Make love with the lights on, baby

musesandlyrics | 5.8. Marquis De Sade quote

2010-02-01T02:02:56Z

5.8. "Sex is as important as eating or drinking and we ought to allow the one appetite to be satisfied with as little restraint or false modesty as the other."
Marquis De Sade

Co-written with scrubbedup

After spending some time with Mel the previous night, Matt did end up going home and getting drunk with Woody. It wasn't a bender by any means, but they went through a couple of six packs together and passed out on the sofa in probably a scene that would have some sniggering and accusing them of being gay, Matt's head on Woody's shoulder and Woody's head on top of Matt's. That's how Matt woke up the next morning, though the hangover had been tolerable. One round with the Porcelain Goddess, greasy bacon and eggs for breakfast with a whole bottle of orange juice chased by four Tylenol, and he was ready to rock up to work for his afternoon shift at lunch time. Woody was still passed out on the sofa when Matt left. They had known each other since they were in diapers, so Matt really had no issues just leaving his friend there. It wasn't the first time this had happened, and it wouldn't be the last.

Matt felt better having breached the gap and spoken to Mel, even if he was still feeling like he failed her hearing she was pregnant. The thing was, she did seem to be in love with the guy, and from what she was saying, the guy seemed to reciprocate wholeheartedly. Matt had left realising he probably couldn't smash the face in of the father of his niece or nephew. Or nieces or nephews. Mother and father were identical twins and that was as freaky as all fuck. Matt shook his head as he approached the coffee machine near the visitors lounge. He didn't want to think about that, if he started on that track, he would send himself mental. At the moment, he had grudgingly agreed to Mel to at least give the guy a chance and meet him when he was feeling better. Matt knew how crap it felt to have the stomach bug, so he wasn't going to demand the guy drag himself out of bed for a big brotherly confrontation. As it was, news had come that Patrick had been admitted overnight with the same thing, meaning George was back in the driver's seat of the ward. Matt had been met with this news when he clocked on for his shift and it was the first time since they split that she had technically been his boss again. He had so far done a good job of avoiding her and not needing to speak to her. Whenever she was free, he was interestingly busy with a patient or a colleague.

But it was his break now, and he needed coffee, the hangover and boozy night starting to catch up with him. He was digging some coins out of his scrubs pocket, contemplating what of the machine coffee was going to be the best. Slim pickings when it usually sucked, but he couldn't be bothered walking all the way down to the cafeteria.

Kara Harvey had made it back to Princeton for the first time in a couple months. It felt strange knowing Alex wasn't the reason she was there, even while she was at the hospital. There was no doctor in Toy Story scrubs to meet up with. Just Harri and Aiden. She'd come with Harri to catch up with Aiden, and make sure his husband was okay. And to make sure Aiden was okay. She knew that it had to wear him down occasionally with Pat being in and out. Sometimes you just needed friends around.

She was giving Harri and Aiden some alone time as she wondered the corridors, also in search of coffee, and maybe just to see if she could catch a glimpse of Alex. They had parted on mutual terms, and it wasn't like she was avoiding him. It was just better in her mind to know if he was here so she wouldn't be caught off guard. Keeping in touch via email was one thing. Seeing each other in person again was something else. She turned the corner and found the coffee machine, and didn't notice the man at first standing in front of it. Then Kara looked, and she couldn't help but think he was cute. Especially with the furrowed brow look of concentration, and the curly hair.

She cleared her throat softly and pointed at the machine. "Believe it, or not, the cappuccinos actually safer. The black coffee just tastes like dirt - not that I'm in the habit of eating dirt - and the white coffee's more like milk with a granule of coffee." She gave him a smile as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Not that I have much experience with these, of course."

Matt managed to dig the coins out of his pocket, thankfully this time without dropping his arse out of his scrubs. The last time that had happened, look how it turned out. At first he had to do a small double take to make sure the voice was addressing him, and when he did, he realised it was coming from a pretty hot looking chick. With Matt dreaming of some stress relief via a good hard fuck, he couldn't help but appreciate the fact she had approached him. If he could at least cop a bit of a perve, it was better than nothing, right? He leaned in with a flash of a smile. "I've got a secret for you. Dirt tastes nicer. Take it from me. I was once a pain in the arse kid boy who did things like eat dirt and fry bugs. You would probably get more of an energy hit hanging out by the pharmacy and hoping to catch an aroma of some upper or another." He flicked through the coins, making sure he had the right change and threw her a smirk. "Do you work here or you've had a long term loved one in her?"

Kara felt her stomach give a tiny, excited clench when she caught the smile, and it made her realise just how much she'd been missing male company. Even if it was a once off. She smiled again as she ducked her head briefly. "Well, I've sort of had some experience with the loved ones, unfortunately. Or rather someones loved one. And then there's my, ah... ex. He showed me some vending machine secrets. So dirt really tastes better? I'll remember that for next time. Too bad you can't get dirt as an option."

"Someones loved one? A pal? Sorry, you might need to elaborate on that one. I'm operating on half a brain at the moment and I have to save that for my patients so I don't get myself de-registered. I've come to like the pay packet," Matt joked and slotted some coins into the machine. He pointed at the display. "Can I get you something? If you're willing to brave it. Ex, huh? Trust me, I know the feeling. More coordinated side-stepping than a drunken version of the Macarena... though, in this case, technically not even an ex." He smiled at her again and then laughed. "Lets go cappuccino. Just a step down from dirt. We wouldn't want to spoil ourselves now."

"Cappuccino's good for me," she agreed. Kara watched him for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the profile of his face and then down his arms. He had nice arms, like he worked out enough to keep fit, but not so much that he was bulging. She'd never liked the bulging muscles. "That's understandable, and I really don't want you thinking too hard so that I inadvertently get you de-registered. I work for a woman who's best friend's husband is in here. But the best friend is also one of my friends. We've known each other professionally for a while, and he's just a great guy. Hard not to care about, you know? And his husband's gorgeous as well. You can't not want to be here for them." Kara's eyebrows rose a little. "I'm sorry about the not quite ex, and we can definitely side-step all you like."

Matt pocketed his change, watching to make sure the coffee was going to go into the cup. It had a tendency to miss sometimes, leaving you with only half a cup and feeling cheated. "I have a psychic sense right now that you're talking about my boss, because this place feels about as cosy as a shoebox some days with it's six degrees of separation. And if you are, that would make your great guy pal Aiden?" he guessed and handed her the first disposable cup of rather uninspiring looking coffee. The froth was already starting to disappear and she hadn't even gotten it to her lips yet. Really nice lips, too... He cleared his throat. "You don't have to be sorry, I'm pretty sure it was a big mistake on my part. I want to lay all the blame on her, but it's not fair. I should have kept my place and not pursued anything. One of those times life gives you a firm chomp on the butt to make sure you're still awake, you know?"

Kara's really nice lips curved into a smile, something she really didn't find hard to do around the nice man offering her coffee. Even if it was anti-climatic coffee. She took in the scrubs again, realising they were a little different to the ones most doctors wore. Definitely different to any of the paediatricians. She frowned a little when he mentioned his boss, and Aiden, and then her eyebrows went up with surprise. "Yeah, that's right. Aiden is my great guy pal. So that would make your boss Pat. Wow, this place is crazy. I always feel like I'm walking into a black hole. It's like you can't escape without knowing someone that knows someone. Not that I'm complaining. I'm also Kara, by the way." She offered her hand as she held the coffee with the other. "I'm still sorry since you know feel like it's a mistake. It's never easy regretting something. But yes, I know. With me and my ex it was always about schedules."

Matt nodded and picked up his coffee. His didn't actually even have much froth at all and the chocolate powder was already congealing on the surface of the coffee. "Yep, that's it. Pat's my boss. He's the Nursing Manager of our ward, the one who interviewed me over the phone when I got this job. When I actually got to Princeton and started working here, I realised that basically everything with boobs here wanted to collect him for a pet because he's so lovely. But at the time, he was actually unconscious in hospital and I made a dick of myself going up to visit him when I didn't even know him. I don't have a lot of tact sometimes," he warned with a laugh. He shook her hand, giving it a small squeeze. "I'm Matt. I've lived in Princeton most of my life, but only really got swept up in the black hole when I got back from college and started working here. Some of the nicest and most caring people I've ever come across in my life are here. It was nice. Schedules can suck when they don't met. Does that mean you're still... um... interested in him?"

"It's true, we all want to become instant fag hags with him," Kara admitted with a laugh. "Although I'm not sure I'd ever think of him as a pet. Aiden would never let me. I'm surprised you've lasted this long without the black hole, but I think it's really just started to snowball this last year, or so. The group's slowly getting bigger, and more people are getting dragged in. I'm actually glad you did. Even if we managed to meet by chance." She bit her lip and rubbed her thumb briefly against the back of his hand before letting it go. "Nice to meet you, Matt. And I'm only swept up by association, I think. I'm really a New Yorker, but I agree with you. The people here are pretty amazing. And no, it doesn't mean that. It was a mutual split, and we're just... friends, I guess. I'm a free woman."

"Half of them are New Yorkers," Matt reminded her with a laugh. "Aiden's technically a New Yorker, then there is the paramedic and his wife, and the FBI dude and his wife, who is Aiden's bestie, so you probably know her anyway. Then you have Luke, who used to be a New Yorker, but is now a Princetonite, and his cousins, who is the paramedic, and his other one, who married the soldier who got hurt. I'm stopping now before I get a migraine. Needless to say, I'm a little more familiar with the Princeton natives. The London here has become our local, more or less. My sister is-" He paused, hesitating as he cleared his throat again. "She's dating the DJ there, who works here as a kid doctor also. It's a small world, but I guess when you're as welcoming as that bunch, it's inevitable. You said your ex works here? He must if he showed you the coffee tips. Mutual split definitely does make it easier, especially if he's linked to your friends and stuff. How free?" he found himself adding with a smirk. He had always been a flirt, never had much issues pulling women, he just couldn't decide if he was trying to hit on her or not or if he was worried about the ex and maybe the connection to the bunch.

"This is true, and that would be the woman I mentioned before. Harri. She's actually my boss. It's how I met Aiden. I'm a graphic designer with the magazine. I help make it a piece of art." Her nose scrunched slightly, but she was laughing. "It really is head hurting, isn't it? So many links and crossovers and connections. But I kind of love it. Just fell out of the group for a bit. Your sister's dating the DJ? The kid doctor DJ? Huh. The London is pretty great. But I can't imagine a kid doctor DJ has a lot of time. Just like my ex kid doctor." Kara's gaze travelled down the length of Matt's body. She couldn't help it, she just wanted make sure what she thought was under the scrubs was still there. "Very. Really can't say no to a man in uniform. Especially scrubs. They're very... freeing."

Matt raised his eyebrows. "Seriously? That's some talent. Not that I read it intently, but I have two younger twin sisters, so if they leave the mag lying around in the bathroom, you can't help but pick it up for a look, you know?" he laughed and waved his hand. "Sorry, TMI. You actually probably know the DJ if you're a New Yorker. He had a regular gig at The Bondi before Luke took him on here. Mel gave him good ol' Princeton hospitable welcome by sticking her tongue down his throat at the New Year's party... Aiden's birthday. Were you there? I feel like I would have noticed if you were, or were you just hiding behind one of those booths in case your ex showed up?" He did then become starkly aware she was blatantly perving on him, and because he was a typical guy, he couldn't help but like it. "Easy access, too..." he flirted back, smirking cheekily at her as he rested his hand on his hip, drawing her attention to his nether regions again.

"Seriously," Kara responded with a laugh as she raised her hand. "And not TMI. I know it's not really a magazine for men. Well, the straight ones. So hearing you read it on the toilet really isn't a problem. Oh? DJ at The Bondi? Oh wait, cute and blond? Kinda tall? I think it's coming back to me. Lucky sister of yours. That DJ's cute, but not really my type. And yeah, I was there. Just kind of keeping my distance, I guess. I would have thought I'd have remembered you too, but I guess we weren't meant to meet then." Kara wasn't going to turn down an open invitation to look, and she shifted her weight to her other foot as her body started to respond. "Mm... So how long's your coffee break? Or is it too soon?"

