Clara feels like a school girl when she gets off the phone with Alec. She can't believe he risked talking so dirty to her in public, worse so at work, but it struck a nerve deep inside her and Clara could just start feeling the stirrings of arousal. She curses and resumes slicing the tomatoes for the salad, trying and failing to keep her mind out of the gutter. Preferably Alec's gutter. Clara curses again and puts the knife down. Will she ever be able to hear him say something sexy in that accent without getting randy? She hopes not. Because despite her complaints she loves the fact that he can turn her on with a few words. She shivers and resumes cutting for the third time. She hears a knock on the door and straitens her dress, then runs over to the small mirror above the sink to check her make up and fluff her hair. When she hears the knock again, she makes for the door.

"Coming!" She yells, dashing for the door. "Sorry Alec, I'm a bit behind on dinner - " but it wasn't Alec at the door.

"Package for Clara Miller." She huffed and blew a piece of hair out of her eyes.

"Yes, but I didn't order anything - "

"Well madame, it clearly says Clara Miller. You are Clara Miller aren't you?" Clara sighed and threw her hands up in defeat.

"Alright alright, come in," she said, opening the door. She turned her back and walked into the house. "Can you just point out where to sign and I'll - " Suddenly she was knocked backwards. The wind was knocked out of her and she gasped for breath, eyes bulging. Then he came at her. He dove down to the ground and grabbed her throat, squeezing hard. Her eyes grew even larger. Her eyes lids started to heavy as air was harder and harder to come by, when suddenly she noticed her Oxford's she'd been meaning to put on. She reached for one, fingers dancing along the laces and then she had it. She swung the shoe at her attacker and hit him square in the eye. He howled in pain and let go of her neck, taking a few steps back. Clara took a large gulp of air that made a rather loud noise that echoed across the kitchen.

She turned to run, but he was quicker. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her back to him. She got a good look at his face before he turned her away from him. There was no denying it. It was him. Bruce Daggermen. Clara's eyes began to water with unshed tears and she kicked and thrashed, then began to scream. He placed a large hand over her mouth and she bit down, hard. He let go of her mouth and she screamed. "Help! Somebody help!" She cried. He slapped her across the face and spun her, pinning her against the counter top. His left hand held her against it while his right descended upon her trachea. He squeezed as hard as he could; Clara tried to scream but nothing came out. He was blocking off her airway and if she didn't get oxygen, she was going to die.

She reached her hand out as her eyes closed, willing to grasp something - anything. Her fingers clasped around something but she had no idea what it was. When she gripped it it made a sharp pain form on her hand, but she fought through the pain and swung it at Daggermen. He let out a loud yelp but didn't release his hold. Clara swung again but this time he caught her wrist. Clara kicked and thrashed and stuck home, hitting him in the crotch. When he loosened his grip on her throat Clara sucked in a big gulp of air and swung at him again, racking the unidentified object across his left cheek. In doing so she hurt herself but Clara could barely feel the pain. She thought it must be adrenalin.

She opened her eyes and by the state of his face she knew it must be something sharp. She looked at her bleeding hand and found a cheese grater, covered in blood.

The sound of a car backing into her driveway and headlights flashing told her Alec was here. "Alec!" she called, but her voice was soft and raspy and barely came out as a whisper. Her head was pounding and her vision began to blur. The last thing she saw before she collapsed was Daggermen running in the opposite direction.

Alec parked his car and opened his car door. He smiled when he saw Clara's lights on - but something wasn't right. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was a strange feeling in his gut that raised his hackles and chilled his body. He reached for his gun underneath the passenger seat and cocked it, then cautiously made his way to Clara's door and knocked. "Clara?" He called, trying to keep his voice somewhat calm. She didn't answer him. "Clara!?" He cried more desperately. Bugger this! He slammed open the door and raised his gun, pointing it in every direction and souring the room for her. Then he looked to the ground and saw her laying there, face down. "CLARA!"

He dove for her and spun around and instantly felt bile rise in his throat. Around her neck were large, purple marks, as if she'd been strangled. Her hand was covered in blood and she wasn't moving. "Clara.. Clara!" He dove for her throat - even though it sickened him - and checked for a pulse. He found it, beating away strongly. Her eyes shot open and she coughed loudly, gasped for huge gulps of air. Then her eyes began to heavy.

"Clara! Clara stay with me! What happened!?"

"Daggermen.." she said softly, eyes closing. His eyes darkened.

"Is he still here?" No response. "Clara is he still here!?" She rolled on her side limply and didn't respond. "Fuck!" He shouted. He laid her back down on the floor and ran out the back door, punching Ellie's number into his mobile.

"Hey Alec how are y - "

"Ellie!" he shouted desperately, "you need to get here right now. Send a swat team to Clara's now!"

"What happened!?" She cried.

"Just get here!" He shouted, knowing he had no time to explain. Daggermen was fast with escapes and Alec was not going to let him get away. This time, it's personal. The last thing he heard before he hung up was Miller barking orders at someone.

His feet beat against the pavement as he ran up and down the street. But Bruce was nowhere to be found. Police sirens could be heard in the distance, and Alec debated going back to Clara's and making sure his lover was okay. By the state in which he left her, Clara did not look good. He bent down and rested his hands against his knees, panting hard. He decided the team probably searched the area and was just about to go back to Clara when he heard a noise. A bottle skidded across the pavement. Alec watched it go and saw a man slumped against a rubbish bin. He coughed, made a deep, grumbling noise in the back of his throat, and promptly vomited in the trash.

He looked up at Alec and grinned stupidly before vomiting again in the trash. "Rough night?" he called. The man nodded.

"Too many beers for my body to take. Couldn't even make it home.." his speech slurred and he trailed off at the end. Alec nodded at him and got back up, making his way back to Clara's house. There was something familiar about that voice..

