Lost

Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. I wish they did - oh, how I wish they did...
Please note: I have changed canon here.

Arcane was irrepressible. The bug laid him low for all of two days: on the third he began to agitate to get up, despite being far from well, and Graham was hard put to wheedle him into remaining in bed. Appealing to his vanity, the assistant thought, may help...
     'Sir, you still look like death warmed over. You really need another few days to recuperate properly. You should take this chance to rest, too. You know you hardly ever stop working.'
     Arcane gazed at him, expression suddenly bleak, and Graham could have kicked himself. The Doctor had spent the last seven years working to restore Tatania - it had been his entire raison d'être - and now she was gone... Would he still be able to work?
     Of course he would, Graham reassured himself. An intellect as powerful as Arcane's couldn't be stalled for long by human emotions like grief, no matter how strong. He rested his hand on a thin shoulder.
     'I'll get you something to eat.'

Arcane stared after him as he left the room. He'd never been so well looked after - certainly not by his mother, the insane old bat! - and he wasn't too sure whether he liked it or found it disturbing. It certainly seemed to making Graham happy, though, fussing like some mother hen. Little twerp should have been born a woman...
     Woman. That was what he needed. Something warm and soft and sweet-smelling to take his mind off his misery. If it was blonde and beautiful too, so much the better.
     He shifted uncomfortably as the thought caused an instant physical reaction. When was the last time he'd had a woman? Couldn't have been that long ago; three weeks perhaps? He'd been laid up for at least one week, and he always stayed chaste for a week before his - their - wedding anniversary, out of respect for Tatania's memory.
     But Tatania was gone, truly gone. She'd never be coming back. And he had to face that, and find a way to continue.
     Work. Yes. Work, and a woman or ten. Good, solid distractions, that would do the trick.
     A woman... he slid a hand down to his groin, teasing himself, giving a small shiver as he imagined the hand belonging to someone else. Preferably someone with tanned skin and silky golden hair... he closed his eyes with a small groan as his other hand slid downwards almost of its own volition, fondling, stroking lightly then increasing the pressure, his back arching, head pressed against the pillows as the tunnel of his fingers moved faster, more urgently over his erection as the other hand cupped his balls, squeezing gently. With a quiet cry he came, trembling as his entire body tensed then slowly relaxed...
     From the doorway Graham, wide-eyed and aroused, watched as his Doctor pleasured himself, wanting nothing more than to join him and help, imagining his hands around Arcane's flesh, his body pressed closely to the Doctor's... He shook himself, not sure whether to be shocked at his own reaction, then backed silently away. Arcane would kill him if he thought he'd been watching...
     He retreated as far as the open elevator, closed then opened the doors, trying to make as much noise as possible. Arcane glanced lazily at him as he reached the bed, and placed the tray in his hands on the bedside table.
     'What culinary delights do I have to suffer today?'
     Graham helped the Doctor sit up and piled pillows at his back, then opened the legs of the lap-tray, settling it over Arcane's thighs.
     'I thought you might like something from home, sir. I made roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.'
     Arcane shuddered, dreading to think how much of a mess Graham had managed to make of the meal, but was pleasantly surprised when the cover was lifted from the plate. The beef was nicely rare, the potatoes decently browned and crispy, the vegetables looked firm and fresh, and the Yorkshire puddings actually looked like Yorkshire puddings.
     Of course, the appearance didn't give any clues as to the taste, but it was a promising start.
     ''Well, this all looks splendid, Graham.'
     'Thank you, sir.' Graham grinned widely, treasuring the compliment. He pulled out a small glass jar from his pocket. 'I even found some horseradish sauce. I remember you said you should always have horseradish sauce with roast beef...'
     Arcane had said that - five years ago in passing. Did Graham remember everything he'd ever said?
     He cut a small piece of the beef, lifting it to his mouth and slowly savouring the taste. As close to perfect as made no difference.
     'Graham, you have outdone yourself. This is truly delicious.' He smirked to himself as his assistant flushed a deep red and stuttered incoherently with pleasure. 'Perhaps I should add the duty of personal chef to your job description.'
     'Yes please, sir.'
     Arcane raised an eyebrow.
     'It was a joke, Graham.'
     Graham's face fell.
     'Oh. OK sir.'
     'Though, if you feel inclined to cook every now and then, I won't object. As long as it doesn't interrupt your real duties.'
     'Oh no - I wouldn't let it do that.'
     'Very good. I don't suppose you brought a bottle of wine with you?'
     'Well no sir... do you think you ought to, still being ill and all?'
     'Undoubtedly not, but when has that ever stopped me?'
     Graham eyed him a little nervously, then sighed.
     'OK sir. I'll be back in a minute.'
     Arcane continued eating pensively, relishing the meal. It really was rather good: Graham had gone to a lot of trouble with it. He obviously still had unplumbed depths.
     And Arcane appreciated good food. It was far too rare in this misbegotten country.
     Graham arrived back as he was finishing, and proffered a bottle of five-year-old cabernet sauvignon - nothing special, but certainly good enough, and a pleasant end to a thoroughly pleasant meal.
     'That'll do nicely. Will you take a glass?'
     Graham's jaw dropped slightly, and he blinked.
     'Um... thanks, sir... yeah, I'd like that.'
     Arcane poured two and handed one to his assistant.
     'Bottoms up, old man.'
     Graham nearly choked, then caught himself as he remembered the term as being a British toast...
     'Cheers, sir.'
     Wine was not Graham's drink of choice. It had a tendency to go straight to his head. He drained the glass, feeling the warmth immediately curl low in his belly, and sat himself, a little heavily, on the edge of the bed, grinning at his Doctor. Arcane eyed him ruefully.
     'Not much of a head for wine, Graham.'
     Head... Graham shivered and resolutely forced himself to think of microbes... 'No sir. Sorry sir.'
     'Oh, don't apologise. More for me.' Arcane poured himself another glass, then regarded Graham appraisingly, the wine mellowing his mood. Funny little sod, but so very devoted. Not the most handsome of men either, but not altogether bad-looking. Nice eyes - when he wasn't wearing those stupid sunglasses. Soft mouth, full lips... pity about the hair - lack of it, rather. Though Arcane rather suspected he had enough on his body to make up for the balding head, if what could be seen under his open collar was anything to go by...
     Hm. Trim figure too. Slim and nicely proportioned.
     He shook himself. This was getting silly. He obviously really needed a woman if he'd started considering Graham as anything more than a last resort.
     Woman... his mood deflated as he remembered Tatania's last words, and the little trollop with her face...
     'If only I hadn't had you dispose of the other one. At least she looked like Tatania...'
     There was a tense silence, then Graham lowered his eyes.
     'Um... I didn't, sir.'
     'What?'
     '... I let her go...' Graham flinched, waiting for the outburst. It never came. He looked up cautiously, to see Arcane frowning pensively. A moment later the Doctor had caught his face in both hands.
     'Graham, you're brilliant. Where is she?'
     Startled, Graham smiled. 'Um, New Orleans, I think. She said something about going back to her old life.'
     'Did she indeed...'
     Graham nodded.
     'I kinda thought it was all she knew, and she thought she was good at it. She even said she could make you forget your wife.'
     Arcane's expression hardened, and Graham's heart sank. In the rush of pleasure at knowing he'd pleased Arcane he'd said too much...
     'Did she indeed... I think, when I'm fully recovered, you and I should take a weekend's break.' He settled back in the bed. 'I am going to take a nap. Find us a decent hotel in New Orleans, and book two rooms. For... oh, the weekend after next? And find out where 'Miss Kitty Lane' is now working...'

