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Chapter 45 – Don't Ask Don't Tell

Addison glanced at Michelle's feet then up her body. He met a pair of dark blue eyes that were narrowed menacingly.

"Stop glaring at Addison, Josh. He's not after my body," Michelle said, watching the Star Wars credits roll across the screen.

"Thank God, it's not one of the new ones," Brown said with a sigh.

"Preach it, brotha," Michelle said, taking another bite of her chicken.

Michelle picked off a piece of meat and held it up for Legates. His eyes went crossed as he backed his face away from it.

"Hell no, have you lost your ever loving mind?" He asked her with a grimace on his face. Shrugging, she stuck it in her mouth.

"You can't say I never offered," Michelle said, picking more meat off the bone.

Maggs snorted then smirked at Legates. Michelle turned her attention back to the screen. She made a screwed up face at the Luke and Leia relationship. It had always seemed incestuous even though she knew they didn't know. She continued to watch and finish her chicken. Standing up, she looked around and saw the trashcan. She walked to it, dumped her plate in the trash and walked back to Legates. Flopping down, she made him grunt and then chuckle when she wiggled around to make herself comfortable.

"Comfy?" He asked her with a grin plastered on his face.

"Almost," she whispered.

"And what would make you comfortable?" He whispered near her ear. She turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow.

"For my panties to not be wet," she whispered against his ear.

He chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear then placed a soft kiss on her temple. Michelle jumped when a chicken leg landed in her lap.

"Hey," she squealed in laughter, picking it up, she smacked Wilson in the top of the head with it. He scowled up at her.

"If you two'd stop sucking face," he grumbled. Michelle hit him with the drumstick again and Techie chuckled.

"Woman, stop hitting me," Wilson grumbled his voice full of laughter.

"Shut up, Wilson," Goodman said, swatting at Wilson's leg. Maggs stretched out on his bed and laughed at the men sprawled around the bed on the floor.

"God, it's good to be home again," he muttered. Michelle's eyes shot over to Maggs and her face screwed up in concentration.

"Crossing paths, Baby, he was here when you weren't then you were here when he wasn't," Legates said near her ear.

Shaking her head, she turned back to the TV. They sat squished in the small room together watching the original Star Wars Trilogy, laughing, joking, and generally having fun. The men fought over the bathroom between movies and commercials. Michelle snorted, stood up and left the room. Legates watched her go and turned a grin on them.

"Where's she going?" Maggs asked, jerking his thumb towards the door where Michelle had disappeared.

"My guess, the bathroom. She took her backpack, so also a good chance to get comfortable," Legates laughed.

"So, you won't have to chase her down this time?" Maggs asked with a smirk on his face.

"Nahh, she thought she was coming between me and my friends. Romero acted like a douche and reinforced that feeling. Only problem is that he's not my friend. I'd rather spend time with her and you guys than him. I'm guessing ya'll felt the same way since you're here and not with Romero," Legates said, shrugging.

"Pretty much," Brown said, smirking at Legates, "you're so much hotter than him, Sweetcheeks," he finished, fluttering his eyelashes at Legates. Legates snorted and threw a balled up napkin at Brown. Maggs turned a raised eyebrow in question on Legates.

"Sweetcheeks?" He asked with a grin spreading across his face.

"Heh, Angela called me that and now they're calling me that," Legates explained.

"Angela," Maggs sat up, taking sudden interest.

"She's...what would she be? Michelle's Aunt?" Legates asked the guys sitting around the room. They paused and thought about it for a second.

"Yeah, that's as close as you'll understand. Angela is Michelle's aunt and she's married to a gazillionaire. She gave me the nickname," Legates said, laughing quietly at Maggs' face when he heard Angela was married.

Michelle came back in and Maggs' eyebrows rose at her Redskins pajamas. The maroon pants had the Redskins logo all over them. Her tank top was yellow with a large logo smack in the middle of her chest. Legates was busy taking in her appearance and didn't notice the box clutched in her hand.

