To all of those of you who have been liking or commenting or leaving me messages, I just wanted to say a big thank you. We're really starting to get to the crux of the plot now (I know, 60,000 words in!), so I hope you're still enjoying and the story remains entertaining for you. All your support is really appreciated.

Thanks and love as always to my ML, and to Jenny for making my fantastic story art!

xXx

A week later Mike's scheduled to work, so New Year's Eve finds Tina squashed into Plato's with Kurt and Blaine and half the neighbourhood; an explosion of glitter and costumes and tequila. When the ball drops in Times Square and everyone starts cheering and kissing, she draws her lips into a pout and frowns. Kurt and Blaine break apart from their intense midnight make-out and Blaine can't hold back his laughter as Tina knocks back another shot at the bar. Lacing her up in his arms, he squeezes her body against his and peppers her cheeks in kisses. "Poor Soldier Girl!" he teases, even as she tries to bat him away with a wriggle and a hiss. "No midnight kiss for you."

"'S a stupid holiday," she grouses, but snuggles into Kurt's shoulder as he rescues her from his boyfriend's tickles, not caring how it knocks her cat ears askew.

Sparkly crown on his head, Kurt looks serious for a moment. "I have a brilliant idea," he announces to them, grabbing Tina's hand. "Come on."

xXx

The halls of the hospital are pretty busy – plenty of people vomiting into basins and buckets and one trying to be discrete by catching it in her handbag – but people still stop to take notice of the trio who wander confidently down the halls; a pink-cheeked black cat being frogmarched by a tunic-and-crown wearing king, and a pirate, complete with eye-patch and a silver-foil scabbard.

Mike's at the admit desk – beyond weary as he scrubs a name off of the whiteboard and adds a new patient – and he doesn't even notice their arrival until he hears Sam's amused, lilting laughter.

"Uh, Mike?" Sam's hand is on his shoulder and squeezing, and when Mike turns around, the smile on Sam's wide mouth is relaxed and sincere. "I think these ones might be for you."

Even though he's seen Tina naked more times than he can count, there's something about the sight of her in tight black jeans, knee high boots and a tank top she's almost spilling out of that makes Mike's nervous system sputter and a flush wash over his whole body. It's ridiculously hot, but coupled with the drawn on whiskers, crooked pigtails, a swishing tail and lop-sided cat's ears, it's painfully adorable as well.

Kurt's hands are on Tina's shoulders, pushing her forwards, and as she gets closer Mike can see the glassy look in her eyes. Clearly the trio are a few drinks down.

"She needs her midnight kiss," he explains, steering Tina towards her boyfriend and stopping her dead in front, stepping back and checking the modern watch that is incongruous with the rest of his outfit. "We know you're busy, but we figured you could spare thirty seconds? It's better late than not at all."

"Start the year as you mean to go on!" Blaine crows, leaning against the desk. His hair's dishevelled beneath his Captain's hat as he sneaks a sip out of his hip flask, and he wraps his arm around Kurt's waist, propping his chin on his shoulder. "We can't have Soldier Girl sad on New Year."

Mike can't stop the small smile that sneaks across his face as he scrubs at his cheek, partly with embarrassment but mostly with pleasure as she grins up at him.

"Hi," she greets, swaying her hips in a girlish, teasing arc, her hands clasped behind her back. There's glitter all over her cheeks and her bare shoulders shimmer and Mike wonders how much of her body is covered with the silvery hue.

"Hi," he answers back simply, setting his pen down on the desk. "Thirty seconds huh?"

She nods her head seriously. "I know you're working. And your work is important."

Reaching out, he picks a sequin from out of her hair, letting his finger brush down her cheek. "You're important too."

"I'm setting my watch!" Kurt announces from the side where he leans heavily into Blaine's touch. "3-2-1."

