Finn knew Emily was there before he saw her.

Campbell had convinced Finn they had to get Max off the base and back into the land of the living. Not knowing the scene, they had turned to Lance for suggestions on a place. Of course, Lance came through getting them on the VIP list at a club owned by a friend. But he gave his regrets for not joining them. Pregnant wife and all.

Trying to get Max laid was the ultimate goal, but just getting him to the club was a monumental effort. Finn eventually won the younger man over using the excuse of needing a wingman himself. In the past, Max had often played this role. Not that Finn had any intention of pulling a woman tonight. His thoughts were only for Emily and the kiss they had shared.

Lance texted to say Aunt E had regained consciousness a few hours after they left. Despite a bad headache, she was said to be enjoying her stay at the hospital, ordering the nurses around. The family was rotating shifts, looking after her. Emily had the evenings, after work.

The last thing Finn expected was to see Emily tonight, never mind at a club. It did not seem like Emily's type of place. Of course, he was not in the know as to what her type of place was, but somehow the super chic almost plastic crowd crammed into the warehouse space did not seem likely. Emily belonged in quaint intimate bars with signature cocktails, each demanding their own unique glassware, tables for two to encourage conversation and live music playing. The Playground served beer or mixed drinks in plastic cups and bombarded its customers with a non-stop beat of techno music perfect for anonymous dancers to grind to.

For the first time in almost a week, Finn's mind was not consumed by thoughts of Emily. He had a mission and he was intent on fulfilling it. One of his crew was in need and he was determined to fix things. This was what he was good at. Taking action. Finding solutions. Bringing the mission to completion.

It had simply been an urge to turn around, his body reacting to a presence, like a magnet to steel. And there, across the room was Emily.

Was he daydreaming?

No, this was no figment of his imagination. Because Finn had never dreamt of Emily Montgomery like this.

She had always been beautiful; her simple sundresses were a constant temptation to him back in the day. Even in the office, dressed in her frumpy business suits, her exquisiteness shone through. But now Emily worked a green dress which was anything but simple. It was downright sexy. The silky fabric clung to her curves, a plunging neckline hinted at her perfect breasts and cinched at her tiny waist. The one Finn absently wondered if his hands could still wrap around and touch. The fabric ended mid-calf, showcasing her slim legs.

Catching him staring at her, Emily's mouth fell open for a moment before waving to him. Her auburn hair flowed over her shoulders, caressing slender arms Finn wished would hold him again.

After turning to talk to a cute blonde woman in a short black dress, the pair made their way towards him. Finn felt butterflies in his stomach as she approached. A few men ogled her as she walked by, but Emily seemed oblivious.

"Hey, Finn."

"Are you stalking me?" Finn mentally slapped himself. He had meant it as an attempt at being funny. Emily's reaction was anything but jovial, her face paling and falling. Before he could think of a way to fix it, Max and Campbell noticed Emily's presence.

"Emily!" The scowl Max had been wearing all night disappeared.

Emily gave Max a quick hug and nodded at Campbell. Then, taking a step back, she introduced her friend. "Kerri, this is Campbell, Max and Finn." She did not meet Finn's eyes when she pointed his way.

Campbell, ever the gentleman inquired about her Aunt's health. Emily informed them she had been released from the hospital and was at home recovering, thanking him for his concern. Finn felt bad for not asking first. It was that dress, it scrambled his brain. And ignited other body parts.

Totally out of character, Max spoke up. "Ladies, you need drinks." He slipped off his bar stool, offering it to one of the girls. Kerri jumped up on it and Max looked a little befuddled before he flagged the bartender.

Finn watched out of the corner of his eye as a man with dark hair made a b-line for Emily. Upon reaching his prey, he placed his hand on her shoulder making Emily turn towards him. She jumped at the sight of him as if his touch hurt her.

Without realizing it, Finn found himself standing at Emily's side. So close he could see she was shaking slightly.

"What do you want Roy?" Emily was asking.

The other man slowly surveyed Emily's body from head to foot. Finn had to fight the urge to pluck the man's eyes out.

"Looking sweet Montgomery." His voice was smooth but Finn did not miss the malice undertone. Roy glanced at Finn. "And who's this?"

Introducing himself, Finn held out his hand. The two men battled for a moment, testing each other's strength through grip.

"Finn you say. Nice to meet you." Roy was the first to let go.

Finn turned to Emily to find her clutching her necklace, her knuckles almost turning white. Worry flooded through Finn. Who was this man to Emily? And more to the point what had he done to her?

"Well, I see my services won't be needed anymore." Roy was sneering at Emily, all traces of civility vanishing. Finn moved closer to Emily. Then the man was gone, disappearing into the revellers crowding the packed dance floor.

"Who was that?" Finn demanded.

Emily had let go of the necklace but still had her hand on her chest where the silver chain lay. "The past."

He felt like Emily was purposely avoiding his eye. For a moment Finn wondered if Roy was another man scorned by Emily Montgomery. Did they have this fact in common? Was it why he was so full of vitriol?

Emily was walking away from him, towards the exit. Finn caught up, stepping in front of her to halt her progress. Stopping abruptly so as not to bump into him, she looked everywhere but in his direction.

