Rated PG

Ed was stuffing his arms in his jacket heading for the door when he bumped into Sloan. "Hi. "Listen I was looking for you can you take a look at these papers for a sec."
"Actually can it wait until tomorrow morning I have a date?"
Sloan grinned," really whats the occasion?" "Cute real cute."
Ed shrugged, "since this thing with the new Species started its not like their falling out of the trees at me." Sloan laughed softly, "go have some fun I'll see you in the morning."
"Ok Later."

"Was Ed leaving for the nite?" Sloan jumped and turned, "sorry Walter you startled me." "Yes Ed had plans"
"O anyone we know?" Sloan looked up from her papers," sorry I didn't get any details." "Is there something wrong?" Walter stared thoughtfully into space.
" Walter?" "hm?" "What no I'm sure everything is just fine.
"Excuse me Sloan I have a few phone calls to make before I call it a evening."
"Nite Walter."

Sloan watched a moment longer as he entered his office and closed the door.Sloan sighed, rubbing the bridge between her eyebrows as she walked back to the lab she couldn't shake the sudden unease she felt.

"Yes Dr Tate has just left for the nite I'd like some background on the individual he's meeting tonite" "That wont be necessary." "No simply maintain surveillance make sure that everything is above board. "Yes, O make sure that Dr Tate arrives home safely." "Let me know the moment you find out anything." Walter Attwood closed his cell phone,clicked off the desk lamp and quietly closed the door as he left.

Ed and Karen strolled along sometimes talking,then at others comfortable enough to let the silence linger. "Ed, I had a really nice time tonite. Karen shyly smiled"
"I enjoyed the movie, and the company Thank you"
Ed shrugged, "I can't believe you really enjoyed listening to me go on about myself most of the night but thank you."

"I've been so busy lately I'd forgotten what its like to simply relax and have fun."
Karen shook her head, "no what you do matters, makes a difference its important to a good many people" Ed stared, "thank you." Realizing they had stopped Ed looked around and gestured " you live here?." Karen smiled, "home sweet home"

" Would you like to come in?" Ed cupped her elbow as they entered the lobby," I'll walk you to your door and then I have to call it a nite, I have be at the lab early tomorrow so maybe another time." If the invitation is still open?" Karen wiggled her fingers, "hows it going Jace" as they strolled past the security desk. " Evening Ms. Whitman can't complain."

They entered the elevator and Karen pushed four "how about Saturday?" Ed looked puzzled "pardon?" Karen grinned,slipping her arm within his and squeezing "how about Saturday?" "We can pack a lunch and spend a few hours at the beach. I love the ocean." The elevator slid to a stop and she tugged his arm,they exited heading toward the end of the hallway stopping in front of 4C.

Karen slid her arm from his hesitating,then digging her keys out of her front pocket "well we're here." She unlocked the door and turned back smiling a bit wistfully, "so are we on for Saturday?"

Ed was silent a moment then answered hesitantly "I'd liked that." Karen considered a moment a small smile came and went , "that was a ringing endorsement if I ever heard one." "Look Ed, I like you we have fun together and I don't feel pressured with you".
"With acting I seem to meet more guys interested in the characters I portray than me.
Ed raked his hands thru his hair,"its not that its just I seem to have very little free time I'm just not sure how fair this is to you."

"Aaah listen Ed we both have demanding careers I enjoy your company and hope you enjoy mine I'm just suggesting we see how it goes." Karen grinned wickedly, "besides I promise I'll give you some warning first if I want you to father my children."

Ed looked momentarily nonpulsed. Karen burst out laughing," sorry I couldn't resist the look on your face was priceless." Ed smiled "I bet." "Ok Saturday it is, I'll pick you up at noon."
"Great" Karen stepped thru the door flipping the lights on "I'll bring the food."
"Anything you don't like?" Ed shook his head, "uh no, no not really."

Karen nodded, "good then I'll surprise you." "Goodnite Ed." Karen replied, as she reluctantly closed the door. Ed stood there smiling thoughtfully, he listened to the locks being secured then after a moment he slowly headed home..