"Happy New Year," Tina says with a grin before rising up on her tiptoes and pressing her scarlet lips against his. Her arms entwine around his neck and his hands find her hips, holding her still and close. He breathes in the scent of her, tastes the tequila on her tongue and wishes like hell he didn't have to go back to work after this because dammit, this is the best start to a year he's ever had.

Her curves press against his chest and his thumbs swipe over her skin; her back arches just slightly so their hips touch and he curses in his head because he's sure he can feel her heart beating hard in tandem with his own.

Mike can hear Kurt's voice counting down and then the electronic beeping that he knows means his time is up, but he steals a couple extra seconds of her kisses before pulling away. Tina's chest heaves – her breasts rising and falling and straining against the constricting black material – and he knows he must look equally flushed because there are a couple wolf-whistles from behind him; when he looks over his shoulder Sam and fellow nurse Leanne start applauding.

Tina giggles as Mike rests his forehead against hers. "Happy New Year," he tells her in a soft voice.

"I hate to break up the party," a voice comes from behind, and Mike flushes bright pink as he pulls away from Tina, but Dr Bieste looks amused and understanding. "But we have sick people around here that need seeing to."

"Sorry Dr Bieste," Mike apologises, but swoops in to give Tina's lips one more quick peck. "I'll see you at home later?"

Tina nods her head, wrapping her arms around her body and unable to stop herself smiling. "I'll wait up."

Mike has to be practically led away by Sam and keeps stealing glances over his shoulder at where Tina stands and waves goodbye, her fingers wiggling and her lipstick smudged. Dr Bieste – reading over a chart – shakes her head and Tina feels almost embarrassed until the older woman reaches out and squeezes her shoulder, giving her a wink. "Have a good night Tina. I know he will now."

xXx

It's nearly 6am by the time Mike slips his key in the lock of the door and so he's surprised when he hears the tv playing low as he enters the apartment. What he finds makes him have to stifle a laugh because the kitchen table is covered in empty wine bottles and half-eaten bags of chips and the screen's showing something to do with sharks; Tina is sprawled across the sofa, her head pillowed in Kurt's lap and her whiskers still painted on.

Chin propped in his palm, Kurt raises an eyebrow at Mike. "She really wanted to wait up."

Unable to stop a smile quirking the corner of his lips, Mike moves one of the half-empty bottles on the table so he can set his backpack down. "I see that. Where's Blaine?"

"Bed," Kurt replies succinctly, taking a drink from the bottle of water at his side. "Snores like a sailor when he's drunk."

"Fitting."

Kurt laughs at that, nodding his head and smoothing some of Tina's hair back from her face as she lightly stirs. "She lasted til about five," Kurt explains – half with assurance, half apology – and crosses his legs at the ankle. "Apparently the excitement of Mega Shark vs Octopus wasn't enough to fight against all the tequila and wine."

Approaching the couch, Mike crouches down next to Tina, and with Kurt's help pulls her up enough that Kurt can slide out from beneath her. "Hey babe," Mike murmurs as Tina's eyelashes flutter – confused about where she is and why she's awake and why things are spinning around – and she barely opens her eyes enough to take in his face before wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his neck.

Slowly and carefully Mike stands up, holding Tina close with both arms as she wraps her legs around him. Kurt smiles with a shake of his head as he straightens up the couch. "She's going to be hell in the morning," he warns with a sing-song voice, snapping off the tv. The giant octopus blinks from view and the room falls into semi-darkness, broken by the light of the street lamp outside.

Mike sighs, but fondly. "I know." He shifts her slightly, going for a better hold, and even though she's basically asleep he presses a kiss against her hair.

Watching them curiously for a minute with an expression Mike can't read, Kurt folds his arms across his chest. "What is it you call her?" he asks finally, his voice soft. "The nickname?"

Thinking for a moment, Mike finally realises what Kurt is asking. "Spider Monkey?"

Nodding, Kurt ducks his chin to his chest and can't help but laugh, lightly. "Fitting," he echoes. Then smiling, he steps towards his shut bedroom door and lifts his hand in farewell. "Happy New Year, Mike."