"Well, we now know what team she likes," Maggs muttered, rolling his eyes. She put her hand with the box on her hip and stuck her hand out with her index finger pointed toward the ceiling, her folded fingers towards him.

"Because I know, you did not just, you did not just make fun of my team," she said, waving her finger around towards him.

Maggs face was covered in shock and Legates fell over into Techie as he burst into laughter. Techie burst into laughter at her stereotypical action. Maggs looked up at her with his eyes bugging in shock. Michelle couldn't bite back her laughter anymore and started laughing. Maggs rolled his eyes and shook his head. She paused and looked at him with a frown.

"In all seriousness, don't make fun of my team," she said, frowning.

"Yeah, you don't want to do that," Techie said, smirking in laughter.

Michelle walked to where Legates was sitting and dropped to the floor in front of him. She leaned her head on his knee and glanced at the TV. She snickered at the guys parading in and out of the bathroom. Legates ran his knuckles down the bone behind her ear. She tilted her head out and down to prolong the contact.

"She's like a cat," Maggs said, laughing at Michelle. She turned and growled at him and Techie burst into laughter.

"Yeah, a feral cat," Techie said, smirking, "especially when her burgers are threatened." Michelle hmmd as Legates began to massage the back of her neck.

"You're going to spoil her," Maggs said, with a knowing look.

"Too late," Michelle purred. Maggs snorted and started laughing.

"Yeah, I spoil her," Legates said, with a teasing grin on his face. Michelle froze and her eyes flew open then narrowed.

"Uh, yeah," Wilson said, scooting away from his spot near Michelle.

"But I have fun doing it," Legates continued with the grin still on his face.

"Yeah, nice save. You just want to make sure I'll still help you study," she murmured. His eyes shot wide and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

"Yeah, that's it," he said, laughing. She 'hmmd' and laid her head down on his knee.

"You going to make that popcorn or just sit on it," Techie asked, glancing down at Michelle.

Legates leaned over and looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. She grinned and ducked her head as her other hand rose still holding the box of caramel corn microwave popcorn.

"Using your microwave, Maggs," Legates said, standing up.

"Feel free," Maggs said sarcastically. Legates snorted and raised an eyebrow at Maggs. Michelle scrambled up into Legates' seat and Techie snickered.

"Grave jumper," Legates muttered, as he punched in the time on the microwave.

He started the microwave and turned to face her with his arms crossed. She gave him a sweet, innocent look and fluttered her eyelashes at him. He snorted and shook his head at her.

"I am impervious," he told her staunchly. She smirked and ran her hands across her collarbone and started breathing faster.

"Stop right there," he growled, pointing at her. She snickered and fluttered her eyelashes at him again. The men groaned because they knew she had done something ornery.

"What?" Maggs asked, looking around at the guys who were still groaning. Legates pulled out the bag and handed it to Michelle. He stuck another bag in and smirked at Michelle.

"She was about to show you the ever elusive female O," Legates said, chuckling. Michelle grinned at the guys rolling on the floor jamming their fingers in their ears. Maggs looked at them with a frown.

"They don't like hearing about their little sister have an ORGASM," she said the last word loudly, making the men cringe. She snickered and then grinned at Maggs. Maggs chuffed out a laugh and shook his head.

"You," he pointed at Michelle, "are as bad as he is," he finished by pointing at Legates. She rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"It's part of what makes us work. We enjoy having fun," she said, smiling over her shoulder at Legates.

"Among other things," Legates said, sticking his tongue out at her.

"You seem immune to it, Techie," Maggs pointed out. Techie snorted and shook his head, rubbing his hand down his face.

"I'm now mentally scarred beyond scarred. Half naked Michelle, her underwear laying everywhere, weird conversations. I gave up on my sanity the moment they got naked," Techie grunted.

Michelle giggled and opened her bag of popcorn. Legates opened a cabinet and pulled down a large plastic bowl. Michelle's eyebrow climbed into her forehead at his knowledge of this guy's room. Legates stuck his tongue out at her.

