Chapter 15 I Want to Be Naughty, But I Can't Have Your Body

Barney's

The guys and Luna soon arrived for their briefing. Ava sat on the arm of the couch next to Luna listening with her head tilted. Two to four weeks was the time frame. Ava nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her head and exhaled slowly as Barney finished.

"Orders?" she asked Barney jokingly.

Barney looked over at her in contemplation, "How stir crazy are you gonna get while we're gone? Tool's got the tattoo shop to run too."

"You could have him check in on me and go with me grocery shopping once in awhile. Or was he staying the nights here again? I can't imagine being cooped up in his parlor every day for two to four weeks," she said frowning at the floor.

"If we knew more about what was going on I'd leave someone with you," Barney said concerned.

"I'll be fine," Ava assured him and the team, "Tool and I'll work something out. Tho you should think about having a security system installed if you're so worried."

Barney nodded reluctantly and Lee felt concern for the energetic woman.

"Actually," Thorn said smirking, "That's not a bad idea."

"What?" Luna asked.

"Security system," Thorn said, "We have all this high tech stuff here with barely any security. Plus I can rig it to Ava's computer so if there's a break in and she doesn't respond we'll be notified. Tool as well if he's not here for some reason."

"That would make me feel a lot better actually," Ava said as she exhaled loudly.

Barney nodded to Thorn, "How fast can you get it done?"

Thorn squinted his eyes in thought, "Could have it done within 24 hours."

"Then we'll leave the morning after," Barney said and the others nodded in agreement before leaving for the night.

Lee, Barney, and Ava hung around and headed to the kitchen. They all sat down with their prospective alcoholic drinks. Barney ordered dinner and had them deliver. They ate quietly as they each contemplated their own problems.

Barney worried for Ava. He'd only just gotten his daughter and he didn't want to lose her. He knew Tool would take good care of her, but he hadn't gotten his information on Mike Spears yet. Bonaparte said it was a lot of shit to sift through so it was taking longer.

Ava worried for the team. She finally knew her father and she'd grown close to Lee. They'd had a few moments where she could swear he was going to say or do something that would change their friendship into something more, but then he's get a text from Lacy. She frowned in confusion as she ate. Did he love Lacy so much he was willing to be unhappy for the rest of his life? Did a few moments every couple months mean so much to him if he spent the rest of the time out of town on a job or on Barney's couch? Lee had smiled when Dixie had let her rub her tummy over the small foot that rippled across her belly. Dixie has teased him about children of his own. She'd recognized the look on Lee's face. He wanted them. Did Lacy not feel the same?

Lee worried about Ava, but also Lacy. It had been a few weeks and Lacy did nothing but text. She had yet to apologize and Lee just felt tired of the whole situation. He wanted to lay in a real bed instead of Barney's couch with his arms around his woman. His dreams of late had a different woman in those arms tho. Ava. A woman so understanding that she wouldn't ask her own father to give up his life's work. Instead she helped to bring them home safe with new gadgets and upgraded weaponry. He knew she was working on something for his plane, but Barney had yet to allow her near it. She had slowly crawled her way into his heart and taken root. Maybe it was time to break things off with Lacy. He had finally come to realize their relationship wasn't good for either of them. Then maybe he'd stand a chance with Ava when she was recovered from Mike Spears.

Lee helped Ava with the few dishes they'd dirtied as Barney headed into the main room to catch the news on the tv. He caught himself staring at her when she wasn't looking. He didn't seem to notice she was doing the same. She drained the sink and turned to look at him as he reached up to put a plate away. She found she couldn't tear her gaze away as she smiled gently. He brought his arm back down and set the towel on it's hook before turning to catch her smiling at him. His breath caught in his throat and he tried to stop himself from getting closer. Unfortunately for his brain, his body didn't get the memo as he took a step towards her. He looked down at her as she slowly tipped her head up to watch him. Her breathing quickened as he leaned down slowly. They both let their eyes close as they felt each other's breath on their lips. Just as he felt her soft lips against his, he heard his phone jingle with a text notification. Lee's head whipped up and he shook it a bit as his eyes cleared. He opened them to see a blushing, disappointed Ava breathing just as heavily as him take a step back.