"Oh, I dunno. It's not too bad. Some guys could really do with taking some of the advice in that thing. Like my best mate, who thinks all chicks are allergic to him right now. Nothing a six pack and porn on TV won't fix, though. And I'll go with yeah on that. I assume the dude is blond from some old photos I've seen him, but in the flesh, I've only caught a glimpse of him from behind the tables and he was wearing a hat. I could trip over him right now and probably wouldn't realise it was him, ironically. Long story that I need to work on rectifying." Matt was sorely tempted, but starkly aware what rumours were circling about him and George, nevermind that they were true. It was be so easy for them to duck into the nearest bathroom and have a quickie in one of the stalls, but this was his workplace, and after the issues with George, it didn't feel right. Knowing his luck, George would catch them any way. Still, he was due a break... "Depends. Do you have a car?"

Kara looked at him with amusement. "Things really that bad for him, huh? I'm glad to hear you seem to have an action plan in place, though. I'm sure six packs and porn is the best treatment. He'll be picking up the ladies in no time. Once he grows a moustache and starts delivering pizzas. Or cleaning pools." She tilted her head as she thought about taking a sip of the coffee, but changed her mind. "That bad, huh? Must be hard when your sister's seeing someone you've never met. I have two older brothers, so I get it. Alex never actually got around to meeting them. You should definitely rectify it, though." Kara continued to watch him before giving a nod and fishing some keys out of the pocket of her jeans. "Good thing I was the designated driver, huh? Harri didn't feel up to it. She's still in Mom mode."

Matt rested his tongue between his lips and then laughed. "Yeah, so he says. He's not always had the best, uh, pulling skills... so to speak. But he is a print journalist, so we won't hold it against him," he added cheekily. He pointed at her. "If your brothers are anything like me, that's probably a good idea he dodged the bullet. One sister hooked up a couple of months ago and I had to give the guy a, um, polite talking to. Things with Mel, my other sister, happened a lot quicker than I could have anticipated and my brain is still trying to catch up on the whole notion. She's usually a bit on the quiet side, so this has just floored me a little. I'm trying to be tactful, but like I said, not always my strong point, especially when it comes to my sisters and penises being anywhere near them..." He scratched his head as his eyes landed on the keys and he pointed. "Ah... today must be my lucky day."

Kara's eyes had rested briefly on his tongue between his lips, and she had lost herself for a moment as she imagined kissing him. She blinked, and came back to the present with a small laugh of her own. "Poor guy. I know it's not always easy picking up girls. Sometimes we make it really hard. Print journalist, huh? Is he any good?" Kara grinned. "They really are. Probably more so. And there's two of them, so it's a bit more full on. Kind of what you have with your sisters, but reversed. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling, but I'm sure it'll even out soon. I hope it will. As for tact, sometimes it's overrated. Especially where penises are involved." Kara frowned a little. "Looks like it. If you're really sure."

"And funny, the girls always say it's not easy picking up guys," Matt laughed, shaking his head. "Personally, if something catches your eye, why not?" After a very quick glance around to make sure no one he knew - ie. George - was watching, he leaned in and claimed her lips with his in a surprise kiss, letting his tongue just swipe teasingly across her lip before he pulled away again. "Yeah, he's good. Wasted at the paper he's at, but he seems stuck in a vortex there. I'm really sure, and I'll worry about the brothers later."

"Probably because we don't realise we're sabotaging ourselves. Hard to get is fun until it's just stupid, and the boy gets tired. Your friend should get out of the vortex." Kara looked at him as her tongue ran over the same spot his had. Then she broke into a smile and dropped her coffee in the trash. She was about to get a much better pick me up. "Already willing to face the brothers? Well, this could definitely turn out very interesting. C'mon, then, Nurse Matt. I need a little... hands on care."

Words: 3585

For musebysentence - 1.4 Photograph

2009-07-16T12:05:58Z

My favourite image of him sits by my side of the bed, and features his incredibly sexy, just woken up smile.

For musebyquotes | 2.13. Unknown quote

2009-05-17T00:25:40Z

2.13. "There are times in everyone's life when something constructive is born out of adversity... when things seem so bad that you've got to grab your fate by the shoulders and shake it."
- Unknown

Co-written with undercoverdoc

James was heading into the fifth day of his coma and still his condition remained unchanging. His friends and family came and went from his room in a constant stream, along with Special Agent Pierce, who was now working directly with Alex and James' SS superior, Paul, to construct a fool-proof plan to integrate James back into the FBI. Alex was amused to hear that James would be stuck with a desk job for the first few weeks. If he was going to return apparently post-amnesia and post-coma, he wouldn't be allowed on the field until he could be declared fit for that work. It was going to sting, but they all knew this was never going to be an easy or quick process. The bastard had to wake up first before any of the next steps could be set rolling. Both Pierce and Paul had even intently discussed the possibility of advising James' parents and brother in Australia that he had apparently shown up out of the blue, but Isabel had come on heavy with her total bitch-on-heat mode demanding they didn't. It should be something James did himself in the first instance, because no one knew what his plans for that side of things were, and there was apparently the added strain that the brother was the biological father of Special Agent Sullivan's kid and there was old water under the very large bridge there. The decision soon came to leave the family out of it for now. It might only cause hassles with the case.

By now, rumours were supposed to be filtering through FBI headquarters as to Isabel's return, though there had been no talk of James yet. Pierce didn't want his staff knowing that until James was able to walk into HQ himself. Alex didn't profess to know anything about the workings of the FBI Field Office, nor did he want to. He had his own very full plate in front of him and it seemed to be overflowing by the minute. There was the gnawing discomfort that he was more than aware he hadn't contacted Kara in days. She was probably thinking by now that he had lost interest and didn't want to date, which wasn't at all how he felt. He did want to. He really enjoyed her company and they had become close. So close, in fact, that he now knew what time had come, especially considering Kara, by now, would be well aware of Harri's ordeal with Marc landing in the ICU in a coma. Kara knew Alex supposedly worked for Marc's "company", Promantech. She had to be wondering if this had an impact on him. She could just never have realised what force the impact really had.

It was why Alex now stood on the doorstep of Kara's apartment, dressed immaculately in a black suit, shirt and tie, dark sunglasses atop his head, and his jacket tailored just a little bit bigger to conceal his gun. He was clean-shaven, hair styled back with some product, and Italian leather shoes to complete the look. A very far cry from the Toy Story scrubs. In fact, at first glance, she might not even recognise him. This wasn't Dr Alex Carter, it was Special Agent Theodore Darcy. He briefly pressed his finger against her buzzer after being let in by the doorman downstairs. He looked down at his feet, letting out a slow breath as he waited. If James was dating Harri, and Harri was Kara's close friend, this could be no longer avoided.

Kara had been enjoying her day off in front of the TV surrounded by various snacks and take-away containers. She loved nothing more than indulging in her slothful ways when she had the opportunity. She had been keeping her phone close in case Harri had needed anything, or even Alex. He hadn't been far from her thoughts at all. She'd called him a few times since their date in Princeton, but for some reason she hadn't wanted to leave any messages. It was stupid, and she knew it. And probably why he hadn't called back. Maybe he thought she wasn't interested anymore, and it was far from the truth.

She hit the stop button on the DVD player and tore herself away from the woes of the Upper West Side teenagers in Gossip Girl and looked down at her t-shirt and sweats. The t-shirt was cut so it exposed one of her shoulders, her lack of bra underneath making it very clear she wasn't expecting company. She used the back of her hand to wipe at the chocolate stuck to the corners of her mouth as she stared at the man on her doorstep after opening her door. It definitely took her a couple of seconds to recognise Alex beneath the very slick exterior. "Wow, you really clean up pretty good, don't you?"

Alex distractedly noticed her appearance, but it didn't phase him. He was hardly one to judge. The days he was sleeping after night shifts were pretty on par with how she looked just now and had no apologies to make for that. He nodded a little, glancing up the hall to make sure no one was playing the nosey neighbour role. "You could say that," he agreed and cleared his throat. "Can I come in? I need to talk to you about some things. It's... really important."

Kara nodded as she stepped aside to let him in. "Of course, sorry I'm not really very--it's just you look... wow. I think I said that already, didn't I?" She bit her lip as she closed the door behind them and tried to ignore the heat curling through her veins. He wanted to talk to her about important things, so there was definitely no jumping him. "Do you want to sit down? We can talk in the dining area. I'm afraid the sofa's a bit of a tip. I really wasn't expecting anyone. Not that you're not welcome. You're definitely welcome, and I really missed you, and I'm sorry I never left a message when I called you."

Alex followed her inside and shook his head. "It's fine. Wherever is good for you. I apologise, too, for not getting in touch. Things have been crazy. More than crazy. I just need to explain a few things before we... before anything else," he told her. "The best place to probably start is that this has to do with Marcus and his illness, first and foremost."

Kara guided him towards the kitchen area. Her apartment was completely different to Harri's. For one, she actually had colour in it. The kitchen was a bright shade of red, the appliances stainless steal. Her dining set was black, a vase of bright flowers sitting on top of it. She took a seat, and indicated he should do the same. Kara placed her hands folded in front of her and gave Alex her full attention. "Is he alright? I haven't heard much from Harri, I was assuming no news was good news. He hasn't died, has he? Please tell me you haven't come from the funeral..."

Alex sat down, shaking his head. "No, no. Nothing like that," he assured her. "But he's in a critical condition. He has a serious form of diabetes which can make his health volatile at times. I wish I could say this was unexpected and out of the blue, but it wasn't. There have been some things going on, things you have inadvertently been drawn into and I'm here because I don't think it's fair that it keeps going without you having an awareness of it. And I apologise for how it's all gone down; it's an intricate situation, but I have to start somewhere and it really should be to explain that neither Marcus nor I are who we've led you to believe."

Kara's eyes flicked between his as she tried to understand what he was leading into. Truth was, she was lost already. She felt stupid for not already knowing what Alex was talking about, but she couldn't for the life of her work out why he or Marc wouldn't be who she had thought they were. "Okay..." she said slowly, still giving him her full attention.

Alex leaned forward, resting his elbows on the top of the dining table. He reached up and took his sunglasses off his head and folded them in front of him. "Despite Aiden's favoured theories that Marc was in the Mafia or the Men in Black or working for some far out universe with cyborgs, it's evidently none of that, though he probably did have every reason not to trust Marcus because there was a lot of fabrication going on behind the scenes. Marcus is actually James Campbell, an Aussie, not a Brit. He has blond hair and blue eyes, and he was a Special Agent with the FBI less than a year ago. At least, he was until he was recruited. To the Secret Service, to be accurate," he explained, taking his leather wallet from his breast pocket. He flipped it open, exposing his silver SS ID badge and sliding it across the table for her to see.

Kara couldn't help the way her jaw dropped open. Harri was dating a Fed? And not just any Fed, but someone who was also SS. She raised her hand to her head, letting her forehead rest in it as she reached out with her other one to pick up Alex's badge. Only as she looked at it closer and saw the ID photo with his name, she realised he wasn't Alex. He was apparently Special Agent Theodore Darcy. "Mr Darcy," she murmured distractedly, for some reason her mind automatically going to Pride and Prejudice. She was sure it wasn't a normal reaction, but she didn't know how else to process this other than to distract herself. "So, um... you're SS as well? And the job in Princeton is that a cover? Do you even... I mean, was I a part of the cover, too?"

