"You want to just live here and cook for us for the rest of your life?" Matt asked with the biggest grin on his face that she's ever seen.

Tina laughed. "With the way your eat, I'd have to cook all the time just to keep up with you." She wiped her mouth delicately with a napkin before setting it down on her empty plate. "Now wasn't that better than your usual greasy pizza?"

"Absolutely," Sam answered as he pushed his chair back. "I've had enough pizza to last me a lifetime. Want to lend me your cookbooks?"

"Sure, if I get them back." She smiled and started to clean up.

"Whoa there," Mike stopped her with one hand. "You ladies cooked, we clean up."

"She cooked," Mercedes said as she got up slowly fearing that she was going to burst from all the food she put away. "I just came home and watched."

"Still, you ladies did provide us with the meal. The least we can do is do the dishes." Matt said with a smiled as he gathered up the plates. "By the way Tina, I've been meaning to ask you. What happened to your arm?"

"Oh this?" She glanced briefly at the white bandage that graced her arm. She had change into a loose white long-sleeved blouse before leaving the house hoping to hide the damage. "Nothing, don't worry about it."

Mercedes frowned at her. "She burned it at the stove."

Mike reached over and took Tina's arm and looked at the bandage and frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," trying to tug her arm from his grip, which was gentle but firm. "Really, it's just a minor burn. It'll be good as new in no time at all."

"Good," Sam said with a smile before pushing the door to the kitchen open. "Let's get these dishes done. Why don't you sit there and relax for a little while?"

"Yeah, you've done enough for the day." Matt picked up a pile and followed.

"Got any ice cream left from the BBQ?" Mercedes asked following the boys into the kitchen.

There was silence as Tina relaxed back into her chair and closed her eyes.

"I don't like seeing you hurt." Mike said running his hand lightly over the bandage. The sharp whiteness of the bandage against her skin was like slap in the face. It hurt him to see her hurt. "You need to be more careful."

"Don't worry about me." Tina glanced quickly at the doors and leaned over to kiss him gently on the lips. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I've been doing it for quite some time now."

"I know," he leaned against the table and fought to keep his hands away from her. "I just... I was just worried that's all. I know that you are one of the most capable people in the world." Mike smiled and shook his head. "I just want to know that I'm always here for you."

"Is Tina really okay?" Matt asked with some concern. "Maybe I should take a look at the thing."

"Not unless you want her to kick your ass." Mercedes laughed as she spooned more ice cream into the delicate crystal bowls on the table. "The last thing Tina wants is to be treated like a helpless damsel in distress. She's fine, leave it be."

"But if she is hurt more than she..."

"Matt," Sam handed the man another dish to dry. "Trust me when I say that you should never argue with a woman when it comes to their best friends. It makes for a rather messy clean up when she spill your guts on the floor when she thinks that you've offended her judgement and loyalty to her friend."

Mercedes grinned. "Is that from experience or are you just making an observation?"

"Observation, my dear. I would never be so unwise as to tell a woman what to do." He turned to smile at her rather wolfishly.

"Wise man," Matt nodded as he wiped off another dish.

"Hey, would someone ask Tina if she wants her pots back." Matt asked

"Yes I want them back," Tina called from the door. "They are very expensive and very good cooking pots."

"I don't doubt that." Matt called back with a smile. "So Sammy, want to go down and throw a few punches?" He grinned and gave Sam a nudge.

"Sparring?" Tina's head popped around the corner. "Did I hear someone say that they're sparring?"

"Yeah," Mike wiped his hands off and reached for a bowl of ice cream that Mercedes had set out.

"Can I join in?" Tina asked as she grabbed one of the tall counter stools and helped herself to come dessert. "I could just a little bit of that myself."

"Boxing? " Matt frowned as he and Mike joined them. "You box?"

"Every chance I get. But there aren't a lot of people around here that's willing to spar with me." Tina grumbled.

Sam laughed. "Well with us around, you won't be lacking in a partner."

"That's good to know." Tina turned to Mercedes and grinned. "I need to burn some aggression."

The others laughed and finished off the dessert before heading downstairs.

"I'm going to have the ceiling reinforced so we can hang sandbags up for boxing." Mike pointed to the big metal hook. "I think it could probably hold a two hundred pounder if we position it right."

"In the corner though." Sam pointed out. "We may be strong but hauling a two hundred pound of sand bag up and down could be trying even with all four of us working together."

"Absolutely." Mike nodded and reached for knuckle bracers. "Okay, with Tina here, let's go for the light stuff."

"No need to worry about me, Mike." Tina smiled and reached for the gloves. "I can handle anything you dish out at me. Who wants to go first?"

"Not that we doubt you," Mike said slowly. "But...we don't want to pull anything."

Matt pulled the bracers on and knocked his knuckles together. "Okay Tina, I'll go first with you."

"Matthew Rutherford...hitting a girl?" Tina giggled and bounced on the balls of her feet.

"I have sisters and cousins that use to love beating on me." Matt returned with his usual boyish grin. "Come on, let's rumble."

