I lifted my eyes from my pint to see him stood next to the table, an easy smile on his face. Wow. When he’d said half an hour, he’d meant half an hour. To the damn second. “Yeah. Take a seat, Neilson.”

He slid into the high stool opposite me at the tall, round, crappy wooden bar table. “Weird choice of meeting place for the second in command.”

“I like the atmosphere,” I said by means of explanation. He grinned, and ordered a drink from the waitress who appeared next to him. Then he turned back round, and I had T-37’s undivided attention.

“What’s up?”

I took a deep breath, “I know how weird this is going to sound…but I need your advice.”

He nodded slowly, “Okay… Shoot.”

“You know how Harry and I used to go out?”

“Hard to miss if you’re Terrka,” he remarked. “When I just arrived, it was what was on everyone’s lips. ‘The golden couple’. People were outraged when you broke up.”

I could imagine that, and the thought made me smile. “Did anyone say why?”

He shook his head in a firm no, “It was never discovered. People tried to, mind, but some of us said it was wrong.”

I watched, transfixed, as he made an exchange with the waitress, pressing money into her hand whilst taking his beer. It wasn’t his first time here- that was for sure. Well, what d’you know…? T-37 wasn’t as pure as he appeared… Then again, a Terrka couldn’t really be pure. His speech didn’t pause for a second while he did this.

“It wasn’t our lives; it was none of our business. What right did we have to pry?”

“He cheated on me.”

He pursed his lips, took a slow sip of his beer. “Ah,” was all he said. He put down the glass. “I’m assuming he wants to get back together with you?”

“He hasn’t actually asked yet, but yes. He does.”

He pulled a face, “That’s thinking a lot of yourself, ain’t it?”

I glared at him as he laughed brightly, “Shut up, Neilson. This is a serious conversation.”

His grin was quick and wicked as he leaned across the table towards me, “Ooh… Neilson… How long ‘til I’m Sam?”

I mirrored his move on the other side, “Never if you keep up with the sass. I outrank you.”

He held up his hands, palms facing upwards, like he was trying to show me something that wasn’t there. “I’m off duty.”

I laughed despite myself, “I don’t have a retort to that.” Instead, I took a sip of my own pint. “So, yeah. He cheated on me- but that’s barely a part of it.”

“Go on, then. Spill.”

“Only a couple weeks before I found out, he accused me of cheating.”

He hid his face in his hands, “Oh, for fuck’s sake…”

I grinned at his muttering. “I wasn’t, by the way.” He nodded, looking like he had no idea why I had felt the need to justify myself. “We were living together, and he stormed in, shooting off his mouth about how he saw me flirting with someone.”

He shook his head, “You’re naturally friendly- meaning flirtation is part of conversation for you. He should’ve known that. I can see that.”

“The guy was straight…”

He grinned momentarily. “Didn’t he trust you?”

I snorted, “No. He was very possessive. It got to the point that he didn’t like me speaking to Tom without him there.”

“Fletcher?” he verified. I nodded. “Well, he’s stupid, then. No wonder you dumped him. I thought it was just the drugs… What’s the point?! So he accuses you of cheating, takes all these measures to make sure you don’t…”

“…and he cheats.” I gave a bitter laugh, “Oh, the irony!”

T-37 ran a finger round the rim of his glass thoughtfully. “I hate to be the one to disregard the golden couple of Terrka…” he said slowly. “But I don’t think he deserves you.”

“Why?”

He didn’t answer for a moment, “Anyone who’s cheated can cheat again. And he’s probably not about to change his nature- whether he claims he can or not.”

“A fair point.”

“This may be a case of if-you-haven’t-experienced-then-don’t-bloody-comment-you-prick, but haven’t you tried to get over him?”

I looked down at the table, stared into the foam that topped my lager like the answer could be staring back up at me. “I thought I had.”

*****

“We need to work out how Poynter escaped. Which exit, and how we can prevent it from happening again. I’ll talk to Aaron later- see what he’s found.”

Steve nodded, “Right. I need to track down the bomb squad- check out the new prototype. Later.”

“See you.” I swung into my office, leaving the door open in case anyone wanted to speak to me. My answering machine was flashing, but my attention was drawn to a note lying on my desk in plain view. I picked it up, easing a hip onto my desk.

‘I hope last night was of some help to you. I probably just sounded like I was going on about something I didn’t have a clue about. My intentions were good- I assure you. Good luck. See you around.

I have combat practice this afternoon  if you want to save my ass in return. I’m dreading it. Mr. Stick-up-his-own-arse is going to murder me. He’s still mad at me about Monday. Apparently, I’m not worthy of working with you.

My heart’s broken…

Neilson.’

I grinned. Even in note form he could give off that sarcastic aura. I wondered how he’d gotten into my office to leave this. There was a knock at the door. “Hey.”

My head snapped up to see Harry standing in my doorway. He was in his suit, and leaning casually against the doorframe. My heart gave an involuntary thump. “I didn’t know you’d been released.”

“Good behaviour,” he said with a shrug. “I had to promise Charlie I wasn’t going to act like you and put myself under serious pressure until I was fully healed. Heard you got shot.”

I mimicked his shrug, “A bullet can’t keep me down.” I dropped the note onto the desk and stood up.

He smirked, running an approving eye over my body, “So I see.”

I walked round him slowly, inspecting, “You’re looking up to scratch. I always hated how well you recover… Did Charlie tell you he had to bribe me into taking time off?”