"You were never supposed to happen," Alex explained quietly. "But it just did. By the time I met you, Harri knew all about James' double life. She just chose to become part of it. My own cover didn't come into question or wouldn't be an issue, except things have taken a sudden turn. James is integrating back to the FBI to become an SS liaison. He's still my boss and partner, the bastard, but it's complicated. I'm in Princeton investigating a few possible leads in a far-wider reaching case. I won't get into it. It's boring and classified. Yes, I am a doctor. I have two medical specialities. Paediatrics and Forensic Medicine, hence why I'm in the Service. It was my specialities that got me there for ease of investigations. Admittedly, a part time Paediatrician could never be as busy as I've made out to be, night shift or not," he added sheepishly. "I've been back and forth to Princeton and New York a lot, carrying out leads, and even taken a few trips overseas in the middle of it all. Red Bull puke was a result of walking off six night shifts straight onto a jet to England for a fourteen hour round trip."

Kara shifted to push the badge back towards him, and her hand moved down to cover her mouth as she studied Theodore Darcy quietly, trying to work out how much of him she really knew. She still felt stupid for being duped, but then that was the point of undercover, wasn't it? And what reason would she have ever had to suspect him of being a secret agent? "No wonder you kept trying to push me away."

"I'm sorry," Alex said softly. "I really am. But it's who I am and what I am, and it's the nature of undercover operations. I can probably tell what you're thinking too, and the answer is probably not as much as you should. This me is very different to the Alex I project, but only because I'm dealing with pretty intense things. And you can ask me anything. I'll answer your questions, but there are some other things you need to understand at the moment. Firstly, I was trying to push you away because it just would have been easier for you not to be involved. Now that you are, it could get really confusing. Second, James being ill in hospital isn't an accident and as weird as it probably seems sitting on the peripheral with you only briefly knowing Marcus Fraser, there is no Marcus Fraser anymore. Harri's trying to deal with a lot of shit and I think she could really use as much support as she can get. I brought Aiden from Britain to be with her, but most everyone else involved is tied up in the investigation in some way, and it's confusing."

"Confusing is a bit of an understatement," Kara replied with a brief smile. She rubbed her hands over her face and rest her head in them as she looked at him again, still trying to come to terms with him not being Alex. "I'll be there for Harri, but you're going to have to forgive me some selfish line of thinking because I really am just trying to wrap my head around this. So, the dating thing, I mean... you obviously weren't going to reveal yourself to me anytime soon, and that's fine. I do get it. Now though, if you've told me does that mean you don't want to? Or you do, and that's the confusing part because you're still two people?"

Alex drew a slow breath and unbuttoned his jacket. She knew, now. He could take the jacket off, which he did. The holster with his gun was secured around his shoulders, so it would have to stay, unfortunately. It was just relieving to be able to relax a little after being at the hospital all morning. "I can't promise it will be easy, I can promise it will be... unpredictable. There will be a lot I can't talk to you about, there will be times I'm just pissed off or distracted for seemingly no reason. But there is always a reason. I can get called away at the drop of a hat, sometimes without notice. I'm essentially the same person inside, just two different people in two different situations on the face of it. The question would more be if you can handle all that. And I know you're probably wondering what would have happened if my hand wasn't forced here. I would have told you eventually. I would have told you if the situation risked hurting you."

Kara stared at the holster for a moment before she shifted her gaze to the tabletop, falling silent as she tried to work out if she could handle all this. Apparently Harri could, but Harri was a different person to Kara. Harri wouldn't take on anything she didn't feel ready for. It also spoke volumes about just how much she felt for Marc. Kara flicked her gaze briefly up towards Alex's face. "What am I supposed to call you?"

"Alex," he told her quietly, feeling something inside him start to sink. He had a feeling she wasn't going to be able to do this, and he wouldn't blame her at all. "It's safer that way. No sense getting into the habit of anything else. Plus, it doesn't suck as much as Theodore," he added with a hint of a smirk.

Kara laughed softly at that, and nodded. "Well, I wouldn't say Theodore sucked, but I can live with Alex." She wet her lips before she half got out of her chair and leaned across the table so she could kiss him. "This is weird, I won't lie. Truth is though, I think I was already kind of invested in this when I started chasing you like a lunatic, so I'm not going to runaway. If you still want to try dating, then I'm here."

"I do," Alex confirmed, pressing his lips together before smiling across the table at her. "But I would be really grateful if we could take things a little on the slow side. Just while all this with James is going down. When he wakes up, he's going to have a lot on his plate and he'll need everyone around him to be on the same page. Hopefully he actually remembers what the plan was and what he did. I know it's fucked up and weird. Totally weird. Like the movies. But I promise I'll try and be as normal as I can be."

"We can go as slow as you like. I won't push, or rush you. I mean, I know you're interested now, so that's all that matters. I only ask that you maybe just remember to check in so I don't have to rely on bugging Harri for updates on how you're going while she's worried about Ma--James." Kara reached out to take his hand. "Also, you can just ask me for anything you need, whenever you need it. I know you said there would be times you were feeling crap without any real explanation, but you can still ask things of me. Like if there's things you need to maybe try and feel better."

Alex squeezed her hand. "And if I don't check in for a couple of days and I don't return calls, still ask Harri because likely chance is James and I will have stopped checking in simultaneously and are on a case. See, this might actually work," he joked, shaking his head. "I'm sorry again for everything. I just knew I had to come clean. I've been wondering for a few days if I should, even before James made this abrupt decision. It was mostly the random trip to England. I know I looked like shit and you would only buy the 'coming down with something' line so often. But for the record, I don't usually get to that point. That was a favour for a friend named Jim."

Kara gave him a lopsided. "It's fine. I mean, you don't actually owe me anything. We've had hot sex in the back of a car, and an incredible date. You didn't actually owe me anything when you skipped town. We're hardly together-together. Just starting to date. But thank you for wanting to be honest with me about everything, especially who you are. I promise your secret is safe with me, Theodore. Alex."

Alex actually winced at the name. "It's usually only my Mum that calls me that when I'm in the shit," he admitted, laughing. "Theodore Xavier Darcy, stop trying to shove bugs up your brother's nose! It's not nice!" He shook his head. "I get Teddy, mostly. Theodore in an official capacity but most call me Alex. Whatever you feel most comfortable with. And I know there was no owing on either part, but it's a matter of want. I'm not an arsehole, even if I know I came across as one in the early days while I was trying to push you away. I'll try not to be totally unreliable and ignorant. Nine times out of ten, I will be able to at least get a text to you before I disappear. Like I said before, I'm in a bit of a different situation to James."

"I'm sorry, Alex, I couldn't resist. So how long have you got? And just where does sex stand with the taking things slow part of the deal?" Kara asked as she got up to get them both bottles of water.

Alex stuck the tip of his tongue out the corner of his mouth. "I have a couple of hours, and sex could be part of the deal right now..." he suggested, eyebrows raised with a smirk.

Kara grinned as she held out her hand for him. "Want to come see my bedroom, Agent? You might even need to strip search me. No telling what I might be hiding under these daggy clothes."

Alex pushed up from the table and took her hand. "And I promise, this isn't a gun in my pocket," he threw back, laughing.

Words: 3377 | All muses referred to with permission and come from the princeton2nyc universe

If you say so, Underwear Oracle.

2009-05-12T10:45:03Z

Your Underwear Says You're Hot

When you're bad, you're very bad. And when you're good, you're still trouble!

You're sexy, in that pinup girl, tease sort of way.

The Underwear Oracle

For just_fck_me | 13.5. Amomaxia

2009-04-19T05:24:59Z

13.5. Amomaxia (or in other words, love-making in a parked car)

Co-written with undercoverdoc | Follows THIS

Alex placed a fresh sangria - Kara's drink of choice - in front of her and slipped back into the other side of the booth. The bar was a trendy little place in one of the back streets of Soho, recommended to Alex by one of the nurses on his ward. It wasn't too bad; not exactly Alex's scene, but Kara, in the job she did, looked like she fit right in. It was a good choice and at least she wouldn't think he was a total knob. His usual place for a drink would be a dingy bar out of public view while he met with his colleagues, or if he was undercover, whatever suited the personality he was easing into. One drink had turned into three, and now four. Alex stopped at two beers and moved on to soda water. He wasn't even driving, so it might seem odd. He had Marc's business car complete with driver for the night... it was to keep up appearances and make it look like Marc was doing his colleague a favour, when really it was because Alex's car was full of case briefs he needed to drop off to Marc in the morning and he didn't want Kara getting curious about them. Not to mention curious about Lachlan Campbell's medical records the SS had gotten their hands on... and there was nothing small about those records.

He smirked at her in amusement. "Do I lose points for taking so long to come through with the drink?" he asked.

Kara was hoping she wasn't coming off as overly tipsy. The alcohol had started to give her a flush in her cheeks, and she could start to feel herself get restless. Sometimes when she drank she got a little handsy, and sitting across from Alex wasn't helping her. She was making an incredibly conscious effort to keep her hands and feet to herself, too scared she'd come off as a tart. Not that she already hadn't tried repeatedly while sober to hit on him.

She gave a shake of her head, and took a sip of her fresh cocktail as she smiled. "You've already tried to wriggle your way out of it repeatedly, so I guess you actually gain points for creativity. Sorry if I must seem like a desperate stalker... Guess I should maybe just learn to accept it when a guy says no."

"Maybe," Alex conceded noncommitally, "but then we wouldn't be here, would we? Sure you don't want to buy the gay story?" he asked, watching her over the top of his glass. As much of a flirt as Alex could be, he didn't have many past relationships under his belt. His job usually ruled that out and had taken precedence since he joined the force. Before that, he was a study nerd, always with his nose in a book to gain the best grades he could. His double degree demanded it, and although he was pretty smart these days because of it, it wasn't exactly conducive to a romantic life. Sure, he had been trying to push her away, but not completely. That was probably selfish, but he enjoyed her company. He just didn't want to hurt her. The slight give and take was how he dealt with that. He really didn't know how Marc was doing it.

Kara pushed her drink off to the side and leaned forward so her forearms were flat against the table, and Alex would get a clear shot down her silver top. The loose material fell open easily and she tilted her head as she held his gaze. Kara had never been much of a study nerd, but she did spend a lot of time lost in her own artistic world. She generally relished contact with anyone that could keep her interested for more than just a quick fuck. And Alex was certainly doing that so far, but then he had made her chase him. Whether he'd wanted the attention, or not. "I don't know, that all depends on how you react to my breasts."

Alex kept his eyes on her face with a smirk. No one said his Agent training had to be confined to the job. Two could play her game. "Do they do a funny walk? A drag show?" he asked her, eyes locked with hers and not faltering.

Kara smiled, staying in position. He was good, she'd give him that. "Give me some wool, and googly eyes and I can make one be Agnetha from Abba."

"Are you trying to turn me on, because that image won't work," Alex laughed, shaking his head. "'Course, if I was gay, it very well might. You got me on that front."

"I wouldn't have thought a drag show would have either, but hey..." Kara laughed as she looked at him. "How about that tassel trick strippers do?"

Alex held up his hand. "Let's just go with anything attached to the nipples as being a big turn off. There I was supposed to be taking you for a nice innocent drink, too. Now we're talking about nipples. What if I was a virgin? This could scar me for life," he joked, flicking the coaster around between his fingers.

Kara shrugged as she finally sat back but not before flashing Alex one of the nipples in question and winking. She broke out into laughter and covered her mouth. "Shit, sorry! If you're a virgin now you're really fucked. And not even in the fun sense. I don't remember ever agreeing for the drink to be nice and innocent. I seem to just remember it being a drink. I've had four, so I think my innocence has officially left the building."

"Contary to popular belief, a drink doesn't always have to be the first port of call to debauchery," Alex sniggered. He sat back in the booth and slung his arm across the back of the seat. He wouldn't be opposed to sleeping with her, for obvious reasons, but then what? Marc was in the fortunate position that it was an all or nothing thing. Alex's job meant he was literally two different people all the time. It could get messy, especially in the connection with Marc and Harri. Marc and Harri knew who he was, Kara didn't. Kara and Harri worked together. His mind wanted to spin just thinking about it. Marc wasn't any help with the advice, either. Alex didn't need to be a genius to know the guy had a lot on his plate right now and wouldn't commit to advising Alex on anything personal... but maybe one day they could be mates.

