Well I've finally written something again after a huge break. I've struggled so much with writing lately so I apologise if this is complete crap! Anyways this is set straight after season 2. I hope you enjoy - thanks for taking the time to read.

Michelle couldn't believe she had let her friends talk her into this. Tonight was the last night in the world she needed to be going out to the pub with everyone but they wouldn't take no for an answer. Jo and Sarah seemed convinced that dragging her out for some drinks was exactly what she needed right now to take her mind off work.

After she had taken her brother home and got him settled she had headed back to her own apartment and fallen asleep for the rest of the day. She woke to the banging of her friends at her door at 8pm. No longer sleep deprived she did feel better but she wasn't sure she was up for a big night out. On the other hand she was glad to not be sitting on the couch by herself depressed over Tony and the day they had just been through.

They had only been sitting at their table for 20 minutes before a group of men decided to join them. She excused herself from the booth to get some more drinks. The last thing she wanted was to have to make small talk with a group of sleazy men. She stood at the bar for a few moments finishing a glass of wine. She surveyed the room and almost dropped her glass when she spotted Tony in the corner of the pub.

He was face to face with another man and they looked like they were about to kill each other. The other guy was ramming his finger into Tony's chest and shouting in his face. Tony wasn't backing down, he was standing confidently and smirking at the man. After a few seconds Tony grabbed the mans hand and spoke quietly into his ear before pushing him away. Michelle was surprised to see the other man shrink away and leave Tony alone.

She left her glass on the bar and raced over to his side.

"Tony."

He spun around, surprise evident in his eyes. He looked embarrassed to be caught in this state. "Michelle…what are you doing here?"

"I umm…I'm just here with some friends. What just happened with that man?"

Tony dropped his eye contact with her and found his beer on the table. "Nothing…it was nothing."

"Didn't look like nothing. He looked like he wanted to pound you…"

Tony took a sip from his drink and then interrupted her. "Ahhh but he didn't."

"Well are you ok? Why were you fighting with him?"

"It doesn't matter. Just forget it."

Michelle didn't know how to respond, so she didn't, she simply nodded at him. They stood staring at one another for a few moments before finally Tony changed the subject.

"Who are you here with?"

Michelle turned over her shoulder and pointed to her friends who were now in the company of about 10 men. "My girlfriends Sarah and Jo."

Tony's entire body swayed as he leaned over to have a look. "And the group of men would be…"

Michelle could hear the jealousy in his voice and it was even more obvious when he snapped his chair back and sat down skulling his drink. From someone so good at usually keeping his emotions at bay it was strange for Michelle to watch him act so openly. This was the first time she had ever seen him drunk.

"I don't know, they just came over and sat with us. I don't know who they are."

Tony looked away from her and spoke sarcastically. "Sure…"

"What's wrong with you Tony?"

"Nothing is wrong Michelle. Why don't you go back to your friends, it looks like you have got a big night planned."

Michelle sat down on the seat across from him. As much as she knew it was the drink because Tony never spoke to her like this, it didn't hurt any less. "It's not like I'm interested in any of them Tony, I don't even know them. I'd rather know that you are ok."

Tony's dark eyes glared at her. A small smirk crossed his face and he shook his head slowly. "I've told you I am fine…"

"You're drunk Tony."

He looked a little surprised at first and then almost embarrassed. "Is that a problem? I don't have to work tomorrow."

"No, it's not a problem." There was so much else she wanted to say but wouldn't. His defensiveness was rattling her. "Are you here with anyone?"

Tony kept his eyes glued to the table between them. "Dave is still here somewhere, I think."

"How are you going to get home?"

Tony rubbed his neck. "Look Michelle, I can take care of myself." He hated being so cold to her but he was embarrassed at her finding him in this situation and he was having trouble controlling his emotions. Seeing Michelle had come out with her friends and meeting other men had thrown him for six. Then he felt angry with himself for even feeling that way, he couldn't expect she would be at home by herself waiting for him to do something about his feelings.

Michelle leaned forward leaving only a small space between them. "Did I say you couldn't? Would you rather I just left you?"

Tony panicked at the thought of things being left like this between them. "No…..God, I'm sorry Michelle."

Michelle's face softened a little when he apologised. "Do you want to talk Tony?"

He stood up. "No. I want another drink…can I get you anything?"

Michelle stood with him and placed her hand on his arm gently. "Another beer isn't going to make you feel better Tony."

Tony stood shocked. His eyes darted between her hand on his arm and her eyes. She could see straight through him which comforted him as much as it scared him. He knew getting drunk wasn't going to make the last 30 hours any easier to handle but he hadn't known what else to do. He was finding it impossible to keep his emotions inside, he could feel himself starting to shake. She was waiting for him to say something but he was lost for words. No pathetic excuse was going to cut it with Michelle and he didn't have the strength to be defensive with her anymore.

