Nate?
What the hell was Nate doing in her apartment? How did he get to Arizona?
Oh, shit!
Escaping the covers at last, Sheena sat straight up and the rapid movement made her head spin. She grabbed it with both hands. Then feeling the cool of the room on her bare breasts, she released one hand to pull the covers up to hide them. Someone was now humming and doing things in her kitchen.
What the bloody hell was going on? Where the hell was she?
She wasn't in Arizona.
She wasn't home in her apartment.
Sheena blinked at the damn light and looked around her. The room was plain as was its furnishings. Her clothing was piled at the bottom of the bed. She did remember removing them, but just barely. At least her exiting lover had been thoughtful enough to pick them up from the floor this morning.
Lover? God, could that be right? Had she actually slept with Nate again after a hundred years of staying away from him?
She remembered lifting her leg over his this morning. Her drawn out groan of embarrassment had a worried man hustling to the door of the room. She blinked at the sight of him and winced.
"Dad?" No, that wasn't right. Her father was dead. Carleton had assured her that his body had been disposed of completely and not taken by the Guardians.
Think, Sheena ordered her mind. Who was the man now watching her?
"Not Dad," Sheena said succinctly, releasing her head to point a finger at the now grinning man. Then all the knowledge came rushing back. "Oh … I remember now. You're Angus, but not a clone."
"Ya got it, lass. And I'm sure yer real da would be proud if he was still here. Four alien ales and yer scientist brain is back up and working this morning. Yer a true McNamara, I have to say. Hang tight and I'll bring ya a cure for the throbbing. I know that's unpleasant."
"Okay. Thank you," Sheena said softly, willing to let someone take charge until she could figure out what was going on.
When her father's mysterious doppelganger disappeared from the doorway, she reached to the bottom of the bed, sorted through the pile of clothing, and tugged yesterday's shirt on to cover herself. She'd deal with the rest of her nudity after her vision cleared and she was sure she could stand up without falling.
"Here comes help," Angus said brightly, bringing in a tray. He perched on the edge of the bed and set the tray beside him. Lifting the smallest glass, he handed it over. "Hair of the dog … otherwise known as a small shot of alien ale … just to level ya out."
Thinking this was a lot like her college days, Sheena snorted over the tiny glass but still lifted it to her lips. She reached for humor to dull her embarrassment. "Will this fix all the shit I stirred up again last night?"
Angus chuckled. "No, just yer throbbing head, I'm afraid. Nothing much helps with the remorse."
Sheena smiled reluctantly as she sipped. "I'm probably going to hate myself for this, but what the hell … " she finally said, tipping the glass to down the contents completely. The fuzziness lifted from her mind nearly instantly. "Actually, that's much better. Thank you, Angus."
"My pleasure," Angus said sincerely. "The effect of the ale seems strongest the first time you overindulge. Here now, drink this one."
Sheena snickered over the slightly larger glass. "What's in this one?"
"Water with bubbles. Good to dilute the ale in yer gut. That way ya won't get tipsy again."
She smiled at the water. "You're pretty well versed in morning after cures."
"I am. For reasons, I won't bore ya with. If yer curiosity gets the best of ya, I'm sure Erin would love to tell ya all about it. God knows the woman has nagged me to become a teetotaler often enough. What kind of horrible life would that be?"
"A horribly sober one?" Sheena quipped, trying to match his smart-ass tone. She'd hoped for a bigger grin, but all she got for her effort was a grunt. At least her savior took her answer in stride and didn't seem offended.
"The tricky part of my cure was translating it to combat alien ale. Thankfully the aliens helped me figure it out. They're mostly a good bunch of lads."
Sheena burst out laughing as she handed the now empty water glass back. She wasn't normal yet, but she could feel normal returning. "You seem like a very adaptable person in lots of ways, Angus."
"I consider that high praise from such an educated woman," Angus teased. "Now here's the last and best part of my cure. This is a cup of freshly brewed tea."