It all began with a 911 call and several months later ended with the arrest of a serial killer that had murdered four women and terrorized a city of millions. It had also left the extremely intelligent young homicide officer, Ronan Lee, with a problem. The gorgeous blonde woman had deduced early into the case that the killer was copycatting the murder of a well-known actress from the twenty-first century, Kate Williams.

Ronan had heard about the death of the actress as a teenager and it had actually been her interest in that tragedy that had led to her going into police work; a happenstance that left her well-to-do family slightly unhappy. But Ronan hadn't gone into police work because she needed a job, she did it because she enjoyed the work and the sense of satisfaction that she got from helping others. The fact that these brutal killings mimicked the case that led to her joining the Federated World Order Guards was purely coincidental, but the solving of the recent case left her with an obsession. She couldn't get Kate Williams out of her head.

The brilliant detective had solved the case very quickly, anticipating that The Butcher would not kill his victim immediately. From the Williams case, she knew that he would ask for a ransom, showing a holo-vid of the middle-aged redheaded victim to prove she was still alive. It would only be after the money was delivered that the mutilated body would be discovered, the killer never having planned on releasing her from the beginning. Since Williams had been discovered in a small farmhouse within two miles of the ransom drop point, Ronan had instituted an immediate search for a farm within that radius as soon as the demand had been made. Her intuition had paid off, and a location fitting that description had turned up almost immediately on the advanced 24th century mainframes.

While her partner, Martin Angstrom, kept the would-be murderer busy with false drop information to lure him away from his victim, Ronan was assembling a swat team and moving into position. Less than two hours later the killer, who turned out to be a pot-bellied, middle-aged man with a taste for golden oldies was in custody and his victim was being taken to the hospital to ensure that she was unharmed.

During those four months Ronan had learned more about Kate Williams life than she had ever thought possible. The elegant actress had a reputation for being a no-nonsense businesswoman who nevertheless charmed the people around her while controlling them completely without them being aware that she was doing so. She had been married to a very important man named Roger Gentry who had been instrumental in the rise of the Federated World Order Government, but she had divorced him a few months prior to her death. Secretly, Ronan believed the ex-husband had something to do with her untimely demise. Her recent investigations had uncovered evidence that Roger had hidden sensitive government information in his wife's briefcase fearing that he was being targeted by the competition. Later, he had tried to retrieve that information but was unsuccessful. Assuming that Kate had read the information contained on the computer disc he probably felt he had no other choice, and he had set her up to be terminated. Ronan didn't believe Kate had even known what she had in her possession, but Roger hadn't been able to take the chance especially in light of their bitter divorce and the fact that Kate Williams regularly socialized with politicians and congressmen putting her in the perfect position to take advantage of that position

It was well known at the time that someone had been stalking the actress, breaking into her penthouse in New York, and leaving love notes. When she was later kidnapped, and ransomed, it was assumed to be the work of the anonymous stalker. Ronan knew that even if the kidnapper hadn't succeeded, someone else would have. The stakes were simply too high.

Since the incident had occurred almost three hundred years in the past, her discoveries really didn't matter to anyone of any authority, but they mattered a great deal to Ronan. Somewhere along the way, she had fallen in love with the long-dead woman; haunted by the blue-gray eyes and the husky laugh as she watched old holovideos night after night. As she let herself be immersed in the older woman's charisma, Ronan also came to understand that if Kate had lived, it was very likely that the neo-Nazi totalitarians of the New World Order would never have risen to power. This world of curfews and personal rights violations would never have come to be.

Her work was being severely affected by her inability to concentrate, and her lieutenant had sent her home with the understanding that she was on temporary leave, believing that she had simply been overworked. Unwittingly he had opened the door for the leggy blonde to do something about her obsession.

Ronan was sitting in her favorite armchair with her feet up, a snifter of Remy Martin and watching a Kate Williams holo-vid when the call came. Her computer beeped an incoming communication, and a frown flitted across the Nordic features. For a moment she considered ignoring it, but with her luck it would be her partner and she would never hear the end of it if she blew him off. Heaving a resigned sigh, Ronan stood and walked over to the interface.

"Activate," she said simply and watched as the grizzled features of Professor Horton appeared.

A grin tugged reluctantly at the corners of her mouth, honest affection for the old man touching her heart at the sight of wisps of hair sticking up randomly from the balding pate and a rumpled lab-coat hanging off his thin frame. The man might be a mess, but he was utterly brilliant and had a heart of gold.

He usually contacted Ronan when he needed more funding with one of his research projects, and she had always granted him the money. Her faith in his abilities had led to major breakthroughs in the holo-technologies that were so widely used, and in warp propulsion that allowed starships to travel 200,000 miles per second through the galaxies, to meet many new alien cultures. His latest project had been in theoretical time travel. When he had instituted the research over two years ago Ronan hadn't believed it would go anywhere, but with his track record, she was prepared to take a few things on faith.

"Professor," she said with a grin, "You're looking well,"

"Pish posh," the man said jovially, waving a hand in the air. "Don't get sassy with me, young lady."

The banter between the two was commonplace and no one took offense as the old man got right down to business. "I'm calling you because I'm ready to move into the testing phase of our gate and I thought you might want to be present. After all, it is your dime."

"The time travel project?" Ronan asked, her whiskey sloshing over the rim of her glass as she jerked in surprise. "You mean you actually got it to work?"

Frowning as though severely offended and put upon he asked, What? Did you think I used the money to pay for my elaborate life-style?"

Regrouping quickly with a shake of her head, she replied, "Of course not. I apologize; you just caught me off guard. Of course I would like to be there when you test your hypothesis. I assume this means you'll need more …funding?"

"Ha!" the old man barked, taking off his glasses and wiping the spotty specs with an equally dirty handkerchief. "I always said you were the smart one in the family. Come over in about an hour, and Ill show you what I have."

That quickly he terminated the communique. Ronan chuckled as she put down her glass and got ready to leave her penthouse apartment. An hour later she pulled up his driveway on her black BMW Avantgarde. The motorcycle was brand new and outfitted with all of the latest in modern technology. Ronan had added a few modifications of her own to the 1200C and the machine throbbed powerfully between her muscled legs.

Ronan pulled into the drive and switched off the bike, removing her black helmet before walking calmly to the front door. She had to wait several minutes after knocking, realizing that Dr. Horton had probably already forgotten about her. Just when she was about to give up, the front door grudgingly opened, and he ushered her impatiently inside. Ronan grimaced as she passed his set of archaic weapons proudly displayed on the wall by the entrance, and was again baffled why such a scholarly gentleman insisted on collecting such artifacts. Long, wickedly curved blades, ornately carved swords, and bayonets adorned the walls.

The professors lab was built under his home, deeply in the ground, and what Ronan saw in the next hour had her jaw hanging open in absolute amazement. The time gate was simply that; a gate. Ronan didn't understand all of the technology used to operate the mechanism, but the tactile interface was operated simply. Punching commands into the console set destination time and date and return information was then input. Because the machine locked on to the matter signature of the last object to be transported through the gate, it was unnecessary to have a corresponding gate at the destination.

The gate itself was simply two opposing pillars approximately six feet high and four feet long that one stood between while the energy beams were engaged. The dimensional portal locked on to anything between the walls, and transported it in the wink of an eye. They sent a probe through to fifty years in the past with a set time of twenty minutes. Since the probe was holographic, it was made transparent and undetectable to the technology of the time it was being sent to.

When the probe was retrieved, Dr. Horton played back the images recorded into its database and Ronan was amazed to see that it actually worked. She watched pictures of people walking through the Metroplex wearing dated clothing, and saw newspapers with ancient headlines convincing her that the probe had picked up authentic information. Then it was sent forty years into the future, and the blonde waited anxiously for its return. When the tool was finally retrieved, Ronan was disturbed by what was replayed. It was an image of herself sitting on the porch of her home glaring at everyone.

Her face was old and wrinkled, and Ronan was surprised at the bitterness in her countenance. The invisible probe followed when Ronan got up and walked into her house, and she could see that the dwelling had become a shrine to the past. Pictures of Kate Williams covered nearly all of the available wall space, and when her ancient self gazed upon the faces staring back at her, Ronan could see the first signs of humanity on the wrinkled visage. The lined face relaxed and a melancholy smile graced the full lips. Reaching out with trembling fingers, she touched the frozen image, and Ronan knew she was staring at what her future would become if she couldn't deal with the obsession that was just beginning.

"We will be ready for the next phase soon." Dr. Horton spoke, breaking through the haze in her mind. He didn't even seem to notice that the subject in the recording was Ronan, caring only that it worked.

"Next phase?" she asked, shocked at the husky tone of her voice.

"Well, it will be a while, but eventually a person will have to go through. First there will have to be many more tests. We must be sure that there are no side effects so we should send through smaller life forms for the initial testing. Perhaps a few rodents,"

"Why not now?" Ronan broke in, suddenly excited.

"My dear!" the old man began, "That would be extremely dangerous. Anything could happen. The machinery could break, the subject could develop some rare disease, or worst of all they might meet themselves at their destination if the timing were not set correctly."

Not following the significance of such an occurrence she asked, "So? What would be so terrible about that?"

"They would cancel each other out!" he answered as though she should have known. "It would be like matter and anti-matter; they could not exist at the same time."

They discussed possible paradoxes for a considerable amount of time, the Professor even taking the time to give Ronan a crash course in how to operate the machinery knowing he could trust her not to work the mechanism without his supervision. It was well after midnight before she left his residence and the shadows effectively hid the operative that had been sent to see what the old man was up to. The New World Order wasn't necessarily worried about him, he had been a loyal comrade up to date and his discoveries had greatly increased their power. But one could never be too careful and it looked as though their attention to detail was paying off. If this new technology fell into the wrong hands, it could greatly undermine their authority. That was not something the present government was willing to take a chance with.

________________________

The annoyingly persistent buzzing of the alarm combined with the almost constant chiming of the incoming communications signal finally roused the blonde from an almost comatose sleep. Pushing herself out of bed with a groan, she stumbled with half-closed eyes toward the computer display.

"Activate," she snapped in irritation, but was completely awake a moment later when the image of her commander came onto the view screen. Since she was on personal leave, his was the one face she hadn't expected to see. "Sir?"

"Sorry to bother you off-duty Lee, but I thought you should hear it from me rather than on the morning news." His tone and the compassion in his eyes indicated that the news was not good.

Bracing herself for the worst the blonde asked, "What is it?"

Obviously searching for a way to say the words the older man met her gaze squarely. "I guess the only way to say it, is to just say it. Professor Horton is dead." Seeing the shock on her face, he rushed on. "We believe that his research in time travel was seen as a potential threat, and the Order did what was necessary to ensure its survival."

Although sympathetic to her loss, Lieutenant Sloan was a good soldier and fully supported whatever decisions his government thought necessary. His assumption that Ronan also shared his views that the ends justified the means couldn't have been farther off the mark, but she knew better than to voice those differences. Her belief that the way commoners were treated by the hierarchy was wrong had been growing for some time. It had taken discovering the details of Kate Williams' death and now the murder of Professor Horton to finally push her over the edge. Choking back an immediate outburst in the interests of self-preservation, Ronan forced herself to share platitudes about the unfortunate but necessary death of the old man before ending the communication.

Staring dejectedly at her bare feet for several minutes, Ronan grieved the loss of her old friend. Then the thought occurred to her that the lab might have been discovered and destroyed, and her heart lurched in her chest. Feeling the need to ensure that it hadn't been, she dressed quickly and was just preparing to leave when the computer chimed with a priority one incoming message. Frowning, and wondering what else the lieutenant had to say, she turned back in aggravation. But the call was not from the Guard. The transmission was darkly shadowed and blurry around the edges. The person on the screen was effectively hidden, and the voice altered for the sake of anonymity.

"Do not speak. Listen. Professor Horton was killed by the Order not to prevent the research falling into the hands of resisters, but so that they could control it."

"Why would they do that?" she interrupted in spite of herself, but the caller went on as though she hadn't spoken.

"The Order knew they would have difficulty controlling the Professor, but if they could utilize the technology for their own purposes, they would have access to go backward or forward to change anything they wanted. It would ensure their total power for eternity. You must be very careful. The Order is not what it appears to be."

The transmission was terminated without warning, leaving Ronan with more questions than answers. Rushing out, she drove her motorcycle quickly to the Professor's home. Making sure she wasn't followed, she parked the powerful machine behind a row of hedges and easily jimmied the door open. No one had been in the lab, and everything looked the same as it had when she had been there the day before. Staring at the gate, Ronan was struck again by the anonymous tip she had received before leaving her residence. There was no doubt in her mind that the government had been responsible for the current situation, and suddenly she was struck by the fact that she had the means to do something about that. She could take steps to ensure that such a totalitarian government never came to power, and at the same time prevent the death of an incredible woman that had made such an impression on her. If her motives weren't completely unselfish, she was comforted by the fact that her intentions were good, and that she was only human.

She had preparations to make and only a short time to do it in. Liquidating her accounts and assets would be the first step since she would have to have a lot of ready cash. Not only was there a lot to do in her own time, but many things she would have to accomplish once she arrived at her destination if she was going to be successful.

Ronan moved quickly but carefully over the next two days. Finally, her motorcycle was parked between the time gates fitted with saddlebags that were loaded with supplies. Some of those supplies consisted of a sophisticated computer laptop, food rations until she could get settled, and various weapons. Ronan set the gate controls and transferred the bike to a remote location in the mid-west. Her research from the time had indicated that the area was unpopulated and heavy with trees and vegetation. The holographic probe she had sent with the bike returned a few moments later and confirmed that data. Confident that her hiding place would be safe for the next few hours while she completed her tasks, Ronan moved on to the next phase.

The gate had to be destroyed if she were to ensure the Order couldn't use it. Since she had sent her bike through the gate, she would have to utilize the Professor's car. It was late and rain began to fall as she pulled out of the drive. At one o'clock in the morning the rain swept streets, flooded at some intersections, were generally deserted but for military vehicles. Ronan chose an indirect route to the institute to avoid known inspection stations, but she was afraid of encountering an impromptu checkpoint. Her papers were in order, and her security clearance exempted her from the curfew. Nevertheless she preferred not to come under the scrutiny of the military.

Because her breath fogged the windshield, because rain obscured the eerily dark city, because the cars wipers were worn, and because the hooded headlights illuminated a limited field of vision, she almost missed the narrow, cobblestone street that led behind the institute. She braked, and turned the wheel sharply. The sedan took a corner with a shudder and a squeal of tires, sliding slightly on the slick cobbles.

She parked in darkness near the rear entrance, got out of the car and took an empty suitcase from the back seat. The institute was a dark four-story brick building with heavily barred windows. An air of menace hung about the place, and she shivered in response. The metal door had concealed hinges and was painted black. She pushed the button, heard the buzzer ring inside, and waited nervously for a response. Not dressed for the weather, rain soaked into her shoes and plastered her hair to her skull before drizzling down the nape of her neck. Shivering, she looked at a slit window that was set in the wall beside the door. A light came on above the door, and was directed straight down at her.

Ronan smiled at the window and held up her identification for the guard she could not see. Since she did not work directly with the night crew, they would not know that she was supposed to be on temporary leave. The light went out, the lock bolts clattered open, and the door swung inward.

"Ma'am, what are you doing out in this downpour?"

"I have work I needed to finish." She said simply, knowing that it would not seem unusual since detectives worked odd hours at best.

"Come in, you'll catch cold for sure." He gestured worriedly for the woman to come in out of the rain.

"I kept worrying about work Id left undone, so I thought I might as well come in and do it."

Clucking his tongue disapprovingly at the young woman overworking herself, the guard removed his key set from his belt and walked over to the inner door. It would take turning both of their keys in tandem to open the heavy, steel door.

"How long will you be staying, Ma'am?"

"A couple of hours. Is anyone else working tonight?"

"No, you're the only martyr." He said with a chuckle.

The guard closed the metal door behind her and the bolt clanked, locked automatically. Alone in the hallway Ronan thought, not for the first time, that she was fortunate in her appearance; blonde, strong-featured, blue-eyed. Her looks partly explained why she could so brazenly come into the institute in the middle of the night and remove explosives from the armory without expecting to be searched. Nothing about her was dark, sly or suspect. She was the ideal; angelic when she smiled, and her devotion to country would never be questioned by men whose blind obedience to the state and whose sentimental patriotism prevented them from thinking clearly about a lot of things.

She rode the elevator to the third floor and went directly to her office where she turned on a single goose-necked lamp on her desk. Removing her soaked shoes, she took a file from the cabinet and spread it over the desk to make it appear as though work was being conducted. Removing a flashlight from her desk drawer and carrying the empty suitcase, she walked up the stairs to the fourth floor and down the hallway to the armory door. The flashlight revealed the barred door, but she was undeterred since she had the keys to the room. Her clearance was high enough that she had full access.

The roar of the rain overhead was thunderous against the low ceiling. Opening the suitcase, she placed bricks of explosives and detonators inside. Being a demolitions expert, she knew exactly what she needed and how much. The archaic explosives would work better than modern technology since they wouldn't leave an energy signature that could be traced. Chilled by the unheated air of the weapons room, she worked with tremulous hands. Finishing quickly, she closed the case and carefully exited the room making sure no one was around. She returned to her office on the third floor and sat behind her desk to wait a few hours so she could leave without the guard becoming suspicious.

Closing her eyes, she summoned Kate's face. She could always calm herself with thoughts of the other woman, and the mere fact that she would not die brought Ronan peace and greater courage.

The next evening, she was ready. All necessary provisions had been sent through the gate, and she was next. She had no close family, and the only one that would miss her would be the Guard itself. They would easily accept her disappearance; it was a dangerous city. It was doubtful that more than a cursory search would be done to find her.

Her last task would be to place the explosives and set the timer to detonate the charges an hour after her departure. She opened the suitcase and placed the charges. She shaped each charge to direct the power of the explosion upward. The blast must not merely blow the basement, but bring the heavy roof slates and timbers crashing down through the debris to cause further destruction of the Professors former home. She inserted a detonator in every charge and strung wire all around the mechanism and into the corners of the room. The great quantity of explosives would ensure that nothing was left. No files would remain to rekindle the dangerous research.

Finally finished, she was ready to go, but felt suddenly nervous and for a moment simply stared at the gate. The scores of dials, gauges, and graphs in the gates support machinery all glowed softly. Standing in front of it now, she was in awe. Not of the astonishing scientific breakthrough her friend had made, but because of its potential for evil use. She desperately needed sleep, but there was no time for it.

If she could prevent one death, the Federated World Order would never come to pass. Hopefully she had set the controls properly to give herself the time she needed to prepare. Six months should do it, she thought, and steeled herself for to deal with the unknown. To step from the world she understood, and hope for a future where hope was more than a distant dream.

Twisting the dial on the simple timer, Ronan took one last look around and stepped through the gate and into the past.

The grounds to the Governor's mansion were brightly lit for the Christmas fund-raising affair, and limousines lined the circular drive. Celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise and Jodie Foster hobnobbed with politicians and congressmen, using the glitter and excitement of Hollywood to raise money for A.I.D.S. research. The December evening was bitterly cold in New York, but inside the mansion it was comfortably heated without being stuffy.

Everything inside was glittering and fancy from waiters in tuxes and tails, to the sparkling emerald evening gown that the small auburn-haired woman wore. She held a glass of champagne in one hand and rested the other on Mayor Stewarts arm while gazing up at the ineffectual man flirtatiously. Kate Williams had played this game many times, in a way it was part of the reason for her recent divorce. Her ex-husband, Roger Gentry, had feigned anger and jealousy at her flirtatious banter with various heads of state, but in reality her easy manner had made it easier for him to move into political circles.

When he had developed his own circle of incumbents, her usefulness was gone. Not that she minded. Their relationship had never been passionate; it had merely served a purpose. Kate was glad to be rid of the sniveling man.

Having felt that she had stroked Stewart's ego enough for one night, she turned to a passing waiter and exchanged her now-empty glass for a full one from the tray he carried high over his head. Bringing the glass closer she prepared to take a sip of the fruity bubbly, but she made the mistake of glancing up and found herself mesmerized.

Although Kate had never been interested in women, that didn't mean she couldn't acknowledge beauty when she saw it and this woman was absolutely ravishing. The tall blonde was leaning against the wall looking bored. She was dressed in a sophisticated black Armani business suit that tapered at the frighteningly narrow waist, and the wide lapels accentuated the stark white shirt she wore beneath that was open to the fourth button, showing an amazing amount of cleavage. With her golden mane twisted into an almost severe bun, she presented an image of stark contrast. At once cold and insolent, yet at the same time provocative and mysterious... utterly captivating.

Unexpectedly she turned her head and their eyes met, gazes locked. Kate was stunned by the electric contact. Then the younger woman smiled and her whole face was transformed rendering Kate breathless as she realized she was looking at the most magnificent creature she had ever seen.

A passing waiter bumped into Kate as he attempted to navigate the press of bodies, causing the redhead to look down as she tried to maintain her balance and not spill her drink all over her front. When she looked back a moment later, the blonde was gone.

Feeling unaccountably depressed with the sudden loss of the stunning vision, Kate attempted to immerse herself back into the party. But the magic was gone and twenty minutes later, she decided shed had enough glitter for one night. Leaving the mansion slightly intoxicated, she didn't see the dark sedan that pulled out behind her limousine.

"Raise the glass, would you Tommy?" Kate asked, and waited for the privacy shield to rise between herself and the driver. She didn't really have anything to hide from the sandy-haired young man, but the glass gave the impression of privacy that Kate reveled in from time to time. Her life was so public that any amount of seclusion helped her breathe easier.

Leaning back into the plush upholstery, she rested her head back and thought about the woman she had seen. Who was she? Not a celebrity, Kate was sure. She would have recognized that face if she had seen it before. Some politicians date for the evening, perhaps? Maybe, but she hadn't looked as though she was with anyone.

With her mind on the mysterious stranger, Kate felt herself relaxing and drifting into a drowsy slumber as they rode through the darkness. The drive to her penthouse on the Upper West Side would take about an hour, so there was no reason not to sleep.

A few miles outside the city the road became a narrow two-lane. Lights were sporadic casting heavy shadows across the sparse traffic of early morning. Behind the streamlined luxury vehicle, the dark sedan suddenly shot forward and swerved into the other lane. Thinking that the sedan was simply attempting to pass, the chauffer pressed lightly on the brake and rode the outside edge of the driving lane.

The other vehicle pulled up even with them, and Tom's heartbeat tripled when he saw the window lower beside him and the shiny muzzle of an automatic weapon poke through. Gunfire chattered from the weapon, striking the side of the limo, some of the bullets lodging in the metal while others ricocheted off harmlessly. An instant later, the limousine careened out of control when a few of the rounds found their mark and one of the front tires exploded impressively.

Tom fought the shuddering wheel, trying to maintain control over a ton of skidding, shrieking, and straining metal even as he could hear Kate yelling from behind wanting to know just what the hell was going on. The young man lost the battle and the vehicle flew sideways off the road, skidding through slush and snow before coming to an abrupt halt when it impacted with a guardrail, preventing it from falling over a sheer cliff.

Two gunmen leapt from the black sedan, running toward them with streetlights flashing off the muzzles of their weapons, and their breaths puffing clouds of smoke into the frigid air. Knowing that the guardrail on one side and the thugs on the other trapped them, Tom did the only thing he could to protect the woman in his charge; he hit the button on his door that automatically locked all exits. Fortunately the limo had been fitted with bulletproof glass lately, the result of an over-enthusiastic fan that had been stalking Kate, and he was relieved that the rounds couldn't pass through the glass. If they were very lucky, someone would have reported the incident and the police were already on the way.

A sudden flash of light reflected in the rearview mirror, blinding Tom before it shot out of his field of vision. Kate also saw the light coming from behind them, and feared that the gunmen had brought help. In morbid fascination she watched the scene unfolding next to her.

The motorcycle was huge and menacingly black as it shot through the night and in front of the gunmen. The rider was all in black, wearing helmet and gloves, no features were discernable. Kate found herself captivated by something that looked like it was out of a movie. The rider squeezed the large bikes front brake hard, and the rear of the machine rose off the turf. For a moment Kate was sure he would be thrown from the vehicle as it skidded on the slush, but at the last second the rider used his body weight to sling the rear of the bike around.

