Chapter 13 Ring Goes the Phone, But You're Not Alone

Barney's

Lee and Ava started her self defense training the next day. She wasn't sure how she felt when he entered the gym in gray sweatpants and a dark blue, sleeveless t shirt that clung to him in pure temptation. She unknowingly licked her lips before nibbling her bottom lip. Lee noticed and smirked tho he inhaled hard when he saw her sucking on her bottom lip. He closed his eyes and tried to shake it off as he felt the punch of desire in his gut. When he opened them, she was staring at him in confusion with her head tilted.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

Her heart clenched tightly as he gave her a soft smile and nodded.

"Tool said he showed you some stances and some basic starting moves?" he asked with his arms crossed over his chest.

She nodded as she straightened, "Yep, I've come up with a way to move some of the stances into the start of my routine in the morning."

"Have you loosened up at all yet this morning?"

"I wasn't sure if you wanted me to do my normal routine with us starting training," she said unsure.

"How far are you running in the mornings?"

"A little over two miles. I used to do five miles a day so I have a lot of catch up."

"Well the stretching and stances should help you get back to that point faster," he said uncrossing his arms.

He demonstrated a few simple self defense moves and had her practice using them on him until she was confident in the moves. After a couple hours they called it quits. Her ribs still throbbed constantly, but were healing nicely. They both grabbed a shower since Barney had an extra in the hangar for after missions, making three bathrooms available.

Their mornings continued on the same for the next six days.

The next morning they were practicing a maneuver that would help her flip someone larger than her. She couldn't quite get it without her ribs flaring up. It wasn't a large flare, but it was enough for Lee to say they were done for the day. They turned to see Barney leaning against the wall with his hands in his front pockets.

"Your phone keeps ringing," he said to Lee as they made their way to the doorway.

Lee nodded and went ahead of them as Barney turned to Ava.

"You're lookin good," he said tilting his head to motion towards the mats.

"Not quite all healed tho unfortunately," she muttered.

Barney frowned, "Life dealt you quite the hand. Has anyone taken a look at you?"

"I can't exactly just go out and use my non existent medical insurance," she sighed heavily.

"You could use that wonderful credit card I gave you. Besides some of that money is yours anyhow," he pointed out, "I know a couple doctors that are discreet."

"Actually I was hoping to talk to Gunnar," she said causing him to frown in confusion.

"Gunnar?"

"The type of doctor I need he seems familiar with since Dixie is pregnant," she said quietly.

Barney clenched his jaw as the conversation he overheard came back to him. He turned to look at her and saw her staring at her boots. He put one hand on her shoulder as he sighed gently before lifting her chin up to look him in the eyes.

"I overheard what happened Ava," he said quiet but gruffly, "I'm sorry it happened to such a wonderful young woman. You deserve nothing shy of the best in this world. Maybe I'm a little biased, but I have the most kick ass daughter in the world. You need help you got family here. I don't mean just me. We all want to see you happy."

Two trails of tears made their way down Ava's cheeks at his words. She sniffled a bit before trying to control her emotions enough to speak.

"I have been happier here then I have been anywhere else," she said unsteadily.

Barney pulled her into a bear hug and rested his chin on her head. She cried into his chest. Lee stood off to the side not wanting to interrupt the moment between them.

A few minutes passed before her sniffles disappeared and she mumbled into his chest.

"What was that?" he asked.

"I said I think I'm okay now but I like your hugs," she muttered.

Barney and Lee chuckled as he hugged her again and she sighed heavily into his chest again before pulling back gently.

"Thanks," she said smirking, "I think I got a call to make."

He slowly released her the rest of the way as she headed upstairs. She made a quick couple of calls, showered, and dressed. She had a beaming smile on her face as she descended the stairs looking for Barney or Lee. She frowned when she noticed the blankets Lee had been using folded neatly on the couch and his duffle bag gone. She turned when she heard footsteps behind her. Barney looked at her with understanding.

"Lacy."

A sharp pain in her chest made her rub it a bit as she nodded confused, "I thought they were in full on fight mode. What happened?"

"The same thing that always does unfortunately," he mumbled harshly.

She tilted her head up at him, "She hurts him a lot?"

Barney just nodded as he crossed his arms and stared over at his now functional truck.

She sighed heavily, "He deserves better."

"Damn straight he does," he said gravely as he straightened and headed into the kitchen to make breakfast.

She followed him in and started the coffee pot for him, "Well since he's not here… would you mind giving me a ride to my hopefully new doctor? She had a cancellation that hadn't been filled so she can see me right away."

"Long as you got an address, I can get you there," he said as he nodded.

"Thanks dad."

He stilled a moment before looking at her with a gentle smile, "Gonna take awhile to get used to being called that, but I definitely like the sound of it."

She smiled widely, "Maybe after my appointment we can go to a certain Italian restaurant where a certain cousin has been asking about you?"

Barney barked out a laugh, "Yeah I think we can do that. Been awhile."

They smiled at each other before sitting down to eat their late breakfast.

