[hr][hr][center][h1][color=firebrick]Black James(!)[/color][/h1]
[img]https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/avatars/6AE78329E91063505631975227392_pic-r-1396533712688c4afde8ecf.jpg.jpg?versionId=ZnGOSit0zozlhxpJk0w6QVx4cSozVRdq[/img][/center]
[hr][center][b][color=firebrick]Location:[/color][/b] Building [b]7[/b] (Rec Center)[/center][hr][hr]

	Miss Sally's constant insinuation that James didn't know Thana as well as he thought wasn't really so much of a bother to him. It was true, they lost touch a while before the Outbreak, and it was equally true that, if she was a Navy Officer, then she did most certainly turn herself back around and made use of her family's sense of commanding ambition. It made sense. But what didn't make sense to him was Newnan's Commanding Officer and all around okay guy Ash falling into the sack after knowing someone for less than a day. Just didn't seem like him. 

	Somewhere deep down, he hoped in equal measures that Ash did and didn't, both. The guy deserved a moment of happiness, however fleeting, and the Martins were generally good people. At least, they were Before, from what he knew. But on the other hand, despite logic and time and proper grief before moving on following her death, Ash was in a long-term and committed relationship with James's best friend [i]ever[/i]; his troublemaking partner and preferred supply run backup, Alicia Gonzalez. 

	He missed Alicia. The thought of her, among the other conversation going on (not to mention his face stuffed full of yummy food) caused him to get a little misty. Before he realized it, he was rubbing his wrist over one eye, hoping to get rid of a tear before anyone noticed. As soon as he had a mouth clear of food, he picked out Jack's comment as the one he would address directly in the ongoing conversation. [color=firebrick]"Hells, Jack, I dunno about all that. Me an' Ash spent plenty of time in the back of his 'Buster, sippin' corn squeezins. He opened up plenty. But if he needed someone to [i]rub fuzzies[/i] with to get his shit together, sorry. Brotha's got limits. Good on Miss Thana. I still got my doubts, alls I'm sayin'."[/color] 

	Try as he might to keep the conversation steered toward the suppositions and maybes of their C.O. and the new girl, the thought of Alicia kept with him. His general animation slowed a bit, the tiniest or somber notes visible in his face. True, he had found another running partner and damned good friend to have your back, Bryn, but she just wasn't the same as Señorita Badass Taco Belle Gonzalez. He really missed her. And he knew that Ash missed her even more. 

	James recalled several late night conversations with Ash. His guilt was crushing him, and after a few drinks he was pretty forthcoming with talking to an available ear. He did give one concession to his point. [color=firebrick]"Tati's right, thinkin' on it. Him not requestin' a bunk for Miss Thana? That there [i]is[/i] interesting. Tell ya though, he's the sort of fella that'd try to protect someone he thought might need it. He might've just set her up in one of those rooms he [i]ain't[/i] usin' in that shiny house of his."[/color] He nodded, picking up another full fork of porcine goodness. [color=firebrick]"Mmm hmm. He's a good guy. "Never take advantage" sorta man, least not like that."[/color] 

	

[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=steelblue]Ash[/color] & [color=0072bc]Thana[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://media.giphy.com/media/C1PwffdEpkd8I/giphy.gif[/img][hr][b]Location:[/b] Building [b]A[/b] (Ash's House) [/center][hr]	

	Hearing the tone of his voice and his words, Thana glanced slowly over her shoulder. If she couldn't hear the crest fall she could surely see it in his expression. Turning she stepped back over to him and took his hand in hers. Running her fingers over the skin as she rolled it over in her palm, her light touch going over his palm; tracing the lines and moving over the callouses. Her lips were pursed slightly as she shook her head. Her eyes remained down trained as she she spoke in a gentle voice. [color=0072bc]"Ash,"[/color] she started, calling him by his given name. No Captain, no sir. She was obviously speaking on a much more personal level right then. [color=0072bc]"I didn't mean alone."[/color]

	Ash's heart quickened, threatening to drum through his chest. In that moment, he couldn't recall hearing his name in spoken in a more angelic voice. Was she saying what he hoped she was saying? He moistened his lips, preparing to ask, to find some subtle way to confirm his ardent hope. 