The rear tire connected solidly with the lead assassins face. The man flew into the air, somersaulting backward before coming to rest heavily on the ground. He didn't move again. Not to be deterred, the other ruffian directed his fire toward Kate's would-be-savior, leaving a trail of gunfire on the ground leading toward the rescuer, tearing up tufts of snow and frozen turf. Before the bullets could reach the motorcycle, the rider stopped the machine and reached for a concealed weapon inside the black jacket. Faster than Kate's eyes could follow, a pistol was removed and one round was fired. The semi-automatic barked once into the night in sharp contrast to the staccato burst of the automatic rifle. The gunman pitched backward onto the ground; dead.

Calmly, the rider turned off the machine and dismounted before sauntering toward the limousine. Kate was terrified that the nightmare hadn't ended, and tried to squeeze onto the floorboard out of site. She couldn't tear her eyes away as the dark rider neared the drivers door. Long-fingered hands reached up and fumbled with the chinstrap for a moment, then the helmet was being removed and Kate was astonished that the rider was a woman, and even more so when she recognized her.

Ronan smiled in a friendly manner at the driver and gestured for him to lower the window. For a moment he hesitated, unsure if the threat was truly at an end.

Kate sat up in the back and pressed the intercom button. "Its all right, Tom. Lower the privacy glass." Although she didn't know this woman, had never even spoken to her, Kate instinctively knew they were in no danger from her.

Reluctantly, he lowered the privacy shield and then his own driver's window.

"Hi," Ronan said easily as she squatted beside the limousine. She briefly met the young drivers eyes in an attempt to reassure him before looking into the rear at Kate. "Is everyone all right?"

"Thanks to you," Tom returned with a self-derisive snort.

"You're the woman from the party." Kate said, not answering the question. Ronan wasn't even sure she had heard it.

Answering the look of confusion in the older woman's face with another smile, she nodded once and replied with a shrug, "I was bored and decided to leave. I saw them following you and decided to see what was up. I always was too curious for my own good."

"And you just happen to ride a motorcycle like a stunt driver and carry a gun?" Kate inquired with an arched brow and a grin of her own.

"A girl's got to be able take care of herself." Ronan shot back.

Not quite knowing how to respond to the humor, Kate returned simply, "Yes, well…I owe you my life. I don't know how I can ever thank you."

The words were sincere, but the actress didn't really expect the young woman to take her up on the offer, so she was surprised to hear, "How about a job?"

"How's that?" Kate asked in surprise. This woman was obviously well educated and dressed in a suit that screamed money. She didn't look like someone that needed a job, and the older woman couldn't prevent her outburst. "I don't even know your name."

Not missing a beat the, younger woman replied. "Ronan Lee, and word has it that you're in need of a new pilot."

It was a well-known fact that Kate kept a pilot on her payroll because being an impatient person; she didn't like to wait if she needed to travel. And since she didn't like crowds that left only one alternative in the busy woman's mind. Ronan knew she was in need of a pilot because she had personally seen to it that the position had an opening. Having paid the previous one a large sum of money, and convinced him very pointedly that another position might be better for his health in the long run.

"And you just happen to be qualified?" Kate asked playfully, breaking into the blondes musings.

The wail of sirens approaching screamed in the background, and for a moment Ronan's heartbeat increased nervously. Then she remembered that her identity was in order. Her papers and weapons permit were the best that money could buy and in this limited technological age the authorities wouldn't be able to detect any fabrication. With that knowledge, her shoulders relaxed and she allowed herself to enjoy the banter with a woman she had long dreamed about.

"I just happen to be, yes. And you even have the fringe benefit of me being a fairly decent bodyguard in a pinch." she added, nodding toward the assailants.

Kate followed the blonde's gaze and realized that she had enjoyed talking to the young woman so much that shed almost forgotten about the attack. "So I see,"

At that moment, an army of police cars surrounded them and a melee ensued while the uniforms attempted to sort out the mess. Statements were taken while the area was cordoned off from curious bystanders, and the media arrived like a pack of hungry hyena on the scent of wounded prey. Ronan's weapon was confiscated for ballistics checks, but since her permit was up to date and had only been fired in self-defense, she was ensured it would be returned to her as soon as the investigation was complete.

The tall cool woman was unconcerned, since she had used a 21st century weapon on the perpetrators, saving her advanced weaponry for when it would be truly needed. And she knew it would be, it was just a matter of time.

After giving his statement, Kate's driver had replaced the blown tire on the limo. In deference to her fame, the officers had taken Ms. Williams' statement first. So it was that she was free to go long before Ronan was finished with her part in the investigation. Unsure why she was so reluctant to leave the young woman, Kate approached her and held out a card.

"This has been such an incredible night that I'm just not up for anything else. But why don't you call me tomorrow and well talk about that pilots position."

Ronan glanced down and saw that she was being handed Kate's private telephone number and the address to her penthouse. When she reached for the card, their fingertips brushed lightly, and she felt an electric tingle race up her arm from the point of contact. Again their eyes met, and something passed between them.

Kate nervously broke the eye contact and searched for something neutral to say. "Nice bike," she said, "I've never seen anything like it. What kind is it?"

"Its a BMW Avantgarde." Ronan replied proudly. She neglected to mention that although the machine had been invented in this time frame, this particular one had a few upgrades. The engine wasn't powered by fossil fuel, but by a nuclear reaction chamber housed inside what would be the gas tank. This one also boasted twin phaser canons where the exhaust pipes would be, an on-board targeting computer with voice interface, and a bulletproof windshield.

"Very nice," Kate murmured, glancing back at the younger woman. "Maybe I could have a ride sometime?"

A slow sensual smile curled Ronan's full lips and Kate found herself captivated once again. "Sometime," Ronan agreed softly, and for a moment Kate wasn't convinced they were both talking about the motorcycle.

I must be more intoxicated than I realized, Kate thought clearing her throat and pulling her gaze away from the other woman. "Yes, well…" glancing away she saw that Tom was patiently standing by the limo with his hands folded. "I'm getting cold, and it looks like my driver has finished, I guess I should go."

Ronan politely walked the older woman to her car, and offered a hand to assist her in climbing into the vehicle. Kate didn't need the help, but took the offered hand nonetheless. "Thank you, again." She said just before Ronan closed the door for her.

The blonde silently watched the shiny black vehicle drive away. "Always," she vowed softly.

Inside the limousine, Kate's thoughts were in a whirlwind. What was wrong with her? She had never been attracted to women, yet she found herself fascinated by this person. Why? She could sense that the blonde could be dangerous in the right circumstances, but Kate felt safe with her. Trying to piece things together Kate allowed, I just feel grateful because she saved my life. Even though she had to admit she had been captivated from the moment she had seen the younger woman at the Governors mansion. If she did relent and employed the woman, she would be seeing even more of her.

Oh well, she thought, its not like I would be embarrassed to be seen with her.

Kate Williams was not above showing off a beautiful blonde in the background, and letting everyone know the young woman was not available to them. In a strictly professional capacity, of course, Ronan had been on the job for a few days and had seen little of Kate since she was hired, but knew she had to maintain an appearance as an employee/pilot. When she was fortunate enough to be around the smaller woman, she felt the magnetic pull of her attraction, but did her best not to let it show. She wondered if the other woman could ever return that interest.

Forcing herself to concentrate on the task at hand, Ronan peered down into the guts of the Dassault Falcon 2000 from its frame where she squatted on her knees. She was currently at the airstrip in Bridgeport, Connecticut performing routine maintenance on the mid-sized private plane and ensuring that the vehicle hadn't been tampered with. Ronan nervously realized that the date of Kate's disappearance was rapidly approaching, and knew that she would have to be prepared for every contingency. The assault could come from any direction.

She was also intelligent enough to know that she had already altered the fabric of time. There was no guarantee that the attack would occur the same way it had in Ronan's known history, but one thing she was sure of. Kate had been fated to die violently, and Fate would see to it that her destiny came to pass.

The young blonde was feeling more and more on edge as that dreaded day loomed nearer. She suddenly felt herself having difficulty breathing and a light sheen of sweat broke out over her entire body. When she came back to herself a few moments later, she felt as though she had run a marathon. Her hands were shaking violently, and her breath was coming in great shuddering gulps. Fervently, she hoped that her symptoms were generated out of fear for the diminutive woman that had stolen her heart rather than some unforeseen side effects from the time gate.

An insistent chirping suddenly erupted from the inside of her jacket. Ronan dropped the wrench she had been holding, vaguely hearing it clatter as it hit the concrete even as she removed the remote monitor from her pocket.

"Damn it, not yet!" She gasped as icy fear gripped her heart. Scrambling backward off the frame, Ronan hit the ground at a dead run.

The device was a remote tracker. Kate Williams had a habit of taking off on her own without informing anyone of her whereabouts. It was that proclivity that had allowed the kidnapper the opportunity to get the jump on her in the previous time-line. Ronan had prepared for that eventuality by placing a homing device under the hood of Kate's Jaguar. The only problem was, it was two days early and the young woman hadn't been prepared.

Racing to her motorcycle, Ronan jammed the helmet on and fired up the huge machine. The front tire rose off the ground impressively, as the blonde raced away from the hangar headed for the penthouse in the hopes that she could intersect Kate on the way.

"Computer, activate remote tracking of Kate Williams. Display all possible routes of travel by automobile."

A transparent schematic materialized over the windscreen, giving Ronan access to the information without the need to remove her eyes from the road. A red blip representing Kate's car appeared on the map on highway 87 south, and the blonde increased the speed of her bike feeling the rear tire slip momentarily before grabbing the pavement, narrowing the distance between them. For a few minutes, it looked as though she might be successful. Then the blip made a sharp right turn, and horrified, Ronan realized where she was headed.

Kate's grandparents had a country home in South Hampton. When they had died, the actress had inherited it, and when she took off on one of her little jaunts she would sometimes end up there. The get-away home was a secret that the auburn-haired woman hadn't shared with anyone, not even her ex-husband. It was a place where she went to be alone, but Ronan had done her research and knew about the place.

Unfortunately, the highway she was currently on would add a lot of time to her drive; precious moments that she simply could not afford. But she had no alternative since an intersecting path would not come up for quite some time. Resignedly, she gunned the engine and raced at breakneck speed on highway 95 into Bridgeport proper, and hoped she would reach the ferry to Long Island and intersect Kate before she reached her destination.

Luck, however, was not with her this day and with mounting frustration Ronan spied the gridlock from an accident up ahead. Growling in anger, she directed the massive bike onto the shoulder. Weaving past infuriated motorists, she finally navigated past the overturned eighteen-wheeler and shot off on the section of roadway that was fairly deserted due to the collision. She finally made it to the ferry that would carry her across the bay into Jamestown.

Over an hour later, Ronan was forced to slow on the residential streets to keep from drawing attention to herself. The homing device had stopped twenty minutes earlier while she was still on the ferry, and the young woman feared that she was already too late. Turning off her headlight in the coming gloom of night, she hoped to evade detection if anyone was watching. "Computer delete homing signal and activate thermal scan."

The map overlay was immediately replaced by an image of the street the young woman was currently on. Heat signatures from various individuals popped up inside their respective homes, but Ronan's eyes were pinned to the residence at the end of the winding road. Kate's home rested on three rolling acres, setting it apart from the others by the amount of space boasted on every side of the mansion. Ronan knew it afforded the woman a sense of solitude that she craved, but at the moment that privacy could spell disaster.

Her worst fears were realized when she saw two distinct forms on the radar image. One of the signatures was stationary. The other was on the move slowly on the outside of the dwelling. Undoubtedly, this was Kate's stalker.

Ronan stopped the bike at the property entrance and dismounted, fearful that the assassin would hear her approach. The blonde pushed the bike behind some large oaks, hoping it would be out of site from any prying eyes. She reached into a saddlebag and removed a phaser pistol, tucking it into her waistband before expertly scaling the high fence and dropped lightly to the other side. She ran as quickly as she could for the home at the rear of the property, expelling her breath in a fearful rush when she finally arrived to find the front door hanging ominously open.

Kate had enjoyed the drive down from Manhattan. It had been relaxing and relatively traffic free, and her thoughts had been centered on a beautiful blonde angel. The younger woman was a mystery, and instinctively Kate knew that mystery had something to do with her. She just couldn't imagine what it could be, but she sensed that it was not good and it had caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end.

Something about this bothered her so much that she had taken off on this sudden flight in an effort to put some distance between herself and the intoxicating woman. When she reached the South Hampton estate she felt she was just overreacting and felt much better. She was comfortably relaxed and ready for a short nap before dinner. There was no staff at this country home, which was just what she preferred and Kate looked forward to preparing the meal herself. But first, a nap,

She showered quickly, looking forward to feel of the crisp clean sheets against her body. Emerging from the upstairs bathroom, she threw on a thick, terrycloth robe and padded barefoot across the hardwood floors while rubbing at her wet hair with a towel. The house was comfortably warm, helping to settle her further.

The bedroom was decorated in soft earth tones that further relaxed the older woman's taut nerves, and she breathed a sigh of contentment upon entering the room. Even though her grandparents had been dead for seven years, Kate was convinced she could still smell the aftershave her grandfather had worn lingering in the air. She smiled as she tossed the towel over the wing-backed chair in the corner and pulled back the covers.

Night was beginning to fall, and she felt her body relax into the bed. An indeterminate amount of time later, a noise roused the redhead from the light sleep she had been floating in. Not quite awake, she drifted for a moment. Then she heard it again, and her eyes flew open. The noise had been the unmistakable sound of stairs creaking under the weight of a body. Kate leapt out of the bed, reaching for the robe at the foot of the bed to cover her nakedness.

She had been receiving anonymous notes from someone at her penthouse apartment over the last few months. Each had detailed how Kate would meet her admirer, and each was more disturbing than the last. The stalker fulfilling hideous fantasies with her on paper that had ended with killing her in progressively more bloody ways. Had he now discovered this house and followed her here?

The large man filled the doorway. He had a broad, flat face with sharp-edged features, lips so thin and hard that they seemed to be carved from bone. A two-inch dueling scar marked his left cheek. His dark eyes had no depth, as if they were painted, much like the cold eyes of a shark cruising in the shadowy ocean trenches. He smiled, a rare expression for him, which imparted no warmth to his face but actually made him appear more threatening. In his large hands was an automatic weapon. Kate didnt know what it was exactly, but she did know he was extremely dangerous.

"Get out of my house." She demanded with as much false bravado as she could muster.

The madman only chuckled before rasping, "Finally we meet. I've been dreaming about you, Kate. Have you been dreaming about me? Have you thought about the words I spoke to you in my notes? Fantasized as I have?"

She couldn't respond, didn't know how to respond, and could only stare at him like a deer caught in the headlights of an on-coming vehicle. She was saved having to say anything when he continued with barely a pause. "Unfortunately, we don't have much time. Your girlfriend is coming, and I really would prefer that we not be interrupted."

"Girlfriend?" she repeated softly, frowning in her confusion. Then comprehension flooded her and she felt a brief moment of relief. "Ronan? Ronan is coming?"

The bearish man frowned intently as she seemed to confirm his suspicion. She was supposed to be his, saving herself only for him. Hadn't the notes he sent told her that; directed her through his written word to save herself for him? Now she had desecrated that bond, and he could not allow her to go unpunished.

With a look of almost sincere regret, he spoke. "You have betrayed me. You have copulated with another, and are now unclean. That is regrettable, Kate."

"Wait!" she shouted throwing up a hand in automatic defense. "I haven't…"

Shaking his head, Kate thought she could see tears glistening unshed in his dark eyes. "Too late, my dear. You cannot deny what I see so clearly."

Kate could see his finger tighten on the trigger and steeled herself for what she knew was coming, when suddenly she heard pounding feet on the stairs. The intruder cast a surprised glance back before refocusing on the object of his twisted lust. Determination colored his face and he opened up with the Uzi, the rounds tearing through Kate's small frame and pitching her back into the closet door before she fell. Even as she fell to the ground, Kate knew that her spinal column had been severed or shattered by one of the bullets. She could feel no pain whatsoever, nor sensation of any kind from the neck down.

The gunfire ceased and Kate heard a grunt and a loud thump. She could only move her head enough to turn and see Ronan battling with the burly man on the floor. Arms and legs flailed and kicked as each fought to outdo the other. The killer thrust the blonde away from him with a foot in her chest before he jumped to his feet to flee the room. Seeing the opening, Ronan jumped on him from behind, wrapping her hands around to grasp his jaw. With a powerful twist of her hands, she snapped his neck and watched in satisfaction as he crumbled soundlessly to the wooden floor.

Forgetting about him immediately, Ronan ran to Kate's side and lifted the smaller woman into her arms. Tears were falling unchecked from her eyes as she gazed on the bloodied form.

"Its all right," Kate said weakly, attempting to reassure the other woman even in her deteriorating condition. "You stopped him. That's all that counts. Hell never do this to anyone else." She coughed and a dark ribbon of blood trailed from the corner of her mouth.

Just then, Ronan felt an electric tingle like pins and needles cover her entire body. She had felt this only once before, when she had traveled through the time gate. The ill-tempered irony of fate infuriated the young woman as she felt herself being pulled back into her own time.

"No!" she screamed even as her eyes filled with sparkles.

Ronan was reaching for the phaser still tucked into her waistband even as her body finished materializing. Diving over the side of the time machine, she narrowly avoided the stream of red-hot energy directed to the spot where she had been standing.

Martin Angstrom, her partner from the Guard, crouched next to the computer controls firing steadily at her.

"I knew you were a traitor!" he bellowed. "I saw you at the institute tonight, and I followed you back here. Sorry to disappoint you, but I had to disarm the explosives you set. The Order needs this technology."

Angstrom's attempt at badgering her gave Ronan a lot of useful information. One, that time was not constant. She had been gone for over six months, and here he was telling her that it had only been a couple of hours. Two, that he was alone.

Crouching, she backed to the rear of the gate hoping she wouldn't make any discernable noise. When she reached the end of the wall, and leaned around the other side, she was fairly certain that she had been successful as his weapon was still aimed at her previous location.

"Why don't you come out of there, Ronan? I will make this as painless for you as I can, and you know that you will never leave here alive."

Stealthily, Ronan moved up the side of the other wall, moving in on her adversary from his rear. He never heard her when she eased behind him and stood up, aiming her phaser at his back. Some instinct must have warned him at the last moment that she was there, and he spun to face her. But he was too slow, and even as he drew the weapon to bear on her, she fired into his chest with her phaser on full.

A moment later he was dead.

Heart hammering in her chest, she tucked the phaser into a pocket and ran back to the programming gate. She pulled up the last set of coordinates that had been programmed into the computer and began working on the complex equations. She would have to program the exact information to deliver her into the house in South Hampton five minutes earlier. She didn't have to work from scratch because she had the original numbers for her arrival into the past, but she couldn't think. She couldn't think because Kate was dead!

Without her she had nothing.

Grabbing hold of herself, she knew she could get her back. She could stop it before it happened. Bending to her task, she worked for nearly an hour. When she had the numbers and double-checked them, she entered them into the computer. Carrying both her phaser and Angstroms she stepped into the gate and passed through the point of transmission

--and returned to the lab.

She stood for a moment in the gate, surprised and confused. Then the explanation hit her with such force that she actually doubled over as though she had been punched in the stomach. She could not go back earlier because she had already been present in that time frame. Paradox!

Undeterred, she knew there had to be a way to save Kate.

Running over to the professors work area in the rear of the lab, Ronan grabbed a pencil and paper and wrote a brief message. The stalker will kill you if you stay in the house. Get away and hide. I am coming.

Rummaging about the room for a weapon was an exercise in futility. There was nothing here that Kate would be familiar with in her time frame, and Ronan was shaking in frustration when the idea finally seized her. The professor's collection! Racing up the steps, she ran to the front entrance and stared at the long knives bolted onto the wall. She narrowed the confinement beam on her phaser and used it to melt the bolts away from one of the sharpest blades. Then she ran back down into the lab, preparing to send the instrument and the note into the past.

From what she had seen in those few moments before, Kate had been sleeping when the intruder found her. Ronan needed to refine her calculations to deposit her gift onto the bed where Kate would see it. She pierced the note with the blade, sliding it up near the handgrip so it wouldn't come off. Then she entered the gate, nearing the transmission point and threw the object through the energy field. It did not bounce back.

Kate was lying on the bed drifting in half-sleep when something fairly heavy abruptly landed in front of her face. She jerked in surprise and lunged from the sheets, reaching for the light on the nightstand as she moved. The handle of a long, wickedly curved blade still trembled slightly from where the blade had embedded itself in her pillow.

"Holy shit!" she gasped, spying the object that had narrowly missed the tip of her nose. Frowning in confusion, she bent to remove the paper from the blade and read the words. She didn't know how this message had been sent, but she believed the words implicitly.

Somehow conscious that she had little time, the feisty woman snatched up the dagger and raced to the dresser. Pulling on a sweater and jeans, she listened intently for any movement from below. For all she knew the killer was already inside with her. A furtive sound caught her attention, and she froze for a moment her eyes going wide in fear.

Padding in bare feet, Kate walked around the bed into the bathroom. There was another exit that led onto the landing and she was betting that the intruder would check the bedroom first since that was the only room that was lit. Peeking around the corner of the darkened room, she was pleased to see that she had guessed correctly.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't take him long to realize that the room was empty, and she had little time to find somewhere to hide. She couldn't afford to go toward the stairs either, since that would carry her toward him. That left her little recourse but to hide in one of the other bedrooms. Staying against the wall in the hopes that the shadows would conceal her, Kate walked quickly down the hall and ducked into the sewing room at the end. There were no locks on the bedroom doors, so she picked up a straight-backed chair and wedged it under the doorknob as quietly as she could.

Leaving the light off, the frightened woman went into the closet and closed the door; holding the knife ready just in case she had to defend herself. If she were lucky, he wouldn't be able to get into the room. If she were very lucky, he would never get the chance to check the closet. Ronan was on her way, and Kate desperately prayed the younger woman would arrive in time.

Ronan materialized on the front porch of the South Hampton home just two minutes later than she had left the last time. She was confident that the gate had been destroyed this time, having set the timer and watching it count down to within a few seconds before she stepped through.

The door hung open as it had before, but this time she dared hope that Kate was still alive. Palming her phaser, Ronan ducked into the darkened structure, all senses straining. A creak on the landing caught her attention and she barreled up the steps, all thoughts of stealth gone from her mind.

The landing was empty as it had been last time, and she raced for the bedroom. Things were different this time, and she could see a large frame silhouetted from a light that hadn't been burning before. Her approaching footsteps warned the intruder that he had company and he leaned quickly out of the room, firing off a spray of gunfire in Ronan's general direction. The tall blonde pressed back against the wall, hoping the man wouldn't have a good enough angle to target her. A moment later she extended her arm and pressed the trigger of the phaser. Ruby light shot toward the bedroom, and she heard the murderer curse.

A second later, Ronan heard the sound of breaking glass. Moving before she even realized it, she bolted into the room to find it empty and the curtains flapping in the breeze. A shadow raced across the lawn as the stalker fled, surprised and frightened by the weapon that had singed the hair off his left temple. He didn't flee in defeat however. It was a tactical retreat. He wasn't finished yet. Fortunately for him, the roof of the garage prevented him from having to make a two-story drop, and the snow beneath was deep and soft.

Ronan turned from the window, content to let him go for the moment. Her only interest now was in finding Kate. Searching the room and closet yielded no results, so she began a systematic search of the floor.

"Kate," she called as she moved, not worried about being overheard. It was imperative that she find the smaller woman and get out of there. No doubt the automatic weapons fire would have been heard by a neighbor and reported to the police, and they didn't have time to be bogged down by red tape now.

She reached the door at the end of the hall and turned the handle easily, but the door wouldn't budge as though something was wedged against it from the other side. "Kate!" she yelled in heart-felt relief.

