Author note: Here's the next chapter. I hope you like it.

A post-game massage

That last huddle…Mike felt a shiver running down his back as he thought of it, even now, lying on the massage table. In his mind he reran the events. Right before that huddle he had felt the tension in his stomach increase tenfold. Finn had thanked his team, it was what was expected from him, Puck's reaction so triumphant and then that oaf Karofsky. Why did he have to make that comment? There hadn't been any reason to make that remark, no reason at all. Finn had to react to it and his reaction had been surprisingly good, except for that exceptionally short fuse Karofsky had for anything gay related to him. Mike realized there in the solitude of the small massage room that the game had not yet been lost at that moment. No, at that moment they could have easily won if Karofsky hadn't rattled Finn with his comment on the linebacker, if Finn hadn't fumbled the snap (and honestly Mike could forgive him for that, everyone made mistakes) and if Karofsky had done his job out on the field. Mike could not forgive him, yet, you were a part of a team and disagreements between teammates had no place at the field. As far as Mike was concerned you left all animosity in the locker-room, but out on the field you did what you had to do to the best of your ability. And Karofsky had flat out refused to do so.

So they lost and to add insult to injury that annoying number 4 had barreled right into his back. He had said that in his joy and hurry to get back to his team to celebrate he hadn't seen Mike. Bull shit, he had had enough space to avoid Mike, no it had been his last action against number 22. And so the game had ended disappointingly. And still that feeling didn't subside.

As Mike listened to the shouted words drifting through the open door he had the unsettling feeling it wouldn't subside soon. This episode today could only be the start of another battle between the football team and Glee, with the five Glee guys smack bang in the middle of it. Mike could only hope coach Beiste would not make them choose. Not because he didn't know what to choose, nno that choice had become so much easier over the summer, but because he knew for sure it was not the answer to the problem. Tired, not only because of the game, but also because of the ongoing hostility toward Glee coming from the football team, Mike laid his head down.


Tina almost ran through the empty halls of McKinley. She had quickly said to Mike's mother that she and Mike would make their own way back to Mike's home. After that she had gone to the Glee girls, who had assembled on the field, trying to talk to the bow, but they had quickly and quietly retreated to the locker room. Mike had already been escorted by one of the first aid helpers.

"Do any of you know what happened during the last huddle?" Tina straight away asked. The other girls just shook their heads. "No and the guys took off right away." Said Quinn, still in her Cheerios uniform. "Something went wrong then, you saw it too right?" Tina asked, just to make sure she hadn't made it up.

"Yes. It was Karofsky." Lauren, as ever not on e to do the politically correct stated.

"I thought so too. Ehm… I got to…" Tina lamely pointed to the school.

"Of course girl, go check up on the ninja." Santana practically pushed Tina toward the school. "Just don't wear him out okay?" she wiggled her eyebrows.

"Santana…" "Just go Tina." Mercedes said before Santana could make more suggestive comments.

"See you Monday." Tina waved goodbye.


And so she found herself back in the empty hall way, as she got closer to the locker room, the voices coming from it grew stronger. Tina didn't like what she heard. "Miss Cohen-Chang." Tina quickly turned around and was relieved to see John, the teams physician and massage specialist, coming to her. "Hi John. How's Mike?"

"He's okay, he's waiting for his postgame massage." John pointed the the small room next to the locker room. "I was just going to him." Tina was looking at the room, where Mike would be. "John, is it okay if I give him his massage?"

"Of course." John said.

"I just need something from my locker. I'll be right back." Tina left quickly. Amused John followed her with his eyes, fondly remembering the first meeting he'd had with Tina: It had been one of the first games this year and the first time John had given Mike the massage in the year. Normally John would work on Finn, Sam, Azimio or Karofsky. Only when one of the other players were seriously injured would John work on them. That particular game Mike had had a collision and twisted his ankle. Tina had come to check that Mike would be fine. She had sat next to Mike during the massage and observed all of John's movements. At first John had quietly listened to their conversation, but as it turned to Mike's injury John had become an active participant, telling Mike and Tina what had happened, what they could expect and what he was doing. At that point Tina had come to stand next to him to more closely observe his action. She then proceeded to ask very insightful questions about giving a massage. And so John had started teaching Tina. She would come in at the end of the school day, usually during football practice and John would show her how to place her hands, how to apply just enough pressure and how to find just the right places. After a couple of weeks Mike had sought him out, bashfully asking to be taught as well. He had explained how Tina gave him amazing soothing massages and he wanted to be able to do the same for Tina. From then on Mike and Tina come together. As they worked on each other John had quite a long time to observe them, he saw how caring they were for each other, how the stress would fall away when one would massage the other, how they felt that something was bothering the other and how they would talk. They talked about everything, occasionally including John in their conversations. He saw their relationship grow and saw them grow within it. Yes John could easily say he liked Mika en Tina and he had no problem what so ever with Tina giving Mike his massage. He had heard from the others on his staff that Tina would come to do Mike's massage on occasion, usually after a particularly hard game and even the others on the staff had seen the soothing capability of Tina's hands on Mike. In fact it had become something of an unspoken agreement that Tina could do Mike's massage, but she would always ask.

