AN: As it's a bit of a crossover from my Cowboys, I was a bit unsure where to put this. However, given it's a separate storyline, I'll keep it in the SxS Shorts category. In case you weren't aware, I have an ongoing Wild West cowboy story also in progress (unrelated to below)...if you haven't read it, please check it out!

Who? My favorite trio – A/K/M.

T for language.

Tonight, The Hearache's On Me

"You could've heard a pin drop when they
Walked trough the door
I had to turn my eyes away my heart
Fell to the floor
Someone whispered, "Where's her halo?"-
Cause she had an angel's face
He stood there smiling holding on to the
One who took my place.

So tonight the heartache's on me, on me
Let's drink a toast to the fool
who couldn't see
Bartender, pour the wine 'cause the
Hurtin's all mine
Tonight the heartache's on me."

- Heartache's on Me, Dixie Chicks

Light gray eyes scanned the ID card and looked up into the pretty, if tear stained, face of the petite blonde who was tapping a booted heel impatiently. Handing the Michigan driver's license back across, he said, "Pretty far from home, aren't you, Miss Aino?"

"Not that it's any of your business," she said angrily as she tucked the plastic card into her worn stuffed to capacity leather bag.

"Be our guest," Keith grumbled, dipping his cowboy hat as he moved aside, allowing her to pass into the dingy, smoky interior of the Lumber Yard. He watched her walk in angry grace across the small dance floor to the bar. It was nearing 8PM on a Saturday night and in Serenity Lake, the local scene was picking up. While he made most of his money on the bull riding circuit, Keith Sullivan occasionally helped out Ethan at the bar. Pocketing a few twenties at the end of the night for security and general muscle wasn't something he was at a point of saying no to. Plus, scoring the occasional out of town date didn't hurt. Chances were, Miss Angry and Frustrated from Michigan would be singing a different tune by the end of the night.

Keith forgot about the blonde as the usual 9PM crush came through – familiar faces, friends from high school, and other cowboys were all out on this fine May evening. After the rush ceased, he grabbed a long gulp from an amber beer bottle, then wiped his lips and threw the empty container into the nearby recycling bin.

A young man with a backwards Detroit Tigers hat and a pair of jeans three sizes too big walked up from the darkness, flicking a lit cigarette into the parking lot. Keith's jaw twitched in irritation, but Ethan didn't pay him to start fights, only keep them from happening. Keith crossed his arms and not so much asked, as stated, "ID."

The young man pulled out his wallet and handing it over, asked, "You seen a blonde come through here earlier?"

Keith had seen plenty – both those with naturally colored hair and the phony peroxide kind that came out of a bottle, but guessed this guy had a specific one in mind. Noting the same state, Michigan, he quickly surmised his hunch was correct. Finally, Keith answered, "May have."

"Dude, I fucked up."

Keith had no real interest in his story, but remembering the woman, couldn't believe she was with a guy like this and replied, "That's nice."

Not taking the hint, Adam from Michigan said, "It's like you try everything, but come on, we're in our twenties, it's not like I can be in a relationship with just one lady at a time. Why can't they understand that?"

Keith, who still had Adam's license, handed it back and said plainly, "Sorry, men from Michigan aren't allowed in tonight."

Adam's mouth opened in disbelief and Keith added, "No, you cannot take your complaint up with the owner – he's my best friend and won't give two fucks what you think, now be on your way and don't bother coming back."

As tough as Adam thought he was, he was quick enough to note that the bouncer easily had fifty pounds of muscle on him and wandered away mumbling expletives.

"Thanks for doing that."

Keith turned around and saw a now obviously inebriated Mina Aino leaning heavily on the door frame. Tucking his hands into his pockets, he said, "It was no trouble."

"He's an asshole."

"I figured."

They were quiet and nothing but the thumping bass from the inside of the club permeated the night. Without knowing why, he asked, "Where are you staying tonight?"

"We were on our way to Vegas." She stumbled towards the parking lot and sang drunkenly, "Going to the chapel…"

"Changed your mind?"

She stopped twirling and said, "Somewhere around the Illinois state line, actually."

"So, do your parents know where you are?"

Pitching her voice low like his, she repeated, "'Do your parents know where you are?'"

"Very mature."

"That's me."

"If you can sober up by closing, I'll let you crash on my couch."

Perking up, she looked at him and asked, "You trust me?"

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't?"

Visibly concentrating on the question, she finally answered, "No."