A moment later, Ronan heard a scraping sound and then the door was opening. She staggered back slightly when the redhead flew into her arms. Wrapping her long arms protectively around the shaking shoulders, Ronan attempted to comfort the other woman.

"Shh," she mumbled, "Its alright now. I've got you."

She allowed Kate a moment of comfort, absorbing the warmth of the smaller frame, before she pulled back to peer into blue-gray eyes. "I hate to do this to you, but we have to get moving."

"Why?" Kate asked, confused. "He's gone isn't he?"

"Yes, but no doubt the police are on their way, and we don't want to be here when they get here."

"We haven't done anything wrong. Why should we leave?"

Kate truly didn't understand what was happening but she was starting to get angry. A crazy man had just broken into her house and tried to kill her, and then Ronan showed up and chased him away. She was grateful to the younger woman, but didn't understand why they should run from the law. Then she remembered the note she had received.

"Just how did you know he was here? And how did you know I was here? I didn't tell anyone. How did you get that message to me, and what is that thing in your hand?"

Ronan looked down and was mortified to see that she was still holding her phaser.

"Too many questions," she said shortly. "I'll explain as we go." With that she attempted to propel the smaller woman down the hall, but Kate was determined.

"Not until you answer me,"

Finally losing patience, Ronan spun the shorter woman to face her, "Look we don't have time for this. All I can tell you is that man was not acting alone and the longer we dally here the easier a target we are. Now you are just going to have to trust me."

Only slightly mollified by the answer, but galvanized by the remark that they were still a target, Kate walked quickly into her bedroom to find footwear. Sirens were wailing in the distance when she reached into the closet for a heavy brown leather jacket.

"Come on," Ronan urged, a note of panic in the blondes voice. "We have to go!"

"Keep your shirt on," Kate mumbled sarcastically, reaching down to grab her briefcase before she indicated that she was ready.

Slipping down the stairs, the two women left the house by the back door and crouched low as they ran across the lawn headed for the trees. Brush hid their escape as police cars drove up the long drive.

"My bike is at the front gate." Ronan informed Kate with a steadying hand on her elbow. "I hid it behind some trees earlier."

"Oh, goody," Kate retorted dryly, "I finally get that ride I asked for."

It took all of her powers of persuasion to get the actress on the large, powerful bike, and even more effort to get her to wear the helmet. Initially Kate had refused it saying it would muss her hair. She finally gave up when the sounds of the police crunching through the brush forced her to comply. But when Ronan stuffed Kate's briefcase into her saddlebags, the observant woman spotted the blinking lights of unfamiliar technology and the blonde had another struggle on her hands.

"What's that?" Kate asked in a loud stage whisper, voice muffled through the visor.

Ronan fought not to roll her eyes at the other woman's timing. Now was not the appropriate moment for twenty questions! "Just get on the bike so we can get to the ferry." Ronan insisted quietly. "I'll answer all of your questions as soon as I can."

Not happy at being brushed off, Kate nevertheless climbed onto the large bike and wrapped her arms around Ronan's narrow waist. "Looks like you could use a meal," she mumbled through the faceplate. The blonde ignored the comment and Kate had no choice but to hang on tightly as they tore off down the road. A few moments later, the stubborn actress had to admit she was grateful for the helmet and the leather jacket she had hastily grabbed from the closet. But even with the extra protection, the night air was cold and she huddled closer to her companion.

Ronan felt the smaller woman snuggling against her back, and gasped from the sharp tingle that shot through her body. Honestly, couldn't Kate sense the way she made her feel?

Having no other choice, she pushed aside her internal struggle for the moment and concentrated on the half hour ride to the ferry, worried that they would miss it and be forced to wait another hour. The Jamestown Ferry left for Bridgeport every hour, and Ronan knew they couldn't afford to miss the transport as someone else could be trailing them. She wasn't nave enough to believe the stalker was the only one looking for her companion. Whether the psychotic was acting alone or just being conveniently used by the government, was another question best saved for another time.

It was with only a few minutes to spare that they arrived in Jamestown. Purchasing tickets and bustling to drive the BMW onto the conveyance took up any spare time, and saved Ronan from making any explanations to her impatient friend. But when they had finally settled down, and the ferry started moving, the blonde ran out of time for making excuses. Kate dug in her heels, crossed her arms over her chest and said in her lowest register: "Hold on. I'm not going any further until I get some answers."

Ronan looked around the cramped deck in frustration before she finally grasped the smaller woman by the upper arm and urged her over to the railing. "Look," she pleaded trying to appeal to Kate's sense of reason, "I can't answer you now. There are too many people. All I can tell you is that our meeting was not an accident, and that your life is in danger. But I promise that I will answer all of your questions as soon as we are on the plane."

"The plane?" Kate asked incredulously. "Why on the plane? Are we going somewhere?"

"Please," the blonde asked softly, "I'll answer all of your questions then. Trust me."

Kate didn't know why, but she did trust this woman. Gazing into the ice-blue eyes of someone that had saved her life twice, she suddenly found that she was willing to grant a little leeway.

"All right," Kate drawled slowly. "Until were on the plane, but then I will want some answers."

"You'll have them," Ronan assured her with a sudden grin that seemed to make the watery sunshine just a little brighter.

The Avantgarde roared into the hanger, the noise reverberating so intensely in the metal structure that Kate thought her eardrums would explode even through the protection of the helmet. Then the tall blonde was braking and switching off the engine. Kate noticed that the engine cover was open on her plane, and tools were scattered all around as though someone had stopped what they were doing and ran.

Undoing the chinstrap, she pulled the helmet off while watching her companion through narrowed eyes. Ronan was calmly closing the cover and picking up, giving every appearance at being unconcerned with the redhead's surveillance. Kate wasn't stupid and the words Ronan had spoken to her on the ferry came back to her. She had said their meeting wasn't accidental, and that first encounter came back to her.

She had first spied the blonde on the night when two assassins had attempted to take her life. Ronan had come out of nowhere to rescue her, and from the appearance of the hanger, the blonde had somehow known she was in trouble again.

"You knew he was coming for me." She stated with certainty. "How?"

Ignoring the dynamic woman, Ronan walked past her and removed the saddlebags from her motorcycle. "Unfortunately, we will have to leave the bike behind," she said, changing the subject. "The weight will slow the airplane too much."

That comment effectively deflected Kate as the actress tried to work out how much the weight of the bike would slow them, or why Ronan would care since the Falcon 2000 traveled at 528 miles per hour. "So?" she asked in confusion. "I've had as many as ten people on that plane and it never slowed us down before."

"That was before you were running for your life." The blonde retorted walking past Kate and opening the door to the pilots cabin. Turning back a second later, she noticed Kate was still standing glued to the spot as her comment hit home.

"Coming?"

The gently mocking question caused Kate's hackles to rise, and she ground her teeth together as she climbed in behind the blonde. Wordlessly, she took her seat and locked her harness in place while watching Ronan run through the pre-flight checks. But she wasn't trained as a pilot and didn't realize that the willowy blonde was skipping most of the safety checks.

Ronan quickly ran through the procedures, entering a false flight plan before contacting the tower for a clear runway. The flight plan was a ruse in case Kate's assailants were capable of tapping into the FAA's computers and discovering their direction of travel. Once they were airborne, Ronan would circle back and fly directly toward the Florida Keys. She had purchased No Name Key from the owner as soon as she had arrived six months before, and had set up a refuge for a woman that she had never met, but loved completely.

Casting a worried glance, toward the woman occupying her thoughts, she wondered how much longer she would be able to put off answering Kate's questions. The feisty woman deserved to know the truth, she just wasn't sure she could make her believe her. What could she say; I came from three hundred years in the future to save you from your ex-husband? Yeah, right! That'll work!

Kate, feeling weary from the recent flight, wasn't even sure what to ask Ronan, and was content to let the silence settle until she could work things out in her head. An item in her briefcase usually helped her calm down and focus. Reaching behind the pilot's chair where Ronan had slung the saddlebags, Kate raised the flap to retrieve the battered case. Blinking amber, red and green lights caught her attention, and she pulled the briefcase out to get a better view. Ronan was intent on turning the craft, making sure to descend to be out of the way of normal traffic since their true course wasn't recorded anywhere. She didn't want to run into anyone, and wasn't paying attention to what Kate was doing.

"Okay, care to explain?" Came the dangerously worded question that caught the blonde's attention completely.

With a fatalistic sense of dread, blue eyes turned to see what the actress had discovered. Small, elegant fingers were wrapped around a tricorder. Ronan bit off a groan, wondering how she could possibly explain the advanced technology and fearing that she had just run out of time.

Fixing her eyes back on the windscreen, she answered slowly. "Its a tracking device." That was the truth; it just wasn't all of it. Ronan didn't think Kate could handle the fact that the device could track, scan for medical problems, analyze bio-signatures, and even analyze the molecular breakdown of the atmosphere.

"Well, I admit that I don't know everything about …modern technology. But this device certainly seems a little advanced." Kate invited, staring pointedly at Ronan to urge her to reveal more.

"It's a prototype." Ronan answered, falling into the necessary deception.

Kate might have been an actress, but as a child had always had an inquisitive mind. She was fascinated with the device in her hands, and discovered that it had a cover she could easily raise. The chirp indicating that the mechanism was activated caused her to flinch a little before she started reading the information on the small display. There was a readout of atmospheric temperature in one corner, and a lot of buttons for inputting information, but there was nothing to indicate that it was anything but what Ronan had said it was. Still, Kate wasn't convinced there wasn't more here than met the eye, and she had a nagging feeling that this device was only a small piece of the puzzle.

"Is this how you found me?" she asked softly.

Ronan had allowed the inspection of the tricorder uninterrupted. The more information that the smaller woman ingested on her own, the easier the telling of Ronan's tale would be later.

"Yes," she answered simply. "I knew that you have a penchant for taking off without telling anyone, so I put a device on your Jaguar that would activate as soon as the engine started." Ronan held her breath waiting for the explosion that was sure to come.

She was surprised a moment later when Kate logically replied, "Then you must have already known where I was headed. Why else would you take the Bridgeport Ferry instead of trying to intercept me on the highway?"

Keeping quiet for the moment, Ronan seemed to realize that the question was rhetorical as Kate worked through what she knew. "You said we hadn't met accidentally, that you knew someone was…trying to kill me. You show up on two separate occasions, just in the nick of time, to save me. The advanced technology you possess… this," she held up the tricorder, "the motorcycle,"

"I've never seen anything like that bike." Kate went on into the silence. "Are you a government agent?"

Biting the inside of her cheek, Ronan fought the hysterical laugh that wanted to burst from her chest. Of course that was the most logical assumption, she realized. It was certainly a lot easier than seeing the truth that was certainly right in front of her, that Ronan was from the future.

"Not exactly," Ronan admitted a moment later when she had regained control of her mirth, and the adrenaline had settled somewhat in her system. "Kate, what I have to tell you will be very difficult to believe."

"No doubt," her companion returned sharply in her smoky voice, causing Ronan to finally take her eyes off the view and look into Kate's eyes. What she saw was a sharp-minded woman that had the tenacity to work through even the most confusing problem and find the solution. For the first time, Ronan believed she could tell her everything. Still, she had to be careful not to introduce too much too soon. She knew it would be a lot to take in.

"I'm a homicide detective," Ronan began. Seeing that she had surprised her friend yet again, she pushed on, "I…came across information that an attempt would be made on your life because of your husband."

"Roger?" Kate broke in. "But we're not married anymore, and why would someone try to hurt me because of him?"

Taking a deep breath, Ronan took the plunge. "I have come to believe that he is the one trying to have you killed."

"What?" Kate burst out. "That's ridiculous! We may not have had the most civilized divorce in history, but it's hardly any reason to kill me!"

"I know this is going to be difficult for you to hear, but I'll try to tell you everything I know."

"I'm aware that your marriage was initially one of convenience. You're very well known on the society front, and Mr. Gentry used you to further his government contacts. Once he had developed his circle of contacts he had no further use for you. Now, I will admit that isn't a reason to kill you, but I believe that you have sensitive information in your possession that he can't afford to have become public knowledge."

Okay, Kate thought, she's delusional. I can work with this. "And exactly what is this information that I'm supposed to have?" she asked, her voice shaking with mirth.

"I didn't say that you knew what the information was, just that you have it. Even if you aren't aware of it." She added, shooting Kate a look before making some minor corrections to her navigational board. "Whatever it is, it's something concerning how this country's government will develop. And I can tell you, that is something you do not want to see happen."

"How do you know?" Kate asked, curious what that government would be like, and how it could be so bad.

Ronan's silence to the question unnerved her, so she tried a different track. "And your superiors are aware of this plot? They've authorized you to protect me?"

"No," the blonde returned, "I…resigned…to protect you."

"You did that for me?" Kate asked in a small voice, deeply touched that someone would care so much for her that they would do something like that. "Why? Why would you do that, give up everything for me?"

The expression in the blue gaze warmed Kate to her toes, and suddenly she was afraid to know the answer to that question. Reaching for her briefcase again, she sought to distract herself by something familiar. The case wasn't heavy, containing few items, and the actress lifted it easily onto her lap. She unsnapped the clasps and raised the lid, seeking the photograph within. It was a picture of her grandparents that never failed to calm her. They were sitting on a checkered cloth on the ground with their arms around each other and smiling into the camera. Kate remembered taking the picture as a child. They had been on a picnic during a summer that she had spent with them on the South Hampton property.

"What's that?" Ronan asked softly.

"My grandparents," Kate answered, drawing her fingertips lovingly over the glass.

Long fingers reached over Kate's hand and into the briefcase. "Not that," she said, "this."

The blonde was holding a small computer disk that Kate hadn't noticed before. It had been some time since she had used the battered case, but she was sure it hadn't been there the last time. "I don't know. Probably something Roger tossed in there. He used to borrow the briefcase when he had forgotten his own. But it can't be what you were talking about earlier, since that disk had to have been in there for almost a year."

Ronan let it go sensing that Kate was reaching the limits of her endurance. They could take this up again later. It was closing in on 3 a.m. and she knew the older woman needed to get some rest. "Why don't you try to get some sleep?" she suggested gently, "I'll let you know if anything happens."

Again she was caught by the concern in her companion's voice, and again it caused her heart to twist in the most interesting manner. For a moment she just stared into Ronan's blue eyes, then shook her head derisively. "I guess I'm just going to have to get used to someone caring about me."

"Is that so hard to believe?" Ronan asked with a frown. "That someone could care for you?"

"More than you might believe," Kate returned sadly. Standing she rested her hand briefly on the blonde's shoulder. "See you in a couple of hours."

Then she was gone, climbing trough the cockpit door and into the rear cabin. Ronan knew there was a fairly luxurious bedroom in the rear of the plane, cordoned off from the passenger seats, and hoped that the smaller woman could get some decent rest despite the troubling events of the night.

Engaging the autopilot now that they were on course, Ronan reached over and grasped the saddlebags from where Kate had laid them earlier. She retrieved her laptop and sat it on the co-pilot's seat to boot it up. It was one of the purchases she had made after arriving in this time frame. It had been a necessary expense since a futuristic version would have been incompatible with the software from the 21^st century. It seemed to take an eternity for the infernal thing to boot, but finally it was ready and Ronan slipped the disk they had discovered in the briefcase into it.

For a moment she wasn't sure what she was reading, it seemed to simply be a list of names. Most of them were names of people in the current government's cabinet and the blonde simply couldn't understand what possible significance they could have with the conspiracy against Kate Williams. Then she scrolled to the bottom and things became abundantly clear; this was a list of potential targets.

Ronan realized that Gentry had made the disk as a form of insurance. The only problem was it had backfired. Kate had come into possession of the disk, and Gentry desperately needed to get it back. She also surmised that her ex-husband considered the planning of Kate's death necessary. He couldn't take the chance that she had discovered the disk and read the information it contained.

For a while Ronan just stared into the darkened night through the view screen, planning what their next move would be.

Kate tossed and turned on the full-sized bed in the rear of the plane. There was so much to absorb that she didn't know if she could take it all in. She didn't know if she even believed half of it. Roger trying to kill her? It seemed outlandish! But she had no reason to believe that Ronan would lie, either. In fact, she trusted the young woman more than anyone she had ever known. Then there was the stalker. She had told Roger about the man during their divorce. He had become angry, and accused her of sensationalism to prevent their separation, but his emotion had seemed forced somehow. Almost as though he were playing a part. Had he known about the man in advance, perhaps even hired him to terrorize Kate?

And what about her lovely blonde companion? If what she had said was true, Ronan had given up everything for her. Why? Was it just a driving urge to protect someone from a tragic destiny, or was it more?

Finally admitting that she had more questions than answers, and that sleep would be impossible, Kate flung back the light coverlet and got up. She walked out to the small galley to make some fresh coffee, and suddenly wondered if Ronan would like something. By her count, neither of them had eaten anything in quite some time. A lopsided grin curled her lips when she realized that she could do something for the younger woman. It wasn't exactly saving her life, but it would make Kate feel better if she could contribute something toward the other woman's well being. And from the looks of her, Ronan could certainly use a meal or two.

A few minutes later, she entered the cockpit bearing a tray loaded with food and coffee.

"Where are we?" she asked conversationally while handing Ronan a plate.

The blonde took the offered food and bit into the turkey sandwich eagerly. She chewed for a few moments before answering the other woman who was amused at the exuberance shown for the food.

"Just nearing the Florida Everglades," Ronan mumbled around the mouthful.

Kate frowned while sipping her beverage, then asked, "You never did tell me how you managed to file a flight plan so quickly."

"I have my ways," the blonde returned cryptically, to which the other woman only rolled her eyes.

Through the light turbulence, they didn't even feel the small jolt from a miniature explosive that had been planted inside the engine. The jet shuddered and red lights began blinking quickly on the control panel. Ronan fairly tossed her plate behind her and grasped tightly to the wheel.

"What's happening?" Kate yelled tossing aside the cup that had half emptied onto the front of her shirt.

"We're losing fuel and hydraulics," the blonde returned, fighting the controls.

Kate gritted her teeth against the sudden nausea generated when they dropped a hundred feet all at once. Fumbling with her harness, she strapped herself into the seat while asking, "I thought you just checked everything."

The image of the plane with an open engine cover crossed Ronan's mind, and she knew someone had been tinkering with the vessel while she had been off chasing Kate. "I did," she said simply.

The Nordic features looked even paler in the crimson illumination of emergency lights, and from the tone the actress inherently understood that this had been no accident.

"I can't hold it." The blonde informed her in a strained voice. "We're going to have to try and sit down somewhere before we run out of fuel completely or explode."

Reducing air speed, Ronan began the difficult job of trying to land with mostly frozen controls. The Falcon was not cooperating, shuddering and bucking like a wild animal trying to escape. Fear was a bitter taste in the young woman's mouth, and she could only pray they would make it down in one piece. Finally they broke through the clouds into the middle of a thunderstorm. Lightning streaked the sky, and thunder boomed all around them, making a difficult situation even worse.

Another light began blinking on her panel, and Ronan was horrified to see that they were now out of fuel. "Why do I get the feeling that the universe is testing me today?" she asked sarcastically to no one in particular.

Kate followed her gaze and asked worriedly, "What do we do now?" Her fingers felt like they were becoming part of the upholstery, they were clasped so tightly to the chair arms, but she couldn't even think about letting go.

"We are going to land." The blonde stated with as much confidence as she could muster.

"Where the hell are we going to land in the everglades?"

Thinking quickly, Ronan said, "Look for a clearing,"

"A clearing?" the redhead asked in utter disbelief. "We need a landing strip, not a break in the trees!"

Ronan knew she was right. The Falcon, by design, could use a shorter runway than most jets but a clearing would never be large enough. But they were seriously out of options, and the blonde hadn't come through time to be defeated by an act of sabotage.

Adrenaline surged through her veins again when the small craft suddenly dropped several hundred feet and the trees were rushing at them at break neck speed. Kate's stomach flip-flopped when the bottom of the Falcon started rubbing the tops of the trees. Ronan could barely see through the rain and fog, but a flash of lightning abruptly lit up the night, and the blonde spotted a narrow trail directly ahead of them. It was not wide, but hopefully it would suffice. Angling the craft down, she tried to line up on the slightly curving trail and prayed the controls wouldn't freeze completely.

The Falcon lurched when it hit the muddy ground, skidding left and taking out a row of saplings with the wing. For a moment Ronan thought they would make it down in one piece, then the right wing hit a massive boulder and ripped away from the body of the plane. The impact jerked the craft sideways, straight into the trunk of a massive cypress.

"Hold on!" Ronan shouted belatedly, throwing her arms up to shield her face while still pressing down on the dual brake pedals with all her strength.

The shouted warning was the last thing Kate heard before they hit the tree. Then she knew no more as it was uprooted and crashed through the windshield, branches striking her repeatedly before the darkness claimed her.

Blue-gray eyes fluttered open slowly, and then Kate slammed them closed again with a groan as a sharp lance of white-hot pain stabbed through her head. A headache the size of the Horse-head Nebula raged behind her closed eyes, and for a moment her world was narrowed to a pinprick of agony.

"Easy," Ronan said softly, resting a hand gently against her shoulder. "You took quite a blow."

Cracking her eyes open, Kate propped herself up on one elbow and looked around the wrecked interior of the small plane. When she had been knocked unconscious she had been in the cockpit, but now found herself in the rear of the Falcon resting on what was left of the queen-sized bed. Fractures spider-webbed along the interior of the bulkheads and the deck plating was buckled in several places. The smell of burnt ozone from ruptured power conduits permeated the air thickly, and Kate coughed as she drew a breath of cold air to speak.

"How long?"

"A few hours," the blonde responded sitting beside Kate on the mattress. She held up a canteen of water for her companion that Kate snatched eagerly taking several long pulls from the flask before Ronan stopped her. "Not too much, your body's taken quite a beating and you don't want to make yourself nauseous."

Kate nodded gingerly at the sage advice and passed the water back to her pilot. Feeling a little better, she sat up fully to focus her mind on their current reality. "So what's the plan now?"

"Well," Ronan began thoughtfully, "It's getting dark so all we can do for the night is try to relax, try to stay warm, and conserve our strength. And since we have no other means of transportation, tomorrow we'll have to walk out."

For a moment the actress just stared at her like she had grown a third head. Then she burst out, "Are you crazy?" Instantly she regretted the shouted question when her head reverberated with the words, but stubbornly persisted in a slightly quieter voice. "We are in the Everglades, you know…alligators, snakes, swamps? What makes you think we can just walk out of here?"

Ronan had to take a deep breath to calm her own angry retort. She knew her anger was generated in fear, and refused to take it out on her companion. After all, she had known perfectly well what she was getting into when she had stepped through the time-gate and now was not the time for second thoughts. Added to that was the knowledge that if she was frightened, how much more so was her companion?

Concentrating on the intent gaze directed at her, the blonde allowed herself to draw strength from the love she felt for this magnificent woman and answered gently, "I realize it is dangerous, but we really have no choice. I know you are frightened, but I will not allow any harm to come to you."

Kate went stock still for a moment realizing something had just been revealed to her. The choice of words Ronan had spoken as well as the tone used was indicative of something, but her head hurt too much to fathom the hidden meaning. Unable to decipher what was being said to her, she settled for the comfort the statement brought, and knew that indeed Ronan wouldn't allow anything to happen to her. Hadn't she already saved her life three times? Surely that was enough of a statement in itself.

"You're right," she finally spoke in that wonderfully husky tone that reminded Ronan of whiskey and cigarettes, "We really have no choice. And for the record, I do trust you. I'm just so tired," she finished raising one hand to rub at her gritty eyes.

A moment later, she was surprised to feel a long, strong arm slide around her shoulders and pull her into a warm, soothing embrace. Kate Williams was not by any means a weak woman, but she had been through a tremendously stressful twelve hours and gladly sunk into the other woman's strong arms. Just the heat of the soft body and full breasts against her helped melt some of the fear and tension from her muscles. Then something unexpected happened. Her fingertips began to tingle very slightly, and she could feel her respiration increase.

Must be the concussion, she considered briefly, but was too warm and content to move. Absorbing the compassion in the freely offered embrace, she felt herself beginning to drift to sleep and jerked awake with a start.