Karen made her way to the kitchen to brew some tea, smiling over her time with Ed before her thoughts returned to the initial reason for the date. Karen felt a small twinge at his reaction when he learned meeting him had been all part of a plan. Would he understand that the reason didn't necessarily negate the feelings.

Taking her tea into the bedroom Karen leaned down to check her answering machine "Are you ok? Karen jumped, sloshing tea on her blouse "blast it Raine you scared me." Setting her tea down on the nightstand, she brushed at her blouse "Sorry."

Karen glanced over at the shadow sitting in the chair." I'm fine." Karen walked to the vanity and started removing jewlery.Raine's reflection appeared behind her in the glass "your worried." Karen stopped looked down, "I really like this guy I just hope he'll be able to separate the lie from the intent." Karen looked up holding Raine's gaze thru the glass after a pause Raine offered " we can stop it theres time to find another way."

But Karen was already shaking her head, "no Raine we'll try it this way its safer for you and your people." "If this works out maybe they'll see that not all of the new species are unfeeling psycho's and yours will realize that not everyone will throw a net over them and use them for Guinea pigs." Raine reached up squeezing Karen's shoulder "well I suppose anythings possible." " Michael was asking me questions tonight."

Karen gasped, then turned sinking onto the vanity stool "does he know?" Raine hesitated then replied " I don't think so its more like a fishing expedition than anything." "What made him suspicious" Karen probed? Raine turned and started pacing, "Who knows with Michael he's made it his life mission to save me in spite of myself." Karen gave a nervous giggle, "well if you have to be saved it might as well be by him." Raine flashed her a dirty look. Karen muttered "Sorry." Karen shrugged, "what can he do its a harmless date, which by the way I have another one on Saturday.. the beach"

Raine grimaced, "Michael has alot that agree with him though they think we should set back and let the more fanatical of Lewis and his ilk fight the humans then come out when its finished alive safe and no one the wiser." Karen got up reaching for her tea." I never thought Michael the type to worry about Lewis or those like him he seems so indestructible"

Raine turned and plopped into the chair,"O don't get me wrong he's twice as tough and can be three times as mean not to mention an unmitigated pain in the butt." Karen laughed, "I noticed he's not so tough on you, besides he's always polite to me." Raine frowned, " I'll have take your word on first and the second I guess" Karen drained her cup stood and stretched, "anything else I need to know about?"

Raine sighed, then looked away "Karen." Raine's tone stopped her "I'm not going to like this am I" Karen wondered aloud. "I followed you tonite" Raine continued on as if she hadn't spoken" just to make sure you were ok." "Kay, I had alot of company out there." " What??! " Who?? "Some of your community?" "Michael's happy band?" "Or more of those kooks wanting the Scientist's dead?"

Raine shook her head," No! no. my guess is someone in the government babysitted Dr.Tate tonite either way I doubt he even knew ." Raine rose heading toward the door, then paused " their gone now I don't think their interested in you persay but just to make sure though I think I'll see what I can find out." Karen worried her lip with her teeth a silent indication just how spooked she was" Karen do you still want to do this?" Karen smiled nervously, "of course I'm fine If have trouble I'll call in the troops."

Raine headed out the bedroom her voiced drifted back "come lock the door after me.." Karen started forward only to stop suddenly as Raine poked her bed back in the doorway and smirked.

"Kay, if you have any trouble tonite you can always smother them in all those pillows" Raine offered gesturing toward her bed with the mounds of pillows and layers apon layers of throw pillows on top of those. A startled giggle snuck out, Karen growled "why you" reaching for one of the pillows flung it at Raine's head as she ducked back out of the doorway back out of the apartment.

Sleep tugged at her drawing her into its soothing embrace but just before Karen drifted off her last fleeting thought was "God What have I gotten us into this time..."

Standing in the shadows a figure watched as Karen's lights winked out one by one. Stepping further back among the shadows, mingling with the other predators in the nite he watched the slender brunette exit the building. Raine paused glanced around then headed down the street. Blending in among the shadows the figure followed her.