An hour to midnight

[Golden Spider]

Clara found herself entranced by Kate's gaze staring equally back into the other woman's eyes. "Well look, the note shows that they clearly know my name, I doubt they will leave me alone even if I did just walk away. Besides with the state you're in you won't last a minute." Clara also stood up. "fuck I have no idea how to safely remove any of this, so it may hurt a bit" she said as she rushed around the bed and disconnected all the various IVs and monitors from Kate, moving quicker as the various alarms and emergency beeps started going off. She then wrapped an arm around Kate's waist to keep her up and steady and lead her out of the room. "ok do you have a plan at all here? I don't have a car, I rode here with you in the ambulance, and its not like we have the time to wait for a taxi"

[Lady Jenn]

"Let's get out of here first," Kate said, closing her eyes for a moment to try and regain some composure. "This says to call the number, if someone is trying to protect us I'm guessing this number means something." Without a thought she took Clara's hand, leading her towards the door, only to freeze as she saw someone loitering nearby. Thinking quickly she pulled Clara away from the door, on impulse kissing her, intending to keep her quiet but finding herself enjoying it.

She quickly pulled away when there was the sound of the door opening, and a strapping young man stepped into the room, dressed in a dark coat over a khaki uniform. "Kate? Are you feeling okay?"

Kate eyed the man warily. "I've had one person try to kill me and another try to drug me, I'm going to need a reason to trust you." After a brief look out the door the man flashed an ID with a similar image to the one on her bracelet. "What the hell is going on here?"

The man sighed. "There's a car outside the hospital, it can get you two to a safehouse, but you're going to have to go now."

Kate looked at Clara. "Are you sure you want to come with me?"

[Golden Spider]

Clara's mind froze completely as she felt Kate's lips upon hers, all thoughts and worries, the whole stress of the situation was instantly replaced by the heat of her lips, and then before she could really even realize what was happening it was over. She was only somewhat aware of the man entering the room, Kate at first being guarded but then relaxing as the man showed her something on his wrist, conversing a moment, and kate then.. asking her a question?

Clara shook her head, trying to dispel the lingering thoughts on the kiss, the way it felt, the fact that she had only known this woman for a couple hours but a single kiss was enough to make her slightly dizzy "Sorry what? " she said blinking "Yes! yes, I'm coming with you." she then turned to the man "is there any chance we can pick up my dog Ami on the way? I know its dangerous but I don't want her to be alone."

[Lady Jenn]

He nodded. "Of course you can. You're going to need to do as I say though. Follow me, act as naturally as you can." He took a quick look at the state Kate was in. "Sorry, I'm aware that's probably easier said than done right now, but I can't wheel you out of here."

Kate leant on Clara. "You're just going to have to put up with me being slow. Whatever they injected me with is causing me problems." She followed him out, keeping a hold of Clara's hands and breathing a sigh of relief as there seemed to be no-one to stop them. "Do I want to know how you're getting us past security so easily Mr..."

"Jack," the man replied. "And no, all you need to know is right now there are at least a few people intending to keep you alive. Well, and your girlfriend obviously."

"That's not...she isn't..." Kate found herself intensely flustered at that moment, wanting the ground to open underneath her. "I'm sure she's got plenty of more attractive and interesting people than me to look after anyway," she said, more loudly than she had intended.

"Here we are," Jack said as they reached the door, where a black estate car was parked with its lights on. "I have to stay here, help cover your tracks as best I can. Fizz will get you to the safehouse."

A tall, African-American woman got out of the car just as Kate suddenly sagged against Clara. "Shit, Clara, you'd better help me get her in the back of the car," she said, taking Kate's other arm and placing it over her shoulder.

[Golden Spider]

Clara blushed when the man, Jack apparently as his name was, called Clara Kate's girlfriend, she didn't deny it though and didn't react at all beyond giving Kate an angry pinch at her words "you're plenty beautiful, and I assure you this night has been the most interesting one I've had in ages" she said quietly to her.

They soon eventually arrived at the car and Clara nodded to Fizz as Kate collapsed completely, almost knocking Clara down as well as the sudden full weight of Kate slumped against her. Clara nodded and with Fizz's help managed to maneuver Kate into the back seat, Clara sitting next to her. The front seat was open and available but Clara still sat in the back, wanting to make sure Kate was ok. She brushed Kates hair out of her eyes, before muttering "what the hell have I gotten myself into?" to herself before speaking out loud to Fizz "Jack said we can retrieve my dog Ami? and How the hell do you people know who I am?"

