Lena and Tommy layed there in bed for a while, not talking, just breathing. Tommy was not really there-when Lena stole a glance at him she saw his eyes open and blank, staring in the distance at nothing. She could only imagine what was going on in there.

She needed to call the airline, call Vince, Cal and her mom and let them know she was coming back a little early. All the while the idea of moving in with Tommy presented her with question after question, her worried mind would not rest behind her eyes. Tommy was going through the same thing perhaps, but he didn't seem to care about the details-everything seemed so small in the face of what he wanted and that it was in his grasp to take.

After a while Tommy rose up, struggling slightly on one arm, kissed her mouth, her cheek, her forehead, and broke free of her embrace to get out of bed. He grabbed the sling on the floor, discarded and forgotten at what point she couldn't remember, and slipped it on. Lena watched him cross the room to the bathroom, and she took her cue to recover some clothing and grab her cell- there was already a text message from Cal: "You're coming home bitch HA HA HA! For real I'm so happy. Miss you! Call me with the details!" Lena laughed softly- she needed to get to the gym and let Cal work her like a pissed drill sergeant. She heard the shower running and started her laundry list of calls-changed her flight to the earliest available, a mid-morning flight arriving in Pittsburgh a few hours after Tommy since his plane was all booked up already. Vince didn't answer so she left a message, her mom was out with Rita and was so happy to hear her daughter was coming home, and then there was Cal.

"Ha ha ha bitch I cursed you!" Hysterical peal of evil laughter.

"Hey, you dick, I hope that you're kidding, really. Tommy is hurt pretty bad-"

"Come on, Lee, you know I'm kidding. But yeah, I'm not gonna lie, I've been missing you and this managing the gym shit is driving me up a fucking wall!"

"I know, silly, I understand. Everything is going to work out somehow. You and I need to have a big talk when I get home-"

"Oh shit, Lee…you preggo?"

"No you dumbass!" Lena laughed nervously. Tommy was emerging from the bathroom dressed already and looking fine in a dark blue shirt and black jeans, hair still damp. He caught her staring at him and winked at her, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Look I'll talk to you when I get there, just keep your shit together til tomorrow, OK?"

"OK, OK, shit why you coppin' attitude with me?" Cal laughed. "See you tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you too." Lena set her phone down and watched Tommy watch her. He had sat down on the bed facing her and had the bunched up black bandage that had been wrapped around his arm.

"Hey," he said softly. "You help me with this?"

Lena got up immediately and went to work wrapping his entire arm, then slipped the sling around his body so he could rest his arm in it.

"Wish they wouldn't of fucked with me so much, now it just hurts worse." His voice was a growling whisper. Lena was on her knees before him, her ribs rubbing against the inside of his thighs. She looked at him, longing to alleviate his pain, knowing that the worst was not over. He was just starting up again and already was falling short- that hurt worse than any pain his shoulder could be causing him.

"What can I do baby," she whispered, rubbing his knees. Tommy just regarded her behind his silent stone grey eyes. He leaned down ever so slightly.

"I want you to get ready," he said softly, "because I want to take you out for dinner again before we have to leave." He kissed her lips slowly, softly, and almost chastely. "And then I'm gonna have you all to myself one last night here. I'm gonna break the fuckin' headboard, and tear the sheets up-"

Lena looked up into his very serious expression and burst out laughing.

"What, why's that funny? I'm gonna fuck this room up tonight. Broken shit everywhere. We're gonna do it on top of everything."

When she opened her eyes again she saw he was grinning evilly. She giggled again and he joined her. Then he was quickly pulling her up against him and she was sliding across his thighs and up his chest-he was laying back and taking her with him.

"Not playin', Lena." He was gnawing on her neck and she couldn't wait to have him again. Her body fell in beside his and she felt more in control to kiss and caress him, one of her legs hooked around his hips and her hair falling all around his face as she took more of his mouth with hers. His eyes were open and watching her, his breath coming faster and harder-she could feel how his body was reacting against her leg. He groaned in his throat.

"Mmm, I hope you never get tired," he said softy, breaking from the kiss. "Go get ready. Now."

