Once they had finished, both reaching their brink simultaneously, Alexis had curled up into Nigel's chest and held on until her breathing had slowed and she had seemed to have fallen back asleep.

Nigel, on the other hand, simply laid there, his arms encircling Alexis's beautiful body. He couldn't help but wonder what he had done to deserve her; thinking of how lovely she looked as she slept… such peace.

Until, that is, he realized what they had just done. What he had just done.

He had just… they had just… he had just…

He could feel a flush come over his entire body as he reminisced about the feeling of Alexis's soft skin under his fingers… the feeling of her tongue assaulting his mouth… the feeling of her only moments before. He tightened his grip slightly on her bare skin, trying to convince himself she was real, revelling in the fact that she was.

And then he saw his cell phone flash with three impossibly ill-timed neon green letters.

Bug.

Bloody hell…

Bug was going to kill him.

Attempting not to wake Alexis, who was still curled in his arms, Nigel reached over her to the coffee table, and flipped the phone open and shut; and before Bug could call back again, he turned the volume down as low as it would go. He refused to ruin this perfect moment.

He lay back down on the floor and rested his chin on Alexis's forehead, inhaling the scent of her hair; tropical fruit and just a hint of perfume. He lost himself for a moment, still in disbelief he had such a woman in his arms.

Until his phone began flashing angrily at him once more.

'I'm not going anywhere,' a soft, sleepy voice said from beneath him. 'Tell them to go away. We're sleeping.'

Nigel was shocked into silence for a moment, not thinking she had been awake. After a moment, he told her plainly, 'It's Bug, though.'

He felt more than saw her body grow warm with a flush that covered every inch of her. 'Oh.'

'Yes, oh.'

'Well… what might it be about?'

'At…' he checked the clock '… five in the morning? Probably a massive pileup on the freeway or something. Nothing life-threatening.'

She half snorted, half sighed in resignation and leant her head against his chest once more. 'He'll know you're here. He'll just start calling the hotel room.'

'This is true…'

'So? Answer. Even better, call him back. It'll make you seem less guilty.'

'…somehow I don't think that would make a difference when it comes to Bug.'

'Oh, of course it would. He wouldn't kill you. Maim, mangle, and mouth off, maybe…'

'That makes me feel better.'

'Hmm. Well, what about the fact that I won't leave your hospital bed side until you're all better?'

'Will you kiss my booboos better?'

She chuckled at his words, and sighed, 'Every last one of them.'

'Pass me the phone…'

'Where the hell have you been?' were Bug's first words when Nigel heard the phone connect.

'Bug, please calm down, I – '

'Nigel, we need you out here. There was a massive pileup in the TWT – lots of casualties. Dr Macy says we need all hands on deck.'

Nigel sighed, and said, 'I'm kind of in the middle of something, Bug, can't I -?'

'In the middle of something? What could you be –? wait… Alexis?'

'Bug, if you stay calm and take a deep breath –'

'Nigel, is she there?'

'... yes.'

'Where are you?' Nigel didn't respond, so Bug added, 'Why are you at her hotel room at five in the morning?' The silence spoke for itself. 'Nigel! Put her on the phone.'

'Now, Buggles, be reasonable – '

'Don't now Buggles me, Nigel! Put her on the phone.'

Nigel had to pull the phone away from his ear to stop Bug from causing permanent hearing damage. 'He wants to talk to you.'

Alexis grimaced, and took the phone gingerly. 'Hello? Hi, Mahesh, what's… Mahesh! What're you-?… That is none of your business!…. Mahesh – no, listen… I'm thirty years old and I - ! … No, he didn't!' She blushed at the next question, and muttered, 'Yes, Bug, of course we used a… I know that! I may've been a virgin, but I'm not an idiot!... Bug!' She sighed, and shook her head, blushing to the roots of her hair. 'Bug, please, can't you just –'

It was not Bug who cut her off this time, though. Nigel had motioned to her to hand him the phone. Placing the receiver to his ear, Nigel heard Bug's final words.

'… I just want you to be happy, Alexis, and I know you love him but you're going back to England soon, what'll you do then?'

'I'll move back with her.' Alexis's eyes widened at Nigel's words, and she grasped for his free hand as he reached for hers.

'… Nigel?' Bug asked, shocked at who had responded.

'Sorry, mate, thought you were berating her with inappropriate questions. Don't want my girl upset. She's still recovering from previous situations, savvy?'

'You can't be serious, Nige… I mean… you can't just leave. What'll you do back in England?'

'I dunno. Join Scotland Yard. Work in a shop. Rejoin the navy.' His voice began to fill with a happy, exhausted, lilting laughter. 'But I know one thing for sure.' He paused, kissed Alexis's hands, and looked straight into her eyes. 'I'll be with the woman I love.'

There was silence at both ends for a moment, until Bug and Alexis said simultaneously, 'You do know that you'd be leaving everything in Boston.'

'Yup, I know,' he replied to neither in particular. 'But Alexis, you're worth it. You're worth everything I have – everything I am – and more.'

There was silence again, and Nigel could hear Dr Macy calling to Bug what was taking him so long.

'I'll be right there, Dr Macy,' Bug called in the background. 'No, I didn't get a hold of him. I think his phone's off. . . I was just leaving a message…' There was another pause as Alexis watched Nigel's face intently, looking for any indication of how the conversation was going. Finally, Bug returned to the phone. 'Alright, Nige, you're lucky this time… but… don't forget to visit.'

Unsure of whether Bug was speaking of after he and Alexis had moved, or just of when they had had their fill of each other for the day, Nigel decided to reply in an equally cryptic manner. 'Of course I will. Could you keep me away?'

'One could only hope. Give the phone to Alexis for a moment.'

Nigel did so without another word, and he saw her smile as she murmured into the phone, 'Hey, M… thanks… I love you, too, Mahesh… see you… I promise… goodbye.' She gently flipped the phone shut, and placed it, almost religiously on the coffee table, following it serenely with her eyes. She then tilted her head slightly, smiled crookedly up at Nigel, and sighed, 'Why do you have to be so damn amazing?'