'So,' Alexis said demurely. 'Now what?'

'You should probably change and go tell her who you are. Seely knows not to let her call anyone, so she'll be there when we get there.'

Alexis sighed, watching her hands. 'Yes… and then I can spring her and bring her back to Canada… I haven't been back for years…' She stopped, swallowed, and said, 'Nigel… I don't want to leave… I don't want to go back there… I just… I want to stay here… with you…' Tears started rolling down her cheeks, and she pushed them away angrily. 'This is stupid… how is it I've only known you a few days, and yet…'

Nigel kissed the base of her neck comfortingly, and told her, 'It's amazing what can happen within a few days, luv.'

'Yeah. I mean, I've never told anyone else half of what I've told you…' she continued tensely, facing forward so her back was parallel with his. As she spoke, he started kissing higher, trying to calm her down. 'But I haven't been back to Canada since… since my grandparents' funeral…'

'Alexis…'

'And it's not like I never thought about going back…' she continued quickly, 'but there's been no reason… I mean, I'm living my dream! Successful, beautiful young lawyer, living in a gorgeous, professionally decorated house in Kensington Square… by all rights, I should be completely content with my life.' Nigel could feel her shoulders tense. 'But despite everything I've succeeded in I'm still completely alone...'

Before she could continue, however, Nigel turned her around onto his lap, and kissed her firmly on the lips. 'Alexis Edwards,' he murmured, keeping firm eye contact, 'promise me you'll never say that again.'

Shocked into silence, Alexis did not try to break their connection. It was as if their entire selves were merging with this one moment. After a few tense moments, she murmured gently, 'Nigel, what do you - ?'

'You're not alone, Alexis. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere.' He moved in and kissed her softly, the sent of her filling him completely.

She let out a small purr, and lifted her arms slowly so they were wound around his neck. He heard her mutter a little, 'oh,' and he laid her softly down so her back was against the arm of the couch. Slowly, he increased the intensity of their kiss. As he ran his hands slowly along the skin beneath her silken camisole, he felt her back curve to reach him, and her fingers entwine in his hair. Feeling her heartbeat quicken, he began to kiss lower. He descended upon her collarbone, and heard a long, luxurious purr escape from her throat. When he started moving lower, however, Alexis gently pushed against him and told him breathily between kisses, 'I have… to get… to go… to the station… oh!…' and for a moment, he disregarded her. 'Nigel…'

With a sigh, he kissed her lips gently one final time, and then her hair. 'Alright, luv,' he said, standing and pulling her up with him, 'but… you know…'

Tottering slightly, she giggled like a young girl and asked, 'I know what?'

'That outfit just cannot go to waste…' he told her, and he ran his fingers along the skin showing at her midriff.

'Oh really…' She smiled mischievously and backed up slowly into the wall, pulling him with her.

'It would be a terrible waste of money, wouldn't it?' he asked her, running his fingers through her tresses and down her cheek.

'Indeed it would…'

'So, what do you say, if all goes well, we make good use of it…'

'And what do you have in mind?' she asked, tilting her head up and smiling.

'Well…' he started, trailing off and pressing his body against hers, so she was trapped between him and the wall, 'we could always go out… or…' His lips met hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

When they broke apart, she croaked, 'Or stay in?'

'Read my mind, luv.'

Nigel left then, because he knew that if didn't he would never be able to leave. He would meet her at the precinct in a couple of hours, but he figured he should go back to the morgue to make sure he hadn't missed anything.

And to make sure Bug wasn't out for his blood.

'Oho! There's our Bond now!'

Hearing Jordan's voice call out from Trace, Nigel turned in and saw her standing over a forty-something Caucasian male. 'Hey, Jordan.'

'How was dinner?' she asked, checking under the body's fingernails.

'Dinner was good, thanks.' Pulling on a pair of gloves, he took the phial she was holding out for him.

'Oh, c'mon on, man, I need details. I have no social life, remember?'

'Dinner was good, thanks,' he repeated, grinning mischievously back at her and pressing a few keys on the whirring computer to check for contents.

'Nige!' she exclaimed, pulling off her gloves and coming to rest her head on his shoulder, 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours.'

'Won't work, Jordan, Alexis's a lovely girl; I don't want you soiling her good name with gossip.'

