A/N: So little interlude before we get back to the main story, hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 42

Mia looked around the table studying her friends as each held a set of cards in front of them.
They'd decided to do something together and Mike had suggested poker.
Even Ji had joined in and was currently studying his cards.
"Come on Mia, you in or what?" asks Mike.
Mia purses her lips before sliding six chips into the centre, "raise."
"Fold," says Antonio dropping his cards down.
"Same," nods Kevin, and Emily sighs as well.
"Ji?" prompts Evie.
Ji nods and slides his own chips in matching Mia's bet.
Evie and Jayden both do the same, Evie's legs resting in Jayden's lap, one of his hands resting on her leg when not moving his chips.
Mia had noticed him doing that a lot since they'd come back from the island, he hadn't left Evie's side if he could avoid it. And he'd constantly been touching her, as if to remind himself she was there.
Something had happened on the island today, something that had obviously put Jayden on edge, but neither he nor Evie had said anything about it. It clearly had something to do with Deker because Mia didn't know any other Nighlok who had the ability to put Jayden on edge like this. Especially when it came to Evie.
She was so caught up that she missed the others turning over their cards until Emily nudged her.

"Sorry," she says dropping her gaze down as she turned over her cards.
"And Evie wins, four of a kind," says Mike with a huff, he'd been bluffing and it had not panned out.
Evie smirks and pulls her chips over, adding them to her already impressive pile.
"How do you do this? Are you cheating somehow?" asks Antonio eyeing Evie.
"No cheating required, you just have terrible poker faces," replies Evie smugly.
"No one likes a sore winner," chides Ji.
"But you all make it so easy."
"I thought I was good at this," mutters Mike.
"You are, to everyone else," assures Evie, "You have a tell."
"I do not!"
"You do, you all do, even Ji does," laughs Evie.
"What is it?" asks Mike.
"Nope, if I tell you, you'll make a concentrated effort not to show it. And then everyone will know it and look for it."
"You're a bit of a bitch you know that?" asks Mike.
Evie just winks as she throws a grape in the air before catching it in her mouth.

They play a few more hands but to everyone's surprise it's not Evie who ends up winning, but a surprise victory from Ji.
"I thought you said he had a tell," whines Mike looking at Evie.
"He does, usually, but unlike you, he figured it out."
"Why does a samurai mentor have such mean poker skills?" asks Antonio.
"There are many things you do not know about me Antonio, good night, all. Don't stay up too late," replies Ji as he walks out.
"You know he has a point; we really don't know that much about Mentor," notes Emily.
"What do you guys know?" asks Antonio looking at Evie and Jayden, the former of whom was now idly shuffling the cards with a practised efficiency and flare.
"How do you mean?" asks Jayden.
"Well does he have a family?" says Mike.
"Of course he has a family Mike, the Shiba house doesn't just make Mentor's out of thin air, funnily enough he got here the same way we all did" snorts Evie.
"His parents are both retired, his dad was the Mentor before him, and he has a younger brother who is married and has two children of his own."
"Does he see them much?" questions Mia.
"When he can, it's been less since everyone else arrived simply because he hasn't had the time," nods Jayden, "they don't come here for the same reasons your families don't."

"Has he ever dated?" wonders Antonio.
"Okay no, so not a topic I want to ever think about," replies Evie wrinkling her nose.
"I agree that's straying into weird territory," says Mike and Kevin nods.
"To my knowledge, Ji has not dated since I've been around, and that is all I the thought I want to give that topic," agrees Jayden with a shudder, his hand idly running up and down Evie's shin.
"He had a point about not staying up though," says Mia with a yawn, "Dayu really packs a punch when she wants."
"Yeah, so does whatever Serrator did to us," agrees Mike.
"Let's call it a night then" suggests Jayden.

They pack up the poker set and return it to the cupboard before everyone heads off.
Evie walks into the kitchen to grab a drink, as she turns, she sees Jayden stood in the doorway.
"Okay, much as I like being around you, you've been clingy since we got back."
"Can't I just want to be around my girlfriend?" he shrugs attempting to appear nonchalant.
Evie's eyes widen in understanding, "this is about what Deker said isn't it."
Jayden sighs and looks down.
"Jayden for god sake, he can't get anywhere near me while I'm in the house. You're being paranoid," soothes Evie.
"If his attention is shifting from me to you, then it puts you in more danger, and by extension the baby. You shouldn't have to be the one defending me because I've just had my ass kicked," retorts Jayden.

Evie sighs before walking over to him, taking his hand she rests it on her stomach, "I am fine, our baby is fine. Deker cannot touch us while we are inside the house or the grounds. And despite what he said, he stills knows you're the best opponent for him, you've already beaten him once, you'll do it again."
"I got my ass kicked today."
"A fluke, a minor setback, like I said. You cannot let him get into your head like this Jayden, it's what he wants," answers Evie before leaning up and kissing him, "I'll be fine, I will not let anything hurt our baby. And despite what he said, you're still as strong as you have ever been, and our team does not make you weaker."
"I'd have been helpless if you hadn't been there," says Jayden, "You shouldn't be the one who has to protect me, not now."
"I'll always protect you as much as I can. I love you dummy, and if there is any part of you that is going down the line of thought that you have to take Deker alone, and be the best like what happened last time. Shelve it, we've got bigger things to worry about that Deker's head games. And your ego or rivalry or whatever you want to call it, does not need to be a factor."

"This isn't about that Evie, am I annoyed that Deker suddenly thinks me less, or course. But my main concern is if he decides it's you, he wants to duel, then you get the target on your back we've been trying to avoid. Just promise me you'll be careful?" he pleads cupping her face with the hand not resting on her stomach.
"I'm always careful when it comes to raging psychos with obsessive tendencies." answers Evie leaning up and kissing him softly, "So relax, we got this," she says before turning and heading for her room.
Jayden watches her go, he couldn't let Deker's attention shift, not to Evie, nor to any other member of his team. Which meant he needed to work harder, he had to be able to protect Evie, much as she might hate the thought, there was a lot more at stake now. And Jayden was not risking his child, he'd get Deker's attention back him, one way or the other, he had too. With that thought settled in his mind he followed after Evie, unaware of Mia watching him in concern.

Mia sighs and leans against the wall, she'd heard enough to get the gist of what had happened today, and why Jayden had been hovering.
But she'd also seen the look on his face just now, and she was worried he was going to do something reckless if it came down to it. He'd never risk Evie's safety, not now she was pregnant. And she remembered what he'd said the last time he fought Deker, how part of him had wanted too. No doubt a little bit of ego that he was the one Deker had deemed the strongest opponent. Yet if Deker's attention was shifting, just how far would Jayden go to keep it on himself and away from Evie, and by extension their baby too.
Knowing she couldn't do anything now Mia walked back into her room, she'd just have to keep an eye on Jayden, and make sure he didn't do anything stupid.