Recommended listening: "Evacuate the Dancefloor" by Cascada, "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)" by Bob Sinclar Vs Cutee B, and "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang. (Plus any of your favourite dancefloor tracks. xD)

Broken

"What?" Muse laughed, "Oh no, me and dancing don't mix, like, at all."

"Aw, c'mon. Please?" Clay would not be swayed and looked at her pleadingly. Muse gave him a Look, then sighed, smiling ruefully. She just couldn't say no to those brown puppy-eyes, and took his offered hand as she stood up.

"Alright alright, you win."

Clay grinned and led her over to the other dancers, but instead of just settling for the bouncing and grinding they were doing; he curled an arm around her waist and swept Muse around in a fast-paced waltz. Those left behind could see the woman laughing with surprise from their table. After a moment, Marcus followed suit, taking a delighted Anya with him, and Dom went to get more drinks, leaving Cole and Baird at the table.

Baird didn't even realise that he had folded his arms and was glaring darkly at the couple on the dancefloor until Cole nudged him and said teasingly;

"You jealous, man?"

"No." Baird snapped irritably, and though Cole didn't press the subject, Baird knew he was smirking; neither of them fooled by his denial.

Truth be told, Baird was in fact feeling very jealous of the other blonde Gear. Jealous that he felt so comfortable with Muse that he could ask her to dance; jealous that it was Clay that Muse was laughing and having a good time with, and not him.

Meanwhile, Muse was laughing again as Clay tried to teach her the steps to the fast-paced waltz while dance music with an oddly appropriate beat pounded in time with her heartbeat. Saying that he was such a big guy, Clay was surprisingly good at it, whereas shorter and lighter Muse was astonishingly clumsy and kept tripping or getting the steps wrong.

"I told you I was no good at dancing!" She crowed triumphantly; though she had to admit even if she was making a fool of herself, she was enjoying it; Clay made a very good dance partner and teacher. The blonde shook his head amusedly at her gloating.

"You just need to practice!" he called over the noise of music and people.

"You hope!" Muse quipped with a cheeky grin. Clay sighed theatrically and rolled his eyes as his partner burst into laughter all over again. Then the music changed to a faster tempo that was only suitable for the hyperactive flailing the other dancers seemed so fond of, and Clay suddenly pulled Muse into a bear hug, his cheek against hers. She returned the embrace as best she could, though a little worriedly. "Clay…?"

"Thank you…" he said in a low voice that she heard nonetheless. Muse was stunned into silence, but then after a moment managed to ask;

"For what?" Clay pulled away and smiled fondly down at her, as though she was a beloved little sister.

"For just being here with me." He said quietly, "After the last few days… I just needed someone to help remind me that life has to go on…" And Muse finally understood; Clay had said his last farewells to his fallen comrades today, and now needed to move on. She suddenly felt a little guilty for not being with him when he'd been grieving, and the evening she'd spent with Dom as he'd finally let go of Maria stood out clearly in her mind. She shuddered to think of Clay going through something similar on his own…

"I should have been with you." she said, but Clay smiled and shook his head as though he'd expected her to say something like that.

"No, that was something I had to do alone. Knowing you're here now is all I need, so stop feeling guilty that you can't be there for everyone who's in pain." With which he bent down and kissed her cheek, chuckling softly as he straightened and caught Muse's mixed look of embarrassment, amusement, and surprise. The sound prompted a vague smile to appear on her own features.

"C'mon, let's go sit down, I'm knackered." She grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards the table, where Dom had returned with drinks, Cole was sniggering to himself over something he obviously found hilariously funny, and Baird was scowling darkly, almost growling. He softened minutely when Muse flopped into the chair beside his, but his tone still carried an edge as he asked in a would-be nonchalant voice;

"Have a good time then?"

Muse didn't fail to pick up on the angry undertone and frowned at him, wondering at the thinly-veiled hostility. She soon realised that it wasn't directed at her though, when one of the Gears she had beaten at pool – a big guy about her age with flaming red hair in a thick braid like some kind of Viking - appeared at the table. His smile faltered a little at the glare of daggers Baird shot at him, but otherwise seemed unperturbed by the blonde's unfriendliness.

"Mind joining me for a drink?" he asked Muse.

At first she was sure she'd misheard him; even though the slashes across her face from the Kantus' attack had almost completely healed, they were still glaringly obvious and Muse had been fully expecting no male attention outside of Delta Squad for exactly that reason. Yet here was this guy she'd never met before, apparently offering a drink.

"Come again?" Her surprise made Viking-Gear grin slightly as he repeated himself, louder so he could be heard over the music.

"I said, would you mind joining me for a drink?"

