All mistakes are my own. I own nothing, just borrowing for fun and entertainment only.

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When Bart returned, Mia had spoken to her Captain about her return and was on-line booking a flight when he swooped in and set a bag full of carry out cartons on the dining table.

"Ohh that smells amazing." She spoke setting down her laptop and moving to the table.

"Yeah, there's this mom and pop place that I know. They are awesome, they always take good care of me."

"Where's the restaurant?" She asked as she went to the small cabinet where the dishes were kept. She got them plates and forks and turned when she heard Bart snicker. "What?"

"It's in China." He laughed.

"No way," she spoke smiling as she made her way back to the table where he was sitting.

"So you will believe I'm faster than big blue but not that I can run to China and get the best takeout ever?" he grinned. She just blushed furiously and took a seat at the table. He took the plates and forks from her hand and his fingers grazed hers and she gasped.

"Sorry." She spoke blushing.

Bart shook his head. He took the forks and set them aside. "We won't need these." He grinned. He opened up the bags and pulled out 2 sets of chop sticks and then the many food cartons.

"I've never been really good with chopsticks." She spoke trying to fill the now seemingly awkward silence.

"Well maybe you just need a good teacher." He grinned. After the bags were emptied he set them aside. He reached for the closet container and opened it and held it to her. "Smell." He smirked. Mia took a whiff and smelled garlic, ginger and spice. "Good hmm?" he spoke as he set down the container and opened his chopsticks and prepared them for use. He then set them down folded his hands together and bowed his head.

Mia just watched in utter fascination as the boy—no he was most definitely a man, known as Bart; who couldn't stand still for a minute, bowed his head and prayed. It was surprising, touching, and a seemingly intimate moment that they just shared. When he was done he looked up and blushed at her appraising gaze. She just arched an eyebrow at him asking a question without a word. "I have never been an overly religious guy, but there were times growing up when there was no food, and I would pray really hard for that next meal. Then I learned to pick pockets and things were better, I knew it was wrong, but I needed to eat. When I met Ollie, well he taught me a lot of things and gave me an honest way to make a living. Now I pray at meals not for the wanting, but the gratitude, that I never have to starve again and that I came by the meal the right way." He spoke. Mia just stared at him which was making him nervous. He reached for his chopsticks and the opened container. He dug in and smirked when he pulled out his bite. "Open," he spoke holding the delicacy in the chopsticks up to Mia's mouth. She was stunned and shook her head. "Open!" he spoke with a litte more command in his voice. She did and he brought the bite to her mouth and she rolled her eyes as he gently put it in her mouth. She wrapped her mouth around the delicacy and moaned as the flavor hit her taste buds. Bart pulled the chopsticks away from her and dipped them back into the container to get himself something to eat.

"Wow, that is amazing." She moaned as she reached for her chopsticks. She prepared them just as she watched him do it. She reached for a different container and opened it and served the takeout on to the top plate. Bart continued to eat from his container.

"You are way too quiet Detective." Bart spoke, as she tried to eat with her chopsticks. Bart stood and went to grab two water bottles from the fridge and came back and set them down. He stood behind her and shook his head and reached around her trapping her in the confines of his body. "Cat got your tongue?" he teased as he took her hands in his and showed her how to hold the chopsticks.

"This is so not a good idea." She grumbled. Her cheeks felt hot and flushed just from the simple contact.

"What?" he asked his breath against her ear. She made another attempt at using the chopsticks with no luck. She was certain it had nothing to do with her skills and everything to do with the distraction of him.

"This…." She spoke turning her head to look up at him.

"Ahhh," he spoke as his hands left hers and rested on her shoulders. "And why is that?" he asked starting to massage her shoulders gently.

"Because I'm….and you're…." her blush deepened.

"So it's the age thing?" he asked still massaging her shoulders. Mia was melting into the strength of his hands. She only nodded. "Well," he spoke stopping the massage and reaching past her to where he set the forks aside and grabbing her one and setting it in her hand. "That's your hang up, not mine." He spoke as he kissed her cheek. "Are you going to limit yourself to just a little of what life has to offer because you're afraid of what others may think?" he moved to sit across from her. "That's a pretty lonely existence hmmm?" he spoke eating begin. "Besides you might find that you actually like what a younger guy has to offer you." He winked. "Now finish eating so we can talk about the plans you made and we can get you back into Chicago safely." He began eating in earnest and Mia sat there stunned and then began to eat, afraid to speak lest her own mind betray her.

Bart just smirked as he at effortlessly with the chopsticks. Mia avoided all eye contact. His phone rang, it was Pepper.

"What's up?" he asked as he stood and began to pace and just listened to her go over what she and Tony had been able to find, which was not much. "Ok…" he spoke. He was supposed to bring Mia to the apartment before she left for Chicago to get her scanned into security. "Can do. I'll call when I know what her travel plans are." He spoke and hung up after saying his good byes.

"Trouble?" Mia asked wiping her mouth and turning to face him.

"Nahh," he sighed. "Just with things sort of tightening up, and who knows where Lionel is, we have upped our security. I need to get you over to HQ and get scanned before you travel."

"Ahh." She spoke. "Well." She stood and went to the couch and grabbed her notebook. She flipped it open. " I have a red-eye flight from here with a connection in Denver then on to O'Hare. My captain will be picking me up and taking me to the station, to minimize my contacts….for now."

"Alright." Bart spoke he began to send text messages. "How long you gonna be staying in Chicago?"

"Worst case scenario a week." She spoke biting her lip as she watched his brow furrow. "Best case, 3 days." He only nodded.

"Alright, well, guess you're not staying at a hotel huh?" he asked.

"Why would I when I have a perfectly good apartment." She gristled.

"Ok, then at least let me have the address so I can make sure its secure before you get there."

"I…"

"No check, no go." He stood his ground. "You have been gone for a while and I would bet your department didn't have someone watching your place. The goons we are dealing with may know tech. I have tech I can access to make sure you're safe."

"But."

"No check no go Detective, you take your pick." He glared at her. She glared at him just as intently and then nodded. "Good, see how easy it was to agree with me?" he grinned. He then zoomed and in a second all the food was picked up and the dining table was clean. "Now,key please?" he spoke holding his hand out. She said nothing as she went to her purse and grabbed her keys. She slid it off her key ring and slapped it into his palm. He only grinned wider.

"Don't look so proud of yourself." She hissed.

"You're adorable when your angry." He smiled. "Ok I will go and take care of this, please get a packin. Maybe even rest. Then I will take you over to HQ and get you scanned in and then off to the airport."

"You know you are kind of bossy?" she spoke. He moved to stand right in front of her, right into her personal space.

"And do you know you're cute when you're flustered and just a bit off balance?" He cupped her cheek in his hand. "Better get used to that Detective." He smirked. "Because I think that's my new favorite hobby is to keep you just a little off balance." He then leaned and kissed her lips softly, tentatively. " Be back in a Flash." He spoke and in just that he disappeared.