Chapter 18 Love Is a Battlefield, Do YOU Yield?

Lacy's

Lee walked into Lacy's and stopped in the doorway. He leaned against the frame as the spots danced across his vision again. Lacy turned around in the entryway to look at him with concern.

"You really don't look good Lee," she said softly, "We should get you into bed to rest."

He nodded as the tiredness hit him hard. He rubbed his eyes and closed them for a moment. He felt Lacy's hands on his arm. He opened his eyes to see a small smile on her face. She pulled gently until he stood up and helped him upstairs. She helped him remove his shirt and jeans before pulling back the covers on the bed. He crawled in and she tucked him in with a kiss on his cheek.

"You need anything you let me know," she said quietly as his eyes closed.

Lacy set a glass of water and some aspirin on the small table near his side of the bed. She tiptoed out of the room and made her way downstairs to the living room. She opened a new pack of cigarettes and quickly lit one. She inhaled a long puff and breathed out slowly. She sat on the arm of the couch and gazed at the wall. She hoped he wouldn't ever remember their fighting over the last six weeks. It had never been this bad before. She'd snuck his phone to go through his texts and delete the incriminating stuff, but if he remembered she'd lose him. Lose him to her.

Lee tossed and turned for a bit in his sleep as his dreams whispered in his ears. Images of Ava laughing while he taught her self defense flashed to friendly breakfasts. It was all innocent imagery, but Lee was left with a small feeling of loss when he woke.

Barney's

Barney sat on the couch watching a game on the television while he re-sharpened a couple knives. He kept glancing towards the doorway to Ava's Candyland in concern. He wasn't practiced in fatherhood, but even he knew she was taking it hard. He'd seen her eyes widen as she rubbed her chest and he'd realized that she'd finally came to the same conclusion everyone here had already. She loved Lee. They'd grown close over the last couple months and everyone seemed to think it was just a matter of time before they'd get together. They'd been rooting for them. Well they'd gotten their wish. Now his daughter was trying to lose herself in her work.

He put away his knife and set aside the sharpening stone. He stood and walked as quietly as he could to the doorway. He folded his arms across his chest as he looked in for Ava. She sat on her stool in front of an almost empty table. She was staring at the only thing sitting on it. Her finished present for Lee. The knife holder that would eject a knife from it's hold at the twist of a wrist. The part that held the knife and would meet his skin was made of a soft, dark brown leather. She'd carefully burned the Expendables logo onto the outside with a small L in the bottom right corner.

She didn't move. She just stared.

Barney sighed heavily drawing her gaze. The light in her eyes had dimmed. She seemed to look right through him for a moment before looking up at him. Her eyes focused a bit and tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. She took a shuttery breath.

"Why can't I have ONE good thing for myself?" she whispered shakily before the tears trembled and broke free to caress her cheeks.

Barney stepped forward on instinct to cradle his devastated daughter in his arms. She clung to him tightly, sobbing loudly into his chest as everything that had happened to her came to a peak. He felt his heart hurt for her as she continued to let out heart wrenching sobs. It seemed to last for hours, but was more like ten minutes before she finally started to settle. Little sniffles were let out as she clung to his black shirt. He ran a hand through her unkempt hair and rested his cheek on her head.

"You've got me sweetheart," he said deeply before clearing his throat, "I may not be anything close to good in this world with what I've done, but you've got me, princess."

"I always imagined what my dad would be like," she said quietly, "You're much better than I dreamed."

He chuckled, "I ain't no saint."

"I never wanted you to be," she said as she straightened a bit in his hold, "What would be the fun in that?"

He chuckled again and was greeted with the sound of a small chuckle from her as well. She stepped back and he let his arms drop. She looked up at him and smiled bravely.

"I'll be okay," she said tilting her head, "If he doesn't remember me. It will just take time."

She looked back down to Lee's gift.

"And if he does remember?" he asked.

