"Voices…" Paul groaned as he rolled onto his back. His head was throbbing like it had been taken to with a brick for the good part of an hour and his bladder felt like it was about to explode and wipe out a couple of suburbs. He gingerly rubbed his eyes and managed to pry them apart long enough to work out where he was and what the voices were. He was at Gina's, tucked up in the relative sanctity of her bed while some god awful radio announcer joked with a listener about cheese. Paul felt the cool sheets beside him while reaching for the clock radio. It dropped on the floor and stopped and he concluded that was enough to please him. "Don't suppose she's got any aspirin," he breathed and reluctantly pulled himself to a sitting position. He gave a small laugh as he noticed on the bedside table, she had placed a glass of water and an aspirin in preparation for him along with a note. He grabbed it and rubbed his eyes again before reading it.

          Pauly,

          You were kinda comatose and drooling when I left (so not attractive) and should you not have fallen out of bed you'll see as usual I'm overly prepared. Stay as long as you want I don't mind and I'm sure it'll take you a while to regain the use of your legs.

          Missing you already,

          Genie xxx

          Paul dropped the letter onto the bed before downing the aspirin and falling back onto the pillows. God he wished he could remember what had happened the previous night. He had a nagging feeling he'd done something but for the life of him he couldn't remember what. Paul rolled onto his side, wrapped the covers around him and tried to think non-pained happy thoughts. He was starting to waver in and out of consciousness when a perky announcement about insurance filled the room. "Fucking radio," he grumbled pulling the covers over his head.
          "Gina…" Danny began.
          "Hold it half a second," Gina said quickly holding up a hand to silence him and then began typing quickly again.
          "I just want to…"
          "Ah…"
          "But…"
          "Shh…"
          "Gina…"
          "No…" Danny crossed his arms and leaned in a sulk against her desk. Half a second later Gina gave small cheer and then turned to face him in her swivel chair. "Right, now what did you want?"
          "Can I borrow your stapler," Danny groused.
          "Um, actually it had a nasty 'throwing at the copy boy' incident," Gina shrugged. "Sorry."
          "What were you doing anyway?"
          "I was finishing off the last of my articles Daniel, how brilliant am I?"
          "Oh hurrah, I'll go get a six pack and we'll celebrate."
          "Well there's no need for sarcasm," Gina huffed. "What's crawled up your arse and died?"
          "Sorry," Danny breathed, "I'm just tired and stressed."
          "Aw hey," Gina soothed and rubbed his arm. "I haven't got much on now, I'll help you shift your workload."
          "Thanks," Danny smiled. "Hey, we still on to watch the footy Saturday?"
          "Of course we are. I wouldn't miss it," Gina perked. "Besides we'll kick your arse anyway."
          "Just because your team won one Premiership," Danny sneered as Gina's phone began to ring.
          "I better get that," Gina sighed and grabbed her phone from her desk. Danny waved and headed back to his own desk. "Hello, Gina Coleman."
          "What is it with Blue's Clues man? Seriously, is that Steve guy on acid or what?"
          "Hi Paul," Gina sighed. "You're functional again then?"
          "Well once my stomach stopped doing back flips things got better," Paul said cheerily. "I also discovered the joys of mango and fennel body scrub and your fluffy robe is so comfy."
          "Oh there's an image, you in my pink fluffy robe," Gina chided. "Not wearing the matching slippers are you?"
          "Possibly," Paul giggled. "Anyway, are you busy?"
          "Actually, I've just finished catching up on everything, why?"
          "I was thinking it might be nice to meet for lunch."
          "But you couldn't possibly stomach any food."
          "That's not the point. Besides, I can watch you eat."
          "Oh yeah, that'll be sexy," Gina chuckled as Paul relayed the address of a café that wasn't far from where she worked. When he'd finished Gina hung up the phone and started collecting her stuff.
          "What are you doing?" Danny gasped, his hands full of things he wanted help with.
          "Lunch with Paul," Gina replied as Danny looked at her pained. "I won't be long, promise," she added and slapped him on the back as she almost skipped toward the elevator.

