Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me ... to my eternal regret. No money is being made of this little story. And the events written here are not meant to portray anything about the actors themselves. This is strictly my imagination folks ... scary as it is.

Notes: I actually wrote this story about three years ago, and am just now getting around to polishing and posting it. Thank you JJ for all the help you've given with this pink elephant throughout the years.

Silence echoed in the laboratory as a small group of technicians all seemed to hold their breaths and tiptoe around the man in the centre of the room. No one wanted to take the risk of distracting Dr. Arcane with any sudden noise. Not with the almost invisible �disturb me and die!� vibes that the Doctor radiated.

Ben Healy, currently in charge of the small band of technicians, glanced up from his work, laying aside a screwdriver with the utmost of care. Straightening further, he frowned at the assembled men, glancing around for the one person that was missing. With a creeping sense of horror, he spotted Ralph, one of the clumsiest men to he�d ever had the misfortune to meet, walking across the room on a direct path past a rack of drying beakers. *Oh no! Not again!!* Fighting down a surge of panic, Ben tried desperately to signal Ralph, resisting the urge to bang his head against the wall when the man paid no heed to his gestures.

With a dreamy expression on his face, black hair falling across his eyes, Ralph remained unaware of the danger that reared its ugly head. He brushed against the rack, it�s presence barely registering on his faraway mind. The force of the bump caused one of the beakers to wobble, finally falling to the ground with a loud crash. Head snapping up, Ralph glanced down at the broken glass with a wince, looking up apprehensively at the figure that had suddenly tensed.

Arcane shut his eyes, mentally counting backwards from ten, as the sound of yet another beaker shattered on the floor. "What is it this time?" He crossed his arms, voice sounding more resigned then angry. He swiveled around in his chair to view the assembled men, all who should have been occupied in fixing the sensory deprivation chamber, and not constantly interrupting his research.

"Sorry, Sir!" the guilty party stuttered, quickly bending down and picking up the pieces, "There was nothing in it, it just sorta slipped."

"This is the third time that something has 'just sorta slipped'!" Arcane raked his eyes over the assembled men in contempt. "The fact that this is Valentine�s does give does not entitle any of you to neglect your duties. So try to focus your attention on work instead of your pathetic lives."

"S ... sorry, Sir." Ralph mumbled awkwardly, feet scuffing the floor, looking anywhere but at Dr. Arcane. "It, it won�t happen again ..."

"Shut up!" Arcane snapped, glaring at him. "Did I tell you that you could speak!" Hastily Ralph shook his head, taking a quick step away from the Doctor. "Now, *all* of you, get back to work before I *really* lose my patience!"

Angrily Arcane turned back to his experiment, ignoring the almost silent sounds going on behind him. He had just gotten settled, mind re-focusing on the problems facing him. The solutions and equations coming to him in perfect clarity ... When. It. Happened. The sound of breaking glass once again filling the air.

"That's *IT!! Get out! GET OUT!*" Arcane snarled, standing up threateningly. His voice preceded to get colder and more dangerous by degrees "Get the hell out before I have to lot of you *shot!!*"

The group of technicians lost no time in racing for the elevator, practically running each other over in their haste to escape the Doctor's wrath.

Arcane stalked over to where the men had been working, inspecting the chamber which *was* supposed to be in working order. "Idiots!" he muttered.. "I'm surrounded by complete and utter morons!" *This is the last time I let Graham off his regular duties to work on � whatever it is he�s working on.* He pushed down the annoyance that came with the thought that he didn�t know what his assistant was doing. However, Graham had been usually insistent about keeping what he was working on secret. *Last time I let that happen as well!*

Looking around the empty lab in resignation, Arcane decided to call it quits for the day. Plus sooner, rather then later, the experiment was going to require the sensory deprivation chamber. Something that obviously wasn�t going to be in working condition for quite a while. A vicious smiled appeared on his face. "I'll let Graham deal with this mess, and with those incompetent excuses for hired help!!"

Stepping into the elevator he stared crossly at the wall, irritation still surging through him, arms instinctively folded against his chest. "Bloody idiots!" Arcane grumbled under his breath. Stalking off the elevator, he angrily strode towards the bed. His only thought was to collapse and sleep, when he was caught off guard at the sight that met his eyes. Tall black candles were spread throughout the room, glowing bright and soft, filling the air with flickering shadows and scattered warmth.

"Well, what have we here?" Arcane mused, wandering over to the nearest candle, one finger reaching out to stroke the warm wax. A sparkle of reflected light attracted his attention. Turning, his eyes fell upon a single rose, resting in a simple glass vase. Stepping closer the Doctor inspected the flower intently. One eyebrow arched in interest at the unusual whiteness of the rose, not even a of trace of another colour marred its perfection. The petals almost seemed to glow with a light of their own.

Soft footsteps approached from behind, a pair of arms snaking around his waist, "Like?" a voice asked, gentle teeth nipping his earlobe. Smiling in amused affection at the hint of uncertainly straining the tone, he took his time in answering.

"So, this is the project you've been so busy working on, I presume?" Arcane finally inquired, gesturing to the rose.

Lips brushed against his neck, "Yes," the arms tightened around his waist. "The petals are poisonous to the touch, undetectable. The rose can only survive for twenty-four hours after being cut. When it dies - so does the poison."