Clinic

Ava fiddled with a loose thread from her worn jeans as she looked nervously around. Barney sat next to her in a chair that was a little too snug for his preference. His muscled arms wouldn't fit on the thin armrests. Ava noticed how uncomfortable he was and smirked as she held back a laugh. She must not have been too quiet since he looked over at her and smirked himself. He crossed his arms across his chest and noticed a small child playing with toys in the corner of the waiting room. The child had stopped playing and was staring at him with wide eyes. He noticed it wasn't fear that had the child staring at him. The little boy got up and looked at his distracted mother before looking back at Barney. He slowly walked over to him and looked up at Barney with deep blue, wide eyes.

The boy whispered loud enough for Barney and Ava to hear him, "Are you a superhero?"

Barney frowned and looked over at Ava who started snickering quietly. He looked back at the boy.

"No."

The boy looked disappointed and his shoulders slouched, "Then how come you got such big muscles?"

"Soldier."

The boys eyes widened again, "My daddy is a soldier too. He's in the army. His muscles aren't as big as yours tho."

"I have to exercise a lot since I don't have a little boy to run after," Barney said smiling.

"And I'm all grown," Ava piped up.

Barney chuckled as the little boy turned his attention to her, "He's your daddy?"

"Yep," she said smiling at the little boy.

"Does he go all over the world too?"

"Yes he does," she smiled wider and a twinkle appeared in her eyes.

"Cool," he said as his mother noticed he was talking with them.

"Eric," she said sternly, "Please don't pester people sweetie."

"Oh he's no trouble," Ava assured her.

Eric pointed at Barney, "Her daddy's a soldier too."

The woman's face softened, "Army?"

"Marine."

She smiled at Barney and nodded, "Thank you for your service."

"And you for yours."

She frowned and tilted her head, "I'm not in any armed forces."

"Your husband may serve, but it's his family that gives him a reason to come home. A reason to fight."

The woman's eyes misted a bit and she nodded, "Thank you," she whispered.

"Ava Ross?" a nurse called into the waiting room from an open door near the front desk.

Ava stood and Barney gave her a nudge. She smiled nervously and followed the nurse into the back hallway. The nurse took her weight and height before leading her to a private room. She changed into a paper gown and waited for the doctor.

Lacy's

Lee paused at the steps to Lacy's. He frowned as he wondered why he was back at the drop of a hat. Sure you forgave and forgot in a relationship. You worked through things together. He had one foot on the bottom step when he realized he was always the one saying sorry and meaning it. She turned right around and used his work and his past to hurt him. She never forgot. He sighed and turned his head towards the street. It was always Lacy's house. They'd never made a home together.

The front door opening caused him to swing his head back as she ran out the door and jumped on him causing him to drop his duffle. She kissed him enthusiastically and he tried to return it.

"What's wrong?" she asked as her smile dropped.

"Tired," he muttered, "Barney's couch isn't exactly comfortable.

She loosened her grip on his waist and let her legs fall so she could stand, "Barney's?"

"Yeah, same place I always go when we fight."

"The same place MISS Ross is," Lacy's tone turned frosty.

"She IS his daughter," he stated as he lifted a brow.

She crossed her arms under her breasts and scowled at his chest.

"Are you jealous of Ava?" he asked.

Lacy narrowed her eyes up at him, "I've seen the way you look at her."

"I would never cheat on you Lacy," he said firmly, "I never have."

"And I have right?" she whispered viciously, "I didn't even know you'd be back after two months without one word!"

"We've been through this," he said a little louder, "You know what I do. I call you too often now as it is."

"TOO often!?" She yelled, "What the hells does that mean?"

"You call in the middle of a gunfight do you know how distracting that is?"

"You've never said," she muttered backpedaling.

"Barney said I'm distracting the team."

"Then maybe it's time to retire or find another job," she said firmly as she nodded hard.

His eyes widened in shock, "I love my job, you know that. I can't just leave Barney and the team hanging after all we've been through. Not just like that."

"It SHOULD be as easy as that," she said harshly before walking back to the house and slamming the door shut before locking it with a loud click.

Lee huffed hard and shook his head in aggravation, "Well fuck!"

He snatched up his duffle and headed back to his motorcycle. He turned it on and revved it loudly before speeding out of the driveway.

Clinic

Ava exited the back hallways and headed towards her father with a tearful smile. She hugged him hard. He just wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"I'm okay," she whispered before pulling back slowly and looking up at him, "I'm really okay."

"Yeah?" he asked with a small smile.

"Bruises are almost gone and I can still make you a grandfather someday," she chuckled at the glare he sent her.

"Not too soon I hope," he muttered, "I'm too young to be a grandfather."

She chuckled as she followed him to the truck before they headed to a special Italian restaurant.

Barney's

Lee arrived to find the place eerily empty. Assuming Barney had taken Ava somewhere, he changed into a pair of sweatpants and threw the rest of his clothes into the washer before starting a load. He wrapped his hands and headed into the gym to take his frustrations out on a poor unsuspecting punching bag.

When Barney and Ava arrived home and made it into the main room they heard hard whacks coming from the gym. Barney sighed making Ava look up at him.

"Lacy," he gritted out.

She sighed herself before making up her mind. She headed upstairs to change into her own gear before heading down to the gym. She turned on her mp3 player and started her running. He may not be ready to talk, but at least he'd know he wasn't alone.