"I'm guessing that's Lacy," she said softly before backing up and into the other room to escape the awkward situation it'd become.

"Well fuck!" he whispered loudly as he wiped one hand down his face.

He pulled out his phone and quickly read the message. Lacy had all of a sudden decided he should come home before he had to leave. He growled at the phone and didn't return her text. As soon as this mission was done he would tell Lacy it was over.

Not that he had to worry about any of his stuff being burned or thrown out. He never left anything at her house. He had noticed some of the boxes they'd moved out of Ava's room were his. Plus his big stuff was in one of the storage containers outside. He let it truly sink in that Barney's had always been more of a home then Lacy's.

Barney's Next Morning

Lee woke with a crick in his neck as he heard Thorn's vehicle pull up. He hadn't realized he'd slept in. He leaned his head back on his pillow as he looked at the ceiling. He wanted to get up, but he had a bit of a problem hidden under the blanket. He would chock it off to morning wood, but after the intense dream of Ava last night he knew that wasn't it. He ran his hand over his face and sighed heavily before he tried to think of something to calm him down.

Thorn burst through the door with a crate, grinning like a puppy who'd gotten a belly rub. Thorn seemed to be just the thing to make Lee go soft as he groaned.

"You never sleep in!" Thorn chatted excitedly, "I'm gonna need help bringin in a few more crates of this stuff. Figured our Tech Goddess can have the crates when we're done."

Lee nodded tiredly and realized he was the first up. Ava and Barney had slept in as well. He helped Thorn get the crates inside. He set the last crate down just as Ava came stumbling down the stairs in a purple cotton tank top with matching shorts that rode up enough to be sinful. He tried to pull his eyes from the sight and heard a snort from behind him.

"You hurt her and it'll be more than Barney killin ya man," Thorn said sternly but with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Have another problem to take care of before I go thinkin about that. And I wouldn't hurt her," Lee said quietly.

Thorn frowned and leaned towards Lee so he could whisper and be heard, "You mean you're finally getting rid of Lacy and takin a chance on Ava?"

Lee looked at his socked feet and sighed heavily before meeting Thorn's eyes, "Yeah."

"Holy shit! Luna wins the pot," Thorn said chuckling.

"There was a bet going? Why am I not surprised?" he said dryly.

"So when are you gonna get rid of the ice queen?" Thorn asked.

Lee raised a brow, "After this mission."

Thorn nodded and grinned widely, "Let's go make sure your woman is safe."

Lee hit him in the shoulder and Thorn laughed loudly. The smell of coffee and tea trickled from the kitchen.

"I think I'll go have some breakfast first," Lee mumbled.

Thorn smirked, "Yeah sure…. breakfast… riiiight."

Lee rolled his eyes at Thorn's antics before heading straight to the kitchen. A bleary eyed Ava stared at the closed fridge like it would magically cook her food before taking another sip of her tea. Lee grabbed some coffee quietly before sitting in the chair next to her. She blinked hard a few times before looking up at Lee and grinning widely.

"Morning," she said quietly before frowning as she remembered how they left things last night.

"I wanted to apologize," Lee said as his British accent came out stronger, "Last night wasn't how I wanted to go about kissing you."

Ava blinked hard again before her eyes widened, "You mean you WANTED to kiss ME?"

Lee frowned in confusion, "Why wouldn't I want to kiss you?"

"I'm a second hand, bruised up woman who flinches when there are loud noises. I have an ex gunnin for me and a father that would make a linebacker terrified. Plus you have Lacy."

"For one you are not a second hand woman. Two, even the guys jump at loud noises and I'm not afraid of your ex or your dad. Besides, Lacy isn't going to be in the picture after this mission," Lee said firmly.

