#the image of her casually stepping over Joes dead body still makes me laugh

[girlwiththenegantattoo]

I'll just pull a Bev and act like the body isn't there.

[thirstiswet]

this is my entry for the 25 days of chrismuts (@25daysofchrismuts) that @toxiicpop hosted. i'm sure this is a hot mess and theres for sure grammar errors everywhere but hey i tried. pls be gentle. idk what I'm doing but i did it.

Samoa Joe x OFC (elle)

Office AU! elle and joe often fight in the office. everyone knows its just sexual tension and if they just bang it out they'll be fine. its the christmas party and elle has too much to drink and lets slip what she want joe to do to her. he overhears blah blah blah. the good stuff happens :D

warning, smooty smut, unprotected, light choking, some spanks (lbr its joe)

at least 4k? pls tell me if i spelled something wrong or anythings messed up. also endings are hard so i just stopped

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23

The brewery was built in one of the old textile factories that used to be all around the city, with a large open room and a heated deck outside. It was the perfect place for the annual Christmas party for W.W.E. Publishing, and as always the company owner Mr. McMahon spared no expense. A band had been set up along one of the walls playing a mixture of Christmas music and pop songs. On the opposite side of the room, a photo booth had been tucked in a corner. The entire building was decked in sparkling lights, little Christmas trees, and strategically placed mistletoe.

Joe sauntered in, dressed in a well-tailored deep green emerald suit, making his way to the bar he heard her laughter over the music and crowd. Searching his colleagues he spotted her; Dressed in a strapless burgundy dress that stopped just short of being indecent. She was walking out of the photo booth with Naomi and Paige, her dark auburn hair cascading down her back, her head tipped back in laughter. His eyes followed them back to the table where Charlotte and Becky sat, their new photos in one hand and drinks in the other.

Joe always appreciated how she looked, despite his teasing. He always found it amusing when he would catch her in the break room climbing the counter just to get her coffee fix.  

—

Elle was pulling another late night in the office when she decided to take a break and grab a cup of coffee and a snack. She found herself looking everywhere in the office break room just for the bag of coffee that she just knew was there. Finally finding it all the way on the top shelf, she slipped off her heels and climbed on to the counter.

God I hope no one is still here

There’s a deep chuckle from behind her and she freezes, hand on the bag of coffee.

Oh no.

“Now what are you doing up there princess?” His smooth voice questioned, “You wouldn’t want you to fall now would you?” A shiver went down her spine, she knew if she turned right now he would have a smug look on his face. He knew he had an effect on her, whether it be annoyance or arousal, he liked to push her buttons to find out which.

“Joe, how many times do I have to tell you,” grabbing the coffee she turns around, careful not to slip in her stockings “Don’t call me princess.” He was leaning in the doorway, his hands in his pockets, as his burning gaze slowly followed up and down her stature.

Another shiver runs down her spine.

She doesn’t call him out on it.

She should.

Joe doesn’t respond, just continues to undress her with his eyes. Clutching the bag of coffee she hops down from the counter and puts her heels back on. Walking to the coffee maker Elle hears the ruffle of clothes and she can feel the mans towering presence behind her, his body heat rolling off him, his scent all around her.

“You know Elle,” The way he says her name has her stomach dropping, she wonders how his voice would sound between her thighs. *Excuse me, cut that shit out. Do not think about him like that.* “If you wanted to get my attention, all you had to do was ask. You don’t have to wear such short skirts.”

“You—!” Spinning around she found herself just eye level with his mouth, *To close, to close, to close!* His plump lips still making that stupid smile. “You jerk!” Elle smacks his chest as Joe’s hand comes up and grasps her wrist. His grip is just tight enough to not let her pull away.

“Now princess, it’s not very nice to hit.” Joe rubs his thumb over her pulse point and takes a step closer to her. Essentially pinning her against the counter. “Unless you want to be punished.”

He’s close.

Invading her space.

Her pulse quickens and eyes widen. Warmth spreads right down to her core. The image of her bent over his knee flashes in her mind and she quickly tries not to react to it.

She fails.

Joe definitely notices.

Inhaling, all she can make out is him. His cologne not overbearing but still all around her. She holds her breath, just waiting for whatever comes next.

Joe’s dark eyes have a sparkle to them she’d seen often enough, there’s a want to them. “Hmm—” His tongue runs across his lips and Elle is drawn to them almost compulsorily.  They look like they would wreak havoc on her, she wants to let them.