"What is it?" Ronan asked loosening her hold on the other woman slightly, but not allowing her to move away completely.

"You're not supposed to sleep with a concussion, are you?" Kate asked worriedly.

She could have sworn there was a slight smile on the blonde's full lips, but Ronan reached down beside her on the floor and sat back up with the tracking device that Kate had seen earlier. Without comment, the young woman aimed it at Kate and tapped several buttons quickly. A moment later, she nodded her head once as though satisfied with what she found and flipped the cover closed on the device.

"Your injury is minor and I do not believe it would be dangerous for you to sleep for a few hours. In fact, after the day you've had I suspect it would be good for you."

An auburn eyebrow arched and thin lips twisted into a wry grin as Kate worked through what she had just seen. "Tracking device, huh? I guess it has more than one purpose."

Ronan looked down at her hands where they lay in her lips and had the grace to flush slightly. " It…has more than one purpose, yes," she answered vaguely.

Kate reached out and grasped the cleft chin gently between her thumb and forefinger, urging the blonde to meet her gaze. "Tell me about it," she encouraged gently.

Losing herself for a moment in twin pools of liquid gray, Ronan came to a decision. Kate was an extremely intelligent woman; she would not discount what her eyes told her just because she had never been exposed to the situation before. A perfect example of that was how well she had adjusted to everything that happened in the last few hours.

"Just when I think that you cannot surprise me anymore," the blonde mumbled in awe.

Then bringing up the device, she handed it to Kate. While the older woman examined it, Ronan explained. "It is called a tricorder. It has many functions, only one of which is a tracking device. In actuality it is a scanning device. The tricorder is capable of scanning for life forms up to a thirty-mile radius, as well as analyzing the molecular structure of the atmosphere and any object in question. Additionally, it is capable of scanning and diagnosing injuries and illness."

Kate turned the device over and over in her hands, inspecting each minute detail from the unfamiliar metal casing to the multitude of flashing lights. "Quite an interesting piece of technology," she finally offered in what Ronan considered was an understatement for someone from this time frame. "Where did you come by it?"

The question was very pointed, and for a moment Ronan wasn't sure how to answer. "A friend of mine is…was … a scientist." She said honestly. "Many times I funded his research, and was able to benefit from his discoveries."

Although the blonde tried to cover it with her hurried explanation, Kate caught the pain in her companion's voice. "What happened to him?" she asked gently.

Tears stung the backs of her eyes, and Ronan turned her head away fighting her emotional response to the question. Struggling against the constriction in her throat, she finally managed, "He was killed…by the government. They considered his discoveries…dangerous."

Kate didn't want to keep probing into what was undoubtedly a painful subject for the younger woman, but considering everything that had happened, she had little recourse. The answer could provide a partial explanation for why someone who was a virtual stranger had come into her life "Are they the same people that have been trying to kill me?"

"I believe they could be." Ronan equivocated refusing to meet the other woman's gaze.

"Do you know if they're still following us?"

Nodding once, the blonde said, "I took a scan just before you awakened. There are five life forms approximately twenty-two miles from our present location. At present they are not moving, but I believe that is simply because it is too dangerous to travel through the swamps at night. They will be coming for us again at dawn."

Suddenly, all of this was just too much for her. Everything Ronan said combined with the attack on her at her grandparents home, made perfect sense. But there was only one problem; she wasn't considering all sides of the coin.

"How do you know that those five life forms aren't a search party?" Kate exclaimed in frustration. "Believe it or not I am a celebrity! Is it so far-fetched to believe they would be looking for us?"

"No! That is not who they are…"

"How do you know?"

"Because I filed a false flight plan!"

The cabin was suddenly quiet as Kate measured the shouted words spoken by her pilot. If this were a search party, it would have been conducted somewhere along their expected route of travel. The fact that these people were following near their actual location indicated something more sinister. Her shoulders suddenly slumped in quiet defeat, and Ronan felt her heart go out to the smaller woman. Reaching out she attempted to gather Kate against her once more, but the other woman resisted.

"I guess we should get some sleep." Kate said changing the subject, and scooting back against the far side of the mattress.

Sighing Ronan realized that the moment of closeness had passed, and with a heavy heart she climbed in beside her companion, stopping for a moment to remove her boots. Then she pulled the not too clean sheets over their reclining forms and settled back against the mattress wondering how she would ever be able to sleep.

Kate knew she was being unfair to the other woman, and wondered why she was reacting like this. What was happening wasn't Ronan's fault, but everything had seemed perfect until she had met the young lady. Then again, if she hadn't come along, Kate would have been dead several times over. Letting go of the misdirected anger, she determined to just be happy that she had someone around that cared as much for her as the other woman obviously did. It had been a very long time since Kate had felt she could rely on anyone else, and even if it was an unfamiliar feeling, it was still a comforting one.

Turning onto her side facing Ronan, she tried to make out the younger woman's features in the failing light. "Ronan," she said softly. "I'm sorry. I guess my head is just spinning from everything that's happened, but I want you to understand that I am grateful for everything that you've done."

Ronan's stomach flip-flopped before she could control her emotional response, and the blood roared through her veins and centered in her groin, She just hoped that Kate couldn't detect the sudden heat emanating from her body. Then the classic features were looming closer to her, and Ronan wondered if she had gravitated toward the woman that so captivated her. She discovered that wasn't the case at all and that Kate was in fact shifting closer to her. She rested her auburn head on Ronan's upper arm and wrapped one arm around the narrow waist. Snuggling closer, she muttered, "G'night," and settled right down to sleep.

Afraid to move, Ronan lay completely still while she felt Kate's body relax and her breathing even out in the rhythm of sleep. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she wondered how the other woman could possibly sleep with the out of control pounding against her ear. Eventually exhaustion won out, and she began to doze off. The heat of Kate's body, and her gentle nocturnal murmuring drew Ronan in, and with the scent of the auburn locks in her nostrils she finally fell into a deep, restful slumber.

Several hours later Kate awakened and took a long slow stretch before she remembered where she was. Sitting up, she noticed that Ronan was absent and the inside of the cabin was just beginning to lighten with the coming dawn. The sheets next to her were cold, and she wondered how long the blonde had been up. Just then, the object of her musings walked into the ruined doorway juggling a plate loaded with food in one hand a mug of something steaming in the other.

Although Florida wasn't near as cold as New York, it was still December and the air quite cold. So when Kate saw what her companion was carrying she couldn't contain her joy.

"Oh, you're an angel," she declared enthusiastically, accepting the cup of coffee. "How'd you manage this?" she asked after taking her first sip.

Ronan couldn't help but smile at Kate's obvious enjoyment of such a simple thing. "I raided the remains of the galley, and created a fire outside on the ground. Here," she finished offering her friend the heaping plate. "It's not much, but it's something to eat."

For her part, Kate thought the mound of skillet-fried potatoes, baked beans and toast looked wonderful and dug in with gusto. After a few mouthfuls she realized that she was being watched, and began to grow self-conscious.

"You're not going to eat?" she asked around the mouthful of food.

Ronan smiled and replied, "I ate before I came in," before moving away to allow the other woman to eat in peace.

The blonde moved around the truncated space of the interior collecting various items she felt they would need for the next few days. Her saddlebags were filled with a small med-kit, cloth for bandages should the need arise, matches, food and various other sundries. She estimated that they would be in the swamps for at least two days, and filled the few canteens they had with the bottled drinking water that had fallen out into the galley floor.

Looking around for something else to hold supplies she thought about Kate's briefcase. It was small, but most of their supplies were already in the saddlebags. The battered leather case held very little except for a photograph and a computer disk. Surely they could fit a few other things in it since she didn't think the actress would be willing to leave it behind.

She finished gathering supplies, and picked up the tricorder as she walked back out of the plane. Stepping down onto the spongy ground, she was struck again by the damp smell of rot emanating from the jungle around them. Her nose wrinkled slightly in disgust before she brought the instrument up to begin scanning for the best way out of the marsh. It was still set to scan for their pursuers from the previous night, and Ronan started in horror when she read the display.

Spinning quickly on her heel, she sprinted back into the darkened plane. "Let's move!" she shouted grabbing Kate's shoes and tossing them into her lap. Fortunately, the redhead had already consumed her breakfast and was just sipping her coffee. The cup went flying as the footwear landed, and she looked up at the blonde like she'd lost her mind.

"What's wrong?" she asked in consternation.

"They're coming!" Ronan responded, squatting down and pulling at the laces of the sneakers to loosen them.

Adrenaline flooded Kate's system, and she snatched her shoe away from the blonde before stuffing her foot into it. "I thought you said we had plenty of time? That they were twenty-two miles away?"

"That was last night." Ronan returned shortly. "Apparently they have some sort of transportation as their signals are moving steadily toward our location."

"Why can't you just say they're moving fast?" Kate groused, unaccountably irked by the blonde's way of talking so precisely.

Ronan thrust her briefcase into her hands, grabbed her by the upper arm and hauled her out of the plane. Not having the strength or the choice, she was propelled into the swamp by her companion and struggled to move as fast as she could.

Kate slapped at the insects buzzing around her head in irritation. I thought all bugs died in the winter, she complained internally, unhappy to find that wasn't the case at all. They had been moving at a breakneck speed through the trees and murky water for hours, which served to keep them warm, but caused a definite threat of hypothermia if they stopped for too long. Her stomach grumbled, sweat trickled in an irritating line down her back and saturated her clothes, and she was tired. Her only view for the last few miles had been Ronan's swinging behind. The leggy blonde's stride seemed to eat up the terrain, forcing Kate to practically run to keep up.

After a while she felt as though she was floating in a fog and her eyes fixed on the one constant in her swaying world; Ronan's hips. From there her eyes gravitated up over the lanky form. She had acknowledged from the moment she had seen the other woman that she was attractive, but until this moment she hadn't realized how utterly gorgeous she was. And the swaying of those hips would definitely get any man's attention. Hah, she snorted at herself, not just any man but just about any woman with eyes in her head.

Now where do you suppose that came from, Kate wondered with a small frown. She had never been attracted to women. Why would she think such a thing? Thinking back, she remembered laying in Ronan's arms the night before and how well she had slept. It felt like it had been centuries since she had been that comfortable sleeping with someone, much less a woman. Usually she couldn't stand being in bed with anyone, feeling claustrophobic from the body heat they generated and wanting nothing more than to shove them onto the floor. Last night had been completely different, she had drawn comfort from the other woman's presence, the sound of her heartbeat causing Kate's muscles to relax and the tension to drain from her body. With something like an epiphany, Kate realized that she might not be attracted to women, but she was attracted to Ronan.

With her attention divided, Kate wasn't watching where she was going and she tripped over a thick twisted root of a cypress tree. Unable to maintain her balance, she grunted and fell heavily to the ground. Instinctively dropping the briefcase she thrust her arms out in front of her in an attempt to break her fall, and only succeeded in straining her wrist when it took the brunt of her weight on the hard ground.

"Damn," she cursed angrily before rolling over onto her buttocks to survey the damage done to her right arm.

Ronan heard the crash as the older woman impacted with the ground and turned back worriedly to check on her. Kate was just sitting up and clutching her right arm against her chest. Other than that, she didn't appear to have suffered any injuries. She squatted next to the smaller woman and aimed the tricorder at her wounded arm. Punching a series of buttons, she waited a moment and then read the results.

"Thankfully, it is only a slight sprain," she reported, looking up with a reassuring glance.

Expecting the lanky blonde to pull out one of the bandages she had seen her pack into the saddlebags, Kate was surprised when she withdrew another strange looking device. The tip of it glowed yellow as Ronan ran the light back and forth on her wrist, and caused a slight tingling sensation. A few seconds later, the blonde put the instrument away asking, "How does that feel?"

Kate flexed the appendage for a moment before saying, "It doesn't hurt anymore. What was that thing?"

"Its called a myovascular regenerator. It is for healing soft tissue injuries."

"Another of your friend's inventions?" At Ronan's nod, Kate continued wryly, "I'm beginning to see how the up and coming government would see him as a threat. With these kinds of inventions the medical industry would be in shambles. No more prescriptions to treat symptoms while the body heals itself…no more endless tests that really don't show anything but sure generate a lot of revenue…"

For a moment Ronan stared at the smaller woman, trying to understand why she was being so harsh. She saw the dark circles under the blue eyes and the seat soaked clothing and began to understand. "You are tired. We should rest for a few minutes." Without waiting for a response, she handed Kate the water canteen.

"How could you tell?" Kate shot back sarcastically, gratefully accepting the water.

"Because your cynicism is even more pointed than usual."

Startled, Kate looked into the blonde's face, then noticed the arched brow and snorted at the blondes dry humor. What was intended as a swat on the muscled thigh turned into a caress as Kate felt tingles shooting out from her fingertips. She was startled to see Ronan's eyes dilate, the blue becoming a narrow band of color against the much larger pupil.

Clearing her throat, Ronan picked up the tricorder and began punching in a sequence of commands more for something to do than because she needed the information. Disconcerted, she analyzed the data, and realized how fast their pursuers were gaining on them.

"Will you show me how that works?" Kate asked.

Ronan smiled at the other woman's curiosity, thinking that in another time she would have made a formidable scientist. Holding up the device, she showed Kate how to punch in different series of buttons to ascertain different findings. Kate was grateful for the distraction, thinking momentarily of the desire she had seen reflected in the younger woman's eyes.

Or is that just wishful thinking, she wondered, my subconscious yearning to see my own attraction reciprocated? No, she decided, it may be a while since I've seen it, but that was definitely desire. She wants me, too.

"Watch carefully," Ronan instructed gently, drawing Kate's attention to what she was doing. "Tap in this sequence to check on our adversaries' progress."

Seeing the readout on the small display, the actress quickly put two and two together. Combined with the previous layout she had seen on the everglades, as well as their position within it, this wasn't good.

"They're so much closer," she breathed grasping the instrument to see it more clearly. "How can this be right?"

"Clearly, they have some means of motorized transport." Ronan deduced logically.

"No, not motorized," Kate disagreed. "Sound travels for miles through the everglades. If they had air-boats, we'd know it."

Ronan frowned and Kate was disconcerted at how adorable that made her companion look, even with dirt smudged on her skin and her hanging damply around her aquiline features.

"Okay," she said, forcing herself to concentrate. "If not air-boats then what?"

Ronan was not familiar with 21^st century means of transportation through a swamp-like environment, and focused on what she had learned from her University history classes. Almost as though speaking to herself, she asked aloud, "What would someone use to travel down-river without the aid of engines?"

"A canoe," Kate exclaimed, comprehension dawning in her eyes. "They're traveling by canoe, that's why they're moving so fast!"

"If that's true we can never outrun them," Ronan responded. Holding up the tricorder to show why she said, "Look here. The river will continue to wind around until it will eventually be in front of us. At one point we would have to cross it to reach civilization. Somehow I don't believe they will allow that. It will be much simpler to eliminate us in these swamps and allow the natural predators to dispose of the evidence."

Kate shuddered at the image generated in her mind. "Then we'll just have to make sure it doesn't come to that."

Something in the voice caught Ronan's ear, and she knew there was something her companion wasn't saying. "What did you have in mind?"

A soft smile graced the redhead's lips, and she reached up to gently brush the other woman's strong jaw, feeling the almost imperceptible shudder travel through the whip-thin frame. "Honey, I may be an actress, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. Since I met you, a lot of things just don't add up. You keep showing up just in the nick of time to rescue me…all these technological wonders that you wield as though they're common place…and you cannot tell me that motorcycle is factory standard…at least not from any factory here."

Ronan started to interrupt, prepared to fabricate any excuse she could think of but was stopped by a soft finger pressed against her lips. "Don't worry, I'm not going to start demanding answers…at least not yet." Kate teased gently. "But I do know there's more to you than meets the eye, and I'm willing to bet that you have some…skills…that would prove useful in a physical confrontation. Am I right?"

Fighting the urge to kiss the digit resting against her full lips, the blonde pulled back to take a shaky breath before responding. "Yes, you are correct. But I fail to see how those abilities can assist us now. Our pursuers are too far away at present."

"But they won't be for long." Kate reminded her. "The jungle is a dangerous place. What if they ran into a few obstacles on the way?"

"Yes," Ronan said softly, impressed once again with this woman's thought processes. "The jungle is indeed a dangerous place."

                                                                   ********************

"Damn," he muttered irritably swatting at the mosquitoes chewing on the back of his neck.

He wouldn't even be out here if it weren't for that fool Gentry. As far as he was concerned, they were better off without him anyway. But it wasn't for Marcs to make that decision, and there were certain members of the government that wanted this mistake rectified. Oh, he could understand Gentry's need for a little insurance with the type of people he was dealing with, but of all ignorant mistakes…letting that disc fall into the hands of his ex-wife?

Daniel Sheener, Secretary of Defense, had made it quite clear that Marcs and his little band of hunters were not to return until the Williams woman was dead. That left him out in the swamps of the everglades, freezing his butt off and tracking the actress and her pilot. When they found them, it would be over quickly. And he had no doubt that they would be found.

George Marcs was a big man, six-three and over two hundred pounds. His broad shoulders were more hunched than they had once been, his waist very narrow. He had a square face framed with blonde, almost white hair. His eyes were blue, complexion clear except for a spray of freckles across his blunt nose. His neck was all muscle, gristle, and corded veins. He looked absolutely immovable, and others around him scrambled to do his bidding.

His looks had a lot to do with how they had obtained their current guide through these swamps. And although he couldn't understand a damn word the Cajun spoke, Alfonse definitely knew his business. Within hours of the plane going down they had found the wreckage. Marcs had entertained hopes that both women had died in the crash, but it was not to be. Evidence of meals having been consumed and several rather obvious tracks had pointed to them entering the swamp.

Alfonse had informed Marcs in his broken English that the only way out of the marsh would be along a route that ran parallel to the river. At the southern end of the everglades, the women would have to cross over that shallow body of water to reach a small town just at the edge of the swamps. Marcs would make sure they never reached their destination.

Even if the man were wrong, Marcs had an infrared tracker that Sheener had given him. It detected heat signatures, and although there were literally hundreds of them in the swamps, human beings gave off their own unique signal. Marcs didn't know where the Secretary of Defense had obtained such sophisticated equipment, but so far it showed Alfonse to be right on the money as to where the women were. Now two canoes followed each other closely down the narrow band of muddy water, drifting easily as though this were just another carefree winter day.

Closing his eyes, Marcs listened to the frogs croaking along the banks and absorbed the feel of the weak sunshine against his face. It reminded him of fishing as a boy, and for a moment he was that child again. A sudden shout from up ahead drew his attention, and he opened his eyes, the illusion shattered.

"Look out!" One of the men Marcs didn't know shouted, pointing at the murky water. "There it is!"

Marcs was in the second canoe with Alfonse, and peered ahead seeing a scaly body thrashing through the water. The alligator was at least twenty feet long, its mouth open to display wickedly sharp fangs gleaming in the sunlight. Not being used to humans, the creature had no fear and saw these puny things as just another meal.

The skinny man that had shouted the warning was standing in his canoe, gibbering in fear and moving in agitation as he reached for a shotgun. The small craft wobbled impressively under his weight, dipping from side to side dangerously close to the murky water.

"Sit down, man!" Marcs shouted. "You're going to tip over!"

Suddenly that's exactly what happened. The canoe flipped over completely, throwing three men into the frigid river, and disappearing completely from view before bobbing back into sight. The river wasn't deep, and two of the men swam/ran toward their companions in the other boat. Skinny, as Marcs now thought of him, stood in stunned fascination pointing the shotgun toward the gator, but not even attempting to fire.

Pulling up and quickly sighting down the barrel of his own gun, Marcs aimed at the swamp creature and pulled the trigger. He could easily see that he had hit the target, but the alligator didn't appear affected in the least. Lunging out of the water, it snapped Skinny between its powerful jaws. One final scream of fear was the last anyone saw of the unfortunate man.

Growling angrily at the man's stupidity, George grasped onto one of men's shirt to help haul him into the canoe while the other climbed into the vessel on his own. Knowing the remaining craft would be too overloaded with four men, Marcs realized they would have to waste time salvaging the other canoe. They would also have to make time for the men to change into warm, dry clothing. But it wouldn't matter. The women would not escape.

                                                                         ********************

The sound of gunfire caused both of them to jerk in surprise, casting fearful looks down river. They were quickly running out of time, and soon would have to give up on their booby traps and try to beat a hasty retreat.

"Let's go!" Kate urged, grabbing her briefcase and the saddlebags before walking quickly into the woods.

"Wait," Ronan said, "One more present for our friends."

Curiosity piqued in spite of herself, Kate stood watching silently wondering what her gorgeous blonde companion was up to now. Walking over to the smaller woman, Ronan dug around in one of the saddlebags for a moment before hefting a device that looked remarkable like a ray gun Kate had seen on an old science fiction movie.

"Something else my friend developed," the blonde said by way of explanation before taking the weapon and walking over near the edge of the river.

Punching in a series of commands, Ronan narrowed the confinement beam on the phaser to that of a cutting tool. Of course there was no cutting tool on 21^st century Earth near as precise as this one. She pointed the phaser at the base of a huge cypress tree and pressed the button.

Kate jumped at the ruby light that shot out from the end of the weapon, watching in fascination as it easily cut through the trunk of the massive tree like a surgical instrument cutting through butter. The tree fell, slowly at first, but gaining momentum until it crashed heavily across the narrow river. From one side to the other, the channel was completely impassible to watercraft. Of course, it wouldn't cause the river to flood its banks, as the current underneath was unaffected. Only anyone choosing to travel by boat would be stymied.

"Now they have to walk too." Kate said smiling at her friend's inventiveness.

"Precisely,"

Feeling like they suddenly had more time, and a lot more hope of reaching their destination, the two struck off through the woods at a much more leisurely pace. They didn't take Marcs determination into account or the fact that for at least one of the hunters this was a life or death situation... literally. If he found them he would be allowed to live.

A few hours later, they were beginning to have an inkling how serious their enemy was when the distance between them began to steadily decrease.

Marcs was satisfied that they were gaining on their quarry. His heat seeker detected the stronger signatures of the women as they drew closer, and he breathed a sigh of anticipation as the canoe gently rounded the curve in the riverbed. Then he heard Alfonse mutter an oath and glanced ahead to see what the other man was upset about.

A huge tree had fallen across the waterway, and successfully precluded them from continuing in their previous fashion.

"It doesn't matter," he grated with a husky voice that sounded as though it was seldom used. "We knew we'd have to go to ground sooner or later."

But when the two boats drew up to the riverbank, a new problem developed.

"I not be a going dat way." Alfonse declared in his colorful speech. "Dat way bees a lotta bad stuff. No good." Spitting on the ground as though to emphasize his point, the Cajun folded his arms and stared stubbornly into Marcs flint blue gaze.

It took a moment for the cultured man to understand that their guide had just effectively planted his heels and wasn't going to move. Marcs couldn't have cared less. They were not ten minutes behind their prey, and he was growing tired of the constant complaining anyway.

"Are you sure?" he prompted, eyes narrowed dangerously.

Alfonse swallowed the fear in his throat, but nodded his head in obstinate affirmation. They were entering the thickest point in the everglades. Alligators and snakes abounded in these woods and wouldn't hesitate for a moment before making a meal of an unwitting man. Added to the fact that he wasn't even being paid for tracking these women, and that made for one very headstrong Cajun.

"Fine, have it your way." Marcs returned emotionlessly. Without missing a beat, he reached under his heavy jacket and behind his back. Removing a colt .45 semi-automatic, Marcs shot Alfonse once between the eyes and watched calmly as the body slumped back in the canoe.

"Bring the equipment," he said shortly to the three remaining men, and stepped off of the canoe into the black gumbo mud of the Florida Everglades. Hastily sharing a nervous look, the other three grabbed the backpacks from the canoe bottoms and followed quickly.

When they had gone only ten feet from the water, another mishap befell the little band of cutthroats. One of the men snagged his foot on the trip-wire Kate had laid out when she assisted Ronan in building a little booby trap.

As his ankle caught on the wire, the unknown man looked up in sharp fear. Recognition of guerilla warfare tactics shot through his mind, even as the limb swung toward him. Razor sharp branches tore into his mid-section, slamming him back against another tree trunk and impaling the wooden spikes even deeper. He never even had time to scream.

