Sure, Now We're Safe right (SJ/Ace/open on invite)

[Deleted]

She found herself laughing a little bit. 

"Ace, I don't push for peace, I press them to argue, argue, argue!  What I want them to do is to try it without weapons.  Words only." A little shake of her head. "But don't tell anybody I said that." She reached out and clouted Ace on her upper arm with a grin.   Then that smile faltered a little as she took a deeper look into these new eyes.

"You haven't stopped, Ace.  Not for a minute since you got of the TARDIS.  You know, it's really okay to rest for a while . .heal up."  She bit her lower lip, wondering if she had gone to far.  She couldn't think of many people who would even try to reign Ace in, so she had better.  A bitter smile pulled at her lips,  her dark eyebrows quirking with worry she cannot contain.

"You'll get yourself killed." 

[Ace McShane]

"You haven't stopped, Ace. Not for a minute since you got of the TARDIS. You know, it's really okay to rest for a while.. heal up." Ace stretched out her arms and legs in front of her a little, not even hiding the appeal that idea sounded to her “What else was I supposed to do with…” She held out her hands a little generally at a loss for words.

"You'll get yourself killed." Ace sighed a little considering what Sarah Jane had said “I know, I know it’s just all I know to do.” it wasn’t completely true, she was good at so many things but she had grown to love helping people in any way she could.

[Deleted]

"Ace."

Did she sound angry? If she did, it wasn't at Ace. She was angry at the Doctor.

"It isn't about what you're doing.  It's why you're willing to take such serious risks.  You run around like you're part of a team, but you're not.  You dive in like you have a Time Lord at your back.  You're still trying to be as brave for him as you always were.  As he insisted that you be.  I know you think you have to be just as good to please him but . .Ace . . .he isn't even watching any more.  And he wants you alive.  I want you alive.  --" she held up a hand any time Ace had tried to break in.  Ace might win at arm wrestling, but Sarah Jane knew how to hold the floor with words.

"I just want you to promise me something . . .if you get in over your head, you'll always try to tell me.  You have to find a way to get word if you can. I don't want you to ever stay silent to protect me.  I want you to know I'll be at your back if you need me.  Alright? Can you promise me that? " A wry chuckle came from her, and she took a hard hold of Ace's hand and squeezed it before letting go. "Please?"

[Ace McShane]

Ace sat patiently and listened to Sarah Jane "It isn't about what you're doing. It's why you're willing to take such serious risks. You run around like you're part of a team, but you're not. You dive in like you have a Time Lord at your back. You're still trying to be as brave for him as you always were. As he insisted that you be. I know you think you have to be just as good to please him but . .Ace . . .he isn't even watching any more. And he wants you alive. I want you alive. --" Ace started to protest against what Sarah Jane said and started to say something about her being a full Time Lady in her own right, how if the whole thing with the Time War hadn’t stopped her from fully being able to get her own TARDIS she probably be going around time and space on something other than a dinky vortex manipulator but held her tongue when Sarah Jane held up her hand to keep from letting Ace break in. She knew her friend was right, though she would never admit to it.

Ace couldn’t help but look at Sarah Jane, not sure what to say so she squeezed Sarah Janes hand back and looked down at the floor a little “Can I promise to always tell you when I’m in over my head and never stay silent to protect you.” she let out a small laugh, not a condescending one more of a how do I answer this question without sounding like a complete nutter “I can promise to never to lie to you, and never keep anything from you. As to getting word to you when I get in over my head…yeah I can do that.” she smiled back at Sarah Jane. Ace knew, Sarah Jane had her back, her friend had always had her back, even when Ace didn’t feel like she deserved it.

[Deleted]

Would she ever get used to her contrasting eyes?  She'd had a cat with eyes like that once.  It was a startling dash of wild to contrast the finely made bones of the woman's face.  There was something almost royal about her countenance. Well, except for that startlingly bright eye she had, and her perfectly deadly looking utilitarian garb.

For a moment there, she thought her friend was going to argue with her, but once she spoke, Ace made her feel better, like she almost always did.  She promised rightside up and upside down and sealed off the leaks Sarah Jane had been feeling in her heart.  She hadn't seen much of Ace lately , and clearly, this was why.   She'd been awfully worried that she hadn't pressed Ace on these points that last time they went out drinking.  When Ace had gotten tipsy and laid hint to some of what had gone on between her and the Doctor.

