a/n: Hey so this fic is based off the movie Medicine Man. I hope you like it :)

Rain in the rain forest starts without a warning. It just pours down without any consideration for those who might not necessarily want to get wet.

I sighed. Being stuck in the rain forest was not my idea of fun. I was a laboratory scientist, not a field researcher.

The Board of Directors at the Institute had forced me into this, coercing me with promises of new subjects and a research grant.

It'll be easy, they'd said. All you have to do is deliver some equipment to an out of reach scientist.

I'd wondered why no one else had wanted to do it. Delivering equipment didn't seem very difficult after all.

I laughed at my naivety as the native man pushed the large canoe that was carrying us down the lake.

It was pouring here, the rain sopping down all over us, making it difficult to see much.

My guide, the brown-skinned man who was wearing only a cloth around his waist, didn't seem to mind.

"Excuse me," I had to shout to be heard above the rain. "Are we almost there?"

He looked at me, and said something in a language I couldn't even identify.

Well, that's fuckin' helpful. I nodded my head, pretending I had a clue what he was talking about.

I turned to face the front of the canoe. Putting my head in my hands I tried to fight off the tears that were threatening to spill.

I wasn't going to be here long, I reminded myself.

Just long enough to drop off some equipment and make an evaluation of Austin Moon, a field scientist who had been studying the native people of the rain forest for almost five years now.

He was actually a bit of a legend back at the Institute. He'd graduated at the top of his class seven years ago, had been a brilliant researcher heading towards becoming a famous Nobel Prize winner. Five years ago he'd gone out to study the tribes of the Amazon, and had never come back.

A large bump pulled me out of my thoughts. The canoe had hit the shoreline, and my guide was talking. He was signalling something to me. His hands pointed towards my suitcase, and then the woods. I gathered that he wanted me to follow him, so I grabbed my bag and sloshed out into the jungle.

The walk was long and I was tired, tripping over fallen roots and getting bit by huge mosquitoes.

By the time we pulled into a huge clearing that was filled with make shift huts, the sky was a dark black with twinkling stars lighting the way.

Stepping out into the clearing, I gasped aloud.

The people were dancing around a huge bonfire, wearing intricate masks and little clothing.

How the hell was I supposed to find Austin Moon in all of this?

Just as I was about to sit down and fall asleep on my suitcase, a man wearing a huge bird mask came out of the dance.

"Why are you here?"

This was just too much for me. I was exhausted from this trip that I had not wanted to be on in the first place, and now this man was asking me why I was there.

"What do you mean why am I here?" Steam was practically erupting from my ears. "You asked for equipment to be delivered to you. I'm here to deliver."

A strong, tanned arm reached up to pull of the mask, and my eyes popped.

Austin Moon was gorgeous. Drop dead ruggedly, handsome gorgeous.

His face was tan, with a five o'clock shadow darkening it. His blond hair was tousled and messy, as if he had a habit of running his hands through it.

Brown eyes watched me, and my heart stuttered.

For some reason, the fact that he was dangerously attractive only made me angrier.

Then I noticed how he swayed on his feet. He was drunk.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" I shouted. "You're-you're drunk!"

He smirked. "We've just been having a bit of a party. It's sort of a tradition."

I gaped at him in awe. He didn't seem particularly sorry about any of this.

Taking a deep breath, I crossed my arms, trying to remain calm. "I'm Ally Dawson." I waited for recognition to light his features, but I got nothing.

I sighed. "Look, the Institute sent me out here to bring the equipment you asked for, and to evaluate your work."

He looked me up and down. "Well, I sure as hell didn't ask for you to bring my equipment."

That was it. The absolute last straw. "You know what, just give me somewhere to sleep tonight and we can talk in the morning when you're less. . . intoxicated."

He just grinned at my obvious annoyance. "Of course. Somewhere to sleep."

Turning he walked off into the huge crowed without waiting to see if I was following.

Groaning, I lifted my suitcase and followed him.

Austin was humming, and his gait was a bit off. An effect of all the alcohol he'd probably consumed tonight.

"Where are we going?" I stumbled behind him, my suitcase heavy on my back.

He turned, and gave me a look. "Are you always so demanding?"

I sucked in a breath forcing myself to remain calm.

I gave him a twisted smile. "Only when I'm dealing with belligerent idiots."

He raised his eyebrows, but I could see the grin threatening his features.

"Right. Well, here we are."

I dropped my bag at my feet, taking in my surroundings. The hut was small and cozy with two hammock beds side by side, one up against the far wall and one against the back. The back opened up to the jungle, and there was a little research center in the far right corner.

"Who's house is this?" I asked him.

"It's mine." He looked around, his hands in his pocket, as if this was no big deal.

"Excuse me," I said in disbelief. There was no way I was sharing a house with this man for three weeks.

He gave me a crooked grin. "It's easier here, or outside on the ground."

I'm surprised I hadn't spontaneously combusted by this point. Or murdered him.

Swallowing my pride I walked over to the hammock, pulling off my soaking shirt and jeans.

"What are you doing?" Austin's voice was a little deeper.

"My clothes are disgusting." I said over my shoulder. "I'm not wearing them to bed."

He mumbled something I couldn't quite hear, and then walked back out of the hut.

I lay down on the hammock, trying to get comfortable. It was going to be a hell of a long three weeks.