Standing with Tina wrapped around his body, her hot breath against his neck, Mike nods his head in reply. "Happy New Year Kurt."

xXx

Matt's just pouring himself a cup of coffee – the first five minutes he's had since starting on shift – when he hears the door to the staff room creak open behind him and he curses as he hears his name being called. "Dr Rutherford?"

One of the med students – he forgets her name: Shauna or Sasha or Sheila – shifts from foot to foot, knowing her interruption won't be appreciated. Sighing, Matt takes a long sip of his drink – knowing it might be all he gets – before turning around to face her. "Yeah?"

The medical student looks down at her chart – reddish hair pulled into a tight ponytail, highlighting her oval face and narrow nose – and her voice sounds unsure in her reply but she speaks clearly; her voice high and almost lilting. "There's a woman in Curtain Four. She, uh, she's come in with a patient but has requested you."

"We don't take requests kid," Matt snorts, lifting up his coffee cup again and closing his eyes briefly as the bitter liquid washes over his tongue. "Tell her she'll have to wait for the next available doctor."

"I did," the student replies sharply, suddenly sounding more sure of herself, and Matt quirks an eyebrow in appreciation. He always likes the ones with spunk. "I told her, but she said to tell you, and I quote 'If you don't come out here right now Santana and I will be sure a rumour gets started that your penis is tiny and - "

"Okay okay! I get it, geez." Putting his cup down, he reaches out to take the chart from her. "Thanks…" he trails off, hoping her name will come to him, but he draws a blank and she obviously notices because she raises an eyebrow and cocks a hip as she passes the paperwork over.

"Sugar," she supplies crossing her arms over the chest of her scrubs, and Matt's eyes are caught by the bright pink hearts pinned in her ears.

Grinning, he mirrors her pose. "How could I forget that?" he asks, rubbing at his stubbly chin. "So sweet."

There's a beat, and then Sugar tips her head back and begins laughing uproariously. Leaning forward, she pats his shoulder. "Sorry," she tells him finally. "Not gonna happen."

xXx

When he arrives in Curtain Four Matt's irritated and kind of off his game. "I just got shut down cold by a 90lb med student Tina so this better be damn good - "

"Holy fuck," are the words he's met with, and they don't come from Tina, but instead from a skinny teenage girl sat up on the exam bed, a cold compress held against her rapidly bruising eye and blood dripping from her nose. Her bottom lip's split down the centre and she looks more than a little the worse for wear. "Do they seriously only hire hotties to work here Tee? Like, is that the rule? That they all have to be totally fuckable?"

Tina rolls her eyes but flashes a smile briefly at Matt as he enters, almost in apology for the blunt words. "Yeah Keish, that's the rule. D-doesn't matter about your grades as long as you fill a p-pair of scrubs nicely," she teases.

"I feel like I should take that as a compliment," Matt smiles, coming up besides Tina and touching her elbow fleetingly. "Who do we have here?"

"This is Keisha," Tina introduces. "One of m-my students. Had a bit of trouble at home this w-weekend."

Managing an eye roll despite the swelling is a pretty impressive feat, and Keisha pulls her legs up, crossing them on the bed in front of her. "I already told you, he wasn't aiming at me - I just got in the way."

It seems like an ongoing argument, because Tina cocks her head to one side – dark hair tumbling over her shoulder – and says words that sound like a recitation. "Keish, the fact he was aiming at anyone is the p-problem. You know that."

"I just wanted to see him."

The young girl's voice is thin and soft and she tucks her head down, even as the blood continues to drip down her chin. Her arms are wrapped around her body and she looks small and thin and fragile beneath all the bright colours, and so he's not surprised when Tina heaves a breath and sits down on the bed next to Keisha, close but not touching. "I know."

