Warning! I should probably warn that there will be a fair bit of swearing. When I say fair, I mean a lot. This is me after all guys. :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Soap, Ghost, or any other part of Modern Warfare as they all belong to Infinity Ward. I'm just amateur writer who likes to borrow them a little. I do own Lara 'Bones' McCoy of course.

Note from Sassy: Ok, so thanks to the responses I got, I decided to go out on a limb and post these random one shots/drabbles. Just to clarify again that these aren't really connected to my main CITS plot, aside from the fact they contain Lara McCoy. They're basically prompts I write just for fun to explore my characters and other AU situations. This one is Lara/Ghost but I have other drabbles written that include random pairings such as Lara/Toad and Lara/Toad/Archer. :) Hell there may even be pairings that don't include Lara. I should also dedicate this particular one shot to MisMot too, because I initially wrote it for her since she inspired like… two thirds of it. :P Love you Jacob!

To quickly set the scene, this drabble takes place about six months into Lara and Ghost's fuck buddy relationship, with no hints of the MW2 plot rearing its ugly head…

"So…" The sudden explosion of noise into her room caused Lara's heart to thunder in her chest and she spun round, her mouth shaped into a highly unattractive 'O'. Ghost was stood in the doorway, his right arm leaning against the doorframe. For once, his face wasn't the usual self satisfied one that she was used to. "You can't wait to leave then?" He nodded to the half filled suitcase on her bed casually. "Is that it?"

"You could say that." She shrugged idly. "Figured I'd make the most of it." She turned her back, clumsily folding another t-shirt and shoving it into the suitcase. "Don't know if I'll get another chance."

"Such defeatist bollocks." Ghost rolled his eyes, stepping into the room.

"Piss off. We're not all fucking made of stone like you."

"Too fucking right." She expected him to leave, but he didn't, instead moving further into the room. Lara could feel his eyes burning into her back, the movement of her hands quickening in an attempt to break the tension. Riley cleared his throat, speaking again, although this time his voice had a softer, alien quality that she didn't quite recognise. "This job isn't gonna be the death of you, Bones."

"Really? And what makes you so sure?"

"I just fucking know, alright?"

"Sure you do." She scoffed quickly, throwing in a couple of books to weigh down the already packed clothing. "Or what, you going to start throwing yourself in front of bullets for me now?" She rolled her eyes as she turned round, her hands firmly on her hips. "Give it a rest, Riley. We both know you're no good at whatever…this is."

"Christ, you're a tough crowd." She'd expected him to be at least angry but the rough grin Riley's face split into threw her off guard completely. He took a few steps towards her, leaning past her body so that he could stare curiously at the contents of her case, his arm brushing against hers as a result. "Where's home then?"

"What?"

"Home." He rolled his eyes almost patronisingly. "You've never told me where you're from."

"Neither have you."

"Accent didn't give you a clue then?" He laughed quickly. "Stepney, London. And before you ask, yes, it is a complete shithole." Lara's features quirked into an involuntary smile, one that wasn't unnoticed by Ghost due to their close proximity. His smirk grew wider. "So?"

"… York. Or just out of it anyway." Lara shrugged quickly.

"Dirty northerner, eh?" Riley scoffed. "Thought as much."

"Oh fuck off, Simon."

"You don't mean that…" She should have anticipated it but the hand that suddenly found its way onto her right hip still made her jump in her skin, the thumb grazing over the area knowingly. Lara froze to deter him, but Riley knew her all too well, the hand making the calculated move of sliding beneath her t shirt and pressing against her abdomen. Slipping so that he was stood in front of her, Riley leant forwards, grazing his lips against her neck slowly. "You're going to be without me for three weeks, right?"

"Yeah…" As much as she'd try and deny it, Lara's knees were already starting to buckle.

"Are you gonna find someone else to fuck?" His voice was light and amused as he leant in to kiss her neck again.

"For three weeks? Be more trouble than its worth." Lara blamed Riley's near constant kisses to her neck for the movement of her hand as it settled on his waist, pulling him that little bit closer. "I bet you will though."