If only a little bit.

Joe gives her a light chuckle, lets go of her wrist and walk out of the break room, she finally lets out the breath she'd been holding. Once he gets to the door, he pauses slightly and throws her a wink over his shoulder.

—

Ordering a beer and walking over to where Jimmy and Jey were talking animatedly to AJ. Joe gives Elle a glance, her face shining brightly as she was talking animatedly to Charlotte.

“What do you mean you haven’t played yet?” Jimmy gasped at AJ, the three were talking about Red Dead Redemption 2, which three of the four men had been playing for the past month, “It’s been out for a while!”

“How could you let this happen, man?” Jey nudged Joe to get his attention, “You’re supposed to keep the old man up to date.”

Joe gave a light chuckle “Oh, you know how it goes,” Not really acknowledging them and taking a sip of his beer “Sometimes things slip by.”

Jey laughed following the man's line of sight “Oh, yeah— I’m sure things just slipped by, seeing how you’re always distracted.”

Joe scuffed at him and rolled his eyes. Finally turning to the group and changing the subject.

—

“Elle, what kind of face are you making?” Charlotte laughs, looking over the pictures of Naomi, Paige, and Elle from the photo booth.

“Oh, you mean this one?” Elle bunches up her nose while crossing her eyes as the girls all burst out in laughter.

They have all gathered around a high table Charlotte, Becky, Paige, Naomi, and Elle  Drinking beers and talking about their plans for the next few days.

“I just planned on staying home, eating lots of food and drinking lots of wine, while watching A Christmas Story on repeat,” Elle tells the group. ”I never really make big plans anyway.”

“What about you guys?”

“Elle, why does Joe keep looking over here?” Becky points out. Her eyebrow arched as she nods her head in the direction of the man in question.

Across the room, Elle can see him sitting there nursing a beer casually having a conversation with AJ and the Usos. Every once and while he will look over at her. This time, she was staring back. She’d been caught, he gives a small ever intimidating smile and a wink. She can feel herself react, face flush, she lets out a huff of annoyance and turns back around in her seat.

“I can never get any peace from him. Joe always hassles me.” She sighs, getting up and begins pacing in front of the table, “He’s always tormenting me, making fun of me when I climb on things.” Throwing her hands up in frustration, “I can’t help that I’m short!”

She pauses in her rant and downs the rest of her drink, grabs Charlotte’s and finishes hers as well.

“And—! He always has a comment about my skirts!” Elle ends up flailing her arms in defeat, her face beat red from the alcohol and working herself up, “I can’t do anything without him saying something!”

“He has a comment about her skirts because he wants to get in them”, Naomi says just under her breath.

“What—?”

“Nothing!” Naomi loops her arm through Elle’s and starts walking to the bar, “Let’s get some more drinks!”

—

Later into the evening, Elle and Paige find themselves left at the table as the others go off either dancing or make their way under some mistletoe with their significant other.

Just behind Elle, Paige can see Joe at the other table. She gives him a wink and turns her attention back to the brunette.

Everyone in the office is aware of their sexual tension and there’s an ongoing bet of if they’ll crack before, or after the holiday season. Now, if Paige wants to give her friends a gentle push in the right direction, it is not because she had 50 bucks riding on them. Nope. Not at all.

“Girl, are you ever going to admit you have a thing for him?” Paige pops the question.

“Who?” Elle shifts in her chair to face Paige.

“Joe, of course! You never shut up about him!”

“What?! No—! I don’t talk about him all the time!” Elle tries to protest but knows she’s failing.

Tipsy, feeling good and looking good Elle had all the confidence and none of the filter that sober Elle had.

“He just.. just his face...”

She can feel herself flush, if she wasn’t red already she definitely was now.

“Sometimes I want to punch it,” taking a swig of her beer she sighs in frustration and continues, “And other times I want to sit on it. You know what I mean?”

Paige broke out in laughter, “No— no honey, I don’t know what you mean!”

“Just— have you seen him when the group goes out after work?” Elle closes her eyes “That man looks too good in just a white t-shirt and jeans.” A small smile forms on her face as she pictures him. “Too damn good.”

