the memories, and then been driven completely insane by them." He snaked a third slice of pizza out of the box. "Or they were at least diagnosed as being insane. You would know more about that than I would." He chewed as he watched her think.

She finally shook her head. "I don't know. On the one hand it all seems so unbelievable. But on the other, what does anyone really know about anything?" She shrugged, half smiling.

When they'd finished with dinner Alex took the box and plates and Rupert followed her with the bottles into the kitchen.

"Oh! I almost forgot. One of the reasons I was late." She picked up a small box from the counter, holding it up in front of her. "Dessert."

"Oh yeah? Do I have to guess?" The box very clearly said Butter Cupcake Shop on the top.

"Very funny." She set it back down. "They've only just started the designer cupcake craze over here. I thought you might like them. Would you like some coffee?"

"I would. And what's not to like. Cake, frosting. Tasty."

Alex handed him a plate. "Go on and cut them up, we can sample."

"Cut them up? What for?" He untied the string around the box and looked inside. "What flavor are they?"

"I don't know. That's why I said cut them up."

He shook his head. "That is not how you eat a cupcake. Here" he led one up on front of her. "Lick."

She was momentarily flustered. "What?"

"Lick the cupcake, Alex." He put it closer to her mouth, watching carefully as her tongue snaked out and sampled the icing. "So? What is it?"

"Coconut, I think." She cleared her throat as he ran his finger across the top and stuck it in his mouth.

"You're right. Coconut." He set it down and moved to the next one. "Red velvet? I love red velvet. This will be cream cheese frosting." He grinned as he repeated his finger action. "Mm hmm. And not bad for the British version."

Alex turned and went back to the coffee. Rupert watched the flash of skin at her waist as she reached over her head and pulled two cups out of the cabinet. After she poured he followed her out to the sofa, setting the box of still untasted cupcakes on the table next to the coffee. Rupert pulled another cupcake out of the box, his arm slinking around the back of the sofa as she curled one leg under herself and sat down.

"Try this one." He held it up and she took the requested lick, noticing for the first time just how intently he was watching her.

"Just chocolate" she said as he set it down.

"Yeah?" He leaned closer, kissing her top lip as he ran his tongue across it. "Mmm hmm. Just chocolate."

So that's how it was going to be? Fine. Reaching into the box, she held up a light yellow colored one. "What about this?" She held her breath as he took off half the top with one stroke of his tongue, giggling as he faked thinking about it.

"Banana." He finally said, half smiling at her.

"You're certain?"

He nodded, running his finger across the top and holding it in front of her. "Yes." Her eyes widened. "Go on. Taste."

Hesitantly, she opened her mouth, pulling with just a little more force than necessary as she sucked the banana flavored sugar off his finger. Somehow she managed to hold his gaze. "Yep. Banana it is."

"Good. Now that that's all set." He took the half licked cupcake from her hand and tossed it back into the box, leaning forward again and taking her mouth with his. Alex whimpered quietly as she kissed him back, her tongue seeking his as their kiss deepened, as he pulled her closer.

"Rupert" she murmured through kisses "Is there, um, anywhere you have to be, later I mean."

He answered slowly, not wanting to stop. "Well," he kissed her. "Now that you mention it" he kissed her again. "Yes."

She stopped, looking disappointed. "Oh."

"Yeah." He kissed her again, his tongue sliding against hers. "Where's your bedroom."

Giggling, Alex took his hand and he chased her up the stairs.

--

Standing next to her bed he kissed her again. He hated to admit he was nervous. "You're sure about this?" he asked her.

Alex slid her arms around his waist, pulling him close as she pressed her body against his and looked up at him. "Very."

"Good." He slid one hand under her shirt as the other worked her buttons. Pushing it to the floor he moved to her trousers and Alex was out of them before she could remove any of his clothing.

"Not fair" she whispered as she unhooked his belt, working his zip with one hand as the other pulled on his shirttails and then tugged it still buttoned over his head. "You should be naked too."

"You're not naked yet." He kicked off his shoes, dropping his trousers on the floor as he pushed her gently to the bed. "But you will be." He nibbled her ear, her neck, kissed her throat as he moved to the exposed swell of her breast. Hurriedly he pulled one strap down, and Alex arched her back so he could reach the clasp of her bra. She moaned as he caught her now exposed nipple, sucking on it as it peaked in his mouth. Slowly he kissed her curves, aching to be inside her, but not wanting to rush anything. Not this time.

As his mouth moved across her belly his fingers searched for entry, making her gasp as he found her, wet and inviting. He thrust his fingers slowly inside as his tongue found its target and gently teased her clit. Removing his fingers he settled between her legs, sucking gently as she groaned beneath him, quietly begging him to go on, not to stop, please, god.

Sliding her legs over his shoulders Alex jerked her hips against his mouth, desperate to feel his tongue as it slowly took her apart, as she felt the no longer familiar tingle spread throughout her and she spiraled over the edge, gasping for breath. But he didn't stop there, not after she'd spilled over his tongue, not after her body had gone slack from the release.

When he finally did stop, stretching his body alongside hers, she could feel him smiling against her neck as he kissed and sucked gently at her flesh.

"Was that ok?" He asked, chuckling.

"Yeah," she choked out, smiling and turning to look at him. "That was more than ok Rupert."

"Good" he slipped an arm around her, rolling over and pulling her on top of him. Alex could feel his cock, long and hard against her. After kissing him she pushed herself up, rubbing against him teasingly, watching the look in his eye go from amused to enflamed as she did. Not waiting, he placed his large hands over her ass, sliding her forward until he was positioned under her, entering with a slow thrust.

His head flew back as she rode him, and he let her guide their bodies for a while. Slowly she moved over him, watching carefully as his eyes rolled back into his head, as he clenched his jaw, waiting for her to take him fully inside her. Sure she would come again Alex started to speed up but he held her steady. "Slowly, Alex." He growled "No rush."

When she climaxed again, gasping and clutching at his chest he finally thrust harder. Straining as he drove into her again and again one hand on her hip and the other pulling her ear to his mouth, he exploded, moaning her name over and over.

--

"Alex." She lay stretched out on her stomach, his hand moving over her slowly. "I don't know what I can promise you."

"I haven't asked you to promise me anything Rupert." She propped herself up on her elbows, looking at the clock on the bedside table. It was just barely midnight. Early. "But since you brought it up…"

"Hmm?" He lay his head down on the pillow, looking up at her.

"Can you promise to be here in the morning?"

He smiled. "Yes. That I can promise."