“He mentioned it. How was Florida?”

“Tolerable- due to the fact I had a lot of extremely hot guys offering to assist me.”

He emitted a low growl, “That’s evil…”

My smile was slow as I circled back round so I was facing him, “I’m a free man, Harry. I’ll do as I please…” I suddenly lurched forward, throwing my arms round his neck and hugging him tightly, “God, I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” he whispered.

“Well, that’s expected.”

He laughed, shoving me back a step. “You always have to ruin a perfectly good moment, don’t you?”

“Admit it: You would have been worried if I hadn’t…” I defended with a grin. I took hold of his arms, just staring at him, drinking in the features that I had missed so dearly, “Seven months was too long…”

“Seven months?” he asked in shock. His eyes flicked to the digital clock on my desk. “I lost track of time completely in there. I missed your birthday…”

I pushed him lightly on the shoulder, “My birthday?! You missed Christmas! And that, my friend, is inexcusable.”

A dark eyebrow lifted, “Oh? I’ll have to make it up to you, then.”

I leaned into him, winding a hand round his neck and whispering in his ear, “You better…” Then I drew back with a seductive smile and walked over to my desk.

“You’re parading yourself in front of me on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Just making you regret that you don’t have me,” I replied with a grin. I leaned over my computer, and turned it on. I sensed him approach the desk.

“You know I want you, though… Don’t you, Danny?” he asked softly. I glanced up to find him right there. He was leaning on the desk, his eyes boring into mine.

“I do,” I said honestly. I moved as close to his face as I dared, “Were you moaning my name in your sleep, Harry…?”

“I don’t know. I was asleep.” There was a glint in his eye that had me moving back again. I was fine with flirting with him- I wanted him to regret cheating on me- but it was going no further.

“You been to see Tom yet?” I asked, taking a seat behind my desk.

He sat on the edge of my desk, “No. I wanted to see you first.”

“I feel complimented.” I sent him a stunning smile before returning my attention back to my computer. He was silent for a moment.

“Who’s Neilson?”

I glanced up. He was reading my note from T-37. I didn’t blame him. I’d left it in plain sight. “A friend,” I said simply.

“Just a friend?” he tested.

“Yeah. I was with him last night.” I aimed a sly grin in him, “Why? Do you feel jealous that he got to spend time with me…?”

“Why do you ask questions that you already know the answer to?”

I grinned a little more and turned back to my computer, trying to compose an email that would secure us the support of one of the major London drug companies. I knew Harry hadn’t left, but I chose not to answer his question- because I couldn’t really do that. The answer was to wind him up, but I couldn’t say that to him.

There was suddenly movement behind me, and I felt a hand on my shoulder as he read what was on my computer screen. “Go away,” I told him. “This is part of my job- not yours.”

“Doesn’t mean you couldn’t use a little help,” he said, an amused note in his voice. “Y’know, what you could do…”

“…is call you annoying and insist that you bugger off,” I finished. “Y’know, I couldn’t agree more. You’re annoying. Bugger off.” I shrugged his hand off, “My email.”

“You never could accept help…”

“Aren’t you meant to be in Tom’s office by-?” I began, spinning around in my chair. I swallowed as I managed to come almost level with his crotch. “-now?” I finished weakly.

As I dragged my gaze up to meet his, he smirked slowly, “Probably.” He sat on the edge of my desk- so close that if his bum slipped off said desk, said bum would end up in my lap. “But there’s something I have to do first…” he murmured.

“Oh, and what’s that?” I asked, knowing full well what he meant.

The door to my office slid closed as he pressed the right button on the console to his left. I watched this happen, then slid my gaze back to his. “You wanted to close my door…? You are aware that that has to be the crappest ambition ever?”

“It isn’t when something incredible is about to follow.” Bringing one hand up to cup the side of my face, he leaned in slowly. I know it was wrong, but something in me leant forward as well. This was Harry- sure, Harry who cheated on me, then accused me of doing the same, but the Harry that I’d had so many good times with. The Harry I still had feelings for.

I could feel his warm breath dancing across my face, and I was entranced by the blue of his eyes as his lips grazed mine gently. I needed more than that. I couldn’t help it. I needed to feel his lips on mine properly. They brushed over again softly, before-

The phone rang, jerking me back to reality. I shoved him away frantically and sat right back in my chair, desperate to get away from him. I was disgusted at myself for what I’d been about to do. Was I insane?! I couldn’t kiss Harry! I wouldn’t kiss Harry!

Why did part of me still want to…?

I picked up my phone, “Jones.”

“Good morning, Danny. I know it’s a grave inconvenience, but you and Harry couldn’t possibly be in my office for…say, five minutes ago?”

I winced at the cool note in Tom’s voice, “Oh, man… I’m so sorry. I got distracted by this email to Senigot. We’ll be right there.”

“And I’ll pretend it really was the email that distracted you,” he said smoothly. “Try not to let it happen again. We do need to have this meeting.” I winced again as the dial tone sounded in my ear. I made a point of kicking Harry in the leg as I hung up.

“What was that for?!” he protested.

I turned off my computer and stood up, “We’re late because of you. Now, Tom’s pissed at us.” I glanced back at him, still sitting in exactly the same place, as I opened the door, “Come on.”

*****

All tension drained out of me the second Tom stood on my foot just inside the door to the office. It sounds weird, but that had always been our way of telling each other we weren’t made. He gave Harry a tight hug upon seeing him, “It’s great to see you on the move. How are you?”