"Then I'll get my slice of happiness back won't I?"

He nodded and patted her shoulder, "Wanna help me make breakfast?"

She nodded with a small smile and followed him to the kitchen.

Lacy's

Lee sat down to breakfast at Lacy's in a state of confusion. Something didn't feel right… something was… missing. Out of nowhere Lacy had decided to make him breakfast. He understood she thought he almost lost him, but she was too silent. It felt like she was trying to distract him from something. Then again maybe he was looking into it too much. He thanked her with a kiss to the cheek before piling his plate high. He missed the frown on her face. She'd expected more than a quick peck.

They didn't talk while they ate, making her feel a bit uncomfortable. Normally when they had a meal together they chatted about her day or what she'd done while he was gone. He didn't seem inclined to talk this morning. Then again a head injury might make a difference. Maybe he just needed the silence.

He let his thoughts take over as he nabbed another piece of bacon. He had a glimpse of a memory tickling at the edge of his mind. Ava and Barney laughing while they all ate a large breakfast and joking about all the weights they'd have to lift. He shook his head and it cleared. He suddenly realized he hadn't spoken a word to Lacy since he'd sat. He also realized he had nothing to say. He was at a loss for words. Perhaps she'd excuse him this one time, he didn't really feel up to conversation anyways.

One Week Later

Lee could tell something was frustrating Lacy. He just wasn't sure what it was. They hadn't made love since he'd returned, but he hadn't been feeling well with his head injury. Now that he was feeling a bit better he wondered if that was what it was. They'd always been very hands on when he'd return from missions. It never mattered to either of them if he was a little injured. They always found a way. He stopped his thought and realized he hadn't even kissed her properly since his return. He sat on her bed with his hands rubbing up and down his face. He sighed heavily. What was wrong with him? He'd never neglected his woman before.

His woman? Why did that thought feel wrong all of a sudden. What had happened over the time he'd lost from his memory?

He pulled out his cellphone and looked at his backlogs to see what him and Lacy had texted. Nothing for almost two months. That couldn't be right. He always texted her when he left and when he was coming back. Hell they even texted back and forth when he was with the team. He made a note to check her phone later to see if it was the same before tossing his cell on the bedside table.

"Lee?" he heard Lacy call for him.

He looked up towards the bedroom door to see her walk in. She stopped when she saw him and grinned widely.

"Now what are we doing in here?" she purred to him.

Usually he'd be hard by now with that single purr, knowing exactly what they were about to do. He found it confusing when he wasn't even at half mast. She just didn't do it for him. He squinted at the floor trying hard to remember something. Anything. He caught a whiff of cigarette smoke again. It was heavier than normal. She only smoked when she was stressed she'd told him.

She crawled onto his lap, forcing him to wrap his arms around her so she wouldn't fall on the floor. She smiled into his shoulder thinking she'd won as she started to suck on his neck. A spot that usually got him moaning. He flinched making her chuckle softly thinking she'd gotten the reaction she wanted. She started to trail kisses up his neck and to his ear where she bit the bottom lobe gently. This time she was surprised there wasn't a reaction. She didn't feel his hardened length beneath her. She didn't hear any moans or urgings to continue. She ground her hips into his and she felt him twitch. She smiled to herself and went back to work.

She didn't expect him to grab her hands and pull her back from her mission.

"Don't," he gritted out.

"What?" she asked confused.

"I can't," he said softly.

She ground against him again and felt him harden more, "Clearly you can."

"I'm still recovering from a head injury and you want to play?" he asked exasperated at how stubborn she was being.

She straightened at that, "You seem fine enough to walk around. You even went shopping with me yesterday."

"It doesn't feel right," he said shaking his head gently.

He felt the cobwebs in his brain shift a bit and Ava's face flashed across his mind before puffing away.

"Why doesn't it feel right to make love to your girlfriend?" she bit out.

"I don't know," he said looking away from her in defeat, "I bloody well don't know."