She caught one of Ace's small strong hand in both of her own, pulling and briefly touching her fingers over her heart.

"Good.  I like that." She was letting out some deep breaths feeling a depth of relief that surprised even herself. "Thanks Ace."  A smile flashed, a bubble of chuckle rose up and popped like dark champagne. "I actually just might start sleeping better."

"Look- I've got a bag packed for this sort of thing, let me go fetch it, and find something better to arrive in than this robe and this hair.  Any suggestions? I promise to be down in 5 minutes, whatever you say, uh, unless it's 'Geisha'. That takes longer."

At some point she'd let go of her friend's hand, but she couldn't stop looking at those eyes.

[Ace McShane]

Aces hearts beat little faster when Sarah Jane touched Ace fingers over her heart, it had been a while she’d admit, since she’d felt the actual heartbeat of a human and she’d admit it somewhere deep in the recesses of her soul she missed the simplicity of the one hearted one life human she used to be.

"I actually just might start sleeping better." Ace returned Sarah Janes smile and let out a small laugh “Oh Sarah Jane, don’t loose any sleep over me.”

Tilting her head a little at the Geisha outfit comment “As much as I would love to see you in a Geisha dress…” Ace stopped talking for a minute unable to stop herself from picturing that (What, I’m sorry that’s mental pictures hot.) before shaking her head and jerking herself out of her thoughts “You’d probably be better suited in some type of authoritative grab…but whatever you think would be appropriate.” she realized Sarah Jane was still holding her hand above her heart “Humans, so fragile yet so beautiful.”

[Deleted]

She didn't even know she was giving a subtle shake of her head.  If Ace had given her the oppertunity to pick out clothes for her, Sarah Jane would have jumped at the chance with glee.  Although Ace had always had a distinctive flare and a surprising range of styles in her clothing, she just didn't get excited about it like Sarah Jane did.

"You're not much help." She raked her friend with her eyes, taking in details right down to boot buckles. "But I can make a fair guess. Why don't you get any supplies you need out of the buttery, and I'll be down spit spot."

Silk was an unexpected fabric.  The shine.  The depth of color that it would take.  It's sweet softness against the flesh.  But it was ever so strong.  Geisha, she was not, but the thick silk of her red and gold Qi Pao would be strong enough to withstand everything from a 10 hour meeting to being dragged over rocks. It would even help a knife skitter off, or (if necessary) help coagulate any bloody attack that got through her defenses.  Well. Through Ace.

Sarah Jane wasn't about to wear the noisy awkward wooden sandals that she's worn with it originally.  Oxblood knee high boots of fine leather would do the trick, and she wouldn't mind the extra centimeters the heel gave her.  Everything else she kept in a black briefcase, including extra socks, and some very fancy paper for writing agreements on. Thank goodness her hair had never needed much more than a quick brushing,  and she was back downstairs in just under eight minutes, wondering what Ace had gotten into in the meanwhile.

[Ace McShane]

"You're not much help." Ace waved her hand a little “I do what I can.” she smiled a little jokingly "But I can make a fair guess. Why don't you get any supplies you need out of the buttery, and I'll be down spit spot." Ace held up her hand an gave Sarah Jane a double thumbs up “Can do Madame Protector of Earth.”

Ace sat there for a second after Sarah Jane went upstairs. She didn’t necessary raid her friends kitchen as much as grab a few little bits of earth food wise, Apple, Banana and some other fruits she thought could be useful. Without thinking Ace pulled a pair of sunglasses she had modified out of her jacket and put them on and scanned for a second over the room with them looking for any alien tech she thought might be hazardous to this time period, she managed to find one and slipped it into her pocket.

She heard Sarah Janes steps creak and Ace turned around, she pulled down her sunglasses down her nose and nodded at Sarah Janes taste in attire “Nice, very nice.”

[Deleted]

She nodded at Ace, face quite straight.  The woman tended to make her smile, but also tended to maker her feel . . . . . .cool.  Dangerous.  There was a flick to Ace's gaze that let her know she'd chosen correctly what to wear.  Her friend had an appreciation for power, and her clear approval was quite pleasing.  There was something to be said for structure, and this dress looked as if it had been built around her trim form.