Arcane studied the rose again, this time with more then just aesthetic appreciation. "Such a beautiful flower concealing death. How ... ironic." Twining his fingers with the hands holding him, he brought one to his mouth, teeth nipping just below the thumb. He could feel a low thrum of anticipation taking the place of his former annoyance. "So tell me, who is to receive this little token of death?"

"Holland, Tressa, Dr. Woodrue ... anyone really. It's completely up to you." The answer came out breathlessly, the hand trembling in his grip.

Arcane smirked, "up to me ..." drawing the hand closer, he ran his tongue across the palm, laughing smugly at the resulting gasp behind him. "Yes - I think I can manage to be up for the occasion." Dropping the hand abruptly he gestured at the candle lit room. "Did you do this for me as well?"

"Yes." The hands withdrew, the body behind him taking a step away as uncertainty crept back into the voice. "You don't mind do you?"

Arcane turned around, voice dropping to a suggestive purr, "Well now, that rather depends on what else you have planned, Graham." Sliding his fingertips along the smooth curve of the man's jaw, he tilted his assistant's face up, brushing their lips together slowly, softly, keeping the contact light.

Graham shivered, clutching at Arcane�s shirt, mouth opening, trying to deepen the kiss, to no success. Groaning in frustration at his employers lack of response, he stepped back a space, scowling at the Doctor�s amused expression.

Sighing, Graham tilted his head to the side, "I have a few ideas." He trailed a finger down the front of Arcane�s shirt, pressing lightly on each of the buttons. Raising an eyebrow, he popped the first fastening with a slight grin. Leaning in he placed his lips against the bared skin, undoing the next button in line, mouth following the path his fingers made. Almost kneeling, he reached the last button, flicking his tongue teasingly into Arcane�s navel, humming in satisfaction as he felt the Doctor�s hands come to rest on his shoulders.

"Graham!!" Arcane bit out, teeth clenched in the effort to control his reaction, pulling on his assistant�s shirt to get him to stand up.

"Yes -" Voice husky, Graham slid the shirt completely off, looking up provocatively. " - Sir?!"

"Not that I�m complaining at the moment, but ... " Arcane reached out and took Graham's hands in his, lacing their fingers together, pulling the man in close enough to whisper in his ear. " ... what�s the occasion?"

Graham shifted uncomfortably, gazing at their linked hands for a minute before glancing back up with a slight blush, "Its, ah, it's Valentines Day."

"Really, Graham? I hadn't noticed!" Arcane's tone lacked it's usual sarcasm, a small smile quirking one corner of his mouth before disappearing almost as quickly as it appeared. "And what precisely does the fact this is Valentine's have to do with - all of this?"

"It's well ... umm, you know � a day to do things for your lov ..." Graham cut the rest off, his eyes widening at what he�d almost said. There was no way he�d ever intended to let the Doctor know what he considered them to be.

"Well now, this certainly is a revelation, Graham." Arcane freed his hands gently, running one finger up the front of the man's shirt, tone dropping several levels. "Do things for your ... what? Your lover?!" Lazily caressing the delicate skin around his assistant's throat, he let his grip tighten fractionally, pleased at the sucked in breath. "Is that what we are, Graham ..." Arcane�s voice dropped further, turning dark, " ... lovers?"

"Unh, well ..." Swallowing nervously, eyes darting around the room, Graham desperately searched for a way out of answering directly. "I, er, I ..."

"Oh, Graham ..." Arcane whispered, curling his hands through Graham's hair, fingers tangling, trapping the man�s head in place. Lowering his mouth, stopping a few scant millimeters away from his assistant's lips, " ... you can call us lovers, if that�s what makes you happy, I won't object. In fact, I might find it ... " His tongue darted out, tracing Graham�s lower lip, eyes lifting, catching and holding his assistant�s glazed stare. " ... arousing." Arcane kissed Graham deeply, not giving the man a chance to reply.

Graham shivered, a whimper forcing its way past his throat, wrapping his arms tightly around Arcane. Unable to move his head, unable to control his response -- the visceral response he�d always felt around his employer. Even when he�d been busy denying it to himself, busy pushing the unwanted knowledge deep into his mind ... even then he had felt the slow creeping desire, the tell-tale trembling in the pit of his stomach.

Arcane pulled away, smirking at the needy sound of protest Graham made. "There�s no reason to rush, Graham." He murmured, brushing one hand down his assistant�s neck. "We do have all night, after all."

Graham scowled at his employer, the man could at least have the decency to look a little impatient. Watching Arcane�s eyebrow raise in amusement, he realized how much his own expression was giving away his thoughts.

"No need to look so glum, Graham." Arcane tugged at the man�s shirt, pushing it off onto the floor, "After all," he leaned closer, hands sliding down to cup Graham�s ass, " - it won�t take all night to get to the fun part."

Groaning, Graham wrapped his arms around the Doctor�s waist, head tilting to the side as Arcane nibbled at his neck. "I, I was hoping it wouldn�t."

"Good man," he purred, pushing his assistant down on the bed. He settled his weight fully over him, pinning the man under him. "You know," Arcane spoke between kisses, grinning down at Graham, "I believe I�m beginning to appreciate this holiday."

Stretching comfortably under the Doctor�s familiar weight, Graham clutched at Arcane�s shoulders, "Well, I, I hope you enjoy the rest of Valentine�s."

"About that my dear Graham," Arcane reached for the button on the man�s pants with a wicked grin, " - there is no doubt."

The End

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