There's a pause, and the small curtained space is so wrapped in melancholy that Matt clears his throat before acting. "Let me take a look at that eye, hey?" Stepping up, he moves Keisha's hand gently from her face, trying not to notice how, as he approaches, her other hand shoots out to Tina's arm and squeezes tightly.

Tina moves to hold Keisha's hand, and Keisha starts chattering to keep her mind off the way Matt probes at her purpling skin. "So you're friends with Dr Mike?" she asks, swinging her purple sneaker-clad feet beneath her and trying to hide the wince as Matt hits a sore spot on the bridge of her nose.

"They're b-best friends," Tina supplies the answer as Matt's concentrating on his exam. She squeezes Keisha's fingers gently. "They w-went to medical school together."

Matt's touch moves again, and this time Keisha can't hide the flinch or the curse that spits from between her broken lips.

"Sorry," Matt pats her knee gently. "The nose isn't broken but your eye's going to be swollen up for a good couple days. I just want to put a couple stitches into your lip, okay?"

Keisha's eyes widen and she shakes her head. Her whole body seems to freeze. "No," she says, shuffling backwards on the bed. "No needles."

Matt's seen plenty of patients panic at the thought of needles, but he's never felt like calming them down has been one of his strengths. "Hey, it's going to be okay," he promises, holding his hands up in a placating gesture, but Keisha's face is pale and she's already slipping off the bed, not caring that her lips and chin are still crimson and her t-shirt stained.

"Keisha," he tries again, but startles when Keisha picks up a bedpan and throws it towards him. He just manages to duck out of the way and it goes clattering across the floor.

"No needles," she repeats like a mantra, and Matt knows she isn't even hearing him as she slowly backs up like a caged animal, twisting her body around and seeming to look for an escape route. Matt's just considering if he can outrun a terrified teenager when suddenly Tina's right next to Keisha and wrapping her fingers around the young girl's wrist. Instead of bolting at the touch – as Matt expected – all the nervous energy seems to leave Keisha and she slumps down to the floor, tears pooling in her eyes.

Tina's arms are around her in a heartbeat, holding her still, and safe. "It's okay Keish," she murmurs into the teenager's hair as Keisha's fingers grasp and hold at Tina's sweater so hard they turn white. "They're doctor's needles, okay? The good kind, nothing bad. And Matt's a great doctor, I p-promise. He's going to b-be as gentle as he c-can and I'm going to hold your hand through the whole thing okay?"

There's a long pause as Keisha sniffles and then finally nods. Coming round to the side of the bed, Matt helps the two women off the floor, his hand light on Keisha's elbow, and when she's back on the bed he gives her a wink. "Don't want a scar messing up that pretty smile."

Keisha screws her eyes shut tightly as Matt picks up the numbing injection and brings it towards her mouth, and holds onto Tina's hand so hard that Tina's pretty sure she's going to leave bruises. As the tingle spreads across her lip, Keisha cracks open an eyelid. "You promise you won't tell Aphasia about this?"

Leaning over, Tina bumps their shoulders together gently. "I swear."

xXx

Keisha's lying down on the bed – lips still numb and pretty exhausted from her earlier terror - as Matt drags Tina away from the curtained area. "You know we'll have to call her social worker?" he says gently, rubbing his hand over his shaved head as he replaces Keisha's chart in the rack. He can see Tina watching the young girl resting, her eyes not moving from the small bed.

"I know," she replies, nodding her head firmly. "N-not my first time at this p-particular rodeo."

"You don't have to stay," Matt offers gently. "I know this was your and Mike's day off together."

When Tina turns her head to look at him, a dark frown knots her features and her hand shoots out, punching him lightly in the shoulder. "You seriously think I'd leave her? You saw what happened b-before. The whole reason she c-called me today is because I m-make sure these girls know I'm free any t-time. That they're n-never alone. Mike needs to understand that's m-more important than a day off. We'll have another d-day."

"'Needs to understand?'" he quotes, curiously, but only lightly prompting.