Marcs growled into the humid air with a sound like an animal in a rage. He cared nothing for taking these men's lives himself, but it infuriated him to no end that a runt actress and her pilot would do such a thing. He would make them pay dearly for this, he vowed wordlessly.

                                                                        *********************

The gunshot so close behind them caused Ronan to turn and quickly scan the area. After a brief moment she reported, "There are only three remaining hunters."

"I guess they're starting to turn on each other, huh?" Kate speculated with a grin.

Smiling at the optimism the blonde returned, "Perhaps, but there are still three of them. I suggest we hurry."

Hours later, it was getting dark and Kate was beginning to stumble every other step. She was falling behind and starting to lose track of Ronan in the lengthening shadows.

"Ronan, please…" she gasped. "I need to stop."

The younger woman heard the weariness in Kate's voice and knew she was right, but she was terrified of what would happen if they did. She wasn't sure how much distance they had from the hunters, having been concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other for the last few hours. Hearing the fatigue in her companion's voice she turned to look at her and felt her heart melt. She'd traveled hundreds of years into the past to save this woman, and here she was rushing her into a dangerous marsh in the darkness.

I must be going soft in the head, she thought self-derisively.

Walking back to Kate, she gently took her by the upper arm and guided the smaller woman to a fallen log to sit. "I'm sorry, Kate. I think I was just so focused on getting out of here that I didn't realize how late it was getting."

"I just wish I had your stamina." Kate panted before poking the other woman in the stomach with a cold, dirty finger.

Ronan pulled out the tricorder, and took a quick reading back the way they had come. After a few moments Kate noticed her frown and prompted impatiently, "Well?"

"I am only reading three human life signs. They are not moving…approximately six miles from our current location."

Kate pondered mopping her sweaty brow with the back of a grimy hand. "Maybe luck is on our side and the everglades have proved too dangerous for our enemies."

Conceding the point, the blonde merely pointed out, "In any case, I would hazard that the remaining hunters have stopped for the night. I suggest we do the same. Its too dangerous to travel any farther and we need to get a fire going to discourage any predators."

"Sounds marvelous," Kate said with a groan. "My feet are killing me, I'm freezing, and I could eat a horse."

Smiling, Ronan offered, "Why don't you rest while I make a fire and start dinner?"

Kate acquiesced, but was unable to just watch while Ronan did all the work. While the blonde was gathering wood for a fire, Kate pulled a couple of blankets from one of the saddlebags from where Ronan had dropped it when they stopped to rest. She folded the blankets, and made a simple sleeping pad fairly close to the fire ring that Ronan had just constructed. It wasn't thick and wouldn't be comfortable but at least it was some protection from the cold, damp ground, and the other woman's body heat would help make it more bearable.

Their quick supper was very quiet, both women too exhausted and lost in their own thoughts to talk much. As soon as it was finished, they lay down side by side to attempt to sleep. Kate hadn't been apprehensive about sleeping by Ronan the night before in the plane, but she hadn't acknowledged that she harbored an attraction for her then. She was sure she wouldn't be able to sleep, but exhaustion won out and she was asleep almost instantly.

Having fought her way through a jungle followed by a faceless enemy, skirting alligators and quicksand the actress probably should have suffered horrendous nightmares. Instead, her dreams were filled with images of passion-filled blue eyes and sweat-slick skin lunging against her with insistent desire.

The next morning Kate could hardly move. Her feet were sore and muscles she didn't even know she had were protesting even the most shallow breath. To her intense mortification, she could barely look at Ronan without being reminded of the erotic dreams she had experienced lying next to the other woman.

Ronan heard the stifled groan and fought against a rush of irrational irritation. Taking a deep breath and mentally counting to ten, she reminded herself of everything the smaller woman had been through in the last few days. If the situation were reversed, she doubted her own abilities to hold up as well.

The irritation left her as quickly as it had set in and Ronan knew she was allowing her own exhaustion to dictate her responses. Rummaging through their supplies, she found what she was looking and walked over to where the actress still sat by the fire.

"How do you feel?" she asked squatting down next to the smaller woman.

Kate snorted before replying shortly, "Like I've been hit by a bus. How do you expect me to feel?" She looked up at the cool blonde, and quickly glanced away again feeling a rush of heat to her cheeks. Ronan saw the blush, but chalked it up to exhaustion.

Holding up the hypospray she said, "Well, this should help take the edge off." She started to press the medical instrument up against Kate's neck, but was blocked with a swift forearm.

"What is it?"

"Don't worry," Ronan reassured her, "Its just a mild analgesic, but it'll make you feel better."

Kate was reluctant, but hurting just enough to try it. "Okay," she allowed and waited with trepidation as the blonde pressed the device against her neck. She heard a slight hiss as Ronan administered the medication, but felt no pain. After a few moments, all of her various aches and pains began to disappear.

"Whoever your friend was, he should have been nominated for sainthood," Kate declared feeling much better than she had a moment ago.

Ronan merely quirked her brow and smiled at Kate's delight, too charmed by the smaller woman's reaction to tell her that the Professor hadn't invented hyposprays. After giving herself an injection in the neck, the younger woman set about getting breakfast.

"Sorry," she apologized in advance. "Only dry rations and water for breakfast; we have to get moving."

"Oh, what I wouldn't give for a huge cup of steaming, black coffee right now." Kate declared, and then asked, "How much longer do you think?"

Thinking for a moment, Ronan said, "We covered quite a bit of ground yesterday, more than I thought we would. With a little luck we should reach the edge of the swamps by late afternoon."

"Amazing what you can accomplish with the hounds of hell chasing you." Kate retorted.

"Indeed."

They had no way of knowing that the hounds of hell were beginning to quarrel among themselves.

Marcs was watching Santos and Anderson who were leading the expedition. They were beginning to squabble constantly, but instead of separating they continued to walk together and argue. He was starting to think they enjoyed it as something to occupy their time. When they finally moved in for the kill, he would have to ensure their quiet.

"Don't you wish," Santos said angrily in response to something his companion had just said. Turning around, the slightly overweight, balding man continued to walk backward so he could argue with Anderson face to face.

Marcs saw the whole thing a moment before it happened, and smiled with black humor as he watched the scene unfold. He could have warned the other man, but then he wouldn't be free of this incessant chatter, and it would teach Anderson a lesson; not to take the jungle for granted.

Santos walked two more steps before he realized that the ground underneath him was more spongy than usual. He stopped in his tracks and stared down in disbelief as he sank quickly to his knees, caught in the quicksand. The man began flailing around in his panic, causing himself to sink quicker and deeper. Anderson instinctively rushed to his aid as Santos struggled to free himself. He threw off his backpack to allow more freedom to use his arms, and reached out to the other man.

"Grab my hand!" he yelled, confidant that he could pull Santos free.

Marcs saw the opportunity to be rid of both of them and took it without a second thought. Anderson was caught off guard by the boot on his rear end that shoved him into the center of the sinkhole. Both men were screaming and clawing for a way out while Marcs watched them with a sinister smile on his face until they disappeared from view.

*********************

Kate trailed Ronan by about ten feet. This part of the jungle was particularly heavy with hanging vines and overgrown brush. Tree trunks were closer together than before, blocking out most of the sun and casting ominous shadows that seemed to dance and mock the women's flight. All the actress could do was concentrate on picking her way carefully behind the taller woman. When she did have a few spare moments to relax on one of their infrequent rest stops, her thoughts were filled with her young companion.

From what she had learned so far, Ronan had been a homicide detective who had given up everything to protect her when she had learned of the threat against Kate's life. Kate knew she came from a well to do family since she had spoken of funding the professors research, but the by-products of that research were the vital key in unlocking the mystery surrounding the blonde. She had no reason to doubt Ronan; there was an air of honesty and innocence about her that spoke directly to Kate's heart. She was sure it was these qualities more than the blondes stunning beauty that drew her irresistibly against her will. But she had never once heard Ronan talk about where she was from. Whenever the subject had come up, she had evaded the question or changed the subject.

And she knew things, Kate realized with a frown covering her fine features. Things one could only know if…

With eyes going wide in shock, Kate came to a stand still watching Ronan's ever more distant back. Suddenly things seemed to click into place. How and when Ronan would know what was going to happen to her…that extremely sophisticated motorcycle…all that futuristic equipment, key word being futuristic…

Heart pounding and mouth suddenly dry, she wondered if it could be true. Could this woman really be from the future? Running a hand over her previously injured wrist, she remembered how the younger woman had healed her and had to admit it was a very distinct possibility.

Kate refocused on the present and could barely see Ronan in the darkness. Since the other woman had the tricorder it was a very real threat that Kate could become disoriented in the jungle if she lost track of her. All thoughts of time travel left her mind as she rushed to catch up.

Only a few feet behind now, she looked ahead and saw another looping vine. This one was substantially thicker than the others and for some reason garnered her interest. Trailing the satiny black length of it with her eyes, she found it terminated in a bobbing and weaving, hissing, diamond-shaped head. Ronan was walking right into an eight-foot long boa constrictor.

"Ronan, look out!" she shouted, dropping her briefcase to leap toward the other woman. She wasn't sure what she had planned to do by racing to the young woman, but in a split-second things spun out of control.

Everything seemed to play out in slow motion as Kate scrambled forward. She watched Ronan draw the phaser from her belt with lightning quick reflexes and cut the serpent in two. Perhaps it was the momentum that prevented her from being able to stop, or maybe it was just the unconscious desire to instigate an encounter, but whatever the reason Kate was unable to cease her headlong rush and ploughed right into Ronan. Both of them crashed heavily to the ground, and in the tangle of arms and legs, she suddenly found herself lying on top of the full-figured younger woman with soft breasts pressing into her chest.

"S…sorry," she mumbled absently, caught in the cobalt web of desire she found reflected back at her.

For an unknown time, she stared into the ice-blue gaze before her eyes shifted lower and focused on the full lips. They were slightly parted as breath from the aroused woman beneath her panted in hunger. Kate saw the movement of the pink tongue as words were heavily forced out.

"Kiss me," Ronan entreated in a breathless whisper.

The words ignited a fire in her core that Kate had long since thought extinguished. With a groan of overwhelming excitement, she lowered her head and captured the lush softness with her own. Heat flashed through her brain, exploding simultaneously in the center of her being. Lips explored gently at first, mapping the tender flesh in the awkwardness of a first kiss. Then Ronan's lips parted in a gasp and tongues began dueling in earnest…absorbing…immersing…devouring.

Kate unconsciously pressed into the strong body, trying to absorb every sensation that seared through her. Her mouth was insistent, almost bruising the soft flesh of Ronan's mouth, trying to consume her utterly. No thoughts remained, only this hungry excitement rendering her breathless and causing her to moan into the mouth against her own. The satiny softness of Ronan's lips slid over her own provocatively, and Kate willingly lost herself in the sensation. The outside world ceased to exist as both women thought of nothing, striving only to drown in the sweetness they tasted and couldn't get enough of.

Finally, they both drew slowly away, Ronan's mouth seeking Kate's out again and again in short, hungry kisses as though she couldn't bear to let it end. The actress willingly returned the brief kisses, unwilling to end this, knowing that somehow if she did she might regret her actions. It was the frigid air that finally ended the moment. Coolness caused gooseflesh to break out on their overheated bodies, dampening out the moment with the need for warmth and movement.

Kate drew away to see Ronan, eyes closed and mouth swollen with the strength of their passion, her lips still parted as she struggled to calm her breathing. Suddenly, unaccountably, Kate felt extremely embarrassed by the wantonness of her kiss. While it was true that Ronan had asked her to, she was surprised by the strength of her desire for another woman, a desire that she couldn't remember ever having had for anyone.

"I…" she managed, but then realized there was nothing she could say. She sighed, closed her eyes, then reluctantly climbed off the tall blonde. Oh God, what have I done, she wondered morosely as she walked slowly back to pick up her briefcase.

Face flaming in embarrassment at her display, she stood with her arms folded staring down at the battered brown case. She started as long arms slid around her waist from behind, then she felt herself being pulled back to rest against a strong frame as Ronan held her.

"It's all right," the blonde reassured her with a gentle kiss against her temple, "I'm not going to hurt you."

Kate pulled away from the comforting embrace, leaving Ronan suddenly cold. "No, it is not all right." She disagreed. Feeling vulnerable she felt a sudden need to strike out at the other woman, and said cuttingly, "I am not accustomed to behaving in such a manner. And certainly not with an employee,"

Feeling like she had been struck, Ronan's head snapped back at the comment and she could only stare at the other woman in wounded anger.

"Is that all I am to you?" she managed finally. "An employee?"

"What else would you be?" Kate asked denying her feelings, knowing she was hurting the other woman, but unable to stop. "You were hired as my pilot," she reminded her.

Ronan swallowed against the tears fighting to surface. Her jaw worked with the effort of containing her emotions as she responded softly. "I would have thought things had changed between us and that you would see me as another human being, not as a hired hand."

Looking at the other woman with as much sympathy as she was willing to allow Kate answered, "I'm sorry, I don't work that way."

"I see."

The words were uttered as calmly as possible, but Ronan suddenly wanted Kate to be as upset as she was. Her eyes landed on the battered briefcase that the other woman had been lugging through the swamps the past few days. "Then perhaps we should focus on something you can understand, like saving your life."

"What are you doing?" Kate demanded. "That's mine," as Ronan grabbed it, and squatted on the ground opening it up.

"You do not need it. It is slowing you down." The blonde returned tightly, tossing various objects into different piles.

"But the supplies…"

"What we have left will fit in the saddlebags."

Discarding extraneous items, Ronan shoved other necessary supplies into her own bags. Upon reaching the bottom, she grabbed the disc and shoved it into her shirt pocket before picking up Kate's photograph of her grandparents. Looking up she found Kate watching her through narrowed eyes; her chest heaving in anger and hurt as she waited to see what Ronan would do next.

The younger woman was suddenly ashamed of her behavior, and wordlessly placed the photo into her pack before picking up the discarded items and shoving them back into the leather case. "We will have to find somewhere to hide this." She said sullenly.

A loud boom sounded from somewhere behind them in the jungle, and bark exploded from the tree beside Ronan. Wooden shrapnel bit sharply into tender flesh, as it tore away from the tree.

"No time!" Kate shouted, grabbing her by the upper arm and urging her to run.

Speeding through the woods, the women jumped over fallen branches and rocks as they evaded Marcs. Low-hanging branches smacked wetly against their frozen faces, and adrenaline pumped through their systems. Kate suddenly didn't feel so tired.

"Wait!" Ronan yelled, grabbing the back of her shirt and hauling the smaller woman to the left. "This way,"

The young woman's mind was racing furiously; glad she had kept taking tricorder readings as they ran from their pursuer. Kate had almost rushed straight into a trap that had no doubt been dug by alligator poachers. If she had kept going, she would have fallen into a pit at least fifteen feet deep. If they could circle back in front of it and stay just in sight of their enemy, they might be able to lure him into it. His previous shot at Ronan had been from too far away to be effective, and with any luck he would still be too far away to become suspicious of them running in a wide circle.

Gaining the far side of the pit, Ronan pulled Kate back on track directly in front of their attacker. She was grateful that although Kate looked at her questioningly, she didn't ask any questions since she was so focused on fleeing. A few moments later they heard a startled yelp and the sound of a dull thud as Marcs landed at the bottom of the pit.

Kate looked at Ronan with a grin of comprehension. "Good thinking," she complimented warmly, slowing to a walk before stopping completely.

Glowing internally at the praise, the blonde said calmly, "Thank you, but he is resourceful and will eventually find a way out of that trap. We should not become complacent." A gentle but insistent hand on her shoulder prevented her from walking away.

"Just a moment. I'm sorry…about earlier." Kate admitted with difficulty. "You are more than an employee to me. It's been a long time since I was attracted to someone, and I'm not sure how to deal with all this."

Kate was realistic enough to know that her own attraction didn't mean that Ronan felt the same way, and determined to rein in her rampant hormones. But that kiss! Surely that meant that Ronan felt something…

Smiling softly, Ronan replied, "I'm sorry, too. And I'm sorry for throwing away your briefcase. It was childish of me."

"No, you were right. It was slowing me down. I'm just glad you didn't throw away my picture," she stated with an attempt at humor.

Mortified at her earlier behavior, Ronan confessed, "I couldn't bring myself to hurt you in that way. You must have been very close."

"We were," Kate replied sadly, "I miss them very much."

Taking a breath, Ronan held out a hand. "Friends again?"

The smaller woman took the hand with a smile, staring intently into the blue eyes. "That much, I can promise you."

Flushing in pleased embarrassment, Ronan decided to change the topic. "Then let's put some distance between us and our uninvited guest."

As they walked into the woods Kate felt compelled to ask, "Ronan?"

"Hmmm?"

"You are eventually going to tell me everything…right?"

"You have my word, Kate." And with that, the feisty redhead had to be content…for the moment.

The first signs of civilization approaching were the sounds of intermittent traffic on a nearby roadway, and shortly, the women were forced to wade across the river where it intersected their path. Fortunately, the waterway narrowed and became much shallower at this point and came only to mid-shin.

Kate grimaced in discomfort at her squishy sneakers and frozen feet when they reached dry ground on the other side.

"Not long now," Ronan assured her with a smile, and she proved to be right when ten minutes later they abruptly came to the edge of the blacktop. Ronan struck off as though she knew where she was going, and Kate happily assumed that she did since she quickly checked the tricorder before placing it into the pack knowing they wouldn't need it again any time soon.

Eventually they came to the outskirts of a small town. It was sparsely decorated with few businesses and even fewer people. To Kate it didn't seem very promising. Glancing down, Ronan caught the frown of frustration.

"Don't worry," she said. "We haven't reached the main business area, yet. We are in Homestead, Florida which was actually a very well known tourist area during the 21^st century." She reported, sounding like she was reading from a museum brochure.

She took a few more steps before realizing that Kate was no longer walking beside her. Flushing it occurred to her too late what she had said, and not knowing what else to do Ronan continued walking leaving Kate no choice but to jog to catch up. She flushed even harder a moment later when Kate asked, "So, what's it like on your planet?"

Idiot, Ronan berated herself at the dry humor in her companions voice. Now she probably thinks I'm stark raving crazy.

Mentally, Kate was rubbing her hands together in glee. Gotcha! I knew you were from the future. Then she became serious as the implications hit her. How bad was their future if Ronan had felt compelled to give up everything to go back and correct it?

The hotel was not exactly five-star, but Kate thought they were in heaven as they stepped through the double doors. The lobby was comfortably heated and nothing reminded her of the muck or grime they had been slogging through the last two days. But from the look on the clerks face when they walked up to the hotel registry, she was sure they wouldn't be allowed to stay. The actress had no doubt that they looked like a couple of street urchins in their dirty, torn clothing, with their hair plastered to their heads and grim liberally coating every inch of their visible, cold-reddened flesh.

The young mans thinly veiled disgust quickly turned to studied politeness when the tall blonde pulled a platinum MasterCard from her wallet and plunked it down on the counter. And when she applied a generous tip at the end of the transaction, he didn't even bother to ask if they had luggage; quickly signaling for a bellhop to show them to their room.

As soon as the door to their room clicked closed Kate burst out heartily, "Thank God! All I can think about is a shower and some sleep!"

"Just let me wash my face and hands, and the bathrooms all yours." Ronan promised with a smile.

By the tone the older just knew she was up to something and couldn't help but wonder what it was. "You planning something?" she prompted curiously with a small frown.

"Im just going to arrange for some transportation and some fresh clothing. Unless you prefer what you have on…?"

At the lightly teasing question Kate looked down at her torn and filthy clothing. "I guess you have a point." She conceded wryly. Her smile faded out as worry for the other woman rose in her thoughts. Stepping closer she reached out a hand to gently cup her jaw, her thumb tracing the cleft in the chin. "Please be careful. I don't know what Id do if anything happened to you."

For one long, achingly sweet moment Ronan allowed herself to believe Kate was making some sort of declaration. Until the cold, hard truth hit her. The other woman was only speaking about Ronan's role as her protector. The revelation was like a dash of cold water, and clearing her throat she took a step back and retreated to the bathroom.

Kate saw the look of confusion on the blondes face and berated herself for a fool. Great, she thought as the bathroom door closed. Were on the run for our lives and I'm flirting with her. Considering the situation, she probably thinks my behavior is completely inappropriate.

Groaning, she sat on the edge of the bed and bent over to struggle with her knotted shoelaces. Winning the battle with the wet laces, she grabbed the heels and pushed them from her feet and her socks quickly followed. Kate closed her eyes in bliss and wriggled her shriveled toes, savoring the feel of warm air on her overtired extremities.

The flushing of the toilet and then the sound of running water captured her attention. Soon, Ronan emerged feeling much better than she had when shed gone into the small room. She still smelled of the swamps, but could do nothing about her clothes. At least she felt refreshed with her face and hands clean. With any luck, anyone she interacted with would simply think shed been hard at work that day. Emerging from the bathroom, she saw the worried look on the auburn haired woman's face, and wondered again at her behavior.

Kate had kissed her so passionately in the woods, and her touch a few minutes ago had seemed reminiscent of that encounter. Why then the comment about being her protector? Shed said she saw Ronan as more than an employee. Was this what she had meant? She saw her as her bodyguard?

The thought hurt too much to think about and she forced it away as she realized shed been standing and staring. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to where Kate sat on the bed.

"Ill try not to take too long. Please sleep if you can, but don't call for room service or use the telephone. More pursuers could arrive and we don't want to give them any advantage." She said more sternly than she had intended.

"Yes, ma'am." Kate shot back angered by the coolness she felt emanating from the other woman. She should know better than to allow herself to become interested in anyone. All they were ever interested in was playing games. Kate was just disappointed to find that Ronan wasn't any different. "Any other orders you'd like to give before you just leave me here? Or maybe you'd like to show me another snazzy gadget your friend invented."

"Kate, I'm not trying to give you orders," the blonde began reasonably, confused by the sudden attack.

"No? That seems to be all you have done in the last two days."

"You know I'm trying to save your life…"

"So you say. You make up some half-baked story about Roger trying to do away with me, and use that man who broke into my home as sole proof."

"What about the man that was shooting at us?"

"A hunter. He probably didn't see us clearly in the swamps, and thought he was shooting at game."

"You really believe that?" Ronan asked quietly. It was important to her that Kate trust her and if she was questioning her after everything they had been through, she knew it was going to hurt. When Kate didn't respond, Ronan knelt down beside her at the edge of the bed and asked again. "Please Kate, do you really believe that?"

"I don't know what to believe." She admitted finally, allowing some of the fear she had been feeling to show in her eyes. "You keep asking me to trust you, but you haven't really told me anything. Roger and I were married for a long time, and even though it wasn't the best relationship I have a hard time believing he would try to kill me."

Kate raised a trembling hand to cup Ronan's face. "Give me something." She said beseechingly. "Even if you cant tell me everything, just answer this. Where did all your gadgets come from?"

Ronan felt she was treading on thin ice with the question, and answered carefully. "I told you a friend of mine invented them."

"And I assume this scientist friend of your was also from the future?"

Startled by that, the blonde sputtered, "H…how did you…?"

Kate smiled at the reaction, still stroking the soft face. Her voice gentled unconsciously as she absorbed the feel of the tender flesh. "You made a comment about Homestead, Florida being a tourist attraction in the 21^st century."

Thinking furiously for a way to explain the comment, Ronan said, "I just meant..."

Laying a finger against the full lips, Kate halted the tirade before it could begin. "Shh," she said gently. "Its alright."

Ronan's breath was coming quicker as Kate's eyes fastened to her mouth. A slender finger stroked the line of the top lip and followed it around to trace the bow of the bottom. The pink tip of Kate's tongue came out as she unconsciously stroked along her own lips to moisten them, mesmerizing Ronan with the action.

Leaning slowly toward each other, the distance closed until their breaths ghosted gently over each other. The words Ronan had spoken in the swamps, kiss me, played over again in Kate's mind and her stomach clinched in anticipation of tasting the younger woman again.