	Gradually her eyes swept up to his and she smiled ever so softly as the light of the fire danced in her eyes. [color=0072bc]"Or to sleep."[/color] 

	The radiance of those eyes had already stilled the words in Ash's mouth before they could be heard. But when she spoke, it destroyed them utterly. Right then, she could have asked the man to remove a finger and he would have done it without question. A pang of emotion streaked out as a physical sensation from his heart; one of painful desire and familiar longing. He had been drowned and pulled alive from the water, looking at this angel caressing his hand, that sweet, blessed oxygen he was taking in that went by the earthly name of Thana. Ash couldn't hide the look of relief and desire on his face, any more than he could the sudden rush of blood reddening his cheeks. He hoped the fire's orange light would disguise his sudden blush, but part of him disagreed. Part of him wanted this woman to see the color and understand the pure and honest effect she had on him that evening, that the change from gruff Captain to this softer, more open and affectionate Ash was a real thing; happening to him quite unexpectedly but most welcome. 

	Seeing the redness to his cheeks caused her smile to pull up a bit on one side as she stepped closer. A simple nod of understanding came from her as she looked into his eyes. She could see everything on his face, it was there as plain as day and it gave her a sense of relief. He seemed to be as genuine as she was trying to be right then. She was torn, afraid to break him, yet wanting to see where things went even if only for the evening. To her it would have been hypocritical to tell him he needs to live if she was not willing to as well. Today had been a roller-coaster, yet there was a chance for them to end the evening in warmth and solace. It was a chance she was willing to take, even if she set sail for another port come morning. 

	He ran his hands upward along her arms, bringing them to rest lightly on either side of her face. Her skin was a smooth contrast to the roughness of his hands, but he could easily tell that strength resided within her. He held them there for a moment, just looking into her eyes with awe. He could have looked into her firelit gaze for hours, and would have, were his need for her any less formidable. [color=steelblue]"Please... please,"[/color] he struggled, trying hard to remember the simplest of words in his fevered enthusiasm. [color=steelblue]"Ah, upstairs, door on the right. Only room with a bed. Please, one minute - less. I need to handle something here. I'm right behind you, I promise."[/color] 

	Leaning into his touch she felt the connection between them and could only let out a light chortle as he stumbled over his words. Her hearts pace quickening as her nerves set in, not unwelcome ones that caused fight or flight responses but those first time knee buckling ones that made you fall into another person and loose yourself. Her hands coming up to his cheeks and cupping them in the palm of her hands she leaned in and brushed her lips to his. [color=0072bc]"Of course,"[/color] she breathed into the light kiss. 

	Then she heard it, the crackle of the radio and a groan came from her mouth as she rested her brow to his. Holding him close to her as her eyes drifted close, her long lashes resting against her skin and grazing his. Taking a long shuttering breath her lips thinned but she understood. This was his home and he was being called on to help it once again. Swallowing the growing lump in her throat, pushing down the building desire she leaned back and looked up at him. [color=0072bc]"Duty calls,"[/color] she said in a disappointed but very understanding voice. She knew the call, what it meant. 

	[color=steelblue]"Yeah, it does."[/color] he responded, downtrodden tones coloring every syllable. Duty indeed called. The announcement of "Newcomers at the wall" was important, it could mean anything from people seeking shelter or trade, even a potential security breach. But it was exactly the kind of job he personally handled here since he was established as Newnan's Second, seemingly ages ago. This is what he did. He took up his radio and responded, [color=steelblue]"Understood. Hold position."[/color] Then he saw Thana's face change. 

	"Sure thing boss," the wall post chimed in over the radio. Thana slowly pulled her hands from Ash's face and nearly took a parade rest position, her hands slipping behind her back. As much as she hadn't wanted the moment between them to end, again, she understood. She was military after all and with that came the belief that the unit always came before the person; though that very notion had driven more than one couple apart but they weren't a couple. They were just two ships passing in the night. Looking up at him still she gave a nod and waited, figuring she would be turning in while he went to take care of his community. 

	No. Hell no. This is what [i]Ash[/i] would do. He would take on every responsibility he could to ensure that everyone within the walls of Newnan was safe and fed. But what would Leann have done? For her faults, the Lieutenant Colonel was a damned fine officer, who knew how to... delegate. Certainty flashed across his face. Not today. Ash was not going to disappoint or walk away from this woman. It would take a hell of a lot more than a routine security measure to pry him out of his home that evening. He had a Second now, who barely had his teeth cut with anything except for managing Medical. The Captain dialed his walkie over to the Medical Lead's channel, and locked eyes with Thana as he spoke. 