"Well, to be fair you've never had a drink with me before. It's always the first port of call to debauchery for me. Maybe I should have mentioned that, but you were too busy trying to tell me you're gay. Which would be such a loss, but I'm sure the men would just love your firm ass." Kara ignored her sangria for the moment in the hopes she could will some of the alcohol out of her system. Her leg came to rest against Alex's under the table. It was hard to avoid when his were so damn long.

Alex smirked and then cleared his throat softly. "What's the last port of call?" he asked her. Damnit. Why did sex have to be so complicated? Usually by now, the chick would've backed off in a huff at his irritating twists of conversation, but she wasn't going away in a huff and he was faltering a little. He usually just slept with women he hardly knew so he could walk away the next day without strings. This was really different.

Kara raised her arms above her head as she rotated her hands, and moved them to the music. She definitely wasn't going to give up. She'd got this far, even if she didn't understand completely why he was being so evasive. She was hardly asking him to marry her. "Dancing. I'm a bit of a slut on the dance floor. Really is just vertical fucking to me with the right guy."

No dancing, Alex noted to himself. He smiled and shrugged. "I suck at dancing," he told her automatically. "I'm more the sort to sit at the bar with my mates while all the chicks dance together. I prefer vertical fucking to be, well, vertical fucking."

"I'm sure there'd be a perfectly good dark corner somerwhere to do the vertical fucking," Kara replied as she dropped her hands and arched her back as she dragged her tongue over her top lip before grinning. "I like fucking to be any which way, but vertical is definitely fun."

Alex put his fingers to his lips but he was still smiling. "You know, you come on very strong," he told her with a laugh. Unfortunately for him, unlike Marc, public fucking and promiscuity wasn't in his most recent Princeton brief. "I feel a little like I've missed a good portion of something or other."

Kara rest her head in her hand as she managed to curb all her strong desires to crawl across the table and kiss him senseless. "Can't help it. Guess I'm still trying to find out if it's me, or maybe you're just married to the job. I don't mean to. I just like you, and I thought you liked me. But this can be a nice, innocent drink if you want. No more come ons." Kara had to bite down on her lip to stop a smile blossoming. "We could just kiss and see if there's a spark."

Alex glanced around the bar again and his eyes finally landed back on her. "How set are you on sticking around here? It's not really conducive to any good conversation and as a kid doctor at a well-known Jersey hospital, I can't really let you fuck me on the dancefloor," he laughed.

Kara was already sliding out of the booth and she held her hand out for him as she waited next to their table. "But you are going to let me fuck you. Interesting."

Alex shook his head. "I didn't say that. I asked if you were set on sticking around here. You're just going to have to give me my fresh air and conversation to see how things go," he told her, smirking as he stood up and grabbed his jacket.

Kara dropped her ignored hand back to her side. "I think if you replay the last little bit about you being a kid doctor and not really able to let me fuck you on the dancefloor you can see how I took that the other way. I'll go anywhere you want, Dr Carter."

"I just need some air," Alex told her as he pulled his jacket on. He put his hand lightly on the small of her back to lead her out of the bar. "My brain works better with air. I did warn you that I wasn't easy to deal with, but you're persistent, I'll give you that. Most women would've given up by now."

"Not that I'm really sure what would make me all that special, but I think I'm supposed to say 'I'm not most women' at this point," Kara laughed. She looked around at a few of the patrons, but her attention soon returned to Alex. His hand was nice and warm against her back. "I also don't see the point in just giving up. Nothing ever comes easy."

Alex had to fight not to laugh. It was criminals with her fight that made his job bloody hard some days. The ones he went home from work with a miragine and a half after interrogating them for hours on end about their determined crimes. They made it out of the club and into the fresh air. At least, as fresh as it could be in the middle of New York City. It was just nice to be out of the claustrophobic atmosphere of the bar. "Should we go for a walk?" he suggested. "Unless those heels are getting too much, and I get the driver to pick us up?"

Kara looked down at the Jimmy Choos and sighed. "They're fucking killing my feet, but that's only because I've been wearing them all day. Usually I'm alright if I have time to break between shoes, but not today. Worked late, so the outfit had to be picked around the shoes." She lifted her head back up and gave him a sheepish look. "Any other night and I would love a walk. I'd go barefoot, but I'm kind of worried what might be lying on the sidewalk near a bar."

"I never did understand appeal of heels," Alex had to admit as he took his cell phone from his pocket and typed a quick message to Marc's driver. He'd be around close by somewhere, and Alex decided the poor bastard must have one fucking boring job being Marc's chauffer. "Not even on drag queens. But then, in my job, it's comfort shoes all the way. We can't exactly run a crash cart in pumps."

"Right now they're helping me at least match a little of your height. This way I won't need a stepping stool if you decide to kiss me while standing. More often than not if you ever make it to New York and our offices, you'll probably catch me working barefoot." Kara shrugged. "I work with Harri who has this addiction for heels, so I guess it started as a way to keep in her good graces. I think my feet are over them. I'll need fashionable flats instead. I really wouldn't envy anyone trying to use a crash carts in pumps. It would be torture."

Alex shook his head with a soft laugh. She really wasn't giving up. He wondered if this was what it was like with Harri and Marc. "I don't think they'd really go with the scrubs, anyway," he commented. The driver in the sleek black car appeared like something out a sci-fi film. Did the driver had a built in sensor psychic device to just know when his master needed his services? Surely the dude couldn't have had time to get the text and drive here that quick? Alex opened the back door for Kara and waved his hand inside. "After you, m'lady."

Kara smirked. "No, but then scrubs are sexy on their own." She slid along the back seat of the car and immediately pulled off her pumps and wriggled her poor sore toes as she sighed in relief. She patted the empty space next to her and leaned forward to look at Alex who was still standing outside the car. "Get your gorgeous ass in here, Carter. I promise not to bite it."

Alex had actually been contemplating his cell phone, reading a couple of text messages from one of his New York colleagues. There was some movement in the case, but nothing that needed Alex to drop everything right that minute. He was still actually feeling a little awkward with how strong Kara was coming onto him. It was a bit of a strange situation for him and he was cursing Marc for not at least giving him a bit more of a heads-up on how to approach it. Kara was linked to Harri who was linked to Aiden who was married to Lachlan Campbell's best friend. Alex was feeling a little off balance and didn't know if he should cool things or go the total opposite. He stuffed his phone back into the pocket of his jacket and slid into the seat beside her. "It's not exactly your teeth I'm worried about," he admitted with a laugh.

Kara retreated into her corner of the car to give him plenty of space, and looked at him with an arch of her eyebrow. Maybe she was overdoing it a little, but Sangria nearly always managed to knock her self consciousness out of the way. "What are you worried about?"

Alex shook his head with a smile. "Nothing. It was just a long day at work," he said dismissively and pulled out of his jacket now they were back in the car. He figured he probably would've just enjoyed the night a bit more if he didn't feel like she wanted to be there just for a nice lay. Which was fine, he just felt pressured. Still, maybe she had a point. He leant over, breaching the gap between them, and kissed her, wondering if this was going to be what he wanted too.

Kara hadn't meant for Alex to feel pressured, and she was about ready to kick herself. She'd definitely get Harri to kick her in the morning. Truth was she liked Alex for much more than the sex. She liked talking to him, and he made her laugh and smile, and it was just easy being around. The kiss caught her off guard, but she was hardly about to resist. Her hand rest on his neck as she started to kiss back, keeping it chaste and trying to show him that she did just like him and she wasn't looking to shove her tongue down his throat and rape his tonsils.

By this point, Alex was telling himself to stop overanalysing everything. He always did it. It just came from what he was. He let her break the kiss, but picked it right back up where it left off, shifting so he could lean over her a little more and deepened the embrace. At least now he was out of the suffocating bar, he didn't feel so out of his comfort zone. Sure, it wasn't his car, but it was a car and there was no dancefloor or drink to complicate the situation. Surely it couldn't fuck things up if he just let his guard down briefly?

She brought one of legs up to rest her knee against his, her other hand gripping at his collar as she matched his intensity. A small moan got lost as she slid her tongue over his. If nothing else, she just wanted to remember what he tasted like, because he tasted really good. Kara actually found herself thinking that she would be happy if the night just ended with them kissing. Who needed sex when a kiss could be this fucking good? Her body was already threatening to melt into a puddle, but she kept kissing him, even as she had to break the kiss briefly just to suck in a breath before she picked it right back up with a whisper of his name.

It was enough to make Alex forget they were 1) not in his car, and 2) actually were in the services of Marc's driver. In fact, it didn't even cross Alex's mind. It had been a long time since he got laid, afterall. Sex was usually the first thing that went down the toilet when he was entering a new case. He didn't have time to trawl for one night stands, and this time he had the added stress of starting the new job at PPTH. It really had been a long time since his cock got a work out and with a sexy girl like Kara not letting up on her advances, he realised now they had started, he wasn't going to be able to stop. The kiss deepened and he teased his fingers under the edge of her skirt to stroke against her thigh. It was just moments before he was all but on top of her in an embrace that was heating up by the second.

Kara was trying to remember if this was the type of car that had the little screen separating driver and passenger, but the moment Alex's fingers brushed against her thigh she really could have cared less. She moved so that he was between her thighs, and she could wrap her leg around one of his as she knotted her fingers in his hair. Her foot braced against the car door, and she lifted her hips to seek friction. She'd been thinking about his hands on her ever since she saw him in Harri's apartment, it was hard to ignore the spirals of pleasure shooting through her body and making her tingle all over. It felt like an age since she'd been with someone, and even longer since it had been someone that effected her this much. Kara tried to tug up shirt, and when that didn't work, she started to hastily try and get the buttons open. She needed to feel his tanned skin under her fingers.

Alex didn't protest the button thing. He was too busy trying to get her blouse out of her skirt. The fabric slipped free and allowed him to get his hand up underneath. He sought out her breasts cupping one over the top of her bra. He broke the kiss long enough to catch his breath, but it picked right back up where it left off, becoming almost bruising from the force. He lifted his hips a little so he could try and get her skirt up to her hips to give him better access. He broke the kiss again with a breathless smirk and moved back enough so he could tug her panties down her hips to her thighs and then all the way off. Their movements were hungry and desperate. He was rock hard in his pants. To think he had worked so long to try and allay her advances, only to have it all spiral out of mind right now. He wet his lips indulgently and without another thought, went down on her, his tongue brushing teasingly against her clit with a small moan of hunger.

Kara's hand flew up to grip the back of the car seat as she fought the urge to rock her hips against his mouth. A low, long moan escaped her as she arched her back, and her other hand grabbed at his hair. Fuck the apologies for coming on to strong if this was what it resulted in. She was defintiely not sorry now. Her blue eyes watched him, her heel rubbing against his back. "Alex... fuck, yes..."

Alex had always been skilled at multitasking. He didn't miss a beat in his oral teasing of her, his tongue tasting her just like he had spent the night trying not to think about. His hand was down at his fly, trying to get his trousers undone. Why had he worn a belt? It seemed like a stupid idea now. He didn't want to keep his pants up, he wanted to get them damn well off! He loosened the belt and unzipped the trouser, then his full attention was on Kara and Kara only. He nuzzled the dip between her thigh and her sex, tongue swiping softly over the sensitive area. He pushed her legs just a little further apart and slipped his finger into her wet heat.

Kara was finding it hard to stay still as she heard Alex getting his pants undone. She just wanted him and she wanted him now even if--

"Oh, God!"

--he was extremely talented with his tongue. Her hand alternatively pushed and pulled at the back of the seat, and it would be a miracle if the upholstery survived. She knotted her fingers in his hair and tugged at it sharply as she gave another loud moan and her hips bucked as the pressure started to build. Her inner muscles clenched around his finger and she tilted her hips to encourage him.