"No way." Riley shook his head. "I don't like making too many links around where I live."

"Links?" Lara raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't get attached?"

"I don't but they do." His lips moved to her jaw this time. "It's not for me."

"You honestly want me to believe that you're a real family man on leave?" Lara laughed softly, only stopping herself when she felt Riley tense in front of her, his mouth freezing against her skin. He didn't pull away, but he made no move to advance anything, his breath lightly tickling against her face. "…What?"

"It's nothing."

"It is." She pulled away to look him in the eye. "I know you…you don't just stop. What's wrong?"

"Fucking leave it."

"No… tell me what I said wrong." She knew that it was unlikely to hurt him but her other hand traced down to his wrist, gripping it tightly. "I know jack shit about you as it is."

"Lara-"

"Fucking tell me."

"…I'm not…a family man, alright?" He sighed, pulling away from her quickly, his face half turned away. "Used to be but it all went to shit."

"What happened?"

"I died and became a ghost." His gaze returned to her, sarcastic as always. "And that's all you're fucking getting out of me."

"So there's no one?"

"Exactly, no one. Cheers for the reminder."

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't be. I like it that way." He shook his head bluntly. "Makes all this very simple."

"You don't mean that."

"Telling me what to think now?" He smirked darkly. "What did I tell you about the psychology bullshit?"

"It's not psychology, its fucking common sense." She rolled her eyes despairingly. "But fine, play it that way if you want."

"Oh don't worry, I will." She watched him turn away and walk to her door slowly, yet resolutely, his body language back to the stern, standoffish nature that she was so accustomed to. In her mind, Lara knew that she should just let him leave and say nothing more. But unfortunately her head had stopped making those kind of important decisions long ago, her heart and all of its rash compassion steadily getting the best of her logic. Before she could stop herself, Lara was speaking after him. "It's only three hours on the train."

"… What is?" Riley turned around, his features wary.

"London to York." She shrugged, her mouth in free fall. "60 quid both ways and I could pick you up from the station." She paused for a second, quickly dreaming up more incentives. "We even have a spare room."

"What the fuck are you suggesting?" Riley raised a curious eyebrow.

"What does it sound like?" Lara shook her head, her hands automatically coming to rest on her hips. "What I'm suggesting isn't much, but it's got to be better than three weeks of wall to wall drinking."

"And if I say no?"

"Then you say no." Lara sighed. "Just think about it."

"Then I might…" Ghost cleared his throat quickly. "Think about it I mean."

As he'd left her room that day, Lara had never once thought that Riley might actually take her up on her offer. As it was it turned out she didn't know Simon Riley quite as well as she'd first thought.

A week into their leave she'd received a phone call out of the blue. It hadn't lasted long but the message was more than clear. The following afternoon, Lara was sat patiently in her mum's car outside the train station, tapping expectantly at the steering wheel. In civilian jeans and an almost alien dark grey shirt, Lara had almost missed Riley as he approached the car, throwing himself into the passenger seat and almost instinctively turning up the radio. Lara had been strangely relieved by the gesture. She'd been anxious about just what to say to him ever since they'd gotten off the phone the day before.

She needn't have worried. Old habits died hard and as a result half an hour later had seen them in the back seat of the car in an isolated countryside car park, Ghost's head buried between her legs and Lara left wondering just why exactly she didn't invite him up to York any sooner.

"So…" Riley had said softly, sated, as he leant back as much as possible against the car's mottled back seat. "What else is there to do in this godforsaken place?"

For lack of anything better to suggest, Lara had decided on a club, avoiding an awkwardly long introduction to her mother by dragging him upstairs to his room. It was her brother's, or at least it had been once and although they both knew that he most likely wouldn't be spending all that much time in it, they moved what little luggage he had up there for appearance's sake. Leaving him suitably entertained, Lara had chosen to get dressed as quickly as possible, raiding the slightly more feminine side of her wardrobe for something presentable. In the end she chose a denim mini skirt, a garment that was well worn but now a little loose on the hips after her rigorous training with the task force. For her top she'd opted for a demure black shimmering blouse, but the fabric was too tight around her biceps and so she was forced to choose a purple backless halter neck top, the clothing at least hanging off her chest and giving her the illusion that she had some tits.

