So, here's the next chapter as promised. I am looking forward to the next two or three more to be honest, considering they are waaaaaaay more fun, but we just have to get there. Much appreciation to all of those that story alert, author alert, review me, it means the world to mean to wake up to really great comments in the morning :)

Read, enjoy, review...and on with my latest obsession

He should have known that she'd eventually ask him for a favor; it was almost too easy at the time. He'd known having her answer Gabrielle's call could damage her professional life, but she went ahead and did it anyway; thus, why he should have expected it when she came to ask him for a favor even months later.

"Please Nico? It's not like I'm asking you to kill someone" she huffed; annoyed that she had to keep up with his long stride out onto the field. He'd hoped she'd give up if he walked quickly enough and in close proximity to Donnally, but nothing seemed to be slowing her down.

"By proxy, you are in a way"

"You are not allowed to harm Ray Nico, I thought that was a given"

He looked at her, seeing that stubborn determined gaze focused on him as she told him what he could and couldn't do. He may love this woman, but until she knew that, there was no way she was going to give him rules and regulations.

"I'm sorry, when did I become your son?"

"That's not what I meant-"

"You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do Doctor Santino, I'm an adult"

"Then hear me out like an adult would" she threw at him, both freezing as TK and Matt walked up to them cautiously. He hadn't realized they'd gotten anyone's attention, but she did have a way of making him forget about everything else. TK walked up next to him carefully, staying thankfully silent as Donnally came up on Dani's side, butting into their conversation.

"Is there a reason you're harassing her Nico? In front of the players no less?" he accused, Dani wincing as she saw that same fire in his eyes she'd sparked a few months ago. This was going to deteriorate if Donnally was anywhere near him, but Dani chose to fuel the fire instead.

"Oh Matt, I'm glad I ran into you. I was wondering if-"

"Doctor Santino, make I speak with you a second" he interrupted, getting a glare from Donnally and a sly smile from Dani and TK.

"Sure Nico"

They walked a few yards away, feeling TK and Matt's stares on them the entire time. He knew she was going to ask Mat what she'd asked him, and the thought made his blood boil. He was tired of having to fight with men for her attention, when even she didn't know he was trying to get it.

"Fine, I'll go"

"Oh, don't worry, I'm sure Matt-"

"I said, I'll go. Don't make me take it back"

"Oh, I appreciate it, you have no idea"

"Right, but I can't promise anything"

"Nico…"

"You're inviting me, remember? I'll be civil and charming until I'm given a reason to be otherwise"

"Charming? Oh this is going to be interesting"

"I can be charming Doctor Santino, you've just never had the pleasure of witnessing it"

He has joking with her, but the way her eyes darkened made him think she knew exactly what he was really trying to say. Over the past week, he'd noticed that she paid more attention to what he did and didn't say, and it made him feel closer to her in a way. It was as if she'd taken them being 'friends' to heart and tried to get close to him; he didn't make it easy on her at all, but he was surprised to say she hadn't given up on him yet.

"I believe it, but that still doesn't mean you and Ray should engage at all. That's not what Friday's about"

"Oh right, it's about people butting into your life twenty five years later, pretending as if they care"

"Hey! People are honestly curious Nico, and it's a chance to see old friends again"

"If they were such good friends, you would have kept in touch without the awkwardness of a class reunion"

"Nicoooo" she almost whined, making him quirk his eyebrow at her, now questioning her age.

"Fine, I'll be polite and charming. Happy?"

"Very. I have appointments with a few people today, but we'll talk when you pick me up Friday ok?"

She said this as she walked away from him backwards, leaving him baffled as she did so without falling or stumbling once. For the height of her heels, he surely thought he'd have to pick her up off of the grass in the next minute.

"Sure thing Doctor, whatever I can do" he said dryly, watching the way she rolled her eyes and turned away from him gracefully.

"My name's Dani Nico, start using it!" she yelled over her shoulder, causing him to laugh before he turned back to the field, the smile dropping off of his face immediately. Donnally was making his way towards him and he was fed up with the fickle actions of the athletic trainer. Either he wanted Dani or not, but his indecision was starting to grate on his nerves.

"Where did Dani go? I though she wanted to ask me something?"

"Actually, she was just asking you to get me to agree to something" he stated rather bluntly, unconcerned with Donnally's feelings on the matter. He was a casualty if only just, his ego being the only thing that really took a blow it seemed.

"Dani wouldn't do that, maybe I should call her…"

"Go ahead, but you'll get the same answer. She had something to take care of and she needed a favor from me. Other than that, this really has nothing to do with you"

"If it has to do with Dani, it has to do with me" he answered back, and he didn't even try to hold back the way he rolled his eyes. Sometimes this unwanted attention from him was just pathetic.