"Imagine that, I have friends who don't call me schnookums or sweetcheeks," he teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Just not natural," she muttered, making him chuckle.

Opening the microwave, he pulled out the second bag, opened it and emptied it into the bowl. Opening a third package, he tossed it in the microwave.

"So, when did you get together?" Maggs asked, waggling his finger back and forth between Michelle and Legates.

"My last mission," Legates mumbled, watching the bag in the microwave puff up as the popcorn began to pop.

"Yeah, he was what was it Perkins said? Oh yeah, Josh was sniffing after me like a bitch in heat," Michelle said, smirking. Legates spun around and shot a death glare at Perkins.

"What? It's true," Perkins said, grinning at Legates. Michelle quirked her eyebrow at Legates in question.

"Yeah, I was but I don't like him calling you a bitch," Legates grumbled. Michelle chuckled a dark, evil, foreboding chuckle that sent shivers up Maggs spine.

"And that is why you should be nice to Michelle. I really hate to think what will happen to Romero," Brown muttered.

Flicking a glance at the TV which was breaking up the movie with old interviews from the original actors, Legates pulled the third bag from the microwave and dumped it in the bowl. After throwing away the bags, he put the bowl on the floor in the middle of the guys.

"Thank you, daddy," Davis said in a teasing tone.

"Keep it up and we'll talk about how good mama and daddy are in the sack," Legates threatened with a scowl. Michelle stuck her hand in the bag of popcorn and pulled some out. Crunching down on it, she smiled at Legates.

"Ha, think you're cute huh?" He asked, bending over and picking her up then settling her back on his lap.

"Dammit! I'm going to stop going to the gym and get fat so you can't do that anymore," she pouted. He chuckled and rubbed his hand down her thigh.

"You'd have to get really really fat to do that, Baby," he said, grinning at her.

"Is that a challenge?" She asked, putting more popcorn in her mouth.

"Nope, just a fact," he told her, peering into the bag. She tilted it toward him and he pouted up at her.

"I have my hands full," he told her.

She snorted, wiggled her butt and fed him some popcorn. The starting scene of the next movie began with the iconic scrolling text. Davis stood up, walked to the light switch and turned the lights off. The room became dark except for the glow of the TV. Michelle stiffened briefly then tried to burrow under Legates skin. He felt her shiver lightly in his lap. It took a second but the switch went on in his head and he thought about the lights that were constantly on, even when she was sleeping.

Reaching behind himself, he tapped the floor lamp that was behind the futon. The dim light lit the surrounding area. Davis shot a glare over his shoulder at Legates but swallowed and turned back around at the sight of Michelle in Legates lap. At some point of Luke running through the swamps of Dagobah, Legates noticed Michelle's even breathing and twitching. Smiling, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

His head was tilted towards the TV watching, his cheek resting on the top of her head when she shot straight up with a blood curdling scream. Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered in her ear. Her heart was racing, her eyes darting, her breath uneven and ragged, and whimpering gasps were now falling from her lips. The men on the floor flicked a glance at her but turned back to the TV.

Maggs turned and looked over at Legates with a raised eyebrow. Legates raised his in return as he gently whispered her down. Her muscles relaxed and she collapsed against his chest. Burying her head under his chin, she began to softly sob. Grunting, Legates stood up and nudged Wilson with his foot. Wilson stood up and opened the door. Legates left carrying a sobbing Michelle in his arms.

He carefully went down the stairs and pulled the door to his hallway open with his pinkie. Walking down the hallway, he frowned at her heartbreaking sobs. When he reached his door, he turned in, wrapped his fingers around the knob and opened the door. Carrying her in the door, he pushed the door closed with his foot. He carried her to the bed, and laid her down.

Quickly, stripping, he carefully pulled the cover out from under her and scooted her over in the bed. Reaching over her, he flicked on the light on the table next to his bed. He rolled her over and tucked her into his side. She sobbed like a lost child as he ran his hand down her back. He could feel her tears sliding down his chest and his heart squeezed with pain.

