"Why do I have to wear this stupid thing?"

"Maureen, we've been over this a million times."

"Well can we make it a million and one then? Cause I still don't understand."

Joanne sighed, telling herself not to get frustrated. The doctor warned her that the shot he gave Maureen for pain would knock her for a loop and he wasn't lying.

"You just got stitches in your arm and the doctor doesn't want you using it for a few days."

"But slings are so bulky." Maureen whined. "Not to mention uncomfortable. It's chaffing the back of my neck already."

"Tough, you're wearing it."

"But…"

"Get over it." Joanne drowned her out, tightening her grip around the diva's waist when she swayed. The drug not only made her loopy, it made her unsteady on her feet. "You're going to have a bad enough scar without ripping your stitches out."

"I'm gonna have a scar?" Maureen grinned. "Cool."

"Scars aren't cool."

"Sure they are. I can show it off down at the Life and tell everyone I got it from being shot inside a police station. I mean, how many people can say they've been shot inside a police station? Not to mention the whole romantic aspect of it. They could make a Lifetime movie about us."

"Yeah, I'm sure they're going to be knocking our door down tomorrow."

Maureen didn't notice her sarcasm. "Who would you want to play you?"

Joanne frowned. "What?"

"You know, what actress would you want to play you in our movie? Personally I would want someone unknown. It could be her big break and then someday, when she's making movies with Brangelina I can point at the screen and say once upon a time she was me."

"That sounds nice but I don't think they would consult us on casting decisions." Joanne breathed a sigh of relief when they finally reached their apartment. "Look, Honeybear, we're home. Just a few more seconds and I can tuck you into bed."

"Are you going to join me?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Because you've had a long day, Maureen. You're hurt and need your rest."

"No, what I need is this…" Maureen moved surprisingly quick, forcing Joanne back against the wall outside their door. Before the lawyer could react she covered her lips in an intense kiss.

Joanne didn't pull away, she deepened the kiss, needing the contact just as much as Maureen. That's how Collins found them when he opened the door. He grinned, motioning for Angel to join him.

"Look at that."

"They're so cute." Angel put her hand over her mouth.

"I know." Collins nodded. "But who would have thought Maureen had competition in being a horn ball from Joanne?"

Angel grinned. "Well, you know what they say about the quiet ones."

Maureen groaned when she heard their whispered words. "Go away!" She leaned in for another kiss.

"Mo!" Joanne put her hand against the diva's chest. "Don't be rude."

"But…" Maureen sighed when she saw that Joanne had no intention of continuing their make out session. "Fine." She started to back away and stumbled.

"Whoa!" Collins hurried forward to catch her.

"I'm fine." Maureen tried to avoid his grip, making her even more unsteady.

Luckily Angel had followed Collins and managed to slip her arm around her waist. "Wanna dance?"

Maureen furrowed her brow. "What?"

Collins shared a look with Joanne. "Happy drugs?"

"Oh yeah." Joanne raised her eyebrows. "You should have seen me trying to get her out of the car."

"I can only imagine." He put his hand on the small of the diva's back. "Come on, Maureen." He and Angel steered her into the apartment. "There's a spot on the couch with your name on it."

"Someone's been writing on the couch? Joanne's gonna be pissed."

Mimi looked up from the magazine she was reading as they walked in. "Why is Joanne pissed?"

"I'm not." Joanne followed them inside, shutting the door behind her. "That's the pain killer talking."

"Ah." Mimi nodded, wincing when she saw Maureen's arm was in a sling. "Does it hurt?"

"Not if her pain killer is talking." Angel answered.

"Hey Angel." Maureen smiled.

Angel returned the smile, amused that she was just now acknowledging her. "Hi Mo."

Her smile faded when she saw Mark and Roger sitting on the couch. "Are we having a party I didn't know about?"

"No, we just hung around to make sure you were all right." Mark answered.

"That and you have better food here than we do at the loft." Roger grinned as he ate another chip out of the bowl in his lap. "How's our little hero?"

"Peachy." Maureen turned to give Joanne a pathetic look, forcing Collins and Angel to scramble to keep up with her. "Will you at least come sit with me?"

"Sure." Joanne was quick to agree, knowing her girlfriend wouldn't settle down unless she was with her. "Uh, guys?" She looked at Mark and Roger as she reached the couch.

"Oh, sorry." Mark immediately got up to make room for them. Roger, on the other hand, simply slid down, being sure not to spill any of his chips. "Hey." Mark frowned.

"Don't worry about it. There's plenty of room." Joanne barely had a chance to sit down before Maureen pulled away from their friends and curled against her left side. "Comfortable?" She kissed Maureen on top of the head as she nodded.

"So that's what it looks like to get shot, huh?" Roger regarded Maureen. "It doesn't seem so bad to me." He swallowed hard when he felt everyone looking at him. "Not exactly Mr. Tact tonight am I?"

"Hardly." Mimi shook her head at him.

"She got really lucky." Joanne stepped in before an argument could start, playing with Maureen's hair as she spoke. "If that guy had pulled the trigger even a second sooner the bullet probably would have gone through her shoulder. Instead it grazed her bicep. The doctor said it will be sore for a while, but there's not permanent damage to the muscle."

"And then he gave me a zillion stitches." Maureen piped in.

Mark paled at the thought. "A zillion?"

"More like thirty." Joanne clarified. "Luckily she got an intern who wants to be a plastic surgeon. He used some kind of special stitches to help with scarring. She'll still have one but he said it shouldn't be as bad."

"Scars are awesome." Roger didn't pay attention to anyone looking at him this time. "They make for some interesting conversations."

"See, I told you." Maureen snuggled closer to Joanne.

"So other than the stitches, she's all right?" Collins' voice was filled with concern.