'It's not gossip if it's true.'

'We found her friend,' he told her, steering the conversation away from his love life. 'Alexis's going to meet her down at the precinct. Dunno if Jessica'll recognize her, but –' he said, shrugging.

'Well that's good, then,' she said, 'but doesn't that mean she's leaving soon?'

Trying to conceal his disappointment, he replied, 'Yeah, it does.'

'Ah, is that a hint of disappointment I hear?' Jordan grinned, and sat down beside him on a stool.

'Of course. You'd be sad if I went back to England wouldn't you?' He was greeted with a silence, and he told her, 'Good to know.' He stood and moved to grab another phial.

'Oh, of course I would miss you,' she said, wheeling behind him on her stool, 'but I wouldn't miss the sex.'

'Ahem.' They both jumped, and turned to see Dr Kate Switzer standing with Bug at the door. 'I hope I'm not interrupting anything here,' Dr Switzer said, her eyebrows raised.

'Nope, not a thing,' Jordan said, hopping up casually and going back to her body.

Nigel moved his gaze to Bug, and saw that his mouth was slightly open in shock. 'No! Bug, it's not what you think…'

'You. Come here,' Bug said brusquely, motioning him towards the computer lab. Nigel moved towards him slowly, shooting a reproachful look over to Jordan, who gave him a thumbs up before Bug closed the door. 'You… you're such an ass, you know that?!'

'No, Bug, look, that's just Jordan – you heard that out of context –'

'I ask you one thing – one thing – to not sleep with her – and what do you do? You sleep with her!'

'No! Bug, listen! I have not slept with Alexis Edwards!' What he didn't add was that he really, really wanted to, and hoped that he just might get to… and soon… 'Look, do you know what we did last night?'

'Do I want to know?'

'We talked, Bug! She told me about London!'

'If you forced her, so help me – '

'No, I didn't, aren't you listening? She told me out of her own free will. She wanted me to know. And do you really think I would pressure her after I found out about that?'

'You? Well, I –'

'Bug!'

'What?'

'You're supposed to be my best mate, and here you are belittling me!' Nigel turned and paced around the room for a moment, and finally turned to face Bug. 'This morning, we found Jessica, did you know?' Nigel received no answer, and so he continued. 'Yeah, we found her at this diner in the red light district. You should have seen Alexis's face when she saw her friend. Actually, no, I hope she never looks like that again, because I could see the pain in her features, Bug, and I don't ever want to see that again. Now, I'm meeting her at the precinct in an hour or so. She's going to meet Jessica, tell her who she is. I promised her I would be behind the glass when she does.' Nigel stopped, his breathing slightly heavy. 'Do you think you can accept the fact that I'm falling in love with this woman, and come down and support her with me, or do you want to make her choose between the two of us?'

Bug stood motionless for a moment. 'You're… you're falling in love? Did I hear that right? The mighty Nigel Townsend is falling in love?'

Nigel opened his mouth to correct Bug, but stopped, closed his mouth, and nodded slowly. 'Yeah, Buggles, I am. And like I said, I'd rather her not have to choose between the two of us – because no matter how good the – future – sex is, I'm worried she's going to choose you over me. Coz you just can't go against family.'

'Family?'

'She said you were like her big brother. You didn't know?'

'No, no, I knew,' Bug replied, sitting, 'but she's never talked to anyone else about what happened. About us.' He looked up and sighed in resignation. 'Alright, Nigel. Fine.'

'Really?' Nigel asked in mock amazement, 'I have your blessing to pursue her?' Bug nodded ruefully, and rolled his eyes. 'Glory day!'

'I might just have to have a talk with that girl, though. I mean… you're old!'

'You're no spring chicken yourself, mate,' Nigel replied, slinging his arm around Bug's shoulder.

'Yeah, but I'm not falling for a thirty year old.'

'A thirty-three year old. Yeah, big difference, Buggles. I should warn Lily how hypocritical you are!' Nigel laughed, and as Bug squirmed out from under his arm to walk out of the room, Nigel called after him, 'I'm leaving in an hour for the station!' and was received with a vague wave of Bug's hand. Taking that for an agreement, Nigel followed, figuring he should probably get some work done so he was on Dr Macy's good books before he heard Nigel was feverously perusing Alexis.