The New Directions are screwed. Sure, they've lost members before, like Matt and Kurt, but Kurt came back. This. This is bad. No, losing Mercedes was bad, losing Mercedes, Brittany and Santana to a rival all-girl choir is hell. Mike knows their chances of winning Sectionals aren't looking too good. They have to do something, but they also have to ensure not to lose any more members first. Rachel would never leave. The other girls left because of Rachel, now she has less internal competition. Quinn tried to leave for some reason, but Miss Cochran turned her down because of Beth or something…. Mike wasn't really sure. That only left Tina. Mike's wonderful, beautiful, and talented girlfriend. There's the issue, Tina is full of talent, but no one besides Mike seems to notice. She's also much closer to Mercedes and Santana than she is with Rachel and Quinn. Mike hopes deep down Tina wasn't even considering leaving, but honestly, he worries, worries that Tina would see she has more to offer and would switch teams instead of fighting for a chance to shine against Rachel, Quinn, Kurt, Finn, and now Blaine too. Tina would spend some time with Mercedes and Brittana, but the idea of joining them was never brought up, maybe she thought he would be upset or disappointed, he wants her to be happy, but they need her to stay, he needs her to stay. Competing against friends is manageable, competing against your girlfriend, and them winning over her would kill him. He needs a plan to make sure Tina stays with the New Directions.

Finn suggests doing Hall and Oates for the Mash Off which is a great idea, but he needs to talk to Finn. The guy's doing a great job keeping the team together, maybe he'll agree with giving Tina a lead in the number. The guys are having a guy-only meeting right after Glee rehearsal, so Tina gives Mike a kiss on the cheek as she makes her way out of the choir room.

"Drive me home after school?" she asks. Mike walks her towards the door, "Didn't even have to ask," he replies and gives her one more chaste kiss before she heads down the hall and runs into Mercedes. He has to do something to keep Tina on their team.

Finn starts off the meeting by going over the importance of this Mash Off, in showing that we're a team and that they're missing out, but not that they're not needed. Finn apparently thinks this could help bring the girls back to our Glee club. Mike's getting a little nervous, how will the guys even react to him suggesting featuring Tina as a lead. Sure, there are only three girls left, but Tina gets the least solos between them. Finn keeps talking was Kurt interrupts Finn.

"Finn, not that anyone doubts Rachel pipes, cuz we all know she got 'em, but she can't be the lead in this number."

"You're right Kurt, I know that's what the Troubletones are expecting, that's why she won't be featured in the number, instead Quinn…."

"No!" Everyone turns to the voice that belonged to Mike Chang. He stands up and walks forward to the group. "Finn, I'm sorry but it has to be Tina, and yeah yeah, you can all say I'm just defending my girlfriend whatever, but she might actually leave. Any time after she sees Cedes or San and Brit, she gets really quiet, and I think if it's not her, she'll be the next one to leave."

"… and Tina, Mike. The female leads will be Quinn and Tina. It's about time Tina gets her chance up there. I'm scared she might leave too. We need her, Mike. Now more than ever, and I'm more than happy to tell her that. Anyone else?" A chorus of yeses filled the choir room. Everyone agreed that the best strategy of this, and Sectionals would for the girls to each have a moment in the spotlight. It was their best chance at winning.

"Mike, relax we all know we need Tina, and not just for numbers or voices but she's an original member and a great team player. Besides, if she can teach you to sing, she can teach whoever we can get for sectionals," Puck adds.

Mike looks around and all the guys seem to be in agreement, which is a relief, he was really afraid he was gonna have to fight tooth and nail to get Tina a solo in this number. Then he realizes the problem of she might take a back seat at sectionals, but that's a different story. But, he'll cross that bridge when they get there, right now, Tina had a chance to shine.

Later that day, Mike and Tina are hanging out in her bedroom doing homework. Mike's studying for his next Chemistry test and Tina's going over her history notes. They've been talking about weekend plans when Tina mentions she and Mercedes might go shopping on Sunday. While Mike would rather just forever assume Tina didn't want to join her friends on the Troubletones, his mouth had other plans. "Listen, Tee. Did you ever..." Mike sighs ad Tina laughs nervously, "What is it, Mike? You can tell me?" she gently nudges him to go on and he responds with fake pain from the light push.

"It's just, did you ever think about leaving the New Directions?" Tina is silent and then burst out laughing. Mike starts laughing too, but with confusion instead of humour.

"What's so funny?" Tina looks up and is met with the seriousness of Mike's eyes. She realizes he wasn't joking. "Babe, why do you think I'd leave? I go to rehearsals, don't I?" Mike nods, "I played in that stupid dodgeball game, I have the battle scar to prove it. See?" She throws her left arm towards her boyfriend to show her the still healing bruise that Brittany's ball gave her just above her elbow. Mike puts her arm down gently. "I guess I just thought you would've felt unseen too. That Mercedes and Santana would've convinced you to leave Rachel and us... me behind so you could shine." Mike looked away from his girlfriend before finishing his last statement. They fell in love through Glee Club, it was special to him, because of Tina, sure he loved everyone else like family, but Tina helped him make it his focus for his dream of becoming a dancer. Tina was the one who pushed him to actually sing in the first place. He feels a hand on his cheek and Tina kisses his lips. As her soft lips part his own she looks into his eyes and sees him, really sees him.

"You thought I was gonna leave because of Rachel, as if. Mike, I love that team and Mr. Schue, I'm not going to walk out on everyone now. What I like a solo every now and then, yes, but I'm not quitting over it, that's not me, Mike"

Mike leans in and kisses her again, while the first kiss was more of a calming one, this one was urgent, confirming all of Mike's worries were for nothing. The kiss quickly became a hot makeout session until a loud noise downstairs reminded them, they weren't home alone.

"About the solo, I actually have something to tell you from the guys' meeting."