CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Mike hazily woke. Someone was half sprawled on top of him, and they were kissing his jaw. He sighed contentedly and wrapped his arm tighter around the warm body. He cracked his eyes open and saw Ginny nuzzling her nose against his collar bone. He hummed in appreciation and felt his nerves fire across his belly as her hand slowly slid down his t-shirt covered chest. Her hand slipped under the t-shirt and tickled the skin underneath. Mike turned his head towards her, kissing the side of her head as her hand danced tenderly on his chest. Suddenly her hand flattened and moved to the top of his boxers and Mike inhaled a sharp breath.

"You fell asleep on me last night," Ginny whispered seductively, and Mike opened his eyes to look at her. He swallowed harshly as he felt the fire burning inside him. Her hand toyed at the waist band of his boxers and Mike felt the explosion inside him. "How long do I have to wait for this?" She asked quietly as her hand skimmed the outside of his boxers over his penis.

Mike closed his eyes as his dick twitched at her touch, and he felt the bundle of nerves in his stomach flare. She shifted on the bed next to him, leaning up on an elbow so she could watch his face, as her hand continued to stroke over the top of his boxers. Mike couldn't stop the sigh that escaped his lips, as he was enjoying what she was doing. He couldn't make his mouth form words. He damn near lost it when he felt her hand slip under the boxers and wrap gently around his shaft. A grunt escaped as her hand stilled.

"How long do I have to wait?" she asked again. Mike's eyes snapped open, and he gazed into hers. His brain was spinning, and his dick was hardening as her cool fingers encircled it and moved slightly. He lost all ability to form words and sucked in a harsh breath as he prayed he didn't pop off to early. It had been a long time since someone else had touched him like that. "Mike?" she asked with a laugh, and he gazed at her as she smiled wickedly back at him. "You like that?"

He leaned forward and crushed his mouth against hers, ravishing her as her hand twitched on his dick, making it grow harder by the second. He let out a primal growl as he shifted his hips and pushed making her hand slide up his shaft. Ginny kissed him back with passion and Mike was completely lost in the sensations that she was creating in his body. Ginny reached with her other hand and tugged down the band of his boxers and his erection sprung free, her hand still enticing it. Mike broke the kiss and hissed in pleasure as she ran her thumb over the tip of his penis.

He was about to rip her shirt off when the door banged open, and they both sprang away from each other in shock. Mike reached down and pulled his boxers back on, as Ginny rolled away from him to check who had barged into the room. Wyatt walked sleepily across the room, while rubbing at his eyes. He climbed up on the bed, Mike sighed in frustration and his dick was throbbing. Ginny giggled and Mike felt a laugh bubble out of his chest.

"Hey, Wyatt," Ginny said softly as the boy settled between them. Mike bit his knuckles trying to calm his raging body, as Wyatt looked at him. Ginny looked at Mike over Wyatt's head and smiled, shrugging her shoulders slightly.

"Next time don't fall asleep so soon," Ginny whispered, and Mike huffed in amusement.

"I was tired," he shot back, then grinned as he reached over and smoothed some of her hair behind her ear. He closed his eyes and rolled onto his back, trying to will his erection to go down. Wyatt sat between them.

"Mike," he said plainly then laid his head on Mike's chest. Ginny scooted in closer and draped her arm over Mike's chest, hooking her leg over his, cuddling Wyatt between them.

"Hey, Wyatt," Mike replied gently, as he ruffled the boy's hair. "Bad timing, Little Dude." He felt Ginny snicker as he looked over and caught her eye. Ginny smiled and Mike felt it inside. Mike looked around. "What time is it?"

Ginny checked the clock on the wall and sighed. "Time to get Ty up for school already."

Ginny tried to get up and Mike pulled her back to him. Wyatt shifted and it gave Mike a clear shot at Ginny. He leaned in quickly and kissed her with all the heat and passion he could muster, letting her know he was disappointed how this had ended. When he pulled back, Ginny was grinning at him.

"I'm gonna hold you to that tonight," she whispered as her hand skirted over his boxers again. Mike flinched and then laughed. Wyatt wrapped his arms around Mike's neck, hugging him.

"Hey, Buddy, I got to get up," Mike said as he gently started to sit up. Wyatt dropped his arms. Mike got up and found his jeans and his shirt, and quickly put them back on. He got up and went into the living room, where he slipped on his shoes. Ginny was in the kitchen making coffee.

"Is Tom going with you this morning?" Ginny asked. Mike walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle, pushing into her back. He kissed a trail down her neck.

"I don't know. If he's not too hung over, he may go," Mike whispered against her neck. He felt her lean back into him. "I have to admit I'm a bit nervous doing this."

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Ginny replied quietly as she turned in his grasp, so they were facing each other.

"Have you told Ty about this yet?" Mike asked as he leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose, his arms still circling his waist.

"He knows something is up."

"Okay, I'm going to go down to my apartment, change into clean clothes, and see if Tom's alive. I'll be back to get Ty in a little bit.

Mike kissed her one more time then headed for the door. He made his way to his own apartment and let himself in. Tom was laying on the couch and had a bowl in front of him. Mike chuckled. Tom turned his head to look at him then frowned.

"Don't be smug," Tom mumbled.

"How long have you been up?" Mike asked casually.

"Long enough to know you didn't just go down there to check on them," Tom replied with a smirk. Mike grinned then walked towards his bedroom. "Did you spend the whole night with her?" Tom asked as Mike disappeared into his room.

Mike pulled out clean clothes before stripping and climbing into his shower. He quickly showered and shaved, then dressed in jeans and a pollo shirt, before coming out and rejoining Tom.

"You joining me today at the school?" Mike asked. Tom sighed as he shifted on Mike's couch. "Completely understandable if you need to sleep this off."

