Chapter Three; Assimilation and Judgements

Disclaimer; I own nothing, Alcatraz and all characters belong to FOX and in my case Channel Nine and J.J Abrams.

Authors Note; I want to apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to update this. What was supposed to be a couple of weeks turned out to be almost three months, in between assignments exams, working, and family dramas I've barely had time to breathe let alone write, once again I'm really sorry for making you guys wait. I want to say thank you to WhatTheCensoredXD, SachikoisGreato and VampWolf82 who reviewed and Hannie88 who added me to their favourite author list and VampWolf82 who added me to their author alerts and Hannie88, VampWolf82, cherryblossom734 and Reedy-Girl who added this story to their story alerts list and VampWolf82, Hannie88, UnicornzAreReal, Mrs Bass Malfoy and Reedy-Girl for adding this story to their favourite story list. Thank you so much, you guys have no idea how much you guys have made my day. Thank you and I hope you enjoy.

He was becoming increasingly concerned that he was becoming too comfortable, too attached. He wasn't supposed to integrate or assimilate himself, he was the advance man, his purpose was to get the keys and that was all. That he knew of anyway. He wasn't supposed to kill Rebecca's partner, he wasn't supposed to have conversations with his now older... much older brother but most of all he wasn't supposed to be meeting with a pretty young girl who was completely unassuming, innocent and normal. God, he missed normal. Normal ended for him the day he enlisted, he supposed that was why he was so attracted to her , he could actually have a normal conversation with her that didn't involve Alcatraz, keys, aging or murder, but a conversation about normal things like; food, books, movies (he couldn't contribute much though) and things that he never realised that he missed. Their encounters had gradually increased over the last two months from simply meeting at their diner to various trips to the cinema and dinner. Neither of the two had yet to hint at a prospective relationship or romantic feelings. That wasn't to say they those feeling didn't exist though. He often pondered on their relationship and his unfamiliar desire for their connection to expand beyond amicable friendship. The thought scared him; he hadn't felt this way towards any woman beside Agatha, he almost felt he was betraying her, and then he remembers she probably felt betrayed when he pointed the revolver at her head.

Growing up in San Francisco he had the hometown advantage over her allowing him to take her to areas and places that she most probably wouldn't have been to or known about. However, she had the advantage of living in the twenty –first century so while he was able to take her to places like Marina Heads which she had never seen before, surprisingly he wished he could have taken her to Playland, an old amusement park that he loved when he was a kid but he had heard that it had closed down in 1972 much to his disappointment. She took him to the Marrakech Magic Theatre, a night he enjoyed more so due to the look of amazement and giddiness on her face rather than the actual magic show. This arrangement of theirs was never discussed, never questioned, neither were personal details; she didn't know his last name nor did he know hers, this sense of familiarity with another without having any real knowledge of a person's identity would frighten some people but instead it calmed him and he had a strong suspicion that she appreciated it too, the lack of labelling and preconceived notions in the relationship gave him a sense of normality and a sense of identity in the relationship that he feared that he would never receive other than a convict, murderer or a hated member of his family. He was curious though about her, but he resigned himself to waiting, if she wanted to keep secrets she could, as long as she returned the favour because God knows he has a few.

Pushing the door open to diner he was pleasantly surprised to see her here before him, he was usually first by at least fifteen minutes, to make sure nothing seemed out of the ordinary and because she for some weird reason had a preference for warm coffee over his hot coffee. She looked up at the bell and smiled warmly at him a gesture he returned as he walked towards her. She closed her books stacking them on top of each other he noticed that they were once again textbooks, it never ceased to amaze him how much she studied, how much knowledge she was forced to learn and retain in hope of gaining a decent income in a job she might not necessarily like. He didn't miss the dark circles under her eyes or her dishevelled appearance.

"Pull another all nighter?" he asked as he removed his tan jacket placing it on the table next to her books, before taking his seat.

"Yeah, I fell asleep at the library," She replied sheepishly already knowing that her answer would be met with disapproval "I was studying and I guess I lost track of time, I just came here to see you and then I'll probably go home to bed." She shrugged taking a sip of her coffee.

"You've been studying quite a bit." He stated bringing his mug up to his lips but instead of matching her action he looked over the rim of the white glazed ceramic to watch as her eyes flashed, one thing he had learned about her that was quite surprising, was that she was extremely defensive and did not like being questioned or criticised, a feature that both excited him and aggravated him, girls were never this outspoken when he was young.

"I've got a paper due and exams soon." She said putting her coffee down her fingers wrapping around the glass seeking warmth, sitting up straighter she squared her shoulders and watched as he took a sip of his coffee.

"You won't do well if you're completely worn out from all this studying." He said knowing that although it sounded like concern that she wouldn't take it that way and that he didn't mean it that way.

"Thanks for your concern but I'm sure I'll be fine." She countered her voice clipped letting him know that this topic of discussion was now over. Too bad he chose to ignore it.

"Spending every night at a library with a so-called study partner, doesn't sound very healthy or smart to me." He said, enjoying the way her hand gripped the glass a little tighter, her jaw clenched and the fire behind her eyes.

"I really don't understand what you are implying, by a 'so-called study partner' and last time I checked my choice of studying at a library was exactly that, my choice and none of your business."

"I'm just saying. What would people think? A guy and a girl going into a library together and a guy and a girl leaving together the next morning, doesn't seem very innocent."

"What is this? What are you jealous or something? I'm not sleeping with him if that is what you're trying to imply." Her voice started to rise slightly catching the attention of the patrons next to her, he hadn't realised how busy the diner had gotten in the short few moments since he entered.