"…Fuck." Riley had hissed as she stepped into his room, her face expectant as she tapped at her watch. He stood up slowly, his eyes looking her up and down for the first time in…well in as long as she could remember. "You're a fucking woman."

"No shit." She rolled her eyes, tapping at her skirt pockets to check that she had her purse. "Are we going or not?"

"We could just stay 'ere." He gave her a sly smile.

"And do what exactly?"

"I have a few ideas."

"And this room has creaking floor boards. There's a reason we fucked in the car before." Lara rolled her eyes, stepping forwards and giving him a shove towards the door. "Come on, I don't want to be queuing for the rest of my life."

Inside the club, the air was hot and humid, sticking to her skin like a film as she pulled Riley over to the bar with her. Lara was determined to make the most of it and she bought the first round of drinks, three straight up shots of tequila each. The amber, bitter liquid didn't last long and Riley bought the next round asking the barman for some hideous concoction that contained at least four different types of vodka and a mixer. He downed it in one swallow and although Lara tried to match him she found herself resorting to drinking it in quick, staggered gulps, the intensity of the alcohol burning the back of her throat. Sensibly they both settled for a bottled beer next, deciding that if they carried on with spirits they'd never make it until the end of the night.

"Lanky McCoy… is that you?" As was the custom in clubs Lara only heard the woman's screeching voice when she was practically stood on top of her, a mix of sickly sweet perfume and fake tan assaulting her nostrils. The woman was Katie Strongham, one of the girls who had 'lovingly' teased Lara at school about her awkward height and gawky frame. By now it seemed she was more bleach and make up than real person, her curvy body squeezed almost impossibly into a tight pink bodice dress, her feet teetering in skyscraper heels. "Oh my god, it is!" Katie thrust herself at Lara in a forcible, if drunken, embrace.

"Katie…" Lara smiled falsely, raising her voice over the loud bass permeating through the club. "You look… well."

"A girl's allowed a bit of pampering now and then…" She paused to sip at the straw that stuck out from some hideously sweet looking cocktail, eyeing Lara slowly. "You never filled out then?"

"Don't have the chance." Lara shook her head. "I'm in the army now."

"Oh yes… I heard you'd run off to go shoot at things. How… honourable." She gave Lara a distasteful look, her eyes finally shifting to Ghost who was stood behind Lara patiently, his arms folded and an amused smirk plastered across his face. "But tell me… who's this?"

"This is Simon. He's a… colleague."

"Soldier boy, eh?" Katie grinned, no longer paying Lara all that much attention. "You look as though you can handle yourself."

"I can fuck a bloke up no sooner than look at him, yeah." The grin remained fixed on Simon's features. "Why, you like that?"

"Definitely." Katie laughed. "Always loved a bad boy."

"Then you'd love me."

"I'm sure I would." She gave him a coy smirk, edging that little bit closer before stopping herself. "You two aren't…?" She deliberately left the question hanging, her gaze switching between them both.

"No, we're just-"

"She's just using me for sex." Ghost grinned triumphantly, a loose arm moving to encircle Lara's waist, pulling her almost impossibly close. He watched Katie's face drop in shock as she teetered backwards. "Aren't you, gorgeous?" If she'd been sober Lara would have laughed at how he over emphasised the word mockingly.

"And you're… happy about that?" Katie gave them both an incredulous look.

"Hell yeah." Ghost smirked, pulling her even closer. "I kinda like it. And her." He shrugged weakly. "So sorry, love. But if you're looking for a quick fix tonight, I'm not your guy." He gave her an almost dismissive wave, indicating over to the far end of the bar. "I'd try over there. Those blokes look desperate enough."

In the time it took Katie to edge away from them, Lara had downed her beer, her throat feeling impossibly dry. She slammed the empty bottle on the bar behind her, attempting to pull away from Riley but his grip only became tighter, holding her to his side, their hip bones clashing. He smirked, turning towards her slowly.

"What's the rush?"