"Where are you going?"

"I think I should leave." Emily looked behind her shoulder at the seething dance floor.

Finn hesitated; tongue-tied as usual. He wanted to tell her to forget Roy, to focus on him instead. She needed to explain the kiss. Words failed him and something far less eloquent popped out.

"Don't go." Finn hated the desperation in his voice. If Emily heard it through the pulsing music she did not react. She did however look like she was ready to bolt. "Please."

There was no doubt Emily heard that. Her gaze snapped to attention, finally meeting his. The dim light of the nightclub bled most of the colour from their world but Finn was sure her silver eyes sparkled.

"You...you want me to stay?"

This time Finn did not hesitate. "Yes." He rubbed his chest, trying to move the ever-present pain. He opened his mouth to say more, ask her to go somewhere so they could talk, but nothing came out. Emily's friend was headed straight for them, distracting him.

"One mint mojito as requested." The blonde thrust the drink towards Emily, jumping up and down like she was holding a hot potato. Taking the drink before the girl spilled any more of it, Emily kept looking at Finn.

"Thanks, Kerri."

"So, Finn," Kerri elongated the n in his name. "Don't you think Emily looks pretty tonight?"

"Beautiful"

Emily's eyes fell to the floor, reminding Finn of a gesture long ago on a rainy night in a boathouse far away.

"Ooh. I agree." Kerri bounced again. "Hey, I know. You two should dance."

One of Emily's lips twitched. "Finn's not much of a dancer, Kerri."

Finn felt a tinge of disappointment. Dancing would mean he might get to hold Emily again. Instead, the other men joined them and the group found a booth to pile into. Max slipped in beside Emily before Finn had a chance. Campbell held Kerri back a moment, engaging her with a question, opening the door for Finn to sit on Emily's other side.

Eventually, Campbell bailed, using his wife as the excuse to leave. Kerri left the table to get another round of drinks and was chatting up what looked like one of the bouncers at the bar. Finn did not expect her to return anytime soon.

Max was becoming more and more animated in Emily's presence. They were currently discussing how the military was portrayed in movies, a subject Max had a lot to say about. Finn sat there, trying not to fume. The point of the evening had been to find Max a girl to talk too. But it wasn't supposed to be his girl.

Excusing himself to go to the bathroom, Finn tried to walk off the annoyance prickling up his neck. Over the years he had learned to recognize when his temper was threatening to break. Removing himself from the inciting cause was one of the techniques he used to try to diffuse the impending explosion. Max fawning over Emily was getting on his nerves.

Finn was making his way back to the table through the dance floor when his heart stopped.

After Emily abandoned him, it had taken months for the pain of her betrayal to ease even a little. Eventually, it lessened until it was like a rope wound around his heart, mostly just a dull ache he was forced to live with. Now and again, that rope would pull and the pain would increase but he had trained himself to wait it out.

Since coming back into his life, Emily caused the rope to constrict and the pain was a consistent pressure keeping him from sleeping at nights. But looking at her now, seeing the sight before him, the pain was different. It was like a knife slicing through his heart.

All because of the simplest of gestures. Emily's smile.

When they had been together, it had been Finn's greatest satisfaction to make Emily smile. At first, it was a rare event. If you did not know Emily well, you would never guess it. She always seemed happy. But Emily tended to keep her feelings hidden. Finn had never understood why but the phrase still waters run deep always came to mind. So when he was able to elicit a smile, a genuine one, one that made her eyes shine, it meant the world to him. And it felt personal. Like Emily only smiled for him.

Except now. As he stood frozen on the dance floor, his heart bled as he watched Emily smile. At Max.

Finn felt a rush of ill feelings towards Max. Max who deserved any kindness the world could show him. The things the man had been through, Finn didn't wish on his worst enemy. Including the horrors of watching his girlfriend disappear before his eyes. Killed by an IED. The man's psyche was damaged in ways Finn could not imagine. Whenever he looked into Max's eyes agony was reflected.

Still. That was his smile. Finn wanted Emily to smile at him. Not Max.

Finn felt something sticky and humid press into his side. Looking down, a buxom brunette was grinding against him. Numbly he put his arm around her, his mind still on Max and Emily. Emily smiling at Max. Emily wanting Max.

Had she come here tonight to find Max? Is that why she had reacted so oddly when he suggested Emily was stalking him? She was really stalking Max.

Anger blinded Finn. Survival skills kicked in. Finn's brand of survival. When things got bad and he could not get Emily out of his mind, he would find a woman, the opposite of Emily and take her home. Physical exhaustion drummed the thoughts of Emily out of his mind.

The female pushing her ample breasts into him now was offering herself to him and Finn gladly accepted. Leaning down, he took her lipstick-stained mouth with his.

A sickly-sweet cherry flavour assaulted Finn, making his stomach turn. The woman grabbed his waist and clung to him, demanding more. Breaking away from her lips, Finn's head swivelled back to where Emily and Max sat.

Except the booth sat empty. Finn scanned the club and spotted Max holding Emily's hand as he led her through the exit.

Emily Montgomery was leaving. With Max.