          The smell of the food in the café was making Paul feel nauseous, at least that's what he was hoping it was and not the reason he really wanted to have lunch with Gina. He was pretending to read the menu for the 444th and half time when Gina idled through the door, the bell attached to it jingled to indicate a new customer. She barely had to look to find him, dishevelled and wearing his glasses to mask the large hangover he was carrying.
          "You look terrible," she mused and leaned over to brush her lips against his before taking her seat opposite him in the booth.
          "I feel terrible," Paul replied with a small smile. "You better order quick, they've been getting annoyed that I've been putting it off."
          Gina shook her head as a waitress appeared and produced her notepad and pencil. "Are you ready to order?" she asked.
          "I haven't seen the menu but sure," Gina chided. "A plate of fries and two teas."
          "Just the plate of fries?"
          "Yes, did I ask for anything else? No, I don’t think I did."
          "Right," the waitress peeped, grabbed the menus from the table and scurried off.
          "Ohh you're a nasty woman," Paul smiled and reached across the table to take her hand. "How's your morning been?"
          "Way too busy, you're not to let me get behind again."
          "Yeah, like that's gonna happen," Paul grinned evilly. "Sorry for not coming home when you called last night."
          "Ah don't worry about it," Gina breathed. "I was being whiny and clingy. Which seriously isn't like me. I guess being in such a big city and not having any friends gets to you after a while as soon as someone shows an interest you latch on."
          "That's so sad," Paul cooed. "Surely you have some friends?"
          "Only Amanda, the one who set us up…" She paused as the waitress brought over the cups of tea and then hurried off again.
          "I like Amanda and I've never met her," Paul perked grabbing a sugar packet.
          "And of course Dan."
          "Who is this mysterious Dan? You mention him a lot," Paul asked.
          "Pretty much my best friend over here. We have a bit of a history, nothing sordid mind you."
          "So there's never been anything, you know, between you," Paul asked and then giggled as they went for the same sugar packet. "Hey, that was mine ya little minx." They tussled over it until it split and sugar scattered over the table. "Um ah you broke the sugar packet."
          "Well if you hadn't been so childish," Gina cussed as the fries were delivered and the bill dropped onto the table.
          "Thankyou kind waitress," Paul called after the girl as she descended back into the kitchen. "So have you?"
          "Have I what?" Gina asked grabbing a fry.
          "Had anything with Dan?"
          "God no," she giggled. "Why? You're not jealous are you hon?"
          "N…no…" Paul said sheepishly. "He's gay right?"
          "No, a football loving, beer drinking, bloke I'm afraid," Gina sighed. "Very buff."
          "Have you seen him naked?"
          "Do you really want the answer to that?" Gina smiled cheekily and grabbed another fry.
          "Yes actually, I'm kinda concerned that you've seen your sexy straight male 'friend' naked," Paul declared, leaning forward in an attempt to look interested.
          "I'll tell you next time you're drunk," Gina smiled coyly and poked a fry between his lips.
          "Oh, speaking of which," Paul mused quickly eating the fry. "I'm sorry for turning up drunk on your doorstep. I did turn up right? I didn't just get dumped by my friends?"
          "You don't remember?" Gina asked.
          "Nothing after the bottle and a half of tequila," Paul shrugged.
          "Didn't think you would?"
          "Is that bad? I didn't do something really embarrassing did I? Like propose? Because I've done that before."
          "No," Gina breathed, her cheeks reddening. "It doesn't matter anyway."
          "Aw go on, tell me what I did? I didn't ask you to do something disgusting and kinky did I?"
          Gina lowered her voice. "You told me that you loved me."
          Paul's eyes went wide, "Shit, yeah, I have a habit of doing that too…"
          "It doesn't matter, really," Gina shrugged, her attention staying on the plate of fries. Actually, it did matter, she was hoping he'd remember that bit and tell her it wasn't just the alcohol speaking. They fell into an uneasy silence for a few moments and picked at the fries, Paul forgetting that he wasn't actually hungry and Gina was starting to have a hankering for mud cake.
          "Well, while we're enjoying such an uncomfortable silence we should probably talk," Paul announced softly.
          "Talk about what?" Gina asked, barely wanting to look at him.
          "Us, I love being with you right, you know that," Paul gushed, taking both her hands in his. "But I was thinking as I lay there writhing in pain in your bed and I think that maybe we should slow things down a little. This thing between us has happened so fast and while it’s amazing and beautiful we have got to remember how to live as separate people."
          "You're right," Gina nodded as she tried not to sigh. She was waiting for the 'we should take a break' line since that's what usually happened with all her relationships only to find three days later her estranged lover was going for it with a co-worker.
          "This is sounding bad isn't it?" Paul pouted.
          "It’s ok, I've heard it before," Gina breathed, quickly stuffing several more fries in her mouth even though she felt like she was going to gag on them.
          "Don't take it to heart," Paul soothed. "Just a couple of days apart, I mean I've got taping commitments and rehearsals coming out of my arse and you're busy at work. Let's face it, if we managed to get together the most we'd do is fall asleep."
          "I know," Gina nodded. "I'm just confused because the other night you said we should just go for it, do what we feel is right."
          "And I feel this is right," Paul enthused. "Trust me, absence makes the heart grow fonder."
          "And tires out your fun hand," Gina countered.
          "Its always in the gutter with you isn't it?" Paul teased and shoved a fry in her mouth.