This time Muse didn't answer him right away because Baird – who had also heard the proposition the second time – suddenly slid his hand possessively over her knee. Anyone else would have jumped and made a sound of surprise, but Muse had spent her entire life training herself to stifle such automatic responses, and so neither moved nor made a sound at the starling touch.

Instead the woman smiled apologetically at the red-head Gear – feeling at the same time a little relieved, a little annoyed, but mostly completely baffled by Baird's sudden possessiveness.

"Sorry, I'm here with my team." She glanced pointedly at the other members of Delta Squad; some of whom were desperately trying to appear as though they weren't taking an interest in the drama playing out in front of them, while the others didn't even bother with the masquerade. Anya and Marcus also picked that moment to return, and even the Sergeant picked up on what was happening. Anya hid a giggle.

For a brief moment the Gear looked like he was going to try and convince Muse to accept, but a swift, fierce death-glare from Baird – that nobody missed – obviously made the other red-head think again, though he went to great pains not to show he'd been cowed by the older Gear's hostility. He apologised for bothering them, and then beat a rather hasty retreat.

Muse meanwhile was still very aware that Baird had yet to move his hand from her knee. His expression betrayed nothing out of the ordinary, but his warm fingers were a completely different matter; pressing and rubbing as they moved over her jeans. Even more perplexing though, was the matter of why?

Why was Baird being so jealous and possessive all of a sudden? First shooting death-glares and daggers at Clay when they'd come to sit down after dancing together, and then that other Gear just now. It was almost as if he were… laying claim or something. What's more, Muse wasn't sure if she liked the idea or not – though the idea that Baird thought she could be claimed like some prize was extremely infuriating.

For a while the annoyance and confusion percolated inside her, and eventually unable to stand it anymore, Muse reached down to move Baird's hand and gave him a swift, deliberate glance before standing.

"Going out to get some air." She grinned in a convincingly blasé manner at the curious looks. Without waiting for anyone to reply and fighting the temptation to glance at Baird again, Muse left the table, threading her way through the patrons to get to the door. A few minutes later, Baird also stood, though he released a sigh to add credence to the deception.

"I better go too… make sure she doesn't get into trouble again."

Marcus seemed to take the explanation at face value and Cole appeared much more interested in checking out the bar for girls. However Anya, Clay, and Dom, hid various knowing looks and amused smirks. Baird didn't seem to notice the glances they threw at each other, and left to follow Muse.

She was waiting for him in the side-alley next to the bar, perched on a stack of empty crates. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't the fierce scowl he got when she noticed him, and Baird paused before approaching with caution.

"What the hell was that about!?" Muse hissed in an explosive whisper as soon as he was close enough. Baird attempted to feign ignorance, but her dark glare convinced him it wouldn't work, and he let out a sigh.

"Which bit?" he asked in a defeated tone. Muse seemed momentarily taken aback that he hadn't tried to evade or play smart or even play dumb, but she soon recovered.

"The whole touchy-feely bit," she snarled, "And glaring at Clay and that other guy! Is this some stupid game or what? What is with you and screwing around with me!?" She would have said more, but the look that had come over Baird's face silenced her and suddenly her heart was hammering nervously in her throat. The darkness of the alley cast them both in shadow, but the handful of dim streetlights on the main street shone in enough to make the blonde Gear's blue-green eyes glitter with an almost metallic sheen.

"It's not a game." He growled. "And I'm not screwing with you."

"So enlighten me. Exactly what is it?" Muse hissed, though slightly warily now. And suddenly Baird was right there in front of her, face barely inches away from her own.

"It's me doing something I should have done a long time ago." He said in a low voice, and captured her lips with his.

Muse immediately froze, the memory of the incident in the shower block returning with astonishing force. She almost shoved him away, but the pressure on her lips was so achingly soft, and Baird's touch was so gentle and enticing, that despite her reservations and the unpleasant memories, Muse was unable to resist the lure of such a pleasurable sensation, and slowly began to respond.

Baird felt her hands move as though to shove him back, but then one settled on his hip as the other slid along his jaw and around the back of his neck, fingers curling in soft, spiky hair, and he smiled slightly against her lips as he curled an arm around her back to pull her closer. He could tell that Muse was woefully inexperienced, and he was only too happy to teach her.

His movements were slow, practiced; his lips caressed hers, leaving no doubt that he knew exactly what he was doing, and Muse tentatively followed his lead, knowing she was doing something right when Baird made an odd sound in the back of his throat and ran his hands down her back to bring her closer to him.

She shuddered slightly when his hands touched her back, and Baird felt a confused emotion that was partway between regret that Muse had never known such simple things as a kiss and a soft touch, and a kind of smugness that he was the one that would introduce her to the new experiences. Baird prolonged the contact for another moment before slowly pulling away, nibbling her bottom lip, and pressed his forehead against hers. He watched her face in silence, letting his gaze wander across the scars and closed eyes, and smiled slightly to himself at her peaceful expression.

