She heard a door slam, and jumped, "Hello?" she called. There was no
answer. She shook her head, and cleared her throat, forcing her attentions
back to the memo she was typing. She took a sip of her ginger ale, sighing.
"You're getting spooked by your own shadow, Ainsley," her own voice sounded
loud and harsh in the office. She turned her small radio on, welcoming the
music.

She had managed to push the paranoia aside, and go back to work, when
she heard footsteps. "Hello?" She called again. There was again no answer.
She stood, and slowly moved to the doorway. "Hello? Who's there?" She slowly
walked out into the dark hall, and her office door slammed, plunging the area
into pitch blackness. She could hardly breathe, her heart was pounding so
hard. "Who's there?!" She cried again, her voice choked.

She turned back to her office door, and closed her eyes when she
realized it was locked. "You're an airhead, Ainsley Hayes," she slowly moved
for the stairs, screaming when she bumped into someone.
"Ainsley? Are you alright?"
"S- Sam?"
"Yeah. Why's it so dark? I almost broke my neck down those stairs."
"I. . ." She was scared of the dark. She knew it was stupid, but it was
a child hood thing she'd never gotten rid of.
"Ainsley? You're shaking. WHat's wrong?" He gently put his hands on her
shoulders.
"I got locked out of my office, and then the sounds, and I heard you
coming, and you didn't answer and. . ."
He laughed softly, and pulled her into a hug. "It's okay."
"You think it's funny!"
"No," he forced himself to stop laughing, holding her gently.
"Yes, you do!"
"Ainsley-"
"You're laughing at me!"
"Ainsley-"
"You are!"
"Ainsley-"
"Just because I am scared of the dark, that does not mean you get to
make fun of-" She was cut off as Sam pressed his lips to hers. There in the
dark, he pressed her against the wall, feeling the sweat of her blouse soak
through to his dress shirt, and add to his own. He deepened the kiss, slowly
exploring her mouth. Electricty crackled through the air, and he felt her run
her hands over his chest, feeling his muscles through the damp of his shirt.

He broke the kiss, and moved his lips to her neck, nibbling gently. Her
soft moan through the darkness was answer to his silent question of if he
should continue. His hands softly stroked down her sides, and he felt her
chest heave as she battled for air.
"Sam. . ."
"We can't do this. . ." he murmured.
"No. . . Not now."
"You're right," he agreed, moving his lips to the bare skin where the V
of her shirt formed. She could barely remain standing, her knees growing
weaker with every second.
"Stop. . ." she whispered. He reluctantly backed away, smoothing his tie.
"Ainsley. . ."
"Not now, Sam."
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
"Need help with your office?"
"Yeah. . . The door's locked."
"Hm," he moved over. "I bet it's stuck, from the humidity." He pushed
hard and it opened. "There you go."
"I knew that."
"Yeah."
"Bye."
"Bye." He turned to go up the stairs.
"Oh, Sam! What'd you come down for?"
"To ask you to dinner."
"I ate already."
"Yeah. Later, Ainsley."
"Yeah." She watched him go with a soft sigh.