You guys get two chapters today cuz I didn't post yesterday. It was for a good cause – I met someone new! And we talked all through the night. Sigh… He's so wonderful…I think I'll give ya three chapters today! Two now and one later!

CHAPTER 10 – SPLISH SPLASH, I WAS TAKING A BATH

Robert rolled over in bed and groaned. His body ached from what felt like a million bruises all over his torso, back, and extremities. Next to him, he heard the evil chuckle of the woman who supposedly loved him. That love was nowhere in evidence when she and Allison teamed up against the men. He thought he only had David to worry about. When the two couples were fighting against each other on the paintball field, he automatically dismissed Allison from his mind as a potential threat. That was mistake number one. Apparently, she had excellent aim and a vindictive streak that he's never seen before. A particularly painful spot on his inner thigh was courtesy of his co-worker. He shuddered to think what would have happened if the paintball had hit him about 3 inches to the right.

Even with the added challenge of Allison Oakley, he still wasn't worried. He was a decent shot and had blown off steam all the way through medical school paintballing with friends. And Serenity was a good shot, although she thought guns were barbaric and inelegant. But she had a level of proficiency because of the training she went through while working with the FBI. It wasn't actually required training, but young Serenity had thought it would be cool to train with FBI agents so she begged Mitch to let her train with them. So Robert figured with Serenity by his side, that would neutralize the advantage David gave the other team. Mistake number two.

Apparently, the women had devised a plan ahead of time to abandon their respective teams and join forces to go after the menfolk. Pride prevented David and Robert from partnering up and that pride was their downfall. Individually, they were sitting ducks and the women picked them off like ducks in a carnival game. It was demoralizing. Robert would have liked to have claimed that chivalry prevented him from retaliating, but he would have been lying. The women outgunned them, plain and simple. The only comfort Robert had was that Dave had gotten it just as bad as he had, and was likely in as much pain. He groaned again then gritted his teeth when he heard Serenity laugh at him again.

"So you enjoy my suffering, do you, Judas?" Robert rolled over and looked at Serenity, who was looking at him with a grin on her face and her gray eyes dancing with mirth. "Judas? That's a little extreme, don't you think? All I did was make a strategic move to preserve the sanctity of my skin." Serenity's grin got bigger. Robert frowned, but inside he was pleased. He hadn't seen her this happy in a long while. Shame he had to get pummeled with painful projectiles to get a grin out of her. He focused on her last statement. "Preserve the sanctity… so in plain English, you ditched me to save your own butt?" Serenity leaned over and gave him a kiss on the forehead before climbing out of bed. She looked back at him before making her way to the bathroom. "I always knew you were a smart fellow, Robert Chase."

She went into the bathroom, leaving behind a very disgruntled Australian. His disgruntlement grew when he realized she was running bathwater. "Damn! I wanted to take a hot bath this morning", Robert grouched under his breath. Serenity had installed a Jacuzzi style bathtub in the master bathroom about a month ago and he had yet to use it. He saw steam began to waft from under the bathroom door and he began to pout. "Not only did she jump in the bathroom ahead of me, she's using up all of the hot water!", he thought crankily. He sat up slowly and gingerly poked at the large bruise on his right pectoral muscle. Serenity had tagged him twice in the same spot, probably on purpose. She had also sent a couple of shots to his right shoulder. The combination of the four shots caused him to have a lot of discomfort when he wielded his paintball gun…which was, Robert surmised, the plan all along.

When Serenity walked back in the bathroom, she saw Robert sitting on the edge of the bed, his hair tousled and a pouty frown on his face. He was glaring at a couple of bruises on his torso. Serenity felt a small pang of guilt. She was responsible for several of those bruises. She was sure it looked worse than it was, because of his fair skin, but she still felt bad. Well, she'd just have to make it up to him.

