This story was originally going to end there and you'd get like a small blurb in the next story. However, I considered Podie1's request and since there were a few 'scenes' in my head. I thought I'd continue on. This series does actually have a layout and the rest of this particular story is now an addition.

So this is for Podie1, who is my most loyal reviewer!

The Antagonist (Epilogue)

Captain Deakins was normally a calm and collected person who rarely lost his temper but he was hitting the edge today. A storm was a brewing and officers and detectives alike were minding their own business staying out his way. The only one who couldn't avoid him was Detective Barek and that's because her partner wasn't there, and as soon as Detective Eames arrived she'd be in serious trouble.

Alex was late. It hadn't been her fault, she stayed up most of the night with Mike in the ER (but Deakins didn't know about that yet) and then when she'd taken him home she'd fallen asleep with him and there had been no pre-programmed alarm to wake her up at the right time. Mike had apparently 'accidentally' switched it off. Then there was her head injury giving her the headache the size of a State and she wasn't exactly in a good mood herself when she realised she was late.

She rushed into the squadroom, almost colliding with the double doors. Her partner looked concerned but amused at her tardiness. She had just reached her desk when she could hear Deakins yelling at her to get into his office. Alex physically and mentally cringed. This wasn't going to be good. Bobby offered her a smile for good luck and she accepted it before gathering her strength and boldy walking into her Captain's office.

Once in, he indicated for her to close the door, which she promptly did. Watching his face she could tell his mood was awful and his temper would be easily strikeable. Despite that she moved further into the room because Alex was the brave one. So she kept telling herself, so now was the time to prove it. "Alex, what the hell is going on?" His tone of voice was one of those I'm-not-in-the-mood-so-don't-mess-with-me ones.

Alex wasn't sure as to what he was referring to but the only thing she knew about was that she was late. "I'm sorry I'm late. I overslept." Deakins didn't look impressed. "There is a good reason for that."

"Alex, I'm referring to Logan." He told him, still angry but his voice tone lower. Alex screwed up her face into a frown, he knew about that? "I want to know why Robert Harris now has multiple injuries that weren't there yesterday." Alex's frown disappear and was replaced with realisation as she considered what had happened. "Including a broken jaw, multiple fractured ribs, a fracture in his ankle... should I go on?"

Alex shook her head slightly. "Sir, you should know that Mike didn't go after him." She wanted to defend him, and she felt that this was her only chance.

"Oh? Because Harris' injuries say otherwise!"

"Harris came to see Mike at his apartment. Mike has fractured ribs as well. I spent most of the night in ER with him." She told him, making sure that he understood. Despite how upset she felt inside her voice was calm and steady. "If you don't believe me you should see his apartment. Harris may be worse off but it wasn't Mike who started it. It's not like Mike called him and asked him to come over to be beaten up."

Deakins sighed and sat in his chair as he felt that fact hit him. "So, Harris went to Logan?" Deakins asked, and Alex nodded. Deakins rubbed his eyes in frustration. After a few moments of silence he said, "Unfortunately nobody is going to believe Logan."

"Then I guess it's a good thing that I told Mike not to touch anything." Alex told him with a small smile. "Harris didn't wear gloves." she added when Deakins looked at her with curiosity.

"Are you saying you want to turn his home into a crime scene?" Deakins asked, not really knowing if that would work.

"If that's what it takes to prove it then yes!" She told him, her confidence showing and her determination was not held back. Deakins couldn't help but admire it that's why she was a great cop.

"What about Logan? How is he?" Deakins asked after he nodded his approval for her plan of action.

"He's in alot of pain and with good reason." Alex said and then she sat down opposite Deakins. "Captain, I know that he hasn't been here a year yet and that he hasn't always had a good record but..."

Deakins held up his hand to stop her. "Alex, you don't have to do that. He's a member of my squad and he's done exemplary work since he's been here. We'll protect him." Alex smiled and nodded, that was what she needed to hear.

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Alex had been given a key by Mike so that he didn't have to get up to open the door for her or buzz her in. Alex had been told to go in first to get Mike some stuff together so that he was ready when CSU arrived, which would be in minutes so Alex had to be super fast. She opened his door and started heading for his bedroom and stopped when she saw Mike in his kitchen, seemingly reaching for something. "Mike, what are you doing?" She asked, walking over to him. "You're supposed to be resting? They call it bed rest for a reason!"

"I wanted a coffee!" he groaned, "And now I'm cursing myself for having high cupbards!" he was clutching to his ribs as if he were in agony. Looking at her he said, "These hurt more than they did yesterday."

"Have you taken your medicine?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Mike shook his head, that was the answer she expected. Alex sighed, shaking her head. "Mike, we have to go."

"Go?" He asked, confused. "You're not sending me back to bed?" Alex shook her head, unintentionally smiling at the way he made an innocent sentence sound not so innocent.