“And... and just some of the things he’s said to me. It’s not even dirty things!” Elle is to lost in thought, not realizing what she saying, just enjoying the thought of it, “God, his voice, it’s just... just so damn seductive. I want him to tell me all the ways he’s going use me—” Eyes popping open in horror at realizing what she said, “Oh my god, I didn’t just say that!” Dropping her head to her hands in embarrassment, she lets out a defeated sigh.

“Lord honey, you definitely need to get laid!” Paige laughs at her friends’ struggle, reaching out she places a hand on her arm and gives a gentle squeeze. Elle uncovers her face and when she makes eye contact with Paige, the Brit gives her a smile and nods in the direction just behind her.

Turning in her seat, her night changes.

Her eyes go wide and her stomach drops. There’s Joe, just behind her, being as nonchalant as ever at a table with the Usos and Naomi. He seems almost bored. Then he looks up, he makes eye contact with her. And the corner of his mouth turns up into a smirk. Like a predator that’s caught its prey.

Whipping around Elle hisses at Paige “Why the hell didn’t you say he was right there?!”

“What?!” Paige feigns confusion, “I have a vested interest in the matter.” Paige gives her a cheeky smile and finishes off the rest of her drink. “And you just kept on talking. I wasn’t going to interrupt.” She pats her arm and gets up to leave, “Now be safe and have fun girly!” Paige gives her a wink and is gone.

Elle is done for.

—

Elle knew he heard the conversation with Paige. There was nothing she could do about it. In a panic, she got up and left the main room. She’s found herself back by the bathroom and another room that could possibly be a cleaning closet or an office.

Taking deep breaths she paces at the end of the hallway.

Oh, this is not good.

“Oh my god-- Oh my god-- Oh my god,” Elle mumbles to herself, stopping in her tracks she rests her head on the wall. Hoping the coolness will help calm her down. It manages to if only a little bit.

“It’ll be fine. Everything will be fine. Pull yourself together, get your stuff, and go home. Then drink more to forget this happened.” Elle straightens up and collects herself. Turning around she stops. Frozen in her tracks.

Fuck

He’s at the end of the hallway. Just staring at her. Like he wants to devour her. He looks good. He looks damn good. She hadn’t noticed it earlier in the evening, to busy trying to not look at him. She checks him out and sucks in a breath at his heavy gaze when they make eye contact. Warmth travels down her stomach and a feeling settles heavy between her thighs.

Joe starts stalking towards her. One hand in his pocket, he rubs his chin with the other.

“Now, now, now, where do you think you’re going?”

Elle can’t breath— She’s hot— Her heart is pounding— Bad ideas are about to happen.

He’s halfway down the hall. “You can’t just say something like that,”

Five feet

“And then run away.”

Right in front of her

“You shouldn’t make comments like that if you don’t want to suffer the consequences—“ Joe smiles at her, it’s a dangerous smile. There’s a look in his eyes that she can’t describe and she’s not sure she wants to. He takes a step towards her, backing her against the wall.

“Unless—“ Elle sucks in a breath in anticipation. Her body is on fire. He places a hand on the wall just above her head, “You want them.” His other hand gently goes to her waist. There’s a jolt that runs through her body at the contact. It’s not an unpleasant feeling.

“Unless you want to be punished for it. If you want to be put on your knees to suck a cock. Or fucked from behind against a wall. Do you want to be forced to come over and over again?” Elle lets out a small whimper. Yes. Yes, she did want these things. She’s wanted them for a while if she’s being honest with herself.

Leaning in close, his voice just above a whisper, “Would you like me to do those things to you princess?” She could feel his warm breath caress her cheek. The way he says princess has her shuddering where she stands.

He was close, so close, barely touching her.

His hand slid down the wall making her feel more caged in. While his other hand squeezed her hip. She licked her lips and his eyes watched the movement. Undeniable desire now in his eyes.

She could feel the heat radiating off of him.

“Y-Yes.”

“Finally.” He growled out, surging forward and capturing her lips. His kiss was rough, but she gave as good as she got. He bit the bottom of her lip and Elle moaned into his mouth. One of Joe's hands cupped the back of her head, gripping her hair forcing her to tilt her head back. He mouthed over her neck sucking and biting, knowing he would leave a mark. She wanted that brand, she wanted to feel possessed by him, to be consumed by him. Elle clawed at the front of his jacket needing him closer, need him all around her.