Biting her lip, Tina shrugs her shoulders sharply. "He wasn't exactly happy I t-took of this morning. We kind of had other p-plans."

There's a snort of recognition, and Matt risks a casual glance sideways at her. "You've left him pouting at home?"

"He's a b-big boy, he'll live."

With a laugh, Matt reaches out, ruffling Tina's hair, who curses and ducks away from his touch. Instead he just rests a hand on her shoulder. "Did you know Mike's parents always wanted him to be a surgeon?" he asks, curiously.

With a shake of her head, Tina answers honestly. "No. Why didn't he?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Matt leans back against the desk. "He didn't want to. He knew he could do it – you know Mike could do anything he put his mind to – but…he wanted…he wanted to get to know people's faces. To feel like he was dealing with whole people, not just bits of them."

"Why are you t-telling me this?" Tina wonders, fiddling with the cuff of her jacket.

Squeezing her shoulder again, Matt's smile is soft and sincere. "Because I've just realised that the two of you are exactly alike in that way. And why you're the first one who's managed to coax him into a having a life." Reaching for her hand, he pulls it towards him, pressing a quick kiss to her palm. "As his friend, you'll never understand how grateful I am for that."

xXx

Matt walks Tina home; it's dark and he's a gentleman and besides, he argues, he knows Mike always keeps good beer in the fridge. When they reach the apartment Tina opens the door to find Mike pacing around the kitchen, and he stops at the sight of her.

"You're back," he notes, redundantly, raking a hand through his hair. She knows it's not the first time he's done it because his hair is sticking up at all different angles. His eyes trace her body – as though checking she's in one piece – and his gaze is intense and dark.

She nods her head, hair swishing around behind her. "You d-done being mad at me for going?"

It's a little awkward, with Matt standing just behind Tina, but Mike sticks his hands in the pockets of his sweats and shrugs his shoulders without answer. "She's okay?" he queries, the question half aimed at Tina concerning Keisha, but the way his eyes flick between Tina and Matt as well lets Matt know the question is partially for him. He answers with a gentle nod of his head as he goes to raid the fridge, but Tina's reply is soft as she pulls off her jacket.

"She always thinks he'll change," are her only words, heaved with a giant sigh as she hangs her jacket on the back of the door. "And I c-can't fault her that hope."

"Tee was brilliant," Matt pipes up as he pulls himself up on the kitchen counter, bottle of beer leaning against his bottom lip. "A total mama bear if ever I saw one. Kid would have trusted her with her life."

Mike can see the weariness painted stark on Tina's face and sighs deeply, letting some of his frustration go as he reaches his hand out to her. She goes to him without hesitation, relieved, and lets him wrap his arms around her even though he can still feel so much tension in her skin.

Rocking them gently as they stand together, the rhythm subtle and soothing, Mike rubs his cheek against her hair. "What do you need?" he asks, kissing her forehead.

Pulling back slightly, Tina tugs at the collar of her sweater. "A shower," she says, wrinkling her nose. "I think I g-got blood on me."

"Want company?"

It's teasing but tentative, and when Tina shakes her head Mike still feels a hold-over from their earlier harsh words. "I'll call you if I need help scrubbing?" she promises before disappearing off down the hall.

Mike sinks down into the chair at the kitchen table and takes a deep breath, accepting the beer that Matt tosses into his hands. He waits until he hears the click of the lock and the water start running before he speaks. "She got the call and took off without a second thought," Mike explains slowly. "Keisha was on the phone and crying and hysterical and I couldn't understand a word but Tina just told her it was going to be okay and to stay where she was. Grabbed her jacket and was out of here."

"You didn't offer to go with her?"

Throwing an eye-rolling glare at Matt, Mike folds his arms across his chest. "Who do you think I am? Of course I did."

"And?"

"She said she was okay on her own. She didn't know exactly what was going on with Keisha but she was pretty upset, so she'd rather not drag me into it. As though that made me feel better."