After two minutes Tina was back, John walked with her to Mike. He had quickly explained that the tackle hadn't had serious injuries, but Mike's back and shoulders would be stiff. "He Mike, how are you?" John could see from the slumped shoulders and the fact that Mike had his face down, that he wasn't feeling too great. Mike just humphed and then frustrated said: "I don't know what had gotten that number 4's panties in a twist, but he just wouldn't let up. I mean…come on it's just a game!" something in Mike's voice made John believe that this was not the only thing on Mike's mind. Apparently Tina thought the same. She simply laid her hand on Mike's shoulder. Mike heaved a small sigh of contentment: "Hi T."

"Hey ninja." Mike gave a small laugh. "Let's get this tension out of you." Tina said, putting her other hand on his back.

"That would be great."

"I got your favorite oil." Tina started working on Mike's shoulders, humming a little tune and John simply retreated.

Under Tina's kneading hands Mike felt his tension melt away. He felt like he had been on tender hooks since before the game and now he could finally let some of it go. Tina frowned as she felt some of the tension go, but to her it felt like Mike was holding something back. She knew Mike and she herself often kept their problems inside, but together they would always find a way to get to the problem. So Tina simply started talking: "You played a good game." Immediately she felt Mike tense up, okay definitely the right direction. Tina remained silent, simply applying extra pressure, trying to tell Mike through her hands that he could tell her everything. She knew he often needed a little time before telling what was on his mind. After a couple of moment of silence Tina felt rather the heard Mike sigh: "We could have easily won that game…but I guess Karofsky couldn't be enough of a teammate to play those last freaking seconds." His frustration was rising, Tina kept moving her hands, kneading those taught muscles keeping calm: "Karofsky?"

"Who else?" Mike kept quiet almost sullen, so Tina ventured a little bit further: "What happened during the last huddle?" Mike pushed himself up, a little surprised, and looked at Tina: "You saw that?" Tina chuckled, taking his face in her hands: "When you do something, which you and I both know goes against coach Beiste's rules. And I feel that tension in your body I felt before the game. And you look at me the way you did, as if you were afraid you would never see me again. And you declare your love for me in front of all those people, I tend to pay a little more attention to the game." Tina closed with a little peck on his lips. "Besides, all Glee girls saw it." Mike smiled and gave Tina a proper kiss. "I really don't know what made me do that before the game. I just needed to do it." Tina giggled: "Mike, you don't have to apologize for it. I actually kind of like that you feel so secure in our relationship that you could do that. Now go lay down again and tell me what happened." After another second of taking Tina's gorgeous face in Mike laid down again and explained what happened from Finn's kind words, Karofsky's comments and the botched up last five seconds of the game. Tina listened and worked on that glorious body called Mike, his tension finally really subsiding. As it was often Mike needed to tell what was going on to really get it out of his system. Tina gave a small peck in his neck to signal she was done and Mike sat up. He pulled her between his legs and gave her a kiss on her brow. "Thank you Tina." He quietly said, Tina leaned into him, her eyes closed simply enjoying their closeness.

After a while Tina leaned backwards, looking into Mike's eyes and she saw he needed to say something more. She climbed on the table next to him, turning so she could face him: "What is it?"

"The thing that annoys me the most is the fact that this is just the beginning of the next fight between Glee and the football team."

"It's been a long time coming. They have been quite quiet since regionals."

"Yeah." Mike said.

"It'll be okay, maybe coach Beiste will handle this situation better then Tanaka. I'm sure she isn't going to ask you to choose."

"No, I don't think so. Besides: it isn't going to solve anything." Mike and Tina remained silent, absentmindedly rubbing and playing with each other's hands. "I just don't understand why they can't be happy for us, like you guys are. I mean look at you. The Glee girls always come to watch us play, despite the way the others treat us. In Glee we are genuinely happy for each other when they do something they love. And I love being in Glee club, we can goof around and just be us, no drama..." Tina looked up and Mike couldn't help a chuckle: "No, wrong thing to say, with Rachel, Lauren, Quinn, Puck and Santana we have enough drama, but there is no strive as there is in the football team."

"I understand Mike."

"I feel so much joy and happiness when we are performing a great song and I get to share te dance with you. I'm serious, I never feel that when we are playing a game. I just feel tense, on edge. Even after we win. But I love playing the game." Tina grabbed his hands in both of hers and looked at him: "Then remember that." Mike nodded: "I hope this will end quickly."

"Me too, now let's get you washed and dresses so we can go home." Tina pulled Mike to the, now, deserted locker room.

Author note: I hope you liked it. I'll try to post the next chapter (Tina discusses the situation with Coach Beiste) as soon as possible. Please review this chapter.