[Lady Jenn]

As soon as Fizz knew they were secure she pulled out, briefly looking back to check they weren't being followed. "Ideally it wouldn't have needed you to be involved," Fizz replied. "Kate was supposed to be..." She paused, realizing there were some things it wasn't her job to talk about. "She was supposed to be somewhere Jack or I found her, but something must've gone wrong. I'm glad she found you though, you make a cute couple," she said, giving Clara a cheeky wink.

It wasn't long before they arrived at Clara's house, Fizz grabbing the keys and coming back quickly with Clara's dog. "Should I be flattered your dog seemed to almost be happy to see me?" Fizz said with a chuckle as she handed Ami to Clara. She took a glance at Kate, who had lost consciousness entirely. "Clara, keep an eye on her, why the fuck did Jack let them sedate her so heavily before he got you out of there?"

She clambered back into the front seat and took off with as much speed as she could manage without drawing police attention. She chewed her lip for a moment before speaking again. "I should...warn is probably the wrong word, but...Kate isn't from our Earth. The fact she doesn't remember that is...alarming."

[Golden Spider]

Clara blushed again and Fizz called them a couple but again didn’t argue the point, preferring to just ignore the statement entirely. Soon they arrived back at her house and Clara quickly gave fizz the keys so they could retrieve her pup.  Clara chuckled as well “she’s always happy to see anyone.” She nuzzled into Ami’s fur, laughing as Ami attacked her face with licks. “She’s a good girl, thank you for letting me get her. It means a lot.” They drove on for a while, Clara sitting mostly in silence while she digested the newest turn of events. Earlier this evening all she had to worry about was when the next order of books would be arriving, chasing down late fees, and taking care of Ami, now she was off to some safe house with a woman she she met on the ground in front of her house with a gunshot wound in her stomach. Said woman was now drooling on her shoulder soundly conked out from whatever sedative they had given her in the hospital, with Ami curled up in her lap.

Then Fizz spoke up again saying something that probably would’ve shocked Clara more earlier this evening. Maybe it was slightly her brain shutting down refusing to process any emotion after the gut punch of sudden world changing news that she was given over the last hour or so. “So she’s what? an alien? Wait I kissed an alien? How is that possible?  Are you an alien?”

[Lady Jenn]

"No, she's human," Fizz replied. "You could run every medical test known to man on her and you'd see exactly what you'd expect. She's..." Fizz paused, drumming her fingers against the steering wheel. "The multiverse is real, and Kate comes from one of the Earths. My boss Nikita would be able to explain this better than I can, at least she has pretty pictures to show."

A red traffic light caused them to stop, as Fizz looked down at the folder she'd retrieved from Clara's house. "If you want to know more about her I can give you the file she came with, but..." She let out a sigh. "I can tell she likes you, and she may prefer you examine the folder together." As the light went green they started moving again. "We're about twenty minutes from the safe house so it won't be long."

[Golden Spider]

Clara frowned again at Fizz’s words, she definitely wanted to know more, but was fine with waiting for this Nikita who had more of a complete picture. She looked down at Kate again while absentmindedly petting Ami. “I appreciate the offer. But yeah if it’s a big of a deal as you are implying then I will wait to look through it with Kate, will she be alright?”

After the other woman answered though Clara relaxed into her seat. It seemed like they were safe for the moment. And soon Clara had dozed off as well for the 20 minute drive

[Lady Jenn]

"She'll be fine," Fizz said, offering a reassuring smile. "If they'd given her worse than a sedative we'd have seen by now, although I'm sure Nikita will be keen to check her over to be sure."

When they arrived at the safe house, a large farmhouse out in the isolated countryside, Fizz ended up carrying both ladies into the largest room of the house, placing Clara and Ami on a large, comfortable sofa, while carrying Kate over to a medical table where a tall, red-haired woman was waiting. For a few moments the woman, Nikita, checked Kate over in silence, before finally pulling a blanket over her to keep her warm, before turning to Fizz, not bothering to keep quiet and not bothering to check if Clara was awake first.

"The Midnight Order are becoming more brazen, even before...this," Nikita said, waving a hand in the direction of Kate. "We're supposed to have months before it starts and right now I'm thinking that might be dangerously optimistic."

[Golden Spider]

Clara had indeed awoken, just as she was being set on the couch. She sat up and rubbed at her eyes a bit, slightly impressed that Fizz had managed to carry her inside, not that she was relatively heavy, but also that she would have bothered when Fizz could have just shaken her awake. Clara stood up and loitered at the doorway, as Ami too hopped off the couch and began to explore her new surroundings. "Before what starts?"