She was so wet and it was driving Alex wild. Her taste was slipping over his tongue and he couldn't get enough. He was intent on making her come, and preferrably not just once. He wanted her to come apart before he took her hard and fast, just like he suspected she had been hoping he would. He pressed his tongue hard against her clit and swiped it up as if licking one of his favourite ice cream flavours. Truth was, this had always been one of his favourite sexual pleasures. It turned him on to no end to have a chick come from doing this alone. He wondered what she would think if he told her 69'ing was one of his favourite positions. Best leave some secrets between them for next time, though.

Given how long Kara had been desperate for any kind of touch from Alex, his tongue was definitely pulling her towards the edge quickly. Both hands were on his head now, fingers digging into his scalp as she arched back almost painfully and cried out as her hips bucked wildly and her entire body shuddered. Her feet were both pressed against the car door and she held him against her as she came. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and Kara worked on getting her silver top off as she tried not to squeeze his head with her thighs. "Alex, I need you," she pleaded.

Alex pulled back and licked his lips, eyes locking on hers as he smiled up at her. He pushed his expensive trousers away from his hips, his tight boxer-briefs following. He freed his cock, taking himself into his hand and not bothering to fight out of his pants completely. Just enough was more than ample for his purposes. He melted in between her legs and captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss, her taste still on his lips slipping between their tongues. The kiss was like the anticipation of dessert after a satisfying meal... but the dessert itself was still yet to come. He hooked his hand under her knee and spread her legs to accommodate him. He entered her deeply with one eager thrust, drawing her lip between his teeth with a soft bite.

Kara let out a sigh as he entered her, her body still sensitive from her recent orgasm. It didn't matter though, he was inside her and god did it ever feel good. Even if this was just a quick fuck, she didn't care. She wanted him, and needed him, and she had been close to dying from anticipation. Her taste mixed with his saliva as they kissed and it just turned her on more. Their movements were as fevered as the small space allowed, and Kara had long forgotten it was because they were in a car, and possibly had an audience. She clenched around Alex on every withdrawal and lifted her hips to meet his thrusts as she pushed his shirt down his shoulders so she could bite at his skin, and let her mouth slide over his collarbone before she drew him into another kiss. She would have quite happily spent the rest of the night connected by mouth and hips.

Alex realised now that in hindsight, he probably should've taken the effort to get her bra off. Too late. Nothing was stopping the fucking to unlatch the bra. Instead, he broke from the kiss and trailed his tongue down the side of her throat to her chest. He nuzzled her breasts, massaging their soft swell with his fingers. There was nothing sweet and innocent about this encounter. Despite his initital attempts to hold her back, now they were in it, they were in it all the way. He was pounding deeply into her, the sound of their slicked skin sliding together filling the back of the car. It was met with indulgent moans and breathless, rough pants and his shirt was stuck wetly to his muscular back. Alex hooked her leg up over his shoulder so he could take her harder and deeper, filling her totally. He kissed her again, trying to join them as completely as they were between her legs. It wasn't going to take long to tip him over the edge.

Kara couldn't work out where to put her hands because she just wanted to touch every inch of him. As he kissed her again, Kara grabbed the back of his neck and kept him close. She had no qualms about pushing her tongue into his mouth this time as she gave herself over to the intensity of their encounter. Sweet and innocent could wait, right now it was all about hot and hungry. Her toes curled over as she started to feel another orgasm build, her moans getting louder even as they got swallowed in the kiss.

Alex reached to grip the interior of the door to brace himself. It only took a few more deep, sharp thrusts before he grunted into the kiss, his muscles shuddering as he climaxed abruptly, feeling his cock pulsing inside her. His whole body tensed through it and he only broke from this kiss when breathing become vital. He dropped his head down onto her shoulder, panting heavily and feeling the sweat drops trickle down the back of his neck, despite the soft air-conditioning in the confined car interior. "Fuck," he murmured hoarsely, wetting his lips and swallowing to wet his throat that was parched from the exertion.

Kara felt him come inside her, and her body shook under his as her orgasm tore through her. She had expected it to be less forceful given she'd already climaxed once, but she was wrong. It had her biting down on his shoulder to stifle the cry and she let her head fall back against the seat as she broke out into a huge grin and even let out a giggle. "Fuck yeah," she corrected as she smirked. "Fuck. Yeah."

Alex smirked, pulling out of her so he could shift and drop back onto the seat. It was then that he realised he had just had one intense fuck in the back of Marc's car with the driver in the front seat, and there was a distinct possibility Marc wasn't going to be impressed at all. At that moment, however, not a single fibre in him could cause Alex to care too much. His own head sunk back against the seat, his shirt and pants still slung open, the cotton fabric clinging to his sweaty chest. He pushed the window button to slide the window down a few inches, letting in the cool spring night air. He turned to look at her, his eyebrow raised. "Now try and make some Woody jokes," he teased.

Words: 5055 | All muses referred to with permission

I get paid good money to make those messes!

2009-04-16T12:01:04Z

Your Fireworks Say You're Original

You are chaotic, inspired, and very creative.

You're so creative, people don't really recognize your creativity.

What's expressive for you sometimes looks like a mess.

But you don't really care... you enjoy making your messes!

The Fireworks Test

From around...

2009-03-24T05:13:31Z

Your Pickup Line Is

What's a sexy hottie like you doing in a dirty mind like mine?

The Magical Pick Up Line Generator

For just_muse_me | 14.3.1. Read between the lines...

2009-03-08T01:58:16Z

Co-written with undercoverdoc | Follows THIS

Kara watched Harri and Marc walk away with a small smile on her lips. Truth was in all the time she'd worked for Harri she'd never really seen her boss happy with a man. Her boss had been a maneater for lack of a better term, and Kara supposed she understood it. When you looked like Harri with legs that went on forever, why the hell wouldn't you fuck your way through the male population. Speaking of...

Her gaze returned to Alex, the very hot, tall, and naughty doctor. "So about taking your shirt off..."

Alex ran his tongue slowly across the inside of his cheek as that unreadable, mischievous smile appeared on his lips again. "It's awfully presumptuous of you, Miss Kara, to assume I'm such a naughty boy. I'm totally innocent. No sex before marriage." He coughed, as if the words choked him.

Kara raised her eyebrows as she folded her arms under her chest and cocked her hip. "Oh, really? You know, it'd be more believable if you didn't have that smile on your face. And please don't call me Miss Kara. Makes me feel like a teacher, and not the sexy kind."

"One must resort to drastic measures when one is not privy to one's surname," Alex pointed out. His hands were still in his pockets and they likely wouldn't come out. At least, not on this encounter. "This is how I smile at my patients. I doubt they think I'm naughty. They just want to know if I prefer Ninja Turtles or Transformers. I host a mean Barbie tea party, though."

"Well, one needs to pay more attention in the first five minutes instead of thinking about your cock," Kara retorted as she looked at him. "Harvey. Kara Harvey. And if that's how you smile at patients, I can see why their moms would keep dragging them back to see you. A Barbie tea party, huh?"

Alex watched her closely, still smirking. "A man of many innocent talents," he assured her. "You'd be amazed what you can get a kid to cooperate with if you remember their Barbies' names and know what their dog did on their birthday. It's all about listening and observing. In this day and age, people don't listen to other people enough. We're always too busy."

"I'm trying to remember the last conversation I had with a guy who listened, or even asked me what my Barbies' names were... but then I'm not a kid, am I? I'm also just a little guilty of not listening lately, but I promise you have my ears at attention now." Kara tucked some her hair behind her ears. "So why kids?"

Alex wondered what she would say if she knew what he was really dealing with. "Innocence. Honesty..." He paused for a moment. Opposite to crims, he added silently in his head. "I love kids. Granted, it's a difficult job working with seriously ill kids, but they're still kids beyond the disease and sickness. They still care about their dog more than their older brothers and they still want to play with their toys. Let's just say I can relate because I'm harbouring an immature brain," he added, lightening the mood a little.

Kara laughed softly and gave a nod. "I think I can see Marc wanting to agree with that last statement. He really looked like he wanted to take you over his knee and smack you. What exactly have you been doing to rub him up the wrong way?" Although from what she heard, it probably wasn't hard. There had been the fight between him and Harri the night of the Razor Christmas party.

"He's actually my boss, technically," Alex explained, choosing his words carefully. "Not at the hospital, but with my job working with his company. I didn't realise he was my boss when I met him and I may have said a few things that you totally don't say to your boss, or anyone you want to stay on side with. I think he's actually a really cool guy, if everything I've heard is true. Marcus Fraser is someone you never make the mistake of taking on face value. Still, now I have to eat my own ass and try to get back on his good side because I'll be spending a lot of time working with him in the coming months."

Kara looked impressed. "Marc never sounded like anyone who hired very lightly. He must have seen something in you to make him want to work with you. I suppose you'll just have to remind him of whatever that was. And failing that, I'm sure he wouldn't say no to a pound of flesh, a drink, and maybe your soul," she teased lightly. "I'm trying to remember exactly what I said to Harri when I first met her, because I think we started on the wrong foot as well, but more because I insulted her art director at the time. He really was an asshole though, and she soon realised I was only speaking truth. Very, atrociously, tactless truth."

Alex ran his tongue along his upper lip and laughed. "I was actually told Marc was dating a hooker and offered that information to him. My soul. He's going to suck out my soul like that scary-assed thing in Harry Potter. I'm going to have to rescue him from being hit by a bus or something to prove my worth. And I like atrocious lack of tact in a woman. It means they aren't running on empty in the brains department."

Kara snorted as she rolled her eyes. "You're lucky Harri hasn't ripped off your balls yet. She will though when she hears. She is no hooker, that's for sure. She did used to enjoy a very populated sex life until Marc came along. It's been interesting watching her adapt to being in a relationship. I don't know about a bus, but I think there will defintiely need to be some life saving." Kara laughed. "Lucky for me then, huh? I'm the youngest and have two older brothers. Tact was never going to be in my genetics."

"This is the first she or I know about each other," Alex revealed. "There will be time enough for her to rip off my balls. Hell, they can have one each as a mirror ornament. I don't know much about Marc beyond the fact he's the epitome of a male slut. A high profile male slut. Someone could write a book on his sex life. I'm a middle child, but really the oldest now. I love my family. Hopefully I can pull off parenting as well as my Mom and Dad one day."

Kara's eyebrow lifted in interest. "So you do want children." She filed that little tidbit away for future reference. "Marc was most definitely a high profile slut. They both were, so it's really quite something for them to have stopped in order to be together. First time I've met him, so I guess we're even."

Alex laughed. "I'm a kid doctor. Of course I want one of my own some day. Just right now, inconvenient as all ass. I hardly have time to jerk off these days." He walked around a little, his pace slow as he looked at some photos lining the mantel. That was something Marc lacked, as one does when you kill yourself off and take on a whole new life. He made a mental note to not-so-tactfully tell Marc he needed some pictures of him and Harri, with maybe a sweet picture of his new partner to brighten the room. That would go down like a dose of laxatives in a chilli milkshake.

"Sometimes people work with kids because they don't want their own. It's weird, but it happens." Kara couldn't help but smirk as she watched him, eyes focusing on his ass for just a moment. A very lingering moment. "You should get someone to help you jerk off. I'm sure there'd be someone willing to assist while you finish paperwork, or something. It wouldn't be right to do it in front of the sick children."

"Yeah, freaks," Alex couldn't help but snort. "What sort of person likes kids and doesn't want their own?" He turned around and smirked at her, catching the line of her sight. "My housekeeper is a middle-aged gay drag queen. I'm sure he would oblige."

"Probably the female kind that doesn't want to ruin her figure?" Kara asked as she managed a sheepish smile at being caught. "I'm sure he would, but the question is whether or not you'd enjoy it."