"Easy papa." Angel teased him, knowing how deeply his feelings ran for the diva. "I'm sure they wouldn't have let her come home if it wasn't safe."

Joanne nodded. "A few days in a sling and a weeks worth of antibiotics to insure against infection."

Maureen mumbled. "Damn horse pills."

"Horse pills you'll gladly take every day even if I have to come over and shove them down your throat." Collins said it with a grin but meant every word.

"I'd like to see you try."

"Don't go starting something you can't finish, Honeybear. I'd hate to have to mix it up with Angel because you picked a fight with Collins."

Angel grinned. "Amen chica."

"I took on a man with a gun." Maureen yawned. "I think I can handle Collins."

Her words cast a shadow over everyone's mood.

"I bet you were terrified." Mimi blanched when she realized she had spoken out loud. "Sorry."

"No, I'm more than willing to admit I was scared." Joanne assured her.

The dancer shuddered. "I don't know what I'd do if I ever saw Roger get shot."

"You'll never have to worry about it." Mark's tone was matter of fact.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Roger popped another chip in his mouth.

"You would never put himself between her and someone with a gun."

Roger frowned mid chew. "Hey!"

"Oh come on, Roger. I've known you long enough to be able to say you're not the self sacrificing type." Mark smirked. "It might mess up your hair."

Roger's frown deepened as everyone laughed. "You're a prick."

Mark's smirk became a smile. "I might be a prick but at least I lightened things up."

"I could see Collins being my hero." Angel batted her eyelashes at her lover.

Collins winked. "You know it baby."

"Now that I believe." Mark nodded.

"Guys, I think it's time for us to go." Everyone followed Mimi's gaze to Maureen, who had dozed off in Joanne's arms.

"Aw, look at our little sleeping beauty." Angel gushed.

"Please don't call her that." Collins sighed. "I think we had more than enough of her sleeping beauty imitation a few months ago."

'Too true." Roger agreed. "Besides, Maureen is too raunchy for Disney. Unless you count Cruella Deville. That chick gave off a major dominatrix vibe if you ask me. But I really couldn't see Mo with black and white hair."

"Or wearing fur." Mark pointed out. "Leather maybe but never fur."

"Guys!" Mimi growled. "Let's go."

"She's right." Collins backed her up. "It's been a long day."

"And we can always come back tomorrow."

"Yes you can." Joanne agreed with Angel.

"All right, we'll see you then." Angel started to give her a hug but stopped, not wanting to disturb Maureen. "Goodnight."

"Night." Joanne gripped her hand before she could walk away. "And thanks for all your help today. I don't know what we'd do without you guys."

"No thanks needed, Jo." Collins looked at Maureen. "That's what family is for."

"Speak for yourself." Roger spoke as he stood up, putting his bowl on the coffee table. "I'm gonna start charging every time she takes off."

"Why don't you just write a song about it and make a million dollars?" was Mark's snide comeback.

"If you two wake Mo I'll kick both your asses." Mimi shooed them toward the door. "I feel like the mother of a couple of two year olds."

"You're hotter than any mother I've ever seen." Roger snaked an arm around her waist.

"Buttering me up isn't going to work either." Mimi shoved him away. "Now go. And don't be arguing on the way to the elevator. You'll wake half the building." She waved as she went out the door. "Night, Jo."

"Goodnight." Joanne grinned. "Looks like she's got her hands full."

"Those two have been at it ever since Roger played with Mark's camera earlier and almost broke it." Angel rolled her eyes.

"We'll help her get them home." Collins took Angel's hand in his. "See you tomorrow Joanne. Give her a kiss for me when you tuck her in."

"Can do." Joanne waved goodbye as they left, waiting until the door was shut to look down at Maureen. She wished she could just untangle herself from her and leave her to sleep, but she couldn't.

"Mo?" She ran her fingers through her hair again. "Wake up."

"Hmm?" Maureen furrowed her brow.

"Come on, Honeybear. It's time for bed."

"Stay here."

"No, you need to sleep in bed. Come on."

"You too?"

Joanne chuckled. Leave it to Maureen to be stubborn even when she was completely out of it. "I'll think about it."

"K." Maureen started to sit up but cried out in pain.

"Slow down." Joanne frowned. "Let me help you."

Maureen snuggled against her side again. "Wanna stay here."

"I know, but you won't be comfortable. Come on." She carefully helped her sit up, giving her a second to adjust before putting her arm around her waist and pulling her to her feet.

"Dizzy."

"That's all right. I've got you."

"Glad."

"Me too, baby. Me too."

They somehow managed to make it to the bedroom without either one of them running into a wall. "Here we go." Joanne sat her on the bed. "Should we change your clothes?"

"No."

"All right. Remember that when you complain about how dirty you feel in the morning." She helped Maureen lay down, arranging the extra pillows they normally didn't use as a makeshift wall to keep her from accidentally rolling onto her left side. "Now, let's get that sling off and…"

"Leave it." Maureen groaned.

"Are you sure?" Joanne grinned as she nodded. "All right then." She brushed hair out of her girlfriend's face before kissing her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Honeybear. I love you."

"Love you too." Maureen fought to keep her eyes open but lost the battle.

Joanne sat on the edge of the bed watching her. "You've got to stop scaring me like this, Maureen."

"Sorry Pookie."

She froze, not entirely sure she had heard her correctly. "What did you call me?"

"Nothing." Maureen's response was barely audible.

Joanne stayed where she was for a moment, her brow furrowed. Maybe she had been hearing things. After all, Maureen hadn't used the nickname since their argument at the country club. And the diva would have told her if she started to remember things, wouldn't she?

She told herself to stop being ridiculous as she stood to leave the room. Of course Maureen would have told her. What reason could she have not to?