"Did you mean all that?" The words tumbled out of her mouth faster than she could stop them. "Really?"

"… Yeah." He shrugged casually as though he'd just admitted to having blue eyes. "Or most of it. Maybe not the gorgeous part." He laughed. "I mean you're not bad."

"Simon…"

"What? You want me to be serious now?" He shook his head. "I'm half pissed and horny as hell. Can't we discuss the part where I genuinely care about you later?"

"W-what?" Now Lara truly was unable to stop a gasp from erupting past her lips.

"Later…" Riley groaned pulling her around so that she was facing the bar again. "Right now we need more drinks." He indicated to the barman, lifting himself over the counter slightly to speak directly in his ear. Seconds later a row of four shots steadily appeared in front of them both. "Get those down you…" Riley nodded. "And for fuck's sake forget how much of a twat I just made of myself."

If Lara had wanted to question anything, she didn't get much more of a chance, at first humouring him and continuing to drink to at least dull all the questions in her head. By now the club was happily out of focus, the pulsing lights given more movement by the sway in her vision. The music was enveloping, hard and strong, bass lines pulsing through the floor. To Lara, it was intoxicating. She had no idea who pulled who, but soon enough they had both reached the dance floor, neither of them standing on ceremony as their bodies clashed together, grinding rhythmically to the music. The world still that little bit hazy, Lara opted to throw her arms around Riley's neck, her head resting on his shoulder whilst they both moved together.

Sober, the sight would have been a shock. Drunk, it was damn near terrifying.

At first the brown eyes just looked that little bit familiar, fixed in her direction rather than looking at the pretty blonde who was draped over their owner's lap. Lara wanted to look away, but the intensity of the stare forced her to look on, her eyes fixed to the face. The figure leant forwards out of the gloom of the club and Lara caught sight of him clearly for the first time. No, it couldn't-… Lara's grip on Riley tightened instinctively, practically choking him.

"Shit, Lara…" He let out a strangled cry.

"… Toby." Lara shook her head quickly, loosening her grip yet keeping her eyes fixed on the man. "What the fuck is he doing up here?"

"Who the fuck is Toby?"

"My ex." She hated how it was still hard for her to say it even after all the years that had passed. "My only relevant ex."

"Were you serious?"

"Very."

"And is he with someone?" For whatever reason Riley seemed to be sizing Toby up, even though his back was still firmly turned to him.

"Yeah. Some fucking bimbo by the looks of it."

"We could leave?" Riley suggested, his breath tickling against her ear as he spoke to her directly. "Not like this is the only club for miles…"

"Too late. He's seen me now. I don't want to look like I'm running away."

"In that case there's only one thing to do." The lieutenant was already grabbing her arm and pulling her off the dance floor.

"Riley…no!"

"Don't be such a fucking coward." He gave her a stern look. "If you can stare down a bloody RPG then you're strong enough to do this. Right?"

They were too close to Toby by now for her to argue without being overheard. As they stood in front of him, Lara grasped wildly at any passing thought in her mind, her drunken brain desperate to try and form a witty, almost cutting comment that would somehow diffuse the situation. But it was impossible, her mouth dropping open to speak whilst her head still stumbled over the words. Fortunately, Toby spoke first, effectively putting her out of her misery.

"Didn't think it was you at first." He gave her a quick nod, almost flinching as the blonde sat beside him tried to take his hand possessively. "Aren't you supposed to be out there saving the world or something?"

"I'm on leave…" She replied bluntly, suddenly remembering Ghost at her side and indicating to him quickly. "… We're on leave."

"Another soldier?" Toby raised an almost disapproving eyebrow, quickly looking the lieutenant up and down. "Isn't that technically fraternisation?"

"It isn't your business… technically." Ghost's voice made his irritation plain, but Toby seemed to ignore it.

"Your little display made it everyone's business… in here anyway." Toby smirked, leaning back in his chair casually. "Or maybe you're just not big on privacy?"

