She ran towards the large oak door, both her guns raised.

Shit. Her last pair of clips left, nine rounds in each, making a total of eighteen. By assumption, it seemed like there were at least twenty, maybe more, of the museum guards patrolling the corridors. She quickly entered what seemed like an empty gallery.

Well at least I'll be able to catch my breath. She thought.

Instantly, as if knowing, three armed men stepped into the room. One of them wore a bulletproof vest and carried two semi-automatics in each hand, while others seemed to be dragging something; a body. Peering closer, Lara crouched behind a large statue. The pitiful creature that was grasped in the claws of imprisonment seemed to have dark hair and… looked like someone she had known. Rethinking everything that happened that day, she realized she did know who. It must have been Kurtis; she had little doubt that she could be wrong. Lara slithered down the hall on all fours, keeping one pistol in her hand. The men that were dragging Kurtis's figure did not acknowledge a female presence in the room. Without thinking, Lara jumped up, aimed her gun at one of the men and fired a "warning shot", into his head.

"That's my first warning" she said; the man dropping down on his knees and causing a loud thud.

The remaining guards seemed to freeze, as if planning their next move strategically. Keeping one pistol leveled at one of the men, she grabbed her other firearm and targeted the alternative victim.

"Lara?" Kurtis weakly raised his head and looked up at her.

"Listen boys, I have things to do, people to see, lets make this quick, and no one gets hurt." Lara tried her best not to smile. "Should have made up your mind quicker" she scolded, while expunging the two equipped men.

Both of them dropped like shot down birds, taking Kurtis down with them. He got up, brushed off an arm of his captor and slowly walked up to Lara.

"Thanks, but I had things handled" Kurtis said smugly, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Really? Oh, were you planning on quickly planting bullets into them with this?" She took his Boran X pistol and held it up, hearing the gun clicking with no more ammo. While laughing, she handing him his weapon and continued down the hall. Kurtis ran to her side, taking his Chirugai in one hand. Lara slowly maneuvered through the building. Locating an exit sign she almost ran towards it, motivated to get out of hell. Then suddenly, the piercing sound of bullets carved the air. Running in opposite directions, Lara and Kurtis split up.

She tried her best to creep around the guards while Kurtis distracted them with his beautifully guided flying disk. The hail of bullets whirled past her head; almost planting themselves in their desired destination.

Out of nowhere, a shock of pain plunged through Lara. Looking down at her long thin left leg, a heavy flow of blood streamed down. And I thought this would be a quick job. She attempted to stand, but failed as her weight shifted and the limbs below her waist gave way.

Kurtis must have seen the wound because he rushed to her side, pressuring his rough hands on the injury. Lara slid down to the ground, her back against the wall. Taking both pistols in each hand, she wrapped her arms around the corner and fired at anything she could hit. Must have been some lucky shots, since the noise died down and the only sound in the room was Lara groaning.

"Great, just great!" She gritted her teeth in pain as the agony pulsated from the gash up to her head and arms.

"We gotta get this bandaged up. Think you can manage to the exit?" Kurtis's voice became concerned and he ripped the sleeve of his shirt to form a gauze. He dressed the bleeding limb carefully, minding the deep slash as he did so. Lara nodded, though just that tiny action caused more suffering.

They both slowly stood up, Kurtis helping her with a hand, guiding them to there destination. Making their way towards the exit Lara moaned quietly.

"How are you doing? Do you feel dizzy?" Kurtis asked in a sensitive and caring voice. He actually did care for Lara's well being; no matter how well he tried to hide it.

"Could be better." She responded, the pain becoming a nuisance and very tiring. She gripped Kurtis's shoulder while attempting to keep her own weight on herself. If only she could focus on the matter at hand and not the erotic feel of his tense muscles beneath her palms, she might have figured out what to do next. Just being this close to him was exhilarating. His rough touch; that intimate sweet smell; and his sexy voice was enough to make Lara feel dizzier than she should have been.

When they exited the small yet memorable building, a burst of cold English air greeted Lara and Kurtis. Chilling yet very satisfying; the freezing air wrapped around each of them in a shiver. A trail of blood had made its way from the injured leg all the way back to the gallery.

"I think the closest and safest spot for us right now, is your place." Kurtis looked at her; her beautiful features now bruised and scared. Her face was dirty and her eyes bloodshot red. Still, to him, she was beyond breath-taking. She was a Greek goddess that somehow managed to seduce his frozen heart.

Lara slowly awoke as the rocking movement of the motorcycle eased its way into her long and Winston-flowered driveway. She was sitting behind Kurtis on his bike; his warm body pressed close to her own. She could feel the quick beat of his heart through her chest. Thigh to thigh they sat; their figures fitting perfectly into one another. Her face as well as some of her hair was nestled on his back. A slight bump was all that took to make Lara instantly aware of her being. Her leg throbbing, and a massive migraine, all she could think about was doing a hard header on her luxurious and comfortable bed. Endless hours of pure, brilliant, sleep.

Making their way towards Lara's front door, the only thing she could think about was how long she will be able to rest. Kurtis on the other hand, kept watch of Lara's enlarging wound. For the moment his only thoughts focused on getting something to clean it up and bandage it.

She unlocked her heavy oak door with a sigh of relief. Walking in though, the first thing she noticed for was how cold it was within the house. Slow paced footsteps could be heard from the main hall.

"Winston!" She proclaimed at the site of him. Forgetting the pain and rushing towards the elderly man, she almost knocked him over. He embraced her with wide open arms and a welcoming smile.
"I wasn't expecting you 'till tomorrow Lara!" Looking from her to the strange man still standing near the door; Kurtis looking more uncomfortable than anything, he asked if their guest was staying the night.

"Yes, Kurtis will be staying with us for a little bit. Kurtis this is my butler, Winston. If you need anything just ask and he'll bring it up."

"Hey, quite a place you have here." Kurtis, freeing his right hand of the bag he was carrying, put out his palm. Winston shook his hand and turned to Lara.

"Where should I take Mr.…" he trailed off.

"Trent, but I'd prefer if you'd call me Kurtis."

The sudden pain finally caught up with Lara once again. Looking down at her leg, she remembered the unearthly pain it caused her in the museum. Kurtis turned and made his way towards her. Kneeling down by the now sitting Lara, he looked at her wound more closely.

"Where are your bandages" He asked, his rough fingertips running over her thigh. The feeling it gave her caused her to shiver. She glanced at him; at his hypnotic eyes.

For a moment time stood still. It was only her and Kurtis. His hand still lay on her thigh. Lara couldn't understand this strange feeling in her gut. It was like lava flowing up and almost ready to burst. The heat between them thickened and Lara felt her heart give way. Wrapping his hand around the back of her neck he slowly leaned in. As if teasing he just held there; lips only millimeters apart, waiting for her reaction, that smug smile on his face starting to form.