“I still feel a little awkward,” he admitted. “Like someone’s going to turn round and punish me for doing something wrong…”

Tom nodded, “That’s fully understandable given the amount of him you were with them. I hate to do this to you, but I need a full account of what happened.”

Harry sighed, “I know. Don’t worry- I was expecting this. I’ll give you one.”

Tom turned his attention to me, “You’re not actually required to be here for this, Danny, and I’m sure that Harry- even if it is you- doesn’t want to have to tell too many people what happened to him in there. I was just wondering: What’s the latest update on the current situation?”

“There isn’t one. Steve and I are going to check in with Aaron later, see if he’s worked out how he got out. We knew Poynter was an intelligent and skilled hacker, but we have no idea how he’s been able to clean up so well after himself.”

“Let’s hope we find out.”

“Did you say Poynter?” Harry asked. He was sitting in the seat he had taken, a look of concentration on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him, sitting on the arm of the chair and putting a hand to his arm in a comforting gesture.

“It’s nothing. I just recognise the name…”

“Well, he said he came into your cell. Maybe someone called him by name,” I suggested.

“Maybe,” he agreed, looking slightly put out that he’d had that niggle of realisation but couldn’t place it.

“Oh, and Danny?” Tom questioned, drawing my attention back to him. “This came through,” he said tauntingly, waving a white envelope in my direction.

It had been snatched out of his fingers before he could blink. “Finally! That took ages!”

“It’s a complicated procedure, Danny…” he scolded, but he was grinning- amused by my obvious excitement over what anyone else would see as a pointless object.

“What is it?”

I skimmed a hand over Harry’s hair and squeezed his shoulder. “One of the guys responsible for getting you out is getting a promotion,” I told him happily. “Excuse me- I’m gonna go find him.” I smiled at Harry as I headed for the door, “See you later.”

As soon as I was out the door, I tore the envelope open eagerly, and a wide grin split my face as I stared down at Neilson’s new Terrka statistics.

*****

“I have good news for you,” I told Neilson as I moved up behind the punch bag he was currently attempting to deface. I’d stopped by his cubicle, and remembered where he was, so I’d left the envelope on his desk and headed over here. I needed to train, anyway.

“Please tell me you’ve killed T-9 and thrown the body in the Thames,” he grunted, punching the bag once more. A shock when through my body, but I didn’t budge. This kid just kept surprising me…”

“Sorry, he lives on. I have- possibly- even better ­news for you. You-” I paused, and looked around the gym, “Where is T-9?”

“He’s gone to get an easier combat course,” he said bitterly, and the punch bag was rewarded with another heavy punch. “Apparently, I’m a weakling.”

“Has he ever stood behind the punch bag when you’re punching it?” I asked incredulously.

His smile was sweet and innocent, “Don’t be silly, sir. That would ruin his suit…” He shook his head slightly, “I swear, he lives in that damn thing. The mission was the first time I’d seen him in anything other…and he looked weird.”

“That’s ridiculous… You need to have proper hand-to-hand training…” I stepped out from behind the punch bag, “Come on.”

He stared at me in confusion, “What?”

“Spar with me.”

His jaw dropped, “Are you fucking kidding me?! No way!”

“Aw, come on… T-9 won’t do it with you. I will.”

He shook his head slowly. “Why won’t you leave me alone?” he asked, a sly grin creeping across his features.

I cocked my head to the side, “Do you want me to leave you alone?” When he didn’t respond, I shrugged, “I don’t actually know. I just like you. Is that a crime?”

“It’s a little weird,” he admitted. “Our ranks-”

I laughed, “Rank means nothing when it comes to personality! Look at Brant!”

He grinned, “Okay. Fine. I’ll spar with you. Just…don’t beat me up too badly, okay?”

I laughed, and jogged over to the mat. He followed me, and stop opposite me. Without much warning, his leg came flying right at my head. I brought up my arms to block it, and pushed the limb away roughly, so he spun lightly on the spot. I took a swing at his stomach, but he managed to jerk out the way.

We moved backwards across the mat as he dodged my blows, parrying efficiently, and striking back every now and then. He suddenly jumped up, and his foot ploughed neatly into my chin as he did a perfect back-flip.

“Damn it,” I cursed him, rubbing my chin. “I could never master the gymnastics side of it…”

“It comes in handy, trust me.” His leg came flying at my face again. He seemed to favour his lower limbs- and rightly so. He could fight with precision, I could see that already. I ducked his leg, and slid by body along the floor swiftly, tripping him up.

He slammed into the mat, but didn’t hang around long enough to feel my foot landing squarely on the small of his back. He rolled to the side as it slammed down, and hopped to his feet, moving forward quickly so his fist propelled into my stomach.

“Sam!” came the outraged cry as I doubled over, gasping for breath. T-9 strode into my line of vision, looking furious. “How dare you!”

“We were-”

“I don’t want to hear it,” T-9 said harshly. He turned to me. I’d managed to straighten up, but my breathing was still a little ragged. Man, he had a good swing. “I’m so sorry for his behaviour, sir. I can only apolo-”

“Can it,” I suggested mildly. He shut up with a look of insult. “T-9, what right do you have to call Mr. Neilson a weakling? As you can see, he is most certainly not that. And, if my memory serves me correct, your own fighting skills are not quite up to par.”