Matt takes a moment before speaking, and when he does his voice is gentle but pointed. "The kid was pretty shaken up."

Hand raking through his hair, Mike taps his beer bottle against his chin. "All the more reason I should have been with her. She just takes off like it doesn't matter, like the smart thing to do is just – head into a situation that she knows nothing about. Keisha could have been really hurt, she could have needed me."

"Mike - "

His voice is a brusque exhalation. "Tina could have got hurt. And she's so damn stubborn."

Matt holds his silence for a long moment, allowing Mike to pull himself together as he drinks his beer. Peeling the label with the edge of his thumb, Matt shrugs one shoulder. "She thinks you were mad because she ran out on your plans."

"That's ridiculous," Mike argues, leaning forward on his elbows. "You know how many times I've had to ditch her because my beeper's gone off?"

With a tug of his beer, Matt nods his head slowly. "I assume plenty."

"More than plenty. I mean, I do consider our time together important but…I understand that she needed to go. I just don't understand why she thinks she has to always do things on her own, always be the strong one." Shrugging his shoulders, Mike takes a long pull of his beer, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm not allowed to worry about her?"

Matt's laughter is a snort and he points to the pictures around the wall. In one – pride of place on the living room wall – Tina and Quinn stand, arms around each other and placards over their shoulders, clad only in underwear and combat boots. Tina's are black and lacy and Quinn's camouflage green. A burgeoning crowd looms behind them but they both grin; dirty and sweaty, young and brilliant. "I think she's been okay without you up 'til now," he points out.

"When I met her she had concussion and an almost fractured wrist."

"Point taken. But I'm just saying she's a tough girl. She's been used to making it on her own for a long time, and for what it's worth she was impressive today: made that kid feel 100% safe and loved. I still knew she could kick my ass though."

Laughing softly, Mike nods his head in acknowledgement. "She could." Then taking a long drink from his beer, he arches an eyebrow. "You really came over to make sure I know I'm a dick, didn't you?"

Hopping down from the counter, Matt shrugs his shoulders. "Just a friendly neighbourhood reminder." Chugging the dregs of his beer, he nods his head towards the door. "I'll let myself out. You go and see if Tina needs help drying off after her shower. And maybe one of these," he suggests, wiggling his now-empty bottle in Mike's direction before setting it in the sink. "We're still on tomorrow for pick-up with Sam?"

Standing up and stretching his arms over his head, Mike nods. "2 o'clock. Bring your A-game."

Matt unlatches the door with a snort. "See you later bro."

xXx

When he crawls into bed she's combing the tangles out of her hair and watches him in the mirror.

"You know you d-don't have to worry about me?" she tells him, carefully threading her fingers through her hair and winding it into a loose braid over her shoulder.

Laying his head on the pillow, he stares at her naked pale back and exhales, slowly.

"Do you know you don't have to always do it all on your own?"

xXx

Spring comes to New York bitterly, throwing three feet of snow on the ground and making everyone's breath come like dragons with mouths full of coal; puffed clouds of steam from between chattering lips. Mike's called into work so often – road accidents, broken limbs and multiple cases of hypothermia – that he and Tina go a week only seeing each other with sleep-heavy eyes, barely managing to collapse in each other's arms at the end of the day.

Valentine's Day passes with a hand-drawn card left on the nightstand as Mike attends to an ER filled with two suicide attempts and three drunk driving incidents while Tina braves to cold to protest against them cutting Public School funding in the city.

By the time the snow lifts and flowers tentatively begin pressing their heads through the icy ground Tina realises that six months have passed since Mike became her boyfriend. Waiting for a client meeting to begin, she considers texting him to say 'happy anniversary', but he's been at work since 5am and she's not sure he'll get the reference anyways. Instead, she just slides her phone back into her pocket and flips her sketchbook open to the newest logo designs. She'll try and remember to tell him later.