No one should feel this kind of fear, ever. The worst part was there was absolutely nothing he could do but hold her. If that was all he could do then he'd do that as often as she needed. He heard her sobs slow down to almost the point of stopping.

"I'm sorry," she hiccuped. He glanced down at her with a frown.

"For what, Baby?" He asked his voice full of concern.

"I embarrassed you in front of the guys and your friend. I did it again," she said, swiping the tears from her cheek then off his chest.

Rolling on his side so they were chest to chest, he wrapped his arms around her then rolled onto his back so she was lying on top of him. Moving his hands up, he cupped her face in his hands and brushed the tears off her face.

"You didn't embarrass me and the guys didn't think anything of it. They were there remember, well they saw the way you were. They...I... can't even begin to imagine what you went through," he whispered then placed a soft kiss on her lips. Her lips trembled and the tears slid down her cheeks.

"Give it time, Sweetheart. They'll come less often," he whispered against her lips.

Giving her another light kiss, he released her face and pushed it down on his chest. Reaching around her again, he pulled the corner of the blanket between her face and his chest. She snuggled into the blanket and let out a sigh. Legates closed his eyes and let the sound of her breathing guide him to sleep. Michelle listened to the sound of his heart and let the soothing sound put her to sleep.

Legates' alarm went off and Michelle jumped. He chuckled at her reaction to his alarm.

"Seriously? A bugle call? What the hell?" She grumbled, rolling out of the bed wearing a scowl. The bathroom door burst open and Techie stood there wearing a towel and a grin.

Anywhere you go, let me go too
Christine, that's all I ask of you

Michelle cringed back into Legates as Techie's voice belted out the song. Legates chuckled and kissed her temple.

"Andrew Lloyd Webber just died a little," Michelle muttered. Legates burst into laughter at her comment and Techie scowled at her.

"You should hear him sing. Trust me it's worse," Techie said, pouting. Michelle looked at the clock and scrambled to the bathroom.

"Hey, I have accountability," Legates complained as she made it clear she was taking the bathroom hostage.

"Then get your ass in gear," Michelle said, grabbing a towel and pushing past Techie into the bathroom. Techie heard the locks clicking and turned to look at Legates.

"Dude, you just had a beautiful woman tell you to get your ass in gear and get in the shower with her. Why, may I ask, are you still sitting here?" Techie said, arching his eyebrow in question. Legates groaned rubbed his hand down his face and stood up.

"I'm going, I'm going. It's your turn to make coffee," Legates grumbled.

"We have coffee?"

"Did you think the magic fairy was filling that coffee pot you've been drinking from every morning?" Legates grumbled, bending over to get a towel from under the bookcase.

"When did we get coffee?" Techie asked, walking to his side of the room.

"Same time we got tinfoil. Given the quality of the coffee, I'd say Michelle bought it," Legates said, walking to the bathroom and closing the door on his last word. Michelle was scrubbing hurriedly and Legates smirked.

"You can take fast showers," he laughed. She looked up making soap run down her face.

"Yeah, when I have to be in class in an hour and a half and I have a half hour metro ride," Michelle said, stepping under the water to rinse off. Legates stripped and stepped into the shower. Michelle moved around him as she conditioned her hair.

"Do I at least get a kiss good morning?" He asked as he lathered his body.

Michelle leaned up and kissed his lips as she slid around his body under the water again. He watched as she rinsed her hair then bolted from the shower. He chuckled and wondered if he should tell her that his accountability wasn't for another two hours. Maybe he'd be nice and drive her to school. Techie laughed when he heard Michelle grunting as she pulled on her clothes. She pulled on her shoes, grabbed her bags and was running for the door.

"Michelle," Techie called out. Michelle paused in the doorway and turned to look at him.

"What?" She asked in an irritated tone.

"Get back here and have a cup of coffee. Accountability isn't for another two hours. Legates is going to drive you to class. So you have time," Techie said, laughing. Michelle glanced at him and slowly turned.

