Katie used to dream that somewhere, there was the perfect guy for her. He'd walk into her life and sweep her off her feet, just as heroes were supposed to. Somewhere around the age of 17, after her brush with death and curses, she realized that heroes probably didn't exist. One night late in November six years later, she thought that maybe she'd been to hasty…

"Looky what we have here Ace!"

Katie spun around, her fingers digging for her wand as two lumbering figures began walking towards her in the murky haze of dusk. Damn it got dark quickly here! She'd not realized just how late it was getting until she'd stepped outside.

"She's real purty."

Dammit! Why did she have to stay that extra half hour? Why did the Floo have to be closed down for emergency repairs? Why the hell hadn't she Apparated home? All those thoughts tumbled through her head as she dug frantically in her bag for her wand. The answer was simple, she was in bloody America and she didn't really trust herself to Apparate to the small flat she'd been given for her stay.

"Hey purty lady, let's you and us have a party." They were nearly upon her, slack jawed and massive. Cripes! Where the hell was her wand?

A massive, meaty hand was reaching towards her when a deep flash of lightening illuminated a solitary figure standing at the other end of the alleyway. "The lady has other plans."

Katie nearly wet herself as she registered the British accent. Thank the goddess! Please let it be someone that wanted to help her.

"And just who'er you?" The bigger oaf said, spinning around far too quickly for Katie's peace of mind. "We saw'er first!"

"Yeah! Ace'n me'll show'r a real good time."

Katie shrank back as he reached for her once more. Dammit, where was her wand? She cursed softly under her breath, taking another step backwards as the man lumbered towards her.

Another flash of lighting crashed down and the man was jerked backwards, flying back down the alley. Katie screamed as the other man went down under a hail of punches, her mysterious rescuer stepping between her and the men.

More lightning illuminated the alley, showing her would be rapists sprawled on the ground, out cold. She looked up and gasped. Her savior was huge, standing at least a foot taller than her. His arms were hard bands of strength, almost as big around as her thighs. His chest was a solid expanse of muscle. He moved closer and she stepped back involuntarily.

"Relax," he said softly, holding up his hands. "I'm not going to hurt you."

She finally found her wand, fingers curling around the slim length of wood buried deep in her bag. Surreptitiously pointing it at him through the bag, she watched him steadily as more lightning flashed around them.

"Are you okay?"

Katie nodded her head, glancing quickly upwards at the sky. It had begun to sprinkle, and from the looks of the clouds above, it was going to pour buckets.

"Why didn't you use your wand?"

Her jaw dropped open. "You know I'm a witch?"

A slow grin spread across his face as lightening flashed again, illuminating him fully. "You don't recognize me, do you?"

Katie winced as the sky seemed to open, drenching them both in seconds. "No," she said weakly, "Should I?"

He shook his head and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer. Seconds later, they disappeared; reappearing moments later inside somewhere large, warm and thankfully dry. Katie lifted her head, staring at her rescuer. There was something tantalizingly familiar about him, but she couldn't quite place him. It was there, right on the tip of her tongue when he spoke once more.

"You're going to get sick if you don't get dry."

She blinked, feeling bereft as he stepped back. "What?"

He chuckled, walking down the short hallway and disappearing into a room. He returned a few seconds later holding out a large, fluffy white towel. "I'd offer to use a drying spell, but I'd be more likely to vanish it completely away than dry it."

"Who are you?"

Another slow, lazy smirk spread across his face as he toweled his hair. "The man that saved your ass tonight?"

Katie growled impatiently, wiping the rain from her face with the towel. "That's not what I meant and you know it."

He chuckled and began unbuttoning the shirt he wore, which was currently plastered to the massive chest she'd been admiring earlier. Damn, whoever he was, he was built like a body builder. She'd never seen so much muscle mass, not since…. "Marcus Bloody Flint!"

"Took you long enough, sweets," he said, giving her another lascivious grin.

"What the hell are you doing in America? And how the hell did you know what was going on?" Katie's hand slid into her bag again, searching for her wand. Godric on a stick, something barmy was going on!

Marcus watched her, his fingers still moving down the line of buttons, releasing them one by one. Katie's eyes narrowed. She did NOT want to find him attractive, dammit! He was Flint for Godric's sake! Still, her mouth sagged a bit as he pulled the sodden material away from his skin. Dark hair peppered his chest, making her fingers itch to run through it. The trail narrowed over his abdomen, flaring out again just before it disappeared into the waistband of his jeans – soaking wet and molded to his body. "I always know where you are," he said simply, dropping the shirt onto the floor.

"What?" She jerked her gaze away from his body, flushing as he chuckled. Her knees felt like jelly, and she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Why the hell would he always know where she was?

"You heard me."

The words were quietly spoken, but they hit her like a fist. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she struggled for something to say. "But you don't even know me."

He moved closer, so close that she could feel the heat from his body. He tipped her chin up with one long, thick finger. "I know everything I need to know."