"Honey…" The blonde beside him finally spoke, her hands curling around his bicep. "Don't cause a scene." She straightened up, holding out her hand to Lara quickly. "I'm Bridget. Toby's-"

"She's an associate of mine from the office." Toby interjected, Bridget's face instantly hurt as he pulled his arm away from her. His eyes slipped back to Ghost. "And you are?"

"Simon."

"Man of few words, eh?" He laughed quickly, fishing a pack of cigarettes out of his jeans pocket, his eyes flicking back to Lara. "Not usually your type, Lara."

"Because my 'type' has worked so well for me in the past?"

"Touché." He stood up, indicating towards the club exit. "I need a smoke. Come keep me company if you like. We can catch up." He took a deliberate step past Ghost. "Assuming that Samson here is able to manage a couple of minutes without you?"

She was well aware that she should have said no and walked off in the opposite direction, but Lara found herself agreeing almost immediately, her body instinctively taking a step after Toby. Instantly Ghost tried to move into her way but she gently pushed him aside, tilting her head to speak directly in his ear.

"Just get me a drink. I won't be long."

"Too fucking right you won't." Riley shook his head, reaching up and holding her head to his mouth. "If you're not back in five minutes then I'm coming out. Understood?" Lara merely rolled her eyes in response.

Outside the change in temperature felt monumental, cold air assaulting the dampened skin of her bare back. Swallowing down a shiver, Lara followed Toby to a free expanse of wall outside the club, both of them leaning against it, Lara determined to try and put as much distance between them as possible whilst Toby lit his cigarette. For lack of anything better to do she folded her arms across her chest, at least hoping that the gesture made her look that little bit angrier.

"You look good." Toby nodded bluntly, turning to look at her. "I heard you made the Paras, they must be keeping you in shape."

"Stalking me now?" She gave him a bordering on outraged look.

"Our mothers still talk." He rolled his eyes, taking in a deep drag of smoke. "They were close, remember?"

"Well they obviously don't talk a lot." Lara scoffed. "I left the Paras six months ago."

"You fucking left? I thought that regiment was your life?"

"I got handed a transfer. Promotion."

"Promotion? Where to?"

"I'm not supposed to talk about it." She shook her head, briefly enjoying the power that her mysterious job seemed to give her. "Sorry."

"What sort of James Bond bollocks is this?" Toby laughed indignantly. "Don't tell me, I bet you're fucking guard dog in there has a license to kill too, right?"

"Simon's my friend." The words felt strange leaving her mouth but there was no denying the truth behind them as Lara finally made full eye contact with Toby. "You know nothing about him."

"I know enough to know that you two are more than friends. Don't tell me, I left you so broken that you started sleeping with every soldier you could get your hands on. Is that it?"

"Oh fuck off, Toby!" She wanted to yell but Lara found the strength to restrain it to a bitter hiss. "Don't be so fucking arrogant."

"Arrogant? No. But come on…" He gave her a patronising smile. "I'm the bad guy in all this, right? The twat who cheated? It's only natural for you to drag my name through the mud."

"I prefer not to mention you at all." She rolled her eyes. "Makes life one hell of a lot simpler."

"Ahhhh I forgot…" He finished his cigarette, grinning as he breathed out a final cloud of smoke. "That was always your game wasn't it? The whole 'it's not there if we don't mention it' mentality. What a load of bull." He turned to her, his head resting against the wall. "You forget that you were the one who ended us, not me."

"You ended it the second you fucked someone else. Is that her? Bridget?"

"Bridget's just a kid." Toby rolled his eyes. "We're not together."

"Did you tell her that?"

"Did you tell Simon?" Toby laughed. "Because right now this is one hell of a game of the pot calling the kettle black."

"I fucking told you… we're friends…."

"Sure, friends who fuck." Moving so that he was stood in front of her, Toby leant against the wall, his left hand beside her head. "Admit it; you're involved in something just as soulless as I am."

"Piss off."

"Hitting home, am I?" He grinned, moving his right hand so that now both his hands were either side of her head. "We're too alike, you and me. Always were. Maybe its time to admit that we've both been screwing around because we haven't been able to find something as good as what we used to have."

"Good?" Lara scoffed. "So good you felt the need to fuck some office girl?"

