"Are you sure you're gonna be ok?" Sam asked?

"Oh yeah, this?" Carmine said, pointing to his black eye "This, I've had much worse than this"

"Still took you down pretty quick though. Thank God he didn't break your nose or something"

"Of course he didn't. He punches like a girl"

"Yeah, sure looked like it" She said sarcasticly.

After Baird had left, Carmine insisted he would be fine, and didn't need to see the doc or anything. Of course he was fine, he'd suffered much worse on the battlefield, they all had. But this was different. It wasn't an enemy attack. It was a friend lashing out, and Sam wanted to know why. Sam was relieved that he just wanted to go back to his room, as she didn't want anyone to see him and start asking questions. But word travels around here, even if no one saw what happened outside, they sure saw Carmine and Baird arguing in the bar. If they saw Carmine with a black eye, they soon put two and two together. She didn't want him getting into trouble. Then she thought

"Wait, why should I be defending that asshole. Anyway Carmine may want to file a complaint against him. But it's not like they were on duty. Does that matter"

"Sam, I said are you ok?"

She realised she hadn't been paying attention again. "Gotta stop doing that"

"Yeah, I'm fine" She had to ask him what exactly happened. "What the hell happened tonight and I want the truth" She asked

"Ok. I'll tell you what happened" He knew he had to be truthful. He could tell something was going on with her and Baird, he just wasn't sure what. He began recalling the events that led to his black eye. "Ok, so I arrived at the bar, saw Baird and waved. He gave a real viscious look"

Sam listened to his story, remebering certain bits as she was there. But the next part really caught Sam's attention.

"I accused him of being jealous, which he denied. Then he said, that you could do better than me. I said, something like, what you think you good enough? He began to raise his voice saying he was better than me. He was obviosly drunk so I sugessted he should leave. He said something about not taking orders from me, then poked me in the chest. That's when you came over"

Sam didn't know what to think. It did sound like Baird really provoked Carmine, if anything he should have been the one who got punched. She was hoping Carmine's story made Baird seem more innocent, but it just made him sound worse in her mind and her heart sank a little. Then Carmine reminded her of something.

"You know the rest. Maybe if I didn't make that last remark before he punched me, he woudn't have done it"

"Yeah, what did you say again"

"I said he was pissed at me cos I could get a girl, and he couldn't" He sighed. Saying it again made him realise what a cheap shot it was. "Kind of a cheap shot I guess"

"Still, I don't think you desereved a punch for that"

"Maybe not Sam, but I think he's been pissed off since he saw us together the other day"

"We were just talking" Sam pointed out.

"Were we Sam? From what I recall, you were being very, flirty"

Sam knew she had to be honset about that. "Ok Sam, time to come clean about that" She thought.

"Ok. Heres the thing about that"

"Ok, go on"

"Well, and don't be to offended by this. I was flirting with you, but . . ."

"But what?"

Sam was embarresessed to admit why she had acted that way, and it would also mean admitting her feelings for Baird. But she had to be honest with him.

"I acted the way I did because, I wanted to make Baird jealous" Sam said, shamefully

"So, that was your plan"

"No, I didn't plan it, I did it on impulse. I hope you don't think I was . . ."

"What, using me? Well, you kind of were"

"Hey, I never said it was a date" Sam protested.

"Yeah but you didn't say it wasn't, and kind of lead me on"

Sam felt worse than she already did. She'd not only caused a fight, she'd hurt Clays feelings and got him punched as well.

"This is all my fault"

Carmine knew how bad she felt, so he wasn't gonna give her a hard time.

"It's ok Sam. It's pretty obvious what's happened.

"It is?"

"Of course. Your attempt to make Baird jealous worked, a little to well. He was jealous of you and me on a, date" He said air quoting the word date. "He was jealous Sam. That's why he got so wound up"

"If he feels that way, why can't he just tell me"

Carmine let out a small chuckle

"What's so funny" she asked questioning his amusment

"Well, same reason that you haven't spoken to him. Your stubborn"

" Hey, I am not stubborn!" Sam said, offended by his remark.

"Yeah you are and so is he. In fact, you two are perfect for each other"

"Yeah, well I don't know if I want anything to do with him after the way he behaved tonight" It hurt Sam to say those words, but it was true

"Oh come on Sam. He's not the first man who's punched another guy over a girl before. I know I have"

"Yeah?"

"Yep. Years ago, me and Antony liked the same girl"

"Antony, your brother" She asked

"Yeah. God, it was so long ago I can't even remember her name. All I remember is that I punched Antony because he wouldn't back off. Turns out, she wasn't even interested in either of us. But, we made up like brothers do. He was pissed at me first, just like I'm pretty pissed at Baird right now. But I'm sure we'll make up as well"

Sam knew it was hard for him to talk about his lost brothers so she apreciated that. He continued.

"When they were gone, the army became my family. The people I fight beside, they're my brothers now. I've already lost Dom. I don't want to lose someone else over a stupid fight"

Sam really thought about what he said. Baird did desereve a second chance. Sure he had a violent outbusrt, but that was his way of 'defending her honour' or some crap like that.

"Well, I guess you are a glass half full kind of guy after all"

"Yeah, I guess I am" he replied. "Hey, you really should talk to Baird"

"Yeah. I know. But right now I just wanna go to bed I think. Best to let him sleep on it"

Sam went to leave the room, before saying goodbye she felt she owed him full apology

"I'll catch up with you tomorrow Sam"

"Yeah. And I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. For everything"

"No worries Sam"

She was about to leave when she remembered something

"Oh, about Baird, were you gonna do anything about him, like report him or . . ."

"Don't worry Sam" He interupted. "I'm not gonna make a complaint or anything. Word will probably spread though, but I won't make a big deal out of this"

Sam smiled, knowing he was really doing that for her, not Baird. "Thankyou" was all she needed to say. He nodded at her before she exited the room. She did contemplate seeing Baird tonight, but she thought it probably was better off leaving it till the morning.