          They managed to avoid further conversation on the 'not seeing each other' topic for the rest of their lunch. Paul babbled about everything from his new love of fruity shower gel and girlie deodorant to the non-English speaking taxi driver with a death wish he'd endured on the way over and how he was sure there was something unsavoury in his tea. Gina couldn't stop giggling and was frowned upon by several old ladies who Paul started doing lewd gestures to. She was devastated when they gave in and left the café.
          "Well, I guess this is it for a few days then," Gina sighed. "It's weird, I feel like I've known you forever."
          "I know, it's freaky," Paul agreed as they stood there blankly for a moment. "Oh give me a hug," he mused and she willing obliged, stepping forward and wrapping her arms tightly around him.
          "Mmm you smell mangoey," Gina breathed, nuzzling into his neck.
          "That's not the only place," Paul chided.
          "And you say my mind is in the gutter."
          "Yeah, right next to mine," Paul grinned as he pulled her as close as he could and brought his lips close to her ear. "I love you and it scares me half to death. So go and have a few nice days without me cluttering up your bed ok and don't worry, I'm well and truly yours."
          Gina was speechless as she moved her head to look at him. He was now stone cold sober, if not mildly hungover and he'd just confessed to loving her. "Does this mean I can get 'property of Gina Coleman' tattooed on your arse," she breathed.
          "Only if I can get 'property of Paul McDermott' on yours," Paul laughed as they shared their final kiss for a few days.

          By the time Gina got home from work that day, she was still in high spirits. Her entire afternoon had flown by and she couldn't remember a thing Danny had said. At 4am when she'd managed only 20 minutes sleep her spirits dissipated and she started missing Paul. It didn't get any better for the rest of the week. She couldn't sleep, her appetite was shot and she spent most of the time at home on the couch and watching slushy movies. If she was honest with herself she was going out of her mind and Paul hadn't had it any easier. He tossed and turned all night, lost inspiration for anything he tried and discovered when you're not getting any the television stations deliberately put on every animal sex documentary, romantic movie and that episode of every television show where two popular characters finally do it. He was starting to get so miserable he wondered if someone up above was seeking some sort of revenge.

          After watching the latest episode of Good News Week three times and trying to pretend it wasn't bothering her he hadn't called, Gina gave up and decided the only way she was going to survive was if she went and saw him. She grabbed her car keys and walked determined from her apartment. As she drove she tried to think of various excuses for turning up on his doorstep but couldn't really get past, "I love you, I miss you, I hate this." By the time she was walking up to his door Gina's heart was racing. She knocked excitedly and waited, after several seconds she knocked again and pressed her ear against the door. He was out, how could he be out? She let out a defeated sigh and headed back down the corridor.

          Meanwhile Paul idled up to Gina's door and knocked, he too had given in and decided it was time to stop not seeing each other. "Come on Genie," he muttered as rain started to splat onto the surfaces around him. He cursed after he knocked again and found she wasn't home and started walking back toward the road. He whipped out his cell phone, which gave an angry bleep and then flashed off, he hadn't charged it. "Oh well that's just fucking wonderful," he spat accusingly at the phone and crammed it back into his pocket. The rain was starting to get heavier as he pulled the collar up on his jacket. Not that it made any difference but it made him feel drier.

          Gina was approaching her apartment when she noticed the familiar silhouette going the opposite way in the rain. She quickly parked her car, locked it and then dashed back up the footpath.
          "PAUL!" she yelled. He stopped and she ran up to him gasping. "I just went to your place."
          "I just went to yours, obviously," he mused as they stood there getting soaked.
          "I'm going out of my mind," Gina breathed, pushing her increasingly wet hair out of her face.
          "Me too," Paul gushed. "Know all that stuff I said about being separate people?"
          "Yeah," Gina nodded.
          "Fuck it!" Paul declared, "Fuck the lot of it because being with you is a hell of a lot better than being without you."
          Gina grinned and nearly jumped into his arms. They fell into a rather damp, longing kiss as they held each other tightly. It only stopped when a bus pulled up at a stop nearby and brought them both back to reality.
          "We should probably get out of the rain now," Gina laughed.
          "Yeah, it's actually getting quite cold," Paul agreed as he slipped his hand into hers and they strolled back to Gina's apartment.
          "My fingers are too wet," Gina mused as she fumbled with the key.
          "Come on, before my testicles chafe," Paul chided as he grabbed her from behind and started nibbling her neck. Through fits of giggles she managed to get the door open and they toppled in, lips locked and hands groping at their wet clothes. They tried to walk without letting go of each other or breaking the kiss but Paul's sneakers slipped on the now wet polished floorboards and he ended up flat on his back on a throw rug with Gina on top.
          "Oh Christ, at least the hotel room was carpeted," Paul half groaned half giggled.
          "Are you ok?" Gina asked as she rolled onto the floor.
          "Apart from the shattered spine I'm fine," Paul smiled and pulled her back to him. "We should get these wet clothes off."
          "That sounds like a line from a bad porn movie," Gina giggled, bringing her lips to his for another kiss.
          "It does actually," Paul mused. "Oh look v're all vet ve should get these vet tings off Inga," he announced in a bad Swedish accent.
          Gina cracked up laughing and then without thinking declared, "I so love you." Her smile fell as she suddenly wondered how Paul would react.
          "I so love you more," he countered much to Gina's pleasure. They lay there watching each other for a few moments before Gina got to her feet.
          "Come on Sven, I vill help you get those vet pants off ya," she purred in her best Swedish accent and grabbed Paul's hands to help him to his feet.