"Maybe I should have tried to be more understanding, but hell, you could have been more open with me." He shrugged. "Mistakes on both sides, right?"

"And so what now? Kiss, make up and go back to how it all was?"

"Not in so many words." Toby shook his head slowly. "We could take it slow. A dinner first maybe? Some place where it's just you and me and we can forget all this sarcastic armour."

"You really think it'd be that simple?"

"I think it's a start." He leant forward, tilting his head slightly so he could fully look her in the eye. "Come on, Lara. At least admit that you're considering this as much as I am."

"No." She shook her head. "You're a chapter of my life that's closed. I can't just go back and pretend that's nothing's changed."

"Nothing has! It's been what, two years?"

"Exactly…" Lara moved off the wall, pushing his chest backwards with her hands. "Two years. And believe me, I've fucking changed."

Toby had opened his mouth to speak, but Lara never got the chance to hear what he had to say as in an instant he disappeared from her vision, his body blurring to the right. Staggering, it took a moment for Lara to adjust, her head swinging to the right just in time to see Toby pressed hard against the wall beside her, a pair of familiar hands gripping the shirt at his neck tightly. Although it was Toby who he had in a choke hold, Ghost's eyes were fixed on Lara.

"What the fuck is going on?"

"Simon!" Lara found herself yelling, pushing at his shoulder. "Get the hell off of him!"

"Not until I know what he was fucking playing at…" The lieutenant grunted, his gaze switching back to Toby as he pushed him harder against the wall. "I don't know what you said to her, but she doesn't need you anymore, you fucking got that, mate?"

"Get your fucking hands off me!" Toby managed to splutter.

"Or what?" Ghost laughed softly. "You honestly think that you scare me?"

"Lara! For fuck's sake, get your psycho of a boyfriend the hell off me!"

Anywhere else in the city and Toby would have probably ended up with a broken nose to match his now bruised pride, but as it was, two club security men came to his timely rescue, both of them wrenching Ghost's body away, albeit it with great difficulty. They managed to haul him into the street, Riley pulling himself away from them with relative ease, his fists clenched. Terrified, Lara threw herself into the fray, determined to stop Riley from forgetting where he was and spending the night in a police cell for assault. She at least succeeded in calming him down and he pushed off from her, stalking off down the street in the opposite direction to the club. As Lara twirled round to run after him she spotted Toby watching her, his face an odd combination of angry and concerned before he retreated back into the club himself.

Riley seemed to have nothing to say to her and similarly Lara didn't know what to say herself, an unhealthy, tension filled silence soon developing between them. They kept walking, Lara sub consciously leading the way, the streets deserted and dim around them. Ordinarily, Lara would never have dared to walk home through the city by herself, but that night she didn't care. After all, she doubted whoever they might come across would be nothing to be scared of in comparison to Riley.

"What's in here?" Riley's sudden speech caused her to jump in her skin and Lara spun around to face him in an instant. Beside them was a large expanse of open land, cordoned off by tall, pointed metal railings. Riley had stopped several paces behind her, both hands now resting against the railings inquisitively.

"It's just a park." She shrugged. "Nothing exciting." She paused, watching him for a moment longer, almost expecting him to give her an apology or an explanation for his behaviour. He gave her no such thing. "Look… Riley-"

"Don't tell me, you think I'm a psycho too, right?" He rolled his eyes, avoiding her gaze. "I saw the way you looked at me."

"I was shocked. You came out of nowhere."

"I said five minutes, didn't I?"

"I was hardly timing us."

"So I saw…" Riley shook his head, resting back against the railings. He eyed her wearily. "So what did he say to you that made you do a complete 180?"

"What?"

"Oh come on… you two were really fucking close." He rolled his eyes. "Two minutes later and I'd have been walking into you two doing a lot more."

"Oh give it a rest, Simon." Lara hissed. "I had no intention of fucking kissing him."

"Sure you didn't." He held his hands into the air in mock submission. "I should never have come here. Forget I did. Go running back to the club and get your shit sorted out, it's not like I give a fuck."