She practically leaped off his lap and rushed over to the closet. She changed quickly in a rage.

"Fine," she snapped, "I'm going out with my friends tonight then. Maybe by the time I get back you'll know."

She stomped out of the room as much as she could in high heels and he soon heard the front door slam. He shook his head and sighed heavily before falling back onto the bed. Something slid against his head and he looked to the side seeing her cell had slipped out of her pocket. He didn't give it a second thought as he grabbed it and sat up. He started going through the text history of what he'd sent her. The more he read, the angrier he got.

Barney's

Connie and Dixie decided Ava needed a girl's night. Although Dixie couldn't go, she sent Connie and Ava out to a bar she knew didn't have cameras. They made sure to have their cellphones and purses on them at all times. Toll was even being a good sport and being their designated driver. Connie would speed dial him as soon as she reached her limit. Thankfully she was well aware of them.

They each had a few drinks and tried dancing with each other to keep any men at bay. A few didn't want to take the hint, but their attention was soon diverted by a very pissed off Lacy entering the bar. She stomped up to the counter and ordered a drink. After she paid she slammed it and asked for another.

"Maybe we should go to a different place?" Connie whispered into Ava's ear as they saw one of their would be fans now flirting with Lacy.

She accepted the drink he purchased for her and flirted back. Anger replaced by lust.

Ava gritted her teeth as she clenched her jaws, "What is she doing? She's got Lee waiting at home and she's going to go off with another man?"

"She does this all the time," Connie said sighing as the alcohol made her a little more loose lipped, "They fight, she fucks someone else, she convinces him she didn't or hides it well, and then they're together again. She doesn't deserve him."

"No she doesn't," Ava said and huffed, "You're right. We should go."

"Let me text Toll," Connie said dragging out her phone.

She sent a message off to Toll about Lacy's appearance and flirting not realizing he was with Barney and Lee back at the hangar. He texted back saying he was on the way and they made their way towards the door. The place seemed a bit crowded that night and it took them longer than they hoped to get out into the fresh air. Ava was trying not to run back in to punch Lacy or cry. She was unsure which one she was on the verge of at the moment.

Just as she seemed to get herself under control, she was pushed into the wall they were standing by.

"You bitch!" Lacy screamed at Ava, "You really thought you could just take my man and that'd be it?!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Ava, "You have Lee. It's not like I've slept with him or anything!"

Connie looked on nervously, varying her gaze between the women and the street hoping for Toll to get there soon. She didn't want to see her friend get hurt.

"You haven't slept with him?" Lacy said taunting her now, "You wanna know why? Because he always comes back to me. He stays loyal to me. No matter how many guys I fuck and how many lies I tell him. He comes back to my house and my bed."

Tears gathered in Ava's eyes and she tried to blink them away. She was too angry, too upset, too sick and tired of losing what she wanted.

"You don't deserve him," Ava bit out as she clenched her fists so tightly she was afraid they might bleed.

Lacy arched a brow and pushed Ava's shoulder making her back into the wall again, "And why, pray tell, do I not deserve a sexy, rich man like Lee Christmas?"

"Because you don't love him," she said through tears, "You're just using him until someone you think is better comes along."

Lacy laughed as Connie relaxed a bit having finally spotted Toll close by.

"And what, you do?" Lacy taunted more and pushed her shoulder again, "Tell me Ava Ross, are you in love with MY Lee?"

Ava wiped away her tears before straightening and looking Lacy dead in the eye, "Yes. I love Lee so much it hurts."

Lacy's cackling laugh was soon broken as she shrieked and grabbed her nose. Blood started to trickle down her lips and her eyes widened as she looked at Ava in surprise. Connie held her back from hitting Lacy again even though she deserved it. Toll had gotten closer to them and she smiled gently as she realized who else was standing with him.

"You...you.. fucking bitch!" Lacy yelled before trying to lash out at Ava.