"I cant…think…when you're this close to me." Ronan said softly.

Staring into blue eyes, Kate admitted to herself that she wanted this to happen; had wanted it to happen almost from the moment she had met the dynamic younger woman even if it had only been an unconscious urge in the beginning. But she didn't really know how Ronan felt. Other than the electrifying kiss they had shared in the swamps, the blonde had never displayed a romantic interest in her. She hadn't even indicated an attraction for other woman in general, and the kiss could be chalked up as an emotional release from the stress they had been under.

Swallowing the fear in her throat, Kate took a chance and asked, "Is that a bad thing?"

"No," Ronan answered with a brief shake of her head. "Merely unexpected,"

"So…are you going to kiss me, or not?" Kate prompted with a small, but challenging grin.

A blonde eyebrow arched at the question, Ronan admitting to herself that the smaller woman had more courage than she did in asking such a question. And as much as she wanted to kiss this woman, other things had to take priority. When and if anything did happen between them she didn't want it to be a hurried groping, but a passionate lasting embrace. Wanting Kate to understand that she wasn't being rejected, she gently leaned closer until their cheeks were resting gently together and she could whisper directly into her delicate ear.

"Hold on to that thought, and when I return Ill be glad to take you up on it."

Her eyes fluttered gently closed as she opened her mouth and sucked the tender lobe into it. Kate almost swooned at the feel of the warm, wet tongue stroking her tender skin. She grabbed onto Ronan's shoulders tightly, simultaneously holding the other woman close for a few more precious moments and stabilizing herself. It was over much too quickly and Ronan drew slowly away.

Looking sweetly into Kate's blue eyes she said, "Ill be back as fast as possible. Please sleep if you can."

Kate nodded slowly, the words no longer sounding like a demand but a gently plea from someone she had begun to care about more than she wanted to admit. "Very well."

Reluctantly, the younger woman turned and walked to the door before she could change her mind, pull the older woman to her, and make passionate love to her for the rest of the night. Unable to prevent herself, she cast one last, longing look at Kate before pulling the door gently closed behind her.

A few hours later, Ronan had completed her tasks and was on her way back to the hotel. She was completely exhausted and her eyes burned, but she felt she had everything they would need to complete their journey. She had stopped at the Goodwill and had fresh clothing for both of them. Her previous research on the actress coming to her rescue as far as her sizes, Ronan had obtained jeans, t-shirts, fresh underwear and socks. It was nothing fancy, but it was preferable to the dirty clothing they had and it was fairly easy to remain anonymous by shopping at the second hand shop.

Her next stop had been to rent a car. Ronan was extremely careful about renting the nondescript white Buick, using a credit card with a different name. Of course, she was realistic enough to know that would do little good. Homestead, Florida wasn't very large and there would be few people renting cars. All their pursuers needed to do was check for any females matching their description. They would be able to determine their destination and how much of a head start there was. Which was precisely why Ronan had lied.

She had given her destination as Macon, Georgia, which was completely in the opposite direction from her true destination…Marathon, Florida. When they arrived in Marathon, she would drop off the vehicle in the parking lot of the rental car agency before they continued on to No Name Key. They would only have to run the plate to determine where the vehicle had originated from, and the false information would hopefully give them the much needed time to elude the hunters.

Quickly driving through the pick up lane of a fast food restaurant, Ronan heaved a sigh of exhaustion and ruefully acknowledged that she desperately needed sleep. She had been going almost non-stop for three days, staying awake and watching over Kate while the older woman slept, and barely managing to catch a few hours of rest a night. Finally pulling back into the parking lot, she stopped the car directly in front of the main entrance, loading her arms with their supplies and carefully walking to the doorway. Fortunately, a couple exiting the building held the door for her, and she smiled her thanks.

The young brunette elbowed her boyfriend who was openly drooling at the tall, curvaceous blonde. Rubbing his sore ribs, he forced his eyes away and muttered an apology before walking away. Ronan could only shake her head and smile. The attention that she received from men and women alike didn't really bother her, she was used to it, but there was only person whose opinion of her mattered and that was a small auburn-haired woman that was hopefully sleeping in a room on the third floor.

She had to put the bags down on the floor outside the room before she could unlock the door. Opening it as quietly as possible, she picked up the bags and placed them just inside the room. The lights were off, and she smiled listening to the rhythmic breathing of the smaller woman. Ronan sat the food on the small table before retreating into the bathroom for her own shower.

The warm water felt heavenly as it washed away days of filth. When she finally emerged pink and clean from the shower, she felt almost human again. She had little to change into, and slipped into the new under things before emerging from the bathroom with the damp towel wrapped around her slender form. Even though Kate was still fast asleep, she somehow felt shy about walking around so scantily dressed.

There was only one queen-sized bed in the room, and Ronan was nervous about sharing it. In order to delay the inevitable, she picked up the phone and left a wake up call at the desk for two hours later. They needed more rest than that, but it was the most they could afford. The delaying tactic took only a moment, and then Ronan found herself out of excuses. With a strange mix of excitement and trepidation, Ronan eased back the covers and slid in beside the woman of her dreams that was dressed in only a hotel towel.

Kate seemed to sense the warmth of the younger woman's body, turning toward her and throwing an arm over her. Ronan's heart raced at the contact and even after Kate had settled her head against her shoulder, she had difficulty drawing breath. The weight of her head was exquisite, and something Ronan had never dreamed she would experience. With a happy smile, she drifted to sleep with Kate in her arms.

An annoyingly insistent ringing slowly pervaded the depths of her unconsciousness; drawing her up from the incredibly erotic dreams she was engaged in. With a frown of disappointment at being disturbed and a small groan of exhaustion Kate opened her eyes to a considerably darkened hotel room. It took a moment to realize that the sound she was hearing was the ringing of the telephone.

Kate glanced down and was surprised to see that Ronan continued to sleep, undisturbed by the call. The telephone was on the blondes side of the bed, leaving Kate little choice but to lean over the reclining figure to reach for the handset. The warmth and scent of the clean female form assaulted her senses and she almost didn't hear the automated wake up message on the phone before she sat it back into the cradle. She would never know if the closeness of her own body was what did the trick, but suddenly Ronan was awake and staring up at her with a heavy, hooded expression. The smoldering gaze pinned her in place with one arm resting on either side of the slender figure.

Then they were both moving at the same time, surging against each other as mouths collided in a hungry kiss. Lips and tongues clashed and Kate felt her almost naked body being crushed against the similarly clad woman, her head held firmly by two long-fingered hands wound into the thick strands of auburn hair. It was the most amazing kiss she had ever experienced. Her entire body seemed to come alive as electricity surged along her veins and fire ignited in the belly. Suddenly she found herself lying on her back with Ronan above her. Their mouths separated as the blonde began planting searing kisses all over her face before trailing down her throat, biting and sucking the delicious flesh into her mouth.

Kate moaned loudly, aroused to a fever pitch as she held the other woman tightly against her. Their lips met again as Ronan came back to taste her, unable to release the soft mouth for very long. Eager hands mapped the contours of the smaller form from shoulder to hip, then slowly back again until she was cupping a small breast in her hand, the nipple hardening sweetly against her palm.

Tearing her mouth away Kate could only gasp, "Oh, yes…Ronan!"

The impassioned plea served to remind the blonde that she had intended to go slowly with Kate, not jump her bones like an over-sexed teenager. Reluctantly, she gentled her touch guiding the older woman down from their crazed passion to a few tender, lingering kisses. Finally drawing away, she stared into Kate's eyes and smiled.

"Don't you want to?" Kate asked, suddenly embarrassed at her passion. Afraid that she had overstepped her bounds and mortified beyond belief, she turned her head and tried to pull away.

The vulnerable trembling in the smoky voice gripped and squeezed Ronan's heart, causing her to stop Kate with a hand on her shoulder. "Wait," she entreated, and even though the smaller woman stopped, she refused to meet Ronan's eyes.

Gently using two fingers to urge Kate to look at her, Ronan said, "Of course I want to. How could I not?"

"Then, why did you stop?" Biting her lip to stop the tirade, Kate attempted to look away again but Ronan wouldn't allow it.

"Believe me, Kate, its not because I don't want you. Its because I want you so badly that I know that if I let myself go, Ill never be able to stop."

Looking up between her eyelashes at the younger woman, she asked, "Would that be so bad?"

Astonished that the thought of making love to Kate would ever be a bad thing, Ronan could only gape at her in bewilderment for a moment. The sight of the slender freckled shoulders, and the memory of their recent kisses was threatening to set her aflame again, and it was all she could do to fight the urge to make this woman hers completely. Drawing a steadying breath she admitted, "Making love to you could never be anything but wonderful. And when it does happen, I don't want to think about anything but you for days on end."

"Sweet talker," Kate said with a grin, suddenly feeling a lot better and like maybe they had a chance for something more after all.

"Yes, well…" the other woman mumbled glancing down at where their bodies were intimately pressed together. "I think that wed better get some clothes on before I change my mind."

Kate flushed deeply glancing down at their scantily clad forms before moving to climb out from under the other woman. Ronan thought it was the most adorable thing she had ever seen, but averted her gaze as she also got up. She walked over to the bags she had brought in earlier saying, "I bought some clean clothing." Her comment was interrupted by a groan that sounded almost erotic behind her. Her stomach lurched in response and she turned to find Kate devouring a drumstick from the bucket of food that was sitting on the small table.

Seeing Ronan's amused gaze centered on her, Kate mumbled around the food with a grin, "Finger lickin' good,"

The blonde shook her head with a small laugh before delving back into the bags. Kate's unselfconscious as she stood in the towel eating was touching; making Ronan feel like the other woman really trusted her.

The two dressed and ate quickly, deciding that they should get moving as soon as possible. Kate went to the restroom before they left and was thrilled to see a new toothbrush and toothpaste sitting on the sink. She tore the package open and happily scrubbed her teeth clean again for the first time in three days. In the middle of brushing her teeth, she realized they had been kissing passionately with morning breath and for a moment was tempted to blush in embarrassment. Then she acknowledged that Ronan hadn't seemed to mind, and decided to forget it. She was so thrilled at the clean clothing Ronan had obtained for her that she didn't even question how the other woman had known her sizes or where the clothing came from.

Soon they were on the way with Kate driving at Ronan's direction. The blonde sat in the passenger seat, and Kate's felt strangely protective when she suddenly yawned in exhaustion. Reaching over, she gently grasped Ronan's hand where it sat in her lap.

"Why don't you try and get some sleep." She suggested.

Ronan nodded once before saying, "I will, but first I feel I owe you some answers. I fear some of this will be hard to believe, but please believe me when I tell you that I would never lie to you. All I ask is that you hear me out."

Realizing that she was procrastinating, Ronan took a deep breath and launched into her story without looking at her companion. She just didn't know what to expect from the other woman, and couldn't face an expression of disbelief.

"I am from the year 2375." At that little tidbit of information, the Buick lurched slightly left and drifted over the bumps in the center of the road. Kate quickly regained her composure and pulled back into the proper lane, but didn't comment or voice her surprise. She had known something about the future was involved, she just hadn't realized how far in the future.

Ronan didn't react to the movement, pausing only a moment for Kate to adjust before she went on. "I told you the truth when I said that I was a homicide detective. The last case I was involved in concerned a serial killer who copycatted a very famous murder…yours."

Again there was a swift intake of breath from her companion but the blonde forced herself on. If she didn't finish this story now, she wasn't sure she would be able to. Fixing her eyes on the darkened scenery she continued. "After solving that case…I found myself obsessed with you; your fire, and compassion. I couldn't think of anything else. My commanding officer determined I was overworked, and sent me home. But it did no good, it only gave me more time to immerse myself in my obsession."

Another deep breath, voice trembling; "I funded many of Professor Horton's scientific endeavors; warp propulsion, tricorders, you get the idea. He contacted me while I was on leave saying he had something he wanted to show me. It was a time gate. A fantastic discovery with amazing potential; for good and evil."

"You were concerned it would be used for evil and decided to prevent it?" Kate guessed gently, not wanting to interrupt, but unable to ask, being completely able to see this young woman sacrifice herself for the greater good of humanity.

Disconcerted and surprised by the unexpected question, Ronan nevertheless attempted to answer as honestly as possible. "Partly. By preventing your death, I could prevent the rise of the New World Order, but my main concern was not the prevention of a corrupt government."

Kate didn't understand. Preventing such a governments rise to power seemed like an extremely important issue. She was only glad that such a self-appointment mission also prevented her death. But she could tell that the way Ronan said this was just as important as what she said.

"I don't understand. Why was it so important to prevent my death? Don't misunderstand," she said grinning wryly with a raised hand. "I'm glad you decided it could fit into your plans, but you could have accomplished your objective without that. Yet from everything you've said, you went out of your way to find me, get hired by me, and protect me. That's more than just incidentally preventing my death."

"You are not incidental!" Ronan burst out hotly before she could prevent it, turning to look at Kate.

Seeing the look of astonishment, the blonde turned her head away again. For a moment there was only quiet as Ronan gathered her composure and Kate sorted through what she had been told so far. When the younger woman began speaking again, it was very quiet forcing Kate to strain to hear her over the rain that had begun falling steadily and the thumping of the windshield wipers.

"I fell in love with you across time…through space. Even though I had never met you, your death devastated me, left me feeling hollow and numb. I saw the gate as the means to prevent that tragedy. I planned very carefully for several months before I approached you. I knew you would be attending the party that night, and hoped to be able to talk to you. But there were too many people, and I couldn't find a way to do so. Then, when you left, I saw the car follow you and I knew it was beginning."

Ronan's voice fell to silence, and Kate struggled to put things into prospective. She loves me, she thought incredulously. She loves me!

With all the fantastic things this woman had just told her, her mind just couldn't seem to get past that one simple fact. Kate felt like pulling the car over and dancing in the rain, but forced herself to concentrate on the issue at hand.

"Okay…" she drawled, thinking furiously about every comment Ronan had made since they'd gone down in the everglades. "You said Roger was in on this. How?"

She should have expected this, Ronan realized. Kate hadn't responded to her declaration in any way, obviously not comfortable with her feelings of affection. It made sense that she would want to steer the conversation away from anything personal.

"Gentry was approached two years ago by…individuals that wished to infiltrate this worlds government."

The carefully worded statement couldn't prevent Kate's eyebrows from nearly shooting off her forehead. "Aliens?" she asked in amazement with just a hint of disbelief. It wasn't that she thought the other woman was lying, but for a moment she was sure she was pulling her leg.

"We are talking about three hundred years in the future." Ronan said haughtily, stung by Kate's tone. "Is it so hard to believe in such an occurrence. For thousands of years people have been reporting UFO sightings and alien abductions."

She didn't miss the hurt evident in the young woman's voice, and weighed her response before she replied. "I was always interested in the stars. I even have a B.A. in Astronomy. If I hadn't gone into acting, that very likely would have been my chosen field."

Ronan wondered where Kate was going with this until she felt her hand gently grasped again. "I believe you." Kate said. "And I've always thought that it was pretty damned arrogant of us to assume that were the only sentient life forms in the universe."

Releasing a breath she had been aware of holding Ronan looked at Kate and said simply, "Thank you."

"So," Kate began, "Roger is in on all of this. Did he know these individuals were from another planet when this started?" Somehow her image of the conservative albeit sometimes underhanded and cutthroat businessman didn't fit this image.

"I do not believe so." Ronan responded shortly. "I think he did not find out until it was too late to back out of their arrangement. I believe that when he did find out, he made the disc as a form of insurance. Somehow the disc ended up in your possession and he came to see you as a threat."

"But I never saw the information on that disc." Kate protested frowning. "I don't even know what happened to it after the plane went down."

Reaching into her shirt pocket, Ronan showed the item in question to the other woman. "I've been carrying it in my pocket since I found it," She explained.

"Oh," Kate responded at a loss for words. She knew she should be angry that Ronan had been holding out on her, but she couldn't help be relieved that they still had an edge. "Any idea what's on it?"

"Yes, I looked at it briefly while on the plane. The Solari are able to mimic human appearance, and they have a very specific agenda for doing so. It seems that their own planet is becoming uninhabitable. They need a new home and have chosen Earth as the target for the unique brand of terra forming. By infiltrating the government, they would be in high-level positions to affect changes the populace would have difficulty in preventing."

"Why did they pick Roger?"

"Gentry's thirst for power made him the perfect one to assist these beings, and when the offer was presented he jumped to get in on the ground floor. The Solari had to begin slowly, so that if the public ever discovered what was happening it would be too late to resist."

"Such a project couldn't happen overnight." Kate guessed. "They would have to be very careful."

"True, it would take many years before the aliens outnumbered humans enough to take over the planet. One of the main problems would be population control. Humans aren't exactly known for their sexual restraint."

Thinking of her own passionate response to the blonde, Kate blushed furiously thankful that the darkness covered her discomfort. "Population control?" she questioned.

"It would be the only way." Ronan suggested.

After a brief pause Kate prompted, "What else?"

"The aliens are strangely susceptible to a neural toxin that can be administered in a gaseous form all too easily. That leaves infiltration as their best possible alternative as opposed to a direct confrontation. The only questions are when and how to deploy it." Ronan finished

"Are you kidding?" Kate sputtered, almost choking with disbelief. "Aren't you forgetting something? How are we going to create this toxin in the first place?"

Ronan had to keep reminding herself that she had more information than Kate was privy to in this time frame, and forced herself to explain patiently. "I have an extensive lab at my home on No Name Key. We will synthesize the toxin ourselves and then find a way to deploy it."

"That easy, huh?"

The dryly sarcastic tone cut more deeply than Ronan was willing to admit. "We will succeed."

"So you're a scientist, too?"

Finally tiring of the inquisition Ronan snapped, "Things have changed in three hundred years, Kate. Educational emphasis is placed on mathematics and the sciences, not basketball."

"I'm sorry," Kate said hearing the exhaustion in the younger woman's voice and knowing that any other questions she had could wait. "Why don't you try to sleep for a while, and we can talk some more later." Gently she squeezed the hand she still held before letting go. Ronan accepted that as a good idea since she was getting a little impatient. It wasn't Kate's fault that she had so many questions, and Ronan was sure she would have more before things were over. They still had to come up with a way to neutralize the threat.

Deciding to sleep on the problem for a while, Ronan rested her head against the doorframe and settled in for a nap, trusting Kate to get them to Marathon safely.

For a while Kate listened to the gentle breathing of the woman sitting beside her, her heart beating in tenderness for this magnificent woman. She understood that stopping the infiltration of their world was something that Ronan considered a fringe benefit, and that saving Kate was her main objective.

Ronan had said she loved her, and the thought warmed Kate completely, but she wasn't sure how she felt in return. She knew she was attracted to the other woman, and wanted to be with her physically. Yet she was hesitant to make a similar declaration for fear that she was simply reacting to a fierce attraction that she hadn't felt in many years, if ever.

Glancing over in the darkness and watching the shadows play over Ronan's classic features, she was hard pressed to deny the tenderness that washed over her whenever she thought of this woman. Could it be love, she wondered? If not, it was something very much like it.

Ronan awakened slowly, feeling the car coming to a stop. She glanced up to see they were idling at a red traffic light. Dawn was just beginning to light the horizon, and she realized she had slept all night.

Kate sensed her companion was awake, and turned toward her with a tired smile. "Good morning," she said in a voice husky from disuse, and Ronan felt a shiver trail down her spine at the erotic images that voice brought to mind.

"Good morning," she returned sitting up. "Where are we?"

"Just coming into Marathon. You have good timing. This was as far as I could go without more direction, since I've never been this far down in the Keys before.

Rubbing her face with both hands, the younger woman attempted to wake up. "Wow," she said, "I cant believe I slept for so long."

The light turned green, and Kate prompted Ronan with an arched brow. "Oh, yeah. Turn right at the next signal."

The actress pulled slowly away from the light, following Ronan's directions. The road narrowed as it approached the beach until it was little more than a trail. A rental car agency was on the corner before the sands began and the blonde indicated that they would have to leave the car in the parking lot. They would walk the last few blocks to their destination.

Pulling their meager belongings from the trunk Ronan informed the smaller woman, "Well have to take a boat to No Name."

"Do you think we have time for a bathroom break and some breakfast?" Kate questioned.

Ronan flushed slightly, realizing that Kate had been up all night while she had been slumbering peacefully, completely relaxed in the other woman's presence. "Of course. I'm sorry. Would you like to sleep a little before we continue? We could rent a hotel room?"

Touched at the thoughtfulness, Kate nonetheless felt it important that they get as big a head start as possible. She would sleep when the reached their destination. "I'm fine, honey." She said reaching up to touch Ronan's upper arm and absorbing the feel of the leather jacket she wore. Her exhaustion prevented her from realizing exactly what she had said. "If we just take a small break, I think Ill make it the rest of the way just fine."

Ronan's heart soared at the endearment, but little of her expression altered except for the twinkling in her eyes. With a very slight smile, she led Kate down the beach to an old cafe that she knew had excellent food.

Kate felt slightly dizzy from driving so long in the car, and the short walk to the cafe was just what she needed to stretch her legs, and shake off some of the fog in her head. The front of the restaurant Ronan led her to was weather-beaten, the paint faded from the salt, and Kate thought it was enchanting in an old-time kind of way.

The establishment was sparsely populated in the early morning hours, but that didn't prevent the few male patrons in the place from watching the leggy blonde walking toward a table in the back. Kate didn't miss the appreciative glances, and couldn't prevent the smug smile on her face at the attention her girlfriend received. Girlfriend? Where did that come from, she wondered? Still, she had to admit that she wouldn't mind if that thought became a reality.

Sitting down at the small table, Kate took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of salt and sea. It was like a breath of heaven, whetting her appetite for more than just food. Glancing over to where Ronan sat across from her she all but felt the hormones surging through her veins.

Ronan looked up unexpectedly, catching the predatory look in her eyes. For a moment she allowed herself to get lost in the promise those blue eyes held. It was too easy to believe that they were a couple of lovers out for an early breakfast after an intense passionate night of lovemaking. The sound of the bell over the door broke the spell as an elderly gentleman entered and headed for a spot at the counter.

The waitress chose that moment to take their order. Kate stammered for a moment before ordering without having ever looked at the menu. She arched a brow of amusement when Ronan simply told the waitress she would have the same. From the look on the blondes face she was having trouble concentrating, and Kate happily knew she had caused the confusion. The sexual tension between the two was almost palpable, and the auburn-haired woman decided to let up on Ronan by re-directing their attention.

"So, what's the plan now?" she asked after the waitress had wandered away.

Shrugging a shoulder noncommittally, Ronan said, "I have a boat at a nearby pier. Well take it over to the island, and get busy mixing up the toxin."

"And how do we deploy it?"

They stopped briefly while their coffees were deposited, giving Ronan a moment to think. "I've been thinking about that. You know a lot of public officials. Isn't the Presidential Inauguration coming up?"

Not following, Kate frowned. "Yes. And?"

"All of the top government officials should be in attendance. Perhaps we could find a way to deploy it then." Ronan suggested reasonably.

It was a good idea Kate thought, but Ronan had forgotten one thing. "Attendance to the Presidential Inauguration is by invitation only. We could never get close enough without having Secret Service all over us."

"Secret Service?" the blonde asked in confusion. Things were somewhat different structurally with the government of the future.

"Yes, you know…an organization whose sole purpose is protection of government officials?"

"Ah, Black Guards," Ronan said sagely, leaning back as a huge breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs, home fries, toast, and the largest pot of coffee the younger woman had ever seen was deposited before them.

Kate tucked into her food with enthusiasm, sparing only a glance at her companion before scooping up a forkful of eggs. Looking at the mountain of food, Ronan could only wonder at the other woman's slim form before she began eating more gingerly. A short while later, they had finished and Kate was sitting back enjoying a steaming cup of coffee.

"Are you ready to go?" Ronan asked, not wanting to rush her, but knowing they needed to get moving.

Kate signaled for the waitress and asked for a Styrofoam cup. The young woman was kind enough to bring an extra large cup, and Kate grinned as she filled it to the rim with her favorite beverage. Then she followed her companion to the counter, sipping while Ronan paid the bill. Catching the humorous look cast her way as they left the restaurant, Kate said, "What? I need caffeine!"