"CSU is on it's way here." She told him and he looked even more confused. "It seems that Harris beat you to the punch. This is the only way to prove that he came here." She walked away from him and went into his bedroom, quickly grabbing some stuff together, and his medicine, shoving them into a bag

Mike didn't follow her, he knew that by the time he'd have caught up with her she'd already be on her way back out. She did within two minutes and she smiled at him. "So where are we going? Yours?" Alex nodded, they could hear sirens in the distance.

"Let's go." She watched him as he looked pained trying to move. "Are you gonna be okay?"

Mike nodded, "As long as we take the elevator." Alex smiled and walked over to him, wordlessly offering for him to lean on her. He did so and together they walked out of his apartment just as CSU were walking into the building.

When they reached her home, Alex had already received a call from Deakins telling them that they'd found three sets of fingerprints on the scene, hers, Mikes and Harris'. The latter being the jackpot. It was the evidence they'd needed and that's all that mattered. It was upto Deakins to get that evidence across to the chief of D's so that he knew who had sought out who and who instigated the fight. Alex's job was to make sure Mike was okay.

Standing in her kitchen she was making him that coffee he'd spent ages trying to attain in his own kitchen, unsuccessfully. "So, how long do you think they're gonna be there?" He asked her, as she poured the hot water into two mugs.

She shrugged, "Probably a few days. They'll preserve the scene for a while just in case." she told him, although she wasn't really sure how long Deakins intended to keep a hold of his home. "You can stay here though. It's okay." She held out a mug for him and waited as he gingerly sat down on the chair. Once he was sat down he took the offered drink and sighed as he reveled in its warmth. "After you have that you should go to bed!" she sounded like she was giving him a direct order to which he raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah, I'm telling you what to do."

"I guess I'll be alright then." He told her with a smirk. "With Nurse Alex taking care of me!"

Alex snorted, "I'm not wearing a nurses uniform."

Mike looked disappointed. "Damn!" he muttered, and then grinned at her. She shook her head telling him that her answer was still no. Alex took her drink and sat down on the chair next to him. He watched her as she did so. She could tell he was watching so she mouthed 'what?'. He smiled, "I know I was on meds last night but I meant what I said."

She smiled, "I meant it too."

He grinned at her and added, "I really wanted to prove it to you last night." He laughed, "But I..." he looked down as his tightly wrapped up ribs.

"It's okay." she smiled, "Besides I'd rather wait 'til you're at your best!" she said with a grin.

Mike chuckled and suddenly felt excited. "Well, that's the best incentive I've ever had to get better soon!" Alex laughed and although Mike wanted to laugh as much as she, he didn't want to hurt his ribs so he held his laugh back as best as he could.

Alex nodded in agreement. "It does beat a Hallmark card."

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Alex had had to go back to work despite the fact that she wanted to stay with Mike. Seeing as how Deakins had been in a bad mood she knew not to try her luck. Whilst she had been there everyone had come up to her wanting a report on how well Mike was. Carolyn was especially worried about her partner and Alex said she could come round later with her to see him. She'd managed to get a lot of paperwork done, even though she was still suffering from a headache but she had assurances that the pain would only last a few days.

After Carolyn had visited, Alex had insisted that Mike go to bed. Although Mike had tried to win the discussion it seemed that Alex was adamant that he sleep. Mike had sighed in defeat and was in bed.

Mike was trying to sleep but he couldn't. He was too uncomfortable, his ribs didn't hurt too much thanks to his meds but he couldn't sleep in a comfortable position he was stuck on his back. He was bored so he called out for Alex. "Alex!" When she came in she looked worried and he realised that he must have given her cause for concern because she thought he was asleep. "Sorry." he told her, as she sat down on the bed. "I'm just bored."

"Sorry, I don't have a TV in my bedroom." she told him, silently wishing she had got one anyway.

Mike snorted, "Everyone has a TV in their bedroom."

Alex shook her head, "No, not me." she smiled, "But I think my Dad has a small spare one I could see if he could lend it to me tomorrow."

"Saved by the Dad!" Mike said in approval. Alex chuckled at him but she winced at the shooting pain in her head. This didn't go unnoticed by Mike, "You okay?"

"I'm fine." she said, laying down next to him.

"Liar." he told her, softly telling her off. "Don't lie to me."

"It's just a headache." she shrugged. "I've had it ever since Harris hit me. I'll be fine." Mike kissed her head. Alex smiled, here she was supposed to be looking after him and he was trying to look after her. She heard a grumbling noise and she lifted her head to look at him. "Are you still hungry?" she asked, incredulously. She'd already made dinner when Carolyn was there.

Mike shrugged, "A little."

"Why didn't you say something?" she chided him, a little annoyed that he didn't tell her.

"I didn't want you to have to keep cooking for me." He told her, and he didn't. He couldn't help that he was hungry, he was a big man and he liked to eat no matter how injured he was.

"I wouldn't have cooked." she laughed, "I'd have ordered something."

"Oh." Mike said, grinning. "In that case I'll have chinese." She leaned over him and reached for her phone. Smiling she dialed the number for the chinese place. "You have it on speed dial?" he asked and Alex nodded. "My kind of woman!"

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I hope this doesn't disappoint. :)