They separate. Both trying to catch their breath. Joe, eyes closed, rests his forehead against hers. “Princess,” He sounds out of breath, tormented, like he’s restraining himself, “We should go if we want to continue.”She knows there’s no going back from this. She doesn’t want to, she wants him. In every way.

—

The short car ride to Joe’s place is tense. Like at any moment a match could be set ablaze and they both would be swallowed up by the flames.

His hand stayed possessively on her thigh. The warmth from his touch made her feel both safe, and in danger. Elle clenched her thighs and moved slightly in the seat, trying to find some kind of relief or calm. But the entire situation was not calm. Nothing with Joe is ever calm.

As soon as she steps across the threshold she’s picked up and shoved against the door slamming it shut. His lips are on her collarbone making their way up her neck. Elle grabs the back of his head, gripping his hair and moves him to her mouth. He growls into her kiss at her control. His kiss is rough, desperate, and hungry, and she craved more. One of Joe’s hands moves down her thigh, gripping it tight and pulling her in closer. She could feel the swell of his cock against her and she loves it.

His other hand moves between them, sliding under her dress going straight for her lacy panties. "Hmm, I think someone wanted to get some attention tonight.” She lets out a moan as his hand moves her panties to the side and he finds her clit. His thumb moving in a slow methodical movement, while his finger parts her folds, feeling the wetness, teasing her. It's agonizing. She wants more. She wants this torture. As long as he’s the one doing it. 

Joe gives her a fierce kiss, moving down her neck licking and sucking wherever he can, leaving light bite marks on the tops of her breast. He gives one of them a squeeze. The path that his lips made burned, it was like a hot trail going down her body and she never wanted it to end. Continuing his way down he lifts up the front of her dress and mouths over her center. 

His teeth latch on to her panties and he’s pulling them down her waist. He slides them off her, and he’s back to leaving love marks on her thighs, “These panties, are mine now,”  Looking down at him her eyes heavy with lust, “Joe,” She needs him. Now. She doesn’t want to wait any longer, she can’t, “Please.”

“Well since you begged so nicely.”

He devours her. Messy kisses. Tight grips. The flat of his tongue licks up her folds and rolls around her clit. She can feel him hum gently against her, the vibrations sending a jolt through her body. She grabs his head holding him still against her cunt. He slides a finger into her, thrusting in and out of her, it’s the most pleasurable torture she’s had and she needs more. His finger curls inside her, looking for that sweet spot. Joe runs a hand up the back of her thigh giving her ass a hard smack and he rubs a smoothing circle to easy the pain. Elle jumps at it, pushing Joe’s head closer. The sensations coursing through her are setting her ablaze. She can feel that coil tighten and she knows it won’t take much more to push her over the edge. 

“Joe- ohh!” Elle’s voice is shaking, it's needy. Her leg slides up of its own accord, Joe throws it over his shoulder, giving him more leverage and her support. He slides in another finger continuing his messed kiss to her heat. mmmh please don’t...don’t stop. Her toes curl in her heels, and she's a mess of moans and pleas of ‘don’t stop’ and ‘more.’ She’s just *so* close. 

“Princess?” Joe hums into her, “I want you to cum for me.” A gasp is heard from above him, he continues to thrust his fingers in and out of her, thumb rubbing faster against her clit, alternating with his tongue.

“Do that,” Tongue twirling, fingers curving inside her hitting her just right- Oh please, “And I’ll fuck you,” The leg over his shoulder begins to shake, he knows she’s close, “Right here.” 

“Elle”

That’s what sends her over the edge. The sound of him saying her name between her legs. The low, raspy, needy way he says it. Her entire body is electric, tremors quake through her, the grasp she has on Joe’s head tightens as does his grasp on her. 

He eases her down her high. Kissing and nibbling her thigh, he gives her another love bite and comes up and smashes their lips together. She can taste the tanginess of herself and she likes it. She wasn’t expecting that. He pulls away just enough for her to watch him suck off his fingers, that were just in her, into his mouth. It is the hottest thing she has ever seen. 

Elle grabs his suit jacket pulls him so they are nose to nose. Heavy breathing peppered his face. She’s needy and desperate and he loves it. 

“Joe.” Her body is a hum of energy again. She’s staring at his plump lips wanting them to continue their assault on her body, “Fuck me.”

He happily obliges. 