Ronan only shook her head as she led the way back to the docks. The boat Kate was led to was a sporty, 60 horsepower Catalina with twin pilot chairs up by the windscreen. As a speedboat, it didn't boast a lower cabin, but the trip lasted only about twenty minutes. When they arrived, the actress was surprised to see no other human beings. That's when Ronan dropped the next bombshell on her.

"Six months ago, I purchased the island."

"The whole thing? Why?" Kate asked flabbergasted at how much that must have set the other woman back.

"I can afford it, and it was important that we not be disturbed."

Frowning Kate asked, "What do you mean?"

"I do not wish to be worried about attackers while we are at my home. I purchased the island and installed a very sophisticated alarm system."

Kate saw six Dobermans that met them at the pier and for a moment thought that was what Ronan was talking about. Seeing her glance, the other woman corrected her. "Not just the dogs. I also have a security perimeter around the island that is active twenty-four hours a day. I employed two women to maintain the house and care for the animals. I contacted them from Homestead, Florida to let them know that their contract ended this morning."

Holding up the tricorder that Kate had seen in the swamps Ronan scanned the area. "There has been no breach in the alarm, and there are no other human life forms present."

"Wait just a minute." Kate said holding up a hand. "You mean to tell me you bought a whole island? To protect me?"

Her question ended on a tremulous note, that Ronan didn't miss and turning to the other woman she held her intent gaze. Standing as close to Kate as she could amidst the swaying of the boat she said softly, "I love you, Kate. I think I have always loved you. I would do anything to protect you."

She leaned forward giving Kate more than enough time to draw back if she felt inclined. But the other woman had no intention of drawing away from this, having longed for the feel of Ronan's full lips since their last kiss. Her arms came up to gently encircle the narrow waist and anchor her in a world that seemed suddenly unstable. Ronan's form helped to steady her; her own arms encircling Kate's shoulders as their lips slowly came together. Lips separated, and tongues tangled sweetly. There was no urgency in this embrace, simply a slow merging as each sought to convey without words what the other meant to them.

Only when Ronan's knees threatened to buckle did she draw away reluctantly breaking the connection. Kate resisted briefly, sucking the blondes full lower lip into her mouth to nibble gently before finally releasing her. "Come on," she suggested softly. "If you purchased an entire island to protect me, I cant wait to see the house!"

The house appeared to be an elegant yet simple cabana style structure, but Kate soon learned that appearances were deceptive. The interior was decorated in warm, earthy colors and highly polished hardwood floors gleamed under their feet. Kate learned that while the top floor of the structure was very standard albeit tastefully decorated, Ronan had made a few modifications.

She had added a sublevel to the residence that held highly advanced computer banks and medical laboratory equipment. With a whistle of astonishment she said, "Don't tell me you brought all of this stuff with you!"

"No," Ronan admitted with a grin. "Most of this equipment is quite…modern. I have simply modified it to perform at optimum efficiency."

Soon, Kate had completed the tour and with a whirling head decided that she need some sleep after all. Ronan led her back onto the main floor, and to a bedroom decorated with warm cherry wood. A cool white blanket with tassels adorned the four-poster bed, and Kate longed to climb between the crisp sheets.

"The bathroom is just over there." Ronan said indicating a connecting door. "And I've taken the liberty of stocking the closet and dresser with clothing for you."

"You've really gone out of your way for me." Kate said turning to look at her.

Arching a brow, the blonde said, "I've had plenty of time to prepare." With those partying words, Ronan left her to her own devices saying she would be in the lab.

Gratefully stripping out of the clothing she had been wearing for almost twenty-four hours, Kate let them drop onto the floor before turning on the water into the tub. She found several different types of bath oils sitting on a shelf by the tub and added a generous portion to the water, watching it foam for a moment before wandering back into the bedroom and waiting for the tub to fill. She opened the drawers of the dresser, finding stacks of underwear, socks, shirts, and nightwear.

Selecting a garment of emerald green, Kate held it up to find that it was a long, flowing nightgown of silk. The coolness and light weight of the garment appealed to her and she held the silk against her face for a moment. Walking back into the bathroom, she sat the nightgown on a low table before turning off the taps and sinking blissfully into the water. Groaning in ecstasy, she felt the knots beginning to un-kink in her shoulders and savored the sensation. Kate let her mind wander as she relaxed into the bath, and was unsurprised to find that they centered on a tall, cool blonde. Rather than pushing the erotic thoughts away, she welcomed them, embraced them. Visions of Ronan kissing her in the hotel room resurfaced and she carried the experience farther in her mind. Instead of stopping their embrace, Ronan loosened the towel she had worn, moving the flaps aside to explore the tender flesh below.

Kate's breath came faster as her fingers began trailing down her body, soft and slick from the mix of oil and water. Her fingers dipped lower, following the phantom hands of her fantasy lover until they swirled over the hardened knot between her legs. Kate jerked as her fingers made contact with her clit, imagining that somehow Ronan's mouth had traveled to that very place. With the first swipe of her phantom lovers tongue against the hardened bundle of nerves, Kate jerked and convulsed in orgasm; barely biting back the cry of fulfillment for fear that Ronan would investigate the cause of her distress. Finally the sensations subsided and Kate relaxed back into the bath, feeling completely lethargic in the aftermath.

It was quite some time before she could force her relaxed muscles to support her enough to climb out of the cooling water. After drying she slipped on the nightgown, absorbing the feeling of silk against her skin. She raised a brow at the rakish slit on one side of the gown that traveled to the top of her left thigh, and wondered if Ronan had purchased the garment with an ulterior motive. Feeling warm, relaxed and loved Kate pulled back the covers and climbed between the sheets. She was asleep as soon as her eyes closed.

As soon as she had left the actress in her bedroom Ronan had gone down to the basement to begin work on a synthetic antigen to nullify the alien intruders. The disc she had found in Kate's briefcase held valuable information about the Solari physiology, and DNA makeup. Analyzing the genome base pair she determined that a neurozene gas would prove deadly for the intruders, literally causing them to liquefy upon exposure to the toxin. In a way Ronan felt guilty at the idea of taking a life for any reason, but this was war. As quiet and unassuming as it was, it was still war. The Solari intended to infiltrate key positions upon the human populace, including medical and scientific as well as the government. By assuming the guise of physicians they would be able to introduce microorganisms into human beings in the form of inoculations that would render them barren. The ultimate form of birth control wasn't absolute, but at an 87 percent ratio it was close enough. In only three or four generations, the Solari would far outnumber the humans and be able to conduct a massive invasion. In Ronan's own timeline that invasion still had yet to occur, but from the information she had gained in the last seven months, she didn't believe they had been far from it.

Mixing chemicals and adjusting formulae, the blonde could only think of one thing wrong with their course of action; they had nothing to test the finished product on. Being as there was nothing she could do about that at the moment, she had no choice but to continue to try. After four hours, Ronan's eyes were beginning to burn from strain, but she felt as though she was close to a breakthrough. She was also beginning to lose her concentration. All she could think about now was the woman upstairs sleeping.

She wondered what Kate had chosen to wear to sleep in from among the things Ronan had purchased for her, and how she looked in whatever it was. She hoped it would be the elegant emerald green silk she had deliberately placed on the top of the stack. Wishful thinking, she chastised herself with a grin.

Finally tired and bleary-eyed from staring into a microscope for hours on end, Ronan stood and stretched. To the casual observer her movements were reminiscent of a long, sleek jungle cat, muscles and sinewy rippling as she moved before walking away from the desk. As she left the lab, she considered again what Kate was wearing…if anything. Maybe she should stop by and check on her just to make sure she was all right.

The door to the bedroom was half open leading Ronan to believe the other woman was perfectly comfortable with her and not feeling the need to barricade herself. She eased gently through the opening and walked over to stare down at the beloved face. Kate was lying on her side with a hand cupped under her cheek, facing the younger woman. She looked completely at peace and Ronan couldn't resist sitting on the edge of the bed, absorbing her calming presence.

Ronan watched a small frown cross the elegant features as though Kate somehow sensed her. Then dark eyes opened in confusion before settling on the blondes stationary form. The expression on the beautiful face slowly changed from confusion to something more primal, more heated.

Blood surged through veins like wild fire when a hand was suddenly extended in invitation. Ronan glanced up quickly to see if she was mistaken, but the hungry look in the eyes gazing back at her left no room for doubt. Almost shyly she reached out with trembling fingers to grasp Kate's smaller hand. The grip was sure and steady as she was drawn forward to lie atop the slender frame.

"Kate," she began softly.

"Shh," Kate whispered. "Don't talk…love me,"

What little resistance Ronan might have had crumbled when the actress raised up to capture her lips in a tender kiss. Small hands avidly caressed the younger woman's back before sliding down to cup her buttocks and pull Ronan strongly against her pelvis.

Ronan groaned aloud at the sensation shooting through her body while fireworks went off behind her closed eyes. Tongues tangled and danced sweetly as Ronan eagerly explored the inside of Kate's mouth, learning the curve of bone and teeth before pulling away to explore the sensitive skin of her throat. The pulse under her lips pounded in excitement, and she sucked more avidly on the tender flesh causing a groan of arousal from her new lovers throat.

Kate relished the loving kisses, holding the younger woman tightly to her and feeling more aroused than she could ever remember being.

"I need to feel you." She rasped thickly, smiling when Ronan quickly sat up and began removing her clothing.

Alabaster skin was slowly revealed to loving eyes. When the blonde was almost finished undressing, Kate realized she was still covered and wearing a nightgown. She had just flipped back the blankets and started to remove the garment when Ronan stopped her.

"No," she whispered sitting next to Kate on the bedside. "Let me,"

She rested her hand over the older woman's thundering heart watching in fascination as her nipples hardened under the silken material. Holding the gaze, she slid her hand down the slender frame until she reached the hem, before sliding her hand underneath to caress the soft skin of Kate's inner thigh.

"Please," Kate groaned, "don't make me wait."

Ronan pushed the gown up until she could pull it over the other woman's head before dropping it negligently to the floor. Then she lay down against Kate's side, and kissed her again as she began slowly exploring the soft skin. She could feel Kate's urgency but she had waited far too long to rush this incredible event.

Pulling away for only a moment she whispered, "Relax, trust me…I will take care of you."

Even while speaking her fingers were moving to the juncture between the smaller woman's legs, dipping into the heat and wetness she found there. Ronan caught the gasp from the aroused woman in her own mouth as she slowly penetrated her with one long, slender finger. Kate's hips pushed off the mattress as she tried to encourage Ronan to move deeper.

Tearing her mouth away from the full lips Kate pleaded, "Please…more…deeper," Her fingers were digging painfully into the blondes shoulders in her urgency and Ronan decided to have mercy on her and give her what she so desperately needed.

Kate's pulsing channel gripped the three fingers that suddenly and unexpectedly impaled her, hips undulating as Ronan countered the rhythm by thrusting strongly into her. Their lovemaking became frenzied as each unleashed the passion they had been holding back for days, causing them to thrash over the entire expanse of the bed in unguarded lust.

Unconsciously Ronan began rubbing herself against Kate's muscled thigh, gratified when the older woman raised her leg to press firmly against her heated center.

Kate suddenly arched and cried out as she was gripped and shaken by the strength of the orgasm that gripped her. The sensation was all consuming, drowning out all coherent thought as she clung to Ronan.

The rapture on Kate's face as she came along with the feel of warm flesh skidding deliciously against her swollen nub triggered Ronan's own release. It carried her along helplessly on a tide of pleasure until she lay limp and completely unable move. Finally she felt Kate stir beneath her, and reluctantly pulled out of Kate and to her side. She smiled when the actress immediately snuggled against her with tears shining in her eyes, and declared, "My God, that was incredible!"

The musky scent of sex in the air, and the sweet stickiness of their intimate embrace was enough to bestir Ronan's passion once more. "Does that mean you're finished?" she asked with a husky growl.

Startled, Kate looked up at her and saw the lust in the desire-darkened gaze. "Not a chance," she returned eagerly grabbing hold of her partner as Ronan crushed her in a passionate embrace.

Over the next few weeks the two women spent lots of time working on how to deploy the toxin and even more time making love and getting to know each other. Ronan was more deliriously happy than she could ever remember being, and if it weren't for one small omission she could almost believe she had died and gone to heaven. And that omission, for being such a small thing, was something that was always in the back of her mind.

Kate had yet to say that she returned the younger woman's feelings.

Ronan tried to ignore the ache that omission caused in her heart, and concentrated on the bliss of having Kate here, alive and in her arms. In any time frame, it was wonderful.

"What are you thinking about?" Kate asked as she walked out onto the back porch, pausing to plant a tender kiss on the younger woman's temple. Even though the morning was brisk, it was quite clear and sunny, making both women feel the urge to enjoy a morning outdoors rather than cooped up inside.

She was carrying a large pot of coffee and two mugs, while Ronan had just sat down after depositing their breakfast. The blonde had been very quiet this morning, and Kate was wondering if something was wrong. She had thought everything was going perfectly the last few days, but knew Ronan tended to be overly protective of her and wondered if her stoicism had something to do with that.

The young woman's response was the last thing she would have expected. "I am thinking about how soft and sweet your lips are." Ronan returned with a humorous twist of her lips, and a quirk of her brow.

Kate almost dropped the coffee pot at the unexpected comment, and then chuckled as she sat it on the table. "You always manage to surprise me." She said fondly before pouring them each a cup of coffee. "So how did you sleep?"

"Wonderfully," the blonde said. "I have never slept better in my life than I have for these past weeks." Reaching over she tenderly grasped the other woman's hand before picking up her cup in the other and taking a sip.

Grinning, the actress said, "You know, I never realized what a romantic you were when I met you."

"There were a lot of things you never realized when you met me." Ronan corrected easily.

"Too true," Kate acknowledged after a moment contemplating everything she had experienced since meeting the other woman. Since she had met Ronan, people had tried to kill her, she had learned that time travel was possible, and she had become intimately involved with another woman.

Still not sure where the latter would lead she would only admit to herself that she was seriously enjoying it. She had never thought that sex between women could be so intense, but it was inarguably true…at least for Kate. But it was more than just intense; it was almost desperate as though both were afraid that their time would be cut short. With the Solari threat looming over them, both were aware that anything could happen in a fraction of an instant.

"So," she said bringing up what was sure to be a volatile conversation, "what's our next move?"

She and Ronan had a distinct difference of opinion as to how to go about brining down the beginnings of The New World Order. Ronan didn't seem to understand that she wouldn't be able to get close enough to these beings to do any good without placing herself in extreme danger, but Kate thought she might be able to. It had been the source of some very heated discussions over the last few days.

"Kate," the blonde began in a warning voice only to be interrupted.

"Hold on," Kate said, raising a hand to interrupt her lover. "Just hear me out, please. I've been thinking about it, and I think I have an idea."

After a tense beat, Ronan dipped her head indicating she was at least willing to listen. Kate took another sip of her coffee, not only as a delaying tactic but because she thought she would need the caffeine.

"As you mentioned before the Presidential Inauguration is coming up. From the information you showed me from the disc, our President elect is one of the aliens."

"Yes, and your point?" Ronan asked, not following the logic.

"As you know, I am…acquainted with several top officials including the new Vice President. What better time and place to expose these beings for who they are?"

Shaking her head in exasperation, Ronan said, "Why don't you spell it out for me? The only way to get close enough during such an event is to be invited. How do you intend to do that? The ceremony takes place in only a few days."

"Oh, that's easy." Kate said flippantly with a wave of her hand. "I can get Martin Abrams to invite me without a problem. His wife is expecting their first child, and is very close to term I believe. It would be unseemly for him to attend such a ceremony unaccompanied. So, I give him a call, and get us invited."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Kate, you're not thinking this out," Ronan began.

Offended, the actress felt compelled to argue, "What? Because this isn't your idea, I'm not thinking things out?"

Ronan stood so quickly that her chair toppled over backward, crashing to the concrete so hard that both women started in surprise. "I cant lose you."

The vulnerability on the face clenched at Kate's heart, and she was beside the younger woman before she even realized shed moved. "Hey," she said softly reaching up to cup a pale cheek. "You're not going to lose me."

Ronan leaned down to kiss the other woman, absorbing the reassuring taste and texture of the sweet mouth before finally pulling away. "Okay," she whispered resting her forehead against Kate's. "Lets hear the rest of your cockamamie plan."

Pulling away Kate said, "Great, but first I need more coffee."

Kate sat back down watching as Ronan righted her chair, and waiting until the other woman was settled before sharing the rest of her idea. "Martin can get us invited, and I will be with him up on the platform. As tradition dictates, he will be sworn in first and then say something to the newly sworn in President in front of the media. Since I will be with him, I will be able to expose him at that moment." She finished triumphantly.

Ronan almost choked on a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "That's it? Uncap a vial of antigen in his face and say here, smell this? And then how do you plan to get the rest of the Solari to expose themselves?"

"No, that's not it." Kate declared heatedly. She was too embarrassed to admit that it actually was all, and grasped at straws to keep her plan alive. "All the rest of the Solari are in key positions; Secretary of Defense, Directors of the FBI and CIA, and they should be there as well. Cant you come up with some deployment method that would work with in say…a thirty foot radius?"

Considering carefully, Ronan determined that she could come up with another method, but doubted Kate would acquiesce. Instead, she tried to weigh the actress plan objectively. "Well, there are only six of the aliens currently in place…that we know of. Their main strategy seems to be getting Andrews in place as President before they begin the primary invasion. If we can stymie them publicly, and show that we have the means to defeat them, they should decide Earth is too difficult a target."

"If they have any sense of self-preservation," Kate agreed.

Uttering the words reluctantly, Ronan admitted, "Your scheme does have merit."

"Great!" Kate enthused, and took a large self-congratulatory swig of coffee. "All we need to do now is make a phone call."

"Not from here." Ronan stated emphatically, and before the other woman could protest continued. "This is the only safe haven we have at the moment. I will not risk a phone call being traced by the Solari or any of their agents. We will have to go to the mainland to place the call."

Nodding once, Kate agreed. "We should also consider arranging our travel plans for going to Washington. The swearing in ceremony is scheduled for four days from now."

"Is it not too short notice to pull this off?" Ronan asked again, suddenly unsure.

"No, it'll be fine." Kate reassured her. "After all, you are talking about the next Vice President of the United States, and I think between the two of us well be able to charter a plane. Don't you?"

A few hours later, they had pulled up to the main pier at Key West where Ronan kept a berth rented for times when she had to conduct business or purchase groceries. The call was made to Vice President elect Abrams and he had agreed to meet them that evening at a restaurant in Georgetown. Now all that was left was to charter the plane that would carry them into Washington, D. C. where they could rent a car.

Ronan wasnt happy to be leaving the Keys, but she was looking forward to putting this whole thing behind them. If the fates were willing, she would even be able to start a future with the fiery actress. But that was another uncertain factor in a sea of uncertainty. Would Kate even want a future with her? Although she was extremely enthusiastic during lovemaking, that didn't mean she wanted to spend her life with Ronan. She had certainly never said as much.

The blonde came out of her reverie briefly as they boarded the plane for Washington when Kate reached out and grasped her hand.

"You okay?" Kate asked worriedly, seeing the pensive look on her lovers face.

Nodding, Ronan answered distractedly, "Yes, just thinking."

"Should I leave you alone?"

"No, but I don't see how you can make my fears disappear. I must simply deal with my worries myself." The worried expression on the actress face caused her to gentle her voice and squeeze the small hand lovingly. "But it is enough that you are here with me, supporting me…and I love you for it."

"I…I'm glad I can do that for you." Kate answered with a smile. She was still unable to utter the words she knew the blonde so desperately wanted to hear. It wasn't that she didn't have strong feelings for the woman, and if she were forced to admit, she did love her. But she had said those words before, and things hadn't worked out. People said I love you all the time and it didn't mean anything anymore. If Kate ever said those words again, she wanted it to mean something and not be worried that a day or a week later, the person was going to leave her. At the moment things were so uncertain if they would even be alive in a week, that she simply couldn't take the chance of baring her soul to anyone.

A shadow crossed the blonde's face at another missed opportunity of hearing the precious words, but she just nodded her head reassuringly and boarded the plane. Kate decided that if Ronan was particularly quiet during the journey perhaps that was what she needed at the moment, and the actress didn't feel inclined to question that.

Ronan found Martin Abrams to be a likeable enough fellow, although he was extremely confused by Kate's claims of aliens infiltrating the government. At first gratified and delighted that she was still alive after the publicized plane crash in the Everglades, he began to wonder if she hadn't suffered some brain damage. It took a lot to convince him otherwise, but when Ronan presented the information they had obtained on the disc, he slowly began to change his mind.

"Well, I guess I have no choice," he finally decided, scratching his balding pate absently. "At least the upside if this crazy scheme of yours works is that I get to be President." Even though he meant the comment to appear facetious, a little of his grief still came through. Andrews, the real Andrews, had been his colleague for a long time. Their families had been friends before that for years.

But he was a not only a politician, he had fought in Vietnam. He had seen too much in the ways of death and destruction, watching as his entire battalion had been cut down, and been the only one to survive. He knew of duty, and loss, but from what she had heard, Ronan understood that he also knew of courage. She didn't doubt that he would do what was necessary. Especially since this war was for the good of not only the nation, but also the entire world.

Ronan relaxed into her seat relieved that this one obstacle had been overcome. She was worried about the next step, and almost didn't realize the waitress had just deposited their dinner. Worriedly, she pushed the food around on her plate while Kate caught up with her old friend and finalized getting their invitations set up for attending the ceremony.

Kate thought she would be making the deciding blow against the alien intruders when she stepped up onto that stage and uncapped a vial that would spray the next President and any of the others that would be standing nearby, but Ronan knew that would be insufficient. The actress vial would only cover a four foot radius at the most; there was no guarantee that the other Solari would be that close. That meant that Ronan would have to come up with a back up plan. She already had one in the making, but doubted that Kate would approve of what she had in mind.

Ronan wanted so much for everything to be perfect between her and Kate, but the next few days were going to be to very hard. Not only would she be scheming with Kate and Abrams, but also she would be making plans of her own. Her plan was ambitious, and dangerous, and she only hoped she could make full use of the time they had together before the ceremony. Especially since the chances were very good that she wouldn't survive it. But Kate and the Earth would be safe and in the end, that was all that mattered.

The day of the inauguration dawned bright and clear, although there was a bite to the cool air.

Kate's belly was literally flip-flopping and for a time she thought she might actually get sick. Shed never been one to get stage fright, but today's performance was conceivably out of her league. Since this whole plan of attack had been her idea, she didn't feel she could share her nervousness with her companion. Glancing over to where Ronan was quietly dressing, she had to admit there were other reasons she didn't feel comfortable admitting her fears to the younger woman.

Since they had arrived in Washington, Ronan had seemed preoccupied and reticent. It wasn't that she wasn't attentive, but she didn't seem to be all there. She had even disappeared a few times in the last few days, refusing to tell the actress where she had been; only that she had needed time to think. Kate could understand the distraction, but she felt there was something else that she was missing. That and the fact that she felt jealous because Ronan could come and go as she pleased while Kate was virtually a prisoner of their room, elegant though it was, for fear that she would be recognized. It left her with the feeling that this wasn't quite real; like a dream where she didn't know who the players were or if the players she did know about were what they seemed.

Even now Ronan seemed focused on the weather report for the Washington D.C. area. Kate didn't see what was so fascinating; just another brisk day but at least it was forecast to be clear. At least they had been able to get a nice suite at the Lincoln Hotel, courtesy of Martin Abrams.

Warm hands coming down on her shoulders caused her to jump in surprise, and she looked up quickly into the mirror to see her lover looking at her with a slight grin.

"What are you thinking about?" Ronan asked.

Kate got the feeling that she had failed to respond when the blonde had called her name a few times, and she grinned at how distracted shed been by her thoughts. Guess Ronan's not the only one not all here, she thought wryly.

"I guess I'm just a little nervous." She admitted, finally taking the plunge and admitting her fears.

