Disclaimer: I do not own Human Target and intend no copyright infringement.

A/N: A somewhat – erm – more detailed (= smut) version of this chapter is hiding in the M section. Mature eyes only, please. I hope, after all this teasing, I don't disappoint. Thank you, THANK YOU all so much for your reviews, every single one is a wonderful gift and has really helped me stay motivated!

Ilsa couldn't sleep. She was drifting in and out of consciousness, reality and dream blending into each other in a confusing stream of images. As much as it touched her that the team had come all the way from California to make sure they were all okay, this time she would have really preferred them to stay as far away as possible.

Yes, she did see the irony in this.

Be careful what you wish for.

Damn, she had been so close to Chance! For once she had been able to push all the inhibiting memories and reservations aside and focus on the moment – the moment in Chance's arms, on his lap, feeling need and being needed. Instinct and desire had taken over and everything had seemed so easy. Now, with the knowledge that the team had been to Arthur's mansion and all the flashbacks from the Summer of 1989 flooding her mind, things were back to "complicated" again.

Should she really start a relationship with a man who had such a, mildly put, checkered past and a very - VERY - uncertain future? Could she really do this with the vivid remembrance of Marshall still so strong in her mind?

She was so tired of this windmill of questions, going round and round in her head. Hoping to catch another hour of sleep, she shifted to lie on her left side.

At this very moment a hand clasped over her mouth, strong and firm. The other hand and – a knee? – pinned her arms to the mattress, making sure she couldn't struggle.

She opened her eyes to see Chance's face looming above her, vaguely illuminated by the dim moonlight filtering through the curtains. His eyes bore into her, making her feel naked despite the pajamas she was wearing.

Ilsa realized all the goddamn indecisiveness could finally come to an end RIGHT NOW. He would make the decision for her – all she needed to do was let him.

A giant wave of relief washed over her and again the irony of the situation didn't escape her – being held down with force, restrained and rendered immobile, she felt more freed from any binding ties than ever before.

Chance could feel the edges of her mouth twitch upwards underneath the palm of his hand. That was all the agreement he needed. With one swift motion he yanked her out of bed and dragged her, hand still firmly pressed over her mouth, out of the room. Totally oblivious to what was going on around her, Ames didn't even stir.

The complete soundlessness with which he managed to get her into the corridor sent shivers of excitement down Ilsa's spine. This was a man familiar with violence, a practiced assassin using his skills to get to her and make her his. A dangerous man, almost unstoppable in his ardor and determination.

Unless she told him so.

Ilsa knew for sure – one word from her and he would stop. Immediately.

She felt like the most powerful woman in the world.

Right outside the master bedroom she broke free from his hold and kissed him passionately, tongue thrusting hard into his mouth. Chance, recognizing this game for what it was, kissed her back forcefully before twisting her arm and clasping her mouth shut with his hand again. He frogmarched her down the stairs, kissing her neck and shoulder. As they reached the foot of the stairs his teeth were grazing her first vertebra cautiously, but by no means gentle, as his tongue twirled over the sensitive area like a whirlwind of pleasure.

Thank God he was still silencing her as he bit down on her once. She would have woken up the whole house.

Not wasting any time, he swept her off her feet and carried her into the storage room adjacent to the living-room.

Chance firmly closed the door and for a long time nothing could be heard except for a rather loud clattering once.

Afterwards they just lay together on the floor for a long time.

"Doesn't seem anyone noticed", Chance finally said, commenting on the still profound silence in the cabin. In fact, it was a bit too silent, considering that three other people and a dog were underneath this roof, two of them quite notorious for their constant bickering. Cautiously Chance and Ilsa sneaked out of the storage room. Outside it was broad daylight, the snow shimmering blindingly. Hours must have passed since they had retreated to the small chamber.

They needn't tiptoe far. A note was lying on the coffee table in the living-room. Apparently it had been reworked a couple of times.

At first Winston, in his almost illegible cop hand, had written: "There's a lot of paperwork at the office where you can't really help, so we decided to go back to Frisco already and get done with it while you two…" – here he had obviously paused because the flow of his writing showed a break – "… make sure that Carmine is completely healthy again before travelling with him."

Ames, with her twirly script, had added: "You've got such a nice wellness area, Mrs. Pucci, it's a pity not to use it. Same goes for that pretty silverware you've got. Wouldn't it look fantastic in candlelight, CHANCE? And Carmine surely would enjoy a long walk along the shore during sunset..." She had added a winking smiley at the end of her message.

Then someone – and who could it have been but Guerrero? – had crossed out all of it with one swift stroke and written only three words: "Take your time!"

Chance grinned as he read it.

"So they're all gone", Ilsa stated. "What are we going to do now?"

"Now?", Chance laughed. "Now I finally want to hear you!" Still chuckling, he pulled her close and proceeded to cover her neck with long, lingering kisses.

- the end -