Lena cocked her head back to get a good look at him. The hazy sunlight that saturated the curtains was the only light in the room, and it made his skin glow and caught the myriad of color in his eyes. She ran her fingertips along his jaw, touched his reddened lips thick and soft against her skin.

"Ah Tommy…" She sighed. "You know I'll do anything you say."

His expression showed his amusement. "Anything?"

She laughed. "Well…almost." She kissed him one last time and then leaped off the bed and charged into the shower, and she heard his soft chuckle behind her. "I said almost!"

Lena hurried through the motions in the shower, hopped out and caught Tommy watching TV and trying not to notice her as she got dressed.

"Any news on Paddy?" She was dressing in a slinky black dress and sexy shoes. Tommy's eyes flickered from the TV to her and stayed.

"No. Nothing."

Lena sighed heavily. "We'll find him," she said softly. She took a long look at Tommy, who just regarded her silently, and then she was in the mirror trying to do something with her wet tangled hair. She heard him laugh softly.

"I hope we do. Brendan's out there, looking for him, waiting for something to happen, cops, ambulance, someone to find him. I think I know where he is."

Lena finally was fed up enough to fix her hair up in a neat little bun. She looked like a socialite going out for cocktails. Tommy nodded at her appreciatively.

"Where, Tommy?"

"At Rita's. If I were a betting man I would lay my last dollar on it."

Lena could not hide her surprise. "You think she's harboring our fugitive?"

Tommy shrugged one shoulder. His attitude couldn't get any more laid back. He must have taken some pills, she thought. "Well…I'm sure Rita doesn't know he's missin'."

"No," she responded, shaking her head. "Rita would know people are out looking for him."

"You don't know how close Rita and Pop were, huh?" Tommy was smirking. "Yeah back in the day Rita was chasing Pop out of the bar and tryin' to be a mom to Brendan I guess…Pop talks about her all the time. Used to piss me off, but now…does any of it matter?"

Lena just looked at him, she didn't know what to say. Had Rita been involved with Paddy? Tommy was right, it didn't matter…but still, curiosity was one of Lena's downfalls. She wanted an answer.

"Hmm," was all she could say. She looked around the room, spied her black high heels. Tommy watched her slip her shoes on and slowly walked his way. A little smile played on his lips. "How can you stay so calm?"

He shrugged again, made a face. "What can I do from here? No I don't worry. I know where he is. I'm tellin' ya Lena…he's dryin' out over there." He took her hand and she tried to pull his mass off the bed. "You ready I take it?"

Lena stood in front of him, dwarfed before his near-colossal body. "Yeah, I am. I'm ready to get back here and destroy the joint."

They laughed together, and for a brief moment Lena imagined every moment between them being so irreverent and fun. It was nice to think of it, but she knew they had a very hard road to bear together, sludging through the dark rainy skies of Tommy's world, with Lena trying to pull him towards the light the whole way.

Tommy took her to a cute little roadside diner, where he ate chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, drank a half-pitcher of sweet tea and even considered a piece of strawberry pie afterwards. Lena had ordered a club sandwich and salad, and it was almost as good as being at her mom's for lunch. She just smiled blithely at him, finding it fitting to be with him in such an inconspicuous place dressed like she was going to a dinner party. She watched him happily and quietly sin in peace, and was happy too. There would always be a part of her that was in shock, disbelieving what she was seeing, that she was with Tommy Conlon, her brother's hero, MMA and Marine legend, neighborhood king, very private and virtually unknown to everyone. There he was, sitting across from her with gravy on his bottom lip, happily destroying his diet, and his feet were tangled with hers under the table.

He seemed to know what was behind her smile, and he winked at her, licking his lips.

"So…you want some strawberry pie there, tiger?" He smiled his adorable crooked grin, so belying his animal nature beneath the surface.

"Oh no. Not here." She smirked. "I got some pie for you."

"Oh yeah?" He grabbed her wrist and tugged gently. "What you mean, pie? Hmm?" His eyes were hot and darkening grey-if all humans were made of stardust, then Tommy was black holes and dark matter.