	[color=steelblue]"Victor. Hey Froggy, Ash here. Newcomers at the Gate. Need you to handle it, standard. Get a welcoming party from Security together and use your discretion, Doc."[/color] He gave it a moment of thought, then addressed his Second again. [color=steelblue]"Make sure I'm not disturbed unless it's an emergency. I'll be taking the rest of the evening off, as soon as the Lieutenant Commander is done giving me a thorough debriefing."[/color] There. Passable excuse established without being dishonest. Then why the growing feeling of anxiety?
	
	"Oui Captain," Froggy said through the radio; his voice as it normally was. Apparently he hadn't picked up on the double entendre or if he did, he wasn't letting on to it right then. Thana did though and her brows rose, her bottom lip curling in as she bit it hard between her teeth and choked back the guffaw that was threatening to erupt from deep within. 

	Ash let the sentence hang in the air for a half-second before he realized the potentially dual meaning of his last few words. The alarm in his face was sudden and striking, which was precisely what his left hand did as it made audible connection with his forehead. He cleared his throat and tried to salvage his dignity, face still quite palmed. [color=steelblue]"You have your orders,"[/color] he snapped, stowing the radio back on his belt. No small amount of honest apprehension covered him as he opened his eyes to look back at Thana. Maybe Froggy wouldn't have the mind of a fifteen year old. He was a surgeon. Even money either way. He wasn't certain where to go from there, so he slowly removed his hand from his head. The blush had come back, but for a horribly different reason. [color=steelblue]"Ah, Thana, I..."[/color] He wasn't usually this speechless. It had been a very odd day. 

	Slowly Thana's lip slipped from her teeth and she just let out a half relieved half tickled giggle. Letting a long breath fall from her she shook her head slightly as her hands moved back to cup his cheeks gently within them. She hadn't expected him to turn over the responsibility to someone else but he had. It was a surprise, but a pleasant one. She couldn't help but smile up at his blush and the way he was at a loss for words. Her thumbs softly caressing his skin as she pulled him closer to her; her eyes dancing as the disappointment melted from them. [color=0072bc]"Ash,"[/color] she whispered softly, [color=0072bc]"shut up. You talk to much."[/color] Her voice was a mixture of playfulness and want. Her smile growing as she pressed her lips to his, kissing him deeply as her breath left her. 

	The greatest amount of pleasure he had felt so far that evening came to him when he saw her eyes light up, right at that moment. He gladly submitted to Thana as she drew him into her, wrapping his arms around her back and pressing her hard against him. He just couldn't seem to get her close enough, no matter how totally his arms encircled her. Rational thought was lost as he returned her kiss, catching her bottom lip lightly between his teeth and ever-so-lightly pulling back before releasing. He buried his face into her neck, showering her with gentle affections, even as he breathed in the smell of her hair and the pheromones from her skin. It drove him to maddened distraction. 

	A soft sigh escaped Thana as her hands slipped from his cheeks. Gradually gliding into his hair and over the back of his neck as she pulled herself closer. Her neck craning as she savored the feel of his lips against her skin. It had been so long since she had been close to someone, even longer since she had found an actual connection with another. God, what was she getting herself into? Pushing the thought out of her mind she let herself lose herself in the moment. Tomorrow was another day, tonight it was just two people living; a rare moment in that day and age. 

	Ash barely remembered that Thana had given him an order just seconds ago. Breathlessly, he answered her, [color=steelblue]"Yes Ma'am."[/color] still kissing her neck and moving up to her exposed earlobe. His searching hands instinctively grasped a handful of fabric at her back, straining the buttons on the front of her pajama top to the point that they might burst if he continued. He made a conscious effort to slow down, to stop being so eager and forceful with Thana. [color=steelblue]"I'm sorry."[/color] he panted, [color=steelblue]"It's been a long while since I've let anyone this close."[/color] The intensity, the [i]longing[/i] was easy to read on him, as was a continued attempt at self control. In no way did Thana did not make that easy. [color=steelblue]"We should continue this debriefing upstairs."[/color] 

	Thana's eyes came to his as she leaned back, her fingers tickling the back of his neck as they ran along the collar of his shirt. [color=0072bc]"No apologies, no guilt, no regrets tonight,"[/color] she said softly as the same desire that was in his eyes swept through hers. Taking a calming breath as she tried to control herself at least for a moment she nodded. Resting her brow against his. [color=0072bc]"It's goin' to be an intense debriefing, I hope you are ready,"[/color] she teased in a sultry voice.