Alex just raised an eyebrow. "Who wants to look as horrific as Madonna in her middle age? Gravity is going to take over us all at some stage. A woman's body is made to carry a child. It's the men that should be more supportive of that." He tilted his head. "Yeah, my body isn't always as cooperative as I like to think it is."

Her tongue slipped out as she pulled a face. "Fuck, no one! God, she looks awful now. All gristle and bone. Personally I am all for the support and not making men carry the babies. I can't really get a pregnant Arnie out of my head when I think of guys giving birth." Kara's eyebrows went up. "Oh?"

Alex scrunched his nose up. "There is a reason guys weren't given the uterus. It's called Man Flu. The woman would end up beating us to death before the birth and the human race would die out from lack of procreation." He just smirked at her again. "Oh," he confirmed.

Kara laughed as she thought of her brothers suffering Man Flu. Yeah, she'd maybe been guilty of hitting of them a couple of times. "Good point. That alone is reason enough to argue against equality of that kind." She ducked her head and touched her fingers to her forehead as she shifted her weight onto the other foot. "So not going to ask... or think on it too much. First meeting after all."

"Probably the safe option," Alex agreed, amused. First meeting was right. He didn't know her any better than he knew the doorman's big toe. Hell, he hardly knew Marc and only had case briefs to work on in that sense. He was treading water comfortably right now. Patience was a virtue and all that shit. "So, have you known Harri for awhile?"

She nodded. "Few years, she gave me my big break, really. We've always been able to talk and be comfortable with each other. Actually helps at work since she's just as tactless when she has something to say."

"What do you do for her again?" Alex asked and leant against a nearby armchair. "My life is transitioning right now. I've been tied up in a lot of different things. I'm looking forward to at least having a stable base for a little while, even though I'm yet to find out if Princeton is my scene."

"Princeton's not that far away. Not like you couldn't drive back if you got bored with the night scene," Kara reasoned. "I'm her head graphic designer. Basically I make it all look pretty, and artistic."

Alex nodded slowly. "Very impressive. I can't say I've ever read the magazine. I have very little to do with women's fashion beyond wondering how it comes off," he admitted, but it was also a blatant untruth. He had read Razor in the course of his work and was familiar with the company. "I did have a twelve year old patient once who read it religiously, though. I wondered about the logistics of that. Should she even know what a suspender belt is?" he laughed.

Kara laughed and shook her head. "No, she really shouldn't. That's kind of below our target demographic. I'm not offended if you've never read it. Most guys wouldn't read a woman's fashion magazine which is cool. Although, I'd like to think some of our underwear shots have more class and appeal than Playboy these days. But that's just me."

"You realise class and appeal are the last things guys are seeing when they look at underwear adverts, right?" Alex laughed, shaking his head. "There we go. That Venus and Mars factor again. I'm sure women are hardly looking at the tautness of the elastic waist when they look at male underwear ads, either, however."

Kara shrugged and waved a hand as if indicating an underwear model that wasn't there. "Well, alright... so maybe I just think our models are better looking? I don't know how you mean can possibly get turned on by fake breasts that look like overblown balloons."

"Maybe I'm an ass guy," Alex sniggered. "Or legs. Would you not fuck a guy if he had a hairpiece or caps?"

Kara tilted her head. "Would you like a woman with ass implants? And I don't know... would the hairpiece come off during the sex?"

"Ass implants aren't as regular in our society as push-up bras these days," Alex pointed out reasonably. "You live in a place like LA and swearing off fucking fake boobs is just like deciding to become celibate. Someone with fake boobs can still be a nice person who just hates themselves physically." He smirked. "Depends how hot you got, huh? He might be a bit of a tiger and you wake up with it on your face. Now fake boobs don't sound so squeamish, do they?"

"Just painful," Kara answered as she scrunched her face up. She cupped her own, non-push up bra enhanced natural breasts and waggled her eyebrows at him. "I'd still rather have the real thing. Hairpieces can't be helped. Massacring your body can. However, if we are talking things on my face I really don't mind a guy with a porno moustache."

Alex's eyebrows rose and he smirked. "I think I'll stick to fake boobs, but who am I to judge a moustache? We can't all be blessed with taste."

Kara giggled as she let her hands drop back to her sides. "Blame having to watch my brothers' porn stash. I'm surprised I don't automatically like pizza delivery boys."

"You had to watch your brother's porn stash?" Alex laughed. "Did he tie you to the chair and threaten to shave your eyebrows off? I spent a good portion of my late teens and twenties trying to creatively hide my porn stash from my sister."

Kara rolled her eyes playfully as she laughed. "You always jump on wording so readily? I didn't have to in that I was strapped to a chair, but I did have to in that my brothers' stash was about as creative as I wanted to get in finding porn. They weren't so good with the hiding, and pretty much told me to watch whenever."

"I'm good at reading between the lines," Alex offered. Though, it was more the fact he was trained to hear about ten different meanings in any one speech pattern. It was amazing how often people meant things in a literal sense. "And they were into pizza delivery boys, huh?"

"Ah, well... that's a little less annoying." Kara shook her head as she moved around and smoothed her hands down the back of her skirt. "No, no. They were into the blondes that wanted to pay in services rendered for the pizza."

Alex just continued to smirk at her. "And you liked that too? Is that where your graphic design skills stem from?"

Kara shrugged a little as she swept her hair over her shoulder and faced him again. "I guess so. The liking it, not that that was where my skills came from. I am a woman of many interests, doctor. My graphic design skills came from owning an Etch-a-Sketch when I was a kid. And collages of all my posters."

"Hey, I owned one of those too. I used to just draw boobs on them until Mom found me one day and took it off me," Alex laughed. "I'm not exactly what one would call artistic. My skills came from wanting to do too much at once and never really knowing how to properly make up my mind."

She laughed as well, already imaginging the scene in her head. "But with doctoring you do find that you are able to properly make up your mind?"

The bridge of Alex's nose scrunched up a little before he answered. "We-ell, yes and no," he told her. "Kind of fell into that, too. I'm actually a qualified psychologist. I just went on to do an internship in Peds."

Kara just stared at him for a long moment before her mouth dropped open. "Who the fuck are you, Superman? Do you wear your undies on the outside at work?"

If only she knew... "No, I save that only for social events," he said with feigned seriousness. "It's more living with a restless nature. I get bored easily." Or something like that, he added silently to himself.

"Then it must take something pretty special to hold your attention." It wasn't a comment aimed at herself, but she was kind of thinking about what it would take for him to be interested in someone past a couple of fucks if he really was that restless. "Still pretty amazing you've been able to utilise your nature so effectively."

Alex wet his lips around another smile. "Quite," he agreed. "I'm lucky with the opportunities I've had... have," he corrected. "Scoring this current job was great. I know it's going to keep me busy. But what about you? What keeps you busy beyond your computer screen at work?"

"Pretty much anything artistic. I don't just use a computer screen. I'd be a shit artist if that was all it came down to. It think that's what's missing out of a lot of modern graphic design. Everyone seems to have forgotten how to draw, or paint, or just use paper and a pencil, you know? I like to go out when I can, hit the clubs. More for the dancing than the drinking. And sometimes a guy keeps me busy, but not right now."

"Sounds a lot like medicine," Alex agreed. He glanced up the hall. Was he hearing sex noises or was that the air conditioning. Fuck. If Marcus Fraser was getting fucked, it so was not fair. Weren't they on the clock with work? Still, maybe it would help dislodge that bug up his ass? "I'm supposed to believe your single?" he laughed. "Wow, there is hope in life yet."

"You guys use paper and a pencil a lot?" Kara asked with a grin. She heard the noises too, and cleared her throat quietly as she tried not to look at Alex's ass again. "Yeah, you're supposed to believe I'm single. Hope, huh? Does that mean you see something you like?"

Alex nodded. "Yep. And that's where our problem is. Too much documentation, nurses doing more and more of the hands on. It's a shame." His hands were still in his pockets and he made sure he kept his face impassive. "It means I'm glad to hear not all females in New York are taken or lesbians," he said. He couldn't let a flirtation distract him the day he was walking onto a new case under a new guise. Plus, he was going to be living in Princeton. She was here. Hardly convenient for a fling.

Kara's nose crinkled in distaste. "Ugh. Paperwork kills everything, I swear. No job can ever get done with the amount of paperwork they think up for it." She gave a nod in understanding, and tried not to look hurt. The Princeton thing hadn't escaped her mind, but still... wasn't like it was a long drive. Oh, well, just another missed opportunity. She was getting used to those. What was one more? "No, not all of us are taken, or lesbians. Some of us females are still single and straight."

"That's really good to hear," Alex smiled, his eyes still holding her gaze. "You'll thank me for that. Long distance is... fucked, basically. Trust me, I'm a doctor."

Kara tilted her head. "I'll remember that the next time I meet someone cute and find out they're leaving town that day. Still nice to meet you, doctor."

Alex smirked. "Never underestimate the power of fate. If we're meant to meet again, we will. And I'll take you for a drink."

Kara smiled. "You better keep that promise, or else you're really going to throw that trust line out the window."

"So, you do trust me?" Alex took his hands out of his pockets and folded his arms across him. "You really shouldn't."

"You just told me to," she pointed with a confused look. "And frankly, I have no idea. Guess we'll see if that drink ever happens."

Alex just laughed, shaking his head. "Would you launch yourself out of one of these windows if I told you to? Never trust strangers, love. Never. Get to know them first," he added pointedly and then reached into his pocket to pull out a business card with his details. "If you ever find yourself in Princeton."

Kara took the card with a smile. "Fuck off, I launch myself out of a window for no one. Not unless there's a bungee cord. Me and jumping of any sort don't always end well. Thanks for the card. If I am ever in Princeton consider it used."

[Words: 3584]

For muses_w_remotes | 11.13 Brothers Grimm Quote

2009-03-08T01:43:40Z

11.13. "And you, Will, have enough bullshit to fill the Palace of Versailles."
| The Brothers Grimm

Co-written with agentfraser, straight2point and undercoverdoc

Marc's eyes were trained stiffly ahead as he rode up in the elevator to Harri's floor. His lips were in a thin line and he couldn't hide a sharply drawn breath was let out in an aggravated exhalation a few seconds later. What he needed was a smoke. Or a drink. Anything to numb the fact that he now had a new partner who was a total dick knob. His hands were shoved firmly in his pocket and he refused to glance left at the guy who was standing beside him rocking on up and down on the balls of his feet whistling 'Billy Jean' and looking casually around the elevator. It didn't help that Marc hated Michael Jackson music. Theodore Darcy - and Marc had no idea what sort of name that was - refused to stay in the car whilst Marc ran up to Harri's to pick up his filofax that he left there that morning when he got called out at 4am. He was so exhausted he forgot to collect it on his way out but it had important phone numbers in it that Marc needed ASAP. The little prick insisted on coming with. Not that he was little per se. The bastard was 6'3", which pissed Marc off even more. Why did his partner have to be Sasquatch?

"So, Jackson said you're dating a prostitute," Alex offered lightly with a shrug. He looked at Marc with a wicked smirk. "Not that there is anything wrong with that. Nice building. She must really know how to do her job."

Marc didn't outwardly react. If he did, he would've thumped the guy. He looked at him, his blue eyes once again concealed with the dark contacts. Alex wouldn't have the benefit of seeing Marc out of disguise for some time yet. He was going to Princeton undercover that very afternoon and if Marc's luck was on his side, he wouldn't have to deal with the guy face-to-face again for hopefully another decade. "She's the CEO of Razor. Better skilled than most whores... Something you won't ever experience first hand yourself." He kept his voice even, but it had a warning to it's edge. "Got it?"

Alex held his hands up. "Look, dude, we've got to work together. May as well like each other. What colour undies are you wearing?" he asked right before the elevator reached the right floor with a ding.