“But, sir-”

“And why the hell should he have to do a fighting programme when he has a trainer who he can practice combat with?” I continued hotly. “It’s not the same experience, and you know it. This will be reviewed, T-9. You are dismissed.”

“What-?” he spluttered. “What do you-?”

“What I mean,” I told him coldly. “Is that I will finish Neilson’s training for today with him, and dismiss him when I am satisfied, as you clearly are not fit to give him this part of his training. You may resume your duties as his trainer tomorrow, is that understood?”

His eyes were now on the ground, and I could see the humiliation shining like a beacon in his cheeks as I gave him a dressing down in front of everyone in the gym, almost all of which had stopped to listen in. “Understood,” he said meekly.

“Good. And, just so you know, it was my idea to spar, and therefore my fault that he winded me. He did nothing wrong. Apologise to him.”

His eyes widened, and he stared at me in pure terror, but I just regarded him evenly. “Sorry, Sam,” he muttered finally. Neilson nodded in response.

“You are dismissed, T-9,” I told him curtly. He turned and marched across the gym and out the door. When I turned back, Neilson was staring at me.

“That…was the coolest thing I have ever seen,” he said slowly.

“Well, rank has to be good for something…” I said with a grin. “Good right swing, by the way. Where’d you pick that up?”

He shrugged, starting to stretch off his muscles, “I have two brothers. It was a case of kill or be killed.” Practically doing the splits on the mat, he looked up at me, “What about you?”

“I lived on the streets for a while.”

He let out a low whistle, and straightened up, “So kill or be killed in a more literal sense.”

I laughed lightly, “That’s for sure. So, we continuing with the spar?”

“No point. He ruined the fun…” he said with a mock pout. I laughed.

“Danny?”

“Fuck,” I whispered urgently, trying to hide behind Neilson, as if that would help matters at all.

“Oh, sly… He’ll never see you now…” he muttered. “How d’you plan to explain this once he gets over here?”

“What are you doing?”

Harry had arrived. Thinking fast, I shushed him, grabbing Neilson’s arms and drawing them out on either side of his body, “You’re not stretching out your back properly.” I placed one hand on the small of his back, and the other on his stomach. “Can you feel that now?”

“Not really, no,” he said in an undertone. I dug what little nails I possessed into his skin. “Now, now, Danny,” he scolded. “Not in front of the ex…” He stepped away from me with a smile at Harry.

“Well, it’s so tempting…” I said innocently. He snorted.

“God, that’s wrong… You should never use that voice.”

I punched him lightly on the shoulder, “Behave yourself. Harry, this is T-21- Sam Neilson. He was my partner on the mission that saved you.”

Neilson held out a hand and shook Harry’s, “Nice to meet you fina- Hang on.” He swung back to me, “T-21?! When the hell did that happen?!”

I grinned, “Did I not mention that?”

“No, actually… It must’ve slipped your mind whilst you were feeling me up!”

“Well, d’you blame me?” I said in a low voice. He snorted again, shaking his head pityingly. “Besides, I said I was getting you a promotion.”

“Yeah. But I thought you meant T-36 or something… I’ve gone up by sixteen!”

I inclined my head slightly, “I was actually trying to get you switched ranks with T-9, but- apparently- he did a good thing by saving Brant’s life that one time.”

“He’s the only one who’ll tell you that and mean it,” Neilson remarked, crossing his arms stubbornly. “And that’s the end of that conversation. You’re looking a little lost, sir?”

I turned to look at Harry. He didn’t look at all lost, and Neilson knew it. He was just trying to tell me, while not letting Harry know he could tell, that he was being studied critically by my ex. I looked back at Neilson.

I’d never really noticed before, but he really could be seen as a threat in Harry’s eyes. He was fair, and had a slight, even tan- with floppy sandy blond hair that was slightly longer than average, so strands hung in his serious brown eyes. His face was slim and striking, with defined cheekbones, a narrow nose and a mouth that seemed to curve naturally.

In fact, he was slim- period. He wasn’t especially tall, about two inches shorter that myself, but he was lean and the muscles in his arms- on show due to his sleeveless sports top- looked well-defined and powerful. Yup… If he was gay, Harry could have competition- no doubt.

“I’m fine,” Harry said smoothly, dragging his gaze back to me. “Dan, can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?”

“Yeah. Sure.” I turned to Neilson, “I left the paperwork on your desk. I’ll see you soon, yeah?”

“Uh-huh. I need to ask you something, actually.” He glanced at Harry, “I’ll tell you later.” Dropping his voice, he leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Stay strong.” I nodded, and he jogged off.

“What’s up?” I asked, heading towards the private changing room for T-1 to 8, counting on him to fall into step next to me.

He did. “I thought you said he was just a friend. Are you seriously telling me that it’s not something more serious? The flirting…? The fact that he’s fucking hot…?”

“I told you, he’s just a friend,” I told him. “What d’you care?”

He slammed the door shut and locked it, “We are going to have this conversation, Danny, whether you like it or not! Now, I have made it perfectly clear how I feel about you, and you know full well I want to give us another try!”

“I also know full well that I don’t want to give you another try!” I snapped in retort, pulling off my top. “There are two of us in this situation, Harry! Please, for once, consider my feelings as well as your own.”

He stared at me in shock, “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“Well…” I shrugged loosely, picking up my towel and letting the statement hang in mid-air.

“D’you seriously think I don’t care how you feel?” he asked in a hurt tone. “Danny… I’ve changed. I would never purposefully- Give me that, you’re doing it all wrong!” He snatched the towel off me and dabbed it along my collarbone gently.

