Title: Numb

Chapter 3: Oh...

Disclaimer: This story is for entertainment purposes only. The characters herein are the property of J.J. Abrams, Touchstone Television, and Bad Robot.

Author's Note: These past couple of chapters have been a little short I know :( But it's fixing to get interesting! So hit that little purple button down there and tell me what you think!

Despite the initial awkwardness, the pair soon fell into a comfortable silence while every so often he'd point to something and no doubt resist the urge to tell her just where he stole it from or how he had bested her to get it. The compound was larger than she initially thought and she could imagine getting lost in it. And then like flashes of lightening images hit her of her and Sark forming a life here… together. She stopped walking dead in her tracks and shook her head trying to shake the images from her mind. He stopped next to her and the concern on his face made her want to bolt the other way. It looked almost… genuine. But when he spoke he was almost ironic about it.

"Are you quite alright?" She took a deep breath and nodded, knowing her voice would come out shaky.

"Can we keep moving then?" She only nodded again. "Right then." And then he kept talking about the compound. She'd almost call it droning on but she doubted Sark could ever drone about anything. And then almost all too soon he showed her back to her door from a back way. She wished she had been paying more attention. Almost as if he were reading her mind, he spoke again.

"You can explore all you'd like Miss Bristow. You are a guest here." She smiled at him, appreciating the gesture. She started to close the door behind her when he put a hand on it to stop her. "Dinner is at seven as usual." With that he gave her a devastating smile that made her knees want to turn to putty. What the hell was happening to her? He is so disarming; she thought and then almost laughed. She of all people knew how truly appropriate that word was for him.

When seven o'clock rolled around there were butterflies in her stomach when she saw him stand at her approach to the table. "Punctual tonight?" He half smiled as he pulled her chair out for her, letting his fingers skim across the bare skin of her shoulders.

"I thought you might enjoy that." He chuckled as the first course was brought out.

"Indeed, I am."

Dinner was passed in companionable small talk and then Rahiq appeared at his side and whispered into his ear something Sydney couldn't hear, which she assumed was the point. Abruptly he wiped his mouth then stood. "Enjoy the rest of your dinner. I should return before desert." Sydney's curiosity was peaked but Rahiq gave her a parting look that told her she should be more than curious and her red flag went way up.

Despite the tension filling the room after Sark's departure, she sat still in her seat and did her best to finish her dinner. But it wasn't until Sark appeared in the doorway that she realized she hadn't been breathing very well and the relief washed over her, confusing her even more. It wasn't supposed to be this complicated

And just like that, she was in his arms with her lips fused against his in a passionate kiss. He tasted like peppermint and vanilla and smelled like leather. He was in a word, intoxicating. Their bodies pressed tightly together he pushed her into the wall gently, trying desperately to get closer to her. When air became necessary and their lips broke apart, he stayed close to her, placing lighter kisses along her face and lips. He sighed and sank further into her embrace and then he pulled away completely and she could see his guard go back up. Before he could say anything she smiled, her only warning, and then kissed him again.