She walked over to Robert and nudged his knees apart so she could stand between his legs. She leaned down and gently began kissing all of the bruises on his arms and chest. Robert closed his eyes and enjoyed the attention he was getting. She leaned back from him and asked, "Did I miss any?" Robert nodded. "Your partner in crime almost made a eunuch out of me. Fortunately, she got my upper thigh." Serenity smiled. "Yeah, I saw that one. I told her that that particular area was off limits and any further violations would result in retaliation in kind on her main squeeze and the dissolution of our partnership. See…I was looking out for you, sweetie." Robert snorted. "Yeah, right. Were you looking out for me when you rendered my right arm practically useless?"

Serenity leaned over and kissed his right side bruises again. "I'm sorry, luv. In combat situations, one does what one must. But I decided to try to make amends. I ran you a hot bath and I even put bubbles in it." Robert smiled at her even as he blushed slightly. He hoped no one, especially House, ever found out that he loved bubble baths. "Well, Dr. Serenity Blair, I don't think a bubble bath is enough to make up for the pain I'm going through right now."

Serenity sat down on his lap, facing him, and wrapped her legs around his waist. She leaned closer gently nipped his lower lip before whispering, "Did I mention the massage I was going to give you after our bath?" She nibbled softly around the outside of his ear and down the side of his neck. Robert gave a small groan, the bruises and pain forgotten. He stood up, lifting her with him and headed towards the bathroom.

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Serenity sighed as she leaned back against Robert in the tub. The water was still wonderfully warm since she had paid beaucoup bucks for a heater in the tub. She glanced around the room and giggled softly at the pajamas that had been flung all over the room. She felt absolutely wonderful. She and Robert had been intimate since her recovery, but there had been something missing, although she didn't know what. But whatever it was, it was back in full force. She felt alive again for the first time in months. She shivered slightly as Robert's hands trailed up her stomach and caressed the underside of her breasts. She moaned slightly as his hands traveled up, but her muscles tensed when his finger drifted over her scar.

Robert whispered in her ear, "I love every part of you. I love the way your little toe is crooked. I adore the way one eye is bigger than the other. I think the scar on your hip from where you fell off of your bike as a child is hot. The burn mark on your ear from your curling iron gives me a place to kiss. The extra little bit of padding that you carry on your butt drives me absolutely crazy with desire and this…" Robert's hand drifted to her scar again. "This reminds me of just how brave, smart, and wonderful you are and makes me fall in love with you all over again every time I see it. Don't ever flinch away from me when I touch it. It doesn't diminish anything about you and it definitely doesn't make you any less sexy."

Serenity closed her eyes and let his words flow over her. If at all possible, she loved him more at this moment than she ever had. He always seemed to understand her, without her having to say anything. She knew he had been worried about her, and he even had tried to convince her to see a shrink. While she didn't quite think all that was necessary, it did feel nice to have someone worry about her for a change. She leaned her head back and gave him a soft kiss to lull him into a false sense of security before asking, "Exactly WHAT extra padding are you referring to, Robert?"

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Robert eyed Serenity cautiously as he grabbed a pair of sweats to put on. She was waiting for him by the bed to give him his promised massage. She had on a skimpy tank top that barely covered the essentials, no bra, and a pair of bikini underpants made of some sheer material that he highly approved of. She was sniffing the different bottles of oil on the nightstand, choosing which one she'd use today. She called it the "coma collection" since he had purchased them to use on her while she was unconscious. She told him that when she sniffed certain ones, she had vague flashbacks of things he talked about while he was massaging and exercising her limbs.

He was somewhat wary of her, especially when she told him, "Oh, you won't be needing any clothes on, Dr. Robbie. Come on over here to your big butt, crooked toed, mismatched eyed girlfriend." Robert grimaced and Serenity laughed. "Oh, Robert, stop being so paranoid! I'm teasing you. I thought that what you said was sweet, if slightly inaccurate, and I love you for saying it. Now come over here so I can make you feel better." Robert dropped his sweatpants on the floor with a grin and went over to the bed.