"No, it really doesn't. I owe her, so she's collecting. If you'll excuse me"

"Nico, what could she possibly need you for? Is she in trouble?"

"Goobye Mr. Donnally, I'm rather busy today" he said, walking away before he could get another word in. He felt a headache forming right behind his eyes after their brief encounter. This tendency for extra people to add themselves to the equation was getting old fast.

"You and Nico huh? I so saw that coming"

As she walked to sit in her seat, she couldn't help but want to groan in frustration. TK was her last appointment of the day before she had to get ready for her reunion, and she could tell that it was going to be a trying hour. He just sat there staring at her with a smug smile, raising his eyes suggestively as he continued.

"I mean, not to say you and Matty D weren't a bangin' couple, but Nico's way more your speed"

Her head snapped up at this, noting the honesty in TK's observation. It confused her that he had any idea about this, despite that there was no this to begin with.

"TK, Nico and I aren't together"

"Oh ok I get it, you don't want Bitch of the Board to know. Cool beans Doctor D, I don't know nothin"

"Not to be rude, but why are you saying he's more my speed? And Bitch of the Board Terrence, really?"

"Seriously? Nico's used to dealing with all of our shit on a daily basis, and making sure our fuck ups don't make the news. He fixes everything but our personal issues, but that's what he has you for. As for Bitch of the Board, she may be hot as hell, but she don't stand a chance with you around"

She'd never thought of it like that, but it did make sense; she and Nico were used to dealing with the things people got themselves into and were unable to get themselves out of. They were two of a kind in their line of work. The observation about Gabrielle however, surprised her.

"How did you know…?"

"Chicks don't look at a man like that unless they want them, I should know" he said laughing, but stopped at her flat gaze, "there was something there people were sayin', but no one's asking. The way she stares at him during meetings though, it's impossible to deny"

"How do you even know this?"

"Doctor D, I'm hurt; I may not pay attention all of the time, but I do know women"

"Alright Terrence, whatever you say. On that note, how's Vivica?" she asked, laughing as he groaned into a pillow, dropping himself onto the couch in fake agony.

Sitting on her front steps made her feel like a complete loner, but as she saw Nico's car pull up, she was glad no one else was around. Despite fielding TK's questions easily enough, it threw her a bit that Nico and Gabrielle were so obvious. Well, Gabrielle not so much Nico.

"You're just a tad early Mr. Careles" she said teasingly, looking at her watch as he made his way to sit beside her on the stairs.

"There was something I forgot to ask you earlier this week"

"That's what your cell phone is for; to communicate with people. You're on it enough, why not just call?"

He just shrugged carelessly, not willing to reveal that he just wanted to spend a bit more time with her before tonight.

"I realized there was at least…four hours until I was supposed to pick you up at six, but something slipped my mind when you were talking with Donnally"

She looked at her heels sheepishly, aware that he was referencing the way she dangled Matt in front of him. If she knew him better, she'd say he was jealous, but that seemed like something too juvenile even for Nico.

"And that would be…"

"Why exactly am I accompanying you? I understand your ex-husband will be there, but I'm still unsure as to why I'm needed"

"Honestly? I don't want to look like I couldn't move on. It's been six months and I am single. He's already dating some leggy blonde that's not even thirty yet, and I'm alone"

"So, I'm your date, am I assuming this correctly?"

"Well, that was the plan, I just forgot to mention that part to you earlier"

"Fine, I guess that means I have to call you Dani then huh" he asked, his eyes showing amusement as she lightly shoved at his shoulder.

"Yes Nico, that's what it means. You really don't mind doing this?"

"I have no issues, but wouldn't it seem that Donnally was better suited for the role of significant other?"

"If he were single, maybe; if I were still interested, definitely. I'm neither interested nor irked by that so it actually would have made tonight rather awkward"

"If you're sure"

"I am. Can you handle the part of the adoring boyfriend?"

"Can you handle being the object of your boyfriend's" he said, exaggerating the term boyfriend, "desire?"

She had to admit that he had her there. She was willing to play whatever game Nico was willing to pull, and it scared her a bit that she was intrigued by whatever he wanted to do.

"We'll see, won't we Nico?"

"We will Dani, we will"

LIKE? I hope so. Look forward to an update probably Monday, unless the response is super duper amazing that it inspires me to finish Ch. 3 tomorrow afternoon. Not likely since reviews are a privilege and not a right lol, but I do have to use my free time to finally get a hair cut.

*5 months w/o a hair cut is no bueno, I have split ends (like 6) for the first time in my life. I'm very sad, not that anyone cares.