He turned suddenly and ran at him. Daggermen bolted in the opposite direction, pushing over the trash bin. Alec leapt over it and continued after him. "Over here!" he shouted. The night was so quite someone was bound to hear him. Then the sound of feet pounding across the ground filled his ears and Alec knew he wasn't alone.

He stopped and aimed his gun just as Ellie ran out in front of Daggermen, gun cocked and pointed in front of her.

"There's nowhere to run Daggermen!" Miller shouted, raising her gun higher. Alec did the same, his eyes cold and menacing. Bruce turned to face Alec and grinned, yellow teeth showing through red lips.

"I'll be back for your girlfriend, mate." Alec aimed his gun, self control fleeting,

"I'll kill you before you touch her again!" He shouted, teeth bared like a wild animal. He just grinned at Alec and laughed.

"You can't protect her forever," he said. Then he jumped in the air and gripped the fence beside him. He was quick, but Alec was quicker. He shot three times and hit him once in the shoulder, the other in the thigh, the third shot missing. Hardy and Miller rushed for the fence and looked through a crack in the wood. He was gone.

"Damn it!" Alec shouted, punching the fence. He yelped and brought his knuckles to his mouth, sucking.

"He can't go too far with two shots in him," Miller pointed out, but she looked menacing. The mere thought of someone hurting her sister had taken it's toll on her. Her eyes looked haunted and she looked like she really wanted to shoot something. "We should get back to Clara," she said, pocketing her gun and making her way back to her sister's house. Alec trailed behind, alone with his thoughts. He'd hurt Clara - had tried to kill her. He'd wrapped his arms around her neck and squeezed. Alec was going to kill him.

Clara sat in the back of an ambulance, a bright orange shock blanket resting securely around her shoulders. She'd long since stopped shaking, but every time she blinked he was there and she wasn't sure how she was going to sleep at night. Her eyes kept scanning through the crowd of police officers hoping she'd spot Alec or Ellie.

An EMT was currently running his hands along her neck, checking for any sign of damage to her throat. Besides having her hand bandaged up from the cheese grater and a few bruises along her throat, Clara didn't have any lasting damage.

The EMT, Billy, told her that she'd be fine as long as she didn't talk too loudly as it might result in a bruised larynx. Clara barely listened to him, fatigue drawing in. She closed her eyes, only planning on resting them, and began to dose off.

She was jostled awake by the feeling of being hoisted; next thing she knew, she was being carried through her house and into her bedroom. She was going to scream, but no noise came out, so she kicked instead. A calm voice said, "Relax love, it's just me." She relaxed. It was Alec. She was safe.

She dozed off again and was awoken this time by her clothes hitting the floor. She had no idea what was going on but was so tired that she just went with it. She leaned up and sloppily kissed Alec on the corner of the mouth. "No love," he said, "not tonight. I'm just putting you in pyjamas." She leaned her head against her pillows and fell asleep again.

The last time she was awoken it was by Alec sliding into bed next to her on what she'd began to call his side of the bed, even if she only called it that in her head. She wrapped her arm loosely around his waist and threw a leg across his hip. He pulled the covers over their bodies and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight. I love you."

"Love you," Clara mumbled before she drifted off to sleep.

Clara awoke covered in a sheen of sweat. Panicking, she shot strait up and looked all around the room, eyes large and haunted. Her quick movement awoke Alec beside her and he sighed in his sleep, reaching out for her. When he didn't feel anything he opened an eye and looked at Clara bolt upright in bed, panting. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, looking at her. Her body was covered in sweat and she was shaking, but she wasn't crying. Well that was good at least. She brought her knees up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Then she buried her head in her arms.

Alec scooted towards her and put his hand on her forearm. She brought her head up and looked him in the eyes. His gaze was so full of love and compassion that is brought Clara to tears. She dove at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, her cries muffled by his skin. Normally, he pat her on the back awkwardly, biting his lip and eyes looking uncomfortable. But this wasn't just any person - this was Clara and he loved her. Somehow he knew just the right things to say, soothing her and caressing her and telling her he loved her. Telling her she was safe and that he'd never let anyone harm her. After she calmed down she sighed against him and nuzzled his neck with her nose. He made a strangled, pleasure-filled sound in his throat and smiled. They leaned back against the pillows, Alec half propped by the headboard and pillows and Clara by his chest. Neither made any sign that they wanted to sleep or to talk. There was a comfortable silence around the room. Alec held Clara's hand and drew lazy circles on the back of it.

A crashing sound echoed from the room downstairs and Clara shot up like a rocket, her whole demeanor changing in seconds. She changed to fight or flight mode, adrenaline pumping through her system and a crazed look in her eye. Alec sat up behind her and wrapped his arms around her stiff body.

"Shh, it's alright love. It's just Smith, Decker, and some other bloke." Clara recognized the names at once from when she'd been introduced to them by Ellie.

"Why are they here?" Clara asked, eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Because you've just been attacked and Daggermen threatened to come back. Miller suggested they stay and I come upstairs with you." Clara softened and her body began to relax. Alec ran his hand over her forearm and she closed her eyes under his ministrations. He was gentle and ran his hands through her hair, massaging her scalp and coaxing her into going back to sleep. They rested against the headboard once more and Clara closed her eyes, moaning her approval. She turned on her side and laid her head against his chest. It wasn't until she ran her hand along his chest that she realized he wasn't wearing a shirt. She smiled against his skin and ran her hand against his chest hair, lost in the feel of it against her fingers. He hummed against her, coaxing her into continuing her ministrations. After a few minutes of listening to Alec's staccato heartbeat, petting his chest, and the occasional noise from downstairs, Clara fell into a restless sleep.