"You sure?" She asked hesitantly.

"Yeah," he laughed as he sat on the bed to lace up his boots.

Legates came out of the shower to find Michelle standing with a cup of coffee in one hand and her other hand on her hip. She frowned at him and narrowed her eyes.

"Were you planning on offering me a ride or were you going to let me run out with no coffee in my system?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"You wouldn't slow down long enough for me to offer," He said, grinning and stepping behind the bookcase.

"Your friend can be an ass sometimes," Michelle told Techie with a smirk.

"You shouldn't talk about Techie like that. He really is a nice guy," Legates said, wearing a grin. Techie snorted and took another drink of his coffee.

"Where did you get this coffee? I've never heard of it," Techie said, eyeing the cup, "it's not that stuff bats poop out is it?" He asked, taking another sip not even waiting for an answer.

"Ick, no, it's a monthly coffee program thingie. I signed up for a year and now they're selling it in stores. At least the regular flavor. I get special blends," Michelle said, sipping her coffee.

"Huh, might have to join the club. Good coffee," Techie muttered. Michelle glanced down at his boots.

"There's something hanging out from the bottom of your pant leg," Michelle said, pointing to the strap that was hanging from the blousing at the bottom of Techie's pants.

"I really really hope that she is talking about an actual strap of some type," Legates said as he stepped around the bookcase.

"Yeah and you happen to have the same issue," Michelle said, pointing at Legates'boots. Legates looked down and sighed.

"I'd cut the stupid things off if they weren't necessary," he grumbled, leaning over to tuck the tie up into his blousing strap.

Michelle rolled her eyes and drank her coffee down. Techie's eyes bugged at her gulping down her coffee. She shrugged and threw the disposable cup away.

"I need to have it in my stomach no later than forty minutes before class. I've found that I have a clearer head that way. The days I get coffee on the way to class I take crappy notes. And I need to get my head in gear. I have to go to the lab today and write my paper tomorrow. Which means I need good notes," she said, shrugging again.

"Wait, you are going to write your paper in one day?" Legates said, raising an eyebrow.

"I have spent three days in the lab with Cam. I've used her books which are the same ones that are at the library and finished the outline. All I have to do is actually write the paper," Michelle said, looking at him with a grin. He shook his head and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Plus, I can always have Dr. Brennan proof read it," Michelle snickered. Legates guffawed at her use of the Jeffersonian team.

"I would date a girl whose family were a bunch of freaking geniuses and sharpshooters," Legates said, shaking his head almost forlornly. Michelle cocked her head and let a smile creep across her face.

"Well, you can always stop dating me," she suggested in a smart ass tone. Techie snickered at Legates then watched the other man over his cup as he drank some coffee.

"I think I can deal with the geniuses. It's the sharpshooter I might have an issue with," Legates mumbled.

"He's the one you should be least worried about," Michelle smirked.

"And why is that?" Legates asked, squinting at her then sipping his coffee.

"Because Booth wouldn't do anything illegal. He's too goody two shoes. Now, the others. Well they might be tempted and the worst part, they'd get away with it," she smirked.

"Eh, she has a point," Techie said.

"That is the scary part," Legates muttered.

"We need to get moving," Techie said, standing up and grabbing his hat with his free hand.

Legates grabbed his keys and they filed out of the room. Michelle turned and almost ran into Romero who was standing in the hall. She glared at him and stared him down. She saw his eyes shift and change color slightly. His pupils dilated just a little then his jaw clenched and his eyes hardened.

"I'll be damned," she whispered. Romero shot her a look and she smirked at him with a raised eyebrow.

Legates had heard her whispered comment but just wanted to get away from Romero. He put his hand at her back and guided her around the man.

"Douche," Techie said as he walked past Romero.

They walked down the hall and Michelle bit her lip to keep from laughing. Not at the fact but the situation. When they reached the stairwell a giggle escaped her lips. She started running down the steps so she wouldn't fall down the stairs laughing. She burst out the door and leaned over laughing. Legates shook his head and followed his girlfriend out the door.

