Alright, I think this chapter was needed to get to the end...with that being said, my story means my characters. If you disagree just because you like certain people, please respect my story because that's how I've chosen to write it. I have the ending already written, so review this and let me know how you think I'll end it, or what you think I could do for another story.

This chapter and the final chapter were actually inspired by some fan vids on youtube, so please go check them out. One of the songs on repeat was "Under Control" by Parachute and another is "Smile" by Avril Lavigne. Enjoy! and on with the show...

Having to work on a Saturday was never a perk, but Dani found herself in an amazing mood as she made her way into the stadium to meet with Coach and everyone to assure them TK was doing better. She'd decided that since she couldn't hide Nico's bite mark, she would wear something that made him do a double take. She decided on a button down blouse in a dark purple with black dress slacks and black heels. She knew her top would draw attention south with the one button undone, so she wore earrings that dangled so he'd focus solely on her neck. She knew that Nico was a man of his word, so whatever he decided on, she'd probably look like a fish out of water if he has his way. Who could blame her, the man is gorgeous.

As she rounded the corner to the hallway of the conference room, Nico appeared out of nowhere and pulled her into an empty room just a few doors down from the meeting. She squeaked as he shut the door behind him, pinning her to the door with his body and smiling down at her. She had to keep herself from drooling when she saw that Nico was in black jeans, a black blazer, and a deep crimson dress shirt that make the bite on his neck seem that much more pronounced. She ran her fingers over the bruise, feeling him shiver as her nails scraped gently at his skin.

"Good morning Dr. Santino"

"Morning Nico. Any reason you kidnapped me this morning?"

"Oh, just to see you before the meeting. I was afraid you'd forget to close your mouth when you saw me, and we couldn't have Coach repeating himself because I was a distraction, now could we?" he said, placing a tender kiss on her forehead before she could reply.

"Oh yeah? Or, you decided to see what I was wearing so you could keep your eyes north of my necklace"

"That's a possibility, and if I do say so, you are an exquisite woman in purple"

He played with her earrings that dangled, brushing her bruise with ever pass of his finger. She knew they'd be late, but couldn't help getting the upper hand for now. Opening the door now that he moved away was easier, but she stopped in the doorway as he took in her entire figure, his gaze heated as their eyes met.

"Since you think I'll be distracted during our briefing, let's see how much control you have today…" as she finished speaking, she undid two more buttons that made it just barely professional for work, but did its job in getting Nico to swallow his tongue as she backed out of the room and headed for the meeting, hearing him catch up just before the door. As she walked before him to her chair and him in the corner he mumbled,

"Tease" and kept walking, Dani barely being able to contain her laughter at the look of frustration and lust in his stare from across the table bumped into Matt literally, wiping the smile off her face.

"Hey Doc. You seem to be in a good mood" he asked in a strained voice, making it that much more awkward.

"Yeah I am, thanks for asking"

As she tried to side step him, he got a look at her shirt and his eyes instantly glued to her chest, making Nico on the other side of the room irritated as his eyes shot daggers at his head. As Matt looked back up, he noticed the bruise on her neck and, without permission, grabbed her neck and tilted her head thinking she was hurt. She tried to get out of his grasp, and her struggle had Nico ready to cross the room in an instant, but they made eye contact and she let him know she was ok. As her guilty stare met Matt's angry one, TK waltzed in.

"Matt, that's something you do in private man" he joked, and it snapped Matt out of his trance as he let her go, his anger rising as TK's joke hit a sore spot, "Coach is gonna be late by the way. Traffic"

"What happened Dani?" he asked accusingly, and she winced at his tone.

"Dude, what's up-"

"Shut up TK, I wasn't talking to you"

Nico and TK gave each other a look, TK's being a confused look and Nico's being a guarded one.

"Matt"

"Nico, I didn't ask you either. Dani, what's this?" he said as he brushed his finger over the bruise, Dani flinching back at the palpable anger his words held.

"Look Matt-"

"What happened to keeping things professional?"

"Matt, calm down"

"Don't tell me to calm down, you told me you wanted something different. Was that a quick fuck and not a relationship?"

"We weren't going anywhere"

"Right and you're just here for work. Let's not fuck the trainers and players ok Dani?"

Dani recoiled at his words as if he hit her, Nico already having removed his jacket and coming closer to the pair. He didn't like this other side to Matt, especially towards Dani.

