A/N: I sincerely apologize for the late update. I've been terribly busy with other stories and video games, not to mention life and studying for my AP U.S. history test. Anyway, please review!
P.S. Ladies and gentlemen, and I am happy to present to you at last, the steamy bits!
All right, not really. It isn't explicit at all. But I hope you like it.
)O(
Madison lay on the bed and tried not to think about how infrequently the motel staff changed the sheets. She stared blankly up at the ceiling with its chipping paint; this room had a kind of dingy charm to it.
Usually, she could relax in a place like this, but sleep eluded her tonight. Something plagued her mind. It was guilt. Madison felt guilty that she could not do more to help Kathy for Sam's sake. She felt guilty for asking so much from him while giving nothing in return. Hell, she felt guilty for running away and not telling Jayden where she was.
She wanted very much to curl up in a ball and just sleep, or possibly die. Yes, that didn't sound so bad right now.
Madison turned on her side and spotted the phone sitting nervously on the bedside table. Suddenly she remembered the crumpled slip of paper Dr. Eberson had given her once, saying to call whenever she was feeling low or needed someone to talk to, which basically translated into the number she should call before she killed herself. They both knew it. I could never go through with it anyway.
She considered the phone for another minute before picking up her cell instead and dialing the number for her landline. It rang only once. It was late but he'd clearly been expecting her call.
"Madison?" Jayden got right to the point.
"Hey," she said, suddenly and inexplicably embarrassed. What was she supposed to say?
"Where are you?"
"Don't worry. I'm fine." That was only partly true. "I was exhausted, so I rented a motel room. I'll stay here tonight and come home in the morning, okay?"
"Which one?" Jayden asked. "Madison, what's going on? You don't sound fine." Silence followed; the loud silence of tense phone calls, and electrical current struggling to maintain a connection that never should have been made in the first place. When Jayden spoke again, his voice was soft. "Talk to me."
"I can't." Madison whispered, holding the receiver close against her cheek as if someone might overhear. "I'm sorry."
Then she hung up.
Her heart was racing.
She still felt a bit like dying.
Instead, she burrowed deep beneath the covers and let the cellphone fall softly onto the hideous carpet. He called six times before Madison lost count, left messages, sent texts...
Finally, she slept.
)O(
Her absence made him want tripto. Not knowing where she was made him want ARI. But most of all he just wanted Madison. And right now Jayden sure as hell didn't have any of those.
He had to find her.
)O(
It should not have been a surprise that Jayden managed to track her down in the end. He was a fucking former FBI agent after all; he had to be good at finding people. But the knock at the door startled Madison from her fitful slumber nonetheless. Once she had reminded herself where she was, she went to let him in.
Jayden stood there, out of breath and very tired from the looks of him. In fact, he appeared to have done nothing but worry for God only knew how long. Madison felt unspeakably guilty for this, too. Had he actually sprinted up the seven flights of stairs to her room?
"It took you a while." she remarked, unsure of exactly why she said it.
"Yeah...I'm not used to working without ARI." he replied between gulps of air. "I went to, I don't know, four motels before this one..."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Jayden forced a smile. "I found you, and that's all that matters."
"No, it's not okay." Madison continued. "I'm such an idiot."
"I forgive you."
"You really shouldn't."
"Well I do."
To this day, she still isn't sure exactly which one of them initiated it, but they were kissing. They were back in her room, out of the rain, and they were kissing. It all quickly became a blur of heat and movement and overwhelming sensation. Everything was so painfully familiar, except the man. He was so wonderfully different. Not that Madison made a habit of fucking guys in cheap motels or anything.
Then they lay there in the dark, holding each other close. It was nice to be held like this. For the first time in many years, she felt completely safe. Madison sighed and let her body relax, not wanting to succumb to sleep just yet and forget even a second of this. God forbid if she woke up tomorrow and he hated her. But then, what could she possibly admit to that he hadn't forgiven her for already?
)O(
He needed nothing but her.
)O(
A/N: Jayden strikes me as someone who secretly enjoys cuddling, no?