A/N Trigger warning; attempted sexual assault.

'Didn't you wonder?' she repeated, glancing back down, and up again.

This was it. If he screwed this up, he would just about hate himself. 'Of course I wondered,' he replied, keeping the intense curiosity out of his voice, 'but I didn't want to intrude where I wasn't wanted.'

'Actually, I was rather surprised when you didn't ask…' Smiling, she tilted her head and said, 'Mahesh yelled at you, didn't he?'

Wanting to keep her smiling, he replied demurely, '…maybe a little.'

Shaking her head, she told him, 'Ever since we met, he's been protective of me! He's been like a big brother to me.'

'Funny he never mentioned you,' Nigel said, more of a question than anything.

She shrugged, and said, 'What happened between us was nothing that anyone else needs to know, but would ask anyways, so we just never tell more than needs to be said. Besides, did you ever ask after any girls he met back home?'

'… nope, can't say I have.'

'There you are then. And it wasn't by any stretch a romantic relationship; just a friendship… though a friendship is oft more beneficial than a romance.'

'How so?'

'No pressure.'

'Oh?'

'Do you want to hear about how we met or not?'

'Do you want to tell me about it?'

'Yes, but you'll have to stop talking.'

'Not a word, luv.'

'Alright, then.' Alexis fidgeted so that she was directly facing Nigel, and began in a rather businesslike tone, 'It was just after my 22nd birthday. The past year had been hell, what with loosing my parents and grandparents within a matter of months. And the move between Canada and England hadn't exactly been easy, what with getting acquainted with the city, transport, money, the people…' She paused. 'The school knew all about my home problems, of course, so they gave me conditions, but they allowed me a certain amount of freedom. They told my professors all about everything, as well, so that if I ever needed to talk to anyone, and if I needed extra time for assignments, I had options open. I talked to a few of my professors, but there was this one in particular that I really admired. He the same age my father would have been if…' She trailed off, sniffed, and continued. 'One day after class, he invited me to his office to discuss a paper I had handed in that day. I agreed, because I thought there could be no harm in it. So we get there, and he offers me a drink. I say no, but he takes one for himself.' She started talking faster, eyes becoming unfocused. 'Then, we get into this really heated discussion, and out of nowhere, he presses full out against me, and kisses me. He's got me pinned against the desk, and he's practically forcing his tongue in my mouth. I try to push him away, but he just presses harder. Then, as he starts running his hand up my leg, there's a knock on the door. My professor jumps about three feet as the door opens, and I run. Past him, past the person at the door, and out the building onto the campus grounds. I sit under this huge tree and I just… stare at the field before me, not really seeing it. After awhile, I see someone set my books out beside me, and then sit down. I start crying, and the person holds their arm out, and I just sort of collapse, sobbing, into their arm. We sit like that for… I dunno how long, and then,' she laughed, 'I hear their stomach growl. I laugh a little, and they apologize. I say no problem, and wipe my eyes with a handkerchief they hand me. They ask if I'm ok, and if I'm going to press charges. I say no to the first, yes to the second. They ask if I want to go now, and if I want them to come with me. I say yes, so we get up and wave down a taxi.' She sniffed again, and continued more quietly, 'The next few weeks went by in a sort of dream-like state for me. I was only ever half there, my mind on what could have happened if Mahesh hadn't come in.

'Those weeks after, he was my strength, I think. I mean, every day, he would walk me home from class, and we'd have lunch together. He even helped me with a few assignments. We learned a lot about each other, got really close. Which was good, because the other students had terrible reactions to what had happened – some of the guys thought I was a prude, and so kept trying to jump me; some were pissed that I had gotten the easy teacher fired... and the girls were even worse! They were either jealous that I had been picked, or mad that I wouldn't give them all the steamy details… I don't think I've ever had a better friend than Mahesh.' She sighed, and said, 'When he finished school, I was at the ceremony, crying and cheering with his family. And when he moved here to the US, I was at the airport, holding on until the last call for his flight. And we've kept in touch all these years, too… obviously not well, as I didn't realize he would be here...'

They sat in silence for a while, looking into the gas fireplace that was flickering mechanically.

After a moment, Nigel murmured, 'Alexis… I…'

'Don't say you're sorry, Nigel, there's nothing you could've done,' Alexis replied, smiling. 'All you have to worry about now is what I'm feeling now.'

'Now, eh?'

'Yeah, now.'