Marc raised an eyebrow. "Fuck off," was all he answered with as he strode out of the elevator. The wanker might be taller, but Marc definitely carried himself with more of a confident air needed in his position. Better still, they might be partners, but he was technically Alex's superior on the case. He paid no more mind to the guy as he hit Harri's buzzer with the edge of his hand and took his cigarettes out. He put one in his mouth and lit it up, blowing the smoke out slowly while he waited.

"Aren't you even going to offer me one?" Alex snorted and went to reach for the pack.

"Nope," Marc returned and the smokes disappeared unceremoniously back into the breast pocket of his long black leather coat with a smirk before Alex's hand connected with it.

Harri smiled apologetically at Kara before she unfolded herself from the sofa and set her mug down. "If that's not a very naked man at the door, I shall be pretty fucking disappointed," she said with a laugh.

Kara Harvey, Harri's head graphic designer for Razor, grinned as she pushed her fingers through her blonde hair. She wasn't sure if it was a mutual liking for cock, or their blonde hair and fabulous taste in clothes, that had let her hit it off with her boss, but she was grateful for whatever it was. Harri was a riot, even when she was a bit under the weather. Odd, since she'd thought Harri had just gotten over a cold.

"Maybe it's that lover boy of yours," Kara suggested. "I certainly wouldn't mind getting a look after what you've told me about him."

Harri gave Kara a slight warning glare, before she smiled. "Just so long as there's no touching. I might have to cut your hand off, otherwise."

Kara blinked and gave a quick shake of her head. "No way would I touch. I saw what you did to that intern last year for touching one of your occasional fucks."

Harri was laughing at the memory as she pulled open the door to find Marc and his... friend. She cocked her head at the sight of the unknown man and arched an eyebrow questioningly. "Hello, love," she greeted Marc and stepped in to kiss him. "Is this some proxy you're dropping off because you're about to tell me you won't make it tonight due to a meeting?"

Marc's forehead creased in a frown. "Does he look like he would pass as my proxy, let alone have the skills for it?" he said. "And I might not make it," he had to admit, the English accent back. "Things have... developed. I need to go to Princeton tonight. You could always come with if you want to catch up with Aiden."

Alex listened closely, reflexively remaining at Marc's side, albeit with a smirk on his lips. He stuck his hand out and the smirk transformed into a winning smile. "Hey, I'm Te-" he cut off when he realised there was someone else in the distance beyond the leggy blond. Marc had mentioned the girlfriend knew about him but didn't mention anyone else. "Alex. Alex Carter," he introduced himself.

"He's my new... associate," Marc explained, his dark eyes warily turning to the woman in Harri's apartment as he took another brief drag on his cigarette. When he looked back at Harri, his eyebrow was raised slightly in question. "He's a medical advisor on Promantech's new line of hypertensive alternative therapies." The bullshit came so easily these days. "Based at Princeton Plainsboro," he added pointedly. He knew Harri would probably ask questions when they were alone and when they were alone, Marc could answer them.

"Ah," Harri said, taking the bullshit with a smile. She offered her hand to Marc's associate before she nodded over her shoudler. "Kara Harvey, my graphic designer. I'm sure she won't mind taking your associate for a test drive. She's always looking for men."

"Hey! I can hear you, you know," Kara pointed out as she stood up, and smoothed down her skirt. "Hello, Marc," she said with a wave at Harri's boyfriend. "And hello, Marc's unnamed associate. I'm not that desperate... really."

Marc stepped aside and scratched the back of his head whilst stifling an impatient sigh. 4am starts weren't conduvice to bouncy and happy. Especially not after he was awake most of the night getting his brains fucked out. "Hey," he greeted Kara with a small wave. She was new. Harri hadn't mentioned a Kara before. It was times like this that Marc realised how much they really didn't know about each other. "Sorry to interrupt, we won't stay long. Not long enough for you two to fuck, anyway. I just need my filofax, babe. You know how anal I get not having it with me." More like neurotic and near panic attack because it held a lot of what looked to be useless info but was actually a lot of vital facts to his current investigation.

Alex rested his arm against the door jamb, smiling casually at both Harri and Kara. "Aren't you going to introduce us, Marcus, darling? Your anus can wait."

Marc closed his eyes briefly and cleared his throat. It was official. The guy was going to end up with a black eye before the day was out. "Harri, Kara, this is Dr Alex Carter. Alex, this is Harri... my girlfriend, and Kara... someone I'm only meeting just now."

Harri's smile was slow, almost predatory as he referred to her as his girlfriend. She even felt like the cat that had just swallowed the canary. Even if he was saying it more for his cover, than anything else. "It's in the bedroom next to the furry handcuffs and blindfold," she said referring to Marc's filofax before she took his hand and pulled him inside. "And really, this is awkward enough withouy you two standing the doorway."

Kara had come up behind Harri and couldn't help but look over Alex appreciatively. He was nearly a foot taller than her, but she liked it. "Oh, I don't know. He looks pretty good just standing there. Take your shirt off, and pose again..."

"Kara," Harri warned quietly as she smirked.

"What?!" Then she blinked out of her reverie and looked at Harri then Marc, and finally Alex with a shrug.

Alex wasn't phased. "What's in it for me?" he asked smoothly, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

"Keep your dick in your pocket, Carter, or you'll find yourself with a gaping hole there next time you go to wank," Marc warned. So, his hackles were up. He wasn't sure he trusted the guy but at the same time, he knew he had to trust him and he had become Marc's partner for a reason - he was more than capable. Such a shame he was a gigantic pain in the arse. "Why are you still home, babe? I was expecting your housekeeper to answer."

Harri missed Kara's wink to Alex as she made a face, and patted her stomach. "That silly flu felt like coming back for round two, so I decided to work from home. Kara was bringing over the latest pages." She flicked her gaze between the two men, oddly amused by the fact that Marc seemed so irritated by Alex. "Should we go get your filofax? That way Alex can get his dick out without you harming him. For a minute, at least. Not as if you men need all that long, is it?"

"Flus shouldn't do that," Marc murmured in thought as he caught her arm gently at the elbow with his hand. He was looking over here for any signs something more serious might be going on. "When did it start again?" he asked. He nodded distractedly, Alex and his dick now the last thing on his mind. The guy's dick was probably 17 inches if his height was anything to go by. Kara would have her work cut out for her.

"I don't offer free shows," Alex threw in, his green eyes taking in the whole surroundings of the apartment closely. His feet made soft footfalls on the clean floors. CEO of Razor and it showed in her apartment. He couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Marcus and Harri than met the eyes, though.

Harri might have read all the books there was to read about colds and flus while she'd been sick, but that meant nothing. Her brain hadn't retained any of the information in its mucus drowned state. "A couple of days ago? I'm not really sure..." She didn't struggle out of his hold, but did try and lead him off so she didn't get examined in front of company.

Meanwhile Kara's blue eyes were firmly fixed on Alex as she smiled. "So every girl has to pay to see you naked?"

"I like to think of it as bartering," Alex told her with a smirk as he turned and met her eyes again.

Marc went in the direction of the bedroom and his filofax. The minute they were out of hearing distance of the others, he spoke in still a hushed voice. "Why didn't you call me?" he asked her.

Harri shrugged. "Because I do enjoy living in denial occasionally, no matter what my jaded personality tells you otherwise," she mumured quietly as she pressed her hand against her stomach, not sure if she was about to be sick or not. "Tea and chocolate mousse is about the only things I can keep down. Besides, you're busy. I've already made you miss enough work."

"You didn't make me miss anything. I told you that. If I had to go, I would go. Just like I have to go and sit in a car all the way to Princeton with Dr Dick out there this afternoon." Marc's nose scrunched up. "Chocolate Mousse when you're nauseous? Urgh..." He stuck his tongue out a little in disgust. "I want you to go to a doctor."

Harri laughed softly as she cupped Marc's face and gave him a kiss. "I promise if I feel better, and you make it back from Princeton alive, I'll make sure you forget all about the car trip with Dr Dick." Then she crunched her nose up. "Do I really have to go see a bloody doctor over nausea? It's probably nothing, love."

Marc let out a slow breath. "The bastard's my new partner. I have to trust him with my life. He has to trust me with his. I think he would rather be kissing his own cock in worship than jumping in front of a bullet for me." He took her hands into his. "Please? When I was a kid, nausea started all my diabetic problems. Mum took me to the doctors because she thought I was lactose intolerant," he said wryly.

"I'm not lactose intolerant," Harri replied petulantly. She really could be a brat when she was sick. She slipped her arms around his waist and brushed her nose against his cheek. "He's certainly tall enough to at least get in a good attempt at kissing his own cock. I'm sure you'll work it out with him. He seems... well, Kara likes him."

"Neither was I," Marc pointed out. "Who is Kara?" he added as an afterthought. "Should I care that she likes him? He's a dick knob."

"She's my lead designer, and yes, you should care. She's one of the best people I have working for me, if not the best. And probably one of the few women friends I have." She pressed her lips together to try and get the wave of nausea to pass before she tried to speak again. "He's a sexy dick knob, but not as sexy as you."

Marc looked in the direction of the living room skeptically. "For a graphic designer, she has crap taste in men. The bloke's... he's..." He waved his hand. "I'm just glad he's going to be based in Princeton. Might mean my mileage needs to be increased, but at least I don't have to put up with him every day. Hopefully they're more tolerant in Princeton. I never realised that to be a Pediatrician, you had to act like a ten year old yourself. She can do better. If only I could tell her his real name."

Harri had to resist the urge to tell him that Aiden had thought she could do better than Marc. Instead she nodded in understand, currently embracing her role as his girlfriend. "She's probably thinking more about what's in his pants, than his personality right now. However, it's very good that you and he won't be in the same city. I can't really see you coping too well with that. So he's really a doctor?"

"Twin matching cocks in pink spandex g-strings, is my guess," Marc snorted. He leant against the dresser, though his hand brushed up and down her arm. "I have a feeling I'll be crossing your BFF's path in a more professional capacity sooner rather than later," he predicted as he considered Alex's new role. "He is a doctor. A Pediatrician. He's going to be working at the same hospital your other's half's boyfriend works at. He's been put there for a reason."

"A reason that I don't want to know," Harri said as she tilted her head and watched him. "And... I'm not sure exactly if Pat's working there right now, or not. He's still getting over that MS attack and trying to get his legs to work. Speaking of you crossing paths with Aiden... there's something I need to tell you."

Marc nodded slowly. "Pat... he's friends with a Scot, right?" he asked carefully. He needed to know well in advance how close to home this all could get before it was too late. He looked at her, his forehead creasing in slight worry. "Oh? Is everything alright?"

Harri gave a nod. "Yes, I think so. The Scot had a baby recently. Pat's one of the godfathers. It all added to Aiden being keen to settle down." Harri held onto Marc a little tighter, almost as if she was worried he was about to run away. "Mm... yes. This is more about me finally telling you something you said you'd hope I'd one day trust you enough to do so."

Marc extracted himself from her hold just long enough to move over to the door and close it. He was pretty sure Alex could take care of himself out there for a few minutes. "You're going to have to elaborate a little, babe," he requested, moving back to her side. They'd spoken a lot recently, so it was hard to be sure what she was meaning.

"He knows. Aiden knows... about you," Harri said quietly. She touched a hand to her hair, and tucked a few long strands behind her ear. "I told him... I tried so hard not to, but he just wouldn't let the fuck up about why I'd wound up at his place crying after our fight. Our breakup, I guess. I don't know what to call it. I'm sorry I'm not better at withstanding interrogation."

Marc closed his eyes with a small sigh and nodded. "I figured," he murmured and put his hand to his head, rubbing his fingers across his forehead. "Fuck..." He started to pace a little as his mind kicked into gear with all the new connections. "I need to know you're not going to tell him that I know Alex in any way, shape or form. No one in Princeton is going to know Alex is SS, especially no one linked to that hospital. It's vital they don't know. It's vital Pat doesn't know," he added with emphasis.