“I would never purposefully set out to hurt you, Danny. You mean too much to me…. When Polydon had me, you were all I thought about- and you’re all I think about now. Give me another chance. I won’t hurt you again…”

Even staring straight into his eyes, I felt nothing over that declaration, “You already have...”

“Danny! Please!”

“Well, what the hell did you expect, Harry?! For me to run into your outstretched arms…?” I yanked my towel back out his hands. “You destroyed me. And that’s not easily forgotten.”

He took my hand as I tried to turn away, his eyes pleading desperately with mine, “I know… I know what I did. There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t regret it. But I want another chance. I need to prove myself to you… I love you, Danny. And that’s not easily forgotten.”

I pulled my hand away, “Get out.”

He gasped, “What? Why?”

I turned away and pulled on my shirt, not able to look him in the eye. “I can’t do this… I slept with someone else.”

There was silence as I changed my trousers. The kind that suffocates you, so your throat closes up until your brain feels like it’s going to implode from lack of oxygen. The kind makes your ears start to ring in their desperation to pick up a single, solitary noise. “Was it when we were together?” he asked finally in a low voice as I tucked in my tie.

I shook my head as I pulled on my jacket and shut my personal locker, “No. Never.”

He turned me to face him, “Then why are you making it a problem? You didn’t do anything wrong, Danny. You said it yourself: You’re a free man. You had every right to sleep with other men. It doesn’t change anything.”

“Yes, it does,” I disagreed. “He wasn’t just a meaningless fuck, Harry.”

“Are you still seeing him?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“He left,” I muttered, my eyes falling to the floor.

“Then he’s an idiot.” I looked up at the certainty in his voice. He smiled at me, tracing a finger along my cheekbone, “Anyone who chooses to leave you is an idiot.”

I sighed, “If I’m so damn special, why are you assuming I’m single?”

“Are you?”

I offered him an enigmatic smile, “I guess you’ll find out…”

“Please tell me it’s not him,” he warned, disgust lining his voice as his eyes narrowed at the thought of me and Neilson. Personally, I couldn’t picture it. It just wouldn’t work.

“If it was, you’d have to deal,” I told him. “Can you deal?”

He pinned me up against the wall, his bright blue eyes boring into mine. “No,” he hissed.

“Well, tough,” I snarled, staring him down. “‘Cause I’m not ready to forgive you yet.”

*****

“Harry thinks we’re dating,” I informed Neilson, stopping by his cubicle on my way back to my office.

He heaved a sigh, “Fine. Just don’t tell my girlfriend.” He considered, a light smile creeping onto his lips, “Though, she’d probably get off on it. She’s weird like that.”

I smiled. I’d always had good instincts when it came to this sort of thing. I’d known he was straight! I just hoped Harry didn’t work it out yet. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to do anything out of the ordinary.”

“Good. I’m all up for helping out, but I’d prefer if I didn’t have to kiss you.”

“Even though your girlfriend would get off on it?” I asked. He grinned.

“Even though.”

“Oh, that reminds me, how did you get in my office to leave that note earlier?”

He regarded me blankly for a moment, “I have no idea how that reminded you, but your computer just let me right in. I thought it was weird… You might want to have that checked.”

I sighed, “I’ll ask Aaron when I stop by his room. Oh, and you said you wanted to ask me something?”

He frowned lightly, then slapped his desk as he remembered. “Oh, yeah, I have a bet going with T-40 that I couldn’t find out your favourite colour. Fancy helping me out?” He glanced across the room- presumably towards T-40’s cubicle. “It’s a fifty bet- I’ll even go halfers with you. I just want to knock that smug smile of his face…”

“Isn’t it cheating that you’ve told me about the bet?” I asked.

He shrugged, leaning back in his chair, “We never agreed that I couldn’t.” He looked up at me questioningly, “You willing to share?”

I grinned at him, but then I noticed Harry across the office, watching us with narrowed eyes. I smiled over at him, before turning back to Neilson. “You can keep the money. It’s blue.” And I had a certain pair of eyes imprinted on my brain as I said that. I tipped his chin back to look at his again- pretty, but not as alluring. “Yours are the wrong colour…”

He snapped his fingers in mock annoyance, “And my dad has blue eyes… Damn you, Mum!”

I laughed, “I’m sure she meant well…” I checked my watch, “Since I dismissed your trainer, you’re free to go at any time.” I clapped him on the shoulder, “Get your money and get out of here.”

He saluted, “Yes, sir.” I gave him one last grin, and headed across the office to where Steve was standing. He was with Harry- but I’d have to deal with that

“You free to head to Aaron’s?” I asked him.

He groaned loudly, “Christ, Danny. Give me time to breathe… I just got away from the bomb squad- who, by the way, managed to blow up a room, and all the documents on the new prototype.”

“So it didn’t work?”

“Not really. And, now they’ve blown up the documents, -all hand-written-  they have no chance of development.”

“Well, that was intelligent…” I remarked in a mutter. “Who the hell doesn’t make copies?!”

“The bomb squad?” Harry supplied innocently. Steve snorted in amusement. I shot him a look.

“It would appear so… Look, Steve, just stop by my office when you’ve recovered. I should be there for the rest of the day. I need to finish this email to Senigot.”

“Why?”