Ronan bent down and placed a kiss on top of the auburn head. "Me too," she returned. "Only natural I guess since we are trying to save the world." She said teasingly.

Kate chuckled appreciatively and felt some of the tension ease in her chest. Feeling like she had just reconnected with the young woman went a long way toward steeling her determination and helping her refocus on their objectives.

Standing, she turned and slipped her arms around the slender woman. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I think I needed to hear you say that."

Full lips searched out her own in a tender kiss. Kate welcomed the intimate caress, letting it sooth her fears and lend courage and conviction that what they were doing was not only right, but also the only possible choice.

Finally pulling away, Ronan suggested they finish dressing. Abrams would be calling for them shortly. Ronan kept an eye on her smaller companion as Kate slipped her gown over her head. She thought she looked absolutely stunning in a shimmering turquoise blue gown with spaghetti straps that fell to just above her knees. Her ensemble was completed with spiked, four-inch heels, hose and expensive pearl earrings. The blonde thought the very light make-up she had applied was the perfect touch, and felt a thrill of arousal that she squelched with an effort.

Not quite fast enough in masking her desire, Kate glanced up and caught the look on the blondes face.

"Later," she promised with a wink, pulling on a heavy fur coat just as someone knocked on the door.

Kate sat on one side of Abrams in the limousine while Ronan sat on the opposite. She thought it was a good idea that he was between them or she would probably be straddled the blondes lap about now performing some very unseemly acts in public. Ronan was a beautiful woman regardless of what she wore, but today was absolutely breathtaking. Her hair was pulled up into a French twist showing the long elegant line of her neck, and the dangling diamond earrings only served to enhance the sight of the vision. Although she wore a black pantsuit, it was formally cut with wide satin lapels, and the shirt underneath was stark white with ruffles fringed in scarlet. Her outfit was complete with a simple, yet exquisitely cut black overcoat belted at her narrow waist.

Honestly, if the woman insisted on looked this good how could she possibly expect Kate to focus on their task at hand?

"I've got a bottle of Dom Perinon for after the ceremony." Abrams promised with a smile, patting Kate on the hand.

"What about for now?" Kate asked sarcastically. "I could sure use something to cool off."

Mistaking the comment for the upcoming encounter, the older man sought to reassure her. "Don't worry, everything will work out."

Kate only snorted in response, and stared out at the passing landscape. For her own part, Ronan was lost in thought of the upcoming day. She kept going over every possible outcome, and few of them were optimistic. Over the last few days she had been putting her plan into motion without the other woman being aware. She had surveyed the street in front of the Capitol building where the ceremony was to take place and determined that there was nowhere to fire an atmospheric propellant from. Anyone attempting to do so would immediately be captured or shot by Secret Service Agents that would be canvassing the area. When it all came down to basics, Ronan had no choice but to make an extremely risky move.

The previous night Kate had awakened to find her staring pensively out of the hotel window into the night. What the actress had been unaware of was that Ronan had just returned to the room after planting a device in the mesh used to cover the microphone that would be used during the ceremony.

Since the inauguration was scheduled to take place at 1 p.m., the electrical crew had been working during the early morning hours to set up speakers, microphones, and cameras in key positions. Ronan had anticipated their activities and arrived just as they were finishing their duties. She knew that a security team would go over the area very thoroughly before the politicians arrived, scanning for weapons or anything that didn't belong. But the capsule she had planted in the mesh wasn't metallic or a conventional explosive in any sense of the word. It was futuristic technology containing the synthetic antigen and would be undetectable to the scanning devices of the present day.

There was a blast shield in place in front of the Presidential nominee and party to protect them in the case of a gunman in the crowd or sniper from a nearby street, but there were few security precautions in place for someone attacking from the political party itself. To that end, Ronan had secreted a remote detonator in her pocket. It too was made of an undetectable plastic, but she would have to remove it from her trousers in order to use it. She would have to move quickly, and hope the press of bodies on the platform would prevent her from being seen.

Then there was the weather. If the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, it could undermine everything they had worked for. Fortunately from the weather report she had seen at the hotel room, it didn't appear to be a problem. At least that was one thing going in their favor, she thought dismally.

Soon, they were pulling up in front of the Capitol amidst a throng of reporters, thrill seekers, and sight seers. Ronan, always uncomfortable in a crowd, clung gratefully to the arm that Abrams graciously offered her and Kate. Bulbs flashed, and microphones were thrust in their faces as rapid-fire questions were hurled toward them, not just about the inauguration, but because Kate was recognized. Many had assumed she had been killed in the plane crash, and were justifiably curious.

"I'll be glad to comment on Ms. Williams timely rescue after we conclude the Inaugural Address." Abrams remarked with a friendly smile, and dutifully ignored all other questions as the trio mounted the steps of the historical building.

People milled around waiting for the President elect and contingent to arrive while Kate felt like she was going to chew her fingernails down to the nub. The vial in her pocket felt like it weighed a ton as it pressed against her leg, but she knew to the casual observer it would look like an ordinary perfume bottle. In actuality, it contained a lethal dose of the alien antigen that she thought would become airborne as soon as she uncapped it and liquefy all of the Solari on the stage in seconds.

She swallowed nervously against a suddenly dry throat when a motorcade pulled up the street and stopped in front of the building. Swarms of plainclothes agents circled the second vehicle. Ronan almost chuckled at the archaic microphones in their ears that were considered state of the art equipment in this century. For a moment she could almost believe she was viewing an old holo-vid, then frowned sadly as she realized that holo-vids were something she would never see again. Even with all of its problems, there were certain things she would miss from her own century. A husky chuckle drew her attention, and her eyes shown with a hidden smile as she realized there were definitely other things that more than compensated for that loss.

Everything finally in place, Kate took up a place of honor near the rest of the inaugural committee while Martin Abrams stepped up to the podium. Tradition dictated that the Vice President be sworn in first, and Ronan wondered if her nerves would be able to handle the delay. Warily, she worked her way into the middle of the press of bodies, hoping her actions would be concealed.

The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court walked slowly up the steps, and the milling throng came to a hush. Flashes went off and cameras rolled while below the steps hundreds of Americans and well-wishers watched the proceedings with a sense of pride. A few dissenters were also present, holding signs of protest that their own Presidential candidate had not been elected, but even they were silent as they witnessed the historical moment.

Chief Justice Barnhart held out a Bible and requested that Abrams place his left hand on it and raise his right. Abrams readily repeated the Oath of Office in a dignified voice while Ronan looked on feeling as though she was in a fog. She knew it was terror that was causing the haze in her brain.

At the conclusion of the Oath, thundering applause that died away reluctantly as the new Vice President began his acceptance speech.

"My fellow countrymen, on this occasion, the oath I have taken before you and before God is not mine alone, but ours together. We are one nation, and one people. Our fate as a nation and our future as a people rest not upon one citizen, but upon all citizens."

The well-spoken man continued for several long minutes, until Ronan detected the speech drawing to a conclusion.

"For myself, I ask only, in the words of an ancient leader: Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?"

The resounding cheers at the end seemed to wake Ronan up a little, especially when President elect Vince Andrews took his place at the podium. He appeared dignified and proud to take the oath, but the blonde knew the human imposter had his own agenda. Andrews eagerly placed his hand on the Bible, and for a moment Ronan expected him to recoil in pain at what she considered the epitome of blasphemy. Then he began his own oath, which was quickly concluded.

Chief Justice Barnhart remained at Andrews side when the impersonator began his own acceptance speech. Ronan had seen the alien cast a curious glance toward herself and the actress. His expression was curious, but unconcerned, and Ronan wondered if this doppelganger even knew what the actress, Kate Williams, looked like. Chances were that if he did, he wouldn't seem so relaxed as he began his gracious acceptance as the leader of the American people.

"I ask you today to share with me the majesty of this moment. In the orderly transfer of power, we celebrate the unity that keeps us free."

The blonde time traveler found it ironic that he would talk about a transfer of power and freedom in the same sentence. The words bestirred the sense of outrage she had first experienced when she had learned of the Solari infiltration scheme. Ordinarily she would have been more than happy to accept visitors from another planet, but these weren't visitors. They were parasites intent on taking over the planet by means of subterfuge and eventually extinguishing the human race.

Her ire helped clear the last tendrils of mist from her mind, and with a heightened sense of reality, she watched Kate take hold of Abrams arm as the speech came to a conclusion and the duo stepped forward to stand next to the new President.

Abrams stepped up to the microphone to address the American public. "I would like to take this opportunity to announce another historical moment. As many of you know, the actress Kate Williams and her pilot disappeared over the Florida Everglades approximately one month ago. It was believed that both of them were killed in the crash. As you can see, that is clearly not the case, and I invite you to join with me now in welcoming her back into our embrace."

The eloquently spoken words, although touching, should have been a rather commonplace welcome to a public figure for having survived a harrowing experience. But Ronan was aware when Andrews eyes widened in sudden fear. The man jerked reflexively, and she wondered if he had almost bolted from the stage. Catching himself at the last moment, Andrews forced himself to relax and appear gracious. After all, what could she possibly do to him in public?

Kate stepped between the two men with a theatrical grin plastered on her lips, but Ronan could see the sudden fear in her eyes, and almost hear her thoughts. What if it didn't work?

Taking a deep breath, the auburn-haired woman steeled herself for her next action. She reached into her pocket and withdrew the vial of antigen. To the common observer it would appear to be a perfume bottle. Then she spoke into the microphone. "Thank you, for all of your well-wishes. As you can see, thanks to the skills of my pilot, both she and I are very much alive. But after we came out of the swamps, I found this magnificent cologne in a small shop in Homestead. I wonder, Mr. President, if you would indulge me and give me your opinion on its scent?"

A few people in the crowd chuckled at the unpredictable actions of the actress. But actors in general were funny people, and you just never knew what these people would do to get attention. Although the Presidential Inauguration was hardly the place, who could really begrudge such a minor request?

Andrews couldn't, and he knew it. It was ridiculous. Why would this woman possible want him to smell some perfume she had picked up, and why the hell hadn't Marcs killed her in the swamps as he'd been ordered to do instead of falling into a poaching trap? Fuming inside, he managed to look calm and slightly amused.

"Of course, my dear. Id be more than happy to give you my opinion." On several things, he thought. Including how your guts look as I take them out and play with them!

Kate pulled the cap off the vial and held it out as though waiting for him to sniff the contents. When he drew only a few inches away, she depressed the atomizer with her finger straight into his face, and by extension, that of Supreme Court Justice Barnhart. The reaction was instantaneous.

Both men clutched their throats and began gasping as their features began blurring together. Abrams clutched Kate to him, shielding her with his body as his personal guards surrounded them. He had known that Kate would become a target for Secret Service snipers as soon as she deployed the antigen, and had taken steps to protect her. Having been assured that the toxin would take only moments to revert the politicians back to their true form, he trusted he could protect her long enough for everyone else to see that she wasn't a threat.

In the chaos of screams and shoving that briefly ensued, he wondered how this could possibly take care of the threat when there were at least four other alien beings present. Finally the screaming stopped as people fought to get a closer look at what was lying on the Capitol steps.

Gone were President Andrews and Supreme Court Justice Barnhart, and in there place was something only vaguely reminiscent of a humanoid shape. The features were flatter with no distinctive bridge of nose, elongated eyes with a third centered in the forehead, and tentacles that slithered obscenely for a few moments before they went still. Feeling that the threat against Kate had eased somewhat, Abrams still kept a protective arm around her but turned to address the stunned crowd.

"As you can see," he began in a shaky voice that strengthened as he spoke, "these…gentlemen…were not who they claimed to be. The government has known for some time that it was being infiltrated by members of an alien culture in an effort to overthrow our planet, and take it for themselves. We owe an extreme debt of gratitude to patriots like Kate Williams in determining who these imposters are, and to the other governments of the world for allowing us to make a decisive blow against them here today."

Questions began flying fast and furious while Abrams sought to assure the public that the government had known about everything from the beginning, and that Kate had been a voluntary tool in brining about the demise of the interlopers. But the other human/alien hybrids took the opportunity of the media circus to begin edging away from the platform and toward an escape. Quickly calculating the trajectory of the missile she had planted into the microphone and the slight breeze coming off the Potomac, Ronan knew she would have to make her move now.

Pulling the detonator out of her pocket, she was only vaguely aware of the warning shouts being issued from Secret Service and CIA agents as she flipped back the cover on the small, plastic box. A bullet took her in the shoulder before she could press the button, and another hit her mid-thigh. She heard Kate and Abrams both shouting that she was one of them and to stop shooting, but nerves were tightly strung after watching the two men melt, and a few were unable to comply with their orders immediately, a few more rounds catching her in the chest.

Resting on her knees and one hand in agony, Ronan forced her heavy thumb to move over the red button and press down with her rapidly dwindling strength. In satisfaction, she watched the small capsule shoot up from the mesh it had been encased in to about ten feet in the air before it burst, sending antigen gas in all directions before she fell heavily to the ground. The crisp winter breeze carried most of the toxin back toward the political crowd, and the world at large gasped in horror as four more Solari were revealed to their stunned gaze.

Kate shook of the paralyzing fear that held her riveted in place for a moment before she bolted to the younger woman's side. Blood liberally smeared the beloved features, and she wasnt even sure the blonde was still alive.

"Ronan," she sobbed breathlessly as she slid her arms around the other woman and pulled her into her embrace. "Ronan, please…answer me."

The blue eyes were closed against a very pale face, and Kate felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest. "Oh no," she groaned, tears flooding her eyes before coursing down her hot cheeks. Ronan had given up so much to save her and their world, and now it would appear she had even given her own life.

Kate thought of all the times she had argued with this woman, all the times she had stubbornly refused to do what was asked of her, and all along Ronan had been prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. Had steadfastly protected the actress and led her to this courageous moment of self-sacrifice. And Kate hadn't even had the guts to tell her that she loved her.

"She's still alive," Abrams said, feeling the weak throb of pulse against his fingertips where they pressed against the long neck. "Get an ambulance," he shouted to the nearest confused agent who at least had the composure to follow his orders.

"She's alive?" Kate asked in confusion. Seeing the cautious look in her friends eyes, she realized he was trying not to give her false hope, but she was overjoyed with the information.

"Ronan?" she asked tenderly, reaching up to cup a soft cheek. "I love you, and you are going to be all right. Do you hear me?" she asked in a stronger voice, daring the younger woman to defy her. "You are going to be all right."

Then men in blue uniforms were pushing her out of the way, and inserting I.V. tubes and other gadgets the actress didn't recognize. A stretcher was brought over and the blonde hoisted gently onto it, before she was carried down the stairs toward the waiting ambulance. Abrams directed two of his men to the hospital to keep watch on the young woman, while Kate scurried to the back of the hospital-bound vehicle.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Only family members are permitted to ride in the back of the ambulance."

"I am family," she stated in a voice so deadly that no one would even think of defying her. The ride to the hospital was the longest twelve-minute ride of her life as she held onto the young blondes hand.

For hours Kate paced in the hospital waiting room in fearful anticipation of the younger woman's prognosis. Upon arriving at the emergency room Ronan had been whisked straight into surgery. Since then no one had contacted the actress with any information. She had seen many people coming and going from the operating theatre, but no one had responded to any of her urgent questions. Finally she had marched up to the head nurse at the desk and demanded someone answer her questions. Was Ronan all right? What the hell was taking so long?

The white garbed nurse had stood to her full height, towering over Kate's own meager 5 4" before answering in a stern but calm voice that Ronan's doctor would speak with her as soon as the younger woman came out of surgery. Abrams had even shown up, and offered her a cup of coffee just when she thought she might keel over.

"What? Taking care of your investment?" she asked uncharitably, then immediately felt guilty as she watched his face close up.

"I'm sorry, Martin. I'm just worried. What the hell is taking so long anyway?" she rasped, dragging a hand through her auburn hair.

The surgeon chose that moment to walk out, removing his gloves before reaching up and rubbing a hand over his tired face. Kate was on him before he had a chance to realize anyone was there.

"How is she? Is she all right? When can I see her?"

Dr. Morrison shook his head in confusion as he thought through the incomprehensible flood of questions. "Easy," he advised holding up his hands in mock self-defense. "I'll be glad to fill you in, Ms. Williams, although to be honest I wish the circumstances were better. Then I might actually have the nerve to ask you for your autograph. I really loved your portrayal of a blind house-wife in Wait Until Midnight."

"Thank you. Ronan?" she prodded impatiently.

"Oh, yes." The man answered with a frown, scratching his head momentarily. Kate wondered if he was addle-brained and worried that he had been the one operating on her lover.

"She's still in critical condition. I'm afraid we won't know for sure for another twenty-four hours. But, I believe we got all of the bullet fragments out, and that she'll make a full recovery. She was a very lucky young lady."

Wait a minute. "What do you mean you believe you got all of the bullet fragments? Don't you know?" Kate asked flabbergasted. "Aren't you a surgeon?"

"Hold on, Kate." Abrams advised with a restraining hand on her arm. "I'm sure she's fine."

Seeing how upset the actress was becoming, the doctor sought to reassure her. He might not have the most in common sense, but he did understand human pain, and suffering. "I really do think she will be fine. I hesitate to promise you something, and not be able to deliver. My experience tells me that most people prefer to know the truth, and from the few minutes I've known you I daresay you're no exception."

His words had the intended effect of connecting with Kate's logical side, and she forced herself to relax and hear what he had to say even if it wasn't what she wanted to hear. "I'm sorry, doctor. Of course, please continue."

Dipping his head the physician organized his thoughts before briefing her. "She was lucky in that none of the rounds pierced any vital organs."

"Or the Secret Service has some really terrible marksmen," Kate shot back sarcastically before she could help herself. "Sorry, doctor. Please continue."

"Yes, well. Just because no vital organs were pierced doesn't mean she's completely out of the woods. Infection could easily set in, and is the main cause for concern. She will have difficulty walking for a time as the largest muscle of the thigh was damaged. Her shoulder was dislocated by another round, and blood pressure is understandably low as a result of the blood loss. But I see no reason why she shouldn't make a full recovery."

Kate was at Ronan's bedside from that moment until she opened her eyes three days later. She spent that time telling Ronan how much she loved her, speaking words to the unconscious woman that she had no way of knowing she could hear let alone understand.

"I've never told you how I feel about you," Kate began sadly, a catch in her throat. "It took you getting hurt for me to be able to say the words aloud. The truth is I love you, and I've never had feelings for another woman before. I'm afraid of that. Pretty cowardly when I hear it out loud, especially after you almost died saving the world, but that's the long and short of it. I'm scared. Why, you ask?" Kate asked with a laugh that was a sob.

"I'm afraid because everyone I've ever loved has left me. I'm not even really sure I've loved anyone before, only that I wanted so much to be with someone, so I settled on men that I thought were reliable, strong, compassionate. I guess I was only fooling myself. And then you came along and turned my world upside down." Taking a moment to compose herself she wiped away the tears coursing down her cheeks before continuing on.

She felt the need to unburden her soul, even if she could never utter the words to the one that mattered most. "And…I fell in love with you…so hard. And I know it's the most intense, all encompassing feeling I've ever experienced. I only hope I can show you exactly how much I love you, for the rest of our lives if you're willing."

Amazingly, white-blonde eyelashes began to flutter when Kate concluded her speech as the young woman awakened. A look of confusion reined in the icy depths until they focused on the actress, turning quickly warm as a smile tugged at the corner of full lips.

"Hey," Kate whispered in that wonderfully husky voice that sent shivers down the other woman's spine. "I thought you were going to sleep forever. About time you woke up."

Ronan tried to speak and coughed against a dry throat when suddenly a cup of water with a straw was thrust in front of her. Gratefully she sipped the cooling liquid for a moment before falling weakly back against the sheets.

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" the actress added angrily.

The blonde of course knew it was fear that was causing the smaller woman to vent her emotions in anger and she deftly took it in stride, unaccountably pleased that the other woman looked exhausted from sitting at her side. And she had no doubt that the other woman had done exactly that. She had a definite sense that she hadn't been alone for a very long time.

Humor quirked her full lips before she responded. "I shall not." The truth was she couldn't imagine ever having to save the world against shape-shifting Solari again in their lifetimes, and felt pretty comfortable making the promise to Kate.

***********************

It was spring on No Name Key and Kate was enjoying it immensely. Ronan had made a slow but steady recovery with the actress doting on her every moment of every day. She suspected she was beginning to get on the young woman's nerves, but she was too polite to say anything and until she did Kate was relishing every second of it. She had yet to declare her feelings aloud for the younger woman, but felt confident that Ronan knew how she felt.

This morning she had gotten up early, reluctantly climbing from under the sheets and away from the warm body lying next to her to prepare a special surprise. She wasn't much of a cook, but felt she could handle scrambled eggs, toast and coffee without too much trouble. Sliced cantaloupe and banana were sat separately to the side while she went to awaken Ronan.

Stretching lithely before putting a robe over her nude form, Kate unabashedly enjoyed the view. Sensing the scrutiny Ronan turned and caught her staring. Arching a brow she asked, "You said something about breakfast?"

"Uh, yeah," Kate answered distractedly. "Breakfast,"

A few moments later they were seated, and Kate picked up the pot to pour Ronan's coffee before pouring her own.

"Kate," Ronan began in a warning tone. "I am not an invalid. I can pour my own coffee."

"I know," the actress returned easily. "I just like doing things for you. Is that so wrong?"

Suppressing the growl in her throat, the younger woman responded. "You have enjoyed doing things for me since the inauguration." Then it struck her that Kate was acting as though she was trying to atone for something. "Is this about what you said to me while I was in the hospital?"

Kate sucked in a breath so hard she was surprised there was air enough left for her companion. But Ronan just sat there looking at her with that adorable curious expression. "What are you talking about?" she asked in a strangled voice.

"When you said that you loved me," Ronan returned easily.

"You heard that?"

"Yes. Is that why you feel you must spoil me so much? Because you are unable to say you love me to my face?"

Taking a sip of coffee, Kate sought to delay answering the younger woman's questions until she realized there was no help for it. Shed been busted. Then she wondered why she had been hiding her feelings from Ronan to begin with. Feeling vaguely ashamed, she glanced down at the table and decided that some things were worth taking a chance for.

"Maybe," she admitted with difficulty. "If you heard me say that I love you, then you understand why it is so difficult for me to admit it."

Eyes softening in understanding, Ronan reached out to capture the smaller hand in her strong grip. "I do understand, but I will not leave you. I am not like those others that did not know what they had, and left you. I love you, Kate. I do not think you understand what that means to me."

At the sincerely uttered words, Kate felt a block of ice loosen in her chest that had been in place for so many years that she hadn't realized it existed. Tears came into her eyes, but still she held back fighting for control of her emotions as she said. "I do want this to work, but there will be some problems. I am a public figure, and I don't know exactly how much affection I would be able to show you in public."

Not seeing how Kate would think that would be a problem, Ronan returned, "I understand that. Kate I am not exactly a person that expects public displays of affection. I prefer our interactions to be private."

"Okay…then there's the fact that I would still want to be an actress. It's what I do," Kate affirmed with eyes narrowing as she waited to see what the blondes response would be. Would she be willing to share Kate's time with the public at large?

Squeezing the hand she held Ronan sought to make her understand. "Kate, it is not what you do. It is who you are. You are an actress because your creativity and compassion require an outlet. If you could not act, you would cease to be the person you are. I love you, and all of the facets of your exceptional personality."

"If I figure out that was intended as an insult…" Kate warned with a mock growl as she got up and sat on the blondes lap. Winding her arms around the long neck, she lowered her head and kissed the other woman tenderly.

"We still have to brief Abrams and his people, but I've convinced him to wait until you're fully recovered," Kate said softly, savoring the sweetness of the full lips with a long slow swipe of her tongue. "At least we don't have to go through anymore time travel."

Just before their lips reconnected Ronan said, "At least not for now."

Kate pulled back in surprise and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing," Ronan returned. "Nothing at all. Now kiss me."

Arching an elegant eyebrow in amusement, Kate happily complied with that order knowing that it didnt matter if she had to follow Ronan through the gates of hell That was exactly what she would do, if need be. "I do love you, you know," she said huskily.

"I know," Ronan responded just as their lips met.

The end.

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