"Yeah, I can let you taste-test the product once we leave here." She stared back unflinchingly, but the heat was rising in her neck and face.

He bit his bottom lip. Oh God, she thought, he has to know what he's doing when he does that… "Yeah? Well I really can't wait, I got a real bad sweet tooth."

"Good," she relied, her voice strained. "Where's the fuckin' check?"

Lena drove the way she normally did-like a crazy east coast girl with no time left on Earth. Tommy was laughing, just a little scared but loving the fact that it was her sex drive pushing her past the speed limit and doing hairpin turns on a dime.

"You're gonna kill us Lena," he said, trying to smother his smile.

"No I won't," she growled, and pulled into the hotel swiftly and parked with deadly accuracy. "I know how to fuckin' drive. Uncle Vince took me and David to New York City one weekend and stopped the car in an alleyway, and told me and my brother we had to drive, all weekend. We both sorta knew how to drive but we picked it up real quick after that."

Tommy looked at her sideways, not really trying to hide his expression. "Well that explains everything."

Lena smiled sarcastically at him and stuck her tongue out, got out of the Jeep and came around to help him out-of course he waved her off.

"So you think we can get some more Crown from the desk?" Tommy walked beside her, looking down at their feet, her shiny black heels and his rugged black work boots.

"I don't know," she said, "I'll find out."

LATER-Tommy was already upstairs and Lena was putting in an order for more alcohol, and strawberry pie. She made her way to the elevator and ran into Colt there.

"Hey Uncle Colt," she smiled, going into his embrace.

"You comin' back with us, Lee?"

"No, I didn't book in time-"

"Aw bullshit. Gimme your info-"

"Everything is in the room."

"Good," said Colt, "I was headed up to see Tommy anyway."

Lena and Colt were the only ones in the elevator. She sighed and finally couldn't stand it any longer.

"So…Is Tommy gonna be OK?"

Colt took a long look at her. "He got big too fast. Put too much strain on his shoulder. I think if he really rests it for a week or two he'll be OK. Rivera broke his foot, did Tommy tell ya?" Colt laughed bitterly. "I swear it's the Conlon curse."

"What?" Lena looked confused.

Colt waved his hand at her dismissively. "No such thing…but really what are the odds? If that hadn't happened Tommy may not have gotten another fight until Sparta. No, he'll be OK, Lena. Just watch him, will ya? I know him, he'll push it as soon as it starts feelin' better and fuck it up worse."

Lena nodded and the elevator opened. "I got you Uncle Colt." She opened the door and found Tommy stretched out naked in bed, the sheet barely covering his hips.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Colt grumbled, looking away. Tommy didn't really make much of a move to cover up.

"I didn't know we were havin' a party," Tommy said sarcastically.

"I'm leaving," said Colt, "but first I wanted to tell you Kai from the UFC called to tell me they set you up with a physical therapist and doctor in the 'burgh. And you got a fight in three weeks with Victor Castanho."

Tommy just stared at him. "They pretty sure I'm gonna be all better by then huh?"

"Well you are, cuz you ain't steppin' foot in the gym, 'cept maybe to hit the stationary bike."

"OK boss."

Colt waved his arms up. "That's right. Lena gimme your flight info, I bet I can get it switched."

Lena passed him the paper she had everything written on. "Thanks Uncle Colt."

"Sure. I'll text you if can get it done. See you at 4AM. Goodnight." Colt slammed the door behind him. Lena laughed softly, looking over at Tommy's monstrous frame in bed, creamy skin with tinges of pink and the black ink everywhere, dark hair and gleaming greenish eyes, rounded muscles and hard edges everywhere.

"Does this mean you're mine now?" Lena started to pull the dress over her head, and there was a knock on the door.

"Nope," said Tommy. Lena struggled to get her dress untangled from her hair and arms, finally got it back down and smoothed out. She opened the door and her buddy the doorman was there with Crown, ice, coke, and two slices of strawberry pie. She winked conspiratorially at him, and he winked back. She slipped him a $20 and thanked him, shut the door and brought everything inside.

Lena winked at him and poured him some Crown over ice. "You ready?"