I grinned at the blank expression on Steve’s face. Even as one of the five founders of Terrka, he didn’t consider every department. “Medicine. We need what they supply us with in case we’re sedated,-” Harry shifted on his feet as my finger landed on him. “-shot,-” I pointed to myself. “-or blown up.” Steve. “Among other things,” I added.

“It’s serious, and I have to email them once a year to thank them for their support and ensure it will continue. I also remind them that is they should choose to betray us, we have London’s best bomber in our midst.”

Steve looked impressed, “I’m being used as a threat.” He nudged Harry in the side, “That’s when you know you’ve made it!” He checked his watch as Harry laughed. “I’m gonna go see if I can get maintenance on the partially destroyed room. We have to talk later. We haven’t had time yet,” he told Harry, before jogging off.

I watched him go, then turned back to find myself staring into a pair of crystal blue eyes, but they weren’t the ones that haunted my mind. “Did you not talk to him yet?! He’s your best friend!”

“I wanted to see you first,” he repeated his words from earlier this morning. “Now I wonder why I bothered.”

I gave him a tense smile, “If suddenly you hate me just ‘cause I rejected you, this proves me right. I’m sorry, Harry, but you haven’t changed.” I turned to walk across the office away from him, but he grasped my arm tightly.

“I’m not going to hurt you again! I don’t know why you can’t see that! I’ve changed.”

I pulled my arm free with a snort of disgust, before turning and striding away. I felt him follow. Reaching my office, I typed in the code, and the door slid open. “Practise what you preach, will you?” I hissed, turning to face him.

“People can’t change their nature. Instead, they cloak it with something unnatural.” I moved right into his face now, “Be a jealous bastard, Harry, but don’t insult both of us by acting like you’re perfect now.” And with that I went into my office and closed the door in his face.

*****

“We have him on camera up until he disengages them,” Aaron mused thoughtfully. “In this very room, no less.” He gestured round the security and computer base, where he did most of his work from when he wasn’t in his office. “But, apart from that, it’s like he was never here… There’s no dent in the system what-so-ever that indicates he hacked it.”

“But I though you said he’d essentially demolished your entire security system,” I pointed out.

“I think he fixed it,” Aaron said slowly. “All I know is that when I got to my office as soon as we got back, there was no sign of anything. And I’ve searched all the levels, checked all the firewalls. How the hell did he do it?”

“Can you check again?” Steve asked.

Aaron nodded, “I’m in the process of doing just that. If there’s a mark, I’ll find it.”

I smiled at him, “You will. Oh, and, while you’re at it, you couldn’t check out my door, could you?”

“What’s wrong?” he asked with a frown.

“It admitted T-21 either yesterday or today. We don’t know what’s wrong. Thank God it was just him…”

“The voice data recogniser must be down,” he decided. “I’ll take a look for you.”

“Thanks.”

*****

“I can’t find anything,” Aaron told us bitterly a week later as we walked down the corridor leading to the private offices. “I don’t see how it’s possible… It’s just ridiculous.”

“Much like the bomb squad, then?” I asked casually. Steve scowled.

“Okay, if you don’t let that drop in the next ten seconds, I’m going to kill you.”

“You mean like the bomb squad pretty much killed that room?”

He cracked his knuckles, a dangerous look on his face, “That does it! You’re mine, Jones!” I could hear Aaron laughing as he lunged at me.

I turned on my heel and ran away, taking a sharp left down a corridor. I could hear him almost right behind me. I turned another corner, and spun neatly into a cupboard- hiding from view.

I heard him run past, then I doubled back ‘til I found a door I recognised. I pressed down on the buzzer urgently. “T-2. Jones comma Danny. Requesting admittance.”

There was a pause, “Please leave a message after the tone.”

I groaned loudly as a beep sounded. “Harry, please! Just let me in!” I begged. “I know I’ve been a jerk, but help me. He’s gonna get me in a minute. I don’t have much time!” I heard running round the corner, getting closer. “Oh, God. He’s coming! Please! Don’t let him kill me!”

The door slid open, and I rushed in, colliding with him. I hadn’t realised he was standing right nest to the door, but we both ended up pressed up against the wall, his arms around me protectively.

I didn’t look up, hiding my face in his chest until I heard the door slide shut. Then I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“Care to explain what’s going on?” he asked gently, fully aware that my breathing was still a little ragged. I looked up into his eyes as he moved my hair aside so he could see my face properly. He deserved an explanation as to why I’d basically mowed him over in my fight to get into his office after we hadn’t spoken properly in a week.

“Your best friend wants to kill me ‘cause I slagged off the bomb squad one too many times.”

“How many times?” he asked curiously, his hand lingering on my cheek.

I looked down at the ground shamefully, “Since last week…”

He burst out laughing, “Danny! No bloody wonder!” His arms were still around me as he laughed, and I looked up at him with a sheepish grin. As his laughter ceased, his gaze bored into mine and his thumb caressed my cheek gently.

And then we were kissing.

It was deep, sensual. My lips seemed to instantly yield to allow him access to my mouth, and our bodies seemed to gel together. My hands drove into his hair as his mouth plundered mine- a sign of his passion. I moaned into his mouth as he bit down on my lip softly, before coming back in for more.

This was wrong. This was so wrong. But why wasn’t I stopping it? I had to stop it! I had to get him off me!

But with his sweet taste on my tongue and his subtle scent rising in my nostrils, the action that I would’ve considered extremely simple and straightforward usually, suddenly seemed damn near impossible in the current situation. I didn’t want to push him off; I wanted to pull him closer. I wanted to feel him again.