[Lady Jenn]

"I'm sorry Nikita," Fizz said. "She was worried about Kate, it was easier to explain if she knew Kate wasn't from here."

Nikita sighed, rubbing her forehead. "No, you did the right thing. We'd have had to explain this eventually." She picked a device up from one of the lab worktops and clicked a button on it, waiting for it to load up. "Officially the organisation we belong to doesn't exist, but it exists on every Earth...at least, every one we've had contact with. We were set up because of this." The device finally switched on, displaying a sky streaked by the same purple light that Kate had seen. "This is currently invisible to most people who haven't crossed the fabric of between universes but more and more people are beginning to see it, because of a group who call themselves the Midnight Order. The same people who tried to attack Kate in the hospital."

"Almost nothing's known about the Order," Fizz said. "Partly because they operate almost exclusively in the shadows, but also because we have reason to believe they've been possessing victims with...some form of incorporeal entity. We were led to believe Kate had information that would shed more light on the group."

"Which would explain why the Order damaged her memory," Nikita said. "We thought whatever they were planning was months, perhaps even years away. But the more intense that glow becomes, the more we believe their plans are accelerating and the more likely..." She paused for a moment. "They are a hostile force Clara, an extremely dangerous one."

[Golden Spider]

Clara nodded. It was surprising sure, but it all make a certain sense, especially given the events of the day. "and do we have any idea of what their goal is? and if they are possessing people how do we know I'm not one of them, or how do we know any of you aren't? How do I fit into all this? Fizz and Jack seemed like they knew who I was already, though I suppose if you're some sort of secret extra-governmental task force you would have the resources" She rattled off questions getting closer to the bedside. subconsciously taking Kate's hand in hers as she looked over the display. "To be honest its rather a beautiful sight. But from what you're saying its anything but benign"

[Lady Jenn]

"We did basic background checks in the surrounding area," Nikita replied. "But it was intended to be just to ensure we weren't being spied upon. Considering you save Kate's life I'm glad she found you and we were able to rescue you both. As for their goal..." Nikita shrugged hopelessly. "Right now your guess is as good as mine, any attempt to interrogate them has failed miserably."

There was suddenly a choked sob from where Kate was lying as she woke up, tears in her eyes. "I couldn't...she died to help me reach here."

Nikita looked at her. "Kate? What do you..." She trailed off, closing her eyes. "Oh...oh Kate, I'm so sorry, I didn't know. I hadn't even thought to ask." She turned to Fizz. "Grab the bedding from the spare room, I think it'd be best if Clara sleeps down here tonight."

Fizz frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Kate is grieving," Nikita replied. "And right now I think she'd rather have Clara here than us." When Fizz had left the room Nikita turned to Clara. "I forgot, when we were told to expect Kate we were told...She had a twin sister, one who was supposed to come with her." She took a look at both of them. "If you need anything in the night just give us a shout, I don't mind." With that she left the room.

[Golden Spider]

Clara gripped Kate's hand tighter as what she and Nikita has said registered in her head "I'm so sorry Kate." She whispered knowing that it wouldn't be enough, wouldn't really be anything, but hoping at least that her presence here and the feeling of Clara's hand in hers would at provide at least a slight bit of comfort.

Before too long though Fizz and Nikita had retreated up to their own rooms in the farmhouse, leaving Clara and Kate alone on a makeshift spread on the floor, It wasn't the most comfortable thing but being able to provide some comfort for the woman who had somehow become very important to her in the space of a night meant more than that at the moment, Ami had also, with the kind of 6th sense that dogs often have, realized Kate's mood and had padded over and after some kisses to the face had curled up next to kate as well. "So uh, tell me about your world? It's kinda amazing, the multiverse being real and all, what are the differences there? Are apples orange? did the Soviets reach the moon first?" She was hoping some idle chat would help, but more than that her curiosity just couldn't be sated any longer

[Lady Jenn]

Kate couldn't help a giggle, the pain of remembering the loss eased to an extent by the beautiful woman in front of her. Before she answered she petted Ami, before pulling Clara into a kiss, that she allowed to last for several moments before she let go again.

"I really wish I could say my Earth was full of flying cars and robot servants," she said with a laugh, brushing a loose hair from Clara's face. "It's mostly pretty similar to here, although it's mostly peaceful, but..." She paused, seeming distant for a moment before continuing. "We were the first planet the Order attacked. It was before I was born but I know it was devastating enough that they started trying to find a way to contact other universes."