It was a club like any other in the city, dark, smoky, loud and overpriced. Arcane looked around himself with revulsion, opting for a table at the rear of the room. At least there was waitress service...
     Graham ordered for them both, beer for himself and brandy for the Doctor, since the place didn't run to wine. Arcane took a sip and nearly choked.
     'This is revolting! Do they make it themselves?'
     'Shh, sir. Don't want to upset the natives.'
     And indeed several less than savoury characters had heard, and were glowering at the pair. Discretion being the better part of valour, Arcane lowered his head and shut up.
     Luckily they hadn't long to wait. Four minutes later the announcer introduced Tatania St Clair... Graham glanced worriedly at Arcane. The Doctor was staring fixedly at the figure on the small dais, his expression absolutely livid. Graham laid a hand on his arm.
      'Doctor Arcane?'
     'That loud mouthed whore desecrates the memory of my wife.' Arcane's snarl was vicious. He'd said the same when ordering Graham to dispose of her - but this was far worse. Graham couldn't imagine what it must feel like for Arcane to see the image of his adored wife dancing half-naked to the catcalls and lewd comments of these vulgar club patrons...
     'She defiles Tatania's name... This is unbearable. I've got to get out of here.' Arcane pulled himself to his feet and staggered from the club, Graham following as fast as he could. Outside, Arcane was leaning against the wall, arms wrapped around his belly and looking very much as though he had been kicked in the stomach. Graham slid an arm across his shoulders.
     'Doctor?'
     Arcane was ashen, gasping for breath: he gripped Graham's arm harshly.
     'That... unspeakable...' For probably the first time in living memory Arcane was lost for words. He managed to drag himself upright, using Graham as a support, and leaned his head back against the wall, eyes closed in anguish.
     'Sir?'
     'She'll pay for that, Graham. She'll pay dearly...'

Graham waited apprehensively outside the back door of the club as one by one the dancers left. Finally Kitty stepped through, calling back a 'g'night' in her lazy southern drawl.
     'Miss Erlinson?'
     'It's St Clair now.' She grinned at him - the grin faltering as she realised who he was. 'What d'you want?'
     'Doctor Arcane wants to talk to you.'
     She shook her head.
     'You said he wants to kill me!'
     ''Not any longer. Please, come with me? It'll be worth your while.'
     She frowned, considering, but Graham had, after all, helped her escape the complex when he'd been ordered to... 'dispose' of her.
     'Y'promise it'll be OK?'
     Graham nodded, and she took his arm.
     'Then y'can escort me, sugah...'