"What? Why?" she asked confused, "You've been hanging on to her all this time I thought you must really love her."

"The woman I thought I loved isn't the woman she really is," Lee said quietly.

"Oh," Ava said surprised as she wrapped one arm around her knees and hid behind the teacup in the other, "What does that mean for us?"

"I was hoping you'd let me take you on a date, but I have to finish things with Lacy first. I didn't mean to kiss you until I had," he stated.

"I understand," she slowly smiled widely.

"But since I already have," he said huskily before leaning closer to her and pulling her chair between his legs, "Perhaps I could get another?"

Ava's smile softened and she set her teacup down before gently dropping her legs between them. She leaned forward and Lee grabbed her thighs to bring her knees up against the inside of . The small bit of friction and warmth made Ava blush as she leaned even closer. He tilted her chin up and they closed their eyes as their lips met once more. He lifted a hand to cup the back of her neck as the other buried itself in her hair. He tugged on her hair a bit making her lips part in a moan. He took advantage and slid his tongue inside. Her tongue slid up against his as he raked another small moan from her. His hand slid from her neck to wrap around her waist and pull her forward. She lifted her knees to slide across his lap and straddle him on the chair. He growled lowly as their lower halves made delicious contact.

He kissed her hard before pulling away a bit reluctantly to catch his breath. They stared at each other panting heavily for a few moments before they both broke out into satisfied grins.

"Now I can't wait to get back Darlin," Lee whispered in her ear when he pulled their chests together.

He lightly bit her earlobe before teasing her neck with his nose until he reached her collarbone. He kissed her near her pulse point causing her to gasp quietly. He sucked and licked at the spot making a mark for her to remember him by for awhile. He sighed deeply and nestled his head on the tops of her breasts. She wrapped her arms around him holding him tightly to her.

"As much as I don't want you to get up Darlin," Lee groaned lowly, "I think your dad just woke up. This is not how I want him to know about us."

Ava smiled sweetly at him and nodded before removing herself from his lap and returning to her own, "So you think the mark you just made won't give it away?"

"It's one thing to guess, it's another to see us actually together," he said gruffly.

She smiled widely and winked at him, "At least I don't have to spend the next two to four weeks explaining myself."

He groaned loudly and let his head fall to whack on the table causing her to burst out laughing in amusement. Barney walked in and raised both eyebrows in confusion as he headed to the coffee pot. He poured himself some coffee and sat down in the empty seat.

"Something I should know about?" Barney asked.

"I'll tell you on the plane," Lee muttered before sitting up.

"Okay," Barney said simply as he watched Ava get up.

She smiled at both of them and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard.

"Feeling like cereal this morning?" Barney asked.

"I have a feelin today is gonna be good so I'm gonna try Lucky Charms and Reese's Peanut Butter Puff cereal together," she said as she poured both cereals together, "It'll be like sex in a bowl."

Lee had just taken a large gulp of his coffee only to spray it out across the table and choke a bit. Ava patted him on the back trying not to laugh at him as her dad leaned back and watched the two of them with narrowed eyes. She grabbed her cereal, smirked at Lee, and skipped out of the room.

"I'm really hoping that comment is not related to what you have to tell me on the plane," Barney said sternly.

"We haven't slept together," Lee said firmly, "But since this topic is up. I'm ending things with Lacy when we get back. Ava agreed to a date once I get my shit in order."

Barney smirked, "You realize you'll have your hands full."

"But what a wonderful handful it'll be," Thorn joked from the doorway.

Barney and Lee both turned to glare at the younger Expendable. The smirk dropped from Thorn's face and he held his hands up in silent surrender.

"It was just a joke guys," he said awkwardly.

"My daughter," Barney simply said.

"Alright alright," Thorn said before turning around, "I'll just go make sure said daughter slash Lee's dream woman is kept safe with this wonderful thing called technology."

Lee and Barney turned to stare at each other before bursting out laughing.