Five months ago, Lara would have believed him. Hell, she could have said something very similar herself. But now, with the way Riley's eyes continued to look at her, she knew that he didn't mean it. Because for the first time, Lara was actually seeing Riley wounded, hurt plain in his eyes. She didn't know why he had picked now to show that he cared, but she was hardly complaining either.

Maybe it was just to prove Toby wrong, but as Lara stepped in front of Simon, she was determined to not make this yet another problem that she ran away from.

"…You were jealous, weren't you?" She raised an eyebrow, moving her hands forward so that they rested on Riley's shoulders. He tried to shrug her off but she persisted, her thumbs digging into his collar bones slightly. "Well?"

"I didn't like how he spoke to you. So fucking high and mighty."

"And that's all?" A small smile quirked through her features. "You ran in all ready to defend my honour just because he demeaned me a bit?" She laughed. "Come on, Simon. If you did that all the time Greg would be dead by now. Or at least crippled." Leaving her right hand on his shoulder, Lara moved her left one up to the side of his face, forcing him to look at her. "I think we both know it was not what he said, but who he was."

"And so what if it was?" Riley rolled his eyes, although he made no attempt to move. "What do you want me to say? That I couldn't stand seeing him anywhere near you and would have gladly beaten him to a pulp to deny him the fucking privilege?"

"Maybe just the first bit." She smiled, leaning in a little closer. "So you do really care?"

"More than I fucking should." Riley shook his head, still trying to avoid her gaze. "Don't ask me how you fucking managed it, but somewhere along the line you got under my skin. Now I just don't know what the fuck to do about it."

"Telling me helps." Lara grinned, leaning in closer so that their faces were inches apart. "Because I'm not the ice queen you think I am."

"Really?"

"Really." She laughed softly, rubbing her thumb across his lips. "You think I'd have invited you if I didn't care?" Leaning in she pressed a soft kiss to his mouth, the gentlest gesture they'd ever shared. Slowly, as she pulled away she was sure to keep a hold of his gaze, her voice low when she spoke again. "Because for someone who seems to always have a bad word to say about me, I did actually miss you."

She'd wanted to be the one to kiss him again but Riley was ahead of her, pushing his face closer and pressing their lips together firmly. His hands were almost instantly as her waist, one of them snaking round and stroking at the small of her back, the skin instantly turning to gooseflesh. The cold prompted Lara to open her mouth and she deepened the kiss, being sure to suck on Riley's bottom lip and tongue at every opportunity. The lieutenant groaned into her mouth, pressing closer, his hips nudging against her own. Lara smiled knowingly in an instant, snaking down her right hand and palming the front of his jeans carefully. Simon's body instantly tensed and he let out a gentle moan, leaning back against the railing when her lips dropped down to his neck. For a moment he let them stay like that, until a decisive hand curled around Lara's wrist, stilling her hand instantly.

"… Stop it." She was sure that it had meant to be more authoritative but as it was his words simply came out as a breathless groan.

"Why?" Lara attempted to move her hand again and the grip around her wrist tightened.

"I said stop…" He paused, opening his eyes and giving her a serious look. "Don't get me all wound up when I know we can't finish this tonight."

"And who says?"

"You did… earlier. About the same time as you mentioned those fucking creaking floorboards." He attempted to push her away slightly. "You're such a bloody cock tease."

"It's not teasing if you get something out of it in the end." Lara smirked, nodding over his shoulder to the park behind them. "What do you say?"

"In there?"

"Why not? It's empty enough." She grinned, already stepping past him and beginning to climb the railings. "Are you coming?"

"It's fucking closed."

"And?" Lara laughed, carefully manoeuvring herself over the pointed tops of the bars and dropping down to the other side. She gave him an expectant look, her hands resting mockingly on her hips. "Don't tell me the great Simon Riley is scared of a little trespassing?"

As soon as he'd cleared the railings, Lara had grabbed his wrist, pulling him knowingly after her. The park might have looked different in the dark but it was still the place where she had spent half of her childhood and as a result she knew the layout like the back of her hand. Breaking into a run, Lara continued to pull Simon after her, towards the copse that lay in the centre of the parkland, the trees close enough together to make for suitable cover. At full speed the distance took neither of them that long to cover even with the addition of their stumbling and they were soon enveloped by dark shadows far removed from the city's streetlights.