"Pat doesn't even know about you." At least Harri was pretty sure he didn't. She'd taken Aiden's angry words about Marc and what he'd done to Ali and subsequently Luke's cousin, she could probably withstand anything now. "I'll keep your secret, love. I promise."

"I know it sounds sinister, but the last thing we want to do is cause Pat's friend and everyone surrounding him anymore heartache. Obliviousness to Alex's true presence in Princeton is the best way for us to assure that. For all intents and purposes, Alex is just that. The new kid doctor on the block. He's going to know a lot of people connected to Aiden. That sounds worrying, I know. But it's no one in that circle we're investigating. One was merely a victim." Marc looked at her regretfully. "Are you sure you want to be tied up with shit like this?"

She listened carefully, and gave a nod at his question. Her stomach had twisted a little, but she wasn't sure if it was guilt, concern, or just the nausea. "I'm sure, love. I don't want to be anywhere else." She leaned in to kiss him softly and smiled. "You wouldn't be able to do this without me, anyway. I'm your security blanket," she said. "Only the kind you can have hot sex with whenever you want."

Marc smirked softly at her. "One day, you'll be my security blanket. Right now, I'm just a pain in your arse. I know it's not easy, alright? I do. I just haven't quite figured out how to balance all this yet. There is a lot going on and I'm being pulled in a lot of directions at once. It's a wonder I don't have premature dementia," he joked.

"I'm your security blanket even if you are a pain in my arse. I'm a designer, sexy, security blanket." She caressed his cheek with the backs of her fingers and laughed. "Well, it won't help if I stitch your name into all your clothes. I'll have to come up with something else if you fo get premature dementia."

Marc laughed. "Ah, but which name would you stitch? Either way, I'd probably confuse the fuck out of myself. I already do and I'm completely sane. I've lost count of the mornings I wake up thinking I'm in my old bed, in my old apartment. Wake up in the middle of the night for the bathroom and take the wrong turn at the door. Alex is one of the lucky ones. He doesn't have to walk away from his old life, he just goes undercover. I couldn't pull off what I'm doing connected to my old life because... because my old life has connections to what I'm investigating. The reason I chose to do all this in the first place."

"At the risk of giving myself another ego stroke, sooner or later, you'll realise you're fucking lucky to have me, love," Harri murmured as she smiled at him. "I've never once doubted how much you've had to give up. Don't worry about what Alex has, or hasn't got. Although if we stay in here any longer, I have this feeling we'll walk out there and find the reenactment of a scene in a bad porn movie."

Marc shook his head. "No, you won't," he said knowingly, laughing. "I'll bet my entire salary on the fact Alex won't touch her right now. He's about to log onto a new undercover case tonight. He'll flirt, but he won't let anything physical happen. He won't let her realise that, though. It's all about tactics. He just needs to be careful right now. Especially considering he doesn't know me and doesn't know you. He's probably casing the joint as we speak and noting every possible object that could be a weapon in reaching distance."

Harri crinkled her nose. "I hope you weren't thinking about weapons the first time we fucked, because that's just weird."

Marc smirked. "I knew the building. I'd studied it before coming to the party. Plus, no readily available weapons in an elevator. If you remember, though, I did make sure you dropped your bag out of reach without you realising," he said with a laugh.

Harri pushed him lightly as she moved away with a roll of her eyes. "You're terrible, you know that?" She picked up his filofax and offered it to him. "You'll come straight here when you're back from Princeton? I promise to see a doctor."

"I'm back tonight," Marc promised. "I'm meeting with a doctor at the hospital under the guise of being a patient. Hopefully the bastard is running on time. I hate doctors. I hate doctors a lot," he added with a snort. "But you still have to see one. Do you even have a doctor on account of the fact you clearly never get sick?" he asked teasingly.

"I might, but otherwise I am capable of finding one," she assured him with a smirk. "So between you riding in a car with Alex, and you having to see a doctor--two things you really, really hate--I'll expect you to come home with a good mood, then."

Marc shook his head. "I'll try and leave the bad mood on the freeway. I need to drop in and see Ali on the way home. If the boyfriend let's me in the front door, that is. He hates my guts. Rightfully so, too. I'm pretty sure if he wasn't such a nice guy, I would have no bollocks by now. She's got her first therapy session today. I just want to make sure she's doing okay. I still feel like she's a million miles away from me. She doesn't trust me anymore."

Harri moved back in to hug Marc and pressed a kiss to his temple. "Trust takes time. You more than anyone should know that. You did kill yourself off, love. That kind of goes a little way to breaking any trust you had with her."

"I know. I just didn't expect to see her again to need to experience the direct consequences. Which I know sounds as selfish as all fuck and it was, but Ali would've been one of the first people to tell me to join the SS if I told her about it before it all happened. I wasn't ever what you would call your conventional FBI agent. I had a bit of a reputation, which is what got me recruited in the first place." Marc paused abruptly and his stomach flipped over as he realised something. He was technically still married. Should he tell Harri this? Of course, killing James off would've ceased that, but was that information he should share?

Harri frowned as she watched him before she raised her eyebrow a little in question. "Don't tell me you're feeling sick, too? I don't think I could take another fucking drought if we both get sick. Again."

"No, I..." Marc looked at her helplessly, his hand waving around for reasons he couldn't exactly explain because it wasn't helping him decide what he should do any easier. So, he grabbed at his MedicAlert bracelet and started playing with it restlessly, turning the thick chain around his wrist. "There's just something I'm wondering if I should tell you or if you would likely prefer just not knowing in the long run. I mean, it's not... it was... are you sure this is not too much shit for you to deal with?"

Harri had pulled back to give Marc plenty of room to fidget, her blue eyes still watching him keenly. "I'm sure," she told him. "But if you don't want to tell me something, you don't have to. I'm past that bitch phase I went through where I was pissed off at you for keeping your secrets. That was before I knew why you kept them."

"It's more a fact I don't want to hurt you or to think it still matters. It doesn't. It's my past..." Marc wet his lips slowly and halted his fidgeting by taking her hand and wrapping both of his around hers. "Is there anything you would definitely want or need me to tell you from my past, even if it's bad or weird or questionable? Anything you felt you should know to make this easier for you?" he asked.

Harri tilted her head in thought as she considered his question. It was something she might have been asking herself for a while now, but she still had no real answer. No one question that would give her peace. Maybe because she really was content to take things as they came, and to take the snippets that he gave her when he was ready. "No," she finally answered. "As awful as it sounds, I'm not really here to fall in love with that you, am I? I'm here for the current you, and for the cover you."

Marc pressed his lips together and then laughed softly. "That's just the thing, babe. I'm the other me with you. Not this new, fake cover."

Harri managed a laugh herself. "Well, then... I still say no. I'm sure I'll regret it, and days from now I'll wake up in the middle of the night with a question burning in my brain, but right now... no. Is there anything you need to ask me?"

Marc shook his head. "Nope. Because I know you've been honest with me," he told her and then a smirk appeared. "I hooked you up to a secret lie detector without you knowing." He laughed holding up his hand. "Just kidding. I know just, somewhere in my gut, that you've been honest. Which is more than I can say for myself."

Harri wrestled her hand out of his hold so she could wrap her arms around him and smirked back. "You've put up with my inabilty to tell you I'm sick, or to be a 'normal' girlfriend, so I think I can deal with you not being honest if only because I know it's for a disgustingly honourable cause. If you were lying to me because of some other reason, I'd have your balls for breakfast and feed the rest of you to dogs."

Marc laughed. "I'm used to abnormal girlfriends. I know how to deal with you lot. The only normal partner I had was male," he added in amusement. "I was the abnormal one there. First time we met, I puked all over his designer shoes." He stopped and bit on his lip for a moment. "Alright, but if you ever think you suddenly want to ask me something, just do it, okay? I'll admit there are a lot of things still hanging over me that I haven't spoken about, but I think the parts that still mean something to me you are aware of. Everything else, well... it keeps me up some nights with guilt but they tell me I'll get over it eventually. If the case ever ended... let's just say I'd have a lot of choices to make."

Harri kissed him softly and grinned against his mouth. "Says as lot when you're the abnormal one in a gay relationship. Did that make you the girl, love?" She looked at him, her eyes sparkling as she teased him. "I will add asking you questions to the list of promises that includes going to see a doctor. Just so long as you do the same, if there is ever something I haven't told you, that you want to know. And if the case ends, and you need to make choices... I will help you as best I can. Do you think we should return to our friends before I decide the nausea can wait, and fuck you senseless right here?"

"Hey, I had my girly moments. You'll see them one day, too. I'm a terrible, atrocious sick person. Land me in hospital and I turn into a monster. I'm better comatose," Marc laughed. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually, there is something I want to ask but it isn't major and it's for another day. Just call it a mere curiousity." He nodded, smirking. "Yes, or your sofa might be debauched and semen is a bitch to get out of fabric like that. Hear that? That was a gay moment."

Harri wondered what Marc could possibly want to ask her, but she let it slide for now. There would be time enough to find out. "You're still hot when you're gay, so that's alright," she laughed.

"Just think, if you ever decide you want a threesome, you'd have your pick of a male or female third part," Marc laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders to lead her from the room. "I'll call you from Princeton, see how you are, so keep your phone with you."

"As if you'd ever see me serperated from my phone, love," Harri reminded him. Although her mind was now wondering slightly as she considered the whole threesome thing. He was right, she really would have her pick... She blinked as she realised they were back in the main room and hoped she wasn't looking too flushed, but Marc would probably catch her dilated pupils. "I'll drag Kara with me. At least then I wouldn't have to go to the doctor alone."

"If I'm back, I'll come with you," Marc promised and gave her a soft kiss.

Harri smiled as she returned the kiss. "Drive safely and don't hurt your passenger just yet. He might grow on you."

"God help me," Marc snorted, shaking his head.

[Words: 5312]

Do we think this is me?

2009-03-07T12:05:35Z

You Are Intense and Courageous

When You Are Comfortable:

You are bold and dramatic. You have confidence in yourself, and that's enough to get you through anything.

People see you as capable and goal oriented. You have your eye on the prize, and others admire that about you.

When You Are At Your Best:

You are a determined and responsible. You strive for success, and you know what it takes to get things done.

People find you to be trustworthy and a good leader. You treat people well, and they benefit from your wisdom.

When You Are in a Social Setting:

You are a powerful, competitive person. While you want to succeed, you are also able to find balance in your life.

People see you as self-sufficient. They are impressed by how much you are able to do on your own.

What Do Your Initials Say About You?

For just_muse_me | 15.6.3 TEN names you've been called

2009-03-06T07:27:51Z

01. Kyra
02. Kay
03. Kiki
04. Kinky Kara
05. Booger Breath
06. Kym
07. Anne
08. Blondie
09. Useless
10. Harvey

Kara Harvey
Original Character

"Borrowed" from somewhere...

2009-03-05T08:25:25Z

The Rules:
-Change my answers to yours.
-Use the 1st letter of your first name to answer each of the following ... they have to be real places, names, things...nothing made up!
-Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial.
-You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl

1. What is your name: Kara Danielle Harvey
2. 4 letter word: Kind
3. Vehicle: Kia Rio
4. City: Kazahkstan
5. Boy's Name: Kieran
6. Girl's Name: Karen
7. Alcoholic drink: Kalashnikov Shot
8. Occupation: Key cutter
9. Something you wear: Khaki shirt
10. Celebrity: Kevin Bacon
11. Food: Kebab
12. Something found in a bathroom: KY Jelly
13. Reason for being late: Killer tomatoes overtook the freeway and there was a massive traffic jam.
14. Animal: Koala
15. Body part: Knee (Can't believe I actually had to Google that...)
16. Crayon color: Khaki?
17. Word to describe you: Kooky
18. Toy: Kaleidoscope
19. Designer Brand: Karen Zambos Vintage Couture
20. Things you do on the weekend: Kick back and relax