It was as though she'd been able to briefly forget everything that troubled her, and just enjoy the moment for once.

Finally though, her mismatched eyes flickered open and she met his gaze; the raw, pleading vulnerability he saw in them striking him deeply.

"Muse?"

"I just…" She swallowed slightly, the vulnerable look in her expression intensifying, "Don't screw with me, Damon, please, not like last time… I can't… not again…" Baird cupped her cheeks in warm hands rough with calluses, and looked at her intently.

"I'm not screwing with you, Muse." he said softly, "And it's not going to be like last time…" He leaned down to press another soft kiss to her lips. "I promise." Muse looked at him when he pulled away, her eyes more open and full of emotion then he had ever seen them before. For a quiet moment they regarded each other, then Muse gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Baird knew that she was putting her fragile faith in him, trusting him.

He didn't intend to break that trust.

"Maybe we should get back…" Muse suggested in a whisper after a short pause, "Before they come looking for us…" She smiled slightly as the look on Baird's face spoke volumes, but he sighed and nodded, helping her down from her seat of crates.

For a second longer then stood, tentatively exploring the sensation of their entwined hands, then Baird let go and stuffed his own hands into his pockets as they made their way back to the club.

* * *

"Dom? Could I… speak to you for a moment?"

Making their way back to base and trailing behind the rest of Delta Squad, the Latino looked at the younger woman walking beside him with a concerned frown. Her tone sounded rather too serious for his liking.

"Sure, what's on your mind, Museli?" Muse still didn't know where he'd gotten her nickname from, but the sound of him using it made her feel a little better.

"Um… could we go somewhere… quieter?"

"…Oooh… it's that sort of thing. Alright. Let's get back to base first."

Muse nodded and she and Dom walked in silence until they reached the COG's military epicentre. There they surreptitiously split from the group and headed to where Muse was bunked. Soon Muse was sitting on her own bed, while Dom made himself comfortable on the floor, leaning against the opposite wall.

"So, what's up, kid?" Dom watched as she hugged her knees and her expression became awkward and embarrassed. She looked just like a teenager who was about to tell her father something she wasn't looking forward to revealing. Obviously whatever she needed to talk to him about fell into the category of things she should have learned growing up if she'd had a normal life.

"There's this… guy…" Dom would have been amused had not Muse looked so upset. "And I'm so… confused…" She appeared so close to actual tears of frustration that Dom got up and went to sit beside her on the bed, an arm around her shoulders.

"Heeey, it's alright, there's no need to get upset… It's natural to feel confused about this sort of thing. D'you like the guy?" Muse bit her lip and nodded, not looking at him.

"Yeah, I do like him… but… but then sometimes I hate him too. I mean, he can be so… so…" her hands clenched into fists and she made a sound of frustration, "He can be so infuriating and I just want to smack that stupid smug smirk off his face. But then he'll do something, or say something… and I feel stupidly embarrassed and awkward and scared and I don't know what to think except I don't understand and it all feels so unfamiliar and I just…"

"Want to run away?"

Muse looked up at him pleadingly. "Yeah…" There was a pause and Dom's arm tightened around her shoulders.

"Ah, kiddo…" he sighed softly, then said; "You know… I first met Maria when we were both kids. I was only eight and she could climb trees faster then anyone I knew. We became good friends and she was just so… perfect… Even then I think I loved her, of course I was too young to know it at the time."

Dom paused for a moment, lost in thought, and Muse remained silent, just watching him with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. Something inside her, some instinct, knew that something big and important was about to be explained. That something previously unknown and therefore feared, was going to be revealed and make sense.

The thought of gaining such knowledge was almost as frightening as not knowing, and after a moment, Dom continued.

"But then when we were older, became teenagers, and it all suddenly became… weird… We were still friends, but now all of a sudden I always felt awkward around her, scared of making an idiot of myself. There were all these new questions, like, did she like me just as a friend? Did she look at me and see the dorky kid she grew up with, or something else? Did she get all nervous and uncomfortable around me as I did her?"

"What about the running away, bit?" Muse insisted, craving some sort of reassurance that what she was experiencing was something normal, that she wasn't just broken in some indefinable way.

"Oh there was that too," Dom nodded, "Sometimes I didn't know if I was coming or going. Sometimes I wanted to run away, and other times I couldn't bare the thought of not being with her. Sometimes I felt so nervous that my stomach would feel like it was trying to fight its way out of my chest, or I was going to be sick… and it felt so good."

Muse blinked. "…You felt sick, and that was a good thing?" Dom chuckled at her bemusement.

