The room was filled with warmth as the sun moved across the carpet and she slowly opened her eyes. Every inch of her ached and yet felt alive. She stretched her arms and looked over next to her. The bed was made and she frowned as she sat up. Everything looked as if the night had never happened. She ran her hand through her hair and frowned.

'What happened?'

The door opened and she about jumped out of her skin. Pulling the covers close to her, she watched as he placed the tray next to the bed and sat down.

"Good morning."

"What is this?"

"Relax. It's the morning after breakfast."

______________________________________________

The office was full of conversation and he closed the conference doors behind him. Men looked up at him and he nodded to her. She met their gazes and he studied her as she delivered their new plan. She seemed to glow this morning but her tongue was as quick as ever.

'What is it?'

She caught his gaze and frowned slightly as she returned to the decision at hand. The men laughed at some of the examples they had worked on and he felt some tension disappear. As the meeting ended, the men had signed their signatures of approval and the documents rested in his hands. He watched them leave and sighed as he sat on the table.

"You seem tired."

"You seem different."

She caught his tone and said, "I'm fine."

He rolled his eyes and asked, "Did you sleep with him?"

Her eyes flashed and he said, "I saw you leave with him yesterday."

"It's none of your concern, Bryan."

He slammed the papers onto the table and yelled, "You yell at me for worrying about your health and not an hour later you run off with some guy from your past and jump in the sack with him! How is this not my concern?!"

She picked up the papers and said, "I am your partner. Business between us is all that should matter, not personal agendas."

______________________________________________

She placed the glass aside and sat down on the stool. Alan smirked at her and she rolled her eyes. Her gaze turned back to the band playing and she smirked. Everything had changed in her content world with a demo from a band. The door opened and she looked up to see Bryan step in.

He approached the bar and said, "Alan, I'll take the usual."

Alan shook his head and said, "Not serving tonight. You order with Faith."

She met his gaze and he growled, "The usual."

Filling his order, she listened to the band and could hear their promising career. Setting the glass in front of Bryan, she marked it on his order list and caught Jesse slipping inside. She kept her gaze away from his and tried to prevent the fight.

"Oh look, here comes Mr. Pimp himself. Care to throw yourself all over him again, Faith?"

She felt the burning in her gut and she took a deep breath. Ignoring him was the only way to keep the fight from happening. Jesse approached her at the other end of the bar and she moved over to him.

"What can I get you?"

He met her gaze and said, "Agent called. We leave in two days."

She smiled and said, "Good for you. Where is it?"

"England."

She felt time stop and the pad fall out of her fingers.

"He wants us to tour over there. Three months for a trial run."

Her hand gripped the counter top and he caught her shoulder as she began to crumble to the floor.

"Faith?!"

She looked up and saw Bryan running over to them with Alan behind him. Shoving herself back into control, she met their gazes and took a deep breath.

Bryan caught her other shoulder and asked, "You okay?"

She shook his hand off and said, "I'm fine."

Bryan looked at Jesse and caught the man watching him. He felt the shiver hit him again but he shook it off.

"Jesse, can I talk to you after I get off at midnight?"

"I'll meet you outside."

She nodded and he brushed his lips over hers. She watched him walk away and watched the door close behind him. Bryan caught her shoulder but she jerked his hand away as she went back to work.

'Can't think about this. Not now.'

______________________________________________

She sat in the chair by her window and felt her world shattering. She knew it was pathetic but she couldn't go three months without the man. She didn't have it in her but she couldn't stop him. Her head rested on her knees and she let out a sigh. Everything was going great and she had forgotten who she was, why she was alone in the first place.

"Faith, can I come in?"

She ignored him and took in the outside world. It looked so peaceful, perfect, and yet here she was about to lose him for three months because of it. His hands rested on her shoulders and she closed her eyes.

"Faith, talk to me."

"It's best I don't."

He knelt in front of her and said, "I need you to talk to me."

She looked into his eyes and whispered, "I'll lose you and I can't live with that."

He felt the knife in his chest and he pulled her into his embrace. Her body was trembling but her tears were silent. He kissed her forehead and ran his hand along her spine.

"You won't lose me. I promise."

"Jesse, I don't want you to go."

He smirked and looked into her face. The fear was there but so was the acceptance. Her strength always surprised him.

"Faith, I promise I'll come back. There's no guarantee this is my life."

She laced her fingers with his and said, "You leave and everything will change. The spotlight will be on you. I can't bear to see that."

He smirked and whispered, "Not when I'm here with you."

She smiled and he kissed her gently. She savored his touch and he pulled her up to her feet. He kept her tucked away in his safe embrace and walked her over to the bed.

PGS