"Cool it, take a seat Matt"

"For the last time Nico-"

He stopped dead in his tracks as he noticed a similar bruise on the right side of Nico's neck as well, almost hidden by the collar of his crimson shirt. He just looked back and forth between the two of them as TK took a seat, missing a huge chunk of the puzzle. Matt seemed to be furious, knowing that not only was his attempt at a rebound was shot, she was picked up by Nico of all people.

"You fucked my…" Matt let his sentence stop, not knowing what to call Dani anymore.

""I didn't do anything" Nico responded calmly.

"Then what the fuck is that Nico, makeup?"

"Look Matt…"

"You knew I liked her asshole, and you went after her anyway. It's not all on you though; she was too weak to resist the great Nico Careles"

"Fuck you Matt, it's not all about you and you're ego. I get you want to make management, but cut the power trip"

At this point, TK came to Nico's right, just to the left of Matt just in case things got bad. He had a feeling that if Matt didn't end up swinging, Nico surely would.

"Go ahead Careles, have my sloppy seconds. She's only trying to fuck her way to the top, watch out TK; you're probably next for women like her"

Up until this point, Dani was speechless, until Nico lunged for Matt, just barely missing him when TK grabbed him and sat him in the closest chair to cool off. Nico kept trying to get past him, but Dani put her hand on his arm and he stopped fighting them, his anger only minimally subsiding.

"Oh, so now you have a bitch for outside the stadium, and one on the team, bravo" Matt commented as he sarcastically clapped his hands.

At this, TK turned and swing his fist until it connected with Matt's nose. They heard a sickening crunch as Matt hit the floor, blood pouring everywhere and starting to get the attention of people around the office. At that very moment was when Coach Purnell decided to make an appearance. TK knew he was in for it, but the stuff Matt was saying about Dani of all people was unacceptable.

"Fuck you TK, and fuck you too Nico. You'll disappoint her first chance you get and she'll come crawling back to me"

"You're a bastard Donnally, go get your nosed fixed before it starts competing for space with your ego. I won't disappoint her; you were never worth her time to begin with"

"Alright that's enough!" Coach bellowed, everyone turning and remembering he was in the room.

"Donnally, go to the hospital. TK, go see a trainer for your hand"

Just as Nico and Dani were making their escape, Coach yelled at them to stop.

"And where do you think you two are going? Sit! I want the entire story now"

They reluctantly turned back towards Coach, sitting in chairs next to one another at the table as he sat across from them.

"Well? I don't have all day"

"You see sir…" Nico began, relaying the last twenty or so minutes and sat back as he tried to process the entire ordeal. Coach's mouth kept opening and closing before leaning forward and staring at them.

"So, are the two of you involved?"

"Yes" they said in unison, smiling slightly at the other one as he looked at them skeptically.

"With all due respect, Matt's lucky all he has is a broken nose" Nico says dangerously, feeling Dani's hand on his arm again to tell him to relax.

"Nico…"

"Sir, I can have him taken out of the professional athletic world in this state, the ones surrounding us, and a few others. The nose is the least of his problems if he ever comes near Dani again the way he did today"

Coach looked surprised at that, momentarily forgetting why Nico works for them.

"Dr. Santino, is all of this true?"

"Yes" she replies shortly, needing to get out of the stadium as soon as possible.

"Check the tapes, it's all there" Nico threw in.

"Nico, Matt's an important part of this team-"

"If he's more important than her safety, her well being, and the mental health of the players you've sent to her; I'd be happy to find another organization"

"You wouldn't" Coach said, not believing that Nico would really go work for another team.

"You seem to forget that I work for the owner, and I can ask him what he'd prefer. Dani helped TK, and he's still getting better. If we can't even keep Matt from flying off the handle at the thought of a relationship between us, then this is no longer going to work for me"

"Fine, I'll see if I can pull some strings, get him to go to another team willingly, before having to result to…other tactics" he agreed reluctantly, more concerned with having them on his side than going against them.

"Thank you, we'll see you Monday"

Once Coach dismissed them, a still shell shocked Dani walked to her car ignoring Nico the whole way. As she got in, the only thing he got from her was,

"I'm going home. Don't follow, I'm fine. Just give me a little time today" and with that, she drove off. He stood in the parking lot looking after her car long after he'd lost sight of it, knowing that she was putting space between them. Space left room for communication issues, and he knew she was too important for him to leave her alone for long. He'd started to grow attached to her, and that was the most surprising thing of this entire ordeal; he was forming roots and bonds, two things he'd never thought he'd have until Dani Santino fell into his life and, it seems, his heart.

Hey, Matt's my bad guy! Don't get all upset if you like him, this is just what worked for me. Review and look forward the very last chapter next!