A large arm wrapped around her and jerked her back. She slipped in her heels a bit and landed on her arse. She shrieked again, but it changed to a loud gasp as she realized Lee was the one who put her there.

"I've never struck a woman outside of self defense and training," he said ominously, "If you don't leave that might change."

"But she HIT me!" Lacy whined as she pointed at Ava.

"With good reason I'd say. I think it's apparent we're through," he said deeply before tossing her cellphone into her lap, "I'd get to a hospital. You aren't looking too good right now."

She huffed and teetered to her feet before trying to stomp off. She slipped a bit again and kept going. He tried to calm down and closed his eyes to do so. He took a few deep breaths and turned around to see Ava with Connie's arm wrapped around her shoulder.

"You okay love?"

Ava looked up at the soft sound of his voice. She looked around as if in a daze before looking back at him.

"You remember?" she asked hopefully.

"Not all of it," he said regretfully as he took a few steps towards her, "Glimpses more like. She didn't delete the texts I sent her over the last couple months. I talked to Barney and Toll. They told me what happened. I hope us being together is still on the table?"

He stopped right in front of her. Connie backed away and followed Barney and Toll to the truck. Barney lifted Lee's motorcycle out and set it down. Lee nodded to him and Barney smirked. Connie sent Ava a wink before getting in.

Lee wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her to the motorcycle, "Let's get out of here love."

She smiled softly at him as he handed her a helmet. He made sure the clasps were comfortable and locked in place before they both got on the motorcycle. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight as he started it up and took off. She squeaked at the jerk of them taking off before laughing loudly in delight. He smiled as he drove.

They drove for awhile until he came to a two story house. He clicked a button and the attached garage door opened. He drove inside and parked the motorcycle before helping her off. They removed their helmets.

"Where are we?" she asked confused.

"A little known secret," he said smiling as the doors closed.

He led her to an entry door and unlocked it before leading her inside. He tapped a code into a box near the door and relocked it behind them.

He motioned her forward once he turned on the lights, "This is a place I've been fixing up for awhile."

"I thought you lived at Lacy's?" she asked thoughtfully.

"Her place wasn't as big as I wanted. It was a two bedroom. She turned the spare bedroom into an office," he looked at her and grabbed one of her wrists gently, "I've always wanted a family. I thought if I fixed this place up she'd change her mind. I realize now that it was just waiting for you."

"You want kids," she asked with wide eyes before whispering, "With me?"

"I just scared you off didn't I?" he said regretfully and took a step back dropping her wrist.

"No!" she said shaking her head and taking a step towards him, "No you didn't scare me at all. I love you Lee. It's just that this is a bit fast after what we discussed before you left."

"I know it's fast, and I don't remember yet what we talked about. But… you feel right. Every time I'm with you I feel right. I haven't even kissed Lacy properly since I came back because I knew something was wrong. Took me a bit to find out what. We'll go at your pace. As long as I can call you mine I'll wait as long as it takes," he ended on a whisper while he cupped her cheek.

His other hand came up to tangle in her hair as she looked up at him. Her eyes softened at his explanation.

"I want you too," she whispered, "I think after tonight I'll be happy with kisses and cuddles."

"As you wish," he smirked before leaning down to capture her lips.

It felt like pure ambrosia. He was a starved man finally being led out of the desert. He didn't realize he'd backed her up against the kitchen counter until her body pushed harder into his. He swirled his tongue against hers making her moan softly. He used the hand in her hair to bend her back a little. His lips left hers to kiss down her jaw to her neck. He nibbled, licked, and sucked on a sensitive spot making her feel like warm putty in his hands.

"You think we can keep to just cuddles?" she asked amused.

He chuckled deeply, "Whatever you want love."

She hummed into his mouth as she repossessed his lips, "Maybe some heavy petting is in order."

He scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder before practically running up the stairs to his rarely used bedroom.