A frisson of heat curled up her spine at the banked heat in his deep green eyes and she bit down on her lip to hold back the moan that wanted to escape. His thumb came up to gently trace the outline of her lips as he spoke, his voice deep and husky, making things low in her body tighten with need. She swallowed hard, licking her lips. "Like?"

"You've got a stalker."

She blinked several times, and then shook her head. "What?" That was absolutely the last thing she'd ever expected him to say. Her fingers curled tighter around her wand. "Is it you?"

He snorted, shaking his head. "No, it's not me. I'm the one trying to figure out who it is, and keeping you safe."

"No one knows about the letters, I didn't tell anyone," Katie sputtered. She started to shiver, chills wracking her body.

"I told you before to get undressed or you were going to get sick," he said irritably, handing her the towel and reaching for the buttons on her shirt.

She smacked his hand away and glared at him. "Stop that!"

"Take them off then," he said, staring down at her implacably.

"Turn around."

He laughed once more, shaking his head. "Scared, princess?"

"No!" she squeaked, her cheeks turning pink. "But I don't usually make a habit of stripping in front of strangers!"

"We're not strangers, Katie."

"Close enough!" she said, her teeth chattering. "Are you going to bloody turn around or not?"

He sighed dramatically and spun on his heel. Katie watched him for a moment before she started to unbutton her sodden shirt, her fingers shaking with cold. Her mouth dropped open as she heard a soggy splat and she looked up to see what perhaps was the finest ass she'd ever seen. A deep, seductive chuckle nearly made her bite her tongue as a white towel slipped around his waist, covering him from her view.

"Bastard," she whispered under her breath, reaching for the rest of the buttons, peeling the shirt off and dropping it onto the floor. Her bra went next, followed by the crushed silk skirt she'd spent a bloody fortune on. Kicking off her shoes, she peeled her stockings down her legs before wrapping the towel firmly around her body. Her knickers were just as drenched as the rest of her, but there was no way in hell she was taking those off, not with Marcus sodding Flint standing less than a foot away from her, almost naked.

"Are you finished yet?"

"Yes," she snapped, her teeth chattering so hard she nearly bit her tongue.

"Go stand in front of the fire, and I'll get you something warm to drink," he said, turning to look at her over his shoulder.

Katie nodded, too cold to argue with him for being such an overbearing arsewipe. Standing in front of the hearth, she almost purred as the heat washed over her, drying her skin and her hair. She must look like a drowned rat. Never in her life had she been one of those women that could look beautiful when their hair was soaking wet. She laughed mirthlessly. What the hell was she thinking about that for? Men like Marcus Flint didn't like women like her, it was against the laws of the universe or something.

She felt him before she heard him, a large, warm, male body behind her, so close he was nearly touching her. She spun, startled, nearly knocking the mug he held out of his hands. His brow arched and she flushed, taking the mug and curling her fingers around it.

"Warmed butterbeer, it'll help ease the chills," he said, watching her steadily. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off his chest and it wasn't until he chuckled that her eyes rose, locking with his. "Drink it, Katie."

She began to sip the warm liquid, heat curling through her, warming her the rest of the way. The look in his eyes was doing a lot to warm her as well, his gaze fastened firmly on her lips.

"Stop that," she said, glaring at him.

"Stop what?"

"Looking at me like that. I know I'm not one of those kinds of women, so stop looking at me like you want to devour me," she said sourly, taking another drink and refusing to look at him.

Marcus pulled the cup from her hands and set it on the small table behind him before turning towards her once more, his finger tipping her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "What kind of woman, Katie? From where I'm standing, you look good enough to eat."

Katie bit her lip and frowned. She was at least ten pounds overweight, her hair must be in a million snarls, whatever make-up she'd put on this morning had most likely been destroyed by the rain and she was standing in front of him in a towel that barely fit around her. Good enough to eat? Not likely. "I don't find you amusing," she said stiffly, tugging the towel tighter and looking away.

He grabbed her chin, tugging it back so that she had to look at him. His hand sought hers, enclosing it in his. "Do I look like I'm lying to you, princess?"

Her eyes widened in stunned disbelief. Things like this just didn't happen to her. Alicia was the one the blokes flocked to. She jerked her hand away, her cheeks flaming. Wrapping her arms tightly around her waist, she spun around, staring into the dancing flames. "You still didn't tell me how you knew about the letters I've been getting," she said softly, desperately trying to turn the conversation back to something she was a bit more comfortable with. Not by much, mind you, but a bit.

He sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "You told Angelina, who I work with at the MLES. She at least, is taking it seriously, which is why I'm here."

Katie spun around, glaring at him. "I am taking it seriously! That's why I volunteered to take this stupid job, to get out of England!" Her voice dropped lower and she could feel tears forming in her eyes. "It was supposed to be safer."

He moved closer, his hand brushing her hair away from her face. "Nothing is going to hurt you, I promise."