"How much did I drink last night?" Tom asked as he closed his eyes, pressing the palms of his hands against them.

"Enough to accuse me of drinking your whiskey," Mike chuckled. Tom pulled his hands away and cracked one eye at Mike.

"I think I remember that," Tom replied with a sigh. "Let me shower and then I'll make a decision."

"Okay. We have about half an hour before we have to go," Mike said over his shoulder as he started to make breakfast. "I'll have coffee ready when you're done in there."

"Hallelujah," Tom breathed out as he pealed himself up off the couch and headed for the bathroom. Mike busied himself with making some eggs and sausage. He was just sitting down at the table with a plate when Tom came out, freshly showered, shaved, and dressed. He glanced at the food on the table and made a face, before walking to the toaster and making himself some toast. He poured a cup of coffee and downed half of it in a single gulp. The toast popped and he lightly buttered it and slowly munched on it letting his stomach test how much he could actually eat.

"Think you want to join me? Or am I flying solo with the seventh graders?" Mike asked between bites. Tom finished the cup of coffee, nibbled some more toast, and poured himself a second cup.

"I think I'll be okay," Tom said as he made a face. "Thanks."

"For what?" Mike asked as he took another bite of the eggs. Tom looked thoughtful as he stared at a spot on the wall. He sighed and looked down into the cup of coffee for a while.

"For still believing in me…when everyone else…" Tom trailed off, still looking down into his coffee. Mike heaved a sigh and smiled a sad smile.

"Always. You wouldn't let us quit. I'm not going to let you quit," Mike said with a sigh. "I get it. I was there too. I have my dark moments too."

"Yeah, but you're better at this part than I am."

"You just feel it more deeply than I do. Not right, or wrong, just is. While it was all going down, and we were jumping from crisis to crisis, the weight of the world crashing down on our shoulders…you were able to compartmentalize all the emotion and make the hard choices."

"Yeah, but even then…I broke. Sasha was so angry at me when I walked away."

"But you came back. You just needed to come up for air for a minute. You'd just lost your dad; Tex had just died saving your life. You were overwhelmed with the pain and guilt that you still carry to this day. But believe me when I tell you, it was not your fault. Have you thought any more into my ideas?" Mike watched Tom stare into his coffee cup before drinking some more. He sighed and finally brought his eyes up to meet Mike's.

"If I stay here, are you going to have rules?" Tom asked, a glint of humor in his eyes.

"Don't be a dick?" Mike shot back and Tom laughed. Mike smiled. "Seriously. If you agree to stay, we work on you."

"Meaning I get therapy and do the whole thing?"

"I'd hope so," Mike said with a shrug.

"And if I give up and say it's hopeless?"

"I'll toss your dead weight ass back on the street," Mike said with a shrug. Tom smiled again and nibbled some more toast. Mike watched his eyes as he appeared to be mulling over his options.

"Sasha's been begging me to get therapy for a while," Tom admitted quietly, his hands gripping the coffee mug tighter, his eyes downcast, embarrassed.

"Tom?" Mike asked gently and waited for his friend to look up at him. Once he had eye contact Mike sucked in a deep breath through his nose and readied himself for the next part. "In order for this to work? You need to be committed. Look at this like it's the next mission, focus like lives depend on it, because…"

"They do," Tom finished for him with a small tip of his chin. Mike nodded.

"Yeah, your life first and foremost. I can see glimpses of you in there. You just need to put down the guilt." Tom closed his eyes and nodded slowly, before drinking some more coffee. Mike saw the shift in Tom's demeanor when he brought his eyes up and smirked at Mike.

"So did you spend the night with her last night?" he asked with sly smile. Mike groaned and leaned back in his chair.

"I did go down there after you passed out."

"And?" Tom asked with a chuckle.

"I was so damn worn out from you I fell asleep about ten minutes after I got there."

"Getting old, Buddy," Tom chuckled, and Mike shot him a glare.

"Shut up. But it almost happened this morning," Mike mumbled. Tom's eyes lit up.

"Almost? You really getting too old?" Tom asked with a laugh. Mike shot him a glare.

"Fuck you, Tom," Mike said shaking his head. "No, we were interrupted," Mike continued with a shrug. "Kids."

"Oh no," Tom replied with a wince and a chuckle. They both looked up when Mike's front door opened. Ty came in exuding excitement. Ginny followed behind him with Wyatt clinging to her hand. Wyatt immediately ran to Mike and climbed into the chair with him.

"Hey, guys," Mike greeted them. Ginny walked up to him and feathered her fingers on the back of his head before her hand slowly drifted down to his shoulder. Mike fought the shiver he felt.

"Morning," Ginny said softly. "So, I figure you can take Ty in today, do the show and tell thingy, then meet me at the diner to pick up Wyatt between eleven thirty and noon."

"Sounds good to me," Mike said as he squeezed Wyatt to his chest.

"Are you coming too?" Ty asked Tom nervously. Tom smiled at the boy.

"I can come too," Tom replied. Ginny smiled at Tom then gave Mike a look of concern, but Mike just shrugged slightly and nodded. Mike saw Ginny relax. He noticed Tom take in the exchange, but he didn't say anything. They finished getting ready and Tom and Ty headed down to Mike's truck, as Mike hung back a little. As soon as Ty was out of sight, Mike turned to Ginny. She was already a step ahead of him when she twisted her fist in his pollo and dragged him down to her level. She kissed him passionately and Mike let himself sink into the kiss. It felt good to have that again. When they came up for air, Mike tugged her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

"See you in a little bit," she mumbled against his chest. He pulled back enough to be able to look at her face and smiled.

"I can't wait," he whispered, leaned in, and kissed the tip of her nose, then turned and walked out heading towards his truck.

To Be Continued…