A/N: Sorry this new chapter took so long! Four sinus infections in two months plus a job promotion, added with my writing muse refusing to place nice, resulted in this chapter being put on hold. But it's done, and I promise the next chapter won't take even close to as long.

"Son of a bitch!" Sawyer swore, swaying slightly, leaning onto the bed for support.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did you hurt yourself?" Matt grumbled sarcastically, raising himself to his feet, a small dark bruise forming on his cheek. "Let me guess, if you were back at full strength, you'd knock me into next Sunday, add in macho posturing here."

Sawyer just stared for a second, the fight draining out of him as exhaustion kicked in, and he dropped onto the bed. Matt was instantly there, hand under Sawyer's arm, making sure he landed softly.

"Don't help him!" Mia growled, and pointed a furious finger at Sawyer. "You, Sawyer, you…you might be the dumbest most selfish person I've ever met in my life! You hit him! Do you know his history, do you have any idea what he's been thro-no, no you don't get to know, Sawyer, because you are a moron! A Class-A, fucking idiot, I swear-"

Mia's rant was suddenly broken off by the sound of Matt's laughter, a chuckle that soon turned into a deep-throated belly laugh. Sawyer started at him for a moment, then suddenly started laughing too, shaking his head as he rubbed his hands over his tired face.

"She's something else, isn't she?" Sawyer chuckled, and Matt nodded his head, still laughing as he perched on the side of the bed.

"She is right here, dumbass," Mia muttered, crossing her arms over her chest, before shooting Matt a glare. "And don't you encourage him!"

"It's just…" Matt flashed a grin at her, his hair falling over his eyes. "Even when you're swearing up a storm at him, it's obvious how much you care about him. And I think he's finally getting that. Which would be great, because I really don't want to be punched anymore."

"Hey, I'm…look I don't know your history," Sawyer started, raising his head to meet Matt's eyes, "but I shouldn't have…"

Matt waved him off. "Seriously, don't worry about it. You've been dealing with a lot lately. Though now you're going to have to deal with Jack when he sees the bruise, which, good luck with that."

"Maybe I can make a break for it?" Sawyer joked, letting himself sink back onto the bed.

"Act really weak and try to play on his doctor sympathies," Matt suggested as he looked around the room. "Mia, where did those clothes you promised me end up?"

Mia stared at him for a second, then switched her gaze to Sawyer, then back again, before shaking her head and laughing softly. "I have two absolutely insane men in my life," she sighed, before perching on the bed next to Sawyer, as Matt pulled on a pair of jeans.

"Water's boiling," Jack called out, as he came into the room. "Should I put the pas-" He froze at the doorway, gaze immediately zeroing in on the bruise on Matt's cheek.

"Babe, it's okay," Matt said quickly, placing one hand on Jack's chest, the other on Jack's cheek.

"No, it's not," Jack practically growled, glaring at Sawyer. "He hit you."

"He's drugged up, feverish, and barely able to stand," Matt said softly, gesturing back at where Sawyer had already fallen asleep on the bed. "And hey, I'm fine. Look, not freaking out, I'm not shutting down, I'm totally fine."

"Yeah?" Jack asked softly, gently cupping Matt's bruised cheek in his hand. "You sure?"

"Positive," Matt answered, giving Jack a light kiss. "Now let's go get that pasta ready. I promised Riley dinner with the group tonight." He twisted around so he could see Mia. "Tuck Sawyer in and put on your finest, my Mia."

"Wouldn't miss pasta for the world," Mia smiled, reaching across and squeezing Matt's hand. "I'll be right there."

As Matt walked out of the room, holding Jack's hand, Jack pulled him to the side. "After dinner, I want to talk to our gun-toting friend," Jack said quietly, glancing around. "And I want to keep it quiet. I want to keep the panic level down as much as possible."

"You got it," Matt whispered back, as they headed towards the kitchen.