"Watch your left Matt!" Sam called out just before the flat of Tina's foot connected with the side of Matt's helmeted head. Wincing in sympathy, he was infinitely glad that he didn't volunteer to go up against Tina first.

Matt shook his head to clear his vision as Tina bounced back to give him time to recover. "Damn girl, where did you learn to fight like that?"

"From my many lovers." Tina answered with a quicksilver grin. "You'd be surprised at what a girl can learn in a relationship."

"What does that mean?" Mike asked with a deep frown.

Mercedes winced as Matt came swinging and barely missed Tina's nose by an inch. "She means that when a girl says no, some guys won't take no for an answer."

Sam turned sharply towards Mercedes next to him. "You ever had problems like that?"

"No," Mercedes shook her head quickly. "But Tina has more than her share of scary men."

"Don't remind me," Tina grunted as she blocked Matt's foot. "I am a firm believer in every woman taking self defense lessons. You never know when it might come in handy."

"Do they ever get violent?" Mike asked masking his rage behind a shield of curious concern.

"Sometimes," Tina answered wishing to hell she'd never brought this subject up. "But nothing that I can't handle."

Mercedes laughed. "I seem to recall you putting one of them in traction."

"His fault," she took a hard right and brought her left arm back in time to catch Matt off guard, knocking the poor guy onto his back. "You okay?'

"What did he do?" Sam asked with a frown. It had never occur to him that something like this would happen to one of his friends.

Matt groaned and took the hand that Tina offered gratefully. "Remind me to never volunteer to spar with you again."

Tina smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "You've been more than a great sport about this."

"I'll go next." Sam volunteered and hoped that Tina had been at least slightly worn out from her first session.

"What?" Tina asked slightly distracted by the darkness in Mike's eyes. He's getting that same look that the guys gets when they are jealous or angry. Please, don't be stupid Mike. Don't ruin what we have now! Don't get all offended and possessive on me!

"What did the guys you put into traction do?" Sam asked again as he helped Matt from his gear.

"He threatened to sue." Tina answered lightly as Sam took up position in front of her.

Everyone laughed. "No, I meant what did he do to make you put him into traction in the first place."

"Oh that," she shrugged and sighed. If she didn't tell them, they would likely be able to find it in the local newspaper archives anyways; it was practically on the front page. "He broke into my apartment and tried to force the issue after I dumped him."

Matt frowned in confusion. "When you say force the issue, you don't mean..."

"I mean force the issue." She gave him a look significant enough for the full meaning to sink in.

"Oh," there was silence.

Sam stopped in the mid-swing. "Are you kidding?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

They all turned to Mercedes for confirmation. She merely nodded her head with a sigh.

"Wait," Mike shook his head as if trying his best to digest everything that was being revealed to him. "Mercedes said he was one of them, implying that there was more than one."

Tina sighed and sat down on the mat, instinctively knowing that the sparring session has now officially come an end. "Well, other than that one. I've also files three other restraint orders against past boyfriends that did know how to left go. The other two left after I beat some sense into them, literally. I've been stalked more times than most movie stars. But I've always managed to come up on top each time. So don't worry guys, I'm a survivor." She looked at the stunned male faces around her. "I'm going to guess that it's time for me to go before you all try to smother me with concern."

"Tina..."

"Don't!" Tina backed away from Matt so quickly that he was startled. "I hate it when guys do that!"

"Do what?" Sam asked his eyes going dark in rage on her behalf.

"That!" Pointing to Matt's outstretched arms. "I hate it when men feel that they have to comfort and protect me from all the men I've known. I know how to take care of myself. I don't need people, especially guys, to protect me. I can't help it if I bring out the worse possible possessive instinct in people but there it is. I don't need to be protected from it since I know how to handle it now. After six times, you'd think I learn from my mistakes."

"What about this new guy?" Mercedes asked quietly, missing the sharp look from Mike.

"What new guy?" Matt asked with a bewildered look on his face.

"He is different." Tina said defensively. "Look, I don't want to talk about this anymore." She removed her gear in sharp movements. "I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Tina?"

"What?" she turned to look at Mike, who had been quiet.

"I'll walk you home." He said. "I want to talk to you."

She sighed and resigned herself to it. "All right."

Mike helped her up and gave Mercedes a look that told her not to follow just quite yet. Mercedes merely nodded in response. This night was nothing any of them quite expected.

"So how did you enjoy dinner?" Mike asked after walking some time in silence.

Tina laughed. She had been so tense and anticipating the inevitable that the question took her completely off guard. "It was good."

"It should be, you cooked it." He smiled. "You are an amazing cook."

"Thank you." She peeked at him from the corner of her eyes. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to ask me?"

"Ask you what?"

"Why I went out with men that were not good for me?" She rolled her eyes as if it was obvious.

"No." He shook his head. "It's none of my business. Besides, you were right. You're more than capable of handling things yourself. You are not someone that waits around from her prince charming to show up on a white steed to rescue you. You are more than capable of rescuing yourself from stupid men that can't appreciate you for what you are." Like me, for instance.