Bold, shimmering color, and Sarah Jane packed two lipsticks, not one.  One Sonic, one named 'Interlude', though Sarah Jane might have re-named it 'I might bite'.

"I'm bringing my shield, for what it's worth."

Well, and a couple other choice bits.  Her things were in a fine leather satchel.

"If you have everything, you need, I'm ready." She glanced at her watch to help remember when she'd need to return after.  She sure hope Ace could get her back before work on Monday.

[Ace McShane]

"I'm bringing my shield, for what it's worth." Ace slid her sunglasses back up where they had been before and nodded again “Yeah, that will probably come in real handy.” Ace could watch most open areas but still, there could be a vulnerability that she might miss and Sarah Janes shield would catch.

"If you have everything, you need, I'm ready." Ace took a bite out of the apple she’d been holding before sticking it in her pocket “Yeah, I’ve got everything I need.” she started putting in some coordinates into her manipulator while heading over to stand next to Sarah Jane “…umm, have you ever traveled by vortex manipulator before?”

[Deleted]

She gave a look to Ace that confirmed the first time that she'd traveled by Vortex Manipulator, she had lost her lunch.  Guilt.  Distaste. Resignation.  It was all in that sideways look that held a determined, warbly smile none the less.

"Well, I just hope it turns out better than that Vespa you hotwired.  Hmmm?"  In the end, if she remembered correctly, they'd been using duct tape to hold the thing together long enough to escape.  The quick trip down the embankment had not helped it at all.  Do I need to hold up my luggage? Or just touch the handle?" She frowned. "That thing better bring my shoes along, Ace."  None the less she was snugging in tight to her friend. 

Her old new friend.  Her new old friend.

It was a pretty good day so far.

[Ace McShane]

Ace saw the look her friend gave her and nodded “…Gotcha.” "Well, I just hope it turns out better than that Vespa you hotwired. Hmmm?" Ace looked at Sarah Jane with an expression of mock hurt and with good bit of laugh in her voice “I hotwired, I hotwired? Who was the one who said we didn’t need the wardens keys when we were leaving there for having no choice but to hotwire said vespa.” she tried to hide a smile but was failing miserably.

“Do I need to hold up my luggage? Or just touch the handle?" Ace reached over and grabbed her friends free hand “Umm…just hold it?” "That thing better bring my shoes along, Ace." she couldn’t help but let out a laugh at that then paused for a second thinking it over “If it doesn’t I’ll replace them.” moving her arm using her index finger she hit the button sending the two of them off in a flash of light.

[Deleted]

Sarah Jane pressed her lips together to keep her words in. Because Ace was right about the keys and they both knew it.  She had to press her lips a little harder then to keep from smiling, but it no doubt found her eyes.

"Merging" she quoted from that fateful day.

Next thing you know, they were on their way.  In blinding light, it seemed as though she could taste her own brain, and she did not care for it.  Nor did she care for the way her consciousness seemed to spin, and her idea of her stomach was somewhere up around her voice box. 

Then it seemed she dropped two more inches through the waist of an hour glass, and land on her feet.  In an effort to stand upright, she rather went sideways, half tripping into her luggage. The shoes had come with her, but were not as helpful to her landing as one would have hoped.

[Ace McShane]

You’d think she’d of gotten used to traveling by vortex but she never had. All of the sudden Ace felt like she was being pulled through a strainer, pulled tight then snapped back into place. She’d learned how to quickly find her feet over the years when it came to traveling without a TARDIS…sort of.

She felt Sarah Jane tip a little to her side and heard her knock into her luggage moving quickly Ace caught hold of her friend by her bicep trying to steady her “Easy there…” she stopped and listened, she didn’t recognize where they were and that could be a bad thing.

[Deleted]

Ace caught her arm before her momentum could take her stumbling over her suitcase. 

That was when had an oppertunity to be reminded again that you don't hear the one that gets you.  Or, the one who gets the person standing next to you, anyway.  Ace jerked back hard, as if a phantom wind had suddenly yanked her shirt and tried to pull her down.   An instant later she heard the whistle of air that sounded just like fly fishing.  A hot thin line was suddenly across her friend's bicep.

For a moment, there was only the sound of Sarah Jane's indrawn gasp.  A moment later, she heard the one that got her.  That must have gotten her already. They were going down.