Grabbing her legs, he brings them up to wrap around his hips. A hand roams up her thigh to squeeze her ass, holding her in place, while the other moves up her, sliding between the valley of her breast up to rest at her neck, he gives it a soft squeeze. There’s a breathy noise that come out of her and she needs more. She wants more of more. Ahh!

His cock is throbbing against her and she grinds her wet pussy on him. She needs him. She wants to feel his hot flesh against her. Joe helps her take off his jacket and lets her claw her way under his dress shirt. Fuck He’s an expanse of muscle and strength and beauty. His tan skin glistens with sweat and she wants to leave marks all down his back. She wants to mark him up just as much as he want to do to her. Elle drags her hands down his torso, loving the way his skin jumps at the sensation, dragging her hands lower she unbuttons his pants and goes to cup him through his boxers. He lets out a strangled moan against her neck and his hand tightens around her throat.

He snaps.

He lets go of her throat and moves her hand out of the way, pulling his cock out he rubs it against her lips, spreading her wetness, and without warning pushes into her. Simultaneously, its everything she new it would be and nothing she's ever had before. The feel of him finally in her, that light burn of him stretching her, the feeling of fullness. Her nails scrape down his back as his hips move in and out of her “Joe- fuck!” He chuckles at her breathiness, a hand moves down between them to her clit and she cries out at the feeling.

“Is this what you wanted princess? Did you want me to ruin you? Did you want you to make you mine?” His words were all around her, they seeped into her, she wanted to be possessed by him. Yes. His hips snapped against her harder, she was getting close again. Her head lulled back against the door and at her exposer of her neck he attacked it. Leaving searing bruises all over, she knew there was going to be a mess of purple marks all over her body the next morning and she couldn't wait to find them all.

She rolls her hips and cries out a mumble of curses when he hits that spot inside her. “FUCK princess.” He grunts out as he rocks against her. The hand thats been holding her up comes to wrap around her throat, squeezing, the feeling of tightness bringing her closer, “You feel perfect around me. Will you cum again for me?” He whispers the question in her ear, out of breath, but so damn possessive. 

He begins to fuck her harder against the wall. Building up to push her over. His thumb against her clit moving ever so quickly, building the friction, “I want you to cum again for me.” He bites at her ear, the fire inside her growing, she going to burst, “I want you to cum on my dick,” She close. She's so close she can taste it, she needs something, she needs a push. “And then I’m gonna to fill you up.” At that statement, mixed with the feeling of his hand on her throat just enough to where its hard to breath in, she's done, all the sensations tipping her over the edge. She's shaking around him, her walls fluttering on his cock.

“God-”

“Fu-”

He’s kissing her, hips moving erratically, he's lost control. His grip on her throat still present. The after shock of her orgasm sending him into his own. Hips stuttering, a warmth fills up inside her as he grunts out her name. They stay that way for a moment, both leaning into each other, knowing they need to separate and get cleaned up but not wanting to break away.

Realization of what just happened hits her. She should be concerned. She should be in a panic of oh shit that just happened, but she's not. 

She’s not.

At least not yet.

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Imagine the reverse situation than the one we witnessed in Voyager, where Claire casually walks on Jamie in his printshop. What if it was Jamie who travelled to the XX century and ended up as Claire's patient in hospital?

Slamming the palms of her hands against the OR doors, Claire rushed into theatre. The call had come through on her pager only moments before, *luckily* she’d just been on her way out and hadn’t had to travel across the city.

“What is it, June?” She whispered to the head nurse as she plunged her hands under the tap, washing the unseen dirt from her fingers in preparation.

“RTA I think, Dr. Somewhere in the highlands though, poor chap’s being airlifted in.”

“Jesus, must be serious,” she mumbled, circling the soap in her hands as she washed away the suds.

Behind her the doors swung open once more, the sound of the heavy metal smacking against the wall reverberating through Claire’s feet and up into her bones as she turned to see her fellow surgeon, Dr Adams, stroll into the tiny clean-up room, his eyes darting around the small space.

“Ah!” He said, a little humour to his tone as he spotted Claire behind June, “there you are, Claire. It seems you’ve been requested.”

“I know,” she replied, placing her hands in the air as if to illustrate the point, “I got the page before I’d even left the building.”

Shaking his head, Dr Adams laughed, “then you’re doubly in demand,” he said, beckoning her forward as he backed out of the room, “because the fellow they’ve just brought in is asking for you too.”