Michelle couldn't believe how torn Tony looked. To anyone else he might have looked angered beyond belief but she could see that it was pain radiating through his eyes. She raised her other hand to his arm. "It's ok Tony…"

Without thinking anymore, Tony reached both of his hands up and cupped her face before leaning forward and kissing her, much like she had done with him in the early hours of the morning. He pushed himself up against her backing her body into the wall. He was hungry to taste her, hold her and feel her arms around him.

Her hands raised and then dropped back to his shoulders in shock. His stubble scratched her face and his strength kept her pinned tightly against the wall. He opened her mouth with his lips and deepened the kiss. Michelle's legs went weak as he trailed his hands around her neck. No one had ever kissed her with so much intensity before, no one had held her with so much desire - it was the most passionate kiss she could have ever imagined.

Tony ran his lips across her cheek and closed them around her earlobe. The sound of her panting made him suck on her neck even harder. He stopped when he heard her whisper his name. He pulled back slightly so that their faces were only an inch apart.

Through short, heavy breaths Tony apologised. "I'm so sorry Michelle. I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you…"

Michelle stopped him by placing her finger across his lips. "It's ok…"

Tony shook his head. "No, it's not. I had…"

Michelle kissed his lips gently to quieten him before kissing his cheek. As she did this she wrapped her arms around his neck and began to pull him back into her. Tony fell into her embrace throwing his arms around her waist closing any space left between them. They both gripped on to each other as they hugged and Tony realised how much he had needed this. He felt so good in her arms, this was the feeling he had been searching for and now more then ever he understood that Michelle was the only one that could make him feel this way. He didn't want to let her go, he could feel her hand so softly stroking the back of his head and her voice was so gentle in his ear. "I'm here Tony. Everything is going to be ok, I promise."

Michelle wasn't going to break the hug, she would hold him for as long as he needed to be held. With their chests pressed so tightly together she could feel his heart racing and hear him trying to take long deep breaths. After a couple of minutes Tony pulled back to look her in the eyes. "Thank you."

Michelle nodded her head and smiled shyly. She wanted to be able to do so much more for him but she didn't know what. Out of the corner of her eye she could see who she guessed was Tony's friend Dave approaching them. Once Tony saw him too they both began to separate until they were standing side by side.

Dave grinned at Michelle and said hello before turning his attention to Tony. "I'm going to take Julia home, will you be right Tony?"

Tony put his hand out to shake Dave's. "I'll be fine. Have a good night."

Dave gave Tony a cheeky smile before turning away. "Oh I will."

As Tony turned back to Michelle he swayed from side to side and had to grab the chair to steady himself. Michelle held his arm. "Come on Tony, I'll share a cab with you."

Tony smiled. He knew Michelle was worried about him and wanted to make sure he got home safely and he appreciated her subtle way of going about it. He wanted to do a lot more than share a cab with her but he decided this was a good start. He nodded his head and excused himself to go to the bathroom first. Michelle told him she would say goodbye to her friends and meet him at the door.

She watched him struggle to the men's room before heading back over to Sarah and Jo who were now both engrossed in conversation with just a few of the men. She leaned over the back of the couch between them and explained that she had met up with Tony and was going to share a cab with him home. They both looked over their shoulders in time to see Tony trying to make his way to the front door. He used just about every chair in sight to steady himself and stopped many times just to keep his balance.

Sarah took Michelle's hand. "Ok, he is gorgeous, but he is really drunk Chelle."

"I know, that's why I am going with him, I want to make sure he is ok." She didn't bother mentioning that she couldn't bare the thought of having to say goodbye to him.

"I saw him kiss you Chelle. Are you sure you are going to be ok?"

Michelle smiled. "Don't worry Sare. Have a good night, ok?"

Michelle said goodbye quickly before rushing back over to Tony who was now bent over with his hands on his knees. She trailed her hand across his back to get his attention. "Are you alright? Ready to go?"

Tony was cursing himself for drinking so much. He couldn't believe how much trouble he was having focusing on everything, no matter what he did he couldn't make the world stop spinning. He stood up and took her hand. "Ready."

It only took a moment to hail a cab and before they knew it they were almost at Tony's. He had held Michelle's hand tightly the entire way. He didn't want Michelle to leave him, although in his condition he could understand if she couldn't get away fast enough.

As they slowed down at Tony's apartment Michelle went to pay the driver but Tony told her to put her money away as he handed the driver more than enough to cover the fare. Michelle slid out of the taxi behind him and held on to his arm. He felt so relieved that she had gotten out as well.

"Michelle you don't have to do this…"

She laughed. "Are you going to even try and tell me you don't need my help getting up that lot of stairs?"

He looked at the steep climb and then back at Michelle as she continued to giggle. "No, I doubt I could even convince myself."

As they climbed the stairs together, Michelle worried about Tony. She didn't want to leave him like this tonight. It wasn't that he was so drunk, it was that she knew he shouldn't be alone right now. There should be someone there to look after him and hold him and she wanted to be that person.

She helped him with his keys and opening the door. Before she had a chance to say anything he had taken her hand and pulled her inside.