That took her by surprise. "You mean that?" Hmm... First guy I know that's okay with a woman that can handle her own. That's interesting.

"Absolutely." He smiled and glanced down the street. "That's what I always admired about you. You take no shit from anyone. If prince charming came along right now and offered you a glass slipper, you're more than likely to throw it back in his face." He leaned over and kissed her lips. Doesn't mean that I'm not going to try though. "How long do you think Mercedes is going to wait before following?"

"By the way Sam was looking at her earlier, I'm going to say that she probably won't be hurrying home anytime soon if he had anything to say about it." She grinned thanking her stars that Mike was such a wonderful friend to her and understood her so well. "You could stay a little if you want. I doubt that she'll come back until you show up back at your place again."

"So we get to do whatever we want while they want to give us time to allow you to unburden yourself." He smiled, not feeling the least bit guilty over taking advantage of their friend's misconception.

"Yeah," she looped her arms around his neck, ignoring the big street lamp that probably lit them up for anyone that was looking out their window. "What do you say you and I have our own little private sparring session? I'll even go easy on you." She nipped playfully at his lips then ran her tongue slowly, tantalizingly over them.

"Easy on me? When have you ever been easy on... Hmm... I second thought, I think I'm going to like this."

"Think she's going to give him hell if he tries to mother her?" Matt asked as they made their way into the living room.

"Mike and Tina are different. They know each other inside and out. They may not still be a couple, but they're linked more than they'd like to believe." Mercedes said softly

"So what do you think he wanted to talk to her about?" Matt asked, his eyes still filled with concern. As one that practices the art of healing, he cannot help but want to repair that which is wounded, in this case Tina's spirit.

Sam shrugged his shoulder. "Knowing Mike, he's probably trying to draw her out of her shell, get her to talk a little. May help a great deal."

"I wish him luck then," Mercedes sat down with a sigh. "Cause I've gotten nowhere with her on this. And now with this new guy in her life..."

"What new guy?" Matt asked going back to the earlier topic that was left behind.

"Tina says that she's recently been sleeping with someone new."

"Excuse me?" Sam could not picture the shy pretty girl he knew before in a sex affair of any kind.

"You heard me." Mercedes groaned and covered her face with her hand. "Her theory is that she's no good with relationships. Guys fall in love with her, or so they say, and she can't seem to fall in love back. She thinks there is something wrong with her, that her heart is not capable of love."

Matt scoffed. "That's ridiculous."

"That's what I said. But she's bound and determined to think that way. So an affair that doesn't involved emotions is her solution to her dilemma of the heart. Sex and nothing more is what she thinks she's good at."

"Really?" Sam scratched his chin. "So who's she sleeping with?"

"I don't know. She won't give me a name and I didn't want to push." Mercedes sighed and studied the room. "Nice place, I didn't get a good look at it last time."

"Mike has one hell of an eye for décor." Sam nodded his agreement. The wonderful Victorian style furniture should have clashed with the modern oak and glass pieces that Mike bought but it all seem to fit together to create something totally unique and wholly wonderful.

"Okay," Matt grinned and got up slowly. "The shift in conversation would be my cue to leave." He waved. "Night guys," He looked like the cat that swallowed the thousand dollar goldfish.

"Good night Matt."

"Night kids, don't do anything I would have to go into theory of the rest of me life if I see it."

Mercedes blushed a horrible shade of red while Sam left and chased him from the room with well aimed kick at Matt's backside.

"Don't pay attention to him," Sam said with a grin on his face big enough to split it. "He isn't so lily white."

"Oh god," Mercedes giggled as she thought of all the possible scenarios that could be running through two healthy male minds right now. "You and your friends."

"My friend?" Sam put his hands on his chest in mock offense. "He happens to be your friend too."

"Wipe that stupid look off your face. Nothing is going to happen tonight. I'm only here so long as Mike is with Tina. The minute he's back, I'm going to go home, take a hot shower and crawl into bed."

"Can I crawl into it with you?" He asked mildly.

"No." with finality.

"You're sure about that?"

"Absolutely."

Sam sighed in disappointment. "I can't talk you into staying in mine tonight?"

"Sam..." warning was heavy there. "You promised."

"One step at a time, yes. Can't blame a guy for trying though."

"Can't I?"

"Well it's not like I get a whole lot of alone time with you living in a house with four other guys in it. Plus we all happen to be friends and..." He scratched his head. "What are you doing tomorrow night?"

She eyed him cautiously. "Why?"

"So suspicious," he laughed.

"Only of people that not two minutes ago asked me if I wanted to go to bed with them."

He laughed again and picked up her hand, fiddling with her fingers. "I thought maybe we can go to the movies together. Just the two of us."

"Just the two of us?"

"Yeah, and then we can get a late dinner."

"Late dinner?"

"And then maybe a little good night kiss."

"A good night kiss." She looked at him doubtfully. "That sounds nice."

"And please, feel free to invite me to bed afterwards if that is your inclination."

Mercedes sighed. "One track mind."

...

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Hopefully I can keep churning out chapters, but my schoolwork/real life may get in the way. Sigh.