Katie smacked his hand away. "Stop that!"

Marcus glared at her. "Stop what?"

Katie's head shot up and her eyes narrowed. "Stop treating me like I mean something to you! I'm not stupid, nobody cares about me!" The words hung in the air between them and her face paled. She hadn't really said that out loud, had she?

"Obviously that's not true, because then I wouldn't be here, would I?"

Katie bit back a sob and spun around once more, struggling desperately for control. He came up behind her, big hands settling on her shoulders, pulling her gently back against him. "You've shut yourself off from everything, never letting anyone get too close. You desperately want to find someone that makes you feel, because it's been far too long since you have." He spun her around, big hands framing her face.

Her eyes widened. "How… how do you know that?"

His eyes were so deep that she thought she might drown in them, sweeping over her face, lingering on her lips. He bent his head closer, warm breath skating across her lips. She inhaled sharply, the tangy scent of him filling her senses, making her knees want to buckle. Warm lips covered hers as his arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer. His tongue traced slowly along the seam of her lips, teasing them open. When she parted them, he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer, his hand splaying wide against her ass, fitting her tightly against his hard, warm body.

The storm outside gathered momentum, and a loud crash of thunder made her jump away from him. Her eyes were wide and her lips were tingling, swollen from his kisses.

His gaze was filled with intent, as it raked over her and she shivered as another scorching bolt of heat speared through her. "I know, Princess," he said, his words very slow and deliberate, "because I've been there."

Katie stared at him for long moments before shaking her head, pushing away from him. "I can't do this, not now, not with you," she said, backing away from him.

"Why not with me?" he asked tightly, eyes narrowing.

Shaking her head, she spun around and raced over to where her bag lay, snatching it up and Apparating away before he could move more than a step towards her.

"Bollocks!" he shouted in frustration as the crack of her departure faded.

~*~

Katie appeared in the foyer of her rented flat, shaking from head to toe. The towel Marcus had given her was still wrapped around her, hanging a bit lopsided from her hasty retreat. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she dropped her bag on the floor and made her way towards the small attached loo, one of the reasons she'd taken this flat in the first place.

Reaching for the towel hanging on the rack beside the sink, she rubbed briskly at her face, wiping away the tears and the last remnants of her makeup. "You did the right thing," she told her reflection, staring resolutely back from the glass. Sniffing one last time, she turned around, dropping the towel and moving to the tub, turning the taps to hot and letting it fill as she climbed in. The water swirled around her, but the steam curling in little wisps above it did nothing to ease the chill deep inside. "Stop it, right now," she said firmly, reaching for the soap. "He's not for you."

"Why bloody not?" her conscience whispered, refusing to be silenced. "He obviously wants you, and what do you do, run away like usual."

"Shut up," she said firmly, uneasily aware that while talking to oneself was perfectly acceptable, answering was not. Firmly thrusting any thoughts of Marcus Flint and the traitorous feelings he aroused in her away, she scrubbed her skin fiercely with the soap, not quite sure what she was trying to get off.

Standing up, she reached for her bath towel, slinging it firmly around her before stepping out of the tub and making her way back into the small bedroom. Grabbing her nightgown, a ratty old Puddlemere t-shirt that Oliver had given her ages ago; she slipped it over her head and dropped the towel onto the overstuffed chair that sat in the corner. Her robe hung on the back of the door and she pulled it down and on before padding back out to the living room, picking up her wand and aiming it at the small fireplace, the other reason she'd let this flat. Cheery flames blazed instantly and she moved closer, reaching for the tiny pot of floo powder on the mantle and tossing a handful in. Leaning closer, she spoke into the flames. "Angelina Montague, Auror's Office twelve."

Settling back on her heels, she waited for several long moments until the flames flared a bright green and Angelina's face appeared in them. "Katie, did something happen?"

Katie leaned forward, her features composed into as blank a mask as she could make them. "Did you send Marcus Flint here?"

Angelina looked uncomfortable, but she nodded slowly. "Yes, he was the only one available at the moment."

Katie shook her head. "I trusted you, Ang."

"If I could've come myself, I would've," Angelina said, staring hard at her friend. "You aren't taking this as seriously as you should."

"I left England, dammit, that should've been enough!" Tears gathered at the corners of Katie's eyes and she dashed them away angrily. "Isn't it enough that he's taken away everything I care about and I'm all alone?"

"We're going to catch him, Katie, I promise you that," Angelina said firmly.

Katie laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "That's what you said a year ago, Angelina! My parents are dead, my house burned to the ground and I'm stuck in the backwoods of bloody America because you can't catch the bastard that's behind all this!"

"He's had help; otherwise we'd have had him already."

"And now he's probably over here, to finish what he started," Katie said angrily. "Out of your jurisdiction."

"That's why I sent Marcus, Katie. He's the best at what he does."

"And what exactly is it that he does?"

Angelina stared at her grimly. "He kills people, Katie."