"I'm not jealous, but yes, that is exactly what I'm implying." He answered, ignoring the pang of regret that had settled into his stomach, he had no choice but to do this they were becoming too close, to comfortable with each other, and being comfortable was never a good thing in his crazy and tumultuous world. She scoffed in indignation pushing her coffee away before standing to collect her books.

"Right, well it was nice knowing you." She said no trace of anger or sadness in her tone just simple indifference. He experienced a rush of panic as she walked out of the diner but ignored it. It was better this way. He noticed the same waitress that usually served their coffees looking between him and the door with distaste; he wasn't completely unaware the almost-relationship between him and Chloe was a subject of interest amongst the staff at the diner. He watched her walk over to his table the look distaste fading in to nonchalance in an attempt no doubt to appear professional. She bent down slightly to pick up the half finished still warm latte across from him.

"Trouble in paradise?" She asked, her tone betraying her attempt to appear apathetic. He looked at her long blonde hair, light blue eyes and California tanned skin, she was pretty, too pretty, he preferred plainer girls, like Chloe, though some would argue that Chloe with her brown hair and brown eyes was anything but plain.

"There wasn't any paradise to begin with." He replied. She seemed to take this as an invitation for further conversation and after taking a quick glance around the diner she took Chloe's previously occupied seat.

"Well, she didn't look very happy when she left." She said attempting to gain some further insight to the relationship between the quiet university student and the charming if not slightly imposing young man in front of her. Whilst she generally respected other people's privacy, she was a hopeless romantic at the end of the day, and the budding relationship between the two regulars was something that made her smile whenever she saw it.

"Everyone has an off day every once in a while." He took a sip of his now lukewarm coffee, the coffee acted as a barrier towards what he knew was fast becoming a somewhat make shift examination of his now most probably non – existent relationship with Chloe.

"She seemed fine earlier, tired but fine."

"Things change, moods can change."

"She really likes you," She said suddenly and he was momentarily surprised at her abruptness, he sat silently as she continued "There have been a couple of men that have taken an interest in her, but she's never given them a second thought, you're the only one, I've never seen her smile as much as I've seen her smile with you. You screw this up, buddy you'll be kicking yourself for the rest of your life. I'll see you two tomorrow." She gave him a pointed look at her last statement and stood to clear the table behind him while he still sat shocked at her bluntness. He stood leaving his half finished coffee on the table. He shrugged on his tan jacket and exited the diner not noticing the small knowing smile on the waitress' face as she watched him leave. She knew exactly where he was going.

Chloe had walked straight home, the weight of her textbooks was ignored as her anger was slowly replaced with sadness, disappointment and overall regret. She was annoyed that he had such a low opinion of her, that he would think that she was like that, she had...she still liked the man that had charmed her by berating her coffee choices, but her anger and sadness of their argument this morning overwhelmed this attraction resigning her to complete exhaustion she could deal with all this when she wasn't so tired. Entering her small run down house by the broken door she mentally reminded herself to get it fixed when she had the funds, as a struggling uni student she simply lived off the money she earned from tutoring her classmates and from the small jobs she did for her neighbours. Disposing of her textbooks on the stained coffee table that came with the house, she checked her phone for any missed calls or messages, she had two; both from her study partner, she was slightly disappointed until she remembered that Tommy didn't have phone, or if he did she didn't have his number and he didn't have hers. She often wondered how they manage to keep in such close contact, then she also remembers that the world managed just fine before mobile phones and would, if the need ever arose be just fine without. Slipping off her tanned boots she trudged through the house her sole objective was bed, her bed to sleep forever, the exams, broken door locks and Tommy could all wait. Reaching her bedroom she slipped out of her jeans, struggled with her bra and after finally managing to get the forsaken thing off she crawled into bed.

She awoke to loud knocking at her door and begrudgingly looked at the time; 9:37am the fluorescent green light told her. "You've got to be shitting me," she mumbled, she had only been asleep for half an hour. She burrowed deeper into her blankets in an attempt to ignore the knocking but it was persistent. "Oh, for fucks sakes." Throwing the blanket she stumbled out of the bed and marched down the hall, the cold floorboards beneath her feet were ignored as annoyance flared up inside her. Yanking open the door she saw Tommy, and was suddenly reminded of her current state of undress, as was he, she noticed as a small blush crept up his cheeks. "What are you doing here?" she asked her annoyance now tinged with embarrassment and shock.

"I was wondering if we could talk." He answered, taking extra care to make sure he looked at her face and only at her face.

"I don't think that there is anything left to say." She replied, closing the door slightly so that her body was half hidden behind the door.

"I believe there is. Can I come in?" He asked, he wasn't sure why he came here, the prodding from the waitress, and his own self – doubt about his decision probably fuelled him, was he really that uncertain about his own judgements. He still believed that I was for the best for the both of them, more for her sake than his. But nevertheless he was here on her doorstep, begging for a second chance.

"No." She replied, her brain finally starting to clear from the fogginess of just woken from a minimal sleep. She was now both cold and extremely annoyed, what was he doing here? He said his piece and she said hers, it was done and dusted; there really was nothing left to say.

"Please, Chloe." He begged; he was almost disgusted with himself for doing so. But he did, because for a reason unknown, even himself, he needed her, needed her normality.

"No, Tommy, you've said your piece and I've said mine. There is nothing more to say, you've already passed your judgements on me and I can assure you, you don't want to hear my opinion of you. Goodbye." The door closed with a soft click but sounded with such finality as she walked slowly back to bed and left the blonde haired man standing on her doorstep.