"Come on, Baby, stop laughing and get in the truck," Legates said.

Michelle scrambled into the truck still gasping. Techie climbed into the back seat, shaking his head at Michelle. He joined her in laughter as Legates tried to get into the truck only to realize he wouldn't fit. Sighing, he hit the button and waited as the seat slid back.

"Short people," he grunted.

"I am not short in fact I'm tall for a female," Michelle sniffed.

"Okay, but you're still short," Legates said, climbing into the truck.

She watched as he adjusted the mirrors then started the truck. Romero slammed out of the door and stalked to his SUV.

"So, what's with the giggles and you being damned?" Legates asked, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

Michelle sighed and pursed her lips. This was a subject they never really discussed and she wasn't sure how he felt about it.

"Change of subject," Michelle said, lifting her nose. Legates glared at her out of the corner of his eye. Turning, she looked at the side of his face.

"So, you guys joke about the whole 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' thing. Does it really bother you or is it that whole guys calling each other 'fags' thing?" Michelle asked him with a questioning look.

Legates glanced at her with his face scrunched. Techie sat in the back just as confused. Where had that question come from?

"Nahh, doesn't bother me at all. As long as they don't continue to hit on me after they know I'm not gay," Legates said.

"It doesn't bother you when a guy hits on you?" Techie said, chuckling as he looked at his friend.

"Nah, they don't know unless they ask do they?" Legates said, shrugging.

"I guess not. Never thought of it that way," Techie said.

"It doesn't bother you then? Not even the guys in the military?" Michelle said, cocking her head in question.

"Naahh, I mean who cares who another person chooses to sleep with. As long as it's not forced on me," Legates said casually. Michelle nodded and a smirk crossed her features.

"Romero is gay," she said bluntly. Legates almost swerved into another lane as he jerked his head around to her.

"What?" Techie squawked from the back seat. Michelle laughed at their reactions.

"What? Are you sure? How do you know?" Legates garbled out the questions in confusion.

"Think about it. He comes in when you're in the shower. Does Jones do that? He makes fun of you for saying a girls name. He gets pissy when you spend time with me instead of him, like last night. And this morning when you came up behind me, his pupils dilated and his irises started changing color. Classic signs of arousal," Michelle said, smirking.

"Umm, shit," Legates mumbled his face turning red as he thought about how many times Romero busted in on his showers and he thought nothing of it.

"Techie, does Romero bust in on you when you're in the shower?" Michelle asked, glancing towards the backseat.

"Uh, no," Techie said, shaking his head.

"Have either of you actually seen him with a girl, ever?" Michelle asked, looking between the two. Both paused and thought for a moment.

"Come to think of it, no. But that doesn't mean anything. Other than the guys and a few of my friends none of them had seen me with a woman until you either," Legates said, shrugging.

"Which between that and the jokes about you being a don't ask don't tell soldier, gave him the idea that you were as well," Michelle said.

"Awww, jeez," Legates rumbled.

Techie started chuckling then sat back and roared out his laughter. Legates pouted as he pulled up in front of the University plaza. Michelle leaned over and pecked him on the lips.

"Techie can laugh but that just means that both sexes think you're hot. I'll see you later," she said, smiling at him.

"Yep," he said, pulling her head back for a kiss.

She pulled back and grinned as she climbed from the truck. He waited as Techie climbed into the front seat, still chuckling.

"Shut up, schnookums," Legates grumbled.

He watched from the corner of his eye as Michelle disappeared into the large crowd of students moving around the plaza. Pulling into the traffic, he made his way back towards base and accountability. Two more days of not seeing her kind of depressed him. Other than the occasional chuckle, Techie remained quiet on the ride back to base.


A/N: Heh heh, first up...Spanish verbs, booty call, Guinness, Jameson, head (/snicker), honey dust, damsel in distress, vegetables, eye location, studying, a white boy with rhythm, Dogfish Head, treasure hunting, and sexy time.