Make mama stop cryin, cuz I need you around
My mama she loves you, no matter what she says
its true
I know that she hurts you, but remember I love
you, too

I ran away today, ran from the noise, ran away
Don't wanna go back to that place, but don't have
no choice, no way
It ain't easy growin up in World War III
Never knowin what love could be, well I've seen
I don't want love to destroy me like it did my
family

Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I promise I'll be better, Mommy I'll do anything
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I promise I'll be better, Daddy please don't
leave

Pink; Family Portrait

The slight twang of discomfort that ripped up her calf made Daphne slow to exit the exam room. Mike remained at her side, his steady gait contrasting highly to her obvious hobble.

Daphne glanced at the brace on her ankle; it itched and would be impossible to cover it up unless she wore long pants, and she frowned a little, slightly humbled due to her needy limp. She managed to smile anyway.

"I'm glad it's not broken," came Mike's silken murmur. He turned to face his companion, who was still glancing down at her injury. He patted her shoulder and grinned, "Aw, don't fuss. You'll be fine. You'll walk a little funny for a while, but sometimes a mistake can be enlightening."

Daphne looked up at him. "Enlightening? How?" Mike at that moment came into contact with her short fuse.

"Well…" he slurred in thought, "Sometimes making a mistake can help open new doors. For example, that fall most likely told you that one should never wear heels while on an exploration!"

Daphne's cheeks flushed a hint of scarlet and she jabbed his ribs with an elbow.

"Alright, you got me. I'll listen next time," Daphne chuckled, momentarily forgetting her pain, and her gait began to steady.

In the break room, Daphne and Mike were seated across from each other at their usual table, and chatting over two steaming cups of coffee. Daphne was sitting awkwardly, the brace on her ankle forcing her to stretch her leg out.

"Daphne? Where've you been? You missed the taping," Fred called from the other side of the room. He stormed towards them, the wrinkles in his face were a mix of worry and relief.

The redhead craned her neck, her jaw dropping only slightly, having been startled by the sudden bark from the doorway. "Oh! Hey, Fred. Sorry, had to run to the hospital."

"Hospital? What for?" Fred asked, fear leaping into his throat.

"Her ankle was bugging her," Mike stated.

"Why didn't you call me?" Fred asked, turning to Daphne with narrowed eyes. "I'd have taken you."

"I didn't know where you were, Fred."

"No worries, Fred. I took her there. The ankle's in a brace. It'll be tender for awhile, though."

Fred turned to the Irishman. "What? You took her?"

Mike raised his brows. "Uh, yes, I did," he replied, taken aback by the other man's cross-examining.

Fred sighed. He turned to Daphne. "Daph, that wasn't a smart thing to do."

"What? Go with Mike? And why not?" she asked.

"He could be-"

"I know, he could be dangerous. But can't almost anybody?"

"Look, you were hurt, Daph. I'd feel better if you called me or one of the others next time."

"Fred, look. You, I, and the rest of the gang pal around a lot, but we also have our own lives to tend to. I cannot expect the others to always be free to come help me. I needed help right at that moment."

"Look, there's no reason to get worked up," Mike interfered, "She's fine, and the visit's come and gone."

Fred's face scrunched angrily and turned to Mike once more.

"Look here, Lucky. I know there's something up with you, and it isn't a pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow. I want you to stay as far from her as possible!" Near the end of the statement, Fred heard his voice rise to a level he'd never heard come from his mouth; he secretly thanked the heavens that they were the only ones in the room.

Mike stood, standing solid on his feet. He stood up so abruptly that the plastic chair where he had been seated simply toppled over with a deafening clatter. Daphne remained in her seat, her pupils dilated, and wondering what would happen should she interject with the situation.

Fred found himself not at eye level, but looking up at the gardener in front of him. He kept his eyes on Mike's face, and was secretly sizing him up.

"Fred," Mike sighed, exasperation painting his weary tone, "Look, I'm not here to argue or to fight. I'm telling you, nothing happened between Daphne and I. We're friends, and as grown adults, I believe we are entitled to the right to be."

Daphne cleared her throat and stood quickly. "Shut up! Both of you! Please Fred, I'm allowed to have friends outside the gang, aren't I?"

Fred bit his lip, about to use the 'but he could be dangerous' excuse, but she had nailed him earlier with that. He shook with anger and turned to Mike.

"Stay the hell away from her. People like you have no business crossing paths with her."

Mike was grinding his teeth at this point. He felt Fred's icy stare on him the entire time. He took a deep breath and looked at the blonde man blankly, so as to not show the mixed brew of anger and confusion swimming in his mind.

Daphne nudged between the pair and shoved them apart at arm span.

"Can we just...calm down and... discuss this like civilized people!" she said slowly, shooting either man a dark stare. With one last glare at each other, both Fred and Mike sighed, and pulled up a chair. An uneasy silence reigned at the table as Daphne sat between them.

"Now," Daphne chirped, folding her hands neatly on the desk, "Fred, like I said before. I couldn't find you anywhere. Nor did it come to mind to call just you at the moment. I was actually going to go through the day with it."

"Alright," Fred replied, "And Mike came to help."

"Aye," Mike added, a state of relief washing over him.

"Still, Daphne. I don't want you around Mike when I'm not present," Fred stated simply. Daphne turned sharply to face him.

"Excuse me?" was her reply.

"I still don't trust him, Daphne."

"Fred, this is a friend of mine. Not a villain in a costume."

"You still don't know if the guy's a conman or not!"

Voices were rising. Soon both Daphne and Fred were out of their chairs and arguing at full volume. Mike wrinkled his thick brow and also came to stand.

"Fred! Daphne! Kill the fire! Calm down!" he bellowed.

The other two abruptly silenced, turning to watch him as he rounded the table to stand in front of them.

The fire in Fred's eyes still hadn't been extinguished. "Mike, I'm putting it bluntly. You lay one hand on her, and I'll..!"

"Look, I'm not going to hurt anyone, especially Daphne. She's a friend, and I'd like to be friends, or at least, get off on good terms, with you."

"I'm afraid that we'll never come off on good terms, Lucky."

Mike was usually a mellow, level-headed person. It was rare that the Irishman would get upset or even truly angry. But Fred's rebel on friendship with Daphne sent him over the top.

A primal yell. A pair of hands gripping the front of Fred's shirt. And a hard slam into a wall. THUD!

Fred gasped for breath from the force. A pair of emerald green orbs penetrated his own blue, projected from a thin face frame with crimson and wrinkled in anger. Mike's burly hands gripped tighter on the fabric, and pressed the blonde man harder to the wall.

Mike's face went pale as he heard a ring. Glancing down, he saw that Fred had a cell phone clutched in his palm. As it rang, the screen on the phone illuminated, revealing three numbers: 911.

Daphne winced as she heard the clank of handcuffs placed around Mike's wrists. The officer was mumbling the standard 'right to remain silent' speech to Mike, whom only complied with what was happening. The tall red haired man just stood perfectly still during the entire procedure as he was assisted into the back of the squad car.

Mike took a moment to glance out the window at Daphne. The glare of the glass slightly distorted her vision, but Daphne could sense the guilt he was feeling, seeping from his eyes and into hers.

"Mike-!" Daphne started to say, but the squad car drove off before it escaped her mouth.