[Golden Spider]

Clara kissed her back eagerly and smiled as she brushed her hair out of her eyes "That's horrible, I'm sorry. how did you get mixed up in all this, if your memories are coming back it seems." she cuddled closer to Kate putting an arm around her "And how do you do it? Travel the multiverse that is, ooh tell me you have some cool name for it like 'jumping' I guess saying you were a super spy actually wasn't that far off then"

[Lady Jenn]

Kate sighed as she cuddled closer, resting her head on Clara's shoulder. "I can't really tell you much about how it works. This was supposed to be my first mission, but it...obviously went very, very wrong." She fell silent for a moment. "I think I saw them. The creatures the Order are trying to summon. There was a brief period between me entering the portal and waking up on your street where I saw...something. I'm not sure how easily I can describe them though."

[Golden Spider]

Clara nodded “that’s perfectly fine. I think I would rather not you describe an eldritch abomination that will give lovecraft a Hard-on, I’d rather sleep tonight” she joked. “Well regardless of what happens you’ll have me, and Ami, I don’t exactly know how any of this works. But I’m kinda part of it anyways now, so I guess now would be the time for the epic training montage if this was a cheesy 90s movie. Im serious though, I want to help as much as I can.”

[Lady Jenn]

"I'd like that," Kate said, running a hand down the side of Clara's face. "I know it's silly considering it feels like we only just met, but I already feel like I never want to let you go."

She yawned slightly, before giggling. "Wow, I've been out cold for more than an hour and my body wants to go back to sleep again. I don't understand myself sometimes." She kissed Clara again, smiling as Ami snuggled up to them. "I think Ami agrees. We can tackle everything in the morning, for now I just want you to stay with me while we sleep."

[Golden Spider]

Clara smiled and gave Kate a quick kiss. "I think I feel the same way." she snuggled up again against Kate. wrapping her arms around her stomach, giving Ami a couple of scritches as she did so. "there's nothing I'd rather do than sleep with you." she said she paused as she went completely red, realizing the implications of her words. Glad in the moment that Kate couldn't see her face

[Lady Jenn]

Kate stifled a giggle, blushing slightly herself as she snuggled closer. "Well, let's get to know each other a little better before that happens shall we?"

Kate wasn't sure when they had fallen asleep, she was only aware when Nikita's voice rang out from the kitchen next door. "Much as I enjoy the cuteness it's time for you girls to eat," she called out. "Plus we need to discuss our next move."

Kate sighed. "C'mon sleepy head, we have to get up."

[Golden Spider]

Clara had an initial burst of slight panic, waking up on a rather uncomfortable blanket on the hard floor, in a strange place, with her arms wrapped around a warm body. But quickly as the sleep departed the memories of everything that had happened the previous night came rushing back to her. As Nikita's voice came from the other room Clara whined sadly and held on tighter to Kate, not wanting to wake up and leave the warm bed. But when Kate, joined in the calls to wake up, she sighed "Fine, as long as there's coffee." she said sitting up and blearily rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "and bacon." She stretched and walked into the kitchen, nodding to Nikita and Fizz "I suppose it's too much to hope that you also managed to grab some clean clothes when you picked Ami up too?"

[Lady Jenn]

Fizz let out an embarrassed laugh. "Sorry, I hadn't thought of that. We have plenty of clothes here though. We actually thought we'd have a sizable team at one point."

"Dreams are a wonderful thing," Nikita said, sighing as she set coffees in front of them. "I feel like we should start with proper introductions. I am Nikita Koraleyva, as you can probably guess my parents were Russian emigres, I've been here the longest of everyone. Felicity-"

"I've told you before Nik, no-one calls me that," Fizz said, laughing.

"Fine, Fizz McCartney here is ex-CIA, she got roped in after she stumbled across another traveller." There was the sound of the door opening then being slammed shut, and a vaguely familiar, messily haired young man stepped through the door. "Ah Jake, nice of you to join us. Fizz told me about your...interesting strategy with Kate last night."

He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Ah...yeah, sorry about that Kate, Clara, I'm glad to see you're okay."

[Golden Spider]

Clara nodded and took a deep sip of her coffee, nodding again to both of them as they were introduced. "wait Fizz met a traveler? Like me and Kate? Or you met one of those... Things you mentioned?"

in the silence that followed Clara jumped slightly when the front door suddenly slammed, it was only that Fizz and Nikita did not seem fazed in the slightest that kept her from grabbing Kate's hand and finding someplace to hide, thinking that the forces they mentioned last night had somehow found them. She was relieved when it appeared to only be Jake. "I don't really know what about it was so unusual apart from literally everything, I don't usually find myself in an action movie, but no problem, you got us out of there."