"You got it. I told you it was natural to be confused." He paused, as if something had only just dawned on him. "You've never had this before, have you." Muse shook her head and made a nuh-uh sound. Dominic sighed and hugged her, suddenly feeling very sorry for the woman. She was almost thirty years old, and she'd never experienced even a crush before. No wonder she was confused.

"So…" she mumbled, as though embarrassed to even utter the words, "What you're saying is… I'm in love with the guy."

"I dunno. Are you?"

"I dunno either." Muse groaned, burying her face in the Latino's shoulder and sagging against his side, "I can't control this feeling and it scares me, Dom…" She felt him take hold of her shoulders and push her back slightly so he could look into her face. His expression was very serious.

"Muse, this isn't something you can control. Don't try too. Just let it… develop on its own." He smiled slightly, "I know that'll be hard for you." Muse scowled at him, but it was partly amused; she was something of a control freak after all. "So…" Dom said nonchalantly, after a pause, "Do I… know this guy?"

Muse abruptly flushed red and broke the eye contact, muttering something incoherent for a while as she looked at her fingers quietly fidgeting. "Um…" she mumbled, "It's… Damon…"

Dom was unable to hide his surprise, "Baird?" Of course he'd had his suspicions; Muse and the mechanic had been spending rather more time together then before… but Baird? Was he even capable of not being an ass long enough for something like this to happen?

Muse had blushed an even deeper red then before, and she nodded embarrassedly. For some reason she was suddenly desperate that Dom approved, she couldn't stand the thought of him being against it in any way. She didn't want to have to choose between him and the blonde Gear.

She risked looking up at him, and was surprised – and suddenly wary - to see him grinning massively, amusement sparking in his dark brown eyes.

"…What?"

"Does he… like you, too?" Muse blinked, and answered before thinking.

"Guess so, made me a new rifle and a radio, and kissed me outside the club…" A split second later she realised that she'd just blabbed and slapped a hand over her mouth. Dom threw his head back and laughed delightedly at her horrified expression. Muse blushed and frowned.

What's so funny?" He chuckled at her part mystified, part miffed look.

"Kid, you deserve a medal or something." He grinned, "Every other woman that's even been vaguely interested gets driven off by Baird's smart mouth, and he hates Stranded, sorry, ex-Stranded."

"So, you're not mad?" The smile left Dom's face abruptly and he looked down at her.

"Why would I be mad?" Muse shrugged embarrassedly, looking away.

"Dunno, was… kinda worried you wouldn't approve."

"…You don't need my approval, Muse…" She looked at him again.

"Yeah I do, you're all I've got… you're the only… only family, I've got left, Dom…" Dom didn't answer her, but suddenly he was looking at her strangely, with an emotion Muse couldn't quite name. And then he suddenly drew her into a tight hug, as though she might disappear if he didn't hold onto her.

"Muse. Families stick together, no matter what, and I'll always be around if you need me. And for what it's worth, yeah, yeah I do approve. You and Damon, you're good for each other." He felt Muse relax, as though she'd been stiff with tension, and she leaned into his warm body, resting her cheek on his shoulder. She returned the hug, clinging to him.

"Thanks, Dom."

Author's Notes

I know some of you have been waiting for that for a while, so I hope it lived up to expectation – though I'm pretty certain it didn't as that's the first serious kiss I've ever put down on paper… monitor… whatever.

Plus, Muse and Dom fluff! Yay! :D

On the home front; NaNo was an epic fail, I just haven't been motivated so much this year, and I've been back and forth from Ireland to visit my mum's dad and then attend his funeral, which didn't help. Good news though, once I gave up NaNo, I could come back to this so I now have a buffer of a chapter or so, so that's good.

The end, ladies and gentlemen, is rapidly approaching. Prepare for fast pace and lots of plot being tied up.

Anonymous Reviewers

Angry man: Oh. My. Gosh. My first flamer! Hi! xD You mean, Dom who hasn't found his wife by that chapter? Dom who's going to be horribly depressed after he has to shoot her? That Dom? Because I would have thought that Dom would be grieving over Maria too much to start up a relationship with anyone for a while. Where-as Baird is available, he's funny, and he and Muse are a pretty good match when all said and done – plus the constant bickering is fun for me to write. So, I may be an idiot sir, but obviously so are you. ^_^ Thanks for the review and have an e-shirt.

Sugar plum fairy: Will do. ^_^

general andrew: I also like seeing them just hanging out, makes a nice change of pace I think. We'll get back to fighting soon though, so stay tuned! (Yay! Awesomeness is awesome! XD)

venus: And I always get super-excited when I see that you've left a review! XD How can I possibly respond to such praise? Hmm… Well a great big thank-you first, as well as telling myself not to get big headed. XD Writing as art… I like that, and it's still great to know that the characters are being true to themselves. Other then that, I really have no words; I don't know what to say. So, thank you. ^_^