But at the same time the very thought terrified me.

And suddenly I was scrambling backwards, fear pounding in my head as my hands scrabbled around me in my desperate fight for something to hold on to whilst trying to get as far away from him as possible. My eyes couldn’t seem to focus, and I was overcome by this deep confusion. I sank to the ground helplessly.

“Danny?” I heard Harry ask urgently. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head, holding up a hand to halt him as he reached for me, “Don’t touch me.”

“But-”

“Please…” was all I said. He took a step in retreat while I composed myself. I had no idea what had just happened. I’d never freaked out like that before in my life. It couldn’t have been just due to the fact I was scared that history was going to repeat itself…

I got to my feet slowly, and looked at him. His concern was showing clearly on his face. I was unsettled by my display, but he was clearly scared for my mental health. “I don’t want to get back together with you,” I told him evenly.

“I know. I’ve been steering clear. I just-”

“It was a joint effort, Harry,” I cut across him with a sigh. “It just happened. I can’t deny I still have feelings for you- not after that, in any case- but…”

“But what?” he asked gently, finally deciding to venture closer to me. I leaned against his desk weakly. “But what?” he asked again, putting his hand on my arm. “What’s stopping you? I know you’re not dating T-21. He has a girlfriend… I heard him talking about her.”

“I’m not letting you back in so you can break me again…” I whispered.

“Danny, listen-”

“No, you listen!”  I thundered. “Do you know how it felt to walk into the flat- our flat- to hear him moaning your name like a cursed mantra as you fucked him?” The tone of my voice had softened, become more threatening. His eyes flicked to the ground, but I grabbed his chin, forcing them back up to me:

“Look at me! Do you know how it felt as I stood by that bedroom door, knowing full well that when I opened it, what I was going to see would shatter me? And then how it felt to open it anyway?” My voice was getting louder and louder again with every word. I didn’t know where this torrent of anger was coming from- but I had to get it out.

“Do you know how it felt to open the door and see you thrusting into him?! YOU DIDN’T EVEN FUCKING KNOW HIM!!” I screamed the last part, making him jump. I looked away now, “Am I that pathetic, Harry, that you think a quick shag off a random in a club would make up for how crap I am in bed? And you expect me to forgive you?”

“You’re not crap in bed.”

“I know I’m not. You’re the only person who’s ever implied it.”

“I was an idiot, Danny,” he said shamefully.

“I know.”

“Let me finish,” he said firmly. I fell into silence. He took a deep breath: “I should never have taken you for granted. I should have respected you while I had you. I see that now.” He gave a shaky smile, “Seconds too late. When Polydon had me- When it occurred to me that I might not ever see you again, I felt like I was choking. I need you, Danny. I still love you.”

He kissed me again, this one slower, more tender and caring. Loving. I pushed him back, “I need to think. Please. Just give me one day, okay? I just have to…think. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Please…”

“Tomorrow.” I felt tears coming to my eyes as my hands fumbled over his chest as I tried to find my grip to push him even further away, and they fell steadily as soon as I was out the door.

“Ah-hah! There you-! Danny? Are you alright?”

“Kill me later, Steve,” I requested quietly. “I’m not in the mood right now…” I ran past him, heading for my office. I just needed to get out of here. I needed to go home, and just be on my own for a while. Entering my office, I grabbed my practically empty briefcase- not bothering to put anything into it, and left again.

I managed to keep what little composure I still had in check as I walked through the rows of cubicles to the lift. Neilson frowned at me in concern as I passed his cubicle, but I gave him a small smile to say I was fine. As soon as the lift doors closed, I punched the wall, emitting the scream that had been wanting to escape for so long. I got that my life wasn’t normal, but why could nothing in my life ever be simple?!

I had no proper family, and had lived on the street for a while. Then I met my best friend, and that led me to being co-founder of one of the two biggest gangs in London. My best friend was the leader- calm, controlled and impossibly happily married, while my other best friend liked to play with explosives.

My ex- who cheated on me- was still in love with me, and it terrified me that I was slowly falling for him again, despite what he did to me. And plus, I still couldn’t get another man out of my mind- a Polydon no less, who I hadn’t seen in about a fortnight.

The most normal aspect of my life right now had to be Neilson- and even he came with complications. In the form of a small, annoying and jealous trainer.

I leaned against the side of the lift as it travelled up. I just needed time to think about all of this. So far, Harry had done nothing wrong, and if there was no hope of Dougie ever coming back, why shouldn’t I move on?

The doors slid open gracefully and I walked out into the busy bank office that lay atop our base. It was the perfect cover, as many people walked in and out of the doors every day, and only a select number of people knew we were here. Others just assumed we were part of the extensive staff, like themselves. “Good afternoon, Danny,” the receptionist greeted as I passed.

I paused to talk to her. Lynda was a kindly woman in her early sixties, who knew about us, and had worked here for longer than we’d been here. “Afternoon,” I replied. “And how are you?”

“I’m doing well,” she said with a smile. “It’s my wedding anniversary today. The hubby better have gotten me something good.”

I smiled back at her, “With a face like that, why wouldn’t he?”

She giggled, “Oh, you are a charmer… You’re looking a little worn out, my boy. Are you okay?”

I nodded, “I’m fine. We’re just running on all cylinders right now. We’ve had some trouble.”

“Oh. Nothing serious, I hope.”

I sent her a playful wink, “Nothing we can’t handle. I’ll talk to you later, Lynda.”