Rolling her eyes, Claire brushed off the silly comment, her hands still hovering in midair. “Don’t be so daft, Dr. There are a million and one ‘Claire’s’, he could be asking for anyone!”

Winking, Dr Adams turned, tilting his head to the side so that Claire could only see his profile as the door began to close, shielding him partially from view, “aye, that maybe true, Claire, but there is only one ‘Claire Beauchamp’ around these parts, ken?”

--

Claire remained cemented to the spot, her mouth hanging open in confusion for a second after Dr Adams had disappeared from sight before rushing from the room and hurtling down the corridor to the ER admittance desk.

“Where did you tell June they were bringing that RTA in from?” She panted, her heart racing as she tried to calm her frayed nerves. After a short stint in Boston with Frank, it had been clear to Claire that their *epic reunion* wasn’t to last. Only a year after Brianna had been born, she had packed them both up and returned back home to Britain.

Unable to let go, they had moved into a small apartment in central Glasgow. Claire had juggled being a full time mother with her studies and eventually finished her medical training.

The staff nurse on the desk broke through her memories of the last seven years, her inquisitive tone pulling Claire from her reverie.

“Did ye hear me, Dr Beauchamp?” She whispered, seeing the far off look in Claire’s eyes as she waved her hands in front of her face.

“N-no, sorry Amy. Where?”

“Just outside Inverness, the report is sporadic,” she said, her eyes flickering from Claire back to the notes she had open on her messy desk, “says he wandered onto the road out of nowhere. The driver called it in and waited for the ambulance to arrive. Ye ken the highlands, Claire, quite barron at the best of times.”

Nodding, Claire wiped her brow and turned on her heel whispering a discrete ‘thank you’ as she rushed back towards the emergency at hand.

‘Stop it’, she screamed internally, her mind whizzing, all manner of optimistic thoughts rattling around her brain as she scuffed her work shoes against the worn linoleum, ‘who else knows you here…?”

“Maybe, just *maybe*…’ her inner voice begged, her positive side drowning out the negative one.

Stopping for just a second she scrunched her eyes together and shook her head, dispelling all thoughts as she tried to clear her mind of *anything*.

“Dr!” A male voice shouted from in front of her as she brought herself back to the present. “We need you, now!”

Scrubbing in once more, Claire forced herself to listen as the ambulance staff -- who’d come in with patient-- rattled off all known injuries, their hospital jargon coming to life in front of her eyes as she carefully thought through her process before entering the OR.

Fortunately the patient had been sedated on arrival, his vitals stabilised as much as possible as he was prepped for surgery.

“Are you ready, Claire?” Joe announced, his broad American accent sounding much softer than usual as the pair braced themselves for the job at hand.

RTA’s were uncomfortably unpredictable. Ignoring Dr Adams remarks, Claire began to prepare herself for any given situation.

“Ya never know, LJ,” Joe joked, trying his best to lighten the mood before seriousness set in, “could just be a bump on the backside. A quick once over and out again. Here’s to no internal bleeding!” He whispered in her ear as they opened the swing doors that led to the operating theatre.

The world seemed to stop before completely twisting on its axis as Claire stopped dead. A mop of red hair fell from the table, the curls tumbling over the slate black of the padded cot that supported his weight.

She knew from just the outline of his head; those sharp lines could only belong to one man.

As her vision blurred, Joe put his arms under hers, holding her against his chest as she lost consciousness for just a second.

“So…” he muttered, pulling Claire to one side as the supporting surgeon eyed Claire distastefully, “he *does* know you.”

“Jesus H-- *Jamie*,” she spluttered, half believing it to be a dream as she reached her hand out to the unconscious Scotsman.

“Get her out of here! If she’s related, there’s no way she should be here…” Adams perked up, pointing towards the door with a knowing look on his face. “You’re alright to cover, Abernathy?” He continued, ignoring Claire completely as the monotonous beeping picked up pace.

“Of course, Dr.” Joe replied, turning Claire in the direction of the door. “I’ll make damn sure he’s alright, LJ, just go and collect yourself...please…” he begged in a subtle whisper, angling her towards the exit.

In a daze Claire snuck from the OR, her legs heavier than lead as she paused just outside the door, gulping in large amounts of fresh air as her head caught up with her body.

Jamie. It had been him. He was here.

How?

Why?

Leaning forward, she placed her hands on her knees and continued to breath as if she was in labour.