He might not have been able to see her all that clearly, but that hadn't stopped Riley pushing her against the first available tree, his hands suddenly roaming everywhere beneath her top. Fumbling fingers managed to untie the halter top at the neck and it flopped down, Riley pausing to shed his own t shirt onto the floor. By now their mouths were meeting with far less eloquence than before, the kisses messy and lust filled, lips meshing together clumsily whilst their hands were distracted elsewhere. Riley's belt buckle had proved the most problematic, Lara short on concentration as the lieutenant continued to kiss and suck at the skin of her shoulders. With a relieved hiss she had managed to unfasten it and with very little decorum she had yanked down his jeans and boxers.

"Shit…" Fumbling in the gloom, Lara managed to slip a condom out of the pocket of his skirt, her fingers struggling to open the package in the limited space between their bodies. Momentarily transfixed, Riley paused and gave her a questioning look through the gloom.

"You fucking planned this?"

"Expected rather than planned." She grinned, kissing him again as she managed to roll it on. As she broke away she pulled his hips a little closer to hers suggestively. "Though personally I had you down as more of a club toilets man myself…"

Riley chose to give his answer physically rather than vocally. In seconds, Lara was lifted into the air, rough bark biting into her back as she curled her legs around his waist, their hips snapping together almost automatically. When he started to move his hips, Lara's back was on fire, her skin raw and reddened. Leaning forwards slightly to avoid the discomfort she managed to unbalance them both, Riley falling backwards with her still firmly on top of him. However, it was a momentary setback and content to be in a position of power Lara decided to dictate her own, tormenting pace until all that left Riley's mouth was an extended groan of expletives.

Eventually she let him flip them over and take control, their pace quickening and Lara's hands firmly held to the ground either side of her head. In the gloom it was hard to be sure, but as Lara continued to watch she noticed that Riley never once closed his eyes, his gaze permanently fixed on hers with his every movement. The realisation itself threw Lara over the edge and her entire body tensed, her spine arching and bringing them that little bit closer together. Riley followed and soon enough he was collapsing on top of her chest, his head lost somewhere amongst her hair and the crook of her neck and shoulder.

"Fuck…" Riley managed to gasp, his body boneless still as he finally rolled off of her. In an uncharacteristically gentle move he kissed her shoulder as he did so, his right arm remaining draped across her body, the hand rubbing in large, languid circles.

"Yeah…" Lara smirked in return, sub consciously placing her hand on top of his. "Worth it though, right?"

"Completely." Simon paused for a second, as though he was weighing up his next sentence very carefully. Eventually he chose to speak again, propping his head up on his left hand as he did so. "Bit like you."

"Was that a compliment?"

"It was supposed to be." Riley laughed, looking as close to sheepish as he ever probably could. "I mean it's taken me a while to notice it… appreciate it even. And I swear half of the time you still push me further and harder than anyone else is able to but still… you're really… something, aren't you Lara?"

"Something good?"

"Something good."

"Then I guess that works for me." Lara smirked, sitting up slowly and pressing a lazy kiss to his lips. "But if you don't mind I'd rather continue this little love in some place where I won't freeze to death in the process."

The next morning amongst raging hangovers they hadn't spoken about the half drunken events of the night before, hell even when the headaches had dulled and they were sprawled out arguing over what to watch on TV they made no attempt to voice anything else. But in reality that didn't matter. After all, they'd said everything they needed to, at least for now. There was no need to complicate anything further.

One thing had been blatantly obvious however. Riley had only intended to stay for a couple of days. In reality he stayed for the rest of their leave. It made very little difference whether it was because Lara gave him back the life he had lost or because she had reminded him that he still deserved one in the first place, only that for three weeks at least, Simon Riley was back in the land of the living.

For Lara and Ghost's grinding club song, check out Pacifica (Chasing Shadows remix) by Spor. I think grinding to that tune should be on everyone's bucket list. :P

-x-Sass-x-