“You take care, you hear me?” she warned. “You’re too handsome to die.

“For you, I’d fight to stay alive.” With a wave, I exited the building. Out on the busy sidewalk, the bitter wind slapped my face and the smell of stale cigarette smoke plagued my nostrils, but it was somewhat soothing. With a slight smile, I started down the pavement. My flat was only a couple blocks away, and I liked to walk.

A man moved up beside me as soon as I started moving, and I sensed something was awry. He was too close. However, before I could reach for my weapon, something was forced into my back. “If you make any kind of protest,” he said softly. “I will fire a bullet straight into your spine and be gone before anyone realises what’s happened. Do you understand me, Terrka?”

I’d been careless, and I cursed myself as I gave the area around me. But those who lingered on their carelessness were more likely to be careless once more. I had to think properly right now. Seeing no way out, I nodded slowly.

“Get in the car,” he commanded, and he steered me towards a silver Jaguar with blacked out windows that was parked at the kerb and forced me into the backseat. Once there, I came face-to-face with another gun.

I breathed in sharply, just as the door was shut behind me. I found my handle and tried it, but it wouldn’t open again. My eyes never left the instrument in front of me. The first man got in the front seat, and the car pulled away from the kerb.

“You Terrka?” the woman in possession of the gun that was currently pointing between my eyes asked.

I feigned a frown of confusion, “What? Look, if this is about money, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

The woman furrowed her brow thoughtfully. “Keep your eyes on him,” she ordered her partner, who had twisted round in his sear to point his own weapon at me. She lowered hers now, clicked on the safety, and handed it to him- presumably so I couldn’t grab it.

“Hold out your arms,” she told me. I did so with a subtle, faked shiver. She searched my jacket and ran her hands along my waistline and belt. I hoped she would stop there, but she leaned into me slightly to search my back and found where my gun was holstered at the lower left hand side.

She pulled it out, “Properly concealed. He’s a Terrka, all right.”

I scowled at her as she moved back with a smirk, examining my gun, “What? You think you’re gonna get honours for getting me? I’ve barely qualified. A true Terrka wouldn’t get caught in the first place. You’d never suspect them.”

“That’s why we went for you,” she said softly. “You were perfectly casual, composed, slightly troubled, but there was something. Your eyes are harder than a banker’s- that’s the giveaway.” She was still surveying my weapon with interest, “This is a nice piece.”

I shrugged, “Standard issue.”

A smile tugged at her lips, “Surely not to all Terrka… Why don’t you tell us your real rank? I’m sure our boss would be delighted to meet you… And, of course, our interrogation officer… He deals with all our hostages.”

“We’re not even at your base, and already you’re calling me your hostage.”

The man made an impatient noise, “What’s your rank, Terrka?”

Wow. Good Polydon, bad Polydon. And I thought it was only cops that used that technique… I sighed, as if I were ashamed, “T-93.”

“T-93 wouldn’t have this gun,” she corrected, a hard gleam in her emerald green eyes as she glared across the backseat at me.

“Well, maybe I stole it.”

“And maybe you’ll tell us your real rank?” was her smooth retort. “We don’t like being lied to.”

I kept my mouth closed now, refusing to utter so much as one more syllable. They both just sat and watched me. Then he exploded: “Just answer the damn question!”

I simply turned and blinked at him. She sighed, “This won’t benefit you, you know. Poly1 won’t like having to drag it out of you.”

My whole face was devoid of expression as I turned back to look at her, “If they’re anything like their predecessor, they won’t.”

“You met the old Poly1?” she asked quickly. “That was over two years ago. No way are you T-93.”

I laughed softly, “I didn’t just meet him. I was one of the ones who killed him.”

I caught the wide eyed glance they shared, however subtle they thought it was. You’re lying,” he spat. “Only the four highest ranks were in with him.”

I smiled slowly, in a way I knew would unsettle both of them, “Then I must be mistaken.”

“We’re here,” the driver announced, speaking for the first time as the car pulled to a stop.

*****

I was essentially manhandled into a room that contained nothing but a table and CCTV camera. The two Polydon shoved me in. They had led me into their base through a random coded door, and then dragged me down a couple of corridors. “Watch him,” the female commanded, definitely the leader of the two. “I’ll go and get Poly1.” She left the room swiftly.

He turned on me, “You have one last chance before they get here. Tell me your rank, and we might not put you with our worst interrogator. He’s young, crude, and knows just how to get information out of people.”

He sounds like Dougie, was my silent thought. But he was a hacker- why would he interrogate? “I told you. I’m T-93.”

“And we’ve told you we don’t believe you!” His fist came flying at my face, but I spun out the way sharply. A holler of a pain left his lips as he punched the wall.

“Believe what you want. I’m not saying any different.”

He scowled at me, “Poly1 will rip you to shreds.”

I moved right into his face, “Well, I held the gun that killed the last Poly1, so bring it on…”

His upper lip curled in disgust, “No, you didn’t. You’re not of high enough rank.”

“Oh? And, tell me, who is your leader now? ‘Cause I’ll bet you he’s not as good as Rashman was.”

A cruel smirk curled on his face, “He’s better. If you did kill Rashman, I say you did us a favour…”

“Go on, then.” I threw up my hands, “Enlighten me. Who’s your new leader? Who is he?!” I shouted the last part, grabbing hold of the man’s t-shirt.

“That would be me…” I heard a familiar voice drawl.