Bree!

The thought of birth brought the image of her daughter to the forefront. All of a sudden Joe’s words made perfect sense.

He’d seen the resemblance between her precocious eight year old and the man lying asleep on the table in front of them. He knew.

Walking backwards, Claire let her back hit the wall as she slid down the magnolia painted plasterboard, her arse hitting the floor with a thump as she pulled her knees up to her chest and closed her eyes.

Hours passed as she waited. Nobody seemed fazed that she was balled up on the floor outside the hospital's main operating theatre, and for that she was grateful. In the madness her mind had gone totally blank, unable now to conjure even the most basic of assumptions for Jamie’s surprise arrival.

On that fateful day all those years ago he definitely hadn’t been able to travel. She’d watched as he’d placed his hands upon the stone, the look of assuredness covering his face as he’d bid her return to safety. He hadn’t heard the buzzing, hadn’t felt even the slightest bit of the power.

“Claire...LJ?” Joe questioned, his face coming closer to hers as he plucked her from the floor and escorted her to the viewing window.

“I thought her was dead,” she whispered shakily, her voice cracking as she spoke.

“He wasn’t,” Joe replied, certainty lacing his tone, “he *isn’t*.”

“He’s alright?” She sighed, tears welling in her eyes as she placed her hand on the two way glass, the transparent surface frosting with her breath as she leaned her head against the cool window.

“Yes, he’ll be fine. It seems the car just clipped him, most injuries were contained to his right hand side. It saved him really, had he been facing, he might have sustained far more serious wounds.”

“Can I see him?” She questioned, her eyes looking over the blood-stained table where he’d been lain only moments before.

“One thing, LJ,” Joe asked, curiosity gnawing at him, “does she know?”

Shaking her head, Claire let the tears fall as she pictured Bree at home with the babysitter, her soft curls bouncing as she read aloud. “No. She knows Frank wasn’t...but she doesn’t know who.”

Leading her away, Joe’s lips twitched into a small smile as he pointed her in the direction of Jamie’s recovery room. “Well, I guess she will now.”

Taking a deep breath, Claire took a timid step forward, her pulse pounding in her ears as she stepped slowly towards the open door. Placing her fingers on the tepid wood of the doorframe, she placed her foot over the threshold, her eyes wide as she caught a glimpse of Jamie, wrapped up tight in the hospital’s military grade bedlinens.

Creeping over, she moved a stray curl from his forehead. He shifted, his eyes closed as he dozed.

Claire waited, her lips quivering as she did a quick inventory of the man she never thought she’d see again.

Watching, she let her fingers linger, running the pads of them over his pale, clammy skin as she re-memorised every curve. Gasping, she drew back a little as his mouth twitched into a smile, the corners of his lips pulling upwards with her touch --just like he had done all those years ago.

“I must be dead, sassenach,” he croaked, his voice startling her as she stilled her movements and stood as still as she was able, her eyes focused solely on him, “if yer here wi’ me…” pausing, Jamie shifted his head closed to Claire’s hand, silently begging her to continue her blissful ministrations.

Claire held her free hand over her heart as she felt for its telltale beat beneath her ribcage.

“...but I dinna care too much.” He finished, seeming at peace now he’d made his assumptions clear.

“Jamie,” Claire replied, her voice sounding strange to her own ears, “you’re not dead. You’re alive, here, with me in Glasgow.” Swallowing, she tickled her fingers against his warm cheek, grinning through the tears as his skin flushed red. “Oh God, Jamie. You’re alive!”

Choking on thin air, Jamie clenched his fists into the bed sheets and opened his eyes, the aqua of his irises causing Claire to lose all train of thought as they locked onto her whisky ones.

“Dhia!” He breathed, his voice light and airy with shock, “w-what’s the year, Claire?” He asked, the strain clear as he spoke, worried that he might awake at any moment and that she might disappear from his view.

Rolling her shoulders, Claire shimmied closer to Jamie, sliding her hand along his cheek, down the column of his neck and down further until she reached his hand. Holding on tight, she bent down, kissed him lightly on the forehead -- her tears falling onto his flushed skin and dripping into his hair as she tried to reign in her fraught emotions -- and took in one long breath.

“1955,” she said, her voice steady now as she rubbed his frigid fingers until she could feel the life flow back into them, “It’s April 1955, Jamie Fraser...and you are alive.”