Arcane was sprawled on the king-sized bed, barefoot, tunic-top open to mid-chest, seemingly relaxed, when they entered the luxurious suite. He eyed Kitty with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
     'Hello my dear.'
     She swallowed nervously.
     'H... hello Doctor.'
     He patted the bed beside him.
     'Come and sit with me.'
     'What you gonna do?'
     He affected surprise.
     'Do? Why, nothing, my sweet. I simply wished to see you again.' He inclined his head. 'Graham tells me that you offered to make me forget my wife - the wife whose face and body you wear.'
     'I didn't mean no harm, Doctor.'
     Arcane's voice lowered to a purr.
     'Of course you didn't, my dear. But I wondered, do you think you could really fulfil that promise?'
     She stared at him, then gave the tiniest shake of her head.
     ''No...'
     'Really? I'm disappointed.' He affected a melancholic expression and lowered his gaze. 'I had such hopes...'
     Kitty glanced back at Graham, who was watching impassively, then returned her gaze to Arcane. She laid a hand tentatively on his thigh.
     'You're lonely?'
     He sighed melodramatically.
     'Oh, so very lonely...'
     A little reassured she slipped off her coat and crept closer, one hand sliding up his thigh to his groin and resting there. He settled back a little, allowing her greater access, and she smiled.
     'Poor baby... let me make it better for you...'

Graham watched from the bedside, unblinking, eyes huge and erection an aching torment pressing against the inside of his trousers. Kitty was now sitting in Arcane's lap, impaled on his cock as the Doctor thrust viciously up into her, fucking her for the second time that night, his lips around one nipple as he suckled hard, her head thrown back, eyes closed and teeth gritted. She winced as Arcane bit her.
     'Gently, honey. Not so hard.'
     Arcane growled and bit the other nipple, and she yelped.
     'Don't presume to give me orders, you little tart.'
     Suddenly frightened, she tried to push away from him, but he held her tightly to him, pushing them both over so she was trapped under him.
     'Please...'
     'Please what?' He sucked hard on her neck, and she shivered, torn between fear and lust.
     'Please don't hurt me...'
     He paused, gazing down into frightened eyes.
     'Hurt you? Oh, I hadn't planned to do anything so coarse. Although come to think of it, the idea is very tempting...' He rammed home again, and she whimpered. 'I tell you what - when we're finished, Graham here will fuck you, and then you can go. How does that sound?'
     Her voice shook. 'It sounds good, Doctor.' She winced as he thrust again, then gritted her teeth, wrapped her legs around his waist, and just hung on waiting for him to finish.
     Graham stared, unable to believe what he'd heard, breathless with lust. He'd seen the semen oozing from the woman's cunt after the first fuck: there'd be more this time.
     Arcane's semen. Graham shivered. Arcane's semen would ease his passage, mingle with his own when he came... oh god... he nearly came at the thought of it...
     Arcane growled as he thrust one last time and held still, lean buttocks tensing in orgasm. He twisted to bite a nipple, and Kitty whimpered but deemed it safer to lie still. The Doctor slumped heavily over her body, catching his breath for a few moments, then pulled out roughly and turned to Graham with a feral grin.
      'Come on, old chap. Clothes off.'
      Graham clumsily dragged his clothing off, too eager to be inside the woman to feel embarrassed at being naked in front of Arcane, and scrambled onto the bed. Kitty gazed up at him with resignation and opened her legs: he almost swooned at the sight, the swollen pink flesh of her labia and the thick creamy jism seeping from that musky slit... Almost tenderly he eased himself into her cunt, licking at her nipples, trying to imagine the body below him was Arcane's...
      The thought brought him up short, and he paused - but lust took over and he began to fuck her, ramming into the slippery channel hard and fast as she tried not to wince.
      He cried out as he came, emptying himself into her, gasping and closing his eyes as the image of Arcane filled his inner vision...
      The hand rubbing his lower back brought him back to himself.
     'Well, Graham, that was quite a show. But I do believe our guest would like to leave now.'
      Graham dragged himself back to the present, gazing blearily down at Kitty who was looking up at him with an expression somewhere between gratitude and loathing. He slid out of her and rolled onto his side.
      'Um... thank you?'
      She bit back a sob.
      'Not like Ah had much choice...'
      Arcane eyed her with contempt.
      'Whining is so unattractive. Consider yourself lucky you still have all your limbs. And you will get your face changed, or I will do it for you, and you will not like the results.'
      She nodded fearfully and groped for her clothing, backing out of the room as fast as she could and closing the door quietly behind her. Arcane stared after her for a moment, then collapsed onto the edge of the bed and sunk his head into his hands. Graham knelt beside him, hand gripping his shoulder.
      'Sir? You OK?'
     'No, of course I'm not OK!' Arcane snarled, glaring at his assistant before suddenly slumping, expression vulnerable and forlorn. 'Tatania... I've lost her, Graham. Nothing will ever bring her back.'
      His shoulders shook as he buried his face in his hands, and, heart aching, all Graham could do was offer silent support...